Ferguson Local Politics

I want to live in a world where everyone is three years old and has no clue what color a persons skin is.  We just play together and laugh and love one another.  One of us gets a boo-boo we run to get help from a medically trained three year old that applies a kiss and a boo-baid.  If we are hungry we run to the kitchen with our shoes untied and our pants falling off our butts to fix up a bowl of cereal and milk and dream of the toys promised on the back of the box.  We can live in a world full of hugs when we know our friend is hurting and maybe even cry with them to ease the pain.  That isn't reality but Ferguson, Missouri is.

Ferguson, Missouri is in deep pain right now.  The community is stressed out from all the violence from protestors, the police, state police, and now the National Guard "Protection".  My wife and I live just a few miles west of this little town and we have been there many a weekend buying produce at the farmers market.  We love the town.  We love the people.  This small town that has so much potential is being torn apart and it doesn't need to happen.

This pain that the community is feeling can be fixed long term.  It takes the community to heal itself.  My numbers may be wrong but you can tell me the right numbers in the comments below.  Ferguson is a community with a population of 22,000 people and 70% of the people are black.  51 of the 53 police officers are white.  That's 96%.  The Mayor is white.  The city council is 5 white people and 1 black person.  That's 80% representation at the local level for 30% of the people.

Ferguson needs to be organized to get the vote out for their own local leaders.  Ferguson needs a few people in the community that are black to stand up and run for political office.  A business owner, a school teacher, a single mom, a guy that works construction, a lawyer... Whoever.   It is your town.  Who is better at leading it?  The people in charge now or one of your own people? 

Back in the day when the Irish were persecuted for just being here in America we found a way to beat the bastards that were putting us all down.  We elected our own to public office in every capacity possible.  Local, state, and federal offices.  It didn't happen over night but one of our own was Speaker of the House for forty years and we elected President Kennedy.  We elected his little brother, the Liberal Lion Teddy for decades.

Can the racial policing problems in Ferguson be fixed?  Yes it can.  If you elect a black mayor that hires the new Chief of Police.  If you elect a city council that is black that decides and votes on the percentages of police officers that need to be black change can happen.  Some white guys just might lose their jobs as police officers but the community needs to be policed by people that are put there by the people they elected.

Might it be needed to call for a special election in Ferguson?  If the people are not truly represented, then maybe that is a probability.  Either way you need to organize, Ferguson.  Your community needs to elect a new Mayor and a new City Council.  Most of all you NEED TO VOTE!  That is just step one.

This is my protest for the people of Ferguson.  Let's move forward!  Change can only happen if you take the steps needed to make it so.

Papamoka     

American Division By Politicians

When you look at any person in America you can see an American if you truly open your eyes.  Almost all of Americans are descendents of an immigrant except for those that are the original people that we now call "American Indian" which I think is wrong.  I call them by their first name.  They return the acknowledgment.  

Back in my school days we all had to relearn basic math every single year because somebody in the class didn't pay attention to the facts of math the previous year.  Simple math, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals were foreign information even into some of my high school years.  Every single year I would groan about doing stupid stuff we learned in elementary school because half the class was way behind.

The same thing is happening in national politics with simple division.  If you divide enough of the people into special groups then you divide the nation.  Then all you need to do to get elected is use key phrases to get the misinformed vote.  You tell the rich people that the poor people are to blame for their woes, you tell the poor people that the rich people are to blame for their woes.  Then you pivot and blame the gays for the heterosexuals woes and the opposing argument is that the heterosexuals are to blame for the gay peoples woes.  Then you target immigrants for Americans not being able to find a job and pivot and blame the government for not loosening the immigration laws so businesses can afford to hire cheap labor that hard working Americans refuse to do.  You blame woman for the so called degradation of America because they want their own choice on what is their body when it comes to medical care and turn to support woman... well never.

Last time I checked I was raised an American.  My father fought for this country in two wars and was buried with honors.  The same people that claim they respect veterans want to cut benefits to veterans because it makes them hero's to people that hate the government deficit.  See the pivot there?  But then they want to support military spending that feeds the pockets of big supporters.  See the pivot?

How can a society that was raised by strong woman back any candidate for federal or local office that thinks that a woman is second class and should stay in the kitchen?  How can a society elect someone to a federal office as a congressman or congresswoman that is openly racist against minorities when the congress is the government body that says racism of any kind is illegal?  How can a society elect someone to a federal office that has for years done everything in their power to hurt the poorest of the poor by voting against unemployment extensions, against healthcare for all, against all job programs, against food stamps, against everything that the poorest of our society need.

Our nation is only as good as the way we treat the poorest of our kind.  When we the people forget that and keep electing people that have been paid to forget that, then the American experiment is over.

Division is simple math.  Division is very dangerous in politics for the common good.

