Irish Americans For Obama

Political Partties met in Parliament in London, England to Debate the Major Concerns in the British Empire Today

Lillene Ebanks — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:42:23 EST

At a public hearing in the Parliament in Londan, David Cameron, of the Conservative Party questioned Prime Minister Gordon Brown inquiring how can the goverment have an anti extremest fund set up by the extremest? It will be inspected the Prime Minister. Jews should be killed where you find them and the 9-11 pilots were great. The Prime Minister said that we need full evidence and he may regret todays statements as we have increased security to deal with the terriorist threat in this country! Ms Madeline Moon Labor TBridgend) assked when will our system of bank charges in England? Prime Minister said the is legislation coming to the House allowing class action suits to force banks to repay overdraft charges. Prime Minister Gordon said that we should not abolish the Regional Development Agencies the Conservative Party desire to abolish them vindictively wil be very detremental.Prime Minister Brown said that we are taking every action possible to double the funds to increase security which the Conservative Party would not spend this much! What cuts will be made to with draw the stimulus budget? Prime Minister said that only one party wants such cuts! Prime Minister advocated the in Copenhagen when the nations leaders meet to discuss climate change the leaders will support a plan yo reduce carbon dioxide emmissions by 2020 at a cost of 100 billion dollars to support climate change between major nations. Discrimination women and rCatholics in marriagesv We will discuss this with all the Commonweath countries said the Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Raising the Royal Standard: The State Opening of the British Parliament by Queen Elizabe....th II

Lillene Ebanks — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:16:26 EST

On the 500th anniversary of the State Opening of Parliament and this is the 58th Parliament opened by Queen Elizabeth II.My heart watched with love and pride as Queen Elizabeth II walked ever so regally wearing a white gown, a long red train trimmed in cream and gold, and on her natural white hair was one of the three symbols of the Power Of the Crown over the longest Empire in history-for civil servants it means the Perogrative Powers of the Queen! Thank your Your Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for granting the honor and privelege to serve Your Majesty as the Learning and Behaviour Disorder Specialist/ Special Education Director for Cayman Brac Public Schools for five wonderful years and serving as Facilitator for Strategic Planning for Education in the Cayman Islands. As an self apponinted Teacup princess who cried over a stamp with your picture when I had the privilege of openening and inspectin mail with the royal stamp at Polunski Death row in Livingston, Texas it was worth enduring the trial of a survical strain at the hands of a ranking Sargent to cry over your stamp that I had not seen in forty years. Thank you for thinking of the discrimination endured by women worldwide competing for equal pay and equal promotions yet enduring discriminatory situations, Your concern for this was evident in your speech you made it a priority to reduce discrimination and inequality! In addition, you wanted to foster growth by employment for young people, and to build trust to further promote democratic countries. There was a significant emphasis on cambating climate change at cope with global warming and looking forward to the Summit in Copenhagenm This is the 60th anniversary year of the Commonwealth nation which I did not quite comprehend. You spoke of the need to reduce debt and to introduce a bill to help those in need in their homes. You made it a priority to raise educational stantards, You placed the burden on parents not tax payers to control youth antisocial behavior that leads to gang violence, Your priority was to promote advances in technology. You wanted a bill help energy and a billto improve the rail between London and ScotlandM I heard that the rail system is so clean and safe which is an asset of not having a Constitutional right to bear arms then you will not be gunned down and assisinations like President Kennedy where First Lady Jackie had to walk and go through an inauguration of President Lyndon Baines Johnson wearing her pink blood stained dress and the assasinated president's brains still on her watch as she gave to her countryLthe least I coud do" unable to cry she stood so regally with her crowning glory her pink pill box hat in a ceremony marking the peaceful transfer of power! God bless America and God Save the Queen! Equality will be a goal and tackeling discrimination by reducing the differences between men and women's payAnd adding paid holidays. You wanted to have a bill strengthen the law against bribery. In the US we have lobbyist and I equate that with bribery as the interest of the wealthy tobacco , gambling, insurance companiesand pharmacuetical companies has stopped Health Care Legislation for centuries! My sister in law wants it to pas so she can get her smile and her front teethM I remember as a child waiting for Dr. Edilin your government dentist to come to give us whatever we needed in dental care, For those who were afraid of the needles and had long roots that required streength to extract my grand father was a dentist and he would extract then in the raw. I would sit in the flower tree and watch knowing he never used his skill on his family as we could only use the British paid dentist. You went on to say that your support for Ireland's police, justice and succes was a priority. You wanted to give more power to Whales. You wanted peace in the Middle East like I do! You wanted peace and democracy in Afghanistan, Pakickistan. You mentioned Iran and North Korea I am not sure what you said but I think it was probably to start complying with requests for neucular disarmament.You wanted one percent spent on international development. Her Majesty as you wore your purple crown and the Duke of Eddingburg wore the sword and his royal Navy cap the three symbols of the Power of the crown which were later each placed together in a coach and returned tothe Tower of England for safe keeping! You left the Chamber pass Prince's Chamber to House of Lords where your Members of Parliament, and Prime Minister Gordon Brown were. There were regal men in red like on my tea cup but I missed the other cup with Queen Elizabeth I and the plates of Prince Charles Wedding and the christening of Prince Harry with a royal seal. I pray I will have the money should the gift appear again as they mean so much to me! The royal quards wore suits of red, white, and black trimmmed in gold.The Royal Milirary presence was so much an important part of the ceremony. Then it was a time to cry as I realized all the Cinderella fairy tail pumpkin coaches and mice horses were real life in your world as you get to be the Cinderella we dream about! You sat so regally in your coach with three horsemen in the bach and on in front.The. BBC commentators summarized your speech as 1) cutting the financial deficit,2) how to regulate the financial budget, 3) care for elderly,4) improve education, 5) help people in need in their own homes, utilities, and social care. The political issues will be should we cut disable benefits. This is a difference between the two parties- Conservatives and Tudors. If I am not accuarate I live in the US and I am doing this ad lib. BBC Sarah Teather Liberal Democrat was concerned about cutting benefits for the disabled. I recall that the Duke of Eddingburg wore a black suit a white sailor cap trimmed in black bill gold trim- think this cap is one of the three symbols of Power with the purple crown and the sword, I am learing too America! The Sovern Standard was lowered as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edingburg's coach passed while we heard "God saved the our gracious Queen. Long live our noble Queen. God saved our Queen. Saved her victious, happy and glorious, long to reign over us. /od saved our Queen". The Queen was taken to Buckinham Palace and the Imperial State Crown, the Sword of State and Cap of the Royal Navy (?) the three symbols of the Power of Crown rode in a coach for the 500th anniversary of the opening of Parliment. The coach used was Queen Alexandria's State Couch. The Tower is full of legleslative documents covering five centuries. The regalia. From the House of Calgery Regiment Escort with Irish guards was a sight to beholdB Angus Robertson of the Scottish National Party (Moray)said that in the General Election the MP's that did not do their job will be accountable! A BBC commentator wondered if there would be discussion on legislation for gay, lesbian and blacks. God there are mighy casual about it I guess they have a long way to grow! Then again I never traveled to The British Isle with my British passport! A lady BBC Commentator said Harriet worked to secure gender equality including women discrimination at work.all her life! Chris Grayling Conservative said it was all about the Labor Party's Manefesto. They did not deliver in 12 years and is not espected to now! The concerns were equality, arms, trade, child poverty, environmental aspect of sustanibility of planet and the Summet in Copenhagen according to the young people from Burmingham University. Some thought that in 12 years they party in office has blown it. BBC commentator Robertson said the pubic will demand their interest is paid attention to. The people want change if government do not live in their world and work to help young people find jobs, care for the elderly, reduce disruptive antisocial behaviior, provide help for people in their homes then they will vote for a change. Some estates are blighted by gangs Sarah Teather said the government did nothing in 12 years under Gordon Brown but this view was rejected by the other lady bBC commentator who said that it was untrue as two bills dealibg with the financial sector was in the Queen's speech written by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Big Ben was in the backgroung ringing what time is it? Time to stop discrimination of women and ineqyality worldwide! Did women fare better under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's terms? This was in the 1980's when President Regan and soviet Union 's leader Michel Gorbochof were in charge and the Berlin Wall Fell downM we want a woman president and our Berlin Wall of 230 or more years to crumble too!

Sen. Amy Klobuchar d Minnesota set the Republican Lies abot The Mao Clinic Straight - Dont put your head in the sand as the Bush three page Medicare Reform was passed unfunded!

Lillene Ebanks — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:18:29 EST

Set the record staight with oibjective facts not subjective opinionated retroic to fillibuster a life and death bill!

Once Upon A Time There Was A String of Pearls Draped Over A Gate!

Lillene Ebanks — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:00:27 EST

Once upon a time a princess, wearing a fish tail black dress with a heart shaped bodice, bent down to dance with a little boy who had just arrived through the pearly gates! Diana,The Princess of Whales, turned to President Reagan and said, "This one is for the Gipper!" With a sparkle in his eyes, John Travolta's little son, Jett, reached up to take Lady Di's hand! Gone were the seizures! This Was Saturday Night Live in the White House Once More! She is not a princess, John Trovilta, but I imagine with tears in my eyes that Leila, my daughter, danced and giggled with Jett too! It conforts me! Yes,in heaven dreams can come true! Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Sojurn Truth joined hands as "Mama Africa" Miriam Zenzile Makeba sang,"At Last." Then a jazz band played while Lewey Armstrong sang, "What a Wonderful World" to Madelyn and Stanley Dunham who embraced their daughter Ann as it was January19,2009 and her son paused in the corridor alone as he trembled inside realizing the destiny of a nation would be entrusted into his care. He took a deap breath and looked up to the heavens from whence cometh his strength-"God grant me windom", he prayed! Moments later a nation weaping with joy watched as President Barack Obama became the forty forth President of the United States. "Way to go dad!" Came a smile and a high five from a little Amrican beauty, Sasha Obama, clothed in a peachy pink coat trimmed with an orange sash, an orange scarf, her feet shod with orange shoes and frilly orange socks. First Lady Michelle Obama gave her husband a kiss that will be observed in color as long as the earth remains, wearing a brocade silk and wool woven lime green coat over a beaded neckline and a midrift sashed silk ribbon dress; still clinging tightly to the President Lincoly"s and President Obama's inaugural Bible with her olive green gloves with pumps she stepped into historical imortality for as long as our nation remains she STANDS! Like the glow of mother of pearl and the smooth waves on Galveston's Bay, our First Lady Michelle Obama"s dress glistened with the glow of a "thousand points of light" as the cameras across the Lincoln Memorial captured a moment in time and eternity! Gracefully capturing her legacy with a smile, Malia posed for the press in her royal blue wool coat trimmed in a matching silk ribbon tied at the bodice and a black scarf to match her shoes. With the glow of glory, in front of a castle with walls of multi coloured transulecent precious stones,in Fort Heaven, The Queen Of Hearts' black dress glided ever so gracefully over the streets of gold as she twirled Jett around while the bagpipes played Jett sang a tribute to his Daddy,and Lady Di sang to her babies, Prince William and Prince Harry, heirs to the throne of England. "Greece is a feeling, you can't stop believing now We can be who you are!".They were laughing for joy as the light from the throne of God bathe them in everlasting rightousness! President Reagan looked at John John as he saluted his dad, President John F. Kennedy who reached to join hands with First Lady Jackie Kennedy. She was wearing her pink Dallas dress that she wore to President LBJ's inauguration after her husband went through the pearly gate while she held his body on her pink dress and the pink pill box hat. Mother Theresa whispered,"It is not the act,but the amount of love that is put into doing it!" In the glow of glory Jackie's pink dress was no longer filled with shattered brains. Standing next to them were Lady Bird Johnson wearing a red dress with a basket of fresh picked blue bonnets with white tips and red indian paint brushes with yellow fluer de leau stamens like on the helmets of the NFL New Orleans Saints' foot ball players with their Katrina survivors' resolve championship spirit, a tribute to old glory and the six flags of Texas (Texas was French and one gold flag had Fluer De Leau like on your helmets) which she placed gently on The River of Life. President LBJ was wearing his cowboy hat and his tan Texas Longhorn leather with rusty brown cow hair tipped cowboy boots as he reached down to gather up his bride. In his deep commanding Texan drawl, he asked Ernest Tubb to sing "The Yellow Rose of Texas" followed by "The San Antonio Rose", "Galviston" and "Houston". President LBJ cowboyed up and danced past the white tail teer nursing in the field while the twelve point deer miandered through a flock of wild turkey dancing as LBJ danced the Texas Two Step withLady Bird Johnson. They were joined by history's chosen who paved the way for Civil Rights in the Land of Milk and Honey, the Melting Pot, America the Beautiful! The United States military band, the three thousand fallen heroes from the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and that Pennsilvania's field on 9-11 including the New York City fire fighters joined hands as all thirty nine United States Presidents placed their hands over their hearts as the bugles blew and Elvis Presley shock as he sang the "Star Spangled Banner". Without missing a beat, the British Royal Navy's bagpipe band played "Bonnie Prince Charlie" as Mommy blew kisses toward Buckinham Palace where she watched Prince William and Princess Harry giggling over a joke as the Big Ben clock chimed over sounds of the waves splashing on the River Thames! A red double decker lorry roared pass Saint Paul's Cathedral so a golden brown curley haired American teenager, great grand son of a Scotch Irish Crown Colonist, could Anchor near enough to see the changing of the guards. They were on their way to Paris to see the Eifel Tower, the Arch De Thriump and to semember another Texan President Eizenhower who lead ended World War II by the strength and unstoppable courage of men like a Mississippi home town dad with fourteen children on Normandy's shore on D-Day! He wanted to get home and sing gospil songs, play the harmonica to the Mississippi blues at a Georgia family reunion! Smiling ever so gracefully was The Queen Mother wearing her three string pearls to match the Pearly Gate, a light blue hat with a rose and a light blue dress, she whispered a blessing on her daughter, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who was sipping a cup of Earl Grey tea with Johnny Cakes wearing an orange dress with mahogony mink collar and cuffs as she thought about her trip across Europe to christen another Royal Navy ship, the H.M.S.Liverpool. The smell of the berganot in the tea, a bond, a heritage, a love, a three string pearl linage, a tradition! The 9-11 New York City's firefighters, fallen Twin Tower heroes, wearing their yellow trimmed grey suits and fire helmets gathered to repeat the 23rd Psalm and to show their respect for the strength, courage and calm resolve displayed by President George W. Bush after the hearts of We the People of the United States came in one accord trempling looking to our leader to restore a deep sense of rape of all that we hold dearly! President George W. Bush began, "Yeah though we walk through the shadow death I will fear no evil for God is with me.." Even at ground zero God is there! May The Queen Of Heart's light continue to shine in the hearts of her gifts to the world, little yellow shamrock heirs to the longest living monarchy on earth! John Wayne "The Duke" strutted up to The Queen Mother and took off his cowboy hat and bowedN then courtseying his hat in a swooping motion said, " * man gotta do what a man gotta do!" John Lennon played, "Imagine" as the Queen Mother in her baby blue shiffon gown with her rose hat, three.string pearls glided across the floor while Big Ben struck midnight! Cinderella's clue that the dance is over! Long live the queen! Dale Earnheart said,"On the The Road Again! Play it three time as I go around the race trace again! Can you wave the victory flag when I cross the finish line?" God bless America! Hail to the thirty nine chiefs who await us beyond the gate that is draped in a string of pearls and hail to our five beloved Chiefs: President Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, President William Jefferson Clinton, President George H.W. Bush, and President James Earl Carter!In the Tree of Life the American bald eagle sang, in unison as her babies squacked frustrated with two hundred and sixty six or seventy years waiting on a snow capped Denalli mountain, joined by the voice of Women around the World and a Razorback Hog on th Ozark Pigs Trail, in its MOuth was a WaSHington D.C.'s CHerry BloSsoM branch dropped by the bald eagle an anointing of precious perfume oils a tribute to the 2008 campaign while forshadowing an event that will change the world when the first woman President of the United States will be inaugurated! "OH Beautiful PeRSPaciOuS SKieS Of AMBeR WaVES Of GREen,AMeRCia, AMeRiCa GOD SHeD HiS GRaCe On YOu!" Can you find YES WE CAN in the waiting of the pigs' and eagles' quartet? Lady Liberty asked, "What time is it?" All the Native American Indians gone and striving to honor the unmarked graves scattered across a nation of the most noble sacrifices made by an indiginous people on ancient ancestrial Holy ground in the name of "Manifest Destiny", "It is my time!" Awakened by the call of histoy deep into the wombs of Women across a globe came the beakoning of Lady Liberty-Is it time yet? I can't stand this birthing pain any longer and another child breath the breath of life in the three AM wake up call! The eagletts in orphan Denalli's side cried about to be aborted by the snow and ice as the eagle squacked of fetus of unborn were torn to smithering and the mouths of the public school children taped from prayers but the gay policeman kissed his husband after their wedding cermony and the nerves on the neck of a lady tightened as the neasua in her stomach made her sing "I am a little more country than that". The Wanda Sykes sang."I'ms a be me" whil uptown West Bank Cover Girl (?) Ellen Degeneris blushgig sang, "Greece is a feeling you can start believing now that you can be who you are!" Then my two aborted babies joined hands with the billions others in heaven and sang, "The blood of Jesus shed for you will guarantee you will hold us on the other side". "Don't cry mama," Leila said,"We are happy now as we are all togeter now. We love you! See you soon!" "You start believing now you can be who you are!" Imagine the Cherry Blossom Park filled with pregnant bellies and a White House filled with "Keep It Real" drama and regular educated people! An unwed mother, a dozen children, deer heads in the East Room, fishing trophies, mini skirts, a Playgirl (Baby's Daddy) magazine hidden in a drawer in the Lincholn Bedroom in the White House, and a special needs child sitting in the Oval Office playing with an Alaskan Huskie slay dog! This is America where any thing is possible and anyting you can dream and believe can come true there is a changing wind! Dancing to the Zack Brown Band's "where love is grown on Southern ground, funny how the little things in life can mean so much" and Tim McGraw's "Southern Voice" I am just speaking with a Southern Voice! "So baby why don't we just dance" like Josh Turner! And when you get in to a situation where you are scared, broke, and far away from family and friends on a journey of your life time which can change your world, wearing your favorite Toby KeithKs hat, for a graduation ceremony, because peaceful transitions hurt and bring joy, comforted and reassured of each step of the way listening to "Lady Antebellum's "I turn to you", stoping outside of DC crying as the fire trucks escorted you on through the wee hours of the morning when you are scared and alone wearing your Toby Keith hat in support of our troops, our flag and our American traditions, wearing an American Indian jacket, cowgirl up boots, a British Razorback Republican) red coat, Tennesse blue grass denim square dancing flared mini skirt, with an Obama Biden pin on your American flag, with a Captain Sulley's spirit, Exoxon Mobile gasoline, General E.Leeah drove an"American Ride" with her three Louis Vetton suit cases from Goodwill, "Some journeys can change the world", PEACEFUL TRANSITIONS, to advocate with Senator McCain for help for illegal immigrants who are Native American's on ancestrial grounds in a have's and have's not world, ridden with schools that assign you pit bull dogs cages clean up assignments that will make you lose your mind you just look into those blue eyes you just delivered and thank God you are a mother and you didn't go through the gate with the string of pearls in the arms of a first response fire fighter who liberated a world on D-Day on Normandy"s shore thinking of his fourten babies back at home! Stay alive and live to make more babies my little southern beauty. in the fight of your life! We are behind you with all the prayers that heaven can muster up! God Bless America! We pray for our troops on the front line that they will be able to understand the history, culture, resolve of the Afghan people in an inpenetratable terrain using tanks but who after decades of stuggles under many "helpers" may become an alliance or war that will last longer than one generation of 17 years! And Senator McCain when that health care bill comes to you jump up to advocate for coverage of cosmetic surgery too as you appreciate beauty and sex appeal, We know by your pretty youthful wife and your campaign choice!That is the American Voice! We care about how our tax dollars are spent and if executives can jet around we can get a tummy tuck, a face lift or an enhancement of our choice, right? Did you ask your wife? Should I have any of those Governor Palin's "death panels" to encounter with I want to get cosmetic surgery to boost my confidence to go with my pearls and Paris Hilton and Haley Berry perfume in my old age as I don't want to wait until I get through the Pearly Gate to be pretty!

