Jack Kafka's Blog
About the Author
What a world. Just starting to wake up after 40 years, And what has become of us. I will look around a tell you what I see. My goodness, what a mess.....
more to come....
Video: White House Mum Following US Raid Into Syria
What? why is this not being talk about by obama
Obama Votes Present on US Attack on al Qaeda in Syria
Do I really have to vote for this guy. Can I just have Biden.
What if the candidate with the best issues WON the election.
Fair TaxThe complexity and distortions of the federal tax code produces distributions of tax incidence and payroll tax burdens that are skewed in favor of the wealthy and the corporations further garnished by tax shelters, insufficient enforcement and other avoidances. Continue reading ...
Federal BudgetThe United States needs a redirected federal budget that adequately funds crucial priorities like infrastructure, transit and other public works, schools, clinics, libraries, forests, parks, sustainable energy and pollution controls. Continue reading ...
Jail Time Not Bail Time - Stop the BailoutIn late September, Senator Obama said to the Democrats – vote for the bailout. Senator McCain said to the Republicans – vote for the bailout. President Bush said to the Congress – vote for the bailout. But the American people were fed up. They told their members of Congress – if you vote for the bailout, we will vote against you. Continue reading ...
JobsSince January 2001, 2.7 million jobs have been lost and more than 75% of those jobs have been high wage, high productivity, manufacturing jobs. Overall 5.6% of Americans are unemployed while 10.5% of African Americans are unemployed. Unemployment among Latinos is nearly 30 per cent higher than January 20, 2001. Continue reading ...
PovertyAs the wealthiest country in the world, with high productivity per capita, a country that produces an abundance of capital, credit, technology and food, we can end poverty. Yet, according to the Bureau of the Census, poverty and hunger for children and adults is increasing rather than decreasing -- 34.6 million Americans lived in deep poverty, 12.1% of the U.S. population. Continue reading ... 
Worker's RightsThe rights of workers have been on the decline. It is time to reverse that trend and begin to give workers, the backbone of the US economy, the rights they deserve. Workers need a living wage not a minimum wage; access to health care and no unilateral reductions in medical benefits and pensions for current employees and retirees. Employers should not be able to avoid these benefits by hiring temporary workers or independent contractors. Continue reading ... 
Electoral ReformOur democracy is in a descending crisis. Voter turnout is among the lowest in the western world, and America ranks in the bottom three of countries that hold free elections. The reasons for this democracy crisis are many: Redistricting ensures very few incumbents are at risk in one-party districts, and paperless voting machines call into question whether every vote is being counted. Barriers to full participation of candidates proliferate, making it very obstructive for third party and Independent candidates to run. These problems silence alternative viewpoints and decrease voter confidence. Continue reading ...
Media BiasThe mass media in the United States is extremely concentrated, and the messages that they send are too broadly uniform. Six global corporations control more than half of all mass media in our country: newspapers, magazines, books, radio and television. Our democracy is being swamped by the confluence of money, politics and concentrated media. Continue reading ...