Papamoka

The South Shall Rise Again

Have you ever had the pleasure of meeting anyone from the south?  I'm one of those New England born hot headed liberals that loves my southern friends.  They have a quality of life about them that is more common sense and passionate than people in the north.  People from the south are warm and friendly for the most part and the one thing you notice in a southerner is that they just want to say hello and be friendly.  They love children, love family, love good food, and most of all are very patriotic.  Good virtues that make for good friends and people all around. 

One of my dearest friends lives in North Carolina.  When he speaks it is almost like reading a Mark Twain book but funnier.  His words are to the point and he makes his point clear which is a true southern thing.  We could talk on the phone for hours if not interrupted.  You will always know where you stand with anyone from the south.  But that isn't true with what the southern states elect to represent them?  Why is that?

People like me look at the political actions in the south as hi-jacked.  Family values was somehow manipulated into serving the masters of the plantation or special interests rather than the child that needed food, or love, or a descent education.  Compassion in politics is no longer valid in the southern states of this country in both the Senate and the Congress.  People that live in the south no longer matter to the people they elect.  Checks to political campaigns matter.  The bigger the check the more attention you get.  That is a fact, and it goes against everything that I know of all my southern friends.  But they can not write big checks so their voice is meaningless. 

We have a government that is lost and lacks any leadership.  Us against Them mentality.  There is no longer a working function of our current government.  The congress is hi-jacked by people throwing tantrums on both sides instead of doing the job of finding the common ground.  Both political parties are guilty of it.  Who pays the price for inaction?  We do.

To all my friends in the south, I love ya bunches but ya need to get off the porch and start minding the store.  Your well respected and loved hospitality is being stolen from you by shop lifters that call themselves your representatives in the United States Congress.  Time to see if your voice can reach far enough to make a drop of dew drop off a ripe melon.  The south shall rise again.  Good people will not stand for being kicked by politicians that sold out against their personal family values. 

Franklin Roosevelt loved his time in Georgia, simply because the people were friendly to him and intensely genuine.  In turn, he invested large amounts of his own personal money to build facilities for kids with polio.  He saw the kids, he saw the people, he acted.  You don't see that in any leaders in most southern states anymore.  More for those that have too much and less and less for those that have nothing seems to be more important.  That is NOT a southern quality I would want to be associated with.  Maybe it is time for the south to rise and turn blue again where people matter first?  Just a thought.

Papamoka  

When there is a wrong in the world we need people stand up and speak loud and clear on that wrong.  I see so much wrong in our nation that is not right for the ordinary man or woman.  Our way of life has changed and our government is now x or y corporation.

That is wrong.  We need to fix this.  The only way to do it is by changing it and standing up.  Run for elected office, run for higher seats in our government.  Stand up and speak.  Have a voice.

I am standing up.  I don't know how yet.  But I have the desire to speak loud and clear.  There is no time like the present to do so.

Papamoka

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

Batshit Bachmann

Can it just be said that batshit isn't just for breakfast anymore?

The GOP Does Not Get IT

Back in the day when George Bush Senior was concentrating on the world and ignored the folks at home there came a key phrase, “It’s the economy stupid”. And George Bush lost his bid for re-election to Bill Clinton for the White House.

While the GOP is full of piss and vinegar they still don’t get it. The economy is still in the tank and jobs are still scarce. People are still pissed and there is a reason why there are Tea Party groups and any other faction that leans right politically. The core reason for those factions is that the GOP ignored American’s while it stuffed its pockets under George W. Bush. Pick a subject and the GOP in power was stuffing big business pockets full of cash simply because they could. The war in Iraq, no bid contracts to KBR aka Dick Cheney’s former company that he was CEO for. Gasoline at $4.00 plus per gallon the last year W was president and there was no common sense reason for it other than stuffing the pockets of the president’s buddies. And there was never a conclusive investigation over it other than “Market” movement. Bullshit!

Now the GOP is shocked that they are having a hard time electing anyone in the special elections. The seat held by Jack Murtha in PA was a battlefield and still the GOP lost it by six or seven points. The exception to the rule is the seat once held by Teddy Kennedy that is now held by Scott Brown in Mass, but that could be explained easily when you look at what Martha Coakley, the Attorney General, brought to the table and that was nada. Then again, Massachusetts is the state that also votes in Republican Governors because the states people know that a one sided political government is never a good thing without some checks and balances. Why else would the bluest of the blues elect Ed King, Bill Weld, and Mitt Romney? Life long liberal here but voted for all three of the gentleman because I didn’t trust my state to be run by just one side.

