The truth about the war in Iraq is finally revealing itself. All of these years we were told that our young men and women were fighting for a noble cause, to end terrorism and fight the evil axis that was spawning in a new form in the Middle East. No longer would diplomacy work, but we must act in a pre-emptive manner to dispatch of terror cells and the ruthless dictators that either financed them or gave a wink and a nod to their existence, as long as those groups did not attack their fiefdoms.
Now over four thousands deaths later, we now see what many of us truly believed was the real motivation: control of the crude oil resources in the country of Iraq and the eventual take over of those same resources in Iran. Also, let us not forget the natural gas pipeline that snakes through Afghanistan and Iraq that had to keep operating on the premise the finances generated would help rebuild those war-torn countries.
As I see the major international oil companies go back to business as usual in Iraq, after 36 years of being shut out, I am stunned by my relative calmness over this tragedy. The normal human emotion would be complete outrage, so much so that I could not sit down and write my thoughts, but rather to yell at the television as I heard the news. But the real tragedy is the fact that people like me, who the right-wingers referred to as un-American and non-patriotic, were right after all.
We sent young men and women, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters to fight a war not to preserve democracy and the American way, but to preserve greed, the American vice. A job for mercenaries for hire was given to folks who joined the National Guard to pay off their student loans. Elected officials, judges, fire fighters, police officers and people from every walk of life were called to service, believing they were answering the call that many of their parents and grandparents had received in days past, ending tyranny wherever it reared its ugly head. Instead, they were used as the hence men to promote a tyranny as old as man himself: financial gluttony.
We have always prided ourselves that we stood up against the greatest empire in the world and defeated them. We have defeated every mad man that thought they could take over the world, and repaired the breaches caused by their atrocities. But now, look at what we have become.
All I can think about is the young man who graduated from Bailey High School, enlisted to go to Iraq, and became one of the first casualties of this war. I was there when his mother picked out his grave at Autumn Woods Cemetery, which is located in the legislative district I represented for nine years. And when I see his marble headstone there, I think about what we have allowed to happen. Why did we have to go to this extreme to satisfy our thirst for oil, our lust for money and power?
I cannot be dramatic and say that he and the other young men and women from Mississippi, or from any other state, died in vain. Their commitment to serve was pure and genuine. They died believing in the right things, glory, honor, sacrifice. Their patriotism is the reason why we have protection from enemies foreign and domestic.
I reflect on when I took that oath, how I felt to be considered worthy of being a Marine, worthy of defending our Constitution and the nation for which it guides. Then I get angry. Angry enough to run for the U.S. Senate and vow that, if elected, I would never allow any President to abuse that power again for the sake of profiteering. When I look at my American Legion and NRA membership cards, I get angry enough to dare anyone to say I don’t have a right to criticize a government that tries to cover its tracks for political and financial expediency.
I am angry, but yet I write and I campaign. I do what I can, within my ability and power to do, to make this change that is so desperately needed. We are spending $12 billion a month in Iraq, meanwhile bridges are collapsing, schools are overcrowded, levees are breaking, and we are paying four dollars a gallon for gasoline. The Declaration of Independence tells us that we have a right to change our government, and to dispatch of tyrants. We have done a good job of dispatching the tyrants that have emerged around the globe throughout history. This November, it is time to do the same thing right here at home.
Our only weapon is our ability to vote. I made the conscience decision to stand on the front line to play a role in this revolt. I only hope that Americans will join in. The Republicans will say that we all cannot win, that our values are too compromised to convince people to change, especially in Mississippi. My question/challenge to them is have they looked in the mirror lately?
The Bible says what good is it for a man to gain the wealth of the entire world, only to lose his soul. My fellow Americans, I say it is time America regained her soul. It is time for us to truly earn our distinction of being the city on the hill Christ talked about. It is time for this generation to have peace and prosperity, to live and live more abundantly.
Let’s bring our veterans of this latest war home and rebuild America with the ingenuity that made us the envy of the world. All it takes is a collective spiritual and political will. All I ask is that you use that aforementioned weapon and join in this truly noble fight.
Yes! We! Can! ...
After the win in NC, I'm excited to see Obama has still got his game on! And I'm excited that it looks like Obama has clearly won this thing! It is time to put our sights on the future. Obama all the way, baby!
...seen a more sh*t eating grin in your life? Check out this picture of Billary in Florida!
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-bk-dempresident012908,0,7727358.story
As I sit here at my computer late at night trying to digest the events of the day, I have come to the conclusion that January 28, 2008 was a great day for this country. In fact, today was a turning point in American politics. I know that is quite a bold statement on my part but hear me out on this before you form an opinion. Then you can say "John, your nuts" but hopefully you'll be saying "John, I think you may have something there".
This day started out with Caroline, Patrick and Ted Kennedy endorsing our candidate for President of the United States, Barack Obama. The Kennedy family is the royalty of the Democratic party and has been ever since JFK was President. To have Ted and Patrick Kennedy throw their support behind Barack Obama is a fantastic turn of events. To have Caroline Kennedy throw her support behind Barack Obama is nothing short of a major coup. This is a lady that has, for the most part, stayed out of politics. Yet she has seen how Senator Obama has galvanized the Democratic electorate, how Senator Obama has instilled hope in people around this country, how Senator Obama has taken over where her father left off 40 years ago.
Now fast forward eight hours to the State of the Union address. The question that comes to my mind is "Can a State of the Union address be deemed irrelevant?" The answer, of course, is yes. Especially when delivered by a lame duck President trying to make up for eight years of failed policies. There was simply nothing in the President's speech that we, as Democrats, haven't heard before. But more importantly, there was nothing in the speech that the American public has not heard before. Iraq, entightlements, porkbarrell spending, immigration, Katrina. Every issue addressed by the President tonight was simply a repeat of past State of the Union addresses. This is a President that has thrown in the towel on a failed presidency. Mr. Bush would never admit that but it was easy to see tonight. And it was sad. I don't feel sad for the President, I feel sad for America, because we, as citizens of this great country, deserve and expect alot more of the Commander in Chief.
