Standing for nothing

The RNC is pushing a purity test for Republicans. True to form, the modern GOP has enshrined an off-the-cuff remark of St. Ronnie the Intolerant and declared that anyone who doesn't leap over at least 8 of 10 newly-created hurdles is no longer welcome at the elephant trough. You don't have to read past the preamble to confirm that the Republicans are now completely in the grip of the most extreme faction of the Beck-heads.

WHEREAS, Republican faithfulness to its conservative principles and public policies and Republican solidarity in opposition to Obama’s socialist agenda is necessary to preserve the security of our country, our economic and political freedoms, and our way of life;

The whole scorecard of Republicanism is now measured in how strongly a candidate stands against the president. How impressive is it that the long dead host of Death Valley Days is always "President Ronald Reagan" while the sitting president of the United States is simply "Obama"? This is a party not just in opposition to Democrats, but to reality.

The idea of the GOP is that this list of "principles" can serve them as the "Contract with America" did the Newt generation over a decade ago. There's a slight problem with that idea. Even assuming that Newt's baby had something to do with GOP advances back then, the Contract at least contained something to do. The Contract with America contained at least eight pieces of proposed legislation. The new purity test? None.

As with all things GOP these days, there's not a single new idea in this test. Instead, it's a test of saying no. The rules require that would-be Republicans oppose health care reform, oppose stimulus, oppose amnesty for immigrants, oppose equal rights for gays, oppose protecting the environment, oppose unions, oppose diplomatic solutions, and oppose health care reform (again). There's a tip of the hat to the NRA, but not one, not one, actual solution proposed. Apparently, being a Republican is completely a negative test. You don't have to actually do anything, you just have to agree to oppose the right things.

Still, the purity test does provide a convenient check list. You too can be accepted as a Republican if you promise to hate gays, poor people, immigrants, and the environment (which, come to think of it, has been the Republican standard for decades). Out of pure bullet-point envy, I propose that Democrats must also have their own list. Ten litmus tests which every potential Democratic candidate should be able to ace before they ever hope to put (D) after their names. In fact, I'll go so far as to be more pure than the Republicans. If you can't pass every one of these tests, don't bother to sign on.

(1) We support the rights extended to Americans extended under the Constitution. All the rights. For all Americans.

(2) We support thoughtful, pragmatic solutions that protect American lives, American standards, and American pocketbooks. This includes finding solutions that don't require bombing anyone.

(3) We support an America that has diversity in race, thought, background, and religion not out of some hazy idealism, but because it is our nation's greatest strength.

(4) We oppose torture in any form, in any place, at any time, for any reason.

(5) We support American business, and recognize that an unregulated market is an unfair market, an unstable market, and a market doomed to failure.

(6) We support American workers, and know that when workers are allowed to organize they make their jobs, their companies, and their nation stronger.

(7) We believe that the reputation of our nation is valuable and must be zealously guarded against those who place expediency ahead of law.

(8) We believe in spreading democracy and human rights to the rest of the world by vigorously upholding those ideals here at home.

(9) We believe that access to our government is not for sale. Not in the courthouse, not in the White House, and not in the legislature.

(10) We believe that the health of our planet is not a zero-sum game, not a game of "you go first," and not a game.

Not a particularly detailed set of positions, I know. But then it's not supposed to be. Unlike the GOP, we aren't short of ideas, and unlike Newt, we don't have to dream up a batch of legislation with cute names. We already have real legislation out there that meet these goals. Bills like the Employee Free Choice Act, the Clean Water Protection Act, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, the Affordable Health Care for America Act and many others.

But then, maybe 10 rules aren't enough. I left out the Democratic 11th commandment (thou shalt stop supporting Joe Lieberman's bigger-than-the-Snoopy-balloon-in-the-Macy's-parade-sized ego), and I'm sure I've left out plenty of others. Maybe ones that you feel are vital. What are your suggestions?

