Grandmother Anne's Blog

Statement from voter convinced by Palin to support Obama

Anne — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:23:05 EDT

This is from another Blog here and is well worth reading!

If Senator McCain Is Not Really A Republican...?

Anne — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:52:09 EDT

I am hoping that some of you can clarify for me just what 'ticket' John McCain and Sarah Palin are using in thier effort to arrive at the two highest offices in the United States of America. Senator McCain is presenting himself as a war hero. a patriot and a 'maverick' who is not really a Republican. As far as I can find in my research both candidates are registered, bona fide Republicans. So, if he is not really a real Republican how is he able to use the Republican ticket and why would a staunch Repulican governor agree to join him?

According to my English language dictionary a MAVERICK is;

A pioneer who didn't brand his calves.

An unbranded range animal.

An idependent person who refuses to conform with his group.

What do you see??

(I also wonder do some Republicans feel that thier party has been highjacked? Do some feel that thier candidate has made a rash and risky choice when he lasooed Ms. Palin? Do they hope to wake up and find this is all just a bad dream?)

Letter From A Lady Who Knows Sarah Palin

Anne — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:30:55 EDT

Anne Kilkenny, a housewife and a Wasilla resident, who has personally known Sarah Palin for many years wrote this letter as a way to answer questions that friends (unfamiliar with either Wasilla or Sarah Palin) had begun to ask:

THE SARAH PALIN I KNOW

(Link should open in a new window..)

Family Situation and Personal Beliefs Do Not Qualify As Credentials

Anne — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:20:02 EDT

What concerns me about Governor Sarah Palin are not her personal beliefs alone, but the fact

that since she first ran for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (which was then smaller than it is

today) she injected and made issues out of these in her campaign. In other words, she used

them as vehicles to ride into the sought after office. I see and hear her doing the very

same thing as part of accepting Senator McCain's offer to become his running mate. Issues

are no substitute for honest, real, solid qualification or preparation for stepping into

either the mayor's office or into the second highest office in the United States of America.

While Governor Palin's family should be "off limits" - meaning they should not be attacked

or insulted - her family life and situation is at the same time niether a disqualifying or

qualifying factor in seeking any position or office. At the same time her family situation

does not qualify as preparation or credentials for any position or office - nor does this or

the fact of her teenage daughter's pregnancy or the fact that she has a Down's Syndrome

infant make her a better candidate. These are interesting and telling, yet, should not be

made or accepted as part of her resume.

What matters are her record and her real achievments in the political arena and the means

she is willing to use, and has or is using, to achieve any position or office.

If Senator John McCain is elected as our President in November she will become our Vice

President..and at any given moment may well need to be sworn in as our President - which is

a far cry from being an attractive, fresh, interesting, attention getting presidential

running mate.

Senator McCain, who appears to be an honorable man, has - by his choice of a divisive, ill

prepared running mate - lost not only votes of many who have been sitting back and taking a

good look at both Presidential Candidates - but has lost a good deal of the respect I felt

for the man. His choice, if he is elected, stands to do harm to the citizens of this

country. Senator McCain's age is, unfortunatley, a double-edged sword. With age comes more

life experience and, hopefully, more wisdom. Choosing Governor Palin is a risk he has chosen

to take seeing how this could re-fuel his campaign. He has the right to make his own choice

of a running mate, however, he has no right to at the same time risk the stability of this

nation and to in effect place its citizens in what could well be a precarious place if his

vehicle were to become our president.

I have been sitting back and just observing..and see right through Senator McCain!!

Anne — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:57:55 EDT

For the past several weeks I have sat quietly in the background simply watching and listening to all of the campaign goings on over the radio (NPR and BBC) and news articles on Yahoo. I listened to the radio broadcasts of much of both the Democrat and Repblican Conventions. Now, I am not a "politcial junkie"..just an interested voter looking to make the best decsion that I can come election day.

I was well impressed with Senator Obama's choice of Joe Biden as his running mate..and this is the choice I had been quietly hoping he would make! They present a mature, intelligent and well balanced team.

Senator McCain's VP choice, on the other hand, is most distressing and I don't for a minute see through what is going on with that -- he has chosen some one who can be used as a shoe horn to possibly "shoehorn" himself into the Oval Office.

Senator Obama Is An American Patriot...

Anne — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:59:11 EDT

I keep hearing Barack Obama refered to and labeled as "the black" or "the African American" candidate. This is inaccurate. Barack is an American citizen whose father was a dark skinned African and whose mother was a light skinned American.

