Seven Problems with Polling and Electing a President

I happen to be a national political junkie.  I follow elections and get all the information my brain can take in on the politics of our nation.  I am a political junkie and have always been one.  The damn polls are wrong.  Toss them out with the cat liter.  They both have the same value.  Nothing.

Polling is done by calling land lines and that in itself should be the first flare.  How many people today still go and grab the big old "Phone Book" to look up the number for the pizza house up the street.  The phone book, like the stage coach is a dying technology.  I'm pretty sure the last stage coach was state of the art but you don't see many of them on the highways today.  Speaking of highways, we live in the digital information highway.  Everyone is online and pretty much everyone owns a cell phone/computer to talk with family and friends and check out what that son of a biscuit eater thought about your cute cat pictures on facebook.

One other thing that pisses me off is the so called lock on African American voters by one certain political campaign.  Nobody owns the African American vote.  Nobody.  If you claim to be in favor of changing the lives of African American voters then you should have been campaigning on it months ago or YOUR ENTIRE POLITICAL CAREER!   One of these candidates has, the other, not so much.

I have a landline but it is connected through our internet service and the "Land Line" costs us twenty bucks a year.  Thank you Magic Jack!  It isn't listed in the phone book because I am not using a recognized carrier for "Land Line" phone service.  Even my 79 year old mother in law no longer keeps a "Land Line" for her phone service.  Her son hooked her up with his cell phone plan years ago where he can have up to five people on his service.

Try this little experiment.  Question your friends and family to find out how many people have "Land Line" phone service.  If you survey thirty people and come back with a tally of one "Land Line" then you know way to many people that are living in the digital age.  Why would you accept polling numbers based on "Land Line" polls as a true sampling of the population?  They might as well poll people using only fax machines! 

Second problem is the push poll of these "Land Line" polls.  A push poll is when you put a biased criteria in-front of the poll that skews the data.  Questions or requirements such as if you voted in the last two elections that would dump your polling data because you did not vote.  That skews the data no matter how you look at it.  Look at the details of the polls questions before you say or print that your favored candidate is way ahead in the polling.

Third problem is the younger generation that is old enough to vote is moved by what the candidates have to say.  That is a huge voting block that is not even remotely considered in the next election because not a single person under 29 has a "Land Line" phone.  Along with them is the huge block of disenfranchised voters that have not voted in twenty or thirty years that are coming out of the rotting wood pile to cast a vote because they believe in what Bernie Sanders is running on for President.

Fourth problem is a GOP and Conservative voter problem.  Many moderate Republicans do not like what their own candidates are saying or running on and are actually looking at Bernie Sanders because they will never vote for Hillary Clinton.  GOP voters are the same as Dem voters and see that health care coverage needs to go further than it has, college education is having them remortgage the house to pay for their kids education, and jobs for those highly educated kids no longer exist and they and the grand kids might end up growing up in mom and dads house.

Fifth problem is that it comes down to people no longer being able to survive in this economy.  When huge corporations post mega profits in the billions of dollars but pay employees sub standard wages then we need a living wage for America and that is fifteen bucks an hour.  We need to stop corporate welfare and penalize companies that expect the country to pick up the slack for their lack of a decent paying payroll.

Sixth problem is Veterans.  Our political leaders wave the flag but every single time a veterans benefits bill comes up the political right side of the aisle in congress always says that our nation can not afford it.  If we can not afford to pay for our wounded warriors then we have no business sending them to war in the first place.  We should change the way votes for going into any conflict demand that the veterans of that conflict get the care and help they need prepaid and not tossed out on the street.  Veterans all across America are supporting Bernie Sanders because he has fought for them for all of his political career.

Seventh problem is Citizens United.  Corporations are not people and should not be allowed to contribute even one single penny to political campaigns.  President Teddy Roosevelt said it in his time and Bernie is shouting at the rafters in our time to end Citizens United.  Our elected representatives oversee the commerce of this country and Citizens United makes a mockery of the congress for sale.  If you donate enough money then a vote in the United States Congress can and will be bought.

I urge you to actually look at what Bernie Sanders has fought for over the many years he has been in congress and you will be a "Land Line" less supporter.  You just wont be polled for your opinion because you don't count.  But your vote counts!  Feel the Bern and vote for Bernie Sanders.

Visit BernieSanders.com to get enlightened and donate.

Hugs at ya all,
Papamoka

Mitch McConnell, It is TIME to GO!

I hate that I had to name this post after the senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R KY)(Minority Leader of US Senate), but this is a post about a serious election in Kentucky in 2014.  Mitch the Ditch has dodged the needs of the American people since President Obama took office simply because he hated the idea that a Democrat that happened to be a very well educated black man was sitting in the Oval Office.  Job one for Mitch the Ditch was to make sure nothing this elected president wanted done had no republican support in the senate.  Well, he did a damn good job of killing as many jobs bills and economic plans that the president sent to the senate for a vote.  And we all know what the government shutdown was all about that the minority party leader of the senate ran from after it happened.

 "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."  Mitch McConnell

Kentucky has a serious woman running to take Mitch the Ditch out of office.  Her name is Alison Grimes and she is running as a Democrat.  For the first time since 1985 Kentucky has the chance to vote in somebody that actually cares about Kentuckians rather than someone that needs a fat check for his political campaign before he eats lunch or dinner with you.

Some of the issues she talks about that are OPPOSITE to that of Mitch the Ditch:

KEEPING PROMISES TO KENTUCKY SENIORS: An estimated 600,000 Kentuckians rely on Social Security and nearly 800,000 Kentuckians depend on Medicare. Alison will protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare as Kentucky’s next U.S. Senator.  Protecting these programs is critical to the economic well-being for the Commonwealth’s women and families.  Women rely more heavily on income from Social Security than men do, and the majority of Medicare recipients are women.

