OH-17 Conner to be in Canal Winchester

Bill Conner candidate for Congress in the 17th district in Ohio has a busy schedule this weekend. He will start out at the New Holland Windmill days on Friday the 1st, then to Cedarvile for Cedarfest on Saturday and Sunday, then he will be in the eastern leg of his district in Canal Winchester on Monday at the Canal Winchester Labor Day Parade which begins at 2pm.

Those of us in northern Fairfield County can take in a parade and support our candidate for congress, what a good way to spend labor day.

Words of a fascist.

Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the
bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them
they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of
patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in
any country."

Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering
April 18, 1946

Keith Olbermann's editorial

Rarely do I simply repost the words of others. However, Keith Olbermann's editorial on MSNBC was in my opinion so important and so to the truths facing our nation today, I am making an exception.

JoeR

The man who sees absolutes, where all other men see nuances and
shades of meaning, is either a prophet, or a quack. Donald S. Rumsfeld is not a prophet.

Mr. Rumsfeld’s remarkable comments to the Veterans of Foreign Wars
yesterday demand the deep analysis - and the sober contemplation - of every American. For they do not merely serve to impugn the morality or intelligence - indeed, the loyalty — of the majority of Americans who oppose the transient occupants of the highest offices in the land; Worse, still, they credit those same transient occupants – our
employees — with a total omniscience; a total omniscience which neither common sense, nor this administration’s track record at home or abroad, suggests they deserve.

Dissent and disagreement with government is the life’s blood of
human freedom; And not merely because it is the first roadblock against the kind of tyranny the men Mr. Rumsfeld likes to think of as "his" troops still fight, this very evening, in Iraq. It is also essential. Because just every once in awhile… it is right — and the power to which it speaks, is wrong.

In a small irony, however, Mr. Rumsfeld’s speechwriter was
adroit in invoking the memory of the appeasement of the Nazis.
For, in their time, there was another government faced with true
peril - with a growing evil - powerful and remorseless. That government, like Mr. Rumsfeld’s, had a monopoly on all the
facts. It, too, had the secret information. It alone had the true
picture of the threat. It too dismissed and insulted its critics in
terms like Mr. Rumsfeld’s - questioning their intellect and their
morality.

That government was England’s, in the 1930’s.

It knew Hitler posed no true threat to Europe, let alone England.
It knew Germany was not re-arming, in violation of all treaties and accords. It knew that the hard evidence it received, which
contradicted policies, conclusions - and omniscience — needed to be
dismissed. The English government of Neville Chamberlain already knew the truth. Most relevant of all - it "knew" that its staunchest critics needed to be marginalized and isolated. In fact, it portrayed the foremost of them as a bloodthirsty warmonger who was, if not truly senile – at best… morally or intellectually confused.

That critic’s name… was Winston Churchill.

Sadly, we have no Winston Churchills evident among us this
evening. We have only Donald Rumsfelds, demonizing disagreement; the way Neville Chamberlain demonized Winston Churchill. History - and 163 million pounds of Luftwaffe bombs over England - taught us that all Mr. Chamberlain had was his certainty - and his own confusion. A confusion that suggested that the office cannot only make the man, but that the office can also make the facts. Thus did Mr. Rumsfeld make an apt historical analogy.

Excepting the fact that he has the battery plugged in backwards. His government, absolute - and exclusive - in its knowledge, is not the
modern version of the one, which stood up to the Nazis. It is the modern version of the government… of Neville Chamberlain.

But back to today’s Omniscients.

That about which Mr. Rumsfeld is confused… is simply this: This is a Democracy. Still. Sometimes just barely. And as such, all voices count — not just his. Had he or his President perhaps proven any of their prior claims of omniscience - about Osama Bin Laden’s plans five years ago - about Saddam Hussein’s weapons four years ago - about Hurricane Katrina’s impact one* year ago - we all might be able to
swallow hard, and accept their omniscience as a bearable, even useful
recipe, of fact, plus ego. But, to date, this government has proved little besides its own arrogance, and its own hubris.

Mr. Rumsfeld is also personally confused, morally or intellectually, about his own standing in this matter. From Iraq to Katrina, to the entire "Fog of Fear" which continues to envelope this nation - he, Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney, and their cronies, have – inadvertently or intentionally - profited and benefited, both personally, and politically.
And yet he can stand up, in public, and question the morality and
the intellect of those of us who dare ask just for the receipt for the
Emperor’s New Clothes.

In what country was Mr. Rumsfeld raised?

As a child, of whose heroism did he read?

On what side of the battle for freedom did he dream one day to fight?

With what country has he confused… the United States of America?

—–

The confusion we — as its citizens - must now address, is stark and forbidding. But variations of it have faced our forefathers, when
men like Nixon and McCarthy and Curtis LeMay have darkened our skies and obscured our flag. Note - with hope in your heart - that those earlier Americans always found their way to the light and we can, too.

The confusion is about whether this Secretary of Defense, and this Administration, are in fact now accomplishing what they claim the
terrorists seek: The destruction of our freedoms, the very ones for
which the same veterans Mr. Rumsfeld addressed yesterday in Salt Lake City, so valiantly fought.

And about Mr. Rumsfeld’s other main assertion, that this country
faces a "new type of fascism." As he was correct to remind us how a government that knew everything could get everything wrong, so too was he right when he said that — though probably not in the way he thought he meant it. This country faces a new type of fascism - indeed.

Although I presumptuously use his sign-off each night, in feeble tribute… I have utterly no claim to the words of the exemplary journalist Edward R. Murrow. But never in the trial of a thousand years of writing could I come close to matching how he phrased a warning to an earlier generation of us, at a time when other politicians thought they (and they alone) knew everything, and branded those who disagreed, "confused" or "immoral." Thus forgive me for reading Murrow in full:

"We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty," he said, in 1954. "We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. "We will not walk in fear - one, of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of un-reason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men; "Not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were - for the moment - unpopular."

Keith Olbermann, MSNBC August 30, 2006

Ohio for Edwards

I have posted about the need for real true moral leaders. I have also posted about how it is our responsiblity to find, support and get the word out about those leaders. We cannot once again allow a few states with early primaries or caucuses, or a few party bosses in New York and Washington D.C. decide for us.

