So, let's have another little reality check here. At most blog sites you have the ability to create any username you wish. If I wanted to call myself Mata Hari or Britney Spears or the Queen of Sheba, I could do so with the web site's blessings.Just for grins and giggles, who might this particular Bill Cosby be?Perhaps...he is the infamous William J Cosby, head honcho of the Clay County Klu Klux Klan. Or, maybe...he is Wilhelm V Cosby, eldest son of the dock worker in Brindlesmire, Scotland. Does either of these individuals exist? Not to my knowledge. Is there a Brindlesmire, Scotland? I doubt it...I just made it all up.Perhaps...it is even the illustrious current President, George Bush, giggling in that demented little way he has, as he sets up an account under the name of Bill Cosby to wreak havoc on the election. Could it be? I don't know. And that's my point. You just don't know. Could it be true? Yes. Is it true? I doubt it.
It's been a long road for this campaign. There’s been a coming from behind, with talks of inexperience, insincerity, pipe dreams, to a vision of the future, with more understanding, consistency and possibilities. So many of us headed toward Obama because we believed in something we had not seen for a long time: innovation, diversity and idealism. The idea that no matter the political persuasion, race, gender, age, income level or religion, there is a place at the table, has appealed to so many people, including me.
But, the road is not over by a long shot, and as it draws closer to the day we hope for--Barack Obama named as the democrat candidate for the presidency—it is going to seem even longer and more difficult. We will begin to be pulled in tidal currents toward the old status quo: snipe remarks, divisive comments, fear mongering and wild accusations. I hope we can withstand that. I believe as long as we keep in mind what got us all here in the first place, those possibilities for change that include all of us, we can keep the momentum going.
Each of us, with our own ideals, talents and desires, can stem the former tide of the old Washington, by continuing to have faith that we can do it. We, all of us, can change the corruption, despair and apathy that has pervaded American politics for so long. Alone, we are simply folks ranting about the status quo. Together, we are a force of hope that carries the day.In these long months ahead, I hope we can continue in the same positive, united spirit that got us to where we are now. There’s a lot of nastiness headed our way. Can we remain above it?
Barack Obama has shown us that it is possible to do so. In debate after debate, comment after comment, he has shown us it is possible to stick to your principles, Believe in what is right and good about America and strive for that which is only attainable in a collective spirit of consensus and community. Going for the big picture instead of smaller and more petty goals is the way to continue this promising hopeful spirit of change that will ultimately succeed where politics as usual has failed us miserably.
Keep the faith and believe in your ideals. They are worth it.
Later...Char
As an individual diagnosed with MS, the health care plans and goals for those with disabilities was of particular interest to me. When we still have even one instance in this country of our own police abusing the disabled, (1) it becomes clear that more education and a vast change in attitudes is what we need.
I enjoyed the side by side answer comparison the site for the American Association of People with Disabilities did on the questionnaire they sent to all the candidates. (2) I was also interested to hear about Michelle Obama’s experience with MS in dealing with her father and Mike Strautmanis dealing with his own son’s autism. (3) It appears that Obama has a good grasp of what it is like not only for the disabled in this country but also for their loved ones. That is a comfort to me. Personal awareness brings a rich outlook to an issue. Those statements above are also why I believe in Obama’s commitment to restore the ADA to its intent rather than the diminished applications the Supreme Court has reduced it to. (4)
In my personal arena, I know what it is like to be told you cannot afford the medicines you need due to lack of insurance and your only hope is a research group. If you’re familiar with drug research groups, you also know that you may or may not get the medicine. Scientific studies need a control group and that group gets the placebo. The subjects never know whether they are getting the medicine they need. With MS, not getting the medicine you need may be the difference between being able to walk, exist in total depression, and have various cognitive disorders or vision problems. With MS you never know but getting the medicine you need early has been definitely proven to make a difference.
Obama’s plans incorporate the combined efforts of dealing with disabilities, our health care nightmare and the failure of our children’s education. That one, two, three punch sells me on his ability to see the bigger picture.
