Wow!  After two long weeks of great reading and poll shifting the dust is finally starting to settle and the facts are beginning to seep into the consciousness of average Americans.  It’s been a wild ride, but the race has only begun. Here’s my two-week roundup of stories and events that caught my attention.  Certainly it isn’t everything over the last two weeks, so updates may follow.  I also will try and exclude topics I’ve already discussed at length in other posts.

There is a great post up at Mudflats right now (actually quite a few great posts) about Sarah Palin from the Alaskan politician’s perspective.  The guest poster, Les Gara, is the kind of politician I wish I could support in my own home district.  His examples are clear and his contentions are substantiated.  The post is well worth the read, as is anything from Mudflats.  Here’s my highlight:

Did I mention the personal attacks against our local public officials only started after Sen. McCain sent his flacks up to our small state on August 29?  They came with a mission to make America believe a Republican-initiated investigation, started with a unanimous committee vote of 8 Republicans and 4 Democrats, was a “partisan” plot.  That’s only a tough sell if people know the facts.

You know there are problems with the economy when even Alan Greenspan says this is the worst economy he’s ever seen. What’s even more striking is that Greenspan goes further to say that America could not afford Senator McCain’s tax proposals. Unless you’re a complete atomaton, the typical argument that Democrats will “raise your taxes” while Republicans fight for lower taxes will simply not fly this year. McCain has frequently stated he can clean up the budget by cutting earmark spending, but cutting pork alone will not come close to balancing the budget. Eliminating the needless bloodshed and drain of resources that is the Iraq War would certainly be a bigger step toward getting spending under control.  

One of the surprising, yet inspiring, stories from the campaign trail was the turnout at the “Alaska Women Reject Palin” rally in Anchorage, Alaska over the weekend. The photos alone give me hope for our political process.  Many are calling this the largest protest rally in Alaska’s history.  Below is my favorite photo/sign from the rally.

Stories about Sarah Palin’s affinity toward crony hiring practices became evident over the weekend as well. Once elected to public office, she fired professionals and hired former classmates from Wasilla High School. She went a step further to trim down her own duties as Mayor, passing the buck on responsibility while accepting all the credit.  If that alone doesn’t scream of “politics as usual” and a repeat of the Bush-Cheney administration, I don’t know what would actually get that message across.  Willed ignorance seems to run rampant in this country.  

Then there was the barrage of all-out lies from the McCain campaign, beginning with “Thanks, but no thanks” and continuing through a few ads that were only on TV for a short period of time but generated a lot of buzz in the media and blogosphere.  This is not only disheartening, but also disturbing.  The Associated Press and many other trusted news sources have called shenanigans on the McCain lies and admit this is “testing voters”.  I really hope we pass this test, diligence is patriotism.

Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri sets the story straight on Sarah Palin’s record with earmarks, pointing out that she asked for nearly $750 million in federal funds in her two years as Governor of Alaska.  To call Gov. Palin an earmark reformer is to call Nick Nolte a model citizen.  Here’s a link to the ThinkProgress story, and the video is below. The argument given by Carly Fiorina is also a far cry from the early arguments that she’s here to eradicate the earmark completely, now she thinks we simply “must ask for less of them.”  And just to put things into perspective in terms of expertise, here’s a reminder of Carly Fiorina’s effectiveness at Hewlett-Packard.

You’ve no doubt heard about the money Palin took from the state to live at home, if not from the news then from Weekend Update on SNL.  What you may not have heard about are the questions surrounding whether or not Gov. Palin actually paid taxes on that income.  It’s interesting to see Republicans try to pose one of the most money-hungry state officials as the leader in reform.  If that’s reform, I’m filthy rich.

Senator McCain keeps repeating how he’s enjoyed introducing Palin to the American people, and how he can’t wait to introduce her to Washington. On the campaign trail, this comment often follows his declaration of a willingness to reach across party lines. It makes me recall the recent grilling McCain faced on The View about exactly how she’ll reform Washington.  McCain said just today at a town hall meeting in Orlando “wait ’til the pork-barrelers and the earmark spenders meet her”.  This was laughable in the sense that most of Washington already knows her well, after she requested (and received) the largest per capita earmark spending in the nation over the last two years. Someone tell Senator McCain that he won’t get to introduce her, he’ll simply be the one scheduling the reunion.

