Stephen Views the News June 28, 2009
http://stephenviewsthenews.blogspot.com/
The Conservative Perspective – Political Pornography
As I troll, surf and stalk what is happening in the news I often stumble upon such absurdity by so-called Conservatives that I do a check to ensure I have taken the correct medication for the day. In a clear-headed world such lewdness of logic could not be taking place. More often than not I ignore such offense to reason. When I have noted these mental burlesques they have been featured in a segment designated Derriere Orifice of the Week. This was indeed a special week!
* Senator John Ensign (R-NV) and Governor Mark Sanford (R-SC), advocates of family values, opponents of gay rights and pontificators of how others should conduct their lives, were exposed for extra-marital affairs. Perhaps these disgraced icons of the holier-than-thou movement should pay more attention to what their own sexual organs are doing. Republican sexual indiscretions have become so prevalent that TalkingPointsMemo.com has developed a Sex Scandal Flow Chart, where all roads must lead to hell. Truth be told, I would not care less what happens in the private lives of politicians if not for those instances where their hypocrisy is palpable. The sanctity of marriage begins with one’s own zipper remaining in the up position. And what does it say about Senate Republican leadership that during their regular Tuesday luncheon meeting, following Ensign’s mea culpa apology to them, they showered him with applause. Good job John, another notch on the chastity belt!
* Noted natural healer and airwaves polluter Rush Limbaugh offered an alibi for Sanford’s love tryst in Argentina. Limbaugh said, “Sanford flew out of the country to have an affair because ‘President Obama drove him over the edge’.” The background of “over the edge” involved Sanford opposing the acceptance of desperately needed money provided in the Stimulus Plan for South Carolina. Sanford lost this fierce battle with his state legislature as he desperately attempted to establish his conservative credentials for a presidential run in 2012. The Limbaugh Prescription: committing adultery is the homeopathic approach to dealing with stress. Whatever bothers you, just get laid and blame it on the President.
* Right-wing anti-tax activist Grover Norquist offered an interesting perspective on recent Republican adultery. Norquist said, “It does indicate that men who oppose federal spending at the local level are irresistible to women.” Oh to have had this knowledge when I was single. Who would have thought that approaching a woman in a cocktail lounge as a tight-assed, anal-retentive bible thumper with a Shirley Temple in hand would have her disrobing and fogging up my eyeglasses?
* One of Maryland’s most prominent Republican organizations, Republican Women of Anne Arundel County, issued a letter by the organization’s President, Joyce Thomann. Her letter began “Dear Friends” and went on to say, “Obama and Hitler have a great deal in common in my view. Obama and Hitler use the “blitzkrieg” method to overwhelm their enemies. FAST, CARPET BOMBING intent on destruction. Hitler’s blitzkrieg bombing destroyed many European cities – quickly and effectively. Obama is systematically destroying the American economy and with it AMERICA.” I do have issues with Ms. Thomann’s grammar but, more importantly, this is a good example of what happens when rain closes the country club golf course. Idle hands are the devil’s tools.
* Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) is the poster child for Attention Deficit Disorder and the mindless meanderings of a mercury-tainted cerebral hemisphere. Her malapropisms and malcogitation (sic) are legendary and the congresswoman from Minnesota is a frequent flyer on the Derriere Orifice express. She has announced that she will break the law by not filling out her 2010 Census questionnaire. Her explanation included that the Census led to the internment of Japanese Americans in the 1940’s. This link attempts to analyze Bachmann’s irrationality and historical to hysterical errors. I suggest two aspirin one hour before reading. One wonders if the citizens of her district should be interned for electing her to congress. If one guessed that her public display of idiocy took place on FOX News you are exempt from completing your census form. And what does it say about your assertions when right-wing nut Glenn Beck thinks you have lost your census?
* Eight Supreme Court justices ruled that a school’s strip search of an Arizona 13 year old girl accused of having prescription-strength ibuprofen was illegal.” The eight justices range in philosophy from liberal to moderate to conservative. But there are nine SC justices and the ultra conservative and reactionary Justice Clarence Thomas offered a dissenting opinion. Thomas said, “the court was making a “deep intrusion” into the administration of public schools and their efforts to fight the scourge of drug abuse.” Yes, the eternal challenge for a democracy is finding that elusive balance between the common good and individual freedoms. Someone should explain to Justice Thomas that “No Child Left Behind” had nothing to do with students baring their behind by lowering their Calvin Klein underwear.
* Just when you thought that Joe “The Plumber” Wurzelbacher’s career as spokesperson for the conservative mind was over he floats to the top of the septic tank. At a speaking engagement to Americans for Prosperity in Wisconsin “The Plunger” said more than once, referring to Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), "Why hasn't he been strung up?" Ah, the voice of Conservatism – cogent, articulate and erudite while conveying the ideals and principles of American freedom and democracy. I expect that Joe’s next appearance will be in Anne Arundel, Maryland at the annual Spaetzle Cook Off.
* Let my people go – Republican Representatives John Culberson (TX), Peter Hoekstra (MI), and David Dreier (CA) all compared their minority status in congress to the plight of the Iranian protestors. With the exception of living in a democracy and not being shot at or bludgeoned for their views their analogy is spot on. I suggest that they will feel better if they take the advice of the leader of their Party, Rush Limbaugh, and just get laid.
