Posts with the tag politics
About the Author
Words have to be more than just words. As we reach the apex of another election cycle it is time for words to start having real meaning. Unless you were the neighborhood bully one of the first platitudes thrown at you came from your mother, "Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never harm you." Nice sentiment but as we grew up we learned that words can be more harmful than sticks and stones. The words I would most like to see us work into the fabric of our government come from Pres. Eisenhower and Sen. Robert Kennedy.   Read More »
Democrats come in all sizes and shapes, we like different types of foods and hold jobs and social standing in all sectors of society. As a Democrat there is one truth I hold in my heart and that is to use the party to better the plight of mankind, starting right here in the USA! And I think we can agree that as Democrats we believe that all the people should be heard, not just those in the highest points of industry or those whose choice of religion or sexual orientation we agree with. And I believe that being a Democrat is not about filling your pockets with gold but to be able to look yourself in the mirror each and every morning with pride cause you believe in a better world for all people and you're ready to do something about it! What is being a Democrat mean to you?
I have the fortune of living within the confines of a district that is going to be represented by someone like Nelson Castro. I have had the opportunity to read up on his platform and speak to some of the individuals involved with his campaign, and I really believe that he will make a difference. His appeal is broad, and that's a good thing. Castro is going to fight for the residents of the district and he is not making promises that he will be unable to keep once he is elected. Furthermore, his campaign is squeaky clean and smear is something his opponents would rather engage in, not the folks supporting Castro. I will be voting for him in the primaries on September 9th, and I encourage others to do their research on Castro, and to come forth and cast their vote in favor of a new face in the Bronx political scene.
Join the newest political website www.your-voice.us help spread the word about the Democratic Revolution
George W. Bush whoops it up at a "R" fundraiser, laughing and joking while Americans suffer in silence. This time, Cenk Uygur, (The Young Turks)is very angry at the Bozo-In-Chief... Watch video and feel his rage, and his sorrow. thinkingblue   Read More »
As Senator Obama shows his presidential chops overseas, and Senator McCain angrily trudges on his town hall tour, sour that his dare to Obama has backfired on him, President Bush continues to do what he has always done best, raise funds for Republican causes. This latest fundraiser, however, has generated something more than the typical $1000-per-ticket fare. In a rare moment of honesty, that the president did not want on tape by the way, Bush admitted that Wall Street and the culture of greed was to blame for the current economic mess that we are in. (FYI, the current issue of BusinessWeek validates that point.)

The Republicans old tag line on Democrats in government is that we spend money like drunken sailors. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has used that term ad nausea when referring to the Mississippi House of Representatives. So for a Republican president to say that Wall Street was drunk with a hangover is especially telling.

Without a major power point presentation or rattling off a gaggle of statistics, Bush summed up the troubles the American economy is facing with a humorous analogy, well I say humorous because the people attending the fundraiser seemed amused. However, to the households in America that are facing foreclosure, that cannot afford health care and are coping with higher gasoline and food prices, the situation the �drunks� on Wall Street have put them on, is anything but humorous.

Yet, the GOP wants to continue to tote the water for the drunken Wall Street crowd. Like most of our friends that may imbibe too much, we make sure that they get home without incident and then laugh about it at a later time. That is exactly the strategy the GOP wants to do with this economic crisis, by limiting the damage through continued tax credits to the wealthy and expansion of their government deregulation philosophy.

What Bush should be sensitive to is that a drunk has the potential to do damage to more people than him or herself. In the case of Wall Street, their drunken lust for capital has had a devastating effect on people they will never interact with, nor do they care about. They raise the cost of oil per barrel to cover their losses on subprime loans that were used to fund 401Ks and pensions, meanwhile a person in Mississippi may lose his home, his retirement and his ability to go to and from work based on those actions.

The Wall Street crowd tells everyone not to worry, we have everything under control. Haven�t you heard an alcoholic say that before someone that really cares gets them into rehab? I contend it is time for Wall Street to go into a Greed Anonymous program, closely monitored by a Federal Government that does not want to stymie capitalism, but must gain control of a business community that has not shown Adam Smith�s hands-off theory, highlighted in his tome �The Wealth of Nations�, in its best light.

But according to McCain�s economic team, which consists of, by the way, a woman who once was in the class of CEOs that make more in 10 minutes than their employees in a year until she spied on her own board members and, now formally, a economist who invested in an adult movie and then supported Ed Meese in his crusade against pornography, my commentary is nothing more than whining. The economy is not that bad (translated, �Dude I�m not that wasted.�), they will contend.

