THE POLITICAL FORUM

Why Obama needs to embrace The "Occupy Wall Street" Movement

2011-10-10T15:36:00.004-04:00

There are 2 Basic reasons why President Obama should embrace The Occupy Wall Street Movement. First, "Occupy Wall Street" isn't a fraud being perpetuated on the American public by Billionaires and slick career Republican party "insiders" like the bogus "grassroots" Tea Party. The Anti Wall Street protesters are legit. And just as George W. Bush's defining moment was when he went down to Ground Zero in New York City, so too should President Obama, who's presidency is being defined by economic unrest, show support for The American People by endorsing what's happening in New York City Now. Bush's War is taking place in The Graveyard of The Empires. Obama's war is being waged from within by The Financial Interests against The American People.

The Second Reason is, unlike during The Clinton Era, or during The Reagan Administration, or even during the last days of Jimmy Carter, there is no "middle" ground left in American politics. As Bush himself stated, "You're either with us, or against us", and Obama's approach of compromising with Republican extremists clearly hasn't been "working", at least for The American People. Instead, President Obama fell into the trap set for him by Rush Limbaugh, FOX News, and all the other Republican pundits who expressed their Hope that the president would "Fail".

It should be obvious by now, especially after the result of the mid term elections, The Democratic Party needs a counter-point to The Koch Bros. "Tea" Party, and this is it. It is Obama's chance to prove to an increasingly sceptical public he is indeed on their side. It could actually make or break his chance for re- election. It is Time for The President to Seize The Day and Stand With The American People against The Greedy Corporations.

End The Unelected Usurpation

2011-09-29T14:13:00.005-04:00

The opinion a "corporation" is a person entitled to Constitutional protection in The United States of America under The 14th Amendment was established into Law by The Supreme Court case Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad (1886). The Decision was instrumental in laying the foundation for modern law regarding corporate "personhood". One shouldn't be surprized the issue of dispute involved "taxes". The Decision never hinged on the equal protection claims, yet has since been cited as the precedent for the word 'person' in The 14th Amendment being applied to corporations. Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819) is the landmark United States Supreme Court case dealing with the application of the Contract Clause of The United States Constitution to private corporations. The Decision allowed Dartmouth to continue as a "private" institution.

Treating "corporations" as "people" is convenient legal fiction. As it turns out, unelected justices have willfully prverted the very entrenched monopolies The Founding Fathers sought to prohibit. The "Hidden Hand" which sculpts events is inverting constitutional law and betraying Democracy in America to shield Corporations from taxes and other such regulations which may diminish the "profits" of shareholders. In many cases, the Supreme Court Justices who decide the cases have a personal financial investment in the outcome, yet fail to recuse themselves to to "conflict of interest". After The Civil War, corporate lawyers became emboldened about using the theory corporations are "persons", arguing corporations are entitled to the same legal protections accorded to American citizens. The latest affront to Democracy in America has been the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission(2010) case in which The U.S. Supreme Court held corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the First Amendment, holding that corporations have a First Amendment right to free speech, overruling two previous Supreme Court decisions. Any educated intellegent person should laugh anytime a "Tea" Party Republican complains about "activist" judges. Meanwhile, the term "corporate social responsibility" has been all but abandoned. The Fact is, Government has to set the agenda for social responsibility by the way of law and regulations which will compell corporations to conduct themselves responsibly. With the increase in public service provisions by private entities, there needs to be an increased political accountability mechanism to be applied to otherwise non-political entities, such as "corporations" , especially when they politicize themselves. A brief investigation of American History will reveal the reckless corruption and greed of "private" corporations, especially after seizing the reigns of government, has caused economic devistation and suffing throughout The United States. But if a "corporation" breaks the law, a corporation can't be thrown in jail. Also, corporations can't vote, although that too may soon change if Republicans have their way.

In Truth, strict interpretation of The U.S. Constitution should reject the doctrine of corporate "personhood" under The 14th Amendment. The fact that it doesn't is just one more of the innumerable examples of Republican hypocrisy.

What Is The Republican Agenda ?

2011-09-26T15:34:00.005-04:00

For more than 30 years, the crux of The Republican Agenda has been to reduce taxes. The measures Republicans demand have proven to be destructive to the nation, yet conservatives unceasingly continue to insist cutting taxes for rich Americans and major corporations, more deregulation of the "private" sector, and cutting government spending ( Federal only it seems ) will stimulate The American Economy, but the inverse has proven to be the case.

One doesn't need a Masters' Degree in Economics to conclude Republican theories simply haven't worked in practice. Where are all the jobs ? If more Americans were employed, Federal revenues would increase, and the need to increase taxes might be averted. So why do Republicans, many of whom were elected in 2010 with the pledge to put America "back to work" oppose any proposed jobs bill, while submitting none of their own ? One answer may lay in their admitted goal of "starving" government. Another might be found in the stealth language Republicans use to confuse voters. "Job - killing" translates into "reducing profits" for corporations. One doesn't need a degree in business to figure out corporations won't hire any new employees unless they are compelled to do so. Why hire any new workers when you can just brow - beat the existing ones ( increasingly part-time workers who are uninsured) to work twice, or three times, as hard, for the same amount of pay, while CEOs pocket the increase in profits, or locate your "business" in a foreign country where you can employ natives much more cheaply ?

Aside from the already existing "subsidies" and tax -breaks for corporations, "welfare" itself can be viewed as a "government" program which in truth puts more money into the pockets of American businesses and land lords.
"Conservatives" know this, but demonizing the "poor" translates into Middle Class votes for The Republican Party. What the over burdened Middle Class doesn't seem to realize is, the only way to reduce their own tax burden is to require more from those with more ability to pay. Republicans are only concerned with increasing corporate profits and shielding affluent Americans from unpleasant realities. How "patriotic" is that ?

Politicians prefer spending "cuts" to social programs for the "poor" because the poor can't contribute to political campaigns, and most of them don't vote, so they are an easy target. Placing the blame for a decline in the U.S. economy on poor people is politically expedient - but is it good for America ? And is it The Truth ?

The Time has come to call for a greater contribution from those who live in the fullness of America's blessing, rather than continuing to attempt to extract more funds from those Americans struggling through The Great Recession.

In The End, increasing The Tax Burden on The Rich, who currently pay the lowest rate they have since before The Great Depression, may be the only way to save what is left of the once great Middle Class in The United States of America.

Why Not "The Roots of The Tea Party's Rage" ?

2011-09-03T12:01:00.005-04:00

D'souza, Dinesh, The Roots of Obama's Rage
WASHINGTON DC: Regnery Publishing INC. 2010.

Among the innumerable books being published about President Obama is an offering by author and public speaker Dinesh D'souza, best known for his book The End of Racism and his multiple appearances on Bill Maher's old television show Politically Incorrect. D'Souza is a noted conservative who's affiliations include The American Enterprise Institute, The Heritage Foundation, and The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace. D'souza also worked as an advisor in The Reagan White House.

In the book, D'sousa admits the slurs aimed at then candidate and current President Obama, such as Obama not being a natural born citizen of The United States, that Obama is a "crypto" Muslim, and that Obama is a radical "socialist" , are as absurd as they are unfounded. Then, amazingly, the author presents his thesis, which is; Obama is an Afrocentric "anti - colonial" radical carrying out his father's mission to humble "white" Euro -imperialists.

What follows is the usual misinformation and worn out Republican platitudes one has come to expect from increasingly hysterical conservative "think tanks". In what has become the "Tea" Party strategy of appealing to America's Lowest Common Denominator, D'souza shares his opinion "The U.S. is being ruled according to the dreams of a Luo tribesman of the 1950s", and an "inebriated African socialist, who raged against the world for denying him the realization of his anticolonial ambitions, is now setting the nation's agenda through the reincarnation of his dreams in his son", President Obama. Of course, the book will be almost comical at times to anyone not predisposed and hungry to believe the smear of conservative propaganda, and the litany of conservative complaints against Obama, which predictably boils down to Obama's agenda to ruin the country via increasing taxes on affluent Americans and megacorporations, initiating Health Care reforms, scaling back the military budget, and curbing wreckless polluters with new cap and trade laws. Besides comic relief, the book may serve as a reminder to Americans who voted for Obama, and have been disappointed with his compromise with Republicans, what the president has managed to achieve during his first term in office.

