ET Phone Home

It can be said that with every political election comes the crack pots and just plain delirious. People that are looking to the heavens and the night sky are looking for proof that ET was here or still is here. Yes, UFO enthusiasts are claiming that the President Elect is sympathetic to their cause and should drag out the dead bodies of alien visitors in Roswell, New Mexico. If you are not up to date on UFO legends, back in the 1950’s it is alleged that an alien spacecraft crashed in Roswell and the government has hidden the bodies for top secret reasons. Area 51 and the top secret military base is where their bodies rest in scientific lore and legend.

They even claim to have an inside track to the President Elect Barack Obama courtesy of Governor Bill Richardson who is going to be the Commerce appointee. Governor Richardson just happens to be Governor where a plethora of UFO enthusiast find much of their research and interest in this hotly debated topic according to the group looking to unseal top secret records over the last fifty or sixty years. Over at the Telegraph in the UK they have this on ET phoning home and they want to see the phone bill to prove it…

UFO enthusiasts call on Obama to release X-Files

UFO enthusiasts are pressing Barack Obama to release classified documents about sightings of alien spacecraft, encouraged by support from within the President-Elect's own White House team.

By Tim Shipman in Washington
Last Updated: 1:30PM GMT 30 Nov 2008

Desperate to see the US emulate the British Government and disclose reported "contact" with UFOs, the enthusiasts have written to Mr Obama to ask that his administration comes clean about the contents of America's "X-Files".

They believe they have good prospects of success after public statements of support from both John Podesta, who is running Mr Obama's White House transition team, and Bill Richardson, the Governor of New Mexico - a UFO sighting hotspot - who is expected to secure a cabinet post.

In the letter to Mr Obama, the Extraterrestrial Phenomenon Political Action Committee calls on the President-Elect to "end the six-decade truth embargo regarding an extraterrestrial presence engaging the human race".

The group wants the incoming president to insist on a "full briefing from your military services and intelligence agencies regarding what they know" and to open congressional hearings "to take testimony from scores of government witnesses who have already come forward with extraordinary evidence and are prepared to testify under oath."

The campaigners, who resent their common portrayal as nuts and conspiracy theorists, have high hopes of success due to their inside track with Mr Obama. - Telegraph UK

Now I’m not a scientist or even a physicist but I do know that one little known physicist called Albert Einstein had a little theory of space travel. It went something like this. You can not surpass the speed of light. Then there is the old comedy routine from Stephen Wright where he ponders the question if you are traveling at the speed of light, would your headlights on that vehicle work?

Is there a chance that aliens have been visiting this world? Anything is possible. We are currently robotically visiting Mars so why is it not feasible that somebody is visiting us? Let me tell you why it is not possible, it has to do with time and the distance needed to be covered for such a trip. The closest livable planet is probably hundreds of light years from Earth according to Karl Sagan writings and traveling at the speed of light alone is not enough to get you from there to here and back again. You would literally have to freeze time on the craft to survive the journey, gather your research once you get to Earth, start the trip back home and freeze time once more. The sad news is that time was not frozen on your home world while you were gone and the thousands of centuries that have passed will have no recollection of you as a space explorer. You would in fact be an alien to your own home world.

I would lend the thought that all of the UFO sightings can be explained as military aircraft in top secret development and that is all that it is. The United States government is not going to reveal any technology in high speed stealth development or even dare I say Unidentified Flying Aircraft science. Our nation spends billions in research to stay on the leading edge of human technology when it comes to the needs of our military. That is why we are the last standing super power in the world. It is all top secret for a reason. That secrecy in aircraft technology saved tens of thousands of lives in both wars in Iraq. Should we disclose to the next Sadam Hussein what our military is capable of?

One last thought, ET, your mother called and she is pissed that you didn’t put your socks in the damn dirty clothes hamper. Phone home!

Papamoka

Richardson Goes for Obama

In a very surprising and controversial time in the Obama campaign they have found a new friend with the very much needed endorsement of Governor Bill Richardson. Even the close friendship of former President Bill Clinton could not sway the Governor of New Mexico to join the Hillary Clinton band wagon. Over at MSNBC they have this to say about it…

SANTA FE, New Mexico - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, America's only Hispanic governor, is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president, calling him a "once-in-a- lifetime leader" who can unite the nation and restore the country's international leadership.

Richardson, who dropped out of the Democratic race in January, is to appear with Obama on Friday at a campaign event in Portland, Oregon, The Associated Press has learned.

Snip

Richardson has been relentlessly wooed by Obama and Clinton for his endorsement. As a Democratic superdelegate, the governor plays a part in the tight race for nominating votes and could bring other superdelegates to Obama's side. He also has been mentioned as a potential running mate for either candidate. - MSNBC

What is interesting about this endorsement is the quality of the individual. Earlier in this political contest Bill Richardson was a huge favorite for Independents and Moderate voters. Even at one point there was talk back in the Iowa caucus days of Richardson and Biden joining camps to form a super Democrat ticket.

Richardson’s endorsement brings some serious credentials with it when it comes to diplomacy around the world. When he was still running for President he spoke at length about talking to nations of the world with issues against America rather than brow beating them into submission or using military force to show them the true path.

What will be interesting to see is if the endorsement of Obama by Governor Richardson will swing a big enough chunk of Hispanic voters away from the Clinton campaign. That will be the true test of this endorsement.

It begs at the mind to wonder if Barack Obama has promised the Vice Presidency to the Governor if nominated by the Democrats. Having a running mate with five Nobel Peace Prize nominations under his belt certainly would work to Obama’s favor when it comes to foreign policy.

