Posts with the tag republican

Just Another Lying Politician

Dave Harpe — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:34:15 EST

I can no longer deny the fact that Barack Obama is just another politician, to myself or anyone else. I have a neighbor who was saying this all along, and I just said he was being too cynical. I said this is a time for action, not cynicism. Now I realize that he was right, I was wrong, and I was nowhere near cynical enough. I have to eat all my words about Obama over the last few months, and it's a painful and bitter pill for me to swallow. It is clear to me now that nothing substantial is going to change while Obama is in office. We will still be wasting our money and the lives of our troops fighting needless wars over oil, trillions of dollars will still be stolen from American tax payers by those who profit from war, health care reform is being compromised to death, the economy is still going down the toilet, and my life is getting even tougher because of it. I am now deeply regretful about every dollar I contributed to this campaign, because it accomplished nothing, and I am in dire need of money now. Barack Obama, David Plouffe, and everyone else in this organization made a monkey out of me, and it's not going to happen again. This will probably be my last post here. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I am so tired of lying politicians who don't keep their promises to the hard working people who helped them win. Very tired. I am finished with this, forever.

(By the way, they just voted another 300 billion dollars for this war. To put this in perspective, it's a whole year of income for thirty million people like me. That's on top of the 1,000 billion dollars they already admit they wasted on this. The real figure is probably much higher yet! Is it worth it? Obviously not.)

Why Fox News Must Be Taken Off the Air, and How it Can Be Done (Part 1)

Johnny Strife — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:18:50 EST

WITH FOXES, WE MUST PLAY THE FOX

Why Fox News Must be Taken Off the Air, And How it Can Be Done

by Johnny Strife

Part One: The Problem

In the midst of America’s Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus to shut down newspapers that were fueling insurrection by printing what he considered to be seditious material. He stated his rationale for such seemingly draconian measures by asking, “Are all the laws, but one, to go unexecuted, and the government itself go to pieces, lest that one be violated?” Today, another President from Illinois (kind of), Barack Obama, is the Commander-in-Chief of a nation at war on two fronts, Iraq and Afghanistan. He might also, one might argue, be presiding over a nascent civil war at home. Granted, this civil war is now only a war of words, but in history, words have often been the genesis of real battles.

Although Obama had grand hopes of unifying a country so endemically fractured by its ideological, religious, racial and sexual differences once he took office, we are now arguably more divided than ever before. Loud, toxic voices are stirring up winds of anger, hatred and fear. The most overbearing of these voices is that of the media leviathan Fox News Channel. In America, a land where pride and greed are tacitly considered virtues, he who speaks with the loudest voice is often considered the most righteous, which might be why Fox News Channel (FNC) garners more viewers than any other news provider.

For eight long years, FNC played the cheerleader to President George W. Bush and his administration, lauding his every action as heroic and unconditionally omitting all of his mistakes and crimes. But after Fox-endorsed Senator John McCain lost the 2008 election, FNC turned 180-degrees and became a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week Obama-bashing marathon. Mere minutes after FNC aired the Presidential Inauguration on January 20, 2009, Glenn Beck, apocalyptic fear-monger and host of FNC’s Glenn Beck Program, came on the air and started to verbally tear the new President to shreds, invoking the name of the Christian God to do it. There was no grace period; the crucifixion began before the First Couple’s first dance, and it hasn’t stopped since.

From its humble beginnings in 1985 until now, FNC has promulgated a gospel of hatred and fear, degrading the level of mainstream American journalism to a nadir so abysmal and vile that it has made tabloid fluff like CNN look like a real news channel by comparison. You can usually spot a hardcore FNC viewer (and really, is there any other kind?) by their harried, distracted appearance and their almost palpable aura of barely suppressed hysteria. They have the demeanor of the doomed, as if America is on the brink of collapse. Out of nowhere, they’ll make bizarre statements with the conviction of a street preacher; stuff like: “Barack Obama said if he gets elected he’s going to throw out the Constitution.” (I actually heard that, more than twice.) Or, “Did you hear that Barack Obama promised all the black people that if they got him elected he’d give them $500 each?” And they usually have something bad to say about Oscar-winning actors and any musicians that don’t sing country or gospel.

This proposal isn’t for those people; they’re already lost. They wouldn’t read it anyway, even if they are semi-literate; they’d think it was a product of the “liberal media elite”. Fox Fans like their information disseminated with a fist and condensed to the simplest of sound bites; they don’t want to read something with a lot of big words in it. I used to have a modicum of pity for FNC viewers, akin to that which I hold for those simple folk who offed themselves back in 1938 because they believed Orson Welles’ “War of the Worlds” radio drama was an actual, live news broadcast. But now the hateful bile and deception spewed daily by their oracle into the national consciousness has reached a critical mass, and it’s time for those of us whose love for America isn’t limited to its straight, white, conservative, and evangelical citizens to start taking the future of our country a little more seriously. I know this is a case of preaching to the choir, but everyone else in the church seems to have fallen asleep.

FNC’s proponents vehemently deny that it is a conservative network, claiming their programming is “Fair and Balanced” (FNC’s trademark), that they show all sides of an issue, unlike all the other “media elite,” which have a hidden liberal agenda. But the fact is, FNC is the American version of Al Jazeera: a tool used by the conservative party to control the miniscule minds of the ignorant masses. The only substantive difference is that FNC isn’t motivated by religious fanaticism, but rather by greed: the more people it gets to watch its product, the more advertisers pay it to air their commercials. Rupert Murdoch, FNC’s owner, knows something about making money. He is a conservative Australian media tycoon with a Ronald Reagan infatuation and, apparently, a desire to own all media in the world. In 2004, he owned nine satellite television networks, 100 cable channels, 175 newspapers, 40 book imprints, 40 television stations, and a movie studio. His U.S. television network reached 180-million viewers, while his Asian satellite network reached 300-million. His cable channels reached 300-million homes. His magazines reached 28-milion readers. His total audience was 4.7 billion people, which is three-fourths of Earth’s population, and that was five years ago. He went on to buy MySpace in 2005.

Murdoch gave birth to Fox News when he bought Washington D.C.’s Metromedia News Channel WTTG in 1985. The man he chose to be FNC’s President, Roger Ailes, was a Republican media strategist employed by Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. His game plan for Bush Sr.’s campaign featured a preincarnation of the smear tactics of Karl Rove: he used the image of William Horton, a black convict serving a life sentence in Massachusetts for murder. While released from prison on a weekend furlough program – which Bush’s opponent, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, had supported – Horton raped a woman, pistol-whipped, stabbed and tied up her fiancé, and stole their car. Ailes used this tragic incident as the centerpiece of Bush’s campaign, painting Dukakis as a bleeding heart liberator of black rapist murderers. He said of his own strategy, “The only question is whether we depict Willie Horton with a knife in his hand or without it.”

John Moody, FNC Senior Vice President, is a stout conservative with a long career in journalism. Moody is the actual ideological force behind FNC; all of its shows and reports are basically a mouthpiece for his arch-conservative views. He controls the daily talking points that every FNC host, anchor, commentator and reporter will follow by disseminating daily memos. These memos are usually taken directly from the daily press releases of the Republican National Committee. These talking points are echoed, often verbatim, through every show in the course of a news day, beginning with the morning show, Fox Friends, and continuing through the news, punditry and business segments. There is a unity of purpose and message at FNC that exists nowhere else in American journalism, and it is a message that parallels, without the slightest deviance, that of the Republican Party. Like the Biblical demon that Jesus exorcised in The Gospel of Mark, one can almost imagine Moody intoning, “My name is Legion… for we are many.”

Tony Snow, who died of colon cancer in 2005, was the host of Fox News Sunday. Before that, he was a speechwriter for the first Bush administration. He actually left FNC to replace Scott McClellan as the Press Secretary for the second Bush administration. Brit Hume, Fox’s managing editor and anchor of Special Report, used to contribute to the conservative magazines American Spectator and the The Weekly Standard. Catherine Crier, anchor of Crier Report, used to be a Republican judge.

As the years passed, FNC gradually become more flagrant in their partisanship. In 2000, for instance, Carl Cameron was FNC’s Senior Political Correspondent, covering the presidential election. Meanwhile, his wife Pauline was working for then-Texas Governor Bush’s presidential campaign. FNC didn’t even blanch at this blatant conflict of interest, though even CNN had the journalistic integrity to pull one of its top reporters from the campaign trail when it was discovered her husband was one of Al Gore’s lawyers. In a videotaped interview he conducted on June 19, 2000, Cameron blushed like a ten-year-old girl with a backstage pass to a Hannah Montana concert as he told Bush that his wife was “hanging out” with Bush’s sister, and overcoming her fear of talking before crowds. “She’s a good soul,” said Bush, nodding sagely. “She’s a really good soul.”

As if that wasn’t bad enough, it got even worse five months later. In a diabolically cynical, blatantly political move that permanently obliterated any arguments FNC might ever raise about being a non-partisan news channel, the man FNC put in charge of its Election Analysis Division, stationed in Florida, on election night, was George W. Bush’s cousin, John Ellis. It was him who made the call to FNC headquarters reporting that Bush was the next President of the United States, even though the data from the exit polls hadn’t yet been crunched. (As is now public record, when the exit polls were finally counted, Al Gore had won, but who cares now, right?) Mere minutes after FNC joyfully and “officially” announced that their man had won, ABC, CBS and NBC, not wanting to appear sluggish at getting the news out, followed suit and echoed the same faulty information. The falsehood became fact in the public’s perception, and the Democrats, as is their wont, went down without a real fight. To put into perspective just how inconceivable this farce was: in 2000, there were roughly 281-million people living in America. Is it numerically possible that out of all those souls, the man who made the call that essentially elevated Bush to the office of the most powerful man on the planet was his cousin, and the governor of the state that helped him do it was his brother? If former Vice President Al Gore, Bush’s opponent, had pulled those kind of shenanigans, FNC would have torn him a new asshole. (Actually, FNC’s goons do, still, mostly because he believes in global warming, but perhaps also because they’re jealous of him: nobody at FNC will ever, ever win a Nobel Peace Prize.)

Since that victory, FNC’s reporting has gotten exponentially more partisan and divorced from reality. Its Vice President of News, Bill Sammon, said the 2005 Hurricane Katrina debacle wasn’t the Bush administration’s fault; rather, that it was the fault of local governments for not being able to take care of their constituents.

Scrutinizing this sampling of FNC’s leaders and “news” correspondents, one can see that there is not one liberal, or even a moderate, among them. In my next segment, some examples of FNC’s “commentary” people will be presented.

Senate Vote on Health Care Bill

"Voice for Humanity" — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:25:51 EST

By Padmini Arhant

The Senate health care bill is currently under scrutiny requiring 60 procedural votes to qualify for the Senate voting process. At present, the democrats have 58 votes in favor with two independents unclear and the remaining Republican votes unanimously opposed to the bill. I’ve confidence in the (I) U.S. Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders with his support to alleviate the suffering of millions in Vermont and across the nation.

While the Democrats laying out the facts and figures, the Republican lawmakers are meticulously scanning for flaws in their defense to block the anxiously awaited health care legislation.

Senate version of the health care bill proposes $848 billion allowing coverage for 31 million uninsured Americans with a CBO (Congressional Budget Office) assessment confirming an impressive $130 billion cost savings otherwise a massive federal deficit reduction over a decade.

Remaining article continued @http://www,padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Health Care Bill – Senate Finance Committee and the Republican Vote

"Voice for Humanity" — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:03:17 EDT

By Padmini Arhant

The decision by the Maine Senator, Olympia Snowe to get on board in the health care reform is a welcome change and provides hope for the bipartisanship even with a singular vote now.

It would have been a cause for celebration if the bill did not marginalize the purpose of this health care reform i.e. the public option that is no longer an option but a necessity for millions of people and small businesses worst hit in the national crisis.

The misplaced objective of this bill from the start has been to impress the ‘so-called’ fiscal conservatives squandering the national wealth on warfare resulting in massive casualties while being miserly on matter related to saving life.

Remaining content @ http://www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Why We Shouldn't Fear the Public Option

Skye Wallin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:56:22 EDT

People often forget, either due to distractions, blinding cynicism or a lack of education, how unique this country really is. The United States of America is a nation forged and grounded in a rich tradition of protest and persistent refusal to accept the status quo. In many ways this tradition has been in hibernation--recent decades will never be known as the years of particularly impressive citizen participation in government and policy. Indeed, the American people have become increasingly apathetic and stupid, but I believe that the spirit has remained alive--in fact, I predict that the drive to change our most negative aspects of society is building momentum; isn't it obvious?

Take the town halls on health care, for instance. Though CNN, FOX and MSNBC only cover the crazies, there is some remarkable dialogue going on--and not just by the supporters of health care. When it comes to the Public Option, there is a genuine philosophical debate to be had. Remember that the whole point of the American Revolution was to establish independence from an abusive and invasive government that taxed excessively and unfairly. We have come a long way since then, and have perhaps gone full-circle in many ways. I share many Libertarian concerns of the expansion of the U.S. government, excessive spending and the limitations placed upon civil liberties; not to mention our often tyrannical foreign policies. Indeed, the United States became the very empire its citizens died to defeat. People think I'm a big gov liberal, but the fact of the matter is that the federal government IS WAY TOO BIG! The War on Drugs is a fiscal and societal disaster, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are squandering our treasure. The IRS ought to be torn down and replaced with a simpler tax code, and the Patriot Act ought to make every single American extremely wary of what leaders know about our personal lives. Not to mention the militarization of government that has seeped into the media and saturated our culture.

So when people say to me: "I just don't believe the federal government should expand! It's already too massive" I agree! The problem is that in this modern world, there are modern problems that require state intervention. Spying on Americans is not one of these exceptions. Drug abuse isn't either. Nor is Saddam Hussein or Ho Chi Minh! But to the people who believe the Public Option is some kind of government takeover and the onset of communism: should we not fight to end the excessive federal policies that actually hurtpeople? The War on Drugs fuels a culture of crime in the inner-cities. At least a million Iraqi citizens are dead because of the current conflict--not to mention the 4,339 dead American soldiers. But now you oppose a public health plan? A plan that will help your fellow citizens get the care they need? A report by the Institute of Medicine suggests that as many as 22,000 American citizens die annually due to the lack of an insurance policy--one that either could not be afforded or was cut by employers!

And let us not forget that the Public Option is an OPTION! While the true Left wing of this USA would really like a single-payer system, it is simply not going to happen with this legislation. Big Insurance is the most powerful lobby in Washington, and certainly has great influence on the bill--in other words, the argument that people will be forced to take the government plan is bullshit. The truth of the matter is that most people will keep their private plans; plans, by the way, made more consumer-friendly due to other reforms that will be in the final legislation (including the preexisting condition issue and the ability to choose your own doctors).

Though this is an expansion of government services, I want to tell you how the Public Plan is actually more economical and sustainable than the current system. You see, being private enterprise, Big Insurance seeks to charge as much as possible while providing as little as possible. I have no problem with capitalism (I am a Capitalist), but this is the reality of the basic operations of a firm. While this is perfectly acceptable in most sectors, health care is an entirely different beast. Since 2000, insurance premiums have nearly doubled! In 2007, the U.S. spent about $2.2 trillion on health care,* which comes out to approximately 16.2% of GDP--nearly twice the amount of the rest of the developed world! ** If you aren't worried yet, then you have read these numbers: by 2025, costs are expected to rise 25%; by 2082, 49% ! *** Oh, and did you realize that every GM vehicle is $1,525 more expensive because of employer-based health care coverage? Insurance is by far GM's biggest expenditure--even more than steel! ****

And the numbers go on and on. This is the financial argument, and it is all tied to the Big Insurance practice of driving up costs for higher profit margins, and making up for their clunky and inefficient administrative costs. Medicare costs are skyrocketing because they are subsidizing these inflating premiums, and this must be replaced. The Public Option must establish a much simpler and transparent system that injects competition into this stale and unsustainable market. It is fiscally sensical and it is moral.

But just any Public Option will not do. Next week I will tackle the question of "what must a Public Option look like in order to drive competition and cut costs?"

Absorb it, discuss it, and hopefully support it. Leave your comments below.

*Office of the Actuary, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Health Expenditure Data for 2007. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, available at: http://www.cms. hhs.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/02_NationalHealthAccountsHistorical.asp#TopOfPage

**Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. OECD Health Data 2008.

***P.R. Orszag, Growth in Health Care Costs: Statement Before the Committee on the Budget, United States Senate, (Washington, DC: Congressional Budget Office, Jan 31 2008), available at http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=8948

****R. Wagoner, Testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, December 5, 2008.
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/05/gm-health-care-reform/
my blog: http://www.theskyewire.com

Denison University 2011

*Office of the Actuary, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Health Expenditure Data for 2007. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, available at: http://www.cms. hhs.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/02_NationalHealthAccountsHistorical.asp#TopOfPage **Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. OECD Health Data 2008. ***P.R. Orszag, Growth in Health Care Costs: Statement Before the Committee on the Budget, United States Senate, (Washington, DC: Congressional Budget Office, Jan 31 2008), available at http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=8948 ****R. Wagoner, Testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, December 5, 2008. http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/05/gm-health-care-reform/

The Time to Act has Come, Reaffirm Your Commitment

Skye Wallin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:29:23 EDT

My friends, I apologize for taking an extended summer break, but now the wheels are turning once again, and I must say that never before have I felt this necessity to write for cause. We elected the progressive candidate, though not without a healthy degree of skepticism by many (including myself), and the calling for responsible and energetic citizenship has never been greater. For in the words of the President:

What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task.

For those who voted Obama/Biden on election day, this calling is especially directed towards you! The President is powerless to create fundamental change without his foot-soldiers, and right now you are failing. And so am I.
But today we reaffirm our commitment to transform this country into what it ought to be. When this country decisively elected Barack Obama, he was given a mandate to bring about progressive reform, and now we must help him. Right now, the most powerful lobby in Washington is fighting the fight of its life to destroy any kind of true reform of its corrupt system. The right-wing and conservative Dems have taken the stand that change mustn't come to American health care, and they have effectively waged a crusade of fear and lies against the President's plan--against the President's promise.

If this country wishes to survive, her citizens must become informed on the topics and fight for truth. Indeed, this health care battle is a test: can the people who voted for something transformational actually make it happen? Do we have it in us to bring down the congressmen and women who have prostituted themselves out to the insurance giants? I believe we do; because nothing is stronger than a nation of motivated and optimistic citizens. And right now I want to reaffirm my commitment to this country's potential--that I will do all in my power to be a part of the grassroots of change. Because I voted for it. Because it is my responsibility to walk the walk.

And now I ask my readers--my fellow citizens--will you join me in this commitment to fight for reform by pressuring your reluctant representatives to support President Obama's agenda? Will you fight the myths with your colleagues, classmates and family? If so, I hope that you will leave a declaration of support for this cause below in the comments section. Tell others what you believe in and how hard you are willing to fight. And after your declaration, you must act on it. You must make the calls, attend the town halls and go door-to-door. It is this movement that determined the election, and now it must live on to determine our future. There really are better things on the horizon--indeed, they are within our grasp!

In the coming days and weeks, I will be rolling out a series of articles on the healthcare debate. My hope is to lay out the arguments and contextualize the controversy. Because if you know the facts, you will realize that Obama really is on the right side of things. And after we pass healthcare--with the public option included--it is on to the next fight.

Till next time.

Howard Dean threatened with death, Nazi Symbol outside Town Hall: Can we please start organizing a national march or sit in...

Varun from Berkeley, CA — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:09:52 EDT

The Right Wingers are resulting to threats/violence and hate...We need to take charge and not stand there shocked....Take action....Yes, they are winning the attention war....We are losing the facts war because the legends that the RNC spins have become fact.....Thus, the myths become facts

Nazi Symbol AP News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090811/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_protests

Lou Dobbs threatens Dean:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/11/dobbs-apologizes-for-sayi_n_256728.html

I fear where this is going.....we need to stand up....National day of support....contact me people

varun22@yahoo.com

14 Things That Fascist Regimes Have In Common

Mike Kurtz — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:07:16 EDT

I had read this article a while ago. But given the current flurry of Limbaugh using the word fascism and Nazi, I thought it would be worthwhile to review these points. My only conclusion is that they really do speak to the Republican party, their mission and their methods and their Rudolf Hess (Rush Limbaugh)..

How They Stack The Polls

Dave R — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:35:27 EDT

Sometime last year I recall my ultra republican boss said something strange and out of character about Barack Obama. He said when any poll is taken or questions asked about Obama I will have nothing but praise. This was true for others who were ultra republicans in my office. Why would they do something so out of character? They wanted to stack the deck by building up the favorable numbers last year and slam him later in the year if he won. If you take this kind of thing nation wide it just might explain some of the bogus decline in President Obama's numbers. The Presidents numbers are still great even with this theory. I believe we need support for the President more than ever and his policies. Don't let the party of "No Ideas" take root.

Republican Psycho Babble

Larry Gordon — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:03:47 EDT

President Barack Obama had a town hall meeting today sponsored by AARP. At this town hall, the President explained exactly what health care reform was and why it has to be. President Obama took questions fromt he audience and answered all questions well.

Immediately following the AARP sponsored town hall, CNN allowed Republican Representative from Virginia Eric Cantor to refute President Obama. Representative Cantor did not refute specifically any one item that President Obama said at the town hall. Republican Representative Eric Cantor went on his own spiel of degrading health care reform by reiterating Republican misinformation and flat out lies. In part, I blame the CNN reporter for not forcing the Republican Congressman to stick to specifics of the town hall.

One thing for sure: I can have no respect for the Republican Congressman from Virginia whose sole purpose was to browbeat President Obama and health care form. At the same time, Republican Representative Eric Cantor offered nothing, and for sure, offered the American people nothing but Republican partisanship at its crassest level.

Republicans, do you really want to go there?

Ailene — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:26:37 EDT

If the Republican Party try to make healthcare reform efforts a 'waterloo' for President Obama they will become as water in a loo.