~Char
Footnotes:
(1)Florida Cops Dump Paralyzed Man From Wheelchair, 02/13/2008http://kdka.com/watercooler/caught.on.tape.2.652981.html Accessed: 02/14/2008
(2)American Association of People with Disabilities website, www.aapd-dc.orgsiteAAPD-News: 2008 Presidential Election Issues; August 4, 2007http://www.aapd-dc.org/News/election/070804comp.htm Accessed: 02/14/2008
(3)January 29 Conference Call with Rep. Jan Schakowsky and Disability Policy Committeehttp://obama.3cdn.net/058b3f4cb01249c4fd_v6smvyni2.pdf Accessed: 02/14/2008
(4)BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN TO EMPOWER AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/DisabilityPlanFactSheet.pdf Accessed: 02/14/2008
I read an article today on MSNBC, which states that Clinton justified her loss here in Washington State because "Caucus states, the former first lady says, are undemocratic and cater only to party activists."(1)
Let me tell you about the only voter in Washington State I am sure about--me.
I strongly objected to the caucus idea, having always lived in states where you simply cast your ballot on Election Day and it was a done deal. I have never been to a political rally, never marched in a protest, never stood on a picket line and vacillated in my 34 years of voting between calling myself a democrat or an independent. I have been totally disgusted with the entire political process for a very long time.
But, because I do always vote and I wanted my vote to count, I decided to attend the caucus in my district. As a first time attendee, I was initially frustrated and confused. It seemed like disorganized mayhem to me. However, one thing struck me right away. I realized that I was in the room with a bunch of like-minded individuals. We cared.
Perhaps we did not care for the same candidate or we may have had our list of priorities in a slightly different order, but one thing was made very clear at that caucus. I was not alone. All of us were looking for change in the status quo.
That was one of the very reasons I chose Obama. I did not want Clinton in the White House. Believe me; I would love to see a woman as President. I believe the day where we say that is not possible has long since passed away. But, I do not want it to be Hillary. Yes, I believe she is intelligent but she reminds me too much of the things I want changed in Washington. And, I am not alone.
The confusion and mayhem I saw in the beginning of that caucus was because those who were active in the party had not expected such a turnout. The very party activists that Hillary denigrated in her remarks were the ones shocked and unprepared for the number of voters they were dealing with. There were not enough volunteers and there were not enough chairs. Most of us had no idea what we were supposed to do. The people who attended that caucus were like me, most of them attending a caucus for the very first time. The numbers that turned out in Washington State were people who want this mess in Washington to change and are finally motivated enough to step out of the comfort of their home and their mail-in ballot and try to do something about it.
Things settled down at our caucus. We talked about what we believed in and what we wanted to change. Then this white, middle-age, middle-class, formerly apathetic woman chose to vote for Obama. Why? Because she sees something she finds refreshing that she can believe in. That's what change looks like and that's what this is all about.
(1)Analysis by AP Beth Fouhyhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23136915 Accessed 02/13/2008
The Boston Tea Party was a protest against "Taxation without Representation". (1)
We now have our representation, but just as harmful to people as is "Taxation without Representation", is "Taxation with Irresponsible Representation". That representative apathy or self-interest is what the American people have been dealing with on an increasingly detrimental basis.
Corporations and special interest groups have run amuck in our government. The ability to slide a special interest clause into a bill, the ability to sneak hidden costs into our laws is what is draining the taxes collected from hard working Americans. Taxes can go a long way if they are handled in a fiscally responsible manner.
Barack Obama was the first senator to endorse and co-sponsor S.2590 which aids in doing just that. Put forth by Senator Coburn, S.2590 became public law No: 109-282 creating a transparent resource for the American public to see just where our money is going. (2)
The people of this country, both republicans and democrats, have legitimate needs and concerns. But the citizens of our nation should also have the right to know where our hard earned dollars are going. Roads to nowhere, no-bid contracts, and funding for special interest groups should be clear, open and public. If a senator or representative knows their tactics will be transparent, they have less of a tendency to be irresponsible.
Obama has continually supported and advocated that transparent process in government. Fiscal responsibility crosses party lines and Obama has consistently shown that he is more concerned about truth, fairness and responsible government than which party you happen to be in.
(1)"The colonies refused to pay the levies required by the Townsend Acts claiming they had no obligation to pay taxes imposed by a Parliament in which they had no representation."The Boston Tea Party, 1773<http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/teaparty.htm> Accessed: 02/12/2008
(2)S.2590"A bill to require full disclosure of all entities and organizations receiving Federal funds" enacted into law as the "Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006"<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:s.02590:> Accessed: 02/12/2008