The Jawa Report: Muslim Leader Likens Women to “Piece of Meat”

The Jawa Report: Muslim Leader Likens Women to “Piece of Meat”

Health care lobbyists again eye Congress - Capitol Hill- msnbc.com

Health care lobbyists again eye Congress - Capitol Hill- msnbc.com

Returning to the Source

Returning to the Source

The Sons of Abraham

The only reason government exist is that it is easier to pay one master thief than every robber that comes down the road. Or so says noted historian Will Durant. Long before God got around to planting the Garden of Eden our ancestors began to gather together for safety often in caves or some other kind of natural barrier. Eight thousand years before the first evidence of writing appeared in Mesopotamia wheat was being cultivated in Syria, sheep and goats herded in Iran and pigs were domesticated in Turkey. Of course the faithful can look through this evidence and still see the illusion that we have been taught all our lives. They date the world not from scientific evidence but from their own religious writings. For instance the western world believes that Mesopotamia was the cradle of civilization because the Bible places the Garden of Eden between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. But I did not come here to argue the existence of God or other higher beings not the merits of any one religion over another because all religions are false. Now that have lost the attention of the faithful who are no doubt looking for matches let me excuse those who believe that religion proves that there is no God. because on this matter there is no proof one way or the other. I choose to live my life with no fear of punishment (hell) nor hope of reward (heaven) after death. But even if I accepted the Big Bang Theory I still have to ask the question; what created the two molecules and what made them collide? If I believe in creation it does not necessarily mean I believe it occurred in six days. It is a matter of cause and effect. Religion denies cause and effect in lu of tradition. The slightest evidence is enough for the true believer and the non believer can explain away any miracle. But I am a pragmatist and will not ignore evidence. Our ancestors began to make tools for planting and weapons for hunting in Mesopotamia by the 11th century before the Christian Era marks it's beginning. Archaeologist put homo Sabina (that's us) appearance in in Africa around 160,000 years ago. We gathered most likely as families and fought over food with other clans. Then came the day the hunter of one family meets the hunter of another family. One has meat the other only a weapon. As a matter of fact both have weapons and had government existed at that time humanity would have been inilated before it began. Perhaps a thousands times before they fought to the death. Civilization began on the day that the one who had the kill shared it with the empty handed hunter. This might be the point when they connected to something higher than themselves. Whether you believe in the talking snake or evolution, humanity began when wo/man acknowledged God. And I believe that that was when they no longer saw themselves as a predator nor a victim of the elements? Que en sabe?. At what point at our development did this occur can only be speculated. We can however follow the children of Abraham in particular and see the process from tribe to kingdom and the part religion has played.

Judaism, Christianity and Islam all claim the same God that is the "God of Abraham" They all call Abraham father. Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Issac. Ishmael by his wife's slave, because she thought that she could not bare and the other, Issac a December miracle because they were way old. According to Jewish literature Ishmael was the father of seven nations. Issac had two sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau had seven sons making him the father of seven nations. The other son, Jacob had twelve children of his own. Jacob changed his name to Israel claiming he had wrestled all night with God became the beginning of the tribe of Israel. After escaping from slavery in Egypt the tribe calling themselves Israelites became a nation.Israel which consisted of twelve tribes split into the northern kingdom consisting of ten tribes who called themselves Isrealites their capital was Samaria. The other two tribes of Benjamin and Judah who called themselves Judea, their capital was Jerusalem and their king Jeroboam the son of Salomon. Rehoboam king of Israel was afraid that if his people we to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple that they side with Jeroboam in his efforts to restore the nation that had been established by his grand father, King David The Temple was built by his father Solomon who in his time was the richest and most powerful king in the region. David was not the first king of the Israelites but he was the first to unite all twelve tribes. Saul was able only to unite the in the times of war. David, though a benevolent king reigned through terror. He devised for his enemies the most brutal form on death every know to man before nor since and that was crucifiction. It is ironic because Jesus would have to be a direct decedent of David if he were the messiah died by this method. David defeated his enemies and was able to turn the kingdom over to his bastard son Solomon who built the Temple and oppressed the 10 northern tribes because the were decedents Leiah or of slaves.
Israel was captured by Assyria who dispersed them throughout the Assyrian Empire and resettled other captured nations among them so that would not revolt. Assyria was captured by Babylonia who later captured Judea. They carried the strongest and brightest back to Babylon. Seventy years later Cyprus of Persia conquered Babylonia and freed a people now know as the Jews taken from the name Judea. Persia was subsequently conquered by Alexander the Great of the Grecian Empire . The Greeks considered themselves the only civilized people in the world but embraced every religion. Alexander had the Hebrew text translated into Greek, it is called the Subsequent . When Alexander died the empire divided into three kingdoms that warred against each other. It was during this period that the Maccabees named after the family known by that name revolted and set a up theocracy.