Comments and sentiments like Demint underestimates the call for Healthcare Reform. This is not 1990s. Many stakeholders that opposed efforts previously are actively engaged now towards the current efforts.

How To Be A Republican

Bud — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:56:58 EDT

In order to be a Republican, follow these rules:

Advocate tax cuts—especially for high-income people and corporations, and especially for capital gains income.
Praise Jesus, and say that everything you do is in the name of Christianity.
In foreign affairs, say that every other country should yield to the will of the United States.
Threaten to use American military power to force other counties to comply with American policies.
Oppose abortion.
Advocate domestic policies that help American corporations make higher profits.
Oppose domestic policies that help labor unions.
Oppose domestic policies that force corporations to reduce their air or water pollution.
Oppose affirmative action laws.
Never admit that the theory of evolution is correct—or, at least, that it applies to humans. Insist that the schools teach Creationism or Intelligent Design.
Advocate using public education funds to subsidize parochial, private, and charter schools.
Advocate tax laws that encourage American corporations to offshore their work to foreign countries, where employee salaries are lower.
Oppose any health care program that would compete with health insurance corporations.
Oppose any restriction on the sale or ownership of firearms.
If any Democratic politician commits marital infidelity, demand that he resign from office.
If you are caught committing marital infidelity, say that God has asked you to remain in office.
Label any government-run enterprise “socialism”--except for the U.S. Postal Service, police department, fire department, water department, highway department, street department, public library, and public schools.
Watch Fox News. As a Republican, you probably already believe that white people are better than colored people; that Christianity is better than Islam, Judaism, or atheism; and that taxation is unfair. When you see the people on Fox News repeat these beliefs, that will give you the excuse that you have been seeking in order to justify your beliefs.

If the current President is a Republican:

Encourage every citizen to support the President.
Say that Congress should give the President all of the power that he needs.
If the President's budget uses misleading accounting methods to camouflage the actual deficit, don't say anything.

If the current President is a Democrat:

Say that the President is a dictator.
Say that the federal government is too powerful, and more power should be transferred to the states.
Say that the President's budget is too wasteful.
Advocate nullification or secession.

The Republican Vision for America - Divide and Conquer

Eric from Covina, CA — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:21:09 EDT

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

The Republican Vision for America - Divide and Conquer

The current situation in Iran is perfectly analogous to what's going on here in the United States. The vast majority of the people want a common-sense approach to domestic and world politics, while the old guard, stuck in the blind animosities of the past, are determined to promote and exploit those animosities for their own end, and at any cost - including the misery and death of their own people. In Iran the old guard is represented by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; in the U.S., Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh. In Iran they are called jihadist, while in the U.S. we refer to them as the Republican Party.

Orwell's Conservative Republican Party

Polit from Overland Park, KS — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:18:12 EDT

This is the year 2009 right? And next year is 2010!
I just needed to know. I needed to know because if you listen to FOXNEWS or Rush Limbaugh or Shawn Hannity or any of the conservative / republican talk shows (and most republican politicians) you’d think it was 1984!

Not “the real” 1984, when the Celtics beat the Lakers for the NBA championship but George Orwell’s make believe “1984.”

In this “1984”, FOXNEWS is the FicDep or Fiction Department. Rush Limbaugh is Parsons:
“a fattish but active man of paralyzing stupidity, a mass of imbecile enthusiasms—one of those completely unquestioning, devoted drudges on whom…the stability of the Party depended…."

Republican Party elected officials make up the Ministry of Truth. While the voting members of the Republican Party play the role of the Proles.

Oh yeah, Ronald Regan is Big Brother—a fictional leader.

This is the only way one can explain the mindlessness of the Conservative / Republicans.

They speak in Orwellian BlackWhite: “ The ability to accept whatever "truth" the party puts out, no matter how absurd it may be."

Orwell described it as:
"...loyal willingness to say black is white when party discipline demands this. It also means the ability to believe that black is white, and more, to know black is white, and forget that one has ever believed the contrary."

This so perfectly describes the current state of the Conservative / Republican party that if you didn’t know better it would be hard to believe that everything I just attributed to them came from a book written in the 1940’s.

How else do you account for the fact that they twist the truth and blame President Obama for EVERYTHING that THEY do. And by the way, just like in the book, the…” titular head (of the Conservative / Republican Party) is a person whose whereabouts nobody knows."

The latest rendition of “blackwhite” is this notion that somehow President Obama is responsible for a racist neo-nazi, white supremacist, shooting up the Holocaust Museum.

They say it’s because Obama is dividing the country.

Some are even suggesting that it was all a hoax created by—OBAMA?

A black Security Guard is killed in a Jewish Holocaust Museum and—OBAMA DID IT!

People… the Conservative / Republican Party has moved into a fictional and very dangerous world.

GOD please protect President Obama.

The Right Wing Plan

Jim — Sat, 02 May 2009 08:37:39 EDT

It is probably clear to every progressive and moderate person that what's left of the Republican Party is being controlled by the far right or the Republican Talibans. Their agenda has been, from the moment they lost the election, to take every opportunity to demean, tell lies, criticize, disrupt, personally attack the President, make fun of and stop every initiative of the Obama Administration. This is a virulent form of the negative campaign they conducted during the presidential election. The idea is to stop as much progress as possible but more so to create a perception in the media and in the public's mind that this President and his Administration are not capable of running the country and to move attention away from the progress and positive changes that are happening. The Republicans are not the loyal opposition they are disingenuous and traitors to this country.

The Democratic Party and all elected Democratic office holders need to unite to make things happen. But because of the independent nature of Progressive and Moderate people who find it difficult to see beyond their own personal views, there does not seem to be the kind of unity that will move the Presidents agenda forward in a consistent way. Everyone needs to look beyond their personal view and see the larger picture.

There needs to be a defense and an offense when it comes to dealing with the tactics of the Far Right. It is much like the actual campaign ran by Obama. Put forward the positive action and go after them on every lie and distortion they come up with. Don't let their poison take root. It's clear we cannot stop being united and being activists. The election campaign can't stop it just has to morph into something a little different.

I'm pretty sure the Obama Administration already knows this but we need to wake-up the grassroots movement again and assert ourselves at every opportunity. We can't let the negative spin continue.

For example we should point out that we are still at war and the actions of the Republicans are very unpatriotic and do not show a united country. It doesn't have to be as negative as the Bush years. It can have a much more positive spin. A stronger call to support the Administration in it's efforts to re-establish our foreign policy and end our involvement in foreign wars might be good.

On domestic issues let the Republicans do their filibuster then pass the legislation anyway. The public needs to see just how obstructionist and anti American they really are. They would rather see this country fail then work in a bipartisan way to rebuild this country after they nearly destroyed it over the Bush years.

It's unfortunate that time must be spent on combating the far right, Taliban like, Republican radicals but we need to make sure they don't spread their virus any further. They need to be quarantined!

Terrorizing the Terrorists

Don — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:34:58 EDT

How do you deter an enemy who is willing to kill himself in order to kill you? You strike at something more important to him than his own life. Defining that will be easy for me. The next question is can America be as ruthless as our enemies?

The time has come to end the fruitless and unsustainable effort to search and destroy every cave in Afghanistan and bomb every campground in bordering Pakistan. It’s counterproductive anyway.

What will put the fear of America into terrorist masterminds and those who would follow their orders is simple and radical revenge. Masterminds have families: Cousins, brothers and fathers. Eliminate them. All at once, or one at a time, it works just as well. The ones who survive an initial “hunt” will go into hiding. Having some adult male relatives killed and the rest hiding out in caves will demoralize masterminds and their loved ones. You cannot work and support your women like that. You can’t make more baby masterminds that way. You cannot continue the blood line. The women and children will pressure them to stop their plotting and bombing.

People want to leave a familial legacy, and they can’t do that under those circumstances over the long term.

Should America do that? Yes. Do we have the “intestinal fortitude” and sustainable motivation? I don’t think so. But we should, and it shouldn’t take another terrorist attack to get us there.

For the last seven years the CIA has been kidnapping people from other nations and torturing them. Why not just go in there and quietly shoot them to death?

Frankly, by not killing women or children the way those terrorists routinely do, we can even claim the moral high ground.

Republican Response

Henry M — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:18:12 EDT

How Loyal is the Loyal Opposition?

Eric from Covina, CA — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:32:40 EDT

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

How Loyal is the Loyal Opposition?

From this point on I pledge to stop using the terms "conservative" and "Republican" interchangeably. I'm beginning to realize there's a big difference between the two. Conservatives are loyal and well-meaning Americans of good faith who just happen not to share my opinion of what's in the best interest of America. On the other hand, it has become clear that the Republican Party has crossed the line between the loyal opposition, and subversion.

What Does Failure Look Like?

Tim McFarland - Salem, Oregon — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:11:52 EDT

It doesn’t surprise me that Rush Limbaugh says he wants President Obama to fail, or, more precisely, “I want Barack Obama to fail if his mission is to restructure and reform this country so that capitalism and individual liberty are not its foundation.” Limbaugh is self-absorbed, and makes money by being provocative. Unlike our elected leaders, he does not need to think about the greater good of our country’s prosperity. He is interested in his own prosperity. And good enough for him. That is the capitalist way. The American Way.

It also doesn’t surprise me that members of the Republican Party feel stuck between not wanting to offend Limbaugh and his followers and not wanting to sound like they bear our new president ill will in seeing his efforts fail. Which do you support – a bully who can hurt you if you stand up to him, or the people who elected you?

What does surprise me is that no one is defining what failure means. Has anyone asked if “wanting Obama to fail” means 10% unemployment? 15%?

Does failure mean more foreclosures? How about a Dow at 5000?

I wonder if Obama failing means another trillion or so dollars paid to banks. Or is it buying auto companies, Or letting them go bankrupt and adding even more to the unemployed?

I wonder if those who listen to and agree with Rush Limbaugh think this kind of failure is ok, if it proves that conservative ideology is superior to other views.

Of course, I am one of the lucky ones who still has a job, so I can afford to think about these things.

Those who are not so lucky may also wonder: With all the crises we face as a country, why would you want any president to fail?

The Real Abominations Against God and Jesus

Don — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:04:47 EDT

The fact that Americans vote in favoring of paying our farmers to produce LESS milk in order to keep the gallon price of milk HIGHER than a gallon of gasoline while millions of American babies' parents can't afford milk is an abomination against God.People who, in the name of Jesus, vote to DENY medicine and treatment for babies in nations where it is otherwise not available suffering from AIDS because adults delivering help condone use of condoms to staunch the spread of AIDS are committing an abomination against God.People who vote against public sponsored healthcare for babies and children who cannot otherwise obtain it are committing an abomination against God.People who allow others to go hungry, homeless and sick, thus disobeying Jesus AND God himself, find the energy to rail against adults who behind closed doors have sex with other consenting adults are committing an abomination against God. They spend money, cast votes and change constitutions to deny those people rights to get divorced like 50% of the self-righteous people do every day.People who blatantly ignore the commands of Jesus and stated in all the gospels to care for the sick, the hungry and the homeless, and “judge not lest you be judged” while trumpeting an obscure sentence fragment from the Old Testament taken out of context while calling themselves Christians are an abomination against God and Jesus. Theirs is the greatest of blasphemy imaginable.When the mere idea that a person would not CHOOSE to be reviled, persecuted, fired from the military, and in some cases savagely beaten to death -- in other words, be gay -- is met by 'conservative Republicans' with such rabid, savage hostility, then one could reasonably believe that their position and their associated rage is intended merely as a distraction from their own actions which are immoral, inhumane and even criminal (refer to first five paragraphs).

The George W Bush Recession and Depression

Don — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:13:08 EST

We need to give credit where credit is deserved: NAME this economic crisis after the man most responsible for it's creation.

$10 trillion deficit is what we had at the end of the Bush administration. In eight years, Bush more than DOUBLED all the indebtedness America had accrued in more than 200 years.

This is more than a talking point, this is a necessary reminder that should be made every day, so that the notoriously SHORT memories of Americans shall be stimulated on a regular basis.

WHO IS THAT GUY BARACK OBAMA? HE IS US.

Alex Karoub — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:27:43 EST

..... Contact: http://Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

(orig. posted 11/7/08)

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

Sessions With the Taliban

Bud — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:38:44 EST

News Correspondent: I'm here in Afghanistan, where American troops have just captured a group of Taliban terrorists.

[A group of handcuffed men walk past the camera. They are all in their 20's, with long hair, full beards, and Afghan clothes—except for one man. That man is middle-aged, clean-shaved, with short, gray hair, and a business suit and tie.]

News Correspondent: Wait a minute—one of these men is different!

[The news correspondent walks up to the middle-aged man and points the microphone at him.]

News Correspondent: Excuse me, sir. Are you the leader of this Taliban terrorist group?

Sessions: No, I'm not a terrorist. I'm a Republican congressman from Texas.

News Correspondent: Why are you here with the Taliban?

Sessions: I'm on a fact-finding mission.

News Correspondent: What kind of facts are you getting?

Sessions: Insurgency techniques. Insurgency is a mindset and an attitude that we're going to have to search for and find ways to get our message out. Systematically understanding how to disrupt and change a person's entire processes.

News Correspondent: What is your message?

Sessions: LIVE, FROM NEW YORK—IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT !!!

Slumdog Governor

Bud — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:05:15 EST

Moderator Michael Steele sits in the chair on the right, facing Governor Bobby Jindal, who sits in the chair on the left. The two men lean forward.

Steele: And now, Governor, it's down to our final question! Here is the situation:

Banks are losing billions of dollars because homeowners are unable to make their mortgage payments.
The Big 3 automakers are losing billions of dollars, partly because they have to pay enormous amounts of health insurance premiums for their employees and their retirees.
The country is paying billions of dollars to foreign countries for crude oil.

And the question is, “How should we solve these problems?”

Here are your choices:

A) Refinance mortgages at lower interest rates.

B) Initiate a universal, national health care system.

C) Subsidize research into alternative fuel sources, mass transit systems, and infrastructure improvements.

D) Cut taxes.

And what is your answer, Governor? A, B, C, or D?

Would you like to phone a friend?

Jindal: I don't need to call anyone. The answer is easy. It's D--Cut taxes!!!

DING DING DING DING

Steele: THAT'S RIGHT!! D ---- CUT TAXES !!!!

Congratulations, Governor! You are our big winner! You get to give the Republican Party's response to the presidential address to Congress!!!!!!!

And what now, Governor?

Jindal: I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD !!!!!

AMERICA...the Pain Begins...TELL ME YOUR REALITY...tell me your story, I'll listen and reply...someone that really hears you and cares enough to respond to your thoughts, ideas, feelings and concerns...YOUR REALITY that YOU are LIVING WITH TODAY

Citizens for Change in America! — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:57:36 EST

JUST the Beginning... this is just beginning...it will not be going away...more people are hurting than anyone knows...now it is starting to openly show...rich, poor, middleclass, republican, democrat, independent, black, white, tan, red, pink or purple with pink pock-a-dots...it just doesn't really matter...the pain is broad and getting deeper daily...AMERICA must wake up and come out of this stopper... REALITY...America is in REAL PAIN... ALL AMERICANS...tell me your story and I will hear you! If you have a story...tell about the effect on you, your family, friends, neighbors, relatives... tell me about your story and the effect it is having...tell it to me today!

THE TRUTH HURTS...reply

Citizens for Change in America! — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:37:56 EST

The Truth HURTS…
This economic problem has always been about choice…what you decided to do with your money in the past and in the future is your choice that you have everyday of your life…AMERICA faces these choices and ALL of the AMERICAN PEOPLE will have to decide…
FACT: you paid off your house
FACT: you paid off your car
FACT: you paid off you credit cards
FACT: you paid off your investments
FACT: you paid off your bills
FACT: you paid off your expenses
FACT: you paid off your children’s educational expenses
FACT: you paid off you children’s college bills
FACT: you paid off your taxes
FACT: you paid off everything
FACT: DID YOU REALLY PAY and then some…so everyone can do WHAT EVER they desire…even for WRONG THINGS…for other peoples houses, cars, sunroofs, tinted glass windows, gas, tires, trucks, options, investments, summer homes, time shares, tips, trips, vacations, heat, electricity, clothing, food, college, medical, insurance, stocks, interest, bank loans, credit card bills, EVEN WRONG business CHOICES…did you…make these choices…take these risks…live this lie of fake prosperity.
The banks, brokerage houses, insurance companies and government offices…
all are having fun making choices with other peoples money…
yes everyone…especially those that might be considered too big to fail?
REMEMBER the BASICS (part of the costs of doing business is loss in theft, shrink and bad accounts…this is in all business models as experts are taught by experts…PROFESSORS teaching MBA’s and CPA’s for CEO’s and Presidents)
All the experts…
take their pay for whatever good or bad decisions and answers they tell you…
TALK IS CHEAP…but YOU PAY for all the CHOICES
YOURS…THEIRS…and everyone else in between…
every person not living by the Facts…
but by the MYTH…
Is sold on the idea to fill up every living Mystical Fantasy and Desire…
that is the Prophecy of EXPERTS…
fed to the people on both ends of AMERICA
Economic and Political
FACE the MUSIC…
BROKE is BROKE…
Do not hand me your meal ticket…I did not eat your lunch!
I did not own your business, bank, brokerage company, bakery, battery company, best shop or basket case…
do not give me your bills…
I didn’t get any of your pleasures, profits or perks…
I didn’t benefit from any of your lavish life style…
I didn’t get any thing before…
I don’t want anything now…especially, not any of your bills!
YOU went broke…not me…
You didn’t pay any of my bills…
You didn’t worry about feeding my children or sending them to school…
YOU KEEP YOUR OWN choices to yourself this time too…
IT'S YOUR CHOICE to keep the TRUTH...
PAIN FREE!

AMERICA...tell me WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Citizens for Change in America! — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:07:56 EST

TELL ME...what are you doing?

I pay my bills...paid off my house and can not sell it...moved because my x-spouse took our child to another state...was not made to bring him back after two years of lawyers, judges and court systems (even though the state had laws against and prohibiting children being moved out of their state)...I had to move to be closer, involved and remain to be an active parent for my child and our society benefiting from this action...faced with having to use some of my retirement/401k funds and pay taxes and penalties because I am not yet 59 and 1/2 years of age...will be penalized for paying off my car…will be penalized for paying off my house...will be penalized now for the actions of needing money to pay bills and do what citizens are supposed to do, but can't sell my house in this tough economy (loose money) and having to sell stocks/investments (loose money) because there is no plan for me, no bailout for me, no help for me...

you have PAID the RICH...PAID the RICHER...PAID the RICHEST

WHAT ARE YOU REALLY DOING...

what did you do...

what will you do...

what do you do?

CALL ME if you really care...I will give you the full story, painful details, hardships and sacrifices I have had to make...

the question is real...the question is important...the question must be answered...

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

California Budget Deficiency

"Voice for Humanity" — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:07:05 EST

At last, after a prolonged melodramatic stunt by lawmakers the California state budget concluded as a major achievement!

The review of the proposed budget appears to be nothing but analogous to a dish prepared for starved patrons by reluctant chefs deliberately ignoring the recipe provided to them while using the ingredients to serve themselves their own favorite dish.

Does this come as a surprise?

Not in this era of special interests and politicians cozying with one another on the maxim “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.”

The worst victims of this fundamental fiscal policy are the children and students, the future taxpayers of this economy.

Does this bother any of those advocates involved in merciless slashing of funds to K-12 and college education?

If it did, they would not have propagated such ideology and as for those to allow this to happen simply suggests their complicity to this charade.

Perhaps, the concerned policymakers could not arrive at a decision to balance the budget up until twenty-four hours ago because they were too busy devising a plan to keep them in power and protecting their own families with children attending private schools or schools not hit by severe funding cuts.

What about them targeting social welfare programs affecting the elderly, sick, disabled, unemployed, veterans and other dependents?

Should we assume the lawmakers could not relate to this segment of the population because fortunately for them they do not have or know anyone in vulnerable position, hence the end justifies the means.

The defenders of the disproportionate funding to the criminal justice system in the budget safeguard their interests at the expense of kids kicked off the welfare and students struggling to meet college expense with some winding up in the overcrowded prison system thus making the so-called reformers’ jobs secure.

That’s why these beneficiaries of dysfunctional democracies display their titles and flex muscles to quell dissent by alienating citizens of diverse background during any crisis.

They conveniently forget the fact that people of ethnic origin are also part of the society making significant contributions in every aspect particularly as taxpayers and their role is not limited to being the benefactors and lately campaign donors as well as volunteers during elections and beyond.

Ironically, legislators have successfully defended corporations by granting them generous leeway as they realize that corporations’ profit will serve the lawmakers during election campaign through donations and ordinary citizens whose votes ultimately grant them power are left to fend for themselves in the tough economic times.

As stated earlier on several occasions, the democratic system essentially run by corporations and the power brokers at the state and federal level prioritizing self- interest over national interest and the electorate forced to be accustomed to this general trend.

Who are the real beneficiaries in this budget?

It is certainly not the disadvantaged and bereft population in requirement of present government assistance to enable them to be future providers of the economy. The other interesting factor in both state and federal dramatic unfolding of legislative approvals is spot the lame duck in this game.

During the captivating rule of the previous administration, the former President George W. Bush mischaracterized as the lame duck, though the majority Democrats would have appropriately fit the profile due to unprecedented use of vetoes exercised by the then Chief Executive at the White House on most issues regarded detrimental to the subjects of the kingdom.

One would assume that gaining majority rule in both houses and the executive branch at both state and federal government is a guaranteed victory in legislative matters. It remains a wishful thinking for one while the other regardless of status quo prevails in failed ideology against pragmatism.

Therefore, the lame duck in the game is none other than the electorate at the bottom of the socio-economic scale and the weak representatives lacking courage to fight for the cause and the purpose of their election to power in a democracy.

In essence, ballots cast by ordinary citizens elevate individuals to power and these elected officials preoccupy in strengthening their own position in office with political bargains even if similar measures overrides the promises on the campaign trail.