Shift the PowerThe three documents below provide the "tools of democracy" that shift the power so people can regain control of their government, empower themselves as consumers, and strengthen themselves as workers. Without the facilities making it easy for Americans to band together to develop organizations with staff and budget to protect their interests, workers, consumers, and voters have few ways to challenge those organized for other purposes - for example, corporations organized with contrary policies and demands. Continue reading ... Read More »
Fair TaxThe complexity and distortions of the federal tax code produces distributions of tax incidence and payroll tax burdens that are skewed in favor of the wealthy and the corporations further garnished by tax shelters, insufficient enforcement and other avoidances. Continue reading ... Federal BudgetThe United States needs a redirected federal budget that adequately funds crucial priorities like infrastructure, transit and other public works, schools, clinics, libraries, forests, parks, sustainable energy and pollution controls. Continue reading ... Jail Time Not Bail Time - Stop the BailoutIn late September, Senator Obama said to the Democrats – vote for the bailout. Senator McCain said to the Republicans – vote for the bailout. President Bush said to the Congress – vote for the bailout. But the American people were fed up. They told their members of Congress – if you vote for the bailout, we will vote against you. Continue reading ... JobsSince January 2001, 2.7 million jobs have been lost and more than 75% of those jobs have been high wage, high productivity, manufacturing jobs. Overall 5.6% of Americans are unemployed while 10.5% of African Americans are unemployed. Unemployment among Latinos is nearly 30 per cent higher than January 20, 2001. Continue reading ... PovertyAs the wealthiest country in the world, with high productivity per capita, a country that produces an abundance of capital, credit, technology and food, we can end poverty. Yet, according to the Bureau of the Census, poverty and hunger for children and adults is increasing rather than decreasing -- 34.6 million Americans lived in deep poverty, 12.1% of the U.S. population. Continue reading ... Worker's RightsThe rights of workers have been on the decline. It is time to reverse that trend and begin to give workers, the backbone of the US economy, the rights they deserve. Workers need a living wage not a minimum wage; access to health care and no unilateral reductions in medical benefits and pensions for current employees and retirees. Employers should not be able to avoid these benefits by hiring temporary workers or independent contractors. Continue reading ... Electoral ReformOur democracy is in a descending crisis. Voter turnout is among the lowest in the western world, and America ranks in the bottom three of countries that hold free elections. The reasons for this democracy crisis are many: Redistricting ensures very few incumbents are at risk in one-party districts, and paperless voting machines call into question whether every vote is being counted. Barriers to full participation of candidates proliferate, making it very obstructive for third party and Independent candidates to run. These problems silence alternative viewpoints and decrease voter confidence. Continue reading ... Media BiasThe mass media in the United States is extremely concentrated, and the messages that they send are too broadly uniform. Six global corporations control more than half of all mass media in our country: newspapers, magazines, books, radio and television. Our democracy is being swamped by the confluence of money, politics and concentrated media. Continue reading ... Shift the PowerThe three documents below provide the "tools of democracy" that shift the power so people can regain control of their government, empower themselves as consumers, and strengthen themselves as workers. Without the facilities making it easy for Americans to band together to develop organizations with staff and budget to protect their interests, workers, consumers, and voters have few ways to challenge those organized for other purposes - for example, corporations organized with contrary policies and demands. Continue reading ... Read More »Sept. 30th, 12pm
Intimate Lunch with Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez
San Francisco, CA
Contribution: $200
RSVP (202) 471-5833 or events@votenader.org Read More »
Intimate Lunch with Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez
San Francisco, CA
Contribution: $200
RSVP (202) 471-5833 or events@votenader.org Read More »
Paul says he turned down appeal to endorse McCain
By SUZANNE GAMBOA â�" 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (AP) â�" Republican Rep. Ron Paul, the libertarian-leaning Texas lawmaker who attracted a devoted following in the GOP primaries, said Wednesday he rejected an appeal to endorse John McCain's presidential bid.
Paul said the request came from Phil Gramm, the former McCain adviser and ex-senator whom the campaign jettisoned after he said the country was a "nation of whiners" about the economy. Gramm defeated Paul in the Republican primary for the Senate in 1984.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference, Paul said Gramm called him this week and told him, "You need to endorse McCain." The Texas congressman said he refused.
"The idea was that he would do less harm than the other candidate," Paul said.
Paul won no primaries in the Republican nomination contest but developed a strong following on the Internet.
He appeared at a news conference with three third-party candidates: independent Ralph Nader; former Georgia Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party candidate; and Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution Party candidate. Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate, was invited but said at his own news conference later that he declined because Paul didn't endorse one candidate.
"We need today, now, 55 days before this election, bold, focused, specific leadership and that is not the amorphous kind that says any of the above or none of the above," Barr said.
Barr said he had asked Paul to join him as his running mate on the Libertarian Party ticket while his current running mate, Wayne Root would step aside. "We don't anticopate that he will," Barr said.
Earlier, Paul called the presidential elections a charade and said voters are faced with the "lesser of two evils."