After a great deal of research, reading and thought it is my belief that John Edwards is such a leader. Today I joined Ohio for Edwards and I encourage each of you to read and learn and do so as well.

The following is an invite to the Ohio for Edwards group.

JoeR



ANNOUNCEMENT: Ohio For Edwards, is recruiting members to join our grassroots group and become a part of a national network of volunteers, PeopleForEdwards, working in collaboration to support John Edwards as he battles poverty and fights to get Democrats elected in every state. Grassroots Volunteers supporting John Edwards in every state! I WANT YOU to to join Ohio For Edwards TODAY!


There are two different Americas in our country today — one for those at the top who get everything they want, and another for everybody else who struggles just to get by.


John Edwards understands this, and knows that if we want to build one America, we need a change in our country's leadership. George Bush and Republicans across the country have not led us toward one America; the Democrats across this country will.


The One America Committee is dedicated to helping elect Democratic candidates across the country. Join us, and together, we can build one America that works for all of us. Visit http://www.oneamericacommittee.com today.



I know everybody is focused on this November's election, as we should be. Our first priority is ridding our government of the corruption, cronyism, ideological extremism, election tampering and rubber-stamp for the Bush-Cheney White House represented by the Taft/Blackwell/DeWine/Bob Ney/Jean Schmidt GOP machine. But it's not too early to think about the future that lies ahead.

The swearing in of Governor Ted Strickland, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, Attorney General Marc Dann, and Senator Sherrod Brown next January will not only mark a great day for the future of our State and Nation, but also begins the countdown for selecting the next President of the United States. At that point we only have 12 months before the first Caucuses in Iowa and Nevada with the New Hampshire and South Carolina Primaries a week later.

Former Senator and Vice-Presidential candidate John Edwards is asking for your help to organize and become a grassroots instrument for change. As Co-Chair of Ohio For Edwards I'm here to tell you how.

First, stop by and register a a member of our Yahoo Group, Ohio For Edwards. It's free, easy and doesn't contain an ounce of fat! I'll keep you up to date on the latest happening, important announcements, and calls to action though our membership list.

Next, take a look at the Senator's blog, One America Committee Blog. You can read what other progressive activists are up to, sign up and post your own diaries, and even submit your entries for submission to the community's front page. It's all very democratic, with an interesting and intelligent membership -- rich with ideas and experience from all over the USA.

If you're not from Ohio, you can still visit People for Edwards and be directed to the group for your State. We're still looking for Co-Chairs for about half the States, so if you're willing to spend the time, we're looking for leaders like you.

Even if you haven't made up your mind who should be the best candidate for President (it's okay, it is a little early in the process), you should at least JOIN Ohio For Edwards to keep abreast of how Democrats in general, and John Edwards in particular are going to need you to take back our country.

Real change is sweeping this nation -- and it starts here in Ohio.

By this time next year we will have a true progressive voice in the US Senate representing Ohio's people, instead of shielding President Bush's scheme to shred the Constitution while cutting the taxes of the very wealthiest.
We will have a Governor of whom we can be proud, instead of hanging our head in shame at the mere mention of his name.
We will all be proud of a Secretary of State who will work to make sure everyone who wants to vote can, and can trust their vote is counted.
We will be assured that we have an Attorney General that will weed out the criminal corruption that has plagued our great State.


That will be the foundation of a new Ohio, and a new America. But it doesn't stop there. It's going to take hard work to take back the White House and make the country work for the working people of America. It's a long road, but it starts here in Ohio, because as you all know, As Ohio Goes, So Goes The Nation.
http://blog.oneamericacommittee.com

fool me once, shame on — shame on you.

"fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again" George W. Bush 2002

Perhaps the Ohio Republicans should have taken heed to their glorious leader's butchering of an old saying. But clearly they haven’t.

Blackwell and his not so secret backers Common Sense Ohio run trash ads with clear misstatements and half-truths attacking Ted Strickland. Yes Ted married for 30 years is against marriage, (give me a break). A Blackwell blogger famously just makes false accusations one after the other and admits it.

Deborah Pryce first tries to run ads bragging about all the jobs she and the republicans have created in Ohio, which backfires when the true jobless numbers come out, then she run’s her “I’m independent” ads when once again her voting record proves otherwise.

Mike Dewine throws trash that Brown is opposed to tax cuts, when the reality is he is opposed only to tax cuts republicans passed for the rich, but would like to see tax cuts for the middle class. Dewine claims Brown is opposed to terror because of the patriot act when in reality he was opposed to certain aspects of the patriot act that have the primary purpose of getting democrats to vote against it so republicans can say, “they are against the patriot act.”

The polls that came out this week show clearly, Ohio has had it with lies, deceit and half-truths. The republicans are in trouble and they know it. Their problem is, they can’t run on the truth and the facts. So expect much worse, much bigger lies and more deception from now until November 7th.

Our message as progressives must remain simple clear and the truth. Just listing the issues that concern Ohioans is sometimes is all you have to do to get them consider voting for Democrats. Those are:

Corruption…. Ineptness…Terrorism…Iraq…. The Economy…Gas Prices….Election Fraud….Education.

We must never forget.....

We must never forget:



The sadness as we saw a city of great history and culture fall victim to the wrath of Katrina.

The frustration as Bush and other administration people patted each other on the back while our screens showed people begging for help with little results.

The anger as we watched people dying in the streets. Meanwhile the government that had based their existence on their ability to protect us, proved how inept they were.

The embarrassment as people around the world saw how our government was unable to protect its own.

The dismay as Bush still today makes unfulfilled promises sandwiching it in between deflecting blame.

Many have different ideas of what role government should play in our lives. But protecting its people has not ever been a role that has been debated. The Bush administration has proven they do not have the ability or will to perform this task.

We will never forget.

Obama in Kenya

On August 5th I wrote: "Our Leaders used to be cheered in the streets when they would visit abroad, now they must be snuck in by a very fast protected motorcade under secrecy."
Later on August 21 I posted: "Where are the People who lead us to action, purpose and right? People that want to lead us to achieve national and world goals. People who want to accomplish something not just look good or win elections or increase their wealth.