Papamoka

Feel free to link to or borrow this post…

*****This post was picked up by Chicago Sun Times

*****This post was picked up by Reuters

Gender Identity Politics And Free Speech; Hillarynauts To Gag Dissent

BY MICHAEL LINN JONES

How many times have you heard that we need a president who "can bring us together?" Those dissatisfied with the current course of the country lament the fact that public discourse has become so poisonous during the Bush 43 years.

In the words of that great American philosopher, Gomer Pyle, "Surprise, surprise, surprise!" It isn't going away; it's just crossing the street. It is difficult to articulate what I've witnessed since the 3% landslide victory of Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire. I've read more than one column that has morphed a primary election cycle for the presidency into a national litmus test for sexism. As in anything politically correct, the judges are also the accusers.

Frankly, there ARE no current candidates who convince me that they belong in the White House. Joe Biden was the most serious, but he's unelectable precisely because he has the presidential timber for the job, warts and all. Obam's rhetoric is soaring, but there's a difference between preaching and working. John Edwards' message resonates with people, but corporate America will shun him, and this is a corporate state.

So I'm skeptical but haven't ruled anyone out for my vote. Except one candidate, and that is Hillary Clinton. As I read recent articles portraying "attacks" on Clinton as anti-feminist viciousness, I'm reminded of how anyone opposed to a flood of illegal aliens into the country is a "nativist" or "xenophobe." One applied in haste, that tar and feather treatment is hard to rub off.

My allergic reaction to Bill Clinton began after he took office. I had hope because that was what he offered. He lied. He lied for 8 years, wrapped in a cocoon of selfishness that placed him in my mind as the worst president since Lyndon Johnson. He was easily exceeded by George W. Bush.

But, I DO remember seeing William Clinton and Albert Gore on the ballot. I do NOT remember seeing Hillary Clinton on it, nor can I find anything constitutionally that provides a role for the first spouse.

I knew Hillary Clinton was not a "stand by your man kind of woman like Tammy Wynette" because she said so. I did NOT know that there was a "co-presidency," underlined by the quote, "WE are the president." The healthcare debacle at the beginning of the Clinton presidency had a large bearing on the 1994 Congressional elections, resulting in our first taste of the Rabid Republicans forming a posse that rode on for years.

I remember the unseemly details of the "travelgate" fiasco, which while not illegal wss an example of the exercise in power. A power derived through a MARRIAGE LICENSE to the President of the United States. There was the ridiculous and false claim in 1995 that Hillary Clinton was named after Sir Edmund Hillary, six years before he was known outside of New Zealand.

There was the convenient purchase of a home in Chappaqua, New York some months before the end of the Clinton presidency in 2000. Bill Clinton pardoned 16 Puerto Rican terrorists, members of FALN, responsible for 120 bombings in the U.S. It need not be mentioned that a large number of Puerto Ricans live in New York City. It was an insult to the victims of the FALN bombings, as well as to the patriotism of Puerto Ricans, which is strong. But it was a bald-faced attempt to secure votes for a candidate for the U.S. Senate, one Hillary Clinton.

There is enough to fill a book. What I know is that I have one vote in November. It will not be wasted on someone who wants the world to work both ways at once and at the same time. One thing Bill and Hillary Clinton have in common is a unique ability to fold, spindle, and mutilate people in acquiring what they seek.

But now.....the fog horns of "feminism" are blaring out the message that any criticism, any questioning of Hillary Clinton is an attack on women. Bull. Shit.

I've watched for 30 years the campaigns for "womens' rights." Unfortunately the women I've worked with were untouched (and unthought of) by these "brave" attempts to break glass ceilings in corporate boardrooms. The women in the offices and factories worked just as hard as the men, were mistreated just as badly as the men, and their miserable pay and conditions were the same as for the men.

I wonder how many of these suddenly gender-concious women voted for Ronald Reagan in 1984, unlike a fascist pig like me who voted for Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro.

But that's not relevant. Eaten bread is soon forgotten. The message I see popping up now is: Hillary is teflon because she is a woman. She's human. She deserves special consideration. She was tired and exhausted. Sure, like John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson were sleeping for the last few months.

Hillary Clinton may be a marvelous candidate. Big deal. I've seen many "marvelous" candidates turn out to be lousy office-holders. Apparently, though, in 2008 neither I nor anyone else is to feel free to express their opinion. That is, unless it is approved by those in an elite position to know what's best.

If you want more elitism, more authoritarianism, more divisiveness, then vote for Hillary Clinton. Insist that there is no connection whatsoever between herself and her husband. She's just a warm and fuzzy innocent who wants to be president so badly she could just cry. Amazing how one can be so tought yet a victim at the same time.

Demanding obediance to some speech code is anathema to what America is, or was. I reject it and if that offends some, I can only remind them of the 1st Amendment. The horribly inconvenient thing about Americans is that they have a bad habit of refusing to be told what to think. Or say.
****************************
Cross-posted at Michaellinnjones.com

CNN Live Democratic Debate

The fire is in the air and the candidates are no longer being absolute friends and playmates anymore. Two words, About TIME!

This is a rambling typing so forgive my typing errors and grammar. I had to kick the kids off of Disney for kids to get to CNN and missed the first thirty or so minutes.

Denis Kucinich slammed John Edwards on the China tainted products being shipped into the USA with the fact that Edwards is a trial lawyer and should know what liability is.

Obama fired one over the bow with a fact of what the Japanese do to have trade with China, they send inspectors to China before the products ship. We should do the same.

Hillary doused the question on the so called “Boys Club” issue with her campaign for President pointing out that it has been the achievements of woman in her lifetime that have made it possible for a Latino, an African American and a woman to be able to run for President.

Biden blew his top with the fact that none of the people on the stage know that the WTO agreement with China has the enforcement written into the agreement to shut China down till they clean up their act. He is calling to shut down the agreement today!