The majority of Americans, about 60 percent, are unhappy with their choices in the race, Paul said. He urged the three third-party candidates to bring all their supporters together to vote against the "establishment candidates."
Paul, 73, a former doctor, ran for president as the Libertarian candidate in 1988. He is unopposed in the November race for his congressional seat.
Nader derided media focus on what he called "lipstickgate," referring to the bickering between the McCain and Barack Obama campaigns over whether a phrase used by Obama was a sexist comment against Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
Nader, a consumer protection advocate, acknowledged differences among the third-party candidates such as government regulation of health and safety standards. But he added that he shares Paul's support for more opportunity in the political process for third-party candidates. Read More »
By SUZANNE GAMBOA â�" 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (AP) â�" Republican Rep. Ron Paul, the libertarian-leaning Texas lawmaker who attracted a devoted following in the GOP primaries, said Wednesday he rejected an appeal to endorse John McCain's presidential bid.
Paul said the request came from Phil Gramm, the former McCain adviser and ex-senator whom the campaign jettisoned after he said the country was a "nation of whiners" about the economy. Gramm defeated Paul in the Republican primary for the Senate in 1984.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference, Paul said Gramm called him this week and told him, "You need to endorse McCain." The Texas congressman said he refused.
"The idea was that he would do less harm than the other candidate," Paul said.
Paul won no primaries in the Republican nomination contest but developed a strong following on the Internet.
He appeared at a news conference with three third-party candidates: independent Ralph Nader; former Georgia Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party candidate; and Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution Party candidate. Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate, was invited but said at his own news conference later that he declined because Paul didn't endorse one candidate.
"We need today, now, 55 days before this election, bold, focused, specific leadership and that is not the amorphous kind that says any of the above or none of the above," Barr said.
Barr said he had asked Paul to join him as his running mate on the Libertarian Party ticket while his current running mate, Wayne Root would step aside. "We don't anticopate that he will," Barr said.
Earlier, Paul called the presidential elections a charade and said voters are faced with the "lesser of two evils."
The majority of Americans, about 60 percent, are unhappy with their choices in the race, Paul said. He urged the three third-party candidates to bring all their supporters together to vote against the "establishment candidates."
Paul, 73, a former doctor, ran for president as the Libertarian candidate in 1988. He is unopposed in the November race for his congressional seat.
Nader derided media focus on what he called "lipstickgate," referring to the bickering between the McCain and Barack Obama campaigns over whether a phrase used by Obama was a sexist comment against Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
Nader, a consumer protection advocate, acknowledged differences among the third-party candidates such as government regulation of health and safety standards. But he added that he shares Paul's support for more opportunity in the political process for third-party candidates. Read More »
As some interal tracking polls have on the attack Ralph Nader moving close to 12% in Michigan and 8.5% nationally, up from 6 Obama people must sense some worry. Not only might they Lose some woman to MCCain if Hillary is not the VP, Nader is cutting into the Left by showing how unprogressive Obama can be. Well actually, with Campaign finance change Obama just made, Obama is showing how unprogressive he can be. Sic
Look out Dems. You may have the wrong horse, Even the NYTIMES is attacking him.
-------------------
New York Times columnist David Brooks, in a particularly smart take, sees Obama's move as the latest sign that there are two Obamas.
"Barack Obama is the most split-personality politician in the country today," Brooks writes in today's Times. "On the one hand, there is Dr. Barack, the high-minded, Niebuhr-quoting speechifier who spent this past winter thrilling the Scarlett Johansson set and feeling the fierce urgency of now. But then on the other side, there’s Fast Eddie Obama, the promise-breaking, tough-minded Chicago pol who’d throw you under the truck for votes."