In less than a generation Rome conquered the entire region establishing the Roman Empire. Rome renamed the Greek gods and established the religion that we today call Roman Mythology. They were tolerant of all religions and gave a certain amount of anatomy to conquered nations regarding their religious beliefs and laws. Rome however held for themselves the right to collect taxes, the building of infrastructures,other architecture, maintenance of an army and the power of life and death. The Hebrew people, the Jews were the only captured nation to continually resist Roman occupation. They believed that one day their God would send a messiah (meaning anointed one) to save them and set up a theocracy ruled by them as his proxy.. It was during time that Jesus came upon the scene proclaiming to be that messiah. After being turned over to the Romans by the leaders of the Jewish religion he was put to death by crucifiction, the name given to the method of punishment introduced by King David when he formed the twelve tribes of Israel into a nation. His followers proclaiming that he had risen from the dead began to call themselves Christians (Greek for anointed ones). Our present calender divides history according to the time that he was believed to be born called AD (from the Latin meaning the year of our Lord) and BC (before Christ).Or as of late CE meaning either common or Christian era and BCE meaning before the CE. They however did not leave the Jewish temple worship. The Christians violated a Roman law against spreading their religion and proclaiming that Jesus was greater than Caesar. In 60 AD the emperor Nero on the behest of Roman priest began the first persecution of Christians by burning Rome and blaming them. Subsequently they were persecuted throughout the Empire to one degree or another. Most Romans did not know the difference between Christians and Jews so persecuted both.

In 71 AD Titus tired of the rebellious Jews destroyed Jerusalem their capital and the temple a symbol of their beliefs and scattered the Jews through the region forbidding them from returning to Jerusalem. It began again in 90AD when Diocese established Roman religion as the only religion in the Empire declaring other religions false.Words like mythology and cult might have been used to describe them. The Christians went into hiding and began to establish home churches. Each had it's own doctrines and literature concerning Jesus. There were also churches who followed the teachings of different deciples of Jesus and even John the Baptist, Jesus cousin. All of them had one message in common and that was that Jesus rose from the dead. What each group believed that meant became the doctrine of that church. After the death of Diosoniees Christians were persecuted in various parts of the Empire but never again to that extent. By the middle of the second century they begin to build cathedrials in most parts of the Empire. In 135 after yet another messiah,Simion bar Kokba led the final Jewish revolt they were banished from the land it was renamed Palstine.

In the 4th century Constantine in order to save a crumbling empire divided into waring factions converted to Christianity, claiming to win a major battle after seeing a cross in the sky. By the epileptic of Malia 313 he legalized Christianity. He offered every soldier thirty pieces of silver and a white robe with a Cross on it to convert to Christianity. Other religions were permitted. In order to unite the different churches he convened the council of Nicaean 320AD. He moved the capital from Rome to what is now Istanbul and names it after himself. The Nicsen Council failed to unite Christians because of the fight over the nature of Jesus. One side said that he was said that Jesus was a man who received the holy spirit when baptized by John in the Jordan river. The other proclaimed him to be very God of very God. The split is know in history as the great schism.
The Christianity split between Eastern Orthodox in Constanta noble and Roman Catholic Both ruled by Constantine from what would become the Byzantine Empire. The church in Rome was overseen by popes, called the Vicar of Rome, appointed by him. Under his son Constantine II the church again split into two additional factions. The church in Constantinople calling themselves Greek Orthodox who using the Gospel of John the first of the four gospels proclaimed that Jesus was the son of God who died for the sins of man. The other was the church of Alexandria in Egypt where Christianity was meshed with Egyptian teaching said that God was a spirit chanted Jesus. After the death of Constantine II Claudius Julian outlawed Christianity burned all their writings took all their processions and declared them not to be Roman citizens. He died, it was rumored that he was poisoned, after only ten years in 360AD.

