Mandie's Blog

Senator Hobbs' Story: Serving Our Veterans

Mandie from Kirkland, WA — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:06:45 EDT

Senator Steven Hobbs, State Senator from the 44th Legislative District (West Lake Stevens) joined the army in 1987 and served until 2005. He was a member of the reserves and on active duty, including a tour in Iraq as part of an anti-terrorism unit. One of Senator Hobbs’ many duties in country was picking up ballot boxes after the first democratic primary elections. If the enemy had known what they were carrying, “there is no way we would have been allowed to make it out.”

Given his experience, Senator Hobbs believes that Barack Obama will fight for the needs of veterans and make a superior Commander in Chief. He feels that Senator Obama is not afraid to take decisive action but will do so only after all other avenues have been exhausted.

Senator Steven Hobbs was willing to give his life for his country as a soldier in Iraq and has continued to serve the American people as a State Senator in Washington. He believes that our country needs fundamental change and Barack Obama is just the President to bring it.

McCain to the Rescue

Mandie from Kirkland, WA — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:02:08 EDT

I don't buy this any more then I buy that there are no steroids in baseball. This latest stunt of postponing McCain's campaign to return to Washington so he can help bring the parties together to reach a bipartisan agreement on this economic bailout is a complete sham.

Lets follow this shall we? Last Monday, McCain is telling us that the key Fundamentals of the Economy are Strong. Now 10 days after lawmakers had been working on reaching an agreement, McCain arrives in DC to enter into the frey. However, upon his arrival in the airport, the announcement was made that a solution was nearly reached.

McCain arrived and the ultimate outcome was that the entire negotiation process came to a screeching hault following the to Washington when things were already moving forward.

It feels horribly like a serious political move that truly does nothing for the people and only works to try to save a campaign that McCain may be feeling is slipping away. Grandstanding is show McCain, getting down and speaking in committees like Obama actually did is leadership.

How Out Of Touch Can One Person Be - McCain???

Mandie from Kirkland, WA — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:52:09 EDT

What is happening to our economy? I am so fortunate to have another 40 years before I have to retire because my portfolio and my home value are plummeting. How can John McCain truly say that the fundamentals of our economy are strong when so many people are out of work, our banking system is crashing and people are losing their homes?

I know McCain restated it later as, "the American worker and their innovation...those are the fundamentals of America," so even though I believe that is just another poor attempt at backpeddling, fear gets in the way of innovation. Unemployment, low wages and questionable financial markets all create fear. Therefore, we are in deep trouble.

I know historically Democrats have been known to raise taxes. In fact that is all we have heard from the McCain/Palin ticket. They have said over and over that Barack Obama will raise taxes. Well, first I have to point out that in the eight years that Bush has been in the White House, my taxes have gone up. After reading Barack Obama's plan, it is clear my taxes will go down for a change by up to $1000 more then under McCain's plan. That sounds like something that will actually help the middle class during economic turmoil.

McCain's Top 10 Out of Touch Moments

Mandie from Kirkland, WA — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:14:57 EDT

Here, then, are John McCain’s Top 10 “Out-of-Touch” Moments:Courtesy of http://forums.contracostatimes.com/topic/mccain-is-out-of-touch-with-reality

1. Economic downturn is “psychological.” Having on multiple occasions admitted his limited understanding of the economy, Senator McCain instead turned armchair psychologist to diagnose the U.S economic slowdown. In April, McCain told Fox News’ Neil Cavuto that “a lot of our problems today, as you know, are psychological.” Apparently, four months of job losses, oil at $120 a barrel, record gas prices at the pump, 47 million uninsured and a devastating home foreclosure crisis are merely figments of Americans’ imaginations.

Now I know the Value of Listening to Both Sides...

Mandie from Kirkland, WA — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:28:13 EDT

So I listened to McCain's acceptance speech tonight and one thing really caught me. I'll just include two quotes.

Barack Obama's acceptance speech -

"As president, as president, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. " http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28text-obama.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1

John McCain's acceptance speech -

"Senator Obama thinks we can achieve energy independence without more

drilling and without more nuclear power. But Americans know better

than that."

Come on McCain. Without more nuclear power? Obama specifically included nuclear power. The part you left out in your plan was the "safely harness nuclear power..."

Palin and $197 million in earmarks this year

Mandie from Kirkland, WA — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:54:43 EDT

On Friday August 29th we were introduced to Sarah Palin. I was impressed at the thought that there was someone that would potentially go against their party and really go fight corruption and other practices that had become such a mainstay in their party.

"[A]s governor I stood up to the old politics as usual, to the special interests, to the lobbyists...When oil and gas prices went up so dramatically, and the state revenues followed with that increase, I sent a large share of that revenue directly back to the people of Alaska...And I’ve championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. In fact, I told Congress, thanks but no thanks on that bridge to nowhere. " http://www.clipsandcomment.com/2008/08/29/transcript-sarah-palin-speech-in-dayton-ohio/

I feel so dumb that I keep finding myself getting caught hearing something and believing it. Here's what I found.

In 2000, as the mayor of Wasilla, the city hired Steven Silver, a lobbyist in Washington D.C. (Seattle Times, 09/03/08; pg A5] Also, " Just this year, [Palin] sent to Sen. Ted Stevens, a proposal for 31 earmarks totaling $197 million - more , per person, than any other state." [Seattle Times, Wed. September 3, 2008; pg A5]

The Military Surge

Mandie from Kirkland, WA — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:00:36 EDT

I was watching Glenn Beck on CNN Headline News today and once again the whole troop surge issue came up again regarding Obama's judgement. I have heard so many times that Obama's judgement is wrong because he disagreed with the troop surge in Iraq. Many are also saying the surge has worked so Obama is wrong.

