Fellow Democrats, we need to demand more from those whom we elect to represent us, those whom we contribute to, those whom we more or less “employ.” Why is it that the republicans march in lock step? I understand they are on the wrong side of most logical issues. We Democrats are certainly on the side of good, respect, honesty, and moral correctness. Don’t you think this? Should we not march with strength and pride? Should we expect, demand, insist, and plea our case for nothing less than excellent performance? I am sounding firm because I feel we need to. I will not accept “one bill a year” performance. We need to CHANGE our nations direction today. We need to pass legislation each and every month. Big Bills, Big Changes, Big Time!
When President Obama addressed congress last concerning the amount of (what was to me) obvious attempts to cause him problems, you could see John McCain laughing and waving at him as if to say, "See, there you go, you wanted the job, now you deal with this! HaHa! His childish waving and laughing was what we can expect from the Bush/Rove type liars and what I realise is present in Arizona. Every Arizonan I speak to, (and I live here, grew up in the same school district with Cindy Hensley, John McCain's present wife, when she was in grammar school and high school) has a story to tell about one of either Senator Kyle or Representitive Shaddeg. The story is always how these men helped someone with their personal life by using their influence and authority in the way it was intended, to help the state's citizens when some government Bureaucracy was trying to do something wrong to that person. Sometimes it has to do with people who aren't doing their job properly, sometimes it is some new person trying to read the rules that congress wrote incorrectly. I.E. one state law in Arizona was written to say, "...if the prospective clients expenses excede their income, then, they are inelligible for help." It was a typo, obviously. If someone's expenses did NOT excede their income, why would they need help? It also tells them to throw away a person's documents when they are given to them for recording after making copies. Tell me why you would throw away someone's birth certificate, car registration, etc. It was meant to say, when a person gets a letter from an authority or landlord to verify that they have a residence, then, don't let them use the same letter twice. Some new people in the state DES office have thrown away legal documents belonging to the client since they are not smart enough not to ask if it doesn't make sense.
I am not going to go into my extent of knowledge of the laws concerning family assistance but they are legislated and written poorly and then given the discretion of the control freaks in offices here who may or may not be a person who thinks their job is to deny everyone they possibly can for help. Some of those people think if you happened to have a car nicer than theirs, it is up to you to eat your car if you lose your job, since their own car buying choice is greatly lacking. Some laws are left up to interpretation. In some D.E.S. offices there is blatant racial discrimination. There are minorities running the offices who believe that all white people are somehow able to find some rich uncle who will give them millions if they lose their job so they don't need help. If a white person goes into some of those offices they aren't asked what they want, they are told to take a number and sit down. After waiting half a day to get their number called, they go to the window and find out they could have just asked for an application and been given it, but the rude people at the desk like treating them like second class citizens. That is Arizona. We have the worst job statistics since anyone who is selling education here lists it as a job, then they say, "Oh, well, if you want that job, let me sign you up for our school and maybe you can then find a job like that on your own." They say we have jobs when we don't because some jobs won't hire but one kind of people. I tried to do farm labor. The MYTH that only Mexican Illegal Aliens want those jobs is a complete lie. The farm bosses who hire won't hire you if you aren't an illegal alien since they can get away with cheating those people over and over by stealing their pay. You or I would go to the police, the small claims court, or the state labor department, but, illegals can't do that. That is why they are the only ones they will hire. Just let's say, this is part of what they call the new global economy. It entails the new form of American Slave Labor.
Health care needs to be taken care of but John McCain and his leg dragger crew are fast at work making themselves into the anchor connected to whatever legislation the president needs t send up the channel for things running smoothely. They think it is funny that they stall legislation to act like a three year old. We should be standing on his front lawn next time he does that and asking him who he thinks he is. The tea party people are a fabrication developed by some people who say that they "report news" but are owned by the same propagandists who also owns and operates Al Jazeera English which is the other Fair and Balanced fake news show which supports Islam. If you don't think Fox News and Al Jazeera are the same thing, then look at their articles and see if they don't all go the same way. Al Jazeera uses the terms "fair and balanced" and "the axis of evil". Does that sound familiar?
The same liars who fed you all that previous baloney are in charge of both stations. If you don't find that scary then, you aren't paying attention. Some day the people who hurt the non-wealthy of our planet will be recognised but probably not in this decade, since there are so many American Liars who are bound and determined to ruin the United States for selfish political reasons, just so they can say they "won". When we are completely bankrupt, having to make concessions to Red China, the communists who we already owe money to, then, they can say, "See, we made Obama fail." Just like the same people who advised George Bush to ruin our economy, are the same ones in charge of the teaparty revolt, it would seem that most people would wise up, but so much for common sense.
Jerrrol LeBaron, a resident of Los Angeles, has created Honor In Office for those Americans who want laws passed to make our representatives in Congress read bills before they are allowed to vote on them. This group calls for honesty, integrity, common sense, and a focus that the members of Congress work for the People, and not use their office to further their own interests.
A higher standard for our members of Congress is demanded. Ethics have to be central to all those who aspire to represent the American people.
Passing bills in the dead of night before other members of Congress can object is not the American way. It is amateurish, and does not have the professional stance Americans want from their representatives at the highest levels of government.
