I'm Back (to Indoctrinate your Children)

Ok, I am sufficiently outraged as to start blogging again. I took a break for a while (a long while), partly because of school, because I moved, and honestly, because I didn't have much to complain about for a while. True, I've been quite disappointed by the reaction of many Central Texans to Obama's election, but not enough to write too much about it. Let me clarify that statement. I do not expect everyone to bow down and worship Obama. Many of his hard-core supporters think there are some things that he could be doing differently. No, I am simply sick of the fearmongering that is swirling about. I'm tired of Obama's critics tossing out a few political catchphrases designed to get their based good and riled up, and then listening to the ensuing chaos.

One more qualification: I was a Bush-basher. I have a bumper sticker on my car that reads "So the Dixie Chicks were right after all." I was an informed Bush-basher, however. I can handle debate; I can handle disagreement. What I can't handle is the ignorance. If all you've heard is the Fox News version, then please either a.) sit down and shut the up, or b.) do some more research. If you've learned some things about what you are bitching about, and still have the same opinion, bring it on. I'd love to talk to you. If neither choice a. nor b. applies to you, get a hobby or something. Join a monastery and take a vow of silence. Learn to knit...anything but this.

What's gotten me so annoyed is the uproar over Obama's address to students on Tuesday. I'm hearing people saying they are pulling their kids out of school that day. There are so many reasons why this is ridiculous. First of all, my understanding is that the speech is going to be a standard, "hey-kids-stay-in-school-don't-do-drugs" kinda thing. I remember watching George H.W. Bush do the same thing when I was in 1st-2nd grade. There may have been an uproar then, but I was a little to young to join in on the fun. Anyway, unless Obama will be sending subliminal messages to the kiddies, I highly doubt that any of them are going to be receiving instructions on how to get a quickie abortion, join the gay rights movement, hug a treee, or become a Socialist. The message is to do well in school, which, ironically, is best achieved by having good attendance. So, go to school on Tuesday, kids.

All in all, I think this is a minor thing that will hopefully blow over. We have bigger fish to fry. It's not worth getting this upset over. We've got some real problems to fix.

On a side note, I'm going to try to post more often, now that I'm settled at my new school and in my new apartment. Before, I kinda wanted people to read and comment my blog, now I don't care. This is just an outlet for my frustrations. If you like it great, if not...that's also great. This is going to be my equivalent of a punching bag from now on.

Obama the Dictator

Rep. Paul Broun, of Georgia, has said that he is afraid that Obama will be a dictator, and that he is planning to use a Gestapo-like police force to help him achieve dictatorship. From the Associated Press:

Broun said he was not fear-mongering but wants to warn people that the
nation could be going down that path.

How is saying that Obama is leading down the same path the Hitler led Germany not fearmongering?

Broun goes on to say:

We can't be lulled into complacency. You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I'm not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I'm saying is there is the potential of going down that road.

That's like saying, "I'm not gonna compare Obama to Hitler, but hey, this guy's a lot like Hitler."

Obama did say that he supported civilian support for our military, to help in postwar construction, but he was talking about using reserve units. This idea has been supported by W. himself. Has anyone,besides maybe this idiot, ever considered the Army National Guard to be a Gestapo-like police force? Probably not.

Then he begins to rant about gun control. It has been widely reported that gun sales are way up, because rednecks are losing their damn minds, thinking Obama's going to take their guns away. Obama supports "common sense" gun laws, which means he'll probably only focus on assault weapons and concealed handguns.

Ok, here's my position on gun control. If you are a hunter and use hunting rifles for game, great. You shoot for sport, fine. If you feel that you need protection, and are trained to use a handgun, go for it. Get a license if you carry it with you. But why does any law-abiding citizen need an assault rifle? There may be perfectly valid reasons for this, but I can't think of any.

So, Broun will continue the fearmongering, yes, it is fearmongering, that was such a vital part of the Republican campaign. Most of the rest of us will get behind our new president and wait for a new day to come.

Molly Ivins Called It

"You know, that young man could be president some day."

This is what the late Texas liberal said of Barack Obama at the 2004 DNC, where he burst onto the national scene.

I had not really gotten into politics by then, and I never really appreciated Molly Ivins while she was alive. However, since I have caught the political bug, I have read quite a bit of what she wrote, and I am saddened that she did not live to see what transpired Tuesday night.

Since she's no longer around to comment on history being made, here is a collection of some of my favorite Molly Ivins quotes:

Next time I tell you someone from Texas should not be president of the United States, please pay attention.

God, we should have listened.

We always said that if Hollywood ever needed somebody to play the role of God Almighty, they ought to get Barbara Jordan.

That's from a PBS tribute to Barbara Jordan, shortly after her death in 1996:

What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority.

How true.

Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful. I only aim at the powerful. When satire is aimed at the powerless, it is not only cruel -- it's vulgar.

That's why I took so much pleasure in the mass mocking of Republicans this year. It was well deserved.

It is possible to read the history of this country as one long struggle to extend the liberties established in our Constitution to everyone in America.

It is my hope that "we the people" will one day include everyone. We have took a big step forward, as well as a step back this week.

Any nation that can survive what we have lately in the way of government, is on the high road to permanent glory.

No joke.

We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we're for them and trying to get them out of there.

That's from the last column she wrote before she died in 2007.

I believe all Southern liberals come from the same starting point -- race. Once you figure out they are lying to you about race, you start to question everything.

I couldn't agree with this more. I always remember learning about black history in February, but it was a very watered down version. It was not until very recently that I started digging deeper for the truth. To all of you people who still sport the rebel flag, know this: the South has an ugly and shameful past. You might want to think twice about clinging so desperately to it.