INCREASING MINIMUM WAGE: In order to grow our middle class, we must raise the minimum wage to help hardworking Americans achieve a basic standard of living.  An overwhelming majority – two thirds – of minimum wage workers in the United States are women.  Consider a single working mother of two who makes the current federal minimum wage who brings home just $14,500 annually – nearly $4,000 below the poverty line.

This coming election will be dirty and Mitch the Ditch has made it clear that he will muddy the waters like never before.  Doesn't that make for a David verse Goliath story.  Yes, it certainly does.  Sad part is that he might get re-elected without having to do anything because people have always had just one choice in Kentucky.  Read up on Allison Grimes and if you can do so, send a few dollars or more to her campaign to Ditch the Mitch.  Even if you don't live in Kentucky!  Mitch the Ditch only needs to serve a few close friends that will donate all he needs to bash and trash Allison Grimes.  Most of his friends that donate to his re-election do not even live or work in Kentucky.  She needs thousands of us to match the bash with honest thoughts and a clean campaign.

Alison Grimes for US Senate KY link for donations  $$$$PLEASE DITCH THE MITCH$$$$

Have faith, she won't let you down.  This post was independently written without the knowledge of anything to do with Kentucky and it's elections or anyone in the election.  I just think Alison would be better

Papamoka

Missouri Gun Law Proposal... Take them away

Missouri Democrats introduced a bill in the house that seems far reaching if not impossible to pass.  I could be wrong but I think it reads that all guns would be banned.  The bill seems a bit far of a reach over the second amendment to the constitution.  Not to mention the problems it would face with SCOTUS.

Here is the link to the house bill number 545:  Missouri House 545

From what I read into house 545, it declares ALL guns illegal to own and you would have 90 days to turn them in.  Gun ownership after that date would be a class C felony.  I could be wrong?  What are your thoughts on the bill.

Thank you Memorandum for the news tip...

Papamoka

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Obama Debate Performance

I watched the presidential debate and found myself screaming at the President to fight back on all the outright lies Mitt Romney was saying.  He didn't and it pissed me off.

In hindsight it was a brilliant political move to fully expose Romney and his campaign.  Mitt could not resist opening his mouth and letting his natural ability to please the crowd and flip flop on all of his campaign promises that he has made over the last 18 months.  All that Obama had to do was take the punches on the ropes and finish the first round.  The press and the people will all get in the ring for the next two weeks and beat the crap out of Mitt Romney for flip flopping.  That is all free coverage for the Obama campaign.  He does not have to spend a dime in advertising when all over the media and the internet people will be exposing Mitt Romney and all of his lies for free.

One article I read yesterday pointed out 27 major lies that Romney spouted.  I'm sure there were many more and they will all be exposed.

Brilliant political strategy Mr. President.  Mitt took the bait and couldn't shut up.  Love it!

Papamoka

Picture courtesy of Facebook.

Republican Mission to Kill US Economy

If you happen to be one of the millions of people that is out of work and can not find a job then you need to look at the big picture that is the United States Congress come this fall election.  If you happen to be one of the people that took any job even if it was half of what you were making before the economy crashed just to have a job then you especially need to look at the big picture.  The Republican Party in both houses has killed every effort by the President to get the people that need work jobs.  And they have been doing it as long as Barack Obama has been President of the United States.  Any legislation he proposes that will create jobs for the American people, the Republican lead House attaches deep tax cuts for the rich to kill it or filibuster to kill any jobs bill.  They are doing everything they can to screw the American people over while they waive the flag.  End result, no jobs.  But it is the President’s fault?  I dare say no.  Below are some links to various articles where the GOP has purposefully killed everything and anything that would create jobs.

The Republican Party and its political contributors to all campaigns has a scorched earth plan when it comes to fixing this economy and creating jobs in America.  It is not going to happen when there is a Democrat in the White House. 

July 19, 2012 

Washington Post:  

Senate Republicans kill Obama-backed measure to cure job outsourcing

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Thursday killed a measure backed by President Barack Obama that would encourage companies to bring overseas jobs back to the United States.

October 11, 2011

Washington Times:

Senate Republicans kill Obama’s jobs bill

Senate Republicans have voted to kill the White Housejobs bill despite weeks of campaign-style barnstorming by President Barack Obama across the country.

Forty-six Republicans joined with two Democrats to filibuster the $447 billion plan.

That vote was not final. The roll call was kept open Tuesday night to allow Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire Democrat, to vote. But it would have taken 60 votes in the 100-member Senate to keep the legislation alive.

The plan would have included Social Security payroll tax cuts for workers and businesses and other tax relief totaling about $270 billion. There also was to be $175 billion in new spending on roads, school repairs and other infrastructure — as well as jobless aid and help to local governments to avoid layoffs of teachers, firefighters and police officers

.

Republicans opposed the measure over its spending to stimulate the economy and its tax surcharge on millionaires.

 June 24, 2010

CBS NEWS:

Republicans Kill Senate Unemployment Bill

Republicans on Thursday defeated Democrats' showcase election-year jobs bill, including an extension of weekly unemployment benefits for millions of people out of work more than six months.

The 57-41 vote fell three votes short of the 60 required to crack a GOP filibuster, delivering a major blow to President Barack Obama and Democrats facing big losses of House and Senate seats in the fall election.

January 23, 2012

Crooks and Liars

Crooks and Liars website has reported an in-depth list of Bogus GOP job bills.  Must read if you think the GOP really gives a shit about you or your lot in this life and economy.  They see you and just don’t give one single thought about you.  You do not matter because you can not write a check for what you used to make to a political campaign.    