World Cup: Bring it Hom Liverpool and then help me finish my Liverpool Law degree and get to London! Keep thathose pounds, shillings and pence rocking our world economy!

Lillene Ebanks — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:57:02 EST

It is not the Luck of the Irish but it is the unrelenting fortitude of the royal bloodline that preserves our world economy! Wwarriors playing for their lives!

"Dithering" and harming military: Get some of tghat Enron money that was traced to Hell Hole Grand Cayman ! The same amount showed up in Iraq and was VP Chaneys private cponflict of interest company all the better off for Senator McCains Eron Board of Dir

Lillene Ebanks — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:29:29 EDT

Woes of financial gains lost and military families from the tax haven where all the money is hoarded speaks up for cruelty to navy nursing US born wives and US born infants by deporting their fathers who gave their all to protect the USA as a result of the Patriot Act; what part is patriotic?

"Dithering" and harming military: Get some of tghat Enron money that was traced to Hell Hole Grand Cayman ! The same amount showed up in Iraq and was VP Chaneys private cponflict of interest company all the better off for Mrs. McCains, Eron Board of Direc

Lillene Ebanks — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:10:27 EDT

Woes of financial gains lost and military families from the tax haven where all the money is hoarded speaks up for navy cruelty!

Dirk Donahue Ebanks the British Flag Is Proudly Flying To Welcome You Home From Your God Forsaken Vistit To Texas Where Democratic President Kennedy Was Slaughtered in the Same Country That Slaughted the Whole Kennedy Clan Too Irishmen Living in TP

Lillene Ebanks — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:56:18 EDT

The Union Jack proudly flies as you return from your journey to the promised land the land of milk and honey! 1hat happened! 5id you not enjoy southern hospitality Dirkv JFirst Lady Jackie Kennidy did not find it too welcoming eighter Dirk. The Queen, Harry and William are wearing black white with black and Hot Pink or Rose ties as you journey home. To the opening of the Parliment the Queen wore royal blue hat and dress with three strand pearls and black shoes, gloves and hat! There is a shortage of Royal Blue in Goodwill in Texas but Red is everwhere around here but as tradition we do not wear red to funerals! "Atinos are we rethinking that blood is thicker than Republican,s idea of a tea party in Texas! Maybe it is BBQ Alamo style President Bush! According to Fox news iit is " Nancy Pelosi' Ideas of Nanny deadbeats! Well! Quess what I head it called in Louisiana NFL! But we have the Navy Bowl Coming up or is it the Coast Qurd Game NFl! Speaking of dogs Captain Black Sparrow was kidnapped by Smith and I Love You Tweet Tweet Died! Sorry TobyB and I guess my mind does not let me remember President Bush's dog all I can think of are vicious pit bull dogs dressed up for a Texas BBQ of latinos or American Indians and Grill those Irishmen tooB Lowers the Riggers so they can walk the plank Captain Black Sparrow! It is a dogs life ladies until President Hillary Clinton and Vice President Sheila Jackson Lee shows those Massachutechet boys posing as Texans how to grill! Cowboy up President Clinton you have a budget to balance as the First GentlemanB Diamonds are a girls best friend and Arkansas has the only American diamond mind! Not a diamond in the rough but the blue diamon we we up!

Two Party Constitutional Justice of The Have"s and Have Not"s:A man loses his three young daughters in a tragic fire and he gets the DEATH PENALTY not because of a guilty mind but arson activists who rejected expert arson opinions! Governor"s coverup of T

Lillene Ebanks — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:26:02 EDT

It is a scary place to be employed in a prison that kills parents when their kids die in a fire! We do not need to show they had a guilty mind we just need drumbed up hobo jumbo ignoring humanity as it suffers the death of their loved ones, Death Row America! I an afraid if my family dies in a fire I will be executed! A sargent already disabled me there!

Craig Ferguson in his Irish Blarney twang, "I think it was a little arley for Obama to get the noble Peace Prize!" you probabely felt prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher's son shoul of gaughten oone for the cue he lead in South Africa after Apharthide to stop

Lillene Ebanks — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:28:47 EDT

We have over come the race war so now we will catch up with the geder war the British won many years ago! God Blees the Queen and God bless America!

Two Party Constitution: Pumpkin and Watermelon Supreme Court And Lower Court US Justice: Senator Kennedy Kiils While Drunk and Remains to Create Laws while a Marijuna Smoking Presidential Navy Pal is Deported! Her Majesty this Death Penalty Gun Pushing US

Lillene Ebanks — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:26:59 EDT

Justice!Two part Constitution for the haveks and have not's! Her Majesty these gun slinging death penalty justices need a little Scottish justice tempered with compassion after they lay down their lead before those illegal break the door down without warrents and put the fear of Gun to your head in order to collect more pumpkins and watermelons for their two part justice system!

"Heavenly Hugs and Kisses to Caroline Kennedy from your dad, President Kennedy, mama, First Lady Jackie Kennedy and most of all your baby brother, John John: We love you!"

Lillene Ebanks — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 04:05:05 EDT

"We love you Caroline and we are proud of you sis!"

Sail On Our Irish Knight on the Good Ship USA

Lillene Ebanks — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:43:14 EDT

Sail On...
With the World War II ship in the horison, a United States Navy Carrier, the sea gulls on the Texas coast, God sent a sea turle and the sea turtle blew...
Sail on Good ship USA,
Sail On...

Prayer for Senator Kennedy's healing from cancer so he can stay with us until he is 100 in perfect health

Lillene Ebanks — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:24:35 EDT

Father, in the name of Jesus who died on the cross for our salvation and by his stripes we are healed. Your Word says that if we ask anything believing it will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In the name of Jesus and by his blood I speak to the cancer in Senator Kennedy and command you to begin to go into remission and blood cells I command you to be made whole, new and cancer free. Nerves, tendons, muscles, organs, skin, tissues, nerves, ,d brain cells I take authority over you by the power given to me by the blood of ;esus shed on the cross as the Word says by His Blood we are healed. Senator Kennedy we love you , need you and want you to stay in good health with us for a long long time. Will you believe with us so we can keep you as a gift to us for what the canker worm has stolen from us when your whole family were wiped outM Please do not go.

Our Tribute to a Virtuous Woman: Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Founder of Special Olympics

Lillene Ebanks — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:00:04 EDT

On behalf of the special education students around the world whose lives have been enhanced by the efforts of the founder of Special Olympics, we take this moment to say thank you and your memory will go with us through out our lives. We offer our sincere to her brother Senator Edward Kennedy, her daughter, Maria Shriver and her husband, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, her niece, Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, and to all their friends, family, and to all those who grieve at the passing of such a virtuous woman of valor.

Happy Birthday Prince William and Her Majesty

Lillene Ebanks — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:27:19 EDT

The official birthday for Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II is celebrated on the third Saturday of June which was June 20, 2009 and the following day was Prince William's birthday, June 21, 2009. Well, Prince William, on behalf of you belowed mom, Lady Diana, I sent to you all the love and affection from heaven and from your loyal subjects in the Cayman Island and in Texas.

A Tribute to Prince Henry (Harry)

Lillene Ebanks — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:44:58 EDT

Prince Henry, on behalf of the people of the West Bay Primary School District, I take great pleasure in presenting you with this bouquet of yellow shamrocks and banana orchids to commemorate your visit to ground zero in New York, and as a token of our love and affection for all that you and the British Army and British Navy have done for freedom and democracy in Iraq and Afganastan. I chose the yellow shamrocks and the banana orchids in memory of the flowers I presented to your great grand mother, Her Rayal Highness, The Queen Mother, and His Highness, your grandfather, The Duke of Eddingburg on their visit to West Bay, in the Cayman Islands.

GOP "faithful" respond to "Send Cheney Packing"

Peter and Linda — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:09:15 EDT

I don't think he would be on the scene if this administration would stop trying to nail the last administation to the cross for war crimes. We are supposed to be going forward (CHANGE), not living in the past.

First of all, the GOP has been very, very negative since day one, way before anything about the war crimes came out. That's just another GOP excuse ... one a day lately. I would have to agree with you, but after the disastrous last 8 years, Cheney should be ashamed of their record and quietly ride off into the sunset. He is a major factor in all the negativity against the new administration, as if his era was such a huge success.

By the way, you're 100% correct. We are supposed to be going forward (CHANGE). That's what the Obama administration is trying to do. That's what the MAJORITY voted for ... OBAMA and CHANGE. Unfortunately, if you look at the GOP voting record, they're doing EVERYTHING in their power to derail any advances toward real change. If the "party of no" continues their spitefulness, we will remain stagnant and we will ALL continue to suffer because of their arrogance and obstinacies.

I'm ashamed to admit I was a lifelong Republican.

Stop forwarding your trash!!!

Peter and Linda — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:55:38 EDT

I'm sick of all the negative emails, knocking every single thing President Obama suggests or tries, in his attempt to find solutions to rebuild America and the American spirit after the last 8 miserable, disheartening years. Here's just one example of the trash they waste their time forwarding.

"You can say it all you want. Obama is ushering in socialism. One doesn’t have to be a brain surgeon to understand that. Apparently though, you are having difficulties."

I will not even write what I really want to say to them. It would definitely be XXX-rated. If they have nothing constructive or productive to say, let them please keep their wretched opinions to themselves and don't say anything at all. Instead of wasting their time trying to tear the country down, these characters might want to participate in any and every attempt to restore America to it's greatness of yesteryear.

Get over yourself and pray that President Obama succeeds, so all Americans succeed. Think about it the next time, before you begin to criticize and display your arrogance and ignorance.

Irish for O'bama - St. Paddy's Day

Lisa Holmes - Obama Precinct Captain #3361 — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:33:22 EDT

This is a repost from my blog dated Mar 15th, 2008 |

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/obamablogger/gGB8Mn

**************************

Irish for O'bama - St. Paddy's Day

I was born in Rockford, Illinois to an Irish American Family. My family arrived in Chicago in the 1880s. My great grandfather John Archibald Magee a tailor by trade, took a position at Marshall Field’s. John broke and trained the delivery horses for Marshall Field's Store. The story goes that John changed his last name from McGee to Magee because of the trouble his brothers had gotten into in Ireland with the separatist movement in Antrim. My Great Grandmother, Delia Agnes met John and his mother and father on the boat trip over from Ireland. She was an orphan and looking for a position in America. The pair were married at Holy Name Cathederal in Chicago.