It was not until the second Nicene Council in 389 was Christianity made the national religion and the first New Testament was introduced by Theodosius. It consisted of three gospels,Mark,Mathew and John, the three epistles to the Corinthians, to the Romans, Two letters from Peter, three from John, James and Jude. one to the Thessalonian, the Ephesians, Philippians and a sermon called "To the Hebrews". The council abolished any other religion including the churches in Alexander and Egypt. However he neither had the power nor the resources to enforce his ruling except in Constantinople and Rome. The council declared Easter, a pagan holiday over the Jewish Passover (still celebrated by Christians) as the day that Jesus rose from the dead. The pagan holiday of the winter solstice as the birth of Jesus. It would be another 300 years before Islam was born out of the teachings of Mohammad. But just the facts please. The Old Testament was compiled on orders of Alexander the Great in 333 (bce)and edited by Ogerin in the second century. The earliest text of the Christian Bible were complied by Jerome in the fifth century. Though the writings of Mohammad were first complied in the sixth century it would be tenth before the first copy of the Koran saw light.

Sex clause cut from Afghan marriage law - Afghanistan- msnbc.com

Sex clause cut from Afghan marriage law - Afghanistan- msnbc.com

iGoogle

iGoogle

Restore the Vetreans Administration

The most neglected and even abused members of our society are disabled combat veterans. After seeing the destruction st the battle of Gettysburg Abraham Lincoln commissioned the Veterans Administration, "For those who have born the battle and their families." For centuries the VA had been a advocate for disabled veterans making sure that they got proper treatment and equipment needed for better living. They fought for benefits and just compensation for our injuries in the service of our country. This all ended in the 80 under President Reagan. After a fight with quadriplegic Vietnam veteran Grover Washington the then head of the Veterans Administration of allocation of the VA budget Reagan disbanded the Veterans Administration and put veterans affairs under the cabinet position department of Veterans Affairs. The initials VA remained and to most folks the move went unnoticed. The VA budget was put into the budget of the Department of Defense. At the time Washington rightly said that he was making veterans of past wars pay for future wars. So instead of having an agency to intervene for veterans we now have only a person appointed by the president presumably of his own thinking. The result has been devastating to veterans and our families. Walter Reed is the proof of that an is not an isolated incident. From the time the doctors told me that I was unable to work because of my war injuries until I received just compensation was nine years. Because the person who is supposed to help veterans to obtain our benefits works for the government and gets bonuses for denying us our benefits. I spent a year of that time living in national forest the rest with friends and family. After getting back pay I moved to San Francisco where my daughter lived. I was able to pay deposits get furniture and get a nice apartment on the outskirts of town. The treatment I received at the SFVMC was excellent. I had to live on a tight budget but I was happy and getting proper treatment for the first time in years Then by some bureaucratic SNAFU my check stopped for two and a half months. I lost my apartment and as a result everything else. I finally landed in a poverty stricken part of western North Carolina 65 miles from the nearest VA Medical Center. The treatment is poor and the attitude of apathy is worse. There are over 200,000 unresolved claims from the Vietnam war alone. Restore the Veterans Administration fir thise who have borne the battle that is the least that we can do.

