Here is a link to today's Wash Post article on Jeremy Bird. We have got to keep fightin' the good fight!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/22/AR2009082202343.html?hpid=topnews
What I'm about to present has been vetted by Alan Blinder, a Princeton economist, with an outstanding reputation, who served as Vice-Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Blinder draws on the work of economic historian Larry Bartels. Bartels studied the rising income inequality divide over hte last 30 years in the US. Furthermore, Bartels is one economist who does not advise political candidates.Blinder calls Bartels's discovery the The Great Partisan Inequality Divide (GPID). It makes for great talking points when you're meeting with voters.
Here's what Bartels found in his studying the last 60 years of economic incomes as reported by Blinder:
1. Income inequality trended substantially upward under Republican Presidents.
2. It trended slightly downward under Democratic Presidents. Remember how Clinton promoted the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that benefitted the working poor. That's one major illustration of why Democrats are fairer than Republicans.
3. GPID is not limited to the poor. At the 20th percentile--that is 20% of all families have less income and 80% have more-- and the Democrats were fairer. That's also true at the 40th, 60th, 80th and 95th percentiles.
4. The 95th percentile divides the rich from the non-rich. It means a family earns about $180,000.That includes two wage earners combining their income. (Remember McCain defined the rich at $5 million dollars, thereby confirming he knows nothing about how American families live or economics as an informed layperson.)
5. All percentiles, except the 95th, families fare better under Democratic presidents than Republican ones. At the 95th percentile there is not much difference.
6. Under President Reagan the growth rate fell and the income transfers benfitted the rich. This fits Republicans favoring tax cuts to the rich that Democrats oppose. In addition Democrats, more than Republicans, favor raising the minimum wage and supporting unions to bargain wage increases for its members. Republicans oppose the minimum wage increase and are hostile to unions.
7. Conclusion: If history is a guide an Obama presidency leads to greater economic growth, less economic inequality and more equity. A McCain presidency means slower growth and far greater economic inequality and therefore more inequity.
Republicans are always trumpeting about how we progressive Democrats are waging class war. A just and fair society is not in the Republican lexicon. But they wage all out class war to protect their very wealthy contributors.
On October 16, McCain is holding a fund raiser in New York by shaking down Wall St. fat cats--yes, they may be poorer but as Fitzgerald said the rich are different from you and me. So they've lost some money. They still have lots and some of it is going to the Republican National Committee (RNC) for its TV, newspaper and internet ads. We know that some of these ads have a sub text to cast Obama out of the USA mainstream. They're ugly and it's not paranoid to recognize that they play on racial fear.
Yes, it wasn't easy for the Republicans to raise the dollars. They did it by waging class war, by appealing to people's fears that the rich would have to pay a fair share for making our country great again.. 1,000 people coughed up $1,000.00 each and 200 gave $25,000.00 each. Said one fundraiser to the Wall St. Journal: "Reality set in. Donors realized they could face an Obama Administration next month." They are plainly "petrified", said the Wall St. Journal, "they will face steep increases in personal and corporate tax rates." The fund raisers went after all resisters by saying that "Obama will be a disaster for you."
These multi-millionaires want the government to subsidize them without paying any increase, let alone a fair share. The McCain tax cut benefits the richest people who have already benefitted from the Bush- tax policies. McCain, on tax policy, is a Bush clone.
It is no longer about getting Barack Obama into the White House. Baring the outbreak of WW III or some other kind of unforeseen disaster, he is already there. During one of his recent rallies, Senator Obama invoked these words: “CHANGE the country” and “CHANGE the world.”
Getting Senator Obama into the White House is not the end of a process; it’s the beginning of a process. Keeping him in the White House will be the hard part. Prudence dictates that we should never underestimate the will of the forces which are arrayed against him/us.
In the beginning, Senator Obama talked a lot about “Old Politics” or “Old Thought” – which is essentially the same thing. Our messages have been about “New Thought” and saving the Planet. Obama has often said that he can’t do it alone and neither can we. We need your help.
