David Martin's Blog

Bias in the WNBA ?

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:21:20 EDT

I just wanted to share a message I sent to a friend of mine on Myspace. She is a professional basketball player in Greece. She is arguably the best 2-guard in the world, yet she has been blacklisted by the WNBA because of an act her brother committed, which landed him in prison. Her name is Giuliana Mendiola and while in her senior year at the University of Washington Giuliana Mendiola averaged 23.1 points; 4.9 assists; 2 steals and 5.2 rebounds as a 5’11” 2-guard at the University of Washington. She was informed she would be drafted by the Seattle Storm, coached by Anne Donovan at the time. When the 2004 WNBA College Draft approached, Giuliana was ignored by everyone because of the acts her brother committed. Giuliana had no part in this act, yet she was blacklisted. I was a guest columnist with the Seattle Times and wrote the following article < http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20040425&slug=mytake25 >. MY MESSAGE: Oct 24 2009 12:19 AM Hey Giuli,
are you back to playing ball overseas? I tried to add Fab to my friends list, but I do not know his email, which it required in order for me to send the request.

I hope you're in a good situation with your team overseas, but I wish you were playing ball in the WNBA even more so. You and Shelia Lambert are without a doubt the best 1-2 guards in the world, but the ridiculous politicking by coaches like Anne Donovan and others have blacklisted both of you.

I wish the Federal government would do a probe of this bias against persons of color in the WNBA. I would hope the President Obama would create a commission to look into this continuing problem which I have seen go on for far too long. It's racist and it's wrong and should be dealt with immediately.

Dr. Phil did a show on racism and bias on his show today which I believe went a long way to eradicate this disease of the mind in our social consciousness.

Love you my friend,
David Giuliana, as a walk on with the Sacramento Monarchs, received no playing time, except in a televised game against Los Angeles where she almost single handedly brought her team back from a 20 plus point disadvantage in the closing moments of the game. She’s a very positive minded person, but it’s heartbreaking to see her not be given the opportunity to play in the WNBA and be given the playing time to showcase her talent. There have been other players who I’ve spoken with who played for Miss Donovan, never to be allowed back into the WNBA as well. In the end, I believe the fact that Giuliana is a heterosexual and a devout Catholic may have played a role in being blacklisted. I was so concentrated on race when I wrote that article in 2004; I didn't take into account these other two components, which I have found to be as pertinent as race, if not more so. I would wish that the President would assign a commission to look into the bias that exists in the WNBA, which have affected other players as well as Giuliana over the years.

Seattle is Liberal in some ways, yet conservative in most others, you just have to look within

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:49:06 EDT

Seattle is liberal in some ways, yet conservative in most others

While attending the University of Washington I wrote a paper on the ugliness of our country that is visible by African-Americans, not Caucasian-Americans, due too Institutionalized racism titled “Culture of Embedded Racism: No Legal Recourse, No Legal Mobilization, only Revolution”.

Racism in the United States (that dark little secret shared by more Caucasian-Americans than you’d believe), is the reason why we have not excelled as much as we have the potential too at this point in our society’s life.

To me, racism is secretly or overtly rationalizing to oneself that blacks, simply because they are black, speak Ebonics, are violent, make love better than a white man, are more endowed than white men, are less intelligent than white men, are not wired to lead, etc, etc, etc…I have attached a copy of a paper (please overlook the typos and grammatical errors and attempt to comprehend my train of thought in developing this research paper), I wrote in one of my LSJ (Law, Societies & Justice courses at the UW. I am in no way a racist; but a realist who has experienced and witnessed violence by institutionalized authority figures since I was three, when I had yet not developed the mental maturation to comprehend what I was exposed too at such a young age.

AS A CHILD, MY FAMILY MOVED AROUND LIKE NOMADS (I recently discovered documents, through the “freedom of information act,” detailing the barbaric treatment of my father by the military and NOAA, was the reason for this constant movement of our family. I am now attempting to get “Veteran’s Benefits” for my mother (81) before she passes away. He received the “Victory Medal” and “Good Conduct Medal” while serving in the Navy in WWII. He was drafted five times, first at the age of 16. He served a total of 23-years of Navy service, ending in “Honorable Discharges”.

While enroute to Virginia with military orders; to be shipped out to war, he got into an accident and rolled his car. He sustained back injuries that plagued the rest of his career, yet the Department of Veterans Affairs saw it as the right to refuse disability benefits. This led to arthritis in his back and internal damages, yet as in the case of most African-American vets, he was rejected benefits that would have given his family a more stable life. As with me and my wife, my father married my mother, even though she had three children to bring into the marriage. My sister Linda (11-05-1959); me (03-15-1962); and Charles Edward martin Jr. (03-28-1963), were his biological children. There was Rufus (05-10-1947); Margaret (02-19-1953); and Freddie (12-25-1956). My mother and father married on 12-01-1959, so Rufus was 12, Margaret was 6, and Freddie was 2. When I met my wife on 05-01-1990; Oliver was 12 (02-09-1978); Ramona 3 (05-11-1986); and Corinna 2 (02-04-1988).

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS I ATTENDED

Olympic View in Bremerton, WA; Frank B. Cooper on Delridge Way in West Seattle; and West Woodland Elementary in Ballard and each of these schools had a profound affect on my human development. I attended West Woodland in the sixth grade. My teacher was a German National with a very thick German accent named Mr. Entenmann. He may have been a naturalized citizen by then, but he obviously lived in Germany most of his life. He took our class to an opera, which blew me completely away. Of all of my teachers, he has always been my favorite.

I always felt that I was treated as less important than my white counterparts, but never did I feel that way when Mr. Entenmann was my teacher. I believe, even though most of my white teachers were wonderful, they were not aware, or maybe they were, of how they treated me versus how that treated my white counterparts. It was as if they pushed me along, even though I had not mastered the subject, because I was a good kid. Mr. Entenmann demanded excellence and I loved that!

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS I ATTENDED

Blaine Junior High on Queen Anne; Logan on Magnolia; Cascade Middle School in White Center/ Burien; and ASA Mercer Junior High School in Seattle.

Up until I attended ASA Mercer Junior High, our family was the only blacks at those schools, with the exception of Cooper, which had a few other black families, but not much.

I always thought of my dad as the one who took care of everything. At 6’3” and about 250 pounds, my father was a very imposing figure. In Burien, we all lived in a brown ugly shack with one or two bedrooms. I was bused from Burien to Blaine middle school (09-05-1974-10-03-1974) and called nigger everyday, with no friends. The kids surrounded me daily and one day I let loose. I went to the principal’s office and explained my story. The principal was a racist; the whole school was at that time. My father came there and for the first time, I saw a chip in his armor. He could do nothing, so my family had me bused to a different school (Logan). I must have been there for the rest of the year or a similar event unfolded and I was sent to the school closest to our home, Cascade Middle School. Again, I was called nigger and had fights with Tim Thornton every day. The 7th grade was the worst year in my life. I never learned fractions and whatever else was taught in the 7th grade because of the simply trying to survive everyday.

The next year my family moved to the Madrona neighborhood and I went to ASA Mercer Middle School. There were a lot of Asian students, black students, white students, Native-American students and we all got along so well! Bruce Mar (Chinese and Gerald Russell) were my absolutely best friends. We then stayed and I went to High School at Franklin. All of my friends were there too and I was finally living. I never got into the hardcore rap crowd because ASA was my first experience with black students who were proud and equals, but I has so many friends in all groups.

HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED

In High school we moved to the Garfield area and my family let me finish out school at Franklin. I caught a metro bus (14 Mt Baker) to school everyday. I then excelled, winning a Scholarship Award from The Seattle Public School District, “In recognition of academic excellence and contributions made to the quality of life as a student of Seattle Public Schools on 06-11-1980.

When I finished school I found that racism was still there, everywhere. I would be shadowed in stores, while whites were robbing them blind. Police Officers would look at me meanly for no reason at all. I wanted to get away from Seattle, so I joined the US Marines on 08-29-1980. I was a guide for a while and I even humped Mount Mother fu-ck-- with my Gunnery Sergeant “Gunny,” yet in the end they gave it to Costar, a white male. From then on, I saw that even though I tried twice as hard in everything I did, excelled over others, I would never get the accolades because that’s just the way things were.

I’m a Catholic, but I believe gays should be allowed to marry (no civil union), but marriage because I know what it feels like to be treated as less than… Less than should not even be in the American vocabulary.

Well, now you can read the attached paper, knowing I’m not a racist, but one who has been picked on all my life by my country. I love my country, which is why I served both in the US Marines and US Army. I’m just so hurt and can’t understand why my country doesn’t love me.

Seattle is liberal in a lot of ways, but with gentrification (forcing blacks out of their homes), because blacks are always turned down for higher paying jobs, e.g., I applied to Microsoft’s security team and they didn’t even call me back after just having served as a sergeant in the Army as a Military Policeman. My German son worked at Wal-Mart and then applied and they made him a supervisor getting the kind of money I will never get. My wife and I worked at Safeco Insurance Company in Redmond, Washington when Mike McGavick was the president of the company.

I worked in Manuals and Distribution. I made it clear that I wanted to stay there and become a supervisor or manager. Whenever my supervisor was out, I was designated as the one to delegate work assignment sand keep things moving. I received many pride awards for what I did. However, my supervisor and Manager kept telling me that this position would never come up, so I should put in for a transfer. They kept doing this for a few months until I finally gave in. Not two days later a fellow worker told me my supervisor was being promoted and they gave, I believe his name was Chad (a 19 year old redheaded male with shoulder length hair and a full beard) the job, without even announcing it.

I immediately confronted them, but they said there was nothing I could do. I went to HR and I was contacted by Mike McGavick who attempted to smooth things over. I told him this wasn’t right and that it was an example of institutionalized racism and something needed to be done. They told me he had college (1-year of junior college); I told them I had one year at the University of Washington and gave them my transcript. They said he had more experience and I stated that I was the one who performed the supervisory duties when the supervisor was absent; I also had an assistant with my manuals. I also told them I had managing duties as a sergeant in the United States Army and they stated that my military experience didn’t count.

My wife was made a lead in her department, a German national with little experience. My wife told me her Manager Karen stated that I was blacklisted because of my complaint and I would never advance at Safeco. She said the best would be for me to go to another company.

What my father had experienced before passing away 08-15-1997. My experience in school and the workforce and my brother’s lost case against the city and his company (His Company (Jore Marine Corps) was cited numerous times by OSHA for not having safety rails on their barges, because longshoreman could fall off. On 08-31-2000 my brother’s bobcat, which he was in, went off the barge into 40 feet of water in the Duwamish River. The fire Department responded immediately, but was forbidden to wear their scuba diving gear, as that was given to Mayor Paul Schell’s Police Department comrades. A fireman, Dave Powell, on one breath of air made numerous attempts to reach my brother, but would have to surface because of no oxygen tank. There were bubbles coming from the water, so my brother was still alive.

Dave Powell finally reached the bobcat and put a hook on it and they brought it up with my brother’s lifeless body inside. At this time, the police Department arrived. Judge Alsdorf ruled against our family and acquitted the city and Jore Marine Corp of all charges.

We found out approximately three years later that our lead attorney was a defense attorney for the city judges, getting them off on DIU charges and winning cases for their family. We believe this was a conflict of interest and that some deal was made to rule against our family.

It is for this reason, I wrote this research paper. You may not agree with it, but this is because of all that I have suffered, my family has suffered and other blacks have suffered. Once we realize this, rather than continuing to dismiss it, we will begin to heal as a nation. Should we continue the path of not going there, racist rhetoric, institutionalized racism, and other acts of subjugation of blacks and no legal remedy from our courts will continue to plague our nation and cultivate anger that will one day explode.

David Martin
14014 Admiralty Way, #7F
Lynnwood, WA 98087

firstlisten@comcast.net

(425) 787-7976

I really do love you all...email me if you want me to email my paper to you, it's 33 pages of some really graphic stuff...it's real life

Why President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:43:06 EDT

Why President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize

Why President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize, in my point of view. The world rejoiced when he won. A collective world of relief was felt, Obama won the Nobel Peace prize and all that strengthened the resolve of terrorists to recruit new enemies of the world was halted. We who believe in, e.g., Jesus Christ (Christians), Allah (Muslims), Hare Krishna(Hindu), Manitou(Native Americans), Buddha(Buddhists), etc., Who we believe in is based on faith and hope. Faith and Hope is why the collective world body rejoiced. Peace in some part was restored in the world. President Barack Hussein Obama's commitment to public service to bring hope to the United States and the world is why he won The Nobel Peace Prize. Those who are dumbfounded are of the same group who conspire to sabotage his every effort to bring about Universal Healthcare in the United States, those who sabotage his efforts to fixate on what we all have in common than what defines our differences, those who can't understand why he won the Nobel Peace Prize are those who do not believe in peace, hope and love in our world.

President Barack Hussein Obama exemplifies the qualities the winner of the Nobel Peace prize must possess. It's a no-brainer to me and the world's people in each and every continent. I could not be more proud and more in agreement why he won.

My response to the Seattle PI online article, “Before Mount Vernon, Glenn Beck will speak in Seattle”

David from Lynnwood, WA — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:47:48 EDT

Glenn Beck is a representative of racism. I am dumbfounded that in this day and age, in the United States, someone so archaic in his beliefs could be so appealing to so many Americans. It really makes me ashamed of those Americans, because they are the ones that other nations look to in defining who we are as a people. Glenn Beck represents all that is wrong with the average American; supposedly one of the most educated in the world, yet baffles others at our ignorance and hypocrisy. Glenn Beck is a racist that brainwashes any American too lazy to do the research to see if what he says holds up in water, which it never does. He's a shock jock, just like Rush Limbaugh, preying on those who take word of mouth as the truth and frowns upon those who actually do the research to discard just about everything that comes out of their hateful mouths. Other nations look at us and see the Weimer Republic. We have so many that are actually that ignorance, which is the real concern here. President Obama made light of a question by David Letterman, which actually goes to the root of the Glen Beck dogma. Our society was rooted in racism and all he need do is provoke fear to unseat that ugly demon that lies in the subconscious of those who are ignorant. Luckily, we have far more Americans who are intelligent and who actually see every human being as intrinsically equal and not as some instrument to further their own needs, especially when knowingly doing harm to a group within our society, like the Germans during the Weimer Republic’s refusal to consciously believe in the Jewish extermination project. Today’s Jews are our blacks and other minorities, gays and lesbians and our working class poor.

He represents a very dangerous sect within our society that needs to be dealt with openly or we may one day find our selves on the wrong side of history. Glenn Beck is a very dangerous virus within our society that continues to spawn off even more dangerous strands at every opportunity he has to speak to the masses. Wake up everybody and see this parasite for what he really is, the devil.

The public option for healthcare must remain in order for all of us to realize the American Dream

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:25:34 EDT

I hope this makes sense...with my wife's health, my mind is so scrambled these days. I hope I haven't made this so confusing that my argument is reduced to a lunatic's wondering mind.

Are we as a nation so mentally handicapped that we cannot wrap our brain around healthcare for all? Are we so selfish, to think that a government option would end all private care centers? This is not even remotely a threat to the existing healthcare providers (The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Fred Hutch, UW Medicine, Children's Swedish, Providence, Harborview and all of the rest would continue to provide the same quality of care they are providing today). Our military are continually all that they can be, manufacturing by far, the most advanced weaponry in the world, and this is a government protection for us all, no privatized protection for our country; yet our private vendors are more profitable than ever, with an increasing market for weapons on our streets.

A government option will not lead to a dumping of all bad (most liable to be an expensive claimant)into the government option, because there will be contingents put in place to prevent a dumping of the elderly and currently sick, from the private plans to the public plans, as this would obviously be discrimination and any such acts are unconstitutional and therefore prosecutable under the law. If no such section of the law has been clearly defined, then our congressional representatives owe it to us to have this taken care with expediency. So, for those thinking they would lose their existing care providers, Take a deep breath and exhale.

Also, there have been those who have stated that the government option would be flooded with illegal immigrants, which is not only inaccurate, but a flat out lie, aimed at misguiding those who blindly follow their every word. I don't understand these people; because this was done with Clinton too...so where is the Republican option? Bush was in office for eight years and had the anything he wanted. Did everyone just wake up with amnesia? What are you waiting on? Or, is it racism.

We keep being reminded that HE'S BLACK, or HE'S A SOCIALIST, or, HE'S NOT AN AMERICAN CITIZEN...Anything to distract you from what's being laid out in front of you. And, it works EVERYTIME, because we forgot the elections. The media was never on Obama's side, so why would they be now? They were always hard on him, giving relentless coverage to every racist inference. They would give relentless coverage then watch as people would spout out, "Kill him!" at campaign rallies for Palin and McCain, yet no one thought anything of it; to capture and arrest that person. Instead they all grew into this frenzy of hate? How did that make you feel about your country at that very moment? Really, be honest? Did you agree or did you feel sick, or as an African American, did you feel scared and disappointed because you saw where things were going? Did anyone really realize how close we were to another Civil War; we were VERY close. But, this time it would have been a rainbow coalition against…you know, the ignorant.

We now find that the Bush administration purposely raised the threat level at opportune times to benefit him politically. We now know that Cheney and Rove remained the stewards of that sinking ship that carried our nation into its biggest financial, social and racial turnaround for the bad, in the history of this nation.

Now, the wealthy owners of healthcare and pharmaceuticals are throwing every dollar into denying ALL Americans healthcare again, by playing to our primitive sense of survival. Our sense of caring for our self and only our self and damn everyone else. I say, "NOT THIS TIME!" This time we leave no one on the battlefield; we leave no one behind. A government option is the only way to guarantee all have Healthcare coverage.

MY WIFE'S BATTLE WITH ANGIOSARCOMA CANCER, this week off

David from Lynnwood, WA — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:36:35 EDT

Hi to all of our friends and those concerned WITH MY WIFE'S BATTLE WITH ANGIOSARCOMA CANCER,

AGENDA AND CURRENT HEALTH UPDATE

Margita does not have “chemo therapy”-Taxol this week, so we thought of this week being one where she would have an extra time to rest up and “recharge her batteries”. It doesn’t appear to be the case so far, as she has had very little appetite, stomach aches and diarrhea, pain on the top of her head, which is very tender, aching in her legs and joints, which feels like arthritis, soars in her moth( the corners and upper lip), as well as the usual week and dizziness.

LOSS OF HAIR DUE TO CHEMO

Since August 14, 2009 1:38 pm PST, we have collected a one half large zip lock bag of her hair. The amount is 1 ¼ inch thick, 4 ½ inch tall, and 7 ½ inches long. Her head is very tender in the area where most of the hair is falling out; top and back of her head.

MOBILITY

Margita has remained in bed most of the time, yet she also gets when necessary, e.g., go to the rest room, wash off a piece of fruit, get a jar of peanut butter, make a toast with some preservative topping, etc.

MENTAL STATE OF MIND FROM HUSBAND’S POINT OF VIEW

Margita remains the same stubborn women I love, yet at time she has gotten a bit mean, but last night, she quickly corrected herself and said out loud, so I could hear, “ That was mean and not right of me to say.” Margita has begun to recognize when she loses her ability to hold in her anger at having cancer, which I see as very normal. She has actually been an extremely strong woman; holding in her anger…always the professional.

WHAT ABOUT NOW; LITERALLY

This Tuesday evening, August 18, 2009, 8:48pm PST, she appears to be on the upward movement toward feeling better. Half of her hair is gone and I’m feeling better (her husband, David).

WEIRD

Last week, Saturday, August 15th, David could not get out of bed. His knees were badly swollen; he had headaches that would not go away regardless of the number of Tylenol or 15MG Oxycodone tablets taken. David has had an episode of a shortness of breath, a very heavy chest (upper right side) and waking up coughing and trying to breathe, then spitting out dark mucus with blood. This morning I have collected the mucus and will take it to the VA first thing tomorrow. I first contracted pneumonia while guarding sensitive weapons in the military, so I will bring those records with me.

SYMPATHY PAINS?

Aside from the shortness of breath, Saturday morning I woke up with swollen knees and swollen ankles, which I have never had before. My joints were very sore, prompting me to do my own Physical Therapy. Margita looked at me and stated I’m having sympathy pains and I’m beginning to believe her…what do you think?

Please don't throw them under the bus

David from Lynnwood, WA — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:53:01 EDT

Yesterday I was so excited for my youngest daughter; because now I could give her the info she had sought for, for so long. I found a free online High School she could attend and finally get her much sought out for, High School Diploma.

I called the number I got from a television add for those who did not complete HS to finally get their diploma. The name was Apollo Group 1-602-713-3140. I left a message last evening (Monday August 10, 2009) and received a callback this morning (August 11, 2009) at 10:00am.

I don’t remember the person’s name, but she stated that this program is for those who are under 21. This is the second time I must give my daughter this depressing information, as she was so excited and psyched about this opportunity to finish up and get her HS diploma.

I was told they had another program I could have my daughter enter into, which catered to ALL of those wishing to get their HS diploma. She stated their name as Olympus at 1-866-883-0522 and the tuition was $1,900.00! I asked why it wasn’t free like their program and she stated, because Olympus is a private school.

My daughters lost her job during this recessionary period, and because she doesn’t have a HS diploma at age 21, jobs are impossible for her to land.

Why doesn’t the government pay for ALL to finish up and get their diploma, regardless of their age, rather than throwing this segment of our society under the bus?

My opinion on the legalization of marijuana debate

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:53:39 EDT

I consider myself a Liberal Democrat and a realist....yes; there are those of us who are liberal realists, but not Blue Dog Democrats.

