Kimberly's Blog

So, I went to a Townhall...

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:18:07 EDT

First, on an utterly different note-- Et tu Senator Grassley? Good grief, I thought Senator Grassley was somebody who would put Country ahead of party interests... after today, Senator Grassley's own words have proven that false at least on health care reform. I hope Senator Grassley simply misspoke (repeatedly) and will clear this up tomorrow.

Now, for the townhall event....

The GOP is playing with fire here. At our townhall, most of the folks actually supported either a public option, or single payer, but those folks clapped mainly and were not part of the shouting. There was a very vocal minority who tried to speak over everything and shout down the panel. Much of the chanting seemed pre-orchestrated, but if that was done by the GOP, I'd be surprised. There were also folks (in opposition to reform) who alternatively shouted and then approached other people and tried to "convince" them one on one. None of the angry folks around me liked Republicans any better than they liked Democrats-- indeed, it seemed that these folks all believed our 2 largest political parties exist to keep us from "knowing" what is really happening and how we are being turned into "beasts of burden" for "them."

Yet, least you think the loud, protesters were violent, please think again. Indeed, many approached me (even though I had a sign supporting health care reform in my hand) in a vain attempt to "proselytize" me to their cause. I use that word "proselytize" deliberately. All of them were decent folk with some (at least to me) incredible beliefs.

Here is a sampling of some of the beliefs I was asked to "join" last night:

1. Fluoride in our water is for mind control. I asked this person if she was concerned about our "precious bodily fluids", and I don't think she got it because she responded "Yes, you understand!"

2. The New World Order was on track to turn us all into slaves (all of us, regardless of race, creed, or national origin) and this began under President George H. W. Bush. This person sounded a great deal like Timothy McVeigh, which shocked me (I lived in Tulsa, OK for a time and my folks lived there when the horror occurred at the Federal Building in OK City) and before I could catch the words, I said--

"You agree with Timothy McVeigh?"

She replied by shouting "Are you threatening me?" Which was odd since I had not moved, but simply asked a question in a shocked tone. I said "No," and she pulled out a cell phone, stuck it in my face and took my picture "Now, we know who you are!" she finished. I assured her I was not threatening her (and incidentally, since when is it non-threatening to stick a camera in someone's face and take a picture without permission?) but was concerned since her words sounded a lot like Mr. McVeigh's. She told me she had DVD's which would prove to me that the government (no distinction between Republicans and Democrats) was trying to turn us all into beasts of burden and that "They" would come for me soon, too.

3. Most tried to convince me that Lyndon LaRouche had the answers-- he was followed closely by Ron Paul. None of the protestors who approached me, or to whom I spoke, were Republicans. Indeed, they seemed to despise Republicans as much as they despise Democrats.

4. A fellow with a sign of President Obama made up to look like that little jerk who caused World War II and the slaughter of countless numbers of innocents told me that he felt the same way about President Bush, maybe even worse. I got rather worked up about him-- and sang (off key, unfortunately) "My Country 'Tis of Thee" at him until he put the sign down (probably to stop my singing). To give you an idea of how loud it was, I don't think anybody else could hear me singing. When I got home, though, I wished I had not done that. Something about all of the nonsense everywhere got into me, and I wish I had not let that happen. But, comparisons to the little Austrian jerk who has his own special place in hell aggravate the heck out of me since it seems to diminish how truly terrible that little pipsqueak of an Austrian jerk was. And no, I won't use his name-- he does not deserve that dignity.

5. A man asked me if I would personally guarantee that there would be no "death panels," and I said yes. It did not make any difference. He was older, and I think truly scared. I do wish folks like Senator Grassley (WHO KNOWS BETTER!) would not perpetrate that sort of thing. People have quite enough fear already; nobody needs to be creating false things to fear simply to advance their political party.

6. All of the vocal protestors had cameras of some kind and they seemed to be attempting to take pictures only of signs that were opposed to health care reform. Some of the signs were very vitriolic; others were downright dangerous (if believed).

7. One vocal opponent to reform told us he was from Nevada and did not have health care insurance. But, that he would not take government subsidy or a public plan, because that would be a death sentence for him. Another American afraid thanks to demagogues who don't care a thing about him, or anything else but whatever "ends" they are attempting to achieve.

8. All of the protestors to whom I spoke believe that "They" are going to get us all and I was an idiot for not seeing it. When I asked who "They" were I got a mixed bag of answers-- I was told "the government," "the corporations", "Wall Street," and even "insurance companies." Some folks also told me that college is where you get brainwashed for "them."

9. All believed that bad things happen because "they" want bad things to happen-- and disagreed with me vehemently that sometimes bad outcomes occur because individuals can be stupid, venal, even criminal (sometimes on a gigantic scale) but next to no-one actually plans for the WHOLE house of cards to come tumbling down. (Because really, as stupid as Wall Street traders behaved leading up to the collapse, how logical is it to think that individual traders from all over the world went to some meeting(s) somewhere where the collapse of the world's economy was planned-- stupid? greed driven? only short-term thinking? yes, criminal? probably, but organized at some vast conspiracy level? I rather doubt it).

Again, the GOP is truly barking up the wrong tree if they think most of those protestors will follow their banner, but perhaps my townhall event was atypical. The folks to whom I spoke expressed ideas that are opposed to just about every American institution, including the Republican Party. Yet, each one of them professed to love the U.S. Constitution, just not the military, the Congress, the President, the Supreme Court, local officials, state officials, prisons, laws, & etc. Their problem with the military is that we have a "standing army" when they believe we should only have militias. Nobody expressed a problem with individual soldiers. The protestors last night were a very agitated group; yet, I don't think any one of them would have harmed me despite the fact that I disagreed with them (endlessly). It was interesting that despite all of the shouting I could hear what the protestors were saying to me.

Other than the cell phone camera in my face, the only tense moments came when some careless person almost stuck me or my better half in the face with his/her sign and I don't believe that was intentional. There also was some shoving at times that was a bit tense, but it soon subsided. Somebody also unzipped my purse, but it was crowded and one should always beware of pickpockets in a crowded place-- and I noticed before the "hand" got my wallet.

If I met most of the opponents to reform on the street, or in my neighborhood, and we did not speak about politics, I just might like them. Some of them were quite charming one on one, even though we could not disagree more about just about everything to do with how the world works.

Amazingly, one was able to hear much of what the panel had to say-- and there were folks there who truly wanted more information.

Most of the folks could not tell me where in my district that they lived and some admitted to coming from Nevada. I think I saw one of the protestors on television today at an event in Maryland-- but surely that could not be true.

There were also some residents in white coats (I think from USC County Hospital) who were attempting to speak to the vocal minority about the real need for health care reform. I don't think that they achieved much-- even though they were very earnest in their attentions-- but nobody seemed to be threatening them.

Well, that is about it.

I live in California District 29 and my representative is Adam Schiff. He held an open air townhall yesterday evening in Alhambra, California. The crowd was big and a small but very vocal part of the crowd was not interested in anything that Rep. Schiff, or anyone else on the panel had to say.

Representative Schiff made clear his support of a public option-- and I was very pleased that I was able to hear that part of the townhall.

Perhaps the GOP is desperate....

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:01:13 EDT

I just got a letter from the RNC, yes me. The RNC is asking me for money and to fill out a survey, because apparently, they think that I (an erstwhile, but no longer, Republican) support the RNC's agenda. Chairman Steele is either desperate, or very ill informed.

It is long, and filled with emphases (bolds, underlining, and italics) that make it even more insulting. It is also full of the same old GOP childishness that insists on calling the Democratic Party and Democratic action "democrat" like a school bully insisting on calling you Pudface when your name is Steve.

Here is the letter-- warning, reading this may cause nausea, a slight sense of 2004 dejavu, as well as, a feeling of temporary displacement from reality. The parens are from me.

"Dear Friend,

Your immediate action is required. (whole sentence underlined).

Please carefully read and complete the enclosed 2009 Obama Agenda Survey which is REGISTERED in your name and affixed with a tracking code to ensure that it is accounted for in the tabulated results.

As Chairman of the Republican National Committee, I am sending out this questionnaire to gauge where you and other grassroots Republicans stand on the critical issues facing our nation -- I need to hear back from you right away.

You know that the liberal media elites and the Obama Democrats are hoping you will put this letter down right now and do nothing....

I'm asking you to please not turn your back on us now. (all bold).

I want you to know that (all underlined) the Republican Party is not dead (end underline) and we are not going away. (All underlined) Our ideals remain sound and our goals remain worthy (end underline).

We have a strong minority in the U.S. House and in the U.S. Senate. We intend to use both to actively oppose and expose the truth about the Obama Democrat agenda.

(all bold) We believe that you and every one of the (all underlined and bold) more than 60 million voters all across our country who did not vote for Barack Obama (end bold) deserve to have a voice in the way this country is governed.

(Note from me again-- well, Chairman Steel, you had better make that 59,999,999 million because I DID vote for President Barack Obama).

The enclosed 2009 Obama AGenda Survey is your opportunity to let Republican leaders in Washington D.C. and all accorss the country know where you stand on the policies and programs being proposed by Barack Obama and his Democrat allies in Congress.

As a REGISTERED participant in this important touchstone survey, your questionnaire answers will be used to represent a broad sampling of Republicans in your area. (italics) So please, no matter what, do not discard or destroy your Survey. (end italics).

(Another note-- too late, already did).

In order for our sampling of Republican opinion from your area to be as exact as possible, you must return your survey -- Even if you leave some of the questions blank.

There is so much about the Obama agenda that most Americans do not know about, thanks to the non-stop swooning coverage of the ulta-biased media.

(Fox-- Swooning? Mr. Dobbs? Even Mr. Olbermann goes after the President, often, about torture prosecutions. Wow, my definition of swooning and Chairman Steele's are radically different).

But with your help, we are going to expose the Obama agenda for all Americans to see so that we create a groundswell of opposition.

And we must act quickly because the Democrats are hoping to carry forward their momentum into the incredibly important 2009 governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey. It is up to you and me to stop them.

(Well, if it is up to me, Mr. Steele-- you are in deeper trouble than you thought).

We need solid proof from the results of this survey to show that regardless of what the left-wing media is saying ...

... There is not overwhelming support for many of the radical proposals being put forward by Obama and the Democrats.

(You mean like letting anybody who wants to carry a concealed weapon anywhere in the U.S.? Oh right, that one came from the GOP).

That's why we are asking where you stand on Barack Obama's promise to raise taxes...

(The GOP, today, mostly a party of two ideas, cut taxes no matter what and no regulation)

.... On his plans to give amnesty to illegal immigrants, which could lead to billions of dollars of government handouts and possibly bankrupt Social Security....

(the same plan that Senator McCain supported).

... and how do you feel about Obama's efforts to nationalize health care and have it run by bureaucrats in Washington D.C.?

(funny thing is, I have watched a lot of the hearings, and read some legislation and I just cannot find this anywhere but coming out of certain Republican mouths)

These are Obama's top priorities!

He intends to immediately bring about "change" that will stifle our fragile economy, undermine our nation's sovereignty and create a massive new government bureaucracy.

(sounds like our last President to me....)

We don't have a moment to waste.

Republican leaders in Congress and all across the country are scrambling to regroup and rebuild to make sure that folks like you have a voice in Washington, D.C. to look out for your interests and address your concerns.

(Somehow, I really don't think that is true).

I know we aren't going to win every battle, but we must fight for our principles, values and beliefs on every issue.

(And other than tax cuts, what are those exactly? crickets).

The RNC will make sure the Democrats OWN their record now that they are in total control of the federal government.

(I thought he claimed the GOP has a "strong minority?")

You and I know that Obama and the Democrats ran away from their own liberal agenda during the 2008 elections -- Obscuring their plans for massive tax increases and the largest, most expensive expansion of our federal government in history.

(I know no such thing, and neither do you, Chairman Steele).

But they have nowhere to hide now.

Unfortunately, one thing Obama and the Democrats have is lots of money.

(a few paragraphs omitted here about what President Obama raised as then candidate Senator Obama)

In order to compete with the Democrats in your state and all across the country, our Party must immediately start building our campaign war chest, even now as we assess our future, focus our attention, and rebuild our infrastructure.

(a paragraph omitted in which I am asked for money)

The Republican National Committee will use your contribution to rally Republicans, independents and disaffected Democrats who do not support the radical left-wing Obama agenda to come together and speak with a single, loud, clear voice.

(Because the last 8 years under President Bush were so darn good and so radically right leaning....)

We cannot afford to wait...

... Or the Obama Democrtas will dig in, using their massive fundraising network to mount an all-out propaganda campaign to obscure their actions in Washington and hide the fact that their agenda is dictated by, and benefits, the special interests that bankroll their election campaigns.

(I'm a special interest now.... wow....)

If you don't like the direction that Obama and the Democrats are taking our country, then the single most important action you can take is to come forward and support the Republican National Committee today.

Even though the media acts as though the outcome of the past election was a unanimous 100% vote in favor of Barack Obama and his liberal agenda...

(I haven 't heard that anywhere, you?)

.... Over 60 million Americans did not support Obama and the Democrats....

