Go Palin or “We are doomed”

I figure our current form of democracy will not survive a Palin vrs. Obama showdown in 2012. Now that I know Palin is considering a run for president, I think it’s time to check out the citizenship options in France, Canada, or even Philippines.

Palin has remained coy about her ambitions, but she elaborated a bit in an interview with Fox News, attaching several conditions to the possibility of a 2012 presidential run.

“If the American people were to be ready for someone who is willing to shake it up, and willing to get back to time-tested truths, and help lead our country towards a more prosperous and safe future and if they happen to think I was the one, if it were best for my family and for our country, of course I would.

Palin could kill the Republican party, assure the re-election of President Obama, and turn the United States of America into the laughingstock of the world, and all with one little decision.

I’m going a little crazy with Obama in office. I’m a libertarian. The Democrats view of how to run a country is not a view I like much. But come election season, if Palin is on the ticket, I’ll be forced to vote for a Democrat once again. If anybody in the Republican party reads my blog, please put forth a couple of non-fundie centrists Republican candidates. Please… Pretty please? Oh wait, there are none. We are doomed.

Technorati Tags: Politics,Sarah Palin Barak Obama

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Stewart catches Hannity lying

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I don’t do politics much. I should, the Republics are easy targets. And Obama could be a category all his own. I don’t fit with politics, I’m a libertarian, who finds the political landscape too partisan. I don’t watch Fox News either, although I know plenty of people who think it actually offer news.

John Stewart caught Sean Hannity manipulating the news recently. It’s manipulation on a level that I would call a lie. I’m not sure the people who watch Hannity would catch it and even if they did, they would not care anyway. How sad is that?

Technorati Tags: Politics,Ethics

An end to abstinence only education?

I was reading Politico this afternoon when I saw a post by Ben Smith titled, An end to abstinence only, in black and white.  The main point made me so happy that I clapped my hands.

In reference to a passage from the President’s budget:

This Budget eliminates funding for Community-Based Abstinence Education, the mandatory Title V Abstinence Education program, the Compassion Capital Fund, and Rural Community Facilities.

Did I just read the last gasp for federally funded abstinence only sex education programs? I sure hope so.

Technorati tags: Sex Education, Religion, Faith Based, Obama

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Obama - We Do Not Consider Ourselves A Christian Nation

“We do not consider ourselves to be a Christian nation…”

...chest swells with pride.

...could it be that I am proud to be an American again?

...I never thought or imagined that I would ever hear that from the mouth of an American President.

Technorati tags: Obama, Politics

Obama writes letters

My first thought upon reading that President Obama writes a letter to the family of American soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan was that this must mean that Bush did not write letters. My second thought was about how much I respect President Obama for making the gesture. It is the right thing to do. It is one of those things that causes a “hell yes” to escape my lips. It is nice to feel proud again.

Technorati tags: Politics, War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Obama

Chapbook released for Praise Song for the Day

I've recently become a big fan of poetry. I enjoyed the poem by Elizabeth Alexander performed for President Obama's Inauguration. I found out today that her poem will be released as a commemorative chapbook by Graywolf Press on Feb 6th. I bought two copies today. One for me, and one for a friend.

I learned of this via a press release.

Elizabeth Alexander crafted the poem for the occasion, drawing inspiration from poets such as Gwendolyn Brooks, Robert Hayden, and Walt Whitman. Alexander is one of our nation's most eloquent poets, and she spoke at the most closely watched inauguration in U.S. history. Alexander is the fourth poet in United States history to read at a presidential inauguration. Previous inaugural poets were Robert Frost at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy, and Maya Angelou and Miller Williams at the inaugurations of William Jefferson Clinton.

The poem starts:

Each day we go about our business,
walking past each other, catching each other's
eyes or not, about to speak or speaking.

All about us is noise. All about us is
noise and bramble, thorn and din, each
one of our ancestors on our tongues.

I don’t know why it is that poetry has suddenly become so important to me. I’m almost 50 after all. Poetry came to me late, but I am glad it came.  I just know that poetry often captures the emotion of a moment better that anything else I’ve ever experienced.

I’ll remember hanging on each word of this poem for years to come. I’ll also remember being jealous that my friend Kenny was able to hear these words in person. It was a beautiful moment.

Technorati tags: Poetry, Elizabeth Alexander

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Must we listen to the Vatican?

The Vatican, and they would like us to believe, the majority of Americans, do not support President Obama's lifting the so-called "global gag rule" which cut off funding to overseas family planning clinics if the had anything to do with abortions. Archbishop Rino Fisichella has gone so far as to call our president arrogant.

Fisichella is president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, one of a number of so-called pontifical academies which are formed by or under the direction of the Holy See.

"What is important is to know how to listen... without locking oneself into ideological visions with the arrogance of a person who, having the power, thinks they can decide on life and death," he added.

I’ve always viewed the global gag order as an attempt at legislating morality. It  is also anti-science and anti-women. The whole point of medical care is to provide the widest range of alternatives so that the best solution is chosen. If abortion, even abortion related services like simply talking about it, are off the table, then the possible solutions are limited and the resulting service may in fact not be in the best interest of the patient.