Edwards pointed out the fact that we do not need to elect or replace a corrupt corporate Republican government with a corrupt Democrat government.

Richardson blew the Nuclear waste and not in my back yard issue off the table with the fact that we need to stop giving incentives to oil, coal and nuclear energy corporations and change our nation to renewable energy incentives.

Audience / Questions

Biden called for Bush impeachment on the lack of a full vote from Congress to go to war in Iraq.

Edwards wants to stop the Bush, Cheney Neocons with stopping the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. He was the only one that stated God bless you and your mother for your service to the questioner.

It’s Bill Richardson birthday, pointed out by a questioner. He would pull out all of the private contractors and our troops within the year. War in Iraq has bled our military and he would renew the GI Bill. New VA health care card for veterans care anywhere not just at VA hospitals and including mental health care. Mental health care for our troops does not get the coverage they need.

Harassment of immigrants. Edwards wants to review Patriot act and racial profiling. Close Guantanamo, and no more torture as President. Restoring respect for America.

Kucinich on the patriot act… I did not vote for it because I actually read it! He slammed all of the opponents on flip flopping on everything from Iraq to Nafta and the border. Richardson called him on the carpet that he is just a Governor.

Biden voted against funding Gitmo. Called for closing it three years ago. What are the other candidates going to do to change things now.

Mexican border… Richardson, deals with immigration locally. Two years ago declared a border emergency and is against the fence. Secure the border, detection equipment, employer prosecution. Mexico needs to give jobs to your people and stop handing out maps to the easiest place to cross the border.

Chris Dodd, Spanish… have no freaking clue what he said to the questioner. Oath of office is not about giving up rights.

Baby boomers retirement. Pensions and many will not have them. Social Security and Medicaid. Protecting Social Security

Obama, not raising age requirement is the way to go or failing to adjust the income cap is wrong, Warren Buffet pays less in tax and higher income needs to be looked at. Medicare… Premiums up 78% under bush, health care for all.

Clinton raising tax on higher income levels to fund Social Security and Medicare and she fuddled against it. Crisis with healthcare and Medicare. Fiscal responsibility is the way to go. Bipartisan commission to look at the entire issue. Not for lifting the cap on higher income. Trillion dollar tax increase if that is the route taken.

Obama slammed her on the top six percent of income earners paying into Social Security and Medicare. Hillary went back to Reagan and Tip O’Neil on bipartisan committees to solve the Social Security and Medicare problem back in 1983. Double speak and avoid the question.

Dodd on the Supreme Court… Against anyone that would even think of overturning Roe Vs Wade.

Biden, enough proffesors on the Supreme court bench. Wants real people on the SCOTUS bench. Wants someone with real life experience and not

Would you support abortion? Richardson, yes, Kucinich, great divide in our country, we need a healer in the White House? Clinton, privacy is inbedded in the constitution. Yes! Kudos to Biden on this issue from Hillary. Slammed Bush. Obama, What makes a good justice, outsider and poor vunerable, wants an outsider. Edwards, for privacy, back bone in judges and respects that courage and wants that in SCOTUS.

Middle East divided electorate, what message can unite our country?

Obama blah blah blah not answering. Restoring Habius Corpus?
Clinton… Working together, looking for common ground. There is differences but we can work together. Smart people can get involved and get back to being Americans again.

Biden… Gain respect with the truth. Repbulicans think this war and our policy stinks. Loyalty to bush is key. Republicans are afraid to take on Bush.

Richardson… Diplomacy and negotiations and talk to the world Syria and Iran and repair the last eight years.

End of the Debate… Man this was great but it sucked.

It was clearly evident that Hillary Clinton was the go to candidate by CNN and Wolf Blitzer. Obama was next and the rest of the field including John Edwards were second class candidates according to how the debate aired.

You could see that Biden, Richardson, Kucinich were pissed off that they were cut off time and time again because Hillary or Barack had the next question.

I do have to say that Kucinich impressed the crap out of me with his performance and you could actually see the passion and the reason why he does not want to be the soft candidate. Biden was cut off every single time he spoke and so was Richardson.

While Hillary was allowed to run on and on and so was Barack, anyone else was coldly cutoff. I would have liked to hear more from Biden and Richardson. Kucinich had the guts to call them all on the carpet for not having the ability to stick to a position and live with it.

Feel free to tell me what you thought about the debate!

Papamoka

Feel Free to link or steal this post for your site…

*****Buzz Tracker has linked to this post...

Cross posted at Bring IT ON!

Others talking about the Debate...
The Left Coaster...
Crooks and Liars...
Informed Comment aka Juan Cole...

Technorati Tags:
CNN Debate, Politics, Vote, Vote for President, President Election, Bush, Cheney, Democrats in Vegas, Governor Richardson, Border, Immigration, Social Security, China, Lead Poisoning, Imports, Lead in Toys, Senator Biden, Congressman Kuchinich, Debate Highlightes, Debate Hilites, NAFTA, CAFTA, Trade, Independent, Moderate Voters, Look at Biden, Consider Richardson, Kucinich Rocks, Dems in Charge

Iowa and Bill Richardson

While many of the other candidates are going from rally to rally some of the candidates for President are going from Iowan to Iowan. Without the mega check books to buy dozens of commercials, candidates like Bill Richardson stop to meet and greet the people and actually talk to them. Millions of dollars in a war chest is good for the front running candidates but meeting the people is a gold mine of word of mouth. Having a brother in-law from Iowa I know word of mouth way over here in Massachusetts.