.... Republicans are not going to give up or go away....

(or do anything else, according to Chairman Steele, but delay, obstruct and destroy)

We are going to get back to basics, rebuild from the grassroots up, and come back with renewed energy and a strong commitment to the conserative principles of low taxes, small government, personal responsibility, and a strong national defense.

(none of which we have seen in the main-- there are exceptions, like Senator Lugar, and others --- in decades, now).

I am asking you to pay a very important role in our resurgent effort to move our Party forward. The Republican Party truly needs your support and advice today.

(Here is some small advice-- perhaps you should capitalize Country, rather than Party, and give the President his proper title. You may not respect the man, but if you truly are a conservative, you can at least show a modicum of respect to the Office).

Of course, we realize that as we most forward, our Party cannot simply oppose the Obama agenda, we need to offer substantive alternatives based on our conservative principles and free market ideals.

(Here I am at page 4 and I still don't have a clue for what the RNC stands).

That's why we are already working in your area and across the nation to recruit the next wave of Republican leaders to run for office and offer innovative new solutions to meet the real, pressing problems we are confronting in Washington, in state capitals, and in town halls.

(No mention of what those might be-- does he have a clue, I wonder?)

We have been on the defensive as the Democrats in Congress put partisan politics in front of the best interests of the nation, attacked our leaders with personal smears, and saturated the media with propaganda.

(The only one I have seen attacked is Rush Limbaugh, a self-admitted "entertainer", not a journalist, or party leader--- is this an admission?)

In 2009 that all changes. The Democrats will have to offer the nation more than just pessimism and attacks on Republicans. (Sounds like what this letter does in the inverse...) And we have already heard their calls for the largest tax increases and the most massive expansion of government ever (that is if you cannot read a history book to find out the truth).

So please, help the Republican Party refocus and rebuild so that we are ready to expose the Obama Democrat agenda of special interest handouts and ultra-liberal big government policies.

(Paragraph omitted again seeking money)

The future of the Republican Party is in your hands. Act now.

(If that were true, things would be very different-- and All of the relevant Republican Senators would be in those rooms negotiating in good faith).

(Salutation omitted).

(And there is post-script again seeking money)

And that is the end of that extremely lengthy request for funds from a long-since defunct Republican (me)--- and I'm certain you noticed how completely lacking in any real solutions that lengthy missive is.

Violence in Mexico

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:41:59 EST

Right now, President Obama is handling many poisonous snakes (crises that could implode on all of us) and who wants to add another?

Yet, there is another that is not on most of our radar screens yet, but in Texas I'm told the escalating violence in Mexico (including multiple shoot-outs between drug cartels and police which often result in innocent bystander deaths) is of major concern.

Here is a story about recent violence in Northern Mexico.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7882653.stm

'Lest you think this can be ignored as not our problem, please think again. This violence is in part the consequence of our war on drugs and incredibly our successes in imprisoning the leaders of Mexico's drug cartels. Now, the drug cartels are fighting each other and the Mexican police and army for control right on our border.

Also, Mexico is our neighbor. But, if the morality of decently treating your neighbor does not convince in light of all of our many crises, do remember that violence tends to spread-- and this violence could (and has I'm told spread into El Paso) spread throughout our Western states. So far, it seems, the Baja Penisula is free of this crisis.

Texans I know tell me this weighs very heavily on their minds and is covered in their local media. The stories I'm told sound similar to Chicago in the era of Al Capone and prohibition.

I have neither a solution, nor do I know an Eliot Ness who could provide one-- nonetheless, I felt better to forewarn than not.

Our Barack-o-Lantern

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:54:15 EDT

Thanks to the good people at yeswecarve.com, we made a Barack-o-Lantern tonight that is right now out front.

Most of my apartment complex (small size) is supporting this Campaign, but unfortunately hardly anyone was home-- friday night, Halloween (what did I expect?)

If I can get these pictures to post (I have no end of trouble with that), you can see our Barack-o-Lantern and my better-half and myself. We are the ones in glasses. We both look tired-- but what is to be expected? This election is only a few days away and we both have too much work to do.

One of our neighbors was home and happy to be part of the barack-o-lantern experience (you can see his YES WE CAN sign in the background of some of the pics. if you squint)

While we were standing there trying to figure out the timer, a jogger came jogging along and I asked if she would take a picture. She agreed-- and then told us she is also supporting Senator Obama, so we got a picture with her in it as well.

Senator Obama -- bringing neighbors together on Halloween one Barack-o-Lantern at a time.

Liberal? Conservative? how about rational-- and will work within our institutions to get our Country out of this ditch!

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:48:05 EDT

What is in a label?

Is this man a liberal, a conservative or neither? Some call him the father of conservatism. Some say, not at all, he is the father of liberalism. Some, like me, just like his approach-- maximize freedom, while protecting posterity and lives.

Of whom do I speak? Edmund Burke, (1729-1797).

What did he do?

Well, Edmund Burke was a member of the House of Commons in Britain during our Revolutionary War. He was a Commoner (had no title) and a great believer in English rights, freedoms and liberties.

He argued for us (the American colonists) and tried to persuade the Crown (King George III) to give us representatives at Parliament (taxation WITH representation). After the war begun, Mr. Burke tried to persuade the Crown to reach peace with us. He generally took our side in that particular "family" fued that ended in a spectacular public divorce (and the creation of the United States of America).

He also argued for Irish Home Rule, or at least a lessening of the restrictions on the Irish and Catholicism in Ireland. He may have lost his seat in the House of Commons for pushing for a lessening of trade restrictions on better trading rights for Catholic merchants.

He also advocated against the British slave trade and for freedom of the press.

So why would anyone call this man who so obviously pushed for things that were NOT part of anyone's status quo (at the time) the "hero of the modern conservative movement?" Indeed, at the time, most of what Edmund Burke argued FOR was considered radical (though today, most of us consider his arguments correct):

http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/paletta200506160742.asp

Edmund Burke also advocated heatedly against the dangerous notion that England needed a revolution like the revolution that consumed France during his life-time.

He got into a famous spat with Thomas Paine (who in my opinion was a brilliant man, but also was flawed, almost blinded, by his great idealism which surfaces in his dispute with Edmund Burke). Thomas Paine was tried in England for his exceptionally good and well-written "Rights of Man" and its suggestion that even the King of England should be overthrown. He stood trial and argued for free speech, but was convicted. He fled to France.

Yet, before the trial of Tom Paine, there was his fight with Edmund Burke.

I side with Mr. Burke in this fight, so for years, I thought that meant I was a conservative (and I used to be a Republican).

Mr. Burke's point-- here it is in sum--

government becomes "a partnership not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead and those who are yet to be born." From Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France.

Mr. Paine said no, that the living owed nothing to the dead and those yet to be born should create their own government and in no way be bound by the present generation.

Those are lofty words of Mr. Paine's, but in my opinion, those words are beyond idealistic.

For in any age, war is brutal and it leaves a scar for future generations. War should only be undertaken if absolutely necessary. Our founding fathers attempted without success to resolve their differences with the Crown of England and only resorted to war when all else had failed. War is choatic and the many do not prosper-- and in the chaos of war, wisdom is often lost and sometimes it takes quite awhile to find wisdom again (think of the long Dark Ages in Europe after the Fall of Rome).

Our founding fathers made the fateful decision to fight for independence (knowing that if they lost, they would probably all hang as traitors) as John Adams explained this way:

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain. John Adams

Our founding fathers made this choice for the future, not in spite of it.The French Revolution haunted me the moment I read anything about it. The senseless slaughter, the mobs hungrily waiting for more blood, the tumbrils rolling endlessly in Paris-- all combined to make me shudder at what can happen when we decide that there are no boundaries to what we can do..... I agree with Mr. Burke. But, I also agree with Mr. Burke (and Senator Obama) that inside of democratic institutions you are always struggling to create more liberty and freedoms, to protect the freedoms that you have-- to paraphrase Senator Obama, you are attempting to create a more perfect union. Those approaches can be radical, slow, or in between-- and they can work without violating our pact to the past, or to the future so long as we respect our institutions and obey our Constitution.

Indeed, our Founding Fathers GAVE US THE TOOLS to do exactly this and if we but obey our Constitution, we can do what we need to do to get our Country back on the right track. We can fix this mess AND respect our Constitution and so honor those who came before us AND protect our blessings for future generations as Mr. Burke argued so eloquently that all men had an obligation to do.

Respecting our institutions is not something that the RNC has done at ALL lately. This is the lie, I think, in the current conservative movement in America's adoption of Mr. Burke. We have seen the RNC disrespect our most crucial institutions--

some in the RNC have disrespected the very medals our Country gives for courage on the field of battle (maligning Bronze and Silver Star recipient Senator John Kerry's courage by undermining his right to receive those marks of military courage),

our current Republican administration has abused our Constitution (suspending the Great Writ, Habeas Corpus, creating the imperil Presidency with the newly invented "unitary theory of the executive"),

many in the RNC have treated some of our Justices horrifically and even suggested that violence may be appropriate (most notably Senator Cornyn of Texas did this when he suggested that Judicial activism might be expected to result in violence in response to a bill seeking greater security for Judges after a Judge's mother and husband were murdered because she passed harsh sentences against organized crime),

our current Bush administration has hired "Bushies" to operate throughout our government even though in many cases these people do not have the requisite knowledge to do their jobs (loyalty over merit),

and how about the way in which many in the RNC speak in such ugly terms about a United States Senator? Yes, Senator Obama is the Democratic nominee for President-- but a United States Senator is surely owed SOME modicum of respect simply by virtue of his position in a very important American institution.

and the list could be endless so I will stop it there.

No matter WHAT insulting word Senator McCain, or anyone choose to throw at Senator Obama-- it does NOT matter. What does matter is simple--Our Country is in a ditch and we need to get out of that ditch --and we need to do this while respecting, and obeying our Constitution and our great American institutions.There is only ONE candidate in the race who can do this-- Senator Barack Obama.

The other candidate, Senator John McCain, is too tied up in his own ideological adherence-- indeed, I could argue (and probably would if I had half the mind of Edmund Burke) that Senator McCain has a blind-spot just like Tom Paine had all of those years ago.He is an idealist, is Senator McCain-- he blindly believes (even in the face of all of the recent facts to the contrary) that deregulation IS the answer to everything (from health care to education-- this is Senator McCain's solution), and in any instance where you cannot deregulate, you lower taxes no matter what the problem is.We cannot afford to continue this blindness. We have been blinded in this way for decades now.

It is time to SEE CLEARLY. It is time to elect Barack Obama.

Idea's of men and women are flawed-- how is it that we keep forgetting this basic wisdom?

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:48:21 EDT

I'm nobody's expert on anything, but I am an American. I have lived here my entire life. I was even born in "real" America-- in Colorado; though, I was born in Denver-- and perhaps that is not "real" America to that incredibly narrow definition of "reality" currently being so vigilantly marketed by Senator McCain's campaign.

I was raised a Republican-- but not in the sense that most of the people on this blog define that word. I was raised to believe in hard work, discipline and decency to others. I have not always lived up to how I was raised. I was also raised to trust in those who came before me -- my ancestors, including my parents, and stretching also to people like our Founding Fathers and Mothers, or even Edmund Burke, and other like minded thinkers -- when I could not find the answer myself.

Yet, as a teenager I watched my government do nothing to save our steel industry-- that used to be the best in the world-- and I watched the companies/corporations that owned the steel plants refuse to spend money to upgrade their steel plants. Instead, steel plants closed their doors all over this Country. I still don't know how anyone's party affiliation explains that one. That has to be one of the stupidest decisions made both by our government and by the corporations involved-- and we can see the effects of that decision all over our rust belt, once so prosperous.

I have watched decisions about profits THIS YEAR take over the better judgments of business people and easy credit take over the minds of everyone else (including me at one point-- I had to cut up my credit cards and go cold turkey for a few years). I watched us negotiate free trade agreements like NAFTA without thinking about what came next-- I read Mr. Solzhenitzen's conclusions about the West and wondered if he was right-- had we, in fact, put materialism above all else? Had we, in fact, become a nation obsessed with the short term that had forgotten all about the future? Were we worshipping the "market" almost as if that illusory "market" was actually some sort of religion?

Years ago, I tried to put my feelings about all of this into writing-- but I only managed a feeble poem, in a way a blasphemous prayer (though I assure you I wrote this out of concern, not to blaspheme).

Thy money which art in the federal reserve

Hallowed by the CFO,

Thy profits come, thy short term will be done,

In the United States as it is with NAFTA.

Give me this day my daily salary

And forgive me my trespasses into socialism

As you welcome all who transgress into materialism

and lead me not into the temptation of democratic revolution

For thine is the boss, the power and the everlasting rule of society

In the market’s name we cower

but hopefully not forever.

I know this is feeble, but it still reflects a basic truth that even Alan Greenspan repeated this past week. Mr. Greenspan said it more clearly than I did above when he admitted his free-market "ideology" had a flaw..... a flaw that brought us to this place. Ideas should not be worshipped-- that is the lesson those "ancestors" my parents taught me to trust sent down to me. Perhaps we have learned this lesson this time-- perhaps some will continue to cower before the "market" and its deregulation requirements. Whatever the future, or truth, of this, I do believe we will weather this storm-- why? Because we are the children of people who survived and discovered how to bring freedom, liberty and prosperity to so many, and even learned how to perfect even that. We are Americans.