In The End, the author closes with a quote from Ronald Reagan, but the true irony may be found in the book's title itself, a book about a president who conveys a calm dignity, meant for an audience of enraged corporate "Tea" Party Republican dupes.

The State of Florida is The Big Prize in The 2012 Election

2011-08-05T11:28:00.013-04:00

Florida is the largest of the "swing" states in America , and it is the biggest prize in the 2012 election. Obama won Florida in 2008 , but Republican "Tea" party candidate Rick Scott was elected Governor in 2010. Republicans are pouring money into election campaigns, and The Republican National Committee is counting on their upcoming convention in Tampa to assure The Republican Party carries The State in The 2012 Election.

"We've got to win Florida to save this country and beat Barack Obama. There's no other way around it, " says The Republican National Committee Chairman.

Meanwhile , President Obama and his campaign advisers see Florida as the key to his re -election.

So it seems The State of Florida is "Ground Zero" in the crucial upcoming elections. In a state which leads the nation in bankruptcies and foreclosures, the economy is going to be the main issue. "I can't see how Barack Obama can possibly win Florida in 2012 given the fact that our economy is in a ditch and he drove it in the ditch," claims The Republican National Committee Chairman , echoing the falsehood put forth by FOX News, "Talk" Radio, & Koch Industries; but blaming Bush probably won't play well with Florida voters at this point in Obama's administration either. Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz , hand picked by the president to run The Democratic National Committee , says, " That's a bold statement coming from the chair of a party working to end Medicare as we know it and slash Social Security" ; a statement which should get the attention of Florida's legion of retired seniors - even those inclined to vote Republican.

Republicans even hope to defeat Democratic Senator Bill Nelson and gain even more seats in The House of Representatives. The first African-American Republican Congressman from Florida since 1876 , who was endorsed by Sarah Palin , was elected in 2010. Congressman Allen West , supported by The "Tea" Party Republicans , was quick to point to his campaign as a rebuttal to accusations Tea Bag Republicans are inherently racist. Congressman West became a member of The Congressional "Tea" Party Caucus in 2011 , and has made frequent appearances on FOX News.

West manages to stay a focus of national news for his absurd "comments" which are cheered on by "Tea" Party Republican extremists. The latest involves an ongoing "feud" he has with Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz.

Despite having a Democratic majority of registered voters , Republicans dominate elections in Florida. Republicans solidified their dominance state-wide by winning the governor's mansion and maintained firm majorities in both houses of the state legislature. It would seem the only prayer Democratic candidates have in Florida to protect citizens from further exploitation and oppression from The "Tea" Party Republican Machine is to counter the propaganda with facts ,organize , and get out the votes. Like in 2000 , the future of The United States of America may depend on which way voters "swing" in Florida.

AMERICA's Ongoing Economic Predicament

2011-08-03T13:26:00.006-04:00

Politicians in Washington DC spent the majority of the year arguing over how to reduce The National Debt, and although a new Debt Ceiling Bill was signed into law, massive debt is a symptom, not the cause, of the economic collapse in The United States of America and The Great Recession.

The Cause of the retarded economy in America is the vast accumulation of income by the wealthiest Americans which was siponed off from everyone else. The Rich in America defend their disproportionate affluence with Social Darwinism, and use The "Tea" Party to convince "Christian" conservatives and the less educated in America their plight is all part of God's will. Meanwhile, nothing is being done to correct the inequities and insecurity caused by Republican fiscal policies which caused The Great Recession to begin with.

Those whom were "Bailed Out" were quick to declare the recession over, and they have used the funds from The Bail Out they recieved from American taxpayers to lobby against any "change" to the current status quo. Meanwhile, it has become clear to any sane American The Bush Tax Cuts for wealthy Americans who don't need them have to be repealed. The Rich use the increased income from "tax cuts" to speculate, not to create jobs, no matter what Libertarian and Republican propagandists say. Republicans seek to gain elected "Government" offices by bashing government and invoking a dubious morality.

What the current intellegentsia in America just doesn't seem to "get" is, the overwhelming majority of consumers in The United States is made up of wage earners, and they can't afford to buy anything - except on "credit" - and that,of course, is where "debt" creeps into the picture. Americans can no longer afford to be duped by FOX News, "Tea" Party Republican sophists in the employ of Koch Industries, or "Judeo" Christan evangelicals funded by plutocrats from the Oil Corporations. All one has to do is crack open an American History book to see the "solutions" being offered by Republicans to the mess they created in the first place failed to work during The Great Depression, and they won't work now in the 21st century. "Rugged" individualists inspired by Ayn Rand novels are only making the economic depression worse, and as a result, The United States of America is being consumed by GREED which is leading to the nation's collective ruin.

The Wrong Response to The Largest OIL Spill in U.S. History

2011-05-16T14:17:00.005-04:00

House Republicans have voted to send to The Senate a bill (HR 1229) which will restore oil and gas drilling in The Gulf of Mexico to levels comparable to those in effect before last year's BP-Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Those same congressmen voted to expand off shore drilling in several Outer Continental Shelf regions. The bill requires The Interior Department to act within 60 days on permit applications now undergoing safety and environmental reviews. Backers say the bill will generate thousands of jobs and reduce high gasoline prices. Opponents pointed out the industry has not yet developed satisfactory measures for preventing disasters such as the BP spill.

The Republicans in The House voted to defeat a bid to expand HR 1229 to include safety recommendations issued by the National Commission on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Republicans also want to expand "drilling" into The Atlantic Coast and off the Southern California coast, as well as The Gulf of Mexico. Finally, members defeated a Democratic motion to bar energy companies from exporting the oil and natural gas they extract under Federal leases.

Isn't this the wrong resonse to The BP Oil Spill Disaster ? Can any doubt remain about Republicans and their "tea" party dupes who are subordinating the interests of all Americans to the whims of Oil Corporations and billionaires who are The Plutocracy ?

Is The Tea Party Simply The John Birch Society All Over Again?

2011-04-26T14:28:00.008-04:00

The rising "populist" movement among Republicans claiming to be "independent" of political party affiliations calling itself the "Tea" Party has a eerie familiarity to it. Is there any real difference between the bogus astroturf Republican front group calling itself the "tea" party and The John Birch Society in America during the '60's & '70's ?

Similar to the Tea Party movement, The John Birch Society was an American radical right-wing political advocacy group which "pioneered" grassroots lobbying, combining educational meetings, petition drives and letter-writing campaigns, and whose major preoccupation was the internal "Communist" conspiracy in The United States.

Like the "Tea" party, funding for The John Birch Society came mostly from well connected establishment figures like Fred Koch, founder of Koch Industries, whose sons are currently paying for "Tea" party political ads and events throughout The United States. The sensationalism of the charges against political rivals and the abusive tactics of intimidation and misrepresentation of facts employed by the "Tea" party resemble those of The John Birch Society as well. Thanks to the "Tea" Party Republicans, the right-wing upsurge in American politics has taken an ugly, even Fascist turn, much like they did in the 1960's at the time President Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. & Robert Kennedy were assassinated. After the election of Ronald Reagan as president of The United States of America & the "Reagan Revolution" Conservative Republicans were pacified by the destruction of The Democratic party for a generation and the complete take over of America by corporate conservatives, and the society's membership and influence declined after 1985.