Here in New England we are being carpet bombed with political television and radio ads by the big three of each political party and being the third largest city in New England we have yet to see even one candidate. Romney was our former Governor but he didn’t spend much time here back then so I’m going to give him a pass. A full pass as a reputable candidate. Mitt spent his entire time as Governor running for President everywhere else but his home state that he was supposed to be governing.

I’m conducting a political survey here where you tell me if you have actually met and talked with one on one with anyone running for President of the United States. Post away in the comments section wherever you read this post. Iowans have an advantage over the rest of the nation in this respect. Going to a Barack Obama political superstar event where he is the next rock star does not count. You have to have actually sat in a room, a diner, a living room and talked with any of the candidates.

Bill Richardson is talking one on one with the people out in Iowa and I am a huge fan of that style of campaigning. Over at the LA Times they have this piece on real campaign work by the candidates other than shouting for “MAKE UP!”…

VINTON, IOWA -- Gov. Bill Richardson ends all his stump speeches with the story of a funeral:

After Franklin D. Roosevelt's death in 1945, the president's casket was moved by train from Georgia to New York, where he would be buried. Hundreds of thousands of people came out to pay their respects, lining the tracks as the funeral procession moved north. A reporter traveling on the train decided to interview people at one of the stops.

Among the crowd of mourners, he saw one particularly distraught man.

" 'You must have known the president?' the reporter asked. 'No,' said the man. 'But the president knew me.' "

Richardson pauses for effect.

"That," he says, "is the kind of president I would like to be."

Personal approach

It seems, at times, as if Richardson wants to get to know every Iowan in the state.

He has traveled thousands of miles, visiting 87 of the state's 99 counties. With shallow coffers and a long shot at the Democratic nomination for president, he is making a virtue of necessity.

He doesn't have the money for a large staff or extensive advertising, so he has no choice but to keep going from town to town, coffee shop to coffee shop, reaching out to as many Iowans as possible.

"I'm glad that Iowa is making the decision, not the pundits in Washington," the New Mexico governor told a crowd recently. "Iowans like underdogs . . . and I'm kind of counting on that." - LA Times

Governor Richardson has the people to people skills on a one on one environment but he sucks in political debate formats. He always appears angry and he has a right to be angry. The format bites! While the rest of the front runners are getting air time with campaign war chests that are overflowing with cash from special interest and the mega elitist that contribute to them, Bill Richardson is being just Bill. Talking to the folks one on one.

What I like about Bill Richardson is that he isn’t going to tell you what you want to hear to get nominated. He is telling you what you need to hear, not in sound bites but in full blown reasoned speeches and chats with the people of Iowa. If you looked at George Bush resume and compared it to Bill Richardson’s you would shake your head and wonder why the hell we elected Bush not once but twice! I won’t even go into the Gore/Bush debate Supreme Court thing and neither should you. That was then, this is now. Good book to read by the way.

What I want for a President is someone that is a true father figure to pull our collective heads out of our back sides. The current resident of the White House has chosen a divide and conquer path to leadership and that has isolated not only America from the world but also divided American’s amongst one another. That is not what I want in my next President. I want to know that he or she is not just looking out for the 50.1% of America but all of Americans.

No matter whom is running for the office, the history of our nation is united in the fact that across all party lines that we never want to see a 9/11 ever again. The dilemma we as voters face is separating the chafe from the wheat from the people that want to meet the people and the ones that believe television advertisement will win the election.

My current standing as a voter:

I’m favoring Richardson for his unbelievable experience and his sense of reality to tell the people what the real facts are concerning the war. He has the mentality of JFK but the fire of Teddy Roosevelt.

I’m favoring Biden as well because of his plans for bringing peace to the world and getting America out of Iraq. He has a plan for Social Security that might just work. Nobody else wants to touch this third rail issue with realistic plans. He flies coach on common carrier to his campaigning commitments across Iowa. Not well funded but definitely a real thinkers contender. If you want bull then don’t listen to Joe.

John Edwards, lost my vote when he failed to drop out when his wife’s cancer returned for the worse. Family is more important. I am sorry if you feel different but that is how I feel. She deserves her husband’s time more than ever than the people do.

Mitt Romney, he was governor? I truly didn’t notice while he was visiting every other state in the Union as Governor. Bringing health care to all of my states resident’s is not a good thing if you are a single working mother and it is mandatory for you to pay half your pay to make Mitt look good. Mitt leaves that little detail out of his MSM commercials for a reason. Let the MSM reporters dig that little detail out before the election. They will not spring that story any time soon. Lost my vote Mitt!

Rudi Giuliani, divorced three times as a Catholic? Those two things do not go together but Pat Robertson thinks it’s cool? I’m thinking Pat had a little bit of throw up in the back of his throat when he endorsed Rudi. Sell out was written all over that endorsement. Ask a New Yorker how Rudi dealt with homeless people and you get the dark side of this candidate.

Hillary Clinton… Umm, I think we need someone that will stand for our seniors and actually answer real questions about Social Security. Planted questioners? What was she thinking? All of the money is on her to actually be the winner of the next election because her campaign is spending the most dollars in the MSM! I’m not listening to the advertisements because they are crap. I think Steve Forbes proved that money does not buy an election. No offense to Steve Forbes intended.

John McCain, I admire his war record and service to our nation but he changed and went Bushism. New religion for him but it is not him. He is not the JM of seven years ago against Bush, against the mentality that Washington owns us all. Something went wrong there.

Denis Kucinich… Not going to happen. Great spot on Comedy Central but keep it real my friend and work the work you are best at.

Ron Paul, not going to happen either. Online support is not crossing party lines of the people that actually vote. I wish him luck though with finishing close.

Getting elected President is not won by the amount of money you have to run on, it is won by the ideas that the people will believe you can accomplish. Right now, ending the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is a priority. Taking care of the rest of America is a close second.