I must believe they exist. I do believe they exist. For the good of our nation and our world we as citizens must find them. We cannot depend on the Party bosses, or the corporate donors to choose whom our candidates will be. We must find them, we must encourage them, and we must get the word out about them."

Seems the word is getting out in Kenya.



KISUMU, Kenya (CNN) -- Tens of thousands of Kenyans lined the streets of Kisumu on Saturday, giving U.S. Sen. Barack Obama a hero's welcome as he arrived to visit the nearby village where his late father and grandfather lived.

Massive crowds screamed "Obama, Obama" and waved flags emblazoned with his name and face, as the 45-year-old junior senator from Illinois rode through the streets in a truck flanked by a lengthy convoy.

Sources: www.cnn.com, photograph from The New York Times.

Ohio-15 Pryce Vs. Kilroy

I have mentioned I live at corner where 3 congressional districts come together. The 15th district is a 4th one I am very aware of being in the Columbus media market. I have the pleasure of seeing Pryce’s feeble television spot attempts to define herself as something other then she is.

A couple of weeks ago I shook my head at the ad where first she bragged about her support for tax breaks for “working families.” Um yea if your last name is Hilton or Vanderbilt. Then she claimed credit for all the jobs she and the republicans have created for Ohio. Then out comes the unemployment numbers showing Ohio’s joblessness has grown to dire levels. Oops Debra pull that ad quick!

Now this weeks advertisement is showing how “independent “ she is from Bush because she stood up to him on stem cell research. Well good so did half of the other republicans that was a real stretch for her. Meanwhile the facts are she has voted with President Bush 88% of the time and voted the GOP party line 93% of the time.

Ok this commercial doesn’t fly perhaps she should try one on health care or gas prices or maybe even education. But wait, she voted for Republican Drug Plan, Which gave billions in incentives to Drug Makers. She Voted for Energy Bill that Gave Billions to Oil, and companies back when gas prices when $1.26 a gallon. Yea that worked. Well it worked for her; she got $81,607 in contributions from the oil and gas industry. Then she topped it off with voting no to ending oil and gas price gouging. So that leaves education, ummm well… While tuition costs are rising for ordinary Americans, Rep. Pryce voted to cut Federal student aid by $12.7 billion.

Oh I know perhaps a commercial on ethics is next. Oh wait she wrote a letter on the behalf of a Louisiana casino proposal to the Interior Secretary that had identical wording of letters sent by Republican Whip Roy Blunt, Dennis Hastert, Eric Cantor and oh yes Tom Delay. Did I mention investigators believe that Jack Abramoff authored the letters? Oh but its ok because Pryce donated the $8000 she was given by Abramoff’s clients to charity.

What isn’t a big surprise is she voted to weaken House ethics rules and she has received $5,020 from Tom DeLay's ARMPAC.

Guess she will have to make up stuff in her future commercials.

On the other hand we have Mary Jo Kilroy. Lets see she has been active in public service since the 50’s from being a VISTA volunteer to actively working for civil rights, anti-war, and feminist causes. She served for years on the School board working for education not cutting it. As a county commissioner the county has balanced every budget. And even at the county level she has actually done something about energy by converting the county bus fleet to bio diesel making it the largest such fleet in the nation.

I have only one complaint about Mary Jo’s campaign. As I read her blogs and her website she spends way too much time telling us how bad Deborah Pryce is and I do agree wholeheartedly. However, I would like to see more on who Mary Jo is what her positions and background are. She is an impressive candidate; she needs to let the voters know who she is a bit better in my opinion. When she does that the choice will be clear. Mary Jo Kilroy should represent the 15th district.

Here they come!

We all knew the right wing "religious" wacko groups were building their war chests to come out swinging. Well I saw an adverstisiment this morning on WBNS tv in Columbus this morning from CommonSenseOhio.

Typical trash adds distorting Ted Strictlands record. Their web site is careful to hide who they are and what their specific sources are. But like past races is trying to divert the attention of voters to issues that cause fear in the flock of mindless "vote like the the minister says or go to hell" crowd.

This group spreads misinformation and hate, neither tatic is christian whatsoever.

This is just the beginning, we are winning, they know it and they will sink to the lowest depths to prevent it.

Facts, Opinions and Lies

Fact: something that has actual existence: a matter of objective reality

Facts can be proven. They are objective. They are black and white there is no gray. Facts are not republican or democrat, facts are facts.

Opinion: a: a belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge b: a formal expression of a judgment or appraisal by an expert

There are informed and uniformed opinions. Each of us has the right to our opinions. However those that constantly spout opinions not based on facts should not be trusted or even listened to.

Lie: a: A false statement deliberately presented as being true; a falsehood. b. Something meant to deceive or give a wrong impression.

Once again there is no gray. If something is untrue its untrue. It has or can be proven as such. An opinion that is stated as fact is a lie by its nature. One can be mistaken and believe something to be fact when it is not, however if that is due to their own lack of diligence in determining the truth of a statement, then once again it has the weight of a lie. The words “ignorance is no excuse” applies. If one is mistaken often then they too should not be listened to any more then a liar should be.

One of the biggest threats to our society is that we seem to accept liars more then ever. We allow our leaders to tell us lies that have been proven as such and yet we re-elect them. We allow media personalities to constantly tell lies and misstate facts clearly on purpose yet these very people get huge ratings.

It is not ok to accept beliefs such as: “all politicians lie” or “the media is biased”, like this is an unchangeable fact. Do you accept lies from a friend or a family member on a regular basis? The reality is you will call them on it, or at the very least stop trusting and listening to them. So why do we put up with it from leaders and the media.

It is time to put a stop to it. When a politician lies, we should call them on it and if it continues toss them out of office. When a media personality lies call them on it and stop watching it.

In the media arena Fox News Channel from its very beginning was set up based completely on a lie. Their promo’s included. “We report, you decide” and “fair and balanced”, O’Reilly uses the line “the no spin zone.” When the reality is Fox News Channel run by republican operative Roger Ailes has in fact its purpose to push a conservative republican agenda. MediaMatters.org and its team of wonderful fact checkers call O’Reilly and others on Fox on lies every day.

