"Oh boy, that Sarah Palin is such a cutie, I love her glasses, wasn't it cute when her little girl spit on her hand and smooth baby trig's hair down. Oh, and what a great nickname, "Sarah Barracuda". Um, is this how we choose a President or Vice President?
Wow, where's Simon when you need him? Seriously, has the American Presidential Campaign just turned into American Idol? Remember back to Bush when people said - "Oh, I like him, he's like a guy I'd go have a beer with." They seriously believed that a silver spooned, Yale educated (that may be a stretch - there is little evidence that Bush actually obtained any education from Yale), son of a former President with DEEP DEEP ties to big oil, would just roll up his sleeves, slap them on the back and stroll into the nearest beer joint and hang out with them. They got a repackaged product, wrapped in a thin "everyman" veneer. Underneath that package was intolerance, bull-headedness and even worse, a desire to serve only the richest of rich at the expense of the rest of us.
Certainly, after 8 years of this nonsense, well the American public is much wiser and takes their vote so much more seriously. Not this time, they won't be fooled again.
Guess what, wrong, nope, they are and it is will the exact same tactics used in 2000 and 2004. Well, hell why not? It worked, right? The McCain campaign has OPENLY STATED that this election will not be about issues. You wanna know why? Because they can't stand on issues, AND they know that for a large portion of the population, sadly enough, issues just don't matter. Last but not least, they know that Bush won based on a personality contest, not issues, not substance.
So what's a thinking American to do? Move to Canada? Before you reach for that passport and start filing immigration petitions - take a deep breath. We've got time, to move this needle, not long, but there is still time.
Let's get real, and let's force the issues to the forefront, let's make the press stop talking about "personalities" and let's get down to the issues. Let's talk about
what McCain's voting record is, what he's helped Bush do to the middle class. Let's take a long hard look at his token gal, Sarah Palin. My god I hope the National Enquirer is working overtime tonight.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Ode to you first time voters...
First time voters, just out of college or even high school be sure to take time to include your voice. It isn't easy to visualize that what happens today can ripple into your tomorrow. When you're 20 something, fresh faced and full of promise, thoughts about a weak dollar, unchecked Russian aggression, and debt to China seem at a minimum, esoteric and more practically mind numbing and boring.
But know this, what happens in America now impacts the next decade and your generation in almost more dramatic ways than ours. Yours is the generation they will send off to a war. If, god forbid, they start drafting versus recruiting for the military it will be the 20 somethings that go. If the wars in Iraq drone on and on it will be your America that suffers. I know more 20 somethings who have friends in Iraq than any other age group. They pay a heavy price for our policies.
First time voters, be there in November. Get informed, research your candidates as much as possible and pull that lever. Welcome to democracy, it only works if you participate.
Great sites I highly recommend for folks looking for information:
http://www.opensecrets.org
Check out the industries and lobbyists behind your candidates - look at who has them in their pocket, then decide if your interests are in line with theirs.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com
Good such for polls and a great interactive electoral map.
http://www.snopes.com
Home of the debunking of urban myths and those crazy emails. If you get an email that sounds absurd - just go on snopes.com and use the RE: of the email to search. I have found that over 90 percent are false. But snopes.com does more than that - they give you the additional background FACTS to explain their sources.
http://www.themiddleclass.org
Great site that tracks the voting record of every legislator out there. This is a menace to those politicians that just work to get re-elected. Most of us will fall somewhere in the middle class - and its the middle class that is the back bone of the U. S. Economy. This is great site to look at your candidate's voting record, cut through the rhetoric and get down to FACTS. Vote in your best interest, not through sound bites.
That's all the advice for you tonight, dear first time voter. That is assuming you actually read this. If you're like my 23 year old, your mother has to pester you to pick up your dirty clothes, and then register to vote. But remember this sometimes, just sometimes, mom's are actually right!
But know this, what happens in America now impacts the next decade and your generation in almost more dramatic ways than ours. Yours is the generation they will send off to a war. If, god forbid, they start drafting versus recruiting for the military it will be the 20 somethings that go. If the wars in Iraq drone on and on it will be your America that suffers. I know more 20 somethings who have friends in Iraq than any other age group. They pay a heavy price for our policies.
First time voters, be there in November. Get informed, research your candidates as much as possible and pull that lever. Welcome to democracy, it only works if you participate.