* Recall Republicans going ballistic when President Obama said that one of the characteristics his Supreme Court nominee should possess is empathy. Some would say that Republican opposition stemmed from the fact that they do not understand the meaning of the word. Well, there is some evidence that at least one Republican can express empathy. Meet Missouri state representative Cynthia Davis. As chairwoman of the Missouri House Special Standing Committee on Children and Families she was critical of a government program that provides food during the summer for thousands of low-income Missouri children who rely on the school cafeteria for free or reduced-price meals during the regular school year. “A report by Feeding America found that one in five Missouri children currently lives with hunger.” Here is where the empathy thing comes in. Ms. Davis extolled the virtues of hunger because “hunger can be a positive motivator.” Rumor has it that Ms. Davis has been selected Woman of the Year by the Republican Women of Anne Arundel County.
* Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell (R) signed the US Senate vacancy bill which takes away the governor’s power to appoint someone to a vacant US Senate seat. Rell said, “this bill gives directly to the people of Connecticut the decision on who would fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate… Since taking office as Governor, I have done everything in my power to make Connecticut a model for all states when it comes to openness, transparency and citizen participation in government." “Republican lawmakers had called the bill a "power grab" during lengthy debates in both the House and the Senate.” Lacking empathy and the concept of democracy, Republicans conclude that giving the citizens the right to elect their officials “is a power grab.”
Who then is sane? He who is not a fool.
Quintus Horatius Flaccus, aka, Horace (65 BC to 8 BC) Roman lyric poet
Stephen Views the News April 2, 2009
A positive take during worrisome times:
* Remembering what we have – The following is an excerpt from an email exchange with a reader: There is also a positive side to our discussion. At the present time you and I, our family and friends, enjoy a standard of living and peaceful (safe) existence far better than 99% of the people that have walked this planet. We do not know what the future holds but there is merit in remembering what we do have. In large part it is the result of those who came before us and it is a responsibility I believe we now have to those who will follow - to continue to make this a better place in terms of freedom, health and standard of living.
* A helping hand – “Drugstore operator Walgreen will offer free clinic visits to the unemployed and uninsured for the rest of the year, providing tests and routine treatment for minor ailments through its walk-in clinics - though patients will still pay for prescriptions… Spouses and children are also eligible for free services if they don't have insurance of their own.” The linked article provides details of this offer. Some cynics have commented that Walgreen is only doing it to build business for its Take Care clinics. I do not know if the claim is accurate but I do say that an initiative that helps people in need is worthy of praise. If Walgreen benefits in the long-term by building a sound business model it has the ring of intelligent capitalism. We have not seen much of it in recent years but there is promise.
* Helping the land – “President Barack Obama signed legislation on Monday expanding and protecting US public parks and wilderness areas from oil and gas development, billed as the largest US conservation measure in more than 15 years… The legislation - backed by members of both parties -- is "among the most important in decades to protect, preserve and pass down our nation's most treasured landscapes to future generations.” It is certainly a breath of fresh air seeing Congress and the White House acting responsibly with respect to our natural resources and environment. This is a role of government abdicated in recent years.
* Helping the country – USA Today reports: “The early federal stimulus money appears to be hitting its target, paying for new projects and creating jobs… Most early spending is flowing, as planned, into "shovel-ready" projects — a new bridge over a Louisiana bayou, the widening of a mountain road in Colorado — that wouldn't have occurred this year without stimulus money.” The $750 billion stimulus package is being used in part to create jobs and fix a crumbling infrastructure. Some of these funds will go into education, health care and tax cuts over the next two years. It is a win-win situation.
* Helping the world – “President Obama plans to open negotiations to draft a new arms control treaty that could slash the American and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals by about a third and possibly lead to even deeper reductions, according to administration officials… Just setting a new limit would send a signal to the international community in general that the United States is getting serious about its disarmament commitments again,” said Peter Crail, an analyst at the Arms Control Association, a Washington advocacy organization.” This is not to suggest that America does not need a strong defense. But, like intelligent capitalism, it is beyond time that America strongly consider intelligent defense. For too long we have funded defense systems that are impractical, outmoded and economically crippling and unsustainable.
* Another Republican icon vaporized ~ again – This may not be positive news for the general populace but it sure is a lot of fun. An anti-union conservative group benignly calling itself Americans for Prosperity has been funding Joe the Plumber traveling to various sites to speak out against the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Joe has become one of the faces of the Republican Party. He has also become one of the asses of the Republican Party.
Appearing in Harrisburg, PA to campaign against EFCA, people in the audience began asking Joe questions about the proposed legislation and why he was against it. “Pressed on the specifics of the law, Mr. Plumber repeatedly refused to answer, and finally lost his cool, telling his questioner: “Drop it, brother, drop it. I never said I was an expert, man.” Following some enthusiastic heckling Joe flushed his scheduled appearance in Philadelphia.
* The best news of all ~ the Republicans are no longer in charge – On April 1st congressional Republicans released their alternative budget to what Obama and the Democrats have proposed. The title of this Republican budget should read “Same Crap, Different Day” or “Dumb and Dumber” or “April Fools Meets Ship of Fools.” Some of the lowlights include:
~ The GOP plan would rescind the recently-enacted economic stimulus package, which would cause America—and the world—to spiral into Depression.~ The GOP plan would hand over nearly $4 trillion in tax cuts to the rich.
~ The GOP plan would freeze non-defense, non-veteran spending for five years.
~ The GOP plan would privatize Medicare.
Not only is this an alternative to what Obama is proposing it is the antithesis of what is needed in a damaged economy and unconscionable given the state of this nation. How absurd is this Republican proposal? “The marquee item, however, in the Republican plan is their inexplicably regressive tax cut for the super rich. Wealthy Americans in the top three tax brackets would see their tax burden cut to a flat 25 percent from previous rates of 35, 33 and 28. According to the Center for American Progress, CEOs from any of the top 800 corporations would receive a tax break of around $1.5 million a year. Meanwhile, if you earn $15,000 a year, your tax break will be around $0 a year.”