Its not enough to just accept this, we must fight for truth. We do it by calling them out like Media Matters does. We do it by not watching them. And we can do it by writing and complaining to as well as boycotting those sponsors that pay to keep this misinformation and lies on the air.

I am going to start with the liar with the highest ratings on cable. O’Reilly. Last nights sponsors of the O’Liar Factor were: Hummer, Visa, Dannon, Priceline.com, Daimler-Chrysler, Scotttrade, HBO video, Lincoln Mercury, Yellowbook, General Mills, Embassy Suites, American Express, Office Depot, Lexus, Infiniti, Net Zero, My Network TV, Vonage, Glaxo Smith Kline, Cooper Tires, ServePro, Clairol, Subaru, Target, and Nextel.

this is a free country?

When I was a child I was taught that living in a free country meant that we as citizens could do whatever we wish as long as we don’t hurt someone else. A simple explanation meant for a child perhaps but a better one I have never heard.
But does it still apply?

“A Stuart Middle School teacher has been removed from the classroom after he burned two American flags in class during a lesson on freedom of speech, Jefferson County Public Schools officials said.
Dan Holden, who teaches seventh-grade social studies, burned small flags in two different classes Friday and asked students to write an opinion paper about it, district spokeswoman Lauren Roberts said.”
By Chris Kenning
The Courier-Journal

Do I find it annoying when someone burns a flag, sure? Would I do it, no. But can you think of anyway better to spark thought and opinions from middle school students on the topic of free speech?
Assuming he took precautions on fire safety, whom exactly did he hurt?

“A coalition of 13 conservative groups — including the Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America — took out full-page ads in some editions of USA Today earlier this month urging the Justice Department and FBI to investigate whether some of the pay-per-view movies widely available in hotels violate federal and state obscenity laws.
The leader of the campaign against in-room porn is Phil Burress, a self-described former porn addict who heads the Cincinnati-based Citizens for Community Values.
Burress and his allies have had some success regionally, pressuring about 15 Ohio and Kentucky hotels to stop offering adult movies. But he says a nationwide pressure campaign would be difficult because nearly all the big hotel chains have similar policies — porn is available at some but not all of their affiliates.
Though unable to cite specific cases, Burress contended that the availability of in-room porn is making hotels more dangerous.
Justice Department spokesman Bryan Sierra said federal authorities are committed to toughening enforcement of obscenity laws, but he declined to comment on specific targets for investigations.”
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Associated Press

Lets see alone in a hotel room watching a spicy movie. The shock of it all!! Hotels more dangerous? What a surprise he didn’t have any specific cases. Come on people this is the ultimate in private no one’s business harmless activity.

“U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich was at his passionate best when he met recently with Vindicator writers to urge defeat of a statewide ballot initiative in November that would open the door to casino-style gambling in Ohio. Voinvoich, former governor and former mayor of Cleveland, couched his opposition in a simple, but powerful statement: "It's about protecting the family."

http://www.vindy.com/content/opinion/bertram/308377918557126.php

Yes those evil slot machines. Again if one chooses to gamble, if one enjoys gambling who are they hurting. Don’t cite the evils of gambling addiction to me, yes there are addictions to lots of things, and if you do any of those things to excess you can affect someone else negatively. But Las Vegas, Bingo halls and state lotteries have made a lot of money from the majority of people who just enjoy playing a little from time to time.

When exactly did we give our government the authority to protect us from being stupid?

“Ken Blackwell was Ohio's only statewide officeholder who not only supported the Marriage Amendment but actively campaigned for it. He didn't just say he was for marriage between one man and one woman but he helped lead the charge. While Ken’s primary opponent, Jim Petro, openly opposed the Amendment, Ken on the other hand was the campaign’s spokesman.”

Phil Burress Citizens for Community Values Action Political Action Committee

Yes the same Phil “former porn addicted” Burress cited above. So let me see if I have got this straight, it’s a free country as long as we don’t do anything outside of Phil’s moral beliefs.

Our constitution not only made us free but it also specifically prohibits people like Phil Burress from imposing their moral will on other citizens.

I don’t care if the same sex couple across the street are roommates, lovers or sisters. It doesn’t affect me, hurt me or is any of my business whatsoever. If they want to make a commitment based on love and devotion to each other, in my opinion that would make them more likely to be good neighbors.


“Columbus-March10, 2005 Today the American Cancer Society launches a campaign called SmokeFreeOhio.org to let Ohio voters decide to make the state smoke-free in 2006”
smokefreeohio.org

Oh yes protect us from ourselves please, because clearly the restaurant and tavern owners can’t decide for themselves what is better for business. That the poor choice less consumers can’t choose on their own whether they prefer to dine or drink at a place that allows or doesn’t allow smoking. But don’t forget those workers they are protecting because we all know that waitress and bartending jobs are so rare that one may be forced to work in one that allows smokers.

Once it was Republicans that always promoted a desire to keep government out of our lives where it doesn’t belong. Quite clearly that party has been taken over by those wish to impose their will and their morals on us all.

Is it a free country? It is becoming less so every day.

Looking for a Leader

I spent this past weekend in the Boston area. While there I had the opportunity to visit the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. As I watched films, saw pictures and read his words on many issues of the day, three things struck me. One was how much things he said then still apply today on threats, how to deal with friends and foes and how to work with political rivals, among many other things. The second thing I noticed was how many monumental things his administration accomplished or put in motion in 3 short years, half the time Bush has had.

The final and most significant thing was how when he spoke, the pure confidence, passion and trust he inspired is unlike anything we have seen since. He exuded wisdom, strength, humor and honesty in his words and demeanor.

I thought a lot about this on my trip home. I know he was one of a kind, but where are the leaders like that today. What was it that made him so different when he spoke? But then I realized there were so many throughout history. Most of us have heard speeches by men like Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and yes Robert F. Kennedy.

When was the last time a candidate for President or any office for that matter, inspired us, motivated us, brought out the passion and pride within us. Do these people still exist? Where are the People who lead us to action, purpose and right? People that want to lead us to achieve national and world goals. People who want to accomplish something not just look good or win elections or increase their wealth.

