In March 2008, the Bush Administration bailed out Wall Street firm Bear & Sterns. Within ten days interest rates on CDs fell from 4.3% to 1.9%. On March 15th our CDs matured, so we cahed one out, put $5K into a high yeild savings account and applied $20K toward the principal ouf our house mortgage.

At the end of September the Bush Administration crammed a financial bailout plan down the throats of taxpayers that resulted in interest rates for CDs down from 2.3% to .63%. On Oct 15th our last CD matured so we cashed it out and paid off our mortgage.

We are now down to paying for groceries, insurnce and utilitiess. We may not have a large nest egg, but we do not own anyone anything. This is the America I wish for everyone else.

This Saturday Senator Gordon Smith was in Pendleton (is hometown) to talk to his supporters at the local Republican Headquaters. The local paper mentioned that Democratic supporters of Jeff Merkley would be on the sidewalk in front having a "rally" to heckle Sen. Smith. And yes, they did meet and heckle Smith's supporters. I deposited my ballot on 10/20/08 the first day the ballot box was set in front of the courthouse, isn't that enough?

As a democrat I voted against Sen. Smith, but to "rally" in front of the meeting is going too far. The race is a 50/50 tie and the local democrats have done a good job getting out the vote, it is amazing to see how many Obama/Biden signs in yards around town, but are we taking things too far??

We ate in front of the television tonight so we wouldn't miss a single heartbeaat of the debate. The biggest thing that bothered me was the fact the Gov Palin avoided every question that she didn't like (about five) which burns my butt. She also reminded me of my oldest sister whose political views are whatever her church tells her, a true right winger, in this case what ever the McCain camp told her. I feel every true American has their own oppinion on everything in their lives.

Comparing apples Sen Biden's answers were direct to the questions he was asked and inline with most mainstream democrats, while Gov Palin's answers were not direct to what was asked and not inline with her party.   Read More »

Like many other Americans I contacted my senators and congressmen not to support the Wall Street Bailout. I explained that even though I am living on a 100% VA disability ($33K per year) I manage to pay my bills and still live comfortably. Of course I use restraints on how I use my income like no smoking and limited eating out at restaurants but still enjoy myself.

For a fact Secretary Paulsun is a Wall Street insider and concerned about his buddies. The bailout will stablize some investors, for example civil service retirement, 401K and IRAs but what about Americans who make $10 an hour without health care or retirement?

Welcome to the new global power, the United States of Corporate America.

Before buying my home in 1993 I went to my local back for approval. At the time I was working at the local state hospital at a pay grade of 16, $2069 per month. My bank approved me for approximently 30% of my gross, $600 a month payment plus insurance $30 and taxes $120 which would make a house payment of $750. Being a veteran the federal VA (HUD) program approved me for 30%, $450 house, $30 insurance and $120 taxes for a $600 house payment. Having degrees in accounting and business management I deem them too high so I set a limit of $350 house, $30 insurance and $120 taxes for a $500 house payment. In addition I set goals for a house on a corner lot with a fire hydrant, the house to sit in the middle or the rear of the lot away from the street in front and to have a flowing enjoyable floorplan.

After eight months of searching I found a house that met my goals plus a house payment of $372.64 a month to include taxes and insurance. When I asked my supervisor for two weeks off to move in she asked why would I buy a home there when I was successsful, two college degrees and a decorated war veteran. Today my home is remodeled and energy efficient, and cost effective to live in, expecially now that I am on a disabled military pension.

Today the Bush Administration took over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as part of the economic salvation of their dear friends on Wall Street. And again the interest rates will plummet on savings accounts and CDs all for trying to stabilize the economy. Since the late eighties and early nineties Greedy Arrogant and Self centered Americas have followed the advice of their bankers, too dumb to realize that banks are just corporations that loan as much money to a person as they can to make as much interest (profit) for the longest period. Wait for the market to open in a few hours, and prepare for a fast ride to the sewer.

Capitalization killed the Soviet Union and is now killing the United State of America.

Many months ago Senator Obama stated that if elected he would start removal of combat troops from Iraq in 60 days at a rate of about 2 Brigades every 90 days. Has anyone heard what the latest Obama Iraq plan is? All I am hearing is crap on the media channels available in my area. At least I know what McCains plans are, four more years of the same. It sure would be nice to know what future Obama has in mind, before the election since Oregon mails out the ballots about October 21. Seems like the lights are on but no ones home.

