Joe Lieberman says John McCain puts country before party???... HA!... that's a joke that might be funny if it weren't so dangerous!
2008 Candidate John McCain has clearly and systematically reversed his position on OVER 60 major issues of the day in the areas of national security, foreign policy, domestic policy, the military, the economy, energy, immigration, campaign ethics, and the list goes on!...
don't believe me?... read them here for yourself:
http://www.alternet.org/election08/90956/?page=entire
These reversals are a matter of documented history... not opinion.
Senator McCain may have put country before party at one time, but 2008 candidate McCain clearly has bowed to his GOP & corporate puppet-master's will. John McCain isn't a maverick anymore! The GOP wants you to believe he's still a maverick because it portrays the illusion of change without really changing anything that matters most to the powers that be (at the expense of the American people).
John McCain is what he's always been... a good soldier. Someone who follows orders, regardless of his personal beliefs.
Take 2000 turncoat Joe Lieberman for example, who helped steal the election from his own running mate and give it to the GOP... If John McCain had it his way, it'd be a McCain/Lieberman ticket now, but Senator Lieberman's new republican friends (John McCain's masters) know he can't be trusted and therefore won't allow their McSoldier to put him in the White House... probably a good move.
So what???... extreme right-wing "yes-woman" Sarah Palin is an example of John McCain putting country before party??? Are you kidding yourselves?
Again, this is just a political move to feign the appearance of change to the duped masses who help those in power get even more powerful at the expense of their own meager wealth and fading freedoms.
A vote for John McCain is a vote against yourselves America!
Unfortunately, the average life expectancy of a white male in the United States today is just 73.6 years. John McCain is now 72… And though he may believe he’s going to live happily for years to come (and I’m sure we all certainly wish that for him), the truth of the matter is that the odds are very good that should he become President, he will pass, or become incapable of fulfilling his duties, while in office. This fact makes his VP choice all the more crucial, and therein lies the concern…
It appears that with the seemingly politically-driven, spur-of-the-moment pick of barely-vetted and relatively untested Sarah Palin as a running mate, John McCain’s “maverick”, “roll-the-dice” approach to critical decision-making lacks well-tempered judgment, and puts our country in unnecessary peril. I believe this is but one glaring example of a dangerous pattern of “from-the-hip” behavior we can expect from would-be President McCain on all issues, foreign and domestic.
Ask yourself… Would a Fortune 500 company hire even a mid-to-senior level manager after just one single face-to-face interview and phone conversation?…
John McCain is dangerous for America.
McCain/Palin is just the "McSame" and pale in comparison to the true leadership of Barack Obama and Joe Biden!
At the end of the day, parading Sarah Palin out in front of the cameras doesn't distract me one bit from the undeniable fact that John McCain still fully embraces George Bush & Dick Cheney's politics and failed policies both at home and abroad.
Hoosiers came out in record numbers yesterday and said no to pandering and divisiveness, and yes to the true American leader we see in Barack Obama. And though we may not have won our state's bragging rights, we (along with the help of our North Carolina brothers and sisters) have indeed won the night, and may very well have stopped Hillary Clinton in her tracks.
I'm extremely proud of my state... proud to be a Hoosier... and very proud of my next President, Barack Obama!
Thank you Indiana!
Obama '08YES WE CAN!!!
I get so discouraged by the effectiveness of "say anything" kitchen-sink smear tactics, incessant tabloid-media distractions passed off as real news, pandering, innuendo, and outright lies that rely on the general ignorance of the lowest common denominator in this country - confidently knowing all along that by the time the actual truth filters down to the masses, it'll be too late!... it makes me sick!
Over the weekend, my girlfriend was walking through the parking lot of our semi-rural Indiana Walmart wearing her Obama shirt, when some hayseed jackass called her a "terrorist lover"!
You know, I WANT to have hope... I WANT to believe in this country's ability to rise above the BS... But misinformed hate like this makes me infinitely frustrated, bitter, and angry! Not to mention the fact that it happened to MY girlfriend! (I really hope I'm the one that runs across you next time you redneck pr***!)