But after George W. Bush completely destroyed The United States, and Barack Obama was elected president, "birchers" re -emerged as "birthers" with a staggering speed which can not be attributed to "grassroots" activity alone. The Tea Party was born and began to fuel the toxic political climate by confusing simple minded people by presenting facts out of context or in misleading ways (with the help of FOX News) distorting history and The Constitution for political purposes, and with the aid of the "Religious" Right, religious charlatans began teaching their congregations Jesus and The Bible are opposed to "progressive" taxation, and liberal "attacks" on the Tea Party were just like attacks on Jesus, and "Democrats" are evil and anti-God.

As a result, many well intentioned Americans are being duped by fast-talking, self-promoting, Republican Party activists into to being the dupes and minions for the corporate agenda. The "Tea" party carries on a sick tradition of Republican politics which fuel fear and tension in America, which includes McCarthyism, and other conspiratorial groups who seek to confuse working Americans while international corporations enthrall them deeper into slavery.

Romney in 2012 ?

2011-02-21T15:07:00.004-05:00

President Obama seems somewhat secure come re -election time due to the list of Republican front runners he may face. This of course doesn't explain why Obama has failed to deliver the "change" his campaign promised, or why he has surrendered on almost every issue to Republican demands. Perhaps when he considers rivals such as Sarah Palin, or the other paid FOX News pundits who will be seeking the Republican nomination, Obama feels there aren't enough selfish crazy Americans to vote for these people in a national election.

But there is one Republican front - runner who has, up until the recent Conservative Political Action Conference, kept away from the FOX News "Tea" party extremism. Although Mitt Romney made some absurd statements, such as blaming Obama for the "Hoovervilles" in America and saying Obama's State of the Union address sounded like his own CPAC speech from the previous year (perhaps that isn't so absurd)Romney would be the most formidable opponent Obama could face in his effort to be re -elected in 2012.

When one considers Romney signed a health care law in Massachusetts as governor, which is similar to the health care law signed by President Obama , and the fact Obama has seemingly abandoned his "base" and the people who voted for him in the first place in the futile effort to arrive at "bipartisan" solutions, many Democrats who bother to vote in 2012 could indeed vote for Mitt Romney.

Romney won the election for Governor of Massachusetts , not exactly a "conservative" state, in 2002, but did not seek reelection in 2006. During his term, he presided over a series of spending cuts and increases in fees while the state's finances improved. As long as the economy remains a disaster, Romney remains a viable candidate with a record of success. Romney signed into law the landmark Massachusetts health care reform legislation which provided near-universal health insurance access via subsidies and state-level mandates, so it seems unlikely repealing "Obamacare" would be at the top of his agenda.

Of course Romney would have to gain the Republican nomination, and will be accused of not being "conservative" enough, but campaign finances won't be a problem for him, as indeed it is becoming ever more obvious since the "Citizens United" case American elected offices will be going to the highest bidder, and he will certainly seem more sane to moderates repulsed by Sarah Palin and her FOX News cohorts.

Obama better get started on some of this "change" he was supposed to bring about, because so far there has been very little if any. The only change since Obama was elected has been a Democratic president pushing Republican policies. If Romney gets the Republican nomination in 2012, he may very well win The Election.

2010-12-09T11:26:00.002-05:00

The latest bit of propaganda from apologists for reckless polluters has been the announcement by " a group of scientists" that we are experiencing a "new" Little Ice Age , which is being offered as an alternative explaination to industrial pollution and the burning of fossil fuels as the reason for undeniable climate changes which have increased over the past twenty years.

The Little Ice Age brought colder winters to parts of Europe and North America. The term was coined by François E. Matthes in 1939. During the time of the "little" ice age, New York Harbor froze, which allowed people to walk from Manhattan to Staten Island. Severe winters affected human life.

Temperature increases since the middle of the 20th century have been caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, which result from human activity such as the burning of fossil fuel and deforestation. Increasing concentrations of atmospheric aerosols blocking sunlight from reaching the surface have partially countered the effects of warming induced by greenhouse gases.

And now "scientists" are proclaiming The World is about to enter a "new" little ice age, beginning in 2014 and it is supposed to last decades if not centuries. One has to wonder, however, if the original little ice age of the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries was occompanied by record breaking HEAT during the Summer as well. Temperatures have in fact increased per decade since 1979.

While there is plenty of emphirical evidence of ecological disruption due to pollutants, anyone seeking to challange the "facts" of scientists dismissing climate change will have to wait until 2030 if not 2201 for conclusive "proof" ( How convienient for The Oil Corporations ). In any event, it is time to cease The Debate on Climate change and simply acknowledge The Fact reckless polluters can lno longer be allowed to further destroy The Environment, no matter how man experts they pay to dismiss the seriousness of the threat of reckless industrial pollution.

Democracy is the only way to promote smart growth in Florida.

2010-11-01T18:40:00.014-04:00

What the upcoming Mid -term elections are really all about may be epitomized by The State of Florida's Proposition 4 Ballot initiative.
The Question is whether to allow voters to approve changes on how a piece of land in a locality is used.

If approved, Amendment 4 would require counties and cities put to a popular vote only amendments to local government’s so-called comprehensive plans. Voters would get to decide whether to approve large-scale developments or land-use changes.
The Battle is brewing between environmentalists and developers on Proposition 4.
In Florida there are already vacant Mall spaces, empty or unused condos, and numerous houses already being foreclosed on, yet The Banks and Big Business still want more development. Many residents of The State are concerned about sprawl and envoronmental damage, as well as hurting Florida's number one "industry" which is tourism.Florida is coming off a spree of massive overbuilding which made the state the nation’s prime example of overdevelopment and the worst state for foreclosures, with Flagler County and Palm Coast at or near the top of the state’s economic "crash" list.There are over 300,000 homes in Florida sitting empty already.

A "YES" vote is one to extend Democracy & empower individual voters. It will save the environment and provide stability for housing prices. A "NO" vote surrenders the community's will to Banks & Corporations who are able to exert undue influence on local commissioners. As with the national election, the issues surrounding Amendment 4 have been prone to misinformation and exaggeration. Big Business and multinational corporations have spent a fortune on fearmongering advertisements designed to scare voters into voting against the democratic amendment,but it is time the voice of the people, not corporations, to be heard in Florida, and around The United States of America.

The Tea Party deception

2010-10-22T13:03:00.004-04:00

It is so hard to believe so many Americans are being bought off by Republican "Tea" party duplicity. Those who are politically unsophisticated believe The Democratic party cause the financial collapse, and are ready to hand over the reigns of government to the same greedy corporatists who have caused so many so much hardship over the past several years.

Very few have taken the time to notice the "grassroots" movement which suddenly emerged right after President Obama was sworn into office is financed by the banks and corporations who were bailed out and are now doing all they can to foreclose on homes and ruin the US labor market.

The notion of a nation coming together in the face of crisis has now proven to be a joke, as Americans are turning on one another while The United States spirals deeper into the abyss. How can anyone fail to see the "Tea" party activists are bankrolled by the entrentched interests that are ruining America ?

Minimum wage in The United States

2010-10-05T14:19:00.005-04:00

Just when it seems the slate of extremist Republican candidates can't get any more ridiculous , now a number of "tea" party style reactionaries are voicing their opinion the minimum wage laws in The United States should be abolished.

The first to go public with this latest piece of the radical Republican Agenda to drive working Americans even further down was Vince McMahon's wife Linda McMahon, who is a former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, and is the Republican candidate for U.S. Senator from Connecticut.

As of 2009, The Federal minimum wage in The United States is $7.25 per hour. Is this too much ? The Bill which increased The Minimum Wage also included nearly $5 billion in tax cuts for small businesses. Wouldn't that be more than enough to cover the cost of pay "increases" for America's low income workers accrued by "small" businesses ?

These millionaires don't want to pay their fair share in taxes, and now they don't want to pay their employees either ! Is this what "trickle" down economics is ? Is this what Ronald Reagan meant by standing up for the "little" guy ? Could these people be any more despicable ?!