The Meaning of Life

To live. The only value of death is to show us how precious life is. The greatest sin is not to live life in all of it's abundance. If you were created in the image of God the you are a creator. So create. If you live your life in fear of punishment or hope of reward you will always be controlled by whoever you accept as an authority.And therefore controls your thinking and your life. Life exist in the moment and anything else is just a though. Be the master of your own thoughts because thoughts become actions and actions habits. These are the things from which religions are born. Religion does not lead one to God but to as set of values defined by whoever claims and receives authority. Some of the worst crimes in history have been committed in the name of religion. Religions are all false because they claim to be able to define God. In doing so the place the Almighty in a box of their own self interest. If they come and say to you I am here or I am there don't believe them. God is as close to you as your breathing, No one can lead you to God because God consumes you. If you are not close to God it is you that has moved.
Finally religion fails to answer the undying question. Why do bad things happen to good people? They promise apple pie in the sky bye and bye if we suffer here on earth. Or they proclaim that God is testing you. As if the Almighty needed to test anyone. Sometime they even admit that they don't know. "It is a mystery" they say. but it was no mystery to Jesus who said God causes it to rain on the just and the unjust.
This guy died and found himself before the throne of God. "So my son" the Almighty ask, do you choose heaven or hell?"
"I thought that that was decided already?"
"Why would you think that? Haven't I always given you a choice?"
"Can I check them out first?
"Sure which do you want to visit first?
'Well since hell does not seem like where I would like to go or so I have been told I'll check it out first."
The man found himself in a large room filled with the smell of Mulligan stew. Around a pot filled with this delicious stew sat thousands starving because their spoons were too long to reach their mouths.
"I don't want to be here!" he cried.
Immediately he found himself in another room filled with the same aroma of Mulligan stew and the thousands that sat around were well fed and happy. Then he noticed that they had the same spoons too long to reach their mouths.
"I don't understand?"
To that he Almighty replied, "They are feeding each other."

Does Freedom of Religion include Freedom from Religion?

Has not religion done more harm than good throughout history? Is a religious zealot who kills one less evil than the one who kills a thousand? Religion seldom leads one to God because it is dedicated only to it's own ideology, dogma and interpretation of their own holy text. Anything that you can concieve in your mind is too small to be God. Religion puts God in a box and dictates the rules to the almighty its own self. Those who believe that they know the truth will never seek it and shall remain forever in everlasting darkness. Europeans fled to the new world for two main reasons. One was running from a government run buy religion the other a religion run by government. America as a nation rejected both. But since the onset of fundamental Christianity in the beginning of the 20th century religion has imposed its ideology on non believers and believers of other faiths to the magnitude of the 15th century holy Roman Catholic Church. The latest example of this is prop 8 in California. With the support of the Mormon Church and Roman Catholic church the majority was allowed to deprive a minority of basic human rights. Prop 8 will fail when hear by the US Supreme Court, as it surly will be, and set a precedent that will open the door to Gay and Lesbein marriage through the country.
When we deprive one small group their rights we put all of our liberty in danger. Marriage is a religious thing which the government does not have the right to define. Though ones religion says it is wrong another disagrees. Prop 8 therefore violates the first amendment right of freedom of religion. If a religion refuses to accept a marriage based on their beliefs that is their perogative. Do you want to be forced to follow the laws of a religion in which you do not believe? To those who think that the first amendment does not mean separation of church and state I say maybe we should further define it. Let us simple state, Render unto to Cesar that which is Cesar's and unto God that which is Gods.

To a new generation

It is not what Obama can do but what we can do together. The torch has been passed to a new generation. I challenge you young who want to change the world to volunteer. Find something that interest you and use it to serve your country. My generation stopped a war with violence and anger that further divided the country. Anarchy is self defeating because it gives strength for the need for stronger government.
Your generation stopped a war by electing a President who calls us to work together. It is time for that Yankee Doodle American spirit we can do it that has made this the greatest country. Inventors in every basement and every garage in America I call on you to strike it rich the way Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell did. Because you live in America at this great moment the world is you oyster.
For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know. These words come from the tombstone of a fallen hero.