In the land of Uranus, where Republicans reside, the only focus is protecting those who least need protection or support. The American people are awakening to the dismal and incompetent Republican message as the GOP continues to transition from a once vital and proud political party to a re-run of Hee Haw.
* Darfur – I received a broadcast email message from Ruth Messinger of the American Jewish World Service. On Monday she had attended a meeting with President Obama at the White House on the subject of Darfur. Messinger reports that the administration understands the need to ensure the restoration of international aid groups into Darfur. “The President also clearly indicated that finding a political solution to end the conflict is a top priority.” The full press release is available at the above link. In every generation, in multiple locations, the worst of humanity forms a puss-filled boil over a group of people. The world community has never been able to prevent it but there is a long history of overcoming man’s inhumanity to man. Let us hope that Darfur can be brought back from hell.
* America – Few would argue that a core problem burdening our nation is the inextricable link between money and politics. The high cost of running a federal level election campaign has two very specific downsides: it forces candidates and incumbents to seek funding that too often comes from the deep pockets of special interests; it forces the incumbents to be in almost constant fundraising mode thereby reducing the time they devote to actually representing constituents. Regardless of who wins the election we are the losers. It is the inordinate influence of special interests that has contributed to a degrading environment, reduction in product inspection and safety, reduction in oversight that allowed financial institutions to go over the cliff and a host of other problems that we now must deal with. It is beyond time that our country addresses how federal elections are funded and there is good news on this front.
“Fair Elections Now” is a set of bills just introduced in both houses that would fundamentally transform Congressional fundraising. The bipartisan bill is being sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.) and Walter Jones, Jr. (R-N.C.). It is based on key elements that have been successful at the state level in Arizona, Connecticut, Maine and North Carolina. The Public Campaign Action Fund provides details of this legislation and links to a number of non-partisan organizations that support this bill. If one sincerely wants to change the dynamics of what is a broken electoral system, action should be taken to contact one’s Senators and Representative and demand that this bill be supported. VoteSmart.org provides contact information for Senators and Representatives. Democracy is a participation sport!
* If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.
Aristotle
After loosing the elections to Obama. John Mccain goes home with hope of having a wonderful Thanksgiving with his immediate family. Mccain flew into his hometown on his private jet but when he reached the airport, his usual guest didn’t greet him. There weren’t any balloons, the bands weren’t playing or crowds weren’t cheering. This was unusual, he didn’t even see Sarah Palin. He looked into the distance but all he could see was snow and his cold breath in the air. He looked at his secret service and even they looked shocked about what was happening. For 40 years his town greeted him every Thanksgiving, so WHAT HAPPENED.
He looked at his wife and gave her a smile then said, “Moneys been tight this year for everyone baby. Maybe the town couldn’t afford a celebration this year”
Mrs. Mccain looked at her husband with her devilish grind, “You’re probably right baby. Everyone can’t afford the things we have!”
Mccain grabbed his wife arm and helped her through the snow. He looked at his wife then said, “At least we still have our limo!”
Mccain’s limo was black and warm inside. The bar was filled with Champaign, just like years before. His secret service followed the limo in their black Yukon. Mccain could see despair in his wife’s eyes. He looked at her and said this while he rubbed her thigh, “Baby, I’m still your little P.O.W, right”
Mrs. Mccain’s wife batted her eyes then ran her finger thru Mccain’s hair and gave him a hug as he continued to rub her thigh, “You are my little soldier. Don’t worry!”
Mccain leaned back in his leather seats proud of what he just heard. But when he looked out his window it all disappeared, “What’s going on here?”, Mccain yelled.
Mrs. Mccain rushed to the window because she wanted to see. But what she saw she couldn’t believe, “Why do everyone in your town have Obama campaign signs in there yards!’
Mrs. Mccain looked at John and she immediately knew he was scarred. His eye lit up like a deer staring into your headlights, “I can’t believe it. My own people voted for Obama. What’s going on?”
Alarms kept ringing in John’s ears as he looked out the window and things slowly started to become clear. Most of the people he knew was in Obama’s below 250 thousand dollar tax bracket. While Mccain was trying to help the rich, he was forgetting about the poor. This is something that Republicans have done thousands of times before. As Mccain’s thoughts lingered as his wife started to scream.
Mrs. Mccain, “What the hell did you do? You lost to a black man. Now our lives are ruined. No one will ever remember you for being a prisoner of war. Now everyone will look at us and laugh. And our friends want come to our parties or to any of our functions because you were the first White Republican Man to loose to a Black Democrat.”
Mccain couldn’t believe what was ringing in his ears. He looked at his wife because he felt like he had to make things clear, “LooK!”, pointing, “This race wasn’t about color. I lost to a great man. A-----smart guy!”
Mrs. Mccain laughed, “You lost to a Smart Guy… You lost to a great man”, She paused, “You didn’t say that when you were running around calling him a terrorist. You didn’t say that when you made allegations that Obama was a socialist or he wasn’t fit to be President for the last 23 months”
John looked his wife dead in her eyes, “Now you listen here. I only said those things because your family was about to be taxed because of his policies, if your family loose money then I loose money. I didn’t marry you for only your body, Baby. I married you for power and your family seen me as an opportunity to increase their power.”