MID TERM ELECTIONS

2010-10-01T11:50:00.006-04:00

As The Nation prepares to vote in the upcoming Mid Term Elections there are some factors to keep in mind. The Republicans who insist "Government doesn't work" are the same people who are responsible for an unresponsive government which "doesn't work". The disastrous Republican policies which deregulated the Oil Industry caused petroleum prices to skyrocket during The Bush/Cheney Administration.

The "Deregulation" of The Financial Sector caused an economic collapse the nation is still struggling to recover from. The Bush Tax -cuts for wealthy millionaires most able to pay have plunged the US in to record debt. Yet these same Republicans have been resisting all corrections and want to return the country to the very same flawed policies which have caused numerous problems and forced a majority of Americans into destitution. Can any sane person who hasn't profited from the misery of others even consider voting these greedy opportunists back in to office with out giving the new administration a chance to put their policies into effect ?

Both Reagan and George W. Bush increased the size of the United States Armed Forces while cutting taxes. These very same people pontificate about how "government" should be run "like a business". What business expands without having the revenues to pay for it ? Only those which borrow the money, and that is exactly what both these presidents did; both causing record deficits in the process.

Americans have been reduced to a state of servitude to major banks and international corporations. Income inequality in The United States has reached record levels. How can these Republicans claim to be "for the 'little' guy"?

So unless one is a millionaire at the very apex of the tax bracket, there is no way any rational voter should consider voting for a Republican this upcoming November. Bush & The Republicans argued a tax cut would stimulate the economy and create jobs. Did it ? Under Republican leadership the real GDP grew at an average annual rate of 2.5%, which is considerably below the average for the business cycles from 1949 up to 2000, when Bush was first elected. Unemployment increased throughout the two terms of The Bush II Administration. As a result of misguided Republican policies, The United States entered the longest recession of economic activity since The Great Depression. It is going to take more than two years to fix the mess Bush and The Republicans created for The Nation. Do not lose sight of The Fact Republicans caused the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Voters can't afford to backslide into the policies of greed which have cost America so much already.

Bob McDonnell’s GOP Response to the State of the Union

2010-01-29T13:26:00.008-05:00

Two weeks into his tenure as Governor of Virginia
and Bob McDonnell has already been tapped by The National Republican party
to criticize President Obama in the aftermath of the president's
1st State of The Union Address.

McDonnell claims it was The Democratic Party
who drove America into "unsustainable debt"
coveniently omitting The Fact it was George W. Bush
who squandered a surplus of funds he inherited from
a Democratic administration and replaced it with
a trillion dollar deficit. It was Republicans,
not The Democratic party,
who trashed the U.S. economy.

He claims The Federal Government is "trying to do too much"
which wasn't the case when Bush was president,
according to McDonnell. Virginians can rest assured
McDonnell won't try to do too much for them.

As a matter of fact, like so many Republican apologists,
McDonnell is in denial. He is still pushing the same
failed policies of The Bush/Cheney Administration.

"Backwards" Bob professes to feel the pain of struggling Virginians,
but in truth he is nothing but a ruthless defender of The Status Quo.
He is a puppet for The Oil corporations and the major focus of his agenda
is to allow "drilling" for oil off the Virginia coast.
McDonnell can be trusted by Republicans to push the "privatization"
of The Commonwealth. Virginians needed to remember the fiscal mess
created by the state's last Republican governor before McDonnell was elected,
but residents of The Old Dominion are stuck with him now.

Indeed, Virginians need to apply the same standards to The New Governor
which have been applied to the president, and if all Virginia's problems
haven't been solved by the end of the month, Virginia Democrats need to immediately
call for his impeachment and spend the remainder of his term indulging in ad hominem attacks and unite to oppose every measure of his ultra -conservative agenda.

Its Already Started

2010-01-08T13:04:00.004-05:00

The price Virginians will have to pay
for allowing The Republicans to establish
a "Bush" style corporate fiefdom
in Richmond is already clear
via the cabinet appointments made
by Governor -elect Bob McDonnell.

Bob McDonnell says there is no "conflict of interest"
in Virginia Commerce Secretary-designate Robert Sledd's refusal
to step down from the boards of three large corporations.

Add to that McDonnell's appointment of former Bush Official
Doug Domenech to be placed in charge of Virginia's "natural resources"
and what emerges is the expected contempt for public interest
one should come to expect from G.O.P. governments.

These developments should be no surprise to any astute voter
who preferred even the most "lukewarm" Democratic candidates
to G.O.P. extremists who will insist on trying to "drill" there way
to prosperity which will supposedly "trickle" down to the public at large.

Of course The Republicans will keep Virginia business "friendly"
by making sure wages for workers are low while expecting "stimulus"
from the federal government to make up the difference.

If the economy in Virginia does improve,
McDonnell & The Republicans will no doubt be quick to claim the credit,
but if Virginians continue to struggle against the negitive economic trends,
one can bet McDonnell & The Republicans will be quick to blame
The Obama Administration for failing to revive the economy.

It remains to be seen if Virginians will blame themselves
for allowing these opportunists to seize control of The State Government
and be awakened from a misguided sense of complacency ,
or if The Democratic Party in Virginia will provide
the electorate with truly viable candidates
who do more than simply parrot the Republican agenda.

"Deeds" Country is Republican

2009-11-04T13:28:00.009-05:00

The Republican Virginia turned out to vote
in a G.O.P. "sweep" which ended eight years of Democratic Government in Virginia.
Creigh Deeds, who won the Democratic primary, failed to inspire the Virginians who voted for Obama in the previous election.

The Democratic candidate refused to embrace The National Democratic Agenda
regarding Health Care, Workers' rights, reducing America's dependence on oil,
and curbing toxic emissions, all opposed by The Republican party.

Meanwhile, affluent suburbanites allied with "redneck" extremists
banded together to form the usual Republican coalition of intimidation to silence dissent and coerce independents to make Virginia safe for overpaid CEOs.
The overall centerpiece of The Republican Agenda, as usual, was "Drilling" for Oil, this time off the coast of Virginia.

Republicans increased their majority in The House of Delegates,
ending Democratic hopes of reforming the distorted voting districts established by Republicans to their party's advantage.

The Economy was the main issue on voters' minds in Virginia.
The Democratic Party of Virginia failed to make it the focus of The Campaign by reminding Virginians of The Fact: Republican policies
and deregulation caused The Great Recession.

However, demoralized Virginia Democrats need to bear in mind
The State hasn't elected a governor from the same political party as a sitting president of The United States since The Nixon Administration.

The Lesson to be learned by The Democratic Party of Virginia
is voters crave "new" leadership, not the usual party hacks,
and Democratic candidates won't win running as Republican "Lite" "politicians".

NRA Ad in Virginia

2009-10-13T14:45:00.023-04:00

The NRA is airing a political ad in Virginia
which more resembles a "sit-com" than serious political campaigning.
Could this be a sign Republicans are getting desperate in Virginia?

The "ad" is hysterical in more ways than one.
It would be funny except it is no joke.
The Republicans are serious, and the McDonnell campaign,
which has praised George W. Bush and wants to continue
the failed economic policies which have ruined The U.S.
for many working Americans, is the latest example of
McDonnell's contempt
for the intelligence of the Virginia voters.

Apparently McDonnell was critical of undercover investigators
working for the City of New York,
who bought guns in violation of existing regulations
fromVirginia gun dealers.
Here is an excerpt from the ad:
"When Mayor Bloomberg got down here [to Virginia],
your guy, Bob McDonnell,
kicked him out of Virginia,
and it was very disrespectful.
[Perhaps it was.]
When you vote I strongly suggest
you forget about your freedoms
and your Mr. Second Amendment Bob McDonnell."
It is a clear case of conservative fear mongering
which has become so prevalent in Republican campaigns.
It also shows how out of touch McDonnell is because
many Virginia residents moved from New York to Virginia.
It is just one more example of the bigoted attitude Republican politicians
have toward working Virginians, whom McDonnell has been recorded as saying prefer
"welfare" to work.