I must believe they exist. I do believe they exist. For the good of our nation and our world we as citizens must find them. We cannot depend on the Party bosses, or the corporate donors to choose whom our candidates will be. We must find them, we must encourage them, and we must get the word out about them.

I watched the Bush’s press conference today and I see how we as a nation have settled for less then we deserve in leadership. We have allowed our politics to be all about the “game” that wins red or blue. It’s not about the game. It’s about our future. It’s about what we can and should accomplish as the great nation we are. It is about being the shining example to the world once again.

What is different between the speeches of John F. Kennedy and what we hear today, it is summed up by the words of Lord Rosebury when he said “It is not merely the thing that is said but the man who says it that counts, the character that breathes through the sentences.”1

Soon we will be looking toward 2008. As the words of Neil Young’s song say. We are “Looking for a Leader.” We must look hard, far and wide, and most of all, we must not settle for less then we the citizens of this country deserve.

1. Let the Word Go Forth, Theodore C. Sorensen, page 6

In what economy is Bush living in?

The President made a statement today surrounding a meeting of his economic advisors and he actually straight faced made the following statements.

"The foundation of our economy is solid, and it's strong."
"The economy grew at 4 percent annual rate during the first half of 2006, and this means that our economy is maintaining solid growth, and performing in line with expectations. "
"We recently learned that this year's deficit is projected to be 30 percent lower than we initially thought, and that means we're on track to cut the deficit in half by 2008, a full year ahead of the original goal."

Now in the real world here are the facts:

The Index of Leading Indicators slipped 0.1 percent in July to 138.1, below market expectations for a 0.1 percent rise, the Conference Board said.

The leading index has decreased in four of the last six months.

Real Average Hourly Earnings continue to fall in June 2006, the sixth month in a row.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forecast Thursday the government budget deficit would rise to $286 billion in fiscal 2007, up from $260 billion this year.

This President can stand there with a straight face all he wants and repeat over and over again that the economy is strong, however, middle class Americans know better. He can cite made up massaged and adjusted numbers all he wants. But Americans can look around their neighborhoods and see the foreclosure tags on the houses. They know about their friends or family members either laid off from good jobs they held their entire lives or forced to retire early or working at a much lower wage job. Americans can see our own savings balances, and our debt growing. Americans can see with gas prices and medical expenses there is less and less left in our wallets at the end of each pay period.

What Economy is Bush living in? Its the same one where Exxon, BP, Shell, Haliburton and the top 1% richest people who actualy got that tax cut, reside.

But as for the voters for this next congress, we live in the real world.

Pat Robertson, Anne Coulter and Paris Hilton

Pat Robertson of 700-club fame made a comment concerning the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel that has enraged many in the Jewish Community.

Anne Coulter in one week accused Al Gore, Bill and Hillary Clinton of being closet homosexuals. This was in between the constant accusations that passages of her recent book are plagiarized.

Paris Hilton last week announces she is choosing a life of celibacy and compared herself to Princess Diana.

What is significant about the words or actions of these people? NOTHING!

Pat Robertson’s delusional rants have been going on now for years, who cares? Let him and his 700 club followers wallow in their cable evangelism wacko world. Spare the rest of us his uniformed, psycho religious idiocy.

Someone PLEEAASSE tell me why they keep putting Anne Coulter on television. Ok Fox news that has no requirement for truth or accuracy I understand. But MSNBC and CNN please stop. She has been caught in lies again and again. She clearly says stuff just to get press. She is like the whiney middle child that constantly tells tall stories to get attention. “Yea I saw that guy outside my window and at night he wears read and does devil chants and yesterday he stole my cookie.”

Then Paris Hilton the spoiled little rich girl made famous in a widely distributed Internet porn video. She is unique how? What she says or does is important, why? Yet at least monthly there she is on TV or my newspaper saying something else, amazingly stupid.

These people are neither interesting, funny or have anything to say that bears any more importance then the mumblings of the town drunk when he is on a good high. As my wise mother often told me about such people. “Ignore them and they will go away.”

I know I know, now locusts will come down on my house, Anne Coulter is going to question my sexual orientation and I'll never get to be in a Paris Hilton video.

Oh well thats the price one pays for expressing opinions.

Race for Ohio Secretary of State Critical

Whether you believe the 2004 election was stolen in Ohio or not. Just the appearance of impropriety and the continued focus on fair elections within our state, has caused most Ohioans great concern. If the citizens of this state and this country do not believe the elections are not run fairly and above board, the very fabric of our republic is in danger.

This is why this year it is imperative that voters look closely at the two candidates for this office and make an informed choice, based on qualifications, experience and honesty.

The web sites of both candidates provide good information on their backgrounds.

Greg Hartman
County Clerk of Courts
Worked hard to elect Republicans

Jennifer Brunner
Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge
Franklin County Board of Elections
Legislative Counsel for the Secretary of State
Private Practice as Election Law Attorney
Special Prosecutor for Election Fraud

No matter your party affiliation, it is clear one candidate for this office is highly qualified to do the actual job and the other is simply another party operative.

We have gone the operative route for Secretary of State with Kenneth Blackwell, and it has tied the word “Ohio” to the words “election fraud” forever in history.

Support someone actually qualified to do the job. That person is Jennifer Brunner.

Sources: http://www.jenniferbrunner.com/
http://www.greghartmann.com

Hobson takes the voters for granted.

I have the misfortune of living in the very corner of the “republican safe” created 7th district in Ohio. Yes in I live in Reynoldsburg, Tiberi’s district is across the street to the north and Ney’s a few blocks to the east. But somehow I’m in this district that stretches from Springfield under Columbus and up the side to avoid as many urban voters as possible. Therefore for the last 14 years Dennis(whatever Bush wants)Hobson has been this district’s congressman.

http://www.ohiochamber.com/governmental/pdfs/109congress.pdf

Just a look at Hobson’s web site shows his clear lack of even an attempt to reach out to the voters of his district. It’s hard to find anything that appears to have been updated in the last two years. At the time I wrote this, his endorsements page is all from 2004. The most concerning page to me was his issues page. He lists the following:

· Upholding our Commitment to our Veterans (dead link)
· Strengthening our Military
· A Balanced Budget and Tax Fairness (dead link)
· Protecting and Improving our Environment
· Small Business and Jobs in Ohio’s 7th District
· Constituent Service
· Education and Health Care (dead link)

Lets take this one by one:

“Upholding our Commitment to our Veterans” This is no huge surprise this is dead link considering he voted against a bonus for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, HR 3289, In October of 2003. Just this year in March he voted against HR 4939, which was to stop contracts to corporations including Halliburton that overcharge. This isn’t a huge surprise since he received $3500 in contributions from that very company.