Great sites I highly recommend for folks looking for information:
http://www.opensecrets.org
Check out the industries and lobbyists behind your candidates - look at who has them in their pocket, then decide if your interests are in line with theirs.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com
Good such for polls and a great interactive electoral map.
http://www.snopes.com
Home of the debunking of urban myths and those crazy emails. If you get an email that sounds absurd - just go on snopes.com and use the RE: of the email to search. I have found that over 90 percent are false. But snopes.com does more than that - they give you the additional background FACTS to explain their sources.
http://www.themiddleclass.org
Great site that tracks the voting record of every legislator out there. This is a menace to those politicians that just work to get re-elected. Most of us will fall somewhere in the middle class - and its the middle class that is the back bone of the U. S. Economy. This is great site to look at your candidate's voting record, cut through the rhetoric and get down to FACTS. Vote in your best interest, not through sound bites.
That's all the advice for you tonight, dear first time voter. That is assuming you actually read this. If you're like my 23 year old, your mother has to pester you to pick up your dirty clothes, and then register to vote. But remember this sometimes, just sometimes, mom's are actually right!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Obama Hits 50% - Gallup Poll
This is at least some of the big news this evening. For the first time since they started polling the 2008 Presidential race Obama has hit the 50% mark in the Gallup Poll.
Here's the link http://www.gallup.com/poll/109960/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Hits-50-First-Time.aspx
We are just a slim 60 some days away from election day and things look promising. This being said, without a doubt the Republican Party will not give up this election without a fight. They believe what they believe, and well, we believe what we believe. Personally, I'm ready for a change. Ready to see a voice of my generation lead. I know that sounds like ageism, but it is a sincere observation. Obama is just one year older than I am. Its exciting and interesting to see someone from my generation take this ride.
I will say this much, either you love Obama or you hate him. He doesn't inspire many ho-hum responses. Just look at the emails that are circulated - jeez, my in box is hit almost daily with ridiculous and patently false stories about Obama. This must be a wide spread practice, because it was even brought up at the Democratic Convention. One of the regular folks who spoke last week in Denver explained that she received one of these emails smearing Obama and it inspired to do her own research. Her research lead her to become a Obama supporter.
And much as Obama may try, the culture wars that Bush Co. started when he began campaigning for the Presidency and subsequently took office are being stoked as we speak. There's a very strong faction on the right that effective used a culture war to rise to power. In 2000 - it worked, so they are going back to the well again. The Palin pick was clearly an effort to energize the hard core religious right. They are salivating over Palin. I've already received an email from a rabid right to lifer (extended family member) just swooning over Palin.
We on the blue side of the coin may be scratching our heads. McCain's running mate pick seems well, downright crazy. But remember you cannot underestimate the ultra-religious, uptight right when it comes to pushing their own. They are one issue voters and wildly committed to candidates who'll push their agenda, and they move the the political process with the unshakable belief that they alone have ALL the answers. There's no compromise with this group. What's even more challenging, and impressive is those bible thumping post menopausal women know how to ORGANIZE!
We all know, that polls are just a snap shot, they are no guarantee of an outcome. We also know that we have a formidable opposing party with diametrically opposing views. We've watched this party sink our country into a place that is lower than most of us 40 somethings have ever experienced. Yes, there is plenty to fret over and lose sleep. But, for now, let's take a moment, catch our breath and savor this 50% milestone...
That's enough, we better get back to work.
Yes We Can? We'll see.
Here's the link http://www.gallup.com/poll/109960/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Hits-50-First-Time.aspx
We are just a slim 60 some days away from election day and things look promising. This being said, without a doubt the Republican Party will not give up this election without a fight. They believe what they believe, and well, we believe what we believe. Personally, I'm ready for a change. Ready to see a voice of my generation lead. I know that sounds like ageism, but it is a sincere observation. Obama is just one year older than I am. Its exciting and interesting to see someone from my generation take this ride.
I will say this much, either you love Obama or you hate him. He doesn't inspire many ho-hum responses. Just look at the emails that are circulated - jeez, my in box is hit almost daily with ridiculous and patently false stories about Obama. This must be a wide spread practice, because it was even brought up at the Democratic Convention. One of the regular folks who spoke last week in Denver explained that she received one of these emails smearing Obama and it inspired to do her own research. Her research lead her to become a Obama supporter.
And much as Obama may try, the culture wars that Bush Co. started when he began campaigning for the Presidency and subsequently took office are being stoked as we speak. There's a very strong faction on the right that effective used a culture war to rise to power. In 2000 - it worked, so they are going back to the well again. The Palin pick was clearly an effort to energize the hard core religious right. They are salivating over Palin. I've already received an email from a rabid right to lifer (extended family member) just swooning over Palin.