Every vote is sacred-- please vote and protect your vote!

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:32:59 EDT

"The first principle of republicanism is that the lex majoris partis is the fundamental law of every society of individuals of equal rights; to consider the will of the society enounced by the majority of a single vote as sacred as if unanimous is the first of all lessons in importance, yet the last which is thoroughly learnt. This law once disregarded, no other remains but that of force, which ends mecessarily in military despotism."

Thomas Jefferson to Alexander von Humboldt

Vote. And protect your vote.

Protect your vote by keeping this number in your pocket when you go to the polls--

866-OUR-VOTE. Before you cast any provisional ballot, or leave the polls without voting, please call that number.

For more on this, please read this article:

http://sanfrancisco.about.com/b/2008/10/20/protect-your-vote-carry-this-number.htm

This may be the most important election of our lifetimes. Please VOTE and make certain to PROTECT YOUR VOTE!

Thank you!

Is Senator McCain dividing the Country with his angry speeches? He is TRYING to do this-- but we do NOT have to take the bait.

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:56:42 EDT

Long ago, my mother taught me that it takes two to fight. My mother, is, incidentally, an over 70 year-old Republican from rural Kansas who currently lives in Texas. Are her words of wisdom invalid because she is a Republican? Heck no!

Yet-- Senator McCain would have us saying that they are. He, his running mate and his Campaign are doing everything they can to start an ugly fight in America,

BUT my mother is RIGHT it takes TWO to fight-- and we do NOT have to go there. Let Senator Obama and his Campaign handle the ugliness. So far, they have done an exemplary job of it.

We have won the argument on almost every substantive issue--

Americans of all political affiliations WANT to see rational regulations of our financial institutions;

Americans of all political affiliations SEE that Senator McCain's health care plan will not work and prefer Senator Obama's proposal;

Americans of all political affiliations UNDERSTAND that Washington is broken and that something has to change-- and it cannot simply be the elimination of earmarks;

Americans of all political affiliations WANT a President who can inspire and motivate them;

Americans of all political affiliations are weary of the bickering and back-biting and ugly insults;

and

Americans of all political affiliations ARE READY FOR REAL CHANGE.

Senator McCain's own base is slipping away from him. That is why we see this increased intensity of truly ugly attacks. He is losing his own base.

The worst thing we can do right now is respond to Senator McCain's attacks in kind.

Let Senator McCain, his running mate and his Campaign fight themselves. We do NOT have to join in the fray.

Tell your friends, family and neighbors about Senator Obama's plans, policies, proposals, message and vision for our future. Please do not insult them in the process. Leave that "tactic" to Senator McCain and his campaign.

Please do not blame everything on Republicans-- especially not rank and file Republicans. And please do not label all Republicans as racists, because let me tell you they are not. Many of my family, and some of my friends, are Republicans -- and right now they are teetering in this election.

Many of them speak openly of leaving the top of the ballot blank, or maybe they'll vote for Senator Obama.

The worst thing we can do-- not only for this Campaign, but also for our Country since right now, in this time of crisis, we need ALL hands on deck -- is start fighting Senator McCain and his campaign on their terms down in the mud with all of that ugliness.

Don't take Senator McCain's bait. Please do what you can to help register voters (in states where the deadlines are outstanding) and speak to your friends, family and neighbors about what Senator Obama IS proposing, not the mud that Senator McCain is slinging.

Answer questions about that mud without anger-- be patient. It is not always easy-- I know and I have been too confrontational myself on more than one occasion. I'm working on it-- we CAN disagree without being disagreeable.

But again, we need America to come together to get out of this mess-- and if we take Senator McCain's bait, we may still win this election, but fixing our Country after that election will be so much harder.

Please don't insult "republicans" so generally. Use terms that differentiate the ugliness currently coming from Senator McCain and his Campaign and rank and file Republicans. Recall that Lilbet Hagel (life-long Republican and wife of Senator Hagel) endorsed Senator Obama this week. Recall that Richard Reordan (popular Republican mayor of LA) endorsed Senator Obama, as did Wick Allison (former editor of the National Review).

Recall that Americans of all political persuasions love this Country and do not want us to be divided. Try simply saying Senator McCain's Campaign instead of simply referring to all Republicans. We probably have numerous Republicans lurking here-- and seeing themselves insulted is not a great way to welcome them on board.

Most of us came here in the first place because Senator Obama inspired the heck out of us, and motivated us to get to work TOGETHER to fix our Country, not in our "groups," but as AMERICANS united behind a common goal and for a common purpose.

If we remember that, and focus on that, we can start helping bring an end to this ugly polarization RIGHT NOW and that will be good for the future of all of us.

E PLURIBUS ENUM is on our Country's Great Seal for a Reason--

OUT OF MANY ONE.

Voter Registration Deadlines!

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:36:42 EDT

Voter registration deadlines are fast approaching (in two states, Alaska and Louisiana it is now too late).

TODAY, October 3, 2008, is the LAST day to register to vote in MISSISSIPPI.

TOMORROW, October 4, 2008, is the LAST day to register in

WASHINGTON (by mail-- can register IN PERSON up to October 20th, 2008)

RHODE ISLAND and

SOUTH CAROLINA

Here are the voter registration deadlines for all fifty (50) states in alphabetical order:

Alabama: in person: October 24, 2008 by 5:00 P.M.

Alaska: in person: September 7, 2008 (past)

Arizona: in person: October 6, 2008 by 5:00 P.M.

Arkansas: in person/mail: October 6, 2008

California: October 20, 2008 in person, or postmarked

Colorado: October 6, 2008

Connecticut: in person: October 28, 2008

By mail: October 21, 2008

Delaware: October 11, 2008

D.C.: October 6, 2008

Florida: October 6, 2008

Georgia: October 6, 2008

Hawaii: October 6, 2008

Idaho: October 10, 2008 AND you CAN register on ELECTION DAY (election day registration-- last day to pre-register is October 10, 2008)

Illinois: October 7, 2008

Indiana: October 6, 2008

Iowa: October 25, 2008

Kansas: October 20, 2008

Kentucky: October 6, 2008

This one is incorrect at two different sites I believe-- Rock the Vote and Bill Moyer's Journal say you have until October 7, 2008-- but better safe than sorry! A pamphlet to ensure a valid Kentucky voter registration says October 6, 2008-- and I'm going to go with the Kentucky attorneys.

http://lccr.3cdn.net/d6bd66e73e705cf2eb_qgm6bxw7d.pdf

Here is that pamplet!

Louisiana: September 3, 2008 (past)

Maine: In person: ELECTION DAY

By mail: October 14 (post-marked)

Maryland: October 14, 2008

Massachusetts: October 15, 2008

Michigan: October 6, 2008

Minnesota: by October 14, 2008 or on ELECTION DAY

Mississippi: October 3, 2008

Missouri: October 8, 2008

Montana: October 14, 2008

Correction-- the League of Women voters said October 6, 2008-- but the Montana Secretary of State has this to say:

Late registration is available at any time right up through the close of polls on election day, except between 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM on the day before the election. However, registering early is beneficial to you and to your community. If you're not registered to vote, register as soon as possible!

http://sos.mt.gov/elb/voter_information.asp

This campaign says the deadline is October 14, 2008.

Nebraska: In person: October 24, 2008

Post-marked: October 17, 2008

Nevada: October 14, 2008

New Hampshire: In Person: Saturday October 25, 2008 and On ELECTION DAY

By Mail: Saturday October 25, 2008 and On Election Day

New Jersey: October 14, 2008

New Mexico: October 7, 2008

New York: October 10, 2008

North Carolina: October 10, 2008

PLEASE NOTE: The last day to register to vote in NC is October 10, except for one stop early registration and voting which lasts from October 16, 2008 through November 1, 2008.

For more information on this, click the below link (to the North Carolina State Board of Elections)

http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/content.aspx?id=17

North Dakota: NO voter registration required

Ohio: October 6, 2008

Oklahoma: October 10, 2008

Oregon: October 14, 2008

Pennsylvania: October 6, 2008

Rhode Island: October 4, 2008

South Carolina: October 4, 2008

South Dakota: October 20, 2008

Tennessee: October 6, 2008

Texas: October 6, 2008

Utah: In Person: Sunday, October 20, 2008
By Mail: Saturday, October 4, 2008

Vermont: In Person: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
By Mail: Postmarked by Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Virginia: October 6, 2008

Washington: October 4, 2008

West Virginia: October 14, 2008

Wisconsin: In Person: Monday, November 3, 2008 or ELECTION DAY
By Mail: Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Wyoming: October 6, 2008

Washington: October 20, 2008 (in person)

Please do not wait for the deadline. Please register to vote now-- and make certain your family, friends and neighbors are registered too. This election is TOO important for any of us to sit on the sidelines.

"Decency, security, and liberty alike demand that government officials shall be subjected to the same rules of conduct that are commands to the citizen..."

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:41:31 EDT

Recently, Senator Obama referred to a wise voice from our past, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis and his statement that "sunshine is the best disinfectant" when referring to transparency in government.

Here are some more words of wisdom from Justice Brandeis that apply to our current messes and our current Imperial President who appears to believe he IS the law, rather than he is the person elected to execute the laws as our Constitution actually requires:

"Decency, security, and liberty alike demand that government officials shall be subjected to the same rules of conduct that are commands to the citizen... If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy."

That is EXACTLY what happened at our Justice Department with the questionable firings of nine U.S. Attorney Generals. Recently, a report was issued that claims to have probed these concerns fully. I find that doubtful. I set forth my reasons below:

Here is the story about the report showing serious questions remain about the attorney general firings and Senator Leahy's response calling for a special prosecutor to investigate these serious allegations. You can read the full report at the link below:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/29/us-attorneys-report-full_n_130211.html

This report claims the most serious allegation that they could not resolve involved Attorney General Iglesias' firing. While I agree that one was very bad-- and it certainly looked like A.G. Iglesias was fired because he would not pursue a frivolous complaint for voter fraud against Democrats in his state, one wonders whatever happened with A.G. Carol Lam.

A.G. Carol Lam is the one who prosecuted former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham and proved he took bribes. She notified the Justice Department that her probe was expanding on MAY 10th and on MAY 11th, Mr. Sampson wrote "the real problem we have right now with Carol Lam... leads me to conclude that we should" replace her.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/03/24/news/sandiego/17_20_573_23_07.txt

The e-mail Carol Lam sent the Justice Department on MAY 10th about her decision to widen the on-going probe into Republican political corruption in San Diego is NOT even MENTIONED in this report!

Shortly thereafter, AG Lam was fired..... and her probe, that would have involved major GOP contributors and Congressman Darrell Issa was NOT expanded so far as I can tell.

Her case against former CIA Kyle Dustin Foggo is still pending almost TWO years later!

This report essentially dismisses this time proximity and takes Mr. Sampson at his word that this was about immigration and gun prosecution questions....... hmmm, really???? Yes, these issues had been brought up previously with AG Lam, but my goodness the time proximity is at the very least cause for additional investigation, and it is NOT sufficient to simply say well Mr. Sampson said so, and there are documents showing there were immigration issues.....

That firing is the one about which an explanation is absolutely necessary. This report does not even set forth the time proximity which makes it VERY dubious to me on this point.

I'm not the only one who has difficulty with this lame explanation of the AG Lamm firing--

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-kaus/senators-support-view-tha_b_43731.html

As for former A.G. Iglesias that too was very questionable and this report does admit that. Yet, Rep. Heather Wilson, who was integrally involved in the wrongful conduct surrounding Mr. Iglesias' termination, is still a VERY visible spokesperson for Senator McCain's campaign. Have these people no shame???

News you can use-- September 23, 2008

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:50:10 EDT

Here is some news from around the world and here at home. Some of this will be discussed on the MSM, but much of it will not be discussed. Although the MSM has seemed concerned about our economic mess, once more their focus is largely on the political effects of this problem, and the "horse" race. Polls are not news. I have compiled news from around the world and attempted to set forth a brief synopsis. If you want to get more on the story, you can click the link below the summary.