In my opinion, we cannot continue to elect people (insert Republicans) that have that mentality any more. In my campaign speeches, I have said that this election is a battle between Wall Street versus Main Street. I am glad that President Bush has made that more crystal clear.
http://religion.info/english/articles/article_385.shtml

Source: Religioscope
Author: Richard Cimino

While there have been allegations in the past of government investigation of mosques on issues relating to terrorism, the recent report, first featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, is said to be the first confirmation that surveillance is taking place.

An article in the Los Angeles Times (May 29) reports that information about the alleged spying surfaced in a case about classified files concerning terrorism that were stolen from a secure office used by military and civilian law enforcement officials at Camp Pendleton. Some of these classified records referred to the surveillance of Muslim communities in Southern California, specifically, the Islamic Center of San Diego. The records alleged that the mosque had been monitored as part of a federal surveillance program targeting Muslim groups, according to the Union-Tribune article.   Read More »
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/07/10/muslim_profiling/index.html

Source: Salon
Author: Juan Cole

The U.S. Justice Department is considering a change in the grounds on which the FBI can investigate citizens and legal residents of the United States. Till now, DOJ guidelines have required the FBI to have some evidence of wrongdoing before it opens an investigation. The impending new rules, which would be implemented later this summer, allow bureau agents to establish a terrorist profile or pattern of behavior and attributes and, on the basis of that profile, start investigating an individual or group. Agents would be permitted to ask "open-ended questions" concerning the activities of Muslim Americans and Arab-Americans. A person's travel and occupation, as well as race or ethnicity, could be grounds for opening a national security investigation.

The rumored changes have provoked protests from Muslim American and Arab-American groups. The Council on American Islamic Relations, among the more effective lobbies for Muslim Americans' civil liberties, immediately denounced the plan, as did James Zogby, the president of the Arab-American Institute. Said Zogby, "There are millions of Americans who, under the reported new parameters, could become subject to arbitrary and subjective ethnic and religious profiling." Zogby, who noted that the Bush administration's history with profiling is not reassuring, warned that all Americans would suffer from a weakening of civil liberties.   Read More »
It looks like The Bush Team (with a little help from the Neocon speech writers) are Cherry Picking again.

This time it's Thomas Jefferson's words that are on the chopping block...   Read More »
This post is a 'heads up' call to arms! Been posting pro Obama blogs on Real Politics website. They have a reader article section. Reader articles must get 8 or more hits to be considered for the main page...The problem is that 90% of the articles are from the Red Machine and anti-Obama. Many are inflammatory and untrue. Sign up for free and post your blog links at www.realpolitics.com The site is a division of Time Magazine. And always remember that; The pen is mightier than the sword except when the other guy has a gun!
-Nick Danger
The Defense Department is the nation's biggest polluter and they are resisting orders from the Environmental Protection Agency to clean
up Fort Meade and two other military bases where the EPA says dumped chemicals pose "imminent and substantial" dangers to public health and the environment.

The actions are part of a standoff between the Pentagon and environmental regulators that has been building during the Bush administration, leaving the EPA in a legal limbo as it addresses growing concerns about contaminants on military bases that are seeping into drinking water aquifers and soil.

Under executive branch policy, the EPA will not sue the Pentagon, as it would a private polluter. Although the law gives final say to EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson in cleanup disputes with other federal agencies, the Pentagon refuses to recognize that provision. Military officials wrote to the Justice Department last month to challenge EPA's authority to issue the orders and asked the Office of Management and Budget to intervene.

Experts in environmental law said the Pentagon's stand is unprecedented.

It appears we have another Bush administration travesty of justice and that it's going nearly unreported in the mainstream media. Why is this story not front and center? Shouldn't we bring this story front and center? The editorial department of your local paper is but a mouseclick away...Let's stand up for our rights and those of all americans as we paint Washington blue in Novemeber!
How often do we ask for our Daily Bread to be given and really believe that it will be done because it already is in motion according to devine law? Not really Obamistic blogging just reciting a mantra for change in my personal life. But isn't this election all about change for most Americans? It's about change and new beginnings, change and new life injected into the lifeless This is an election about "hope"...For so many of us it's about having the opportunity offered to compete with the best and to become the best we possibly can in all areas of our life. Barack Obama offers this hope and it is up to all of us to get that message out from those on the fence and even a few on the other side. What are your strategies to reach out? I've got my ears to the ground...
According to a recent L.A. Times/Bloomberg poll released this past Wednesday, three out of four Americans, including large numbers of Republicans, blame President Bush's economic policies for making the country worse off during the last eight years. Not surprising, this reflects a sharp increase in public pessimism during the last year.