I’ve stayed out of the abortion debate for many reasons. But I think it is time to state my position. I believe in a woman's right to choose. I also believe that abortions are an undesirable. The two positions can coexist. The key to abortion rights (at least in my mind), is giving a woman all the possible information and services available so the she can make the right choice. This includes preventative measures, like contraception. It also includes counseling, the morning after pill,  adoption, and if necessary, abortion. The problem is… all of these were replaced to some extent by a big black hole of misinformation under the theocratic Republicans. And that’s simply wrong.

The Vatican could always forbid Catholics from having abortions… I’m not sure they will listen.

Technorati tags: Abortion Rights, Catholics, Politics, Obama

Fox News picks up Rick Warren sermon

One of the benefits of increased exposure is more opportunity to spread your message. President-Elect Obama chose Rick Warren to give the invocation at the Presidential Inauguration, so FOX News chose Rick Warren to broadcast four special airings of His Saddleback Church’s Christmas service, When God Changes Your Plans.

This is wrong on so many levels. First, it’s not news. But then again, few people accuse FOX News of broadcasting news these days. Second, it feels like Obama choice of Rick Warren is being exploited to deliver Warren’s anti-gay message to a wider audience. It feels so opportunistic, and wrong.

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Technorati tags: Rick Warren, Gay Rights, Fox News, Barack Obama

Rick Warren pulls anti-gay language from his Web site

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Via AmericaBlog: Rick Warren pulled an interesting soviet era trick by attempting to remake his  Saddleback church into a kinder gentler, gay tolerant church.  The webisite removed language which some might find embarrassing. Just a week ago, the church website said homosexuals could not become members, but they could attend. You know, so they could be cured and all…

I smell a rat.

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Technorati tags: Rick Warren, Gay Rights

 

Obama makes a bad choice with Warren

I understand why Barack Obama choose Rick Warren to give the invocation at the presidential inauguration. Back during the early days of the election, Warren and Obama hooked when Obama was given an opportunity to speak directly to a large wealthy evangelical audience. Obama's paying his political tab.

But Warren is simply a housebroken version of Dobson. Bligbi says it best.

He’s Dobson with a softer voice. He’s anti-woman, he’s anti-gay and yes, he’s anti-atheist. The man’s probably never met a minority group he doesn’t think deserves to be dominated by white straight protestant men like himself.

Lease we forget. Rick Warren openly endorsed California’s Proposition 8. If you judge a man by what he does, Rick Warren has lost his credibility as a moderate voice in evangelical politics. Once you lose it… it does not come back.

It’s time to sober up. Obama is not likely to champion gay marriage. His words and actions show this clearly. I’m not sure that was ever in his plan.

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Technorati tags: Barack Obama, election 2008, Religious Right, Rick Warren, Gay Marriage, Gay Rights

Things I want our new president to address

President Elect Obama has a full plate. The country is a mess. We are fighting two wars. Our economy is in the worst state I can remember. And, our reputation as a nation is at an all time low. Yet there are some things that need to be fixed simply because they are just wrong. Like the erosion of personal liberties caused by our massive and misguided overreaction to 911. We lack innocent people up for trivial offensives. These people are not a threat to the United States. Why do we treat people like this? It reminds me of the Red Scare of the 1950’s where everybody is under suspicion.

Paul Clements sits in immigration prison because we are idiots. Let common sense prevail. Stop the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing mindless rules. Nothing is life should be black and white. Binary responses to difficult security questions are adopted when those who rule do not trust those who enforce our laws. My hope is that our new President will see the shortcomings created during the incompetence of the Bush Administration, and fix DHS.

On doing the right thing

Life is full of morality lessons. I celebrate the stories that reinforce my values. Like this one about Barack Obama. He was generous before he needed to cultivate a public image and when $100 dollars was a lot of money to him.

In the early 80s, my wife and I were stuck in Tokyo without cash. We were near the central train station and totally confused. A young man from Texas stopped to help us. He paid a cab driver $60 to take us to our hotel. Unfortunately, it was not George Bush. 

Technorati tags: Obama

Am I cool yet?

My wife alerted me to this article, "Suddenly, it may be cool to be an American again", written by William J. Kole of the Associated Press. It seems a stranger kissed him on the cheek.

It happened on the bus on my way to work Wednesday morning, a few hours after compatriots clamoring for change swept Barack Obama to his historic victory. I was on the phone, and the 20-something Austrian woman seated in front of me overheard me speaking English.

Without a word, she turned, pecked me on the cheek and stepped off at the next stop.

Nothing was said, but the message was clear: Today, we are all Americans.

I've traveled abroad a lot, even before Bush made it difficult. I've always had problems when people recognize me as American. I've even been roughed up a few times... although I am pretty sure I contributed to those situations. However, the hope of the kiss is clear. Is the Bush era of international lunacy finally over? I hope so. I had more fun when I was mistaken as a German.