When my G-Grandfather/mother arrived, the Irish were descriminated against and finding jobs if you were IRISH AMERICAN was not easy. They took jobs no one wanted, they worked hard, stayed in all-Irish neighborhoods and kept to themselves, clung to their proud heritage.

I wake up every morning and reaffirm to myself - I will not allow myself to be descriminated against because of my gender. I will not allow anyone to be discounted because of the color of their skin. I will not dismiss someone because of their views. I will not be ashamed of being American when I travel overseas. (because of our poor foriegn policy over the past 8 years)

We need to stop looking at what divides us, celebrate what makes us unique and join forces against those who would try to seperate us to gain political power. If we can find the common denominator...we become stronger. If we fail....those who do not want to share political power or the American promise will silence our voices. Seperate and divide. Seperate and divide.

So on this St. Patrick's Day...it's time to kiss everyone...because you are "American".

If my great grandparents could come to America and prosper...so can you and so can America. Oh, yes we can!

A very happy St. Paddy's to you and yours....!

Marshall Fields Store Chicago IL

Santelli, WHO???

Peter and Linda — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:00:35 EST

I just read this and had to comment.

"This Santelli thing is just total B.S.

He's a self-promoting blow-hard. Before his made-for-TV rant, who'd ever heard of this guy, other than his mom and next-door neighbor?

Anyone can gain a smidgeon of fame by saying outrageous things on cable TV. He's just following the mold of Jim Cramer and Ann Coulter.

The problem is that the media echo chamber can't help themselves when it comes to these fame-seeking blowhards. It's better for ratings to put on a frothing-at-the-mouth lunatic like Cramer, Coulter or Santelli, than it is to put on someone who talks in full paragraphs, like a Robert Reich, or a thousand other economists you've never heard of."

Author unknown ... however, I couldn't have said it better myself.

I'd love to meet this Santelli character. Instantly, he's smarter and knows more about the economy than President Obama. I think not , Santelli, you worthless bum. You couldn't shine Obama's shoes. You're simply a miserable wannabe. You're a big mouth, show-off!

Give an obnoxious Italian-American, with a few bucks, a microphone and there will surely be a scene and for the most part, they will always make an ass out of themselves (just as this jackass did).

I know what I'm talking about. I grew up in an strictly Italian-American neighborhood (being of Italian descent myself). I've seen bums like Santelli come and go. For the most part, simply ignore them. They will eventually go away in disgrace or wind up in jail.

God bless America.

Here is why I love this man... seriously

Suzanne — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:23:55 EST

I cannot tell you how happy I am that our new President is so FRIGGIN' AWESOME!!!

He took the time, in the beginning of his Presidency, to speak with Al Arabiya TV - not just to yell and scream about the "bad guys" in the Arab world, but to talk about what is similar in our lives...

Obama to Al Arabia TV

AWESOME!!! (did I say he's awesome?)

National Day of Service

Suzanne — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:43:45 EST

Today, My son's GF Carly and I went out and helped clean a local beach as part of the National Day of Service.

Any of you who know me, I have spent the last 20+ years of my life in community service, and now find that my health limits me on the things I can do. That's really touch for someone who has it in their blood...

Either way, today was a great day! I hope that people will find it in their heart to continue with their community service efforts. You don't need to give up an un-Godly amount of time, but I betcha the local animal shelter, or soup kitchen, or your neighbors, for that matter, would appreciate one or two days a month dedicated to helping out our fellow human beings. It feels good, AND it's good for you, too!

here are some pictures:

Golden Ticket

Lovenrockets - New Smyrna Beach, FL — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:49:43 EST

Today as an exciting day for me for two reasons. Interestingly enough the one that followed later in the day surpassed one of deep personal enrichment and growth.

I received an invite to the Inauguration of Barack H. Obama, as President of the United States of America and Joseph R. Biden, Jr., as Vice President of the United States of America.

Like so many people, never have I ever been involved in politics because and to be honest, it scared and/or bored me off.

It is deeply moving to see another person's dream as one of my own. I'm going because "we can" and might be doing the jig all the way there. :-) (jk).

I'm excited!!!

Mighty Majesty Mining Minerals and Managing Money Making Misery for Men

Lillene Ebanks — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:18:16 EST

God Saved Our Gracious Queen!Long live our noble Queen, Happy and glorious (“Mighty Majesty, Mining minerals,Managing money,Making my mansion a mystery, Making men a minority to master,Memories of the mutilated, mangled in aMetal Machine, and ? ! Memories of meMade mysteriously mentally-disabled by Mighty Majesty’s medical militia men With medicine, butMy medical men moved it magically.Might MajestyMitigate with much Money for me $₤₤, ₤₤₤, ₤₤₤??”) Long to reign over us. “Making misery for multitudes of menJ” Long to reign over US!

The Source of the Nile: Lake Victoria's Wisdom

Lillene Ebanks — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:36:46 EST

Barry, I’ll be home for Christmas if only in your dreams. Sing with me Ivory and Ebony: you like it? Love Mama. P.S. We are so proud of you precious. I miss holding you little fat face when you learned to ride and your dad loves it too. We gave you everything we had, not knowing you did not belong to us but you were a god of the Nile. Toot had to celebrate with me, and Paupah; and little Barry. we realize you did not belong to us – you are a god of the Nile River like Moses to change the world with the wisdom given to you from Lake Victoria the source of the Nile. Lake Victoria deposited into you all the secrets of the ages to help you in your journey down the Nile and then through out the globe, for time and eternity. For unto to us a child is born. Unto us a son is given and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, and the government shall be upon His shoulders. Hah …Hah… Hah.. Hallelujah. © Sis - Interpreter of DreamsThe Source of the Nile: Lake Victoria’s Wisdom

Heads up on potential pardons...please weigh in if you are inclined...

Tara — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:29:29 EST

https://secure.aclu.org/site/Ecard?ecard_id=5301

Send a Card to a Soldier for the Holidays

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:22:20 EST

Here’s a great idea to spread the holiday spirit! When doing your Holiday/Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to the following address.

A Recovering American Soldier

c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20307-5001

If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful, special people who have sacrificed so much would get.

Sarah Palin, Giuliani to Campaign for Sen. Chambliss in Ga. Runoff

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:48:54 EST

Former GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin will make four campaign stops in Georgia just one day before the state’s voters head to the polls in a runoff election that could determine whether Democrats win unfettered control of Congress.

The campaign of GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss announced Tuesday morning that Alaska Gov. Palin and Chambliss will hit the campaign trail together on Dec. 1.

“I was thrilled when I got the call that Governor Palin would be able to make the trip to Georgia to campaign with me the day before the runoff election,” Sen. Chambliss stated in a news release. “Julianne and I are honored that she would take the time to travel to Georgia to tell everyone how important this election is, and I know that she will receive an enthusiastic welcome everywhere we go.”

The campaign tells Newsmax that Palin and Chambliss will embark on a clockwise tour through the heart of central Georgia, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in Augusta, with later campaign stops that in Savannah, Perry (near Macon) and concluding with a rally scheduled for 4 p.m. in north Atlanta. Chambliss is hoping a last-minute boost from Palin will build the momentum he needs to win the runoff.

Urgent: Support for Jim Martin's Senate Race is Needed

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:58:43 EST

Please remember to help support Jim Martin in Georgia for this very important Senate seat. Not only is Jim Martin the best man for the job, his election to the Senate will help the President-elect, Barack Obama, to enact the positive, pragmatic change that America needs at this crucial time. Please help me in contributing to Jim Martin's campaign by spreading the word and by making whatever modest donation you can to his fundraising effort.

http://www.martinforsenate.com/home.html

Thank you,

Julia of Irish Musicians for Obama

Support is Needed for Begich, Martin, and Franken in Final Senate Seat Push!

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:15:02 EST

Dear Obama supporters and fellow Democrats:

While we bask in the glow from this beautiful win for President-elect Obama and for our political party as a whole, I wanted to remind you to keep an eye on three Senate races that are in need of our collective positive energy, if not our monetary contributions. The following three Democratic hopefuls could use a quick note of encouragement on their blogsites or a small contribution of money to boost enthusiasm. As we all know, a little bit of collective energy goes a long way in 2008!!

Thanks for your continued support!

-Mark Begich, running against convicted felon Ted Stevens in Alaska:

"This race is far from over!"

http://www.begich.com/home

-Al Franken, running in a tight race in Minnesota that is "too close to call:"

http://www.alfranken.com/

-Jim Martin, "headed to a runoff" against good ol' boy Saxby Chambliss in Georgia:

http://www.martinforsenate.com/

It Looks Real

Lovenrockets - New Smyrna Beach, FL — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:03:10 EST

OMG...I can hardly contain myself. It looks like it is going to happen!!! This entire experience has restored my hope that our nation really sees the truth behind the blinds. I am almost at a complete loss of words...

Thank you MSNBC for hearing the voice of the Senator Obama supporters from Day 1. They were smart enough to know it was the "Voice of A Nation".

Florida...please do not act crazy and let's get it under the belt!! Go Obama Go!!!! Thank God!

The 'Obama Way': Seven steps to success

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:29:59 EST

What his distinctive approach reveals about his possible administration

NEW YORK - I was sitting in David Plouffe’s spartan office at Barack Obama’s campaign headquarters in Chicago.

This horserace has been an interesting one, but that’s not what I wanted to talk about. Instead, I asked the campaign manager about decision-making.

A lot of the campaign's choices have been better than good.

What Do Angels Look Like?

Lovenrockets - New Smyrna Beach, FL — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:25:29 EST

Like the little old lady who returned
~ your wallet yesterday.

Like the taxi driver who told you that your eyes
~ light up the world, when you smile.

Like the small child who showed you
~ the wonder in simple things.

Like the poor man who offered to
~ share his lunch with you.

Like the rich man who showed you that it
~ really is all possible, if only you believe.

Like the stranger who just happened to come along,
~ when you had lost your way.

Like the friend who touched your heart,
~ when you didn't think you had one to touch.

Angels come in all sizes and shapes,
~ all ages and skin types.

Some with freckles, some with dimples,
~ some with wrinkles, some without.

They come disguised as friends, enemies,
~ teachers, students, lovers and fools.

They don't take life too seriously,
~ they travel light.

They leave no forwarding address,
~ they ask nothing in return.

They wear sneakers with gossamer wings,
~ they get a deal on dry cleaning.

They are hard to find when your eyes are closed,
~ But they are everywhere you look, when you choose to see.

This is a poem I found online some years ago. This is for our Senator Obama and hope that perhaps he will find peace after the loss of his incredible Grandmother and continued strength in the hours and day that lies ahead.

The world awaits your arrival, and we, millions and millions and millions are behind you.

The Opening Obama Saw

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:43:21 EST

A good politician triumphs by adapting to the times and taking advantage of opportunities as they come. A great politician anticipates openings others don't see and creates possibilities that were not there before.

John McCain might have been the second kind of politician, tried to be the first and enters Election Day at a steep disadvantage. Barack Obama certainly seized the opportunities created by President Bush's failures and the country's profound discontent, which only deepened after the economic crash. But by creating a new social movement, new forms of political organization, and a sense of excitement and possibility not felt in politics for three decades, he is bidding to become one of the country's most consequential leaders.

Economic Message Buoys Obama

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:53:12 EST

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Senator Barack Obama entered this presidential race as the antiwar candidate, defined by his early and vocal opposition to the 2003 Iraq invasion. He captured the left wing of the Democratic Party, particularly in Iowa, and rode that support to the nomination.

Almost two long years later, Obama enters the campaign's waning hours a strikingly different candidate, one who may win the presidency tomorrow largely on the strength of his economic message.

Among the many ways in which Obama has evolved as a candidate, none is as fundamental as his shift in focus from the war to the economy. The metamorphosis reflects both the changed political climate over the past 21 months, and the agility Obama has shown in responding to it.

"He crafted a message of change, broadly speaking, and he has been able to essentially fold almost anything underneath that concept," said Dan Palazzolo, a political scientist at the University of Richmond in Virginia. "He has very skillfully adapted to almost every contingency that has come up."

FROM THIS MOMENT FORWARD...

Tara — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:44:09 EST

Dedicate everything you do, everything you have done, to Toot, Barack's Grandma. She just made her transition, according to CNN, one day prior to the election.

Send blessings and prayers that this rare and wonderful woman passed, confident that her grandson WILL MAKE HISTORY.

My love goes out to the entire Obama family...

When I am Poll Watching tomorrow - it will be for Toot, in her memory and the CHANGE she KNEW IN HER HEART that her grandson would bring about.

Namaste.

From Progress Florida...interesting...!!!

Tara — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:29:12 EDT

Dear Tara,

I'm working with Progress Florida in the hope that you will forward this email to any friends, family or co-workers who may still be undecided on the presidential race.

Recently, my father gave me an envelope full of press clippings, which detail the years my cousin, then-Lt. Cmdr. John S. McCain, was imprisoned in North Vietnam. John and I are related through our grandmothers. Katherine Vaulx McCain and Huetta Vaulx Boles, both of Fayetteville, Arkansas, were sisters.

When John threw his hat in the ring in 2000, my father and I were both very proud and encouraged, and not just because he's our relative. This was the first politician in a long time who, on a national stage, was saying things like, "Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer-reaches of American politics."

Jump ahead to the campaign my cousin is currently running. Clearly, a lot can change in eight years. Where is the straight-talking, commonsense John McCain of 2000? I'm afraid he is long gone, replaced by a desperate version of himself who seems to contradict nearly everything he once stood for.

What becomes apparent in his ideological about-face is just how out of touch my cousin John really is with America's working families.

A part of me is made very sad to write this email. As I've said, my family has followed John's life and career with no absence of pride. But like many Americans of good conscience, my father and I can no longer consider voting for our own cousin.

Instead, we will be voting for the hope and real change embodied by Barack Obama this Election Day.

Sincerely,
Adam Vaulx Boles

SARASOTA RALLY...!!!

Tara — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:51:54 EDT

I have been working so hard I CRIED THROUGH BARACK'S ENTIRE SPEECH! (In fact, I'm still teary - not good as I must GOTV in two hours!)

Of course I yelled & hooted alot as well...I may have been the last person to enter Ed Smith Stadium - I had to wait until everyone else was in & seated or STANDING...!!!

I cannot believe I have a voice left, as I was one of the volunteers GREETING, THANKING & EXPLAINING the rules to thousands of people. AMAZING.

There is a huge difference in hearing his words in person, rather than on the telly or videos. It was so impactful, I do not have the proper words...HE SPOKE TO THE VERY DEPTHS OF ME, AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

The attendees were amazing - polite, happy, excited! When I yelled that WE ARE MAKING HISTORY, the applause was wonderful. Everyone apparently knew that this was a paramount experience!

Great thanks to all who made this event possible!!!

This DOES NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO DESCRIBING THE EXPERIENCE...

I like America - By Dafydd Wigley

Welsh Dave — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:28:54 EDT

For Daily Post, 23rd October 2008

I like America

By Dafydd Wigley

It may not be politically correct to say so but I like America. I take people as I find them. And American people are amongst the warmest and most generous in the world.

That doesn’t mean that I agree with the American Government. I see President Bush as a disaster. It reflects on the American people for electing him and incredibly, for re-electing him. It reflects equally on Blair and Brown for giving him unqualified support.

For the last two weeks I have been in the US. I was there when the New York Stock Exchange crashed; and as Obama and McCain clashed. We shall soon know who will be in the White House.

We in Wales can’t pretend that the Presidential election doesn’t matter. Thousands of Welsh pensioners will be nervously wondering whether their savings and pensions will be undermined by America’s economic woes.