If the GOP wants any chance of getting any seats then they have to face the fact that IT IS THE ECONOMY STUPID. When anyone wants to earn votes then tell the people what YOU will do to get jobs for your district. When people see that your GOP Chairman is spending money frivolously like he is a Lord in days of old because the trough will never run dry with donations then the election results are what they are. You would have to be an idiot to not know that the GOP is funded by mega corporations and the top income of America. Which is why I personally do not trust the GOP to offer me any information on local candidates for federal offices.

When you assume that everyone that is a Democrat will never vote Republican then the results are the same when you smack an intelligent person that is politically active regardless of their political affiliation in the face. In the end it comes down to the economy and the Republican leadership under Bush had a field day screwing it all up and Tea Party or whatever faction the GOP has now I want no part of it if the message is in ten parts because ten different groups now define the GOP and I’m thinking that is the basis of the GOP problem. Too many damn cooks in the kitchen.

Till then, we Democrats will clean up the mess that W and his crew left behind. We fixed the bank mess because the GOP striped regulation out of the industry, we are trying to fix Wall Street, we fixed Detroit and the auto makers because they are the largest contributor to the economy bar non, (GM just paid back its loan in full), we fixed healthcare, we fixed the massive loss of jobs under Bush, and we have a ton of other issues to clean up that 409 or Pinesol won’t have any effect on. And that is what matters at the polls when people vote.

And that is what Democrat’s do. So bite me. (Turrets)

Papamoka

SCOTUS Corporate Free Speech

Special thanks to our friend Mike Stanfill over at the Far Left Side for his cartoon on the recent Supreme Court descision to give corporations free speech and allowing them the right to buy elections. This cartoon hits the nail right on the head and shows Supreme Court Justice Alito exactly what his version of the truth will cost the American people.

Papamoka

Naked Palin Needed Clothes

John McCain stated today that Governor Palin needed clothes to justify $150,000 spent by the Republican National Committee (RNC) to go shopping for Sarah Palin. There is only one problem with this declaration, she was and is the Governor of Alaska. Did she show up to work in Moose skins, Wolf skins, or was she just bare ass as she put that plane on Ebay? Apparently, to John McMillionaire she was not properly dressed and Neiman Marcus could fix her up. Sarah Palin needed to be GOP’ered. Walk like a duck, quack like a duck and campaign like a GOP Vice President candidate.

Here is the McCain spin on your donations to his campaign and why your $100 dollars, $500 dollars or even $1000 bucks went to a good cause. Sarah was buck naked when he found her in the wilderness of Alaska in the Governors office.

Over at Politico they have the inside inseam scoop…

McCain: 'She needed clothes'

John McCain defended the Republican National Committee’s decision Thursday to spend more than $150,000 dollars on clothing and accessories for running mate Sarah Palin.

“She needed clothes at the time,” McCain told a group of Florida reporters.

The Arizona Republican said that the clothing will be donated to charity and that there was nothing unusual about spending the committee’s money on Palin’s look.

“They'll be donated at end of this campaign. They'll be donated to charity,” McCain said.

“It works by her getting some clothes when she was made the nominee of the party and it will be donated back to charity,” he added. “It works that the clothes will be donated to charity. Nothing surprises me.” - Politico

How pissed would you be if Barack Obama spent this kind of money on Joe Biden? Your donation dollars! I don’t get it. McCain is Conservative but he says that $150,000 dollars for clothing in just over one months time on clothing and accessories is okay and justified because the Governor needed clothes? Somebody has no clue as to what his political campaign is doing behind his back and the blame rests squarely on John McCain. It’s his campaign! What excuse is he going to use when he is elected President when people are screwing him over behind his back? This is just an election for President, once elected you are on the world stage. McCain is not in charge of his own campaign and that is sad. Mistakes and blunders of this magnitude should never have happened on a campaign where the man on the bumper stickers is supposed to be a hawk.

If John McCain can not control the spending of his own campaign organization that makes him look bad, then how is he going to control government spending that he wants to lead? It’s his campaign and nobody did this to him but his own campaign. He owns this issue 100%!

This attempt by McCain was truly against his character. He could not justify the spending of that much money on clothing and accessories at all. “She needed clothes” is his response? This is the beginning of Bush 3.0 lies if John McCain is elected President.

Papamoka

*****The Root has linked in... Thank you!

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


Video Link



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

Obama Wins According to McClatchy?

I’m not one to call a political race over and done with before the actual election happens but the McCain implosion, the Republican self destruction in ethics leads some merit to one political pundit calling the next election for President a landslide. As voters we can not forget the fall out of Denise Hastert, the Republican Speaker of the House over the Mark Foley alleged sex with congressional teen age pages and unbecoming acts and allegations incident and subsequent cover up. He left office in disgrace.