Hurricane Ike:

A Blog about Gulf Coast Hurricanes Past and what Houston was saying at the time.

http://blogs.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/

Houston Mayor Bill White says the Houston area will need $40 billion in aid to repair the destruction brought by Hurricane Ike. He says they need 2.5 billion now.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6017417.html

Myanmar (sometimes referred to as Burma)

The Myanmar military junta frees political detainee, Win Tin, after 19 years imprisonment. He was part of a package that freed 9,000 political prisoners there. He is 79 years old and one of the founders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The NLD won elections in 1989 and Aung San Suu Kyi was set to take the reigns of government, but the generals stopped the transfer of power. Aung San Suu Kyi is under house arrest.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7631395.stm

South Africa-- the President, Thabo Mibeki, and 11 members of his cabinet are resigning.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7631358.stm

Chinese milk fears spread in Asia. The milk is tainted with melamine, which causes sickness and kidney problems.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7631265.stm

A 22 year-old shot 10 people at college in Kauhajoki, Finland before shooting himself. (My own editorializing: The tragedy of this waste!)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7630969.stm

NATO faces rising hostility in Afghanistan. The Taliban uses innocent civilians as human shields-- and those civilians too often are killed. Also, innocent civilians are killed by aerial bombing and they get caught in the cross-fire.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,471416,00.html

President Bush meets with military and other advisers to review Afghanistan policy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/washington/23policy.html

Yahya Jammeh, the "President" of Gambia (he seized power in a military putsch in 1994) claims he can cure AIDS and asthma. He says he can cure AIDS on Thursdays and asthma on Fridays and Saturdays. He has one requirement to seek treatment from him-- patients must stop taking anti-viral medication (commonly prescribed for AIDS). (Again my own editorializing-- is this "President" doing this in an attempt to keep power or does he actually believe this nonsense? This "cure" will kill many-- another senseless tragedy).

http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,470231,00.html

Members of the Sunni Awakening fight each other over power and control. Quote from the article:

“What you have is essentially armed factions, like mini-gangs, that operate in a certain set of checkpoints in certain territories,” said Lt. Erick Kuylman, a patrol commander in the First Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, which operates in Adhamiya.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/world/middleeast/23awake.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Great Lakes protection. Ban near that would prevent water being taken from our Great Lakes and diverted to areas outside of the Great Lakes basin.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/us/23lakes.html

Our economy:

Secretary Paulson wants $700 billion quickly.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7631500.stm

Secretary Paulson's plan includes NO oversight of his action with regard to this $700 billion.

Secretary Paulson's plan upsets both Democrats and Republicans. Fed. Chair Bernanke says recession will come without bail-out.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/23/bush-team-congress-haggle_n_128501.html

A discussion of what might be done with the $700 Billion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/opinion/23kashyap.html?partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

Here is Senator Christopher Dodd's (D) legislative proposal:

http://www.politico.com/static/PPM41_ayo08b28.html

and a discussion of this proposal by Politico:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0908/Dodd_bill_much_more_aggressive_than_Treasury_plan.html

I just got polled by Rasmussen.

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:19:34 EDT

I have never been polled before in my life, but I have been polled now.

The first half of the poll was fairly standard. Do you think the Country is on the right track?

What do you think about President Bush's performance? very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, very unfavorable.

Who are you going to vote for? Obama or McCain (can you guess my answer?)

How old are you?

What race are you?

What gender are you?

How closely have you paid attention to the general election?

Do you consider yourself very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, very conservative?

Then things got really wierd. The next series of questions were entirely spun in Senator McCain's direction.

Here is a sample--

(?) What do you think about tax cuts, do they generally help the economy, hurt the economy or have no effect, or are you not sure?

How about-- it depends on the tax cuts and who gets them! Out-sourcing tax cuts are not a help to anyone in this Country-- tax cuts that amount to subsidies for business don't help anyone! No option for that. How about an option for none of the above?

(?) In general, which do you prefer a candidate who promises no tax cuts at all, or a candidate who will only raise taxes on the rich?

What in the heck does "in general" mean? Why don't you ask me what I think RIGHT now when our Country is engaged in two wars and our debt is sky-rocketing!

(?) Do you think tax policy should be based on what is best for the economy or what is fair or are you not sure?

Those are the only three options. Gee whiz, why don't you just make calls for Senator McCain's campaign?

I think the tax code should be fair-- but I also happen to think that a FAIR tax code actually results in REAL FREE TRADE (not subsidized gigantic business running the small businessperson out of business) and this HELPS the economy.

I am SURE about this-- but there was no option for me to register this opinion, so I went with the ridiculous spin and answered for "fair." (By the way, anyone who is interested-- while I am no economist, I did take economics (the science or B.S. based kind, not the B.A. kind) in college and I understand the basics of supply, demand, the IS and the LS curve, as well as some of the basics of macro-and micro economics.

(?) Do you think you pay more than your fair share in taxes, or less? Generally, I think I pay less-- but I don't want to be paying anything to the Bush administration, or (shiver) the McCain administration should we get complacent and let that happen! Why do I think I pay less? Not because I'm some sort of millionaire-- I'm not. I'm solidly middle class. Because I am blessed with parents who did fairly well for themselves and I have a cushion in this life that most folks do not have (as I have seen-- too many of us are one bad luck moment away from financial crisis). Was there an option for this? Of course not.

(?) Next they asked me what my family makes a year and there was NO option for it is none of your business! That is when I hung-up. There was no way to simply skip a question-- and I'm sorry, but it is NO-ONE's business WHAT ANYONE MAKES unless that person is actually seeking elected office (which I am not, obviously).

I hope my responses register somewhere in some poll even though I got so angry and hung-up that phone on that computer voice--

What I will say about this experience is this-- pollsters shape the polls with their questions. I knew this before intellectually, but now I know this deep down inside my bone marrow.

Polls should be outlawed. I doubt that they will be-- and I don't want to interfere with anyone's right to free speech, or with any journalist doing their job. But, goodness that poll (computer voice) was annoying!

Have those pollsters heard about JFK and his targeted tax cuts that actually benefited the economy? Have they heard about debt going on and on and on until the next generation finally has to pay the entire tab for our nonsense?

That poll was as simplistic as Senator McCain's campaign message (that is when he manages to get it together enough to be remotely consistent)-- and that makes it stupid.

The computer voice i.d'd the poll as coming from Rasmussen. I do hope I wasn't just push-polled. I will make certain to check my voter registration OFTEN over the next few weeks.

I'm not being paranoid. I AM being practical.

Do NOT be played! Keep your eye on the ball--

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:20:18 EDT

     "It also occurs to me that in a way McCain and Rove have actually simply taken over the liberal blogosphere in some way. They are being played.

    Just a few examples—yesterday Obama gave a fantastic interview at the Service Forum. Did the liberal blogs even cover this? No.

    He gave a great speech on the trail. Are his town halls even posted or excerpted? No.

    The liberal bloggers have become McCain central. They make people click on his ads, make the world spin around him instead of focusing on our candidate and what he is trying to do. There is ZERO coverage of what Obama is actually doing every day talking tough on the issues. There is ZERO coverage of Biden (who is on the trail but the blogs don’t seem to care or cover him unless he is doing what they think he should be doing. Sadly AFP did cover him this week and people seemed to be too busy saying he was not doing anything to include the link with his forceful comments against McCain. The one time the blogs linked to Biden—when the MSM tried to make a big deal out his answer to a question that made Hillary look bad and he defended her. That was it).

    McCain and crew realized early this cycle that they did not have a visible internet presence. So what did they do? They took over the liberal presence, they are manipulating the leading liberal blogs, just as they manipulate the MSM. All to their own advantage. And the blogs have all fallen for this hook, line and sinker.

Does no one realize this?"

Excerpted from the link below:

http://thecrossedpond.com/?p=5016

I REALIZE THIS!

We can win this thing-- but it becomes MUCH harder if we fall for every nasty trap set.

We have already won the argument-- 85% of us think this Country is on the wrong track (which we so obviously are).

Remember that we ARE part of this Campaign-- and what we say here CAN become part of the public story.

If you want to complain, do so in a private message.

If you want to harp about something Senator McCain is doing today, do so on your own blog.

On THIS site, we should be reminding ourselves and SHOWING everyone else who comes here--

that they CAN have hope in this Country,

faith in their neighbors AND

trust in their government again!

and that ALL of this can happen-- and WILL happen-- if we elect OBAMA/BIDEN

AND stand up for ourselves AFTER THE ELECTION!

I chose my screen name for a reason-- we ARE the change we have been waiting for--

Please do NOT risk our future because you cannot help get played by the nasty tactics of Senator McCain!

YES WE CAN-- AMERICA YOU CAN BELIEVE IT!

What I am hearing from around the Country....

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:34:56 EDT

All of this information is purely anecdotal based on conversations I have had with family and friends from various places in this Country. Some of it is very good. Some of it is not. Yet, all of it shows that we have already won the basic argument-- everyone I have spoken to thinks it is long since time that we have a rational government that works. Also, I have spoken to NO-ONE who is behind Senator McCain's candidacy (though there are leaners). The general argument I hear from the folks leaning Senator McCain's way is "a pox on both their houses" and "government is always corrupt."

California--

My better-half manages residential properties for his living. I, often, find myself in the position of speaking to people looking for an apartment.

This week, I spoke to a woman who asked me if she could get a short lease because she was so anxious about our economy. Before I could answer she blurted out "If we just elect Obama-- everything will be better!" and then she was concerned that she had offended me. I told her that I agreed with her about Obama. She then said "Every Latina I know is praying and lighting candles." I thanked her for this and told her about our local Democratic office. (This conversation is NOT atypical-- many callers tell me (unsolicited) how much they want Senator Obama to win).

A good friend of ours who generally votes Republican is so on-board with us that he is now hollaring at the television on a routine basis. He called this morning to say "The more we hear Palin, the more she will annoy people with that voice."

His fiance is also generally a staunch Republican from a military family. This year, she is not so certain about Senator McCain. She works in the health care industry and she thinks Senator McCain's health care plan is nuts.

One group of our neighbors were solidly for Senator Clinton during the primary. They are originally from Michigan and still have family there. They are Democrats first and foremost and are now on-board.

Many neighbors have been on-board from the beginning. There are Obama signs everywhere I look.

Texas-- outside of Austin

There is fear that Senator Obama will increase capital gains taxes even for people whose income is under $250,000 among the elderly. Many retired folks have portfolios (declining as we speak-- as everyone else's is) from which they withdraw small sums every year to supplement their social security and/or pensions. I also speak to people concerned about Gov. Palin, although a "nice woman," being ready to be a 73 year-old man's heart-beat away from the Presidency. I also hear reservations about Senator McCain's age and inability to use a computer. (Everyone I know in this area is over 70-- and a life-long Republican). So far, most say they simply will not vote for President. I am also hearing the contradictory "It is time to give the Democrats a chance-- and Senator McCain wouldn't be able to get anything done-- but Senator Obama might be able to succeed with a Democratic House and Senate." There is worry that bureaucracies never do anything efficiently, and are self-expanding organisms by definition no matter who is in charge.

Texas-- outside of Houston

The folks I know here are VERY busy and have little time to follow this election. Yet, they are all behind Senator Obama.

Nevada-- Las Vegas

I only know one person in this area and he is not certain he will vote for anyone. He told me that Senator Obama's wife was "filthy rich," which mis-impression I corrected. He also said that the calls and commercials from both sides are driving everyone crazy. He is usually a Republican and his big issues against Senator Obama are a dislike of Senator Reid, and cynicism that Government can do anything right, or beneficial. He does not like Senator McCain much. His general tone is "a pox on both their houses."

Indiana-- Indianapolis

Everyone I know there -- including a great lady in her 80's -- is solidly behind Senator Obama. This is a strong union Democratic family.

Kansas-- Pittsburgh

Behind Senator Obama, but frustrated by all the advertisements and the diversions by both sides. (I think they must be getting the Missouri ads.)

Georgia-- Atlanta

We have some very good friends who live in Atlanta. One of these is trying hard to be solidly behind Senator McCain and there have been a few sour words spoken between us. He is disgusted by the last 8 years-- and saddened by them as well. He is following this election closely on television (all stations), but not on the internet. He stresses Rezko (usually using eroneous facts). He refuses to believe that Senator McCain advised President Bush to veto the bill banning torture by the CIA. Sometimes speaking to him is like speaking to a McCain talking head, but he probably feels the same way about me. He is impressed by Senator Obama's ability to inspire people, especially young people. He also has a great deal of admiration for this Movement. In the end, I think it is his party affiliation that keeps him from making that next step.

His wife has never discussed politics, so I don't know for certain how she feels, but I suspect that she is with us.

I know this is simply a compilation of conversations-- but some things come through cleanly--

some of the nonsense and diversion coming from Senator McCain is working with some people to at least, keep them on the side-lines;

and the problems of those who are unsure of/or against this ticket (Obama/Biden) can be summed up this way:

"A pox on both their houses," (Democratic and Republican) and

"Yes, we need sane government that works-- but government is ALWAYS corrupt" and

At least the older, retired, people I know are bothered by the idea of a 73 year-old President.

Senator Obama and legislation to help Katrina victims.

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:05:46 EDT

Senator Obama directly sponsored 2 bills and co-sponsored 4 others directly related to helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina (and in some instances Hurricane Rita, as well). Here those bills are:

1) Hurricane Katrina recovery (2319), sponsor OBAMA, introduced Feb 16, 2006.

Link

Brief Summary: Created an officer to make certain that funds for Hurricane Katrina recovery activities were spent efficiently and effectively.

Establishes a National Family Locator System and ensures that each state's homeland security plan provides information regarding evacuating individuals with special needs.

Directs: (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a volunteer corps to provide an adequate supply of health professionals in an emergency; and

(2) the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish a database of health professionals to increase preparedness for federal emergencies.

Requires the HHS Secretary to make grants: (1) for constructing, modernizing, or repairing health facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina; and (2) to assist individuals and specified entities in communities in affected areas that disproportionately experience health disparities.