I'm no less proud to be an American, but I'm a little less proud of America - and its liars and hate-mongers from both the GOP and (yes) the Clinton campaign that continue to perpetuate their vile messages to the gullible, with absolutely no remorse what-so-ever! Stupid people shouldn't be allowed to vote, but unfortunately they are - with their evil puppet-masters happily pulling their strings all the way to the polls!
HOPE...
I HOPE the majority of people aren't this ignorant. I HOPE we outnumber the stupid. I HOPE we will collectively rise-up and politically crush the manipulative evil that runs rampant within our system. I HOPE this really IS "our time".
Rednecks 4 Obama '08Ye-ha we can, y'all!!!
P.S.: Let's do it tomorrow Hoosiers!!! I DO have faith in us!!!
Lately, I’ve heard political pundits and so-called analysts asking questions like, “If Senator Obama is supposed to be such a great candidate, then why in outspending Hillary Clinton nearly 4 to 1 in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, can he still not seal the deal?”
Well, I think I have part of the answer…
Last night, President Bill Clinton came to my small little hometown of Martinsville Indiana, to speak at one of our two local middle schools. And even though I’m a huge Obama supporter, I HAD to go see him… I mean, c’mon, he IS Bill Clinton! Plus, an intimate setting like that, here in Martinsville Indiana, just doesn’t come around that often.
So I faithfully donned my big, black, “Obama ‘08” t-shirt (which I love by the way), took my Obama rally sign, and marched straight into the lion’s den of about 600 (mostly) Clinton-democrats gathered in a small school, in a rural, republican Indiana county. As it turned out, the lady to my left was a huge HRC supporter, but her friend was an Obama supporter… as was the lady to my right, and a man in a wheelchair in front of me (funny story – he also wore an Obama shirt, but covered it up with another shirt… I suppose if I were already in a wheelchair, I too might not risk being beaten with sticks by an angry Hillary mob). Anyway, in talking with these nice people, it seemed the general consensus (at least right around me) was that they didn’t care too much whether Obama or Hillary eventually won the nomination, just as long as the Republicans didn’t win in November. Primarily (like me), they were really all there to see Bill. Then it struck me…
Hillary’s out stumping in the cities, and Bill’s cleaning up with the rural democrats, while Barack Obama is just one man. And although I admire Michelle Obama’s efforts… she’s no Bill Clinton. Meaning; meeting “the great orator” in person really sticks with us rural folks and probably goes a long way to swaying an otherwise “toss-up” crowd toward Hillary come Election Day. So while it may be true that Senator Obama outspends HRC nearly 4 to 1, the Clinton campaign effectively out-rallies Senator Obama 2 to 1 in charismatic, larger-than-life figures, which I believe partially is what's keeping her alive in states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and (hopefully not) Indiana.
And when they call Bill Clinton “the great orator”, it’s well deserved. He said he started his career in the car business which didn’t surprise me one bit after listening to him speak. I swear, the man would get to talking about details then say something like, “… and that’s why I think you should vote for Hillary”, and I’d quickly snap back to reality and remember, “Oh yeah, HE’S not running… SHE is!” But when the man talks for a little while, you unconsciously stop differentiating between the two… It’s scary, and extremely effective.
I couldn’t have had a much better spot in the crowd too, standing right up front-stage-right, about 2 people back – 20 feet or so from the podium with that big Obama logo splayed across my chest, glaring the former President right in the face the entire time. It didn’t faze him though, and I really didn’t expect it to… It was the principle of the thing. However, I didn’t lower myself to heckling or taunting him though – that just wouldn’t have been cool. And in all fairness, he didn’t slam Obama the entire evening… not once. In fact, he spoke favorably on those few occasions where he DID mention Senator Obama. Instead, he spoke about issues and details in a way that really connected with people. But in the end, he gave a speech that pretty much mirrored Senator Obama’s positions on the real issues… it’s just that it was “Bill” giving it, and like I said, I think that’s going to have a lasting effect on my fellow townsfolk come Election Day.