I believe they should have legalized gay marriage in California and I have been happily married to my wife for 17 1/2 years (living together for 19 1/2 years) with three beautiful step-children who are now 21, 23 and 31.

I believe marijuana takes away the motivation of our youth to excel in all that they can be. Marijuana makes users lethargic and lazy. The arguments that say marijuana makes people violent are unfounded in my opinion; quite the opposite in-fact.

Cocaine (powder), crack-cocaine (cooked), meth, speed, and any other type of drug that makes people more aggressive are the dangerous drugs as far as knowingly committing violent acts are concerned.

Marijuana creates dangerous drivers, because of the lack in the ability to react quickly to all driving conditions, unless you're driving through Wyoming. Because of this, marijuana should continue to be an illegal drug unless used for medicinal purposes, e.g. to help with pain management, to help cancer patients with eating disorders as a result of the severe treatments needed to destroy cancer from one's body and saving their life.

This new push to legalize marijuana, to me, is the wrong thing to do. It should stay the illegal drug it is regardless of those who wish to have it categorized in any other way.

I further believe, the past presidential administration created an atmosphere of fear when it comes to marijuana that was excessive. This is not a violent drug, so one should not be sent to prison for possessing it, just as one is not sent to prison for driving while under the influence of alcohol, unless they get into an accident and kill someone as a result of its consumption.

We need to get more realistic about the laws we make and the ability to truly enforce them. There will be those who use marijuana in the privacy of their own homes, which I have no honest argument for preventing this recreational use, however if one sells marijuana and does not pay taxes for doing so, then one should be imprisoned for tax-evasion.

Like it or not, a large percentage of our working population's income is given to marijuana sellers, with none of that money being given back to the government in the form of taxation, so we as a nation should open our eyes to the obvious and put that money back into our economy rather than continually drain our nation's capital.

So, I guess my stance is I'm against legalizing marijuana, but the real fact is, it is out there; draining our country's pocket, with no realistic way of enforcing its circulation.

The money spent in creating commissions to come up with ways to punish those who possess or sell this narcotic is ridiculous and the enforcement even more so, with laws founded on stereotyping, rather than evenly enforcing it. What we end up with are the rich being allowed to freely use this drug without taxation and the poor being incarcerated and made to make up the difference. This is silly and just plain wrong.

It is for this reason that legalization with taxation may be the only way to go.

We are all allowed to have our own opinion and this is mine.

Today we met a wonderful new friend while Margita was getting her chemo (Taxol)

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:11:58 EDT

Hi all,Today while Margita was receiving her first dose of Taxol and also had a PET/Scan, we met a very nice young lady named Marcia Williams. Marcia is from Jamaica and currently lives in Utah, where her husband (Andy Williams < http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=t121&player=williams_a&playerId=wil375877&statType=current >) playes professional soccer for Real Salt Lake. Her Husband played in the All-Star game with our very own Kasey Keller and Freddie Ljungberg < http://www.soundersfc.com/Team/Roster.aspx >. Marcia was diagnosed with Leukemia about a year ago and desperately needed a core transplant. Soccer Unites Utah was established to help find a donor for Marcia, which was found last week and she looks absolutely beautiful as we talked for about a half hour as we were both waiting to be called to get our chemo; well; her and Margita.She has a site following her battle with Leukemia< http://soccerunitesutah.com/ >, which is used to also have others give fivge minutes of their time to give blood to help another person racing to fid a match so that they may conquer cancer. She is an amazing woman and we enjoyed meeting her.Apparently, we Seattleites are really lucky to have the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in our backyard. We have just a 30-45 minute drive, then back home with our family. Marcia has been her, away from home for a very, very long time.Please check out her site and say a prayer for this lovely lady and her beautiful family, in continuing to have positive results. While you're at it, please say a prayer for my beautiful Margita as well.

David & Margita Martin

Healthcare reform MUST include Government healthcare option

David from Lynnwood, WA — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:45:15 EDT

Dear Mr. President,

My wife Margita Eva Margita has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer (Angiosarcoma) that is so far, incurable. We are now being cared for with The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), a part of The Fred Hutchinson Research Institute, UW Medicine and Children's Hospital.

Please visit my wife, Margita's, SCCA site at <

http://www.carepages.com/carepages/Margitaangiosarcoma

>.

I had back surgery on May 11th and Margita had surgery to remove a large section of aggressive cancer, from her abdomen wall, on May 19th. She now has no belly button, because they had to stretch her skin down ward and stitch back up from one side of her hip to the other. The got rid of the aggressive cancer, but not all of the cancer which stretches from the area that was stitched up to her upper thigh area.

She had her blood work done last Thursday, her surgery for implanting a port on Tuesday, and then her first round of chemo"Taxol" on Thursday.

How are things with you and the family? How's the house? I hope you are having a fantastic summer and kiss and hug your husband and kids everyday, because you never know what curve life will throw at you.

When they opened my back up, they found almost an inch of my L3 disc had extruded into the LS nerve root, which was the cause of all of the pain. When they opened this up, they found a large tear in my L4 disc. I had a L3-4 discectomy.

I still have a lot of numbness on my left buttock area up to the area on my back where the L3-4 discs are. Usually this is most noticeable when I neglect to take my 15 MG oxycodone. I had been at 7-8 per day and I have been going down. I should be at 6 per day, but I took myself to 4, with an occasional 5 if I have been out all day with doctor's visits with Margita, and have to catch up to the pain when I get home, because I do not take meds when I know I have to drive.

My left knee took a major hit when I injured my back as well, tearing something or further eroding the lateral area of where my lateral meniscus was in my left knee. Sometimes the pain is completely unbearable, even with the pain meds.

So, I've been told I need to think seriously about a knee replacement now on the left knee, rather than later. This also prevents the rehabilitative work on my back, so I'm in a mess. Senator Murray's liaison for the Department of Veteran Affairs has gotten involved in my case because I should have been granted a 100% disability when I was rejected from going back into the military because of my knees, but the VA only gave me 80%(40% for each knee) and purposely omitted the 20% disability I had always had for my spine.

As you know, because of this I had to work, resulting in my knee and spine giving way and requiring surgery on my back and acceleration on my knee replacement. It turns out that the Department of Veteran Affairs was simply ignoring my deteriorating health, which apparently is a common experience by African-American Vets from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

So I'm getting L&I for my spine, but not the additional damage to my knee which has speeded up the process of me having to have replacement knee surgery. After two months, Eberle Vivian stopped my physical therapy, chiropractic care and massage therapy. They also stopped paying for my medications, resulting in my spending over $200.00 for medications until I contacted Legislative Constituent Chuck Smid and having an additional MRI completed showing that as a result of the stoppage in care, almost an inch of my L3 disc had extruded into my L3 nerve root causing the pain and numbness down my left leg and in my back, which still persists today. Also, a large tear on my L4 was found when they operated as a result of the L3 findings that warranted surgery; surgery I may not have needed had I been kept on the physical theray, message therapy and chiropractic care .

There is not much they can do because of my knee problems, so they are trying to get me going to a school for 8 hours out of the day, so they do not have to pay for the permanent damage done to my back and the need for knee replacement now. I'm so angry! This is why we need government healthcare.

We all remember how during Desert Storm Jessica Lynch of the 507th Maintenance BN out of Fort Bliss, TX, was kidnapped by Iraqis when her unit was ambushed on March 23, 2003. She was later rescued by a Special Operations team, becoming the first American POW to be rescued. What also happed during that time was the rescue of Shoshana Johnson and four others from the same 507th Maintenance unit.

Jessica was rescued having never been shot or raped by her captors. Shoshanna on the other hand had been shot and if my memory is correct, was raped as well. Jessica was white and Shoshana was black. Jessica received 80% disability while Shoshana received 30%.

This is only one of many stories of institutionalized racism and mistreatment of African-Americans in not only the the military, but in all aspects of American big business. I too have been discriminated against, such as when I had the highest points of any Specialist (E-4) in our Battalion, while stationed in Germany, yet I was never promoted to Sergeant until some years later. An African-American Lieutenant, especially in the Military Police MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) was very rare; in-fact I only saw one during my entire Army and Marine enlistments, and he was a damn good officer

Senator Patty Murray is the ONLY Senator I have seen for myself that does everything to level the playing field and get all vets the equal respect that they deserve for their loyalty and sense of sacrifice for the most beautiful nation. It is because of Senator Murray that I have had hope even before President Barack Obama was elected our first president with African-American blood (He is HALF African-American and HALF Caucasian American, but most racists fail to see all of what and who he is; fixating only on his African American blood).

Being the true leader that she is, Senator Murray was very angry when she was made aware of the treatment I had been receiving from the Department of Veteran Affairs for the last 14 years and got things rolling with my PTSD, major depression, knee deteriorations from multiple surgeries and now arthritis due to no menisci, back and kidney injuries sustained because of the regime of 800 mg Motrin prescribed because the swelling would never go down in my left knee after having three surgeries on it in a 14-month period; leading to my being medi-vac’d from Landstuhl, Germany to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC for 6-months and then med’d out of the military. I'm currently awaiting the VA medical board's decision to finally put me at 100% disability, from the 80% disability I have now (40% for each knee and conveniently leaving out the 20% disability I had for my spine since 1998). Because I attempted to re-enter the military as a paralegal, the Veteran’s board found that the reasons for my being permanently denied re-entry into the military services was because of the extreme case of arthritis in both knees, so they up’d my rating to 40% for each knee. In doing this they retracted the 20% rating for my spine, so I would not get 100% disability, and then told me that if I wanted it would be no problem at rating me at 100%. Because, after trying to get employed at every business I could, with my new bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a minor in Law, Societies & Justice (March 16, 2007), I found that still, no one would hire me for anything accept as a Security Guard.

So I got a job as a Security Patrol Officer and lasted for almost a year, until my knee and spine gave out at the same time, requiring surgery on my back and a left knee pain that is never ending and has led to me falling on the ground four times in the last week. If I had been given the 100% disability I would not have the surgically altered back, extreme anger and depression and inability to care for my wife who now needs me more than ever with terminal cancer.

Because of all of this, I have just turned into a grumpy old man. I don't like speaking to people much; concentrating mostly on my wife and kids. I can't be cheerful to people, as I used too, or if I am, it can change in a split second. I don't want to put my friends through my moodiness (anger and depression). Sometimes I get so paranoid, that I lash out, or I get so angry, I speak while carefully enunciating with grinding teeth and an obvious annoyance at having to explain myself. I've become very impatient with everyone. Like I said, I've become a grumpy old man who would rather just be alone. I have insomnia, not falling out till 5 or 6 in the morning, constantly checking the doors, windows and rooms throughout the night. I have dreams of doing harm to others and when I finally do fall asleep, when I wake up my back and knees are locked; a paralyzed sensation. I wear my two bulky knee braces all of the time and use a cane. I try and walk upright because it limits the spasm pain on my back above where the injury occurred and sharp pain where the disc had been painful before the surgery.

My wife has often said, if she should pass, I will immediately get married again and forget about her. I have responded; I will travel by car around the United States, not having to deal with anyone. I will never re-marry, because she is my world. I won't be a pleasant person to be around for quite some time, so I'll only be around for holidays until I can get my mind together by spending time only with myself. I feel I will eventually die myself from the excruciating pain and loneliness if my wife should be taken so prematurely.

What angers me so much about my wife’s current fight for her life is that it could have been prevented if not for selfishly greedy healthcare Companies who are now trying to prevent citizens from haviong the opportunity to have government healthcare plans which are better! and cheaper...

We had Aetna Healthcare while employed at Safeco Insurance Company. January 2001 she was diagnosed with stage 3B cervical cancer. One the first of February she went through surgery where they removed her lymph nodes from her hip(both sides) and then went through a regimen of radiation 5 days per week and chemotherapy once a week, for 4 months. She was determined to be cancer free at the end of May.

Because her lymph nodes were taken out, she lacked the ability to regulate the fluid in her legs. We lived in Auburn (30733 48th Ave, So, Auburn, WA 98001 and worked in Redmond; Safeco Insurance Company (4854 154th PL NE, Redmond, WA 98052). One way was 28.22 miles and roundtrip was 56.44 miles.

While my wife was going through her treatments, I had my hours changed to 4:00am till 11:30am (56.44miles roundtrip), then I would race home and pick her up and take her to her radiation or radiation and chemo (Tuesdays) at Virginia Mason Hospital 1100 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98111(48.46miles roundtrip), total miles = 104.9 miles. This while receiving less pay because my wife was on short-term disability, so she received only 2/3 of her pay.

She was supposed to have compressor stockings to omit the chances of her getting lymphedema, but the Aetna Medical Plan (supposed to be one of the best), of which we paid $352.55 per month for, would not pay for her compressor stockings or other care after treatment for cancer. Because of this, my wife had the ingredients of Lymphedema and radiation, which is the constant in the rare case of Angiosarcoma developing, which is so far an incurable form of cancer.

Government healthcare does pay for compressor stockings and all preventive care, necessary to reduce healthcare costs and save lives, like that of my wife. People need to be aware of stories like ours, so they can see the reasons for why they need to contact their Congressional Representatives and Senators and use my case as to why we need the option of government healthcare and not just private healthcare.

She returned to work, but three times she had to be hospitalized and given intravenous antibiotics, because of the exertion required to work everyday was too much and the fever she kept getting, probably because of the lymphedema. She went on short-term disability and then on long-term disability, and then Safeco fired her while on long-term disability.

Please, it is vital to not cave in on the healthcare plan giving us the option to take the government plan instead of the private “anything for a profit” plan, which cares for money more than the lives of their patients. No government option is NOT an option. Because of this, I may lose the one I love so much too soon. She’s only 53 years old and I am 47 years old. I served honorably in the US Marines and US Army. She was with me my entire enlistment in the Army. She deserves better. She deserves what we had while in the military.

Just a thought: Manchurian Candidate?

David from Lynnwood, WA — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:48:31 EDT

I find it creepy that Senator McCain of all people would rip the torture probe < http://www.comcast.net/video/mccain-rips-torture-probe/1101353163/ >. Senator McCain remember, discredited many veterans who have been missing in action and the families left behind who have begged for the Senate to continue looking for their loved ones in Vietnam, He is despised by legions of Vietnam veterans, and particularly the families of MIAs, American POWs or Missing-In-Action never returned by the North Vietnamese Communists. Take a look at the video on YouTube about the disgraceful blocking of the 1992 POW/MIA Senate hearings by McCain, or the voluminous material provided on the Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain website.

He is especially despised by the Swift Boat Vietnam veterans whose ads condemning the phony heroics of John Kerry prevented the nightmare of a Kerry Presidency. When the ads came out in August of 2004, McCain publicly denounced the Swift Boat veterans as "dishonest and dishonorable." “DOUBTING MCCAIN”. Dr. Jack Wheeler. DR JACK WHEELER’S TO THE POINT. Thursday, 07 February 2008.< http://www.tothepointnews.com/content/view/3077/2/ >.

Senator McCain is now scrutinizing President Obama and his policy of ending torture as a tool during interrogations. What torture may do, as Senator McCain may have an inside track on, is that torture can be used to brainwash and individual over time. There is so much we do not know about Senator McCain, yet so many have had to suffer because of the power he commands as a Senator.

Senator McCain is getting 100% disability, free medical and dental care for him and his family, yet can still receive money as a Senator and other avenues, which the rest of us mere veterans are prohibited from doing.

“It’s okay for Senator McCain, but not for those truly in need,” should be his motto.

PROOF THAT JOHN MCCAIN IS A TRAITOR TO HIS COUNTRY

By Juli Norwood - Nov 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 am EST

Proof that John McCain is a Traitor to his country, and that he covered it up and is unfit to be President!

He willingly gave up information that significantly increased the loss of military planes by 60% and significantly increased the loss of lives! People died because of the information he gave to the enemy. John McCain used his influence and power to have his POW and Military records permanently sealed from public scrutiny! What is he hiding; Americans deserve to know the truth about John McCain!

quote by Former POW Mark A. Smith, captured April 7, 1972 about John McCain below

"My concerns are simple. I believe that any and all of the intelligence held by U.S. Government agencies on Senator McCain's time as a POW must be made available to the media and public. There is too much danger of a President being held hostage by things in the files of Intelligence agencies and, even more dangerous, held in the files of foreign governments in Asia and Europe." Former POW Mark A. Smith, captured April 7, 1972 end quote.....................................

Republicans Allege McCain Covered Up His Collaboration with the North Vietnamese While a POW

http://www.alternet.org/election08/99663/republicans_allege_mccain_covered_up_his_collaboration_with_the_north_vietnamese_while_a_pow/

McCain's Military Record Shows He Is Unfit To Be President

http://goneblogwild.blogspot.com/2008/10/mccains-military-record-shows-he-is.html

I don’t trust this man and neither should the people of the United States. President Obama knows of what needs to be done and does not need Senator McCain holding him up at every juncture, because all that he accomplishes in doing so is harming hard all Americans because of this childish act of defiance.

Senator McCain and the rest of the right wing evil-doers need to go away and sulk in their own hate.

This is my opinion and in no way represents that of my friends, family and those I have chosen to send this email too; I’m just fed up with the hypocrisy we continue to be force-fed by the elitists in our beautiful country.

IMMIGRATION: ASU overt racism a reflection of American racism

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:38:18 EDT

Ask any University of Washington women's basketball fan from the Mendiolas'(Giuliana and Gioconda- from Orange County in LA and played basketball for UW in Seattle) era and they will tell of the serious overstep in racism they from the ASU fans. I remember that time and was absolutely disgusted at how they behaved. It honestly reminded me of our racist past (and present); realizing at that time how much the Latino community must also endure.

Currently, Latinos are being stereotyped and viciously profiled when it comes to law enforcement's using the violence of law in abusing the Latino community, while we American citizens simply look the other way. We're cowards and we're lazy. We should do more.

Does anyone realize that we have more illegal alien Canadians than we do Mexicans in this country? They don't pay the taxes we do, yet they have homes here, they work here and yet they come over the border un-harassed everyday; often easier and with less harassment than Americans (black Americans and Latino Americans for sure).

When you know, from a very young age, that you will be harassed because of the color of your skin; when you see your Caucasian counterpart being treated as good, trustworthy and promoted as a leader with lightening speed, yet you are consistently denied, you are condition (brainwashed) into believing you are less human and deserving of the added violence of the law whenever your number is called. Well, this needs to stop now!

Illegal aliens have always been here and we need to find them and do what needs to be done to correct what we knowingly allowed before 9-11.

If we are going to check Latinos with methods of profiling, since Canadians out-number Mexican illegals, we should profile them as well. Every time we see someone who is white, we must generate a conversation. If during that conversation they end their sentences with "eh", we notify the local police and surveil these suspected illegals until local law enforcement or immigration officials can check their papers. Now, if you think this is silly or you can stomach this, yet you have ignored or cheered on the on-going harassment of our Latino Community members, you just might be a racist, or at the very least a victim of the conditioning we all have been subjected to in hating on ethnic members of color in our otherwise beautiful country.

I think this needs to be addressed because I absolutely love my Canadian friends and family and I absolutely love my Latino friends and family. I would not want to be faced with sacrificing one of my children and declaring "safe" the other in the spirit of "economic blaming," so why in the living hell would I agree to sacrifice either a Canadian or a Latino? Think America! Think about what we are being asked to do and for God's sake, speak the hell up! Damn, I hate ignorant lazy people! Get out of your little comfort zone and be a man or woman, get off your lazy ass and speak up before too many innocent people are harmed by the violence of our law, under our watch! I mean really, talk about a "slippery slope," when all of the persons of color are locked up our expelled from our country, will white brunettes be next? Oh wait..."Emos (black hair) will be next, then brunettes. Gotta get my secret American cast system correct...

Single Payer Health Care System is a must!

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:22:20 EST

Why we need a “Single-Payer” Health Care System

link: http://www.democrats.com/single-payer-petition?source=firstlisten%40comcast.net

As a US Marine Corps Veteran, as well as an 80% disabled veteran of the US Army, I fully support a Single Payer Health Plan for all Americans.

The Veteran’s Administration only covers healthcare of my “service-connected” disability left and right knee, as well as my back.

On August 31, 2000, I lost my oldest brother (Rufus Martin) to a tragic accident while working as a longshoreman in Seattle, WA. < http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20000902&slug=4040189 >; < http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20030908&slug=policefire08m >; < http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20000902&slug=4040135 >. Even though his employer had been cited numerous times for OSHA violations that directly contributed to this accident, Judge Alsdorf ruled in favor of my brother’s employer and the city.

In December of that year, my wife (Margita Martin) was diagnosed with stage 3B cervical cancer. While recovering from her bought with cancer on long-term leave, my wife was fired from her job at Safeco Insurance Company-former Republican challenger to Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell in the US Senate.

With Social Security now, my wife does not have good healthcare benefits, as she only gets approximately $500.00 per month and no prescription discounts and no funding assistance for “compression stockings,” which has resulted in her having “elephantitus” of the legs, which have permanently resulted in her legs getting tighter and tighter.

The Republican Party believe less government is best, which includes no “Single-Payer” system, which would immediately cut costs because the government would be the only entity for hospitals to bill, as apposed to many documents with different forms to fill out all of the time. A cheaper system would mean that much more income into American pockets. This would obviously give middle-class Americans more of their own income to keep, strengthening the “middle-class,” Which republicans do not want.

Instead Republicans have their lobbyists, with their suitcases full of money, taking kickbacks to pass legislation that funds products for “erectile” dysfunction, instead of life saving products for woman after having survived the battle to put cancer into remission. It’s time our political leaders started using “ moral-common sense” when passing legislation.