Authorizes appropriations for disaster relief in Katrina-affected areas through community development assistance programs.

Authorizes the appropriate federal banking agency and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) to forbear from taking any action otherwise required with respect to certain undercapitalized insured depository institutions or credit unions that are not significantly or critically undercapitalized and whose capital or net worth were reduced as a direct result of Hurricane Katrina.

Establishes a goal that procurement recovery at least 30% of contracts be awarded to local businesses in Katrina-affected areas for 2006-2007, and at least 40% of the workers performing the recovery work be local residents.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the income threshold, and increase the percentage of earned income, used to calculate the refundable portion of the child tax credit. Allows certain taxpayers who maintained a primary residence in Alabama, Louisiana, or Mississippi an increase in the refundable portion of the child tax credit.

Link

Full text of the bill:

Link

Unfortunately, for those suffering in the aftermath of Katrina, this ball was not passed into law.

Voter Registration

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:50:39 EDT

This past Sunday, August 24, 2008, I spent a few hours trying to register some voters. We could not have asked for a more beautiful setting, but we could have used a little more shade. I was on the first shift on Sunday. There were three shifts, and three shifts also on Saturday. On Saturday, 27 voters were registered! While I was there, 4 more voters were registered. Unfortunately, I did not get to register anyone though.

Pasadena is a big tourist city. People from all over this world passed our table. We spoke to locals, too, who thanked us for what we were doing, and quite a few people passed our table and said "Obama!"

This event was extremely well organized by Anita Wallace. She had this voter registration thing DOWN! She brought all of the necessary registration forms, flyers about Senator Obama, bumper stickers and buttons, as well as Obama policy position papers. She also had easily distributed address labels for our local Pasadena, Democratic office.

Here is the address of the Pasadena Democratic Office, for anyone living in the San Gabriel area who would like to do something to help ensure Senator Obama's and other local and state Democrats' elections.

United Democratic Headquarters, 414 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101. Phone-- (626) 449-2008

Here is the mapquest link:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Pasadena&state=CA&address=414+S.+Lake+Ave.&zipcode=91101

We got hot, but we had fun-- and we helped get more Americans involved in this historic, critical election!

The Very Real Need for Civility in our Public Square

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:11:45 EDT

A common lament I hear from elderly people is that we just “aren’t civil anymore.” They complain about kids who come close to running them down with skate boards on the sidewalks and then don’t apologize, about folks talking on cell phones in public in loud voices with no concern for others’ need for peace and quiet, and about so many other things. Once, I was inclined to dismiss this with a flippant “old people don’t get it,” but as the grey creeps into my own hair, I begin to understand what they mean. Civility IS almost absent from our public square and possibly, too absent from our private lives.

First what exactly is civility? Here is Webster’s definition:

ci·vil·i·ty Pronunciation: sə-ˈvi-lə-tē

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural ci·vil·i·ties

Date: 1533

1. archaic : training in the humanities. 2 a: civilized conduct; especially : courtesy, politeness b: a polite act or expression

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civility

Yet, is this definition sufficient for our purposes today?

Here is another way of looking at civility in the public square from Guy Burgess, PhD and Heidi Burgess, Phd of the University of Colorado: http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/bios.htm

“The increasingly vocal campaign for civility in public discourse reflects an understandable and widespread frustration with the current tenor of political debate. There is a growing realization that our inability to deal with broad range of problems is largely attributable to the destructive ways in which the issues are being addressed. This raises a crucial and increasingly controversial question--what exactly do we mean by "civility"?

Clearly, civility has to mean something more that mere politeness. The movement will have accomplished little if all it does is get people to say, "excuse me please", while they (figuratively) stab you in the back. Civility also cannot mean "roll over and play dead." People need to be able to raise tough questions and present their cases when they feel their vital interests are being threatened. A civil society cannot avoid tough but important issues, simply because they are unpleasant to address. There must also be more to civility than a scrupulous adherence to the laws governing public-policy decision making. Clearly, there are numerous instances in which the parties to public-policy conflicts act in ways which are destructive and inappropriate, even though they are (and should continue to be) legal.

In short, any reasonable definition of civility must recognize that the many differing interests which divide our increasingly diverse society will produce an endless series of confrontations over difficult moral and distributional issues. Often these issues will have an irreducible win-lose character and, hence, not be amenable to consensus resolution. While continuing confrontation is inevitable, the enormous destructiveness which commonly accompanies these confrontations is not.

In our work at the University of Colorado's Conflict Research Consortium, we have been developing an approach which we call "constructive confrontation."

http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/civility.htm

(This approach of “constructive confrontation” is discussed in more detail below)

However it is defined, civility does seem to be on the decline in this Country as it becomes even more difficult to disagree without almost any conversation devolving into a screaming match. So few people—I am guilty of this myself on too many occasions—really listen to another person, or an idea with which they disagree.

I have watched Congressional hearings like this. It often seems as though few members care about what the witness is testifying in their focus on the sound of their own voices. This does not simply happen in Congress; I have seen this in my own life and most certainly in our Vice President who simply answered “SO?” when asked about overwhelming public opinion against the War in Iraq. To our Vice President, the opinions of those who disagree with him (even if we be the majority of the American people) are so entirely without value, that he can dismiss our opinion flippantly. That is the height of incivility. Yet, other people (who agree with our Vice President) claim this “So?” as rational argument. “So?” is not rational argument; “so” is insulting, demeaning and utterly lacking in any recognition that the people who hold the opposing view have any right to have their voices heard. In this Country, the majority of the American people do not have the right to have their opinions followed, but we do have the expectation of BASIC CIVILITY toward us from our elected officials.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maFUXy7U2Nc

Sometimes, I wonder if this devolution in civility is caused by the way our high school and college debates generally function. Instead, of any real debate of the issues, students speak as fast as they can to include as many points as possibly (often so quickly that no non-debater could possibly follow the argument). This is probably insufficient to explain the problem. This problem is probably rooted in many things; including a blurring of the complexities into 30 second-sound bytes, and a general demagoguery of too many issues that face us all. Nevertheless, whatever the origin of this problem, this problem is now ours.

Now, please don’t get me wrong. I have not been a paragon of civility throughout my life. Yet, my own imperfections don’t devalue the message I am carrying. Civility in the public square is essential to our democracy functioning. Civility at home is essential to our own personal domestic tranquility. Civility on the world stage – and treating countries like adults, not like recalcitrant toddlers—is important to keeping, and building our Nation’s soft power, the diplomatic tools and good will that have ended and CAN end many a crisis without resort to war.

So what do we do about it?

Senator Obama asks that we disagree without being disagreeable. This would help immensely. Indeed, “be agreeable” is one of the 25 rules of civility drafted by P.M. Forni, PhD of John Hopkins:

http://sites.jhu.edu/civility/background.htm

and

http://sites.jhu.edu/civility/onerule.html

Dr. Forni has written a book about this need called Choosing Civility, in which he lists 25 rules for civil conduct.

http://sites.jhu.edu/civility/choosingcivility.html

Our first President, George Washington, carried a book with him about manners, dignity and civility called Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation.

When President Washington was but sixteen years old he took this book and summarized it into basic rules. Here are those 110 rules, many of which in application would help us be a more civil society today:

http://www.history.org/Almanack/life/manners/rules2.cfm

Here is a sampling of some of those I find truly valuable, with the rule number assigned*:

1st rule “Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present.”

6th rule “Sleep not when others Speak, Sit not when others stand, Speak not when you Should hold your Peace, walk not on when others Stop.”

22nd rule “Show not yourself glad at the Misfortune of another though he were your enemy”

35th rule “Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.”

44th rule “When a man does all he can though it Succeeds not well blame not him that did it.”

48th rule “Wherein you reprove Another be without blame yourself; for example is more prevalent than Precepts.”**

50th rule “Be not hasty to believe flying Reports to the Disparagement of any.”

58th rule “Let your Conversation be without Malice or Envy, for 'tis a Sign of a Tractable and Commendable Nature: And in all Causes of Passion admit Reason to Govern.”

74th rule “When Another Speaks be attentive your Self and disturb not the Audience if any hesitate in his Words help him not nor Prompt him without desired, Interrupt him not, nor Answer him till his Speech be ended.”

82nd rule “Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise.”

86th rule “In Disputes, be not So Desireous to Overcome as not to give Liberty to each one to deliver his Opinion and Submit to the Judgment of the Major Part especially if they are Judges of the Dispute.”

Some of these rules, no doubt, belong to another age. No longer would I – or any other American-- ask anyone to avoid looking in the face of a “man of quality” as the 37th rule suggests.

*I have amended the words from the spelling and form of our Revolutionary period to our modern day for clarity.

** Please note—I am not here remonstrating against anyone in particular, but rather our society, including myself. (At least, I hope this is the case, or I have just violated rule 48).

Here are the processes by which the Burgesses of the University of Colorado (referenced above) hope to bring civility back to the public (and private) square:

“This approach combines an understanding of conflict processes, dispute resolution, and advocacy strategies to help disputants better advance their interests. In addition to explaining why the politeness embodied in conventional definitions of "civility" is important, we also identify a number of other areas in which adversaries, decision makers, and those caught in the middle can work individually and collectively to increase the constructiveness of public debate. Examples of these areas include:”

Separating People from the Problem

Obtaining Available Technical Facts

Limiting Interpersonal Misunderstanding

Using a Fair Processes

Limiting Escalation

Honoring Legitimate Uses of Legal, Political, and Other Types of Power

Separating Win/Win from Win/Lose Issues

Limiting the Backlash Effect

Keep Trying to Persuade and Allow Yourself to be Persuaded

More Persuasion, More Exchange, Less force

For more on each of the above hi-lighted terms, click here:

http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/civility.htm

Here is a link to the National Civility Center, which also has several great suggestions for improving civility in our daily lives and our public square:

http://www.civilitycenter.org/

and

http://www.civilitycenter.org/keys.php

Here are the five keys that the National Civility Center believes are of critical importance to creating and sustaining civility, including links to a more thorough analysis of each key:

Trust http://www.civilitycenter.org/keys.php

Process http://www.civilitycenter.org/keys2.php

People http://www.civilitycenter.org/keys3.php

Dialogue http://www.civilitycenter.org/keys4.php

Civility http://www.civilitycenter.org/keys5.php

This last section is simple, so I will excerpt it here:

Civility builds on the “Golden Rule”: Always treat others as you would like to be treated.

If we can be civil to one another, if we can disagree without being so very disagreeable, we will be able to come together to solve our long festering problems. If we cannot, too many of us will remain outside the process looking inside, excluded, with anger and rancor in our hearts and we may yet all drown in the same boat built out of our inability to simply be decent to one another.

News you can use-- week beginning August 17, 2008

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:09:22 EDT

World News:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7564776.stm

Russia signs on to Georgia truce, but still keeps troops deep inside Georgia—and says those troops will remain until security concerns are met. Russia claims Georgians are causing problems and refused to put timetable on withdrawal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7566199.stm

Russia pledged to remove troops from Georgia, and signs seem to show that this will occur, with one exception. It looks as though Russian troops will stay in South Ossetia. Right now, Russian troops are within 20 miles of Tblisi, the Georgian Capitol.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7565355.stm

Pakistan’s foreign minister gives Pres. Musharraf deadline—he has two days to step down or face impeachment. Pres. Musharraf says he will defend himself. Former PM Nawaz Sharif, who was toppled in a 1999 military coup on corruption charges, but allowed to leave the Country, says Pres. Musharraf should not be granted safe passage.

UPDATE:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/18/asia/19pstan.php

President Musharraf of Pakistan announces his resignation. He will stay in Pakistan for the immediate future. He said "Long live Pakistan!" and explained he was resigning not because he was guilty, but for the good of Pakistan. He said that even if he won the case against him, the process would still hurt his Country.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7566257.stm

Power-sharing talks in Zimbabwe end in stalemate. South African President says talks will continue.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7563816.stm

Members of Nepal's parliament have overwhelmingly elected the Maoist leader Prachanda as the country's new prime minister. He won 80% of the vote. It is only two years since Mr. Prachanda came out from two decades underground as a militant communist leader/revolutionary to Nepal’s ruling monarchy, which was recently overthrown. Before he was a revolutionary, he was an agricultural science teacher.

Most of the members of the royal family were assassinated by another member of the royal family a few years ago.

“What the Maoists called their "people's war" had left 13,000 people dead, tens of thousands displaced and much of the country's infrastructure destroyed.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7561943.stm

A U.S. Court of Appeals determines that terms of an “Artistic License” Agreement designed to protect the dissemination and use of code can be enforced under copyright law, even though the code is given away free after the “Artistic License” Agreement is signed. This extends copyright protection to code even though the code is given away free on the internet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7565538.stm

French officials are investigating an Algerian official, Mohammed Ziane Hassani, in charge of protocol at Algeria's foreign ministry, for the 1987 assassination of Ali Mecili in his Parisian home. He was arrested Friday, August 15 in Marseille airport after arriving there from Algiers. He was carrying a diplomatic Algerian passport, but the French say it does not carry diplomatic immunity.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7566667.stm

Fighting continues in Sri Lanka, where the Sri Lankan military claims that they captured a Tamil Tiger training camp. Thousands flee the area.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7566070.stm

The Ukraine says it will make its early warning missile systems available to Europe following the conflict between Russia and Georgia. Last week, the Ukrainians limited Russia’s freedom of movement in the Black Sea.

