I have always viewed politics and politicians with a skeptical eye. Do not misunderstand, I have always been interested in the American political process but had never been so interested that participation in the process encouraged anything more in me than voting. I remain instinctively skeptical of anyone who spends tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars to get elected for a job paying a salary in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. There is something wrong with that math indeed. I suppose I can equate my skepticism to my feelings toward something like…multi-level marketing where someone may spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars and is guaranteed to earn absolutely nothing except: sequestered family members and friends in hiding to avoid hearing yet another sales pitch about a fantastic “business opportunity”...
Finish this Blog Post at http://wiseguyeddie.blogspot.com/
It is my opinion that looking forward requires us to investigate the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" and warrantless suveillance in the Patriot Act. If these are truly violations of the Constitution, domestic laws, and/or international laws, we NEED to prosecute.
If we let transgressions of this type slide under times of emotional response, we risk a repeat of this type of violations. The reason the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and laws forbid torture and warrantless searches (as well as all the others) is precisely so we CAN'T overreact out of fear or anger. To do nothing is to set a precedent that there are circumstances where it is okay not discard the Constitution and ignore the laws.
We are either a nation of laws or we are not. By 'looking forward' while ignoring possible abuses and violations means we are not. It also undermines our ability to hold other countries and entities to this standard. We MUST abide by the standards and principles we espouse. If we don't our country is a lie.
Governor Rendell of PA is proposing a law limiting the number of guns an individual may purchase to 1 a month. Personally, I don't see why someone needs to buy this many. But, I disagree with the proposed law. We have laws that prohibit individuals from purchasing handguns in one state and selling them in another unless they are licensed gun dealers. In my opinion any non-licensed dealer buying more than 12 guns in a year is acting suspiciously and probable cause is sufficient for a warrant to surveil that individual. If they are selling them on the street illegally, bust them and send them to prison for a long time. If they have a legitimate reason, end of story. In fact, I would prefer using multiple gun purchases as a trigger for investigation. I am a hunter and member of the NRA and am in favor of throwing the book at those that knowingly and willingly arm criminals or misuse firearms. Anyone that respects the right and responsibility of gun ownership and use should support strong consequences for those that callously disregard these responsibilities.
Limiting the number of guns an individual can legally purchase will not solve the problem the Governor is addressing. These people need to be caught, prosecuted, and removed from society.
I am tired of this misinformation campaign on our current healthcare system. In 1991 during an examination for hemorrhoids, I was diagnosed with polyps. The doctor I was allowed to see by my insurance carrier at the time cauterized the hemorrhoids during the polypectomy procedure, painlessly and cheaply (less than $500).
In 1995 my company changed insurance carriers and I was not allowed to see this doctor anymore. I could not find one in the new system that performed this procedure, After several followups for the polyps without this treatment my hemorrhoids developed to the point of requiring surgery in 1998. Beside the pain invovled in the recovery, it took over a month out of work and cost thousands for the surgery.
Where is the choice of doctors? Where is the choice of procedures? Where is the cost savings by not allowing this problem from being treated in a preventative manner?
This is where my hope lies with Pres. Obama's reform of healthcare. Procedures like this will be promoted as part of the preventative measures they are talking about. This is another area where savings can come from. In my case for this one problem that amounts to thousands.
All the proposals and policies I have seen have the same flaw. They rely on major corporations and electric companies to produse the power and ignore the potential of individuals and commercial buildings entirely. Sorry, we can conserve. THAT is not good enough!!!!!! Did you know that there is over three times the surface area available today on residential buildings alone than the 100 mile by 100 mile mega facitility proposed for Nevada? That sight is said to be capable of meeting all our electrical needs. One of the big problems is transmission to areas of demand. That is the same problem with mega wind farms in the Dakotas. The other problem with both is that we are still at the mercy of companies with the ethical track record of Exxon, Enron, and electric utilities like National "Greed" in NY.
Installation of solar and wind technology on any residential and commercial building that wants it could more than meet our electrical requirements. AND it is generated where it is USED. There is no need for the vast majority of our electricity to be transmitted hundreds or thousands of miles. Throw in a smart grid that can bring in electricity to calm and overcast areas from all surrounding areas in ever increasing circumference and even localized shortages can be met with minimal net transmission distances.