So how do these two different events make this day a turning point in American politics? Because today will be remembered as the day that Barack Obama became the hope and future of America. He has been handed the torch of Camelot from the family that has guarded it so well for so long. He has been entrusted with the Kennedy legacy. His entrance into the halls of Congress tonight should be proof enough that Democrats know a winner when they see one. The Senator was flanked by Senator Kennedy on one side and Senator Claire McKaskill on the other. He was mobbed like he was the President already. He sat in the gallery with Senator Kennedy by his side, listening to a man with no legacy, with no hope or future except a ranch in Texas. Tonight was the perfect storm. The bright light of American politics watching the switch turned off on the last eight years.
So remember this day. From here on out things are going to be different. Senator Obama truly became the beacon of hope, the beacon of change for this country. Today, Barack Obama became the torch bearer of Camelot. Perhaps it is not possible to bring back the feeling of 1960 and the excitement that President Kennedy instilled in us 40 years ago. Then again, with Senator Barack Obama leading the way, the path to Camelot is more brightly lit today than it has been in the last 40 years. I for one, will follow him down that path.
Hope is not just a thought when change is in the air!
John Harris
In the past week, the Democratic electorate has had to put up with our beloved past President, Bill Clinton, call the Obama campaign a "fairy tale", compare the Senator to Jesse Jackson and inject race in this contest at every turn. Just when you thought the Clinton campaign couldn't stoop any lower they come up with this. It appears that the Clinton campaign is going to contest the ruling by the DNC to not seat delegates in Michigan and Florida. The reason for this was because these two states went against the DNC directive to not move their primaries to earlier dates on the calender. All of the campaigns SIGNED a pledge not to campaign in these two states and to allow the people to vote in their primaries but not seat delegates.
Now comes word that the Clinton campaign wants these rules changed. They have come up with the false belief that not seating delegates will disenfranchise voters. What they fail to tell you is that the Clinton name was the only name on the Michigan ballot and that even though Hillary has not appeared in Florida, the polls suggest that she would win if the votes were counted and the delegates awarded.
After two weeks of dirty politics by the Clinton campaign, this shouldn't suprise anyone. Going against their word has become the standard operating procedure of the Clinton campaign. Playing dirty politics is apparently the only way the Clinton campaign knows how to run a campaign. Be it back tracking on Iraq, sending out Bill to be the pitbull, invoking Jesse Jackson or any other of a myriad of tactics, the Clinton's have crossed the line.
I'm sure that the Obama campaign and the Edwards campaign will do everything in their collective power to see to it that the Clinton campaign doesn't pull an end around. Both campaign's should be screaming at the top of their lungs that this is just another example of Hillary Clinton changing her mind on an issue that only helps herself.
The good part of this is that it shows how desperate and afraid the Clinton campaign is of Barack Obama. The win in South Carolina lines the Senator up to gain momentum leading into the Super Tuesday primaries. Even though the math shows that no candidate will come out of Super Tuesday with the nomination, Clinton is still willing to go against the grain and claim the Michigan and Florida delegates for herself.
Well, if I could whisper something in Hillary's ear it would be "forget it, it won't work". The people of this nation are onto you Hillary. They know you can't run a clean campaign. They know you change your position at the drop of a hat and they know that if you were elected it would just be politics as usual in Washington for another 4 years.
What this country wants and needs is not only hope and change, it needs character. Hillary Clinton has shown that her character is lacking with the events of the past two weeks. Now is the time for Barack Obama to stand up and question her tactics and ultimately her character. Because if Hillary is elected the 44th President of the United States this country will never regain the standing in the world that we all pine for. The only person that can restore the hope and dreams that have been squashed in the last 8 years is Senator Barack Obama. Let's hope that the Democratic electorate sees fit to nominate a man of unquestioned character, a beacon of hope to millions around the world, Senator Barack Obama. Our future depends on it.
Please check this link out if you are a Mississippian and interested in Obama versus Hillary. She said some pretty rough stuff about us, and I think we should all listen to what it is exactly that she is saying. If you are a Mississippian who supports Hillary, it is utterly important you check this out. I don't think you will be able to support her after you do, but you should get all the facts so don't avoid it.
Go to this link:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2007/10/hillary-and-mis.html
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tydfsfSQiYc
speech in full, not shown on his website.
Breaking news from the conference call with Campaign Manager David Plouffe: A new online fundraising contest is being launched that will grant the members of the My.BarackObama.com groups that have the most donors at the end of the day on September 30th, the opportunity to participate in a personal conference call with Senator Barack Obama and Campaign Manager David Plouffe. Click here for more information on the Group Fundraising Challenge.
The latest on phonebanking: If you're interested in phonebanking send an e-mail to the campaign at - callteam@barackobama.com and they will e-mail a call sheet to you.
State of the Campaign
Barack Obama's Schedule: On Monday, Barack Obama received the endorsement of the New York City Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association. Tuesday, he spoke at Change to Win in Chicago. Wednesday, he can be seen live on the NBC/NECN/New Hampshire Public Radio/New Hampshire Democratic Party debate, which will be broadcast live on MSNBC at 9pm EST. Following the debate he’ll head to New York, where he’ll participate in a live interview on ABC’s The View at 11am EST on Thursday before leading a major rally in Washington Square Park. On Friday, he speaks at Howard University’s Convocation and participates in the CBC Issues Forum in Washington, DC.