HR 1633 - Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011
This bill prevents the EPA from issuing or finalizing regulations revising air quality standards under the Clean Air Act, and excepts farm dust from all references to "particulate matter."
No jobs there, but if anyone has ever suffered from Valley Fever, they might object to exempting dust, particularly farm dust, from the definition of particulate matter.
HR 10 - Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2011
Guts the regulation process by mandating that every regulation promulgated by approved by Congress after an onerous submission process, while exempting any Congressional finding from judicial review. Call this one the Carte Blanche For Congress To Kill All Regulatory Authority Bill.
What it is not: A jobs bill.
HR 3010 - Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011
HR 3010 is a modified, somewhat less onerous version of HR 10, setting guidelines for whether any regulations are warranted at all even if called for under a statute. Calling an anti-regulatory statute a jobs bill is a little like calling a half-built bridge infrastructure. So again, not a jobs bill.
HR 527 - Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011
Ostensibly, HR 527 would reduce regulatory requirements on small businesses by forcing an impact study with specific focus on small business before regulation is adopted. It would limit EPA, OSHA and CFPB regulations while presumably protecting "small" closely-held Subchapter S corporations like Koch Industries. Not a jobs bill.
HR 3012 - Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011
HR 3012 would expand job immigration beyond current limits by eliminating employment-based immigrant visa caps and raising the percentage of total visas granted to 15% from 7%. For this one, I'll say it IS a jobs bill, but not a jobs bill for American workers. It is the "Elite Immigration Jobs Bill of 2011".
HR 3094 - Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act
HR 3094 redefines collective bargaining units and makes significant changes to election procedures, including one intended to intimidate employees: an employer-supplied list of eligible voters with contact information provided by the employee.
Not a jobs bill. A union-buster bill.
HR 2930 - Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act
HR 2930 exempts startups raising less than $1 million in venture capital from small investors from SEC registraiton and oversight.
Not a jobs bill. An anti-regulatory bill.
HR 2940 - Access to Capital for Job Creators Act
HR 2940 repeals prohibitions on solicitation or advertising of a securities offering. It's a companion to HR 2930, and is intended to allow people with no relationship to a startup company to invest in it without any oversight by the SEC. Let's call this and its evil twins HR 2930 and HR 1965 the "Ponzi Scheme Coverup Acts of 2011"
HR 1965 - Securities Laws Amendment
HR 1965 changes the shareholder threshhold for SEC registration from 500 to 2000 shareholders. It's not a jobs bill. It's a "hide from the SEC" bill. Its companion, HR 1970, would exempt SEC registration of public offerings under $50 million rather than the current $5 million threshold.
Many More EPA Acts
So many they don't deserve to be broken down individually. HR 2273 removes coal ash regulation from the EPA and hands it to the states. HR 2681 would put a legislative stay on cement manufacturing emission standards. HR 2250 would put a legislative stay on EPA boiler MACT rules. HR 2401 would require analysis of all EPA regulations relating to air, waste, water and climate change. HR 2018 would restrict EPA from issuing any revisions to existing water standards or issuing a new standard for a pollutant if the state has already adopted one or there is an existing standard in place. In other words, ignore any new scientific research after an initial standard has been set. HR 2021 amends the Clean Air Act to open oil and gas exploration off the Alaska coast. HR 910 strips the EPA of authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, a direct assault on efforts to limit man-made contributions to climate change. HR 872 expands the use of pesticides, fungicides and rodent without EPA approval.

Reality Check!!!!!!!

The end results of all of the job killing activity in the United States Congress by the Republican Party, is that the Republican Party does not care about you.  They care about protecting the people that donate to them and their campaigns. 

Facts and jobs do not matter if there is money to be protected or made for influential donors when it comes to governing by the Republican Party.  Keeping you and them separated while blaming someone else for no jobs is the GOP mission of governing.

If you think your congressional representatives support you and this economy then please visit factcheck.org before you blame the other guy that is actually trying to create jobs.  Only 2% of all Republican voters know that during President Obama's administration that taxes have gone down and not up for the middle and lower classes.

Speak up and vote in November for the President and the Democratic Party across the board.  Comment if you think the facts are wrong.

Papamoka

Memeorandum Goes Fox News

Is it just me or has the Google search engine equivalent for political news known as Memeorandum gone all right wing politics like Fox News? Granted the latest news cycle is all about things happening in the right side of the political aisle but my thoughts are that the news from Memeorandum has been hijacked. Spin is spin and it is what it is.

It almost seems that every post that they point you toward lately is and has been extremely right wing. Just saying. I’ll be looking for a new source for political news. I hear that Real Clear Politics is good. Checking them out and will keep you posted.

Papamoka

Obama a One Term President

News reports, although never realistic based on push polls, can not be trusted when you insert reality or simple common sense into the scenario. Polls are out asking if President Barack Obama will be a one term president. I’m just thinking that the President still has two years left to his term but I’m funny like that wondering how this can even be realistically polled or predicted?

Alzheimer’s is rampant in the electorate given the last election results! We all know people are fickle and will vote their wallet and this fact is true because everyone forgot how screwed we all were under the leadership of George W. Bush. That is why Obama won the White House over Republican candidate John McCain in the first place! One has to ask if the voting public are sheep that will run the first time someone screams wolf? This past elections proves that theory given the fear factor of the Tea Party candidates that actually won and all of the democrat’s that were tossed out of office. Common sense lost and fear won.