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The journey of fatherhood provides unique and lasting joys. Cradling a baby in his arms, a father experiences the miracle of life and an unbreakable bond. Fathers imagine a world of possibilities awaiting their children and contemplate the privilege of helping them reach that expanse of opportunity.
As kids grow and mature, they look to their dad for a special kind of love and support. Providing these necessities can bring great happiness.
Fatherhood also brings great responsibilities. Fathers have an obligation to help rear the children they bring into the world. Children deserve this care, and families need each father's active participation.Fathers must help teach right from wrong and instill in their kids the values that sustain them for a lifetime.
As they encounter new and challenging experiences, children need guidance and counsel. Fathers need to talk with their kids to help them through difficult times. Parents must also help their children make the right choices by serving as strong role models. Honest and hard-working fathers are an irreplaceable influence upon their children.
Communities must do more to counsel fathers. Family and friends, and faith-based and community organizations, can speak directly with men about the sacrifices and rewards of having a child. These groups can support men as they take on the great challenges of child-rearing.
Through honest and open dialogue, more men can choose to become model parents and know the wonders of fatherhood.
On Father's Day, we pay tribute to the loving and caring fathers who are strengthening their families and country.
We also honor those surrogate fathers who raise, mentor, or care for someone else's child. Thousands of young children benefit from the influence of great men, and we salute their willingness to give and continue giving.
We also express special gratitude to fathers who serve in the United States Armed Forces for the sacrifices they and their families make every day.
All of these individuals are making great contributions, and children across the country are better off for their care.NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, in accordance with a joint resolution of the Congress approved April 24, 1972, as amended (36 U.S.C. 109), do hereby proclaim June 21, 2009, as Father's Day.
I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on this day. I urge all Americans to express their love, respect, and admiration to their fathers, and I call upon all citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
/s/ BARACK OBAMA
..... Contact: http://Alex.Karoub@gmail.com
We have made historic headway by together pointing our nation in the right directions. After decades, we have America focused on the issues of fundamental importance. Now, each of us acting in concert can together move our country to lead the world to the fruitfulness of moral goodness. I have no doubts about my abilities and the abilities of fellow Americans to work smart and hard to achieve these goals.Barack Obama has the visions, leadership, and integrity for us to correct and redirect our country to once again lead the world for the fruitions of good. Let's closely listen, learn, and move forward based on that which we know deep inside is good and which we can validate with our hearts. I hope that those who had but a few reasons to support Obama, look further into the other issues more deeply. I found the more I explored, studied, and listened to Obama the more I found us in agreement. The couple of issues that I did not have depth of knowledge of, quickly became obvious in need. This was unusual for me since I have always refused to be any kind of a follower, and still am not. I find Obama to be a deep thinker who is articulate and inspirational; and, of most fundamental importance, Obama makes excellent moral sense.Hopefully, our country has learned lessons from the past of mistakenly following leadership blindly, as was done with Nixon and Bush. There are leaders who are simply in it for themselves and will cater to individuals or groups in order to grab for their own benefit. Corrupt and bad leaders hide at all levels. This is especially true in city government as well as county and state government. The corrupt deals of politicians need to be exposed, and those responsible need to be weeded out in the coming local elections. Others need to be investigated by law enforcement and be prosecuted for illegal dealings; for deals they often make for their hidden personal agendas. Let’s look at the bad experiences of the past as bitter medicines, let’s eliminate the need for such bad medicine in the future. Let us use what we know is good to go forward.I believe we have chosen wisely, not by greed and not by misguided retaliatory anger. I believe this time our country has chosen with open eyes, with each of us listening and examining our choice of leadership closely, driven and validated by our hearts.I hope we can continue to make our efforts even more inclusive (in many more ways than I touch on here). Far right republicans will be stubborn to change, but we will need to include them to change if we are to succeed. Sure a few more will leave our country, but that is not the American way. No, we really don't need their false fronts of power, money, insider knowledge, or other trappings that they have taught many to 'respect?'. Let's recruit as many as we can, that's the American way, evolving and changing together as one nation. Try to be understanding as we move forward; by better understanding each as individuals and people with various desires and needs we will find ways to reach out with friendship and have them join our causes of good.Be on the lookout, and root out bad leadership in government and business. Do not be intimidated by those who use the false fronts of power and give a false sense of security in order to lead. Be extra leery of those who say or imply ‘Trust me’; those who give a sense that they somehow omnipotently know better. No longer will Americans be dazzled by phony displays of brilliance or baffled by baloney. There are government aristocrats and business leaders who still believe in the old adage of: “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle em with bullshit”. We can embrace complexity by demanding true, fundamental, and understandable explanations. We can root out falsehoods by not accepting double speak. We as Americans know how to grow ourselves by first believing in ourselves. Don’t be a follower. Don’t be a follower of followers.However, when we find leaders who are good; a leader that thinks, speaks, and acts from their heart; one that is honest, has integrity, and leads by sincere examples; then we need to in a big way, join them, support them, and promote their causes of good. From much research, investigation, and scrutiny, I believe Barack Obama is such a person. I hope we search for and find many more who are similar, who we can add to service at all levels of government. We need to add/replace leaders in business with ones that have honesty, integrity, and show quality in leadership. We need more people in leadership roles who are moral, like Barack Obama.Remember, we are not fighting a battle, we are the artisans and sculptors of the future for ourselves and generations to come. Rarely do societies have opportunities to make such dramatic moves forward as we now have in this opportunity of today. Take pride and practice in being inclusive as we stride forward. In moving forward, create opportunity not only for yourself, but also for all. Hope is a wonderful thing to behold; but without opportunity, hope can become but a dream never achievable. We can, will, and must, create opportunity.In the coming year I hope that we do not lose our spiritedness, but instead continue to build and make headway. I hope we all continue our campaign for change in government and business. We will succeed in moving forward once again, it will take much effort and good oversight on the part of each of us. We will make great strides in the months and years ahead in order to achieve the fruitions of good. Let's keep our enthusiasm progressing through these coming toughest of times. Let us use the light of goodness and love to motivate us with historic momentum.I have chosen Barack Obama because he best represents my deepest beliefs in America. Please take time to read the issues that Barack Obama has published on this website. Also, give your attention to see how he leads us to move our nation forward in the time ahead. Most importantly, be part of America's great future, participate in the greatness that together we will make. Participate!We will each and all flourish, if we think, speak, and act, by using the love in our hearts.