Good news for the internet--

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7561943.stm

AND we all know that Michael Phelps won 8 Gold Medals in these Olympic Games!

I'm certain everyone notices my sole reliance on the BBC-- what can I say? In my opinion, that news agency does an excellent job with world news.

My story

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:56:09 EDT

Senator Obama and this site have suggested today that are own stories are an inspiration. I don't have a compelling narrative myself. I do have memories and stories that haunt me. I don't know if recounting these could possibly inspire anyone, though; yet, I will try. So far, Senator Obama and this Campaign have been political phenomena-- perhaps, they are right about this too. I will give it a try.

I remember walking down main street in a small town as a child-- I can see the well-kept store-fronts and see and even hear the rosy-cheeked, bustling, people stopping me, often ruffling my hair and asking me how my grandparents were, then telling me stories about my own parents as children before they had to leave me to serve a customer, who was also a friend and neighbor.

I remember later after my grandfather's funeral, walking down that same street, looking at boards covering most of the windows, and seeing next to no-one. I met one woman who told me with fear in her eyes that someone had vandalized the grave yard in the very small town (population less than 100, I think) outside of which my maternal grandparents had their farm.

I remember the babies and children in the long-term care unit. One room stands out in my memory where two grandmothers sat silently praying by a severely brain-damaged child's bed. Most of these children were brought to the emergency rooms too late for simple preventions and many were born without any pre-natal care. Sometimes these injuries were caused by neglect, abuse, or a mistake, but too often the damage was caused by a lack of money. If doctors and nurses could not do anything about this, what could I do? I walked away and tried to forget. I didn't.

I volunteered once to help people navigate the nightmare of social service assistance. The waits were long and the waiting room was uncooled. People sweated waiting, sitting on the floors, standing against the walls, and in the few chairs provided. In the offices, where the interviews took place, it was cool. It was appalling. Yes, these people were seeking aid from their state and, if possible, the federal government-- but they still had a right to basic human dignity.

I watched a loved one suffer from sleep apnea for years that went untreated by his HMO even though he knew and told his doctor. For a number of reasons, there was no lawsuit possible-- he was at their mercy. It took years -- and he was falling asleep everywhere, at work, driving-- for that HMO to send him to a sleep clinic. He is o.k. now, thank God.

Another HMO took over 1 year to schedule 1 cataract surgery and another year to schedule the second for an over 80 year-old friend. Perhaps the HMO delayed so long hoping that she would leave this world. She didn't. She doesn't drive; instead, she walks everywhere. Those years she went with limited eyesight I called her often-- just to make certain nothing bad had happened to her. She lives alone-- her family is in Michigan, including a sister who lives still on her own land off in the rural countryside, who is in her late 80's. She was not angry at the HMO and would not protest the long delay. She IS angry about the children on our trains and buses who vandalize the walls, and the children who skateboard down the sidewalk, often almost running her down. She IS angry about the people who drive cars too fast and don't pay enough attention to people in the cross walks. I was with her once when one such person almost ran both of us down in her SUV. I don't think the driver even noticed us; she was busily yapping away on a cell phone. My friend voted for Ron Paul in our primary, and isn't certain if she will vote in November. We have had many civil discussions about Senator Obama's candidacy. She is a Republican-- a progressive California Republican-- but a Republican still. She doesn't like Senator McCain at all-- and she may not vote.

She fears the upcoming change to digital television and says, "Oh well, I just won't watch anymore," but then "I will miss Jay Leno," and then very sadly, "but he is leaving soon anyway." I have told her about the digital attenae and the federal coupon, but am uncertain if she understands me. I will probably get it for her and my own better-half will then install it.

Her nephew is a policeman in New Orleans. Need I say more? His home is still not rebuilt, and he may move away from the City this year. She also tells me that her hair-dresser's son is on his third tour of duty in Iraq. Her hair-dresser comes in her car to pick this great, dignified lady up to get her hair done and makes her burritos that I am told are the best burritos ever. Her hair-dresser is an immigrant, interestingly enough, from the Phillipines.My friend tells me she is very worried about her hair-dresser's son. I don't know this kind hair-dresser, but I, too, am worried about her son and hope and pray he will come home safe.

Another loved one suffered a rare eye disease that would have left him blind (and unemployed since his eyes are central to his profession) had he not received treatment. His insurance company refused to pay for that treatment on the grounds that this particular affliction did not strike one so young. Fortunately, family resources were enough to pay for the care out-of-pocket until the insurance company relented. Yet, I know many people exist who do not have those resources and cannot find a way to pay out of pocket without resort to unbelievably usurious debt. Existence in the middle class seems to hang on a thread of good fortune for too many people in this Country.

I have heard tell of children who do not get eye exams and are placed in special education classes-- and some end up in prison-- for want of a pair of glasses. They are not slow-- these kids cannot see! As a person with a thick pair of spectacles myself, I cannot help but think but for the Grace of God go I.

I have seen poverty-- unbelievably poverty-- in the Ozarks in Arkansas, in big cities, and in South Texas. In South Texas, I saw what I think was sewage literally running down the center of the street. This was years ago, now, and I hope it is corrected, but I couldn't believe I was inside America when I saw that.

Years ago, as I drove through the midwest, I began to see the homes deteriorate along the roadside. I watched as the paint chipped, and porches sagged. The homes were very well kept and the lawns well-tended, though. Yet, those houses still seemed to reproach me, with their crumbling brick fireplaces. These houses told me the land had fallen on hard times. This was not the landscape of my youth.

I have friends in Georgia (the State) who tell me that the water is almost gone and that the beautiful trees are being destroyed by a vine that originally came from somewhere else in this world. I visited some years ago, and saw this vine-- and looking at those beautiful trees being eaten alive by these vines brought tears to my eyes.

I have heard people who did not have everything handed to them, but began life with many benefits, say poor people should just pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. If there are no jobs in the area, they will tell me, these folks should just go where the jobs are. These are good people, but they don't know about what they speak. They don't understand that leaving what you know -- no matter how bad it is -- is dangerous. That getting off the bus in an entirely unknown place, where you have no friends, is terrifying. How many young adults come to California every year to find fame, fortune and a better life? And how many of them do I see sitting listlessly huddled against the wall begging me for a dollar? No, it isn't as easy as some of us think it is, at least it isn't today.

I am told by teachers that too many parents see their children's problems as a burden. I am told by teachers that they reach into their own pockets for supplies. There are bright rays of hope, though, too. From what I can tell, teaching seems to be one rewarding profession. Yet, there also seem to be too many teachers who are burnt out and are no longer expecting much from their students. I am not a teacher; I don't know what the answer is. I do know that when I was young, my school was safe and I didn't have to pass through any metal detectors to go to high school.

And this is just the things in my own Country, in the United States of America.

I have done my fair share of hiding. I have also felt that if I start to cry, I might never stop. Hiding from the news, your own eyes and your own memories does not work. Bashing your head against the wall is no answer. Just recounting this is overwhelming and the recent optimism that Senator Obama has inspired in me sags under the weight of it.

Yet, though the task ahead may be daunting, and the effort required huge, together we can help fix these many messes. Together we can produce a more civil society. Together we can restore the Great American Dream! We can do this-- we just have to believe it and act on that belief!

YES WE CAN!

Never underestimate word of mouth.

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:37:45 EDT

My parents grew up in rural Kansas. I visited my grandparents in rural Kansas-- my maternal grandparents still lived on their farm when I was a child. An advertisement is not likely to change many minds there. Senator Obama could knock on every door and earn votes everywhere-- but everyone knows he does not have that kind of time.

But, a neighbor -- whom someone knows and trusts -- CAN knock on that door and change that mind. And then that person can change other minds. A neighbor, whom they have known and trusted for years, IS trusted and CAN help their neighbors see what we are doing here and how what we are doing, and trying to do, is the best thing for our Country and our Country's future.

I can remember walking down a street (main street) and everyone saying "Oh, you are Wanda's grandchild," or insert name of grandparent, or family surname known to the person stopping to pat me on the head, or tell me some story about my mom, dad, or grandparents. From these experiences, I know that word of mouth is the best form of advertising there is, especially in rural America where almost everyone knows your name (and even family history you do not even know).

I tested this knowledge today by asking my retired Republican mother how she would react if Warda (a very close neighbor of my grandparents) knocked on her door and told her she supported Senator Obama. My mother said simply "I would listen closely to every word."

That is the power of earned trust. That is what we have that is of inestimable value to this Movement, this Campaign and to help ensure the best future for our Country.

We are the best representatives there can be to our own neighbors. Thank you to everyone for doing just that. I know it isn't always easy, but it is still the best thing to do, especially if you live in an area inclined to distrust change, or be cynical about government. The harder an area has been hit by the recent economic downturn, the longer that area has suffered from job loss, the more difficult it is likely to be. Yet, the greater the earned trust is also likely to be.

Our enemy here is TIME and whether we have enough of it.

This is a barn raising for the sake of our Country. Senator Obama has called us to raise that barn-- but it is up to us to get our neighbors to help us do it.

News You can Use.

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:34:27 EDT

Our media spends a great deal of time discussing the horse race and various crimes around our Country, while all over this world conflicts rage. Here is some news from today that you can use.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7554507.stm

Russian troops in Georgia advance.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7553317.stm

Police fire on protesters in Indian-controlled Kashmir

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7554664.stm

Unamid helicopter fired on in Darfur. This is the first attack on a helicopter of Unamid, which is a joint peacekeeping force – UN and African Union – in Darfur. Unamid began operations in early 2008.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7552224.stm

Zemmouri, Algeria police station hit by suicide bomb. Last week, another suicide bomb hit a police station in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7553621.stm

Power-sharing talks resumed in Zimbabwe—Mugabe says confident deal will be reached.

The US, EU and UK have all said that 1 billion Dollars in aid to Zimbabwe will be withheld unless Mugabe relinquishes power.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7554590.stm

King Abdullah of Jordan visits Iraq for the first time since the US invasion in 2003. King Abdullah is the first Arab head of state to visit since the US invasion.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7552146.stm

130,000 people have fled their homes in the Philipines after fighting broke out again in S. Philippines between the army and Muslim rebels.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7554476.stm

Turkish soldiers killed in bomb. No-one is claiming responsibility, but it might be the PKK. This is believed because the explosion occurred in an area of strife between the Turkish soldiers/police and the PKK (Kurdish Workers Party). The PKK wants a separate Kurdish state in Southern Turkey.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080810/ts_afp/oly2008xinjiangattacks

Bombing in Northwestern China town. Muslim separatists may be responsible.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSISL15267920080808

Pres. Musharraf of Pakistan faces impeachment—eyes are on Pakistan’s army.

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20080813ACQDJON200808130511DOWJONESDJONLINE000391.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Leading%20Lawmaker%20Backs%20Livni%20To%20Replace%20Olmert%20As%20PM

Israeli's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, is stepping down from his position because of the corruption charges he faces. He may very well be replaced by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. She would be the first female Israeli Prime Minister since Golda Meir. Israeli's Kadima Party will hold its first ever primary on September 17th to determine who will be the next Prime Minister. (The current P.M. is a member of the Kadima Party and is Foreign Minister Livni).

Poverty as a business....

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:37:38 EDT

Yes, it is now official-- trying to make money from people who have none is now a highly successful business plan. And we all thought you could not get blood out of a turnip-- yet, someone seems to have found a way to do just that, and also managed to quiet the qualms of their conscience as they do it.

Bill Moyers' covered this excellently last night:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/08082008/profile.html

Here is the original Business Week Coverage:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_21/b4035001.htm?chan=search

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/nov2007/db20071120_397008.htm?chan=search

I have seen this myself. I had left my phone bill payment to the last moment one month and had to go and pay it in person. The place to pay the phone bill also offered pay day loans. Pay day loans at exhorbitant interest-- I calculated it, and that interest was as high as 480% annually. I couldn't believe it. The place was crowded and I'm not known for my quiet mouth. I asked the strangers around me why in the world would they take such a loan. I quickly shut my mouth after being told that rent had to be paid, but the car broke down; and, the baby had an ear infection. Trouble hits everyone and it hits hardest those who have the least. Right now, the trap is set for them with those payday loans. Yes, the loan tides them over in the moment, but it is also the road to ruin. These businesses are loan sharks in every way imaginable, except they don't actually break bones; they just break hearts, souls and spirits.

When this is looked at in conjunction with recent bankruptcy "reform," that makes it extremely difficult for ordinary Americans to discharge their debts in bankruptcy Court a picture emerges-- and the picture is not pretty. How can anyone get out of poverty when this is what they face? They cannot unless nothing ever goes wrong. When people can do nothing but financially fail, many get desperate, or simply quit trying. Neither scenario is good for our future. Desperation breds crime and quitting results in increased homelessness, and a real drag on our already paltry social safety net. Conversely, if people who try can succeed, they move out of poverty into the middle class-- and ensure that the same occurs with their children. They contribute more into the tax pie, as well. Why would our Government allow the exploitation of our poorest citizens? Because our Government is not focused on our Country's long-term welfare; but instead, focused on the short-term profits of big business.