With his decision, "Fast Eddie Obama had his finest hour. Barack Obama has worked on political reform more than any other issue. He aspires to be to political reform what Bono is to fighting disease in Africa. He’s spent much of his career talking about how much he believes in public financing....But Thursday, at the first breath of political inconvenience, Fast Eddie Obama threw public financing under the truck. In so doing, he probably dealt a death-blow to the cause of campaign-finance reform. And the only thing that changed between Thursday and when he lauded the system is that Obama’s got more money now. And Fast Eddie Obama didn’t just sell out the primary cause of his life. He did it with style. He did it with a video so risibly insincere that somewhere down in the shadow world, Lee Atwater is gaping and applauding."
Meanwhile, consumer activist Ralph Nader is trying to make the most out of Obama's decision, asserting that it is further evidence that for all his talk of changing Washington, Obama is captive to the same corporate interests.
"The old Obama said he would abide by public spending limits in this election," the Nader campaign told supporters today. "The new Obama he says he won't....You know where Nader and Gonzalez stand on corporate power. And that isn't changing."
Look out Dems. You may have the wrong horse, Even the NYTIMES is attacking him.
-------------------
New York Times columnist David Brooks, in a particularly smart take, sees Obama's move as the latest sign that there are two Obamas.
"Barack Obama is the most split-personality politician in the country today," Brooks writes in today's Times. "On the one hand, there is Dr. Barack, the high-minded, Niebuhr-quoting speechifier who spent this past winter thrilling the Scarlett Johansson set and feeling the fierce urgency of now. But then on the other side, there’s Fast Eddie Obama, the promise-breaking, tough-minded Chicago pol who’d throw you under the truck for votes."
With his decision, "Fast Eddie Obama had his finest hour. Barack Obama has worked on political reform more than any other issue. He aspires to be to political reform what Bono is to fighting disease in Africa. He’s spent much of his career talking about how much he believes in public financing....But Thursday, at the first breath of political inconvenience, Fast Eddie Obama threw public financing under the truck. In so doing, he probably dealt a death-blow to the cause of campaign-finance reform. And the only thing that changed between Thursday and when he lauded the system is that Obama’s got more money now. And Fast Eddie Obama didn’t just sell out the primary cause of his life. He did it with style. He did it with a video so risibly insincere that somewhere down in the shadow world, Lee Atwater is gaping and applauding."
Meanwhile, consumer activist Ralph Nader is trying to make the most out of Obama's decision, asserting that it is further evidence that for all his talk of changing Washington, Obama is captive to the same corporate interests.
"The old Obama said he would abide by public spending limits in this election," the Nader campaign told supporters today. "The new Obama he says he won't....You know where Nader and Gonzalez stand on corporate power. And that isn't changing."
As some interal tracking polls have on the attack Ralph Nader moving close to 12% in Michigan and 8.5% nationally, up from 6 Obama people must sense some worry. Not only might they Lose some woman to MCCain if Hillary is not the VP, Nader is cutting into the Left by showing how unprogressive Obama can be. Well actually, with Campaign finance change Obama just made, Obama is showing how unprogressive he can be. Sic
Look out Dems. You may have the wrong horse, Even the NYTIMES is attacking him.
-------------------
New York Times columnist David Brooks, in a particularly smart take, sees Obama's move as the latest sign that there are two Obamas.
"Barack Obama is the most split-personality politician in the country today," Brooks writes in today's Times. "On the one hand, there is Dr. Barack, the high-minded, Niebuhr-quoting speechifier who spent this past winter thrilling the Scarlett Johansson set and feeling the fierce urgency of now. But then on the other side, there’s Fast Eddie Obama, the promise-breaking, tough-minded Chicago pol who’d throw you under the truck for votes."
With his decision, "Fast Eddie Obama had his finest hour. Barack Obama has worked on political reform more than any other issue. He aspires to be to political reform what Bono is to fighting disease in Africa. He’s spent much of his career talking about how much he believes in public financing....But Thursday, at the first breath of political inconvenience, Fast Eddie Obama threw public financing under the truck. In so doing, he probably dealt a death-blow to the cause of campaign-finance reform. And the only thing that changed between Thursday and when he lauded the system is that Obama’s got more money now. And Fast Eddie Obama didn’t just sell out the primary cause of his life. He did it with style. He did it with a video so risibly insincere that somewhere down in the shadow world, Lee Atwater is gaping and applauding."