Senator Obama is an American citizen who was born into a "working class" American family that valued him as an individual and where he was well nourished emotionally and intellectually. His healthy relationship with his mother and his grandmother endowed Barack with an honest and deep respect for women. He has no difficulty working with or trusting women; and is able to work well with both men and women.

Barack and his wife struggled as do many others to establish themselves in a better financial circumstance which came about owing to Michelle's work as an attorney and then the procedes from his books.

Barack's writing skill gives irefutible evidence of his intellectual capacity and of his ability to clearly communicate with others.

Senator Obama has earned his own way and has not leaned on the acheivements of others; or the name recognition that comes from association with a famous spouse or family lineage.

Senator Barack Obama is a patriot and an American citizen of mixed parentage - as are a vast number of us.

This campaign leaves a legacey to our children in that they have witnessed the fact that anyone at all who meets the basic quailications can run for President of the United States.

I will reach my 6oth year in 2009 and was privilaged to have witnessed early on in my own childhood that anyone, given or able to find opportunity, could become a doctor, a scientist, a mayor or a state governor..and more.

America is truly begining to mature despite her many mistakes and growing pains.

Senator Obama Scores High Where It Really Counts!

Anne — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:34:38 EDT

I hear tell that Senator Obama is not among the top bowlers in our country and that he has what my father called "a good understanding". Is his shoe size really 13 or 13 and a half? I am also hearing that he has been given more endorsements and that his campaign continues on an upward trend. And he continues to behave with dignity and comfortable humor. The momentun of his campaign can be said to have "bowled them over" where ever he has spoken and his scores are high where it really matters.

I am quite proud of this young man.

WHAT DOES CHANGE MEAN TO YOU?

Anne — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:17:57 EDT

I don't expect or wish for any president to storm into the Oval Office and completely re-do how our government works. And I do not believe this is what Senator Obama means by "Change". I do hope that he will give attention to detail and implement honesty. I believe he will use the experience he has to listen to those who also have experience and who are expert in certain areas. Something that I appreciate about our system of government are the "checks and balances" which need to not be set aside.

I hope to see the deep rooted influence wielded by the Clintons uprooted. There is much weeding to be accomplished. These roots are like those of buttercups in that they poison the ground. During the past several years Mr. and Mrs. Clinton have come to dominate the Democratic party and more.

I hope to see the rule of law respected and our constitution respected.

The Clintons are lawyers who have a proven track record of working to redefine or ignore the rules of the Democratic commitee and the rule of law. They are known to be "Smokey backroom brokers and politicians." Mrs. Clinton is adept at working and speaking ahead in such a way as to be able to claim any side of any issue or situation - it all depends on what will gain the most for her politically. I have, overtime, come to see Mrs. Clinton as a Chameleon and Mr. Clinton as a very good used car salesman. He knows how to make others "feel special' when need be.

What does "Change" mean to you?

ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

Anne — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:48:07 EDT

Here is a good place to begin:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)

One of the things that I know for certain is that the Republican Party hopes to have more Republicans elected everywhere and Democrats hope to have more Democrats elected everywhere.

I hope to see a balanced mix to keep things from tipping too far in one direction or another.

Currently I am reading about my favorite United States President, Abraham Lincoln (TEAM OF RIVALS by Doris Kearns Goodwin).

ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Anne — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 03:12:46 EDT

As you know, I am an idependent American who, along with many other independents and Republicans, is supporting Senator Barack Obama. I am not as well informed about either the Republican or the Democratic party as they currently exist. And I expect there are others who also need to know more about the party that our candidate represents. Here are a few online resources to get us started:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Democratic_Party

http://www.dnc.org/splashcrowd.php

http://www.dnc.org/index.html

The Charter and Bylaws were last ammended 5 December of 2005 and can be downloaded as a PDF at:

http://www.dnc.org/a/2006/01/dnc_charter_and.php

WHEN DO WE KNOW WE ARE REALLY DOING OUR OWN THINKING?

Anne — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:08:23 EDT

Right now at this moment in time I am listening to a radio program on NPR called 'To The Point' where they are discussing the current military actions happening in Iraq and are to discuss what our next president may have to deal with.

This brings to mind how some folks will, when they hear that I have read a certain book or have viewed a particular documentary or movie, assume or decide that this is evidence and proof of my being one thing or another. One good example is my having talked about having viewed Hillary The Movie has motivated some to say that this indicates that my overall views are right in line with the folks who produced the movie. That type of narrow, knee-jerk thinking misses the point. Could it be that some of us read, listen to and view a broad variety of articles and books; and that we listen to many radio programs and take part in many conversations. A good amount of what we see, view or read will contradict one another - and will contradict our own opinion or first-hand knowledge and experience.