Your reply is welcome. Contact: Alex.Karoub@gmail.com
The story of parasites and leeches thriving on the earnings of a single woman like me. The sucking of blood money by these parasite and leeches in human form.
I had joined the clerical cadre of the State Bank Of Hyderabad in 1986. Since then my whole life has turned turbulent.
Ever since my mother and two aunts deaths in 1988-89, there have been a series of exploitations. Understandable that all face personal turmoils in life but my employers the SBH are discriminatory towards me. Always recovering parts of salary and denying me the entitlements. While they all enjoy enticing perks, heavy increments, and now pay hike during recession world over. Deliberately causing problems to my pet or me so as to temporarily incapacitate and get an opportunity to exploit.
The following is a Petition drafted to portray the truth about my service with the SBH. I deserve a stabilized and secure job as a bank employee alike others. I am not aspiring for promotions and huge perks given to Bank Officials. I do approve discrimination on the basis of gender, caste or racism.
http://www.doxtop.com/Browse/2852f51b/petition.aspx
I am sincere and hard working. I have observed that many do arrive late to the Office, indulge in tea breaks, or lunch cum chit chats , many go out on errands during office hours on their own vehicles or many do attend social functions during office hours. Yes! all of us enjoy the liberties of working in administrative offices as seniors with turbulent personal lives but then why pick only on me to discriminate without full pay. I have turned into a laughing stock with the perpetual recoveries imposed from my salaries over some flimsy or whimsical pretexts or fake exaggerated allegations. One of the flimsy reasons is that I commute in hired three wheelers. But nobody had questioned me in the past about commuting long distances in buses. The parking area shows several cars owned by bank employees both officials and clerical cadres. There are also the sub staff having own vehicles and own huge lands and houses. Many Bank Officials educate their children abroad and many are employed in foreign countries. Most of them squander money over alchol or pleasurable entertainments or maintain more than one wife. I simply fail to understand the shameless sexual and monetary exploitation of a single woman like me.
Unlike most of my colleagues I am still surviving in a rented apartment. Though I hold a property share along with my father and brother I am not able to utilize the space because they are hostile. There are these vultures who are so greedy for money waiting for a chance to grab an opportunity to cheat or dupe or petty thugs in the form of traders, shopkeepers, or similar others.
The links are the articles from newspapers:
http://www.dc-epaper.com/DC/DCH/2009/02/21/ArticleHtmls/21_02_2009_011_002.shtml?Mode=0
What is a budget and how is it allocated?
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOIH/2009/02/22&PageLabel=6&EntityId=Ar00601&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T
All it takes is signatures of bankers, auditors, government officials along with traders to spin a yarn.
Just like cleaner and greener world environment, there should be honest and clean citizens without duping honest and hard working persons like me. Clean Judiciary System.