There are Welsh parents with sons and daughters out in Iraq or Afghanistan, who have a personal stake in seeing elected a President who wants peace.

There are employees of American companies in Wales who wonder whether they will be in a job by Christmas.

The Welsh political tradition in America is to vote Republican. This goes back to Republican President Abraham Lincoln. The Welsh strongly supported his campaign to abolish slavery. The agrarian Welsh were also famous for their financial prudence.

Most of the Welsh I met will still vote republican, but with a heavy heart. My commitment to Obama upset some of them – but most accepted that there must be change.

The great irony is that McCain now also calls for change, distancing himself, with every speech, from the devalued political currency of George Bush.

A week is famously a long time in politics. But it will need an earthquake to prevent Obama from being elected as the first black President. Colin Powell’s support for him has added to his momentum.

My fear is that Obama will not stand up to the Israeli lobby in America and insist on securing a stable Palestinian state. My fear is also that America, under either President, will recoil into a period of self doubt and introspection.

Despite their gung-ho attitudes, their incomprehension of foreigners, their attachment to raw capitalism and their abhorrence of anything socialist; despite their belief in American omnipotence – and that God is on their side; despite all this, let us never forget that we in Europe still owe American an enormous debt of gratitude.

Without American help we may not, arguably, have won the Hitler war. Certainly we would not have won the peace. The younger generation in Britain today may have forgotten the incredible generosity of the Marshall Aid scheme which helped prevent us repeating in 1945 the mistakes made at the end of World War I.

I hope that Obama wins; but whoever is victorious, let us wish him wisdom, vision and luck. For all our futures are embroiled in the outcome of the American Election on 4th November.

Florida Early Vote EXTENDED statewide

Kristen Psaki — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:32:42 EDT

Early Voting for the entire state of Florida has just been extended.

Every Early Vote location in Florida will now be every day from 7am-7pm up through November 2.

Please pass along this great news to everyone you know who will be voting in Florida. Click here to find your nearest early vote location.

Here's the release:

GOVERNOR CRIST EXTENDS EARLY VOTING HOURS
~~ ~Ensures maximum number of Floridians can exercise right to vote~ ~~
October 28, 2008
Contact:
GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE(850) 488-5394
TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist today signed Executive Order 08-217, extending the hours for early voting during the current General Election. Effective immediately, early voting sites will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., through Friday, October 31, 2008, and for a total of 12 hours between 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2008.

"I have spoken with the Secretary of State and members of the Florida Legislature and have concluded that it is always the right thing to do to give voters every opportunity to cast a ballot," Governor Crist said. "I have a responsibility to the voters of our state to ensure that the maximum number of citizens can participate in the electoral process, and that every person can exercise the right to vote."

Prior to the 2008 General Election, Florida has seen historic numbers of Floridians registering to vote for the first time. In addition, record numbers of voters have chosen to cast a ballot during early voting.

Early voting began on October 20 and runs through November 2. Current Florida law allows for early voting to be conducted eight hours per day on each weekday, and for a total of eight hours during both weekends during the early voting period. Floridians can contact their county's Supervisor of Elections for dates, times and locations of early voting.

Florida voters can also request absentee ballots to be mailed to them until October 29.

Please see the attached Executive Order 08-217.

STATE OF FLORIDA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 08-217

WHEREAS, early voting is scheduled to end November 2, 2008; and

WHEREAS, early voting turnout has already reached record levels and is forecast to continue with record turnout. There are only 267 early voting sites throughout the state and long lines have formed at many of the early voting sites; and

WHEREAS, a historic number of Floridians have registered to vote for the first time in this election; and

WHEREAS, new voting equipment is being used in 15 Florida counties;

WHEREAS, as a result of this unique combination of circumstances resulting from the historic voter turnout in this election, there is a possibility that election officials will be unable to conduct an orderly election, and thus residents in our state could be deprived of a meaningful opportunity to vote; and
WHEREAS, because of the existing and continuing possibility of an emergency occurring before or during the regularly scheduled election, and in order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral process, and provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to exercise their right to vote;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHARLIE CRIST, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution, by the Florida Elections Emergency Act, and by all other applicable laws, issue the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:
I hereby declare that, based on the above-described conditions, a state of emergency exists. It is hereby found and declared to be necessary to extend the voting hours during early voting. Accordingly, I order the Supervisors of Elections to open early voting sites from 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. through October 31, 2008 and open early voting sites for a total of twelve (12) hours between 7 a.m. November 1, 2008 and 7 p.m. November 2, 2008.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 28th day of October, 2008.

GOVERNOR
ATTEST:
SECRETARY OF STATE

I voted today!!

Dave Carey — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:28:14 EDT

I early voted for Barack Obama today. I have voted in every election I could since I was 18, but never have I been filled with so much pride over my choice.

I feel awesome today!!!

Dave

Countdown!

CED — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:08:14 EDT

11-1 through 11-4:

Need volunteers for the final four days to canvass door to door to make sure people are voting for Sen. Obama (11-1 only), and then making sure they are getting out to vote, early voting, etc. - maybe offer a ride to the polls if needed. I am looking for people for my station - my home in Bradenton (south of Cortez Road and 26th). Will have food/refreshments. We really need the bodies! Three shifts available, 10, 1, 3 or 4. Give a little - give a lot.

Email me at dts10@verizon.net if you can give some time.

9 days and counting....

patti shields — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:02:08 EDT

Get on the Phone! Call your friends, family - especially those in battleground states and tell them to VOTE EARLY! All voting information is easy to access at www.voteforchange.com ! It is easy to get the information for early voting and registration there in one shot!

For those who are willing to pick up the phone and call strangers, go to www.my.barackobama.com/n2n and use the neighbor to neighbor tool to call KEY battleground states. It is easy - the script is provided - and now it is about identifying Obama supporters so that we can make sure we get them to the polls - and give them early voting information if they need it as well!

PLEASE DO NOT LET THE NEXT FEW DAYS PASS BY WITHOUT MAKING A LITTLE EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN - THINK HOW GREAT YOU WILL FEEL ON NOV4TH WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WERE PART OF THE STORY!

GET FIRED UP - YES WE CAN - WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!

LAPD Police Chief Bratton records phone message supporting Obama

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 22:34:55 EDT

The endorsement, which is not yet being used, extols the Democratic presidential candidate's record on 'policing issues,' the LAPD chief says.

Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton waded into the contentious U.S. presidential campaign Thursday, recording an automated telephone message on behalf of Democrat Barack Obama.

The message challenged Republican John McCain's "record on policing issues and extolled Obama's," Bratton said in an interview. It comes, he said, in response to a telephone message recently made by former Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani in support of McCain and critical of Obama's law enforcement bona fides.

I am not in voter data base! Please check your status!!

Kat — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:59:25 EDT

Thanks to the group I belong to I was given the website to check my registration.My husband is there but not me! It's been 2 months. I am calling the Bronx Voting office tommorow, This is upsetting, see article below and check your status!! Up to their old tricks again?

Over 1,500,000 NYS Voters Purged Posted on October 21st, 2008 by bolipari

Have you been purged from New York State’s database?

As I wrote about in my last blog, HAVA required substantial changes to the way voter registration lists are managed, requiring that all states maintain a single statewide database, and that voter registration records be purged of incorrect records. But depending on how database name matching is done, this can result in many legally registered voters being removed from the rolls or set to “Inactive” status, which means on Election Day their names will not be in the poll book, and they will not be able to vote.

But a question has remained, how many voter records have been purged from New York State’s voter rolls? Now we have an answer. I submitted a Freedom of Information Law request for all records in New York’s NYSVOTER voter registration database. Early in October, I received a copy of NYSVOTER records from September 23, 2008. I wrote a program to analyze the 12,010,045 voter records and can now report the number of voters who have had their status set to “Purged” or “Inactive” in the Empire state, and the reasons given for the change.

The data reveals that New York State has moved 1,661,244, or almost 14% of the voter records, from “Active” status to “Purged” or “Inactive”, meaning they will not be in the poll books on Election Day. Whether or not these changes are valid is anybody’s guess, and there’s no way to know for sure how many of these have been incorrectly removed from “Active” status. But I’ll wager that a significant number of these records are actually legally registered voters who should be allowed to vote on Election Day, but won’t be.

I’ve provided two spreadsheets which break out the analysis by individual New York State counties, totals for New York City(which includes the counties of New York (Manhattan), Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, and Richmond (Staten Island), and the state as a whole. The first sheet (Xl format here; PDF format here) shows the total number of records, the number of “Active” status voters, and the number set to “Purged” and “Inactive”, and the percentages these represent of the total. The second spreadsheet (Xl format here; PDF format here) breaks out the reasons given for each record set to “Purged” and “Inactive”.

This second spreadsheet reveals some interesting patterns. For instance we can see that the New York City Board of Elections has set over a half a million voter records to “Inactive” status because they did not respond to a letter from the Board saying they intended to cancel their registration (NYSVOTER lists this reason as “MAIL CHECK”). I guarantee that some percentage, likely very large, of these New York City voters are legally registered who never saw the Board’s letter. They’re going to show up on Election Day and be turned away from the polls.

We also find the top counties which have been removing voters from the rolls – Sullivan County (30%), Allegany County(24%), Tompkins County (23%), Westchester County (21%), Rensselaer (19%) and Erie (19%). We find that Erie, Cortland, Seneca, Sullivan and Lewis counties have all “Purged” over 7% of voter records. And Sullivan, Allegany, Tompkins, Westchester, Manhattan, Rensselaer and the Bronx have each set over 13% of their voter records to “Inactive” status.

My analysis program can only work the data that’s in the records, so I can’t determine how many of these voter records have been legitimately changed, and how many are legally registered voters whose status should be “Active” but is no longer. There’s only one way to know for sure – call your County Board of Elections and ask if you are registered to vote, if your status is “Active”, and if your name will appear in the poll books on Election Day. If it is not, there is still time, although not much, to correct the error.

By the way, if you find that you are not in the poll books on Election Day, you have the right to demand and receive a “provisional” ballot (called an ‘affidavit’ ballot in NYS), which you can vote on. Provisional ballots do not guarantee that your vote will be counted however, as the county must first conduct an investigation to see if you were indeed legally registered. Only then will the provisional ballot be counted. While this is better than not being able to vote at all, it’s a stop gap measure, and I urge you to call your county Board and check that you are registered and can vote on Election Day.

Food for thought

Peter and Linda — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:15:00 EDT

Are they that sincere and concerned or just plain ignorant of their misleading promises? Why are McCain and Palin stressing a tax credit for college, so everyone can afford a college education?

Why then, do they keep equating educated, college graduates to latte drinking elites? Is this more of their double talk?

McCain's push may not budge Pennsylvania

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:59:10 EDT

From the Los Angeles Times

The Republican's campaign is struggling to win the blue state to offset potential losses of former red states. By Peter Nicholas and Bob Drogin
October 22, 2008

Reported from Washington and Bensalem, Pa. -- John McCain's efforts to snare Pennsylvania appear to be faltering despite a substantial commitment of his time, leaving him with a narrower path to the magic number of 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.

McCain is targeting Pennsylvania in hopes of winning at least one state that voted for Democrat John F. Kerry in 2004. With 21 electoral votes, a victory in Pennsylvania could offset possible losses in smaller states captured by President Bush in the last contest.

Yet by any number of measures, McCain's prospects are dimming. An aggregate of public polls shows Barack Obama with a double-digit lead in Pennsylvania. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 1.1 million, about twice the gap in 2004, state figures show.

What's more, prominent Republicans worry that McCain's message is flawed or is being drowned out by waves of Obama ads.

McCain aides insist that they can still win Pennsylvania. Recognizing the stakes, McCain is spending much of the dwindling amount of time left on the campaign trail traversing the Keystone State.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/campaign08/newsletter/la-na-campaign22-2008oct22,0,7679217.story

Response to negativity... from the right

Peter and Linda — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:43:54 EDT

Did they mention how Powell said that “having a black man in the white house would be electrifying?” Sounds like a bigot to me! For the record, Obama is from mixed heritage and is a Muslim…not a Christian…or do you ignore everything he’s been taught for 20 years?

Here we go again, dear cousin.

If Powell's only reason to support Obama was that he was black, why then didn't he support him months ago? Did you hear what he had to say about the erratic McCain and his unqualified running mate? What the hell were you listening to .... FOX news, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity???

And just how do you know that Obama is a Muslim? Reading blogs again? PROVE IT!

How does anyone know what's in his heart? He's NOT a Christian? Says who? ONLY God knows what's in one's heart. It's really NOT our place to question anyone's religion? What qualifies you to question Obama, me or anyone, for that matter?

I guess as long as you profess to be a Christian, you can dump your crippled wife, then marry a beautiful, younger millionaire.

How about the Wasilla Witch? She's just an upright Christian ... especially after she had the "witches" cast out of her by that psycho minister. She certainly taught her daughter good, wholesome, family and Christian values, right? That brat runs around like a pop star. If that was me, I'd be so ashamed, I'd be hiding until after the election? What is she so proud of? I guess it's because she's not going to have an abortion and THAT'S ALL that counts.

One more thing, before I really get pissed off!!! Though Obama is NOT a Muslim, what the hell is the difference if he was? Where in the Constitution does it state that a Muslim cannot be President? If you were in a foxhole, beside a Muslim, would it bother you if he/she saved your Christian ass???

Powell's a bigot? Let's ALL search our own hearts!

From our Welsh correspondent in North Carolina

Welsh Dave — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:34:36 EDT

The Obama Factor

By Alison Hill

Something is happening in America. People are speaking out. Down to earth, hardworking people, facing increasing debt, unemployment and lack of health care. The middle class has finally had enough. Groups notorious for political apathy are even getting involved.

The ‘proles’ have found a voice and are no longer using such excuses as, ‘my vote doesn’t count.’ So what has caused this surge of interest? The answer could be Barack Obama and his ability to inspire. It could be the fact that people are so fed up with President Bush they are desperate for change – any change. Or maybe it’s a combination of both. Either way Barack Obama is definitely seen as the man of the people; champion of the little guy. Whether you like him or not, it’s hard to deny that the Illinois Senator has stirred the nation and woken people up.

Even the most cynical would have to concur. But is it all just artfully crafted rhetoric? If elected, will he actually deliver on all the promises he’s made to the American people? Or will he ignore middle class issues when he no longer needs to win votes, like so many politicians before him?

In the words of Senator John McCain, “who is the real Barack Obama?” At a campaign rally in the small city of Asheville, North Carolina, 28,000 people seem to know the answer.

Many have been standing for hours in the hot sun to hear Obama speak. Some even camped out over night to ensure a spot. It sounds like fans at a rock concert not voters at a political event. But this is how it’s been for Obama. At first some of Obama’s admirers came across as fanatical and naive, fawning over someone they knew very little about, asking no questions, just believing everything he said. But speaking to Barack Obama supporters in North Carolina has educated me a little about the candidate and his campaign.

It goes much deeper than mere idolatry of one man. Let’s call it the Obama Factor, a movement that has inspired and united the downtrodden. He has managed to reach people and appeal to their deepest emotions. In some ways the leader loses dominance once the momentum is unleashed and the followers find a common cause.