The election process has been going on now about 18 months; now we have our candidates selected so why is the DNC spending millions of dollars on a convention in Denver? Probably because most of the delegates are successful people that make $100K or more so they can use the convention to network. This is turning more into a crowning of the king instead of a duly elected president. Will the democrats finally end the Iraq conflict? Can the democrats find an answer to the economic crisis? Can they develope a cure for the American Health Crisis? Can the democrats in Washington actually do something besides fight with the republicans to solve our problem? Face it, the convention is just an escuse for the rich people to party while the average person sits at home and try to balance their bugets so they can prevent another home foreclosure. Being the home town of Senator Gordon Smith I am proud to walk or drive around our town and see Obama 08 placards in yards, from the elite North Hill to the working class South Hill, but will we change the do nothing congress.

A few days ago I received a letter from our local school board. Due the increasing cost of fuel for the buses, and everything else as a result, to cut expense the board has decided to cut a few teachers, teachers aides, and a janitor. Under the Oregon Department of Education rules school athletics and extra-cirriculum activities are not required for a school district to remain certified, yet no school in Oregon will dare cut expense in these two areas. Why not???? Our classes are too large, yet we cut the number of teachers. Our students score low on their tests so we grade on a curve and give passing grades to those who score 58 out of a 100. Starting in the local middle schools students are identified as college material, jocks and others then teacher set priorities to help the top college and jock types and shun the others. Why???? Why are members of the wrestling team taught that anerexia and bolemia are ways to maintain their weight?   Read More »

The Pendleton Round-Up is quickly approaching as I watch more and more public service groups prepare their booths and prep their teams for the areas biggest bite of the economic apple. And all the while the election is trudging along tit for tat Democrat-Republican ads with this weeks urgent topic being off shore drilling for oil. Now Obama is jumping on the band wagon about possible off shore drilling, which is againt the democratic leadership of the party. Are we losing our focus, and are we losing who we are as democrats? How are we going to loosen the grip of oil dependence by drilling to find more oil?   Read More »

Here in the Oregon Outback we rarely receive news from west of Highway 97 which divides Oregon east and west. This weekend I received an oppinion call informing me of a ballot measure for the upcoming election in November. The measure is to change the Oregon Election Process during the primary elections. Instead of two primary ballots, Republican and Democrat, the measure would eliminate them for one open ballot. People seeking election would all be on the same ballot and voters, no matter of their party affiliate, would choose for who ever they want.   Read More »

On May 24, 1969, a week before high school graduation, I enlisted for the US Army delay entry program, graduated on June 7 and entered the Army on June 12. I was given a guarantee of choice of military occupation, my first duty station (FT. Lewis), four years of college (tution & books), and the Federal VA home loan to purchase a home. And these same benefits were also given to those young men who were drafted. President Bush and Senator John McCain are against the new GI Bill because the offer of college would entice soldiers to leave service after their first enlistment. Shame on them. Its true that the majority of Vietnam veterans got out after the first enlistment to attend college, buy a home and get on with their lives, and there were a few of us who reenlisted and worked hard to make the volunteer military work.   Read More »

Now that the longest primary season in history is over it is time to return to the issues, and since the start of the primary season things have changed night and day.   Read More »

Back in grade school history class it was said that a democracy is a government of the people by the people and for the people, yet at every turn it is determined by the rich and priviledged who is elgible to run for office. When I enlisted into the military at 17 years old I swore to defend the country from enemies both foriegn and domestic, yet did I know that the biggest enemies are home grown educated types known as Skull and Bones, Council on Foriegn Relations and the Tri-Lateral Commission. Politically I was rather naive about the way the DNC conducted the election process of the party, now that I know I am aboslutely disgusted. In Oregon to vote in a primary you must be either a republican or democrat and then can only vote for candidte inside these two parties. Luckily than in the national election in November each voter can vote for the person they what no matter which party they belong. I did not vote for President Clinton in either of his elections, I did not vote for Al Gore, but did vote for Senator Kerry. This year I am voting to end the war and to improve our economy ar home, luckily either of the democratc candidates would make a wonderful president except that the will of the people has been overturned by the rich and powerful elitest, the superdelegates. The democratic party no longers represents the average working class american.

I have tried to remain focused on the issues, but this campaign has been long and run aground along the way. Why is it important what church a candidate attends? Why have a public meeting, then let the audience cheer and jeer and disrupt the process? Why make rules that no one follows? I feel betrayed by the DNC and the rules comittee, in the end they act like the same wishy washy republicans. TOO much compromise, no and or incompetant leadership at positions at the top. America is suppose to be a Democracy, one citizen one vote. The democratic party has become non-existent. I feel cacusses do not represent the people of a state, and that only a true election of one vote is valid. And as for delegates and superdelegates are just a way for the people in power to remain in power. Let us return to a real democracy, and as for delegates and superdelegates, let us send them to the Army and Marines in Iraq to use for bait for the insurgents.