One of the best things the primary season gave us was the triumphant return of Saturday Night Live to the top of the satire game.  Some of the material provided by the Democratic Primary would hold up against any former cast of SNL, which is something I never thought I’d be able to say again about the show. This Saturday’s show with Michael Phelps hosting did not disappoint and certainly got off to a hot start. This was also the highest-rated premiere of SNL in six years, according to MSNBC. Here’s the clip.

The rumor that was most swiftly debunked about the extent of Sarah Palin’s “list of books to ban”, which did not exist.  We do know now that the book which provoked the conversation with the librarian about removing books from the shelves.  The book is called Daddy’s Roommate and is geared toward helping children with homosexual parents better understand the situation.  Salon.com also has information on a Baptist pastor who was also targeted by Palin’s effort to ban books. After being encouraged to read the book for herself, Palin refused, instead favoring the removal of the book.  The story played out and the librarian ultimately kept her job, but the question itself is scary to anyone who loves the 1st Amendment.

Just as an example of how widespread the criticism is for recent false ads coming out of the McCain campaign, here are some links, and keep in mind the actual firestorm only began over the weekend.  The Turd Blossom, Karl Rove himself says the recent McCain ads have “gone too far”.  FactCheck.org (a non-partisan group) found lies about Senator Obama’s tax plans. Jon Taplin has a video and some audio clips, but Gordon brings the highlight of the post in the comments section — just take a look at the 9th commandment (the 8th if you’re Catholic). Then there’s this week’s Sunday New York Times, which was ultimately a collection of facts correcting the lies of the McCain camp.  

Today, Carly Fiorina spoke with Andrea Mitchell and explained away the lobbyist issue by saying the McCain campaign has the most strict rules for conflicts of interest.  I wonder if those rules were applied as a top McCain adviser was plucked by the Bush Administration to oversee the (now government run) Freddie Mac? I wonder if Randy Scheunemann’s associations with Georgia have been a conflict of interest as the McCain campaign beats the Cold War 2 war drum? Has that conflict of interest been “strictly regulated” when Charlie Black pushes for a Columbian Free Trade Agreement? The same Columbia where simply wanting to unionize will cause your family to make final arrangements. Sounds like one hell of an agreement to me. Later in the same hour Andrea Mitchell called shenanigans on a McCain campaign spokesman who tried to claim the recent McCain ads are “documentedly true”. That’s the kind of think Americans need to see from our journalists, don’t be biased, but don’t be fooled. Andrea has certainly learned something from her time spent near the late great Tim Russert.

Monday morning also brought the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy and the buyout of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America. Of course, the campaigns were both asked about the situation, and Senator McCain had to re-state that he thinks the fundamentals of our economy are strong. Chris Matthews pointed out on Hardball today that President Herbert Hoover said the same thing about the economy as we sank into the Great Depression. McCain says that a lack of regulation is to blame. He fails to point out that one of his own campaign advisers, Phil Gramm (of “we’ve become a nation of whiners” fame) helped cause much of the current turmoil in the marketplace. That lack of regulation did not exist just 8 short years ago. Senator Obama makes a great observation, saying that this situation is in year 8 of President Bush’s administration, which has taken a toll on our entire economy. 

Finally I must point out that the McCain campaign is applying pressure on Ron Paul of Texas to support the Republican ticket. Ron Paul has been responsible for much of the mobilization of libertarians and constitutionalists who are fed up with the reckless Bush Administration. It’s no wonder he refuses to support the McCain campaign, which looks to be equal to or worse than Bush-Cheney. I’ll close the post with a couple of questions I (would) have for Senator McCain.

On what specific issues have you bucked your own party, and where do you stand on these issues today?