I will share this about the man though…
At the end of the rally, I got the chance to meet him briefly and shake his hand. I told him it was an honor to meet him, and asked if he would be willing to autograph my Obama rally sign as a “gesture of good will”, to which he smiled and said, “sure”. So he took my sign along with everyone else’s books and signs and stuff, and at the end of the reception line brought them all backstage to autograph. An assistant came out periodically to give the items back. Eventually, she came out with the freshly-autographed Hillary rally sign that had been taped to the podium during his speech (duct tape and all), and came up to me and said, “The President wanted you to have this”. Wow!... I was very grateful, but wondered if I’d ever get my Obama sign back. At the end, she DID give it back to me, unsigned of course. To which I said, “He isn’t going to sign it is he”? “No”, she said with a grin… Oh well, I tried.
So basically, Bill Clinton lied to my face!... He didn’t have sex with that woman, he didn’t inhale, and he didn’t autograph my Obama sign after he said he would!... slick, Willie… slick!
All-in-all though, I walked away happy; with an autograph, a smile, and a moment to remember. Thanks Bill! It really WAS an honor to meet you…
But I’m still voting for Obama! ;)
Obama '08Yes we can!!!
Point 1: William Ayers
Here's the facts... William Ayers was once a member of the radical, anti-war, "Weather Underground Organization", responsible for a dozen bombings between 1970 and 1974 (Barack Obama would have been 8-12 years old during this time). Mr. Ayers is currently a distinguished professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago and a prominent, influential figure in Chicago democratic politics.
In 1995, State Senator Alice Palmer chose Mr. Ayers home to announce she was stepping down from the State Senate to run for Congress. Among a handful of others, she decided to invite to the event, her chosen successor, Barack Obama.
Between 1999 and 2002, Mr. Ayers and Mr. Obama both served on the board of the anti-poverty charity group, the "Woods Fund of Chicago".
In April of 2001, Mr. Ayers donated a whopping $200 dollars to then-State Senator Obama's re-election fund.
And that's basically it... Attempting to make anything more out of this and tie Senator Obama to Mr. Ayers' radical views during the time Senator Obama was a child half-a-world away is just ludicrous. Here’s a wild parallel... The current Pope was enrolled into the Hitler Youth in 1941 after his 14th birthday. Now does that make the Holy Father guilty by association of Nazi atrocities? I know this is an extreme analogy, but goes to prove my point. This extreme twisting of guilt-by-association is just a distraction meant to influence people who may not have all the facts. (BTW: In all fairness to the Pope, membership in the Hitler Youth was legally required in Germany beginning in 1939.)
Point 2: Reverend Wright, and "God damn America"
To echo the sentiments of columnist/author Dan Savage, I too might say "God damn my mother!" when she's out of line and really pisses me off... and I love her dearly and unconditionally, as I, and I'm sure Rev. Wright, loves this great country. What is wrong with rebuking the people and things we love the most when they're clearly in the wrong? Remember, as an ex-Marine who faithfully served this country, Rev. Wright is also a patriot. Additionally, as a black man who lived through segregation, riots, and worse during the height of the civil rights movement, he has a first-hand perspective that tends to stick with a man.
But again, taken out of context, this all becomes a twisted, guilt-by-association attack on Barack Obama that is just as ludicrous as the Ayers attack - again, as a distraction meant to influence those who may not have all the facts.
What upsets me about these first two points is that they're used as political tactics by those who know that sensationalistic innuendo (and sometimes outright lies) spreads like wildfire to the public. What upsets me even more is that these same people also know that because the truth is usually not so sensational, it takes much longer to filter down to the masses... hopefully sometime well after the polls close. Case in point... if even one person refuses to vote for Senator Obama because they're still convinced he's a Muslim, then the tactic worked!... shame on those people.
Point 3: Flag Pins
Really?... I mean, really?!!... Look, putting the Senator's patriotism under a microscope at this level, and stirring up fervor over it is not only ridiculous, it's dangerous. To paraphrase Travis Smiley (in my own way), this type of massive suspicious questioning of patriotism can lead to rampant nationalism, which in-turn can lead a nation to jack boots and arm bands. This type of diversion needs to stop before it gets out of hand.
