Senator Obama, your words;

“ Your organizing, your activism and your passion is an important reason why this bill is better than previous versions. No tool has been more important in focusing peoples' attention on the abuses of executive power in this Administration than the active and sustained engagement of American citizens. That holds true -- not just on wiretapping, but on a range of issues where Washington has let the American people down.
 
I learned long ago, when working as an organizer on the South Side of Chicago, that when citizens join their voices together, they can hold their leaders accountable. I'm not exempt from that. I'm certainly not perfect, and expect to be held accountable too. I cannot promise to agree with you on every issue. But I do promise to listen to your concerns, take them seriously, and seek to earn your ongoing support to change the country. That is why we have built the largest grassroots campaign in the history of presidential politics, and that is the kind of White House that I intend to run as President of the United States -- a White House that takes the Constitution seriously, conducts the peoples' business out in the open, welcomes and listens to dissenting views, and asks you to play your part in shaping our country’s destiny. 

After all, the choice in this election could not be clearer. Whether it is the economy, foreign policy, or the Supreme Court, my opponent has embraced the failed course of the last eight years, while I want to take this country in a new direction. Make no mistake: if John McCain is elected, the fundamental direction of this country that we love will not change. But if we come together, we have an historic opportunity to chart a new course, a better course.

Senator Obama, you fail to see the real problem with your decision to vote for the FISA bill over what the ‘people’ want.
 
It’s not so much about what the bill will or will not do, while that is very important, what’s more important is your (and Dr King's), “the fierce urgency of now”, the American people need to feel like they are finally being listened to.
     
You just told them, while very eloquently I might add, why you disagree and thanks but I’m voting the way ‘I’ think is best.  In other words, you’ve just told us that ‘you’ will be our next “Decider” – not the American people!

Senator Obama, President Bush, his administration and the Republican Party have snubbed their noses at American’s for the past 8 years, now your are doing it again.
 
President Bush, like you, said that we American’s needed to hold our leaders accountable.  Bush, like you, said he loved hearing dissenting views and seeing demonstrations in the streets of America, after all, that’s what Democracy’s all about he said.

Dissent all you want folks; but I’m the Decider!

To repeat Senator, your words, “No tool has been more important in focusing peoples' attention on the abuses of executive power in this Administration than the active and sustained engagement of American citizens……. if we come together, we have an historic opportunity to chart a new course, a better course.”
 
Senator, why should American’s stay “engaged” if their wishes are consistently ignored?  Why should they “come together to chart a new course” if that course will be 'decided' – by just President Bush or a new, President Obama?

You are right Senator, our goals this election or more alike than apart, however sir, on this issue -- you are wrong.

Three strikes you’re off the air or out of the news for seven days or more.

That should be the new rule for all those in the media business, including political pundits.  Whenever they report something that ends up being false information or pass along rumors without facts to back them up.

The FEC should force the ‘television or radio show, magazine or newspaper’ that made the mistake, to be taken off the air or out of print for at least seven days or a month depending the type of media, whenever they pass along bad information.

How many times have we been given information from so-called experts in the news, only to be told later it wasn’t true or completely true?

Enough already!

If we wrote or said something that wasn’t true about someone, that person could sue us.  The media it seems is getting blanket immunity for doing just that. 

It all started, it seems, with the Clinton administration.  Lies and rumors were repeated constantly on the news.  Along came the Bush administration and the media completely ignored their jobs and allow the administration to take us to unprovoked war in Iraq.  It doesn’t matter that American’s at the time supported President Bush.  What matters is, the media and press report the ‘facts’ – they failed to do this.

To this day they continue to report rumors.  They don’t bother getting two or more sources before reporting a story. 

The story about Barack Obama turning down an offer from a kid to hand bump is a pure example.  The story that Obama doesn’t put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance was also ignored and allowed to spread. 

These stories, while minor in content, can actually hurt the candidate.

Just this week I watched a video on CSPAN of Peter Hart (pollster) interviewing a voter's focus group of the general public on all the presidential candidates and the issues of today.  There were three men that actually believed Barack Obama refused to put his hand over his heart during the Pledge.  They also believed Obama was a Muslim.  The pollster didn’t bother correcting the men’s views.