In your first 100 days in office, what specific reforms would you push and how will they positively affect the American people?

Barack Obama - President

When we elect the president this time around, we’re choosing between two distinct directions our nation will head. Only one of those offers a different choice than the status quo by the same means. Prior elections have often felt like choosing between the lesser of two evils. People who could have cared less in the past are now excited about the idea that someday someone in the White House will listen. We know they listen to money and lobbyists now, and it’s getting tired.

Ron Paul - Vice President

In a drastic move, Obama chooses a libertarian-leaning Republican for his ticket. This would never happen, but in my dream ticket, Paul joins Obama on the campaign and begins a new message: Compromise. The nation was built on two very difficult compromises, and stands today in part because change — however slow — keeps this nation great. Ron Paul has challenged both Senator Obama and Senator McCain about many issues, and agrees with both on a few. He would not balk at the chance to actually make an impact.

Al Gore - Department of Energy Secretary

Many people challenge Gore’s ties to green energy companies. Then go fill their vehicle with gas, while our administration is run by oil men. This decision would be hard to push, and would encounter lots of resistance but I think it’s best. Gore brings intellectualism back to the White House. We’ve been led to believe that “educated elites” are controlling the country. This isn’t true, elites with an “education” are in control, and they are not in academia. Research is judged by it’s own scientific discipline and community, not by foolish politicians and groups fighting progress.

Janet Napolitano - Department of Labor Secretary

She understands the need to bring jobs, train competitive workers and power our own economy. She wouldn’t oversee tax breaks being given to companies shipping jobs overseas, but would understand the role of comprehensive immigration reform on labor.  She who wouldn’t ignore the role of some businesses in giving jobs to undocumented workers and sending our unemployment higher.  Time Magazine has called her one of the five best governors in the nation, and jobs are her specialty.

Hillary Clinton - Department of Health & Human Services Secretary

Some might scoff at this position for the former Democratic candidate and near-nominee, but this is where she could make her mark, and prime herself with an accomplishment that would help her in future elections. It is from this post that she could best use her desire to bring quality, affordable health care to all Americans. With such a team, these individual projects would also be far more likely to connect. The Bush administration has given the playbook for a bombardment strategy. After being used to destroy our economy, morale and national health we can now use the same strategy to repair.

Mitt Romney - Department of Commerce Secretary

This would be another highly controversial and has zero likelihood, but again the incentive to Romney is the chance to accomplish something in a post-partisan administration and the Obama administration gains one hell of a business leader. Romney has proven himself as a solid economic executive in the business sector and at the state level. He’s also worked with the likes of Senator Edward Kennedy in Massachusetts to implement a statewide health insurance initiative. That program had its critics, but he certainly proved he does care about health and can work with everyone.

Wesley Clark - Department of Defense Secretary

Service, experience, commitment to getting American troops home safely and keeping us safe. There’s also nobody who would question his patriotism and should beware of such slimy attacks on an administration of which he’d be a part. It’s a smart political move and sends a strong message that the American people will be safe with a President Obama.

Bill Richardson - Secretary of the State Department

A former ambassador, and a strong leader in diplomacy and fearless engagement with our enemies would be perfect for this administration. His experience during the Clinton administration also helps his recognition around the world. He’s also not going to roll over and become a puppet like a certain past Secretary of State.

(ask Ron Paul) - Department of Education Secretary

Fifty departments of education in each state should compete. American competition will save our schools. Stop trying to push nonsense like school choice (tax incentives for those who can already afford private schools) and standardized testing. Until learning environments and school resources are standardized, stop trying to standardize the tests.

John Edwards - Special committee chairman to eliminate poverty.

As the pet project of Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth for quite some time, this position is tailor-fit for the pair. They ooze a bit of hypocrisy with their own lifestyles, but their intentions could be judged in two years and I believe that until Edwards is given a shot, it’s rude to judge them as hypocrites. His post would entail getting into the root causes of poverty and have a war on something that actually cripples America. Rather than throwing money into welfare, Edwards will work with other departments to promote job growth and bolster local law enforcement.