Even Congressman Alan Grayson in Florida’s 8th Congressional district, a die hard for the people candidate was ousted. There was no common sense fiscally to understand his ousting at the polls knowing that he was a closet conservative budget watch dog on spending that just happened to be a liberal democrat.

Politically, it will look amazing in the history books on all of the accomplishments that President Barack Obama has been able to do in just his first two years as president. Obama passed Health Care Reform and when you look at history, every president since Harry Truman has tried to pass some form of national health care reform and none have succeeded. Obama passed banking and investment reform of Wall Street that cleaned up the mess that was disguised as pure capitalism but really was a house of magic where accounting tricks and mirrors were only the beginning to undermine the investments of all Americans. A banking industry where anyone that was breathing could qualify for a mortgage and bingo the house of cards in the housing market collapsed.

President Obama passed credit card reform and dealt a blow to the unscrupulous banking industry that gouged consumers simply because they could. Turning the employment numbers around since his predecessor, George W. Bush, whom is apparently the “New Ronald Reagan”, from a constant loss to positive yet small growth in the private sector was not a simple thing to do and it took leadership.

I find it amazing that it is even suggested to think that Obama will be a one term president. Yes, he was dealt a severe loss with the recent election but his presidency is only two years old. The party of “NO!” now has the House of Congress but they do not have the Senate. And the only real loser’s in this past election is the gridlock and bull that the GOP will unleash to stop any progress to help the people of America to not get out of a recession.

When I hear the crack heads in the GOP wanting to touch the third rail of Social Security, reducing benefits, cutting or even eliminating benefits for some, I’m reminded of my own advancing age. That brings up the “Get Out of my Pension” factor. AKA the GOP. That third rail burns anyone that touches it and that will be the reason President Obama will see a second term. When rich politicians touch seniors that vote in larger than life numbers based on the only income they have coming in then the third rail candidates always lose! Go GOP and crack heads.

As a political writer, the GOP taking the House of Representatives is a godsend. I’m wondering where all of these fiscally conservative people were when our nation went to war on two fronts and saw no problem with no bid contracts? Same folks want grandma and grandpa’s pension to bail out the deficit but see no problem with war profiteering? Go GOP!!!

Papamoka

Tea Party Rabid Pitt Bull

No offense to Pitt Bull’s but the Tea Party is the rabid beast of the Republican Party. In the post election of President Obama, Republican’s have reached out for the passion of the Tea Party activists to try and win back as much of the political spin that they need to win control back of the house or senate. Unfortunately, they did not check to see if the Tea Party had its rabies shots. They pretty much hugged that puppy, fed it, and set it free among the party.

I’ve been trying to sum up in my own head what the Tea Party actually stands for and it is no better than extremist that come from the left side of the aisle if you overlook the spelling problem that most Tea Party folks have. The Tea Party is tantamount to a three year old throwing a tantrum till the Republican party people listen to them and then they decide to throw several other tantrums just because they can. And as long as the Republican’s play favorite child with the loony right, then they deserve to have a rabid dog in their living room.

What is more ironic and idiotic is that nobody is really in charge of the Tea Party nationally and thus it never will have one unified message. That pretty much makes the whole Tea Party movement impotent politically and according to some reports the GOP is trying to distance itself from the so called Tea Party grass root followers.

If you think about it, only Palin, Beck, and Limbaugh think the movement is worth their time but if you really look and think about their actions then you see a different picture. Palin is dreaming that she will actually be a contender candidate for President in two years time but her own political party is moving away from her self defined controversy. Nobody that extreme will ever have a chance at the White House because you need the middle of both political parties to get elected and frankly she is bat shit nuts! Beck and Limbaugh are money making machine entertainers so realistically they would raise Ronald Reagan from the dead if they could make a buck off of him. And they both have admitted to being entertainers and NOT political figures. I can understand that because I’m a blogger and not a political leader. But I’m no where near the pay grade of Beck and Limbaugh.

What does all of this mean for the November elections when it comes to the Tea Party movement? For Republicans it is a self inflicted shot in the ass simply because the people that actually vote will never buy bullshit and extreme right or left political badgering. Voters know what a rabid dog looks like. You don’t give that puppy a hug and kiss, and you certainly do not feed it and the GOP is facing that problem in November. Extremism works at rallies but just doesn’t seem to fit in the voting booth.

Papamoka

Coffee Party Politics

I’ve heard some sound bites about the “Coffee Party” but mostly I’ve assumed it was the exact opposite of the “Tea Party” folks. I’m a middle of the road politics kind of person and that doesn’t make me comfortable with Tea Baggers and I’m certainly not ready for a double latte espresso light on the cream political group. Either way, I’m thinking that too much caffeine can’t be good for you. Anywho, I was looking into what the Coffee Party is all about and to be honest with you, they actually seem to be the Ying and Yang to the Tea Party. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Here is their blurb on the who or what the Coffee Party is all about…

About Us
Tue, 2010-02-23 17:43 — pcoughlin

We are diverse — ethnically, geographically, politically, in age and in experience.

We are 100% grassroots. No lobbyists here. No pundits. And no hyper-partisan strategists calling the shots in this movement. We are a spontaneous and collective expression of our desire to forge a culture of civic engagement that is solution-oriented, not blame-oriented.

We demand a government that responds to the needs of the majority of its citizens as expressed by our votes and by our voices; NOT corporate interests as expressed by misleading advertisements and campaign contributions.

We want a society in which democracy is treated as sacrosanct and ordinary citizens participate out of a sense of civic duty, civic pride, and a desire to contribute to society. The Coffee Party is a call to action. Our Founding Fathers and Mothers gave us an enduring gift — Democracy — and we must use it to meet the challenges that we face as a nation. - Coffee Party USA

It turns out that the Coffee Party people actually are the opposing force to the Tea Party folks but I’m hoping they aren’t as loony and destructive to the nice folks on the left as the Tea Party members are to the folks on the right.