Now if the media were doing their jobs, and I mean all of them, including your local stations and newspapers, Americans’ would know the above three accusations were false. 

It took almost a full day for the story about the fist bump to be debunked.  By that time of course, I’m sure another thousand people turned against Obama, politically, for being so rude to that child – missing the stories that it was a false report.

Three strikes you are out for at least 7 days or a month depending on what kind of media your work in – period.

Without having to face consequences, how else will they learn to ‘trust but verify’ their stories?

One way for Barack Obama and the Democratic Party to help save American’s money for their health care, is by making sure that each city has at least one prompt care clinic for patients to go to, for non-major emergency health issues like kids ear aches, rashes, chest colds, sinus infections, cuts, broken fingers or toes, etc…

I’m not sure how it can be forced, but perhaps the Federal government can mandate that States provide such clinics, one per so many thousand residents in each city – if they want to continue receiving federal dollars for Medicare? 

Preferably, one would hope that each hospital in each city would be willing to provide such a clinic(s) – perhaps if they are given something in return?

Larger cities have them.  They give a patient a place to go to when they can’t get in to see their own doctor.  These clinics are open 24/7.  They can save the patient time because they won’t have to take time off from work to get examined, unless the problem is during work hours of course.   It saves the patient money because it’s not as costly as taking up time at an emergency center where major illnesses and injuries are handled.

By cutting the amount of patients going to ER every day, American’s as a whole save money.  As do insurance companies.  As do hospitals. 

Insurance companies are no longer paying the expensive dollars to take care of minor cases in ER, so the cost of insurance will drop too.

These clinics could either have a doctor or a physician’s assistance in charge.  As an incentive for a person to work in one of these clinics, perhaps they could be given a discount in their own insurance or perhaps they could be given extra tax breaks.

I truly believe that providing these clinics (even without doing anything else) could indeed help lower the costs of health care across the nation.

Where did Governor Mike Huckabee go?  Governor Mitt Romney was appearing every once in awhile in the media; but now we're seeing New York's previous mayor, Rudy Guiliani out on the campaign trail instead of Huckabee and Romney. 

Now there's a rumor the Romney may be McCain's VP nominee.

What's McCain doing, testing the waters?  Is he sending out each man to see which one does the best to combat the issues and media's grilling questions?

I sure would be curious as to how Americans, not just Republican's, feel about each of these men being Senator John McCain's running mate.  Anybody seen any polling done on them?

I for one think American's, not just Republicans, would probably like either Governor Mike Huckabee or Mayor Guiliani the best.  They are, in my opinion, the most likeable and down to earth speaking candidates.  They're both very intelligent and have their own flaws; but who in America doesn't?

John McCain has very little money to spend introducing a VP candidate or trying to do any damage control before November, so he will need to pick someone that American's already know and feel 'safe' with.  Who is that?  Mayor Rudy Guiliani of course.  He's America's Mayor.  He was there when American's needed a shoulder during the aftermath of 9/11. 

There's probably not one voter out there that doesn't know wo Rudy is.  His history is also well known.  Yet American's still leaned toward him when they feared the worse.

I may be entirely wrong; but I'm predicting that John McCain's VP nominee will be Rudy Guiliani. 

Would I vote for John McCain if he nominated Rudy?  Nope. 

Would I have voted for Rudy if he were the presidential nominee?  Nope. 

However, many American's would - that's the point.

Taking bets....?

For months we’ve heard political pundits and the media complain that Senator Barack Obama, the ‘change’ candidate, was all ‘talk’ and no action.  He’s just a good speech maker, they said.  They complained that Obama never gave the ‘meat and potatoes’ of just what his ‘change’ candidacy, really meant.

After finally giving us some of those details of what his administration would look like (faith czar, more military, poverty czar, energy, asking for more volunteerism from American’s, etc..),  political pundits are now labeling Senator Barack Obama, the ‘typical politician’.

For months we heard political pundits saying Barack Obama needs to show he’s not just the 'typical politician' by standing against his own Party on some issue; but after announcing that he, Obama, has decided to vote for the FISA compromise bill, because it requires the courts to again be in charge of oversight (his number one desired result), pundits and the media are accusing Obama of ‘shifting’ to the middle – he’s risking the loss of his ‘change’ candidacy, they say.