The people depicted in Mr. Moyers' story received assistance because their stories were publicized. Yet, none of the businesses involved stopped these practices; they simply gave in for the people who were profiled in Business Week.

We can say no more to this nonsense.

Yes we can!

Our Constitution

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:09:02 EDT

The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. Our Constitution is both the oldest written Constitution in the world and the shortest.

Our first national “Thanksgiving Day,” was created by President Washington and occurred on November 26, 1789. It was not about pilgrims; it was about “giving thanks” for the Constitution.

Over 11,000 amendments have been introduced in Congress, but only 33 have gone to the states to be ratified, and 27 have received the necessary approval from the states to actually become amendments to the Constitution. http://constitutioncenter.org/

Much of the original U.S. Constitution is dedicated to Article I and Article I details what Congress does. Our Congress MAKES the laws. Our President EXECUTES the laws. Since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison 5 U.S. 137 (1803), Our Judiciary INTERPRETS the laws.

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=5&invol=137

Under our Constitution, we go to War only when Congress DECLARES WAR. Does this surprise you? It hasn't seemed to work that way recently. Here are President Madison's highly relevant words:

"Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few."

Article I also gives Congress the power (and duty) of oversight, which was used so efficiently by then Senator Truman during WWII to locate and stop war-profiteering. Truman called war-profiteering "treason" and exposed it-- and President Roosevelt THANKED HIM FOR IT.

President Roosevelt said: "I don't want to see a single war millionaire created in the United States as a result of this world disaster."

Today, we have a President and most Republican members of Congress avidly AGAINST oversight over any significant war-profiteering investigations.

Nonetheless, when the Democrats took control of Congress, they began such hearings. http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2007_hr/warprofit.html

But, with very little cooperation from our Executive branch.

Our President does not believe in Article I, apparently and has thrown it out the window with the help of many rubber-stamping GOP Senators http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/kimberlyk/gGX7XJ

and many GOP Congressional Representatives. In fact, EVERY GOP member of Congress WALKED OUT rather than stand up for Congress' RIGHT to subpoena members of the White House staff to conduct oversight inquiries. Most of the GOP seems to think our Constitution is "partisan" and leans Democratic. This is NOT so. It was NOT so long ago that many conservatives believed Article I was critical to protecting our liberties, and yet, although conservatives like George Will may grumble about our current Imperial Presidency, they do not stand up in outrage. Why? Apparently, an Imperial Presidency can be tolerated by them so long as it is a GOP Presidency. I vehemently disagree -- Our Constitution APPLIES EQUALLY TO BOTH PARTIES.

Some Republicans have not surrendered entirely to this Imperial Presidency. Here are the thoughts of one such Republican (who worked for President Reagan).

http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2008/072408Roberts.shtml

I could write endlessly about the necessity of Congressional oversight and the lack of such oversight by most of the GOP while they had control of Congress.

Again, here is a list of GOP Senators who have contributed to this lock-step, rubber-stamping nonsense which has created an Imperial Presidency against our Constitution. One of Congress' most important Constitutional duties is the duty of oversight -- and these Republican Senators did not perform that duty; indeed, they generally refused to do so as part of the "permanent campaign." http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/kimberlyk/gGX7XJ

AND EVERY GOP Congressional Representative walked out in protest instead of STANDING UP for the House's right to subpoena people in the White House and demand testimony as part of their necessary oversight role. Again, this was a refusal to perform oversight in order to gain partisan political points.

http://us.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/14/house.contempt/index.html

If a President gets to determine (as White House spokeswoman Dana Perino and the GOP Congressional Reps. argued) when oversight is "partisan" and direct the Attorney General to ignore Congress' requests CONGRESS HAS NO POWER OF OVERSIGHT-- or at the very least Congress' power of oversight is limited by the whims of whoever the President might be. This is one dangerous precedent—and not one likely to please any in the GOP should a Democrat choose to exercise such an Imperial Presidency.

Here is another way to look at this -- you receive a subpoena, which you don't like, so you refuse to appear and claim that prosecutor is acting unfairly toward you (for whatever reason). If people could do that in response to duly served subpoenas, we would have NO law in this Country.

This alone is cause to send ALL of the GOP Congressional Representatives HOME! Our Congress is a co-equal branch of government as our Constitution is written; our Congress is NOT the lackey, or rubber-stamp of the President under our Constitution, yet many members of the GOP Congressional delegation behaved as though they were nothing more than rubber-stamps for a President who behaved like there are no Constitutional limits on his power -- there is even a theory for this abuse of power, it is called the "unitary theory of the executive."

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/commentary/20060109_bergen.html

and

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/addington_unitary_government_w.php

Our President does not obey even laws that he signs, either. This has happened so many times now, I cannot list them all. Here are two examples. Congress passed and our President signed a law requiring that ALL costs be included in the budget. After that law was passed, our President sent a budget to Congress without the costs of the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq. Congress passed and our President signed a law banning torture, including waterboarding. After that law was passed, our President made clear that he believed waterboarding was still perfectly appropriate.

The President does NOT get to make laws—the Congress does. The President also does NOT get to interpret laws; that is the task of the Judiciary. Presidential signing statements, followed by our President refusing to enforce the law are unconstitutional, unless you believe that our President IS the law….. and if you believe that, we have neither a system of checks and balances, nor any protection from the tyrannical whims of whoever is in the Presidency.

This is the same GOP that complained for years that judges were “activists” and writing laws. This President has set himself up as legislator, executor and interpreter—is there anything more activist, or dangerous, than one man rule? Our ancestors certainly thought so; this danger is one of the reasons our Constitution was carefully crafted to control the power of the Presidency and one of the reasons we revolted against the King.

I have seen polls that show many Americans do not know that we have three branches of government, or what our Constitution requires. If these polls are accurate, our lack of knowledge about how our freedoms are protected helps create an environment for this kind of Presidential power grab. Please help me to ensure that Americans know how our Constitution protects us from the tyrannical whims of one man, or one woman rule.

Our form of government may not be the fastest to respond. Transferring executive power every 4 or 8 years may be chaotic and create instability. Nonetheless, there is no better form of government to protect the rights, freedoms and liberties of humanity.

In the words of Winston Churchill-- It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried. For me, this is absolutely true.

Our forefathers and foremothers sacrificed and even died to let liberty reign in this Country. Please let’s save what they have given to us by preserving and protecting our Constitution AND ensuring we elect as our next President, a man who will obey his oath to uphold and protect our Constitution, Senator Barack Obama.

Please send these Senators HOME!

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:18:03 EDT

Let's send some of the worst Republican Senators Home to contemplate their navels in the wilderness and help other Republican elected officials (and those hoping to seek office) to find their way back from the radical policies of the GOP today to the conservative policies of yesterday (you know, back when most of the GOP officials at least respected our Constitution?)

Here is my list--

1. Senator Cornyn (R-TX) can go HOME -- please elect Rick Noriega (who is a Lieutenant Colonel and Afghanistan vet),

Why? Senator Cornyn said that violence against judges was to be expected for their "unnaccountable political decisions" in opposition to legislation to give Judges more security after the murders of Judge Barnes, his Court Clerk and one Deputy in Atlanta and the mother and husband of Judge Lefkow of NY* (error-- Judge Lefkow is a U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois) because of her insistence on harsh sentences for those involved in organized crime!

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/150676.php

Judge Barnes-- http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/11/national/main679651.shtml

Senator Cornyn also voted in lock-step with our President's incompetent policies 90.8% of the time. Yet, his demagoguery against Judges and his radicalism against a co-equal branch of our Government (The Judiciary) are more than sufficient grounds to give Senator Cornyn his walking papers!

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/c001056/

2. Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) (even though I did like her husband as a Senator),

who voted against SCHIP expansion and voted in lock-step with the incompetent and fiscally irresponsible policies of our President 89.1% of the time.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/d000601/

3. Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) -- do I need to say why? Senator McConnell makes me long for the days of Senator Trent Lott. Senator Lott respected and protected the privileges and duties of the Senate; Senator McConnell is nothing more than a rubber stamp for our executive. How in the world did he become Minority Leader? Apparently, too many Republican Senators have NO respect for the Senate, its traditions or its rights and Constitutional duties. Please send Senator McConnell HOME!

4. Senator Sessions (R-AL), who voted in lock-step with our President's radical policies 89.1% of the time and who is a Republican spin-meister of the permanent campaign which keeps Washington from doing much of anything other than nation-building in Iraq, depleting our treasury and running up our national debt!

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/s001141/

5. Senator Chambliss (R-GE)-- remember what he did to Senator Cleland? Anyone who can call a man who lost 3 limbs in service to our Country a traitor has no respect for our troops and should be sent HOME for fear-mongering, demogoguery and disrespect of our institutions! He also voted with our President's radical policies 91.6% of the time.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/c000286/

6. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN)-- if not for this very wealthy man's attempts to seem like a "regular" guy, then certainly for his recent pandering to voters on offshore drilling and lack of knowledge about what is the actual reality on this issue. Senator Domenici corrected him repeatedly. Also, for his lock-step voting with the radicalism from our White House 88.3% of the time.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/a000360/

7. Senator Coleman (R-MN), if not for your state, please send this man home for the memory of Senator Wellstone! Also, send him home for voting with the radical neo-con ideology of our White House 79.3% of the time.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/c001057/

AND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyBo5XROrJg (special interests thank the Senator)

AND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge14Zvew7bo (on Iraq)

8. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) -- need I say more? Just in case, here are some more details. Senator Graham is in 88.4% agreement with the radical policies of our currrent President.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/g000359/

Yes, Senator Graham was part of the gang of 14 (and that is to be respected), but he was also part of that ridiculous bit of GOP attempt to overthrow the will of the voters with impeachment in the 1990's. (And now, he and Senator Lieberman appear to be attached to Senator McCain's hip-- what is the deal with that, anyway?)

9. Senator Cochran (R-MS), who has voted with our President's radical policies 86.9% of the time.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/c000567/

I believe Senator Cochran is an honorable, good man, but he is also part of the GOP "permanent campaign" that is ripping our Country to shreds and it is more than time to end this. Senator Cochran could have stood up to this "permanent campaign," or he could have at least stood up for the Constitutional powers of the Senate. He did neither, so he should go home. I hope he has a happy retirement. He is a good man and I wish him all of the happiness that his retirement can bring -- he needs to go home so that he can enjoy that retirement.

10. CORRECTION: Senator Allard (R-CO) is retiring. His chosen successor is Bob Schaffer. Mr. Schaffer has some explaining to do about a Kurdish deal he negotiated that our government says undermines Iraqi security and U.S. interests in the region.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/bob_schaffer_changes_story_on.php

11. Senator Roberts (R-KS)-- remember him as chair of the Intelligence Committee?

He was in lockstep with the President in each and every abuse, and even prevented the Senate from investigating if the White House pressured our intelligence services. Hint to the GOP Senators -- it isn't political to provide oversight of the executive; it is your Constitutional duty! Remember Senator Truman oversaw the war effort and exposed war profiteers in WWII even though President Roosevelt was a fellow-democrat? It is your job Senator Roberts -- it is your job! Please send him home so that future Senators understand that IT IS THEIR JOB to practice oversight of our executive regardless to which political party the President belongs!

Senator Roberts also voted 88% of the time exactly how our President wanted him to vote. Let us send this rubber-stamp home!

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/r000307/

12. Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR), there are some good things to say about everyone, including Senator Smith, but generally, this man is a rubber-stamp for our President who does not stand up for his constituents or for our Constitution. Senator Smith has voted in lock-step with our President 73% of the time -- which might seem like less when you look at the lock-step voting records of other Senators, until you remember that 73% of the time simply means that he helped our President abuse our Constitution, pillage our environment, open up our treasury to special interests, nation-build incompetently in Iraq, and change our laws so that the middle and working class have little or no protection, while strengthening the protections afforded to the wealthy and big business (aka the re-writing of bankruptcy laws) at least 73% of his time in office!

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/s001142/

13. Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) -- the FBI could do this one for us, too-- and this man really should go home for that "tubes" comment and that bridge to nowhere. Senator Stevens' son is already under investigation and it looks like that apple did not fall very far from the tree. Senator Stevens also voted 81.2% of the time with the policies of our Executive Branch which have helped get our Country so horribly off the right track.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/s000888/

UPDATE: The Justice Department has indicted Senator Stevens.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25916299

Senator Stevens also faces a close primary fight which he may not win.

14. Senator John Sununu (R-NH), who likes to claim he is a moderate, but whose voting record makes a fib of that claim. Senator Sununu has voted exactly like our President wanted him to vote 84.3% of the time. There is nothing moderate about voting the radical agenda of our current President and Vice President.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/s001078/

15. and, finally, and MOST IMPORTANTLY (at least to me, b/c I can remember this man as the Mayor of Tulsa)--

Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) you may remember this man from such great hits as Global warming "is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people" and his references to Adolf Hitler despite Godwin's law.