In this case the cause is the treatment of middle class America. The energy and enthusiasm in the packed Asheville High School Stadium is palpable. Thousands of people are ready for something new, something better. And they truly believe Obama is the candidate who will deliver. “He’s inspiring,” says a teenage girl, “every time he speaks it’s amazing and it’s impossible to listen to him without getting emotional.” A woman concerned about health care says she relates to Obama because he too encountered problems with insurance companies, when his mother had cancer. “He really listens to people and he listens to the needs of the people,” someone else tells me as the camera zooms in on her smiling face. What did you think of the speech? I ask an articulate ten year old girl. “Remarkable,” she answers, “I absolutely loved it.” A fifth grader – talking about a political rally! Obama is the candidate tackling the real issues that effect real people, not pampered film stars, Wall Street CEO’s, rich politicians and multi millionaires, his supporters remind me. “That’s why I like Obama and Biden, they’re for everybody, not just the healthy wealthy,” says a young woman.“Ninety percent of the people that are paying taxes are being abused - they’re being taken advantage of,” a man in the crowd tells me, “The tax dollars are going to the wealthy and we’re being forgotten about.” I approach a man holding a ‘yes we can’ sign and ask him if he thinks Obama will deliver on his promises, “yes,” he answers immediately, “I believe he will, to the best of his abilities.” I probe further, “why do you believe this?” “I just believe it… I feel a connection with him.” Another man tells me Obama will win by a landslide and all you have to do is look at the numbers attending his rallies for proof, “that’s what we represent,” he says, “that’s what change represents.” Others tell me Obama’s ‘for the middle class’, which constitutes most of North Carolina and the rest of the country. He’s also the only politician reaching out to young people, and according to a first time voter, “Barack Obama speaks down to earth with us – he doesn’t sugar coat it.”

Obama supporters are plentiful, they’re demanding to be heard and feeling empowered for the first time in years. They’re full of passion, inspiration and most of all hope. With this kind of following it would seem that McCain doesn’t stand a chance. My ten year old interviewee thinks the battle’s already won. I ask her how close the race will be. “I think McCain will be in the toilet,” she says, with a serious face, “and Obama is going to be living the high life.” Others agree that Obama will win the election by a healthy margin, while some exercise caution and anticipate a very tight race.

As for the Tar Heel State: “We’re going to win North Carolina this time,” a woman exclaims with confidence as a crowd around her cheers. “We have a record number of new voters and it’s Obama who they overwhelmingly support.” North Carolina has voted Republican since 1976. But polls now show it’s practically neck and neck. Can this momentum hold out? Is enthusiasm enough to swing this traditionally red state to Obama?

As the saying goes, talk is cheap, and promises can be broken. Obama is a great orator and has tremendous presence. But one could argue that the message may be a little too full of rhetoric and lacking substance. Is there more belief than proof? Is the word ‘hope’ too idealistic? Can Obama, or anyone else for that matter, implement true change?

John McCain is a formidable opponent with a strong support base in North Carolina and across the country. Republicans are not as vocal and not as visible as the Democrats this time, but they’re out there, waiting patiently to cast their ballots. Republicans always turn out to vote.

Will Obama supporters do likewise? Will there be enough of them to win him the election? Either way, this is a fascinating race and has captured the attention of most Americans, who are happily involving themselves in the Democratic process – some for the first time. Politics has therefore become inclusive in some ways. Maybe that’s the change we should celebrate.

Alison Hill is a featured writer for Xomba.com

www.xomba.com/obama_factor

My Day At A McCain Rally

Suzanne — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:58:40 EDT

oh my goodness... I've never heard such vicious bile thrown at me... ever.

Here's the story:

YouTube Video

The Tenet of an Obama Presidency

ODEH ODEH — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:18:55 EDT

The reality of the prevailing economic maladies and its severe socio-economic and political consequences are better imagine than describe and as a matter of fact we may be at this point unable to fathom the exactness of the abysses of what we are witnessing in the country. In other words from a pragmatic perspectives we are not honestly aware as to the exact degree of the economic situations and predicaments in the country.

Nevertheless, given the prevailing very bleak environment in the country it is indeed gratifying to at least see in concrete terms the fundamental understandings lay down by the campaign of hope and change as enunciated by Sen. Obama and supported by the majority of economic technocrats who share in his vision of the United States of America becoming authentically independent while at the same time relating in a humane and conducive fashion with other nations in pursuit of the necessity of globalism that has the potential to usher in the realism of positivism and humanity.

In the period where we are looking at a critical time in the history of the country, it will amount to nonentity and inconsequentiality for the presidential candidates to engage in the campaign of denigration, calumny and acrimony as epitomized by the McCain’s campaign. Consequently the issues must be those things that matters to the people of this country and not the personalities of either Obama or McCain.

Roll up your pant legs, its too late to save your shoes

Harold & Mary — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:41:08 EDT

At this point in the campaign it is apropo to say: "Roll up your pant legs, its too late to save your shoes". We will keep our positive mission and goals priority in our minds and we will keep doing what needs to be done to win. Stay on offense. We got them on the ropes. Lets go for the knock out. My motivational spirit has not been dampened. I hope yours has not either.

Presidential Debate #3

Suzanne — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:20:51 EDT

my take on the final Presidential Debate of the season...

YouTube Video

Can you change or are you blind?

Patrick for Obama — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:35:53 EDT

I have been a republican my entire life and have never been so disappointed in a representative or party. I am so pleased to speak out about how important it is to have Sen. Obama in the White House. I believe that Senator Obama has the countries true needs of Tax relief, The Housing market, Healthcare, and this struggling economy at the forefront. He will do what he says to make sure that it is taken care of. I have heard so many speeches and have been personally attacked (verbally) by so many people that are just ignorant. Not willing to look at the fact of what has been said and more important what has been done. Why are so many in the Republican party so blind that they are not willing to look at the record of John McCain and more so Governor Palin? I mean it the debate in New York Senator McCain could not even accurately tell the country what his own running mate's son's disabilities are. He speaks about how he has his thumb on the pulse of America. I say he has his thumb somewhere else. Thank you Senator Obama for standing tall as you always have. I know that the road that you traveled was not an easy one. I want you to know that I am truly proud to say that I stand next to you as fellow American and friend. You are what this country needs. As you move forward on your path to success in helping our country, we the people, will walk hand and hand with you through the times ahead to help make the change. Thank you for everything that you do.

McCain just doesn't Get It

Dr. Dana L. Booth — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:00:52 EDT

While watching the debate on the 15th, I've decided that McCain is having a mentally impaired attitude towards everything important to the American people. He hasn't got a clue as to what is important to the people of this nation. Senator Obama has common sense and has strategies that have a chance of working. All McCain wants to do is constantly rehash old issues that should have been resolved months ago. McCain has thrown more mud during this election than any candidate I've ever seen in my 6 decades of life. McCain is clueless and his running mate is a joke. There is only one sane choice in this election this year and that is Senator Obama. He knows the issues that are important to the common man. He has come from the same place most of us came from. He has his feet firmly planted on a gound of solid political common sense. I'm not sure that McCain can do anything other than sling mud to divert his ignorance on the issues. Senator Obama has a plan for health insurance, the economy, and the war in Iraq. I'm still not sure that McCain has ever given a straight answer on any of these issues. If he has, I've missed it. I also am not his friend, like McCain seems to want to call everyone. I could debate better than McCain when I was in high school.

Irish Voice Endorses Obama/Biden Ticket

Lauren in Chicago, IL — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:40:16 EDT

Today, the Irish Voice endorsed Barack Obama for President -- here's why...

THESE are the worst of times. A recession verging on depression, an unpopular war, huge deficits and a deeply unpopular president have all combined to make Americans restless for dramatic change as successive surveys have found.
At such a time we need to put aside many of the issues that we as a community believe dearly in when it comes to choosing a president. It is simply too fraught a time to play the ethnic see-saw game between two candidates. Indeed,were we to play that game it would have ended up pretty equal. John McCain has been eloquent and supportive on immigration and helpful on Northern Ireland.
After a brief stumble on the issue of the special envoy Barack Obama's campaign has clearly become far more responsive to the Irish American community, as last week's answers to the AOH questionnaire on issues such as immigration and Northern Ireland proved. Both men, it must be said, would be friends of Irish America and Ireland if elected. Both are proud of their Irish heritage.
But on the much broader issue of who can take this country out of the slough of despondency it has sunk into and create new leadership that the world is desperately seeking, there is no doubt that there is a crystal clear choice. Indeed, it is abundantly clear that one candidate far outstrips the other when it comes to the need to effect the change we desperately need.
Barack Obama is that man. He would send an extraordinary message to the world if he is elected that America is prepared to turn a chapter, first of all by electing an African American to the highest position in the land. He is no ordinary African American either, the grandson of a Kenyan goat herder, born to a single mother, a man who hardly knew his father. Now, in a retelling of the classic immigrant family success story, unique to America he stands on the threshold of the White House.
We Irish can relate to that extraordinary moment in time, that up from the bootstraps moment where nothing is ever the same again. Whether it was John F.Kennedy smashing the anti-Catholic bigotry in 1960 or Ronald Reagan overcoming his own desperately humble beginnings as the son of an alcoholic salesman to win the presidency in 1980, the die was irretrievably cast and a new direction pointed for ever more. It is perhaps no coincidence that both men are probably the most popular figures in their respective parties today.
Obama's election would also immediately restore confidence in American leadership worldwide that has sadly been badly lacking in the Bush years. Unilateralism as a system of governance has clearly not worked. In the aftermath of 9/11 we were the most admired and respected country on earth. "We are all Americans now" Le Monde editorialized on September 12, 2001.
Ireland declared a day of national mourning in solidarity with America. A new era beckoned in international cooperation, and yet we frittered all that away by rushing to war in Iraq and insisting that whatever the crisis wherever in the world we had the only legitimate world view on how to solve it.
It is painful to travel overseas and see how far our star has sunk. This country cannot separate itself from the western and indeed eastern world as isolationists would wish us to. The latest financial crisis definitively proves that.We are all connected and just one e-mail away.
Barack Obama has the ability to transform the current view of America with his election. He would send an eloquent signal to the world that America has made a fresh start, that the tried and stale policies of the recent past have been banished for good and that a vibrant new era has arrived. He should be our next president.

Voter Rolls Grow As States Help Poor People Register

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:37:15 EDT

From Alternet.org

By Scott Novakowski, Demos.org. Posted October 7, 2008

As North Carolina, Michigan, Virginia and Missouri ask public aid recipients if they want to register to vote, thousands of new voters are added.

Elections officials are already anticipating record turnout in states across the country. Much media attention has been paid to the massive numbers of new voters – many from historically underrepresented communities – that have been registered to vote this election cycle. To that end, several states have made significant improvements in their effort to comply with a federal law meant specifically to boost participation, and representation, of low-income Americans.

U.S. citizens on the bottom end of the income scale have historically been underrepresented in our electorate. Just looking at the numbers from 2006 tells us how far we haven’t come: only 60 percent of citizens in households making less than $25,000 were registered to vote compared to 80 percent of those in households making $100,000 or more. The National Voter Registration Act, passed in 1993, sought to close this gap by, among other things, requiring public assistance agencies to offer voter registration services to their clients. Research by Demos and our partners reveals that, even 15 years after the law was passed, many states are failing in their responsibility to adequately implement the NVRA’s agency-based registration requirement. While the law’s “motor voter” provision is widely implemented and well-known, this other -- known as Section 7 of the law -- has been long ignored.

http://www.alternet.org/democracy/101990/voter_rolls_grow_as_states_help_poor_people_register/

GOP Attacks on ACORN Are Based on the Fear of 1.3 Million New Voters

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:15:29 EDT

AlterNet. Posted October 13, 2008.

Jesse Jackson Jr, Steven Rosenfeld, Digby and Marc Ambinder on the GOP's race-baiting and smear job against ACORN's massive registration efforts.

Jesse Jackson Jr. from the Huffington Post: What the Republicans are Really Afraid of

The Republicans tried to make fun of Barack Obama as a community organizer at their national convention in Minnesota, which I guess just goes to show how little Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have to fear from right-wing "humor."

Now they've gone further: Now they're attacking ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), one of the strongest, hardest-working, most dedicated community organizations in both Chicago and in 40 states across the U.S.

Why are they after ACORN? Well, I'm sure they're going to come up with a lot of "reasons" in the coming days. But the real reason is obvious: Because ACORN, along with Project Vote, just announced that they had successfully registered 1.3 million poor people this year.

Get that? 1.3 million, including 148,000 in Pennsylvania, 152,000 in Florida, 217,000 in Michigan, and 238,000 in Ohio. No wonder the GOP is up in arms. They're scared of too many poor people preparing to vote this year.

http://www.alternet.org/democracy/102685/

Ten Things to Know About Bill Ayers

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:37:19 EDT

From the Chicago Sun Times

BY ABDON M. PALLASCH AND CHRIS FUSCO Staff Reporters

John McCain is hammering Barack Obama about his ties to Chicago educator Bill Ayers, co-founder of the Weather Underground, a group that used violence in the 1960s and 1970s to try to end the Vietnam War.

For a week now, the McCain-Palin ticket has been making Ayers an issue. And the attacks continued Friday, with an ad that calls Ayers the "leader of a terrorist group that bombed the U.S. Capitol." The ad also says "Obama's first campaign was launched at a gathering at Mr. Ayers' home."

But is everything the Republicans are saying true? Here's a look at the Obama-Ayers relationship.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1215925,CST-NWS-ayers12.article

McCain's False Claims On Bill Ayers

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:33:55 EDT

(CBS) A recent web advertisement from Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain makes two false claims about a connection between Bill Ayers and Senator Barack Obama.

1. “Ayers and Obama ran a radical education foundation, together.”

The foundation they are referring to is the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC), set up in the early 1990’s with funding from the Annenberg Foundation to reform public schools. Walter Annenberg is a well-known philanthropist and conservative Republican.

“This was not the Bill Ayers and Barack Obama show,” says Ken Rolling who was the Executive Director of the CAC and ran the organization, “It was not created by two people, it was created by a hundred people.”

Was it radical? Rolling says that’s in the eyes of the beholder, but he confirms that the CAC funded programs with the following purpose: teacher training, music education, support for new school council candidates, afterschool programs, education research, improvements for literacy and arts programs and initiatives to strengthen parental involvement in public schools.

“The idea that the Annenberg Challenge was somehow the extension of the Weather Underground of the 1960’s, that is just one of the most lunatic contentions I can imagine,” says Mike Flannery, political editor at the CBS Chicago affiliate WBBM who has covered Chicago politics for 35 years.

Flannery says the other people on involved in the CAC with Obama and Ayers were "business types and Republicans."

Obama chaired the board of the CAC but he did not serve on the board with Ayers. Ayers served on a separate advisory board.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/13/eveningnews/realitycheck/main4518056.shtml

Cindy McCain's Attack On Obama's Record Offends Military Spouses

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:07:33 EDT

From the Huffington Post's Diane Tucker

October 13, 2008

At a rally in Bethlehem, Pa. last week, Cindy McCain spoke about having two sons serving on active duty: "I'm proud of my sons, but let me tell you, the day that Senator Obama cast a vote not to fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body. I would suggest that Senator Obama change shoes with me for just one day, and see what it means."

Never mind how many drinks are needed to erase the mental image of Barack Obama wearing Cindy McCain's stiletto heels. The fact is -- many military spouses support Obama-Biden, and they were deeply offended by Mrs. McCain's outburst.

Let's fact-check her remark, shall we?