We as voters can not forget the allegations against the Senate Leader Tom Delay with rigging Congressional election jurisdictions to favor his political party in Texas or his numerous dealings with many lobbyist in the capitol. He left office in disgrace. I could go on and on from W to Karl Rove, Jack Abamoff, Scooter Libby and the list just grows. Corruption, greed, more for me, screwing over the American people was a mantra for the first six years of the Bush administration. Over at McClatchy they have this to say on what they think the election will result…

Daring to utter the 'L' word: Obama on track to a landslide
By Steven Thomma McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Barring a dramatic change in the political landscape over the next three weeks, Democrats appear headed toward a decisive victory on Election Day that would give them broad power over the federal government.

The victory would send Barack Obama to the White House and give him larger Democratic majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate — and perhaps a filibuster-proof margin there.

That could mark a historic realignment of the country's politics on a scale with 1932 or 1980, when the out party was given power it held for a generation, and used it to transform government's role in American society.

Obama, a 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois, is now well positioned to win the Electoral College. He's comfortably holding most of the "blue" states that went for Democrats Al Gore and John Kerry in past elections, polls show, and he's gaining momentum to take away several "red" states that have voted Republican in recent elections, including Florida, Ohio, Colorado and Virginia.

The Democrats are also widely expected to take big gains in House and Senate races. Like Obama, they're reaching deep into once solid Republican territory. Even such stalwarts as North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, could be in jeopardy. - McClatchy

Video Link



Given all of the corruption over the last eight years we have to realistically look at whom we elect to not just the Presidency but to the Congress and the Senate. I’m by no means a Conservative but you have to admit that many events over the last eight years have been everything but conservative in nature. The budget is more than busted, money is flowing out from the treasury faster than it comes in and the world financial markets are collapsing. From no bid contracts for the former firm that Dick Cheney was the CEO of to the amazing run up of oil prices from a President that was once an oil executive. There was no avenue of revenue they could not rape and have taxpayers pick up the bill. This has been one of the greatest grab and run Congress and Presidency in our nations history and it wasn’t Democrats that fed the fire and voted for it.

When you as a moderate or independent voter see the stories and videos about the anger coming from the McCain campaign then you see why this nation is so screwed up today. Ideology is only good if it serves them alone. To hell with you, get a job, you are a Communist, a Socialist, and you are not an American is what they scream at Obama supporters. You my friend, you are a terrorist too because you don’t tow the die hard party base of the Republican Party line. That includes your sons and daughters in service to this nation in one of the most powerful military organizations in the world. And yet we in the middle are the problem with what is going wrong in this nation?

All you troops in service to America with Democrat or Independent voter parents to the back of the bus! Hut two, three, four!

It’s time to take our nation back and let it be run by “We the People”. Yes we can is not just a Barack Obama campaign slogan but an American call to action to take back our government and end the madness that has us all in this crisis that is our country. Terrorist’s may have attacked us on 9/11 but greed has been attacking our sovereignty as a people from that day forward.

Papamoka

Obama "Say it to my Face!"

Barack Obama and Joe Biden have hit the nail on the head with the non stop lies coming from John McCain's campaign. John McCain had the chance to look Barack Obama in the face and state his wild accusations. He didn't because he could not! This makes one fact clear in voters minds, one party wants to talk about the truth and the other is hiding behind baseless lies in political advertisements.

Video Link



In the past two debates between McCain and Obama, John McCain could not look at his opponent Barack Obama. Matter of fact, after the last debate John McCain practically ran out of the hall. Barack Obama stuck around to actually talk to the people there. Something smells wrong and it is coming from John McCain and what he has had to become since morping into George Bush 3.0...

Papamoka

Cross posted at Bring It On!

Sharron Osbourne on Ellen, and Palin Discussion

It just happens that I am a huge fan of Ellen Degeneres and her talk show. I’m not tuning in every single day but I like to see what her guests have to say. Okay, I like the dancing by yourself in an elevator thing and her American Express commercials too! Guilty!

One of the things I do know is that woman all across America love Ellen, for what she thinks in the Oprah sort of way. They can see what she sees and they get it. Woman don’t need to be cosmetic models or superstars to have an opinion when it comes to politics and Ellen has broken that bubble with her guests.

One of the things with political writing is that you can get tone deaf on the candidates you love or hate. What about an outside perspective from a Brit? You know, England, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and all the royalty pomp and circumstances.

Sharron Osbourne, aka Mrs. Ozzy Osbourne had this to say on the election in the states on Ellen…

Video Link



So what do you think Ladies in the voting public? Did John McCain just pick Sarah Palin because she is a woman or because she was a much needed political voice in his campaign?

Papamoka

Healthcare and Elections

This is a picture of my Dad, he died in 2003 from the devatating disease of Alzheimers and dementia. A decorated Purple Heart Veteran from WWII and Korea. I have his burial flag from President Bush and the United States Military for the service he gave to his nation. I display it honorably in my living room. His name was Jack and I loved him more than anyone will know. This quiet veteran kept many secrets on what he went through in WWII that raised me is the real reason behind this post.