Technorati tags: Obama, Politics, Travel

I did my duty

I was the 26th person to vote in my district. When I arrived there were 11 people in line. We use electronic ballots that produce paper ballots. The process takes about three minutes. Voting using the machines is a little confusing. You must press a bunch of buttons in the right sequence. A few of the older people needed help. The volunteers were helpful. It was a good experience.

It was a tough call for me. I am a libertarian. I normally waste my vote. I choose to make my vote count this year. I voted for Obama, and against fundie backed propositions 4 and 8.

Do your duty. Go vote.

Technorati tags: 2008 Elections, Obama, Voting

A little GOP inspired racism

Gleaned from the morning news...

From San Bernardino, the local equivalent of Central Ohio, GOP Women's Group Decides Obama Should Be on Foodstamps, Along with Fried Chicken and Watermelon. After reading the article, I had to ask, "When is a letter of resignation appropriate?" Diane Fedele, I hereby call for your resignation.

- - -

Al-Jazeera pointed a camera and a microphone at people who were attending a Sarah Palin rally in Central Ohio. The resulting footage should win and award for exposing racism. Take this quote from an old lady "Obama and his wife, I’m concerned that they could be anti-white. That he might hide that.”

I don't know what to say. I am so ashamed. These people are idiots. But... I find it hard to trust Al-Jazeera to tell the truth, so watch it with your BS detector set to full power. You can watch the whole video at Prose Before Hos or at YouTube.

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Technorati tags: Barack Obama, GOP, Sarah Palin, Racism, Al-Jazeera

More racism in the presidential campaign

As the campaign nears the end, McCain supports are starting to show their racist predilections. it can be as subtle as shouting "off with his head" - OK, shouting "off with his head" is not exactly subtle, but compared to some of the things we've see recently, it's small potato's.

Digg and Reddit are full of the Obama Monkey story. I've watched the YouTube video of a nutball supporter wave his Obama Monkey in open racial contempt for Barack Obama. I've watched follow-up footage of the same jackass trying to hide his stupidity. I am sure some who read this will point out this is a single data point, except it's not. There is ample video evidence showing supporters saying all sorts of stupid nasty things.

Racism has no place in politics. These people are trying to roll back the clock. It is simply wrong.

The truth is... I like my monkeys on cupcakes. Racism has no foothold in my life.

Technorati tags: Obama, McCain, Politics, Racism

Well this pisses me off

A billboard in Missouri makes me ashamed to be an American - and proud at the same tiem.

Ashamed - racism is alive and well. I don't understand it. It pisses me off beyond words. I want to tear the damn thing down. But I won't...

Proud - we have the freedom to speak our minds here, even if the words flow from the minds of a cretins.

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Technorati tags: Missouri, Obama, Politics, Racism

The Palin/Miers connection

Vjack goes after Sarah Palin in an outstanding post today:

When McCain initially chose Palin, most of the outrage came from women who had supported Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. They found McCain's pick insulting because it communicated that they would be appeased by a female candidate, regardless of her qualifications. "Surely he could have found a far more qualified woman!"Vjack, Atheist Revolution: Sarah Palin is John McCain's Harriet Miers, Oct 2008

You should read the whole article. I did.

Sarah Palin continues to lie

Sarah Palin continues to confound me. She spreads rumors and lies - and people believe her. I don't get it. In this case she is spreading a rumor that Barack Obama has a significant association with a domestic terrorist. It is complete BS.

Image via Wikipedia

While it is known that Obama and Ayers live in the same Chicago neighborhood, served on a charity board together and had a fleeting political connection, there is no evidence that they ever palled around. And it's simply wrong to suggest that they were associated while Ayers was committing terrorist acts.

Source: Palin accuses Obama of 'palling around with terrorists,' cites association with '60s radical

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Technorati tags: Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, Politics, lies

Church endorses political candidate

This is Pastor Wiley Drake's First Southern Baptist church of Buena Park. The sign on the left endorses Alan Keyes for president. I took this picture on Friday, October 3rd, at 1:00 in the afternoon. Drake is making a political statement. He wants to provoke the IRS.

"I'm going to talk about the un-biblical stands that Barack Obama takes," the Rev. Wiley Drake of First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park told the Los Angeles Times. "Nobody who follows the Bible can vote for him."

Christian ministers from California and 21 other states will use their pulpits Sunday to deliver political sermons or endorse presidential candidates.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State have already filed a complaint.

"These pastors have decided to thumb their noses at the Internal Revenue Service and at the whole concept that the church is a place where partisanship should be left at the door," said the Rev Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

In August of 2007, Wiley Drake issues a call for Imprecatory Prayer against Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Drake asked God to kill Joe Conn and Jeremy Learing.

Drake runs a homeless village out of his church, so I must grant him some credit. However, I don't agree with his methods. The man is a religious nutball of the highest order. He's not quite as bad as Phelps, some of the crap that spews from his mouth is almost as bad. I hope the IRS throws the book at him.

Tell Wiley Drake what you think. Here is his email: wileydrake@hotmail.com

Technorati tags: Wiley Drake, IRS, 1st Amendment, Americans United