Either way, the victims are invariably the electorate granting authority to ambitious political minds often negotiating constituent’s future for personal gains.

Is there a hope to break the chain link for ordinary citizens in a democracy?

“Impossible is written in fool’s dictionary." In any active democracy, the people possess power to ensure fulfillment of electoral commitments by political leaders favoring the electorate and not any special interests or themselves.

Unfortunately, in this budget decision the stalemate was unnecessary as it was with the passing of the federal economic stimulus package. Whenever a minority poses a threat to majority on genuine solutions to problems created by failed policies, it is red alert for electorate to eliminate blockades through elections confirming the power and strength of democracy.

How does the budget impact the ordinary electorate living paycheck to paycheck and families dependent on social programs and public school education?

With deep cuts in education including hikes in college tuition fees and social programs, the average Californians penalized with tax increase via sales tax, vehicle license fee and reduction of dependent benefits from $300 to $100.

The thoughtful policymakers in return decided to redirect the hard fought funding to Corporations via undue credits and maintenance of horse race grounds over education and other essential social services.

Diversion of spending cuts from future taxpayers to benefit self serving interest groups definitely speaks volume on priorities by fiscal conservatives.

Not all those vehemently opposed to socialism are entirely objectionable to redistribution of wealth as long as the recipients are their own kind focused on wealth amassment at the expense of struggling majority.

In fact, voter rejection of two-thirds majority approval in state and federal legislative matters will permanently remove gridlocks in a democratic process besides successfully replacing any need for Open Primaries in the state elections.

It is time for the worst affected groups in the current budget proposal to coalesce and act decisively against willful negligence of issues ranging from education, social programs, environment, and energy… by elected representatives especially with options available to balance the budget.

We sure have a budget to justify the role of government despite the huge deficiency and failure to address the needs of the distressed population.

Democracy best served when the governments of the people run by the people and for the people.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Right America

P Crawley — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:11:22 EST

I watched an HBO special last night called "Right America" it was quite an insight on the beliefs and reasons as to why certain people especially from the south didn't vote correctly on Nov. 4th (namley voted republican) here are some of the reasons given.

1) He's not a man of God he believes in murder. And will ellect all new supreme court judges to support him.

(obviosly the "God Squad" that don't believe in "free will" and dosen't know how the judical system works)

2) I don't like the fact that our taxes are going to go up.

(this was a school teacher, she must be REALLY rich or just watches fox news)

3) He's not an American, he's going to be sworn in using the Qur'an and since those were Muslims that attacked us on 9/11 I think he's in bed with terrorists.

(I think everyone in the south should be sent a version of the Constitution, then when they get past 3rd grade be made to read it, especially the part about only a natural born citizen can become president!)

4) America isn't ready for a black president.

(notably these were NAS-CAR enthusiasts that think going in circles really fast is cool and they also wanted to repeel the woman's right to vote, nuff said)

5) He'll turn this country Socialist just like Hitler and Marx did to Europe!

(What the ...... BLEEP!)

At this point my interest then laughter turned into utter shock. First, Hitler was a fascist and Marx was a communist, which by the way wasn't even living at the world war two stage, I think the name they were grasping for was Stalin! That would be about as far left and far right as you could politically get. Second, The "Evil" word of "Socialism", thanks to the republicans most people in the US think it means communism, it dosen't, it just means "ecconomic equality".

We have a socialist police force & fire service because it's considered good for everyone, why not a socialist health care system. Basic human rights should be covered by the government, my favorite quote, "A government FOR the people BY the people" should include taking CARE of the people.

Now i'm not saying that ALL socialist things are good, we don't need ALL electric power handled by the government but an option might lower some electric bills and maybe water and gas as an option. It would sure stop some summer price hikes when your air is running or winter gas hikes when you need to be warm. Just a thought.

Back to healthcare, my sister-in-law is a republican and my wife and I democrat, last year my wife was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, it took the administration more than two hours to get her to her room and most of that time was filling out paperwork and waiting around for return phone calls from our insurance provider. I asked my sister-in-law, "wouldn't you like to see a free health care system?", she said, "Hell no we have much better healthcare than other countries", lets see. My cousin in England is doctor, i asked him how long it takes, he sent me the form needed to enter an NHS (National Heath Service) hospital.

Name: xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Address: xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Date of Birth: xxxxxxxxxxx

NIN: xxxxxxxxxxxxx (stands for National Insurance Number, same as SSN)

Ok, the Dr will be right with you, that's it, done, no phone calls, not more waiting, off to your room.

Everything is on a central database (which no-one has ever hacked by the way, just like a bank, totally secure)

My wife has had her opperation and is now on her chemo and her radiation ($3000 per session, total with insuance $36,000, our insurance paid thank god, total in England $0) She's now taking four perscription drugs everyday one of them costs $105 per pill, thankfully the insuance covers them. I told my cousin what the medication was and he told me, "it doesn't matter what the drug is it's $10.00 per perscription". I asked him what about the $105 pill what if she need 30 of them, he said, "$10.00 per perscription no matter what, 10 pills, 100 pills same price".

"The taxes must be really high to have such a socalist healthcare system?"

5% extra tax and everyone is covered, not even perscription charges for children under 16 and people over 65, they pay nothing at all. I can hear people saying "5%" that's a huge chunk of my money, is it? is it really? think about it, if your employed you pay for a medical plan, A chunk comes out of your pay check each month and your employer pays the difference. Look at your pay stub next time you get paid and calculate how much your paying, it's about on average 2% of your income and your boss foots another 5%, that's 7%, 2% more than what you would pay, 1% on your side plus your employer could pay you more as they save money by not having to insure you!

Just do the math, if you paid a little more your employer could save money and maybe not offshore your job!

Unemployed people pay nothing, small business people get a tax rebate.

I lived and was born in England for more than 30 years, I think the longest i waited was about an hour without an appointment. As for long waiting lists, not true, if you have elective surgery then sure you might need to wait a while but for serious medical needs your seen right away, do Americans really think a heart attack victim has to wait a month before he gets treated?

Don't get me wrong I love this country and England is far from perfect, England is rated 18th best in the world for healthcare but America is listed at 37th?

Most Americans couldn't name 36 countries, Africa isn't a country by the way and neither is Europe:-)

Are we as Americans really sure we wouldn't want to have some free healthcare, sooner or later everyone gets sick, do you want to have to sell your house to pay for it?

Back to the five questions I heard above, one thing sticks out more than anything I heard, dis-information & lies. Any well educated person knows that there are two parties, not people but parties, there was Bush and then McCain, just because McCain is a likable fellow does not mean he thinks different, his "Party", is the same. Most of the people interviewed didn't like Bush alot but thought McCain could be trusted. Now i'm no magical wizz on politics but isn't republican being replaced by republican the same policy? Education, Education, Education. It's not the man/woman it's the policy then the person. If Joe the Plummer was running and won the nomination for the democrates I'd still vote democrat. I must admit though voting for someone that came from nothing make me tingle a little, least he knows how many houses he owns (the words silver & spoon spring to mind for McCain and wife).

A very smart man by the name of "Tony Benn" once said a very profound statment and it's happening right now in America, he said. "There are only two ways to control the people if your in government, fear and lack of education, scare the people and they will let you do anything even if it infringes on there civil liberties. Don't educate the people so they believe what you say"

Think about it, wire taps, getmo, people not knowing the facts, people not asking questions, people looking for WMD, wars started, terror, terror, terror. and the last thing the republicans wanted removed from the stimulus package, less on education. We have become a nation of sheep looking for a leader I hope we have found one, the fat cats in washington have raped this country enough, the private companies have transfered the public funds via a war not needed, American lives have been wasted in the name of corperate greed and the world has become more unstable than ever. Unless we realise that our government is broken we can never fix it. The french did just that several hundred years ago now they are ranked number one in human rights including healthcare. There government is afriad of it's people, Americans seem afriad of it's politicians. I hope we have the right person, I personally think so but like i said the fat cats want to keep there wealth, it's going to be hard to take it from them.

The Power is Yours.

Enough

Jim — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:46:05 EST

I haven't written anything in awhile, I've had enough of the die hard, old boys of the Republican party that gave us eight years of GW Bush, and a recession. They lost the election but you'd never know it from all the bluster and posturing that's been going on. Put your hand out to these dogs and you get bitten. They have nothing to contribute except more of the same. Some one needs to tell McCain he lost, the majority of Americans said NO to his old ideas.

After all the outreach to the people who got us in to the mess we're in, all we got was more of the same, obstruction, nasty politics, lies, theatrics and the same old partisan vitriol.

I know the President wants to bring the country together, but it won't happen until more of these Karl Rove trained Republicans get voted out of office come mid-term. In the mean time the President needs all the support we can give him. In fact we are all together. We voted for change and hope. There's going to be a fight with these old dogs until it becomes publicly embarrassing for them to spout their nonsense. The press has to feel free to question their bluster and falsehoods. If they want to filibuster let them do it in front of the American Public and make fools of themselves. Show them up as obstructionist and luddites.

Democrats and Moderates everywhere have to speak-up against the pseudo conservative senators and congressional representaives. Their leaders need to be voted out of office as soon as possible. We need a couple more senate seats and we can have the change we need. I'll never understand why 51 is not a majority in the Senate!

Invite constructive dialog, participation and non-partisan initiatives, but reject the obstructionists.

The Republican Schism - One Centrist's Concern

k_michael — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:39:17 EST

I've been giving a lot of thought to the Republican schism, and have been skimming a few resources looking for posible lessons to be found in the Republicna party schism of the late 1870's (and early 1880') that led to the party being split into three factions: 1) the liberal reformers, 2) the "Stalwarts", and 2) the "half-breeds". I haven't quite decided, because the circumstances of the post-Civil War era were so different from today's corcumstances.

But one thing did chill me - with the thought of Rush Limbaugh now the de facto head of the "real Republicans" (the sector paralleling the old "Stalwarts") in the back of my mind, I came across the fact that, in 1881, it was a disgruntled Stalwart who assissinated President Garfield in 1881.

Now, like most Americans, I'm hoping and praying that the far-less-than-ideal Stimulus Bill, drafted, it unfortunately seems, without the input of such brilliant thinkkers as Paul Krugman and pragmatic thinkers such as Sheila Behr or Jim Cramer, will indeed get the economy moving and get America back on her feet. Given the increasing rancour, however, of those who like to call themselves the "real Republicans" (not the so-called "RINOs"), as represented by de facto head of the Party, Rush Limbaugh (Mr. Steele evidently being chairman in name only), I am increasinly fearful for the safety of President Obama and perhaps even Vice President Biden.

My fear had begun as a vague gel of uneasiness, but began to solidify when I took note of Sen. Pete Sessions citing the Taliban as a model of "political insurgency" to be emulated by the Republican Party, and admonishing the Party to cease thinking of itself as participants in a legislative process and instead become a Taliban-like insurgency.

Perhaps my understanding of these issues is implistic, however, when I swore that oath to "protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic", I never for one moment thought that this oath extended to belonging to a group that had the express intent of promoting the deliberate disruption national affairs and due legislative process. Again, I am not a political or Constitutional scholar, but this seems to tread uncomfortably close, if not to treason, than to at least a blatant breach of that oath. My gut reaction is that it illustrates an utter disdain for Constitutional process, and for us Citizens that this process is supposed to both heed, and help, illustrates a descent from party ideology, to cultist fanaticism - the very sort of self-aggrandizing and self-righteous fanaticism that led to the assination of President Garfield.

I know that I am not alone in my fear - I've heard many people express it, albeit in differnt words. We have always known that there are both leftist-fringe, and rightist-finge, elements in our nation, and they do have the right to freely express their rview. But a dangerous amount of encouragement was given, through nods and winks, through silence and chuckles and half-smiles, in response to the words of hatered and violence, encouragement given by those who erroneously believed they could hold the dragon by the tail and use it to propell them into positions of power. But the voters have denied them that power, and by so doing, have left that roused minority, a small but generally well-armed minority, with nowhere to roar; and so, we see an increasing level of hatred and violence in the rhetoric of those who only love representatvie Democracy, and the Constitution, when they can make both serve their own needs and desires and agendas.

Currently, this remains, for the most part, an issue of freedom of speech. But at wat point does free speech becomes a voiced threat? I wonder whther the extremist Stalwart could have been nipped in the proverbial bud back in 1881, and I hope and pray that similar impulses can be diffused now. Given the world situation, I fear taht a repeat of the 1881 action would not only be a tragedy, but would ignite the nation, and perhaps beyond, achieving what the Taliban, and al-Qaida, could not.

God willing, I am merely being paranoid...at least that's easily remedied with medication.

Bankers CAN be heroes -- No 'vetting' required

Don — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:01:53 EST

Senator Dodd went rogue and inserted some crazy stuff into the new law, so the President will need to be creative. Perhaps we are looking for HEROES to run our troubled banks. A lot of wealthy patriots have made great financial sacrifices to serve in the Obama Administration. Like-minded people who don’t want to go through the vetting process and insane pubic humiliation of being outed on every little tax related or other embarrassment can now serve their country without becoming federal employees but while still consenting to be paid wages not all that far above that.

Gregg: Is This Petty Partisan Politics

Don — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:47:23 EST

I see nothing different Obama has said or done since 2004 and today -- perhaps Gregg's understanding of it morphed overnight between the time he was begging for the job and yesterday, when it came time to vote on the stimulus plan. Gregg seems to claim otherwise.

Obama should have known Gregg either hasn't the courage of his convictions or , far more likely, hasn't got any deeply held beliefs other than politics. We demand omniscience! How DARE the President not realize a man like Gregg would say anything to further his own personal ambitions?

There's something wrong with a vetting process that cannot discern that a politically savvy adult who somehow got himself repeatedly elected to the US Senate would claim to have turned his back on Petty Partisan Politics but actually lack the moral fortitude to stand by his decision.

Balancing California Budget

"Voice for Humanity" — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:17:08 EST

The golden state is in deep economic crisis, sharing the status quo of the nation.

As per Wikipedia.org - California would have the 7th highest GDP in the world if thought of as a country (not including the US as a whole, if so, it would be 8th).

A great state like California being the epicenter for - besides earthquakes,

Technology

Biotech and stem cell research

Entertainment symbolized by Hollywood

Diverse talent and skill pool making outstanding contributions in various fields.

Yet, the fundamental responsibility of the state government to balance the budget postponed indefinitely due to partisan politics with Republican minority misusing the two-third majority approval against the incumbent Democrats in the legislature.

As a result, the taxpayers of the economy are abandoned and the entire population is at the mercy of the minority rule upholding the conventional ideology against contemporary wisdom.

It is Déjà Vu for those following the federal government struggle to get the economic stimulus bill approved by both Houses of Congress.

The dilemma of balancing the budget with the political parties’ resistance to compromise is a daunting task for any administration. It is beyond comprehension that failed policies and inconvenient principles continue to dominate the center stage at both state and federal level in legislative matters.

California budget deficit currently at $42 billion with unemployment skyrocketing to 9.3% and expected to worsen by the year-end;

Clearly, the economic recession is widespread and taken severe toll on the present and future taxpayers of the economy.
———————————————————————————————————————
Challenges:

How does the state reduce the budget deficit of $42 billion?

Generally, the options would be exploring ways to generate revenues and cutting costs proven liabilities with no income or other benefits to the taxpayers of the economy.

Revenues:

How does the state generate revenues?

Usually, the government revenue sources are taxes paid by individuals and Corporations.

They are in the form of income tax, estate tax, corporate tax, payroll tax, sales tax, customs and excise duty on export and import items as well as fees and charges for any government provided services. If the state has other assets in the form of government bonds and treasury bills, they comprise negotiable instruments to borrow money.

In addition, the government could potentially expect income from investments in industries via quasi contracts, state run institutions, sale and/or leasing of government land to private sectors and trade goods and services with neighboring states or foreign governments. Some states find ways and means to share natural resources with their neighbors within and outside the nation for income.

Then, a federal aid to boost social services, health and educational programs is other channel for financial assistance.

Obviously tax increases is the common strategy for meeting budget shortfall. If income and aid are available from stated sources, then funding expenses is affordable.
——————————————————————————————————————-
Spending or Costs Elimination:

In this category, the lawmakers vehemently opposed to tax increases propose massive cutbacks and reduction in spending by a sweeping shutdown of essential services and programs with dire consequences in the long term.

Ironically, investment in education, health, housing, energy and environment are easy targets as “wasteful spending” for legislators in opposition to tax hikes during budget crisis. Those policy makers fail to understand the importance of protecting and nurturing the beneficiaries of these programs as they contribute to the economy today and tomorrow as taxpayers.

Lately, legislators have taken a swipe at education or investment in public school systems at both state and federal levels. It is tragic that such measures are even contemplated leave alone legislated in the industrialized and advanced nation that should be leading the world in K-12 educational program.

The public school system in the State of California and across the nation is in shambles. The infrastructure and the general classroom environment are in desperate need of face-lift to improve academic performance by students of all socio economic backgrounds.

Every dollar spent in a child is an investment in future.

Complete overhauling is required in areas like classroom size, materials including new Textbooks, enriched curriculum with emphasis in Math and Science, Music and Arts, Sports facilities, recruitment of qualified teaching staff, Teachers’ salary, training and professional development, new energy efficient buildings regardless of districts and zones in every state.

Undoubtedly, education must be a priority with K-12 system being the foundation for young minds entering the academic world. The reason United States is lagging behind in international standards is due to neglect of our school system particularly the early learning stage (K-12) when the opportunity to help every student thrive is available to educators.

Therefore, the state and the federal government are obligated to enhance achievements in educational programs through investments in the state-of-the-art educational system.

Similarly, health, housing, energy and environment are equally important as the taxpayers benefit from adequate health care, proper housing, affordable energy, clean and safe environment.
——————————————————————————————————————
Pragmatic Solutions:

The best option to reconcile California budget is to consider both tax increases and costs reduction as suggested by many analysts and experts on this issue.

According to the analysis by San Jose Mercury News, February 8, 2009

Budget spending outpaced inflation and state’s growth.

Interestingly, the social services and K-12 education received proportionately less funding as compared to the extra spending identified in Criminal Justice, health care and filling the gap for the reduced vehicle license fee in the analysis of actual spending in 2007-2008.

First, action is required to identify the revenue sources via tax increases.

1. Marginal increase in Sales Tax of goods and services including the sales on the cyberspace would provide an even tax distribution for the society.

2. Increasing Vehicle License fee for all is necessary to address the massive deficit. In this context, it is important to raise another explosive issue of undocumented workers in California without drivers’ license or vehicle registrations.

Issuing drivers license and allowing all undocumented workers to register their vehicles would not only generate income for the state, it would also strengthen state and national security with the documentation of all residents in the state.

Subsequently, acquiring vehicle insurance by the undocumented workers would minimize the burden on registered owners in addition to stimulating the economy through insurance industry.

At present any vehicle registration or insurance by undocumented workers carried out in a back alley manner depriving the state due proceeds.

3. Target items for tax increase to reduce health care costs such as tobacco, hard liquor products and items subject to possible health abuse.

4. In the establishment of social standards, tax increases on winnings through gambling and advertisement sales of pornography (assumed to be a multibillion dollar industry) is justified to make way for important social services and programs.

5. Review and revise taxation policy for California Corporations hoarding income in tax havens along with their offshore subsidiaries.

6. Airport tax, Port fees, dutiable goods, customs and excise duty are other sources of revenue.

7. Increase tax on entertainment industry to pay for education, kids welfare, community hospitals, colleges and institutions.

8. Specific environmental protection act by levying heavy penalties on environmental pollution (air, land and sea) through negligence such as oil spilling, carbon emissions and violation of aviation standards.

9. Marginal increase in gasoline tax would enable energy efficient programs such as solar, wind and hydro thermal power.

10. Last but not the least, leasing government land to corporations and scientific institutions, university laboratories or airline industry with enforcement of strict environmental regulations, not excluding sale of government assets no longer useful in the short or long run.
——————————————————————————————————————-------------------------
Costs Reduction:

Criminal Justice System:

A thorough examination of the Criminal Justice system is necessary from the analysis and news reports.

The State must devise a mechanism to reduce prison population through major social reforms at all levels beginning with the juvenile detention center.

Further, the parole system, three strikes law and other misdemeanor charges reassessed and offenders deployed in monitored community services rather than crowding prisons is the ideal strategy to cutback spending.

Health Care:

Healthy Approach to reducing health care costs –

Medicaid for senior citizens and economically disadvantaged population.

Promoting preventive care with immunizations.

Early diagnosis of diseases through annual or bi-annual medical checkups and

Subsidized prescription drugs through tax incentives to pharmaceutical and bio-tech industry are few possibilities to deal with health care crisis.

Counseling services and Therapy for psychological and other mental health problems as a preliminary screening process to ease the substantial costs in this regard.

General well being encouraged through active life combined with healthy diet in schools and other areas of the community.

Vehicle License Fee backfill - To be reinstated as outlined above.

General Government - Electronic record keeping and updating technology would considerably improve efficiency and prohibit excessive spending in administrative services.

Higher Education – Engagement in community development activities in return for student loans is a progressive cost recovery scheme.

Transportation – Cost savings methods and effective transportation means aimed at conservation of time and energy recommended for this expense.

Resources and environment – Best to follow guidelines suggested above for environment.

All other costs and spending not discussed or highlighted must be carefully reviewed and those proven redundant with no benefit to taxpayers or the State eliminated to reconcile the budget.
———————————————————————————————————————

Time for Action by California Legislators

Investment in better education and all of the essential services means building future with healthy, responsible and productive citizens as opposed to increasing prison population demanding major diversion of funding to criminal justice system.

There is an urgency to underscore the fact that not all taxpayers necessarily benefit and appreciate the frugal tax savings by preventing tax increases because such action favors the wealthy minority while leaving the majority marginalized in a society.

If the legislators really care for their constituents and the state/nation they pledge to serve, they need to pause and reflect on the realities of depriving majority of the population to decent lifestyle and economic prosperity, the predominant cause of the current sluggish consumer spending.