This post has nothing to do with the current election process. It has more to do with future elections and where this nation will head in those elections. Healthcare. Pure and simple.

When the fact of your elderly parents that raised you in the 1960’s, 1970’s and even the 1980’s start to get sick with age then healthcare is more important than ever. Healthcare is what keeps mom and dad around and one political party is against national healthcare and one is not. Stuffing your mom or dad in a corner is the only answer the right wing side of politics is offering where the left is telling you that there is a better way! What avenue would your own parents have chosen for you when you were a child that was sick? The best choice or just the screw you of politics from the right wing party of where it just isn’t important or they just don’t care? That is so far from Christian thought processes where you honor your mother and father that it is not even funny!

This was an interesting story over at MSNBC News about the caring for our elderly population…

When Your Aging Parents Need You

Caregiving can bring guilt and anxiety—and it can be a gift as well.
By Sally Wadyka for MSN Health & Fitness

For most children, their parents are the people in charge of taking care of them from infancy and even into adulthood. Mom and Dad were there to bandage your boo-boos, sing you to sleep, and soothe you when you were sick. But as the population ages—and more are afflicted with age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's, stroke and cancer—the tables are often turned on parents and their now-adult children.

According to statistics from the National Institute on Aging, there were 37 million people age 65 or older in 2006; that's about 12 percent of the population. But by 2030, as the Baby Boomer generation ages, that number is predicted to rise dramatically. Projections forecast that approximately 71.5 million people—about 20 percent of the population—will be 65 or older. Alzheimer's disease currently affects 5 million Americans, and strokes, which also afflict about 5 million people, are the number-one cause of adult disability. - MSNBC

Make no mistake about it, when your mom or dad gets seriously sick and you as the child face it head on, it is an overwhelming life changing event to you as the child. My own father passed from the effects of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. There was no help for him from anyone but my family during those first initial years of the disease. You feel lost, helpless, and frustrated as your parent fades into oblivion. You are crushed when he or she no longer remembers your name even. Then you read in the papers, blogs, news web sites and everywhere else where science and research is stifled because of politics not only for your own parents illness but many other peoples illness by your own government. Politics and research are two things that should never mix. One is lying to get the ends of your means and the other is researching to find a solution to stopping the end of ones means.

In my own Dad’s case he drowned in his own fluids eventually. Something I would never wish on anyone. That is the fate for a larger than life population of America if research is not in thoughts of our elected leaders. This is a double edged sword, pharmaceutical companies need to invest in such research but the expansion of research must lead into other avenues of science in America. That is where the National Institute of Health comes into play. Breakthroughs in science are possible but it has to be funded by the people representing the people in our government.

The future welfare of this nation is not about us, the children of the greatest generation but how we tackle the illnesses facing the greatest generation. It all comes down to healthcare. One party wants to give that gift to all and the other wants to shun you to the grave.

You decide? And your children will decide, and so will there children over time. No matter what political philosophy you follow, there is not one single American that wants to hear that there is nothing more they can do for their mother or father from their parents doctor. Especially, when research was gouged, gutted, and nailed to the cross of politics.

When we as a people get the fact that Healthcare is really important in America then we will see that only one political party is interested in changing the way we all look at it in America.

Americans need to think out of the box and I hate that phrase. Look at your sister or brother and think that one in three will face many medical issues in their life that could take their life. Many of which could be detected early and prolong their life. In the next couple of decades, science as we don’t know it now could cure the polio of our time that is Alzheimer’s disease but our government and our elected leaders need to get behind it. Research in science is important to your future healthcare and your children’s future. You vote our elected leaders in, vote for the people that can change the status quo. Not just nationally but locally!

For now, could we think more about healthcare in America in this election or is it something for the next generation of politicians to tackle? How soon are you going to need the kind of serious health care my dad needed?

Papamoka

Obama‘s Fear of Muslims

With the right wing conspiracy rampant on the fear and labeling of Barack Obama as a Muslim it was not inconceivable for his political campaign staff to ask two Muslim women to take another seat. Seats not in view of the camera while he spoke. It’s politics and you don’t hand your opponent a weapon that they have already chosen!

Feeding right into this controversy is the main stream media with their own version of political correctness. Excuse me while I just label this story as ignorant of politics and how the game is played. Look for the latest flier from the McCain camp running this issue up the flag pole while beating the we are family drum of his newly revamped definition of American values. Then watch for the Cheney and Bush ventriloquist show on McCain who used to have a voice on his own prior to the Bush endorsement. You might have noticed the President choking back on a little bit of bile during that speech. AKA a little bit of vomit in the back of his throat.

