Some Republicans Gambled Your Money...

Yesterday's financial bailout vote failed. I can certainly understand why some were reluctant to pass it. Every Representative is up for re-election in November. They all were flooded with phone calls and letters and emails telling them how the people back at home feel about it. But, the weird thing is that some Republicans said they were all ready to pass it until Nancy Pelosi, the Leader of the House, spoke. They claimed it changed their vote! Please take the time (16 minutes) to watch and hear the vote that cost you gobs of money. I've posted it to the right. Those Republicans who said they changed their vote because of this should be VOTED OUT OF OFFICE!

The Debate: A Contrast between Past and Future

I must admit that last night's debate kind of surprised me! After it was over, I turned the television off, not wanting to hear the pundants tell me what I just watched. This morning, I feel GREAT!

Both men represented their stance perfectly. I am happy that America finally got to see the differences between the two. I am even more confident than ever that those who want more of the same will vote for John McCain, while those who want change will vote for Barack Obama.

I've read where churches in 20 states will preach tomorrow telling their people to vote for John McCain. They believe that by disobeying the law in large numbers, they will be protected from the IRS taking away their tax exempt status for bringing politics into their churches. I'm hoping that people will walk out when their preachers tell them who to vote for. It is insulting. What do they know that you yourself can't figure out on your own? NOTHING! And, believe me when I say that if the preachers were telling everyone to vote for Obama, I'd feel the same way--Thanks, but no thanks! Anyone who votes a certain way because someone told them to, has no business voting at all. Your choice for President should reflect your personal aspirations for our country.

This is the 21st century. Let's get on with it.

What a great meeting!

Yesterday evening, The Brown County Democratic Party held its monthly meeting. Our guest speaker was Susy Flores, President of the local chapter of LULAC. Ms. Flores spoke as a citizen and not as a representative of LULAC. She was wonderful! She voiced all the concerns that each of us share about our nation's future. We all agreed that Senator Barack Obama and Senator Joe Biden are best suited to lead our country back on track.

There is a tremendous interest in this election. So many people came to our meeting that once again, it was standing room only. Friends from all over the county attended. It was a wonderful experience.

Starting October 1, our headquarters will be open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Please come in for a visit. Campaign materials will be available.

Long time no see, my friend...

I'm sure Senator McCain is hearing that on the floor of the Senate (if he actually finally got on his plane and headed toward the eye of the storm). It's been since April 6 that he has been at his post.

I'm wondering if he called a staff meeting on his Fast Talk Express bus, to get a consensus of all the lobbyists working on his campaign on what they would do, since all of them are partly responsible for getting us into this mess.

I guess John McCain doesn't realize that presidential debates have historically gone on through wars and all manner of crisis. I can't understand how he has come up with the idea that his "leadership" is required this late in the process. Nothing has changed since the crisis was first reported, except that McCain's poll numbers are dropping like a lead balloon.

Sorry, no can do...

Democrats, if I ran the world, I would not bail out the moguls who historically privatize profits and socialize losses. Bernie Sanders, the lone Independent in the Senate recommends that instead of throwing all these billions and billions of dollars to save these reckless companies, we should tax incomes of the rich. He recommends that for couples "earning" $1 million per year or singles making $500k should be taxed 10% for the next ten years. His plan would solve it all.

I ask you, where were these greed-mongers when it comes to stepping up to the plate to keeping jobs here in America? In pricing middle and low income people out of a college education? When it comes to paying females the same wage paid to males for the same work? When increasing minimum wage? When making it damn well impossible to unionize in the workplace? When it comes to affordable health care? I'll tell you where! They were out yaughting, or jet-setting to some fancy place that most of us will maybe only see on television, or yuking it up at their cocktail parties. I'll tell you where they weren't -- not in our corner!Why should we pay one thin dime to help them?

What if the people turned off FOX News...

I turned on FOX News yesterday just to see what they had to say about the financial collapse on Wall Street. Guess what I learned: Debra Winger and Richard Gere may get back together again for a movie; O.J. Simpson is on trial once again...Then a John McCain commerical came on. It showed a dark black Barack Obama looking fierce. In the background was John McCain's voice warning me that this black man had the audacity of calling a white woman "Sweetie." OH MY GOD!!! I was so AFRAID!!! NOT!!!

If you ask around Brownwood who people plan to vote for, the answer is McCain. If you ask why, you are reminded that Barack Obama is a muslim. Words have not been invented that you could say to make these people understand that he is NOT a muslim. If you ask what they like about John McCain, they don't know.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, FOX should be required to have a permanent warning running on the bottom of the screen that says: WARNING: FOX News makes you STUPID.

I’m Crying for My Country Today

Here it is, September 11; seven years ago 3,000 of our countrymen were murdered practically before our very eyes. It was a day that changed everything…for a while.

I’m crying today, not just for the stupendous loss of innocent life of my people on that day. I’m remembering the silent thanks to God we gave for our loved ones, and neighbors, and all our countrymen. It caused us to pause and take stock of our lives.

It was one of those rare times in history when great suffering brings with it the opportunity for great blessings.

Today, I watch on television, people gather at ground-zero in New York and on the mall in Washington to give remembrance to their brothers and sisters who died then. I turned my television off. I don’t want to risk hearing the blasphemy of people chosen as our leaders steal the focus from our loss and use it as rationale and fodder for vengeance.