Show me a candidate that actually cares. I’m finding that candidate in Richardson and Biden. The rest are all running on what you want to hear. Maybe these two guys should converge campaigns and run as a total ticket? Just a thought.

Papamoka

Cross posted at Bring IT ON!

***** Buzz Tracker has linked to this post...

****KCCI.com has cross posted this article...

Technorati Tags:
Bush, Clinton, Hillary, Washington DC, War in Iraq, Iraq, Richardson, Biden, Obama, Governor Richardson, Senator Biden, Democrat, Republican, President 2008, DNC, RNC, Politics, Bill Clinton, Clinton Machine, Iowa Politics, New Hampshire Politics, New Hampshire, Iowa, MSN, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, Fox News, Anti Hillary, Blogs against Hillary Clinton, American Politics, Finding America, Pelosi, Cheney, Harry Reed, Senate, House, Congress

Republicans Selling Fear and Lies

Don’t tell anyone but the Republicans are blaming Bill Clinton for everything from the Black Death in the 1500’s to our current Military being over stretched. Let’s just add to the list of things to blame former President Bill Clinton like bread turning green with mold and lets blame him for $3.00 a gallon gas too!

You know what pisses me off about Republicans is the fact that they totally ignore the fact that President Clinton was the first President in modern times to balance the federal budget and show a surplus. President Clinton was a true American President and NOT an I’m busy with Iraq, I’ll call you back in 2008 President.

Did Bill Clinton trim the military budget, the answer to that question is yes and no. He proposed reductions in the military spending because our nation was at peace with the world and his State Department actually did diplomatic work rather than chucking the bird as the limo passed by. The Congress approved that budget which just happened to be led by Newt Gingrich who was the creator of the Contract with America.

I was over at Memeorandum today and found this great piece by the Carpet Bagger Report that is covering this same issue. President Clinton is not to blame for what the current resident of the White house has done for the last seven friging years! This is a must read for political junkies like me…

Republicans blame the wrong president for overstretched military
Posted November 10th, 2007 at 12:20 pm

Of all of Bush’s misstatements from the 2000 presidential election, one of the most obviously-false attacks was on military readiness. Indeed, then-Gov. Bush blamed Clinton and Gore directly for “hollowing out” the military. “If called on by the commander-in-chief today, two entire divisions of the Army would have to report, ‘Not ready for duty, sir.’” BC00 campaign aides later acknowledged it was a bogus charge, but that didn’t stop Bush from repeating it. A lot.

And now, seven years later, the next batch of Republican presidential hopefuls are doing the same thing.

Here’s the top story out of Iowa: Rudy Giuliani told an audience at Iowa State University that the American military needs to be bigger, and he lashed out at Bill Clinton for cutting the military during the 1990’s.

“Our military is too small to deal with the Islamic terrorism threats,” Giuliani said, “but it really is too small to deter would-be aggressors to even think of challenging us. And that’s due to Bill Clinton.”

Does this make any sense? What threats are we incapable of dealing with? And if they exist, why hasn’t Bush/Cheney done anything about it? We already spend more on the military than most of the world put together — who else does Giuliani want to invade? (Oh wait, don’t answer that.) - The Carpet Bagger Report

Let me get this straight in my head, Rudi Giuliani is selling fear and telling you what to be afraid of because of Bill Clinton? What year and what Presidential election is going on again? Wasn’t President Clinton seven years ago? Anyone else shaking there head on that one? What about George W. Bush Rudi? Rudi has a serious problem and it is called credibility. The only message he has is to tell the people what to be afraid of and how his private company going Federal from the White House can protect you. Anyone smell bovine gas? I’m smelling something and it isn’t something an air freshener can cover up.

I’m thinking that diplomacy from the Mini-Republicans like Rudi and Fred (I’m acting like a real candidate) Thompson is out of the question based on their comments on the campaign trail. In their minds the only solution is more war and more military action. The only problem with that theory is that our military is in fact stretched out to the max and none of them really care about the military and our men and women fighting for their lives for missions that they sent them on.

The Carpet Bagger Report has it right on the money. Rudi does not have anything new to offer other than telling you “Me Too!” from the Bush Doctrine of more war for the sake of more war.

Rudi Giuliani is a joke as a candidate for President. Get elected to the Senate before you want to play in the big kids playground Rudi. Maybe then people will actually take you serious.

Papamoka

Feel free to link to this post and we will respond in kind

I'm adding The Carpet Bagger Report to my favorite's on the site here and I hope he returns the courtesy.

Technorati Tags:
Bush, Cheney, Republicans, Right Wing, Christian Conservatives, Blame Bill Clinton, Iraq War, Afghanistan War, USMC, USN, USAF, ARMY, USCG, Military Support, Elections, Presidential Race, Race for President, 2008 Election, Giuliani is an Idiot, Democrats, Bush War, September 11 2001, Al Quida, Al Jezeer, Israel, Syria, Diplomacy, Iowa Politics, New Hampshire Politics, Fred Thompson, Richardson, Biden, Romney, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Politics, Middle East, Bush Lied

Wounded Iraq Vet’s Moving On

Picture courtesy of Reuters

As we all read the latest and greatest news in the world of politics it was interesting to see Pat Robertson endorsing Rudi Giuliani for the Christian Conservatives. Talk about oil and water not mixing. Robertson sited that the people need someone that can deal with world terrorism and radical Islam for his decision to endorse Giuliani for President in 2008.