Require the grid to by excess generation at wholesale prices and allow them to sell it to electricity intensive facilities at retail prices. This keeps the utilities profitable in the transmission business. If needed they can operate a drastically reduced number of power plants to meet rare power shortages.
Another area that gets a lot of hype, but is short sighted is plug in electric cars. This may be a short term necessity, but should not be looked at as a long term solution. Why should we be limited to the range of a batteries charge? Imagine trying to go cross country on battery power. There is an alternative. Wireless resonant induction is a technology that could be adapted to wirelessly powering vehicles on a continuous basis. This technology may be a decade or so off yet. The idea is that the transmitter coils be incorporated into the pavement at a depth of 3 to 5 cm. The power for these coils is supplied by local wind and photovoltaic generators along the roadside with back up from the smart grid. Photovoltaic in urban areas could be produced by CIGSS technology on the sound barriers with no noticeable change in aesthetics. The receiver/s should be mounted on wheeled, to prevent contact of receiver to pavement, extension arms at 1 to 5 cm above the pavement surface. The receivers and transmitters are sealed in waterproof casings similar to the technology used in modern electric toothbrushes. Currently efficiencies are on the order of 90% within 10 cm. The electricity needed to operate the vehicle is transmitted from the road coils to the receiver coils only when they are in resonance, like 2 bells of the same pitch. For heavier vehicles and loads, like tractor trailers, more receivers can be used to increase the power. Small battery systems can be used for brief interruptions to the wireless system or brief excursions out of the wireless network. The electrical energy is not transmitted unless the receiver is at the correct frequency so danger of electrocution or other negative effects is minimal.
MIT is working on this technology to power the appliances in your livingroom today. That requires transmission overdistances of upto 15 feet. This is done in rooms in which you are living and moving about. All without your sensing the electrical transmission. Another exampeare the wireless charging plates for cell phones and ipods, etc.
I just want to stress in closing the urgency of expanding our discussion of alternative energy to include decentralized generation. It is imperative in my opinion to develop this technology to most effectively meet future needs and as the most exportable technology to the developing world.
SIGN SENATOR LEAHY PETITION TO INVESTIGATE THE CRIMES AGAINST OUR COUNTRY DURING BUSHS DICTATORSHIP! FINALLY WE WILL FIND OUT THE TRUTH OF WHAT BUSH DID TO THIS COUNTRY DURING HIS OCCUPATION! GOAL IS 100,000 SIGNITURES THIS WEEK! PASS PETITION ON TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY! THANK YOU !
http://ga3.org/campaign/btcpetition
PEACE ON EARTH & WHAT YOU DO TO THE EARTH YOU DO TO YOURSELF!
IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT OBAMA CHOSE BIGOT RICK WARREN FROM THE SADDLE BACK CHURCH TO GIVE A "PRAYER" AT THE INAUGURATION!!!
FIRST OFF; ANYONE REMEMBER WHEN WARREN GAVE MCCAIN THE QUESTIONS BEFORE THE DEBATE AND OBAMA WAS NOT PRIVY THE THE QUESTIONS ?
SECOND; IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO HAVE "PRAYERS" AT A GOVERNMENT EVENT!!! STOP THE RELIGIOUSLY PREOCCUPIED INSANITY!!!
THIRD; WARREN IS A BIGOT PIG !! HE QUOTES THE BIBLE ON GAYS ISSUES LIKE THE BIBLE IS CREDIBLE, IF THE BIBLE IS CREDIBLE I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD A SNAKE TALK??? I REST MY CASE !!!
I HAVE A QUESTION...... WHO WROTE THE BIBLE???
After some digging, I was able to find the name of the benediction speaker. The impetous to look came from a post on change .gov. PE Obama, kudos. It is a brilliant use of sybolism. Let me explain my thinking.
Open the Inaugural proceedings with a symbol of the old divisive politics of Reagan and Bush. This signifies the past. Then close the proceedings with a speaker that represents inclusion, unity, and human rights on all levels. This signifies the start of a new era. In between, is the actual exchange of power from the old to the new. Masterful.
The benediction is being given by Joseph Lowery.