In 2004, Molly Ivins's prediction of a President Obama may have been far-fetched, but on Tuesday, we made it happen. Honestly, I am still in awe of what has happened.

Warm Fuzzies and Quotes of the Week

Since so much of my attention has been focused recently on the negative reaction to Obama's election, I need to redirect my thoughts to what has happened.

Obama won. Americans went to the polls and picked our next president by a large margin. No recounts, no intervention from the Supreme Court. He won this thing fair and square.

So, since I've been on the defensive pretty much since the results came in, here is a collection of things that have inspired me, made me laugh, or caused me to think.



Barack Obama, in his victory speech:

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

Michael Gerson, former Bush speechwriter:

I suspect I will have many substantive criticisms of the new administration, beginning soon enough. Today I have only one message for Barack Obama, who will be our president, my president: Hail to the chief.

Rudy Giuliani, on whether he would support Obama:

You know what happens tomorrow morning when this is all over, or tomorrow afternoon, or whenever, or tonight? We all become Americans, and we support Barack Obama or John McCain 100 percent. Because if they fail, we fail.

Brian Williams, calling the election:

11 PM on the East Coast. We're back on the air and we have news. There will be young children in the White House for the first time since the Kennedy generation. An African-American has broken the barrier as old as the republic; an astonishing candidate, an astonishing campaign. A seismic shift in American politics.

Iman Bibars, Egyptian women's activist and, often, "sharp" critic of the U.S.:

When Obama won, I felt it was the return of the American Dream. I just cried
through the whole thing, because it gave me hope that the good guy will win, in
a world where good people don't normally win.

What some folks call impossible is just stuff they haven't seen before.
--What Dreams May Come.

And Men Have Lost Their Reason...

Let me preface what I am about to say with this statement: I support freedom of speech. The First Amendment has kept me out of a lot of trouble. As a liberal voter in a solidly red state, my opinion is not often shared by my neighbors, coworkers, or even family members. Free speech is an essential right in American, and while I may disagree, sometimes vehemently, with you, I respect your right to say what's on your mind.

The one exception to this liberty is when a person abuses their right to free speech to incite a riot or violent activity. For example, we all know that it is widely accepted to be wrong to yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater. Another example that I have witnessed in the last 24 hours is promoting, encouraging, or condoning violence against a public official, namely our President-elect, Barack Obama.

I work in a small-town grocery store to pay my way through college. Today, the day after we elected our first black president, the sheer hatred that I saw coming from so-called "good" people absolutely floored me.

I lost count of how many times I was forced to listen to racial epithets and violent tirades. You see, I cannot afford to lose my job. I was stuck, behind a counter, as person after person took shot after shot at everything I believe in.

One lady referred to yesterday as "The Day America Died." I think she might have been right, not because we elected Barack Obama to be our next president, but because of people like her refuse to move on. It is because of people like this ignorant woman, who probably couldn't give one valid reason for using this phrase, other than that it was likely to incite anger, that we cannot get over our differences.

I have engaged in plenty of name-calling and mudslinging throughout this campaign, trying to gain support for my candidate. I admit that. I have gotten into heated arguments over issues and policies. What I did not do was attack McCain's patriotism or his service to our country. I believe that McCain tried to keep his campaign focused on tangible issues (healthcare, taxes, Iraq, etc.), but it was impossible. A group of his supporters, not all of them, but the group that has bullied our nation into submission the last eight years would simply not let this be a clean fight. We were bombarded attacks on Obama's character. He's a Muslim...He's a Socialist...He kills babies...He pals around with terrorists. These are all incendiary accusations that are meant to invoke fear. There is no truth here, but these allegations can be spun to look suspiciously like the truth. For example, 23 percent of Texans believe that Obama is a Muslim. Minimal research shows that this is untrue. However, a closed mind does not wish to dig deeper. Barack Obama doesn't sound like he comes from around here, so he must be a Muslim. The Socialist label? How many people who have called Obama a socialist even know what the hell socialism is? My guess is not many.

I have defended Obama's ideas and proposed policies. The election is over and decided, and I will rest my case for a while. What I cannot abide is this unadulterated hatred that has become apparent in the past day or so. When I woke up this morning, Obama's victory speech was still fresh on my mind, and I thought we might actually see change for the better. After a long day of dealing with bigots, however, I am disheartened. I do not know what the day after was like in other more progressive states, or parts of my state, but it was a sad day for my part of Texas today.

Yes We Did

I just got back from watching history.

There will be time for analysis and criticism later. For now, I just want to reiterate how proud I am to be an American. As I watched Obama give his victory speech tonight, I couldn't help but feel that my future, all of our futures, had somehow depended on this election.

Looking at the crowd at Grant Park in Chicago was awe-inspiring. Actually, it was just inspiring. People of all ages, races, and ideologies gathered to watch history. As Obama thanked his supporters, I forgot all about the partisan sniping and attacks of the past few months. Obama praised John McCain as a great American, and I believed him. I decided that all of the complaints that I have about this election, the Republican Party, and politics in general could wait until tomorrow. I sincerely hope that we can all get behind Obama to make America, as my hero Barbara Jordan once put it, "as good as its promise."

There is one thing that cannot wait until tomorrow, however. I cannot abide the contined racism and fearmongering that some sore losers are still participating in. As the night progressed, and an Obama victory seemed inevitable, I began to get phone calls and text messages from people that I know who are small-minded bigots.

"I wonder if there might be an assassination attempt tonight," one wrote. Another, "Lol he is winning because of sympathy vote his mom died of cancer [sic]." One more, "I swear if Obama wins, someone is gonna hang him!!"