Often, provision of unemployment and social security benefits, Medicaid, health insurance, food stamps…dismissed as socialized enigma in a Capitalist economy. Unfortunately, a reminder is required that subscribers of these benefits and services ultimately contribute to the success of the capitalist system as consumers of various products and services.

As stated earlier in the blogpost titled Redistribution of Wealth, Oct 31, 2008, www.padminiarhant.com

Promoting economic status as highlighted above…

Eventually, create a fair system of sharing the economic burden by all rather than only by the affluent ones.

Such farsighted and permanent solutions are in direct contradiction to the myth and misnomer of the doctrine against short term tax increases essential to combat severe economic recession.

Socialism, Marxism may well be the nemesis to Capitalism,

Capitalism cannot thrive without consumerism - - That is the fact

California budget crisis must be resolved with no further delay.

It is time for legislators to set the priorities right to fit in with the new millennium goals.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Debunk Republican Lies on FDR's "New Deal"

PDJ — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:38:54 EST

Having waged a decade long propaganda war to inflate (indeed, completely myth-i-fy!) the record and administration of Ronald Reagan (see "How Republicans created the myth of Ronald Reagan" at http://www.salon.com/books/excerpt/2009/02/02/ronald_reagan/), Republicans are now outright lying about success of FDR's "New Deal". Republicans seem absolutely bent on ensuring that any stimulus will fail (what with the inclusion of tax cuts that have very limited stimulus effects and the dropping of federal or state spending that would - see the table on the last page of the CBO report http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:NYegsQPivcsJ:coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm%3FFuseAction%3DFiles.View%26FileStore_id%3D866fa8ea-f6a7-4374-8623-75a9c84a16e6+%241.00+stimulus+effect+CBO+estimates+2009&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us).

These scurrilous lies must be outed and demolished anywhere and everywhere they appear - right up to the halls of Congress and the offices of the blackards who voice them - like Senator Richard Shelby. Otherwise, when and if the stimulus is found lacking (either through timidity in spending or Republican efforts to ensure that it fails), these lies will be pointed to and repeated as historical "proof" and "I told you so" propaganda.

A fairly succinct choice for such debunking can be found in a "Timeline for the Great Depression" at http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/Timeline.htm. There it is shown that only when FDR succumbed to ill-founded deficit fears did GDP and unemployment improvements experienced due to "New Deal" programs SOMEWHAT falter - though GDP and unemployment were still MUCH BETTER than at the worst of the Great Depression. "Economists attribute economic growth so far to heavy government spending that is somewhat deficit. Roosevelt, however, fears an unbalanced budget and cuts spending for 1937. That summer, the nation plunges into another recession. Despite this, the yearly GNP rises 5.0 percent, and unemployment falls to 14.3 percent."

Further proof of the power of Federal government spending was shown during WWII (including just before US military entry into the war via the "Lend Lease" program to Britain). During the war, government deficit spending became astronomical, with deficits still outstripping in relative terms any since and any contemplated today. And it WAS that huge government spending that led not only to the war victory, but also to the great economic recovery and prosperity that followed.

One critical part of the spending AFTER the war was the benefits to veterans - perhaps most significantly for housing and (in the long term) for education benefits lavished on them (RIGHTLY!) by the GI bill. To those, one should also add spending on the Marshall Plan for the recovery of war torn countries. As with their overall false assessments of FDR's "New Deal" and correctly targeted government stimulus spending, Republican's also claim that education and foreign development spending are not "stimulative" - even in the face of historical fact.

3 New Videos

Unknown user — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:02:59 EST

Hey there!

There are 3 new videos on my blog.

1st video is about Obama's Supreme Court http://obama-videos.blogspot.com/2009/02/obamas-supreme-court.html

2nd video is about the Republicans who support Obama's plans http://obama-videos.blogspot.com/2009/02/gop-mayor-for-obama-plan.html

3rd video is an old one, but it reminds of the grassroots movement http://obama-videos.blogspot.com/2009/02/barack-obama-on-60-minutes.html

The Stimulus - Dead On Arrival?

Pianoman — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:17:44 EST

Dear President Obama:

I am concerned. I am concerned that the "compromise" that is going to emerge from the congress will come up way short largely because the funds are just not there to give our economy the jolt that it needs. I know that you hold bipartisanship way up on your list as one of the noble principles to adhere to. But lets look at the facts. The people who are cutting this legislation short are the very same people who have screwed up this country time after time - the Repubs and the Blue Dog Dems who are Repubs Lite.

Now what do you think they are going to say when our economy continues to fail because the soon to be current stimulus fails and possible fails dismally?

As citizens continue to loose their lives they will start turning for new answers and guess who is going to step up and promise them "solutions." The very same "jackals" who are hamstringing the bill.

You must call this for what it is immediately and explain to the Citizens of this country who have put their faith in you (including myself) how and why this bill is just a first step and that there will be numerous and necessary follow-up bills that will be necessary in the immediate future that will address our severe economic problems.

If not, the "Jackals" will most certainly attack you and claim that your failures are due to your policies, not their policies. Your approach is the right approach if it is executed as intended. I think that bipartisanship is secondary to making sure that things get done right. The Repubs are all about making sure that it get done wrong. We can not afford that.

Your Loyal Supporter and Concerned Citizen

Eben Goresko

I AM A U.S. CITIZEN...I demand that Republican Tax Cuts Be Removed from the Stimulus Bill

Crystal — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:01:05 EST

I am outraged that the Republicans of the House and Senate is taking out all or reducing projects that will directly benefit US, THE CITIZENS, and yet, again, give it to the wealthy who will hoard the money. OUR MONEY!!!! On February 6, 2009, the Senate voted on a Stimulus Bill with 42% tax cuts to 58% spending. Also, two moderate Republicans along with Blue Dog Democrats trimmed an extra $100 billion that would have been an investment on energy, roads, bridges, mass transit, hospitals, schools, etc. Every economist stated that the Stimulus Bill should focus on spending and a larger amount is needed to jump start the ecomony, meaning, NO JOB=NO BUY.

During a Congressional hearing in July 2008 with Mark Zandi, the Chief Economist and Co-founder of Moody’s Economy.com has compared the amount of money that we will get in return for our investment of $1.

So, for every $1we invest in Government Spending, we will receive back:
$1.73 for Temporary Increase in Food Stamps
$1.64 for Extending Unemployment Insurance Benefits
$1.59 for Building Roads, Bridges, Schools
$1.36 for General Aid to State Governments

For every $1 we invest in the Republican Tax Cuts Plan, we will receive back:
$1.02 for Non-refundable Lump-Sum Tax Rebate
$1.26 for Refundable Lump-Sum Tax Rebate

Temporary Tax Cuts
$1.29 for Payroll Tax Holiday (Jobs anyone?)
$1.03 for Across the Board Tax Cut
$0.27 for Accelerated Depreciation ($0.73 Our Loss)

Permanent Tax Cuts
$0.48 for Extend Alternative Minimum Tax Patch ($0.52 Our Loss)
$0.29 for Permanent Bush Income Tax Cuts for the wealthy ($0.71 Our Loss)
$0.37 for Permanent Dividend and Capital Gains Tax Cuts for the wealthy ($0.63 Our Loss)
$0.30 for Cut in Corporate Tax Rate ($0.70 Our Loss)

The Republican taxes cuts = Fuzzy Math with devastating results. Yet, the GOP still wants these same tax cuts that got a us into this mess. What these tax cuts amount to: we pay out money to us and if we don't have jobs or took losses as a small business owners, we don't see a dime of the money. However, if we get the tax cut, then, the treasury calls it income which is taxed....

Now, after all of the drama this week by the Republicans, the Senate passed Stimulus (42% taxs/58% spending) Bill. Get This...only THREE Republican Senators and ZERO Republican House members supported the Stimulus Bill. However, Republican Tax Cut is still 42% of the Stimulus Bill. Why? Over 500,000 jobs were lost in January 2009. ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!

From February 8, 2009 to February 21, the "I AM A U.S. CITIZEN" campaign commences. Let's make the Stimulus Bill work for us, not for Republican political gain. I am challenging each one of us to contact SIX Democrats and republicans members of Congress and the Senate and DEMAND to have the republican 42% tax cut remove completely from the Stimulus Bill.

For good or for bad, the decisions of all members of Congress and Senate, impact all of us. It's time to tell all representatives to STOP PLAYING GAMES with our Lives, Well-being, and Safety. Get on with it.

A new Obama book called; LESSONS WE LEARNED FROM OBAMA from a former Republican mother of five.

Bobbi Miller-Moro — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:30:23 EST

A new Obama book called; LESSONS WE LEARNED FROM OBAMA

From a former Republican mother of five.

Click on photo to see book~ I was so inspired during his campaign, I started writing and collecting photo's. Before long I had a book. What started out as a little children’s book morphed into a hard cover Special Edition Collectors book, Lessons We Learned From Obama, 130 pages in all black with over 200 high quality color photographs from photographers around the world of Obama and his campaign. My first book, and considering I have five children-- I would have thought this was impossible a few months ago. I got my first copy in the mail....and it is so beautiful! So, I made the matching book set, Lunch With Michelle in all white. More information below about the content.

www.WomenWithoutBorders.us

A new Obama book called; LESSONS WE LEARNED FROM OBAMA from a former Republican mother of five.

Bobbi Miller-Moro — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:30:23 EST

A new Obama book called; LESSONS WE LEARNED FROM OBAMA

From a former Republican mother of five.

www.WomenWithoutBorders.us

A new Obama book called; LESSONS WE LEARNED FROM OBAMA from a former Republican mother of five.

Bobbi Miller-Moro — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:30:23 EST

A new Obama book called; LESSONS WE LEARNED FROM OBAMA

From a former Republican mother of five.

www.WomenWithoutBorders.us

Republicans Wants the Problem?

Denise — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:03:05 EST

I don't get it, President Obama has inherited total chaos created by republicans now they refuse to to lend a helping hand to restore the economy. The demand for tax cuts benefits them only, while demanding removal of items from the stimulus package that benefits everyone. The time has come to move away from ideological nonsense.

Our nation, our world has changed and this change will not slow nor stop for anyone. Why should progress stop because of "some". These very ideals have kept the U.S. divided since its' founding days. The condition of the world demands for all people to come together, get over thier differences, which are not different at all and rebuild for the sake of our World.

Does anyone really understand this?

The Man with a Plan

Spike — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:20:34 EST

Our first step in handling the economic crisis is initiating federally financed construction of super hospitals in each region based on employment needs. Super facilities that contain a hospital, long term care, housing for the disabled and homeless. They should also contain a university and living quarters for staff members. Each community or region should begin building them on a non-profit basis. Employing unskilled construction labor and creating long term jobs as the areas unemployment demands. This is a win win strategy as our population grows older and thousands of orphans from around the world need to be relocated. These super facilities can also serve as shelters during natural disasters, having thousands of rooms, kitchens and more ready for use if and when a disaster happens. Built on high ground in areas that experience flooding. Visit www.appyp.com/earnsnyder.html for more information.

THE AUTO INDUSTRY, A FEW OF MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES (INDUSTRIAL GREED):

Alex Karoub — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:14:47 EST

Contact: Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

This post is a brief overview of the Automotive Industry which describes some of the fundamental problems that are rarely spoken of. In addition, you will learn of a few of my personal experiences growing up, an environment where I was surrounded by the industry; you will learn of a few perspectives that are shocking and that even only a few within the industry know of. At the end of the post, you will better understand what happened to American Manufacturing and where it stands.

The Auto Industry is at the heart of all of American Manufacturing. It is an industry that laid the groundwork for many other types of industries to follow, deemed at one point in history to be the highest of successes. But now, it sheds light on what can become warning signs for other businesses that mistakenly try to imitate it.

This months hot topic is whether to bailout/rescue the regressing American Auto Industry. The original owners and their successors abandoned that industry long ago. The auto industry was ravaged and plundered by the wealthiest Americans a half century ago and has been in decline ever since. Shortsighted greed from one generation to the next has been the culprit. Since autos were first mass-produced and America monopolized the world, it was only natural that the American percentage/share of the market would eventually be reduced. However, total growth was enormous and total size of the market continues to grow even through today. Therefore, American growth of exports should have continued to grow, but does not significantly due to pillage and poorly planted roots. In simpler terms, we originally owned the entire pie. The pie was split up. Since the entire pie has grown dramatically, our piece should have grown too. However, the Big 4, 3, 2, … have been loosing market dominance and lead since the end of World War Two. Here we are years later in crisis, and the real question remains whether or not to rescue the real victims of the auto industry, the workers. People were not retrained or re-educated; most were never afforded real education's to start. People are now in despair and hopelessness. From my vantage point now living in Colorado for the last two decades, I have seen the high tech industry follow the auto industry, but at a learned and accelerated rate. Other industries are also copying the auto industry and are laying similar foundations also headed for disaster. Going back to a brief history, the misguided roots show how the decay started and why it spread.

Although I did not grow-up during the inception of the Auto Industry, its roots surrounded me. I spoke with a few who were there in the earliest days, and spoke with many who were of the following generation. I absorbed its history by studying it while attending school in Motown (Motor Town), by natural osmosis, and in my earliest career dealing with the car makers.

Growing up as a kid I lived less than a mile from Henry Ford's first moving assembly line factory, with GM’s World Headquarters’ just three miles away, and with Chryslers World Headquarters at the end of our street. The first Ford plant (in Highland Park, a city now surrounded by Detroit) and the first of GM's plants were built on the importation of the next generation of former black slaves and white share crop workers from the south (whites similar to former slaves whose white necks were red from working in the sunny fields, hence the mean spirited term 'Redneck'). The joke that Henry Ford must have laughed at and that went around town was "each worker would get paid enough to buy a Ford" (Of course using infamous 'Ford Credit' which was a primary direct withdrawal from their pay checks.) Henry manipulated a built-in guaranteed customer base and tapped double profits, being profits on the cars and the profitable bonded interest. Those were scams that he copied from sharecropping. The remains of their wages were so low that they had to live in shacks; but after all Henry felt, they came from shacks near the fields in the south. So much bigotry and repeated methods from sharecrop economic slavery. Instead of updating and rebuilding the original plants and without regard for the people who were the workers, the emerging auto giants left to go further to the suburbs.

So, as they moved and grew they imported shipload after shipload of immigrant economic slaves from Poland (to Hamtramck, MI) and more economic slaves from the Middle East (to Dearborn, MI). There were other minorities imported as well, also imported for economic servitude to supporting industries such as mining, iron works, steel fabrication, glass works, textile, …. Astonishing how easily the game of 'divide and conquer' worked upon the variety of minorities; a game of keeping the workers pitted against each other using race and ethnicity; all to hold back the power of the people from truly uniting. WW2 caused the Automakers not only to retool but also to reevaluate their future directions.

Soon, after the victory of WW2, came the Auto Giants grand visions for economically conquering the world via expansion outside the U.S. They quietly boasted that that would leave mainly world headquarters executives, designers, and engineers in the U.S. with the prestigious white-collar jobs. It was felt then (and these are not my bigoted opinions, not from me, yikes) that after all even 'the weaker sex' could do factory labor jobs as seen during WW2 (i.e. Rosie the Riveter). So why not have the 'stupid foreign workers' do the labor outside the U.S. What also gave way to the idea that manufacturing could succeed outside the U.S. was Mexico; since Mexican workers were also imported, but only temporarily during WW2. (By the way, the temporary Mexican workers were never fully paid back as promised during WW2.) A tremendous wave of pride about white-collar jobs became very popular in Detroit and in other automotive communities during the 50's. That vision sat poised on the back burner, but a pre-planted seed was already in place, which was Canada (Windsor) just across the Detroit River.

Canada was a much-desired orchestrated precedence for the automakers; it set the stage for grace given by the government as an easily set up protocol for off-shoring jobs. Soon after, the automakers made a migration south to other states, then further south to Mexico, and finally overseas and on to economic slavery in China.

Today we see the results of the destructive path the industry has taken. Layoffs, instead of being temporary situations reserved for pauses during new model changeovers, eventually became the mark of permanent labor plant closures. Obvious abandonment of people soon became the name of the automakers game. Along the swathed trail are - Highland Park, Detroit, Pontiac, Flint, Marquette, Gary Indiana, Pittsburgh, Toledo, Cleveland, …, which became known in the early 80’s as 'The Rust Bowl’. Sort of a rape, pillage, and burn mentality, which continues to today.

Amazing how well the reasoning of "that's the way it's always been" persists and grows from one generation to the next. Excuse after excuse gave temporary reasoning to incremental geographic movements for global conquer. Temporary excuses ranged from the need to originally amass large workforces, to the hindrance of union pressures, to American workers are lazy, to 'over' government regulation, to …, all straw obstacles as to why the auto industry needed to move as it did.

No! Greed is not good. We see how those at the top of the industry have each come in, grabbed with their greed, and left. Now today, we see how greed has caused "what once was, no longer is". So in short, now we see the results of greed, poorly planted roots, and disregard, taking its toll on America. Equally, is the toll on the myriad of unrelated businesses, old and new, that have adopted the auto industries infectious habits of having little to no regard for individual people that make up the American workforce. People.

While being raised in the center of Detroit, I experienced many situations involving the Auto Industry; the following although early was not my earliest, and is an actual example.

Around 1963, when I was 11 years old, I remember George Romney visiting our house to exchange political favors. Our 23-room house was a rundown relic of a past era, but it cleaned up well as a phony front for wealth and pretentious power. I remember we kids had to pretend that we were Christian Protestants for the visiting Governor (former Chairman of AMC) who was doing his Christian Mormon tradition of visiting the homes of his new legislators. How ostentatious they both were with fraudulent humility of how they rose from their humble beginnings. But more to the point, I remember Romney sitting at our dinning room table and saying "The Big Four Automakers don't have to worry about giving the Unions what they want, as long as the benefits will not be due for decades. By that time the labor plants will be outside the U.S." That shocked my brother Jimmy and I, as we listened playing in the sunroom just off the dinning room. Later we were once again physically punished (beaten-up), this time for listening to adult talk. Jimmy a year older than I, and intellectually gifted, soon became a Page at the State Capital. The accounts he returned with were shocking as well. Growing up as we did would make your head spin and open your eyes to disgust. We continued living in those surroundings until we grew out of our teens. Then we moved on to make our own adult lives, creating better environments much different from what we were born and raised in.

Recalling back to my teens, I realized back then the Detroit riots were not only about race, but was also about economic oppression. It was the minorities who were oppressed the worst, most especially African-Americans. Bad however you measure it is bad. (For a better understanding of the decline of Detroit and to better understand the riots, take a look at my other post: “DETROIT RIOTS OF 1967, A RECOLLECTION OF THE TRUTH.” You will also better understand how very close we came to seeing a nationwide repeat of the riots in the coming Spring of 2009.)

Unions, workers, man-hours, laborers, …, are not people, they are burdens to be minimized and eliminated. While watching Lee Iacocca being interviewed on Charley Rose last year, I noticed Iacocca admit that he new all the way back during negotiations with the unions, in the early 80’s, that Chrysler would never have to pay off in full on long term commitments to the unions. As Iacocca danced around the issue he said "now the unions will have to face reality". And, as Rose went on to discuss it more, Iacocca was getting more uncomfortable, and eventually managed to change the subject away from discussing past union negotiations. Iacocca was a bit slicker than George Romney was, since Iacocca was on national TV. It made me ashamed that Chrysler World Headquarters was at the end of our street when I was a kid. And, that as a young adult I had so proudly in my early career returned while working for a couple of electronics companies to Chrysler's World Headquarters R&D operations. I thought it an honor to have paid Iacocca's in-house barbershop to cut my hair, even his same barber. Some honor.

Following Chrysler, I moved up to deal with GM, and was puzzled. I listened to upper executives at GM complain that they constantly had to bribe Mexican government officials and border guards for GM plants. I guess they also assumed I already new and accepted that the plants in the late 70's had already begun their exodus to Mexico and other countries. I have always looked at bribery as disgusting and wrong, it was not for me or those who I dealt with, that's among the many good things that a mentor named Jack Bazzy taught me as a young kid. By becoming acquainted with other mentors as an adult, I learned to seek out highly reputable employers and quality knowledgeable friends. I learned how to educate myself, and moved up very high in the scientific and technical industries, all of which I enjoyed.

Although I grew up in Highland Park / Detroit, that was not anywhere near my top focus in choosing Obama. But, it is a simple history for me to recall, amazing how many more details I can give, but the main points have been brought forward. In addition, from being a mutt of sorts myself, to being a self made man, be that what it may, I have no illusions of being great. What I do mean here is that I quickly recognize many of Obama's unique insights, although mine are different but a bit similar in nature. Like many Obama supporters, I have personal experiences on most issues Obama has raised. So, above is just one of many examples that I can personally give.

To better understand manufacturing in America, you can read my other blog:
WHAT SCREWED UP MANUFACTURING FOR AMERICA

Blog members can reply here, anyone is welcome to email me at: Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

Democrats Lose Senate Majority (circa 2010)

Don — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:38:40 EST

(Can I say 'circa' if it's in the future?)

Democrats won't be controlling the Senate after 2010.

They rushed like lemmings to declare they'd never accept Blago's appointee.

A little time and forethought should have enabled them to reason that in order to create the illusion of innocence Blagojevich would be likely to find someone eminently qualified, of stellar reputation and far removed from the (alleged) illegal activities.

That would only be in his own best interests. And if there is one thing we have learned about Blago, it is that his own best interests are his first and last consideration in decision-making.

Senate Democrats have now pitted themselves against the Chicago Democratic Machine. Despite that Dick Durbin has lost touch with reality and thrown in with them, this is a battle Senate Democrats cannot and will not win. In this, there is no winning, only degrees of losing.

Should he be denied, Burris can run against any Illinois Democrat, including Durbin, and win.

As for that silly mausoleum? All politicians are narcissists. He's just 'concrete' about it.