=================

Of course, after this announcement all of these people would join each other on state and candidly talk about some things they agree with and disagree with in the others’ politics, but in a way that emphasizes the new campaign message ‘Compromise’. The team would then each have a final word on what they believe will be the cornerstone of their presence in the administration and what the American people can expect from them. It wouldn’t hurt for us to get to know the depth of the administration you wish to appoint to lead this nation back to prosperity.

If you read this with the intent of criticism, that’s fine, but please keep your comments in the nature of debate.

According to a recent MSNBC Online Poll, 89% of the American public believes President Bush should be impeached. It’s time our Congress stepped up. Write letters to everyone who represents you. They are slow, but they will hear the voice of the people.

FYI: It’s not too late, it’s not meaningless.  Tell your children you didn’t sit on your ass doing nothing while our Constitution was torn to shreds.

Compare that the the utter crap John McCain told Matt Lauer today and you have one of the worst examples of a fall from grace I’ve ever seen. I’ve campaigned for McCain in the past, and I’ll probably just stop admitting that. An absolute hero in 2000 has been reduced to literally ignoring facts and the American people and towing the party line. It’s actually not even the party line, just the extreme idiot wing of the party. George Bush’s third term? Did anyone pay attention to the first two?

Of course some of your best friends are Democrats, they are just as much to blame. We don’t want them to have the power now, we don’t want any of you pieces of garbage to control our nation. We want the power back in the hands of the people. Break this mold for Posterity, as our Founding Fathers did for us.

P.S. - Nice little slip “lower Americans”. Thanks, dick. People who work their asses off to barely get by are the ones who enable paper-pushers for shoddy bureaucracies to keep their jobs. And some drink that skunky crap your wife sells, enabling you to fly around in her private jet when your campaign is low on money (even if it’s contrary to a rule bearing your name). You should figure out a way to start respecting the American people, average ones.

Technorati Tags: mccain, iraq, war, bullshit

John McCain seems to not need a memory. Or facts. Or ideas even. He simply lies about Barack Obama’s tax plan and misquotes his “bitter” comments in such an interesting way…

Yes, Senator McCain, I cling to the Constitution, and I am bitter. Do you know why? Because your party and the president whose policies you whole-heartedly endorse have trampled all over the Constitution, the nearly 800 year old writ of habeas corpus, and our civil liberties. And yes, I must now cling to my gun. Not because I think those hippie liberals will take away my right to defend my family or go hunting, but because the essence of the 2nd Amendment is slipping.

Read the 2nd Amendment, there is no doubt the Founding Fathers were skeptical of government themselves. Our right to bear arms will always protect our freedom — from the government. Yes we use them for sport and personal protection, but the root of this freedom came from people who knew what it was like to be oppressed and have no rights or representation.

So Senator McCain, I cling to my gun and the Constitution. I find this works best when the Constitution is under attack. Maybe if you could correctly identify or quote anything, you’d understand just WHO they are under attack from — ideologues, on both sides.

When it comes right down to it, anyone who understand the incredible personalities of our Founding Fathers knows any one of them would cold-cock any or all of our elected officials for gross offenses to the Constitution. Less than 1% of those we’ve elected to represent the people are actually representing our interests. This isn’t so much about any one party as it is about partisanship in general. It’s phony. It’s old school. A dying school, I pray, for the sake of my country.

Technorati Tags: politics, mccain,, constitution

If you like 26-year-olds being able to retire, then you love the 15% capital gains tax. If I have extra money and put it in the market to make more money, I pay that 15%. If I work my ass off 60-hours a week in a warehouse, I’m paying around 30%. That’s pretty awesome, huh? And truly, why are we taxing work (something we want people to do) at all?

Most people in America, at or around age 65 are forced into retirement. This is common practice, and perfectly acceptable in modern business. Maybe it is a good idea, but if we’re doing anything at all we should at least apply the rule to everyone. So I guess the question is…why do we allow people well past our own working age to run for the highest office in the land, if they’re no longer fit to work for the United States Postal Service? How can we have a commander-in-chief well past retirement age for our Army officers?