The torch has been passed

Kennedy opened his ignoraration speech with the words, "The torch has been passed to a new generation" and that describes the election of Barack H Obama. This election produced more new voters than any I can remember. The slogan of change to them was more than just a slogan. With over seven million popular votes and over two thirds of the electoral votes America has certainly handed this president a mandate. For those who thought that it was the economy that got Obama elected let me point out that four states that elected Democrat Senators voted for McCain and Senators in eleven states who voted for President Elect Obama got from 1% in Illinois 12% more votes in Virgina than Obama. Though the McCain campaign challenged Obama's readiness to lead, personal character and judgment he was chosen by the people to have the vision America wants for the world. Dim is the torch that brandished unbridled power and bright the torch of Diplomacy. Both our friend and foes alike welcomes this era of reason. The entire world awaits America as one again the leader not the divider of the world.

Ano John McCain Open Letter t

I too am a Vietnam Veteran and I like more than 50 million Americans watched your heroic story and how you came to be the man you are today. There is no question of your courage under fire nor your unbelievable endurance. I watched with awe when you told of how in spite of knowing that you would be beaten you still would not sacrifice your Honor by being released ahead of others who had been there longer. Most of those who have never served under fire do not understand the need for Honor in our fighting forces. Honor is the glue that binds us one to another that makes us look out for each other. Without a Code of Honor it would be everyone for themselves. Without Honor our military would fall into anarchy. When one member violates the Military Code of Conduct we all suffer. That is why the code says that prisoners must be released in the same order as captured.

I cried when you told of being broken by the brutal beating. And when you told of how the prisoner in the next cell forgave you and said that no one of us can do it alone. And like 50 million other Americans forgave you too. It must have been an awful beating to get you to violate that same Code of Honor you took the beating for. But I did not hear you admit that you signed a confession saying that we, our troops were “black criminals” and targeted civilians. The same Code of Honor makes it wrong to take an early release also forbids us from signing anything against America and our fighting troops.

We all know that the Vietnam war was not lost on the battlefields and bases of Vietnam but in the streets of America. How many new recruits do you think joined William Ayers' Weather Underground when the news reported that a Naval Pilot, the son of the Admiral in charge of the entire SEA fleets said that we targeted schools and hospital? While 8,000,000 of us came home to the scorn of disdain of the nation in part because of you. Did you ever ask yourself if you should apologize to those of us who felt pain of your dishonorable act? While You came home as a hero the bus the rest of us came home to cries of “Murders”. When I arrived from 18 months fighting for my country hundreds of angry communist lead protesters rushed our bus. I tried to convince my wife returning home with me that they were just glad we are home. But even Hien, whose english was poor knew what FU and the middle finger meant.

Without Honor our military will deteriorate and victory will elude us. There is no one promise that we make when we swear to death before dishonor more important than another. How can You expect our brave troops to follow you into battle knowing that when it came to where the rubber hit the road you traded honor for life. The Code of Honor begins with, “I am an American fighting man I am prepared to give my life for my country”. Many have called me cruel for even bring this up. They say you deserve our honor for what You went through. You and I know that honor is doing the right thing for the right reason regardless of personal pain.

Your friend was not totally right when he said that no one could stand alone because there is a time when s/he has listened to the generals, admirals and advisors the Commander in Chief must stand alone.

What God wants of me

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

If you read the Kings You will see a pattern as you read the deeds from one king to the next. Israel forgets about God under one king then when the next king comes and the Book of the Law is found. They had forgotten the law that was given to them by Moses, the "Ten Commandments." They were not evil, no they abide by the laws of those derived from the law given to them not by Moses but by the kings. They had the rituals down pat, the symbols themselves but instead of a guide became a stumbling block. The law is useless unless one observes the first two. God identifies himself as the only god or at least the supreme god. However he never commands them to worship Him. He does however in the second warns them not to bow down before a graven image. But put also commands them not to make images of Him. God said, "Do not try to define me or put me in a box.". The next eight are ways to live in peace with our neighbors. Without the the first two the rest become an empty ritual .