This is a sampling of what some of you had to say about our messages:
Why do we impart/promulgate our “New Thought” messages? Actually, I like Michelle Obama’s answer. She said, “It’s my job.” Some people are genuine truth seekers, not a lot but some. Mohandas K. Gandhi said, “If you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.”
And here we have our quandary, what to do now? It is time to evolve to the next level. We are dedicated to keeping the “Obama Movement” alive for 100 years, if necessary, and we need your input. If you would like to know the rest of the story, sign up at. http://www.global-symbolic-votes.org/first.html
New thought is our only chance, The GSV Team-------------------------------------------------------"We can either fear that human culture is falling apart or we can hold the vision that we are awakening. Either way, each of us must consciously choose between these two futures.” (James Redfield) -------------------------------------------------------http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/GLOBALSYMBOLICVOTESFOROBAMAhttp://www.global-symbolic-votes.org
When speaking with Independents, it's effective to trumpet the lifelong Republicans who support Obama for President. In a courageous act they have broken with their party. They are ready to take the consequences of political opprobrium from their erstwhile colleagues.
These are some of the Republicans behind Obama:
Lincoln Chafee-- former Senator from Rhode Island and a candidate for Governor
Susan Eisenhower-- national security expert and grand-daughter of President Eisenhower.
Lilibet Hagel--an indpendent woman's voice from the Nebraska heartland and wife of Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Nebr.).
Linwood Holton--former Republican Governor of Virginia
Jim Leach--Long serving House member from Iowa and National Chairman of Common Cause.
A stpry worth telling: Susan Eisnehower received a call from Senator Obama in 2007. He had already announced for President. He asked her for her ideas on national security matters. She told him she is a life long Republican and was not prepared to support him. He said that didn't matter. He wanted her ideas. Only later did she decide to support Obama after watching him in action, studying his national security views and comparing those views to his opposition. She admired the process of how Obama came to his public judgments. Only then did she break with her life long support of the Republican Party. This story was told to me by a voter who heard Susan Eisenhower tell it at a public meeting in Virginia.
Finishing a canvassing that was very positive iwth Virgina voters, and really energized, I hear a hotel doorman chant a refrain. Here it is:
"No drama with Obama, no trauma with Obama."
Let's listen to this authentic voice and weave his wisdom into our talking with people including when we canvas.
Let’s assume for a moment that “The Surge” did work. This gives rise to the next logical question, but at what initial cost? If a person spills milk on the floor and then wipes it up, that person corrected a mistake. The problem here is that we are not talking about spilled milk. We are talking about spilled American blood and lost American lives and treasure.
Should the erratic McCain hit the "Panic Button" intentionally or un-intentionally we are all just as dead. (1) How do we bring back over 4,000 lives or make the injuries of the 30,000 plus soldiers disappear? (2) How do we get back the 10 billion plus missing tax dollars that disappeared in Iraq? (3) How do we recover the 600-700 billion dollars that we have already spent in Iraq?
We make mistakes because this is what human beings do best. Am I saying that all human beings are by nature flawed? No. I am saying that most human minds are by nature flawed. So what do we do now, get a lobotomy? No. We learn how to think correctly. Most of us probably think that we already know how to think correctly. No problem.
Then we should go ahead and act on all that we know. But notice that we have been doing this since time began and look at what shape the world is in. Clearly, we’ve missed something.
New thought is our only chance,The GSV Team-------------------------------------------------------"We can either fear that human culture is falling apart or we can hold the vision that we are awakening. Either way, each of us must consciously choose between these two futures.” (James Redfield) -------------------------------------------------------http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/GLOBALSYMBOLICVOTESFOROBAMAhttp://www.global-symbolic-votes.org
The Pundits keep talking about a Culture War. What we are talking about here is indeed a war. However, it is not a Culture War. It is the war that won’t go away -- the struggle between good and evil. It is the war that Mohandas K. Gandhi fought so magnificently and won. He came to this planet to teach us how to fight and win such wars but we will not listen. “The greatest blindness is the blindness of one who will not see. (Elizabeth Haich)
The Culture War is an illusion. The agents of evil keep duping us. They keep tricking us into fighting each other. As long as we do this we can’t focus on them -- the real enemy. This is Kinder logic. Who is the real enemy? I’ll tell you this. It is not McCain or Palin or even Bush.
