For the People

Hello all. Sorry I have been missing in action but I am back and have more and more opinions. In light of all the financial wows we are feeling now is time for Barack Obama to feel the pain of the ordinary man and woman. He has to reach the everyday Joe and Jane and identify with what is going on in their lives. Who better than a man with his background. The Dems have to stop McCain from trying to claim that he is everyman. I don't know an everyman who has to decide which of his or her 7 houses to sleep in tonight. Or which of their 13 cars they will be taking to work tomorrow. Come on Barack - it is time to hit McCain right between the eyes with some passion for what the working people of this country are going through. When he calls you an elitist hit back with his privileged live. Aside for the time in Vietnam; of which everyone commends his valor; the majority of his live has been a privileged one. Yours has been a hard fought one.

We all need that inspirational speech that will all get us going to the ends of the earth for you. Right now you are the man. Be just that; and ordinary man, not a politician, not an academic, not a preacher, but a regular guy who wants to lead us back to prosperity.

Dems have to be more demanding of Obama

In this interesting interview of Naomi Klein with Democracy Now the most telling statement was when she said "Obama needs less super fans and for the Democrats to make more demands of him"..... So true... Why aren't we questioning this Messiah - are we afraid he is human... Better to find out now then later
http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2008/7/15

Also read her article in the Nation titled "Obama's Chicago Boys"
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080630/klein

And let's not let the cover of the New Yorker hide the great article about Mr. Obama..http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/21/080721fa_fact_lizza

I am not saying that Democrats should not vote for Mr. Obama but let us realize he is human and will make mistakes..... Let us elect a president and not a god.....

Goodbye Tim.... God be with you...

There are some things that one definitely remembers in life, especially where you may have been when something surprising happens. My memories have just expanded. JFK's assignation, moon landing, John Lennon's killing, the Twin Towers, my own father's death and now Tim Russert. Maybe the reason is because, of course, they were all shocking events that you would never think would happen.
When I walked in yesterday (6-13-08) from walking my dog and saw a distraught Angela Mitchell on the TV explaining the sudden death of Tim Russert; my instant reaction was - it just can't be. Now, I like many others did not know him personally but felt he was a friend. Maybe because I am a first generation son of a hardworking immigrant. Like Big Russ my dad work hard all his life and never complained. I always wondered why - and I think it was because he just was happy and lucky to be in this great country. So I know and feel when Big Russ would say "What a country".
I also am a father of two. A beautiful girl, well young lady know, and a strapping boy. They, like Tim's Luke are the apples of my eye. Of course there is my lovely wife. Loyal to all my faults and a person who grounds me.
Maybe that is why I identify with Tim Russert. He is just like one of the guys that I hung around with and grew up with in my hometown of Trenton, NJ. A guy who no matter how successful he became was still one of the gang. I truly feel I lost a friend.
What will I do in honor of Tim. Well I will hug my children a little harder. Kiss my wife one more time. And visit my father's grave and tell him how much I love him. God be with you Tim....

What now? Can Dems unite? It's up to the supporters..

I really don't understand the people (Obama supporters) who say that Hillary should have dropped out months ago... 1) in a razor thin margin of a race for the highest office in the world - would Obama supporters ask him to drop out and be a quit er?? I would hope not...2) Ask yourself I you had maybe your only chance to run for president and it was a close race like this - would you quit and give up on something you want....(Ask Al Gore)...

Obama supporters have to get out of their minds they are the chosen. They have been fed to much propaganda about being the highly educated and well incomed of the two groups supporting the candidate. I call it being pompous asses.....

I think Hillary should not take anything from Obama... Via Ted Kennedy and Carter.... But good ole Ted (whom I admire) did not get 18million votes... It is not Obama but his snob supporter who think that Hillary should just go away - well it is the arrogance of Obama supporters that will alienate Hillary supporters away at election time. Maybe Hillary should just say good-bye with the 18 million and say to the supporters... Go get them on your own.... But in politics and enemy one day is an ally the next.

I am glad she never quit.. And I am sure Obama is glad she never quit...It may have toughen him up some... Cause God only knows he is in for a crucifixion from the GOP....

Obama supporters not Obama better come off their high horses and realize we all have to work at this together... Or else "Hail to President McCain"

Temper - Temper Barack

Gee did everyone see poor Barack get a little upset at some of the questions asked of him at the debate on Apr. 16th. Now when giving one of his sermons he claimed that the questions dealt with the past - ancient history in his mind. Well when you have no policy experience to fall back on, your past history does come in to play. In play that shows one's character.

As I have stated before - if he thinks that he is above it all and feels he can just blow off the past. Wake up.... The general election will be even worse. The GOP will even find out who cut your umbilical cord.

Toughen up if you want to be the people's candidate. And learn and admit that maybe in your past you did do some stupid things that hurt someone running for President. Jeremiah Wright is not forgotten......

Out of touch or inexperienced?

The recent gaffe by Mr. Obama about rural Pennsylvanians is either do to being out of touch or being inexperienced or a combination of both. I think it is both, and this leads me to wonder what the GOP will do to him if he continues with rookie statements.

Karl Rove is already salivating at the notion that Mr. Obama will be the candidate. Not to say that Mrs. Clinton wouldn't be a good target for Rove, but admittedly she has been tested and has that pit bull on her side; Bill.

Mr. Obama has not be tested in the national arena. By saying that this primary process is preparing him for the GOP onslaught is a fallacy. With the little attacks that his campaign has claimed the Clinton's have done will be nothing compared to what the GOP attack machine will do. He can't be a cry baby when attacked and always claim racism and/or he can't always make a shoot from the hip rebuttal without preparing. That is when he makes his rookie mistakes and give the opposition amo.