Point 4: "bitter":
My mother would often get flustered in her speaking when she was impassioned, fatigued, or just plain mad... and whenever she'd gaffe and I called her on it, she'd always say, "Listen to what I mean, not what I say." I think this is good advice we should all take, especially when listening to the media or the opposition. It's for this reason I don't attack John McCain too badly when he mixes Shiites and Sunnis, and it's for this reason Senator Obama's "bitter" remark is really a non-issue. Listen to what the man meant, not what he said... and reject (AND denounce) anyone who focuses too much on syntax.
The travesty of it all:
The real travesty here is that these four mostly irrelevant points are what ABC News (and I now use the term loosely) chose to focus on during the majority of their "so-called" debate last night. It's what the Republicans will focus on going forward, it's certainly the sensationalistic crap Fox News likes to focus on, and sadly Senator Clinton's campaign does its share too. These are all four, utter distractions that keep the American people from engaging in serious dialogs regarding the relevant issues of our time. Remember… dirty tactics baby, dirty tactics.
In conclusion:
Forget this garbage! Senator Barack Obama is a true, unifying leader, and a great American. His candor and character are outstanding, his record and achievements, impeccable. Never in my lifetime have I witnessed a presidential candidate with the charisma, integrity and ability to deftly unite this nation and bring about real and lasting change in Washington that returns power to the American people - in such a way as to get us back on track to becoming a caring national family, tolerant international neighbor, and responsible global tenant.
In this election, don't let sensationalist political tactics cloud the real issues... Instead, look to the those who will best mobilize “we, the people” and get this great nation back on track... Look to Senator Barack Obama, and look to ourselves.
According to Newsweek online (April 7 2008 issue), Hillary Clinton "appears to have a slight advantage in Indiana".
Let's not allow the media to decide our fate.
I urge everyone... talk to your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. Spread the word to Hoosiers everywhere as to why you support and believe in Barack Obama as a great unifier, statesman, and true leader. Have them fill out pledge cards if you can, or ask if the campaign can contact them.... Send them to the website or their closest campaign headquarters... Have them spread the word to their friends, neighbors and co-workers... anything and everything you can do to rock this vote and erase any advantage, no matter how slight.
Indiana's primary is a critical pivot point this year!... let's flip the script Hoosiers, and send Senator Clinton and the rest of the country a clear message: "Not this time, not this year, not OUR STATE!"
Defend Indiana!
Obama '08 Yes we can!!!
My son and I went to see Kal Penn (you know, Kumar) stumping for Obama last night at Indiana University. He didn't say anything about the Senator that old-man me didn't already know, but here's what I took away from it...
The room was packed - SRO, and spilling into the hallway, with kids of all races, hues, religions, preferences, you name it... it was absolutely beautiful, and just goes to prove what an effective uniter and great leader Barack Obama is. Along with asking poignant questions, they were taking pictures and video with their cellphones which I hope they're spreading today with their friends and family in that whole viral, internet sorta-way that they all know so well. I'm sure this is true at rallys, with and without the Senator, across the nation.
Given the statistics Kal pointed out about the sheer amount of money the cybergeneration has generated for their peers (the creators of YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook) just by sitting at their keyboards, it leads me to a simple conclusion: If you kids aren't careful with this technology, you might just mobilize yourselves in this election into taking your country back... Wouldn't that be aweful? ;)
Seriously though... you kids rock, and this time, you're in contol!... don't buy what the media tries to force-feed you.
Obama '08... yes we can!
PS: for those of you who weren't there... Kal is also a visiting professor of asian-american studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and doesn't eat White Castle.
for you, friends... to download as you wish:This is our time, this is our moment to rise up and reinvent ourselves America,as a caring national family, tolerant international neighbor, and responsible global tenant.Yes we can!http://michaellittell.com/public/obamafun_02_600x600.jpgmichaellittell.commyspace.com/michaellittell
Do not make the mistake of casting your vote for those who would prey upon your fears to get it – this is a veiled attempt to keep you under control and complacent as your shepherd "keeps the wolves at bay".
You’ll never have a voice in this type of relationship… You’ll never know the real nature of the wolf, and worse, the true intentions of the shepherd – for this is a shepherd who would rather scare you into the fold than engage your intellect... God forbid you learn something.