Republican’s seem to be running on the war against terror for President from a strength perspective and in some respects I agree with them but the world is a far different place than it was on September 11, 2001. Talking tough against terrorism and radical factions in the world is one thing but the cost for that kind of talk is paid in lives by our military. Military funerals are happening all across our nation every single day to the point that people can not comprehend anymore that the person in that hearse was someone’s baby that was being buried. Then you have the forgotten cost, the wounded military members that are sent back home to tend their wounds. That is what lead me to this amazing photo shoot over at Reuters. Please take the time to view the pictures on Reuters. My heart goes out to all of the people that help these soldiers to get back to some sense of normalcy as the world likes to see portrayed. No longer whole, these soldiers prove to the world that they are not done fighting. God bless them all.

IED’s are taking a serious toll on our troops in the field and the road back for many of these soldiers is a long one. The loss of one limb is extreme enough but many of these soldiers are suffering from multiple limb losses. Rehabilitation is brutal and hard on them personally, emotionally, and physically. Learning to walk again is not a simple task when you don’t have the legs you were born with. It’s easy to speak from courage in a political suit when you don’t have to face the results of that speech trying on a pair of prosthetic legs for the hundredth time in an effort to simply walk.

I’m not supporting any candidate that thinks that all of the possible avenues of diplomacy have been exhausted to end this war and that we need to send more American troops to Iraq or Afghanistan. I don’t think anyone in the Republican field of candidates truly understands that our military presence in Iraq now is no longer fighting terrorism as much as it is creating a new generation of terrorists. As far as the Democrat’s in the race for 2008, I believe only Senator Biden and Governor Richardson are advocating an exit plan that makes sense.

War is nothing glorious or moral, it is men killing one another because no other solution existed to stop the conflict. Our next election for President and the Congress should be a loud and clear voice that our American government has the ability to listen and talk to all peoples of the world without calling them a terrorist nation first. Military action comes with a very high price and using it as a first option simply because you can is not what this nation was ever about.

Papamoka

My personal thanks go out to Fisher House that provides local accommodation’s to wounded Military immediate family while our wounded men and woman in our military service fight back from what is a devastating circumstance for most families.

Technorati Tags:
USMC 1st Lieutenant Andrew Kinard, USMC Corporal Brad Walker, USMC Lance Corporal Kenny Lyons, Walter Reed, Veterans, Wounded Vets, Wheel Chair Veterans, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PSTD, Forgotten Hero, US Army, USN, USCG, US Air Force, Fisher House, Veterans Administration, Giuliani, Romney, Clinton, Richardson, Biden, Obama, Pat Robertson, Marine Corps, Disabled Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, Ron Paul, McCain, Edwards, Kucinich, Politics, Jimmy Carter, Israel and Egypt, Peace Accord, Diplomacy, Bush, Cheney, Improvised Explosive Device, Green Zone, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Military, Thank a Vet, Reuters

Presidency and the Voters Temperature

Picture courtesy of the White House

Is it ironic that we as a people can not trust any politician running for President to tell us what they will do once elected based on what the current President has done to our nation?

When you think about the truth in politics you always look at it as a cloud that could be dispersed if the winds change. Public opinion is now no longer relevant if the latest polls say that a candidate for President should be on this side of the issue or against this other issue. I’ll offer one further point with the main stream media dictating as to whom is first, second and third and laughingly pointing out who the hell should just up and quit campaigning in each political party. Has the office of President been sold to the highest tally polling Lemming?

I respect all of the candidates running for President for the most part because they all want to serve our nation and the price to do so is personally expensive. For some the cost is just a matter of writing out just another check but for others it is the cost to the human spirit that can be wiped out. Personal attacks on everything from the color of your skin to your gender are all up for grabs and a person has to have a tough skin for it. Running for President is not for the weak of mind or spirit. Then again, being the President is not the easiest job in the world either. People will love you or absolutely despise you no matter what you do as President.

We all look at the issues as an individual and we can form our own opinions based on our own life experience but there is always room for more information and thought on the subject. Not everyone is a Liberal on all issues and not everyone is a Conservative based on the little letter next to your name on your voter registration log. This nation does not revolve around politics and exact political affiliation but does revolve around the individual voters when massed in a similar thought process. Our election process for our nations government can claim the groups but not the individuals no matter how much money they have in the bank.

Voter apathy when it comes to the Presidency of the United States of America is very high. With the last two elections being a mockery of the election process it is understandable that people can believe that it is not worth wasting your time to vote or even participate in the process. Today over dinner at a local fish and chips establishment, I overheard a young man in his twenties rant on to his father why his vote does not mean anything when it comes time to whom is elected President. His father did not have an argument valid enough with facts that would have changed his son’s mind. That is just one case of voter apathy transferring backwards to the previous generation. That is just one case of one young man that will probably never vote for the rest of his life.

When it comes to an individual actually taking the time to vote in any election process it is more than just about the individual vote. My vote on one issue and one candidate in my local elections may not match up with my one vote on another issue in the same election. Just as my vote for Congress may not match up with the likely candidate for Senate or President or vice versa. Voting is the ultimate thermometer of the nation and the choice of the people.

All Americans need to think about the nation as a child, when the child is well the nation is best suited to the government its people has elected. If the child is sick and the temperature is in the danger zone then the votes of the few add up to the votes of the many and change is initiated by the results of the election process. High temp, change course, administer election medicine and vote again in two years.

I’m not sure how the co-pay on this national health care voting process works when it comes to the welfare of our nation but I’m pretty sure that in the long run the nation will survive yet another Presidential election. I do know this, the time for change is at hand and talking softly but carrying a big stick fit’s the nation now more than ever.

Papamoka

Link to this post and we will respond in kind...

Cross posted at Bring IT ON!