My wife and I took in my late brother's youngest surviving son (Marc Martin) and we were already raising three other children of our own.

With losing my wife's income and only having my one income, we were unable to fulfill our financial commitments, resulting in our filing for bankruptcy and losing our home with predatory lender-Aames Home Loans and Countrywide Financial. Bad credit, as a result of this life-changing time, led to our being socially and economically discriminated against, when seeking gainful employment.

Social-economic outcast such as our family are denied decent medical coverage, as are millions of other Americans.

I have PTSD, and I am permanently handicapped as a result of my service to my country twice, yet the Veteran’s Administration continues to deny me “unemployability” status, which would increase my medical coverage and include my wife.

There are so many stories like ours in this country, which a “Single-Payer” Health Care System would address in a large way.

Please support a “Single Payer Health Care System.

Sincerest Regards,
David Martin

My response to responses to my blog on impeachment proceedings for Republicans

David from Lynnwood, WA — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:09:57 EST

What about "hate speech" from an elected leader who has the audience to compel a large group to commit an act they would under normal circumstance not commit.

Does anyone know of the societal history of the Weimer Republic? This was arguably the MOST liberal democracy before WWI; the German society, pre-Nazism. The Jewish population was ostracized and so had to create their own society outside the mainstream German society. The German society then experienced the great Depression, which did not affect the Jewish society because they had to operate on the outside. Hitler then used them as scapegoats to their financial troubles, which helped him gain mass support from the German people.

This doctrine of hate became a runaway generator of power for Hitler, which eventually morphed into destroying them (the enemy of the state). Hateful rhetoric from a political leader controlled the minds of its governing bodies. This was done by a domination of communication.

My mother is an 80 year old black woman, who has been conditioned into thinking FOX News is the gospel. I must periodically give her an alternative by showing her MSNBC as well as FOX. She then realizes that times have been changing to where she once dreamed it would be. She simply did not know. The conditioning has kept her locked in a perpetual state of inferiority because of the color she was born into, because that is the way the society she grew up in said it should be.

The power possessed by our elected leaders can not be underscored. Conditioning of a person has long-term ramifications; like the difference between a collision claim (repair physical damage, like a dent in your car, which ends when the vehicle is repaired and then you close the claim) and a casualty claim (fix damage from a medical disabling harm, which can last for years, claim will not close for years; long-tail) in insurance.

The US legal system only recognizes physical damage (a domestic violence victim has a black eye or broken bone), while the I.C.C. (International Criminal Court) recognizes mental harm (hate speech which ignites a group into creating laws that further subjugate a group of people because of the color of their skin, the religion they practice, or the preference in living their lifestyle). The US is not obligated by the ICC, which is why the Republican Party extremists are so blatant in their abuse of the economically lower class within our society.

We have a society which is unbalanced in the access to the protections of our legal system. White men have and still do hold the highest paid jobs by a large disproportionate majority (actually and by percentage of their population). White men, when charged with the exact same crime as a black man are highly more likely to get probation, while the black man gets incarceration. White men, before November 4, 2008 where 100% more likely to hold the highest office in America; women now fall to the bottom on that list.

Like it or not, or laws and societal structure are disproportionately favored toward white men.

It may not be legal to impeach those who would do harm to others, because there has not been a precedent set, or a law created to dictate such a justifiable outcome, here in the United States of America. However, the world thinks it should be the case. Every democracy in the world, except the United States of America, has a Parliamentarian style of government. In a Parliament, we would have that power to impeach the whole lot of them.

response to representative on HB 1624 and SB 5522

David from Lynnwood, WA — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:39:08 EST

HB 1624 and SB 5522 basically cyber fitting our voting process

my recent response sent to a representative in response to an email from that representative, which I felt minimized my earlier reasons for stating my opposition to HB 1624 and SB 5522 (basically, cyber-fitting our voting process),

   I completely disagree. This will only lead to another window of opportunity for those with deceitful intentions to infect our political process.

   In this time of cost-cutting and streamlining our societal functions in order to make for a more efficient nation; we must also exercise due diligence in not going to the extreme in fulfilling this goal.

   Our mission statement should take into account common sense applications that will assure our safety in fulfilling our democratic goals.

   My youngest daughter has been a victim of domestic violence and cyber-bullying. Even though she now lives with us and has a restraining order against the perpetrator, she still encounters acts of cyber-bullying which the law enforcement agencies have stated they just can't prevent from happening. Our legal system is based on addressing a harm after that harm has been realized, not preventing it from happening in the first place, which we know would be more efficient.

NEW UPDATE: my daughter was granted a permanent restraining order, but it only lasts for 1-year. The judge, in finding her holding in support of my daughter’s request after being stalked at home, work and on the internet, cited his assuming of her identity and posing as her to her MYSPACE friends and then demeaning her and our family, as the reason for granting her a permanent restraining order. The judge stated that a permanent restrain order is granted only when my daughter has suffered a physical harm, stalking, etc, not a mental harm, such as the conditioning she experienced which has now made her a shell of who she once was; anxiety ridden which has made her continuously nervous and paranoid; anorexic; etc.

Our laws are grossly-flawed (grossly inadequate) when it comes to protecting our domestic violence victims, which we as a society have been conditioned to simply accept (lump-it). This appears to be the same template we use in adjudicating our election laws, should the internet be used as a tool for having access to this right.

Until we can truly protect those who would be victimized by our denial of the gray-areas that fall victim to our black-and-white lens by which we view any violation of ones rights when accessing remedies for being victimized by our laws, seeking to cyber-fit our 15th Amendment (right-to-vote) at this time, would do more harm than good.

This would indeed give soldiers deployed overseas and citizens not able to stand the long lines at the polls an additional avenue by which to exercise their Constitutional right, but we already have absentee balloting, which is the most efficient way at this time to safeguard this right. If we can fly a man or woman to the moon; we can surely get the absentee ballots from our soldiers abroad to the polling stations her at home before Election Day. We can step up the “early-voting” process, for our soldiers or a host of other measures that would not compromise the integrity of our 14th Amendment right, without subjecting that right to the hi-jacking of our short-falling legal system in remedying a potential harm by those who would intentionally jeopardize the execution of that Constitutional right.

If we, as citizens, are harmed as a result of a breech in the safeguards put in place to protect our political process, we can then seek a remedy, but we cannot use our courts to remedy a harm from a presumption of a breech or a harmful act that does not physically harm us.

With that said; our legal system process is such that a wrongly elected leader can be put in place, and hold office, long after that harm has been addressed for remediation. The former president is indicative of this act, which was never remedied as Democratic Presidential candidate Al Gore did not pursue the issue, because he knew the cost was too great for a seeking of law’s protection, which was not equipped to clear the hurdle of a less than physically tangible harm. In the end, our nation has gravely suffered as a result of this illegality.

Not allowing for internet voting is the only preventive measure we have, until a more efficient legal process can be created. It is for this reason I ask that you please voice my objections to its implementation.

Sincerest regards,

David Martin”

It angers me that I must attempt to make our elected leaders feel guilty by putting them into a place where they can actually feel the hurt and pain that one most effected by the violence of a law. Our laws have a large failure of creating an environment of zero-sum outcomes (there is a clear winner and a clear loser), which requires a re-examining on how we construct laws that govern our society. One side must clearly lose, while the other side clearly wins. I would argue that we are not so “black and white” anymore and so, we must reexamine our approach to the creation of domestic and foreign policies which encompass a more “graying (compromise)” of our laws.

We are all the product of a society that has pitted “us-against-them”. In this ever-changing “global-society,” we must move away from partisan politics and embrace a more “inclusive” approach to the laws that govern our society.

RESPECT is the new template we demand be used when crafting legislation by our elected leaders, because bi-partisan politics only creates new enemies and a further legitimizing of the hate the losing side references when “home-growing” our new enemies of “real-change”.

Why the House Economic Stimulus Plan Must Pass

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:12:20 EST

Why the House Economic Stimulus Plan Must Pass

These days I find myself hopeful, but very vigilant of our societal leaders who struggle to keep things as they are, even when our country and our world grow united in the fight for change.

2008; Republican Presidential Candidate, Senator John McCain asked that his supporters during his concession speech to join him in supporting President Barack Obama in this time of a run-away national economy and terrorist threats that America finds herself facing today. I honestly thought he was a classy gentleman that night in Colorado, but now I see that he is a manipulative politician and a compulsive liar.

Watching as Senator McCain would change from one personality to another during the presidential debates, angrily chastising President Obama in an attempt to make President Obama appear as subordinate, while stumbling over facts in foreign policy which was supposed to be his expertise; Watching as Senator McCain gave orders behind doors to the Republican Party to release racists propaganda in an effort to de-legitimize President Obama when President Obama was not the person who committed the acts the Republican National Party-Senator McCain-Governor Palin had attempted to tie President Obama too, then uncomfortably denouncing these tactics when the next day polls showed this tactic didn’t work (throwing everything out there to see what stuck); and other failed attempts at keeping the American public enthralled in this yester-year conditioning which kept racist and misogynists in a state of complete power was something that literally made me sick.

This constant hate rhetoric and lies, requiring President Obama and every African-American and mixed American with African blood to explain ourselves was sickening. To watch as many in our country would not only listen too, but defend these tactics was literally heart-breaking and has placed me back in a place I thought I had rid myself of long ago. I’m overjoyed at the answer from my fellow Americans, but I am so sickened by the Republican politicians still in power. They anger me and sicken me.

President Obama has rightfully decided that in order to stimulate the economy, we must inject a large infusion of capital. The strategy needed at this time would be that of strategically injecting this capital into certain areas of our economy, while withholding this infusion from other areas, so that they do not cancel out each other.

President Obama has already explained to the American people the reasons for why we find ourselves in this dire economic situation. In my opinion, he honestly identified them correctly,

Republican removal of regulatory oversight of large corporations and financial firms (out-sourcing of labor to countries where labor is cheaper to save money; relaxing laws that would require a set amount of company assets to be allocated to labor-excluding executive salaries; prosecuting those who practice labor discrimination and those who retaliate against whistle-blowers, etc.),
Transfer of wealth from working class Americans into the chafers of wealthy Americans and foreigners,
Continual economic drain from a war and occupation we should have closed the door too long ago,
The selling of our roadways and ports to foreign entities,
The illegal mass removal of liberal superior court judges.

Now, President Obama has called for the American people to join him in his support for the House-passed Economic Stimulus Packet. This packet has very important financial aid for state economies suffering from this economic recession. Many states are experiencing a failing budget for unemployment benefits; veteran’s benefits; money for homeless shelters; food stamp programs; work programs; education; housing; as well as infrastructure projects that would create jobs. Most of our poor are feeling this need of state assistance more than anyone else, so the Republican Party naturally targeted state funds in their efforts to sabotage this important stimulus bill. Remember, President Obama won, not Senator McCain, so why are they allowed to harm the working class Americans further?

We need to honestly give our president the chance we ALL voted he should have. For the Republican Party to vote 100% against President Obama makes this old black man feel as if they are simply acting as the old racists their party endorses. The words or Rush Limbaugh and David Duke this past week were always expected, just like the silence when I waited for at least one Republican to separate their party from these two well-known racist individuals.

I think America is past our racist past.

Here are some facts of African-American life:

African-American adult unemployment has remained twice as high as Caucasian unemployment for more than 30 years; 3 times as high among young people. African-American women make 89% of what Caucasian women make; African-American men make 67% of what Caucasian men make. 53% of African-American men aged 25-34 are either unemployed or earn too little to lift a family of 4 from poverty. 21% of African-American high-school graduates are unemployed, 10% of whites. 34.4% of African-American high-school drop-outs are unemployed-18% of whites. African-Americans hold only 10.1% of U.S. jobs and are dramatically underrepresented in many professions. They are only 3.2% of lawyers, 3% of doctors, and less than 1% of architects. African-American males have both the lowest average level of educational attainment and the highest percentage-nearly 50%-of workers with more education than their jobs require. Caucasian males with a high-school diploma are just as likely to have a job, and tend to earn just as much as African-American males with college degrees. Light-skinned African-Americans have a 50% better chance of getting a job than dark-skinned African-Americans. African-Americans are rejected twice as often for small business loans than whites of comparable credit.

David Martin

IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:57:56 EST

Why is it that people continue to listen to this openly racist talk show host commentator? Here’s a copy of a letter I took off of the internet which cites some factual comments by this racist talk show personality. My concern is that there appears to be growing support from the elected Republican officials who believe in him, to the point where they have obviously adopted the call to make President Obama fail because of their embedded racism, even if it is at the expense of the American people.

Here’s the letter,

Wilson, John K. “Rush Limbaugh’s Racist Attacks on Obama.” ObamaPolitics.com. < http://www.oba mapolitics.com/node/96 >. 27 May 2008, 11:13 am. ObamaPolitics.com Rush Limbaugh’s Racist Attacks on ObamaSubmitted by JohnKWilson on Tue, 05/27/2008 - 11:13am. Today, Rush Limbaugh began a new line of openly racist attacks on Barack Obama. According to Limbaugh, Obama is "stupid." The racist part is Limbaugh’s assertion that Obama "probably didn’t get out of Harvard without affirmative action." As a college dropout, Rush Limbaugh probably doesn’t understand the use of blind grading in many law school classes. The idea that Barack Obama could not have graduated from Harvard Law School without preferential grading is one of the most ridiculous racist assertions made so far during this campaign. No one can possibly imagine that Obama’s success in law school, including selection to the Harvard Law Review, passing the bar, becoming a top teacher at the University of Chicago Law School, was all somehow granted to him by a conspiracy of Harvard Law professors to raise his grade. But to a racist like Rush Limbaugh, such nonsense becomes believable if it’s a black person who is succeeding. Limbaugh has a long record of racism. Limbaugh lost his job at ESPN after claiming that there is a vast media conspiracy to help black athletes: "I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They're interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well." Consider these other examples compiled by FAIR < http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2549 >: Limbaugh once told a black caller: "Take that bone out of your nose and call me back." A decade ago, after becoming nationally syndicated, he mused on the air: "Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?" Here is Limbaugh's mocking take on the NAACP, a group with a ninety-year commitment to nonviolence: "The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies." When Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL) was in the U.S. Senate, the first black woman ever elected to that body, Limbaugh would play the "Movin' On Up" theme song from TV's "Jeffersons" when he mentioned her. Limbaugh sometimes still uses mock dialect -- substituting "ax" for "ask"-- when discussing black leaders. And Limbaugh has targeted Obama in particular for racist comments, referring to Obama as a "halfrican American" and playing the parody song "Barack the Magic Negro" repeatedly. But this isn’t just Limbaugh. While critics reported extensively (and correctly) on media sexism, the racism in the media is largely ignored. From the start of his campaign, Obama has been falsely attacked as "inexperienced," a common double standard faced by African-Americans imagined by whites to have advanced due to racial preferences rather than qualifications. It is almost impossible to find anyone in the media who points out the fact that Obama has more foreign policy experience than four out of the last five presidents when they were elected, or the fact that his judgment about the war in Iraq was far better than nearly all of the pundits and journalists who find it so easy to dismiss Obama as "inexperienced." Will the media give any attention to Rush Limbaugh for his racist attacks on Obama? Crossposted at DailyKos < http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/27/13848/7414?new=true >.

*********************

There’s more,

Top 10 Racist Limbaugh Quotes. News One for Black America. By Casey Gane-McCalla October 20, 2008 9:45 pm. < http://newsone.blackplanet.com/obama/top-10-racist-limbaugh-quotes/ >.Normally I do Top 5 lists, but Rush Limbaugh’s racist comments could not be limited by such a small number. Now that he has reared his ugly once again in saying that Colin Powell is endorsing Barack Obama because he is black, it’s time to ask ourselves why is Sarah Palin appearing on the show with such an astounding racist. Is she pallin around with bigots?If John McCain was so eager to have Barack Obama repudiate the statements of his ’supporter,’ John Lewis, shouldn’t John McCain repudiate the extremely racist comments of his biggest right wing radio supporter, Rush Limbaugh.Here’s Our Top 10 Racist Rush Limbaugh Quotes1. I mean, let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I’m not saying we should bring it back; I’m just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark.Okay Rush, slavery was not a good thing for the millions of African Americans who were enslaved, raped and beaten. The streets weren’t at all safe for African Americans. Slavery not a bad thing? Someone should put Rush on a plantation for him to see how great it is. Keep on fear and race mongering Rush, you might get to Goebels status.2. You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray [the confessed assassin of Martin Luther King]. We miss you, James. Godspeed. Martin Luther King is a national hero, not a black hero. Everybody in the United States celebrates his birthday, children are taught to look up to him as a hero in school. He’s earned the respect and admiration of the world and you believe the man who killed him was a hero? This is beyond racist. This is evil, mean spirited, subhuman. Praising the assassin of one of our great American heroes is beyond the scope of regular racism.3. Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?No but I’ve noticed that all racist bigots think like Rush Limbaugh. Comparing a respected black politician and minister to common criminals is Jim Crow racism. Maybe all black people look alike to him, but I’ve never seen a picture of a wanted criminal that looks like Jesse Jackson. A serial killer that looks like Rush Limbaugh on the other hand.John Wayne Gacy4. Right. So you go into Darfur and you go into South Africa, you get rid of the white government there. You put sanctions on them. You stand behind Nelson Mandela — who was bankrolled by communists for a time, had the support of certain communist leaders. You go to Ethiopia. You do the same thing.The communist connection is an old way of dealing with black leaders. They used it on Martin Luther King, they’re using it on Barack Obama and Limbaugh used it on Nelson Mandela. By siding with the racist apartheid regime over a world-wide symbol of peace and freedom, Limbaugh has shown he’s a global racist.5. Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.Limbaugh is once again fear mongering and race baiting by associating professional black athletes with criminals and gangmembers. He continues the fear mongering association of good, decent, hard working African Americans as criminals.6. The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies.Now Limbaugh is saying that an organization with a storied tradition of representing the positive black people for change in their communities are criminals and rioters. An organization that has been represented by intelligent professional African Americans, that has played a part in the Civil Rights movement and continues to be an intelligent, concerned voice for the African American community is degraded to common criminals. There you go Rush. Keep racism alive!!!!7. They’re 12 percent of the population. Who the hell cares? Decent human beings care Rush. Someone out of that 12% may just become President of the United States. Not caring about black people? Even George Bush wouldn’t admit to that.8. Take that bone out of your nose and call me back(to an African American female caller).Okay Rush that’s classy. The old African bone in the nose stereotype. Wasn’t funny when the racist white school kids called the black kids that and it’s definitely not funny when a grown man with audience of millions of easily influenced dittoheads says it either.9. I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They’re interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there’s a little hope invested in McNabb and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn’t deserve. I wasn’t super offended by this, the whole black quarterback/coach thing has been going on for years in sports, but the quote was so offensive that Retired General Wesley Clarke said:There can be no excuse for such statements. Mr. Limbaugh has the right to say whatever he wants, but ABC and ESPN have no obligation to sponsor such hateful and ignorant speech. Mr. Limbaugh should be fired immediately. When a respected, retired general condemns the statement of a sportscaster, you know he’s gone too far.10. Limbaugh attacks on Obama. Limbaugh has called Obama a ‘halfrican American’ has said that Obama was not black but Arab because Kenya is an Arab region, even though Arabs are less than one percent of Kenya. Since mainstream America has become more accepting of African-Americans, Limbaugh has decided to play against its new racial fears, Arabs and Muslims. Despite the fact Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law school, Limbaugh has called him an ‘affirmative action candidate.’ Limbaugh even has repeatedly played a song on his radio show ‘Barack the Magic Negro’ using an antiquated Jim Crow era term for black a man who many Americans are supporting for president. Way to go Rush.So Rush Limbaugh has managed to make racist attacks on four of the most admired and respected people of African descent in the past one hundred years, in Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Colin Powell and Barack Obama. He has called for the assassin of Martin Luther King to be given a medal, and said slavery was a good thing. He has claimed that Joe the Plumber, who isn’t even a plumber is more important in this election than Colin Powell, a decorated military veteran who has served honorably in three administrations. How can the Republican party stand by this man and let their candidates appear on his show? Rush Limbaugh’s comments are so racist, they’re funny, in a Borat, Archie Bunker kind of way. What is not funny is the millions of dittoheads who listen to him, who take in and re-spout all the racist rhetoric that he spits. Limbaugh’s statements are echoed in the racist, angry Palin/McCain supporters who shout ‘kill him,’ ‘terrorist,’ ‘communist,’ ‘traitor,’ ’socialist’ and ‘off with his head.’**************************

I hope America again takes another step away from our racist past by sending the Republican Party a resounding rejection at the next term elections.

I would love if impeachment proceedings would immediately be implemented against those Republican officials who have no valid reason for voting against the President’s stimulus plan, other than doing so because they were told to do so by their Party leaders. Unlike most allegiance to Party lines, this is due to the influence of a racist talk show host, when we are in such dire times as a nation. All elected officials take an oath to uphold the dictates of the Constitution, as servants to ALL of the people; elected office of service. If there is any indication that they have become an enemy of the state (Fascism: using their elected powers to act against the people, in favor of big business), that is immediate grounds for impeachment.

David Martin

A note to a friend who lives in New York

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:10:41 EST

A note to a friend who lives in New York

Isn't this a great new world? I am overwhelmed with emotions everyday because of how America spoke on November 4, 2008. The inauguration was great and now President Obama is immediately getting down to the business of keeping his campaign promises. If the republicans think he will succumb to the Washington politics and become another clog in the wheel of justice, remember, this was the Senatorial candidate who stood up against the invasion of Iraq when it was believed to be political suicide to do so.