As much as listening to Obama speak tonight makes me feel like I should be better than stooping to the level of racist and ignorant people, I cannot emphasize strongly enough that this is unacceptable. I want to go on one of my usual foul-mouthed tirades, but I cannot. My only consolation is that one day, you people will burn in hell I saw tonight that there is still good in this country, and that if we work together, we can change things for the better.

I Voted

I just got back from voting, and things went pretty smoothly. I had a whole 3 people in front of me. Don't be alarmed. Turnout wasn't low, I just live in a tiny county (Falls county, if you care to know).

I did not vote straight ticket, because I get some strange satisfaction in actually voting for an individual that I have researched and read about. It's like taking a test that you have really studied for.

Anyway, I have to admit that I did not vote for every Democrat on the ballot. There were a couple of races that I was really torn over. I was the dreaded undecided voter. It's not quite as dramatic to be undecided over railroad commissioner or a judge for the Court of Criminal Appeals, however.

So, here's how it went.

At the top of the ballot, there was no question as to who I was going to vote for. Obama/Biden all the way. Ditto on our Senate race. I support Noriega. Although he may not have the experience that Cornyn does, should we really consider experience as a Bush yes-man a positive thing?

For U.S. House, I voted for the Democrat, Brian P. Ruiz, over incumbent John Carter. For State House, I picked Democratic incumbent, Jim Dunnam, who was opposed only by a Libertarian candidate.

There was little anxiety over my Texas Supreme Court picks, as I had decided a while ago to support Jordan, Yanez, and Houston. My only reservation is that current Chief Justice, Wallace Jefferson, a Republican, seems to be doing a resectable job. However, I find it unacceptable that the Texas Supreme Court is currently composed of 9 Republicans and 0 Democrats. We need to even things up a bit.

For the Court of Criminal Appeals, I wholly support Susan Strawn against Tom Price for Place 3, but I was torn over the other Democrat, J.R. Molina. Almost all descriptions of him lead me to believe that he may not be fit to hold office. The incumbent, Paul Womack, has been described in much the same way. I considered voting for the Libertarian candidate for Place 4, Dave Howard, but he really did nothing to let us get to know him. In two questionnaires that I read, he failed to provide a response. So, I voted for Molina just for the sheer fact that the Court of Criminal Appeals is just as unbalanced as the Supreme Court. They also need to even things up. For Place 9, I voted for the Libertarian William Strange, because there was no Democratic candidate, and, no offense to any Libertarians out there, but he doesn't sound like a nutjob.

Another race that I was torn over was for Railroad Commissioner. The incumbent is Michael Williams, a Republican. His opponents are Mark Thompson (D), a therapist for the blind and disabled, and Dave Howard (L). The Democrat, Thompson, is running for Railroad Commissioner because he feels that the commission has done nothing to improve pipeline safety. Every major Texas newspaper that I have read has endorsed Williams, and I honestly felt like I couldn't criticize Sarah Palin for being unqualified if I voted for someone who had never worked in the energy industry. With all of the criticism that the Democrats have been taking about blindly following Obama because of his lofty rhetoric and desire for change, I didn't want to vote for someone based on anything other than his or her qualifications. So (gasp!) I voted for a Republican.

For the 10th Court of Appeals, I voted for Democrat Richard Ferguson over Republican Rex Davis, who has signs EVERYWHERE. Ferguson has worked for the court for about three years, and, once again, will bring a balance of opinion to our court system.

The final races are the county races, and it is likely that no one cares about Falls County. But, I did add two more Republicans to my total here, as I voted for one unopposed Republican constable who has done a good job, and I picked the Republican incumbent for county commissioner, who also seems to do a good job.

More Crazy from the State Board of Ed

Cynthia Noland Dunbar, a member of the conservative gang on the Texas State Board of Education, recently wrote an article for the Christian Worldview Network. She began by saying, "Can we truly even imagine an America under an Obama Administration? I sincerely believe that an Obama Administration would ultimately mean one thing…the end of America as we know her."

Ok, so she's going for the Republican-invoking-fear thing. That's great. Also, the accusation that Obama is going to destroy American really only appeals to the uneducated, and since Dunbar is a member of the State Board of Education, she knows just how badly the board has failed, and that there are a whole lot of uneducated people in Texas.

Next, she says, "I cannot understand how we can potentially elect a man who most likely has violated the Constitution in his very attempt to serve as Commander and Chief."

I'm going to agree with Rachel Maddow here, and say that a Republican complaining about the violation of the Constitution can be compared to Colonel Sanders fighting for chicken rights.

Dunbar's argument is that Obama is not an American citizen because of time spent in Indonesia as a child. This fits right in with the whole Republican strategy of trying to make God-fearin' real Americans afraid of the foreigner socialist that is trying to take all their hard-earned money.

She then goes on to say that the courts will do nothing about this because of "our own militant leftist Judicial Branch." Excuse me? Bush has appointed only the most hard-core right-wingers to serve on the Federal bench during his administration. Dunbar needs to look no further than our own state to see that the judicial branch is definitely not militantly leftist.

Dunbar continues to ramble on and on about how if Obama is elected, the country will naturally be under martial law, but offers no evidence or even possible scenarios to back this up. It's pretty much, Obama is elected, and then, boom, martial law.

She closes with this: "I fear for our great nation and her potential demise should we as Americans elect Sen. Obama. I shall take no joy in saying 'I told you so' if Obama gets elected. But just for the record, remember, 'I told you so.'"

Alright, this is the person who helps decide what your children will learn. How blind are we that we will elect a person who seems mentally unstable and full of hate to serve in a position that affects kids? Unfortunately, Dunbar's seat is not up for election this year, but when it is, we need to get her out of there.

Tomorrow is the Day!