It is time for Virginians to let Richmond know
they are serious about the mounting problems facing the state
as well as the nation, and if McDonnell and The Republicans are truly concerned
with "outsiders" influencing Virginia's elections,
indeed, they need to take a hard look at the list their own list of contributors.

McDonnell critical of Democratic Agenda

2009-08-26T18:11:00.004-04:00

Virginia Beach conservative Bob McDonnell has been critical of Democratic party nominee Creigh Deeds for his support of President Obama's agenda , which figures heavily in the Virginia Gubernatorial Race.

The National Republican Party hopes the elections in Virginia will be
a referendum on Obama and the Democratic Congress.
It is a race already awash in cash from both national parties,
yet McDonell fails to admit Republicans from the outside of have poured more into his own campaign.

"You can't separate Creigh Deeds from the national Democratic agenda."
claims McDonnell.

The Qusetion is can one seperate Bob McDonnell from the national Republican agenda ?
How is he any different ? McDonnell wholeheartedly endorses and supports the usual Republican Agenda, namely surrendering public lands to private corporations, drilling for oil ( in this case off the coast of Virginia ), tax -cuts for the rich, and a disregard for struggling Americans ( in this case, Virginians ).
In other words -- The Same Old Republican politics.

Even now, McDonnell approves of the Bush economic policies which ruined the economy.
The Hypocrisy is monumental in this case, but McDonnell is hoping Tea Bag activists along with lackluster support from "Obama" Democrats in Virginia will amount to victory in November.

He may be right.

Deeds is attacking McDonnell as an acolyte of former President George W. Bush's economic policies. McDonnell, in an effort to tie Deeds to Obama, prods him to commit himself to such Democratic priorities as health care reform and clean energy legislation. Oddly, so do some of the Democrats' most committed constituencies.

Will Virginia be saddled with A Republican Governor ?

2009-08-03T14:15:00.009-04:00

Virginia Democrats are quite pleased with their political lot right now. Still celebrating the fact the state voted for a Democratic president for the first time since 1964, "the party" might not be en guard
for The Republica backlash being mobilized
for the upcoming State Elections in Virginia.

Creigh Deeds, a longtime state legislator from rural Bath County, won a stunning come-from-behind victory in the Democratic primary in Virginia.
Rank & File Democrats who placed the nomination with Creigh Deeds may have made a big mistake, as Deeds is already being criticised by his Republican rival for having "no plan" for Virginia.

Of course, Virginia Democrats rejected the candidate
who did. Bob McDonnell wouldn't have been able to claim Terry McAuliffe had no plan.
In advertising and fundraising McDonnel is way ahead of Deeds, two more things McAuliffe would not have been behind on.

National Republicans are contributing heavily to the campaign
in a state already thick with Republican proclivities.
The 2009 Virginia governor's race is expected to be the most competitive statewide election in the U.S. this year.
Recent polls have shown Creigh Deeds lags behind
Republican Bob McDonnell in Virginia's gubernatorial campaign.
Make no mistake about it. Energy and the Environment
(along with the Economy) are the key issues in the campaign,
and it is no surprise Oil corporations and refineries are the biggest donars
to The McDonnell campaign, and in return, the Republican candidates wants to grant the oil industry
the privilege of "drilling" off Virginia's coast; i.e. same old Republican politics.

The Question is "Will Deeds Have What It Takes" to excite the same type of voters that came to the polls last November. Deeds vague approach worked in the primary with "conservative" Democrats, but how many Obama style voters are going to be fired up and ready to go in November ?

“Elaine from Roanoke” wrote a blistering post about the state of Deeds campaign,
and predicts, "[Democrats] won’t get the votes
to win this election in Southwest Virginia.”

HAVE VA DEMS MADE A HUGE MISTAKE ?!

2009-06-10T12:12:00.003-04:00

Former Democratic National Party Chairman Terry McAuliffe seemed ready to win the Virginia Democratic Primary election for Governor, but in the end , former House Delegate (1992–2001)and current Senator Creigh Deeds pulled a come from behind "surprise" victory.

One problem with this scenario is Deeds lost to the Republican nominee for Governor Bob McDonnell in 2005.

Will Deeds have what it takes to win this time ?

Establishment Rank & File Virginia Democrats are gambling he will.
At the end of a close three-way race against former DNC chair Terry McAuliffe and former State Delegate Brian Moran, Deeds won by a large margin, taking about 50 percent of the of the vote in the June 09, 2009 Democratic Primary.
For various reasons, McAuliffe would have been the better candidate.
McAuliffe is a longtime fundraiser and political operative for the Democratic Party. He served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee and also served as chairman of the 2008 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. McAuliffe told The Washington Post that he is "best suited to carry the Democratic banner because he would campaign as a business leader who can bring jobs to Virginia."

McAuliffe was also a serious advocate of Alternative Energy Technologies and hoped to make Virginia a leader in the field. He also has the ability to raise money to match or even excede the $5 Million McDonnell already has banked for the campaign.

Will Deeds "Git Er Done" this time ?
Or will Virginia be stuck with a Republican governor in 2010 ?

Bailed Out Banks screw the public

2009-05-12T14:42:00.002-04:00

It is simply amazing how the very same banks
who recieved a "bailout" courtesy of The American Taxpayer
used the money for CEO bonuses and self agrandizement.

The purpose for which The Government bailed out
the mega -banks , to free up credit to help struggling Americans
pay their debts was quickly forgotten.

The whole thing is a disgrace,
and something which should never be forgotten ,
as the very same banks are now "forclosing"
on Americans with a vengence!

It is strange how the very same issues
plauged The U.S. almost exactly a century ago.
Read your history people.

It is time to Bust Up The "Trusts" once again.
Those who do not know their history
are doomed to repeat it.

Concern About American Jobs

2009-03-23T14:07:00.001-04:00

Ask yourself why
The U.S. keeps bringing in 1.5 million foreign workers
a year to take American jobs.

Americans increasingly sign away their humanity
when they sign an employment contract.
Most Americans work where drug testing is standard practice.
The irony is it is usually only the menial
and subservient who are "tested".
Republicans prefer an environment where they can
exploit their workers to whatever degree they see fit.
Republicans despise unions because they work in the wage earner's favor,
providing a check on the ability of organizations to intimidate ,
humiliate, underpay and overwork employees.

Real wages are lower today
than they were before the recession of 2001,
and barely higher than they were thirty-five years ago.
The U.S. allows more than 1.5 million foreign workers
a year to legally enter the U.S. for jobs.
That doesn't include millions of illegal foreign workers,
at a time when many claim to be concerned
for the internal security of America.
How could this be ?
There can only be one answer.

The only priority higher than ending the "Islamo -fascist" threat
is making sure wages remain low and labor is cheap and disorginized.
Why do you think Republicans keep creating these "recessions"
in the first place ?

Karl Rove is worried

2009-03-09T16:08:00.003-04:00

Karl Rove, the former top adviser to President George W. Bush,
admitted to Fox News ,
the "unfair" and "imbalanced" agency
which has recently served as his sanctuary,
he is worried about his appearance before the House Judiciary Committee.

Not so long ago Rove was defiant.
Rove defied the House subpoena and failed to show up
for his scheduled testimony.
Rove wasn't talking ..
........ except on Fox News.
Rove claimed Bush's assertion of executive privilege "obligates" him to disregard the Congressional order,
and couldn't conceal his contempt of Congress.

Rove is now trying to deflect attention
onto "other" former Bush officials,
" I understand White House Counsel Harriet Miers and Chief of Staff Josh Bolten were involved in the scandal ! "
The defiant advisor has turned into a quivering coward ,
perhaps ready to rat out former members
of The Bush/Cheney Administration.

Rove said. "Some Democrats would love to have me barbecued."

Karl Rove will finally testify, under oath, before the House Judiciary Committee.
Rove ignored subpoenas,
but now it seems he isn't above the law.