Remember Republican Senator Ted Stevens who actually looked jurors in the eyes and told them he didn't notice people stuffing hundreds of thousands of dollars into his pockets. I dare say Bill Gates would notice if you stuffed a few hundred thousand dollars into his pockets. Ted Stevens,... now THAT'S a big ego!

It is also necessary to remember that this is the same US Senate that gave a seven-time convicted federal felon -- Ted Stevens -- a two-minute standing ovation, and two hours of praise-filled testimonials. And they are claiming to be observing their PRINCIPLES???

Republican and Democratic Senators must think we are stupid, stupid, stupid.

GOP needs America to fail (Democrats helping them)

Don — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:51:49 EST

Imagine what would happen if the immediate and long-term success, and even viability, of the Republican Party depended on Barack Obama failing to pull America back into PROSPERITY. Oh, wait, we don't have to IMAGINE that because it happens to be the current condition.

While refusing to offer any better ideas, Republicans stand in adamant opposition to everything the President-Elect suggests, even without knowing any details. I have to admit, he's been somewhat vague.

History suggests that America's realization of a sense of success by spring of 2012 will mean the GOP will be broadly out of power for one to two generations.

Every month that another 600,000 Americans lose their jobs is the direct result of Republicans acting on what they see is their own best political interests. While one of their many changing SLOGANS last year was "America First", in truth it is plain that they hold the Republican Party's interests above those of America and our people.

Every day that our children continue to suffer from a declining educational system in which mediocrity is celebrated; every day that more taxpayers lose high wage jobs only to go on welfare food stamps and unemployment; every day that more and more Americans are forced to sign up to work at the country's largest employer WalMart whose own accidentally leaked internally study said 43% of their full-time employees are on welfare and food stamps; every day that we lose what little remains of our manufacturing base so that when we next need to really go to war like in WW2 we won't have car factories to swiftly convert to making fighter jets and tanks so we'll have to order them from CHINA which the most likely enemy in a real war; remember that Republicans see that as MERELY another day closer to the time when they regain power over the White House, Senate and House -- which if not for the horrendous disaster they have created over the last eight years might not be so terrifying.

America stopped keeping up with the demands for maintenance of our infrastructure with the Reagan administration. We were told that things like that "the free market" would take care of things like that, but tell that now to New Orleans and their crumbling levees, or Minnesota with their collapsed interstate bridge, or Kentucky with their billion gallons of toxic sludge that spilled out of a mine containment area.

America's best defense against precisely the current financial system collapse, the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, enacted not coincidentally in the wake of the financial collapse of 1929, was REPEALED on the demands of deregulating Republicans -- with help from Bill Clinton in 1999. That law alone prevented financial institutions from becoming "too big to fail". That is, it kept each of the insurance, banking and real estate conglomerates within their own area. They could still become behemoths, but it's when they get into all three of those industries and start making up new ones that are totally unregulated like 'derivatives' that the failure of one company can bring down the American economy, even the world economic system.

The only thing the President-Elect can do to get us out of this disaster is to go back the way we came in, by resurrecting modern-day Glass-Steagall style regulations and stimulating the middle class segment of the system while taking back the giveaway tax cuts from the wealthiest 1% that over the last eight years gave money to people who already had more money than they knew how to spend. They squirreled it away someplace, or bought yachts built in Greece. Republicans love to claim that tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy leads to the creation of small businesses. In reality, it's Steve Jobs and Bill Gates when they had nothing who created small businesses that became leading world companies. Billionaires DON'T start small businesses, they BUY huge corporations then fire 50,000 or 100,000 employees to increase productivity and thus profits for themselves and large bonuses for the three to five top executives of each company. Oh, and they CUT wages of the few employees they do have to keep on.

That doesn't grow anything but unemployment and declining wages. Less taxpayers and more people surviving on public assistance.

If we don't stand up to these self-serving Republicans very few of us will have jobs in 2012, and they will be at WalMart. There won't be any real taxpayers to support the public assistance people need to get back into good paying jobs.

I'll get to the CRAZY DEMOCRATS on another post. I'll give you a hint that after 2012 Democrats will no longer be in control of the Senate.

SOME OF WHAT I HEARD AND SAW WHILE CAMPAIGNING:

Alex Karoub — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 22:23:30 EST

...Contact: Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

While campaigning before the election, I found in speaking with many fellow Americans that each had handfuls of reasons to vote for Barack Obama. Some had two or three major reasons to vote for him, while a few just did not like the condition of the economy or the Iraq war. By far the majority of Democrats had many reasons to vote for Obama; the number of people who were well versed on the many issues that Obama stood for surprised me. Nice to see how well educated the public became about the election and the candidates. It was a great election!

Most Conservatives that I discussed the election choices with had a couple of common interests - 1) most had a fear of change and 2) self-preservation of greed, as their primary concerns. Although they did not initially express it in those terms, that is what further relaxed conversations revealed. In letting those to the right speak their minds, without worry of objection, they soon direct the conversation to money and their strong desires to control others/society by its use.

Many traditional Repulicans were embarrassed by Palin, some voted for Obama as a result. Shockingly, a few actually rallied for Palin; when asked why, their answers were often as empty as Palin's head. I think of those as 'Blind Followers' or 'Followers of Followers', people without substance. Some actually thought of it as a beauty contest, rather than taking the seriousness of her being a potential President in an emergency, shallow. You will enjoy my other blog that is light hearted titled: 'What is Palin?' Or, read my more serious blog: 'Libertarianism, a driving force at the top of the Republican Party'.

OLD APHORISMS THAT CHANGED IN THE LAST 8 YEARS

A few cliches seem to have taken a turn for the worse over the recent past, and have become more pretentious. Keep in mind, the majority of people use the first cliche in sincere and good meaning. The second never was very good, although some conservatives actually live by it. Below are just two which a few people have given new twists to in meaning:

'I give back to the community' - Well, if they didn't grab it so greedily in the first place, there wouldn't be such a need for them to give small token drops of it back. They think giving back makes them ‘absolved of their sins’.

'America, love it or leave it' - In looking at what the wealthiest and most conservative have done, we see some are actually leaving America. First we see a couple of decades back that many major portions of corporations have moved overseas, to now seeing billionaires grab their stashes and actually move completely to other countries. While others (pretending to be Democrats) have taken on second citizenship’s / bank accounts and remote fat legged residences for themselves. They hide from their realities and surround themselves with other fakes of the like, catered to in pretentious princess like surroundings, socially stuffing themselves with cerebral bon-bons and cream puffs.

I initially noticed those mentalities in my younger years as I describe further in my post titled “The Auto Industry, a few of my experiences”.

Reply on this website if you are a member, or anyone can email me at: alex.karoub@gmail.com

3 Moves In 3 Weeks -- Way to Relocate

Don — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:26:33 EST

“A President must be able to do more than one thing at a time,” said then-candidate and now President-Elect Barack Obama, a few months ago when McCain was trying to weasel out of the big debate.

Evidently, President-Elect Obama CAN do far more than one thing at a time. He and his family are MOVING three times in three weeks! This, the weekend of 4 January 2009, he moves from his Chicago home to DC’s Hay-Adams Hotel. On the 15th, they move to Blair House, then on the 20th, they move into the White House. Yes he can! For most of us, the dreaded process of a single relocation is more stressful than death and taxes. But Superman is tripling-down on it.

At the same time, the President-Elect Obama is interviewing and hiring a government, from cabinet members, agency administrators, secretaries and ambassadors. He’s working feverishly on the economic crisis, the transition and inauguration, as well as homeland security and two wars. Throw in taxes, healthcare, unemployment, social security, Medicare and the crisis of the Big 3 automakers, plus Iran, Cuba, Russia, China, the Palestinians and Israel, plus all those special interest groups here at home, such as the disabled, veterans, senior citizens and gays, and you’ve got an enormous inbox.

After those daily national security briefings in which the President-Elect Obama is beginning to learn just how badly Bush has screwed things up for us around the world, it’s a wonder the President-Elect Obama can sleep at night. He needs all the rest he can get.

Enjoy your vacation, sir, you need all the recharging your batteries can get.

What Page of The Bible?

Don — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:07:57 EST

There are only two reasonable choices.

To evoke the vision of the world economy rising from the ashes of the torched-earth strategy of the Bush-Cheney-Rove administration, BHO should open the Bible to the gospel account of Jesus’ rising from death. Not only will it give us hope, but it will reinforce our knowledge of BHO’s Christianity, helping put aside the invocation guy.

Times are so serious that BHO should keep the Bible closed and put his hand on the whole thing – we’re gonna need ALL of it right now, and it underscores BHO’s whole ‘inclusiveness’ thing.

The University of The Universe

nazzcaveman — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:23:56 EST

The Mighty Creator Bless His creations.

Everyday, we learnt of something new. So the experience been the teacher to everybody who experienced it. As a human, we keep explore and invent through space and time. The universe is too great to be explored. But, if we know who actually we are, we might conquer the universe. For me, I'm actually a miniature of the great universe. Therefore, to learn more about universe, I must study through my own self. The Universe is a great library. It keeps uncountable numbers of books. The books keep a lot of knowledges. And the knowledges are secret until we finish read the books. The Torah, The Zabur, The Bible and The Quran, are only manual books to guide us to live in this world. They tell us where we came from, where we are now and where is the destination. So we must firm in making our own decision. We are what we believe in.

By looking at my intention, I might have an ability to others intention to me. A big thing will be small if we look at it from a far distance. Also a small thing will become a big thing if we look at it from near distance. Finally, there is no different between big and small. If I did something something bad to others, I shall be paid for that with the similar badness. This is one of the Newton's Law.

The life is actually a great university for us to study about ourselves. This is what I call University of Universe. Life is fully covered by a miracle. The victory of Mr. Barrack Hussein Obama is one of the great miracles. Any way, Mr. Obama has his own limit. He will not be able to change night becomes day but keep waiting until the sun rise. But, with his extra power as the President of USA, he has the ability to change a war zone becomes children's play ground.

I believe in CHANGE. I do believe in CHANGE...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!!

Regards...NazzCaveMan

Welcoming the Ministry of Hatred and Scapegoating

Don — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:08:01 EST

There are always those who make their fortunes playing to the fears and insecurities of people frustrated with their own lives who need someone to blame, someone to hate, and it's easy for them to agree on certain groups to focus on.

Obama is moving America toward the point where those people will realize that if they don't have a good job, they have too little money, too much debt, their kids are in and out of jail and/or on drugs, or failing in school, it's not the fault of some group of "OTHERS". Not the gays, the jews, the blacks, or even those pesky illegal aliens, to name just a few.

It's time for a new era of Personal Responsibility in which we all take charge of our own lives while working together for all of us to achieve the American dream while making government do what it can to enable us.

Rick Warren is just an updated version of the same old Ministry Of Hatred represented by Falwell and Robertson (and so many others).

The coming of that new era is a direct threat to Rick Warren, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and all the other leaders of the Ministry of Hate. Just like the Republicans did during the long two year campaign, they will go down kicking and screaming all the way.

Crisis Briefings: Lies Like Iraq War Pretenses: Bushiness

Don — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:18:41 EST

The President who told at least a dozen lies to get us to go to war in Iraq has conjured up more than a dozen lies to set up President Obama for failure? The most miserable failure of an excuse for a President is leaving directions for the next President?

If it weren’t so serious, it would be funny! If your memory is longer than that of 99% of Americans you know that’s not a line I made up, and you may even know who did. Details.

I’m just saying, George Bush should be planning out where he’s going to hide to keep from being arrested and delivered to the Hague for trial in the World Court for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.

We didn’t let Hitler’s assistants off the hook, and neither can we afford to let Bush’s (the New Hitler’s) people go Scot-free.

We all know that all these recent attempts by Bush to rewrite history are mere hopes that America doesn’t do what’s right. If we intend to restore any sense of moral authority or regain any worldwide respect, we must follow our own laws and those international laws we largely wrote and have been demanding everyone else follow for decades until “W” took office.

If we don’t want our soldiers tortured when they in the future are captured, we must deliver to justice George Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, their generals and other high officers who ordered torture and passed on those illegal and immoral orders.

America is a chief signatory to the Geneva Conventions. In fact, before 2001, we liked to claim we largely WROTE it. What good is international law if those who claim to have written it are the worst violators?

America has long had laws against torture of prisoners of war. We cannot allow one power-mad egomaniac (or moron, depending on who is providing the facts, and there are plenty on both sides) to cause us to abandon our Constitution, or it won’t be worth anything, ever.

To put it simply, we cannot defeat terrorism by becoming the worst terrorists on earth. Long before we got to that point, any real President would have caught himself and found a better way. Why? Because Bush’s route could be seen even by people as unworldly as me to be a fool’s plot.

It started with Bush’s WAR-PRAYER-MEETING, right after 9/11. That was disturbing to me THEN, because, as a Christian and an American I wondered if Jesus would say that we should “turn the other cheek”.

What? “Turn the other cheek”. I know. I certainly wasn’t in the mood for that. But that’s what Jesus would have us do – according to the Bible. Those so-called religious Republicans have still never mentioned that, and they would castrate me for mentioning it if they could. (They don’t have the balls for it, so they’ll try to get you to do it, just like the Romans, according to the Bible, were forced to murder Jesus. Just reading it objectively and making no assumptions. NO benefit to me which side you take).

Strange, but when you think about the things that really were surprises, you can’t find any that Bush created that much cohesion to in that short a time. Can you? I can’t.

Almost makes you wonder WHEN Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush KNEW 9/11 was going to happen, doesn’t it? Naaaaaaah. Certainly not. I don’t really know. Do I???

It WAS amazing that five seconds after the first jet crashed into the World Trade Center, Bush’s officials declared they knew it was Osama Bin Laden! Before the first tower collapsed, the Bush administration told us who to blame. I wondered why they didn’t PREVENT it since they obviously knew so much about it in advance.

Worse yet is the fact that for all of 2000, Bush campaigned claiming “America’s military is not ready!” Yet, during all of 2001, he did NOTHING to get our military ready. Why would you TELL our enemies that our military isn’t ready? Then, once in power, why would you fail to GET it ready/ Bush should spend the rest of his days in Guantanamo for that alone.

I always think you can know who caused something to happen by figuring out who BENEFITTED from whatever happened.

But I’ve already gone LONG, so I’ll have to finish the facts later. In the meantime, don’t read into what I’ve typed, anything you imagine I said. You may end up looking foolish by the time I tie it all together.

What To Do About It

Don — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:07:18 EST

Previously, I argued the likely consequences of the collapse of the Detroit automakers. And already my predictions are beginning to bear out in facts. Today, the Wall Street Journal reported, “Toyota will delay production at its new $300 million plant in Mississippi, citing a steep decline in the auto market.” What could we do about preventing it?Rather than pumping cash into them over the long term, what we COULD do is just take over something like 60% of the healthcare burden of only the pre-2007 retirees of the Detroit automakers.What? That would fundamentally lower the per-car cost while requiring them to bear their own burden of current and future labor costs. They will still have to make reasonable pay agreements going forward, but they won’t have to fire tens of thousands of workers who actually are cranking out cars that are of competitive quality. We CAN and should require that they immediately begin moving at an accelerated pace to make their entire fleet of cars meet California’s progressive fuel-economy standards.Why? Because that’s a smaller hit to the national economy than letting those people go on welfare, food stamps and unemployment and disability insurance. It helps keep those people paying taxes based on good wages. If those companies collapse, Medicare and Medicaid WILL be forced to take on 100% of all of those retirees from every decade. The few of us who still have jobs or own businesses will pay for that.Remember, according to THEIR OWN study, 43% of full-time WalMart workers are on food stamps and welfare. 43%. They are the largest employer in America. We cannot afford to doom another class of workers to that, because it’s costing us dearly.I don’t know if “60%” is exactly the right percentage, or if “pre-2007” is exactly the right year, but that can be worked out soon and by more knowledgeable people. What I do believe is that we can find a way to take on a much smaller share of the burden than the 100% we will inherit if those companies go down. What I know is that the rest of us will be better off with those people working and paying taxes alongside the rest of us than not.Rather than stirring up jealousy among people about UAW wages and demanding they take pay cuts, Republican conservatives ought to be working to get the pay other OTHER Americans increased so that more of us will be paying taxes at that higher rate, thus decreasing the burden on each taxpayer.Walmart workers, who continue to work full-time while having to also collect food stamps and welfare, are a major burden to all American Taxpayers. We need more high-wage jobs, not less. All that money spent at Walmart goes on a long trip, making a brief stopover in Bentonville Arkansas before flying directly to China to create more factory jobs – in China. If they have their way, conservative Republicans will have all Americans working seven days a week in 12 hour shifts making 90 cents a month like the Chinese.

How We Save America By Saving American Autoworker Jobs

Don — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:53:57 EST

Previously, I argued why all Americans, of all political persuasions, will suffer from the collapse the Detroit automakers. What can we do about the problem?I am far from being an apologist for the UAW or Detroit. There have to be consequences for this mess. But right now, we face bigger problems than that.American Taxpayers should consider carefully the consequences of letting another huge block of Taxpayers be forced to become dependent on welfare, food stamps and unemployment. It’s a double-whammy heaped upon the rest of us. Not only will they no longer be bearing their fair share by paying taxes and Social Security alongside those of us who still have jobs, but they also will be draining vast amounts of Taxpayer-funded money and other resources. What other resources? It takes more government employees, thus money, to hand out and track all those handouts. Can you guess who gets to pay for that?I am scared to death at the prospect of both taking on the burden of another half-million or so workers who will lose their jobs every month – like last month – but also paying much less in taxes myself due to the fact that I won’t be making nearly as much money once most of my customers are out of work. Come hell or high water, those people need to keep paying federal taxes just like me, and they can only do that if we keep them working.If you look at recently published studies on Appalachia – basically W. Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and northeastern Mississippi – the only place those unemployed people who will be living primarily on government assistance will be spending money is at WalMart* . All that money goes straight to China to create more jobs – in China. (Although it does pass through Bentonville Arkansas on the way.)As a direct consequence, many more jobs will be lost, though probably in northern states among people who tend to vote for Democrats. At least, that must be what Senator Shelby and the other conservative Republicans and southerners who subsidize those Japanese auto-plants down there must be thinking. But there are a lot of Republicans up here too. I voted straight GOP all my life, until November when I had to take an Independent stand. My non-auto-related small business will be killed, as will many others, and lots of individuals. Plus, many of those “plumbers” and others who work for small and large businesses that are not directly linked to Detroit will be financially killed. During the campaign Republicans swore they cared about them more than anything.People like that don’t go out and replace our Lexus or Toyota or other Japanese car or truck with next year’s model no matter where it’s built – even in the south. Moreover, people like that don’t switch parties and start voting with the GOP. People like that, including myself, don’t return to the Republican Party. People like that might not even REMAIN in the GOP. Republicans always campaign about being for plumbers and other workers and small businesses. Once the votes are all counted, the GOP kicks us right in our ‘bleepin’ behinds.From what I have seen, once out of work, those high-dollar hourly workers don’t take lower-paying jobs flipping burgers. Unemployed autoworkers sit at home and live off the Taxpayers, even by resorting to disability payments by making claims, not all of which are legitimate**. Those payments cost money, as do the investigators required to catch some unknown percentage of those making bogus claims. It costs more money to house them in jail, plus they never seem to get caught holding enough money to reimburse the Taxpayers for what they fleeced us out of.The bottom line is that we have to work hard to keep people working – especially those making good wages, thus paying more in taxes than those working at WalMart and McDonalds. We have to CREATE more high-paying jobs like that rather than focus on cutting their pay until they make the 9 cents a month they pay in China. To underline a point I’ve been arguing for quite a while, the Wall Street Journal reported today that “Toyota will delay production at its new $300 million plant in Mississippi, citing a steep decline in the auto market.” *To be fair, the studies show, the Appalachians also spend a great of money on liquor and guns. Those are available at WalMart too, but mostly not made in China. They also tend to spend a lot of time and money in church. These observations are in no way offered as commentary on lifestyles. This is all about where our money goes.**This is a concern based on studies which were not based on large sample groups, so they in no way can be asserted to reflect a majority of the group. Yet, any substantial percentage of this group engaged in this behavior would have a significant effect on an already severely depressed economy. Moreover, autoworkers were only a subset of the skilled workers discussed in the studies in general. No lifestyle judgments are implied.

Keep UAW workers paying taxes, not on welfare

Don — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:17:53 EST

Wall Street Journal: Toyota will delay production at its new $300 million plant in Mississippi, citing a steep decline in the auto market. The company says jobs in the state are "secure."

This is the beginning of proof of what I've been saying all along.

The most important detail not understood by southern voters and conservative Republicans is that they, too, will suffer by causing the collapse of the Detroit auto industry.

It's not only northerners whose non-auto industry jobs will be lost in the fallout. Those millions of former taxpayers on welfare, food stamps and unemployment and those around the country, including even the south, who will be dragged down with them, WILL NOT be buying those Japanese cars and trucks being manufactured in those taxpayer-subsidized southern plants.

People won't have the money, won't be able to obtain credit, and won't have the consumer confidence that enable such major purchases.

So all those high-paid UAW people Republican conservatives want to destroy will be merely the BEGINNING of the calamity.

We cannot afford at this time to have high-wage people lose taxpaying jobs while America’s largest employer, Walmart, according to their own internal report, pays wages so low that 43% of their full-time workers are on welfare and food stamps.

Blagojevich? Emanuel? Is that anything?

Don — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:42:47 EST

Blagojevich? Emanuel? Is that anything?

The FBI tapes may end up proving that Emanuel’s talks with Blagojevich only related that the President-Elect would offer the governor nothing more than “appreciation” for nominating one of then-Senator Obama’s “acceptable” candidates. Unless Emanuel “went rogue”. All stay together, and all hang together -- that's how they play it in the big leagues. Over the weekend, Mr. Emanuel apparently sent out his personal operatives – his ‘emissaries' – to put out his own SPIN on his alleged contacts with governor Rod. That would seem to point out that he’s the “weak link” – the person who screws up, then tries to protect himself at the expense of the team. His refusal to go to work last week was suspicious enough.