I'm deeply angered at the NY Democrats. So selfish and so mean spirited at a time when we all are beginning to think in terms of WE instead of in terms of ME.

What they did to Caroline Kennedy has angered me and I'm not going to hold it in. If you can't trust your own party members to be civil and trustworthy; by not resorting to back-stabbing and petty politics to further their self-aggrandizing agendas, then maybe it's now time to clean house with all that is wrong with our party as well.

This election was not just about clearing out those Republicans who were an enemy of the state (We the people), but to also look within ourselves and rid ourselves of what we have become as a result of the conditioning we experienced under a Republican State.

The NY Democrats and the NY governor (Governor Patterson) showed me, the work is still far from done, with their actions that mirror those of the out-going administration. I hope the New Yorkers will overwhelmingly show their disapproval over how Caroline Kennedy was treated in the next elections in NY State. Caroline Kennedy represents what have always been right with America and its time the Democratic Party realize what the American people were saying on November 4, 2008.

My rebuttal to a vet's(man of color) rejection of Obama strategy for success

David from Lynnwood, WA — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:05:31 EST

My response to a rejection of the Obama strategy for success I haven't read your entire email, as I was growing more and more frustrated while reading the first paragraph and some of the second. What makes Obama’s approach to public political discourse so effective is just that; it’s public political discourse. He has created a public funding constituency of the people, not big business with their lobbyist who historically has brought suitcases filled with money to bribe our political leaders in an effort to further their own self-serving agendas. Obama offers a break from that cycle of dysfunctional dogma, to one which is literally “of the people and for the people”. He has created a system, < http://my.barackobama.com/page/user/login?successurl=L3BhZ2UvZGFzaGJvYXJkL3ByaXZhdGU/c291cmNlPW15Ym9iYXI= >. Please people, if you don’t like the president’s approach to a problem that affects all of us, let him know. Growing up an African-male in the 60s, 70sand early adulthood into the 80s, I believe I have developed PTSD, not only from my military service in the US Marines and US Army, but also in everyday America as a child and then as an adult because of the conditioning that all people of color and blacks in particular had to endure, which still to this day has made me paranoid (to some extent) whenever I enter a large department store, when a police car enters the same roadway I have already occupied, when another black man (who is a stranger) enters the space I am already occupying.

In a store, if my cell phone is ringing and I take it out of my pocket to answer it, I will not put it back into my pocket, because I feel store security will think I’m stealing my own cell phone! I wait until I get back outside.
My German national wife, while we are in the produce section will sample a grape, and then we will almost get into an argument because my blood pressure will skyrocket and I will get nervous because I fear we will get in trouble.
I have now learned never to put my wife and family’s picture on my work desk, because that is the beginning of when my boss’s relationship with me, as well as the relationship with my co-workers will degenerate; that is the start of the harassment-style work reviews to justify my not receiving a raise or blacklisted for any type of advancement.
When my wife and I walk hand –in-hand in public, if my wife should drift behind, when I pass some eyes of those who are against bi-racial marriage (whether black, white or any other), they will give my wife their judgment of our union. My wife will not tell me until months or years later for fear of how I will confront them (not if I will confront them). My anger will make me entirely un-rational and I am afraid sometimes that my conditioning as a Marine sometimes makes me act without knowing when my family or country is attacked (there is no distinction). I have managed in the past to remain reserved, but lately I have been feeling myself lose control because of the frustration of waiting for an adult (our racist society) to grow up!
Whites who do not agree with interracial marriage, blacks who do not agree with interracial marriage and all other bigots and racists who collectively support each other’s common goal of divisiveness and conquering, reinforce what is wrong with America and what is wrong with the world. The world is a growing experiment whose success depends on our growth toward recognizing all that we have in common with one another, to disregard that fact is to validate the march to the destruction of it.

We (people of color) must realize and then understand why we have this immediate feel for rejecting a member of another racial group’s rise to a position of leadership whether it is on a sports team, in a class room, in the work place, or in a public office; especially when we immediately accept that position going to someone is white, even when we all know they are less qualified. We have all been conditioned to accept the role of “less than”. This conditioning is so strong that it manifests itself, even when we are left to govern each other when the group which created this system of conditioning is not around. We police each other; ensuring that we each accept our roles as “less than” in this society, even if by physical force.Our world is now changing and the biggest obstacle this change is no longer those who created this world in the first place, but the older generation in our society who suffered first-hand the power of that racist society, because it is us who hold that sacred trust to our next generation and if we substantiate a dogma, it is more immediately acceptable than if a stranger substantiates it; which leads to an immediate acceptance and conditioning once that new generation world enters the world of our society. Obama represent s a break from that cycle of “less than” for all peoples of color, but the work is far from over because now it requires that we pull up our sleeves and do our part. We must now look within ourselves and recognize our infections, so that we may root it out and start anew. We must now listen to the man who has demonstrated to us that he knows what he is doing and who yearns for our participation. He is the first to respect us as people of color,

because HE IS LISTENING!
We must also respect him and TELL HIM WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AND WHAT WE NEED FOR HIM TO DO TO HELP US HEAL.

To only speak within our small circle of those who are also affected does nothing to correct what is wrong, and more so only reinforces the stranglehold that old world has around our collective necks. Remember, “Ask not what our government can do for us, but what can we do for our government”. I think this is what John F. Kennedy met and what Barack Obama met when he asked for public service. This is our defining moment; respects begets respect, so own up and disclose your concerns not only to us, but to President Obama so he has the opportunity to respond to your pain and request for a remedy to the damage you have suffered to your soul. Obama is not the enemy; he is an ally, so speak up to him. In this time in American and World History, the actions of the President of the United States of America requires an assault on ALL fronts, and to limit that rescue to one group of people in this multi-racial country and multi-racial world would be irresponsible and defeating. You are hurting and have grown impatient because no one has listened for far too long. Do not let your blinding rage and hunger for justice overshadow the task at hand and the corrective steps this president must take, on all fronts, in order to meet this unprecedented challenge in American and world history. It’s about ALL of us, not simply some of us, because we are the sum of all of our individual parts and only as one are we able to overcome, together.

My stance on abortion; reply to response on veterans for Obama

David from Lynnwood, WA — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:57:25 EST

I would also like to add to Karen's email which I agree with fully. Obama is against the right for gays to marry and other civil rights matters which make his stance on issues like this hypocritical. Don't get me wrong, I love Obama and even served as a delegate in my precinct for him, but there are issues we completely disagree on and this is one of them.

I'm a Catholic, but that does not mean I agree with all of the Catholic teachings literally. I believe the Bible is supposed to be interpreted symbolically, not literally. This is because it is supposed to be a "working" document, meaning it is supposed to grow with the times, making it everlasting.

I believe abortion is one such subject. There are a host of reasons for having an abortion and to suggest that birth control is somehow deserving of being the major, rather than being the minor factor in that decision process is insulting (misogynistic) to women and to me is the ultimate form of disrespect you can give to God's only entity for creating life. If it weren't for women, we all would not be here to have these discussions in the first place. Women have always been the humanistic side to any argument, yet men have historically attempted to silence them and render them as 2nd class. We men need to grow some and stop acting like its weak to admit we have always been wrong, assuming that to acquiesce to a women's intuition is somehow weak and un-Godly. Where do we think we come from anyway?

If you want to look for a villain in this argument, you need walk no further than the closest mirror.

Women have this tool of abortion available to them for a host of reasons, the major reasons being for health reasons and violent rape with birth control being secondary to health or rape because you control the birth to save the woman's life at that time or later if she is to continually be victimized by a brutal rapist by carrying his child or being forever linked to this evil perpetrator because of our legal system designed to benefit men. That is to say, the legal system allows for this felon to have visitation rights with this child or even custody. They make arguments like the mother wanted to abort him/her or the felon has a right of law to file for visitation rights because he fathered the child. Or, in the case of our increasingly fascist [government and big-business working in concert against the "will" of the people, e.g. wall street and automaker bailout with Republicans threatening veto of bill with a bailout ($500.00 tax-cut) for the people] society, the felon may be some rich bastard who raped an under aged child of a poor working-class family, and given that our court system is flawed with a bias for those with the monetary might to buy the best lawyer to argue their case in an institution of secrets and traditions the ordinary public is not aware of unless versed in the highly advanced education of law. The felon will have a higher percentage at continuing his torture of any one of our daughters, which you now argue to make even more advantageous to a would-be destroyer of her future life.

As a father of daughters and as an African-American who has constantly been conditioned in a society that has put me and women at a disadvantage, that is how I see it and I wish for only one day, you too could see it through my lenses. I applaud you Karen and full-heartedly agree with you.

David Martin
Veteran U.S. Marines/ disabled veteran U.S. Army

Obama is for abortion rights, but he stated birth control along with reasoning. I'm assuming he thinks as I do, having two daughters, and believes birth control is secondary to the other reasons I have stated as well. I don't know for sure though. Maybe he'll read this and comment.

The Fix is own after defeat of Big 3 stimulus(loan)

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:39:26 EST

Turns out that those Democrats who join forces with republicans to defeat this bill where from southern states where foreign auto-makers have set up shop in the US. Ever since Ronald Regan, the Republican Party has schemed to destroy American worker unions. As I have stated on many occasions before, the true enemy of the United States will strike from within America’s borders and destroy us from the inside out. The EU (European Union) was formed so that Europe can compete with the United States economically by pooling their resources into one formidable force. The changing of their currency to the “Euro” was another phase of that formation.

The next challenge was to weaken our economy so severely that we would be forces to adopt wage standards that were already agreed too by foreign markets. The time when the US economy operated independently of global dictates is now a thing of the past with an accelerated rate till fruition. The only thing to prevent this from occurring was the strength out the US economy and its worker Unions, which is why we have always been against socialism, which makes it so ironic that the very Party which claimed to put America first is the same Party driving us to this inevitable fate.

The Civil war pitted the North against the South, which the south pledged never to forget. The south solicited the help of foreign markets to finally destroy the north. What we forget has come back to destroy us.

The same southern states with the commonality of being dependent on foreign auto makers like Hyundai, Toyota, Mercedes, etc., are now banning together to destroy US auto makers in the north. Millions of US jobs and Unions are to be destroyed to the satisfaction of foreign competitors who now look at the US as ignorant and weak.

The “America first” slogan of the Republican Party was merely words from a desperate group of narcissists who never cared about America’s interests. They have always believed in profits first, even if it met selling their mothers and their country in order to achieve their goals.

But, don’t take my word, read up on where these lawmakers are from and then follow the money (greed). America never stands a chance so long as America chooses to keep her eyes closed.

If a company is in a bankruptcy, will you buy a car from them? No!

So tell me, how does a reorganizing like a bankruptcy save these companies? It doesn’t, it merely accelerates their descent of destruction. What happened to “America First?” Republicans were never about America First, they were always about Me First! They used your fear (cowardice), your hate (Racism) and you stupidity and laziness (willingness to bury your heads in the sand until the coast was clear) to achieve their objectives. Well, its time to wake up America!

Look around and see what the Republican Party, along with some southern Democrats, is doing to our country. They are traitors to the American people! They simply care about their own interests, not yours! They are not public servants but public enemies.

Our children’s future is dependent upon what we do today. Once America’s last producing entity is gone, America’s reign as a world power is numbered. Think about your fellow citizen and do what’s right for us, not me!

$14 billion bailout dies in Senate

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:31:08 EST

As I scan the latest headlines regarding the failure of the US Senate to pass a temporary economic stimulus package for the “Big3” US Automakers in the form of a downgraded loan in the amount of $15 billion dollars, I’m growing increasingly uneasy about the political environment President-Elect, Barack Obama faces.

I grudgingly accept the consistent hostility facing our first African-American President in the form of continual attacks to his armor, e.g., the failed attempts to bring his citizenship into question was finally quashed by a recent Supreme Court decision to not hear any further arguments questioning his citizenship in court, because he has more than satisfied any thoughts to the contrary; Recent attempts to taint President-Elect Obama’s approval rating by attempts to link his rise in Illinois politics to Governor Rod Blagojevich’s “Pay-to-play” scheming in selling the President-Elect’s vacant Senate seat in Illinois; and news reports continue to surface disclosing failed attempts to do President-Elect Obama harm with continual reports of foiled attempts in this regard, but I now wonder if these foiled attempts are merely to serve as reason not to question any successful attempt in the future? That is to say, with many publicly known successes by our Secret Service at thwarting these attempts, could this be cover for a future success in striking their target? Are we being conditioned so that a future failure in protecting our 44th President is more easily accepted, given the number of attempts foiled? One success out of five attempts makes for a more reasonable argument that it wasn’t an inside job, giving conspiracy theories a harsh blow before such thoughts are even contemplated.

These things and now recent failed Senate votes to pass legislation that would protect our “Big-3” auto-producers, which in turn would protect jobs and protect the power of the people to assemble in numbers for the sole purpose of looking out for the rights of US workers in the US economy. What disturbs me are the number of Democrats, whom we were led to believe would champion the decisions of our newly elected president and newly elected Democrats, who ran on the promise that Republican politicking for the wealthy and well-to-do was a thing of the past. A recent 52-35 vote against the “Big-3” stimulus denotes that Republican Senators voted against what amounts to a loan verses a bailout. This to me is unsettling because it means, even though the Democrats have picked up 6-8 Democratic voting agents, to include the 2-independents who caucus with the Democrats, Republicans are still bent on denying the American people anything that does not give them more. Heck, Governor Rod Blagojevich must have been a Republican, because they both act exactly alike!

We voted over-whelming Democrat in the November elections, yet our Senators seem to have thought otherwise. I realize the Senate in office now is split evenly, but the Democrats still failed to support this Democratic Bill, endorsed by our new president? I realize that two Democrats (Obama and possibly Kennedy) did not vote, but that still leaves 46 Democrats and two independents for 48 votes, if I am correct. What gives with the 8-discrepency if the 52 are yea and the 35 are nay? What are these Senators doing? Are they giving the US economy one last finger? We should remember the Senators who did not step up when the vote for a loan for American jobs, versus a bailout of Wall Street was on the line. We should remember the Senators who failed to support a loan for the industry that most affects the working and middle class jobs, versus supporting a bailout for the wealthy upper class and their bonuses. This we should not forget. This we will not forget.

The Republican machine and their agents continue to do all they can to not only hurt our new president, but to destroy our country by further destroying our economy and we will not forget!

I say yes we bailout the auto industry

David from Lynnwood, WA — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:43:19 EST

It appears that even though the Democrats won in the last set of elections, the Republicans appear to be the only benefactors.

First, the Republicans create this economic mess (they drove our economy into the ditch) we find ourselves in, yet all of the solutions appear to be, lets reward the Republicans by implementing their plans (remember, the bailout for Wall Street came from the Bush Administration, not the Democrats?), and lets be very critical of any Democrat solution.

Doesn’t anyone remember that it was the Unions that did all of the dirty work in getting us a minimum wage, health care, workers rights and a host of other mandatory work conditions; while the Republican “union busting ways” have consistently tried to prevent worker’s rights from existing. Look it up and study your history people!

Currently we find ourselves in a ditch and the only solutions I hear coming out of people’s mouths are, “Unions are bad” and “break-up the Unions, because they are the cause of the problem.” Has everyone lost their minds? This is playing right into the republican hands because they deliberately created this mess in the first place, to break up the Unions once and for all. Remember their hero, Ronald Reagan? His whole philosophy was about destroying the Unions.

Any solution calling for destroying the very agency that has created rights for the workers should be seen for what it is; another step in the Republican plan to give away the worker’s only leverage in realizing their American dream of retiring with a home, healthcare and a decent retirement pension, as a reward for their life’s hard work and paying taxes. If we destroy the Unions, you can kiss your future with peace of mind away.

Giving money to Wall Street does nothing for the average worker, but saving our symbol of the industrial revolution (the auto industry), does; it has allowed for us to travel, to commute to work even though its at a greater distance, to take vacations, and a host of other things, which in itself spurs other avenues of economic growth. To allow our auto industries to fold would be to take another chunk out of the backbone of America.

No terrorist could do what we are doing to our own country; destroy us from within. Ford, GM and Chrysler are US companies, which is about as American as you can get. To sit by and watch it die would be about as un-American as one could ever get. Our companies cannot innovate without surviving today, so the opportunity is there to do so. The Republicans would not allow it to occur on their watch, but President Obama and the Democratic Congress will. If we lose our companies that will never happen. I say we give Obama a chance to turn our country around with all of his players to get it done.

The Republicans had their chance and blew it. Don’t allow their misstep to constrain the Democratic Party from having a fair chance for success. We need our auto industry now more than ever. We need to stop complaining about where we are at and allow our new President to get us out, with all of the tools necessary to get the job done. Our Unions, our auto industry, our middle and working class citizens have worked together in the past to get us through the great Depression, now is not the time to delete any of these former actors from getting the job done again.

I say we help the Auto industry just as we helped the banking industry, because these times demand all of our teammates to get the economy moving again. I’m sure the auto industry now realizes the importance of getting with the times and creating more fuel efficiency vehicles, with less tonnage on our fragile roadways. I’m sure they realize the importance in acting more responsibly when it comes to rewarding benefits to its employees. I’m sure the auto industry will be more than willing to implement our new president’s plan in creating alternative fuel consuming vehicles, so that we may lead the world in eliminating our dependency on oil producing nations, because that standard will also ensure our rank in power through the next century.

No more divisive rhetoric when it comes to our auto industry, because we need them if we are to succeed.

Crime does not fit punishment

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:16:37 EST

Crime does not fit the punishment

My response to a Seattle PI article from the AP wire, “Boy who talked way onto airlines now a felon”. < http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/388003_runaway15.html >. November 14, 2008.

So why not punish the boy, as you should have initially, by putting him in juvenile detention? Why is it, when those in power screw up, they react with an irrational jerk that unintentionally creates an even bigger problem than the one initially to be confronted and solved as a requirement of the job they are being handsomely paid to do?

When I initially saw this, I thought, the kid would have a harsh punishment for a stupid act, but would then have this non-violent, yet stupid past, erased as he matured in life (sealed once he turned 18). Now, because the courts felt ashamed for being called out due to their mistake in not initially holding this boy accountable for his crime, they are happy with punishing this little brat by ruining any chances for this thug to live a normal life.

Juvenile detention is supposed to rehabilitate a young mind before the point-of-no-return level of adulthood has been reached, where a person is basically unable to be rehabilitated. This kid still had the opportunity to learn from his mistake and move on once he became a responsible adult. This opportunity has been negated by a judge who saw it; one could only rationalize, as a personal responsibility to show this little punk whose boss. Why now would this throw-away attempt to change, when his future has already been sealed? I don't know Mr. Judge, where's the normative aspect of this holding? He is a kid, so shouldn't there be reasoning for changing one's ways in coming to this holding? I've seen young murders, rapists and kidnappers get more leniency! Those teenage girls who kidnapped a fellow student, then beat the crap out of her, while video-taping the whole thing will most likely go to jail, then be released at eighteen, with their records sealed. Will anyone argue me on this?

What the kid did was wrong; failing to hold him accountable for his actions was the fault of the courts, not the kid. To now correct their mistake by condemning the future for this kid, when we have a court system in place, which has been designed to rehabilitate lost children like this one...well, that is inexcusable and unjust. We elected our first African-American president, but America will not change overnight. Life is still very unfair for a lot of us who look differently or who choose to live an alternative lifestyle. There is still much work to be done, to fix what is still wrong with America.

This judge needs to rapidly mature by not stroking his ego to prove he’s a man, at the expense of a child, or simply retire so none of the rest of our children fall in sight of this mistake for a judge. Those who have historically held positions of power, still hold those positions at our local levels, the levels that still affect us most in our daily lives.

I do not wish to put water on your parade America, but there is still much work to be done, to fix what is still wrong with America. Those of us who have been vigilant in the past (Pre-Obama), must continue our work, so many of our children do not parish in the night. We can't turn back, we must continue moving forward, we can, we can, we will...

Bailout bait and switch; Paulson and crew need to be locked up!

David from Lynnwood, WA — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:03:39 EST

Bailout bait and switch; a debate on MSNBC

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (a Bush-R appointee) stated the $700 billion in bailout money should go to the banking industry; not to saving homes from foreclosures, as a way to stimulate the economy. If this has that uneasy feeling of having been taken by Bush Administration politics; on par with how we were duped into invading Iraq under the false pretense that they had Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) that were positioned to use against the United States, you are not alone.

Bush and Paulson, after cornering the Democratic Party into rushing a $700Billion bailout for Wall street, under the false pretense that a failure to act immediately would guarantee the implosion of the US and world economies, succeeded in the unlawful coercion of money from the American people, because their intended reception of the reasons for allocating these monies, was knowingly misleading. In other wards, this was a simple case of extortion, which is a crime in America.

This is extortion, because now Paulson, after receiving access to this ungodly amount of money has changed the rules for which this money is to be used. This was a ploy of the Republican Party all along. Not only does it attempt to vilify the Democrats, by insisting the Democrats orchestrated this misuse of money because it virtually characterizes this money as a “loss,’ having not been allocated correctly, but it also redirects the use of this money to a secret location of their (Paulson/Bush Administration) choosing and infers that Democrats should acquire additional monies to solve the shortfall in remedying the initial targets for this money as well as our auto industry.

If this is beginning to smell, your senses are correct. The Republican Party in their “do anything” attempts to win an election and stay in power, have implemented deceit and a collective effort to damage our economy (ruining the American middle and working classes), in their efforts to achieve success.

This is domestic terrorism at its worse, yet most efficient way toward achieving their objective. The American people have grown weary of the Republican arrogance and fear mongering, in an effort to act without accountability. I believe it is time for us to change that scenario and hold these criminals strictly liable for their continuous efforts to destroy our nation.