They continue to mention the proposed windfall tax on oil companies in the Senate, but haven’t yet mentioned the introduction of Articles of Impeachment against President Bush in the House of Representatives. Do they need a map of the Beltway? It’s not like they’d need to travel far.

Is this the same media that made every marital misstep of President Clinton a national story for months? I’m not saying he shouldn’t necessarily be judged at some point, but maybe in a book — or if you’re religious, by God — and not in a media that should for the benefit of the people. It’s more like the media that allowed a Pentagon-planted propaganda campaign to lead us into a false war of aggression. The Founding Fathers would have loved the internet in its current state, free enough to matter and alert enough to call shenanigans on corruption.

Check out Raw Story for more video and a PDF link for the entire Articles of Impeachment.

Technorati Tags: politics, impeachment, bush, cheney, war, propaganda

Just go away.  Go vote for McCain if you wish, but get far away from this party.  You are not Democrats.  You are ideologues.  You don’t believe in majority rules with respect to minority rights, you believe in entitlement.  You don’t believe in compromise, you believe in fighting amongst ourselves. This election isn’t about swinging a pendulum back to the other side, it’s about stopping it right in the middle, where the American people exist.  

Scum.

According to CNN, the difference in cost of the competing Webb-Hagel and McCain GI Bills is $2 billion. Put into context that is equal to the cost of fighting the war for one week.

John McCain fights to save our tax dollars for the war.

Since he only had one word on which to hinge his entire argument yesterday on Hardball.  Much thanks to Chris Matthews for simply showing how some who have prominent positions and loud voices on talk radio have no idea or concern for the facts, they only concern themselves with apologizing for the current, corrupt administration.

Here are the only two ideas I have to improve the quality of Kevin James’ thoughts, ideas, and hopefully broadcasts if he’s actually allowed to sit behind a microphone.

AND A

Dictionary

 
Technorati Tags: politics, hardball
 

This is not uncommon.  This is how the current administration is treating the troops, and how Senator McCain will continue to treat them if he is elected.  He’s already contended that giving education benefits to soldiers who serve the country for only two years would hurt the military by decreasing retention.  This is already more disgusting than the Vietnam War.  Coming from Iraq, 60% of soldiers return with clinical depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.  People I know, people you know, four thousand of them — gone.  But still worse is that those who return are not the same as well.  A depressed generation, guilty of doing nothing but serving their country. 

The fascinating thing that always struck me about the Cold War was how ill-defined it was.  It was hot, but it was a series of proxy wars.  And when you look at the puppeteering, and the arming of militants to combat Soviet-backed militants in places like Afghanistan, you understand that Jeremy Glick is both directly affected by 9/11 and informed about the entire history of the situation.

See also:  Iran Contra, Iraq-Iran War, Taliban history
Technorati Tags: war, iraq, education, mccain

Lately this stupid “anti-American” tag is getting thrown around more and more.  Partly because of the Reverend Wright debacle and a super patriot named Nash McCabe, partly because it’s political season and those with no substance sling mud.  I’m getting tired of hearing things labeled un-American or anti-American as if there is some sort of board of Americanism certifying certain ideas.  If you understand anything about this country, you should understand the 1st Amendment and our freedom of speech.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.  

On the Tim Russert Show this Sunday (05/04/08), Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia actually discusses the idea of things being “un-American”. I’ve found Justice Scalia and I don’t often agree, but here we have consensus. He mentions that he can’t imagine in the course of French politics or [insert country] politics, the idea of saying something is un-French. Americans truly do identify with flag more than with blood or specific birth location, and that’s not a bad thing. It just creates more demand for things (his example was the House un-American Activities Committee) that are inherently more un-American than the behaviors we’re trying to prevent.