US Policy on Cuba - Change for Honesty, Peace and RespectBarack Obama embodies what the world admires from the US. With the foreign policy on Cuba, the President and the new Congress have the opportunity to change the relationship between neighbors based on universal tenets of Honesty, Peace and Respect.This letter intends to provide a rational, non-political recommendation to elevate the US foreign policy on Cuba in the eyes of the world from a current position of isolation. At the same time, this will resolve the 50-year conflict and facilitate the reconciliation of the cuban people. As human beings, we are response-able, we have the ability to choose our response to the reality that happens to us, rather than just react instinctively to it, letting those events shape us, dominate us. We can choose a truly rational response if we use our imagination to remove ourselves from this conflict.HonestyCuban national hero, Jose Marti, revered on both sides of the political conflict, represents the ideals of independence of the cuban people. Marti not only fought for Cuba’s independence from Spain, but also warned against US intervention in Cuba. Marti lived in and admired the US, but he fought for Cuba’s independence, period. Independence is what is truly instilled in the cuban people, as much as it is in the american people. Unfortunately, the US did intervene in Cuba at the end of the independence war against Spain, occupied Cuba for several years, and still today, after more than a century, occupies a portion of the Cuban territory in Guantanamo. An honest position for the US would be to return Guantanamo to Cuba. Guantanamo is not a political issue, it is an issue of honesty for the US.PeaceThe embargo is reminiscent of the cold war. The cold war is over and Cuba does not represent a risk to the US national security. The focus should not be in the past, where US companies, cuban people and government have all lost a great deal from the expropriations and the embargo. The focus should be in a future of opportunity and peace for two neighboring nations.An embargo is not a policy justifiable for political differences. Today, it would be difficult to imagine any nation, let alone the US, a beacon of freedom in the world, to initiate an embargo against another nation based on political differences. It would be a violation of the sovereignty of that nation. As a principle, the embargo should not exist for political reasons. Thus, any political discussion or condition associated to the embargo, is not legitimate. Even the lofty goal of freeing political prisoners should not be put as a condition to end the embargo, only because it is a political issue.Today, the embargo is not a political issue, it is an issue of honesty for the US.Respect
Any long term relationship should be based on mutual respect. Obama should not only unilaterally eliminate all the restrictions on travel and remittances, as he has promised to do, but as a principled position based on honesty, should also return Guantanamo to Cuba and call for Congress to end the embargo. There is no need to negotiate these changes with the Cuban government because honesty is not negotiable.
Let freedom speak for itself, and let us cubans decide our own destiny.
The Rationale for allowing the US Auto Industry to fail ~ Can it be applied the US Federal Government?
Republicans Kill $14B Rescue Plan in effort to dismantle UAW Union
Within the above article is a discussion and a point of view I find interesting and wish to explore how people feel about it and it's implications.
Stu P., "The only way the Big 3 can compete with Toyota, etc. would be to get out from under the massive pension and related obligations to retired and soon-to-be-retired UAW workers."
Richard, Given the plight of the economy and the Debt incurred by the American Taxpayer, should the US Government rescind the benefits of US Service men and women? Revoke the health benefits and retirement of the millions of individuals in order to make the Federal Government a more financially viable entity ?
Let's start with those costly Survivor benefitshttp://www.militarytimes.com/benefits/family_resources/online_hbml06_payandbenefits_otherbenefits1/
Then we can move on to money for housing and Education benefits.http://www.militarytimes.com/benefits/
Imagine a leaner Federal Government without Military Veteran OBLIGATIONS to burden them.http://www.militarytimes.com/benefits/health/
~@~
Given the tremendous debt out government is carrying and which the American citizen is libel to repay w/interest, I'm wondering if these Senate Republicans would be prepared to rescind the benefits to each and every Military veteran in an effort to trim the wasteful spending by our Government?
If it works for GM, Ford and Chrysler, wouldn't it also translate into a cost-savings effort by the Federal Government?
I really think these Senate Republicans are on to something, throw out any promises of care for services rendered and allow the former employees to fend for themselves.
After all those 300,000+ Auto Retirees are most likely service members from WWII, Korea, Veitnam who are drawing these Federal Benefits as well as Pensions from working their entire lives in the factories. If America is willing to toss them under the bus, why not go the whole way and assist the Federal Government in relieving itself of this burden?
WHO IS THAT GUY BARACK OBAMA? HE IS US.We have made historic headway by together pointing our nation in the right directions. After decades, we have America focused on the issues of fundamental importance. Now, each of us acting in concert can together move our country to lead the world to the fruitfulness of moral goodness. I have no doubts about my abilities and the abilities of fellow Americans to work smart and hard to achieve these goals.Barack Obama has the visions, leadership, and integrity for us to correct and redirect our country to once again lead the world for the fruitions of good. Let's closely listen, learn, and move forward based on that which we know deep inside is good and which we can validate with our hearts. I hope that those who had but a few reasons to support Obama, look further into the other issues more deeply. I found the more I explored, studied, and listened to Obama the more I found us in agreement. The couple of issues that I did not have depth of knowledge of, quickly became obvious in need. This was unusual for me since I have always refused to be any kind of a follower, and still am not. I find Obama to be a deep thinker who is articulate and inspirational; and, of most fundamental importance, Obama makes excellent moral sense.Hopefully, our country has learned lessons from the past of mistakenly following leadership blindly, as was done with Nixon and Bush. There are leaders who are simply in it for themselves and will cater to individuals or groups in order to grab for their own benefit. Corrupt and bad leaders hide at all levels. This is especially true in city government as well as county and state government. The corrupt deals of politicians need to be exposed, and those responsible need to be weeded out in the coming local elections. Others need to be investigated by law enforcement and be prosecuted for illegal dealings; for deals they often make for their hidden personal agendas. Let’s look at the bad experiences of the past as bitter medicines, let’s eliminate the need for such bad medicine in the future. Let us use what we know is good to go forward.I believe we have chosen wisely, not by greed and not by misguided retaliatory anger. I believe this time our country has chosen with open eyes, with each of us listening and examining our choice of leadership closely, driven and validated by our hearts.I hope we can continue to make our efforts even more inclusive (in many more ways than I touch on here). Far right republicans will be stubborn to change, but we will need to include them to change if we are to succeed. Sure a few more will leave our country, but that is not the American way. No, we really don't need their false fronts of power, money, insider knowledge, or other trappings that they have taught many to 'respect?'