"I have long said that I would see this matter through to the end and am encouraged that we have finally broken through the Bush Administration's claims of absolute immunity. This is a victory for the separation of powers and congressional oversight. It is also a vindication of the search for truth. I am determined to have it known whether U.S. Attorneys in the Department of Justice were fired for political reasons, and if so, by whom."

Congressman John Conyers, Chairman,
Federal Judiciary Committee

The Church Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities was created by Congress in 1975 to investigate abuses of The Nixon Administration in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal.

Congress determined to ascertain the extent to which the nation's intelligence agencies had been involved in questionable, if not outright illegal, activities. The era of minimal oversight came to an end ,
only to be restored later by Reagan and succeeding Republican presidents.

Now things have come full circle ,
as The Bush Administration's practices have made the offenses of The Nixon White House look tame by comparison.
Do not be too sure Congressional Investigations involving Rove won't happen ,
as Congress is preparing for an inquiry and Rove is again scheduled to testify.
And remember, certain key members of the Nixon staff did wind up in prison.
Rove knows this , and it is why now Karl Rove is worried.

"MY" STIMULUS PLAN

2009-02-16T17:24:00.004-05:00

The most absurd aspect of the Bush 'stimulus' is that it took money from the American people via "taxes" and "gave" it directly to The Banks.

Under 'my' stimulus proposal , I would confenscate all funds given to the banks by Bush and cut off any future "payments" these banks wasting TARP "bailouts" expect to get -- and give those BILLIONS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE !!!! What would they do with at least a major portion of that money?
Put it in the bank ( of their choice , probably a local, small bank ).

Sounds like a win - win situation to me. In my benevolence , I don't even slam the banks as hard as they need to be ! As far as Wall Street investors go , I would remind them that playing the stock market game is essentially legalized "gambling" and if your stock goes down or goes 'caput' I'm not going to bail you out !

Another one of "my" measures would be to "legalize" HEMP
and open up "opportunities" for the struggling American farmer.
This would also ease the "burden" on the American "taxpayers"
and decrease the "cost" of "law" enforcement;
returning it to an "Andy" and "Barn" style community protection agency charged with "keeping the peace" instead of a para-military attack force busting in doors
( half the time at the wrong address and scaring some elderly couple to death )
and employing Gestapo style harrassment.
Perhaps so many cases would quit "clogging" the courts
and judges could get back to playing golf.

I would provide funding to assist localities in improving parks , greenways and promoting local heritage, historical sights, and tourism.

Finally, the major component of 'my' stimulus package would be "incentives" toward "employers" to pay their "employees" a decent living wage. This would mean people could pay their mortgages or rent , and may be even have a little left over to go out to eat once in a while, afford the increased gas and utility bills, and buy stuff to stimulate the economy. Most important to 'hardline' conservatives, I would convince them if they would just pay people it would eliminate the 'need' for most forms of government assistance and the most dreaded word of all ... "welfare".

FIRST MAJOR ADDRESS

2009-02-04T13:34:00.017-05:00

In his first major address to the nation Obama unveiled bold new steps to reign in the culture of "greed" which has infected American society for too long. CEOs enriching themselves while profits dwindle and jobs are lost will be limited in executive pay if they are to recieve any "bailout" from U.S. taxpayers.
Obama said Americans are upset with “executives being rewarded for failure".
Wall Street firms paid more than $18 billion in bonuses in 2008 amid the economic downturn. “This is America. We don’t disparage wealth. We don’t begrudge anybody for achieving success,” Obama said. “But what gets people upset — and rightfully so — are executives being rewarded for failure [i.e. corporate welfare]. Especially when those rewards are subsidized by U.S. taxpayers.”

The restrictions will not apply to firms like American International Group Inc., Bank of America Corp., and Citigroup Inc., etc. which already revcieved 'bailouts'from The Bush Administeation. In the future, firms wishing to pay executives above a $500,000 threshold will have to use stock which can't be sold or liquidated until the corporation pays back the government funds.

Obama said massive severance packages for executives who leave failing firms are going to be eliminated. “We’re taking the air out of their golden parachutes.” The president referred to the fact burden and risk have been distributed among the many for too long while reward has been selfishly hoarded by the few. As during the campaign, when Obama could bearly conceal his contempt for the corrupt Bush Administration, the president reminded the population
THE FINANCIAL CRISIS has been "..... years in the making".

To clarify, these are the shifts in policy beginning with the Reagan years in 1981. Failed policies, such as "supply"- side "trickle"- down economics,were sold to the American public. TAX-CUTS, while initiating a military-industrial spending spree remedied by "tightening the belts" of the folks at home. In these years the first laws restricting personal liberties were enacted and brutaly enforced. De-regulation was the dogma , while 'secret' funds were sent to Islamic "freedom" fighters opposing The Evil Empire in Afghanistan.

Dallas was the most popular show on television. The Reagan Administration claimed it didn't deal with "terrorists" , but we came to know later the U.S. was committed to foreign intriques beyond the comprehention of the average American. But at the time, "confidence" was restored, and the economic and fuel issues seemed to be put aside. In 1989, George H.W. Bush succeeded Reagan, continuing Republican executive dominance for 4 more years. Early in his term, Bush faced the problem of what to do with leftover deficits spawned by the Reagan years.
Bush was forced by the Democratic Congress to raise tax revenues; as a result, many Republicans felt betrayed because Bush had promised them "no new taxes!"

America entered into a recession. The unemployment rate edged upward in 1991. The unemployment rate reached 7.8%, its highest rate since 1984. The Census Bureau reported 14.2% of all Americans lived in poverty. During this time, the Bush administration initiated the negotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), eliminating the majority of tariffs on products traded among the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In the 1992 U.S. Presidential Campaign, Clinton and the Democrats attacked Bush for not doing enough to assist the working middle-class and for being "out of touch" with the common man,and the majority of Americans agreed.

In the aftermath of THE COLD WAR, economic prosperity returned, and due in part to the personal scandal involving President Clinton, and the fact there were no percieved "issues" of importance, Americans returned to the "laissez-faire" economics of The Republicans and elected George W. Bush as president.

Well, we have all seen what a disaster that has turned out to be. For some historians and astute political observers much of
WHAT HAPPENED was to be expected,but the shear magnitude of corruption combined with ineptitude exceeded even most worst fears. It reminds one of the TV Drama Dallas back in the 1980's and is key to President Obama's subtle reminder to Americans the disasters the U.S. faces have indeed been years in the making

A Police State exists when the Government serves itself rather than the People, when government aggrandizes itself rather than responding to the needs of the Commonwealth.

INFORMATION BUREAU

Obama Talks Tough regarding CEO compensations

Obama sets executive pay limits for bailed out companies

Obama: Bonuses for executives ‘shameful’ .......

MORE TAX CUTS (It Never Ends)

2009-01-29T14:55:00.003-05:00

The Republicans are some sore losers aren't they?
Either that, or just infantile ...or perhaps insane.
Experts say someone is crazy who does the same thing OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN and expects a different result.
But that is the Republican solution to the Financial Crisis they have created, namely MORE TAX CUTS.
Well ... the election is over and the American people finally came to their senses [most of them anyway]and rejected "Trickle Down" economics and Republican policy. The question is ... were they too late?
In the meantime, however, neoconservatives are intent on doing all they can to disrupt and impeed the Obama Administration which is bearly one week old. The new president has gone out of his way to placate greedy conservatives, but hopefully now he sees the error. There is no pleasing these people. That is the very nature of GREED.
So ignore them as they did you. The Democrats have the majority and do not need them. Let them simply show their asses on talk radio, FOX NEWS, and on the internet like they have already. During these hard times we must endure thanks to Bush and the Republicans, the rest of us need some comic relief. Especially now that "W" is history.