Cindy McCain was referring to a single 2007 Senate vote: Obama voted for a war-spending bill that included language calling for withdrawing troops from Iraq; but later he voted against a version of the same bill because it no longer included the withdrawal language. "We must fund our troops, but we owe them something more," Obama said at the time. "We owe them a clear, prudent plan to relieve them of the burden of policing someone else's civil war."

In other words, Sen. Obama wanted to fund the troops, he just didn't support the flawed military strategy this particular bill would enable. (Previously, Obama had voted YES on at least 10 other war funding bills. For a lengthy list of John McCain's NO votes on military funding, click here.)

"It ruffles our feathers when someone claims that Barack Obama doesn't support the troops, because the Obamas have gone out of their way to understand the military, its families, and its veterans," Stephanie Himel-Nelson, deputy director of outreach for Blue Star Families for Obama, told OffTheBus. "In fact, Michelle Obama has adopted military families as one of her causes."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-tucker/the-big-chill-cindy-mccai_b_134068.html

Concern in G.O.P. After Rough Week for McCain

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:09:27 EDT

From the New York Times

By ADAM NAGOURNEY and ELISABETH BUMILLER

Published: October 11, 2008

After a turbulent week that included disclosures about Gov. Sarah Palin and signs that Senator John McCain was struggling to strike the right tone for his campaign, Republican leaders said Saturday that they were worried Mr. McCain was heading for defeat unless he brought stability to his presidential candidacy and settled on a clear message to counter Senator Barack Obama.

Again and again, party leaders said in interviews that while they still believed that Mr. McCain could win over voters in the next 30 days, they were concerned that he and his advisers seemed to be adrift in dealing with an extraordinarily challenging political battleground and a crisis on Wall Street.

The expressions of concern came after a particularly difficult week for Mr. McCain. On Friday night, new questions arose about his choice of Ms. Palin as his running mate after an investigation by the Alaska Legislature concluded that she had abused her power in trying to orchestrate the firing of her former brother-in-law, a state trooper.

“I think you’re seeing a turning point,” said Saul Anuzis, the Republican chairman in Michigan, where Mr. McCain has decided to stop campaigning. “You’re starting to feel real frustration because we are running out of time. Our message, the campaign’s message, isn’t connecting.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/us/politics/12strategy.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

Your request is being processed... Former McCain Strategist Warns Against "Angry Mob"

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:45:24 EDT

From the Huffington Post

John Weaver, John McCain's former top strategist, says the Republican candidate is making both a moral and a a tactical mistake by letting abusive hecklers have free rein at rallies:

"People need to understand, for moral reasons and the protection of our civil society, the differences with Senator Obama are ideological, based on clear differences on policy and a lack of experience compared to Senator McCain," Weaver said. "And from a purely practical political vantage point, please find me a swing voter, an undecided independent, or a torn female voter that finds an angry mob mentality attractive."

One of Washington's longest serving political hands expressed bewilderment and fright over the vitriol coming from McCain-Palin rallies, saying that the anger of the crowds could lead to violence.

"One of the most striking things we've seen in the last few day, we have seen it at the Palin rallies and we saw it at the McCain rally today," said David Gergen, appearing on Anderson Cooper 360 Thursday evening. "And we saw it to a considerable degree during the rescue package legislation. There is a free-floating sort of whipping-around anger that could really lead to some violence. And I think we're not far from that."

Gergen's remark came hours after John McCain and Sarah Palin held a rally in Wisconsin that saw attendees pleading with them to go on the attack against Barack Obama over his past associations and "socialistic" behavior. Earlier in the week crowd members at other McCain-Palin events have screamed out that Obama is a terrorist, has committed treason, and should be killed.
Read more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/10/former-mccain-strategist_n_133523.html

The Mask Slips - Cast Your Vote Wisely

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:13:18 EDT

From the New York Times

By BOB HERBERT

Published: October 10, 2008 The lesson for Americans suffused with anxiety and dread over the crackup of the financial markets is that the way you vote matters, that there are real-world consequences when you go into a voting booth and cast that ballot.

For the nitwits who vote for the man or woman they’d most like to have over for dinner, or hang out at a barbecue with, I suggest you take a look at how well your 401(k) is doing, or how easy it will be to meet the mortgage this month, or whether the college fund you’ve been trying to build for your kids is as robust as you’d like it to be.

Voters in the George W. Bush era gave the Republican Party nearly complete control of the federal government. Now the financial markets are in turmoil, top government and corporate leaders are on the verge of panic and scholars are dusting off treatises that analyzed the causes of the Great Depression.

Mr. Bush was never viewed as a policy or intellectual heavyweight. But he seemed like a nicer guy to a lot of voters than Al Gore.

It’s not just the economy. While the United States has been fighting a useless and irresponsible war in Iraq, Afghanistan — the home base of the terrorists who struck us on 9/11 — has been allowed to fall into a state of chaos. Osama bin Laden is still at large. New Orleans is still on its knees. And so on.

Voting has consequences.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/opinion/11herbert.html?em

St.Louis Dispatch Sunday Editorial: Barack Obama for President!

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:31:48 EDT

From the St.Louis Dispatch, October 10, 2008

Nine Days before the Feb. 5 presidential primaries in Missouri and Illinois, this editorial page endorsed Barack Obama and John McCain in their respective races.

We did so enthusiastically. We wrote that either Mr. Obama’s message of hope or Mr. McCain’s independence and integrity offered America “the chance to turn the page on 28 years of contentious, greed-driven politics and move into a new era of possibility.”

Over the past nine months, Mr. Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, has emerged as the only truly transformative candidate in the race. In the crucible that is a presidential campaign, his intellect, his temperament and equanimity under pressure consistently have been impressive. He has surrounded himself with smart, capable advisers who have helped him refine thorough, nuanced policy positions.

In a word, Mr. Obama has been presidential.

Meanwhile, Mr. McCain, the senior senator from Arizona, became the incredible shrinking man. He shrank from his principled stands in favor of a humane immigration policy. He shrank from his universal condemnation of torture and his condemnation of the politics of smear.

He even shrank from his own campaign slogan, “Country First,” by selecting the least qualified running mate since the Swedenborgian shipbuilder Arthur Sewall ran as William Jennings Bryan’s No. 2 in 1896.

In making political endorsements, this editorial page is guided first by the principles espoused by Joseph Pulitzer in The Post-Dispatch Platform printed daily at the top of this page. Then we consider questions of character, life experience and intellect, as well as specific policy and issue positions. Each member of the editorial board weighs in.

On all counts, the consensus was clear: Barack Obama of Illinois should be the next president of the United States.

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-platform/campaign-2008/2008/10/sunday-editorial-barack-obama-for-president/

Ohio and North Carolina Move Into Tossup Column

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:48:39 EDT

From USA Election Polls October 11, 2008

http://www.usaelectionpolls.com/2008/articles/ohio-north-carolina-tossup-column-101108001.html

The Ohio Newspaper Poll has McCain up by 2% in Ohio... that pushes Obama's 7-day average advantage in the state to a mere 3%. McCain has to win Ohio or else he will lose the election... so we shall wait and see whether the upcoming polls complement this poll or not.

According to the General Election Ohio poll by University of Cincinnati Institute Ohio Newspaper Poll:

“As Americans are watching the saga unfold on Wall Street, Ohioans are seeing the effects on their investments and in their wallets,” said Kevin Riley, Editor-in-Chief, Cox Ohio Publishing; editor of the Dayton Daily News and one of the organizers of the statewide effort by the eight Ohio daily newspapers. “It is essential for these candidates to articulate to Ohioans how they plan to make a positive impact to turn around our economy.”

The Ohio Newspaper Poll also asked Ohio likely voters how worried they are about having a secure retirement; 66 percent of the respondents said they are worried about their retirement.

Finally, Senator McCain...

Suzanne — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:44:55 EDT

Since it's hard for me to type...

Raining on the Parade: Sarah Palin's Link to Domestic Terrorists and Right-Wing Extremists

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:12:13 EDT

Pardon me for barging into the nice quiet world of peaceful and inspirational campaigning but I feel quite compelled to share with the team. Please let me know if my postings are offensive or inappropriate. -Julie

So the McCain campaign is out there screeching about Obama's brief childhood acquaintence with this Ayers fellow, who is now a university professor and who also enjoys political support from McCain supporters. According to the polls, the "terrorist" link hasn't had that much effect on Obama's campaign so far, though the racially charged part of it has, but only to incite the crowd to rush to Obama's support. Poll numbers are still up nation-wide according to most sources (and poll numbers for McCain and Palin are dropping):

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/10/08/new-poll-numbers-for-alaska/

http://www.usaelectionpolls.com/

It makes me fighting mad to think that Obama has to face the "terrorist association" fire alone while Sarah Palin's team of Republican handlers and lawyers have rushed to block all attempts to view her records, including those that appear to tie her to her own group of domestic subvertives.

I have been casually keeping an eye on headlines from various sources and do report them to this blog and other blogsites if I find them to be somewhat dependable and not too far out there to the left or vicious. We are, after all, a reasoned people, and we read and educate ourselves and also give the benefit of the doubt, innocent before proven guilty, most of the time. It is our civic and humanitarian duty.

I found several stories, however, that go into detail about Sarah Palin's recent ties with the Alaskan Independent Pary (AIG) and right-wing extremists, among other things. These are links to a past that we have an inkling of but that seem to swept under the carpet by the Republicans and also are not touched on by the Obama campaign mainly because he is not going below the belt like the McCain camp is but is trying to take the high road above the mud-slinging and is sticking as best he can to the issues of the day.

Here is my list of links to information about the Palin's past and recent undertakings:

Awaiting Troopergate:

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/10/alaska_secession/index.html

Palin Dodges Troopergate:

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/countdown-to-truth-sarah-proclaims-own-innocence-real-report-due-out-tomorrow/

The Palins’ Un-American Activities:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican/index.html

Meet Sarah Palin’s Radical Right-Wing Pals:
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/10/10/palin_chryson/

Freedom Fighter:
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/10/alaska_secession/index.html

Sarah's Ex-Pals: http://blueherald.com/2008/10/rachel-maddow-discusses-sarah-palins-pals-with-max-blumenthal/

We must leave no stone unturned. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Palin hits the rink, Obama heads to campus

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:47:33 EDT

Dante Chinni in the Christian Science Monitor

Posted: 10.10.2008 / 6:56 AM EDT

On Saturday night, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will walk out to center ice at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia and drop a puck. It’s a simple act, really. She probably won’t do much more than wave to the crowd.

Still, it’s ripe with public-relations peril. Sports fans don’t like it when elected officials inject politics into something as “pure” as sport. And Philly fans are known for being cranky – no need to go into the particulars from “Santa-gate” to the Tie Domi incident. You may consider yourself, say, America’s No. 1 hockey mom, but there are some places even a pit bull might want to avoid with or without lipstick.

But Governor Palin’s trip to the rink Saturday is about more than just hockey parents. A look at the recent travel by Sen. John McCain’s running mate shows a couple of interesting trends. Saturday night will mark Palin’s fourth trip to the eastern side of the Keystone State in the past three weeks – and her second trip to Philadelphia in that time.

Something in the McCain campaign’s internal numbers may show that Palin resonates with that part of Pennsylvania. But our correspondents there don’t report seeing it. One correspondent reports that a poll in a smaller district in the area, which is full of middle-class ethnic white voters, theoretically a Palin target, is now tilting heavily toward Sen. Barack Obama.

http://www.csmonitor.com/patchworknation/csmstaff/2008/1010/palin-hits-the-rink-obama-heads-to-campus/

The Class War Before Palin

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:24:15 EDT

By DAVID BROOKS Published: October 9, 2008 Modern conservatism began as a movement of dissident intellectuals...But over the past few decades, the Republican Party has driven away people who live in cities, in highly educated regions and on the coasts. This expulsion has had many causes. But the big one is this: Republican political tacticians decided to mobilize their coalition with a form of social class warfare. What had been a disdain for liberal intellectuals slipped into a disdain for the educated class as a whole. The liberals had coastal condescension, so the conservatives developed their own anti-elitism, with mirror-image categories and mirror-image resentments, but with the same corrosive effect. The political effects of this trend have been obvious. Republicans have alienated the highly educated regions — Silicon Valley, northern Virginia, the suburbs outside of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Raleigh-Durham. The West Coast and the Northeast are mostly gone. Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/opinion/10brooks.html?em

McCain and Palin Spawn the New Domestic Terrorism

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:39:49 EDT

By Julia Horner, Administrator of Irish Musicians for Obama

Ocotber 10, 2008.

The McCain/Palin ticket does not stand for "country first" when they criticize the many millions of American citizens who are "brown skinned" and of mixed race. Whether born here or transplanted here, America is beautiful because of our people of all colors, all creeds. In case we haven't noticed, America is not a "white" country. America is a country of many races and many colors from all over the world. May I point out, too, that whites are not native to this country. We are not an insulated nation, the world has evolved, and we will not slip back to ugly and hateful 19th and 20th Century bigotry. All people are created equal, we are all patriots - perhaps with differing individual views - but we are united as one American people. We all go to Home Depot, we all have hopes, we all have ambitions for our kids, we are all human beings.

G.O.P. Facing Tougher Battle for Congress

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:51:25 EDT

From the New York Times. By CARL HULSE and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN Published: October 8, 2008

WASHINGTON — The economic upheaval is threatening to topple Republican Congressional candidates, putting more Senate and House seats within Democratic reach less than a month before the elections, lawmakers and campaign strategists say.

Top campaign officials for both parties, pollsters and independent experts say the intense focus on the economic turmoil and last week’s bailout vote have combined to rapidly expand a Democratic advantage in Congressional contests. Analysts now predict a Democratic surge on a scale that seemed unlikely just weeks ago, with even some Republicans in traditional strongholds fighting for their political careers, and Democratic leaders dreaming of ironclad majorities.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/us/politics/09cong.html?_r=1&nl=pol&emc=pola1&oref=slogin

Obama in Position to Steal Virginia from GOP

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:01:35 EDT

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Virginia hasn't backed a Democrat for president in 44 years, but economic concerns and changing demographics are giving Sen. Barack Obama a chance to steal the once reliably red state from Republicans.

Polls earlier this year showed Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, leading Obama, his Democratic rival, in Virginia by a healthy margin.

A Virginia Commonwealth University poll taken May 12-18 had McCain leading 47 percent to 39 percent.

But as the financial crisis has shaken voters' confidence in the economy, Obama has begun to open a lead in the state, as he has done in other battleground states.

The latest CNN poll of polls has Obama leading McCain 49 percent to 45 percent. A CNN/TIME/Opinion Research Corporation poll conducted September 28-30 shows Obama with an even bigger lead over McCain, 53 percent to 44 percent. The CNN poll's margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/09/virginia.battleground/index.html

Link to USA Election Polls - http://www.usaelectionpolls.com/

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:08:45 EDT

This poll site covers the United States state by state, compiles various polling sources, and presents averages, percentages, and other election statistics from around the world.

So far Obama still holds the lead across the nation and is ahead in key battleground states.

http://www.usaelectionpolls.com/

No Wonder Barack Chased this woman until she married him...

Suzanne — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:57:16 EDT

Michelle Obama has got to be one of the sweetest, smartest, most unassuming women I have ever seen. What I wouldn't give to sit down and have a chat over a cup of coffee with her. I honestly think I love Michelle - ok, not the way you think, I love my husband too.

I watched her on The Daily Show and on Larry King Live today and it just reminded me of the fact that there is, indeed, hope on the horizon.