“Strengthening our Military”: This link is still up and makes it quite clear that strengthening the military to him means earmarking lots of money to benefit Wright Patterson that is in his district. There is nothing about the needs our military has being spread out all over the place in bushes wars, nothing about equipment and flack jackets and proper armor.

“A Balanced Budget and Tax Fairness” This is another dead link. Hobson voted in lock step with Bush 89% of the time and the GOP Caucus 94% of the time. Need I say more?

“Protecting and Improving our Environment” Ok Hobson is the Chairman of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee. This is the funding and oversight committee for the Army Corps of Engineers. You remember them; they had to stop their work on improving the levies in New Orleans because their funding was cut. They also fund the department of energy, who is doing a bang up job. By way the Hobson accepted $136,720 from the oil and gas industry.

“Small Business and Jobs in Ohio’s 7th District” Well if you get one of those jobs that haven’t gone overseas which he encouraged by voting for HR 4818 allowing loans to companies that locate off shore, he voted to strip your overtime protection with HR 2660 in 2003.

“Constituent services” Well since they cant update their website in 2 years bet they answer your emails real efficiently.

“Education and Health Care” Another dead link because none of us care about these issues. But just in case he voted to cut Federal Student Aid in 2005, and he took $171,815 from drug interests.

Do any of you notice any issues missing from his list, like Iraq, Terrorism, Immigration reform, Dependency on foreign oil. His 14 years in his safe seat has left him so out of touch with the needs of his constituents. It is time for him to go.

It’s time to elect a congressman like William Conner. A man who doesn’t just talk about defense issues, but served for 20 years in the United States Air Force. A man who like many of us has worked hard for a living and rather then sitting in an office in Washington accepting donations from oil and pharmaceutical companies. A man who uses common sense on the issues like Iraq, Jobs, Oil prices and education.

Sources:
http://www.dccc.org/gopauctionhouse/members/DavidHobsonOH-7.html
http://www.hobsonforcongress.com/

Counting your Chickens

It has been a good week for progressives. Lamont won in Connecticut, Ney dropped out in Ohio and the AP poll released today ties a low for President Bush in approval ratings. Great, we had some things to celebrate. ….

Ok done. Time to get back to work.

Those of us that are politically active are in the minority. Its easy to fall into the tendency to “preach to the choir,” or worse, convince ourselves that the facts are so obvious and we are so right, only a few neo-cons and religious extremists will disagree with us.

Wrong!

Do any of these sentences sound familiar to you?

“I don’t watch the news, I don’t want to hear it”

“We try to keep politics out of our discussions here.”

“Oh whatever, all politicians are liars.”

“I don’t vote party I vote for the person”

“I will worry about it in November”

Your truly lucky if that’s all you hear. What is much worse when they state beliefs that are either Rush-isms that have no basis in fact, or have the facts so twisted that you don’t even understand where that possibly came from.

There is a common axiom that goes “Never underestimate the stupidity of the average voter.” I would agree that some are indeed not blessed with a high IQ. But the majority is just uniformed and resists changing that fact. Whether it is lack of time availability, avoiding stress, not wanting to hear bad news, or they just find politics boring, many fall into this category.

A good number of these people don’t vote and that is a concern, but a bigger one may be many of them do.

So as activists that have a good message how do we get them to hear it? Look at the republicans; they have done it well for years.

1. Simplify the Message. We know the attention span is short keep it simple and repeat it often.
2. See the Message from their shoes. How does it affect them? Why should they care? Then express the message in those terms.
3. It’s not Red vs. Blue. They don’t care how many Republicans win or Democrats win. They care about one thing, will they be better off.
4. Listen! The issues they care about may be and probably are way different then the ones we write about every day. Hear them and address them.
5. Keep them talking, perhaps then you can explain why in this election party does matter.
6. All elections are local? Ok express why our candidate better then the other guy for that particular office.

I’m not a professional politician by any means. But I have been out knocking on doors for campaigns over the years and I have sat at the dinner table or stood at the water cooler listening and talking politics. I see eyes glaze over when I talk of privacy issues, bribery even the war in Iraq sometimes. Yet tell me one person that won’t talk about gas prices, or health care costs. They have checkbooks, they know how this economy is for them personally, they don’t give a damn what the Deficit is.

Meanwhile I have seen the republicans use their belief in the stupidity of the voter to achieve way too much success. Flag burners, or the attack on Christmas!! English is our national language! You can list dozens of them, but the fact is it works. Just watch Fox News Channel or listen to Rush for about 10 minutes and it is obvious.

They have to divert the debate because they do not have the message that we have. We have the facts; we have voters own experiences and checkbooks to prove our point. We have images from Iraq and terrorism alerts that continue day after day to prove it. Most of all we have the Question: “Are you, is the country and is the world better off then 6 years ago.”

This Campaign has just begun. Over the next 88 days it will be all about getting the message to the blissfully uninformed. The Republicans are good at it, so good that no lead in the polls is safe.

Time to get out of the choir loft and into the streets.

Support the war or the terrorists will get you!

Ever since that horrible day on September 11, 2001 this administration has continued to threaten the American people with the implication that you must support them, you must allow them to do as they will, or the terrorists will get you. They have used this mantra as justification for a whole menu of atrocities. From defying our constitution with illegal wiretaps to privacy invasions of citizens bank transactions and Internet activity. To justifying holding prisoners without due process of law to torture of prisoners. Then worst of all telling the American people and the world Iraq had weapons of mass destruction to start a war when there were none.

The good news is this, the polls show Americans are finally seeing and understanding the truth despite all the misinformation. But the Administration has not given up.