We on the blue side of the coin may be scratching our heads. McCain's running mate pick seems well, downright crazy. But remember you cannot underestimate the ultra-religious, uptight right when it comes to pushing their own. They are one issue voters and wildly committed to candidates who'll push their agenda, and they move the the political process with the unshakable belief that they alone have ALL the answers. There's no compromise with this group. What's even more challenging, and impressive is those bible thumping post menopausal women know how to ORGANIZE!
We all know, that polls are just a snap shot, they are no guarantee of an outcome. We also know that we have a formidable opposing party with diametrically opposing views. We've watched this party sink our country into a place that is lower than most of us 40 somethings have ever experienced. Yes, there is plenty to fret over and lose sleep. But, for now, let's take a moment, catch our breath and savor this 50% milestone...
That's enough, we better get back to work.
Yes We Can? We'll see.
Friday, August 29, 2008
The Politics of Hate.
"If you don't have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare voters."
Just about anyone with a pulse can probably guess - this is a quote from Barack Obama's acceptance speech last night.
"Abortion is a sacrament in their religion." Can you guess who said this today? They were referring to Democrats and "liberals". Rush Limbaugh. The right wing hate machine is alive and
well and churning out reams of these statements. With just 67 days until the election, they are in a full lather. I wonder, what purpose does it serve?
How are the American people served by rants about their fellow Americans that are filled with spite and loathing. How is America served, as a country, by maligning well, at least 50% of the population? What will be gained? And where will it lead us?
Where are we, when, in this country, there is a loud consistent voice trying to teach Americans to hate each other? I'm struggling with the idea that my fellow citizens have learned to HATE me because of my beliefs. But sadly, its true.
Many people have been preyed upon. 9/11 shook America to its core. We united and looked to our president for strength and guidance. We looked for leadership, and some kind of hope. We got more fear mongering, a war that didn't even pursue the people who attacked us and encouragement to "go shop". We faced an even larger and more daunting war in 1941. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our democratic president, didn't tell people to shop. He told the American people it would take all of us to overcome what we were facing.
I honestly don't know the answer to all these questions. But I believe, all of us, as Americans should be concerned and consider the danger that this line of thinking represents. I'm not one to quote evangelicals, but recently, something that Rick Warren, the Paster of Saddleback Church said really struck me. He was talking about the politics of hate and the demonization tactics used by far too many political operatives in this country. He said he had seen these tactics used in other parts of the world. He finished he statement by adding, that when he had seen this approach of dehumanization, and vilification of an opponent, it was commonly followed by genocide.
It's time to turn off folks like Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and Hannity. And its definitely time to turn away from anyone, anywhere who tries to tell you to hate other Americans because their beliefs are different from yours.
Just about anyone with a pulse can probably guess - this is a quote from Barack Obama's acceptance speech last night.
"Abortion is a sacrament in their religion." Can you guess who said this today? They were referring to Democrats and "liberals". Rush Limbaugh. The right wing hate machine is alive and
well and churning out reams of these statements. With just 67 days until the election, they are in a full lather. I wonder, what purpose does it serve?
How are the American people served by rants about their fellow Americans that are filled with spite and loathing. How is America served, as a country, by maligning well, at least 50% of the population? What will be gained? And where will it lead us?
Where are we, when, in this country, there is a loud consistent voice trying to teach Americans to hate each other? I'm struggling with the idea that my fellow citizens have learned to HATE me because of my beliefs. But sadly, its true.
Many people have been preyed upon. 9/11 shook America to its core. We united and looked to our president for strength and guidance. We looked for leadership, and some kind of hope. We got more fear mongering, a war that didn't even pursue the people who attacked us and encouragement to "go shop". We faced an even larger and more daunting war in 1941. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our democratic president, didn't tell people to shop. He told the American people it would take all of us to overcome what we were facing.
I honestly don't know the answer to all these questions. But I believe, all of us, as Americans should be concerned and consider the danger that this line of thinking represents. I'm not one to quote evangelicals, but recently, something that Rick Warren, the Paster of Saddleback Church said really struck me. He was talking about the politics of hate and the demonization tactics used by far too many political operatives in this country. He said he had seen these tactics used in other parts of the world. He finished he statement by adding, that when he had seen this approach of dehumanization, and vilification of an opponent, it was commonly followed by genocide.
It's time to turn off folks like Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and Hannity. And its definitely time to turn away from anyone, anywhere who tries to tell you to hate other Americans because their beliefs are different from yours.
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