Mrs. Mccain was furious about what she just heard. Her eyes was red and her vision was blurried, “You little short dwarf. I know you are angry right now, so I’m going to act like I didn’t hear what you just said. But remember one thing! I made you and I’ll break you… Believe it..You had a chance to get power but you lost, I never lost and I can changed your world with a flick of the wrist”
Yes, people, this election, this change, this redistribution and recharge of our democracy strength is about Joe The Plumber.Go Mr Vicepresident! Plumb the leaks, wherever they might be! The gas tank certainly was leaking at $4.50. Now at $1.80, that is more like it. Hundreds of billions for unnecessary wars.
With this new Administration, the American leadership in the world will be strengthened, renewed, and done so yet not with war, force and coercion, but again by example, by moral leadership, by inspiration and cooperation, and with utmost respect for all and from all.
That is the American way, and that is the way it always will be.
Let there be peace on our planet Earth! The United States of America, with your acknowledgement of all, will continue to lead the way.
Prez Obama, we are proud of you.
We believe in you and you will make it work.
our share :
http://www.squidoo.com/Obama-President
we faced the facebook :
http://hwrpics1a.spaces.live.com
No more Republicans. Enough is enough.
Kudos to all for a fine job. But now the work really begins. First order: Make it to inauguration. Overall task as we provide the man's muscle: Watch out for those gremlins! Joe the Plumber has a cherrybomb for every Democratic toilet in town. Please do not laugh: The opponents of our agenda are not above sabotaging the peoples' plumbing to create a job for themselves in 4 years (or less.)
Let's keep those pipes clean! Defend our public infrastructure!
This just gets worse all the time!!!! I can't stand it!!!!! Yesterday, at a rally in Defiance, OH, Senator McCain started trying to get "Joe" the Plumber to come on stage. Turns out he was supposed to be there but he wasn't because he evidently can't even follow simple directions. But, of course, it wasn't HIS fault! He actually blamed McCain's campaign staff! Anyway, after McCain stood there and kept calling for him, and looking really pathetic and silly doing so, ("Joe? Where are you Joe? Are you here Joe? Well I thought you were here!) he eventually said 'oh well you're all Joe the Plumber' why don't all of you stand up'....like they weren't already!!! What followed amazed & enraged me (I didn't think it was possible for McCain to get any worse, but he DID!!) McCain then started talking about how great Joe is and, this is a quote now: "give Joe a hand, for all he's done for America!" If that particular statement wasn't bad enough in other rallies Senator McCain has stated that "Joe" his "role model", "a great citizen from Ohio", and "a great American hero"! "Joe" is Senator McCain's role model?
What about all the men and women who have fought and died for this Country, Senator McCain? What about the mothers & fathers, sisters & brothers, spouses & children of those people? People that were proud to either go fight themselves or have someone in their family who did! McCain & Palin usually acknowledge these people at their rallies by having asking them to "hold your hand up so we can honor you" and everybody claps. But when it comes to who McCain & Palin single out and bring on stage with them they choose to acknowledge "Joe" the LOSER and the LIAR!!! Here we have a United States Senator, who wants to be President of this Country, that has, by his vote, been a part of sending men & women off to war! Then this same man gets up on stage and, before national audience, announces that his hero, his role model, his definition of a great American is this loser! Then he wants the crowd to applaud "Joe" to "Thank him for what he did for America". He wants this guy cheered and celebrated, for being a liar, while, at this very moment we have troops in harm's way. How must it make those troops feel? Here they are, a world away, fighting for their country, in danger of being killed at any time, missing the birth of their children and time with their families that they can never get back. Then they see or hear about the man who wants to be President, their next Commander in Chief, a United States Senator is making some nondescript guy, whose sole 'contribution' was to ask a question that was filled with and based on NOTHING BUT LIES, being the best thing that ever happened to America. How must those soldiers families feel, when they are making the sacrifice of their loved one's presence and possibly their lives and the man who wants to be President is making some loser out to be an "American Hero" and his "role model"? But "Joe" the Plumber is John McCain's GREAT AMERICAN HERO!!! I am just simply outraged, enraged, furious, appalled, incensed, pissed off,....there just isn't strong enough language to describe how I feel about this!!!!!
What about the veteran's of WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War and the other various conflicts, police actions, diplomatic missions, etc.? My grandfather served in WWII! Like many of the young men at the time, he was drafted and sent to Germany. He married my grandmother one week before he left and my mother was 2 years old (walking, talking, the whole bit) before he ever saw her! My grandmother talked about walking down to the Post Office, praying every step of the way, that my grandfather's name would not be on the list of missing or killed in action (that's how they did it back then)! My grandfather landed on the beaches of Normandy, you know...D-Day, and was involved in several other battles! My grandfather DID something for his Country!!! My grandmother told me he was never the same when he came back. How could you be, after seeing your boyhood friends shot to pieces or blown up in front of you? My grandmother DID more for this Country than Joe the Freakin' Plumber, through her sacrifice of being without him all that time and being a new wife and mother and having to do it all by herself! But McCain wants to acknowledge Joe the Plumber for all he's done! Let's highlight "Joe's" accomplishments, shall we…
First and foremost and his whole basis for fame is simply that he is a nothing but a BIG, FAT, BALDFACED LIAR and someone who evidently likes to do and/or say things just to make someone else look bad or get other people into it so he can stayed back and watch the feathers fly!!! Lie #1: His name isn't even "Joe"! Lie #2: He is NOT a licensed plumber!! Lie #3: He is not in the process of buying his bosses' business Lie #4: His bosses' business (if he was going to buy it) doesn't make the $250k to $278k that "Joe" said it did, right there on TV! Lie #5: He doesn't make anywhere near $250k himself, he made somewhere in the area of $40k last year (which therefore makes you ask 'why would he be concerned about having to pay more tax at $250k) Lie #6: was portraying himself as an honest, tax-paying citizen...the IRS had to put a lien against him for $1,100 in tax he refused to pay! Then he goes around & comments on government policies, like foreign affairs, like he has any idea! He clearly does not!!! But he has no problem getting out there and stating his idiotic ideas and saying things that either come from his ignorance and lack of education or just blatant lies!!!