Am I saying that McCain, Palin, Bush and their cronies are all inherently evil? No. I am saying that they are confused victims/pawns. We do not have to hate our extremist brothers, sisters and friends to defeat them. Gandhi said that, in the end, the British will simply pack their bags and leave India. And when they go, we want them to leave as friends.
So what do we do now? First we get back on message, stay focused on the real issues and avoid participating in, or contributing to, the Sarah Palin Reality Show. Secondly, we have to expose the lies, tricks and games perpetrated by the Republican Attack Machine. Thirdly, we have to identify and discredit the evil entities who manipulate the pawns.
In my blog dated September 10th, I wrote about Sarah Palin being a movie of the week phenomenon. Yesterday on CNN, Donna Brazile (Al Gore’s former campaign mgr.) referred to her as a “flavor of the month or week.” What a coincidence. It seems that at least someone in the hierarchy of the Democratic Party is listening. That’s a good sign.
New thought is our only chance. The GSV Team-------------------------------------------------------"We can either fear that human culture is falling apart or we can hold the vision that we are awakening. Either way, each of us must consciously choose between these two futures.” (James Redfield) -------------------------------------------------------http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/GLOBALSYMBOLICVOTESFOROBAMAhttp://www.global-symbolic-votes.org
Please read a letter from Anne Kilkenny who lives in Wasilla and knows Palin very well.
http://www.thepresidentialcandidates.us/about-sarah-palin-a-letter-from-anne-kilkenny/741/
Horrendous Death (HD) is the umbrella term for those deaths caused by people. Thus, they are preventable. One type is characterized by the motivation to kill others. A second lacks that motivation but is still caused by people. The odds of preventing HD requires the removal of the denial of personal immortality. On the one hand we know we must die but we avoid and deny the when and the how. The fact is that we can die in the next minute by, say, homicide, accident, terrorist attack, environmental disaster, etc. Thus, removing the denial of death by one of the forms of HD is seen as a necessary step increasing the odds of preventable actiion. A second step is to grieve the HD of a beloved. It may be fantasized grief or grieving an actual victim. Such imagery should arouse desire for revenge and retribution. but supposed that energy could be directed toward prevention of HD? In this case the fantasized grieving should lead to "remedial and preventive action resulting in national-global policies. Actors include domains of influence such as the military, government, education, science, philanthropy, labor, finance and business, religion, and the public. It is everyone's interest to have a peaceful environment. The exception are those who profit from the forms of HD such as arms traders (the US leads the world), weapons producers and exporters (the US leads the world), etc.
The HD concept is a way of viewing the world and its host of deadly issues into a logical framework. Since its ultimate goal is to improve the quality of global health and well-being it should serve to unify people. An Obama-Biden Administration has the gravitas and intellectual openness and know how to accomplish this goal.
Palin actually compared herself to Barack last night at the Republican Convention. News Flash Mrs. Palin - There is no comparison. You are pale compared to Barack and I am not talking skin color. You spent all of your time talking about what Barack did, didn't do, said, didn't say, etc. Why not use the time to talk about you and your plan? Oh that's right, because like all the rest of the Republicans you don't have one. I can see why you talk about Barack the way you do. There's a term for that. It's called jealousy. I can see why you would be jealous. Barack is smart, good looking, and educated. Most importantly he has a plan for America. He is the best choice for this country. He picks better VP's than your boss and he knows which house to meet them at.