Well if he (Obama) is the candidate, I just hope he learns how to weather the storm. I feel that his preacher like persona has a thin skin because he has never had to handle attacks in a campaign. His last big opponent Alan Keyes was and is a light weight in that regard.

Maybe there are some things that Mr. Obama could learn from Mrs. Clinton - whether he wants to or not...... Toughness......

Another Free Ride for Obama

Once again the media is giving Obama a free ride in the guise of not being perceived as racists. Here is a man who has attended a church that has been the bully pulpit of a racist, Rev. Jerimiah Wright. Now the people who want you to believe that he is not a racist will say that Rev. Wright was only trying to promote black pride, now there is nothing wrong with that except when it is at the expense of other races, ethnic groups and religions. Rev. Wright could and should have promoted black pride in a positive way - not by damming America. Now for 20 long years Mr. Obama has been sitting in the church pew listening to all this talk. Although I have never been there I could bet that this wasn't the first time Rev.Wright has spew hatred in the name of pride. Mr. Obama did not want to throw this man under the bus because of his close father like relationship with him. So what if this man was really his father? Does that mean Mr. Obama can't distance himself from the man from the first time he said words of the nature he spewed. Mr. Obama wants it both ways.... When something is said of him in a critical way he cries racism.... When someone he knows spews racists remarks he cries pride..... Wow... in the old days this was called flip flopping. He needs to get a thick skin in order to take the critics remarks. What would he do if a foreign leader makes a critical remark about his leadership - cry racism or have Rev. Wright include the incident in his next sermon.

We need to find out who is this man Mr. Obama. We have to stop being afraid of being called racist if we question our leaders of their actions. That is right, if Mr. Obama wants to be our president - then he better be ready to answer all of the people questions, good or bad, supporter or not.

What's wrong with Bill being there?

I am really getting tired of all the pundits and even some of our illustrious elected officials saying that Bill Clinton in the White House again would be a terrible thing. Who wouldn't want him there to give occasional advise? Why should Hillary be penalized because she happens to be married to an ex-president? I guess we American's would rather that our president consult someone like Dicky Cheney then Bill Clinton. Just because Georgie W. was too stupid to go to daddy Bush for advise; sometimes daddy even tried to force his people on GW but he didn't want the help; why shouldn't Hillary go to Bill. Would Obama talk to the Mrs. - would McCain have chats with his Mrs.? I am sure they will - but are they a former president? NO.... Will they occasionally heed their advise? Maybe, maybe not. If Hillary were to ask her hubby for his opinion on something and maybe or maybe not takes that advise is that any different? Well no different just for the fact that he is her spouse, but much different in that he was a president.

Just think when foreign leaders try to pull a fast one on Hillary, even with knowing that she if a powerful and intelligent person in her own right, they would also know that she would have a person in the White House living quarters who has been there and done that. Again would it be any different if Obama was president and consulted with Bill Clinton on an issue or issues. I am sure that Mr. Obama would gladly take the advise of Bill Clinton given the chance. Heck I am even sure Mr. McCain would.

As Democrats I think we have to stop worrying if Hillary becomes president that Bill will always be tagging along. My gosh we should all know by now that Hillary (like Gore thought he was) IS her own woman. And Bill being as busy as he is will probably be giving speeches and seminars for his global cause. Let's stop being negative about Bill being in the White House. If I was given the reins of Microsoft - I would want Bill Gates there to advise me, if I were given the Trump empire I would want Donald the be there to advise me; so why, if I were elected President of the United States wouldn't I want an ex-successful president there to advise me. Haven't just about finished up with a boob who seeks advise from other boobs.... Would we want to risk that again.......

Is a third party needed?

As we get further and further into the election cycle we keep hearing the call for a third party. Is there really a need for a third party - and I mean a viable third party. Why hasn't a third party caught on in this country of democracy? Where we all have a say in how our government works; or at least think we do. If you were to google "third parties" there are plenty of them but none of them are taken seriously - why? Because in the past we have had some people involved with a third party run who seemed a short of cards in their deck. Some started off with good intentions and then fizzled. One must realize that a third party of any seriousness will take a while (a good 10-20 years) before it is taken seriously. The formers or candidates of potential third parties have to have the will and patience to grow their parties at local, county, state and national levels. I someone just starts a haphazard party for their own benefit then the seriousness is taken away.

That little millionaire for Texas, Ross Perot, was the first serious contender in a national race from a third party. Even after he started to go a little crazy he still had a strong following and garnered 20% of the popular vote. Imagine if he stayed sane in his mannerisms; we may have had at that time an election decided by the Congress. His so called Reform Party was on the move and signed up some very qualified field operatives. But after Mr. Perot's defeat they needed leadership - and he refused to lead. His lack of following thru with leadership just showed that he was in it for the ego trip and destroyed all hopes of a viable third party.

Same thing happened with Ralph Nader and the Green Party. His popularity and message drove a lot of progressives to the Green Party with hopes of making a difference. Like Perot if Nader had taken up the lead and got this Green Party going in the right direction we again could have had another viable third party. Like Perot all Nader wanted was a nationwide party he could use for his own purpose to get his name on the ballots. Just think if Perot and Nader had taken their respected parties seriously, we would have four viable parties.

As for being spoilers - SO WHAT..... Those running for office should always expect to be running as if they are behind. What is the difference if you have to run a campaign against one or three parties, the bottom line is that you have to compete for the precious privilege to represent the people. With more competition maybe candidates would take races more serious.

Give the people of the United States more choice. We are smart enough to study all the stances of the candidates. If you are disillusioned with your party and the other party - support and third party but be serious..... That is what we need ... Serious thinking in our party leaders....