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.
Afghanistan 'rape' law puts women's rights front and center
Obama called the law abhorrent. Would Bush have? Obama appears to be trying to change things in Afghanistan? Was Bush, really?
If you're a feminist, you can't sanction the cultural relativism that says that "it's part of their tradition, so who are we to say that it's wrong."
Misogyny was part of many societies’ history, including most religions and regions. Women only started to gain rights in the USA 100 years ago. Until then, and for many, even now, their disenfranchisement was traditional and believed to be dictated by their god. If that change was good, and helping women worldwide is required of a nation with the global power/influence of the USA, then the academic posturing of cultural relativism is deservedly dead.
Henry M
http://ssd.eff.org
The Electronic Frontier Foundation's Surveillance Self-Defense site. You owe it to yourself, your friends, and your family to check it out.
Henry Mu
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More than a hundred DVD's featuring Barack Obama are on sale at Amazon.com
Hundreds of other DVD's and Blu-Ray discs are also on sale.
Added blog. to make sure it was sent to the new Mpls., MN groups.
In spite of the activity rating here my wife and I have been working hard for Obama. We usually get to the Hayes, VA office around 9:30 each night and help tally the walk and call sheets then take them home and key in the results for a number of hours. The drive is a half hour each way. It is fun to spend a little time with the office people and they often enjoy a few minutes with our little black Pomeranian, Pogo. That is one dedicated crew!
The pace has got to us, especially me. I have a terrible cold and have to take a few nights off. I can't help but feel a bit optimistic at this point, even though I am all too well aware anything can happen.
Keep fighting out there! We can and we will!
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.
Obama ~ Leadership for the 21st Century, written by best-selling author Victoria C. DePaul, is now available for a limited time as an Ebook download at no charge. This book will be available as a pdf download or readers can view it online via Scribd. The book is available at www.ebookobama.com .
Note: The book will be available in hard copy in 2009. The author is still looking for quotes from citizens for inclusion in this project. If you have a statement that you would like to be added to this work please enter your thoughts in the Comments section found on the Contact Us Page at www.ebookobama.com.
Hello my name is Afordlove and you can do some phone banking without even looking at a list all you have to do is began to call # 1866-258-4600 and then follow direction, but do not put in your phone press # key then click in your ID #-839834 Then your Pin #-2008 and listen to voice message but do not hang up your phone will do it for you and then start calling number for you.
Then you will began to talk to clients on phone where you can ask quest about Novermber 4 election and click in your phone response Codes
*1 Already Voted *81 Yes
*2 No Ones There *82 No
*3 Not Home / Call Back *83 Undecided
*4 Answer Machine *84 Refused to State
*5 Wrong Number
*6 Don't Call Back
*7 Didn't Speak English Any Question E-Mail Afordlove@aol.com
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).
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.
Cute but sharp new video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03fcGelz8Hw
Check it out and pass it on!
If you appreciaterd this message, then please have a look at the rest of my blog, http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/henrymu and support and contribute to the campaign (it’s not over until the polls close): http://tinyurl.com/henrym4obamafundraising
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/24/9502/4588/41/638645
Humor site Cracked.com has a list devoted to the historical origins of negative ads in presidential campaigns of yore. They're all interesting, but the one that has been the most reliable through the ages is #3 on the list -- the attack on "elitism.""Whenever a presidential candidate speaks well or seems particularly clean, the immediate strategy of that candidate's opponent is to trash them as elitist, someone who thinks he's better than the hardworking, God-fearing general public.""In 1840, this was taken to an awesome, hilarious extreme. The nominee for the Whig party, the old-as-shit William Henry Harrison, gave himself the label of the ‘Log Cabin and Hard Cider candidate.’ Basically Joe Six Pack. The plan of course was to make the opposing Democrats and Martin Van Buren look like a bunch of elitist aristocrats." The truth was that Harrison was from a wealthy and politically connected family. Rather than being born in a log cabin, he was born on a plantation and lived in a mansion. None of that stopped him from claiming to be the champion of the common man.Harrison was also a war hero. He was the "Tippecanoe" in the "...and Tyler too" slogan. Tippecanoe was a battle that Harrison led against the Shawnee where, despite having a large advantage in forces, his troops still took more casualties. But he later invaded Canada, and everyone thought that was pretty cool.So we have a wealthy aging war hero who runs as the hard-drinkin' friend of the little folk. And it worked. Harrison won in a blow out.There was just one little problem for team Whig: the "aging" part. Harrison was the oldest president elected pre-Ronald Reagan, and just weeks after settling into the White House, Harrison died. That left "Tyler too" in charge of the place."John Tyler (described as a ‘poor, miserable, despised imbecile’ and given the nickname ‘His Accidency’) took over the White House. Tyler was one of the most hated presidents of all time and was nearly impeached. Why did we bring that up? No reason at all. Really."And what was going on in the US at the time? That would be a collapse of the financial system due to a speculative bubble. It's unknown how Tyler felt about moose.
Humor site Cracked.com has a list devoted to the historical origins of negative ads in presidential campaigns of yore. They're all interesting, but the one that has been the most reliable through the ages is #3 on the list -- the attack on "elitism."
"Whenever a presidential candidate speaks well or seems particularly clean, the immediate strategy of that candidate's opponent is to trash them as elitist, someone who thinks he's better than the hardworking, God-fearing general public."
The truth was that Harrison was from a wealthy and politically connected family. Rather than being born in a log cabin, he was born on a plantation and lived in a mansion. None of that stopped him from claiming to be the champion of the common man.
Harrison was also a war hero. He was the "Tippecanoe" in the "...and Tyler too" slogan. Tippecanoe was a battle that Harrison led against the Shawnee where, despite having a large advantage in forces, his troops still took more casualties. But he later invaded Canada, and everyone thought that was pretty cool.
So we have a wealthy aging war hero who runs as the hard-drinkin' friend of the little folk. And it worked. Harrison won in a blow out.
There was just one little problem for team Whig: the "aging" part. Harrison was the oldest president elected pre-Ronald Reagan, and just weeks after settling into the White House, Harrison died. That left "Tyler too" in charge of the place.
"John Tyler (described as a ‘poor, miserable, despised imbecile’ and given the nickname ‘His Accidency’) took over the White House. Tyler was one of the most hated presidents of all time and was nearly impeached. Why did we bring that up? No reason at all. Really."
And what was going on in the US at the time? That would be a collapse of the financial system due to a speculative bubble. It's unknown how Tyler felt about moose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRRDzFROMx0
"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."
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!