Innocent people don’t have to BREAK RANKS with their fellow patriots, shun the office so they don’t have to look into the eyes of their colleagues, or hide from the press, rather than just smile at the cameras and say “the Team will have something to say at the appropriate time”.

In addition to that, I do not understand why – if news reports and his statements are true – Mr. Emanuel would be getting threatened, or by whom. Regardless whether he is honest or dishonest, I don’t understand that at all – it seems illogical. Was he lying when he said that? Was the reporter lying about him having said that? I’d like some information on that.

You may not appreciate my questions, especially regarding the alleged claim of alleged threats, but I am someone who has been paying attention. Also, I have a very long memory, especially of politics.

I was just a kid more or less during the 80’s, but right then I was asking why we were crazy enough to be capitulating to the Japanese automakers. I seemed to be the only one in the 80’s who articulated that it was absurd for American automakers to keep making rounds of layoffs of tens of thousands of American autoworkers and then wonder WHY their sales continued to fall. “Who do they think are buying their cars?”, I asked. “The workers who build the cars are their best customers” I argued, “With their wages, they are the ones best able to afford them.”

More than twenty years ago, I could see that you can’t keep putting tens of thousands of your best customers out of work and then wondering why your sales keep declining. If a mere kid could see that over twenty years ago, why can’t beyond-middle-aged voters understand that now? American voters in general have very short memories.

There’s a reason they used to say “what’s good for GM is good for America!” Those workers made good wages. They paid equally large TAXES. They bought only American cars. They spent money only at American businesses that sold only American-made goods and services. One dollar spent on an American-made car meant eight-teen dollars (give or take a dollar) spent in America, to other Americans who paid TAXES in America. It pumped up the economy and created jobs for many AMERICANS.

Right now, we are at best buying cars made at plants in the south owned by Japanese companies that pay LOW wages, sending ALL the money we spend to Japan. Those low-wage workers spend all their meager income at WalMart. That money goes straight to China, where it creates more jobs – in China. Those workers reportedly make 9 cents a month. Do we want to “catch up” with them?

WORSE, when all those high-paid Detroit autoworkers lose their jobs, they will go right onto welfare, unemployment and food stamps. The rest of us will be paying ALL the taxes to support them.

I am terrified at the prospects of MY income decreasing due to the lack of customers directly and indrirectly linked to the Detroit autoworker economy. I am horrified that I will make LESS money but have to PAY MORE to support the government assistance to those people who should have been able to keep their jobs and PAY TAXES alongside the rest of us.

Rather than CUT the wages of union workers, Republican politicians should be RAISING the wages of the rest of American taxpayers, and NOT putting Americans out of work.

Southerners Don't See They Will Go Down With Us, Eventually

Don — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:59:26 EST

What's the most important detail not understood by southern voters and conservative Republicans?
That they, too, will suffer by causing the collapse of the Detroit auto industry.
It's not only northerners whose non-auto industry jobs will be lost in the fallout. Those millions of former taxpayers on welfare, food stamps and unemployment and those around the country, including even the south, who will be dragged down with them, WILL NOT be buying those Japanese cars and trucks being manufactured in those taxpayer-subsidized southern plants.
People won't have the money, won't be able to obtain credit, and won't have the consumer confidence that enable such major purchases.
So all those high-paid UAW people Republican conservatives want to destroy will be merely the BEGINNING of the calamity.
Moreover, those newly unemployed UAW members will have to head south, where, with their experience and new-found openness to accept lower wages, they will be the first to get hired at those soon to open Japanese plants if and when they do open. Even those openings in the works will be substantially delayed by the ongoing economic crisis.
But when those UAW people get down there and get the chance to vote, they won't forget which party is to blame for what they will be continuing to go through.
They will continue to vote for Democrats. That will increase the trend toward Red states turning into Blue states that start in 2008.
That, along with Republican tactics, will further ensure that the GOP becomes, for two generations, the party of Appalachia, Utah and Texas -- completely insignificant within the current Electoral College system.
Having just left the GOP last month to become an Obamican, or Independent in 8 years, that's a chance I'm willing to take.
Rather than trying to cut the pay of people who tend to vote for Democrats, those Republican politicians ought to be working to increase the pay of the rest of us. That's the only way we will BE ABLE to buy those Japanese cars over the next five years -- including two federal election cycles.

Blackberry Problem Solved -- Seriously

Don — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:03:05 EST

The President-Elect's communications are recorded and published, so he can't chat candidly on his own, but he can still keep in touch.

He has a close friend who is his new personal assistant. He can chat privately with his assistant, who can chat on his own personal Blackberry, which is private. What Obama's friends tell his assistant -- who is their mutual friend -- also is private. Use of such a go-between renders all that back and forth as mere gossiping, which, if not done on the President's phone or computer are entirely private.

The President's personal, in-person talks with friends can no more be public than the particulars of the bedtime stories he reads to his children. If some word of that got around "through the grape vine" through private channels, that's not the Peoples' business. Likewise, if information somehow gets back to him through a friend when that person just happens to be in the presence of the President, that, too, is his personal business.

President Obama can even sign a rule making it illegal for White House staff and also administration officials to profit from revealing what they learned during their work.

Federal Agent Insults All Illinois Citizens

Don — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:33:06 EST

99.9% of Illinoisans are law-abiding citizens. People who work hard and pay taxes should not be labeled corrupt by federal law enforcment officials, as was done in the announcement of the charges against the governor. Since that official has such a low opinion of Illinois and such a disdain for the citizens he should RELOCATE. At the very least, he should apologize and be fired.

Republcan Senator Ted Stevens is a seven-time convicted federal felon. Republican Senator Norm Coleman is a common criminal who merely hasn't been charged yet but has committed the crimes Rod has been charged with conspiring to committ. Are Alaska and Minnesota "corrupt" states? Should all their citizens be tarred because they've sent a few bad apples into elected office?

Admittedly, Alaska nearly re-elected Stevens, so virtually half of them actually ARE corrupt, one could argue.

Madigan's Blagojevich Blunder

Don — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:23:31 EST

Too bad Madigan didn't take a little time to think through her "evil plan" before acting.
She and other legislators could have drafted some legislation to be passed upon the Governor's temporary removal, and reach an agreement with the deputy governor on who would be appointed to the Senate once Rod's out of the way. Those could be acted on by the deputy governor immediately upon taking over, since it's likely that an appeal by Blagojevich would quickly see him back in his office holding things up once again.
If this wasn't just about furthering Madigan's chances of being elected governor, she would have done that and more. But like Rod's actions, Madigan isn't putting Illinois first because she's too busy looking out for herself.
Beyond that, even a layman can see that the Illinois Supreme Court would be as crazy as Blagojevich to jump into this mess this early in the game. It might set a precedent so that in the future any unpopular governor could have his tenure ended by his politic opponents filing a lawsuit, which is all Madigan has done.
He's not physically disabled, and though it appears so there is no scientific evidence that he is psychologically unfit. There is an unprecedented but good argument that under the circumstances he can't function because his most important business is appointing a Senator and the Senate is unlikely to seat his appointee, but she should have gotten affidavits from 51 Senators attesting to that -- 41 if you want to consider a filibuster. Because of the other claims in the complaint, his other actions, especially finance related, might be considered to be furthering a "crime spree". The weakness in the "inability to function" argument is that the fool keeps going to the office, apparently completing at least minor functions of his office.
Bottom line: I want him out of office, but even I can see Madigan didn't take time to plan this out. The court is likely to decline to take up the case. If they do hear it, there is a chance they could find in favor of the governor, which would further add to the perception that Illinois is lax on crooks in office.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

WEBMASTER — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:26:14 EST

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Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

How to roll back Bush's last minute law changes

Don — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:49:59 EST

While President Obama won’t be able to simply undo every one of the midnight hour presidential signings President Bush is using to change American laws, there is a way to render them meaningless. I would suggest that Obama can simply “amend” Bush’s rules by signing new rulings that create laws or rules contradictory to those made by the previous administration.

Example: Bush says agencies can decide for themselves when to consider endangered species in their decisions on construction and other matters. Obama then states that after an agency makes it’s determination it must then submit that finding to the same body it used to have to go through for the same review process as before.

As for the sale of lands and oil drilling rights, it may be true that the federal government would have to buy back those contracts. However, what Obama could do is sign an order rescinding the sales. That way, the process is quicker and the owners don’t get to negotiate a higher price than what they paid.

Congress would have to legislate to overrule Bush’s changes, and right now Republicans can filibuster in the Senate. Yet, the same is true for Obama’s rule changes. The incoming Congress of Democrats won’t overrule changes that render meaningless the rules made by Bush, and even future Republican Senates can be filibustered by Democrats – in fact, there are some Republicans who don’t want oil companies to rape the land.

Senator Vitter the whoremonger claims moral high ground?

Don — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:14:19 EST

David Vitter the Republican Senator who confessed to being a regular patron of a whorehouse, is trying to claim he's on the moral highground by taking a stand against the workers. The Republicans have once again campaigned saying they are for working people, only to turn against workers right after the election. Those autoworkers are American taxpayers and it's far better for the country for them to keep working and paying taxes than to be unemployed and on welfare, food stamps and unemployment. Because they tend to vote overwhelmingly for Democrats (I wonder why) the Republicans are trying to financially kill them -- but this will take the rest of America down along with them. More petty politics. Republicans didn't learn anything from their losses in 2006 and 2008 elections.

Republicans Play Politics While America Burns!

Don — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:52:51 EST

Or was that "Nero fiddles while Rome burns"? Well, whatever.

So much for "Joe, the Guy Who Works for a Living".

As has been the case all my life, as soon as the election is over the Republican party screws the people it promised to work for during the campaign. That's been no surprise to me for a long time now.

What still confounds me is that there are still tens of millions of people possessing the right to vote in American presidential elections who don't have enough working brain cells to understand that. They fall for it every time.

Fortunately, this time there are enough of us -- people who think for ourselves, rather than rely on Fox Noise to tell us what to believe -- that we overruled the zombies.

Even now, the party in power when the government spent $13 trillion more than it took in now claims that the Detroit automakers don't know how to manage money.

Highest unemployment rate since 1982 -- when Ron Reagan was president!

Even as America is showing them out the door, Republican politicians are nutty enough to be 'warning' the President-Elect about what he should and should not do with respect to the economy.

As they lick their wounds after spending $13 trillion dollars more than they took in, they now are stammering on about being for fiscal responsibility.
It would be funny, if it weren't so serious.

McCain says Bush, Rumsfeld committed war crimes

Don — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:10:46 EST

Senators John McCain and Carl Levin -- after the election -- published a finding cited in a Washington Post article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/11/AR2008121101969.html?hpid=topnews

They stated unequivocably that the orders to tortune prisoners of war were issued from the top of the Bush administration, beginning with an order Bush signed in February 2002.

Next year, George Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and their chief assistants should be arrested and turned over to the World Court at The Hague, where they should stand trial for crimes against humanity and violations of the Geneva Convention.

Their actions have made it a certainty that American soldiers captured in future conflicts by enemies WILL be tortured. Unless decisive action is taken by the appropriate authorities, the world will ignore our cries of outrage.

Americans cannot afford failing to repudiate the lawlessness of the Bush administration, which according to Republican Senator John McCain, has "strengthened the hand of our enemies".

As I have always said, we cannot succeed in our fight against terrorism by BECOMING terrorists. George Bush's conduct goes directly against everything Americans stand for -- at least "Real Americans".

By issuing those illegal orders to our soldiers, while writing decrees declaring those orders to be legal, Bush has made himself a criminal of unprecedented notoriety around the world. Only by delivering him to justice in an unprecedented manner can America restore claims of being a land where justice prevails.

The minds of American children have been damaged by the impact of Bush's immorality. How can we teach them that America is ruled by the Constitution and that we abide by the international treaties we sign, while tolerating Bush's blatant violations of the Constitution and the Geneva Convention, of which we are a signatory?

Lastly, every officer who obeyed and passed on those illegal and immoral orders must be court-martialed, as required by the United States Code of Military Justice. We didn't excuse the conduct of Nazi officers who claimed they were "just following orders", and neither can we afford to do so with our own.

Mr. Bush's two terms have been sad days for America. He has destroyed our economy. Let us not allow him to destroy our Constitution, our Justice System, and our military as well.

Even Richard Milhouse Nixon didn't believe he was THIS far above the law.

Blagojevich's state of mind

Don — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:02:25 EST

The President--Elect could open his remarks today by saying, "Look,... how was I supposed to know Blagojevich was crazy? And by "crazy" I don't mean mentally ill. I mean CRAZY. Only a crazy man would do what he is alleged to have done."

Then promise to have more to say about the matter tomorrow and leave the room.

Barack Obama has nothing to explain. The governor called him a "motherf@#$er" who "won't give (the govenor) anything but (his) f@#$ing appreciation", then said "f@#$ (him)".

Before Obama enters the room his aides should pass out a copy of that part of the criminal complaint to put his remarks in perspective.

He has absolutely nothing to explain. The guy who apparently did something said on FBI tape that Obama didn't do anything. Until something different happens, he doesn't need to do anything but remind everyone of that fact.

Just like in the last months of the campaign whe Obama kept saying, "McCain said that 'if we keep talking about the economy, we'll lose',... that's why I keep talking about the economy."

3 things he COULD have said about Blagojevich

Don — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:02:49 EST

Why didn't Barack Obama just say something less 'conventional' when asked about the arrested governor?
I wish he had said: "I want to thank the governor for his kind words... not the ones where he called me an unspeakable name, but the ones where he said I didn't participate in his schemes"
Or: "No one has ever been so happy to have been insulted than I am after hearing the governor's words."
Or: "I've never been so glad to NOT know about something."
When they play the soundbites that's funnier and more dismissive of the entire matter. After reading the quotes in the actual complaint -- yes, I read the entire complaint -- that's really all the President-elect needed to do. There was nothing left for him to confirm or deny.

The Fox Noise political operatives who tell the fascists who have hijacked the Republican party what to believe would not be able to so easily twist any of those quotes the way they have what he actually said. For people who don't think for themselves -- the Faux News watching zombies -- it's not what Obama says, but what the political operatives CLAIM he said that counts. He has to think about their likely talking points before making sound bites.

On the other hand, if he'd followed all my advice, he never would have gotten elected. For example, after those remarks by Rev. Wrong (Wright) I thought it was over. After the election, for the first time I viewed Obama's speech on race, on youtube, because I had to see what on earth he possibly could have said to get himself out of a jam like that. Turns out the truth was all it took.

THE CRISIS IN DETROIT

Don — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:50:00 EST

No car czar named by the same man who appointed those who drove our economy into the New Great Depression. When the first Great Depression occurred, America was not in two wars and was not buried beneath $13 trillion dollars in debt (counting the trillion Bush gave to Wall Street). A "Bush-named car czar is a non-starter".

Those who have run the big car companies into the ground deserve to face consequences -- so, too, do those who ran Wall Street into the ground, including the Bush administration and the Republican party deregulators. Bush and those who helped him rape the American economy are not the ones who should decide what those consequences are -- they are only trying to take the spotlight off their own failures and Mr. Obama needs to do what he did during the campaign -- point out their smokescreen.

The big banks we gave all that money to should be strongly asked by President-Elect Barack Obama to go in and try hard to work out a deal to loan the automakers the money they need, at least for three months until Obama is inaugurated and has time to find a long term solution. Obama should suggest that those bankers "will be sorry" if they don't try very hard to work out reasonable terms. Maybe the free market can ease the transition, especially after we gave Goldman Sachs $10 billion and they turned around and passed out $6.5 billion in "bonuses". Bonuses for what? Going bankrupt. After we gave Citigroup $50 billion then they turned around and fired 75,000 workers right before Christmas.

Mr. Obama should publicly excoriate the Republican senators for playing politics with America's future by refusing to bail out the autoworkers for purely political reasons. Republicans campaigned on the false claim that they were all about helping "Joe the Plumber", but now they are working hard to financially ruin "Joe the autoworker because: 1. they are union workers who tend to vote for Democrats (and now we see why), and 2. southern Republicans believe that if Detroit goes out of business Japanese automakers will build more plants down south.

Republicans are again betraying ALL Americans who work for a living, right after rushing to pump nearly $1 trillion directly into the pockets of the wealthiest 1%. They forced us into giving $12 trillion in tax cuts to the wealthiest 1% before that. Now they are killing "Joe the guy who MANUFACTURES things, which America does far too little of already.

Further, it would take the better part of a decade before any cars come out of any new southern auto plants. The Japanese will take two years to THINK before deciding to build more plants here or anywhere in this economy (or any economy, that's how they operate). They will take another two years milking tax abatements and other subsidies from American taxpayers by letting southern states "compete" for the plants, one plant at a time. It takes two to three years to BUILD a plant once that's all agreed to. As much as a year to dry run things, making sure the process works by building test cars before pumping out any cars for sale to the public. That's seven to eight years of absolute misery for all Americans while the southern Republicans get their non-union workers.

Mr. Obama should lobby hard for legislation prohibiting ANY tax abatements or other subsidies by any state or local governments for businesses. Why? Those subsidies directly hurt taxpayers and the overall economy by: 1. Paying corporations to move from one town to another, which is of no benefit to the overall economy. If they want to relocate, they should do it with their own money, then they will only do it if it makes sense to their operations. Taxpayers should not be forking out money to shift existing jobs from one American town to another American town. 2. Foreign comanies who decide to build plants in America should not be subsidized. They want to manufacture their products here because it is of financial benefit to them -- they avoid currency exchange costs. Why PAY them for doing something they already NEED to do? Giving them taxpayer money to entice them to build plants in one American town rather than another is of no benefit to the overall American economy, and it directly takes money out of the pockets of American taxpayers who must make up for the losses in government tax revenue. Don't pay foreign companies to do what's already in their best interests -- let them pay their own way.

Tax abatements to corporations are un-American and they harm local, state and national economies. Rather than subsidize individual companies, LOWER taxes for ALL taxpayers, or keep rates where they are -- isn't lowering taxes what those Republicans claim to be for?

KEEP ALL THOSE CAMPAIGN PROMISES

Don — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:48:36 EST

Now is the time for bold and decisive action -- not a rethinking of Obama's priorities. America thought over Obama's priorities for two very long years and now is the time to ACT.

The economy was crashing before and during the election and America elected Mr. Obama, so the bad economy is NO EXCUSE for failing to fulfill Obama's promises. The worst thing Obama can do for the economy is be reluctant to do everything he said he'd do -- he must do it all, and be quick about it.

Work to do everything Mr. Obama pledged to do right away -- in the first 60 days of his term. Why? America somehow elected Barack Obama AFTER two years of Republicans and rival Democrats arguing that we shouldn't let him do what he said he'd do. Obama won, by a landslide of electoral votes -- he has both a mandate and an obligation to carry through on his promises. He didn't get elected on some Nixonian "secret plan". American took two long years coming to terms with Obama's proposals, and we bought into it. I didn't really like some of Mr. Obama's promises, but after a lifetime of voting Republican I voted for Obama -- and all his policies.

One good example is cutting taxes for 95% percent of working Americans AND repealing the Republican tax giveaway to the wealthiest 1% -- those who don't work at all. Republicans will argue that "raising taxes during a recession is the worst thing we can do." Then, when Obama turns things around and gets the economy going again, Republicans will argue that "raising taxes during a soaring economy is the worst thing we can do." It's the same tired old Republican disingenuous argument that America finally rejected in November 2008. Should Mr. Obama fail to immediately strike while the iron is HOT -- while he has this resounding mandate that's fresh in the minds of all Americans -- Obama will lose this opportunity forever.

This is the only moment ever where Barack Obama can do the things he promised to do, and he probably won't be reelected if he doesn't manage to get the job done. Right now, we will have two or three years for things to shake out and level off before the next election cycle. This is the time to take those very bold steps, before Congression Democrats lose what little resolve they have.

Obama will probably have to publicly tell Democrats that they will either vote like Democrats or else when they need money for reelection campaigns they need not line up at the Obama money trough. If they want to show the voters how "independent" they are, they way congresspeople like Marcy Kaptur did right after Clinton took office, they should expect that some NEW candidate will be receiving money from me and others who donated money to the Obama phenomena when it comes time for them to run for reelection.

We need to pick out five or six week Republican senators and fund a recall drive against them. If they have to essentially run for reelection in the middle of their term they and others won't be so quick to do what they always do -- vote against America as represented by a Democratic President merely for the sake of petty politics.

Economy and the opposition

Don — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:47:03 EST

President Obama should not accept ANY advice on the economy from Mr. Bush and the Republicans whom America has convicted in November of destroying the economy by creating the current crisis.

That Republicans are "warning" Obama on their way out the door as to what he can or cannot do is LAUGHABLE, and Obama should publicly castigate them on that issue. They are seeking to rerun the election they lost, and if they want to continue to play politics Obama must call them on that every day in press conferences. Obama WON the election and if Republicans want to continue arguing that they have any authority on economic matters then that is precisely the fight Obama should take them up on. He won that fight and it's the perfect battle to keep in the forefront of American politics during the transition and pretty much his whole first term -- especially while he's using his mandate to keep all those promises he made.

Republicans spent two years losing that war and if they want to spend eight more years losing then they only rational thing for Obama to do is to let them. Help them.

Songs for Mr. Obama and Supporters

nazzcaveman — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 18:18:11 EST

I don't have money to donate. All I have are songs for Mr. Obama and those supporters. I made all these as One Man Orchestra.

1. Mr. Obama Welcome to White House http://www.startmysong.com/playSong.php?musicid=510

2. CHANGE the Curtain of White House http://www.startmysong.com/playSong.php?musicid=511

Please make yourselves comfortable.

Regards,

NazzCaveMan, Malaysia, South East Asia.

Joe Lieberman Retains his Senate Chairmanship, and Bernie Sanders Is a Political Idiot

mathpol — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:13:43 EST

According to an article in the November 18th (online) New York Times,

"Sen. Joe Lieberman will keep his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee despite hard feelings over his support for GOP nominee John McCain during the presidential campaign.
The Connecticut independent will lose a minor panel post as punishment for criticizing Obama this fall.

