Organizing for America | Capital District NY for Obama

By John Minehan - Nov 4th, 2009 at 1:03 pm EST

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In 2009, the message from the electorate was: "Yes, we can!" In 2009, the message from the electorate was: "You haven't yet!"

Too much can be read into these results. This is my opinion of what this may mean.

Christe In New Jersey

Jon Corzine isn't stupid: he was Chairman of Goldman Sachs. He doesn't lack heart: he is a former Marine. However, he really didn't accomplish much of anything in New Jersey. Property taxes remain the highest in the nation. Economic growth is nonexistent and recovery in sluggish, making people who are trying to re-trench financially more conscious of the excessive taxes.

Corzine was distracted as governor. He was distracted by his recovery from his 2007 auto wreak (while speeding in a state vehicle) and by coverage of his relationship with public sector union lobbyist Carla Katz. He was involved in a number of failed or embarrassing policy initiatives, like the 2006 Government shutdown and the Dubai ports controversy. While he was an honest man, indictments of several corrupt New Jersey politicians during his term reminded voters of long standing issues with municipal and public sector union corruption in the state.

Christe, in contrast, was the US Attorney who obtained multiple indictments and convictions in these cases, including Newark's infamous Sharpe James. A moderate Republican, he was pushed towards a tax reform message by the Primary challenge of tax reform crusader Steve Lonegan.

Despite the amount of time the President spent in New Jersey campaigning for Corzine, I think this is less a referendum on Pres. Obama than a sign that a Chief Executive perceived as ineffective in a high tax state or locality is at risk.

This was true, not only in New Jersey, but in New York, where long-serving County Executive Andy Spano in Westchester was handily defeated by a republican newcomer. Out on Long Island, Tom Suozzi has apparently barely survived a challenge as Nassau County Executive. Orange County, after flirting with the Democrats at the local level for a few years, is back to being rock-ribbed Republican.

Since several Blue States in addition to New Jersey (such as Michigan, California and NY) are in this same situation, this may be a potential threat to the Democrats surviving as a national party What happens to a party that controls nothing? Ask the Federalists and the Whigs.

Virginia

I see this as more of a referendum on Pres. Obama.

He just has not delivered enough on economic issues to keep the extraordinary mandate he received by being the first Democrat to take Virginia since LBJ in 1964. Additionally, the Virginia Democrats just don't have a deep bench.

NY 23d

The Conservative candidate lost, but a conservative candidate won. That is the critical take-away.

Owen is a fiscally conservative former Air Force officer. He was an ideal candidate for this District, just as Scott Murphy was for the NY 20th. In contrast, the Republican County Chairs seem not to have gotten the message that this is a conservative district and that,
outside of certain catchment areas, NY is a Red State.

The big disadvantage that NY Republicans have in 2010 is their own leadership. The new state chairman, Cox, may make a real difference. Sarah Palin and the Tea Party/Patriot movement saw and exploited this before the "wise men, " not a great sign for Republicans.

What to Do

The Administration needs to pull sharp right, especially on economic issues. You just can't solve a debt crisis with more debt, although many households tried back in the "Re-fi Economy." (Which may be why average voters know that now.)

Everyone in the Administration needs to read (and understand) these:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703932904574511250528884932.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703574604574499693726128138.html

The Democrats just can't figure out it is no longer 1932. A young working man at a political meeting I attended this summer, not a guy you would pick out as politically active, got up and said, "We want freedom, not bullshit." Democrats better figure that one out fast.

Think about how to get rid of Pelosi and Reid before Christmas. They are the death knell to any hope of Democrats keeping Congress in 2010.

Call in Rep. Paul Ryan and Newt Gingrich. Ryan's health care bills are far better than anything the Democrats have offered and the Administration needs a win.

If the economy recovers, even a bit anemically, a personally popular President can still be re-elected with a wide margin, as Pres, Reagan was in 1984, despite hard times early on.

The Republicans need to push financial responsibility and limited government. The defeat of gay marriage in Maine shows that the country is socially conservative, but you have more than enough material on the economy, Constitutional overreach by the Federal government and the debt. (Which are fundamentally related issues.)

Nothing is beyond change at this point, but the Administration better start thinking hard.