Now I’m wondering if I should start another opposing party to the Tea Party and Coffee Party folks for all of us moderate middle of the road kind of people. How about the Milk and Cereal Party?

That might not fly seeing how so many of us moderates are fed up with both the left and right political parties and are now lactose intolerant. Worst case scenario, I just might end up checking out the Coffee Party just a wee little bit more.

Papamoka

Mellencamp FOR Senate

Every politicians worst nightmare is to have a rock star ask them or be legally ordered to stop playing their music for their campaign. Wouldn’t you just love the campaign that John Cougar Mellencamp could run given some of his hot tunes? Indiana would be rocking down the “Little Pink Houses” for Mellencamp if he decides to run for the US Senate as a Democrat.

Grass root efforts on Facebook are under way and growing to open the doors wide for a draft of Mellencamp as a Democrat to run for the seat soon to be vacated by retiring Senator Evan Bayh. Mellencamp plays right into the common working man voting group and his activities with Farm Aid can’t hurt him with all the farm votes in the Midwest. Break out the campaign signs for “Our Country” and prop them up on the front lawns in the Hoosier State.

It’s only fitting that since the Democrats of Minnesota voted in Al Franken, the comedian, that the good folks of Indiana vote in somebody that can actually carry a sensible tune. No offense intended to Senator Orin Hatch of Utah that dabbles in the music industry.


Video Link

Log onto your Facebook account and sign yourself up as a fan. Next stop for Mr. Mellencamp is Washington DC.

Papamoka

Is Michele Bachmann Nuts

How idiotic do you have to be to blame the swine flue and its potential ability to become a pandemic that could kill one third or more of all human beings on the Earth on President Obama? All you have to do is ask Michele Bachmann of Minnesota who is not suggesting it is a Democrat President’s fault but the insinuation is right there on her lips. Her looney tunes logic is that the last time swine flue broke out was during the Carter Presidency.

Umm, it was during the Ford administration honey buns sweet lips. And I now no longer wonder why Arlen Specter is leaving the Republican Party for the Democrat Party. My personal thanks to City Pages for this video and Duh is Michelle Bachmann clip…

Video Link




I wish I could make this stuff up but I honestly do not have to! I could write a couple of posts a day on the lunacy coming out of this far right political Republican that is now the voice of the party. She must be, nobody else is getting any face time on the radio or television. Is she what the Republican Party is today? For all my Republican friends, I hope not. But then again come on over to the political party of common sense. We live in the real world.

Welcome to the party Arlen. We already have a table setting for you. I’m pretty sure you know everyone here. Group hug everyone for Arlen!

Papamoka

Obama Take Steps to Free Cuba

Thank you President Obama for having the audacity to fulfill a campaign promise once more. Isn’t it a bit refreshing to have a politician actually do what they promised for your vote? It’s almost as if he kept a record of everything he said, promised, would look into, or might consider during the brutal campaign for President. Who’d of thought he actually might act on them?

One thing that I follow is the promises President Obama made to the Cuban descent people in America, he was going to end the madness of the embargo on Cuba that should have ended twenty or more years ago. Today he made the first step towards freeing the Cuban people and I’m as happy as a pig in $H!?. Over at the White House they have this to say on the loosening of trade and relations with Cubans here in America and rebuilding relationships of people in America with Cubans and commerce back in their homeland…

Today, the Obama administration announced a series of changes in U.S. policy to reach out to the Cuban people in support of their desire to freely determine their country’s future. In taking these steps to help bridge the gap among divided Cuban families and promote the freer flow of information and humanitarian items to the Cuban people, President Obama is working to fulfill the goals he identified both during his presidential campaign and since taking office.

All who embrace core democratic values long for a Cuba that respects basic human, political and economic rights of all its citizens. President Obama believes these measures will help make that goal a reality.

Lift all restrictions on transactions related to the travel of family members to Cuba.
Remove restrictions on remittances to family members in Cuba.
Authorize U.S. telecommunications network providers to enter into agreements to establish fiber-optic cable and satellite telecommunications facilities linking the United States and Cuba.
License U.S. telecommunications service providers to enter into roaming service agreements with Cuba’s telecommunications service providers.
License U.S. satellite radio and satellite television service providers to engage in transactions necessary to provide services to customers in Cuba.
License persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to activate and pay U.S. and third-country service providers for telecommunications, satellite radio and satellite television services provided to individuals in Cuba.
Authorize the donation of certain consumer telecommunication devices without a license.
Add certain humanitarian items to the list of items eligible for export through licensing exceptions.

- The White House

I’m Irish American but I still have contact with family back in Southern Ireland and I can not imagine a blackout of contact or even a denial by my country to visit them if I so choose for forty plus years. If I work, and work hard to earn a paycheck, then I have the right to spend my hard earned money any damn way I please. Who’s business is it if I mail a check to my daughter here in my home state to help her out with my grandchild or if I mail it to Ireland? Same goes for Cuban Americans. Its called taking care of your own. If that is wrong then I’m going to hell in a hand basket pronto! Wrap me up, I’m good to go.

Republicans are on a kick ass gripe over this issue because Communism might just be paid for by citizens in the United States just 90 miles from our shores off of Florida. Fact check for them, the Soviet Union collapsed under Communism. The Soviet Union cut Cuba off financially during the Gorbachev administration or is that fact to clear for them? The government of Cuba is collapsing now. The Castro regime can not sell the collective power to the people anymore as gospel simply because the people are not stupid. Piracy of the internet for lack of a better term is rampant in the island nation and the people can see that they have been sold a bag of goods that was rotten, mold filled, and just not worth keeping.