I believe that it to be able to sift out truth and fact from all the noise we need to NOT limit what we will look at, read, consider and research.

To even begin to understand others, especially those with opposing views or who have made themselves our enemy, it is vital that we search out how and why they have come to where they are in their thinking and behavior. We need to identify what it is that motivates them.

As we learn facts and uncover real history we are wise to hold this up against our own thinking, beliefs and behavior. Each of us needs to come to see and understand how we also have come to think as we do and how we have come to see things as we do. We need to know where we are thinking independently and where we are being helped to think via mind games and manipulation.

One give away clue is when some one uses what I call "flag words and phrases" in their conversation or writing. These will be certain words or phrases handed out by an individual or a group spewing forth a particular ideology, political or social plan. This tells me who or what is guiding and censoring an individuals thinking despite the fact they claim to be free of such influence, guidance and control.

I hope that our next president will be an individual who is willing to listen to others, do his own homework and then sift out fiction from fact.

WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO MAINTAINS GOOD OVERALL HEALTH

Anne — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:56:42 EDT

Something that I believe to be important has not yet ( that I know of) been openly and widely looked at and discussed. This something is the overall physical health of both Senators Obama and Clinton.

Senator Clinton has, for, many years suffered from lymphodema; a chronic condition which causes severe leg, ankle and foot swelling. There is no cure, one must simply manage the symptoms which can at times become immobilizing. She has for decades chosen to operate under great physical and mental stress in order to gain and keep control of her self proclaimed destiny as the first woman president. This has required controlling and managing more and more people, organizations, situations and so on for many, many years.

Senator Clinton's relationship with her estranged husband has not been either happy or healthy - in many respects.

Senator Clinton, at age 60, is an older woman whose rough and tumble, high speed way of living has taken it's toll. She must go to great lengths including face firming injections and professional hair and make-up artists to keep up a healthy and more youthful appearance.

Senator McCain, age 71, is a older than Senator Clinton. He happens to look his age and appears healthy. However, I seem to recall that he was taken to hospital early on this year for an undisclosed reason during or preceding a campaign stop. ( I need help verifying this.) I do know that his time as a POW will have taken a considerable physical toll.

Senator Obama is 46 (about the same as one of our children.) He is in good physical health and is showing that he has the stamina to run this rough course. I am relieved to know that he has given up smoking - making this a "non-issue". Senator Obama and his wife have a healthy, stable and mature marital relationship - something that is also good for one's overall health and well-being.

Who do you see ( and why ) as the overall healthiest candidate best prepared to stay the course?

DOWNLOAD AND SHARE BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE - Make you own notebook

Anne — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:12:18 EST

Have you downloaded Senator Obama's BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE?

This is a PDF file that is easily downloaded (even on a slow connection). This can then be saved and shared. I suggest that you print out a copy to keep at hand to refer to.

A good way to do this is to use a 3-ring hole-punch and then keep the pages in a nice binder. The elegant, professional looking title page can be used as a "book cover".

Clear vinyl document protector pages can be used if you wish; these also work well to preserve notes and to keep copies of articles printed from the internet (etc.)

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

DOWNLOAD BUTTON IS NEAR THE TOP OF THE PAGE.

Letter To Michelle Obama About Third World Conditions In Places Such As Pine Ridge

Anne — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:34:42 EST

I have just sent the following message , through the Obama website, to Michelle Obama:

**I am a 59 year old grandmother who, having been born into a poor family, truly appreciates the home, free of want, that my husband, of 39 years, and I now share. I am also thankful that we were given opportunity to build a foundation for our children to build their homes on. As a family we still pull together and see that no one has unmet needs.

As a nation, however, we fall sadly short when it comes to insuring that our neighbors need never be with out adequate food, clothing and shelter. These must be provided even ahead of education. When basic needs are met minds are better able to focus on other things. When basic needs are met and dignity restored it is less likely for individuals to dull the pain with alcohol or drugs. This is a wealthy nation. Our government finds a way to spend several Billion dollars each day on the war in Iraq while thousands of Americans go without the comfort of a place to call home or proper nourishment of body and mind. One place where this can be seen, and that is not being talked about, is the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Are you aware of it's existence as a type of third world environment right here in our America? Would you, as our First Lady be willing to consider making this and similar places the focus of special attention? Sincerely,

Anne ***