It is hard to describe how I am feeling right now. In less than 24 hours, I will cast my vote (I know, I should have voted early...) in what has been called the most important election of any of our lifetimes. The only thing that I can think of to compare this feeling to is the feeling that I used to have on the night before Christmas as a kid.

But now I am an adult, and things don't get me quite as excited as they used to. I consider myself cynical, jaded, and over-analytical, and yet, I am inspired.

Some say that it is all a con, this "Yes We Can" message. They say that we are being fooled by a man who is offering false hope for change. We are accused of either not knowing or ignoring the facts, and voting for our candidate based on his oratory skills or his skin color.

Whatever you think about Barack Obama and his supporters, you must admit this: We have come a long way. There was a time in our (very recent) history when Obama, as a black man, or Hillary Clinton, as a woman, could not even vote. Now, in 2008, both candidates very viable to be the leader of the free world. That is a step in the right direction.

What about those who refuse to step into this milennium? There are still people, lifelong Democrats, who vehemently oppose Barack Obama. Some people that I know consider themselves yellow dog Democrats but are voting for McCain. When I ask them why, they cannot come up with an answer. I don't think I am alone in assuming that their opposition is race-based.

So, even though we still have our Civil War holdouts, Texas especially, we are making progress. No matter which way the election goes tomorrow, we have made our mark on history. People have stood together and proclaimed that things are about to change. Politics will no longer be the "good ol' boys club" that it always has been. Some of us, who have never been interested before, are paying attention. We have learned that we have a voice and that there are people to speak for us.

No matter what happens tomorrow, things are going to change.

2 Days...

Here are some random thoughts and questions with two days to go:

• As much as I appreciate the extra hour that comes with Daylight Savings time, I bet the candidates and the press enjoy it so much more. It has been a long, hard battle for both sides.
• How are there still undecided voters? We have been inundated with information, debates, facts, lies, and negative ads for months now. Make up your damn mind, the suspense is killing us.
• If Ralph Nader ruins this for us, I think he should be forced to be Bush's new roommate when he leaves Washington.
• Where has Ann Coulter been? I mostly read Texas newspapers, but even before they stopped printing her stuff, she was all over talk shows and the news. The only time that I have heard her name mentioned this year was in the tragic case of Ann Pressley, the anchorwoman who was beaten to death in her home in October. Pressley played Coulter in "W."
• If Sarah Palin really donates all of her campaign clothes to charity after the election, we are about to start seeing some really sharp dressed poor people.
• Dick Cheney endorsed McCain yesterday. Isn't that a little bit like getting Satan's stamp of approval? Obama said, "I'd like to congratulate Sen. McCain on this endorsement, because he really earned it. That endorsement didn't come easy." Wow, I wonder if you actually have to shoot somebody to win Cheney's endorsement.
• I never really appreciated Bill Clinton until he was gone. It's been kinda fun having him around again. I'm sure, of course, that all of his supporters are getting tired of having to lock up their daughters, but, hey, everyone has to sacrifice.
• McCain was just on "Larry King: Live." Topics included techniques for keeping punks off your lawn, the best brands of prune juice, and their lives during the Civil War. Those were the days.
• This election could help bring back "Celebrity Death Match." Of course, there's Obama vs. McCain. but think of the other possibilties. Colin Powell vs. Joe the Plumber. Hillary Clinton vs. Sarah Palin. Michelle Obama vs. Cindy McCain. Bill Clinton vs. Ted Stevens. Oprah vs. Elizabeth Hasselbeck. The possibilities really are endless.

Quotes of the Week

Liz Carpenter, former press secretary to Lady Bird Johnson and Hillary supporter, in the Dallas Morning News:

"Hillary has made scores of speeches supporting Mr. Obama. If she can get over her loss, so can we. Any Democrat who considers supporting John McCain must count the cost of such a vote: Four more years of Bush policies, the continuation of the war in Iraq, expanded tax cuts for the rich, no progress in health care reform, right-wing Supreme Court justices and a vice president who is profoundly unprepared to be president. Sarah Palin is against everything the women's movement stands for: She may be female in gender, but she's a good old boy at heart."

Maureen Dowd's screenplay, "The Maverick Wears Prada," in the New York Times, about the Republican wardrobe scandal. In the end, Palin goes AWOL, and McCain doesn't want to find her, saying:

"For my End of Days, I'd prefer to finish the race with Lieberman."

Arnold Garcia in the Austin American-Statesman, on Palin and McCain's claims that they are average people:

"Maybe we ought to be asking ourselves this question: Do you want the people who are only "average" running the country? Do you really want that cigarette-sucking loudmouth on the next stool running health policy? Or that "average" slug in the next cubicle running foreign policy? Don't you want people making the big decisions to be above average?"

Rachel Maddow, responding to state senator senator Kit Bond (R- Missouri) who said this at a Sarah Palin rally: "(Obama) said,...I want judges who have a heart, have an empathy for the teenage mom, the minority, the gay, the disabled.'"

"A couple things, first, a Republican complaining about mistreatment of the Constitution after these last eight years? It's kind of like Colonel Sanders arguing for chicken rights. Second, if a judge has empathy, that's not legal? And third, forgive me here but, the gay? Senator Kit Bond warning us off of compassion for the gay? You know it's not catching, right? It's not like the measles."

John McCain, coming to the realization the Joe the Plumber may have stood him up:

"Joe`s with us today.
Joe, where are you?
Where is Joe? Is Joe here with us today?
Joe, I thought you were here today.
All right. Well, you`re all Joe the plumbers, so all of you stand up and say..."