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Punctilios and Prosperity

By John Minehan - Oct 16th, 2009 at 4:39 pm EDT

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Some weeks ago, I saw a young woman at a political event wearing a tee-shirt which read: "Impeach Everyone." On Tuesday (Oct.13, 2009), the Wall Street Journal published a news/analysis piece entitled Rage at Government for Doing Too Much and Too Little by Naftali Bendavid, but which would have been more accurately titled, Rage Targets "Business and Government with Equal Fury." (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125539072998381441.html)

In short, the prevailing zeitgeist seems to be one of diminishing legitimacy for many of the institutions that dominate our society.

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A New Approach for the Obama Administration

By John Minehan - Oct 1st, 2009 at 10:40 am EDT

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After the storm over health care reform in August, it is clear that the Obama Administration is no longer leading public opinion. In fact, the Administration and the Democratic Congress very clearly misread their mandate. Holman Jenkins recent column in the Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB40001424052748704471504574442772173150440.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook) very accurately describes what went wrong.

The question is: how does the Administration get back on track?

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My President Barack Obama Is A Mahatma = A Great Soul

By Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz - Sep 27th, 2009 at 7:02 pm EDT

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In my opinion - My president Barack Obama is a Mahatma. A Mahatma means A Great Soul - A liberated person who is fully devoted and consecrated to The Creator = The Super Soul = God.

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ANOTHER POLL FOR NEW YORKERS

By Suffolk.New York.Can - Sep 25th, 2009 at 1:44 pm EDT

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Please check TOPIX.COM AND WRITE COMMENTS OR ANSWER SURVEYS.

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Please Answer This Question Daily- Help The President

By Suffolk.New York.Can - Sep 25th, 2009 at 1:06 pm EDT

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Barack Obama Job ApprovalHow is Obama doing as President?
Tell YouGov what you think!
www.PollingPoint.com

If you can't find it directly from here by eith clicking on it or going to their site, please search in google. Type in Wall Street Journal Poll Registration

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Afghanistan

By John Minehan - Sep 24th, 2009 at 10:48 am EDT

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A few thoughts on Afghanistan:

---Afghanistan is a supporting attack; an operational fixing attack, not unlike the Italian Campaign in WWII.

---Commanders of supporting attacks always want more resources, just as MacArthur did in the Pacific or Mark Clark did in Italy in WWII.

---Sometimes, those commanders see genuine operational or strategic opportunity, which should be exploited. Most often they don't.

---This is an ethical issue. We are asking our fellow citizens to risk death or crippling injuries in an effort that is less important than others.

---This may be necessary. However, Monte Cassinos or Rapido Rivers are not necessary.

---MacArthur understood this. Mark Clark did not. There are, in general, more Mark Clarks than Douglas MacArthurs.

---The heart of this mission is to destroy what remains of "Big AQ" in the Pakistani Border Regions. To do this, we need to control Afghanistan as a force projection platform and as a goad for some AQ and Taliban forces to become decisively engaged. Our presence in Afghanistan is also a signal of commitment to Pakistan and the "'Stans," the neighboring former-Soviet Islamic states.

---We will need to remain engaged in Afghanistan after a military solution to AQ is achieved. In part, this is to obviate the need for any future military solutions being needed.

---You can win a war against terrorist elements. You can also drive nails with a screwdriver handle. Neither is an optimal use of that particular tool.

---The non-military side of this may take years, maybe decades. The other side is more patient. They are more used to operating effectively on a shoe-string. However, at this level, this about fair courts, roads and clean water and they are better at it than the governments we are supporting: in Somalia and Iraq, not just in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

---If they grade the roads; run the credible courts; teach the kids; and collect the taxes, they ARE the government Our guys in Pakistan seem, per news items, to be waking up to this. I hope that spreads.

---It is ALL about the "L Word" (no, not THAT one): "Legitimacy."

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SIENA POLLS FOR GOVERNOR PATERSON

By Suffolk.New York.Can - Sep 22nd, 2009 at 6:05 pm EDT

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http://www.siena.edu/pages/1154.asp

Did they ask you to participate? Who is voting for or against him? I am trying to figure that one out. He isn't doing worse than any other Governor. 20% is just not acceptable, just for respect sake. Please participate in the Polls.

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Voices Of The Community Open Research. - And I Say Amen! Tell It Like It Is My Brothers and Sisters.

By Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz - Sep 13th, 2009 at 6:50 pm EDT

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Community members send me E-mails about their opinions on 9-12-09

That Reads:

"Those extremist right wing racist republicans just cannot accept the voice of the people. Americans elected Barack Obama as president and the racist republicans need to get over it and get a life."

"(About "tea party" Protest about Obama Health Care) - I think There's a new name for what these people are protesting. It's abbreviation is "PWB" - President While Black. I've been sensing this quite a lot of so-called protests recently. You can see it particularly in red angry faces of people like Joe "You Lie" Wilson

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Health Care Reform

By John Minehan - Aug 31st, 2009 at 12:27 pm EDT

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My views on this issue are shaped by my experiences, as with most people. Particularly, they have been shaped by working as a lawyer, and before that a law clerk and low-level functionary in the health care industry, beginning in the late 1990s, which was a time of great change.

Here are some things I saw and the conclusions I draw from those things.

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HEALTH CARE REFORM: WHY THE OBAMA PROPOSAL IS LOSING

By John Minehan - Aug 20th, 2009 at 11:14 am EDT

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The other day, I heard a cogent, persuasive argument in favor of the Public Option that did not rely on the idea that the Public Option would be the first step towards a single payor system. Unfortunately, I did not hear this argument from the President; from Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius; from "Health Reform Czar" De Parle; or from Press Secretary Gibbs. Read More »

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Dispatches From The Health Care Reform Front

By John Minehan - Aug 14th, 2009 at 10:47 am EDT

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On August 11, 2009, I was one of several constituents who met with Mr. Chris White of Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey's (22d NY) Staff on health care reform, particularly, HR 3200. Mr. White was very knowledgeable. His graciousness in dealing with an unexpectedly large group was much appreciated.

The majority of these constituents (I was the exception) supported something closer to a single payor system, as does Rep. Hinchey as a member of the House Progressive Caucus and a co-sponsor of HR 676, the single payor bill.

As when I attended Rep. Murphy's Town Halls in the 20d NY this weekend, this meeting made me see two things clearly:

almost everyone thinks reform is needed; and

no one is committed in any way to the present version of HR 3200, which seems to be without any natural constituency.

I think the current version of HR 3200 will fail. The question is: what can succeed?

Read More »

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Health Reform -What A Wonderful Thing- Go President Obama!!! Bravo, Bravo!!!

By Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz - Aug 11th, 2009 at 9:24 pm EDT

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You are doing a Wonderful Job, for Health Care my President Obama We all are Proud of You, Thank You Very Much for Caring

Your Humble Friend

Mary

Yb-lem Oskowitz aka Mary

God Bless You Always.

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Grassroots In Humanism

By Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz - Aug 11th, 2009 at 9:02 pm EDT

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ü-RamaKrishna n“I see people talk about religion constantly quarreling with one another, Hindus, Mussulmans, or Muslims, Brahmos, Shaktas, Vaishnavas, Shaivas all quarrel with one another. They haven’t the intelligence to understand that He who is called Krishna is also Shiva and Primal Shakti, and that it is He, again, who is called Jesus and Allah. “There is only one Rama (God) and He has a thousand names.”

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Believe it or not

By Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz - Aug 11th, 2009 at 8:56 pm EDT