IT IS OFFICIAL

2008-12-09T17:22:00.009-05:00

The Democrats of the United States gained a huge victory over the well heeled big wheels and Republicans in the elections of 2008, but this article is about something else.
The National Bureau of Economic Research has officially declared The United States is in a "Recession". Moreover, this organization admits this has been the case at least since last December. While it is reassuring Americans have "private" industries with deceiving names being well paid to state the manifestly obvious [There's Your Financial Crisis] most front line Americans have been well aware something is amiss for quite a while.

THE ECONOMIC CRISIS is the natural result of 25 years of
"trickle-down" economics and a culture of corruption and greed which began with "Reaganomics" and exploded under the unfortunate presidency of George W. Bush. While a majority of voters finally after a quarter of a century rejected the fiscal make believe of the Republicans, the question is now: Were they too late?
The Banks have received their "bailout" while modest tax payers are once again left holding the bag. Since most Americans alive during The Great Depression are gone, those whom have failed to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. At the beginning of this year, all but those in complete denial (or those who benefit from the crisis)knew the economy was in serious trouble. This was during the time George W. Bush and John McCain along with the rest of the Republicans were assuring Americans the economy was in great shape. Almost everyone who wasn't at the crest of the economic pyramid or coddled in a 'government' job knew differently. The erosion of the job market has been obvious to the average wage-earners not 'duped' by pro-business propaganda. Unemployment is at the level it was during the Reagan Administration and rising to the point it reached during the Hoover Administration, while CEOs continue to cut themselves huge bonuses and workers labor twice as hard to make up for the work missed by "laid-off" colleagues. The "De-regulation" championed by Republicans is one of the chief reasons the U.S. economy is spiraling toward the abyss. The new administration is likely to counter two decades of "supply-side" economics with a return to a more sane policy. Until then, workers in the U.S. will be expected to work even harder for less pay while enhancing the established private fortunes of those who receive the tax breaks courtesy of George W. Bush and the Republican Party.
Well, the "party" is almost over, and while greedy businessmen jockey for their socialistic "bailouts" the other America awaits January 20, 2009 for the cleanup to begin. The Question is for many, "Is it already too late?" A generation has hopefully learned the error of electing a complete idiot [i.e. clown] to be president of The United States. As gas prices fall to pre-Bush/Cheney levels, Americans are [finally] realizing they have been scammed.

THE FINAL DEBATE

2008-10-16T14:48:00.006-04:00

The 3d and final debate between the remaining contenders for the presidency of The United States was a resounding "victory" for the Democratic nominee Barack Obama, who answered the absurd criticisms of The McCain Campaign to the satisfaction of all but the most bitter partisan.

While McCain calls for a "short term fix", Obama seeks to address the issues Washington has ignored for more than 32 years. McCain has adopted the "Drill Here--Drill Now" philosophy sponsored by the major Oil Corporations, while Obama candidly admits, "We can't 'drill' our way out of The Problem". In a nation stunned by the "sudden" financial crisis, the Democrat charged the Republican plan is simply a "give away to banks" and more tax breaks to wealthy corporations as well as individuals. McCain simply seeks to continue the economic policies of George W. Bush. McCain, who as a U.S. Senator voted to endorse the Bush administration over 90% of the time, resented being compared to Bush, and said, "I'm not George W. Bush ... if you wanted to run against him, you should have run 4 years ago!" It was perhaps the only memorable phrase from a Republican candidate desperate to distance himself from Bush while continuing his "legacy".

It is indeed the frustration felt by a candidate who either willingly or by coercion is forced to champion discredited and untenable political positions which came to the fore as McCain's temper was displayed to the entire nation, while Obama maintained his cool in the face of wild Republican accusations. McCain failed to mentioned the "middle" class even once during the debate as he introduced new accusations of "class warfare" against Obama. Indeed, modest Americans are starting to understand McCain and the Republicans are the avid guardians of affluent America, International Banks and Corporations who declared "war" on the less priviledged no later than eight years ago. As expected, McCain accused Obama of having an inappropriate relationship with "'60s 'radicals". McCain did refrain from bringing Obama's religous affiliations into the debate. At the same time, Obama didn't feel it neccessary to remind voters of McCain's ties to the (in retrospect) milder financial disaster of the '80s Savings & Loans scandal.

Among McCain's ad hominem attacks and ad hoc criticisms he became focused with laser beam precision on a fellow he designated as Joe the Plumber. It was McCain's pathetic attempt to link himself to the struggling "everyman" (albeit not unsuccessfully, see the opinions of Joe the Plumber). Obama, however, refused to be distracted. McCain said Obama seeks to "spread the wealth" ... like that is a bad thing. Meanwhile, Obama sought to explain the features of his tax plan on a level even "Joe the Plumber" might understand.

When asked about existing government programs he would willingly "cut", Obama was quick to mention "subsidies to insurence companies" and said any financial "bailout" sponsored by the federal government would have to include protections from CEO enrichment. Obama pledged he would set his budget on a "pay as you go" plan.

In the end, McCain looked like a guilty defendant on trial ... anxious, fidgety, in a word -- desperate. Obama was cool, concise, and collected, like someone who is confident "justice" will prevail. Of the two, he seemed the most capable of being able to deal with the present crisis. He handled all the attacks on his personal character with dignity, and although he couldn't resist smiling during some of McCain's more absurd responses, he did resist the urge to bust out laughing during McCain's more implausable claims.

There is no doubt The Final Debate was the best one of the series. Moderated by perhaps the top news anchor in the business, CBS Washington Bureau Chief Bob Schiefer, it had the style and impact of the Sunday morning show Face The Nation. It is now time for Americans to make up their minds. Do they want more of the same style of leadership as that provided by George W. Bush and greedy corporatists, or is The United Staes finally ready for change?

THE CAMPAIGN of LIES

2008-10-08T13:02:00.006-04:00

The Republicans insist on pursuing the well worn path of deception and misinformation when dealing with the electorate.
Case in point: The McCain Campaign.

A lot of people felt sorry for John McCain a little over eight years ago [... no...not because of his P.O.W. experience] when he ran against George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination because of the slurs on his character manufactured by Karl Rove and other Bush partisans. Well now these bastards work for him and he is the standard bearer for the party of Banks, Big Business, Corporations, and Tax Cuts for the overburdened billionares.

And we see him selling his own brand of the same snake-oil Bush [ both of 'em ] and Reagan did. He sees the reason for the financial breakdown [ to an economy which in his mind was "sound" only weeks ago ] as "poor" people moving into homes they couldn't afford. Probably the same "welfare cheats" of the Reagan years. Hyper-speculations and extreme CEO salaries aren't part of the McCain scenario. The expense of the bungled Iraq War doesn't seem to have much to do with it either. He feels Obama is too "inexperienced" to grapple with the complexities of the issues ... then chooses as a running mate a clueless "cheerleader" to repeat the mindless slogans [ Drill Here -- Drill Now ] discredited smears [ Obama is a muslim terrorist who plotted with 60's Radicals when he was a child ] and encouraged members of the NRA to perhaps take a "shot" at this guy, all in the spirit of fun similar to the not so funny jokes of T.V.'s newest talkshow host, Mike Huckabee.

That is why, as his hands quiver and shake from the onset of Alzheimer's Disease, McCain assures everyone we need his "steady" hand running The White House. He works to convince us if we just give even more tax cuts to major corporations and private billionares, money will eventually "trickle" down to the less affluent working Americans. McCain insists the "surge" in Iraq has "worked," so we have a tactical success in a strategic blunder of a war which is unjustified in the first place, and which may have something to do with the collapse of The U.S. Economy. As much as I do hate to say it ...
The "Straight" Talk Express has taken the "off" ramp.

McCAIN's CHOICE for V.P.

2008-09-03T16:35:00.005-04:00

John McCain's choice for a running mate makes sense when one examines the sinister sort of logic employed by REPUBLICAN stategists. Born in 1964 , she is too young to recall a day before the Reagan - Bush style Police State became entrenched in American Society.