This little two bit story feeds to the ignorance in knowing who the candidates are and only proves out that Karl Rove is alive and well and working for John McCain.

Obama apologizes to Muslim women barred from seats
Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:36pm EDT

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama apologized on Thursday to two Muslim women who were barred from sitting behind the podium where Obama was speaking because they were wearing Islamic headscarves.

At a campaign rally in Detroit on Monday, Shimaa Abdelfadeel and Hebba Aref were prevented by volunteers from taking seats behind Obama that would have been in view of television cameras, apparently because of their headscarves.

"I reached out to Ms. Aref and Ms. Abdelfadeel this afternoon," Obama said in a statement. "I spoke with Ms. Abdelfadeel, and expressed my deepest apologies for the incident that occurred with volunteers at the event in Detroit."

Obama said the volunteers' actions were "unacceptable and in no way reflect any policy of my campaign." - Reuters

President Bush has had a history of public speaking engagements where it was and is by invitation only. It makes for good publicity and news broadcasts when you hide the fact that most Americans hate him and his policies concerning our nation. You can Google search that fact. Senator Obama is only guilty of having a political campaign staff trying to stem the ignorance that he is not a Muslim.

If you think I’m kidding about the Obama ignorance factor when it comes to his religion then just ask someone at random. When you hear the replies then by all means quote facts and not innuendo or some commercial put out by a group that is motivated just to end the possibility of change in America. Change in the American way of life comes with a price and that price is education and the truth that bares no obligations to any political party.

What I find ironic about all of this issue is the fact that we are looking at a shiney object over here and forgetting the fact that this nation is in a world of trouble. Our country is broken and the answers to the problems is not in what you see but in the thoughts to make it better and not worse. While John McCain is telling you what to fear, being Bush 3.0, Barack Obama is telling you what you need to hear. That is the difference between the two of them running for President of these here United States of America. Obama is telling the truth while McCain hopes you believe the spin.

Papamoka

Technorati Tags:
Muslim, Barack Obama, McCain, Political racism, President, Elections, Karl Rove, Republican Tricks, Dirty Politics, Bush again, Cheney

It’s Over Hillary, Step Aside

One of the things that I admire in Hillary Clinton is her never say die attitude. Running for the Presidency of the United States is the ultimate campaign in politics and the Clinton family knows how much is at risk. Personally, it is a drag on the human spirit knowing that no matter how much you put into it the end result is the votes state by state. In this current process, the Senator from New York has fought the good fight and licked her wounds or celebrated in the few victories she has had. What is the end result that we as Democrats need is one united party. That can not happen with careless remarks based on race from the Senator from New York.

In this election process Democrats from all campaigns have signed up millions of new voters and that in itself is remarkable. Watching the political pundits on the television you would think that the people for Clinton would never vote for Obama and that is simply idiotic thought. This is a primary process within one political party where the two candidates are so close on the issues that for the most part it comes up to tossing a coin in the air in the voting booth for most voters. Heads she wins, tails he wins.

In the general election the difference between John McCain and either Democrat is as vast as the Pacific ocean. Who would logically think that if Hillary Clinton is not the Democrat nominee that the Clinton supporters that are Democrats would vote for McCain? Clinton supporters are just as angry about our government take over by big business and their candidate has the same thoughts as Barack Obama. Democrats will not be crossing party lines in November as much as Republicans will.

That leads to Rush Limbaugh thinking that his personal campaign in Operation Chaos will divide the Democrats using Republican voters to manipulate an election. This is another tool that makes no sense from the right wing. If you happen to be a Republican, would you be willing to change your political affiliation just to help Hillary Clinton against Barack Obama? Changing parties is an act of a political extremist so I don’t see Rush and his bash all Democrats campaign realistically giving fruit to the chaos he would love to spout about on his mega million money making broadcast.

As far as the Clinton campaign goes on, the task of doing so is in the support the campaign gets from donors to the campaign. With the Senator having to give $6.4 Million dollars to her own campaign then the support is not there. If the grass roots of dollars are not flowing in then the race is over for Senator Clinton.

It is not dishonorable for Hillary Clinton to bow out. In her race for the highest office of the land she has brought the truth to a nation in need of many changes and forced all people in the political process to engage in that debate. Hillary Clinton is not out of the political loop if she concedes the race, not by far. With her campaign she drew a new interest in politics by woman and in doing so has changed the face of politics in this nation. No longer will it be acceptable for woman to stand on the sidelines as the world around them changes. In that respect she deserves credit and I thank her for running for President of all of our United States of America.

The time for political healing is now and not later. Our party needs to be one voice, one message, and one party wanting to end the destruction of America at the cost of our middle and lower classes. Something Senator Clinton has campaigned on over and over again. One party united is far better than any joke on a divided Democrat Party on right wing talk radio.