We won the cold war and it has been a long time since the walls in Berlin have been taken down. Thank you President Reagan for that great speech. Cuba too can be free but they can’t do it alone. It takes commerce, it takes cooperation, it takes a helping hand up out of the ditch of the 1950’s. The cold war is over, the up and coming generation of Cubans are fed up with living like paupers and they deserve better.

Besides all the gloom and doom over an Americanized Cuba, classic car collectors will spend a fortune to buy all those old Chevy and Fords still in mint working order. How the Cuban people kept them running for fifty years is something Detroit could take a lesson from.

Mark my words, Cuba will be the 51st state in the Union simply because her people desire and want the American dream. Ten years maybe fifteen but the stepping stones have just been placed in the water off of Florida and President Obama is the one that placed the first stone.

Papamoka

Steele Turning GOP Black

For the record, I am a Democrat but a moderate voter that sometimes sees both sides of every issue. I do not pretend to be a Republican or an Independent because I am not a Republican or an Independent voter. I find it extremely offensive as a voter and an American that the new Chairman of the GOP aka Republican Party is trying to move his starch white collar, blue blood, better than everyone else, especially the lower class, political party to what I think is liberal and strictly Democrat territory. Michael Steele wants to now transform the GOP into HIP HOP proactive. Attract the vote so to speak as one brother to another.

Stop laughing! Michael Steele wants to turn the GOP into a friendly in appearance only political party to attract African American voters to the Republican Party as its own African American spokesman? Okay, I’m laughing with you now. This is the same guy that congratulated his fellow Republicans for voting in mass against the stimulus plan that Democrats passed and had signed by President Obama this week. That same stimulus package will create millions of jobs across America for people not living off of a trust fund. Workers that know that hard work is nothing to be afraid of doing to feed your family. Do you wonder if maybe some of those jobs President Obama signed into law this week could also be for African Americans, Latinos or just the rest of us idiots that don‘t mind working hard to earn a decent paycheck?

Steele: GOP needs 'hip-hop' makeover
Ralph Z. Hallow
Thursday, February 19, 2009

NEWSMAKER INTERVIEW:

Newly elected Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele plans an “off the hook” public relations offensive to attract younger voters, especially blacks and Hispanics, by applying the party's principles to “urban-suburban hip-hop settings.”

The RNC's first black chairman will “surprise everyone” when updating the party's image using the Internet and advertisements on radio, on television and in print, he told The Washington Times.

HIP HOP SNIP…

But, he elaborated with a laugh, “we need to uptick our image with everyone, including one-armed midgets.” - Washington Times

Who the hell is this Michael Steele guy fooling other than himself? Even his own political party does not have even one African American Senator, Congressional Member, or even a Governor in any state in the entire country! Leave it to the GOP to pretend they like black people so they can mock their culture and hope to steal a few votes in two years time. I’m sorry but in my opinion, you can not vote or assimilate with the GOP culture unless you think that people in the lower classes deserve their lot in life because you have yours and they can go screw themselves simply because your political base says so.

In this two party political system that we have I am truly grateful that one of them has the common sense to be honest, follow its own convictions, and elect many members of the African American community to high offices like Governor, Congressional Member, Senator, and even President. Democrats know what the rainbow looks like and in no part of it is their a “Whites Only” stripe.

Michael Steele is an ass and he is the poster boy of the GOP of “us too” before they actually understood that black people have a brain and can lead too. He gets my scumbag of the week award!

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My brother from anotha motha at the Gun Toting Liberal has his own thoughts on this very same topic. Brotha's, we think alike!

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Then we have this video from Rachel Maddow on Michael Steele

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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Papamoka

Freedom and Confusion Explained

Sometimes people confuse the topic of freedom with a conflict involving military action to protect and defend freedom. Freedom isn’t always about nations going to war but sometimes just between two kinds of people not understanding one another and going into an emotional conflict over just a few issues. One could literally take the issue of the stimulus package and clearly define the limits to which each side is willing to go but progress in our nation is not about being rigid in our individual firm belief system but venturing into our neighbors yard to see if the sun is still shining.

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I don’t pretend to fully understand the Republican stance against the stimulus but I have a rough clue that it is about gross negligent spending, money they believe could be best spent in other ways such as tax cuts. Then again, I don’t fully understand the Democrats wanting to spend billions of dollars that just might stimulate the economy with public works projects like building roads and re-building bridges, and all that talk about the electrical grid and green energy. I’m more or less almost stuck in the middle and seeing both sides good points but this is politics at the highest level and those of us in the middle always loose out. While one side says tax cuts will create jobs, the other says infrastructure repair and building projects will do the trick.

Tonight I had a mini epiphany so to speak, what if we the people were duped by both sides of the political machine. Dem’s were going to fight the press on it being about creating jobs to get it passed and Repub’s were going to play the bad guys in the press about cutting spending and waste and all the fluff that goes with it that came at us in the media from both sides of the political aisle. Meanwhile, in some back room, $800 billion was a ball park both sides wanted but they needed a show to sell it to the people. When you really think about it, both sides got what they originally wanted and the smoke and mirrors of politics lives on. The right wing has their tax cuts and the left wing has their stimulus for creating green jobs, repairing roads and bridges and all the other items that was attached to it. Both sides have their version of pork and both sides can smile for the cameras when President Obama signs the stimulus bill this coming week into law. Win, win situation for all of the politicians when it comes time for running for their congressional or senatorial seat in the next election back at home. Am I wrong?