Lieberman's colleagues in the Democratic caucus voted 42-13 Tuesday on a resolution condemning statements made by Lieberman during the campaign but allowing him to keep the Homeland Security Committee gavel. He loses an Environment and Public Works panel subcommittee chairmanship, however."

(Actually, he gave up his position on the Environmental and Public Works Committee altogether. However, Lieberman is also on the Armed Services Committee, where he chairs an important subcommittee.)

The article concludes with a statement made Friday by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who opposed the move.

"To reward Senator Lieberman with a major committee chairmanship would be a slap in the face of millions of Americans who worked tirelessly for Barack Obama and who want to see real change in our country. Appointing someone to a major post who led the opposition to everything we are fighting for is not 'change we can believe in."'

Sanders is a self-described Democratic Socialist who caucuses with the Democrats, as does Lieberman. As usual, Bernie oversimplified things. Lieberman did not "[lead] the opposition to everything we are fighting for." And Lieberman was not "appointed" as chairman, rather he was allowed to retain a position which he already held.

I discussed Lieberman's situation in my new blog, Keep Joe Lieberman, which has now achieved its purpose. By their actions, the Senate Democrats have shown that there’s hope for them yet!It is also important to note that Lieberman caucused with the Democrats as an Independent Democrat, so he was not obliged by this to support Obama, just as Bernie Sanders could have supported

Norman Thomas, if he were still alive and running for President on the Socialist Party ticket.I still admire Joe Lieberman and wish him well. Admittedly he's an egomaniac, as are most politicians. And for sure, he sticks to his guns. Since being re-elected as an Independent in 2006, Lieberman has voted with the Democrats on most issues, even procedural ones. And people seem to forget that he voted against the confirmation of Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice. He may often walk like a Republican, and talk like a Republican, but he is still at heart an (admittedly hawkish) Democrat.

I'm glad that Obama seeks to govern rather than to seek revenge. Too bad there are so many "Democrazies" out there who aren't getting the message.

It's how the political office is used that's really important

Don — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:22:24 EST

The Office of Political Affairs is like any other tool -- it's value or detriment depends on whose hands control it. Reagan and Bush used the office with bad intentions, using heinous tactics, and to literally evil ends.
Now the Office of Political Affairs will be used properly, for the benefit of the American people in the Obama Administration. We have seen in Obama a man who behaves differently from other politicians. He doesn't operate out of the small-minded, abusive motivations of Bush, Rove, Reagan and Rollins.
We mustn't let our memories of the past abuses of the Office of Political Affairs by the Republicans color our perceptions of the future uses of the office.

Way to get beyond the "Clinton Problem"

Don — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:02:31 EST

The Clintons are not in talks with Obama's team because the Clintons are not team players. They have, from the beginning, made every effort to steamroll their way into the position of Secretary of State through leaks of false information to the press that supports her goal while undermining Obama.
The President-Elect needs to bite the proverbial bullet and flat out say that ALL "candidates" for the position must submit to the same vetting process and that the process evidently is too rigorous for the Clintons and that the country's need to get the process completed quickly means he must name someone else immediately.
With the Clintons causing this much trouble now, Obama must realize that should he name her, he will have absolutely NO control over anything related to foreign policy, plus she WILL leak defense and homeland security information to advance their interests.
It's time to wrap this thing up and call it the mistake it has been. Every President makes some mistakes, and life goes on if they don't let them grow and fester.

Mandate For Change

Don — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:42:10 EST

In the context of the current transition process, I am advocating for a more forceful attitude from Barack Obama on pushing through his agenda. Our agenda.

How should he do it? What will stand in his way? What can WE do about it?

I examine the real reasons we arrived at this point and what it means.

Goodbye Reagan Democrats, and Good Riddance to the Pollster, Stanley Greenberg

mathpol — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:14:16 EST

“Goodbye Reagan Democrats” is the title of a rather vitriolic column by pollster Stanley Greenberg in the Nov. 11th New York Times. Brian Dickerson has a good column in the Nov. 12th Free Press, responding to it. Here are some excerpts from Greenberg‘s column.

I’m finished with the Reagan Democrats of Macomb County in suburban Detroit after making a career of spotlighting their middle-class anger and frustrations about race and Democratic politicians. …

For more than 20 years, the non-college-educated white voters in Macomb County have been considered a “national political barometer.” … After Ronald Reagan won the county by a 2-to-1 margin in 1984, … I conducted focus groups that “found that these working-class whites interpreted Democratic calls for economic fairness as code for transfer payments to African-Americans.” So what do we think when Barack Obama, an African-American Democrat, wins Macomb County by eight points? …

Before the Democratic convention, barely 40 percent of Macomb County voters were “comfortable” with the idea of Mr. Obama as president, far below the number who were comfortable with a nameless Democrat. But on Election Day, nearly 60 percent said they were “comfortable” with Mr. Obama. About the same number said Mr. Obama “shares your values” and “has what it takes to be president.”

Given Macomb’s history, this story helps illustrate America’s evolving relationship with race. … But focusing on the ways that Macomb County has become normal and uninteresting misses the extraordinary changes taking place next door in Oakland County — a place that played a bigger role in Mr. Obama’s success and perhaps in an emerging national Democratic ascendancy.

While Macomb County is home to the white middle class that America’s auto industry made possible, Oakland County is home to the affluent, business-oriented suburbanites of Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills, some of the richest townships in America. Just a quarter of Macomb County residents have college degrees, but more than 40 percent do in Oakland. …

Oakland County has formed part of the Republican heartland in Michigan and the country. … Over the past two decades, Oakland County began to change, as an influx of teachers, lawyers and high-tech professionals began to outnumber the county’s business owners and managers. Macomb has been slow to welcome racial diversity, but almost a quarter of Oakland’s residents are members of various racial minorities.

These changes have produced a more tolerant and culturally liberal population, uncomfortable with today’s Republican Party. … On Tuesday, Oakland County voters gave Mr. Obama a 57 percent to 42 percent victory over John McCain. … That helped form one of the most important new national changes in the electorate: Mr. Obama built up striking dominance in the country’s growing, more diverse and well-educated suburbs.

So, good riddance, my Macomb barometer. Four years from now, I trust we will see the candidates rush from their conventions to Oakland County, to see the new America.

(end of excerpts)

Here is the letter I sent to the NY Times.

Obama Gets Better and Better: On Joe Lieberman, 11/11/2008

Christina Marlowe — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:09:39 EST

I am heartened by the fact that, time and time again, Barack Obama takes the absolute high road with each and every decision he makes. Today, Joe Lieberman declared that Obama is not the right choice for America, and played the old fear card; I was so disgusted by LIEBERMAN that I became mad a bit. Yet when President-Elect Barack Obama heard Lieberman, he refused to be bothered; Obama has requested that Lieberman retain his chair. What does this show? It shows, yet again, in no uncertain terms, that Barack Obama would like surround himself with as many viewpoints as possible, to give himself a complete circumspect view of what is happening in this country and, indeed, in this world!!!!!

By the way, it is up to the OTHER groups--and there are many--to bring impeachment charges, etc. against Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and the others; but it is simply NOT the job of the President of the United States under these extreme pressures and transfixing problems that we all face as a nation.

I think that this is yet another brilliant decision by President-Elect Barack Obama.

Republican Party Leaves Campaign Sign Frames Behind

Mark from Naperville, IL — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:43:20 EST

I wanted to let you all know about a situation I noticed on my way to work today with campaign sign frames that have been left behind. Please read the following e-mail I sent to Judy Biggert this morning:

Congresswoman Biggert,
Your campaign and the Republican party did a great job getting campaign signs distributed throughout my community in the weeks leading up to the election. However, I noticed this morning that they had removed the signs but left all the metal frames in the ground.
I understand that removing the sign eliminates the liability for your campaign in regards to the campaign sign law since it isn't apparent who left them behind, but it certainly doesn't meet the spirit of that law. I remember distinctly that the Republican candidates were represented with neat rows of signs across the medians and on other public lands.
I am writing to request that your office ensures that all of these campaign sign metal frames are removed from the ground and disposed of properly. The ones I noticed specifically were on 75th street from Washington Street in Naperville to Route 53. I assume there are more throughout the city.
I will be adding comments about this matter to our community blog so others can keep an eye out for this, and also alert your office as needed.
Thank you for your time, and congratulations on the win for your campaign.
Mark Wade

America - Together (post election)

Alex Karoub — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:44:40 EST

..... Contact: http://Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

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.

Your reply is welcome. Contact: Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

Next Steps

Kassia from Eugene, OR — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:23:32 EST

We have much to do - I want to harness the energy and get to work - what is the best first step for each individual american to take to move into the change together?

Next Steps

Kassia from Eugene, OR — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:23:12 EST

We have much to do - I want to harness the energy and get to work - what is the best first step for each individual american to take to move into the change together?

FEDERAL INTERNET GAMING LICENSE

rick_math_genius — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:02:09 EST

A01] 1 MILLION FOR LICENSE PER YEAR/QUARTER/MONTH (US COMPANIES ONLY]

A02] MUST RUN FREEPLAY GAMES GIVING [2000 CHIPS] 4/10 GO INTO CAR VOUCHER FINALS

CAN RUN ENTRY FEE GAMES GIVING [4000 CHIPS] 6/10 GO INTO CAR VOUCHER FINALS

FEDERAL VOUCHERS FOR TAX FREE ENERGY EFFECIENT AUTOS REWARDED VALUE $40,OOO

VIG IN CAR VOUCHER GAMES CANNOT EXCEED 10% OF WHICH 2.5% IS FOR AUTO VOUCHERS

REMAINING PROFITS FROM NON CAR VOUCHER GAMES WILL BE TAXED AT FLAT RATE OF 2.5%

A03] PLAYERS MUST REGISTER W/SSN AND

CONTROL OF UNDERAGE GAMBLING DECIDED BY PARENTS

A04] OFFSHORE SITES MAY CONTINUE , IF THEY WISH TO PARTICIPATE AT 50% ADDED FEES

A05] AMERICAN AUTOMAKER MAY ADVERTISE THEIR ENERGY EFFICIENT CARS

WITH FEE WAIVED UNTIL THEY BEGIN SHOWING PROFIT

A06] FOREIGN AUTOMAKERS MUST PAY FLAT FEE FOR ADVERTISING

CHOOSING FOREIGN CAR WILL RESULT IN 10% TAX

ON WINNER AND MANUFACTURER

A07] FULL DISCLOSURE - WEEKLY AND YEARLY TOTALS MUST BE REPORTED WITHIN 7 DAYS

A08] INCOME SHARED , EDUCATION , HEALTHCARE , RETIREMENT , HIGHWAYS , LOCAL , STATE , FEDERAL

PREPARED BY VITO RICHARD RAMUNDO - EMAIL vrichardram@hotmail.com

GOOD NEWS ON ELECTION DAY 2008

Friends of President Barack Obama — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:28:57 EST

Apologies, I've been in doors sick all week (just my luck) & I am just getting up this morning. However, nothing will keep me from pushing myself to the polls today.

My condolences to Senator Obama and his family re: the loss of his grand-mother. I admire his strength at this difficult time.

I pray that everyone will continue to donate the financial support that Mr. Obama will need to run & win again in 2012.

Even after our victories today, our work is still not done.

Stay in-tune. Stay in touch. Stay involved.

Someone shared this with me once. I think I will share it with you (including my own additions/insertions) as I read & meditate this morning, before starting my day:

FROM MY MOUTH TO GOD'S EARS. . . .

Father, I come before you this morning to thank you for waking me up this morning. I enter into your courts with thanksgiving and your gates with praise. I declare, Father, that this is the day that YOU have made and I shall rejoice and be exceedingly glad in it.

Father, I thank YOU for all of your blessings. I do not take any of your generous blessings for granted, but commit myself to performing every task assigned to me as unto YOU and not unto man. I will show myself a faithful steward over what you have given me and in return, the blessings of God shall abound in my life. For your word says a faithful man shall abound in blessings.

Give us strength, Lord, and move in us through this day, regardless of circumstances or situations. Help us to operate in the fruit of the Spirit at all times. That means, when we feel like losing control of our tongues, whether it is to speak forth gossip, to curse man or anything that is considered corrupt communication, we won't because your spirit abounds in us and...YOU said, "I am the light...and let my light shine".

We choose to let our lights shine as edification of YOU and anything that does not edify you, Lord, we will cast away.

Thank you, Father, for being the Rose of Sharon in our lives, our banner, our shield and our strong high tower. You are the one who fights our battles; therefore we don't have to. Instead of trying to handle difficult situations or people ourselves, we'll turn them over to YOU, Lord. We know you will work it out for us, because you care that much for us. We know we will never find anyone to be as good to us as you are. We love you, Lord.

We pray for new leadership today, Lord. We pray for positive change. As we pray for strength and guidance today for ourselves, we also pray the same for the Obama family. We pray that you bless Senator Obama's deceased grand-mother today, Lord, and continue to bless and protect President Obama and his family tomorrow, Lord. This is also a prayer for balance, Lord: Strength, yet peace. Empowerment, yet collectively...A collaboration to achieve & reflect only the best of ourselves as one people of one nation.. .A nation admired by others abroad, not feared nor despised.

In Jesus' name, I pray, while I am aware that others may call on you as Jehovah, or Allah, or Jah, or Buddah, or names unknown to me, or simply as God. In every tongue of every culture and religious background I pray that we feel the connection that we are all praying as one people for the same cause. I pray that those who do not believe in you (or prayer) will stop to simply meditate today. This is also a prayer for positive energy, this day forward, Lord And, without further delay,

Amen.

Paid GOP workers say they misled Wisconsin citizens !

RK — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:47:57 EST

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/03/paid-gop-workers-say-they_n_140743.html

They're Making it Hard, but Stand Up and be Counted on Election Day

RK — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:11:36 EST

In many States, especially the battleground states with expected record turnout, and inefficient election apparatus, the American people, mainly Democrats have been denied extended hours of voting, and maldistribution of voting machines. But hang in there, arrive at you polling place early and prepared for a wait. It's trivial republican politics that hinders the peoples right to vote, but stay in line, and give the Republicans your line item veto. Support CHANGE, and kick the bums out !

The Bulk of Government Welfare Does Not Go To The Poor

Harold from Las Vegas, NV — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:01:56 EST

Tax and Spend liberals” is a constant theme of both the moderate, and conservative republican base of this country. During this campaign, just like the previous ones, Republican candidates have used scare tactics telling people that Barack Obama wants to take your money and give it away to others, conjuring up images in the minds of paranoid Americans of African American teenagers sitting at home with 3 kids watching Jerry Springer while living off tax dollars, and young black males in front of liquor stores drinking malt liquor out of paper bags with money they received from welfare.

While the ignorance is hilarious, it is simply not the case in America.

Firstly, Democratic President William Jefferson Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, a bill that set work requirements for most welfare recipients and limited the length of time that they could receive assistance, making it a substantial change to the welfare system.

In the Summer of 1996, Clinton said “A long time ago… I concluded that the current welfare system undermines the basic values of work, responsibility and family, trapping generation after generation in dependency and hurting the very people it was designed to help.”

In June of 1996, Clinton said “First and foremost, community programs must stress abstinence and personal responsibility. A program cannot be successful unless it gives our children the moral leadership they need to say no to the wrong choices and yes to the right ones.”

So if Clinton reformed welfare way back in the 90’s and limited the length of time that any one person can receive assistance, why then do so many in America still have this misinformed view of who benefits from Government Social Programs, and why do so many Republican politicians continue to feed that ignorance ?

During the October 22 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Michael Savage asked: “Do you think a person on welfare has the right to vote? I don’t. Why should a person who is on public assistance maintain the right to vote? Tell me why. Where is it written that they should have the right to vote?” He added: “I support them, and they should have the same vote I do? That would be like saying an infant has the right to vote or an insane person has the right to vote. Why should a welfare recipient have the right to vote? They’re only gonna vote themselves a raise.”

Savage continued: “So if you get a demagogue like [Sen. Barack] Obama coming along, and he says to the welfare recipient, elect me, and I’ll make sure that we have trickle-up poverty, and the rich — so-called, that is anyone who works for a living — will give you more money, more welfare, of course you’re gonna vote for the demagogue Obama. See, if I was in charge, I’d pass a law which says, OK, you can’t support yourself for whatever reason, you’re on welfare, you lose the right to vote.”- Media Matters

Savage, in my opinion is an idiot, but who are these people that he, and so many other conservative supporters like him want to be treated as second class citizens? Social Welfare programs only account for about 1% of the Federal Budget and 2% of state budgets, but, who benefits from the most welfare in this country ? It’s not the people.

What about corporate welfare ? Yes there is such a thing and it is far more expensive to the American tax payer than food stamps to a widowed suburban mom, struggling college student, or senior citizen trying to make ends meet….and Republicans are big on it !

According to OMBWATCH.ORG:

Fact: Spending for corporate welfare programs outweighs spending for low-income programs by more than three to one: $167 billion to $51.7 billion (source: Aid for Dependent Corporations, from the Corporate Welfare Project and How Much Do We Spend on Welfare?, from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, FY 95 figures)
Fact: Total federal spending on a safety net for the poor costs the average taxpayer about $400 a year, while spending on corporate welfare programs costs the same taxpayer about $1400 a year. (source: CBO figures)
Fact: Over 90% of the budget cuts passed by the last Congress cut spending for the poor — programs that ensure food for the needy, housing for the homeless, job training for the unemployed, community health care for the sick. (source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Bearing Most of the Burden, 1996).
Fact: Only 3.9% of total federal outlays go to programs that solely benefit poor people.

Welfare programs for corporations do not play by the same rules as welfare for people. Welfare benefits for individuals and families are limited by strict eligibility requirements and time limits, while corporations get corporate welfare benefits regardless of wealth or accountability.

Fact: Individuals and families must demonstrate need to receive benefits, while corporations with billions of dollars in annual income remain on the federal dole.
Fact: Most social spending is in the form of discretionary spending, which is scrutinized in the annual budget negotiating process in Congress; most corporate welfare programs are in the form of tax expenditures, which go on and on since they are not subject to annual review by Congress.

…and we already know of the multi billion dollar bailout that American tax payers are in the midst of shelling out to save some of Wall Streets most profitable companies. The largest Government handout in the History of the United States.

If we followed Mr. Savages logic, that would mean thousands of corporate executives, and company employees would be turned way from the polls.

But I am sure that the back lash against welfare is against individuals. Americans. Struggling Mothers, and laid off workers trying to feed their families. Not corporations, right ?

The fact of the matter is , Moderate and Conservative republican groups continue to pull off the biggest con job in America politics.

By literally scarring hard working Americans who are not wealthy by any means, and feeding into this country’s underlying racism and hang ups, they continue to sell the bill of goods that Democrats want to give money to some fictional “home boy’s” outside of a liquor store, and unwed teen mothers (like Bristol Palin - who’s baby and health insurance is paid for by tax dollars). And each and every time, they pull off this con, they cut benefits from people that really need it, some of them are your neighbors, parents, and friends who have hit a rough patch, and give it to their buddies in corporate America so they don’t have to spend their own money to expand….and thousands of people fall for it every election.

Americans are truly misinformed about who really gets the lions share of Government handouts. As long as your attention is mis-directed at fear, ignorance and racism against fellow Americans, the con job will continue to be a success. Apparently in the eyes of conservatives it is better that corporations and executives get a government handout instead of actual people that need a lift, right? How’s that working out for ya ?

Is Schwarzenegger A Socialist?

John DesMarteau, MD — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:44:41 EDT

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger campaigned with Sen. McCain yesterday [October 31, 2008]. Of course they talked about Sen. Obama being a socialist who wants to "redistribute the wealth," as has been done repeatedly recently. The media did not make note of the fact that in early October Schwarzenegger was talking about getting a $7 billion loan from the federal government to cover California's budget shortfall. The shortfall would have left California unable to pay teachers and other state employees. In other words California would have been essentially bankrupt.

California ended up figuring out a way to close their budget shortfall without getting federal help. But Gov. Schwarzenegger didn't hesitate to think about asking for the rest of the country to spread some of their wealth towards California.

Does this make Gov. Schwarzenegger a socialist, and if so how can McCain pal around with a known socialist?

Maybe Schwarzenegger is really a pragmatist (aka liberal) who went out as a Republican for Halloween.

PALIN DISSED BY 2 MORE REPUBLICANS

Juli Norwood — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 01:32:46 EDT

Republican Ken Duberstein, President Reagan's former chief of staff, had this to say regarding John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin:

What most Americans I think realize is that you don't offer a job, let alone the vice presidency, to a person after one job interview. Even at McDonald's you're interviewed three times before you're given a job.

Also Republican Eagleburger when asked if Sarah Palin was qualified as vice president gave a resounding Of Course Not!

See the video of both Republicans denouncing Sarah Palin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CMwGPpcKQ4

Juli Norwood

I Believe in Mr. Obama

Aaliyah — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:41:35 EDT

More than ever before issues within my country are at the very top of my list. I have served my country and seen results of cut backs and war.

I have had the eye opening experience of venturing outside my safety zone and been ashamed of what I saw. To blindly believe or support a cause is just crazy and unfortunately, I was someone like that. Ripping a statement or two from headlines making it up as I went along quit working for me.

My first experience with news other than the three major networks had me brimming with questions that would have answers that not only shocked me, but they left me speechless. That's hard to accomplish. I believe that Mr. Obama can bring that change he is promising. His words do not feel empty and hopeless.

It's not easy to be the President and persons of good character are hard to find these days in a world full of mistrust. My loyalties had to be reorganized, I am now a Republican voting Democrat. When I selected to be a Republican at the age of eighteen was it to please my very Republican family? After all, it's all I ever knew.

I have had to sit up straight now and pay attention, paying attention has come at a costly price since my lack of attention before left me with little to say other than, "I got what I voted for, I can't really complain."