I remember reading somewhere as a child of what I believe was a saying by the Japanese during World War II, “The only way to kill a giant is to get inside the belly of the beast and kill from within.” This corrupt Republican Party is attempting to use this ethos in destroying our nation. They are killing us by killing our economy from within. We need to hold them accountable before it is too late. They are attempting to work at a faster pace, because Obama will obtain power on January 20th. It is at this time, while they race against time, we will have many opportunities to coral this vogue Party, because they will operate recklessly in the open. This is one of those times. Paulson’s about face, on a coerced bailout is the opportune time we have to hold them accountable for their deliberate acts to destroy our economy and as a consequence our nation.

This is the time we need to round these criminals up and put them on trial for the treacherous acts they have continually been allowed to commit under the failed Bush Administration.

Obama visits White House and world watches

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:34:17 EST

President Elect Barack Obama’s first White House visit

I am deeply disturbed and angry at ABC television, by what I have just seen on TV. It’s okay to film his first White House visit, but then they cut away to a topographical view, marking out every tree, bush and angle from which to see the White House, then noting the walk, the president will always perform.

These reporters are either the biggest idiotic morons I have ever known of or the most sinister! Why disclose, what should be a classified depiction of the various views of the president’s positioning within the White House grounds, to the rest of the world. Why do this, knowing the various attempts that have been disclosed to do our president-elect harm? Why do this, with idiots like Rush Limbaugh on the radio calling him and the Vice-President “thugs?” Why do this when we have racist internet sites like “Sodahead” that constantly have registered members who respond to bloggers by reciting the rhetoric of hate and ill will aimed at our president-elect and loving it?

We have come a long way as a nation, but Governor Palin, Senator McCain, Cindy McCain and the rest of the rouge RNC have resurrected an ugly dimension of our country that continuously plots, under the cowardice veil of secrecy, to darken what could be the brightest moments in our nation with the continued sabotaging efforts of the past. They have condoned just enough despicable thought and past behaviors to give the okay to those who are brainwashed into believing that the vilest recesses in their minds are somehow okay, when in-fact we all know they are definitely not.

Television stations need to first, stop giving information to these parasites within our society, who we all know wish to do our president-elect harm. Second, we need to immediately launch a campaign which states once and for all that this type of behavior is not acceptable and will be an outlawing societal act, answered with a public shamming when even referenced. And lastly, we need to hold those who contribute to this acquiescence to a campaign of violence toward a high-level public official as punishable by law.

Any who choose to equate this to a “slippery slope” argument, worthy of condemning because of their right to hate and advocate hate and harm to which they choose, must back up that claim with hard facts to justify such acts, or be held liable for their campaign to do harm to another American citizen. In other words, we should treat them like the terrorists they are, because a terrorist is the only category that describes one who is a party to such actions. There’s the answer to your “slippery slope” argument, so how will you answer that, with hypocrisy? By current definition, these people fall into the category of terrorist, unless there is some secret further defining definition that requires the agent to be one of color in order to complete the definition of terrorist. Well, the President is now black, so that definition needs to be adjusted to protect him as we have protected all of our presidents.

Mika Brzezinski showed no class with her smirk

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:31:28 EST

First of all, my family and I would like to offer our condolences to Senator Obama and his family for the loss of his grandmother. She helped to raise a wonderful man and my President of the United States of America. I know she is looking down from the heavens, with her daughter and are so, so proud of their son:-)...Our President.

I was just watching MSNBC’s “Race for the White House,” usually hosted by David Gregory, but this evening hosted by Mika Brzezinski, at 3:40pm, PST by Mika Brzezinski. Ms Brzezinski is usually a co-host with Joe Scarborough on “Morning Joe.” Tonight, I am very disgusted at Ms. Brzezinski, at what my wife and I see as pure evil. She, as the host, sitting in for David Gregory, cut a way to Senator Barack Obama giving his first public appearance since his grandmother’s death. Senator Obama was giving a speech to a motivated crowd, and then spoke of his grandmother, whom he had disclosed to the crowd, had just passed away after a bout with cancer. My wife and I could see that Senator Obama was obviously in pain, but still, he gave a motivational speech to the crowd, honoring our “silent heroes” like his grandmother (Madelyn Dunham) and others, like her, who have tried to make a better life for their children and grandchildren. As he was speaking, tears rolled down the left side of his face. MSNBC then cut back to Ms Brzezinski, who had a smirking smile on her face and they went to commercial. We were absolutely disgusted at the immature or evil actions of Ms Brzezinski. This was inappropriate behavior, especially for a professional anchor, which, in our mind, there is no excuse for. Is this woman a childish idiot, or so racist and evil that she found the death of someone’s grandmother, funny. Ms Brzezinski and MSNBC should come out and give an apology for this hateful and despicable act. What in God’s name was her intent? What did she find so funny about the death of a loved one? Does this represent the feelings of MSNBC or this individual who was obviously born without a mature enough mind to understand the inappropriateness of smirking because of someone’s death,.?

Newsflash to media; we Americans can see, the fix is on

David from Lynnwood, WA — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:03:44 EDT

Newsflash to media; we Americans can see, the Fix is on

To all of the major news media; we Americans can see the fix is on. Obama garners between 100,000 and 150,000 supporters in a rally in Colorado, while McCain at the same location hours prior to Obama garners 4,000. Reports say McCain’s crowd was enthusiastic; well I would counter that and state that Obama’s crowd looks hungry for justice.

Many cell phone users (mostly the under 30 group) are not included in those media surveys and these polling numbers only represent some 100 or 1,000 participants, which in no way reflects the actual numbers. We are constantly bombarded with headlines stating McCain is closing fast, when the reality simply does not state that! What psychological game have they decided to play? You want to see a true indication of how November 4th will play out, look no further than the crowd numbers while these candidates are stomping.

I hope the Republican Party and their cronies are not stupid enough to think they could actually get away with fixing this election without accountability by the people. In every great society, whenever the government has blatantly failed in their responsibilities to the people, the people have revolted. Unfortunately, I see nothing in today’s world that departs from that reality.

If you are corrupt enough to attempt to suppress voter turn-out by intimidation and psychological tactics, you are not worthier of the high-paying positions you currently have. If you cannot be impartial enough to do your job, because your job is not that of a political pundit, but that of reporting the news, you should be fired come November 5th because that is a part of the CHANGE we need as well.

"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought-John F. Kennedy"

How to fix the economy; reverse osmosis, economically speaking

David from Lynnwood, WA — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:36:48 EDT

I don’t understand the accepted hypocrisy of the Republican Party and its surrogates by the media. There have been those calling Obama a Socialist or Communist because he wants to re-boot the taxation and reset them back at the levels during the Clinton Administration, which is called teamwork in my book.

During the Regan Administration, there was a push to adopt a “Trickle-Down” theory in restarting our economy to take us out of that recession era. The Republicans wanted to institute public economic policies that would take a larger percentage of the wealth from our least wealthy, in the form of taxes and at the same time, take a smaller percentage of the wealth from our most wealthy, in the form of taxes at every level, not just in the everyday operations of commerce.

This was sold to the American people by the charisma of Ronald Reagan, with alienating rhetoric and lies of them versus us (poor versus rich, white versus black), and stating that poor people are too stupid to spend their money wisely. This is the same rhetoric the Republican Party is using today.

What this public policy advocated was a re-distribution of wealth. The difference between the re-distribution of wealth of the Republican Party and that of the Democratic Party are, the Republican Party had initially taken the wealth from the poor and given it to the rich during the Reagan and Bush eras. The Democratic Party now responds to that apparent failed economic policy, which has led to the slowing and eventual halting of our economy, by retrieving what was stolen by the wealthy and given back what was initially theirs prior to the implementation of Reaganomics by the Republican Party in the last eight years of the Bush Administration. Obama sees this as one of the catalysts attributable to the economic crisis we find ourselves in today and one of the obstacles toward reversing this effect.

It took until the House was lost by the Democratic Party in 1995, for the full affect of Reaganomics to take place, which Bush saw too in his era. This as well as the Bush tactic of using signing statements to unconstitutionally alter legislation created through serious negotiations by our elected officials. This is unconstitutional because it grossly undermines the intent of the creators of our Constitutional documents in separating the powers between the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches of the Federal Government to aid in the protection of the people from an overly intrusive government.

This re-distribution of wealth is no different than that re-distribution of wealth carried out by the Republican Party, other than the Democratic model is in reaction to what had been taken away (a defensive move). Like our Foreign Policy of Containment in Democratic eras; the Republican model is an aggressive and hostile pro-active move of expansionism.

If you’re going to call Obama’s economic policy socialist (for the poor and middle-class), what do you call the Bush and McCain economic plan of a continuation of a Republican (Reagan) economic policy for the wealthy? If one is socialist, so is the other, so what’s with the hypocrisy from the Republican side, especially when the Democratic plan is in response for a harm done unto the people because the Republican Executive Branch overstepped its reach in the meddling of Legislative activities?

Let’s say a wealthy person makes 1,000,000,000.00 dollars a year and a poor person makes $100.00 a year. Democrats agree that a flat 10% tax cut would be sufficient if each group would pay 10% of their wealth in taxes. However, this is not what happens. The average American would pay 10% of his wealth, but the wealthy person would pay a whole lot less because of tax loopholes, which gives them the opportunity to not pay any taxes. Many of these loopholes end with the wealthy getting more back in the end, due to incentives from their employers, such as stock options and bonuses.

The Republicans want to give them additional cuts in taxes, which Obama has advocated should go to the poor and middle-class instead, with the wealthy paying a higher percentage in taxes because then, by the time the loopholes have been exhausted, their end tax liability will be more in line with the 10% wealth being taken from the poorest of our citizens. 10% is just a generic number, but this gives you an idea as to what Obama’s plan may look like. His plan will obviously not result in the wealthy paying as much of their accumulated wealth in taxes as the average American, but it will shorten the gap, while John McCain’s economic policies aim at towing the Party line of increasing that gap until the America economy is completely stopped. This because, the poor and middle-class will have no money to contribute to our everyday commerce, which would seize the entire economy and the economies of those relying on the markets in America (the American people to buy their products).

Republican Party Scenario:

If our economy has 100 billion dollars in money circulating around it all of the time, then you given 8 billion to the wealthy (8 people at 10 billion a piece) and the rest (2 billion dollars) to the working people (2 billion people), then you have 2 billion, plus 8 people helping this economy run, 2 billion of which only have 1 dollar to contribute to the economy. This is an extreme, but indicative of where our economy is heading and why we are experiencing the economic collapse happening at this time. The pro-wealthy economic policies have virtually removed 2 billion consumers out of American commerce, as well as the commerce of those relying on our markets. To correct this, obviously you create a plan to reverse the policies that contributed to this redistribution of wealth, by putting that wealth back into the markets (people), who buy the products. To further feed the corporations takes more money out of the markets and accelerates the demise of the economy here and abroad.

Let’s say we are competing with 2 billion plus 10 people in China, who have 50 billion dollars: 10 people with 1 billion dollars each and 2 billion with 40 billion dollars between them.

Let’s say one of our large corporations (GM) wants a market to sell cars and (Microsoft) wants to sell computer software. These companies want to sell in America, but 2 billion dollars amongst 2 billion people, does not give each person in America any money to purchase these products, so they go to China because they have 2 billion customers who can pay for their products, but this market will eventually be flooded and you are still without that large market in the US. There is no end to this madness until you correct the American markets.

In this scenario where do you think our American companies will go to market their products? If they sell the products in China and elsewhere the taxes are paid their, not here. The products will then be manufactured there too, so the jobs will be there. The Chinese economy will flourish because of the laws they have to treat their poor and middle-class more fairly, by protecting their workforce from an overly abusive corporatist economy. This is crazy right, China! But, that is where we are heading. We have accepted the least common denominator in order to satisfy the wealthy corporatists. Countries like Germany, England, France, China, etc., have tariffs that those wishing to sell in their markets must pay in order to do business there. Over the Reagan and Bush Administrations, we have eliminated those tariffs and other safeguards to protect our workers here in the United States.

The US economy will eventually reflect that of a third world nation if we continue to allow corporatists and the wealthy to lead the way in dictating the rules they should be governed by, instead of the government retaining that power. The Republican Party has a plan to eventually eliminate government and give the power to the wealthy private sector. This is the beginnings of a truly class system, not unlike that during the Roman Empire. This is the true motive of the Republican Party.

Redistribution of wealth is nothing but a redefining of the 10% rule. Under the Democrat rule, 10% will mean 10% of your wealth and not 10 dollars. If I buy a commodity, then whatever tax is agreed upon is okay, but with regards to wages for work a percentage and not a flat rate is what being American is all about.

If you play on a football team, is it un-American to have your star running back gain 200 yards in that game to lead you to victory? Should he run for 50 yards and then sit on the bench angrily because the other three running backs could not gain 50 yards and you lose? Should he do all he can and you do all you can, then collectively you win the championship? Then, he can get the MVP trophy to recognize his going over and beyond the line of duty to his team?

Republicans have forgotten team work and have replaced it with selfishness, greed and vanity. These are problems we can fix, but to call someone or some group un-American, makes you in-fact, un-American.

Why hasn't our government acted on this incitement of hate?

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:52:38 EDT

Warning: This is a very disturbing video (unless you’re a racist) from a Sarah Palin rally in Ohio. Copy and past the link attached, to your search browser, to find the video and article. Why isn’t any of this hatred covered by the main news media outlets? A full disclosure is needed at this time, so the American people have the opportunity to demand action against these people be initiated. Why hasn’t our government acted against this hate? < httphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0 > or < http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/mccainpalin-supporters-let-their-rac >. MCCAIN/PALIN SUPPORTERS LET THEIR RACIST ROOTS SHOW. David Neiwert Thursday Oct 16, 2008 10:31am. This hate rhetoric is very disturbing and I demand that our government act proactively for Barack Obama's safety and the safety of African-Americans like me as well as those who support Barack Obama. His life and well being, as well as ours are in jeopardy, so I demand that our government act on this incitement of hate and rioting, these McCain/ Palin campaign rallies have endorsed.

I feel as if I am re-living the past.

Hatred (racism) is a virus. Because we have not instituted anti-racist legislative laws to force enforcement, racism simply grew beneath the surface because there was no accountability. Our laws on record are simply symbolic and not actual in nature, because they lack the most important components, enforcement and accountability.Hate speech should not be protected by the first Amendment (free speech), because its only purpose is to incite a riot-like atmosphere and physical violence, which then denies its target from accessing their fourteenth Amendment right of equal protection of the law. To condone violence by not enforcing the laws to prevent it, the action itself of no action is to institute a state law (common law) to deny this equal protection of the law. We need to hold those complicit in such actions accountable if we are to progress as a nation. The alternative is simply, unacceptable!

Dino Rossi-R, very bad for our poorest workers

David from Lynnwood, WA — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:50:12 EDT

The minimum wage in Washington State is $8.07 per hour, effective July 24, 2008. Republican gubernatorial (for governor) candidate Dino Rossi states that if elected, he will lower the minimum wage by $1.50 per hour, to the new hourly rate of $6.57 per hour.

Dino Rossi further states, if elected, he will not raise any taxes.

What this means:

In order for a government to run, especially in times when we are running a deficit, there has to be taxation. This is simply common practice, to deny this fact is to flat out lie to the people of Washington State.

$1.50 represents just under 25% of the wage for our poorest workers, which means Dino Rossi will be taxing our poorest workers by just under 25% of their pay to get us out of this deficit his party created in the first place! This is insane! Do people actually believe this crap?

If our poorest workers are forced to accept a new minimum wage of $6.57 per hour, we are condoning our state government to unfairly tax them by 25%. That is idiotic and no better than the dictates of a third world country. Does anyone care about that?

I’ve seen enough homeless people flooding our streets based on Bush economics. If you vote for Rossi you deserve what bad fate will fall upon you for being so selfish and so apathetic to the fate of our poorest workers.

It’s time the American people said, enough!

The Real Qualifications on Who is Set to Lead

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:40:35 EDT

An email from a friend which really says it all!More on white privilege . . . . Subject: Crossroad for America

Hi All - We are at a major crossroad in the history of
the United States of America. Here is one of the greatest
challenges facing us today.

How Racism Works...

What if John McCain were a former president of the
Harvard Law Review? What if Barack Obama finished fifth
from the bottom of his graduating class?

What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said
'I do' to? What if Obama were the candidate who left his first
wife after she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became
addicted to pain killers, but acquired them illegally through
her charitable organization? What if Cindy McCain graduated from
Princeton (BA) and Harvard Law (JD)?

What if Obama were a member of the Keating-5?
What if McCain were a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?

This is what racism does.
It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive
qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

You are The Boss... which team would you hire? If your answer is any different than the obvious, I'm sorry to inform you that you're a racist.

McCain and Palin are the Devil in Sheep's Clothing

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:13:41 EDT

The reason I believe Americans should be aware of the McCain economic plan with regards to this economic crises we find ourselves in:

McCain wants to bailout the lenders, who participated in fraudulent accounting practices against unsuspecting home buyers, which is most of us! It’s is those of us who are the victims, because those houses are in our neighborhoods, not simply in another state or in gate-protected areas. What we do now will affect all of us, which is why McCain’s selfish plan is so dangerous.

McCain has been listening to his lobbyists who represent the very rich or the very well-off in our country. They have been telling him, by helping those victimized by predatory lending; they will suffer because their home values will go down.

What is wrong with this scenario is that we have not recognized the seriousness of this situation. The whole world has been affected by greed; greed by unscrupulous lenders, who saw it as their right to take advantage of the lack of economic and real estate knowledge possessed by those who these unscrupulous lenders took advantage of.

This right was validated by laws passed by wealthy backed politicians who passed biased laws of deregulation. We have regulatory laws to protect the American consumer, so we all have equal access to products necessary in order to enjoy the promise of Amendment 14; section 1 of the United States Constitution, “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of laws.” It appears, that by indemnifying unscrupulous lenders for unjust loans; which were unscrupulously marketed to individuals within the United States, by playing upon their lack of knowledge in this area of commerce, is unconstitutional because it not only denies their constitutional right to an equal protection that is granted to these housing, automobile and other lending markets, but rewards them unfairly, with no deliberate rewarding of those victimized by the same unscrupulous markets.

Amendment 14; Section 4 gives the Congress the power to create laws that will enforce this right. By creating laws to give away this right, which is what deregulation does, an unconstitutional act was committed and should be dealt with in our courts. This makes John McCain’s part in the Keating Five scandal very relevant, because it represents lawmakers who played a role in the unconstitutional act of violating Amendment 14, section 1, as well as the violation by the law makers who deregulating our markets, which so violently has affected all of us again today.

McCain’s plan to indemnify unscrupulous lending institutions, at the overly inflated value they deceitfully orchestrated to come about in the first place, not only rewards them for this criminal act and does not hold them accountable, but further harms the victims by permanently separating them from their property, as well as from their acquired income they had obtained in their years of working and playing taxes, which they invested in this property.

McCain wants to pay these lenders for the overly inflated market rate that they themselves created, with no relief to the buyer, who are left as the victims of these tactics and affecting other markets around the world.

The rate charged to these homeowners should be re-adjusted at a new amount after devaluing the property back to its reasonable market rate, and then this new amount should be given to the homeowner victimized by these acts. The government should carry these loans until a time when the markets have been regulated and operated in such a rate that is safe for the home owners to again re enter the marketplace.

By forcing the government to purchasing these loans through political tactics of fear; at the rate falsely created by these unscrupulous lenders, McCain’s plan does nothing but further increase the riches of these unscrupulous lenders, while leaving the victimized homeowners out in the cold to die. There would be no accountability for their actions and they would be free to continue doing what lead us down this path in the first place because it has happened in the past and John McCain was a party to it.

I really wonder, how does he and all of those other selfish players in this hi-jacking of middle-class and working class wealth, live with themselves? How can they sleep at night, knowing how they have destroyed so many American lives and the lives of those affected abroad? They must have no soul, in my eyes, their the devil.

It is really getting ugly out there, which frightens me

David from Lynnwood, WA — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:26:46 EDT

It is really getting ugly out there, which frightens me

The pulse of a segment of America, within America, frightens me. That pulse shows just how far we have not come as a nation. The pulse of racism has once again reared its ugly head into the political debate, threatening to vilify America as “that” nation of people who resemble what is most ugly and wrong with the world today.

As a child growing up in the 60s and 70s, I had thought then, by now we would have distanced ourselves from the ignorance that blinds us from achieving endless accomplishments by working together against the obstacles our nation faces. Instead, I woke up this week to find that we never left yesterday, and because of it, we have been stuck in the mud of futility when it comes to what we could have accomplished by now.

Our racism induced fear, which permeated within every level of our society, in large part contributed to the economic crises we find ourselves and the world in today. Instead of learning from what good was done in creating policies to stamp out racism and creating an atmosphere where blacks and whites could live together peacefully in the 60s, and then applying that to how we condition our society for future successes, we ignored the good and applied only the knowledge we received from the subjugation of African-Americans within our society, with the use of Jim Crow laws and how that made blacks feel inferior, then using that to justify blacks being placed in job market positions of servitude and hard labor, and then applied that knowledge to how we deal with those we fear in the world. In other words, the same disrespect that has been allowed to exist within certain segments of our society has been used in trying to spread Democracy to nations of color around the world. This is taking the knowledge we learned from bad experiments in our societal past and using it as a strategy for persuasive tactics in spreading Democracy, which has not and will never work.