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üThe Prophet Jesus was a Sage; he used to teach people by telling them stories (parables).
Mark 4: 33-34 in The Bible’s New Testament say, “And with many such parables He (Jesus) did not speak to them, and when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples”. üJesus was a Sage and a free thinker, someone who in his own way rebel against the teachings of his time such as corruption of the church back then, and the exploitation and persecution of the Jewish community by the Romans. üSo, tired of what was going on back then, one day, over 2000 years ago, the young man, Prophet Jesus, decided to do something about it, and he proclaimed himself The King of Israel and The Son of God. He knew that this act will later cause for him to be arrested and even killed. nPeople back then saw Jesus as a Revolutionary Savior who was sent from God to save them from both the church and the Romans, but later when people realized that Jesus was not going to actually fight The Romans physically or organized some kind of revolt, the people became angry against Jesus, and quite scare of the Romans and the church leaders to turn against them, and so, they decided to turn him in, and accused him. üJesus used sarcasm by calling Himself a King of Israel, making The Romans look silly, and by calling Himself God (Hinduism and Greek Philosophical concepts God=The Self), He challenged the church. üFrom The age of 13-33 it is believed that Jesus was at the Himalayas becoming a Yogi.
He was a very brave and courage's young man, and he stood his ground for what he believed even if this would had result in his death. nOn the other hand, the people in Jerusalem did not like Jesus, and this included his own family.
This was the first time in many years that the people of Jerusalem had actually accepted him as a prophet of God; at that time people were very upset at The Romans and at The Church, and many kept their old beliefs such as that in Jerusalem one of their old rituals where to scarify a good man or their first male sons to Baal and other Gods for protection and good luck. nSo, the results were some people shouting, a few days later, crucify him and others shouting do not crucify him. Nevertheless, Jesus was a wise and brave young man who meant well, and above all he was just as human as you and me. n1 Timothy, this book of the New Testament is a leadership manual, for in it Saint Paul counsels Timothy to beware of false religious teachers, public prayer, the role of women, and the requirements for elders. ü2 Timothy is a text that teaches one about endurance in ministry.
Moreover, this book is a combat manual which is designed to build up, as well as encourage Timothy to become bold and steadfast in view of the hardships of spiritual warfare.

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20th NY Congressional District Town Halls

By John Minehan - Aug 10th, 2009 at 10:44 am EDT

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On August 7, I attended a Town Hall sponsored by Rep. Scott Murphy of the 20th NY held at Granville, NY. On August 8, I attended a Town Hall held at Valatie, NY by Rep. Murphy. In each case other issues were discussed but the primary focus was health care reform. I have the following observations: Read More »

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Ancient Prayer To Accompany An Intelligent Performance - Chant

By Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz - Aug 9th, 2009 at 6:52 pm EDT

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nAncient Rules Of Wisdom. n"Thou shalt worship in any way it pleases thee and let others do likewise even though ye may not understand their ways". n"Thou shalt not forget the spirit within and the spirit without are the true God." n"Thou shalt not cage another human being or free animal." n"Thou shalt not destroy or take from it without restoring that which has been taken, and though shalt keep the balance of nature intact at all times." n"Though shalt not take the life of another individual, and thou shalt not kill animals." n"Though shalt always be thyself in saying, thinking, doing, what thou truly desires' so long as it hurts no one else." n"Though shalt live in accordance to nature, nor against it, and coordinate sleep, food, physical exertion, and work with ways of nature." n"Though shalt express thyself through art, craft, music, dancing, singing, and or poetry." n"Though shalt always strike a happy balance between mind, body, and spirit, by exercising the body and mind and inner self through the interplay of body and mind, ever mindful that the spirit is above and beyond both mind and body." n"Though shalt trust your instincts (feelings)." n"Though shalt strive to understand that difficulties are but opportunities to learn." n"Though shalt stay focused and do not be intimidated by know-it-alls." n"Though shalt believe in you." n"Though shalt not be afraid to take the lead." n"Though shalt watch out for narrow minds and prejudice." n"Though shalt be your own person; remember you have a mind of your own, and you do not need anyone else's approval." n"Though shalt learn the virtues of self-discipline and team work." n"Though shalt beware of reckless irresponsible people." n"Though shalt not be afraid of rejection." n

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Toyotas NOT Ladas: Markets For Health Care . . . And Health Care Reform

By John Minehan - Aug 5th, 2009 at 11:13 am EDT

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If you want to lower costs, increase quality and improve access to services in health care, you must leverage market forces. If you want to sell health care reform, you need to propose a plan somebody wants. Read More »

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Some Thoughts on Co-Ops That MIGHT Work

By John Minehan - Aug 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 am EDT

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A couple of my friends across the political spectrum sent me these interesting articles on the Co-op idea proposed in the Senate:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-esk...

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Hea...

In my opinion, Co-ops are the best approach to:

covering the uninsured, especially those with pre-existing conditions; and

replacing both employment-based and government-provided health care for many people.

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The Speedbump in Health Care Reform: Patient Choice

By John Minehan - Jul 30th, 2009 at 12:29 pm EDT

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Health Care reform, certainly any reform involving a single-payor "Public Option," is likely DOA. The interesting question is: "Why?"

Based on the people I have talked to, the overwhelming answer is the fact that people are afraid of loosing their right to choose health plans, providers and treatment options in the event the Public Option were to be enacted.

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