Papamoka

Senator Boxer Fires Kiddy Porn Aide

When it comes to any form of abuse against children I get my blood to boiling and my fingers to typing about it. Senator Barbara Boxer of California fired an aide that was linked to distributing child pornography last week upon learning of the improper and subhuman behavior by her staffer. Way to go Senator Boxer! Hint to Republican Senators, Congressman, and former Speakers of the House, this is how you deal with scumbags amongst your staff. You don’t hide it, you don’t run from it, you fire the perverts! You defend children no matter who is the public servant. Simple enough.

I found this over at the Houston Chronicle and this is what they have to say on it…

WASHINGTON — A high-level aide to California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer has been charged in federal court with receiving and distributing child pornography.

The aide, Jeff Rosato, 32, was arrested last Friday. Boxer's office fired him that same day upon learning of the charges.

Rosato appeared in federal court in suburban northern Virginia on Wednesday and was released to home detention on condition he not interact with children or use a computer. He was not required to post bail or bond money but is being told to undergo medical treatment.

"On Friday, the Justice Department informed our office of criminal charges made against a Senate employee. Sen. Boxer has zero tolerance for crimes against children, and the employee was immediately terminated," Boxer spokeswoman Natalie Ravitz said in a statement Thursday. "Our office is cooperating fully with the Department of Justice in this matter."

There’s more…

According to an affidavit by FBI special agent Chad Gallagher supporting the criminal complaint and arrest warrant, Rosato was tracked through a now-defunct Google program called Google Hello. He allegedly exchanged hundreds of pornographic images with another user who'd been sharing child porn images and movies with an undercover detective posing as a 13-year-old boy.

Investigators subpoenaed Google Inc. and Comcast in order to identify Rosato and last week executed a search warrant on his Arlington, Va., home, seizing computers and hard drives.

A preliminary review of Rosato's personal laptop computer, which was in his bedroom, found 200 child porn images and some videos, according to the affidavit. "Many of the images and videos depict prepubescent boys engaged in sexual acts," the affidavit stated. - Houston Chronicle

Finally, we are seeing how our government leaders should lead. If a child was harmed, or you get off looking at kiddie porn and you work for the government, OUT YOU GO! We don’t need that kind of public servant and Senator Boxer was right on the money by firing his sorry ass.

I know that many people will think that you are innocent till proven guilty but I would have a hard time thinking that the Justice Department was investigating this man as a way to get at Senator Boxer. Or would they? The end result is that this child porno deviant will not be on the payroll for the taxpayers anymore. Rightfully so!

Now for the twist to this post, did I just hang a man without proving him guilty? I think I did! Does that make me a bad liberal for having no tolerance for perverts without knowing all the facts of the case first? I think it does. If I had an ACLU card they would revoke it instantly but I don’t have one so Thbbbt! I'm going to hell for convicting this man here but I happen to believe that pedophiles are not wired right in the head and if they are actively looking for child pornography then they are actively looking to engage in that same act. I'll fight for the kids first any day of the week and gladly be wrong on the side of caution.

Protect the kids first, let the lawyers and courts decide if this man is innocent or guilty. Boxer was right to fire him instantly and I don’t have a single problem with that. Congrats to you Senator Boxer for having the guts to do what is right.

Papamoka

Election Returns Dixville Notch NH

It’s officially over for John McCain as far as Dixville Notch New Hampshire is concerned. The Republican stronghold since 1968 overwhelmingly voted for Barack Obama for President with a 71% victory margin and a 100% voter turn out. The polls were slammed with voter turn out as all 21 voters showed up to vote just after midnight. Polls stayed open late in order to handle the turnout and closed at 12:10 AM.

DIXVILLE NOTCH, New Hampshire (CNN) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama emerged victorious in the first election returns of the 2008 presidential race, winning 15 of 21 votes cast in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire.

People in the village in New Hampshire's northeast corner voted just after midnight Tuesday.

It was the first time since 1968 that the village leaned Democratic in an election. - CNN

It’s going to be a long day for news reporters and political bloggers so keep the coffee on and your mouse at the ready. (Safety Note: Please keep a fire extinguisher close by as overheated internet sites, mouses, and lap tops may erupt in flames while searching for election results today.)

Thank you BJ for the tip!

Papamoka

Two can play at Robo Calling

It seems that the McCain for President campaign is overly fond of Robo Calling unsuspecting voters. They drew first blood and now its personal. It’s time for us to bring out the big guns and Obama Girl!

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Just some late election humor. It worked for McCain on Saturday Night Live so what the hell!

Papamoka

Political Labels

Pretty much surfing the net you will find every accusation and label thrown at Barack Obama by Republicans. He’s been called a socialist, a communist, a race baiter, an elitist, an extreme liberal and of course a muslim. Just when you thought it could not get any worse, John Stewart of Comedy Central has this to say…

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Yes, we do need a bridge to the 13th Century! It is all coming clear to me now on how idiotic I have been.

Let me just add one more label for Barack Obama. President.

Papamoka

Election Shenanigans and Theft

It probably will not be a huge surprise to many people that on November 4th many people will be turned away at the polls because of voter registration errors. Every election there is a story of corruption in the voting process where people are either waiting in line for hours to vote, ballot boxes magically disappear, or people are told you name is not on the registration list. Outrage ensues from one political party or the other based on demographics and which way any one area tends to vote favorably.