Those who prospered from this tactic, grew so comfortable, arrogant and greedy, they started to apply it to a larger sector of our society (our middle-class), which has lead to the economic crisis we find ourselves in today and the increasing divide between the wealthy and the rest of us.

The rest is, how they say, history. At a recent Sarah Palin rally for the Republican Presidential Campaign of McCain/Palin, Governor Sarah Palin incited a mob like mentality among her supporters, falsely labeling Barack Obama as a terrorist sympathizer and by association a terrorist, that resulted in a participate yelling from the crowd, “kill him” in reference to Senator Barack Obama. No one in the crowd reacted; accept to get more into a crazed frenzy. It was like a Klan rally and made me sick to my stomach and wonder about the safety of all African-Americans in this country.

Barack Obama was the first candidate to receive Secret Service protection because of the threat of being assassinated, yet Sarah Palin knowingly incited a riot and a call to action resulting in this extreme behavior, yet the McCain/Palin Campaign played this serious threat, by ignoring it.

I would think the Secret Service would immediately have arrested the person who threatened Senator Obama’s life and I would immediately conduct an investigation into Governor Palin’s intent, given that she has reacted in a way that would suggest that she sees nothing wrong with this behavior.

Obviously, this atmosphere created by the McCain/ Palin ticket, which most African-Americans feared would be created as a result of Barack Obama becoming the first African-American President of the United States has been now been prematurely ignited by the McCain/ Palin campaign in a desperate effort to stop the momentum of the Obama/ Biden ticket. This has become less about conducting a hard fought Presidential campaign and more about creating an atmosphere to eliminate the apposing party’s top candidate permanently.

We are not a third world country, even though the past Administration’s policies have threatened to make our economy into one. And, whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, you must see the need to hold the McCain /Palin campaign accountable for the mockery they have made of our Presidential Elections. This shows no class and puts us and our soldiers in an even more dangerous environment because we look like we have turned into merely a shell of what we once were as a nation of people.

It’s time the American people said, enough!

The Reason for our current economic crises and why we are being prevented from seriously correcting it

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:12:43 EDT

I now find myself moved to figure out why it has taken our political leaders, as well as our citizens, so long to react to what groups from within our society have been crying out against. Predatory lending, which has led to the loss of wealth in the billions by the African-American community, due to the removal of federally mandated regulations that would have prevented this abuse of a targeted segment within our society in the first place.

There were activist within our government ranks who were positioned to call out this abuse, but were silenced at the last minute, due to the moral deficiencies of one of the messengers.

New York Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer attempted to disclose those complicit in the whole redistribution of wealth campaign instituted by high-ranking political and economic figures within our society, which has played a part in a large segment of our population (African-Americans) no longer being in a position to contribute as they had in making the engine run that fuels our economy. This timely outing of Spitzer’s character flaw (disclosed indiscretions with a stripper being revealed on the eve of the outing of those complicit in the predatory lending scandal, effectively destroyed Spitzer’s reputation) illuminated by those in power to redirect the focus of the unlawful redistribution of African-American wealth, to the greedy pockets of wealthy banks and lending institutions.

Curiously, this same tactic is implemented by the Republican Party when there is a need to shift the attention off a topic harmful to their continual attainment of power, i.e., while the McCain/Palin Campaign is running against the Obama/Biden Campaign, in an attempt to hold on to the Executive Branch of government, because the nation is currently in an economic crises, attention to that political issue (failing economy) is bad for the Republican Party because the people want a new political party in that Branch of Government. Currently, our media has focused on the economic crises, which has resulted in a rise in the polls for the Democratic challenger, the Barack Obama/ Joseph Biden Campaign.

In a desperate attempt to change the agenda (characterized by a former professor of mine at the University of Washington as “priming”) the McCain Campaign has inserted mistruths about Barack Obama. This “shock-jock” approach is used to quickly change the topic of the day, to move the conversation from real issues like the economy, to tabloid style news filled with untruths that will buy time for the Republicans by stopping the bleeding of those crossing over to favoring the Obama/Biden Campaign, as the Democratic candidate are forced to spend money and time on the defense, negating these false accusations, and then back to getting the real information out to the American people.

In the end, this redirect of real issues serves the purpose of the Republican Party, at the expense of the American people who are looking for the truth, so they can make a decision on who they want to lead this nation.

African-Americans in the Detroit, Michigan area, who owned homes and were poised to retire, were in a positioned to become the first generation of African-Americans to be in a position to pass on their accumulated wealth (homes and savings plans) to their next generation, for the first time in our nation’s history. However, with between $71 billion and $122 billion in loss wealth, African-American children will once again be placed at a disadvantage in comparison to their Caucasian counter parts, who when facing the normal economic bumps in the road during the beginning of their adult years, will be less likely to file for bankruptcy (causing an impact on the overall economy) due to having access to that safety parachute of family wealth to protect, as apposed to the only option of African-American children being sued or filing bankruptcy. This will lead them on a path of continual decline for credit to buy or rent a home; to purchase an automobile, or to have access to a job that would provide them with decent healthcare. This, while their Caucasian counter parts will continually march forward, leading to the historical economic divide in wealth between Caucasians and people of color.

Some wonder if this economic meltdown wasn’t an unanticipated by-product of the deliberate act, aimed at quashing the economic gains by African-Americans, even at the expense of some Caucasians who got caught in the cross-fire.

“Boston - A new report says the subprime mortgage crisis will cause African-Americans to experience wealth losses of between $71 billion and $122 billion over its duration. The racial bias of subprime mortgage lenders accounts for a 40 percent difference in losses between whites and people of color.” (Christina Kasica). “Subprime Crisis Causing Huge Loss of African-American Wealth.” New America Media. Jan 23, 2008. retrieved from the internet on October 5, 2008. < http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=b121910bf335fc737295ea33b0fadedb&from=rss >.

The current economic and political crisis can be linked to those who have historically played a role in the continual subjugation of African-Americans and other racial minority groups in the US. What scares the living hell out of those who have been complicit in such practices is the current swell of support for Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama, because his ascending to the ultimate position of American power represents the fact that Obama has been successful in uniting all of us. By design we have been governed in a way that attempts to keep us divided in order to successfully keep us down economically and politically within our society (An imposed class system based on race). By dividing us, real stories of discrimination when an African-American or Hispanic American or Native American, etc., attempts to break the glass ceiling by entering managing positions or powerful political positions, are never heard, or they are countered by inserting “zero-sum” scenarios in the political and economic jungle, which only serve to pit minority groups against each other. This is done by limiting positions available to minorities, then creating a situation where there is never a sharing of power; it’s this person gets it or that person gets it, but not both. Yet, in areas where it is already dominated by our Caucasian counterparts, sharing is the “rule”.

An end to the “reign of terror” on the average America citizen is in site, which will lead to us collectively agreeing to hold those complicit in this terrorism accountable for their deliberate actions to destroy our country, with their efforts to permanently disable a segment of our society. Curing this problem within a sub-segment of our society will eventually resonate upward and solve other problems as well by opening dialogues for real movements toward making everyone feeling satisfied.

The younger generation will not hesitate to correct this repeated wrong by my generation and the generations before me, seeing to it that this never happens again by holding those complicit in the design for failure, accountable for their sabotage of our society.

Our current economic crisis can be contributed to the overwhelming success of those complicit in this hijacking of wealth and power, thus removing the masses from participating in the daily functioning of our society, which is a necessity for our economic and political survival. Collectively, minorities represent a large majority of our society, so removing us from the participation of moving our society forward with the economic might to do so; will have devastating consequences on our country’s overall health. To solve our current economic crises would involve empowering us by giving back what is continuously being taken away from us, in the way of allowing the wealthy to go unchecked in ciphering our wealth with deregulation, ever sense the Regan Administration in the 1980s. The wealthy have hoarded our wealth leading to the engine of our society starving and dying. Obama seeks to retrieve what was taken from the majority of our society by placing us back at the levels we were prior to the Regan Administration, in the form of reinstituting those tax-levels those earning $250,000 per year or more had prior to the Regan Administration and suspending the furthering ciphering of wealth from the other 80-plus percent of us so that we may begin to recover from the blood sucking of the republican Party. This is why he has put forth a plan of taxing those earning $250,000.00 or more while also instituting a plan for affordable healthcare. This multiple attack will energize the working and middle class, leading to an economic stimulus of “main street America” rather than “Wall Street;” a “trickle up” theory, if you will to counter the “Trickle Down” theory of the Regan era. This is the only plan that will work because this will cause an immediate upward trend in buying and moving our commerce forward, while restoring consumer confidence immediately.

Defending statement by Matt Damon

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:12:07 EDT

Matt Damon has a right to his political opinion, just like the rest of us.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck (The View) and other right-wing nut jobs like her assume they are the only ones allowed to share their political opinions about the direction of this country and their interpretation on the state of this union.

Last time I checked, Mr. Damon is an American citizen allowed to vote in the United States and enjoys the same constitutional rights to the freedom of speech, the rest of us tax-paying citizens are privy too. To attempt to vilify Mr. Damon publicly, simply because he exercises that right, is unpatriotic and un-American. It is unpatriotic and un-American, not because she voices her dissent on his statement, but because in doing so she attempts to sway her audience to shun him in such a way as to curtail any future attempts to exercise his right to air a public grievance against what he sees as a failed government attempting to persuade Americans into accepting more of the same through intimidation and public persecution.

Matt was correct in being concerned, because based on polls; simply because Sara Palin is a Caucasian woman and a “hockey mom,” many are persuaded into thinking this is reason enough to assume that she can competently exercise the duties of Vice President of the United States, and seeing this as simply ludicrous.

Gov. Palin didn’t even know what the Bush Doctrine was, when repeatedly posed this question by Charles Gibson of ABC TV, in a much anticipated television interview of Gov. Palin. He asked her if she agreed with this type of foreign policy principle and she showed her obvious ignorance for the question, by responding with rehearsed “safe” answers, showing no familiarity with the subject. To me, who am against Gov. Palin, it was embarrassing and made me feel uncomfortable. However, I felt no sympathy because of her display of arrogance in her response, attempting to force Mr. Gibson into accepting her response or being looked at as un-American with her condescending remarks and repeatedly calling Mr. Charles Gibson, “Charlie.” To me, she was attempting to vilify him; with catch phrases those in the Vietnam era demographic would subconsciously acknowledge as the enemy “Charlie”. Maybe this was her way at signaling to Mr. Gibson, her anger at the questions he was posing, getting these anger signaling points from her leader, John McCain.

Something so indicative of the US turning from a Policy of containment and deterrence to one of expansionism and aggression; and also turning from only recognizing the legitimacy of state sponsored militaries, e.g., US Army, US Marines, to recognizing and therefore legitimizing non-state sponsored militant movements or groups, e.g., KKK, Cripps, Bloods, skinheads, etc., opens the US up to international criticisms of hypocrisy if not holding ourselves to the same consequences should such outlawing groups export their terrorist acts outside our borders. To legitimize these rogue groups by elevating their standing on the international scene lowers our standing in the world and elevates the standing of these viruses within our walls, simply because of an unwillingness to listen to the critiquing of others.

If we go down this road of legitimizing the Bush Doctrine, then we open ourselves up to the same scrutiny, which will only weaken our international standing in the long run. This is a very dangerous and defining moment, which Governor Palin has absolutely no idea of the long-term repercussions for implementing such a doctrine into law.

Gov. Palin lacks the long-term insight, necessary for any leader to posses, as that most describes the difference between a leader and a follower; a follower only sees what is in front of them, while a leader must see the entire field, so as to anticipate every possible scenario of the apposing side and have a plan for dealing with each scenario. Gov. Palin obviously lacks this most important quality, which would explain why, as mayor of Wasilla, she inherited an Alaskan city with a budget surplus, and then after only two years in office, she left the same with a budget deficit.

Matt Damon has shown his intelligence for recognizing such an ideological difference in the Bush Doctrine (aggressive, expansion, preemptive and short-term power) and that of the Democrats (containment, long-term, persuasive), which have proven to be more effective with regards to securing a better America domestically and abroad.

Mr. Damon sees the difference between seeing only what’s in front of you and creating public policies that mirror this ideology with respect to short-term goals based on the “me generation”, disregarding the input of our allies and disregarding the price our next generation will have to pay as a result of this self-serving action, and the long-term goals of the Democrats who take into account that we are not in this alone and our actions will have a real lasting effect on those who come after us. Democratic Party goals look more long-term, taking into account the whole picture, rather than just snippets that suit our short-term needs. Like grocery shopping while you are hungry, when rationality is impaired by your immediate need to satisfy your hunger.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck should stop flinging out emotionally charged comments and get her facts straight first. The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the Nation’s greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable, especially when that questioning is disinterested, for they determine whether we use power or power uses us. John F. Kennedy, Amherst College, Oct 26, 1963 - Source JFK Library, Boston, Mass. In his book, “The Case for Democracy,” Natan Sharansky, in speaking of the difference between the societies of America and The Soviet Union, where he was a political prisoner of war made this telling statement, “The profound moral difference between our society and a free society was that the people in free societies could publicly express their own ideas and persuade others to accept those ideas as well. We all understood, therefore, that free societies had a basic respect for human rights.” Natan Sharansky. The Case for Democracy. Preface, XIII.2004. Public Affairs. If Elisabeth Hasselbeck had it her way, we would no longer have a free society, because we would be too concerned with character assassination or other forms of threats to living our lives, simply because we spoke out. Our speech would be severely curtailed because of the element of fear.

Keep focused on a United America, no matter their "self first; America second" attempts to divide us and make us a weaker America

David from Lynnwood, WA — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:20:49 EDT

Keep focused on a United America, no matter their "self first; America second" attempts to divide us and make us a weaker America

I'd like for someone to investigate and tell me if Governor Palin really was a "soccer mom". We know how the Republicans have historically, falsely claimed to be something they are not simply to get votes. I find it hard to believe that she was a “soccer mom”, given the geographical location of the places she has come from (Idaho and Alaska).

Definition of Soccer mom as defined in the dictionary: An American mother living in the suburbs whose time is often spent transporting her children from one athletic activity or event to another.

She only stated herself as being defined by this symbolic characterization, in a strategic attempt to alienate Democrats from Hillary Clinton's main supporters; who were Caucasian women, who have basically been composed of "soccer moms". This group has never been the Republican base, but it was Hillary's base.

Just as she has defined herself as a woman, therefore more entitled to the support by Hillary supporters than Barack Obama because he’s simply a “black man”. She (Palin) and the Republicans are appealing to racist and gender specific discriminatory factors in order to chop away at Obama’s lead. In essence, Palin and the rest of the Republican Party are appealing to very divisive and ugly qualities, which Barack Obama’s campaign has been all about destroying. I think the American people will see through this and realize just how polarizing the Republican campaign truly is. This is the essence of the change the energized America is all about; the Republicans just don’t get it.

Remember, “United we stand, divided we fall”. Then ask yourself,

Do the Republican Party tactics truly unite us, or divide us?

Will a “United America” better protect America or will a “Divided America” best protect America?

The ask yourself, who truly is the enemy of the state?

What would one hope to accomplish by dividing us? Those are questions that should be answered?

The answer, I believe is that Republicans are dividing us for political reasons, not placing country first!

What is good for the safety of America; uniting us, takes a back seat to the Republican’s political aspirations of dividing us! They will lie to get this accomplished. What moral values does that display?

One of the ways the Hillary Clinton Campaign started chopping away at your Obama’lead was to cast him as an “outsider” that was out of touch with a sizeable group of American people. She did this when he stated that Americans were angry. She then campaigned in states like West Virginia and said, “You’re not angry” but he says, “You’re angry.” It hit me then that people would fall into this trap and I have learned of why campaigns use this tactic; it’s simply used to divide and conquer.

Such small words ended up causing a lot of damage to the Obama campaign, because it divided his support.

The Republican’s watched the Democratic Primaries and learned from that brutal battle between the Obama and Clinton camps, and is now deploying the same covert tactics, to chop away at Obama’s support.

The basic theme I heard coming out of the Republican Convention was an attempt to label the Democratic Party as the “Angry Left”.

We need not under-estimate this tactic but instead confront it head on, by defining the Democratic Party our self, or re-enforcing our identity as that of change because it is necessary in these times to correct all of the wrong committed by the “Lying Right”.

United we stand; a united America is best for America to keep us safe and economically sound. A divided America makes us vulnerable to the outside world and those who prey upon us from within.

My response to a Seattle PI article on Sarah Palin

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:28:56 EDT

My response to a Seattle PI article on Sarah Palin

“Palin no stranger to state politicians” met with Christine Gregoire (Governor of Washington State) on trade issues. McGann, Chris. Seattle Post Intelligencer, Capitol Hill Correspondent. 29August2008. < http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377136_palinwash30.html >

First of all, with regards to Gregoire’s guarded comments, if I were responsible for jobs in Washington state that are dependent on good relations with Alaska, I wouldn’t say anything that would jeopardize that hard fought relationship as well. Duh! Republicans just don’t get it; it’s not about the politician, IT’S ABOUT THE PEOPLE!!!

Barack Obama had the opportunity to make a lot of money with his Ivy-League degree, but instead chose to help the very poor on the south side of Chicago. Also, since when was the Illinois State Senate not office? It appears that Republicans are so quick to dismiss any accomplishments of Barack Obama before his days in the US Senate. Such has been the tactics of the republican machine. So long as they can control the dissemination of information to the American people, they have the upper hand. We’ll see what the debates will bring. And, by the way, Obama debates McCain and Biden goes after Palin, so get it right. You have a lot of ethics boards for oil and gas, yet she has displayed a knack for giving big oil every possible break they can get. Sounds to be that she was bought somewhere down the line. I’m sure it will come out too. I’m sorry but her accomplishments have been localized and partisan to say the least. In a larger arena, she just doesn’t measure up. Some of his accomplishments, as an Illinois State-Senator, where: 1. He helped to reform Healthcare Laws and Ethics Reform. 2. He helped increase tax-credits for persons of low-income, giving the working class a much needed tax-breaks, which the Republicans only sought to give the wealthy and then have that accumulation trickle down to the working class, should the wealthy choose. 3. He negotiated welfare reform to increase subsidies for childcare, so working class mothers could actually go to work and not be burdened with impossible childcare costs, which had prevented many welfare moms from going to work previous to his reconstruction. He's about fixing problems, not drawing light to them and blaming those victimized by their situation. Republicans are not willing to fix what is obviously there to be dealt with, but instead they attempt to bury or kill it. That’s their way, which is NOT THE AMERICAN WAY! 4. He took the lead in creating a policy, mandating the videotaping of homicide interrogations, in an environment resistant to this change. He crossed party lines and garnered bipartisan support and got the job done. He's about opening communication channels and finding solutions through openness, respect and inclusion, not mandates based of coercion, secrets and lies. 5. He created systems for the monitoring of racial-profiling (mandating that police record the race of drivers they stopped, to see if there is an obvious pattern based on race). 6. He enacted Death Penalty Reform. In the US Senate he holds assignments on, Foreign Relations; Health; Education; Labor and Pensions; Government Affairs and Homeland Security; Veteran’s Affairs and is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. 7. He co-sponsored the Lugar-Obama Nonproliferation Legislation: This bill was authored by U.S. Senators, Dick Lugar (R-IN) and Barack Obama (D-IL). The Lugar-Obama initiative expands U.S. cooperation to destroy conventional weapons. This expands the State Department's ability to detect and stop weapons and materials for weapons of mass destruction from being utilized. This is an important piece of legislation to minimize the dangers of weapons leaking to the markets from the breakup of the Soviet Union. 8. He successfully implemented the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (S. 2590), this allows for the tracking of monies that have historically been used as payoffs for favors with foreign and domestic policies. 9. He successfully implemented the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, which strengthens disclosure of lobbyists; sets restrictions on gifts from lobbyists and mandatory disclosure of earmarks (this is when a member of Congress can direct a portion of funding for a bill to a particular project without disclosing who they are. This is another way of abusing power, because the role of Congress is circumvented to redirect funds for a particular bill to a Congressional member’s pet-project or constituent.) Again, this is a form of transparency, so the people know what's going on in Washington and our representatives are kept honest and made accountable to their responsibilities. 10. He championed the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP): This provided a year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers, returning home and recovering from combat-related injuries. This bill passed in both houses with bi-partisan majorities and then President Bush vetoed the bill! He has no experience? Tell me, how do you define experience? You say he’s not detailed enough. I say, based off of the Republican’s framing of arguments by purely subjective parameters, they lack clarity and not Obama. America’s is tired of being lied too and being told to just accept what Republicans say, simply because they said it. Now, America wants facts from the Republicans because of all the times of being lied too? America wants you to define Patriotism; America wants you to define Christianity; America wants you to define Right and wrong, because it appears that your definitions have been left in the19th century and don't apply to the hear and now! Republicans have become out of touch with the America People and Barack is right on target! I guess you Republicans just don’t get it.

Day-1 Democratic Convention a Great Success

David from Lynnwood, WA — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:21:52 EDT

Michelle Obama’s speech was an unequivocal success. Many of the political pundits, most of whom I wonder why they have not been so successful at hiding their true allegiance to John McCain since they are supposed to be journalists, have been unsurprisingly tepid in their response to what amounted to a bases loaded at bat for Michelle Obama. So, as I see it, the next first lady did her job.

She loaded the bases, including all of us; black; white; red; yellow; single-mom; married-mom with a family; straight; gay; middle-class, working-class; religious; atheist, etc., were all brought along in her speech, so that the next President of the United States of America could bring us all home with a grand slam home run!