I had an extremely bad day today, worried about the impending loss of my home, my health, looking down the barrel of a $50,000.00 bill from my most recent hospitalization (a number, incidentally, that would nearly pay off my mortgage), no medical insurance, no job for over a year, sadness, despair, chronic pain - all those things that made a 90 year old woman attempt suicide and a man murder his family and commit suicide, and the discussion came up with my son (again) about why his dad and I don't just move away from Florida. I explained to him that even though my friends and family can't pay my bills, without them nearby, I would be even more lost. I explained to him why I can understand the despair that caused the attempted and completed suicides I spoke about... My sister talked me down, and asked me to give my problems to God, which I think I have done. She made me want to live through the night, and she's no better off than I am.

Then I turn on Larry King and hear Michelle Obama speak so eloquently about allowing things to be as the will be, and that change can come if we are all willing to work for it. How what people say or do to you matters not in the big scheme of things. And I could breathe...

Thank you, God, Michelle, Barack, my sister, my husband and children for giving me a glimmer of hope in an otherwise lightless existence, of late.

Considering Obama's Stance on the Military and the War in Iraq - A Personal Commentary

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:24:27 EDT

By Julia Horner, Administrator for Irish Musicians for Obama, October 8, 2008

One of my friends with whom I watched the debate last night noted that his brother, an Air Force general stationed in Afghanistan and a registered Republican, said that McCain had a history of denying troops the supplies and support that they needed more often than not. My friend indicated that his brother the general was frustrated and disgusted with the US government's resistance to acknowledging basic needs and protections for soldiers on the ground.

And we've heard nothing but horror stories about veterans returning home to find substandard health care. Some vets return home to live on foodstamps or have had their houses foreclosed on. That's flatly derelict of the US government but now we can't even borrow our way out of our own disaster much less take care of the tens of thousands of wounded and disabled vets who return home.

Over 4000 American lives have been lost overseas in Iraq and pretty much for nothing, it was a bogus war and the brave men and women who went over there thinking they were helping defend America's freedoms and spread democracy were sold a bill of goods. We all were.

Obama Gets a Thank You from NASA

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:49:10 EDT

From the New York Times
By John Schwartz

It’s not every day that the head of a federal agency in a Republican administration during an election year writes a glowing thank-you note to the Democratic candidate for president. But Michael D. Griffin, the administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, wrote a letter to Senator Barack Obama on Oct. 2 stating that that he was “deeply grateful to you, personally” for his work in getting Congress to approve a critically important measure for the space program.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/obama-gets-a-thank-you-from-nasa/?nl=pol&emc=pola2

my take on the debate

Suzanne — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:18:32 EDT

please see my YouTube Video: YouTube Video

The Nashville Presidential date in retrospection

ODEH ODEH — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:06:01 EDT

Within the horizon of realism it will be wise to say in spite of McCain going into today’s debate as the favorite on town hall styled meeting, Obama held his ground and turn the event to his advantage based on his response and articulations on the subject matter and his inclination to be simple, direct and authentic before the people of this great country.

I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that, the prevailing advantage that Obama has will grow with time, as more Americans come to grasp with the very inimical and abysmal economic maladies manifesting on a daily basis.

Retrospectively, I am very impressed with Obama and irrespective of McCain referring to Obama as “that one”, the essentiality of the debate has been met in that the people should be able to solidify on their support for either candidate and begin to once and for all imagine who among the two is the true compassionate, understanding, wise, well informed and has the capacity to transform the country for good.

While Obama is attune to the 21st century convictions on the necessity for peace and prosperity through the vehicle of diplomacy and authentic engagement, McCain is still stuck in the 20th century doctrine of militarism and pathetic modification of his unilateralism mentality that woefully fail to persuade my constituency into believing that he is indeed the change candidate.

God bless USA

God bless Obama & Biden

God gave you intelligence. Use it!

Peter and Linda — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:28:04 EDT

Barack Obama is a Christian ... NOT the anti-Christ. Any knowledgeable person, especially Christians, should know that the anti-Christ will NEVER associate with or claim to be a Christian. As much as Sarah Palin is someone with very average intelligence (that's even questionable) and is a loose cannon, I don't think anyone would accuse her of being the anti-Christ or a terrorist. Get real, folks.

Go directly to the source. Take out your Bibles and read the book of Revelation. Nowhere in the Bible does it give this ridiculous account of a 40 year old man from the East being the anti-Christ. The best part is, there are many conservatives and so-called Christians forwarding emails containing this trash. It's all a hoax. It's just another Republican scare tactic ... Republican politics as usual. We, the American people, have been down this road before, election after election. Doesn't anyone remember?

Being a 60 year old, lifelong Republican, I woke up, finally realized the mess our country is in, who put us there and now know for sure that it's time for a change ... a REAL change. I work harder and longer than ever before, even at my age. Where did it get me? My retirement fund is gone and my future is in serious trouble. I will NOT stand for it anymore.

Barack Obama, at the very least, is a leader with vision for the future .. a new America ... an accountable America. No scare tactics, simply the facts. That's exactly why the Republicans are steering us away from the real issues with their new smear campaign. They have nothing else to define themselves with. That's why I support Barack Obama. Forget party .. we're ALL Americans!

Sure Sarah Palin is a regular gal, like most regular Americans. She's someone we can relate to. She's just like most of us, although I don't buy the "Joe Six-Pack" routine. Imagine her after drinking 2 beers. She garbles her words and sometimes sounds incoherent now and she's sober. Anyway, she's just like one of us. However, I certainly couldn't run the country and I surely wouldn't trust any of the "regular" people I know and love to even attempt to run it. I don't have the intelligence nor the capacity to govern. Well, NEITHER does she.McCain has shown his true colors, too. A maverick? ... I think not. He has changed his campaign game plan, his positions on the issues and his outlook for tomorrow almost daily. Recently, we've seen him panicking over the economic crisis, rushing off to save Washington (and the world), suspending his campaign and changing his strategy, platform and message ever single day. Is this your idea of a leader? Can we really trust someone with erratic behavior like that to be the Commander in Chief of pour great country? Wouldn't you rather have someone more intelligent, more capable, more qualified and much calmer, focused and organized under pressure, to deal with the magnanimous responsibilities involved in running a country? No one can deny that Barack Obama has shown all these qualities and more.

Wise up. Don't give in. Don't give up on America. We can do this. We can hold Washington accountable. We can clean house. By all means, vote your heart and your conscience, but remember, America is in trouble. Now is the time to rescue her!

God bless all Americans and the man who can really make the difference, Barack Obama.

Peter Realmuto
Nutley, NJ
NJmort@aol.com

Don't do it...

Bridget — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:55:05 EDT

Don't wake up on Nov.5th and say, "I wish I had done more. I wish I had registered just one more person. I wish I had knocked on just one more door. I wish I had phoned just a few more voters."

When Bush got elected for a second term I basically felt that way the next day. I had a bumper sticker on my van and that was all I did. I learned from that, to never sit by and watch it happen again. We have to be part of the process to make it happen for the candidate we want in office.

Don't wake up on November 5th wishing you had gotten more involved.

All our Love to Joe, Jill and family...

Suzanne — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:44:09 EDT

I was extremely excited at the opportunity to hear Joe Biden speak in my town on Tuesday but it has since been cancelled due to the passing of Jill's mother.

We are all very sad for their loss... our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very somber time.

Rick and Suzanne Russo

Melbourne, FL

Governor O'Malley Hosts Debate-Watch Party In PA

Lauren in Chicago, IL — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:11:48 EDT

Crossing state lines and setting the tone for the upcoming weeks, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley hosted a debate-watch party in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the first presidential debate last week.

Over 130 people attended, including many local dignitaries in addition to Governor O'Malley. The governor spoke to the crowd about how the Obama-Biden ticket is the only choice for the nation on November 4th and encouraged the event participants to get involved in a number of ways over the next five weeks. Anne Batchelder, Allegheny County's Regional Field Director, noted that she was especially excited that the night produced nearly 50 new volunteers for the campaign!

Europe Wants Obama - An article by Jonathan Freedland

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:55:20 EDT

A succinct editorial from Jonathan Freedland of the British newspaper "The Guardian" on the upcoming US election.

"If Sarah Palin defies the conventional wisdom that says elections are determined by the top of the ticket, and somehow wins this for McCain, what will be the reaction? Yes, blue - state America will go into mourning once again, feeling estranged in its own country. A generation of young Americans - who back Obama in big numbers - will turn cynical, concluding that politics doesn't work after all. And, most depressing, many African - Americans will decide that if even Barack Obama - with all his conspicuous gifts - could not win, then no black man can ever be elected president.

"But what of the rest of the world? This is the reaction I fear most. For Obama has stirred an excitement around the globe unmatched by any American politician in living memory. Polling in Germany , France , Britain and Russia shows that Obama would win by whopping majorities, with the pattern repeated in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America . If November 4 were a global ballot, Obama would win it handsomely. If the free world could choose its leader, it would be Barack Obama.

"The crowd of 200,000 that rallied to hear him in Berlin in July did so not only because of his charisma, but also because they know he, like the majority of the world's population, opposed the Iraq war.. McCain supported it, peddling the lie that Saddam was linked to 9/11. Non - Americans sense that Obama will not ride roughshod over the international system but will treat alliances and global institutions seriously: McCain wants to bypass the United Nations in favour of a US - friendly League of Democracies. McCain might talk a good game on climate change, but a repeated floor chant at the Republican convention was "Drill, baby, drill!", as if the solution to global warming were not a radical rethink of the US's entire energy system but more offshore oil rigs.

"If Americans choose McCain, they will be turning their back on the rest of the world, choosing to show us four more years of the Bush - Cheney finger. And I predict a deeply unpleasant shift.

The job interview

Peter and Linda — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:42:42 EDT

If anyone applies for a position, they are subjected to scrutiny and evaluation by their prospective employer and must have an applicable credentials and a worthy resume to even attempt to secure the position. What is so different about Sarah Palin "applying" for the position as Vice President of the most powerful country in the world? Since we live in a democracy, "we the people", all Americans, are the prospective employer, so do we not have the right to honestly and fairly judge the applicant based upon their qualifications?

McCain and the right have constantly complained about the media being too hard on Palin. Are they serious? They're not hard enough on her, or McCain, for that matter. He should be more widely exposed for all his failed antics during this farce of a campaign. The only thing they have left is to bash Obama and the media. They have no substance and falsely embellish their accomplishments and future goals. They are "NOT" a change agent, nor do they have any intention of being one, once elected.

Its the responsibility of the media to inform the voters ... fairly and unbiased. Unfortunately, Mc Cain and Co. have FOX news in their back pocket. FOX claims to be fair and balanced. However, they're amazingly unfair and very unbalanced.

Please, for the sake of all Americans, start exposing this hypocrite, McCain, for what he is.

Thanking you, in advance, I remain.

Peter Realmuto
Nutley, NJ
NJmort@aol.com

Good Riddance to HR 3997!

citizen hope — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:09:48 EDT

I, personally am ecstatic that the proposed bailout bill did not pass in congress today. To pass a bill simply because "we need to act" is reckless and shortsighted.

We need a solution, not merely the appearance of a solution. The house and senate should get to work in drafting a bill that will actually help, instead of trying to jam through the first piece of emergency legislation proposed by the worst administration in our nation's history. Obama needs to step up and lead on this issue because clearly nobody else has a satisfactory plan yet.

Ohio - Allow Veterans to Vote!

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:57:43 EDT

Let Ohio Troops and Vets Vote!

IT IS UNTHINKABLE that anyone from any political party would try to block our servicemembers and wounded veterans from voting, but a new lawsuit in Ohio is threatening to do just that.

Ohioans are allowed by law to register to vote and cast an absentee ballot on the same day as long as they do so before the Oct. 6th registration deadline, but a lawsuit filed in the Ohio State Supreme Court is trying to upend that law. If the groups bringing the suit have their way, it would potentially void thousands of ballots already cast by hospitalized veterans and deployed servicemembers, and make voting extraordinarily difficult for those who haven’t yet.

Crazy Emails From McCain Supporters

Lovenrockets - New Smyrna Beach, FL — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:29:07 EDT

This evening I checked my work email from home. I was very surprised someone sent me the email I will cut and paste below. I was surprised and rather annoyed someone would send it out on a global distribution list throughout my work. Instead of blasting him for sending such garbage I responded with an actual website that shared the truth in this matter. How do people actual think they can send and say outright lies without being found out?

The first email is my response to the hideous one below:

RE:

From: me
Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2008 8:07 PM
To:
Subject: RE: Who is Franklin Rains

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/Obama_denies_Raines_ties_accuses_McCain_of_throwing_stones_from_his_seven_glass_houses.html

Raines said in the statement through the campaign, "I am not an advisor to Barack Obama, nor have I provided his campaign with advice on housing or economic matters."

Obama spokesman Bill Burton added an attack:

This is another flat-out lie from a dishonorable campaign that is increasingly incapable of telling the truth. Frank Raines has never advised Senator Obama about anything -- ever. And by the way, someone whose campaign manager and top advisor worked and lobbied for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shouldn't be throwing stones from his seven glass houses.

From:
Sent: Friday, September 26, 2008 5:13 PM
To:
Subject: Who is Franklin Rains

And why should we care?

Franklin Rains is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Fannie Mae, the government sponsored enterprise started in 1939 to offer mortgages to Americans wishing to become home owners.

After serving as budget director under President Bill Clinton, Mr. Raines served as CEO at Fannie Mae from 2000 until 2004.

While Mr. Raines was CEO, Fannie Mae went deep into the practice of buying mortgages based on almost no or no money down given to borrowers who could not afford them. During this time he received bonuses and salary over 90 million dollars. In 2004 he was offered “early retirement” after the accounting practices used at Fannie during his tenure to secure top executive bonuses were shown to be fraudulent.

Civil charges were filed against Raines and two other former executives which sought $110 million in penalties and $115 million in returned bonuses from the three accused. On April 18, 2008, the government announced a settlement with Raines together with J. Timothy Howard, Fannie's former chief financial officer, and Leanne G.
Spencer, Fannie's former controller. The three executives agreed to pay fines totaling about $3 million, which will be paid by Fannie's insurance policies.

When pressed by the Bush administration to tighten down regulations on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, members of congress – Republicans and Democrats alike - in positions to pass such regulations, did nothing. Today, Fannie Mae owns or guarantees over half of America’s 12 trillion dollar mortgage market, and we are in the middle of a credit crunch and housing slump brought on in large part by government backed Fannie Mae going down this dangerous credit slope under Mr. Raines.

And where is Franklin Raines today? He is a chief economic advisor to the presidential campaign of Senator Barack Obama. Who says "Crime" does not pay?

Barack Obama is Irish - A New Song by Shay Black

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:48:47 EDT

Famed San Francisco singer, Shay Black, one of several members of the highly regarded Black Family of Irish singers and musicians, has written a song for Barack Obama and has posted it on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EADUQWKoVek

Beware the debate trick!

Mark Brennan — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:52:21 EDT

McCain's postponement of the debate and his suspension of radio ads for his campaign are a trick.

The McCain campaign is think the following:

- provides an opportunity to get out of a tough debate, sure to make McCain look bad compared to Obama's eloquence and compelling argument on the important issues

- provides a photo op in Washington with the cronies, allowing McCain to emerge seemingly vistorious, "Look, I fixed America, I'm your president"

- allows the McCain campaign to accuse Obama of being MIA while the real heroes were putting out the fire. Obama was pursuing celebrity status and TV stardom while McCain was fixing America.