Nine percent of respondents said the country's economic condition had improved since Bush became president, compared with 75% who said conditions had worsened. Among Republicans, 42% said the country was worse off, while 26% said it was about the same, and 22% thought economic conditions had improved. Many Republicans polled admitted they'd voted for Bush in the past two elections but wouldn't do so again. That's good since he can't run again but how does that translate to Barack Obama?

We have three a three front war the Obama campaign must wage 1) Unify Democrats, 2) attract Independents to the campaign and 3) go behind the Red curtain and secretly enlighten sectors of the disenfranchised to join our ranks. Of course this all must be done with finesse while not appearing to move too far in any one direction or toward any one group or segment of any group while also being careful not to make the slightest mistake in any speech, appointment or otherwise that might be construed as fodder for the cannons of the Republican guard. It's a tall order to be had, but done with grace will take us over the beach-head and through the jungle to our prize.

We find ourselves at a cross roads and the time has come to not wrestle with each other over policy matters but to forge a sharp cohesive tool the campaign would like and desperately needs to cut a swath right through that jungle with ease. The time has come to lay down our egos and set our differences aside to ensure that we win this election. We can find ways to blame the W and hold our breath but the most powerful way to use this weapon...and we've got to come up for air sooner or later, after all we are mammals and thinking ones at that... is to use these poll numbers to unify ourselves as one voice. The time has come to shore up our support for a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress! Mount your steed ladies and gentlemen and crack those whips... Talyho!
Yesterday I turned on MSNBC's "Hardball" for a couple minutes while taking a break from a tedius day making money to fill my tank. CNBC's Jim Kramer was chatting with guest host Mike Barnacle about gas prices in the good ol' USA and the effects of outside. They touched on speculators and offshore drilling, a sore spot for us sunny southern California regulars. Eventually they got to the effects of the Iraq war on oil prices. Behind the scenes our government, The Bush administration is calling on Opec for an additional 2 million barrels of crude a day to bring prices back down to manageable levels that existed before the spike in prices. No official figures have been released but it is estimated that Iraq's pre-war levels were 2 to possibly 4 million barrels a day. So in essence we were told on national television that Iraq was pumping more than enough oil to end our high gas prices before George W Bush invaded on false pretenses. Where is the rest of the media in covering this story? Where is the investigative journalism? Why have there been no questions on this issue? And to add injury to insult, much of the oil pumped in Iraq today has been stolen and/or funneled off to a black market that is in some cases funding the very terrorists whose influence we are attempting to oust!
Trouble brewing for McCain? Could be...According to an article that ran in the L.A. Times last week something is under all those suds at Hensley & Co., one of the nation's major beer wholesalers that has brought the family of Cindy McCain wealth, prestige and influence in Phoenix. That something is not just malt, hops and bitter either... Cindy McCain, owns a beer distribution company that has engaged in lobbying. As a senator John McCain has recused himself from alcohol issues, but as president he wouldn't be able to.

Hensley, founded by Cindy McCain's late father, holds federal and state licenses to distribute beer and lobbies regulatory agencies on alcohol issues that involve public health and safety. The Phoenix piquant of pint, has also opposed such groups as Mothers Against Drunk Driving in fighting proposed federal rules requiring alcohol content information on every package of beer, wine and liquor.

Its executives, including John McCain's son Andrew, have written at least 10 letters in recent years to the Treasury Department, have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to a beer industry political action committee, and hold a seat on the board of the politically powerful National Beer Wholesalers Assn.

Hensley has run afoul of health advocacy groups that have tried to rein in appeals to young drinkers. For example, the company distributes caffeinated alcoholic drinks that public health groups say put young and underage consumers at risk by disguising the effects of intoxication.