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If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas. -G. Bernard Shaw

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The sum of human wisdom is not contained in any one language, and no single language is capable of expressing all forms and degrees of human comprehension. -Ezra Pound

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The mark of a well educated person is not necessarily in knowing all the answers, but in knowing where to find them. -Douglas Everett

Technorati Tags: politics, election, obama, clinton, mccain, rhetoric

This comment was posted on a recent article from the Cafferty File.  

My point is that the people seem to see this election as the old Republican vs. the old Democrat with a true third candidate is available.  Obama just seems to be less interested in politics and more interested in problem-solving.  People recognize he’s not slinging mud and engaging in the annoying side of politics and it’s turning people on to voting.

My friends, I will have an energy policy that we will be talking about, which will eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East that will - that will then prevent us - that will prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East.  

Read about this on MSNBC’s First Read and watch the video at the Huffington Post.  

After being given a way out by saying he was somehow confused with the first Gulf War, McCain again repeated his assertion.

“Sixteen military wives. Thirty-two softly focused, brightly colored eyes. Staring at the natural tan of thirty-two gently clenching, wrinkled little hands.” When people talk about attacks on the modern family, here’s an unnecessary one.

One generation may decide not to fight it’s parents wars. Or we will have war in perpetuity.

It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and spluttering; on every hand and far down the receding and fading spread of roofs and balconies a fulttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun; daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by; nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting, to patriot oratory with stirred the deepest deeps of their hearts, and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause, the tears running down their cheeks the while; in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag and country, and invoked the God of Battles beseeching His aid in our good cause in outpourings of fervid eloquence which moved every listener.

It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety’s sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way.

Sunday morning came — next day the battalions would leave for the front; the church was filled; the volunteers were there, their young faces alight with martial dreams — visions of the stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender!

Then home from the war, bronzed heroes, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory! With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy, and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag, or, failing, die the noblest of noble deaths. The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read; the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose, with glowing eyes and beating hearts, and poured out that tremendous invocation:

God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest, 
Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!

Then came the “long” prayer. None could remember the like of it for passionate pleading and moving and beautiful language. The burden of its supplication was, that an ever-merciful and benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers, and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their patriotic work; bless them, shield them in the day of battle and the hour of peril, bear them in His mighty hand, make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody onset; help them crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country imperishable honor and glory –

An aged stranger entered and moved with slow and noiseless step up the main aisle, his eyes fixed upon the minister, his long body clothed in a robe that reached to his feet, his head bare, his white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness. With all eyes following him and wondering, he made his silent way; without pausing, he ascended to the preacher’s side and stood there waiting. With shut lids the preacher, unconscious of his presence, continued his moving prayer, and at last finished it with the words, uttered in fervent appeal, “Bless our arms, grant us the victory, O Lord and God, Father and Protector of our land and flag!”

The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside — which the startled minister did — and took his place. During some moments he surveyed the spellbound audience with solemn eyes, in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice he said:

“I come from the Throne — bearing a message from Almighty God!” The words smote the house with a shock; if the stranger perceived it he gave no attention. “He has heard the prayer of His servant your shepherd, and will grant it if such be your desire after I, His messenger, shall have explained to you its import — that is to say, its full import. For it is like unto many of the prayers of men, in that it asks for more than he who utters it is aware of — excpet he pause and think. “God’s servant and yours has prayed his prayer. Has he paused and taken thought? Is it one prayer? No, it is two — one uttered, and the other not. Both have reached the ear of Him who heareth all supplications, the spoken and the unspoken. Ponder this — keep it in mind. If you would beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware! lest without intent you invoke a curse upon your neighbor at the same time. If you pray for the blessing of rain on your crop which needs it, by that act you are possibly praying for a curse on some neighbor’s crop which may not need rain and can be injured by it.

“You have heard your servant’s prayer — the uttered part of it. I am commissioned by God to put into words the other part of it — that part which the pastor — and also you in your hearts — fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly? God grant that it was so! You heard the words ‘Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!’ That is sufficient. The whole of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory — must follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God fell also the unspoken part of the prayer. He commandeth me to put it into words. Listen!