Technorati Tags:
Teddy Roosevelt, Voters, Voting, Split Political Affiliation, Party Affiliation, Green Party, Democratic Party, Republican Party, Voter Apathy, Low Turn Out, Kucinich, Ron Paul, Allen, DNC, RNC, Bush, White House, President of the United States, Election, 2008, Biden, Senator Biden, Obama, Hillary, Political News, Polling, Iowa, New Hampshire

Running for President

America is putting up the best that she has to offer for President of this great land and the money needed to do so is disgusting. Hundreds of millions of dollars will be raised and spent to get somebody behind the desk at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Every main stream media site is telling the voters who are the front runner while they ignore the candidates that don’t have the big bucks that will pay for air time on their network.

It isn’t the greatest job in the world but it supposedly is the most powerful job in the world. The pay as an executive isn’t anything to brag about when you have to rub elbows with the likes of other CEO’s and corporate America executives. There is no stock to cash out, there are no golden parachutes to bail you out if you screw up and end up being kicked out. Matter of fact the downside if you totally screw up is taught in your nations schools on who you should not grow up to be.

Although I voted for Mitt Romney for Governor, I could not vote for him for President. Mitt Romney has more or less bought Senator John Kerry’s flip flops in a yard sale after the last election. Pick and issue and he has either flipped or flopped. I’ll wait while you Google Search it. Waiting, waiting, waiting… Glad you are back.

Although Rudi Giuliani was the Mayor of New York City, and he did get the city through the horror that was 9/11, that does not make him Presidential material. Rudi just has to fade away and do his corporate security thingy that he has made millions off of telling people who to be scared of and how to defeat them. Doesn’t that ring a bell to the current occupant of the White House?

Hillary Clinton is running as if she is the Queen of the Democrats and you had better not vote against the Clinton machine. With a political campaign war chest that would choke a Wall Street banker she is running like she owns the majority of Democrats that vote already. Excuse me Hillary?

LAS VEGAS - Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson said Saturday that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is "acting as if she's won" the nomination. – Yahoo News

Money does not buy votes in New Hampshire and Iowa. For that matter when you state that you will not campaign in Michigan because the state moved up the primary vote and yet you will not remove your name from the ballot is two faced and spineless. Double speak is the Clinton campaign. Play to the middle and play it till you win it. She might want to visit Mitt and see if he has a couple of flip flops he can spare.

If the election of our President is equal to a set amount of money in the bank then our election process is broken. Our election process should not be decided on who has the most money to spend on advertising on the MSM networks. With our nation so heavily divided on so many issues the election could be tossed out the window once more and decided by the Supreme Court. Who voted for them to serve?

Maybe, just maybe, it is time to have publicly funded elections instead of special interest funded elections through political campaigns. Maybe, just maybe, then the voters will elect a President that deserves the job.

Then again Fox News or MSNBC has Rudi or Hillary as the next President. Have you voted yet? I know that I haven’t.

Papamoka

Technorati Tags:bush, cheney, dnc, rnc, conservative, liberal, running for president, president, yahoo news, democrats, republicans, elections 08, military, usmc, us army, us navy, usn, bill clinton, george bush, president bush, obama, richardson, edwards, giuliani, mccain, romney, mitt, new hampshire, iowa, caucasus, voting, main stream media, msnbc, new york times, white house, ron paul, denis kucinich, voters opinion, youtube, my space, popular politicians
Generated By Technorati Tag Generator

Joe Biden, Statesman Enough for You?

Picture courtesy of Senator Biden office

For the record I kind of like Senator Joe Biden for a couple of reasons for President. He isn’t afraid to put his neck out on the line on any issue and he backs his stance up with the facts needed to do so. There isn’t an “Um, um, (cough, little bit of throw up there in the back of the throat) when he speaks when asked about any topic. His recall of facts immediately come forth and he tells the voters why he has the position he has and then follows up why the voter should have the same thought process.

Of all of the Democrat’s running for President I would have to favor Senator Biden over all of them when it comes to foreign policy. Unlike a former beauty pageant contestant, Joe Biden seems to know all there is about the world conflicts and he does not need a map to know where they are. I tend to doubt that the rest of the candidates other than Bill Richardson could go toe to toe with him on issues to do with conflict around the world.

Then there is the man that is Joe Biden and his style of campaigning that does not need one hundred million in the bank like Hillary or Barack. Knocking door to door, running for President in Iowa is as grass roots as you get.

Over at Yahoo News they have this story on what Senator Biden is doing for his bid for President of the United States…

By AMY LORENTZEN, Associated Press Writer
Tue Oct 2, 4:05 PM ET

DES MOINES, Iowa - Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden remains mired in single digits in Iowa polls, but he's racking up support from the state's legislators.

Biden has the backing of 10 legislators, including the House majority leader. That makes him at least competitive with top tier rivals Barack Obama, who has one more endorsement, and Hillary Rodham Clinton, who garnered the most endorsements. He also has more endorsements than John Edwards, who is vying with Obama and Clinton for the lead in Iowa polls.

Biden said the endorsements demonstrate that local politicians think he has a shot at gaining the nomination.

State lawmakers know the ins and outs of the caucuses, and they "wouldn't be endorsing me if they didn't think I could win in Iowa," Biden said in an interview with The Associated Press.

And, he said, their support could be crucial in the days leading to the caucuses.

"An endorsement in a caucus state from someone who gets out and knocks on doors and has an organization is significantly more valuable," Biden said. "You've got to be pretty dedicated to spend a couple of hours on a very cold January night somewhere in the 1,700 (caucus) precincts in Iowa."

Biden, who is making his second bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, has worked hard for the support. - Yahoo News

Our nations highest office has gone from George Washington who could have been the first American King to someone that thinks he is a King. Where George and Martha would put up visitors from all of the land if they ventured to Mount Vernon, George Bush would have the Secret Service have them arrested for trespassing. Granted the times and attempted assassinations on our President’s has made protection part of the job but the simple idea of being able to talk to your President no longer exists in America.