Her brother set it up with his speaking of Michelle Obama remembering every episode of the Brady Bunch, which I identified with because I as a 46-year old African-American man can still remember every episode and every song of the Partridge Family. At the end of her speech, she safely got on base with her proclaimed words to the world, “God Bless America!” Pat Buchanan didn’t even mention that, which made tears welled in my eyes; instead, he quickly stating that ‘She never mentioned religion.”

It is so typical for the Republican Party “hate machine” to insert their surrogates, with their talking points aimed at derailing the hope and belief that all Americans have of becoming better, by insisting all that all of the seeds of promise, planted that first night of the Democratic Convention, were not accomplished because we did not mention John McCain. They are so desperate to get their candidate’s name on our airtime; they would stoop so low as to fabricate a shortfall in order to make that happen. As if they had any notion of barrack Obama’s intended plan. They’ve been one-step behind the entire campaign, yet continue to pontificate on his strategy, stating it fell short, as if they are in the know.

I think the democrats have it right, because even the mentioning of his name makes me sick to my stomach. Besides, not speaking of him shows just how much of a non-factor he really is. Imagine that strategy Republican geeks. Why would the Obama Campaign want to spoil all of the joy and promise of what we can achieve together, by bringing up that which symbolizes all that has torn us apart? Change incorporates a politics of promise, togetherness and positive thinking, not the old tear us a part and accept mediocrity.

For all of you Republicans, the answer is simple, we can do better than you, and we will do better than you, so sit up, take notes, and watch how it should be done. Your days are numbered, so if I were you, I’d start mending those fences you tore down now, for tomorrow will be too late. Hmmmm….I just thought of the theme song for the Republican Convention, “It’s Too Late” by Carol King. But, I’m sure, just like Jackson Browne, she’d sue you for using her song too.

Fear Politics can be defeated with collective disclosure of the truth politics

David from Lynnwood, WA — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:30:26 EDT

Please compare the voting records of these two representatives and tell me how Dave Reichert is allowed to continue in his capacity as Republican member in the House of Representatives?

These are issues that affect the middle class and how candidates have voted on these issues since 2004 (Just click on link or copy and paste link in your web browser):

Norm Dicks (D): < http://www.themiddleclass.org/legislator/norman-dicks-98 >

Dave Reichert (R): < http://www.themiddleclass.org/legislator/dave-reichert-541 >

So why the Disparity in rational reasoning for why Republicans continue to challenge Democrats:

Could the choice be any clearer? If America continues to vote against her own self-interests, what biases and prejudices are the driving forces in her reluctance to vote overwhelmingly in an obvious direction for collective betterment? Has the Republican machine of conditioning Americans been so effective that it now has become a self-enforcing mechanism, that is constantly enforced by the subjects it had set out to influence (like the Hitler youth who would spy on their own parents and report violations of Nazi propaganda to their superiors, creating an atmosphere of blind compliance based on fear)?

A way to combat fear politics with a collective discovery of the truth to combat a "go-it-alone" scenario, which only serves to reinforce fear politics:

If education, accountability and full-disclosure are the compelling reasons for why America continues to do harm to herself in continuing to place those in office who would do her harm; then at the very least, those complicit in the denial of these reasons for American harm must be identified and exposed to the American Public in an overwhelming campaign of repetitive visual and audible nationwide clips on every major television station.

If we know where in it together, fear will not be as effective of a tool.

The KEY in summary:

In the meantime, we as movers in this election must send on our messages of information to everyone we know, so they may send it on to everyone they know and so on.

We are on the last leg of realizing real change. It will get harder before it gets better, so at this very crucial time of change, we must grow stronger,

1. by identifying our commonalities, which start with public policies that benefit us both,

2. then with representatives who consistently act in favor of these commonalities,

3. and ends with us identifying and disclosing who those representatives, who truly represent us all, really are.

The rest will bring the results we all want and need.

David Martin

Absentee ballot shows voter handicap; advantage cowardly Republicans in hiding

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:54:12 EDT

I have an odd question. I'm from the Snohomish County area and I'm stumped on this voting ballot. I'm a absentee voter, so I received my ballot early. I'm supposed to send it off; post-marked by August 19, 2008 (next Tuesday).

Does anyone know the Party affiliation for these two candidates?

I. Superior Court Judge Pos. 8,

David F. Hulbert and
Eric Z. Lucas, represent?

Are their holdings right leaning or left leaning?

Also, that of

II. Superior Court Judge Pos. 6,

Joseph P. Wilson;
George Appel; and
Jim Johanson?

Again, left-leaning holdings or right-leaning holdings in judicial decisions?

III. Superintendent of Public Instruction offers,

1. John Patterson Blair;

2. Don Hansler;

3. Randy Dorn;

4. David Blomstrom;

5. Enid Duncan; and

6. Teresa (Terry) Bergeson.

The Party affiliations are no longer included on the ballot, so those of us who are not familiar with local candidate affiliations, because we are not lawyers; who actually see how these judges rule, will have no idea who we are truly voting for. Luckily, local lawyers, whom I have the honor of knowing, filled in the blanks on the ruling preferences of the

IV. State Supreme Court Pos. 3, races between

1. Mary Fairhurst (my choice), and

2. Michael J. Bond (the Bush wannabee)

V. State Supreme Court Pos. 4,

1. Charles W. Johnson (my choice)

2. C.F. (Frank) Vulliet

3. James M. Beecher

In law, the public is protected in areas where the reasonable man cannot be expected to possess the same knowledge as one who is an expert in that field of work e.g., doctors know more than patients in medical malpractice suits, so doctors in medical malpractice cases are scrutinized because of their industry expertise, we mere mortals cannot be expected to posses.

I would offer that this same line of reasoning, for showing why this election process is criminal. The people will make mistakes in voting who they intend to vote for because this new system takes unfair advantage of the reasonable man's ignorance, due to a known industry expertise, which the reasonable man cannot and is not expected to posses.

How many of us non-lawyers sit in on court proceedings, to see how a particular judge adjudicates? Since we do not, how can we be expected to know who we are voting for? To me, that's unconstitutional, because we are presented with an unfair election process, which requires this level of expertise in order to realize our voting rights. This equates to rigged elections, seen only in third-world countries, not America.

As you have probably surmised, based off of my blogs, I'm a Democrat leaning voter. That however, doesn't preclude me from gesturing all to get out and vote, regardless of their political affiliation. It's our American right and our American duty, to exercise our right to have a say so in the governing of our citizenry, however; in an election year where there is so much dissatisfaction with republicans, I find it odd that the rules have been changed in their favor (not showing their affiliation with Republicans).

David Martin

Finally beginning to understand Hillary supporters

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:38:06 EDT

I think I’m finally beginning to understand; see if you can follow my train of thought

For understanding the African-American dilemma:

An analogy to follow would be; you are on a desert island and deprived of water, for days. Once you are given water, you attempt to gulp it all down, to quest your thirst, right? If you are given just a teaspoon and are then told that is all you will be given, you get understandably upset and demand more, right?

Many Caucasian Americans today, are too young to understand what African-Americans have been deprived of, for far too long. They do not understand the endless amount of times, African-Americans are told, “a least it is better than before, so why are you complaining?” or, “Just be patient, full equality will come about later.”

For understanding the Hillary supporter dilemma:

Caucasian women were companions of Caucasian men since the beginning, so they are family to them. They have been demanding equality for along time, even when siding with racist Caucasian male societies of the past. Now, we have the possibility of an African-American achieving the highest office in the land, before the African-American, and Caucasian women probably see this as a slap in the face.

Now, we African-Americans need to understand this emotional anger, by looking at our own emotional anger, without being hypocritical. We African-Americans have been her, along with Caucasian-American men and women since the beginning of this country, yet we have seen as different migrations of people come by and gin equality long before us, so we are naturally angry. Caucasian-American women feel this same type of resentment; it is as close to being exactly the same type of anger, for the same reasoning, that I can think of.

Maybe, by attempting to understand this, we can get past thinking that Hillary supporters are racists. They are not, as I have been guilty of suspecting. They are more in tune with the anger of African-Americans than anyone else in this country, because they are experiencing the same perceived sense of betrayal that African-Americans have perceived for over two hundred years. Its time we embrace them and welcome them to our world, and then we can ascend to equality together. Maybe the Republican threats of vetting Hillary are simply mind games. Maybe Hillary would be a good VP pick. Maybe that’s what scares them most.

Simplifying it (the need to control), by putting it on a smaller scale

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:53:50 EDT

Simplifying it, by putting it on a smaller scale

What continues to upset me are, the blatant acts of racial prejudices that people commit without really realizing what they are doing. I have worked hard all of my life to do what is right; even when the average person, experiencing what I have experienced, would have given up and taken a different road than I have a long time ago. I am one who does not give up, which has been a character trait that has sustained me throughout my life. I substantiate the theory of physics, the greater the force (negative force) pushed on me, the greater the reactive force (positive force), I push back with. I don’t believe in accelerating the receiving force, aimed at my demise by helping with the continuation of that force, so I fight back by negating that negative force with positive forces such as education and disclosure of why these tactics have been implemented in the first place.

I have experienced unbelievable perpetuations of racial stereotypes, which in my developmental years were seen as extremely racist and hateful words used only to cause harm, yet today I am vilified if I don’t laugh and see them as comical when they are spouted at me and people who look like me. Please tell me, what in the hell has happened to our society? I don’t understand why I and all African Americans must sit in silence and simply accept the “same” publicly accepted treatments today, which were used in the past by racists as tools to subjugate and condition us into feeling inferior to those who defy stereotypes because they hold the power to set these societal standards, due to the color of their skin.

Caucasian Americans have set the societal standards, which allow for this racist rhetoric to continue, causing African Americans tremendous emotional harm, which can last for decades. If any African American speaks up against this type of behavior, we are labeled as trouble makers, because it somehow makes Caucasian Americans feel guilty or threatened. Caucasian Americans can have a remedy for their emotional harm (guilt or feeling threatened), but African Americans cannot, even when African Americans were not the culprits (did not initiate or sustain) of the harm that started it all in the first place. Please tell me America, does that really make sense?

I often equate this double-standard to “double-think,” or “double-speak” when it is actually spoken in a political setting or from those who wish to spout this hate. Caucasian Americans have actually closed their minds to the harm felt by African Americans, in order to justify the perpetuation of the continuation of this treatment, because it then eases their guilt or lessens their responsibilities to constrain their actions.

Our legal system only recognizes a physical harm, which is why so many domestic abusers have gone unpunished in our legal system. Emotional or mental harm are not seen as a harm requiring a remedy by our federal court system (only state courts can police morality), so women and minorities will continue to be harmed and society will join in with hateful rhetoric that continues to go unchecked, unless we as a society place a stigma on that type of behavior. If we make it “un-cool” to act in this way, eventually it will become a tool to label someone as an outsider.

This tactic has been used often to protect our society, such as the stigma placed on cigarette smokers, driving while drunk and in some states driving without a seatbelt. Society has the power, but much too often the word does not get out to inform everyone, because corporations own the airways and they have worked with government to quail the voices of the people.

However, as long as some states are aloud to continue the legacy of hate toward minorities, the roots still exist in America for infection at a later date in time. This is often expressed in the phrase, “the south will rise again.”

Well, we’ve just had 8-years of a southern president’s rule (Executive), leading to the stacking of our Supreme Court [Judiciary- currently 4-4, with Kennedy(usually conservative) as the swing vote], the majorities in the Senate and House since 1994 (Legislative), and they have done untold damage to the maturation of America. It is time that we now correct all that was destroyed, by winning back a true 60% [no blue-dog-conservative- Democrats, who vote Republican (therefore Democrats do not really have a majority at this time)] majority in both houses of congress, winning back the Executive and replacing two Supreme Court justices with Progressive Democrats, so that change can truly be implemented. We need change that will help the people, not big business.

I was listening to the Randi Rhodes show, when a John McCain supporter called in and stated why he wouldn’t vote for Barack Obama. His major concern was not Obama’s policies, but that he felt Obama lied about his character. When Ms Rhodes asked how he lied about his character, the man replied that, by the way Obama speaks; he can tell that Obama is an “angry Blackman”.

Throughout my everyday life, I continue to have non-blacks tell me that I am an “angry Blackman,” in a joking way. Because I speak out on what I believe is wrong, and therefore needs to be corrected-politically and socially, that very act of using my freedom of speech to help correct a wrong, signifies to the majority of Caucasians that I must deal with in corporate America, that I am an “angry Blackman”. In other words, I must keep my mouth shut, or I run the risk of being labeled as a trouble maker, which if I were to run for public office; could be used against me by the Caucasian community.

If it were accepted that I had a right to be angry, based on the unfair conditions I must live my life, simply because of the color of my skin, I would have no problem with this. But, Senator John McCain and his followers are somehow equating my cries for help as a cry for violence. Senator McCain, just like an abusive spouse, is trying to make me the abuser, when he is the abuser. He’s trying to turn-it-around, so please America, recognize that tool, so often used by abusers. I know you have seen this scenario played out many times; whether on TV, in a movie, by a friend, or by a loved one. This case is no different, just on a wider scale.

Does anyone feel that this is right? Why is it that a Caucasian American can speak out about rights, but an African American cannot?

Many academic scholars have recognized the patterns of institutionalized abuse of African Americans as a way of subverting them, but I see this as a way of creating a world where African Americans, naturally grow angry as any normal human being would feel under such hostile conditions.

Many Americans are angry because they are losing their wealth, but political figures will turn it around and make that somehow taboo. Then, they will say shame on you for feeling angry? Does that make since America? It doesn’t to me, because I’ve seen this scenario play out on a smaller scale too much, to not recognize it on a larger one. It’s the abuser turning-it-around and attempting to make you feel as if you did something wrong, resulting in the abuse you have experienced.

You did nothing wrong, they did and so you should be angry!

“Psycho-political process of stigmatizing the black male incorporates a calculated orientation to lowering his self-conceptions and restricting his potentially productive performance.” (Wilkinson, Doris Y. and Taylor, Ronald L.) “The Black Male in America. P145.“Stigmatization thus functions to maintain existing relations between blacks and whites. It validates the political order and is politically, socially, economically, and psychologically functional for whites.” Doris Y. Wilkinson, The Black Male in America: Perspectives on his status in contemporary society (Chicago: Nelson: Hall, publishers, 1977), p.147.

Police brutality, racial profiling and unfair labor and housing continue to be a measurement on how far the United States has not advanced on its human rights record, even though many of those complicit in these practices have stated otherwise. The ratification of Human Rights treaties by the United States give the promise; the abuse alleged to be happening to blacks in America is not happening, however the sovereignty defense, demanded by states, give victims little opportunity for relief because this state immunity, aids in the continued sanctioning of abusive acts of power over its economic-minority citizens.

The success in abusing the rights of blacks, with no accountability for this abuse, has made the abuser so confident that they have rigged presidential elections < http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/601-0532020-5630560?asin=1583226877&afid=yahoosspplp_bmvd&lnm=1583226877|Was_the_2004_Presidential_Election_Stolen?:_Exit_Polls,_Election_Fraud,_and_the_Official_Count_:_Books&ref=tgt_adv_XSNG1060 >; stolen masses amounts of wealth from the middle class < http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071224/howl >; and have snubbed their noses at Congressional mandates to answer questions as to their blatant malfeasance and abuse in the execution of their public duties < http://www.newsweek.com/id/147776 >. And to make it all the worse, any African-American (using the old racist measurement of 1-ounce of black blood makes you black) who addresses the abuses that all know have been and continue to be experienced by blacks, are met with the opposition brainwashing the American Caucasian public into believing that this is threatening to them.

If you did nothing wrong, why feel threatened. If you are not the abuser, then why side with the abuser and give the victim the impression that you are the abuser. When a woman is abused for years by an abusive spouse, we all wonder why didn’t she say something sooner, right? Well, you need look no further than your reactions to African Americans who have continued to cry out for help and have their voices land on def ears. You have given the abuser the strength to now abuse some of you, because of your apathy toward the cries of someone who looks different than you. You allowed the abuser to play into your own prejudices, based on shallowness; seeing only what’s on the outside and allowing that physical trait to dictate your moral differences and lack of commonalities.

You have been duped into siding with the morally corrupt, when you are not. African Americans are not and you are not! So, why do you continue to follow one who defies your own self-interests and has absolutely nothing in common with you other than the color of your skin? Again, we look no further than to redirect and look at how family members treat their own flesh and blood when that person is continually being abused. We think of ourselves, right? She’s over there now, living in someone else’s house. She’s out of your hair and you have too much on your plate with your own problems to deal with, so let her figure out how to get herself out of it. After all, she got herself into it, right? Those blacks, got themselves into their poverty, so they can get themselves out, right? What are they so angry about anyway, at least their not in Africa, right?

Ever wonder why America works more hours per week, with less yearly vacation time than any other industrialized nation in the world? Are you tired all of the time, working your butt off and having precious few moments to spend with your family or to get done what needs to be addressed before the work week starts up again? Ever wonder why there has been this attack on unions (which ensure that workers have rights)?

Think people, and realize who you are before stepping off and helping the abuser continue his or her crime. Its time we wake up and get America back on the right track. Its time we come together, no matter what hate, guilt, or divisive rhetoric they throw our way. America is better than this; we are great, but we can be a lot greater, right? They keep us busy and apart, so we don’t think clearly. If we think clearly, its simply; we come together and we get our country back on track. If we don’t, we lose everything.

If the US will become a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the continuation of abuses can be greatly reduced. The curtailing of blatant discrimination and abuse will be resolved because the ICC enforces laws that are more in line with protecting victims than preserving the powers of abusers of human rights, regardless as to who or what that abuser is.

In America the abuser has a history of being states within the United States, hiding behind the powers promised to them by a federalist system of government. This power is granted to the states, by the US Constitution’s 10th

Amendment, “The Powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

The U.S. as a whole does not recognize mental suffering as a human rights violation, but this form of abuse is rightfully-recognized by international law as a human rights violation. Under the protections of the ICC, any violations incurred after July 1, 2002 is prosecutable. States are given the opportunity to correct the problem, but even though these violations continue to exist, as is often reported on Human Rights Watch: http://hrw.org/doc/?t=usa; Amnesty International: http://www.amnestyusa.org/filmfest/seattle/2006/index.php; American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): http://www.aclu.org/ and other NGO sites serving as watch dogs for human rights violations, the US has been unwilling to correct these human rights violations, due to the abuse of power of those holding office.

Discriminatory practices, police brutality and other racial injustices incurred by African Americans, at the hands of state or city government officials, are considered by the international community as violations, recognized by the international community and as uniformly considered the systematic sanctioning of abuse toward African-Americans. Since this is a collective perception of hate toward blacks, this violation is considered jus cogens, which means no nation, may ignore them, or attempt to contract out of them by treaty.

This is Customary International law, as reaffirmed in cases like Filartiga. The US, even though we ratified the Torture Convention in 1994, has attached reservations that basically contract us out of the intent of the treaties. The UDHR, article 2 states that all persons regardless of color are entitled to the same rights.

This was adopted on December 10, 1948. CERD ratified by US on 21 Oct 94; CCPR was ratified by US on 8 June 92; CAT ratified by US on 21 Oct 94. There has been another anti-torture treaty, the Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture. This was for the Americas and was entered into force on 2-28-87. The United States did not ratify this treaty, which explains the Bush Administration’s attempts to ignore the pleas by human rights activists to close down the prisons at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and other prisons where human rights violations are or have been known to have taken place.

Only by joining the ICC will we be forced to adhere to the intent of the human rights treaties. The United States reluctance to accept the interpretation of human rights treaties as initially presented for ratification are what is preventing the U.S. from advancing socially as a nation. Leading by example is what is required for the rest of the nation to follow, but until then an aggressive amending of the constitution is very much needed. NGOs such as Human Rights Watch and The ACLU remains the police watchdog of the world on human rights abuses. Through these agencies much progress has been made on educating the world on abuses taking place.

Comcast; violation of my privacy rights

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:26:53 EDT

I have been flagged by my internet provider Comcast, for apparently sending out spam. I do not spam. I do not have the internet savvy to know the first thing about spamming. Their email, in part, to me stated, “Dear Comcast Subscriber: ACTION REQUIRED: Comcast has determined that your computer(s) have been used to send unsolicited email ("spam"), which is generally an indicator of a virus. For your own protection and that of other Comcast customers, we have taken steps to prevent further transmission of spam from your computer(s).” They further stated, in part, “Comcast.Net WebMail Users
If you use a web browser to access your email, this change will not affect your service. However, it is important that you take steps to remove the virus and secure your computer(s). This can be done by using the FREE McAfee Antivirus and Firewall software available from Comcast on the Comcast Security Channel or by using other popular antivirus solutions that are widely available.”

As a result, I have been blocked from the port (port 25), that the regular public uses, to send out emails. What this means is, all of my emails will be screened by their filtering systems, before they are then released to my intended recipient (s).

This is a violation of my constitutional right to free speech, by way of violating my right of privacy.

I have nothing to hide with regards to what I have to say. What I do have a problem with are the institutionalized tools being used without our knowledge (with our government working in concert with corporations to control our freedoms), to force the American public to live in a way that constrains access to our constitutional rights, while allowing those with wealth to freely enjoy these rights.

The equality argument of yesterday has now taken a very dangerous turn for the worst, because so many of us allowed for its discriminatory application based on color or sexual preference in the past without accountability, are now acting as a precedent, allowing for those same tactics to be used today to increase that scope of discrimination to include those who are less affluent (middle class to poor).

It appears that we are in the transitional period of this accepted state of being, so if we do not act now by disclosing any and all cases of abuse, we run the risk of descending on a slope of rescinding rights until we hit rock bottom and find ourselves in a third-world country. It happened to Rome.