Senator Obama consistantly engages Americans without preying upon our fear. He treats the American psyche with dignity and respect... and not like a frightened little sheep.
GOOD!!!... spin it!... Barack Obama doesn't like them either as he denounces (and rejects) those murderous psychotics.
You know, it might be that al Qaeda's afraid of Obama since he's said he'll go after them where they REALLY are vs. where they aren't.
Is this man kidding?... Let's see if I've got this straight:
First, Senator Obama is asked this very hypothetical question in the debate (and I'm paraphrasing here), "If, as President, he would have the right to go back into Iraq in order to suppress an insurrection there, after downsizing the U.S. troop presence". To which Senator Obama responded, "I always reserve the right for the president ... to make sure that we are looking out for American interests... And if al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq, then we will have to act in a way that secures the American homeland and our interests abroad."
Senator Obama's choice of verb tense, "IS forming", specifically addressed this hypothetical question at the time. However, John McCain who admittedly did not watch the debate, heard (of) Senator Obama's response without knowing the context, which led him to gaffe, "I've got news for you... al Qaeda IS in Iraq."
Well, no s#%@, sir!... had you actually listened to the question and the man's response, instead of only parroting what your jack-booted, fear-mongering insiders have to offer, you would have understood the context and therefore wouldn't have looked so ignorant in your remarks!
But I digress, because Senator Obama deftly handled Senator McCain's gaffe with his (again paraphrasing), "I have news for YOU Mr. McCain, there wouldn't be an al Qaeda in Iraq if you and Bush hadn’t gone there in the first place… If you had paid attention to al Qaeda in Afghanistan (you know, the terrorists who actually attacked us) instead.”
So now, that Senator McCain realizes his faux pas, he has the audacity to say, “Well that’s history. That’s the past. That’s talking about what happened before. What we should be talking about is what we’re going to do now.”
OK… well that being the case sir, the public financing argument is also in the past, so I guess we can forget about that. Your beloved “surge” is in the past, so I don’t want to hear anymore about that either – By the way America, we always hear about “the surge” from the Republicans; how well it’s working and how great they are for implementing it… but rarely in those self-gratifying moments does anyone ever mention the fact that for the last 6 months while the surge has been going on, there’s also been a relatively successful Mahdi Army cease-fire imposed by Muqtada al-Sadr on his own followers. Look, the men and women of our armed forces truly deserve our respect and gratitude for the job they’ve done and continue to do. But with regard to the surge and it’s level of success… the truth is; it ain’t all us, folks. The Republicans should remember that.
Again, I digress because the point I was making had to do with McCain’s latest argument: The decision to go to war is history… so let’s not talk about it. Fine. I don’t want to hear another word about your esteemed, inspirational, and truly honorable service to this country. Because it too sir, is in the past.
If Senator McCain, as you say, “What we should be talking about is what we’re going to do now.” Then I have to say that Senator Obama’s philosophical approach (not just on the war) far outshines yours. Senator Obama’s answers to “what are we going to do now” are steeped in re-investing in the American people, turning around our failing economy, repairing our international reputation , and vigorously addressing the issues of a dying planet… all against a backdrop theme of, “America, we all have to actually stand united together, roll up our sleeves, and take real action to make these things happen.” You seem to just want to “stay the course” (hope I don’t get attacked for plagiarizing there), on war, on the economy, on science, on our infrastructure.
Senator McCain, I supported you in 2000. Again, you are a true American hero (I know, I’m not supposed to talk about that anymore), but sir, you are now out of touch. My 80+ year old father and 70+ year old mother, both die-hard Republicans, raised me right (and “right”). But the truth is, my generation (Obama’s generation) thinks about and approaches most things very differently than yours, and in a way I (from experience) don’t believe you’ll ever “get”. Hey, when I’m your age, my children will most likely tell me I’m out of touch and set in my ways too. Hopefully by that point, they won’t let my stubbornness and conviction about how to deal with paradigms that have continued to evolve without me, to undermine my decision making.