Add to it the fact she is a Pentecostal , which makes her appealing to The Religious Right who loathe McCain. She is a staunch Anti-Choice Advocate regarding the legality of abortion , an issue McCain differs with rank and file conservatives on , and perhaps will not be above using her pregnant teen - age daughter as political capital. Sarah Palin , however , is a strong advocate for The Death Penalty.

Sarah Palin is Against The Legalization of Marijuana , although she used to smoke weed.
The Republican Vice Presidential Candidate is a member of The National Rifle Association , which is crucial to winning over Republicans. She supports The Bush Foreign Policy ( as does McCain ) .

Her prior political experience consists of being the Governor of Alaska since 2006 , and most revealing , she is in favor of DRILLING IN ANWAR. Her husband works for BP. and Sarah Palin doesn't "believe" in GLOBAL WARMING.

Is she qualified to be President ? ( something McCain seemed concerned about when discussing Obama ). It depends on whose qualifications are under review. As far as Republicans are concerned , especially considering McCain's aged status ( he may not even live out his first term if elected ) the most important qualification to be President of The United States is to be a complete "shill" for the Oil Corporations like George W. Bush.

KARL ROVE: The Man Can Not Be Trusted !

2008-08-12T15:22:00.004-04:00

Karl Rove is either in need of Mental Health Treatment , or he is quite simply a Liar.
No better example can be found than his statement , " George W. Bush is one of the most intellectually gifted presidents we've ever had!" Of course when one remembers past presidents such as Thomas Jefferson , Woodrow Wilson , or John F. Kennedy , the absurdity of such a conclusion is readily apparent. Which goes to show -- Rove is either a idiot or a liar.

The Republicans claim to be the party of "law and order".
Yet Rove is in contempt of Congress right now for defying a subpoena to testify regarding misconduct within The Bush Administration. Rove got his start in politics in the discredited Nixon Administration , and like Cheney, and rode out The Vietnam War on a college deferment. Yet he was behind the "swift boat" campaign to smear the reputation of a Vietnam Vet who did serve his country. He is quick to send others into battle like all the "chickenhawks" who champion The War in Iraq.

Perhaps one reason Rove hates "Democrats" so much is during the days of The Woodstock Generation he was "uncool" and "a complete nerd".

Now in addition to being an advisor to the McCain Campaign For President , Rove is a political analyst for the "unfair" and "imbalanced" FOX NEWS. Among other things, this is a complete conflict of interest , or it would be on any other news network. When one remembers how President Gerald Ford "pardoned" Richard M. Nixon , it isn't hard to understand why this election is crucial to Republicans and why misinformation like that which led to the invasion of Iraq is still required from the likes of Karl Rove. One thing is for sure: Anyone who claims George W. Bush is a "gifted intellectual " can not be taken seriously.

Dubya And Dubai

2008-08-04T15:20:00.004-04:00

Unbelievable! We finally begin to see the major thrust of The Republican Campaign 2008 , and it is " Drill Here -- Drill Now !"

The Nation is being exploited by the whims of Oil Corporations who own and sponsor the G.O.P.

McCain and The Republicans demand The U.S. Government sell public lands for "drilling". They are at odds as far as gas prices go. Lower them between now and November -- and help McCain -- Or maintain inflated rates (while they can ) and make the U.S. Electorate buckle to demands for "offshore" drilling and the prize of Alaska (while maximizing shareholder 'profits' for the remainder of the Bush/Cheney Administration).

Not much has changed over the past seven years when it really gets down to it as far as these Republicans are concerned. But the price of a gallon of gasoline sure has while Exxon records record breaking profits!

But while The United States was being swindled , the port of Dubai has prospered beyond belief. Perhaps the Emirates are "Dubya's" true constituents? Don't forget, Bush tried to "give" control of all the major U.S. ports to Dubai only a few short years ago! It is the new paradise of corporations. A "tower" is being built there twice the size of The Empire State Building.

Meanwhile everyone is supposed to forget the corruption and economic decline of the past seven years. It is all in your mind. You need a new psychology. Criticism of Operation Iraq Liberation is misrepresented. To Republicans it is not a question of justification. Arguments revolve around whether the "surge" worked. To endlessly debate that question is to miss the whole point. It is but more of the same culture of deception.

BUSH ADMITS : We Knew What Was Coming

2008-07-18T15:46:00.003-04:00

In the July 15th White House Press Conference Bush finally admitted "We Understood What Was Coming."
This is proof The Bush/Cheney Administration was and is fully aware of the destructive effects its policies would have upon American families, the financial stress they would bring , and the overall decline they would cause the United States. In his second week in office Bush created the "Energy Task Force" with Vice-president Cheney, the CEO of Haliburton, as its Chairman. The stated objective of this " Task Force" was to "develop an energy policy to help the private sector." So it should be no surprise who has benefited most from the extreme increase in gas prices since Bush and Cheney took office, with both Cheney and Bush coming from the 'energy' industry, or the undue influence Big Oil has had on National Policy.

Indeed , high gas prices are the objective for The Republicans. In the final months of his second term as president, Bush is making hysterical pleas for offshore drilling , the pre-9/11 focus of his presidential campaign. The high gas prices are meant to make the American public cave to the whims of The Oil Industry. Unemployment and jobs for Americans are of little to no concern for President Bush. His focus is on the interest of Oil Corporations, Banks, Security Industries, and "shareholders" ... in other words, The Rich.

That is why, in spite of everything , Bush vows never to "raise taxes". It is hard to imagine a National Emergency so dire as to require The Wealthy in The United States to pay their fair share of the tax burden. As far as The Recession goes -- it is just in the minds of the middle-class and working poor Americans. Bush feels the Nation simply needs to "change psychology". He credits himself with making a "brilliant statement" .... something about waving a magic wand or something. His final word on the matter is, "It's interesting what the price of gasoline has done". He has No Plan to Correct the Imbalance ( Nor Does McCain for that matter).

As far as the Iraq War goes -- Bush now claims, "The Iraqis invited us". Hmmm ...that isn't quite the way I remember it going down. President Bill Clinton released part of The Strategic Oil-Petroleum Reserve to help Americans during the '90's ... but for Bush this is completely out of the question.

But he is willing to "bailout" shareholders in Fannie Mae, although in the same breath Bush insists it "isn't a bailout". He isn't smart enough to think of a new word so we'll have to get back to him on that. In closing, Bush turned the whole press conference into an explanation of why he lifted the ban on offshore drilling. As for the collapse of The United States Economy ... well ... it has been an unfortunate consequence of The Plan.

The Price of Gas ....$4 per gallon. Watching Bush squirm ........Priceless.

1/20/09

2008-06-21T15:27:00.000-04:00

I hope we make it there. I Have A Dream. I will awaken from the nightmare of The Bush/Cheney Administration. Any criticisim of 'Clinton', 'Carter', or even LBJ, has been totally eclipsed by the huge failure of perhaps the most incompetent and pathetic president since ....
well ...Hoover? Namely George W. Bush.

The Explosion of Corruption and Greed in The United States is unpresidented. Historians see Obama as the most promising Democratic candidate since FDR.

However, they may be underestimating the magnitude of The Republican Propaganda Machine. This being said, the whole system of party affiliation is in complete flux for the first time since The Realignment of 1968.

In the case of John McCain , the Question of Vice-president is an important one. It is my prediction Joe Lieberman will return as a running-mate, this time for The Republicans. We have all been forced to witness the influence a Vice-president may have when allowed in the conduct of Dick Cheney, not to mention the fact of McCain's age. It is a very real possibility he may not live to serve out his term if elected, so in this instance, the Vice-presidential running -mate will be significant.

On the other hand, John Edwards is a possibility for The Democrats, or perhaps Dennis Kucinich. One thing is for certain: McCain claims to be about "change" which almost all Americans seem to yearn for at this point, but he in fact is just a "rubber-stamp" continuation of the National Disgrace known as The Bush Administration.

Therefore, Obama is the only sane vote this upcoming November.