I can't wait for the VP debate. I hope Biden doesn't decide to go easy since she's a newbie. If the puppy wants to run with the big dogs then she'd better be prepared to get bit!
Dear Senator Obama,
My Policy concerning this critical area matches yours accept in one important area, biofuels. We need to honestly assess and correct the misinformation and hype associated with Biofuels. I strongly believe in "Green Energy" concepts including the use of alternative forms of energy (solar, wind, geothermal, EVs, etc.) and energy conservation, but the "promise" of biofuels (Ethanol and Biodiesel) is false. The Biofuel Scam must be shut down so we can focus on viable alternatives.
I am an electrical engineer with degrees in engineering and biology and a strong background in chemistry and physics. All scientific and and economic information I have waded through indicates that biofuels are expensive to produce (require government subsidies), increase rather than decrease atmospheric CO2, increase the cost of food in the 3rd world, and can not significantly reduce our dependency on foreign oil. The thermodynamics, chemistry and economics of biofuel production make it a poor choice as a replacement for gasoline and diesel.
More critically, I am deeply disturbed with how all the political campaigns (including ours) promise to eliminate our dependence on foreign energy (oil and gas). This, to me, is a massive delusion of the American electorate using their fear of escalating energy costs and dependency on OPEC to get votes. As Robert Bryce intelligently illustrates in his book, 'Gusher of Lies: The Dangerous Delusions of "Energy Independence"', the US and the world are energy interdependent and have foreign dependencies for many other critical commodities. We need to accept the fact that we are interdependent with the rest of the world and stop harping about energy independence.
Energy is traded on a global marketplace and no matter how effective we are in moving away from fossil fuel usage we will continue to remain dependent on foreign oil and gas for decades. We need to move forward on "real" solutions and avoid spending on money and resources on dead-end ideas like biofuels. Please read Robert Bryce's book and take the politically difficult position using knowledge rather than fear to determine our future national energy policy.
Respectfully yours,
Richard Gibbs
Libertyville, IL
August can be the cruelest month for Democrats. But take heart. In spite of all the nervous making headlines on polls Obama shows real strength among Hispanic voters. That adds to his exisiting strength in many age groups and population sectors.
For McCain to be competitive in the November election political analysts believe he has to get 35% of the Hispanic vote. That's not where McCain is headed. That 35% is necessary in states such as Colorado, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and southern states with growing Latin voters and that are competitive: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.
Right now the thoroughly reliable and dispassionate Pew Hispanic Center reported that the Hispanic vote is 66% to 23% for Obama over McCain.
The Center also reported that 3/4 of the Hispanic voters who voted for Clinton in the primaries are inclined to vote for Obama.Only 8% of Clinton voters support McCain. Added to the mix is an increasing identification by Hispanics with the Democratic Party.
We all know the challenges of registration, getting people to the polls, overcoming the harassment and obstacles to voting faced by Hispanics and African Americans in too many polling places. Organized efforts everywhere will challenge and overcome these obstacles.
More than any campaign in my living memory-- I go back a long way, working precincts for Stevenson in 1952-- this organized political effort shows this election is a beginning not an ending. In my own organizing and advocacy work, I know the importance of organized issue activity between elections. That is well understood by the Mexican and Central American communities. These participants bring their cuture of particpation to the USA world. It's refreshing and energizing for all of us.
Even if the margin doesn't stay at 66-23, McCain is not likely to get close to the 35%overall that he needs. What's more the voter turnout by Hispanics will likely be substantially greater than in the past. These represent hopeful signs. They are based on organized action.
Help us make history when Barack Obama accepts the nomination for President of the United States 45 years to the day after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream speech at the Lincoln Memorial.
If you cannot make it to Denver, please, join us on Tursday, August 28th, 7 pm at the Sideline Sports Grill in Largo, 880 Capital Center Boulevard.
Please, RSVP and donate to Barack's campaign so that we can prepare for all of you. However, entrance will be on a first come, first serve basis. So arrive a little bit before seven to make sure that you will get in.