It’s time sir, for you and the old guard to step aside, and let my generation deal with both the successes, and devastating eleventh-hour failures we’re inheriting from your generation… and in closing I’d say, don’t knock “hope”, because my generation’s got a lot of work to do, and we’re going to need all the inspiration and motivation we can get to clean up this mess.
for you, friends... to download as you wish:This is our time, this is our moment to rise up and reinvent ourselves America,as a caring national family, tolerant international neighbor, and responsible global tenant.Yes we can!http://michaellittell.com/public/obama08-glassy-800x600.jpghttp://michaellittell.com/public/obama08-glassy-900x600.pngmichaellittell.commyspace.com/michaellittell
Navigating this country through history is much like paddling a canoe across a lake – We must alternate appropriately between paddling left and right, in response to the ripples and wind that would otherwise steer us off course, if we are to reach our destination.
I am a 42 year old, white male, raised Republican (also tolerant and without bigotry – thanks, Mom & Dad). However, I personally feel it is a voter’s folly and a disservice to America for one to continuously attempt to steer this country to just one side, as it seems we need both in the grand scheme of things. In the ‘80’s, I voted to the right because I felt at the time it was in America’s best interest. I’ll vote left now for the same reason.
Additionally, let me say that I believe all the frontrunners, right and left, have the ability to deftly handle the enormous responsibility of leading the free world. That being said, there’s something much more to this job than simply the ability to do it…
Clearly, the President of the United States is far more than a figurehead – but a figurehead none-the-less, which is a very significant point. I believe the leadership, charisma, and inspirational quality he or she exudes is just as important as his or her ability to aptly execute policy. This is paramount in both the American arena and the world stage if we are to heal our nation internally and reverse our outward image.
For these reasons, I support Senator Barack Obama in his bid to become the next President of the United States. Far and away from the other candidates, I believe Senator Obama radiates the intangible “je ne sais quoi” that we hunger for as a nation, and will come to personify the face of a positive, new America to the rest of the world… Senator Obama, I’m ready for you to be my JFK.
Having said that, I currently see one small stumbling block...
Obviously America wants change. In the debates, Senator Obama continuously touts himself as the man who can best inspire the American public into bringing about this change, and I agree with him. I believe the majority of Americans will also ultimately agree with him. However, in keeping America’s collective interest, it simply isn’t enough to get people to agree, “Yes, we’ll follow you” – but rather to get them to say, “Yes, we’ll follow you HERE”. Simply put Senator Obama, America needs a project… a large-scale, tangible, SPECIFIC project (other than war), which I haven’t really heard much of in the debates from any one candidate.
It’s all well-and-good to ambiguously state that we need to further green initiatives in general, however that kind of non-specific rhetoric just won’t inspire America for long. But specific projects do; JFK taking us to the moon, Eisenhower’s interstate road system – real projects with clearly defined, measurable goals that America can sink its teeth into, roll up its sleeves, and truly construct. A project that in the end we can collectively step back from and proudly say, “See that?... We built that!”
Before, I mentioned JFK taking us to the moon to illustrate my point. However, at this time in history, I don’t believe our national “unifying” project should be in space. Space initiatives (though important) are not something the average American can literally get involved in, help build, share with their children, and enjoy the fruits of his or her labor. Today, we need something terrestrial and tangible. We need something that invests in America’s infrastructure; such as a clean, high-speed national rail system, or the development and common-place usage of non-gasoline vehicles, etc. – but something big, something specific, and something that will provide steady employment and tax incentives to massive numbers of our countrymen who desperately need it.
I admire Senator Obama’s belief that he can unify and call this country to action in a non-combat way. I believe the people are willing to follow. However, I also believe the unsaid elephant-in-the-room behind this message, is that those same Americans are going to have to step up and bust their collective ass to make his or any vision a reality… and that’s OK.
American’s aren’t afraid of hard work – we welcome a challenge. We just need an exact goal – a specific, unifying project that we can get behind… and that, so far, has been the missing piece.
I hope Senator Obama finds it, and brings it to the masses.
Best of luck to our country, and to our next President… may we become a caring national family, tolerant international neighbor, and responsible global tenant.
Michael LittellBloomington, Indiana