Senator John McCain attacked Barack Obama awhile back for not going to Iraq often enough, even to the point of offering to travel there with him to see that the ‘surge’, has worked.
 
Now that Obama has announced his plans for traveling abroad this summer, including Iraq (he’s been there before), John McCain claims Obama’s doing it just for political reasons.

It seems that no matter what Barack Obama does, he’s dammed if he does and he’s dammed if he doesn’t.

As for shifting to the middle, how can someone ‘shift’ their views, when they have never, reportedly, been known – if we are to believe the pundits?

Here’s another theory to consider. 

The Bush administration and the oil executives have been working together to put in place in the minds of American’s this year, the ‘fear’ of having to pay extremely high gas prices (which has a trickle down effect on the economy), they’re doing this to eventually have a ‘reason’, with the American’s backing it, to start a war with Iran.

I just read the following story on; you guessed it, Fox news:

The U.S. Navy and its Gulf allies will not allow Iran to seal off the strategic Strait of Hormuz if the country is attacked, the commander of U.S. naval forces in the Gulf said Wednesday.

The warning comes as Iran's oil minister vows that any attack on his country by the United States or Israel would provoke an unimaginably fierce response.

The announcement by Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, commander of the 5th Fleet, came as he was holding talks with naval commanders of Gulf countries at a conference in the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi. The one-day meeting was to focus on the region's maritime and trade-route security and the threat of terrorism.

The 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain, across the Gulf from Iran. Cosgriff said that if Iran choked off the Strait of Hormuz, it would be "saying to the world that 40 percent of oil is now held hostage by a single country."

"We will not allow Iran to close it," he told reporters….
Cosgriff said that if Iran moved to choke off Hormuz, the "international community would find its voice rapidly" against Iran…

Earlier this week, Cosgriff said in Bahrain that such an Iranian move would be viewed as an act of war.

They start it all by putting the squeeze on gas prices this past spring and summer.  Forcing the economy slow down, putting millions of American’s in financial jeopardy with the cost of high gas prices, food prices, traveling, etc...

Would you go to war with Iran if gas prices were still $2.50 per gallon?  Neither would I.  But if I’m told prices could jump to more than $10 per gallon (as some have predicted) – I might be more inclined to ‘fight’ for more oil.

Opinions?  Am I reaching?

Barack Obama said during a debate and a speech in August of 2007,  the following about Pakistan:

"Let me make this clear: There are terrorists holed up in those mountains, that murdered 3,000 Americans," said Obama during the counterterrorism address.
 
"If we have actionable intelligence about high-valued terrorist targets and if President Musharraf will not act, we will."

Other candidates during the primaries, including  Hillary Clinton and John McCain, tried to make hay over those comments back then, remember?

John McCain:

"Will we risk the confused leadership of an inexperienced candidate who once suggested bombing our ally, Pakistan?" asked the Arizona senator.

McCain later reiterated his criticism.

The next day, he said, “You make plans and you work with the other country that is your ally and friend, which Pakistan is.  You don’t broadcast and say that you’re going to bomb a country without their permission.”

Well, it appears that our nation already had ‘permission’ to use drones and missiles in Pakistan – way back when the war first started.

The United States has a standing agreement with Pakistan that CIA -operated Predator drones may strike Osama bin Laden’s hide-out without prior permission from Islamabad, according to people familiar with the arrangement.

One source said the free hand - an exception in a country politically sensitive to U.S. counterterrorism operations - was granted by President Pervez Musharraf early in the war if the U.S. locates bin Laden in Pakistan's rugged tribal areas, where he is thought to be hiding.

Senator Joe Biden pointed this agreement out during one of the Democratic Debates, remember?

If a junior Senior from Illinois (Obama) knew this, it makes you wonder if Senator John McCain, a member of the Senate Arms Services Committee,  is paying attention to his own governments agreements with foreign nations.

Once again Senator John McCain says he didn't LOVE America until he was a POW.  This implies that while serving in the military, before being caught, he did not LOVE America.   He first made this statement in his book he wrote about his experiences.

Did you read anything about today's statement in the news today?  NOPE!