Mr. Obama, I have trust in you. I believe your words of HOPE. I believe your words of CHANGE. I lay my vote to you and Mr. Biden and I, like millions of others, believe in what you say. I am an American living in Lebanon and from the atmosphere here, the Lebanese that I personally know support you too. The world is counting on you and Mr. Biden, please be the CHANGE and HOPE our country desperately needs.

Help needed at TT Library Friday & Saturday!

Lisa M — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:24:56 EDT

As most of you may know, the TT Library has had a record number of early voters, we've been in the top 4 of all 13 locations. Yesterday nearly 1400 people early voted in TT. I've been onsite every day and have had several fabulous volunteers, but the schedule is nearly empty for Friday 10/31 and Saturday 11/1. Please calll me at 309-2558 if you can help, or just show up if you can't get me on the phone.

It is vital that we have a number of volunteers there. If you have read the St. Pete Times piece on the email sent out by the Chair of the Republican Party, David Storck and written by Republican TT volunteer Ron Whitley, you'll know how important it is! For those who haven't seen it...here it is:

Volunteer's e-mail hypes Obama threat

This e-mail was sent to me from one of our Volunteers in the Temple Terrace office. If you think it can help us win this election please pass it on. This election is now in our hands everyone can make a difference. Thanks, Dave

The threat: Here in Temple Terrace, FL our Republican HQ is one block away from our library, which is an early voting site.

I see carloads of black Obama supporters coming from the inner city to cast their votes for Obama. This is their chance to get a black president and they seem to care little that he is at minimum, socialist, and probably Marxist in his core beliefs. After all, he is black — no experience or accomplishments — but he is black. I also see young college students and their professors from USF parking their cars with the prominent 'Obama' bumper stickers. The students are enthusiastic to be voting in a historic election where there may be the first black president.

The college professors, particularly in the social sciences, for the most part have little or no experience in the work-a-day world.

Their life experience has been mostly academic under the tutelage of liberal college professors. For them, a little socialism and anti-Americanism is a good thing. After all, if terrorists attack us, we must have done something to provoke them.

You and I understand the dangers the potential Obama presidency presents to our way of life. The suppression of free speech, introducing union intimidation in the workplace, increased dangers to our nation by terrorists, cutting our defense budget by 25%, turning our tax system into a national welfare system and economic policies that could drive us into a depression.

There is only one way to stop Obama: Vote!!!

(And get everyone you know to vote)

Only you and I can stop Obama now!!

Seven days to go and we must act immediately.

A plan of action for you and I:

VOTE

Obama is advertising on TV asking all his supporters to take a day off work or class to vote. Contact personally everyone you know reminding them to vote and how important it is. Parents, voting-age children, in-laws, co-workers, church contacts, school contacts, business contacts. Make a list and contact them.

Send this message to everyone on your email list that wants to defeat Obama. Your email is an effective tool if you use it wisely and promptly. You can reach 10,000,000 people in the next seven days if as few as ten people on your list take prompt action and ten people on their list and ten people on their list … you get the idea.

Let's all pray and work and we will surely celebrate our victory on 11/5/08.

Ben Stein on CNN : Bush Administration probably the most Socialistic in History

RK — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:38:41 EDT

Comedian / Economist, and Republican Ben Stein who has been critical of the failed Bush administration, and John McCains train wreck of a campaign, along with his choice of empty head vice presidential pick Sara Palin, was quick to shoot back when the issue of "spreading the wealth" came around, saying the Bush Administrations record is in his mind is probably the most Socialistic in the History of America.

WTKK 96.9 Radio - Boston

DotRat — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:09:41 EDT

YES...I do actually listen to this Republican outlet on a daily basis. Having input from both sides of the tracks is very important to me. Jay Severin and Mike Graham stick out most to me.....especially as of late. While they Jay tends to be the smarter of the 2....both have come across very childish as of late.... almost seeming desperate and scared because they both know Obama will be victorious in 6 days. Jay refers to himself and his followers as "Patriots" while he uses the most vile language and innuendo to go on his daily rants about Obama. He flimsily hides his borderline racist comments by insinuating that he expects to be called a racist because he does not support Obama. He purposely uses slang words from time to time to imitate uneducated minorities while he stands behind this wonderful story about he "helped" during the civil rights movement.

Here's the deal Jay. Your a draft dodger.....your fathers service does not count. You did little if anything to help the civil rights movement.....and your certainly not helping it today. Don't pretend to "know the issues" as you sit in your little castle in North Shore suburbia while the rest of the working stiffs down here in the city deal with a completely different set of issues than the ones you speak of. We all know how "hard" you work for your money up there in your personal studio. God forbid you pay any taxes at all....how dare the goverment tap your blood sweat and tears.

I thought this guy was smart? Well....this so called libertarian is disgracing his true party of choice.

Cheers

REAGAN AND TEDDY ROOSEVELT SUPPORT OBAMA'S PROGRESSIVE TAX PLAN

Juli Norwood — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:28:55 EDT

Obama is not taking money from one and giving it to another. This is what McCain wants you to believe.

All Obama is doing is cutting taxes for the majority which just happens to be the middle class. You know... the ones who have been paying an unfair amount of taxes over the past 8 years to support the rich and wealthy Republicans!

You know the same rich and wealthy whom made tons of money off of the middle classes backs via the Wall Street CEOs... the same rich and wealthy whom made ridiculous amounts of money thru the McCain backed de-regulations put into motion in financial institutions and in the oil futures.

McCain is a hardcore supporter of De-Regulation!

The Rich and Wealthy Republicans are DE-REGULATORS!

De-Regulation is the reason for this financial crisis!

Read My Lipsticked Lips...

The Rich and Wealthy REPUBLICANS are the folks to thank for the financial mess that we are in right now!

Remember Phil Gramms, whom just happens to be filthy rich, McCain's buddy and economic advisor whom called us a nation of whiners. He and Enron made a ton of money as did speculators when he created and pushed de-regulation. He's the one you can all thank for the $4.00 - $5.00 per gallon for gas fiasco. Maybe you heard of the Enron Loop hole! After it got passed his wifey pooh received a real nice cushy job at Enron. Gasp! Can anyone spell Corruption?

Obama is simply not going to let Bush's Welfare Tax Plan for the Rich and Wealthy Republicans continue. He is rolling it back to what we had in the Clinton era. Which by the way was a prosperous time. In the past 40 years the ONLY administration to actually have a balanced budget instead of a deficit is Bill Clinton's administration. In fact he had a SURPLUS!

Ronald Reagan ... A republican president promoted the Progressive Tax system on this video and he also berated the republicans as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFhoM6xZpEQ

Teddy Roosevelt also a republican president ALSO believed in the Progressive tax system!

Both Reagan and Teddy Roosevelt have been listed by McCain as being his hero's. So by damning Obama for the progressive tax system by calling him a socialist aka redistributor also means his hero's Ronald Reagan and Teddy Roosevelt were also socialist and redistributors.

The Republican party, John McCain and Palin will go down in history as an absolute disgrace for their fear, hate, lies, racist, smear tactics in 2008.

Juli Norwood

I Got Mine.

smashcommunications — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:59:56 EDT

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." - The American Declaration of Independence

This spring we took a family vacation to Disney World. We spent a day at Typhoon Lagoon. At this amazing water park, there's a 3' deep lazy river that winds around the perimeter of the heart of the park. Most people use the river to casually float along on big yellow inner tubes to enjoy the landscape, music, water and people. There are several entry-points into the river where people wait patiently for other floaters to hand off their inner tubes as they get out of the river. This particular day, there was this guy – a hulking 20-something man - who spotted an empty inner tube floating by. He then decided to push people out of the way, jump into the river, grab the tube and hold it up above his head while yelling back to his constituency “I Got Mine!” Indeed he did. Of course he got his at the expense of everyone else standing there waiting patiently for a tube. But this one man decided it was better for him to enforce his will upon the rest of us and push people out of the way to ensure that ‘He Got His.’ The 30-second wait for a tube was out of the question to him. He wanted His. And he wanted it now. And he got it. He was quite proud. Meanwhile, one of the older ladies who he nearly pushed down the steps while he got his, was attempting to find her sea legs while a few others helped her into a tube.

This one statement – I Got Mine – resonated with me for months. And the more the US presidential election heated up over the summer, the more I realized that this self-serving ideology is exactly what I’m voting against in this election. Over the past 8 years, we’ve been conditioned to accept people like the guy at Typhoon Lagoon who ‘Got His.’ The Bush administration and the Republican Party in general is all about ‘I Got Mine.’ Sure, it’s a free country if you’re willing to do what’s necessary to thrive - which basically equates to being assertive at any cost. The bigger your muscles, the louder your voice, the more willing you are to step on people to get what you want – that’s the new American way. I Got Mine. How else do you explain the greed and corruption of big businesses in every corner of this country the past 8 years?

And this self-serving ideology is exactly what motivates me to vote for a change in America. Not just to help the poor and under-served, but because in MY America, we care about each other. We look out for those who are weaker. We don’t step on the backs of others to promote our self interests. This United compassion is what used to make America a beacon of hope for oppressed people around the globe. We fought tyranny and dictatorships as a way to promote freedom and prosperity for all. We recognized that all people are created equal – old, young, black, white, rich, poor – it didn’t matter. What mattered was that we all have a birthright as humans to freely pursue happiness in life.

Over the past 8 years, much of this universal compassion has been buried by an administration that promotes the pursuit of happiness as long as you’re willing to enforce your will upon others who may be in your way. I Got Mine.

While checking out at the vet yesterday, I overheard a counter clerk say to another counter clerk that – “If you’re going to vote for Obama, and he wins, don’t complain when you’re taxes go up.” Sure, if Obama wins, about 5% of the population in America (those who make more than a quarter million dollars a year) will see their taxes increase by about 3% as a way to help other Americans who are less fortunate and who don’t have health insurance, or a house to live in, or a shot at college, or a job, or even food to eat. Is that spreading wealth? Yes. Is it necessary? Yes. If we don’t help people who have fallen too far to pursue happiness, we fail as a nation. And while even though these clerks more than likely don’t qualify for a tax increase, at least one of them truly believed in her heart that its American to grab everything you can and protect what you have at any cost. It's scary to know so many people really feel this way. What happened to America? What happened to compassion? Where’s the Unity?

Unfortunately, it’s floating along in a yellow innertube at Typhoon Lagoon. I Got Mine.

It’s time for change. For the better. If we vote Republican next week, I hope these same people who vote for McCain don’t bitch about the forthcoming revolution.

We are the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. If you don't like that we care about each other - move to The Congo where selfishness is the rule of law. God bless America. God bless the humble. God bless people who care about other people.

Introduction

Clorissa from Indiana, PA — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:58:11 EDT

My name is clorissa, I am 15 going on 23 , a.k.a i am 15 by birth but intelectually and intrest wise i could be 23, everyone says i should be an adult and not a teenager, I made this blog becouse i believe barack obama is someone who should win this election, for awhile i was aposed of him running, i wanted hillary, i was too female activist drivin (joking) , but once obama was elected i was like " THIS IS CRAZY, i dont like either", my mother incouraged me to take a better look, so i did, unfortunantly my mother is republican all the way, dosent care what your policy's are or anything, meanwhile i started becoming intrested in obama, i dont consider myself republican or democrat, but my mother says " your liberal there for your democrat" , ok? prejudice much?.

anyways my mom is angry, i told her my reasons i want obama and she threw in " you know demorats use to be FOR slavory, how could you?", but my thing is guess what, REPUBLICANS were for SEGRAGATION, so whats new? , things change?, opinions in partys change, dont vote strickly one or the other!!!!.

anyways, i belive in change, i belive in barack obama

Did the Republicans take away your right to vote ?

RK — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:38:43 EDT

It may be that both new and veteran voters will show up at the polls only to be denied their right to vote due to Republican manipulation of the public voting records. Right now there are estimates that hundreds of thousands of Democratic votes have been unlawfully purged. I urge all voters to check their voter status and report any problems to the election board and the local - national news media.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-and-greg-palast/drinking-the-acorn-koolai_b_138390.html

GOP Senator and Vietnam Veteran Endorses & Votes for Obama

John — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:26:31 EDT

Former Sen. Larry Pressler (R-S.D.), who was the first Vietnam veteran to serve in the United States Senate, is the latest Republican to back Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Pressler "cited the Democrat's response to the financial crisis as the primary reason for his decision."

"I just got the feeling that Obama will be able to handle this financial crisis better, and I like his financial team of [former Treasury Secretary Robert] Rubin and [former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul] Volcker better," he said. By contrast, John McCain's "handling of the financial crisis made me feel nervous."

(Read more)

Ted Stevens : Another Republican McCain supporter Found Guilty of Corruption, Palin still under Investigation.

RK — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:31:50 EDT

Alaska may be America's final frontier, but Republican politicians seem to have polluted this prisitine land with their inherent tendencies to wield power for their own gains, and the gains of their base, the rich and big corporate America. Wev'e seen it in the U.S. Market meltdown, and I'm sure many more will trade their luxury homes for prison cells as we deal with the political and white collar corruption that caused it. Stevens obstructed justice, lied to his voters, lied to Alaska citizens, lied to America, and his and Governor Palins ethics should be a warning and alarm to the American Public regarding republiconomics and ideology. They have their best interest in mind.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/27/stevens.jurors/index.html

Sarah Palin - What she doesn't tell you AND doesn't want you to know...there is so much!!!

Terri — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:48:08 EDT

First, these are a few of the most important things you should know, but may not (things she definitely won't tell you):

1) Juneteenth Director wrote, "While meeting with Black leaders concerning the absence of any African Americans on her staff, Gov. Palin responded that she doesn't have to hire any Blacks and was not intending to hire any." All the people on her staff and, not one is Black? How is it possible, in today's world that any of the 50 states would not have any Black employees in the administration of a state?

2) A Director for African American Juneteenth Events in Alaska said that Palin was the first governor not to attend or send a congratulatory letter. She never even responded.

3) Palin cut funding for a transitional home for teen moms in Alaska with a line item veto. (she doesn't support helping teen moms but she is against abortion???)

4) As mayor, Palin raised locals taxes while giving breaks to large companies (remind you of the last 8 years?, it should!!!)

5) "The governor did have a tanning bed put in the Governor's Mansion. It was done shortly after she took office [in early 2007] and moved into the mansion," said Roger Wetherell from Alaska's Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

THE TRUTH ABOUT PALIN'S "EXPERIENCE"

I would love to be able to sit down in front of a camera and ask Sarah Palin a few questions about all that experience and what she did, as mayor, for the town of Wasilla, Alaska. Actually the question would be better phrased as 'What did you DO to the town of Wasilla'.

One of the first things she did was to go in and immediately and illegally terminate people, which resulted in several lawsuits, at least one of which was in Federal Court. They were terminated either completely without cause, because they didn't support her in her campaign or because they crossed her. One of the members of the town council, where she served before running for mayor, said 'that's how Sarah is, her friends get rewarded and everybody else gets cut off at the knees'.

When she campaigned for mayor she ran as a 'budget-cutter'...really!! There was apparently an urgent need to redecorate the mayor's office. She spent more than $50,000 to redecorate her new office, which included red-flocked wallpaper. People described the newly revamped office as 'looking like a bordello'. It was illegal for her to spend that kind of money without getting the authorization of the City Council. She paid for this lavish expenditure using funds from a city highway fund used to plow snow, grade roads and fill potholes. When she was told this, her response was: "I'm the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't". Can you imagine? That's why she keeps giving her own interpretation of the duties of the Vice President, even though it is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!! Like she said when she was mayor, she plans on doing whatever she wants until the courts tell her she can't!

Her term as mayor started off so badly, in fact, that people were talking about a recall. It was around this time that she hired a city planner and he is the one who actually ran things from that point forward. She takes credit for running the administration every time she talks about her 'executive experience' and 'Wasilla' or 'being mayor'. What would you call it when you're elected to a position, you can't handle and you are about to get tarred and feathered, so you hire someone else to perform your duties? Terri the Blogger calls that being a figure head or being a mayor in title ONLY!!! As a matter of fact, when asked about her claims that she has all this experience, on of Wasilla's City Council Members said 'executive experience? She doesn't have any!'

Ms. Palin touts all the things she did for Wasilla and how she got rid of the good ol' boy network. According to government officials in the Matanuska Valley, her tenure was actually characterized by waste, cronyism and incompetence. The town of Wasilla consisted of between 5,000 and 7,000 people during her tenure as mayor. They had little to no debt when she was elected. That wasn't the case by the time she left office.

First, there was the Wasilla Sports Complex, which she looks at as her legacy. She okayed them to start building before everything was settled with the land deal so what ended up happening was they had started building on land they didn't even own! The initial cost which had been funded by bonds was approximately $14.7 million. The biggest problem, however, was the process of how the land was acquired. The whole thing was handled with exceptional incompetence and arrogance, ultimately costing the city an extra $1.7 million in settlement and court cost for a piece of land that would have costed only $125k if they had handled it right from the beginning in 1998.

Then there was the huge expense to build Wasilla its own Emergency Dispatch Center even though they were successfully sharing one center and the costs thereof with nearby Palmer. It was, according to officials, strictly her ego that refused to share the center with Palmer because they were Wasilla's town rival, so she got earmark money for her own system. There are now two expensive operations, both are losing money, serving a total of 85,000 people. In comparison Anchorage, a city of over 300,000 people, manages just fine with one center.

Then there are the inproprieties or possible conflicts of interest. She took her kids on trips and had the good people of Alaska pay for it, even though it is expressly forbidden to charge per diem etc. unless the children were for some reason invited. When she found this out she changed the expense reports to indicate the children were invited. The problem with that, when the people at the location of the event were asked, they stated how surprised they were that she had brought her children. OOPS, caught in something else that, at least, appears illegal!!! Of course, by Ms. Palin's intrepretation of others if it appears so, it is so, so it must have been illegal.

Then there's the Palin's $552,000 home. Todd Palin told a reporter that he built it with the help of a few 'contractor buddies'. Everybody should be so lucky to have this guys 'contractor buddies'. Turns out every single one of them were, in some way, either were or were affiliated with the architects, the builders, the suppliers, etc. that ended up getting the contract to build the $15 million Sports Complex. Imagine that!

Then there's the whole pipeline thing that she seems to be so proud of. The whole bidding process for that was questionable. Ms. Palin either had meetings or phone conversations with people from the company that were awarded the contract, prior to the award!!!

Want to know what McCain's own staff & supporters have to say about her:

"She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone," said this McCain advisor, "she does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else."

Senator Joseph Liebermann, a close advisor of McCain said: "Thank God, she's not gonna have to be president from day one."

Former McCain advisor, Charels Fried, voted for Obama because of McCain's "choice of Sarah Palin at a time of deep national crisis."

Alaskan Palin supporters and critics alike have said "the woman they see stumping in swing states and being interviewed on national TV is not the hockey mom-turned politician they once knew."

No matter what you think of John McCain, if you vote for McCain for President, you stand the very real chance of getting Sarah Palin as President. If you still think that would be okay, please go back and reread this blog!!! She is a clear and present danger to this Country. She is an exceptionally divisive person. She most clearly has racist attitudes. Don't risk your Country, your finances, your home, your future, or your children and their future!!!

VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN '08!!!!

WARNING ~ "The Stop Obama Tour"

Richard Owl Mirror — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:26:19 EDT

It appears there is a new phase of the campaign taking the lead.

Rumors of Palin Camp Forcefully Denies Report Of Internal Discord

This is occurring in tandem with the rise of a new external effort.

Conservative activists escalate 'doom and gloom' rhetoric as Nov. 4 nears By Eric Gorski and Rachel Zoll AP Religion Writers

Terrorist strikes on four American cities. Russia rolling into Eastern Europe. Israel hit by a nuclear bomb. Gay marriage in every state.
The end of the Boy Scouts.
All are plausible scenarios if Democrat Barack Obama is elected president, according to a new addition to the campaign conversation called "Letter from 2012 in Obama's America," produced by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family Action.

A second effort I've noticed coming on with a vengeance is http://www.ourcountrydeservesbetter.com/
Come Support "The Stop Obama Tour" Oct. 15th - 29th

Welcome to the Our Country Deserves Better website. We are a national effort focused on defeating Barack Obama's presidential campaign because Obama would be a disastrous president.

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW2iZ1pD2G4

~@~

An extremely vitriolic campaign @ http://www.ourcountrydeservesbetter.com/ads/index.html

~@~

Has Senator John McCain been sidelined by the Religious Conservative wing of the Republican Party? Rumors have it that Gov Sarah Palin's nomination was demanded of Sen McCain. If I remember, he wanted Joe Lieberman.

Palin plays Wright card, but Dems say she has her own pastor issues

Sarah Palin is saying more attention should be paid to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's former pastor. Democrats counter that they are ready to fight back with their own barrage of guilt-by-association attacks.

ABC News: Palin's Religion Energizing GOP Faithful

How religion guides Palin -- chicagotribune.com

Newsweek Takes on Sarah Palin's Religion

Sarah Palin - Religion and Politics « End Times Prophetic ...

~@~

What is really going on?

Who is truly pulling the strings in the Republican Presidential campaign ?

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/

http://www.ourcountrydeservesbetter.com/

Sarah Palin blessed and protected by Thomas Muthee against all forms of witchcraft

The Politico reported that "stirrings of a Palin insurgency are complicating the campaign's already-tense internal dynamics." Reporter Ben Smith cited four sources close to the governor who said that Palin has "decided increasingly to disregard the advice of the former Bush aides tasked to handle her, creating occasionally tense situations as she travels the country with them."

Though Palin kept her distance from the traveling press throughout most of the campaign, the dynamic suddenly shifted last weekend, when she took questions from the media on three separate occasions over the course of two days.

~@~

This dynamic shift coincides with the arrival of http://www.focusonthefamily.com/ and http://www.ourcountrydeservesbetter.com/

Along with rising tensions brought about by Conservative activists spreading fear of Armageddon as well as The end of the Boy Scouts.