Kay Hagan (D- North Carolina) gives Elizabeth Dole (R- North Carolina) a biblical bitch slap, after Dole put out an ad that seems to suggest that Hagan said that there was no God:

"Sure, politics is a tough business, but I approved this message because my campaign is about creating jobs and fixing our economy, not bearing false witness against fellow Christians."

Michael Goldfarb, a McCain aide, failing miserably at the guilt by association game. Check out part of the transcript:

Sanchez: Now, is the -- I need to parse this out as best I can from you, Michael. The fact that John McCain's organization gave $448,000 to this group that was founded by Mr. Khalidi, is there no reason for some to be critical of as well just as some might be critical of Barack Obama for being at a meeting with some girl read a poem for example?
Goldfarb: Look. You are missing the point again, Rick. The point is that Barack Obama has a long track record of being around anti-Semitic and anti-Israel and anti-American rhetoric.
Sanchez: Can you name one other person besides Khalidi who he hangs around that is anti-Semitic?
Goldfarb: Yes, he pals around with William Ayers.
Sanchez: No, no, the question I asked you is that can you name one other person who he hangs around with who is anti-Semitic? Because that is what you said.
Goldfarb: Look, we know there are people who Barack Obama has been in hot water--
Sanchez: Michael, I asked you the name one person. One.
Goldfarb: Rick --
Sanchez: You said he hangs around with people who are anti-Semitic. Okay. Khalidi and name other people that we all know about?
Goldfarb: And Rick, we both know who number two is.
Sanchez: Who? Would you tell us?
Goldfarb: No, Rick, I think we all know who we are talking about here.
Sanchez: Somebody who is anti-Semitic that he hangs around with.
Goldfarb: I think we all know who we are talking about.
Sanchez: Say it.
Goldfarb: I think we all know who we're talking about, Rick.
Sanchez: Well, you say that his policies differ from Barack Obama and many other people, and either way, we have the leave it at that.

Dear Joe the Plumber,

You have had your fifteen minutes, now please shut the hell up.

You have implied that Barack Obama is anti-American, and you are the one that started this whole socialism thing. Now, I see a picture of you in the paper this morning, standing in front of a row of U.S. flags agreeing that a vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel.

I was one of the people who thought that it was unfair that you were attacked because of the attention that McCain gave you during the last debate. I didn't think it was fair that your background was investigated and personal information about was published in newspapers and on the Internet.

Now the gloves are off, Joe.

You don't agree with Obama, fine. But please stop throwing out these buzzwords for hateful, ignorant people to latch on to. You sparked the "Obama is a socialist trend" and now people who have no concept of what socialism even is are practically calling for his head. This is the kind of behavior that prevailed when good old Joe McCarthy was running the show, and I thought we were past that. Apparently not.

Now you are an expert on Israel? Wow, the Republican Party must do one hell of a job of teaching foreign policy. Did you have the same teacher as Sarah Palin? Can you see Israel from Ohio?

Anyway, while I originally thought that it was a low blow to go after you, Joe, I am going to suggest that you are anti-American. Here's why:

You apparently don't pay your taxes. It is our obligation as Americans to pay taxes, why should you be any different? Furthermore, why should you be concerned about Obama's tax plans if you aren't going to pay them anyway?

You're not even real. Your real name is Samuel Wurzelbacher. You're not a licensed plumber. "Joe the Plumber" is a character that John McCain invented to win votes (kind of like Sarah Palin). You were used by the Republican Party and are now making an ass of yourself by playing along (kind of like Sarah Palin). When this election is over, you will be chewed up and spit out by the same people who made you famous (kind of like Sarah Palin).

You're bald. Maybe you're a skinhead. Are you a Nazi, Mr. Wurzlebacher? Are you secretly hoping that Obama's impending win will doom the nation of Israel? Are you anti-Semitic, Joe?

No? Well, you have to admit that these allegations of being anti-American are inflammatory and don't paint a very pretty picture of you, Joe. They are probably also false. But, for an uninformed person reading this, this might sound plausible. This is what you (and others, many others) have done to Senator Obama. By planting the seeds of fear in ignorant minds, you have helped create an unstable, distrustful environment in America. Come on, Joe, we've had enough of that. It's time to come together.

You are in the public eye now. Don't be like every other ignorant jackass that only spews talking points and knows nothing of the facts (once again, kind of like Sarah Palin). If you disagree with Obama, that's great. That's what makes America so wonderful: we can have respectful and informed disagreements without having to provoke fear or incite violence.

Sincerely,

Everyone who is tired of listening to ignorant, empty words.




***UPDATE*** Okay, I was only joking that Joe is a skinhead, but apparently I am out of touch with what people are talking about, because there is a ton of stuff out there that he is a "raging skinhead plumber." This is likely just due to his bald head, but I still stand by my intial request that he shut the hell up.

McCain Gets Picked On

According to the Center for Media and Public Affairs, Jay Leno and Dave Letterman have made fun of McCain or Palin 475 times since September 1, compared to 69 times for Obama and Biden. Some feel that this is unfair, and provides further evidence that the "liberal media" is a threat. They think that late-night TV hosts should pick on both candidates equally. McCain and Palin supporters really can't see what's so funny.

Really?

Just look at the way the candidates carry themselves. Obama seems to glide across a stage, and we all know how eloquent he is. McCain shuffles a bit, and appears disoriented at times. Let's just face it, he's old. Even McCain jokes about his age. I'm sorry, but old people are funny.

How about when McCain jokingly called that kid a "little jerk?" Am I the only person who envisions him on his front porch, in his robe, shaking his fist, screaming at kids to get the hell off his damn lawn?

What about the fact that he skipped past many seemingly qualified candidates to select Sarah Palin, a caricature of a real person, as his running mate?