Next Tuesday the last primaries will be over and who ever is aheaad will be or should be our candidate. On Saturday the DNC will have its final decision on Florida and Michigan, but if they break their own rules to favor one candidate over the other will bring a defeat in November. Like kids on the play ground who change the rules to meet their own objective, giving Florida and Michigan delegates seating would be wrong.

With the closing polls on Tuesday, we should have a winner. Like playing poker, in the end you have to play with the cards you are dealt. For good or bad, it looks like Senator Obama will be the candidate, Senator Clinton is just too far back without Flordia and Michigan. Time to start concentrating on November, I am not going to vote for a candidate who wants 4 more years in Iraq.

The bikkering stops on Tuesday, period.

We arrived back in the USA last Tuesday (after the polls were closed) just in time to find out who won Oregon. Now that is over it is time to get behind the winner and start planning for November.

What I saw while in Latvia:

US Dollar is .445 to 1 Lat ($1123.60 = 500 Lats)

Russian tanks are on the border of Georgia ready to invade because President Bush is pushing for installation of the missle defense system in Eastern NATO countries. The Latvian President is working with PM Puttin to resolve the issue.

Spain is in a major drought with only 20% of the countrys' water remaining available. They are starting to import water using oil super tankers.

Italy is in the middle of a major wet season with most farm land and cities being flooded.

I only learned of the Chinese earthquake while at the Riga airport waiting to board the plane to come home.   Read More »

I have supported Senator Obama since my candidate Gov Richardson had droped out, have hung on every word of change, hope and a new begining. The one thing that is regularly missing is straight talk of the issues and what his ideas to change are. All I have been hearing the last three months is the same old Potomac Two Step, basaically his ideas are not that much different than Senator Clinton since I have read and reread his answers on the issues.

In the begining Senator Clinton acted like she was the anoited one to be the next President and said she would not redeployed troops from Iraq until her second term. She has sinced changed her tune on Iraq, and has openly stated what her stances on the issues are.

As for me, stubborn buttheaded, I have changed also. I can not support someone who will not tell me what he will do different, and I am willing to take a second look at a candidate who has apears to say what she thinks. I leave for Europe in the morning and completed my absentee ballot this morning. It is over for me, and I ask all fellow democrats to make up your minds and vote and lets end this crap. Sen Obama I asked for the meat of the issues and got nothing so I gave you nothing in return. ISSUES are the key!

As I filed my ballot I started reading candidate government experience background. No one on the Oregon ballot lists any military experience.

My dad was retired Navy, I am disabled Army, one brother in law is disabled Marine, one brother in law was Army National Guard, and one brother in law is a son of Navy Seal killed in Vietnam.

Having been around so many with military experience I thought everyone had some, I guess not. Most are from Yale, Harvard, Princeton, or some other big school with only civilian civil service if any.

I received my official Oregon Voters Pamphlet yesterday and low and behold found out that the ballots will not be sent out until next Friday. Since we are leaving for Europe on Tuesday. I called my local elections office and today I went in person, showed my voters registration card, completed an absentee registration, and received my ballot to complete and mail before I leave for the airport.

It is always amazing to see incumbants running unopposed, and the same old coots running for office but then there are a few new faces, heck I even wrote myself in for male precinct officer since the position is unfilled. I got home and reveiwed the directions and starting filling out the ballot.

The only thing left is to fill out the circle next to Obama or Clinton name. I hope everyone has their chance to vote, it is what makes America great! We shall return on May 20th just in time to see the election results.

I happen to see a short glimpse of ABC This Week, an interview with Sen John McCain and to my surprise he made a reaonably sharp remark. Since 9/11 the government has grown by over 30%, and instead of reducing tax cuts or paying higher taxes he would reduce the size of government back to what it should be. Pretty good. He may be older than the moon, but by not campaigning another candidate he can center his focus on things that will make a difference during the general election.

Sen Clinton and Obama better get refocused on the issues and show us their cards and see if they have winning hands. We will be receiving our Oregon ballots in the next ten days and we will have almost three weeks to compare the candidtes before the are to be returned to the election office. No more remarks about snipers, pastors, or who eats with their fork in the right or left hand lets hear where they stand.