. Let's recruit as many as we can, that's the American way, evolving and changing together as one nation. Try to be understanding as we move forward; by better understanding each as individuals and people with various desires and needs we will find ways to reach out with friendship and have them join our causes of good.Be on the lookout, and root out bad leadership in government and business. Do not be intimidated by those who use the false fronts of power and give a false sense of security in order to lead. Be extra leery of those who say or imply ‘Trust me’; those who give a sense that they somehow omnipotently know better. No longer will Americans be dazzled by phony displays of brilliance or baffled by baloney. There are government aristocrats and business leaders who still believe in the old adage of: “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle em with bullshit”. We can embrace complexity by demanding true, fundamental, and understandable explanations. We can root out falsehoods by not accepting double speak. We as Americans know how to grow ourselves by first believing in ourselves. Don’t be a follower. Don’t be a follower of followers.However, when we find leaders who are good; a leader that thinks, speaks, and acts from their heart; one that is honest, has integrity, and leads by sincere examples; then we need to in a big way, join them, support them, and promote their causes of good. From much research, investigation, and scrutiny, I believe Barack Obama is such a person. I hope we search for and find many more who are similar, who we can add to service at all levels of government. We need to add/replace leaders in business with ones that have honesty, integrity, and show quality in leadership. We need more people in leadership roles who are moral, like Barack Obama.Remember, we are not fighting a battle, we are the artisans and sculptors of the future for ourselves and generations to come. Rarely do societies have opportunities to make such dramatic moves forward as we now have in this opportunity of today. Take pride and practice in being inclusive as we stride forward. In moving forward, create opportunity not only for yourself, but also for all. Hope is a wonderful thing to behold; but without opportunity, hope can become but a dream never achievable. We can, will, and must, create opportunity.In the coming year I hope that we do not lose our spiritedness, but instead continue to build and make headway. I hope we all continue our campaign for change in government and business. We will succeed in moving forward once again, it will take much effort and good oversight on the part of each of us. We will make great strides in the months and years ahead in order to achieve the fruitions of good. Let's keep our enthusiasm progressing through these coming toughest of times. Let us use the light of goodness and love to motivate us with historic momentum.I have chosen Barack Obama because he best represents my deepest beliefs in America. Please take time to read the issues that Barack Obama has published on this website. Also, give your attention to see how he leads us to move our nation forward in the time ahead. Most importantly, be part of America's great future, participate in the greatness that together we will make. Participate!We will each and all flourish, if we think, speak, and act, by using the love in our hearts.
I've been online reading blogs for years, yet this is my first. I am so inspired by President Obama and Family that I can't keep quiet any longer. I've honestly been given hope, inspiration and change. THANK YOU!
To Whom It May Concern:
For years i've been on my way back to school to futher my career. I've had plenty to say that was meaningful and from the bottom of my heart. Afraid to walk in the shoes of the person I truely want to be... the person I am. Haven't embraced the extremely artistic portion of myself... my passion. Its crazy how i've taken so much from myself, and pretended not to be as intellectual, and beautiful as I am inside and out. I thought to myself that I didnt want to be intimidating. Didn't say it if I thought it would hurt your feelings. It's fine... I am ok with who and where I am.
What the ____! What really have I been thinking...
I am 45 years old. I can remember being taught about fallout shelters in grade school, of what to do during a nuclear attack. I remember the fear even we children felt... how at times when we looked up at the night sky, it wasn't to see the stars, but rather, to wonder what it would be like to see the bombs falling. Our world seemed built on fear, as daily the newscasters covered the latest rounds of bull-chested huffing between us and the Soviets... we all sensed the hair-trigger we lived under, how our world might end because of the pride, the temper, or the paranoia of a tiny handful of men.
I also remember the things that gave us hope in that time of darkness: the space program encouraged us to work together... to have hope... to think that their might be a future after all, so what did we want it to be like? I remember my Dad calling me into the living room to watch, live, our first steps on the moon. The sight filled me with such joy: not just for the accomplishment it was (and in the face of those who'd said "Impossible!"), but more importantly, because it was a very powerful symbol of Hope.
Then came Watergate, and the turning of the Viet Nam war. Up until that time, while we had, indeed, had many dishonorable presidents, none had ever accumulated such widespread public scandal. The nation's attitude toward presidents, and politics in general, changed at that time.
I've watched over the years as this attitude continued to grow... and the attitude was, "In general, politicians are crooks and liars and power-hungry people." Soon, things that had been unthinkable were common practice, especially in the media: they went from portraying Gerald Ford as a clumsy buffoon, to worse things... to the point that, in the realm of political coverage, our media became nothing more than National Enquirer reporters: All the Scandals, All the Time.
People began picking apart political figures in the most minute detail, and fanning the flames of infamy over every little fault and flaw they could find. We, ourselves, with our hunger for gossip and scandal, fed the beast. We gave them ratings, we gave them reactions... and the beast fed us in turn, digging ever deeper, turning minor flaws into major scandals, taking the focus away from what a political figure actually did in office, and turning it toward what they ate, how they dressed, who they screwed, what tv they watch, their latest hemorrhoid.