I wrote my first response without checking all the fact and reacting emotionally. That is a mistake this new adminstration does not make. It is our best hope for the future and why I supported Barack in the first place. I don't agree with all his stated positions or disagree with all Warren' stated positions (just most). But, I am confident that Barack's are well thoughtout based on the available information. And more importantly are open to review and revision when warranted.
Everyone is SOOOO upset about Blagojevich. Why? Because he is stupid enough to talk about it while being LEGALLY wiretapped? The economic conservatives should be applauding him if they are true to their beliefs. After all, he was holding a public auction for the position of Senator. It was even fairly well advertised in the niche market.
Shouldn't we be more upset about the corruption of the Bush/Cheney mafia? Theirs was a no bid corruption. It wasn't open to free market bidding like Blago. The only consideration they made was if you were their friend or not. All the plotting went on behind closed doors and we weren't even allowed to know who showed up. And if you were suspected of getting antsy, Dick would take you BIRD hunting. Sounds alittle like going out for canollis to me.
Blago should be presecuted to the full extent of the law. If found guilty, the punishment should be sever. But, I think his transgressions pale in comparison to the level of corruption perptrated by the Bush administration. Yet NOONE will have the GUTS to do anything about it. All the players in a position to prosecute are too COWARDLY to actually pursue it.
Rick Warren giving the invocation is as appropriate as Louis Farrakhan or David Duke. All three are bigots and hate mongors. I understand that some people need to feel that there is some reason for their existence, happiness, and suffering other than that they are. But, do we need to elevate a closed, narrow minded manipulator to such national attention? Couldn't we find someone that stands for acceptance of humans because they are human? Someone that tries to lift the spirits of all? Warren tries to lift the spirits of his followers by attacking others. He openly fights to oppress members of groups that he doesn't personally agree with. He is another example of an individual that holds to his beliefs and F@!TH inspite of reality and facts. Didn't we have enough of that kind of stupidity with 8 years of Bush/Cheney?
I for one would like to see this invitation withdrawn and a clear message sent that we will not promote this type of devisive bigotry. The actual delivery of the invocation means nothing to me personally. I don't know if there is a god or not and I don't care. But, since it is important to many I have no problem with the inclusion of this ritual. My only wish is that it would be done by a true spiritual and moral leader that doesn't preach, but promotes open dialog about common morals and ethics. We don't need to hear from someone that PREACHES intolerance and bigotry. Just my opinion.
One of the first acts of the new Attorney General should be to start an investigation of the Bush administration for war crimes, violation of international law, and failure to keep their oaths to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. These are grave violations and should not be allowed to go unanswered. We, the people, need to show ourselves and the world that we stand behind the principals on which this country was founded. That even after a heinous attack and an emotional reaction, we still value those principals and are willing - no obligated- to correct our mistakes.
The war crimes charges are easy to prove against Cheney. He went on national television and admitted to authorizing and aiding in the implementation of waterboarding. After world war 2, US led tribunals executed Japanese officers for using this technique on allied forces. If that isn't enough justification to indict Cheney, what is?
Bush, Gonzalez, and others blatantly disregarded the Contitution they swore to uphold and defend by illegally wiretapping americans. Bush repeatedly overstep the powers of the president. He fabricated information to declare war on another country for his own, personal reasons and caused the death and injury of tens of thousands people, both Americans and Iraqis. I could see Bush getting an insanity verdict, since he has no grasp of reality and lives alone with Laura in a world of his own making.
This would restore our reputation with the rest of the world and allow us to lead by example again. It would make it harder for terrorist organizations to find new recruits when the people of the world see that we can and will hold ourselves accountable and punish those that initiated and conducted the crimes in our name. We need to show the world that our system works and that we hold our leaders to the same standards we tell them to hold theirs to.