In a perfect world all votes would be counted but there is always someone, or some political faction trying to swing the vote count in one candidate or the others favor. Nothing enrages true political junkies more than seeing an election hijacked by underhanded shenanigans. Needless to say, there is always going to be someone that will try and steal votes away from the people based on their own personal ideology and desire to have their candidate win the election. The more votes stolen, the better is their thought process when committing this despicable act. Over at the New York Times they have this to say on 8,000 votes nearly stolen…

Sorry, I Can’t Find Your Name

Before Mississippi’s March presidential primary, one county election official improperly removed more than 8,000 voters from the eligible-voter rolls, including a Republican Congressional candidate. Fortunately, the secretary of state’s office learned of the purge in time and restored the voters.

It’s disturbing that a single official (who acted after mailings to voters were returned) could come so close to disenfranchising thousands of voters. But voting rolls, which are maintained by local election officials, are one of the weakest links in American democracy and problems are growing.

Snip (from voting list)

For this election, voters need to be prepared to fight for their right to cast a ballot. They should try to confirm before Nov. 4 that they are on the rolls — something that in many states can be done on a secretary of state or board of elections Web site. If their state permits it, they should vote early. Any voter who finds that their name has disappeared from the rolls will then have time to challenge mistakes.

If voters find on Election Day that their names are not on the rolls, they should contact a voters’ rights group like Election Protection, at 1-866-OUR-VOTE, or a political campaign, which can advocate for them. They should not, except as a last resort, cast a provisional ballot, since it is less likely to be counted. - New York Times


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Take the time to make sure your vote will count and make sure your registration is still valid or has in fact been added to the rolls of eligible voters. Don’t think for a minute that vote theft can not happen in your happy go lucky part of the world and that this sort of crime does not happen in your city or town. Now more than ever it is very important to make sure that your vote is cast and counted on November 4th.

Papamoka

McCain Making Reverend Wright an Issue

One of the biggest things in politics not to do is bring up religion when it comes to any Presidential candidate. John F. Kennedy had to explain to the American people that he was not beholding to the Pope if elected President of this very religious nation as a Catholic. Governor Mitt Romney, a Mormon, had to explain that his faith as a Republican would not intervene if elected President. Mike Huckabee, well, we are all going to hell for not voting for him in the primaries and Fox News gave him his own “News” show.

Over at the Gun Toting Liberal, a site I proudly once wrote for, they have a great piece on playing the religion card from the McCain campaign double speak from Rick Davis. They intend on or are implying that they will bring up Reverend Jeremiah Wright once more against Barack Obama. I have to ask an honest question here, when did they stop bringing up Reverend Jeremiah Wright? Not for nothing, but I honestly believe that I have seen more than a couple of television advertisements a week for the past couple of months citing Reverend Wright?

GTL (Gun Toting Liberal) brought up these key points and I think he nailed this topic down cold and hard…

Obama Team Rethinks Playing The “McCain’s Spiritual Guides” (I.E. — Revends Rob Parsely And Ted Hagee) Card

Question: Should Barry Obama Go After John McCain’s Wacko “Spiritual Guides” Or Should That Be Considered “Off-Limits”?

Thus far, Señor Juan Sidney McCain Of Arizona Panama’s long-standing ties to the VERY controversial (to say the least) self-proclaimed “spiritual guides”, Reverends Rob Parsely and Ted Hagee, who were (in)famous for some of their recent remarks, have been considered “off-limits” by the Barry Obama Campaign. To re-wind a bit, let’s take a look at some “greatest hits” from these two “highly-respected (by Señor McCain) reverends:

Rod Parsely: “America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion [of Islam] destroyed.” …

John Hagee: “Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans.” …

Not to mention the fact Sarah Barracuda Palin’s spiritual advisers have been known to play around with rattlesnakes, daring them to pierce the “Inpenetrable Veil of Jesus” and bite them as rumor has it. - Gun Toting Liberal

Many Catholics across this nation are looking at John McCain in a very favorable light based on just one issue. Abortion. In our faith this is an open and shut question but our government in America is not, can not, and should not be based on faith alone and your vote as a Catholic should not be based on just one issue. There is a much larger picture to this Presidential race and it is bigger than all of our faiths combined. No religion can win all of its dogma and belief with any candidate for President. It is the ultimate Catch 22 if you blindly vote your faith but hand over your government to those that would ultimate ignore your faith. As Christians we are taught to look out for and care for the poor. Republican Presidential candidates and the poor is the ultimate Oxymoron.

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If John McCain, Rick Davis and Karl Rove and company want to bring up faith then let’s go to the facts. John McCain accepted an endorsement by John Hagee for President and later had to slap Reverend Hagee upside the head with a “Thanks, but no Thanks” after numerous reports cited Hagee as calling the Catholic Religion pretty much Satan worshipers. Mind you, my Jesus is your Jesus no matter what Christian Church pew you sit in, but all of us Catholics were damned to hell by Hagee! I didn’t like it, I don’t accept his apology because I think he wasn’t sincere and honest. With that one statement by Hagee he sent my five baby girls to hell and he was and is in John McCain’s corner. That was when many Independent and Moderate Catholic voters moved to Obama’s corner in this election.

Don’t even get me started on all of the ways that McCain is enabling big business to screw over the poorest amongst us and leave the cleanup for faith based organizations to take up the slack. From homeless veterans, cutting VA benefits for our troops, voting against minimum wage every single time. John McCain really does not care about feeding the homeless, or offering them shelter till they get on their feet which is what faith based kitchens and shelters all across America are doing 365 days a year now.

John McCain is a very angry man and if he wants to use Jesus Christ as a weapon against Barack Obama, a fellow Christian, then I have just one question. What would Jesus say?

Pitting one form of Christianity against the other is not a smart political strategy and it makes your political campaign look more than just desperate. It’s lining up Christian against Christian and that is not what our faith and belief in Jesus Christ is all about.

Papamoka

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Catholics, McCain, and Hagee