Here's the question? Has the war worked? Should we have entered it in the first place? Obama's judgement to not enter the war in the first place would have made the troop surge moot. It just drives me crazy that those who disagree with Obama are trying to discredit him by ignoring the huge judgement he made originally on not entering the war in Iraq to begin with.

McCain's Adultery - Hypocrisy???

Mandie from Kirkland, WA — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:49:02 EDT

OK - I guess I just don't get it. Bill Clinton came under fire terribly for committing adultery. He was a terrible person, a terrible leader etc... He lied about it, and he was impeached. He made an effort with his wife and all I know is he and Hillary Clinton are still together today.

Fast forward eight years. "Recall: John McCain returned to the United States from Vietnam in March 1973. His wife, Carol, had been in a near-fatal car accident while he was gone. She was overweight, on crutches, and 4 inches shorter than when McCain had left." http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/trailhead/archive/2008/08/08/speaking-of-infidelity.aspx

"I spent as much time with Cindy in Washington and Arizona as our jobs would allow," McCain wrote. "I was separated from Carol, but our divorce would not become final until February of 1980."

An examination of court documents tells a different story. McCain did not sue his wife for divorce until Feb. 19, 1980, and he wrote in his court petition that he and his wife had "cohabited" until Jan. 7 of that year -- or for the first nine months of his relationship with Hensley.

Although McCain suggested in his autobiography that months passed between his divorce and remarriage, the divorce was granted April 2, 1980, and he wed Hensley in a private ceremony five weeks later. McCain obtained an Arizona marriage license on March 6, 1980, while still legally married to his first wife. http://www.jedreport.com/2008/08/john-mccains-ch.html

John McCain is an adulterer and a lier, just like Bill Clinton. Why is it OK now with McCain and it was so wrong eight years ago with Clinton? And McCain never even gave his family a chance to stay together...

All American's are Insured under the "ER" Plan...

Mandie from Kirkland, WA — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:59:01 EDT

Well, I have been shocked once again. This whole political world continues to amaze me. I was talking about different view points today and heard about an editorial that talked about both Bush and McCain saying that all Americans had healthcare because anyone can go to an emergency room.

To be fair I decided to do a little research and this is what I found. According to John McCain's Healthcare Architect, John Goodman, "anyone with access to an emergency room effectively has insurance, albeit the government acts as the payer of last resort." (Hospital emergency rooms by law cannot turn away a patient in need of immediate care.)“So I have a solution. And it will cost not one thin dime,” Mr. Goodman said. “The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to cease and desist from describing any American – even illegal aliens – as uninsured. Instead, the bureau should categorize people according to the likely source of payment should they need care. “So, there you have it. Voila! Problem solved.” http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/28/mccain-health-care-emergency-room/

Sarah Palin's VP selection on the GOP Ticket

Mandie from Kirkland, WA — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 03:36:25 EDT

I think it is wonderful that a woman has been provided an opportunity to be elected the Vice President of the United States of America. I do worry that there are two ethics investigations of her related to an abuse of power trying to remove people she didn't like, from office. Who knows what the findings will be, but I think we are supposed to know by October 31st.

Most importantly to me though, I am concerned about how Palin's children may be being used in all of this. This is truly my opinion only. I just worry that since the base of votes McCain is reaching towards has right to life so high on their agenda, this family situation provides a strong picture of a pro-life family who appears to have a high probablity of succeeding. It just doesn't seem right that the challenges of a 17 year old girl and a 4 month old child with down syndrome should be turned into political pawns to try and make a strong point about a particular political view. I agree with Barack when he says we need to leave families out of our campaigns. They are not a part of it. And shame on anyone who might have picked a running mate because her family challenges could appeal to the right constiuents that he alone could not appeal to. That is a great way to send your (or someone elses) children to the wolves as they say.

Saddleback Faith Forum

Mandie from Kirkland, WA — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 02:41:57 EDT

With the goal in mind of trying to see both sides of the campaign this time around, I watched John McCain's portion of the Saddleback Faith Forum which aired originally on August 16th and I just got so frustrated. I had to comment on one thing in particular. He referenced wasteful spending in Washington. "My friends, we spent $3 million of your money to study the DNA of bears in Montana. Now I don’t know if that was a paternity issue or a criminal issue…(LAUGHTER)… but the point is, it was $3 million of your money. It was your money. And, you know, we laugh about it, but we cry - and we should cry because the Congress is supposed to be careful stewards of your tax dollars." My jaw dropped when I heard this. One, talk about a simplistic way of looking at this. My hypothesis is that they could have been studying the genetic diversity of the bears to determine the health of the environment and the bear population in the area. If you understood about disease and the environment at all this is not a waste of money. It is a way to try and possibly avoid environmental disaster.

Two, $3 million dollars is nothing compared to the billions of dollars spent on a war being fought in the wrong country. Al Qaeda was responsible for the attacks on the US on September 11, 2001. Al Qaeda was not based in Iraq or connected to Saddam. Instead, Iraq has become a new hotbed for Al Qaeda and a rallying point for extremists. That does not seem like billions of dollars well spent. In addition, Afghanistan is in terrible straights and we don't have the military left to do what needs to be done to get it back in line. We have lost so many young men and women that I believe didn't need to be lost. September 11th we lost lives to the terrorists. The rest have been lost to bad decisions, bad planning and bad management. I am proud to say Barack Obama is one of the few to have remained on the right path, in disagreement with the war and what was being funded and how the troops were being treated all along.

There may be waste in Washington but it's not the $3million dollars going to study the genes of bears in Montana.