Since God is love all the laws are based on love. Jesus said that all the laws are based on love. First God gives us that which is and commands us to spread it around. Following the laws chapter and verse becomes a the way of life. It is that love that is missing from the ritual. The Hebrew people had the rituals down right, they gave sacrifices and used the right incense . They did not kill nor steal. Not at least where it can be seen. Some sacrificed their kids trying please God. They danced around a sent platitudes of praise to God asking God for mercy, believing that God would visit them if praised in the correct manner. Society found easy to over looking the the first and second, create a ritual. The logical conclusion then that devout observer of the law those one might call fanatical. Making sure others kept the laws made by man under pain of death.

God did not want the sacrifices that they made in their lives just to please a God of Love, that loves us already. He just wants us to be humble. Be human be who you are what God created us to do. We can love God with all the love given to them. They had the letter of the law but had missed more important things like mercy, justice and understanding. The the law not to kill was changed to murder to justify the fact sometimes they sanction killing. We see it today it is OK to kill, in war, state executions , abortion doctors, other religions. The law without love is hollow but with love we do not kill because it is God's domain. Love therefore constrains us to obey the law not out of fear but out of a decision to do the right thing for the right reason, do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before God.

John McCain: The Manchurian Candidate

John McCain: The Manchurian Candidate

Testimonials

Testimonials

election08

Everybody is looking at the map, blue states red states who will win. The biggest problem with the map is that it is out dated. It does not take into account America's discuss with the Republican party and anyone connected to it. It is kind of scary if you think about it. We have seen what happens when one party dominates both the executive branch and the legislative branch not to mention the Supreme Court. Republicans believed that since Congress's approval rating is almost as low as the Presidents that it meant that the 2004 Democrats wins were a fluke. Some even thought the disapproval rating was aimed at Democrats because they did not stop the war in Iraq and now that the surge was working the issue of Iraq was mute. We though a lot of things until we saw the dominoes falling. Illinois, Indiana and Mississippi seats in Congress that Republicans have lost. Even though they spent millions of dollars in Mississippi tying the Democrat candidate to Senator Obama they still lost. The RNC has finally seen the hand writing on the wall. Those who hope to stay in office had better distance themselves from Bush. So instead of presenting a presidential candidate that was the same as Bush only better they made a 180 and began to emphasize his differences from the present administration. So instead of making him conservative enough for Republicans now they want to look liberal enough for Democrats. He came out for such Democrats issues as, global warming, health care, lobbying, ethic reforms, veterans care and human dignity all of which he has continually voted against. He claims to be different from Bush on such issues as Iraq, immigration, homeland security and the economy but again his voting record does not show that. In act he has always voted for everything asked for by Bush. The new image was exposed as just an image not by Democrats but by McCain himself when he publicly agreed with Bush's statements in Israel comparing Senator Obama to those who tried to appease Hitler.
I participate in three political forums online, one politically very much to the right, one moderate and the other more or less evenly mixed. I tried to find a liberal one but could not find one way way to the left. I am a conservative and all three forums have a liberal voice but nothing I would call that far to the left. I would not participate in a communist sponsored forum anymore than I would a racist one. The three I have chosen offer a wide representation of though. Three months ago when I called President Bush a traitor I got the raspberry salute on all three. The ultra conservative group of course gave me the most. I got hate mail when I suggested that McCain made anti American tapes for North Vietnam. Even the middle of the road participants rebuked for saying such things about a war hero. But yesterday when I posted the following statement on all three bulletin boards I even got four thumbs on the, get this, most anti Obama anti anything Democrat die hard Republicans.

John McCain by his own admission cracked under the pressure of torture and made anti American statements for the North Vietnamese. Do you really want a man at the helm of the Ship of State who cracks under pressure.

I also participate in a veterans only group who are 86% for Senator Obama. We will not forget that McCain broke his code of honor and made anti American statements giving fuel to the communist cause. It is called giving aid and comfort to the enemy and it is a court martial offence. Like most Americans I forgive him, it must have been terrible but I can not forgot that he choose dishonor over pain when he swore to a code of death before dishonor.