It is less costly to protect and reform what we still possess, than to recreate or reproduce that which we no longer have.

Back to my small incident:

Their (Comcast) fix (insulting of my intelligence by giving me this option to correct my problem, which I have been classified as having created) is to have me use a different port (port 587).

All of the good customers, who have not alerted any bells and whistles because they do not advocate for human rights or advocate a change in the power structure as openly as I have done, are allowed access to port 25, which allows for their emails to be sent without big brother monitoring what they are sending.

If this were simply a case where they knew it was a virus, they would allow for the virus scan (McAfee, which they provide) to scan my system and that would be that, right? I would then be allowed to use the port 25, which all good customers are allowed to use. I would not be forever banned from using port 25, because then my privacy rights would not be violated.

I assume my emails are being collected by the government and stored where all citizens under surveillance have their emails stored as well. After all, the FISA bill < http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-teo/obamas-fisa-quandary_b_110799.html > recently passed by Congress, gives the telecoms retroactive immunity (they cannot be held liable for infringing on my constitutional rights).

With a good knowledge of recent congressional legislation that has been passed or in holding, curtailing privacy rights for Americans, I have automatically entertained the idea Comcast’ actions are either a way of,

1) Monitoring grassroots mobility of voters to hear the message of a presidential candidate who cannot get across his/her political agenda through the mainstream media and may have shown a success at galvanizing public awareness through this channel. So, this is a sure way to limit the success in this area, leaving only the mainstream media, which is controlled by Rupert Murdoch, a staunch Republican, as the only viable means of mobilizing political support and informing the masses of the truth.

2) Narrowing the scope of surveillance (because to keep close watch on all Americans is too big of a task). By targeting individuals who generate mass emails mails in opposition of current leadership, they can simply state that it was due to spam.

3) Or, "Thought Police" bill, HR 1955, passed the House 404-6 < http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2007-993 >, to gather a library of information from individuals who criticize their government in an effort to criminalize their thoughts (exercise of free speech- 1st Amendment, Constitutional rights, proposed by Congress in 1798 and ratified on December 15, 1791), “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

You are all on my email list, so please contact me if you have received spam from my email. I have a right to argue my case, which means I have a right to confront my accuser. I am an honorable man who has put his life on the line twice for all of you, in the Marines and in the Army, so all I ask in return is that I be given the opportunity to defend my name. Has there been anyone else subject to this same abuse?

If you cannot trust the disabled veterans who have protected you, not once, but twice, then you’re living in a pretty sorry and cowardice world. If you know of anyone that is existing as such, give them a towel to cry in and a hole to live in.

David Martin

Propaganda has engulfed America's Press, turning us into a third world nation

David from Lynnwood, WA — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:08:43 EDT

Propaganda has engulfed America, changing us into a third-world nation

Why doesn't anyone speak of when McCain was on a campaign trip to Paris, just after winning the Republican primaries, and failed to visit troops in Landstuhl, Germany (Deutschland).

I was stationed in Germany (Pirmasens- Kaiserslautern), North Point (Kriegsfield), Stuttgart and my wife and I used to take road trips to Southern Spain (traveling through France to get there), all of the time. Landstuhl is actually in Southern Germany (in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz), Berlin is in Northeastern Germany. If one would look at the geographical locations of both, they would see that Paris, France is actually geographically closer to Landstuhl, Germany than Berlin, Germany.

I should know, I am a 80% disabled Army Veteran, who was medi-vac’d from Landstuhl, Germany (Deutschland) to Washington, D.C. (Walter Reed Army Center in late 1994! I am so tired of hearing the media regurgitate the McCain camp’s talking points in order to show there allegiance to him with this covert attempt to sway public opinion with the dissemination of Republican Party propaganda.

For a Political Party to be able to spread propaganda with the use of the public media is highly unethical and illegal in the United States.

Definition of propaganda:

“Propaganda is ... the deliberate attempt by some individual or group to form, control, or alter the attitudes of other groups by the use of instruments of communication, with the intention that in any given situation the reaction of those so influenced will be that desired by the propagandist.” (http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/index.html). Retrieved from internet on July 29, 2008, at 4:55pm, PST. This is highly illegal people, a tool only allowed in third world countries. Is this where we have sunken too, here in the United States of America? What happened to our country? Are you seriously, okay with this?

The McCain camps rhetoric that Obama could have easily seen these troops is a total fallacy, because all of the facts have not truly been disclosed in order to come to the truth.

If Obama is seen as wrong because of his geographical closeness to Landstuhl, then McCain should be held to the same scrutiny by our media.
Also in the equation should be the State department's concerns, which they verbalized to the Obama camp, that this would be seen as a highly political usage of our wounded service personnel, which is why the Obama camp did not go there.
Also should be the fact that he did visit injured service personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I believe in free speech and in allowing our candidates to compete fairly, and what we are currently experiencing is anything but fair competition. This is merely a systematic attempt to bankrupt the Democratic Party, with the constant consumption of funds having to be used to defend against this barrage of lies and untruths to the American public, while the Republican candidate is allowed a free-ride.

In essence, this means we have an unbalanced election process taking place, similar to those in third world countries. This is highly unacceptable and all of those complicit in this corruption should be held accountable now, not later.

my call to action by our legislators and by us

David from Lynnwood, WA — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:56:02 EDT

BANKS, MORTGAGE COMPANIES AND THEIR FEES FROM KNOWEHERE (Open letter to our elected representatives) I believe, to charge $35.00 for a purchase of $10.85 is excessive and unconscionable; what about you? Especially when one is lead to believe, through the aggressive marketing by the banking industry that online banking is the only way to go; by way of charging fees to use real tellers and being charged excessive fees for using other bank ATMs, when they are all receiving benefits from the same federal banking laws. A case can be made if what we are lead to believe; through their marketing and extortionist policies (fees charged if you do not use this online service, no real-time information on your account activity, and your ability to quickly detect fraudulent activity on your account), is actually a tangible benefit, but the benefit is only symbolic in nature. Only July 17, 2008, my wife made a purchase using our debit card for $10.85. She used our banking debit card, which can also be used as a Visa-secured credit card (you can use it as a credit card, so long as the funds are there at the time of the purchase; restricted to a set-daily limit). On July 18, 2008, I received a $35.00 insufficient fund fee, charged to my account for this $10.85 purchase. At the time of the purchase, our account showed that we had more than enough to cover this transaction, yet after-the-fact, my bank sends me an alert that I am being charged this fee. IT GETS BETTER On July 18, 2008, I received my payroll check, which always shows at about 4:00am. I know this because I work from 5:00pm to 5:00am on Sundays, then 6:30pm to 6:30am Monday thru Wednesdays. I always check our account before and after work, then again before every purchase; why else have banking online (that was a rhetorical question). On the day of July 21, 2008, we received a notice that our Vonage payment of $35.05 resulted in a $35.00 fee being charged to our account. The payment was said to have been sent by Vonage on July 17, 2008, yet this morning (July 22, 2008) I receive a notice that on July 21, 2008, a $35.00 insufficient notice was assessed to our account. These banks will hold off posting a payment until it suits their purpose of legitimizing the assessment of a fee. My question is where is the oversight? How can they get away with nickel-and-diming the American public like this? Where is the accountability, when we know we are being taken advantage of, with these mysterious accounting practices that the average person does not have the training to understand? We are led to believe that this online banking set-up will allow for us to have access to real-time account information, yet when it suits their purpose for charging us an excessive and unconscionable fee, we are presented with mysterious accounting information after-the-fact, which supports their argument that these fees are justified. To me, this is no better than the tactics used by predatory lenders < http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/307985_foreclosure17.html > to take advantage of the American Public’s ignorance of industry practices, as a result of lax-regulatory oversight, which creates an environment of rampant abuse at the American-Public’s expense. THE QUESTION Where are our elected representatives, when we need them to do their job? I don’t want a generic letter, aimed at justifying their malfeasants on a duty charged to them; I want a tangible action, now. Don’t recall a pre-recorded message that speaks of your actions of a particular bill that touches on this subject in an indirect way; give me your undivided attention to this rampant extortion of the American-Public, or we will seek another official who WILL do their job as charged. We the people really don’t care about the so-called maneuvering to save a political career. Your only accountability should be to us, the people. We should not have to put up with always holding the position of second and third fiddle. We demand to be placed in the priority our elected officials had promised when we put them in office; are you listening Obama, Cantwell, Murray, Gregoire and Nickels? We the people demand that you play to our base, the ones who where there for you all along, not the ones who have consistently demanded that you play to theirs. We put you in the place you are now, we can also put you back from where you came, so don’t ever lose sight of that reality. OUR DEMAND FROM YOU We now demand that you address this rampant abuse by the banking industry that is taking advantage of an already sickening abuse of our economic decline. Will you keep your promise and please do your job, for our sake? WE KNOW THISIt seems, since the fall of former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s resignation, the banks and housing industry have stepped their targeted abuse of the American people, because they know they are unstoppable unless someone who has not given in (been too weak) to the temptations of the devil (Republican money***8-Billion dollars missing from Iraq-***and illegal wiretapping machine through bribery and entrapment, which is why Democrats have caved in on the FISA bill and other remedies for the American Public), they are free to continue this blatant raping of the American People. We are quickly being separated from what little wealth we currently have, because our elected officials are too cowardice to take a stand for us, for fear they will be the next targets of the Republican corruption machine. Who really is the enemy of our state, the Republicans and their mission to turn this country into a third world nation, or the Democrats who sit idly by and watch this train wreck happen, while they sit in their own urine while trembling like the chihuahuas they appear to be? OUR PROMISE TO YOU Maybe its time we, The People of the United States stood up and state that we will exercise our Pardoning powers and forgive every-discretion of any lawmaker who will blow the whistle on these devils. We will harshly punish any act to force a lawmaker to cover-up a crime, by blackmailing them with the leaking of information to the press that would be harmful to that cause. We should start by impeaching the Attorney General, who has failed in carrying out the responsibilities of their job, then appointing one who will prosecute those complicit in the very act that has accelerated the decay of our legal system,“It was there that he built a reputation as a prosecutorial avenger bringing some of Wall Street's biggest names to heel, pressuring banks, insurance companies, and brokerage houses to pay defrauded investors huge settlements and to adopt tighter regulations.The audacity of Spitzer's vision and his combative style made him a reviled figure on Wall Street. But to millions of Americans who felt swindled in an age when executive salaries and the income gap between rich and middle class were rapidly growing, Spitzer was viewed as a guardian against corporate excess.” (David Kocieniewski and Danny Hakim . New York Times News Service. March 13, 2008. < http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/13/under_pressure_spitzer_resigns/?page=2 >. Retrieved from internet on July 22, 2008 at 2:44pm PST.We can start with those complicit in the timed leaking of information, resulting in Eliot Spitzer’s resignation. That was a private affair between him and his wife, liken to the impeachment proceedings of President Clinton. This calculated leakage happened at the same instance, information targeting the enforcement of holding banks and mortgage companies accountable for their corruptive attacks on the American people, was set to be disclosed by Eliot Spitzer. This successful act at destroying his reputation before this could be done has frightened those who were to follow Spitzer’s lead, from acting on that new-found strength. WE NEED TO ACT NOW We need to send a message to our legislators that we will not allow any leaks of blackmailing information to cripple their political careers and that we will incarcerate those complicit in the disclosure of this information and severely fined as a result of their actions to continually abuse the American Public. This action of preventing this to take place will result in the demise of our nation. I can think of no excuse that would take precedent over this goal, can you? I look into the eyes of my children and I say no, because our country’s future depends on it. Obviously our elected officials have been blackmailed, so it is up to us to come up with ways to free them from this imprisonment. I’m willing to take a stand and ask that all citizens do the same.I leave you with an excerpt of President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural address, in hopes that it will move you to act, “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility — I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it — and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man”. John F. Kenndy, 1961 Inuagural Address. Its time that WE THE PEOPLE, do our part to protect and stand by those who wish to do what is right by us, by shielding them from the backlash from the enemy within. We must stand strong and support their efforts to defend us, by defending them as a result of their commitment to us. Now is not the time to abandon them, in this most needed time for change and the accountability to facilitate that change.If this is something you believe in and that you will support, please forward this to your elected representative or forward to your friends on your mailing list and forward to your representative. We need to act now and this is the only way to let them know that we will do our part as well.David Martin

To sit in silence is to be complicit in racist actions unfolding in our time

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:19:04 EDT

Its one thing to simply play the game of rough politics, it’s entirely another to knowingly practice in

the conditioning of your targeted audience in accepting racist

rhetoric to subordinate a racial segment of a society. The German Nazis did this in their

efforts to condition the German populous, in creating an atmosphere that found it acceptable

to treat Jews as subordinate and later deserving of less than humane treatment. History

has taught us how that treatment eventually manifested into ignoring the institutionalized

extermination of the Jewish people.

If we are not cognizant of the degrading tactics labeled at Senator Obama and his wife

that has so far been acceptable by the American public because somehow the color

of their skin makes it acceptable, then we can easily found ourselves drifting into the same

ethos of hate and human rights violations that consumed the German society during WWII.

Do we really want to be recognized in history, as that ignorant and hateful society that allowed

this transformation to take place, even when we had historical knowledge of what could happen?

To sit in silence and not act, is to be complicit in this historical atrocity taking place

in our time. To allow for this scenario to play out, is to be either the most ignorant society

in history, or the most evil of societies in history.

David Martin

************************************************************************************

Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:30:31 -0400
From: Congressman Robert Wexler <contact@wexlerforcongress.com>
To: david62@myuw.net
Subject: Update on the MoveOn Campaign to stop Obama smears

Dear David,

Last week I forwarded you an important email from MoveOn,
regarding FOX's use of language against Senator Obama and his wife,
Michelle. Many thousands of you joined the petition, and for that I
thank you. Below is an update on that campaign that was sent earlier
this week.

With great respect,

Congressman Robert Wexler

---------------------------------------------

Dear MoveOn member,

Over 428,000 people have signed a petition telling FOX to stop their
racist and hate-filled smears against Barack Obama. If we hit
half-a-million signatures, we can draw media attention and put pressure
on FOX's advertisers.

Plus, Robert Greenwald's Brave New Films released a video this morning
documenting FOX's ongoing smears against Michelle Obama. Please check out
the video, and then sign the petition calling on FOX to stop peddling
racism—and then tell your friends. Just click here:

[foxmichelle2.jpg]
Click here

Here's the link: https://pol.moveon.org/donate/foxsmears.html?rc=wexler2

FOX is shameless: in the last several weeks alone, they've "confused"
Obama's name with Osama's, referred to Michelle as "Obama's Baby Mama,"
and called an affectionate fist bump by Barack and Michelle a "terrorist
fist jab."

Our partners at ColorOfChange.org will hold a major event next week to
deliver boxes and boxes of petition signatures to FOX's headquarters. If
we can deliver half-a-million signatures, other media outlets will have a
powerful story to report—and FOX's advertisers will get the hint that
it's not a good idea to associate their products with FOX's hate-speech.

Thanks for helping to fight the right-wing smears.

–Adam G.

                       Paid for by "Wexler for Congress"

                                 PO Box 810669
                              Boca Raton, FL 33481

Who really is an enemy of the state?

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:32:59 EDT

Who really is the enemy of the state?

According to the smear-tactics, by those who attempt to label Barack Obama as a Muslim aimed at undermining the United States political system, most Caucasian-Americans in America are still racists, even though they overtly state that they are not. Then, by a reasonable presumption, most Caucasian-Americans harbor secret goals at undermining the US government in its efforts to create a system of equality. Then, most Caucasian-Americans believe in instituting a Foreign Policy of deceit, in its efforts to undermine the US image to the world that we are about bringing about peace in the world and not war based on personal greed.

If the driving force of the ignorant is; since his father was a Muslim, then he is a Muslim, then those Caucasian-Americans who have parents or grandparents, who lived in the 50s, 60s and 70s, are all white-supremacists, who secretly harbor thoughts of exterminating blacks or permanently rendering African-Americans in a perpetual role of servitude to Caucasian-Americans.

However, we Americans know this is not the case, so conversely, the smear-tactics labeled at Obama because of his father’s faith, is not true. We are all individuals, free to choose our path in life; that’s what makes us Americans. To attack one of our own; suggesting that one is somehow different and therefore worthy of these types of attacks because of how one’s parent lived their life, is not only careless and reckless, but un-American and cowardice. Its no wonder that those who label such attacks do so in secrecy, because they know to show ones face and take ownership of such hateful rhetoric is indicative of that which they seek to label their target; “an enemy of the state”.

I’ve taken this oath twice; once for the US Marines on August 29, 1980 and once for the US Army on August 8, 1989:

"I, David Martin, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." Public officials take the same oath with the exception of number three. “So help me God” is still in the phrase. ORDER IN PRIORITY:

I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.
I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The Constitution was created to protect the people against an overly intrusive government and against a mob’s mentality, which is why the Civil Rights movement had traction. The majority of Americans were so conditioned into the African-American roles of servitude that equality would not have been achieved with out our US Constitution.

This is the most precious resource the United States has; to attack it is to attack me because it is all that I have to guarantee my rights as an American. Why would anyone; especially one of color, conspire to destroy that lifeline for all Americans? The real culprits are those who conspire in secrecy to undermine any of our rights, because to do so is to conspire to destroy the US Constitution.

Barack Obama will honor that oath I have taken twice, because it is his lifeline and it is the reason he is as successful as he is today. To even suggest otherwise is completely ignorant.

FACTS ABOUT OIL SUPPLY FOR AMERICANS

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:21:10 EDT

FACTS ABOUT OIL SUPPLY FOR AMERICANS

Oil Leases:

McCain and Bush have advocated for offshore drilling, even though McCain had initially opposed offshore drilling during his 2000 presidential campaign.

The US is currently ONLY using approximately 21% of the oil it currently has the ability to get, depending on the source you retrieve this information from; why?

Basic Economics:
Supply and Demand- if you shorten the supply, the demand will go up- higher demand plus lower supply equals higher cost to the consumer. It's all about the greed of those holding the resources. All they care about are their profits, regardless of the devastating effects on the US and world economies.

Oil leases have been issued for 41 million acres, of which those advocating opening up the rest of the acres, because we have an oil shortage leading to higher gas prices. They have not told the American public that they are only drilling on 10.2 million acres (21% of what they have available to drill on).

That means they have 79% of the total amount of acres available to them, sitting in their hands! Supply and demand people; they are sitting on those leases, just so the price of oil will go through the roof and they will profit like the pigs that they are.

Is this what America wants? I believe in capitalism, but I don't believe in deregulation. When there is an untold harm resulting in another's hoarding of national resources, then constraints must be put in place for the betterment of society. To not adhere to this principle would put society on a course toward a violent self-destruction.

According to Charlie Wilson; Congressman from Ohio, Oil companies are sitting on 68 million acres of onshore and offshore acres that have been properly leased and are ready for drilling, yet they do nothing but demand more leases. (Wilson, Charlie). WSAZ.com. posted June 23, 2008 at 1344. Retrieved from internet on July 07, 2008, at 1643 pst. < http://www.wsaz.com/political/newsreleasesheadlines/20659069.html >.

He further states that if these companies were to drill in these oil-rich areas, it would more than double the US current oil supply.

This means, the US would produce an additional 4.8 million barrels of oil per day. America, are you listening? Gas prices would plummet!

If the oil companies are not drilling for oil with the availability of land they already have, what in tar nation do you presuppose giving them control of the rest of the oil supply would do? There would be no incentive to release that supply, then controlled by them. They would exercise even more power over the American public, because then they would have it ALL! Do you get it?

If you held all of the cards and wanted to keep control, would you simply let it all go? That's the game these thieving idiots are playing on the American public right now! They have their little cronies, who they have promised billions, to spew out their lies and fear mongering synopsis, in order to get you to release the rest of the oil reserves to them. We are a nation of laws, which has a normative aspect, so we do not become what our laws have evolved to prevent. That is why we have laws; because we are not savages, killing and destroying based on the collection of power we have.

Oil barons have become the self-absorbing wielders of power, who MUST be tamed if we are to survive as a nation.

If there were an oil shortage, we would see the long gas lines I saw in the 70s and 80s, but I don't see them, do you?

Wilson also states that there are currently 91 million acres open to leasing in Alaska. Currently, oil companies are ONLY drilling on 11.8 million acres, meaning 79.2 million acres are currently available, but big oil; has decided to withhold, in order to drive up oil prices. (Wilson, Charlie). WSAZ.com. posted June 23, 2008 at 1344. Retrieved from internet on July 07, 2008, at 1643 pst. < http://www.wsaz.com/political/newsreleasesheadlines/20659069.html >.

79.2 million acres of oil-drilling land and these greedy imbeciles what to drill in Anwar (Artic National Wildlife Refuge)! They do not care about the lives of people, animals or the environment. They are all greedy cowards who only live to please their own selfish greedy ways and should be dealt with in the harshest of terms for their premeditated destruction of the United States government and our society as a whole. They're parasites of the lowest denominator.

Do not feed into their lies and deceit. Educate yourselves and fight back for our children's sake.

If you are a Republican, you must ask yourself that question, because if this is not what you want, then why are you supporting this philosophy?

A) Is race the reason (you will never vote for a black president)?
B) Is Party affiliation the reason (you've always been a republican, so why change now?
C) Is brainwashing, by those who are the culprits in this game of greed (dissemination of information by Rupert Murdoch who owns a majority of the television media and newspapers), the reason?

Well, now you have the information needed to formulate a reasonable decision, so is it A, B, or C?

David Martin