As the general election campaign is heating up, we need to reach out to all the Obama volunteers from the primary to get them involved again. Please, join us every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night and Sunday afternoons at the Obama Volunteer Office, 1101 Mercantile Lane in Largo, MD to call your friends from the primary. We also have a large list of volunteers that need a phone call. They will be excited to hear from you.
If you need more details, please, look up the events on my.barackobama.com. Otherwise, I am looking forward to seeing you at the Obama Volunteer Office.
Barack Obama wants us to register another 120,000 voters in Virginia. Therefore, we need all hands on deck. Thank you for your help getting the word out.
Let me say something controversial but true. JOHN MCCAIN IS NOT A HERO. JOHN MCCAIN IS AN ELITIST. John McCain is a veteran who served with honor like many of us. Getting shot down does not make you a hero. Jumping on a grenade and sacrificicing your life to save your comrades is heroic. John McCain got into Anapolis because of his father. Many more qualified citizens who were willing to serve did not get into Anapolis or any other academy. John McCain graduated from Anapolis 894 out of 899 yet got to go to fighter pilot school. NOT BECAUSE OF HIS GRADESBUT BECAUSE OF HIS CONNECTIONS. Sound a bit like Bush???? John McCain has destroyed 4 planes (5 if you count the one he was piloting when he was shot down. John McCain dumped his wife in favor of Cindy because his wife was injured and no longet the "hottie" he married.
Don't tell me John McCain is a hero or that he cares about the military. If he did he would have voted against the Iraq war and for the new GI Bill. John McCain has parlayed his military service into a political advantage and it is all crap. Yes he served and so have millions of others. Want to see a hero, look at Dick Winters who commanded Easy Company. John McCain is nothing but an opportunist and someone needs to be bold enough to say it
It's been all over the news that Obama is looking to fill that all-important position of Presidential Pet. Most Presidents just bring along their present pets, but it seems that the young ladies Obama are allergic to dogs. Nonetheless, they want one. The AKC has begun an online poll where you can vote for some hypoallergenic breeds, dogs with either no hair or which do not shed, including the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier. Poodles are currently leading the AKC poll, but Wheatens are a close second. Vote here. Chunk Sherwood Allen (left), or "Teddy" is a Wheaten, and Jon's done well with him despite a severe allergy to dogs. Usually Wheatens have a beard and "fall" over their eyes. Teddy has been "puppy cut" for a different look. In his senior years, I think it's more important that he can see. Although both Poodles and Wheatens are among the most intelligent breeds, I don't believe poodles are as good with children. Wheatens love them.
I've seen Wheatens rarely, more often in California. I think they're about to become a lot more popular. Check out this rescue site for Wheaten's. Originally bred from the Kerry Blue line (note the similar build), Wheatens are hunters and farm dogs. They can be great jumpers and enjoy fetching; therefore, I think they would enjoy Frisbee games. They love to sit their bums on stairs or curbs as if sitting on a chair--striking a very cute pose. As puppies, they resemble teddy bears (which is where our Teddy probably got his common name), and are very appealing to children. They are family dogs, trainable, muscular, active, and friendly. Teddy weighs on the high end, averaging 43 pounds at his heaviest.
Although the Wheaten lifespan is usually 12 years, our Teddy hits his 16th birthday in August, an uncommonly long life for the breed. That's 95 to you and me! Although he wears a belly band to prevent leaks, even at his age he is still fastidious about going outside for other necessary events.
I wish breeders didn't dock the tail or clip the ears. Left natural, they have long tails and ears like a Cocker Spaniel. Think Falcor the Good Luck Dragon from The Neverending Story. (Teddy also enjoys a good scratch behind the ears.)
I hope everyone will take part in the Unite for Change effort this Saturday. If possible, bring an undecided, republican or independent voter and get them involved in our grassroots movement! Together, we will unite for change and elect Sen. Obama president of the United States of America.