Link

Senator Inhofe -- since he was our Mayor, and oh! weren't we so "happy" to have such a man, in bed with every interest possible, with the brain the was apparently about the size of a pea! Isn't it time to send this man HOME???!!!???!

Senator Inhofe also voted with our President's policies 85.8% of the time.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/i000024/

Quite a list -- if we can send all of those folks home, the Democrats will have a filibuster-proof majority (of course, if a Republican is truly upset about a bill, he/she can still take to the Senate Floor and filibuster the old-fashioned way for as long as he/she can).

There are others-- but they are not up for re-election this term. There are some remarkable exceptions in the Republican delegation to the Senate that I do not want sent home -- these are Senator Lugar (R-IN) and Senator Grassley (R-IO). Senator Specter is occasionally a man truly deserving of my respect as well. Senators Hagel and Warner have also earned my respect -- but they, unfortunately, are not seeking re-election.

CORRECTION: The Honorable Joan Humphrey Lefkow is not from New York. Judge Lefkow is a U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. If you would like more information about the tragedy that befell Judge Lefkow, here is the transcript of her testimony before the Judiciary Committee of the United States Senate on May 18, 2005.

http://www.uscourts.gov/Press_Releases/lefkowsenjudcom51705.htm

I apologize for my error to all of you and to Judge Lefkow.

The Great Lone Star State of Texas

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:36:24 EDT

People are wondering whether Texas might send all thirty-four (34) of its electoral votes to Senator Obama in November -- I kid you not.

Right now, people are speculating that Texas is in the midst of a realignment from Republican to Democrat. The Burnt Orange Report analyzes this speculation here:

http://www.burntorangereport.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5862

and here is a response from the Texas Observer's Mr. Beatty:

http://www.burntorangereport.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5994

This graphic shows you that Senator Obama got very close to Senator McCain during the Texas prima-caucus, but his numbers have dropped on average.

http://www.pollster.com/08-TX-Pres-GE-MvO.php

However, as late as May 1, 2008, Rasmussen showed Senator Obama within 5 pts. of Senator McCain in TEXAS with 3% undecided and 5% voting for "other."

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/state_toplines/texas/toplines_texas_may_1_2008

The realclear politics average is Senator McCain by 14 pts.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/state_toplines/texas/toplines_texas_may_1_2008

Here is why I don't agree with that, please note that my information is anecdotal. I have family in Texas and much of that family is Republican. There is no joy about our current President and very little for Senator McCain. There is little desire to find a reason to dislike Senator Obama, either, even though the Republican Party is pushing this HARD. Indeed, I have heard (often) that Senator Obama will win and that is "time to give someone else a chance" since the GOP has not managed well. From this, I cannot help but believe that Senator Obama has a good chance at winning Texas.

Check these out too:

http://fox59.trb.com/features/texas-politics--030208-texas-politics-democrats,0,7293294.story

http://www.bluebloggin.com/2008/06/07/by-the-numbers-2008-texas-democratic-convention/

I could be wrong, but it seems to me, so long as people get everyone registered and motivated this is doable. Go down to the border, go into the cities, go into the retirement homes and Sun Cities. I think the votes are there. Texas Republicans may not want to see our President impeached, but most know he has been a disaster (even if they believe he is an unintentional one). Few people seem comfortable, really comfortable, with the choice of Senator McCain.

Texans are already fired up and ready to go (from birth I think) so this should be a relatively easy job for them!

A note on the real horse race--

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:32:14 EDT

One would think that we get enough of the horse race from the MSM -- since that is one of their favorite things to discuss endlessly, rather than discussing anything which might run down their ratings, the things that are less sensational -- you know, the actual news, and issues.

But, I thought I'd fact check them a little. I've heard that Senator Obama has certain solid states, as does Senator McCain. I've heard that there are states that lean and states that are all tossed-up. I disagree with much of what I've heard that is still passing as "conventional wisdom," even though "conventional wisdom" has proven to be an extremely poor barometer this year . Of course, right now these polls have very little relevance to the actual election in November, but I thought I would share what I found.

Right now, both Gallup and Rassmussun show Senator Obama with an overall lead of +6.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/107764/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Takes-Lead-Over-McCain-48-42.aspx

and

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Now, here is where it gets very interesting--

I will just look at three supposedly solid states for Senator McCain from the Cook Political Report:

http://www.cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2008%20elec_vote_apr24final.pdf

The three states I will look at here are Kansas (6 electoral votes), Texas (34 electoral votes) and South Carolina (8 electoral votes). I just picked these states at random. I think I could use almost any state that is supposedly solid for Senator McCain.

This is the 1st part of this blog (I will do the next two states separately).

First, in Kansas, the 34th State to join our Union in 1861, Senator McCain currently enjoys a 21 pt. advantage over Senator Obama according to Rasmussen, but only 10 pts according to SurveyUSA. Rasmussen's poll seems pretty solid, but right now Kansans think the gas tax is a good idea-- and I went to college in Kansas, Kansans have good common sense. Once they understand what a pander the gas tax holidy is, (of course, they need to HEAR why first-- none of this works if an entire state doesn't hear the Democratic argument) any trust they have in Senator McCain should decrease.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/kansas/election_2008_kansas_presidential_election

Also in this poll, are Governor Sebelius' numbers and she currently has an approval rating of 56%. She is a very good surrogate for Senator Obama in the Sunflower state.

Now, when you look at the side of this poll (linked above), you see that Senator Obama's highly favorable ratings are 22%, while Senator McCain's are only 15%. Senator Obama also does better in slightly unfavorable than does Senator McCain. The problem is the unfavorable numbers, but Senator Obama's are only at 38% (and this is probably the result of easily disprovable disinformation).

Survey USA poll of Kansas finished 5/17 and showed Senator McCain only leading by 10 points, which is not solid, unless Senator Obama has little money (which I doubt will be a problem for Senator Obama).

And if you really what to know what is going on in Kansas this year, you should read at least some of this:

http://www.swingstateproject.com/states/kansas/

I know that one poll seems to suggest that Kansas is solidly behind Senator McCain, but everything else does not support that decision. The punditry and the Charlie Cooks of this world (good as Mr. Cook really is) simply have forgotten that they don't know anything this year. So long as Senator Obama and the Democratic Party don't abandon Kansas, Kansas could surprise everyone and leave many saying that "there is absolutely nothing wrong with Kansas anymore," and let Karl Rove write the book saying there is something wrong with Kansas.

A Battle of Ideas . . . .

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:23:42 EDT

"Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: (1) Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher class. (2) Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depository of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist; and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves."

Thomas Jefferson, letter to Henry Lee (Continental Congress member from Virginia) dated August 10, 1824.

So, it was then and so it is now. It has been my opinion that our Government functions best when these two interests are in balance. One pulling for vested properties interests, the institutions and the traditions and the other pulling for the people, and their long term general welfare, and protection from abuse and exploitation. For years now, however, in my humble opinion, our Country has been decidedly out of balance. So-called conservative Republicans attack, belittle and ridicule our founding documents, institutions and traditions. They use, as Senator Obama said just last night, "patriotism as a bludgeon." In the meantime, many so-called progressive Democrats are deeply in debt to the very entities whose interest in high short-term profits run directly counter to the long-term general welfare of this Country. Who loses in this scenario? Everybody.

Who would have thought that so-called conservative Republicans would gleefully wage an attack on the very medals we as a nation award our soldiers for bravery on the battlefield? Not me! But, then it happened and Senator John Kerry's military valor was turned into a mockery for the political gain of a so-called conservative candidate. That is one serious attack and diminishment of a very important institution (our military) and its traditions (the awarding of medals of valor).

Who would have thought that so-called progressive Democrats would vote for a bankruptcy bill that took away the fundamental right to start again? A right so fundamental that many of our Founding Fathers believed it to be sacrocanct. Not me! Yet, this happened. Under the new rules, bankruptcy and re-organization are still available to those who already exist in the top 10%; the serious restrictions only apply to everybody else (those who arguably need this protection more than anyone else).

Who would have thought that both parties would for so many years refuse to reform our nonsensical healthcare system which costs more per capita than any other modern healthcare system in the world. Who would have thought that simply throwing out the term "socialism" could defeat reforms that are absolutely necessary both for the so-called conservative party (how do you compete in a global marketplace with a sick, absentee work force who has no ability to afford preventative healthcare?) and the so-called progressives (this is necessary for the long-term general welfare of all). And yet, here we are and the healthcare system is ridiculous, but insurance companies and HMO's are making higher profits than at any time before in history. There seems to be no such thing anymore as a "safe investment," that yields little, but consistently year after year in the insurance industry -- and not so many years ago, in my lifetime, this was exactly what the insurance industry was, a "safe investment."

How can we have a battle for ideas when the so-called Conservative party (the Republicans) seems bankrupt of any idea other than lowering taxes? Do the words we use to define each party mean anything when the Republican President uses signing statements to blot out whole sections of laws duly passed by Congress? Or Republican Congressional members happily stand up to be counted as yielding their Constitutional right to oversight to an executive branch veering dangerously close to monarchy? At the same time, many in the so-called Progressive party (the Democrats) shy away from substantive fights over FCC ownership regulations and banking deregulation (the repeal of Glass-Steagall in 1999). Meanwhile, few Americans seem upset over wireless wiretapping of American citizens (what nonsense claiming the call comes in from overseas!) or the President's williness to turn some of our men and women into torturers in violation of duly signed and executed treaties and the basic fundamental human rights of men and women.

It is more than time to change this nonsense. It is more than time to unify the best of both of these parties in one person who seeks to change the basic agenda of Washington. It is more than time to elect Barack Obama and like minded people to our governmental offices.

Senator Obama has great respect and love for our founding documents and our institutions. He seeks to work for the general long-term welfare of all of us and not the short-term profit of a few select interests. In my mind, he uniquely embodies the best traits of both of the parties referred to by Thomas Jefferson. Senator Obama's positions definitely tilt to the left, but as far as I can tell very little progress has been made in this Country in decades. When no progress is made, the steam is caught and can explode. It is time to let some steam out of the tea-kettle and shore up and expand the American dream so that everyone can still dream of the day when their descendants can decide rationally which political philosophy best fits their personas -- the day when their descendants can, in otherwords, spend their time engaged with art, philosophy, or even golf, instead of back-breaking work.

These are of course, simply by own humble thoughts and opinions.

Southpaw Presidents

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:51:09 EDT

Someone wrote a comment on the HQ blog about past left-handed Presidents. As a southpaw myself, I was intrigued. I was previously unaware of this slice of Presidential history.

I already knew that Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), our first Secretary of the Treasury, and Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) were both left-handed, but was unaware that we have also had SIX and possibly SEVEN Southpaw Presidents.

Here are the six: 33rd President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), 41st President George H.W. Bush (b. 1924), 38th President Gerald Ford (1913-2006), 42nd President Bill Clinton (b. 1946), 20th President James Garfield (1831-1881), who was also ambidexterous and 31st President Herbert Hoover (1874-1964).

Also, our 40th President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) was probably born left-handed, but switched to his right-hand by presumptious, irritating busybodies. I say this as a thoroughly left-handed person who has had my share of interfering busybodies trying to change my hand preference -- but never my parents, thank goodness.

And interestingly enough, H. Ross Perot (b 1930) is also a southpaw. So, when then Governor Bill Clinton ran against President George H.W. Bush and Mr. Perot, all of our candidate choices were left-handed.

ALSO, Senator John McCain is a southpaw, although Senator Clinton is not.

Of course, Senator Barack Obama -- the presumptive Democratic nominee -- is also a southpaw.

Some other genius southpaws -- Albert Einstein, Linus Pauling and Michelangelo.

From the lost voice of the late, great Molly Ivins

Kim, part of the Greatest lobbying force Washington has ever seen — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:52:23 EDT

I am not very familiar with this. But I wanted to get this out there. I wish I had found it before the Texas primary.

I found a great article from 2006 by the late, great, warm-hearted, extremely funny Molly Ivins.

Here is the link:

http://www.commonsdreams.org/views06/0120-30.htm

Although Molly Ivins doesn't mention Senator Obama's candidacy, the article reads like she has him in mind. Here is an excerpt:

"Enough. Enough triangulation, calculation and equivocation. Enough clever straddling, enough not offending anyone. This is not a Dick Morris election. . . .

Bush, Cheney and Co. will continue to play the patriotic bully card just as long as you let them. I've said it before: War brings out the patriotic bullies. In World War I, they went around kicking dachshunds on the grounds that dachshunds were "German dogs." They did not, however, go around kicking German shepherds. The MINUTE someone impugns your patriotism for opposing this war, turn on them like a snarling dog and explain what loving your country really means. That, or you could just piss on them elegantly, as Rep. John Murtha did. Or eviscerate them with wit (look up Mark Twain on the war in the Philippines). Or point out the latest in the endless "string of bad news."

Do not sit there cowering and pretending the only way to win is as Republican-lite. If the Washington-based party can't get up and fight, we'll find someone who can. "

I hope I have done this properly and those of you who understand how this works better than I do can help Molly Ivin's words go viral.