Copyright © 1990 Westcott/ApidacaAll Rights Reserved
William B. Newell, a Penobscot Indian and former chairman of the Anthropology department at the University of Connecticut, says that the first official Thanksgiving Day celebrated the massacre of 700 Indian men, women and children during one of their religious ceremonies. "Thanksgiving Day" was first proclaimed by the Governor of the then Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1637 to commemorate the massacre of 700 men, women and children who were celebrating their annual Green Corn Dance...Thanksgiving Day to the, "in their own house", Newell stated. "Gathered in this place of meeting, they were attacked by mercenaries and English and Dutch. The Indians were ordered from the building and as they came forth were shot down, The rest were burned alive in the building-----The very next day the governor declared a Thanksgiving Day.....For the next 100 years, every Thanksgiving Day ordained by a Governor was in honor of the bloody victory, thinking God that the battle had been won." In June 1637 John Underhill slaughtered a pequot village in just the manner described above. Narranganset Indians were used as the mercenaries. Governor John Endicott of the Massachusetts Bay Colony proclaimed the pequot war. A pequot chief of sachem named sassacus warred against the Dutch in 1633 over the death of his father. The pequot made no distinction between the Dutch and the English. The Underhill massacre was witnessed and documented by William Branford and an engraving was made illustration the massacre. The Jamestown Colony may be the source for the tradition of Indians under the leadership of Powhaton joining with early settlers for a dinner and helping those settlers through the winter. There were no pilgrims of puritans at Jamestown, however. The present Thanksgiving may therefore be a mixture of the tradition of the Jamestown dinner and the commemoration of the Pequot massacre. The celebration of Thanksgiving as an official holiday possibly roots in the Pequot massacre, while the imagery is of Jamestown with pilgrims, images misused.
"Gathered in this place of meeting, they were attacked by mercenaries and English and Dutch. The Indians were ordered from the building and as they came forth were shot down, The rest were burned alive in the building-----The very next day the governor declared a Thanksgiving Day.....For the next 100 years, every Thanksgiving Day ordained by a Governor was in honor of the bloody victory, thinking God that the battle had been won."
In June 1637 John Underhill slaughtered a pequot village in just the manner described above. Narranganset Indians were used as the mercenaries. Governor John Endicott of the Massachusetts Bay Colony proclaimed the pequot war. A pequot chief of sachem named sassacus warred against the Dutch in 1633 over the death of his father. The pequot made no distinction between the Dutch and the English. The Underhill massacre was witnessed and documented by William Branford and an engraving was made illustration the massacre.
The Jamestown Colony may be the source for the tradition of Indians under the leadership of Powhaton joining with early settlers for a dinner and helping those settlers through the winter. There were no pilgrims of puritans at Jamestown, however. The present Thanksgiving may therefore be a mixture of the tradition of the Jamestown dinner and the commemoration of the Pequot massacre.
The celebration of Thanksgiving as an official holiday possibly roots in the Pequot massacre, while the imagery is of Jamestown with pilgrims, images misused.
If you can catch this on your TV, it's absolutely frightening. Just listen to the children being indoctrinated into creationism because "it's what the Bible says". There is one young man who wants to win the Nobel prize working in a creationist lab in biology. It boggles the mind!
We must ensure that children are taught real science in our schools. I believe PE Obama, even though he's a professed Christian, will observe the letter of the U.S. Constitution and separate church and state.
If he can't or won't, there will be dire consequences.
HANG IN THERE WE ARE COMING FOR YOU!!! PEACE KIMI
HIS SPEECH AND HE MENTIONED PREDSIDENT ELECT OBAMA THE CROWD BOO'D. THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF BEHAVIOR THAT WE AS CITIZENS OF THE USA WILL NOT TOLERATE ANYMORE. MCCAIN SUPPORTERS INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS AND BEHAVIOR THROUGHOUT HIS CAMPAIGN COST HIM THE ELECTION. REPUBS NEED TO RE-TOOL THEIR PLATFORM TO INCLUDE ALL PEOPLE, TOLERATE AND RESPECT DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW. WE ARE A NATION OF MANY DIFFERENT BELIEFS AND FACES, WE NEED TO UNITE AND NOT DIVIDE OUR NATION.
IF YOU LOOK AT JOHN KERRY'S SPEECH ON ELECTION NIGHT HIS SUPPORTERS WERE RESPECTFUL OF BUSHS WIN !
TRY IT SOMETIME!!!
I THINK SOME WHAT. WE STILL NEED TO WORK ON HELPING OUR FELLOW GAY CITIZENS OBTAIN THEIR CONSTITUTIOAL RIGHTS......... WE ARE SO CLOSE ........ I CAN FEEL IT !!!
PEACE KIMI