(After a pause.) “Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits.”

…

It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.

_______________________

Source:  warprayer.org, I just believe everyone should read it.

Technorati Tags: war, prayer, twain, philosophy

I have a theory. After seeing Chuck Todd say that another super-delegate has jumped ship from the Clinton to Obama campaign, citing the tone of the campaign. A lot of things are happening, and the candidates are each reacting to literally everything. Partly because they’re asked a ton of questions every day. This is a consequence of making themselves available.

Just an idea…

Tonight on MSNBC’s Verdict with Dan Abrams, Tony Blankley, a former speechwriter for the Reagan administration concluded the media is addressing the Reverend Wright circus properly.  He feels that because we’re on the cusp of potentially electing the first black president — and since we don’t know much about him — we must consider things like Reverend Wright before we cast a vote for Obama.  

Earlier in the show John Kerry is asked a question about Wright, his answer was clear and in direct opposition to the spin Blankley gives.  Kerry says “let this go” and that the media is focused on the past instead of the future of major issues concerning Americans.  As a concerned American, I agree.  It’s been frequently discussed in this blog as I feel the media is reporting it through such a narrow, pre-spun way it is necessary to at least make sure more of the information is out there.  

[On the same episode of Verdict, the 'Why America Hates Washington' segment was about the military contracts inadvertantly funding the recently-raided polygamist sect near El Dorado, TX.  Sexual abuse has now been revealed among boys as well as the still underage girls who are pregnant with their third or forth child.  I had reported on this earlier in April, and I probably found it on Digg.]

Tony Blankley, and many others in the media need to understand the “we don’t know much about this man” charade is all bullshit and many Americans have already called you on this. 

Personal Memoirs

Each candidate has written a book or two. Barack Obama has written two books about his life, his upbringing, his beliefs, race and ambitions.  John McCain has written six-plus books, primarily on his family memoirs of his Admiral father and grandfather. He’s also written about Middle East politics, Afghanistan, courage and air bag safety. Hillary Clinton has written memoirs and children’s books.

Landmark Legislation

Barack Obama is responsible for the same number of pieces of passed landmark legislation (2) in his two years as Senator Clinton during her four years in the Senate.  The only current bill any of the three remaining candidates were actually co-sponsoring was the earmark moratorium, which all three have co-sponsored.

Committee Work

Hillary Clinton serves on these committees:

• Armed Services
• Environment and Public Works
• Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
• Special Committee on Aging

Barack Obama also serves on four committees:

• Foreign Relations
• Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
• Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
• Veterans’ Affairs

Commander-in-Chief/Executive Experience

People claim Senator Obama isn’t experienced enough to be Commander-in Chief, where I’d say Sen. McCain’s record looks the most personal, but his experience wasn’t in leadership — like his father and grandfather, both admirals.  When compared to Senator Clinton, Obama has served on both the Foreign Relations and Homeland Security committees, while Hillary Clinton serves on the Armed Services committee.  

Committee work is not true executive experience, but it is a political arena in which speaking requires you have a good question for whomever is being deposed, a recommendation on a piece of legislation, or just a generally good idea.  As far as previous experience is concerned, none of the candidates have actually served as leadership executives.  If that were the primary factor in voter’s minds, we’d have polls indicating Mitt Romney is leading at this point.  We might have already elected Ret. General Wesley Clark in 2004.

Voting on Issues

Each candidate has voted on a spectrum of issues, and even Senator Obama has voted on all of the issues currently facing our nation having been in the Senate (even if only for two years).  Sen. McCain has weighed in on having a federal holiday in memory of Martin Luther King, Jr.  He evidently got it wrong the first time, so he had to spend time apologizing this year on the campaign trail.  I’d really rather not use that as a reason to vote against McCain, but rather see why voting over a long period of time doesn’t mean much, other than the fact that one current issue has one candidate standing alone.