Papamoka

Syndicated

To the Center

Feel free to link to and borrow this post…

Technorati Tags:
Obama, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, Democrats, Clinton Dropping out, Clinton Campaign, Clinton Money, Clinton Finances, Obama Campaign, United States politics, President, Elections, White House, Primaries, Pundits, Political strategy, Clinton as Vice President, West Virginia Primary, WV Elections, Clinton Donors

Is McCain Out of Touch?

One of the things you don’t ask in a down economy is if people are better off today than they were four years ago with a silver spoon in your mouth. By all means if you are ever asked that question as a political candidate you don’t offer reasons why people are better off when that is just not true. Our economy is in a freaking nose dive and a millionaire politician has the audacity to tell you that things are just fine?

When it comes to reality and what the real American people are going through some folks just don’t have a clue. I found this little eye opener over at the Washington Post…



I’m just going to assume that Senator McCain does not pump his own gas or go grocery shopping for himself. Maybe he leaves all of those little details up to the little woman at home and the staff at her disposal.

And this guy thinks he is in touch with Americans? I think not.

Papamoka

Thanks to BJ for this tip!

Feel free to link to and borrow this post…

Scorched Earth Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton today announced that she will take her election all the way to the Democrat convention for a knock down drag out fight to win her parties nomination. This news comes out at the same time as the mega millionaire Hillary Clinton supporters drafted a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a vague threat of pulling support from all Democrats if she doesn’t play ball with Hillary Clinton.

It may come as a shock to some people reading this article but I’m pretty sure Hillary Clinton would sell her soul to be the next Democrat nominee for President. Politics being what it is, by its own nature is a cut throat occupation and those willing to make back room deals are usually the ones with no conscience as to the will of the people. In that respect, would you support a nominee for President if it was stolen from the peoples actual vote? I know for a fact that I would not support a Democrat candidate that manipulated the process to place their name on the ballot against the voters wishes.



This latest stunt by Hillary Clinton is deplorable and very much likely will backfire on her. The American people can see a bully in the school yard and we know how to deal with bullies. For one thing we do not line up in lock step to support them because we just might be the next target of their anger. Politically, this was a very brazen and idiotic move by Hillary Clinton. As for her denying full knowledge of what was in the Mafia type letter sent to the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi… Bull!!!

Tucker Carlson put it right in stating that there is no way to deal with Hillary Clinton if she will destroy the party she supposedly loves if that party does not serve her up as the nominee.

Somebody grab a chill pill and kindly offer it to the Senator from New York. If she insists on taking the election by hell or high water then she will find many Democrats voting for McCain come November.

***** Well researched and opposing opinion at I See My Dreams
http://iseemydreams.blogspot.com/2008/03/in-it-to-win-it.html


Papamoka

Feel free to link to or borrow this post…

Technorati Tags:
Hillary Clinton, Super Delegates, Stealing the Election, Denver, Democrat Convention, Elections, Pelosi Letter, Barack Obama, Michigan vote, Florida vote

Obama - Clinton Ticket?

No matter how you look at the Presidential election it is a first in our nations history for the record books. We as Democrat’s are deciding between a woman for President and an African American and that in itself is worthy of the vote alone. The Democrat’s are going to win the Presidency in the next election by a landslide and that is pretty much a fact if you simply look at the number of Democrats voting. Be it the Clinton campaign or the Obama campaign the people they have driven to vote are voting in larger numbers than McCain could ever hope to beat.

This election is so close that there is a possibility that it will come down to the Democrat convention in Denver on who the candidate for President will be from the Democrat Party. Given current trends and voting results it would be a blood bath that the party does not want. Somewhere in the middle is the solution and it may have already been discussed by the two candidates. Reuters has this little bit on the possibilities come Denver…

Clinton hints at Obama as possible running mate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Energized by a series of wins that revitalized her presidential campaign, Sen. Hillary Clinton hinted on Wednesday at a possible joint Democratic ticket with rival Barack Obama.

In two television interviews, hours after she scored critical primary victories in Texas and Ohio that helped revive her presidential bid, Clinton was asked about a joint bid with the first-term senator from Illinois.

"Well, that may ... be where this is headed, but of course, we have to decide who's on the top of the ticket," Clinton said on the CBS "Early Show." "And I think that the people of Ohio very clearly said that it should be me."

In an interview on MSNBC, Clinton noted that both she and Obama had been asked if they would pick the other as their vice presidential running mate.

"Obviously, it's premature for either of us to address it," she said.

She added: "There is a lot of ... interest in that. Many Democrats are hoping for that. We have to sort through this nominating process to see ... who ends up as the nominee.
"But we're going to put together a winning ticket. The most important thing is winning in November." - Reuters

Yes there are many states still to vote but the idea of an Obama Clinton for President is not only a good one but the only solution to merge the ideas and energies of both campaigns in one common goal. Beating John McCain to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue!