What gets me are the people that actually listen to this guy!!! I would be willing to bet that his education ended in high school except maybe for some trade school (like the how to snake a toiilet course or how to turn the water on!) I mean absolutely no disresect to trade school but it doesn't really compare to going to a university that teaches a well-rounded curriculum and upon completion you receive a bachelors, masters or doctorate degree, does it???
Senator Obama has surrounded himself with extremely intelligent and learned people that have great knowledge, expertise, wisdom & experience!!! People that are, without doubt, geniuses! Madeline Albright, Dick Lugar, Colin Powell, Bill Clinton, Hilary Clinton and Al Gore are simply the best & brightest when it comes to foreign policy! I can't think of anyone that would be better than, and few that would be as good as, any one of those people! These people also happen to be friends of and, much more importantly, advisors to Senator Obama! But "Joe" the Plumber is acting like John McCain's foreign policy guy. While he is out there stumping for him and agreeing with statements like "a vote for Obama would be a vote for the death of Israel". To which "Joe" says "I'll have to agree with you on that one, that would be a problem" He agrees with this statement even though Senator Obama has, many times, declared his support to Israel!
"Joe" the Plumber is SO BAD that FOX NEWS, who is by NO MEANS counted among the Obama Supporters, even called him out on it! The FOX NEWS anchor was so appalled and floored that he was practically speechless. He actually issued a disclaimer disavowing everything that "Joe" said. If you ever watch FOX NEWS you know what a big deal that is!!! The man is a complete and total idiot. During a rally yesterday, McCain handed him the microphone to address the crowd! He then began telling them how 'we need to take back control of our Government' and that they can do that by doing "research" and then making informed decisions about the world and what goes on in it. He didn't word it quite that way but he did say 'do research like I have'. Really...he's done research, has he? Well then why, every single time he opens his mouth, does something else ignorant and stupid come out. Further, I don't think his little speech was even his own words because he can't put more than two words together without sounding like a completely uneducated boob!
John McCain & Sarah Palin are holding "Joe" up as an American symbol, the symbol of Small Business in America AND HE DOESN'T OWN A SMALL BUSINESS!!!!! They call him a great American. Both McCain & Palin say "Obama and his media friends have attacked poor "Joe" for asking a question, what's that about?" Well I'll tell you...the McCain Campaign kept making sure "Joe" stayed in the spotlight and 'poor' "Joe", who according to McCain, didn't ask for any of this, was and is LOVING IT!!! If the man didn't want to be in the spotlight, he wouldn't jump in front of every camera he sees!!! Poor "Joe" is trying to make money off this whole farce! McCain & Palin will most probably do anything they can to help him capitalize on it. As far as him being 'investigated', the media tends to look into anyone that is getting that much press and attention. They really didn't have to 'investigate' very hard to find out THE TRUTH about Joe. Why are McCain & Palin so mad about that, because it is THE TRUTH!!! They, nor "Joe", for that matter have ever disputed any of it!!! Even after they found out what a liar he is, they still continued to act as if he hadn't lied…when they KNOW he did!!! This certainly doesn't make their characters look good! They are committing the same kind of dishonesty and questionable actions they are pledging to get rid of in Washington!!!
That whole "Joe" thing would have worked better, though not to base an entire campaign on as they have, if they had ACTUALLY USED someone who 1) owned a small business and 2) made over $250k and 3) had some kind of formal education and was learned and up to date on current events!
I apologize for the length of this blog but I could go on and on....I had to make myself stop!!!!
Please vote for change! A vote for Obama/Biden is a vote for hope!
Terri
Vote Obama/Biden '08
Pasted from <http://my.barackobama.com/ext/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/blank.htm>
I’ve just seen Sarah Palin on CNN and she also mentioned a question that Joe the plumber had.
Sarah, I believe in capitalism too, socialism is not communism and they are not the same.
Joe the plumber, similar to Sarah’s answer, different economic policies or tax strategies do not make your country a socialist or communist one but they can, for example, result in economic prosperity or bankruptcy. Another example is that under the Bill Clinton administration the US was still regarded as a free and capitalist country and not a socialist or communist country. The Bill Clinton administration ended with a balanced deficit and when the Bush administration cut taxes to the wealthy and corporations in 2001, it resulted in deficits the size of 500 billion dollars a year, which make you poorer and the United States poorer, for a total of over 3 trillion dollars. This is what caused the US dollar to fall and lead to the economic crisis.
The other thing is the saying “the rich get richer”. When the rich get richer they use their influence and power to get richer and more powerful. For example, they may use people and the media to say that cutting all their taxes is good for the economy. This is not true, if they have all the money, how you are going to pay for your education, buy a car and a home. And it certainly does not mean they will build a factory in the US instead of China where “Joe the plumbers” are less expensive. But what does happen is that they become so powerful that they become the defacto kings and nobles. This is very similar to dictatorship but more obscure then a recognized king.
I don’t like communism, kings, or dictators and I think we are on the same side on this one.
All the Best Joe.
There are other dictionaries and definitions but this is what I got from merriam-webster.com
Capitalism:an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market
Socialism: 1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods2 a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done
I would like to know if John McCain supports deregulating the Construction industry and the required licenses like the banking industry.