This scenario is preposterous and must be combated at all costs. McCain could send Sarah Palin to the debate if he needs to be with his cronies.

Harry Reid has requested the candidates do NOT bring their presidential circus to Washington while this mess gets addressed. He is right. The circus must go on and McCain Palin must show us their famous debating prowess.

Irish to Irish Phone Bank for Ohio and other Battleground States!!

Lauren in Chicago, IL — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:51:20 EDT

Call Irish American to help the Obama/Biden ticket win in key battleground states! Many Irish American voters in these states are still undecided and your call could make the difference! Sign up at http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/n2nirish and you will be given access to the Irish to Irish phone bank project within 48 hours. Reach out to your fellow Irish Americans to win this election!

McCain's first wife - values voters pay attention!

Mark Brennan — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:41:38 EDT

Subject: John McCain's First Wife

I have checked this and it appears to be true.

John McCain mentions that his greatest failure in life was his first marriage. I guess he had to say something because his first wife, Carol, is now going public with their story.

You don't hear much about the first wife, Carol McCain McCain likes to illustrate his moral fiber by referring to his years as a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam. And to demonstrate his commitment to family values, the 71-year-

old former US Navy pilot tribute to his current wife, Cindy, with whom he has four children. But the first Mrs. McCain casts a ghostly shadow over the Senator's presidential campaign. She is seldom heard of despite being the mother three of McCain's children.

She was the woman McCain dreamed of during his incarceration in Vietnam, the woman who faithfully stayed at home looking after the children and waiting.

But when McCain returned home in '73 to fanfare and handshakes from Richard Nixon, he saw that his wife had been disfigured in a terrible car crash three years earlier. Her car had skidded into a telegraph pole on Christmas

Eve, 1969. Her pelvis and one arm were shattered by the impact and she suffered massive internal injuries.

Carol remained hospitalized six months and received life-saving surgery. In order to save her legs, surgeons had to cut away huge sections of shattered bone, taking with it her tall, willowy figure. She was confined to a wheelchair and forced to use a catheter. Today, she stands at just 5' 4' in

and still walks with a pronounced limp. Her body is held together by screws and metal plates and, at 70, her face is worn by wrinkles that speak of decades of suffering.

For almost 30 yrs, Carol has maintained a dignified silence about the accident, John McCain and their divorce. But last week at her home in Virginia Beach, she discussed how McCain divorced her in 1980 and married Cindy, a very rich woman 18 years his junior and heir to an Arizona

lucrative beer distribution fortune, one month later. Carol notes that their marriage ended because John McCain didn't want to be 40, he wanted to be 25.

In 1979 - while still married to Carol - he met Cindy at a cocktail party in Hawaii. Over the next six months he pursued young Cindy, flying around the country to see her. Then he began to push to end his marriage to his first wife.

SOME OF MCCAIN'S ACQUAINTANCES ARE LESS FORGIVING. THEY PORTRAY THE POLITICIAN AS A SELF-CENTERED WOMANIZER WHO EFFECTIVELY ABANDONED HIS CRIPPLED WIFE TO 'PLAY THE FIELD'. THEY ACCUSE HIM OF FINALLY SETTLING ON CINDY, A FORMER RODEO BEAUTY QUEEN, FOR HER MONEY.

Ted Sampley, who fought with US Special Forces in Vietnam and is a leading campaigner for veterans' rights, said: 'I have been following John McCain's career for nearly 20 years. I know him personally. There is something wrong

with this guy: 'When he came home and saw that Carol was not the beauty he left behind, he started running around on her right away. EVERYBODY AROUND HIM KNEW IT. HE MET CINDY AND SHE WAS YOUNG, BEAUTIFUL AND VERY WEALTHY. AT THAT POINT MCCAIN JUST DUMPED CAROL FOR SOMETHING HE THOUGHT WAS BETTER.'

McCain is the classic opportunist.

Sampley notes that McCain is always reaching for 'attention and glory'.

After he came home, CAROL WALKED WITH A LIMP. SO HE THREW HER OVER FOR A POSTER GIRL WITH BIG MONEY. And the rest is history.'

FINALLY, ROSS PEROT, A BILLIONAIRE TEXAS BUSINESSMAN, AND FORMER

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, PAID CAROL MCCAIN'S MEDICAL BILLS. ROSS PEROT

BELIEVES THAT BOTH CAROL MCCAIN AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE TAKEN IN BY A

MAN, WHO IS UNUSUALLY SLICK AND CRUEL - EVEN BY THE STANDARDS OF MODERN

POLITICS.

Fight the right in ten seconds or less!

Dr. Skip — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:01:43 EDT

PBS is doing a poll which asks if Palin is qualified to be VP.

The right wing has organized a yes campaign -- and the "yes" is at the moment winning.

Please take 10 seconds, go to http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html and vote!

Now is the time for Action

Dr. Dana L. Booth — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:38:01 EDT

For the next few weeks, we as democrats, must come forward and be heard. The time has come in our history for a man like Senator Obama to lead this great nation out of the darkness. We have remained silent and expected others to voice our opinions. We must, for the sake of our future, have a man of change in the White House. Senator Obama is a good man with sound judgment and ethics. He knows what it is like to be part of middle class America. He understands the problems we're all facing with today's economy. He is willing to change things with the help of the American people. This right to vote is a sacrid right and should be used everytime we have the opportunity. The war in Iraq is not the place to be venting our anger over 9-11. Senator Obama knows this and will bring about a solution to ending this unnecessary utilization of our young men and women who eagerly serve. Knock on doors, start conversations at the grocery store, engage folks in conversation and get them to think about the issues we face. They have been lied to by this current administration so much, they no longer know what to believe. My faith and vote will go to Senator Barak Obama. He is indeed a man for change and the man who can bring this much needed change back to America. Let's get our hands dirty and get involved during this election year. Too much is at stake not to. Roll up your sleeves and go to work for the man that can get America back on top.

Is fear rith maith ná drochsheasamh. / Judging the Two Campaigns

Ruairi O'Murchu — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:15:32 EDT

Is fear rith maith ná drochsheasamh. The Irish proverb translates roughly as "A good run is better than a bad stand." One way of judging the two main contenders in this presidential contest is by comparinghow they have conducted their campaigns. Who is on track? Whose ship is showing signs of leaking? The conservative daily paper in Ireland, The Irish Times, summed things up today:http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0918/breaking57.htm Here's an excerpt that will leave little doubt who's running strong and who's straining to stand:

American voters’ main concern, despite protracted wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is the economy. And as the stock market plummets and American financial giants go out of business or find themselves struggling to survive, Mr McCain’s post-convention bounce - mainly driven by his surprise pick of Sarah Palin as the Republican Party’s first female vice presidential nominee - has vanished.

Mr McCain found himself in a particularly difficult spot yesterday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 450 points - slightly more than 4 per cent and the second huge loss this week - after an $85 billion government bailout of the world’s largest insurance companies, American International Group.

Mr McCain had vigorously opposed the bailout just hours before it was announced.

The move by the Federal Reserve, the US central bank, forced Mr McCain to quickly reshape his message from one of opposition to a grudging acceptance and acknowledgement that the government had acted to protect millions of Americans from further financial hardship.

Mr McCain said during the primary campaign that he was not as well versed on economic issues as he would like. The 72-year-old former Vietnam prisoner of war has also been closely tied to President George Bush, whose popularity is at near record lows and will probably fall further under the weight of the economic slide.

Mr Obama, who appears to have regained his focus in the White House contest, was hitting Mr McCain hard as a product of a Republican drive over recent decades to deregulate the financial markets, moves that the first-term Illinois senator blamed for the mounting damage to the US economy.

In Elko, Nevada, a rural mining community, Mr Obama mocked Mr McCain’s response to Wall Street’s meltdown.

“Yesterday, John Mr McCain actually said that if he’s president he’ll take on - and I quote — ‘the old boys’ network in Washington.‘ I’m not making this up,” Mr Obama said. “This is somebody who’s been in Congress for 26 years, who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his campaign.

“And now he tells us that he’s the one who’s going to take on the old boys’ network,” Mr Obama said. “The old boys’ network. In the Mr McCain campaign that’s called a staff meeting. Come on.”

Call for Action - Change the Campaign

Marianne Bergenholtz Delegate — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:19:54 EDT

Are you dissatisfied with the way the election is going? If so, please join me in getting the Obama campaign back on track by changing the focus back to McCain as the candidate for President.

I would like to see Sen. Obama call Sen. McCain on the Rove tactics put into place to win another dirty election. Stating that the American people are intelligent enough to catch on will not do it. Calling John McCain dishonorable for a change is necessary. He is showing that he is a far different man than the war hero talked so much about. He is putting his Republican candidacy first, BEFORE the nation.

On the Palin choice, Obama should call to attention that fact that John McCain didn't even get to choose his own running mate, but instead decided to let the same neo-cons who have been running the country make the choice. The neo-cons now have their way and have stolen the dialogue. No need to discuss her further.

I'd like to see Sen. Obama talk more about what is happening to people and less about McCain being out of touch. He needs to ask America, "Are you going to let this happen again? Haven't you seen enough? Don't you want to be taken seriously?"

How is John McCain going to stand up to the extreme right after he is President when he doesn't even stand up to them to choose his own running mate? He has made his first decision respecting the Presidency, and it shows very poor judgement and that the same people who brought us Iraq are still running the show. Forget about linking McCain to Bush, show he is heeding the same influence as Bush. Bush is going to be gone. The neo-cons will not be, with McCain in office.

While everyone is running around talking about Sarah Palin, the biggest financial crisis facing us since the Great Depression is happening. The Republicans sent all those jobs overseas, and the lost tax revenues from putting so many hard-working Americans out of work is not the only devastating factor. We've lost retirement, benefits, Social Security is still unstable, healthcare costs are consumed by giant profit-making corporations, our education lacks behind the world. Our property taxes rise more and more with less and less services.

Barack Obama needs to lay out his plan, like he did during the Convention and return to pre-Palin days. He needs to ask the American people to hang in there and just hold on until he can get in there and get them some relief. Then lay it out.

Remind people that while George Bush wasn't raising taxes, he was borrowing from the future financial security of all of us and passing the buck to states, cities and towns; that McCain was in favor of the Republican plan to suck all the financial equity and security out of the lives of every American with lax corporate oversight - giant corporations running amuck.

So we had a tax cut for a few years. So What? We've all lost lots of equity and net worth in the past few years too, while we are paying more for gas, oil, prescriptions, food and bail-outs for investors who got into hedge funds that floated on the bubble of no relaxed regulation.

If you know how to calculate your net worth, compare it to five years ago. Then imagine that is your real tax, with much bigger hits to come, compliments of the Republican way of doing things. The baby boomer generation is at the just beginning retirement - with many retirement plans bust, promised health benefits lost; where has all the hard work gotten us?

The Republicans stole whatever security we created on our own through our hard work.

Time's up for the Republicans. Why would ANYONE want to give the Republicans influencing the White House yet another chance?

Sen. Obama, please join me in saying that!

Marianne Bergenholtz

Never mind the Palin

Mark Brennan — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:17:17 EDT

We need to concentrate on the issues, and we need to work for a positive image of Democrats, one that appeals to a very broad cross section of America.

Democrats are not exclusively angry intellectuals, nor are we generally freeloaders who cost the country more than we contribute.

Most democrats are achievers, hard workers, generally educated and high-integrity individuals.

We need to show that.

Obama Campaign needs to get sharper in its attacks on the McCain hypocrisy. And needs to criticize the manifest lack of wisdom in the selection of hockey mom as contender for veep. Beyond this, let's not worry about the Palin distraction. She isn't the vice president, and our job is to make sure that Joe Biden becomes the Vice President.

Stay focused. Live well. Show them the power of our example. We are good people. We contribute. We earn good money and pay our bills and our debts and our taxes. We give to charity and volunteer our time for great causes. We are people of integrity - trustworthy and loyal to our friends and families.

We must not be distracted by the well designed diversion put before us last week. We must fight with honor and courage and stay on the issues. The Obama tax plan does not harm entrepreneurs and business owners - it is a small business incentive. You have to be in an entremely high income bracket to feel any effects of the Obama tax plan. Soccer moms in suburbs keep suggesting their portfolios will be decimated by the democrats. Nonsense. Their life savings could be felled in one year if they fall ill while uninsured. Now that's a real possibility.

The issues. Not the distractions.

Go Obama Biden!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: GOP Tactics to Deter Voters - Is it Time to March?

Paulette MacDougall RN BSN — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:22:18 EDT

Has everyone seem the e-mail regarding regarding GOP tactics in Wisconsin to deter voters? A lawsuit filed by their State Attorney General is apparently designed to "slow down" voting lines. Yesterday I heard talk about GOP absentee ballot fraud. Not to mention the incessant slandering. Or watching James Carville defending John McCain and his negative ads.

SO even if we get a gazillion people energized and registered to vote for Obama, the GOP has back-up plans & tactics to make it so difficult they actually hope to deter voter turn-out or that people will discouraged & tired enough to go home.

Is this what the process of voting has become in the United States of America? Or perhaps I should ask if we're simply returning to a previous era where corporiate giants simply beat down marching union workers with clubs or met workers who dared to vote for unions in a back alley somewhere with a club.

Yes we need to register voters. THAT is paramount. But I've heard other suggestions today for protecting the process of voting when it happens. One person suggested writing to the UN now to request "observers" for the election. Someone else suggested protests & picketing.

Perhaps it IS time to start marching (backpacks filled with voter registration forms)! Peacefully of course. Perhaps a little marching & singing is exactly what the Democrats need to boost our spirits back up soaring where they need to be.

I think the GOP underestimates the toughness of Democratic voters. We have a long, long history of walking picket lines, marching and being deterred. That's because we are made up of immigrants and workers and unions and minorities and liberals who long for a better and fairer system in America.

Obama supporters are most certainly strong enough to face down the GOP and quite definitely strong enough to stand in long lines to vote for a man like Barack Obama!!

As Obama says, it's TIME for a change and ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Perhaps it's time to gather spirits and our energy together and get some cameras focused on the very shaky process of voting in the USA today. Especially this particular year.

But that's just my humble (& furious) opinion, as I am still angry about 2004. But I'm even angrier today to think the GOP banks on the fact we'll sit back & watch them do it again

Remembering 9-11

citizen hope — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:06:20 EDT

I will never forget the horrible events of 9-11. I will never forget where I was when I learned of the attack....the sight of the second plane hitting as I watched in bewilderment, or the way I felt afterward.I will also never forget the disgusting way in which the Republican party used that day for political purposes at their 2008 convention. Below is a link to the 9-11 "tribute" video the Republicans showed at their convention; In it they also try to connect it to Iran, via the 1979 hostage crisis. Prepping us for the next unneccessary war? I found it to be repulsive and exploitive propagandist garbage....and this idea that there is only one party that could possibly protect us from another attack is so politically divisive....so UNpatriotic....it makes me embarrassed for them.This video is uncomfortable to watch, but I think it is vitally important, especially at times like these, that we don't turn a blind eye. That we stand up to politically motivated garbage like this and say; Hey. We are ALL Americans...we were ALL affected by that day...we ALL grieve for the victims...and we ALL want to stop it from happening again.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVtZGczFdpgThe best tribute we could make to the victims of 9-11 is a united America.