Talk about who will be on top of the political ticket is almost pornographic when it comes to talk radio on this topic. That might make Bill smirk with amusement but this is an election to change the path of America and many people are down right serious about it. If there ever was an election in American history then this one is all of that and more.

Both Democrat’s are for ending the war in Iraq and McCain is not. Both candidates are for universal health care and McCain is not. Both candidates are for retrofitting our education system and nobody knows where McCain is on that issue. Both candidates are running against the Presidency and sell out of America by George Bush and John McCain just accepted President aka Emperor Bush endorsement at the White House. One common thought in the Democrat candidates is that you will not have George Bush part two in the next President and the nation will face a new path. A new destiny where America will talk to the world rather than insulting the world with a nation building policy.

No matter who wins all of the primaries, be it Obama or Clinton, it would be a death throw to the Democrat’s if either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama do not pick the other for a Vice President running mate. Both are strong candidates for the Presidency and both would offer more to the American people if they were united against whatever John McCain throws at them come the November election. Voters are united on the Democrat side of the aisle on the issues and together this would be a super ticket to shun the more of Bush ideology that Republican John McCain is offering.

Papamoka

Feel free to link to this post or borrow it…

*****Gun Toting Liberal has kindly linked to this post...

Texas and Ohio Debate Cook Off

Hillary Clinton is running for the exits with her latest political strategy of attacking the new and improved Teflon Don Obama. Barack Obama will gain no ground on attacking the American version of the Iron Lady Prime Minister Thatcher that is Hillary Clinton. In the political cook book of Presidential politics there are way too many cooks in the kitchen and in that respect to0 many people in both campaigns tossing everything they have into the pot. When the original recipe called for boiling some water, adding plans to change America, debate plans, and simmer and allow public opinion to decide. Clinton and Obama are adding one too many Emeril-eske Bam’s (No offense Emeril) to this recipe! The end result is that the political dogs may sleep well with a full belly, the rest of us will be reaching for the Pepto Bismol or Alka Seltzer.

What you get with all of those unnecessary Emeril-eske Bam’s (Sorry Emeril) is fodder for the McCain political machine to pick up and run with come the general election. Just a note of interest, Karl Rove is in fact a political donor to the John McCain for President campaign. Don’t kid yourself, if a woman or a black man wins the nomination for President that the Republican war machine with its tap on hundreds of millions of corporate dollars will not pull any punches to get their man elected to the White House. When both of these Democrats are making Healthcare, Education, ending the war in Iraq and Energy consumption the base of their platform then that is the call to arms for Republican big business donors. That is the Republican pocket book in the nutshell. Do not pass Go, do not collect $2oo Billion dollars.

Having watched one clip after another it has been already decided by the main stream media that Hillary Clinton is done. I was not shocked to see it on many of the networks at how they all posed Senator Clinton in a negative light. MSNBC and Chris Matthews pretty much made toast of Senator Clinton. Keith Olberman continued the bashing relentlessly. With her message at most of her campaign stops more or less telling voters that Barack Obama is not the second coming of JFK or Jesus Christ and in doing so she lost some appeal to moderate voters. Attacking the issues is fine and good politics, attacking your opponent on the fact that he is a better public speaker comes off shallow and resentful. “The sky will open up, the celestial choir will begin to sing”… not getting it Hillary, not buying it. That was the MSNBC spin.

On February 26th, MSNBC is hosting the debate in Ohio with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. This is the Iron Chef debate where one of them is in the cook off of their life and the other has the latest Teflon pan set that pretty much tosses the sticky stuff out of the pan and at the opposing Chef. Hopefully, the viewers and voters will get to see a real debate on the issues and not another damn love fest.

What would ultimately be best for the Democrat Party is that both candidates of course debate their plans but stipulate the differences with their own plans and what Senator John McCain does not have to offer? Sell that and the Democrat political base will not be lost in the food fight of who can bake a better damn Health Care roast! Now that is a Papamoka Bam! (Sorry Emeril)

Papamoka

Cross posted at MichaelLinnJones.com and Bring IT ON!

Feel free to link to this post or borrow it.

Del.icio.us Tags:
Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Democrat, Political Bickering, Politics, MSNBC, President, Primary Vote Texas, Primary Vote Ohio, Elections, McCain, Barack, Hillary, Bill Clinton, Michel Obama, African Pictures, South Carolina, Clean Campaign, Campaign, RNC, DNC, White House, Food Network, BAM, Health Care, Ohio Debate, Debate in Ohio, MSNBC Ohio Debate, Olberman, Chris Matthews, Brian Williams Host, Texas Democrats, Ohio Democrats, Electing a President