Speaking of Sarah Palin, I could literally go on all day, but I'll just give you a few reasons why she is such a great target. Let's start with the whole being able to see Russia from her house thing.

Then there's the accent. One common fact that we have learned from both the Clinton and Bush presidencies, it's that regional accents get a lot of play on Saturday Night Live.

The interviews. Sure, she's done better recently, but those first two interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric were priceless.

The Bridge to Nowhere. "I said 'thanks, but no thanks' to the bridge to nowhere." No, you didn't! Even after this Palin claim was widely accepted to be false, she hammered it home. That kind of cluelessness, or outright deceitfulness, is pretty funny, although she probably could have taught Bill Clinton a thing or two about sticking to his lie.

The guns. There's a reason that all of the animals in Wasilla, Alaska run like the wind when Palin comes home: because she will hunt them down and kill them. Check out Betty White calling Palin "one crazy bitch," after noting that Palin is shooting down all of McCain's messenger pigeons, thus disrupting campaign communications.

There are many more things that I could list, but you get the idea. Most of these jokes are all in good fun, of course, but I think comedy is an outlet. I think a lot of people feel that the country has been run by a gang of bullies for the last eight years, so why not pick on those who have picked on us? Maybe the Republican Party has been targeted as the primary butt of the joke for a reason: they deserve it.

I don't think I have heard a better explanation of this as the one Wanda Sykes gave on the Tonight Show when describing the differences in the Democratic and Republican conventions. Here's what she said:

"Well, you know, I watched the convention. You know, watching
the Democratic Convention, it felt like America. You know, it
looked like America. It was hopeful and it was positive and, you know, everybody
holding hands. And then I watched the Republican Convention. It was like
watching a meeting in Dr. Evil's lair."

I think the argument here is that the Republicans are out of touch with the people, and for this, they have been laughed at...continually. I, for one, do not feel guilty about this at all, and if by some chance, the fact that McCain and Palin have been picked on more is what causes them to lose, so be it. They brought it upon themselves.

Dear Republicans...

Listen guys, I really don't want you to win this election. I think you have had your turn, and you screwed things up big time. But, do you know that you haven't lost yet? With all of the buzz about Sarah Palin "going rogue," anonymous members of the McCain campaign have been coming out of the woodwork pointing fingers. Can't you at least wait until the election is over until you start the blame game?

I'm not going to complain, because every pointed finger and every accusation is a nail in your coffin. However, you guys are really starting to plan for the loss. Here is what one McCain aide (who is said to be a former member of Mitt Romney's campaign) said:

"Sarah Palin is a lightweight, she won't be the first, not even the third, person people will think of when it comes to 2012. The only serious candidate ready to challenge to lead the Republican Party is Mitt Romney. He's in charge on November 5th."

Okay, even when things are going badly, I think it is best to maintain a positive appearance. The above quote is just one example of how you guys have abandoned hopes of winning this race. However, when the day is done, I am still a strong Obama supporter who chuckles just a little bit every time I see something like this. If you guys want to hand it over to us, that's great. The Democrats have been laughed at in recent years for the uncanny knack for blowing elections, but it looks like the tides are turning.

Thanks for doing all the work for us,

Tiff

P.S.: Since you're throwing in the towel, did you really have to put the Jeremiah Wright ads back on the air up north? It's just making you look silly.

Republicans for Obama

Several high-profile Republicans (or maybe recovering Republicans) have endorsed Obama in the past few weeks and months. Perhaps the two biggest surprises recently have been the endorsements of Former Bush Secretary of State, Colin Powell and Former Bush Press Secretary, and son of Carole Keeton Strayhorn (former Republican Texas State Comptroller who ran against her party in the 2006 gubernatorial election) Scott McLellan. These Obama Republicans have often been dubbed "Obamacans" by some. Republicans for Obama includes a comprehensive lists of some of the most important Republican and conservative endorsements. This list includes Powell, McLellan, and several other elected officials, government officials, and columnists, along with their reasons for supporting Obama.

There is the occasional apology to the Republican Party.

Richard Riordan (former mayor of L.A.) said, "I'm still a Republican, but I still will always vote for the person who I think will do the best job."

However, for the most part, the prevaling theme seems to be that Obama is a unifier who will work with both parties toward the common goal of improving our nation.

Michael Smerconish (columnist for the Philadelphia Enquirer) said, "...an Obama presidency holds the greatest chance for unifying us here at home and restoring our prestige around the globe."

Susan Eisenhower (Ike's granddaughter) said, "Given Obama's support among young people, I believe that he will be most invested in defending the interests of these rising generations and, therefore, the long-term interests of this nation as a whole."


Some others cite McCain's "temperament," and lack of judgment, especially in selecting Sarah Palin to be his nominee for VP. Others believe that McCain will be an extension of the disaster that has been the Bush administration.

Whatever the reason, there are some Republicans switching teams. Democrats flocking to the polls to vote for Reagan in the 80s were part of the reason that Reagan had such success. I don't think that Republicans will come out in droves for Obama, but having a few high-profile party members come out for Obama helps to eliminate fear, in the minds of some voters, that Obama is an unthinkable choice.

Rolling Stone Interview with Barack Obama

The latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine features a half-hour interview with Obama about "how George W. Bush screwed up, why John McCain turned ugly, and what he's learned from Bill Clinton." The interview captures both Obama's enthusiasm and exhaustion, and, of course, outlines Obama's plans for Iraq, the economy and the White House.

Here are some of the highlights.