And as this grew, fewer and fewer people of honor and ability wanted to run, much less hold office, under this microscopic scrutiny of themselves, their families, their daily lives, their past personal mistakes. Frankly, we grew abusive, we became gossip bottom feeders... and we got what was coming to us: a political system that grew more corrupt by the hour, one that "dumbed us down" and took pains to make us feel powerless. We consumed propeganda like candy, and rejected the few honest facts out there like they were brussel sprouts.
Corporate lobbyists saw the opportunity for a much grander playing field, and seized it. They ran with the ball, helping to feed the idea that we can do nothing to change things, that "they" are too big, too powerful, that the system is "too corrupt," that all of us are "the little guy."
Tonight, November 4, 2008, marks a change in all that. Somehow, an honorable, responsible, dedicated, honest, and capable person decided to do his part to do something about what our country's politics have become... and by some miracle and a lot of hard work, he won. But as President-Elect Obama stated in his acceptance speech [paraphrased]: The real work is now beginning. This election didn't change or fix anything that's wrong with this country---it merely gave us the opening in that once-locked doorway, to do so.
It will not happen overnight. We have a long haul ahead of us. He will make mistakes. So will we. My question is, will we, as a people and as individuals, do what he is committed to doing? Will we see where we are going wrong, acknowledge it, and step onto a different path to try to fix our errors? Will we become responsible human beings? Will we carry into tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, the knowledge that we CAN create change, we CAN make a difference... or will we act like children who, once they get their treat, stop doing the good work and good behavior with which they earned it? Will we go back to believing we can't make a difference, that what we say or do doesn't matter, that the opposition is too big and too powerful? Will we eagerly seek out, discuss at watercoolers and online, whatever personal details the media drag into the public light on Obama and his family as if they were the most important thing in the world? Will we continue dismissing the rest of the world as "unimportant"? Will we CARE? Will we WORK? Will we take RESPONSIBILITY for our own parts in what has happened, and in what NEEDS to happen? Will we continue to carp at each other while the house burns down... or will we reach out to one another and try to put out the fire TOGETHER?
Obama has opened the door. He stands there, holding it open for us... but it's up to US to walk through it, and keep walking, no matter how hard the struggle may be.
Will YOU?
We are in great Position to put the person this country needs in the whitehouse, but it will not be easy we have to keep working GET OUT THE VOTE! This campaign has the greatest supporters in the world,simply amazing from every part of this country, and Senator Obama is going to represent that diversity and UNITY of our nation, he wlll always work tirelessly for the American people, and he will always be honest with the American people about what we are facing. These are hard times, and Obama knows it, he understands, he gets it. He is going to have a lot, alot to handed to him; two wars that have a lot of problems, the economy, homes being lost, jobs, the debt! yeah and we need jobs and clean energy too. its a lot, it is, and you know, I know, we all know, that senator Obama is the right person to take on this challenge with us! these things have been lagging and brewing under the neglect and ideology of the past 8 years so It will be hard, but Obama is up to the task, he is ready, willing, and able to lead us through the trouble, to take it on and to change politics, and use his smarts, his heart, and his love for this country to make America strong!
Now lets get the VOTE OUT!
Today's New York Times article "Where did the cash go?" about the $123 billion bailout of AIG really points out the lack of transparency that has been so troublesome during this financial crisis and leading up to it, and the Bush Administration's bailout efforts, their no-bid contracting over the years, their whole way of doing business. In the AIG case one must rely on faith that the people involved are doing the right thing. Americans have no such faith in this Administration or the financiers who are in bed with the government. I am as skeptical as anybody can be. I'll pay what it takes to get America moving again, to get a positive type of growth occurring. I simply don't trust this Administration.
It reminds me of when I was a kid, I'd go to the beach on the Northeast River (Maryland) and sometimes smell a rotten fish. To anybody who has smelled a month-dead catfish, you know what I mean. Sometimes my Irish Setter had rolled in it (who can figure what smells good to dogs); sometimes the foul odor just permeated the air. Sometimes it wasn't until I stepped (barefoot) directly on a rotten spine of the culprit that I knew exactly where the trouble was. So much better was to see the trouble first, and I could then take care of it on my own terms. Unfortunately, most often I just knew there was a stink, I knew there was trouble, I knew that life would be better if I could identify the source of the problem before stepping on it, but I just couldn't find it by a casual look around.
We need to scour the beaches, look under the tree trunks, let no stone be unturned, and then root out this economic stink. When Barack Obama leads us, if the elections go that way, I look forward to some fresh air, transparency, and honesty. Then we can enjoy.
I think what I dislike most about Sarah Palin and John McCain is the ease with which they mislead or outright lie to their audiences. Surely, they and their advisors know the truth about various issues that are being discussed in the television and print media and Online. Still, you will hear them say in their rallies, as I did just now with Sarah Palin in Iowa, that Obama voted to raise taxes for people making $40,000 a year and that he wants to take away your hard earned money and "dole" it out to those who don't pay taxes. (Leaving out the fact that those who earn so little that they don't pay income taxes, still have to pay property taxes and sales taxes on necessities, including gas for their cars and taxes and fees on their phones.) Notice the verb 'dole' being used to suggest welfare.