Wednesday, Press Secretary Tony Snow said the following:
“Democratic voters in Connecticut have made their choice, and they have chosen Ned Lamont over Senator Lieberman. Just a couple of observations. Key leaders in the national Democratic Party have made it clear -- let me back up. This is a defining moment in some ways for the Democratic Party. I know a lot of people have tried to make this a referendum on the President; I would flip it. I think instead it's a defining moment for the Democratic Party, whose national leaders now have made it clear that if you disagree with the extreme left in their party they're going to come after you.” And it is probably worth trying to trace through some of the implications of that position, because it is clearly going to be one of the central issues as we get ready for the election campaign this year, that is, the mid-term elections”

Anyone that has read a newspaper, seen the news or just knows someone from Connecticut, knows clearly it was Lieberman’s Bush backing “stay the course” policy that cost him that election. It was a referendum on Bush and the war. Only the anti-peace spin machine even attempts to deny this.

Tony Snow went on: “Osama bin Laden some years ago said that one of the keys is that if you simply stay at terror long enough, the West is too weak, he said the Americans were too weak, and would stand down.”

Oh see, the terrorists will get you. In case you forgot Osama bin Laden is the real terrorist behind 9/ll not Saddam Hussein. Though somehow capturing bin Laden no longer seems important in the “war on terror.”

He continued: “The second consequence would be, it would create a failed state in the heart of the Middle East with the second largest oil reserves in the world. Now if you think about what happened in Afghanistan, Afghanistan, a nation with far fewer resources, when it was able to serve as a terrorist training and staging ground, was able to do considerable violence to the United States and pose a threat to the rest of the world. “

Oh he cleared it up, we moved to Iraq because they have oil. By the way, where is Osma bin Laden again?

He gets even better:“Number three, another consequence would be that it would inflict incredible damage on America's credibility.”

Misleading the world about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, promoting torture of prisoners and defying the Geneva Convention of course had no effect on our Credibility

Finally Tony Snow gives us THE line: “A white flag, in short, means a white flag in the war on terror”
9/11=Iraq, 9/11=Iraq, 9/11=Iraq, 9/11=Iraq. Say it often enough maybe they will rewrite the history books and make it true.

But perhaps Tony wasn’t enough to get the message out so who can we count on? Well the Vice President of course.

Mr. Cheney shared this with us: “it strikes me that it's a perhaps unfortunate and significant development from the standpoint of the Democratic Party, that what it says about the direction the party appears to be heading in when they, in effect, purge a man like Joe Lieberman, who was just six years ago their nominee for Vice President, is of concern, especially over the issue of Joe's support with respect to national efforts in the global war on terror.”

9/11=Iraq, 9/11=Iraq, 9/11=Iraq

He continued: “The thing that's partly disturbing about it is the fact that, the standpoint of our adversaries, if you will, in this conflict, and the al Qaeda types, they clearly are betting on the proposition that ultimately they can break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the fight and complete the task”

Yep there you go, be against the war and you’re the same as Al Qaeda. When did bin Laden move to Iraq?

Then today right on time, to follow up these comments yesterday a terror plot was foiled by the United Kingdom. Thank God for that, good job to the UK authorities and all involved around the world.

This also means Bush gets to come out of the vacation ranch house to share his wisdom.

He said: “This country is safer than it was prior to 9/11.”

That would be because Al Qaeda and bin Laden have been stopped and brought to justice, and we cleaned out all those terrorists in Iraq that showed up for some reason a couple years back? Oh wait, when did we do that?

Our commander in chief continued: “But obviously, we're still not completely safe, because there are people that still plot and people who want to harm us for what we believe in. It is a mistake to believe there is no threat to the United States of America.”

Ok all sarcasm aside does ANYONE believe we are completely safe? Has one single person ever said there is no threat to the United States of America? Ever?

The message “vote for us or the terrorists will get you” is false, its unethical and it isn’t going to fly any more. The only connection the Iraq war has to terror, we created. Most Americans now know this. Most no longer trust this administration or this Congress.

And finally most Americans know that democrat or republican, liberal or conservative our leaders will fight terrorism. Some will do it effectively, with honor and honesty. Some will do it for the good of our country, and the good of the world, not for oil or personal wealth. The Republicans have had 6 years to show us what they would do. America can do much better.

Full the full text of the Administration’s comments:

For Tony Snow, see:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/08/20060809-1.html
Dick Cheney:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/08/20060810-3.html
George W. Bush:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/08/20060809-2.html

Our party leaders are listening, keep talking.

A few months back I was furious at the bosses of the Democratic Party both in Ohio and nationally. This was due to Paul Hackett being forced to drop out of his race for Senate. I was angry because they took the choice out of the hands of the democratic voters of Ohio. I was furious because it was clear the Democratic Party good ole boy network was heading right down the same road that has led us to lose election after election.

The Democratic Party cannot afford to lose. This country cannot afford for it to lose. The state of our democracy is in danger. Our status and respect around the world is failing, our middle class is being crushed, health care and fuel policies are making a very few richer and stealing the future from the rest of us and our freedoms are being taken from us one by one.

I promised that night I would not give one dime of support to the national or state democratic parties. I started calling myself a progressive and not a democrat. I started calling for change, new leaders, with new ideas, with new energy and no old debts to pay back to corporations or special interests.

Rather I supported candidates directly, not through the party. I gave my support with my words, a little of my money and my energy. I’m not a big contributor by any means and neither are most of you, yet it is us that can change this party, this country and the world.

What happened in Connecticut showed us all that and apparently that message is indeed being received by the party. I have been happy to see the leaders of this party immediately express their support for the choice of the democrats of Connecticut despite the fact he hasn’t been part of their club.

This is just the first step of a long battle. We must turn our attention to taking the congress back. Then once doing so stay diligent that when our party controls congress they will act. It cannot be business as usual. It cannot be about what corporations and special interests want. It cannot be about who looks good, the republican or the democrat. It must be about the needs and desires of the citizens of this country. It must be about honesty and integrity. It must be about leading the world by example not by operating with “the ends justify the means” philosophy.

If we do win the congress and we must, and if the elected leaders take the actions we demand of them, we will have little problem taking back the white house. But if we follow the same old path of the past politicians of both parties, the future will be very bleak for our party, our country and the world.