Meanwhile, consumer activist Ralph Nader is trying to make the most out of Obama's decision, asserting that it is further evidence that for all his talk of changing Washington, Obama is captive to the same corporate interests.
"The old Obama said he would abide by public spending limits in this election," the Nader campaign told supporters today. "The new Obama he says he won't....You know where Nader and Gonzalez stand on corporate power. And that isn't changing." Read More »
Look out Dems. You may have the wrong horse, Even the NYTIMES is attacking him.
-------------------
New York Times columnist David Brooks, in a particularly smart take, sees Obama's move as the latest sign that there are two Obamas.
"Barack Obama is the most split-personality politician in the country today," Brooks writes in today's Times. "On the one hand, there is Dr. Barack, the high-minded, Niebuhr-quoting speechifier who spent this past winter thrilling the Scarlett Johansson set and feeling the fierce urgency of now. But then on the other side, there’s Fast Eddie Obama, the promise-breaking, tough-minded Chicago pol who’d throw you under the truck for votes."
With his decision, "Fast Eddie Obama had his finest hour. Barack Obama has worked on political reform more than any other issue. He aspires to be to political reform what Bono is to fighting disease in Africa. He’s spent much of his career talking about how much he believes in public financing....But Thursday, at the first breath of political inconvenience, Fast Eddie Obama threw public financing under the truck. In so doing, he probably dealt a death-blow to the cause of campaign-finance reform. And the only thing that changed between Thursday and when he lauded the system is that Obama’s got more money now. And Fast Eddie Obama didn’t just sell out the primary cause of his life. He did it with style. He did it with a video so risibly insincere that somewhere down in the shadow world, Lee Atwater is gaping and applauding."
Meanwhile, consumer activist Ralph Nader is trying to make the most out of Obama's decision, asserting that it is further evidence that for all his talk of changing Washington, Obama is captive to the same corporate interests.
"The old Obama said he would abide by public spending limits in this election," the Nader campaign told supporters today. "The new Obama he says he won't....You know where Nader and Gonzalez stand on corporate power. And that isn't changing." Read More »
Democrats should worry that Obama's Zest for the Oval office is compromising the integity of the party.
Online polls show a full 60% nation wide find him hypocritical for his public financing flip flop.
Does big Business call the shot. As the first candidate since they were inacted to pass on public campaign financing really claim to be free of corruption when they will raise a half a billion dollars from big business.
Oped News takes a look:
"His campaign is looking more and more like the traditional big business fueled campaign and the policies he is putting forward demonstrate why big business is supporting him." Read More »
Online polls show a full 60% nation wide find him hypocritical for his public financing flip flop.
Does big Business call the shot. As the first candidate since they were inacted to pass on public campaign financing really claim to be free of corruption when they will raise a half a billion dollars from big business.
Oped News takes a look:
"His campaign is looking more and more like the traditional big business fueled campaign and the policies he is putting forward demonstrate why big business is supporting him." Read More »
I was sleeping, What happened. did the celthics win?
Met Matt Gonzalez..interesting fellow.
Aren't we all democrats at heart...
jack
Aren't we all democrats at heart...
jack
i think its going to be really bad. 20 points..
jack
jack
With the field muddled and states in dispute look for an interesting announcement from John Edwards this evening on Jay Leno. Sourcesat the taping say he is jmping back on the political stage as his Home state of NC comes up for a vote.
1992 references are amazing.
JAck
http://video1.washingtontimes.com/bellantoni/2008/03/john_edwards_to_appear_on_leno.html
Read More »What happens to the 313 Delegate in Florida and Mich.
Is Obama ok with stealing the election by less than 90 delegates while the important general election states like Florida and Mich are left out.
313 delegate. After PA I demand a revo
Is Obama ok with stealing the election by less than 90 delegates while the important general election states like Florida and Mich are left out.
313 delegate. After PA I demand a revo