In her closing set of repetitive questions on do you want a politician or a leader, she asked, "Do you want a politician who won't disavow a group that has committed voter registration fraud or do you want a leader who won't tolerate it?" She knows that this question implies that Obama supports voter fraud and that the average voter may not know the difference between voter registration fraud (which doesn't affect the vote) and voter fraud which does. She hopes that most people will not know that McCain has praised (quite deservedly) the ACORN group for its efforts to register voters who have been neglected in the past. She does exactly what has given politicians a bad name. She distorts the facts. She omits needed information for discovering the truth. And, worst of all, she lies! McCain does it, too.
The polls suggest that voters are catching on to their antics. What I have to wonder, though, is why so little has been made of the verdict that she 'abused the power of her office' in Alaska. I also wonder why newspeople don't clarify McCain's frequent boasting that she is "the most popular governor in the United States" which suggests that all governors were compared with each other, as in a beauty contest, and she won the most votes from American citizens of all states. He should be reminded that by recent polls her popularity has gone down from 80% to 68% in Alaska, which by now must put her below the popularity rating of other governors in their states and that she no doubt achieved the high rating because she mandated that some of the huge revenues from the oil companies be divided among Alaska's citizens. So, everyone gets a personal check each year instead of that money being used to pay for needed improvements in Alaska. Then, those improvements become 'earmarks' for the budget of the whole country.
From accusing Obama of saying he wanted to 'attack' Pakistan, inferring that saying he would meet with leaders of foreign countries without preconditions meant he would not make careful preparations before such meetings, suggesting that he gave into Putin after the Russia/Georgia conflict just because he first suggested that both sides should show restraint, insisting that Obama's plan for removing the troups from Iraq would not be done carefully and with consideration of concurrent conditions in that country, to saying he has not worked across the aisle in the Senate are just a few of the bits of disinformation that McCain and Palin include in their interviews and rallies across this nation. (May I never have a reason for such a long sentence again!}
Perhaps, we should all get the e-mail addresses of our newspeople and demand that they make these things clear as they use OUR airwaves to inform us. One more thing to work on!!! I must add that there are a few places we can get honest information: Air America and Pacifica Radio, C-SPAN, PBS with Bill Moyers, and frequently on MSNBC with Keith Olbermann and Rachael Maddow.
To answer Governor Palin's question: I want leaders that tell the truth when they know it and admit it when they have made mistakes or have been wrong. It's not an either or situation.
Now, back to my calls for the Obama campaign!
I'm Breeze Bryson and I approve this message! 10/25/08
John McCain has been running a character assassination campaign against Barack Obama. He's been playing a con game to try to shift around Bill Ayers and Barack Obama to try to somehow associate Obama with Ayer's militant anti-war activities during the Vietnam War (which happened when Obama was a kid), just because Obama, along with countless respectable citizens, both Democrats and Republicans, served on the board of directors of a non-profit organization that Ayers, now a respected Professor of Education, happened also to be on.
John McCain has been playing a shell and pea game trying to make people associate Obama with certain bad apples in an organization called ACORN who were trying to make false voter registrations. The truth is that ACORN is a bipartisan get-out-the-vote organization and they were the ones who blew the whistle on their these bad apples as soon as they found out they were doing it. What that means is that all they want to do is just register as many people to vote as they can, but they leave the decisions up to those people. The problem is that some of the people they hired to get the vote out (and, as you can imagine they hire thousands of people), want to cheat to make money, so they'd fill out phony voter registration forms. This goes totally against what ACORN is trying to do. This link explains it:
http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=17855
It's true that the Obama supports ACORN, because, as a good, honest, upstanding citizen who supports Democracy, he wants everyone who's eligible to vote to be registered and vote, regarldess of whether they vote for him, for McCain, for Ralph Nader, or for someone else. That's Democracy at it's finest. He and ACORN are both blameless in this regretable act by a few bad apples.
But, McCain didn't stop his smear games there. He's authorized robocalls and mailings to people all over America saying nasty, hateful things about Barack Obama. These robocalls and mailings try to make him out to be a terrorist or claim that he's a Muslim. The truth is that Obama's a Christian. The truth is that Barack Obama's an upstanding citizen who cares about protecting America from terrorists.
What you can do.
Contact eveyone you know and tell them this. Stop dishonest character assassination attempts this elections season. Write letters to the editors of your local newspapers (you may even be able to do this online, just go to google.com, search for your newspaper's name and you may be surprised to find that they're online and you can send a letter to the editor over the internet right now). Do whatever you can to get the word out about this dishonesty from the McCain camp.
One reason I'm voting for Obama is because I think he's simply more honest than McCain. McCain just seems like an oily con artist to me.