RS: The campaign has taken a nasty turn in the past few weeks. Has it changed your opinion of McCain personally, the way he's run his campaign?
Obama: I just think he wants to win. And I think he's decided that the environment's not a good one for Republicans, so he's going to do what he thinks is necessary. I am surprised that he would hire people who are aonnected to the same kind of destructive politics that bush directed at him in 2000.
RS: Were you disturbed by the disdain he exhibited toward you during the first debate?
Obama: No. I think that's a sign that we must be doing pretty well.

RS: Is there anything you feel you can learn from him (Bill Clinton), as a candidate and as a person?
Obama: Oh, I've already learned a lot from him...Bill Clinton did a lot to make Democrats seem like they were in touch with the ordinary aspirations of a great number of Americans. That, I think, stopped the hemorrhaging of independent voters and Reagan Democrats into the Republican Party, and gave us the space and the opportunity to start reaching out to them. So I'm still in debt to Bill Clinton for what he accomplished.

If you're in the White House and could install any one play toy--bowling alley, water polo--what would it be?

Obama: Basketball court. If we can get an indoor basketball court, I'd be happy.

Obama on education: One of the ironic things about the war in Iraq, as well as this Treasury rescue plan, is that it reminds us that when we feel a sense of urgency about something, we spend an awful lot of money. And the amount of money required to educate every child and send them to college pales in comparison to the amount of money that we're spending on things that could have been avoided had we made better decisions.

Obama on being underestimated: No point in having them see you coming.

Random interview quotes: GQ says I'm pretty well-dressed, but Michelle scoffs at this because she sees patches on my pants.

...this is going to be a transistional moment for the United States. We have these moments periodically. Obviously, I wish that the Bush administration had not run things into the ground so bad, but no matter what, we would have had some big decisions to make (at the beginning of his potential presidency).

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While there is really nothing new in this interview, and while it probably won't change any minds, it's still a good read. The interview took place on Barack and Michelle Obama's 16th anniversary, and Obama jokes about the present that he got for his wife, saying that she may or may not like it. Plus, Obama's admission to owning a worn-out pair of shoes and patched pants provides a nice contrast to the extravagant Republican wardrobe.

Also, as a broke and struggling college student, I enjoyed reading more about his plans for education, which include a $4,000 tuition credit in exchange for 100 hours of community service. I think this is a fair exchange, and will provide young people with a more balanced college experience.

Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama

General Colin Powell, Bush's former Secretary of State and a moderate Republican, officially endorsed Barack Obama on Meet the Press Sunday morning. Here is part of what he said:

"So, when I look at all of this and I think back to my Army career, we've got two individuals, either one of them could be a good president. But which is the president that we need now? Which is the individual that serves the needs of the nation for the next period of time? And I come to the conclusion that because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities--and we have to take that into account--as well as his substance--he has both style and substance--he has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president. I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming into the world--onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Senator Barack Obama."

Read the entire transcript here.

This news has started a tidal wave of discussion from both sides. Most Obama supporters (myself included) are excited about this endorsement, while many McCain supporters view it as a loss. This endorsement has brought about some controversy, however.

One article states that Powell's support of Obama actually hurts the Democrats because Powell's views are too conservative to help Obama out. I actually think that being endorsed by a Republican, and a former member of the Bush administration, is a huge testimony to Obama's ability to reach across party lines and attract a wide variety of support.

At the other end of the spectrum, there is Rush Limbaugh. I don't usually pay attention to Rush because I know it will only piss me off, but here is what he said:

"Okay. Transformational figure, that term is being thrown around as though messianic, all kinds of great new things, this change and so forth. Transformational can be bad as well. Why is Palin not transformational? Why is it only Obama? That proves, for the rest of you in the media, if you didn't hear it the first time, Powell, nomination of Obama is about race, R-A-C-E, it is about race, and you can quote me."

I'm not even going to go into that. Rush Limbaugh is just a jackass.

All in all, I do not believe that Powell's support of Obama is a "game-changer," as they say, but I don't think it hurts Obama. Colin Powell is a true war hero and patriot. I think he, like many others, acted on false information in initially going along with invading Iraq, but he has, in my eyes, redeemed himself. He was seemingly the lone opponent of the war in the first place, and tried to talk Bush out of going to war, but he was simply outnumbered. He has been called "The Reluctant Warrior" because of his preference of diplomacy over military action. In fact, his "test" for military involvement, known by some as the "Powell Doctrine," includes questions as to whether all other non-violent measures have been considered, whether there is a valid exit strategy, and whether military action is supported by the American people and the international community.

While some are saying that Powell's conservative views are more of a liability for Obama, my opinion is that he is just barely a Republican. My understanding is that Powell, a career military man, was a reluctant politician. He had to choose a party, and he chose the GOP. However, unlike most of his fellow Republicans, he is pro-choice, in favor of gun control, and supports rights for detainees. During his time as a member of the Bush administration, he often tangled with Cheney and Rumsfeld. Finally, in a move that makes me want to high five the old soldier, Powell repotedly called the neoconservatives in the Bush administration a bunch of "fucking crazies." He expressed concern in yesterday's interview that the Republican party was moving too far to the right, and that McCain's pick of Sarah Palin as his vice president was evidence of that.

For those of you who are tired of this election being about race and religion (think of all the "Obama's a Muslim" concerns) here is what General Powell had to say:

"I'm also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the party say. And it is permitted to be said such things as, "Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim." Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, "He's a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists." This is not the way we should be doing it in America. I feel strongly about this particular point because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay was of a mother in Arlington Cemetery, and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards--Purple Heart, Bronze Star--showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death. He was 20 years old. And then, at the very top of the headstone, it didn't have a Christian cross, it didn't have the Star of David, it had crescent and a star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, and he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he can go serve his country, and he gave his life. Now, we have got to stop polarizing ourself in this way. And John McCain is as nondiscriminatory as anyone I know. But I'm troubled about the fact that, within the party, we have these kinds of expressions."