Our country has made some bad turns these seven years. I don’t really blame the people. For the most part, we are honest. But, we are lying to ourselves about who we are now as Americans. We have lost our way. The tragedy of 9-11 has spawned an evil War on Terror that is based on half-truths and lies. If the lies were dollar bills stacked one on top of the other, they would soar far past the tops of the Twin Towers. Until we come to grips with them and examine where they have taken us, nothing will change.

There is another day that stands out for the world, March 7, 2003. We know it as Shock and Awe. Since that day, hundreds of thousands of innocent people have been killed, with our blessing, in retaliation of the 3,000 killed here. How does that happen? It happens when good people make bad choices. It happens when we put our faith in people we trusted with our votes to lead our country, the country that is in our mind’s eye, the one that is the beacon of hope to the world of how life can be.

Yesterday was a prime example of how far we have fallen. The fake outrage word of the day was lipstick.

If we choose our leader by how he brings us all together, we won’t go wrong. If we are honest with ourselves, Barack Obama will be our next president.

What's Wrong With this Picture?

I saw Joyce Kaufman, WFTL-AM right-wing radio host being interviewed this morning on C-SPAN. She was in D.C. for the yearly gathering of hate radio conservative talk show celebraties. California’s Roger Wedgeworth, famous for his extreme distaste for all things democratic, is the instigator. Greta, the C-SPAN host, asked Kaufman if the group was here to have a protest. The woman said, “Oh no. We’re going onto the floor to lobby Congress.”

During the political conventions these past two weeks, peaceful war protesters from all over the country were herded into fenced cage-like areas far away from the convention goers. Black-clad police, reminiscent of Nazi Germany, kept the people at bay with threats of tear-gas and arrest.

I can’t help but see the irony of these two items. In America today, peaceful assembly is pushed to the side and treated like anarchy while people who make their living stirring strife between families are greeted with open arms onto the floor of the people's House of Representatives.

Where's Sarah?

The Repubican Party has decided to keep Sarah Palin under wraps until "it is in our interest to bring her out," according to party operatives. They say she is uncomfortable doing interviews with the media that she feels have mistreated her.

I say, Ms. Barracudda, you'd better grow yourself a tough hide PDQ. In two months, you are asking the American people to make you their Vice President. We need to hear you in your own words. You did a great job delivering that acceptance speech written even before you were a gleam in John McCain's eye. But, we already know what Mike Skulley wrote for your mouth to provide red meat to the party faithful.

Hope to hear from you soon. The clock is rapidly running down.

Just say NO!

I just got home from spending a boat-load of money at the Brownwood, Texas Wal-Mart. While I shopped for the week, I left my car in their auto section for a new battery. As I exited the auto shop, I was overcome with a crushing headache. It was not a migraine, or a brain tumor, or even a painful sinus attack. No. It was a wall of hatred blaring from a tent in the parking lot. The source was the bloated, big-mouthed, voice of rural America’s favorite blow-hard—Rush Limbaugh. Yes. Hate radio is alive and well here in the heartland.

Since I had forced myself to watch gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Republican Convention this week, I was already filled with adrenalin. Hearing Mr. Oxycoten feeding my low-information brethren the right-wing daily talking points was overload. So I decided to do something about it.

The tent housed several pairs of gigantic speakers and a table covered with electronics. A man wearing mirrored sunglasses worked the booth. I asked him if the area is part of Wal-mart. He said, yes. I told him that I have a problem with Rush Limbaugh being blasted at a Wal-mart where I spend thousands upon thousands of dollars annually. “Oh, yeah?” he said incredulously. He removed his glasses in a manner meant to intimidate me. I said, “Yeah. Hate radio makes you stupid and that’s the last thing we need around here. I intend to complain to the Manager about it as soon as I get home.”

Please. The next time you walk into a store where you spend money or a public place that your taxes pay for, and FOX News or Hate radio is subliminally eating away the brains of our citizens, COMPLAIN!!! Let’s take back this country before it’s too late.

Pit Bull with Lipstick or Barracuda?

Last night at the GOP convention, the plan was to introduce to the Republican base, Sarah Palin, John McCain’s off-the-cuff running-mate selection. Her speech was to be preceded by a short movie introduction. Unfortunately, that 9-11 gas-bag, Rudy Giuliani, ran on too long and so the movie had to be shelved.

Anyone with access to a television, radio, or newspaper already knew some disturbing things about Mrs. Palin. It is the stuff that sit-coms are made that this particular woman was picked to be a heart-beat away from the presidency of the most powerful country in the world. It would be hilarious if it weren’t so perilous. Her speech had been written long before anyone knew the candidate would be a woman. It was a very harsh, masculine attack rant chock-full of vitriol and lies. Very talented Republican speech writers crafted it and retro-fitted it so that it would appear to be the thoughts of Sarah Palin. A surprise glimpse of her true nature peeked through. Her delight was genuine when she employed the most cynical, cruel, sarcastic affectation when delivering attacks on the Democratic candidates. Her slam at organizers was one that earned Barack Obama another most generous donation from me personally and I’m sure hundreds-of-thousands of others.

Her speech was wildly popular with the small, all-white, upper-middle class older “religious” audience. It will have no affect on those undecided voters. It is still the same old Bush/Chaney administration, but with different faces.

Sarah Palin boasts that her nickname is The Barracuda.

barracuda: one that uses aggressive, selfish, and sometimes unethical methods to obtain a goal