If you'd like to donate to my grassroots campaign for Barack Obama, click the link below:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/ivanrichmond
There are many things I am concerned about Sen Obama. Examine this...when asked about several different incidents at several different times, he smiled, looked at the cameras and said he would like to rise above the frey and talk about the issues. Well I have recently found it hard not to gigle a bit when I hear him say that. You see, the reason is clear why he wants to talk about "issues" at that moment. It would be much scarier for him to talk about those incidents than just about anything. I just ask that Obama supporters have the courage to research Obamas past dealings, associations, beleifs and simply compare what he said six months ago with what he says now. This is a snake oil salesman. The problem is that if you buy this snake oil you will be out a lot more than the cost of the snake oil. If there is anyone who does not know of the dishonesty of this man, just ask or research yourself. I realize that when you are dying of thirst you'll drink from a mudhole but this country is going to get sick from this drink.
As we see the light at the end of this miserable dank cave of misleadership we've been through this past eight years, it's hard to say what has been the worst of an all-around very bad experience. In trying to find the common thread that links most of the most-miserable aspects of the Bush Regime's course, I'd have to say that it was a fundamental lack of honesty. The weapons of mass destruction issue is Exhibit #1, but the same brash disdain for the truth is what has set the Bush Regime apart from all other American Administrations in my lifetime, and that would include Johnson and Nixon. Bush's dishonorable service so far eclipses zippergate and Watergate, because those systematic upheavals of the truth pertained to relatively narrow segments of leadership. That I can say that Watergate was a narrow evasion of truth may shock some, but by comparison to Bush's misgovernance, there simply is no comparison.
Bush's misperformance has stripped any would-be/might-be leader of any flexibility to distort the truth. This has been evident in CNN's live tracking of audience responses to John McCain's and occasionally Barack Obama's debate-night stretching of the truth or telling of misleading half-truths. I don't know how long this public intolerance of lies and cynical manipulation will last, but with any luck it will be a long time.
I have to say, there have been some amazing positive moments in this campaign. Possibly the lowest was followed immediately by the noblest. The town hall meeting held by John McCain a few days ago featured the worst and the best. In response to an ignorant evil-minded blogster's manipulative story-telling (see front-page New York Times article today), a woman repeated (and somewhat further twisted) the blogster's story and assumed out loud that Barack Obama is an Arab, something that obviously unnerved her. Combined with Sarah Palin's ignorant charges that Barack Obama pals with terrorists, I can see why a non-inquiring mind could be shocked and frightened, as this woman clearly was. John McCain immediately recognized that he and Sarah Palin and their behind-the-scenes master manipulators had taken the fun and games of campaigning to an unseemly and libelous new low of lies and distortion. John McCain immediately, without any hesitation, corrected the woman and re-assured her and the world that we have nothing to fear from a President Obama, "a decent family man."
People make mistakes, and some people take the incredibly difficult and high-minded path of correcting them. John McCain did so in the best way he possibly could have (short of not having allowed the campaign to veer so off course in the first place). That was John McCain's day. He has had others, largely unnoticed. We all know his heroic story of being shot down over Hanoi, pulled out of the water, and then being held captive and under torture as a POW. A story by MSNBC (http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/13/1516279.aspx) shows that John McCain has been able to turn the other cheek and do good to people who did incredibly bad things to him (and to tell the story of some who did some kind things as well).
I point these things out because every man and woman and child is tempted into lies and distortions of the truth under various circumstances. During the heat of political campaigns there can be a tendency to overlook the truth telling and honorable events in an opponent's life and campaign, and emphasize the lies and misleading half-truths. I was pleased with Barack Obama's acknowledgement of the service to truth that McCain provided that day. In my blog, I have not hesitated to point out the serious shortcomings of John McCain and especially Sarah Palin. But neither can I overlook the positives. That he has taken the high road some days doesn't get him off the hook for the low road taken quite often, and it also does not allow me to neglect to remind Barack Obama also that America needs honesty in the White House; so far, so good, but it is never often enough to hold our leaders' feet to the fire. They may tire of it, but it will make them better senators and Presidents and make America a better nation.
I read this morning that there are some phoney donors in the online donations. All I can say is "Please, people, don't do that." It is a matter of law and accountability.
Now, I think the tracking needs to be worked on - after all, they can just trace the credit card. For online donations, that is the real source, IMO.
If I gave as "Ravan Asteris", the credit card it came from would still be under my legal name. However, I have not given anything as Ravan Asteris - only under my real name and real address.I understand why, in this climate of demonization of the opposition, some people may not want their real names associated with their donations, especially since they then become a matter of public record, and are mapped online. However, not doing it by the rules can cause worse problems.
I actually wrestled with my need for privacy versus the importance of the campaign for several months before I broke down and contributed - under my legal name. Yes, it's now public record, but it records my support publically, too.
Many people prefer to use a pseudonym online. I do because there are some real nutjobs on the internet, and I am not a mainstream, everyone agrees with me, type of person. I have been stalked as a result of my online writings, and only my habit of pseudonymity has kept it in check.
However, when it is a matter of a business transaction, where money changes hands via check or credit card, I use my legal name. This includes political contributions, which are regulated by law to assure accountability.
Yes, it's tempting to fill in baloney on an online donor form - who's gonna know, right? Well, I tell you, the opposition is gonna know, and will use even the tiniest irregularity against your candidate. Don't play games with contributions, even if it seems that it's easy to be anonymous. It only hurts in the long run.