Al Jazeera English - News - Guantanamo Eclipses Other Us Abuses

Al Jazeera English - News - Guantanamo Eclipses Other Us Abuses

Election 2008

I have been writing a philosophy blog and did not want to take a position on this election year because it is more a satirical look at government and religion in general. Just because you are paranoid dose not mean that no one is after you. I can neither embrace nor deny the conspiracy theory that claims that the corporations are trying to form a one world government. Both the Clinton and Bush administrations talked about a new world order. It could be that they called Obama inexperienced because he is not in on it? I do not believe that there is anyone in the government who is responsible for 911 but I do believe politicians us tragedies to gain power. GWB used 911 as a pretext for invading Iraq moving the emphasis of the war on terror away from where those who attacked us are hiding and training others. What has this to do with this election? Everything. The greatest question we face is whether or not we will continue the failed policies of the traitor George W Bush? I make no secret of my destine for him though I have been called called a traitor and a coward for talking about the Commander in Chief. To those I say I fought for freedom and democracy. By right of the first amendment I can say anything I want hold any political position I choose. Even the 17% who still follow the would be dictator GWB have that right. In ninth grade civics class I learned "The American Creed". Though I do not agree with what you believe I will defend with my life your right to believe it. He has violated the constitution he swore to up hold, the Geneva Convention of which we are signers, the UN Charter of which we are coauthors and all the laws of human decency. George W. Bush is a war criminal on the par with of Saddam Hussein. If the Democrats had the majority of congress the Republicans held during the Clinton Dynasty he would have been impeached. Making "Shotgun Cheney" president to the worlds chagrin, president. I could go on but any intelligent person can see the results of his policies. By his own words, "The Constitution is just a damn piece of paper. "
In the beginning when I heard of Obama, long before the Clintons played the race card and the fear card he was inspiring a new generation of voters living in San Francisco. I spoke to a lot I mean an awful lot of young people voting for the first time charged up for him, asking donations of five or ten dollars for his campaign. Still I saw him as just another politician saying what the country wants to hear, capitalizing on the 06 mandate by the majority of the country, those who Bush says opinions do not matter, and run as an anti war candidate. Then when he had that sweep after the Iowa primary I took another look at him. I noticed that Democrat registration is up everywhere is a primary. I began to look him up on the net. He has had an impressive life. I read his first book where he talked openly about things Bush would classify as none of your business. He, I began to see is a man of integrity and American values, not the values of the Bush Dynasty, but those Yankee values that makes me proud to have served my country. I saw a man who wanted to be president not because of personal Ambition to make America better. Those who think there is no room for improvement have never read or understood the Constitution of the United States of America. Obama is a man who defines himself not by his race but by the character of his own convictions. I can say this for John McCain and I respect him for it, he denounced efforts to brand Obama as as racist or a Muslim. The Clinton camp has yet to do that, no in fact they have played up the slander that began with a white supremacist website............

Stop and smell the Urine

Roy has no politics that might account for his nonviolent attitude. He has no allegiance to any particular party or ideology. In fact what he cares about most is getting food and loving. He has always been fed three times a day. Because the food is there he has no fear of starving. He can be swayed by a dog biscuit. He has never been treated violently. So all those things that we worry so much about is nothing to a lovable brown lab. We though are in the middle of an election year. Three of America's finest politicians are running for the highest office in the land arguably the most powerful in the western world. There are some who say there is no difference I disagree. The last administration has shown us what happens we let one party have the advantage. More of the people's needs are taken care when we have a balance of power like in the Clinton years. Everybody I have talked to who are voting for HRC points to that era giving her the credit. I say if she takes credit for Bill's successes she must share the blame for his blunders. NAFTA has some potential but Bill gave away the whole farm or should I say manufacturing industry. We need to renegotiate a better deal for the American people. Now Democrats are saying they are against NAFTA and the Republicans are cautioning us not to abandon it.