So basically if your house collapses on top of you or a sky scrapper topples over, sort of like the banks, it’s at your own risk. The way a free and buyer beware market is suppose to be.
I understand the the average American doesn't understand the in's and out's of high finance and the way that it basically helps businesses to avoid or minimize taxes. I've worked for a wealth growing institution for years and do understand those particulars. Our clients are Fortune 500 companies, local corporations - big and small- and individuals whose networth is more than $1 million. When an individual like Joe the Plumber opens his own business, he is wide open to tax minimization like you and I could only dream of. First off, he incorporatios or forms an LLC (Limited Liability Corporation). His tax advisor or bank, if it offers such services, can incorporate him in a state, island or other vicinity that is tax friendly and still have his businees licence in the state where he will actually be doing business. They then create a shell company in a tax friendly jurisdiction that makes it appear that a good deal of his business is being done in the state in which the shell company exists. Major tax breaks there! By the time things are said and done, he will probably be paying less taxes than he is now and he will be able to write off things like a trip to Mexico (for business purposes, of course!). He could bring along another couple under the pretense that he wants to get that person's plumbing business. That's just a very, very quick overview. We haven't touched on Delaware Business Trusts, Cayman Island Business Trusts, etc.
I don't understand why the Obama campain hasn't gently fired back regarding the perks of owing your own business! It is not Joe the Plumber that I would be more concerned with, it would be Joe's employee or two that I would be most concerned with!! They would be hurting more than The Plumber would ever be hurting.
We need to get this info out there! It has the potential to help Obama and also let "Joe the Plumber" know what's really availble to him besides a vote for John MCCain!!!
Sherry
Delaware
good morning,
so you saw last night joe the plumber ..near sarah palin right? i don't know what kind of "b n't p job " he was giving before ...but what is important and what you want to learn and wakeup to today is..
the brought him for one thing ...undecide voters who are making 250k+ or more ..vote for mccain!
what you can do ...
my name is amous , i own startup less than month old and will worth more than 250k+ , and yes am already (touch wood) made 262 last year.
it's for you bloggersmosaic.com will show n't one joe the plumber..but as much as we can i will give you chance to tell your fellow why we should vote and will for obama...
go now and act now! bloggersmosaic.com
also we want to build a mosaic of barack obama photo from collection of obama voters photos...
jump in and send your pic on bloggersmosaic.com
don't let them run with their cheap "joe the plumber" show
bloggersmosaic.com now!
also the anti joe the plumber group will soon be active !
The first blog I posted had to do with McCain's choice of Sarah "I Kill for Fun" Palin. It was written the day of the announcement, well before Palin was vetted -- something McCain clearly didn't do. Now, we've all seen what poor judgment McCain exercised in the most important decision he could make in his campaign.
Now, he has propelled this guy, "Bob the Builder" as I'll call him, into the national spotlight to attack Obama. You all know who I'm talking about, but I can't bring myself to use the generally accepted nickname -- which lies about his occupation.
I briefly thought that this guy must have been a McCain plant to trap Obama with his now proven false claims (not a licensed plumber, not intending to buy a business as he claimed). Then, I thought he couldn't be a McCain plant because he's turned out to be such an embarrasment. Yet, McCain's campaign is still using that guy -- and multiple variations -- on the stump.
But then I come back to Palin. McCain chose her, and look at what she has shown herself to be under that pretty face of hers. "Bob the Builder" is no better. He is now using his 15 minutes of infamy to try to land book and record deals. Watch for a TV movie now that "Bob" has hired a publicist.
These two things should give everyone great pause. Why? McCain chose these two people. Who would he choose for cabinet posts? Supreme Court seats? Advisors? Will it be new, unvetted people, or the old RNC guard -- if any remain? Neither is an acceptable choice to me.
McCain does not have what it takes to be president. He has shown himself to be:
The prospect of a McCain / Palin administration terrifies me. If by some act of evil they should win, I will seriously consider returning to the land of my ancestors: Holland!
VOTE * VOTE * VOTE * VOTE * VOTE * VOTE * VOTE * VOTE * VOTE * VOTE * VOTE* VOTE * VOTE
How sad is it that John McCain and Sarah Palin are now expecting us to believe that the recent "I'm Joe The Plumber", a.k.a. the I Am Sparticus" Ad is sincere. Joe The Plumber is now being flown all over the country by the GOP to make absurd statements and fiend questions from the public. All this and Joe has his own personal publicist. He's asking anyone who will listen to give him a country music career.
I had just returned home late Tuesday night and saw the e-mail message: “We are excited to announce the addition of Joe ‘The Plumber’ Wurzelbacher to The Press Office for exclusive public relations representation!” Wurzelbacher, of course, is the Ohio man who wants to buy a plumbing business but is concerned about the nation’s financial future. The guy whose favor was aggressively courted by both John McCain and Barack Obama in the last presidential debate. The guy who, as The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart says, has already done more interviews than Sarah Palin. I must emphasize that The Press Office is a reputable company that’s owned and operated by Jim Della Croce, a respected music industry veteran. His other clients include John Anderson, Pam Tillis and McCain supporter Aaron Tippin. But you have to wonder about the plans for Joe the Plumber’s upcoming public relations campaign. Will there be more media opportunities for him after the election? A lot of public appearances? Is there a book deal in the works? But, dear God, please don’t tell me Joe has abandoned his plan to buy a plumbing business so he can concentrate on his real dream — to become a country music star.