Doesn't it seem obvious that the involvement of McCain's family in federal regulatory issues could create a conflict of interest for a future McCain administration? According to advocacy groups and political analysts that's just the case. Are we saving this tidbit of good tidings for the general election or just to celebrate our new found brew in the local tap room? As a Senator he's perfected his bob and weave off the highway but on the highway to the white house there could be trouble brewing. Raise your glass cause these suds are

McCain Mcsame

The closer we get to the presidential election the more John McCain looks and acts like George W. Bush. I don't know what his strategy is all about but do we really want another term of the neocons and Bush? I think not! Perhaps, he is banking on another 9/11 or something to shock Americans into the same fear-hold Karl Rove and the rest of the neocon manipulators had on the people...You know that PNAC group (which has since shut down their site...hmmm I wonder why, does rats overboard mean anything?) But, the PNAC in order to unleash their foreign/military campaigns needed a catalyzing event like "a new Pearl Harbor". (neocon quote) 9/11 rode to their rescue. Now they were able to Pied Piper all the little frightened children into the black hole of hell. But their utopian plan did not work out so well. Maybe they need another Pearl Harbor because it seems the little children have lost some of their fear and may need a booster shot. How much more can we take? Obama or Anyone But McBush! Thanks, thinkingblue

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I lifted my head from the pillow at at 5:45am this morning, rolling over and turning on the television to political commentary from an author I wasn't familiar with. He told the tale of the Swiftboat campaign against John Kerry, which played out in the media for 30 days before Kerry responded. By that time the damage had been done. The author went on to say that Karl Rove was involved with the Swiftboat campaign and that he knew as an insider that John Kerry suffers from Post Traumatic Stress disorder, which Kerry isn't comfortable sharing with the general populace. As with many of you I'd suspected Rove's involvment in the Swiftboat ads but I'd never heard of Kerry suffering from Post Traumatic Stress disorder. The Swiftboat campaign, though based on falsehoods and out and out lies cost John Kerry the election. I cried the day after it was all over... Let this be a reminder to all of us on the left side of the aisle that we must not lay down, even in green pastures cause someone may decide to cut the grass.
We do need change. The system is broken. The way our society runs when left unchecked by the right wing machine, the way they call on free markets to do their own thing, unequivically. Shouldn't someone steer the ship? The divide grows and the powerful rise and the poor are forgotten. The middle is missing and no one knows where. It's in Washington, Mississippi, and in the streets of L.A. the feeling we've all lost our way. It's the good ol' USA, and our government from the top down has become a grain mill chewing up our raw human capitol and spitting out consumers at the expense of delivering educated free thinkers. We're a nation of consumers programmed to exist for the sole purpose of consuming goods that are made by corporations in bed with those who govern. It's as simple as that. Why else would Dick Cheney smile like a Cheshire cat? The Democratic call for change must not go in vein. Raise your hand if you're happy with more of the same. Or you could lasso your dreams, try something new, get back in the game.
Rush Limbaugh Attacks Black Katrina victims and praises Whites as the Floods hit. Limbaugh: I want to know. I look at Iowa, I look at Illinois—I want to see the murders. I want to see the looting. I want to see all the stuff that happened in New Orleans. I see devastation in Iowa and Illinois that dwarfs what happened in New Orleans. I see people working together. I see people trying to save their property…I don’t see a bunch of people running around waving guns at helicopters, I don’t see a bunch of people running shooting cops. I don’t see a bunch of people raping people on the street. I don’t see a bunch of people doing everything they can…whining and moaning—where’s FEMA, where’s BUSH. Please Click Here to see video Thanks, thinkingblue.blogspot.com
I turn on cable news and the Great Cookie Debate races across the screen. I check another channel and Cindy McCain's scandalous baking practices are all the rage their as well. And behind the scenes they're not really talking about cookies at all but gathering kindling, foodie fodder, Oats for their verbal gunboats that will join the fight that is of concern to us all, the origination of Cindys dough. We all know that Cindy McCain doesn't have time to bake anyhow. She's busy running that beer empire she inherited and generally just bein' her bad skinny self and I mean really skinny. Come on, she doesn't eat cookies, not hers or otherwise. Can we say "spin"? Now if she were baking all those cookies from her supposed recipe and delivering them to homeless folks across the country, poor folks whom probably are hardly ever given anything or midwestern flood victims who do bake and probably don't have an oven to go home too (or even a baking pan for that matter). Well that would be something to talk about. That would be something for us on the Obama side of the isle to dread. In the interim the cookie wars continue while unemployment grows, more brave men and women die in Iraq and our food and gas prices are headed for the ceiling. Cindy go drive your race car and post whatever recipe floats your boat. We'll still be here on the side of the people side of the isle standing with the people, a little hungry and a bunch tired. This one won't be so easy for the reds cause we're all FIRED UP and READY TO GO!
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