Has anyone actually talked to the current President, the past couple of President’s? Form letters in response to a letter you sent does not count.

If I had a choice of watching a television commercial of all of the candidates running for President or just one of them knocking on my door, I think I would be more persuaded to listen to the actual person standing in my kitchen or living room. Name twenty or more people that you would boast to about having a Presidential candidate in your home? Not on the television but he sat on your sofa or at your kitchen table and told you what he was all about. Then he asked you what you thought, holy crap! I would be telling the world.

You can spend millions on television and radio ads but nothing beats the one on one contact with the voters. In my lifetime I have met many politicians and the personal encounter is far different than what you will ever see in a thirty second advertising commercial. Not one person on this earth can have their entire message wrapped up in one television or radio commercial. Twenty minutes in your home breaks down a plethora of evils in the advertising dollars to be made on Presidential advertising.

Senator Biden is following a tried and true method of campaigning but the time for doing so is growing shorter. With many states vying to be first for bragging rights, the process of actually getting to know all of the candidates is lost. In doing so, the best person for the job of President ends up being in the hands of who can pay for enough advertisement.

It has been said that candidates for President love to press the flesh of the voters. In the same context, the voters need to press the flesh as well with the person that may just be the next President. Shaking hands with a man or woman that wants to be the leader of the free world is kind of important. You cant sell that or describe that emotional moment on television.

Carry on Senator Biden, I wish you luck and the opportunity to meet many interesting and concerned people that will welcome you into their homes in Iowa! Press the flesh my friend.

Papamoka

Cross posted at Bring IT ON!

UPDATE 10/21/2007: The Storm Lake Times endorses Joe Biden for President

It’s hard to go wrong with any of the candidates. We stand with Joe Biden because he has all the professional skills and, more important, the personal strength to get the job done unlike any other candidate.

Technorati Tags:
Joe Biden, Senator Joseph Biden, Maryland, President, Bush, Cheney, Troops, Iraq, Iran, Diplomacy, World Events, Statesman, Biden for President, Senator Clinton, Iowa Caucasas, Voters, Meet the Candidate, Presidential Debates, YouTube Debates, Running for President, American Politics, Presidential Advertising, Presidential, War in Iraq, Richardson, Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bill Clinton, Democrat, Republican, Primaries, NH, Iowa, Super Tuesday, Rush Limbaugh, Senate, Congress, Elections, Meet the President

Brilliant Minds are not always on Talk Radio

Picture courtesy of the FCC.gov

With all the hype over Rush Limbaugh and his alleged bashing of the troops it makes me wonder why people blindly follow the words of one person. Talk radio hosts, President Bush, Teddy Kennedy, Move On.Org, Michelle Malkin and the list goes on. Somebody else is telling us all how to think, what to think about any issue and who is the enemy amongst us.

It brings me to the conclusion that our leadership system in America is broken because we as a people are so strongly divided down the middle. There are those Americans on the Right and there are those Americans on the Left side of the political aisle. Stuck in the middle is the swing voter but the base on both sides is consistent. What is the common task or sentiment that all of us can agree on that is realistic? Be you Right leaning or Left leaning, what is the one thing that binds us when an event like 9/11 happens? You are an American without a doubt.

Our nation needs a healing President and the need to feel leadership from our government to it’s people is overwhelming. Our nation is in a political crisis where both parties are talking the same game but neither is offering solutions to bring the country and our people back together again. Blame the left, blame the right, blame anyone but it is not my problem is a scapegoat that you do not want to embrace. This is all of our country and the ones that actually participate in our government are the ones that matter.

On the air waves and around the web the swing is against the right side of the aisle because of the non stop excuses and political gamesmanship of Kings from the fifth century. My way or the highway immediately divided the nation. I voted for it before I was against it divides the nation from the left.

We are a divided people and there is not a Roosevelt or Lincoln on the horizon. I frankly do not get a warm fuzzy feeling from any of the current candidates for President because for the most part all of them are saying we have to stay the course. Bush got us into this mess and he has no plans to fix it so it is the next President’s problem to deal with. For the record, no candidate can predict or insist on a timeline for our troops getting out of Iraq or Afghanistan. Reality is funny like that. In the same respect no candidate can tell the people of America that there is a point in time when our troops are no longer needed in Iraq to hold back the terrorist.

My main point to this post is that you as a voter have a say as to whom is going to be the next President of the United States of America. If you need Rush Limbaugh or even a lowly blogger like myself to tell you what party to vote for then you need to look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself what you think. Get rid of the sound bites from both sides of the aisle and think about what America really needs in the next election.

From my perspective, I’m tired of seeing all our kids coming home in body bags and flag draped coffins for a people that have no clue as to what freedom really is. Iraq is lost, Afghanistan is lost. Bring our troops home alive and let’s focus on America once more. Put a strong military presence on our borders and that is defending America at home.

Papamoka

Cross posted at Bring It On!

***** Buzz Tracker has linked to this post...

Technorati Tags:
Bush, Democrats, Limbaugh, Rush, Military, War on Terror, Political angst, Angry voters, Middle voters, Conservative, Democrat, Liberal, Republican, War on Terror, USMC, USN, USCG, US Army, US Airforce, Air Force, Peteaus, Move on, moveon, Military bashing, American Politics, President, Limbaugh Controversy, Politcal Talk, Talk Radio, Wtkk, Wfan, Imus, Biden, Clinton, Richardson, Guiliani, Romney, McCain, Obama, Firedoglake, Think Progessive, Progressive, Think progress, Supporting our Troops