Are these people FOR REAL? And we are supposed to just BLINDLY follow the GOP, John McCain and Sarah Palin over the cliff and onto the rocks below? How incredibly STUPID do these people think we are? It's so painfully obvious that Joe The Plumber is NOT QUALIFIED to help any of us to make an informed decision. Get out and VOTE PEOPLE! Show the GOP, George Bush, John McCain and Sarah Palin that we are so done with their games, their smoke screens... their penchant for "inventing" so-called truths... THIS IS A TIME FOR CHANGE! Vote For Barack Obama!
Good-Morning Senator Barack & Michelle Obama,
We were pleased to receive your letter October 25, 2008, which was yesterday. So I would like to share with you why we are happy to get involved. We are hard working community participants, that’s part of my family’s life.
I was reading this morning, and thought about you. So I would like to share this with you and your wife.
With 7 days left I pray you will continue to get your strength from the Lord. With my life He gives me His Strength. “He went up on a mountainside by Him self to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.” Matthew 14:23.
Christ Jesus in His humanity felt the need of complete solitude-to be entirely by Himself, alone with Himself. Each of us knows how draining constant interchange with others can be and how it exhausts our energy. As part of human kind, Jesus knew this and felt the need to be by Himself in order to regain His strength. Solitude was also important to Him in order to fully realize His high calling, His human weakness, and His total dependence on His Father.” Streams in the Desert. L. B. Cowman. P.p.403-October 26 2008.
I understand a little about your mom, and these are a few reasons that I stay close to God. I was a single a mom for 15 years of my sons’, Keith & Kevin, life before I remarried. I quit a good job in Buffalo N.Y., so I could better our life by going to Talladega College, when I was 32 years old. At that time 1974, only the youth were on campus, so I was a big joke. I had to get on welfare and food-stamps. It made my sons hide when I had to use food-stamps instead of money, I was happy for the help. A big $80.00 a month plus food-stamps and our apt. was 200.00 a month plus utilities. HUD would not let me qualify for a $50.00 apt. because I was not getting enough money from welfare. It’s been hard for all of us who have been single moms. Thank God for grandparents and friends.
I am from Huntington W.VA, so I cast my vote by way of California City, Ca. For these reasons:
My husband Marvin, a builder, completed two homes and lost both of them in December 2007. Built two fourplex’s, which we live in one of them, and they are trying to take these. My husband has worked so hard to make our life better, and because of Bush, we just keep hitting bottom.
God has blessed us, because a few years ago a doctor did foot surgery, I was in pain for four years he kept me coming back almost every week, sending me to all of his colleague, and it came to the point they said it was all in my head. When I was able to change insurance, the new Doctor let me know that what was wrong with my foot had never been removed. So I took my old doctor to court and he admitted that he knew he done surgery in the wrong place. When asked why he did not correct his mistake, he just shrugged his shoulders and said he didn’t know. This happen in Glendale Ca. courts; I lost the case, out of work for four years with no income from me, and was in to much pain to take care of my daughter Joy, that we adopted. They said I lost case because too much time had passed. I found an attorney the next day when I read my report that when I requested an out side doctor, he reported that the doctor had not remove the matter, and the surgery needed to be done over. This was three months later, but the old doctor did not share this with me.
After four years of pain I was able to return to my teaching position, in six weeks. I am looking forward to your insurance plan, because we have not had insurance in years. My son Joshua, just yesterday had to pay out $200.00 for x-rays, he does not have the money because he in college finishing up his Masters this spring but because he can’t afford insurance he had to pay.
I know you can help us in our community, because of the type of service you have given through out the years.
My husband and I went to a community hospital when we were living in Pomona Ca. Because his mother was in the hospital, it was a day after Christmas, and the hospital had call to say they were getting ready to take his mother back to the nursing home, and we had plans to meet her there.
The hospital and the nursing home were only a few blocks away from our home, but in 15 min they called back, to say it was now a code blue. we could not understand this because it was an in and out procedure that was to take place, she was not even suppose to spend the night, and when we asked why she was spending the night, to start with, they said that they wanted to keep an eye on her. My husband showed concern that she was out of it, and she didn’t know we were there. After getting the code blue call, we and the children rush to the hospital only to sit in the waiting room for hours, because they were working on her. It was getting late so we made arrangements with my son Kevin to take care of the younger children.
We returned to the same door that we had been using so we could find our way back to her room. It was raining cats and dogs that Friday night, so as we enter the door where the security guard asked us to sign in at front desk, so I did. I could hear the voices in the background, so I ran to see what was going on, because my husband was in the area. I don’t know why the guard was yelling about us signing in I told him that the desk clerk said I could sign in for both of us, but he was still yelling as we started to his mother’s room.
He started poking his finger in my husband back as we were walking up the halls. My husband kept walking with his mind on his dying mother. We had walked a long ways to the elevators with this guard still poking my husband. I finally turned to him and said you are acting like a punk, please stop poking him. At that moment, he grabbed me by my neck in a chock-hold I could not breathe, I was trying to free my self, but he had my feet off the ground.
He carried me, in a choke-hold, a long ways back before he threw me to the ground, placed me in handcuffs and he and another man sat on me to the point I was suffocating. Bystanders were trying to tell them to stop, but they had dogs which kept them back. The Pomona Police came, I was glad to see them until they jerked me by my handcuffs and tried to make me stand. When they saw that I couldn’t they dropped me to the ground. I was bleeding, I was bruised, I could not talk and I was hurting so bad that all I could do was whisper.
One man picked up my purse and the contents, which was a Bible and a cell phone. When the man brought me my purse while I laid on the floor, he said, “Joy, is that you?” at first I did not recognize him, then he reminded me he was the social worker in the hospital and I that I had followed the ambulance to the medical center, a young male child had been hit by a car, and the family had not arrived and I did not want him to die alone. I stayed to pray and to be with the family, and that’s how he remembered me. He said he knew I had not done anything wrong.