War in Iraq/Distraction from Afghanistan

Only Senator Barack Obama was against the war from the beginning.  We were lied to by the Bush administration and a news media eager to do the government’s dirty work disseminating propaganda.  There were no weapons of mass destruction.  There were not operating extremist cells in Iraq, because Saddam was never liked by radical and fundamental Islamists like bin Laden.  Iraq and Iran balanced each other and kept each other in check for years.

Interventionism vs. Non-interventionism

Anyone who felt what President Reagan did made you safer, or the policy of not invading Iraq of the first Bush administration actually was better international use of military force as a protective measure only should feel swindled by this war.  I know it’s too late to bring back those lost, it’s too late to undo everything we’ve done, but we have rid the world of one dictator, who had an established rule in a time where information traveled more slowly.  

Today we have faster flow of information, and a better network of international peacekeeping forces who could actually intervene if there were a legitimate threat coming from the region.  This is why the concept of a nation policing the globe should be obsolete.  This is why we must not stay.  Let them find their own Founding Fathers, let them express the Iraqi Dream.

Unwrapping Media Spin

When pundits say “we don’t know much about him” they are just lying and getting away with it.  Nobody points out that these people are living their lives every day in the public eye.  Everything they have done in the past is available through Google, and anything they’ve said has probably hit YouTube.  Each candidate has written books, given votes and taken stances.  The question is, which direction do you choose for the nation?

Do we go with the veteran ex-maverick who has turned to pandering to his base, or aligning with them on issues on which he has no familiarity?  He is either getting bad advise or losing his grip to some degree.  A lot of my final impression of John McCain’s candidacy rides on who he chooses for a running mate.  I’m not fond of the values of his wife — like stealing prescription medication from her non-profit charity — and the fact that they claim to be for the working man having never been in that position since the two have been married (she’s a Budweiser heiress).  I also recognize these are only fringe issues, and some shady people in personal life were extraordinarily great leaders in public life.  

I just know Sen. McCain will have to rely on people for anything economy related, which just so happens to be the most pressing issue to Americans today.  I we had instituted the draft (which we would probably have to do if we somehow picked a fight with Iran) then the war would actually be the most pressing issue to the most Americans.  Sen. McCain knows about the military, but he has also aligned to the actions of the Bush administration, which is reprehensible considering the quagmire we needlessly created.

Do we go with the more socially-rooted candidate in Hillary Clinton, whose prime causes include universal health care and the war, having voted to authorize the war in the first place.  On the issue of health care I think requires a private-public solution, removing employers from the decision-making process of which plan to buy.  If employers aren’t required to cover employees, they can pay them more, which allows employees to take the money previously paid for the same services out on to the open market.  Do this with 150 million workers at once and you will create something beautiful within the market — equilibrium.  Everyone shopping, looking for the best deal.  Multiple providers, looking to be the best business.  Let American ingenuity solve the problem if Congress can’t.

That inadequacy in Congress should end after a President who sends recommendations to Congress then vetos the bills they finally send him, saying they didn’t sent him something he could work with (after 535 people found a way to decide).  We should learn our lesson that the president shouldn’t be “the Decider” but “the Listener”.  Someone who speaks for the people.  If we were truffula trees, we’d want a Lorax. 

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Government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem. -former President Ronald Reagan

Sources:  votesmart.org, congress.org

Technorati Tags: politics,, barack, obama,, hillary, clinton,, john, mccain,, election,, media, myth

WRIGHT: We took this country by terror, away from the Sioux, the Apache, the Arowak, the Comanche, the Arapahoe, the Navajo. Terrorism. We took Africans from their country to build our way of ease and kept them enslaved and living in fear. Terrorism. We bombed Granada and killed innocent civilians, babies, non-military personnel. We bombed the black civilian community of Panama with stealth bombers and killed unarmed teenagers and toddlers, pregnant mothers, and hardworking fathers. We bombed Qaddafi’s home and killed his child. Blessed are they who bash your children’s head against a rock. We bombed Iraq. We killed unarmed civilians trying to make a living. We bombed a plant in Sudan to payback for the attack on our embassy, killed hundreds of hardworking people, mothers an