So with all the buzz about the buzz surrounding the Powell endorsement, some are wondering if there is a spot in an Obama administration for the general. Obama said this morning that he would have a role in the administration. I think that serving under Obama would be the ultimate redemption for Colin Powell and the chance to make things right in Iraq.

This is the first of what will probably be many rants during the next few weeks...

**Disclaimer: For those of you that are tired of hearing me bitch about politics (specifically about Republicans), please do yourself a favor, and don't read this. I don't really care if you read it anyway, but I just need to blow off some steam. This way is better than telling the first person that I see at work, or school, or whatever, and risking offending someone.**

I have seen several things in the past few days that have really pissed me off. Here they are.

1.) Blatant Racism Directed Towards Barack Obama

The late Barbara Jordan once said, "One thing is clear to me: We, as human beings, must be willing to accept people who are different from ourselves." That was 1994.

Fast forward to 2008. A man holds a monkey doll with an Obama sticker at a McCain rally. Another man screams "kill him" when Obama's name is mentioned. At another rally, a woman insists that Obama is an "Arab," despite McCain's half-hearted attempts to convince her otherwise. At Sarah Palin's speaking events, things are getting even nastier and, apparently, speaking out against racism is not something that she has rehearsed.

I am not suggesting that McCain himself is a racist, but by taking his campaign negative, abandoning the issues, and questioning not only Obama's character, but seemingly his very essence, McCain has basically invited the crazies and the racists to come out of the woodwork. It is probably for the best that the congresswoman is no longer around to see how little progress we have made.

2.) Sarah Palin Shutting Down a Protester

At one of Palin's rallies the other day, some guy yelled out something, probably about the war in Iraq. She responded by saying something like, "Bless your heart, my son is fighting in Iraq for your right to protest."

Okay, let me first say that I support our troops 100%. That is precisely the reason that I would like to see them out of Iraq. We are not fighting for our saftey, or for our rights; we are fighting because Bush wanted to fight.

I hear people say that our soldiers are dying in Iraq so we can have free speech, or so that we can listen to dirty music, or whatever conservatives are complaining about at the moment, and this is a great soundbite in support of the war. But think about it critically for a moment. Iraq did not attack us on 9/11. Plus, and this is what gets me the most, our right to free speech was granted in 1791 when the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. Freedom of speech is not something that we are fighting to obtain; we already have it, and it has been around a long time.* Has Sarah Palin never heard of the 1960s? Or the 1970s?

While I admire her son (and Joe Biden's son) and every other person who has chosen to serve in the armed forces, I would rather see them home. They are fighting because people who have had everything handed to them their entire lives decided that they would fight. It's not about free speech or any other American ideal.

*Proof: an anti-war poem written in 1933, "The Unknown Soldier" by Billy Rose. Part of it goes: "I wonder if the kings, who planned it all/ Are really satisfied?/ They played their game of checkers/ And eleven million died."
I guess history really does repeat itself.

3.) Shut Up and Sing

I watched "Shut Up and Sing," a documentary about the aftermath of Natalie Maines's (of the Dixie Chicks) comment that she was ashamed that President Bush was from Texas. First off, this happened in 2003, when his approval ratings were sky high. People went crazy. They burned Dixie Chicks CDs, held protests, and made death threats. One old hillbilly made a remark to the effect of "Free speech is great as long as you don't criticize the government." That's what the Nazis said.

Anyway, Bush is doing so great in the public opinion arena lately, so the Dixie Chicks have mostly been forgiven. But I am still appalled that people freaked out so much. I hate to say this, but their fans (probably about the same demographic as NASCAR fans) are ignorant. I am from the South, but many Southerners make my skin crawl. True, I have a bit of an accent, but I don't think like a Texan at all. I have to question the intelligence and overall competence of a person who, in 2008, is still afraid of those who are different from themselves. Speaking of that...keep reading.

4.) Rebel Flags...Everywhere

If I never see a confederate flag again, I would be just fine. People who wear them, have them over the gun rack in their truck, or have tattoos of them say that it's not a racist thing, it's a historical reminder of the South. Ok, you ignorant hick, what was the Civil War about? Southerners thought they had the right to own people and use them as workhorses. Oh, that is something to be proud of. I want someone to explain to me exactly what Southern pride is, and why it has nothing to do with racism because I don't buy it. So you like country music, ride horses, and have a Texas drawl? Okay, but why must you revive a symbol that should have died a long time ago?

Oh, and by the way, the South probably isn't gonna rise again...Someone told me that the other day, and I wondered what that meant. I hear it all the time, and I know where it comes from, but really, the only literal meaning that I can take from that is that Southerners want to own slaves again. That's really the only thing that they lost in the Civil War and haven't gotten back...
Ignorant, inbred rednecks...

5.) Sarah Palin...In General

Okay, she's pretty. She's a hockey mom, with 75 children, that can see Russia from her house. Good for her. She is also barely literate and completely incompetent. You people are afraid of Obama? Imagine life with Sarah Palin in the White House. Imagine Dick Cheney, only not as smart, and continually winking at you as she screws you over. If anything were to happen, and McCain was unable to lead, this woman would be our PRESIDENT. I don't think that people realize that. Most people think that the VP is unimportant...until they have to step up and lead. Sarah Palin's looks or parental status do not qualify her to be the leader of the free world.
We can't take another four years of this...we would have the same president with a different accent.

Ok, I'm done and I feel much better, until I have to watch Fox "news" at the gym, or read an editorial that pisses me off. In that case, as Sarah Palin would say with a wink, I'll get back to ya!