The hospital would not treat us, they would not get any help for us, and they were putting us out of the hospital. After about 3 hours the head of the security came and took me for treatment, also told me how sorry he was. The lady in X-ray slammed me on the cold metal table. I just did not know people could be so cruel.
After we were able to be wheeled to his mother’s room, I asked my husband why he did not help me. He replied that every time he would break lose, two mussel men would grab him and twist his arms tearing at his rotator cuffs. We were all night trying to make a report about the matter. They kept saying there was nobody in charge.
His mother never regained conscious. She died the following day; we still don’t know what happened to her. Sometimes we feel that we were beaten to distract us, so we wouldn’t ask questions concerning his mother.
We both were out of work seems like forever. We went for treatment everyday. We lost that case, because they said we were trying to steal a baby.
I know if that had been your community Obama you would had helped us, because you know how the big boys mess over the little people who don’t know what to do.
America for Change.
Thank you. Joy G. Anderson Hodges. joyfullspirit8.wordpress.com.
Joe Biden was correct in his statement that folks making $150,000 would get a tax cut. The oversimplification of the Obama tax policy and the 'taking one phrase out of context' is again mccain/palin sleaze tactics.
Here it is; study it and learn it and make repulsivecants look bushesque!
Per the Tax Policy Center, here is how Barack Obama's tax plan breaks down for individuals:
$0-$18,891 = $567 tax cut $18,982-$37,595 = $892 tax cut $37,596-$66,354 = $1,118 tax cut $66,355-$111,645 = $1,264 tax cut $111,646-$160,972 = $2,135 tax cut $160,973-$226,918 = $2,796 tax cut $226,919-$603,402 = $121 tax increase $603,403-$2.87 million = $93,709 tax increase $2.87 million-plus = $542,882 tax increase
I am a 55 year old American who just lost his job due to lay offs. I had been with the Company for 7 years (after losing my job with an Airlines on 9/11). The CEO of this company has personally profited more than $25,000,000.00 in the past three years. I suffered a serious illness in 2006 which left me with physical challenges and medical bills (even though I had medical insurance), but now I will lose health coverage in 90 days. My credit was ruined due to the prohibitive medical expenses from my copay. I have an 86 year old mother who just lost $8,000.00 of her modest "nest egg" due to the financial crisis brought on by wealthy Wall Street executives. My car is on the blink, but although I live in the third largest city in the state...the only form of mass transit is buses and to travel a mere 4 miles it takes some three hours.
I am starting this blog as a forum to ask some direct questions and give some direct responses to the mounting 'dribble' being presented by the Republicans. Perhaps, thoughts, ideas and responses from WE Americans who are so desperate for the CHANGE Obama & Biden will bring might assist the remarkable team that Barack brought together.
Let me begin with this...
Since when did Tammy the Teacher, Nancy the Nurse, Mike the Mailman, or Wilbur the Waiter make more than $250,000.00 a year? I called a few plumbers in my area and can't find a one that makes anywhere near that amount. But, PALIN the POLITICIAN keeps spouting off about "Joe." Heck, a member of the U.S. Congress is only paid $169,300.00. I have had my fill of Sarah the (would be) Soothsayer!
NOTE: This post is both on my Xanga site and the smaller blog I've started up on my Kizyr for Obama page.
Where is the real America? Who is a real American? Who gets to decide which is which?
There are some interesting, yet troubling, comments recently made by a lot of the folks related to the McCain Campaign. And once again, it offers a huge, huge contrast to the message that Obama's been carrying throughout. Let me give you the following:
"I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out, are they pro-America or anti-America? I think people would love to see an expose like that." ~Rep. Bachmann (R-MN)
Now, to be fair, this came on Chris Matthew's Hardball, after Chris Matthews was clearly acting like a jerk. But still, concluding that interview by suggesting some kind of media witch-hunt? No wonder she now finds herself having to apologize, and donations instantly increased to her opponent without him having to even do anything. Second:
"We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation." ~Sarah Palin
Again, to be fair, Palin did apologize for "the way her comments came off". It's a bit of a non-apology-apology, but still, her comments are troubling for another reason entirely (which I'll get to momentarily). Third:
"...the Democrats have just come in from the District of Columbia and moved into northern Virginia. And that's really what you see there. But the rest of the state, real Virginia, if you will, I think will be very responsive to Sen. McCain's message. ... I mean 'real Virginia' because northern Virginia is where I've always been, but 'real Virginia' I take to be the — this part of the state that is more Southern in nature, if you will. Northern Virginia is really metro D.C." ~Pfotenhauer, McCain Advisor
Now this one upset me the most. Primarily because Pfotenhauer here had the audacity to say that I don't live in "real Virginia". Now, let me lay down for you a few facts: (a) I moved here from Tennessee, not Washington (b) I pay Virginia state income tax. (c) I had a choice to go to Maryland, DC, or Virginia, and I chose Virginia. I'm here entirely because I want to be, and I like this state. (The lower taxes, rent in metro-accessible areas, and rich diversity of the state, really helps, too. VA's state flag is also the coolest out of the 50 states--seriously, take a look.)
So tell me, why am I not a "real" Virginian? Oh... I know. Because politically I don't agree with you. Does that mean that when I was in Tennessee, despite being born and raised in Nashville, that I wasn't a real Tennessean because I didn't vote Republican? No wonder Pfotenhauer is now scrambling to retract her comments. But, she was given a fair chance to clarify them on the air, and she simply reinforced them. Her apology now means nothing.