ABCNEWS today: "I kind of reacted the way I did because I have a reluctance to talk about my experiences," he said, noting that he has huge admiration for the "heroes" who served with him in the POW camp and said the experience taught him to love the U.S. because he missed it so much.

The news pundits and republicans keep talking about Michelle Obama's comment, about it being the first time she's loved America during one of hundreds of speeches - they're not willing to give her the benefit of the doubt as Laura Bush has.

Isn't it strange that these same people IGNORE what John McCain, the actual candidate, says about the America he wants to be President of?  McCain didn't love America for many years, even though he was serving in her military and got captured?

Wow - what a statement.

I can't wait to see the questions asked of McCain during a debate - Did you love America before you became a POW?  And do you think being a POW qualifies you to be our President?

While what Keith Olberman and John Dean said about this bill may be 100% true; I sincerely hope that Barack Obama will reconsider his thoughts about voting for it.

A short letter to Obama:

Senator,

You've ran your whole campaign telling voters that unlike the Bush administration, you would actually 'listen' to 'us' the 'Americans' when it came to being President and making your decisions.

Well Senator, now would be a good time to prove that.

It's been reported that there are many Americans pleading with you on your site to reverse your thoughts on the FISA bill.  Exactly what will it take for you to 'listen' to them?

I haven't got a clue if the telecom companies have committed crimes; but I do know that nobody should be above the law.  While perhaps adding words to the effect that the fact that their government 'asked' them to commit those crimes, should be included; they should not be given complete immunity.  Never.

Now sir - begin doing what you said you would.  Show Americans that you a man of you word.  Do not vote for the VISA bill.  It is bad for America.

General Wesley Clark was right about McCain's service not being a qualification for the office of the presidency.  Senator Barack Obama (my candidate) was wrong to denounce the general's comment.

Dem's need to stop backing away from comments, especially if they are true - when it comes to the military or our defense.

All the General said was, saying McCain is MORE qualified to be PRESIDENT simply BECAUSE he got knocked out of the sky by the enemy is like saying any fireman that goes into a burning home is also qualified to be Pres, or that any soldier that has seen combat is qualified to run our nation.

If you are going to nickpic words - then one COULD say that McCain is LESS qualified to be Pres because he DID get knocked out of the sky (flew badly) and he got caught and he ended up confessing to the enemy.

All true but sounds bad so people don't say those words.

The General is right about this race being about JUDGEMENT - not about someone's combat experience or lack there of.

I'm sure Obama is probably sorry he was so quick to respond in the manner that he did.  General Clark is not somebody that takes lightly a man's military service.  He would never degrade a person like the media are saying he did. 

The General could have attacked Obama back when being interviewed about it again last night; but he didn't.  Instead, he stood "by his man" (Obama for President).  I praise the General for that.

It would be nice if Senator Obama could make a statement about the General, something more personable, to point out that HE TOO is an American hero that has worked tirelessly to help his fellow soldiers -- that Obama knows the General didn't mean anything 'personal' toward McCain with his statement.  He was speaking on terms of qualifications to be President.

Anybody got some extra cash they’d like to invest?  I’m thinking of a good idea for a new sitcom on television.  “Jack (?) and Jill (?) Go to Congress”.

I do not claim to be a writer.  Heck, I’m not even a good blogger;  but I’m betting somebody that is a good comedy writer, could come up with some pretty darn funny stories about Jack (?) and Jill’s (?) daily lives in Congress. 

I’m also betting it could also be a show that could educate viewers on the way Congress works both on the floor of the House and Senate, as well as behind the scenes.


I’m sure each and every Congressmen, being anonymous, would have a story to tell that was a bit funny or perhaps serious that could ‘be converted’ to be funny but educational.

I was watching CSPAN the other night where two congressmen were debating as though they were standing before a crowd of viewers, only to find out when the cameras scanned the whole room, that they were the only ones in the room with hundreds of empty chairs. 

It made me imagine a sketch showing one man or woman – debating themselves; They would make a comment at one podium then run quickly over to the other to respond to what they had just said.  One person yelling at themselves only to up praising the other (same person).

I could see funny sketches showing congressmen negotiating with one another to get a bill passed.

Anybody have a friend with a famous producer?  Let’s make some money.