Hear the Message Loud and Clear

The first shots were fired in Connecticut today. The revolution has begun. More and more citizens of this country will no longer accept leaders who have as their one and only purpose to get reelected.

Senator Lieberman found out the hard way to represent the interests of your constituents or you will be replaced. Many Republicans will learn this lesson in November. But democratic office holders better keep your eyes open as well. We will not accept you changing your positions as the wind blows. We will not accept you ignoring the values and issues important to progressives. We will not accept you acting like a republican to get more campaign donations from corporate interests.

We will not accept the same old candidates that play the party game well but do nothing. We want progressives, we want leaders and that is what we shall have.

Lead or we will move you out of the way, we don’t care how famous your name is, who owes favors to you, and how much money you have collected. We do care about your leadership, your ability, your honesty and your frankness. We do care what you stand for. We do care that you will get something done.

This is no longer a game with a red and blue checkerboard. This is about each of our futures, our nations future and the future of the world.

In closing I say Senator Leiberman should you file as an independent candidate, you will only prove what your opponents have been saying all along, that your personal ambitions are more important to you then the good of the country.

Is Blackwell and Ohio at it again?

The municipality where I live had a special election today for voters to approve or deny an income tax increase. I won’t spend a great deal of time discussing the attempt to sneak by a tax increase in a special election that was barely mentioned in the local media. Or that at 9 am I was the 1st voter to show up at the polling place for my precinct. I will however go into my observations at the polling place and my concerns.

First surprise to me was I was asked for identification. I questioned this, as never had that been required before. I was informed that Ohio House Bill 3 now requires it. After some research I have found that there is a law suit pending filed by Common Cause on a variety of issues within this bill, not the least of which is an obvious attempt to reduce the number of voters not to make it easier to vote as we have been promised again and again.

Second thing I noticed and this was my biggest concern, as they flipped through the book of voters I noticed the vast majority of the names in the book had a notation beside their name, “returned mail”. Luckily for me mine did not, as the poll worker put it, I was a “good voter” apparently meaning I show up to vote for most elections and no mail has been returned that was sent to my address. What would have happened if I chose not to vote in the primary? What would have happened if somehow I didn’t receive some mailing from someone who was verifying my address?

Perhaps there are procedures to deal with these voters but how much will this slow down the election process on a busy election day? How much additional hassle will having your name marked “returned mail” will one be subjected to.

Finally I stepped up to the new electronic voting machine. A different one then they used last election for the primary. This one did have an internal paper ribbon that recorded the vote and was easier for the voter to see. It did not have the name diebold on it but that doesn’t mean they didn’t manufacture this machine.

My concern was this: I am fairly technologically savvy, I often use atms, personal computers and self check out at the grocery store. I would say in fact my knowledge and comfort using electronic systems is above average. However, I required assistance on this machine. After I clicked the vote, nowhere did I see a button to cast the vote. The poll worker said that there should be a green button on the right to cast the vote. There wasn’t. Finally we jointly figured out I had to push the yellow “review” button first in order to be able to see the green button.

If I needed assistance, I don’t even want to think about others I am close to that have no understanding of using electronic devices. This was clearly confusing.

It is important to me to stick to the facts and opinions based on fact in this blog. Therefore I will not say these observations are proof of any deliberate attempt to make it harder for people to cast their votes. I will say simply, I am concerned.

Another Class Act

Today after months of pressure from the ongoing investigation his possible involvement in the Jack Abramoff scandal, Republican Congressman Bob Ney announced he was withdrawing from his re-election bid. He also announced that Ohio State Senator Joy Padgett would run in his place.

Senator Padgett in a statement made a promise to the voters of the district. She said "It has been my honor to serve Ohio in the House of Representatives and the Senate, and I promise to take the same work ethic and values I applied there to the United States Congress.”

This is concerning, considering her ethics and values were evidenced in her 2004 re-election campaign for Ohio Senate. Her opponent was journalist and former hostage Terry Anderson. Hezbollah in Lebanon held this man prisoner for 6 years and nine months. Joy Padgett and her campaign produced a flyer that showed a photograph of Anderson along with a leader of Hezbollah claiming he was soft on terrorism.

This photograph was taken when Anderson went with a CNN team to confront those that once held him captive. Anderson was so angered by this unbelievable tactic used by Padgett, he walked off the stage at a scheduled debate after giving a statement that included the following: “I have spent 13 years trying not to hate, trying to learn to forgive, because I am a Christian, and I am required to do so. And my opponent wants you to believe that makes me soft on terrorism. She demeans my profession. She demeans my family’s pain.”

Yes the same ethics and values she has always used. Thanks for the warning Senator Padgett.

Sources: Columbus Dispatch, Hughes for America and wikipedia.

Fundamental Truths

Fundamental Truths

On Government and the Economy

The conservative mantra for decades has been smaller government less taxes, less spending. Yet as the republicans now have control of all 3 branches of federal government, the number of government employees has grown dramatically. Taxes have been increased overall, by pushing responsibilities to local governments. A very few wealthiest among us got a federal tax break, but our property, sales and fuel taxes have increased significantly. In 6 years the federal government went from a surplus to the largest deficient in the nations history. The United States Government is now the largest debtor on the face of the earth. The average income is down, cost of living including fuel and food is up, our savings are smaller and our personal debt is higher.



On Education

The primary and secondary schools in most of this country and struggling to keep their lights on let alone teach and provide textbooks. At a time where our economy demands a more educated populace less and less people can afford a college education. And those that get one will begin their careers with 10’s of thousands of dollars in debt for either them or their parents or both.

On Foreign Policy
Our Leaders used to be cheered in the streets when they would visit abroad, now they must be snuck in by a very fast protected motorcade under secrecy. And the news no longer shows people along the route waving American flags, but jeering protesting and throwing eggs both at home and abroad.

Our Country was great, trusted and respected throughout the world because we did not lower our tactics to the moral level of our enemies. Unlike many nations, in our country, the ends did not justify the means. We did not torture, we avoided killing civilians, we told the truth and we never attacked first.

We consulted with other countries we usually did not impose our will. We listened more then we preached. We exported food and medicines and science and people to help, more then we exported weapons and ideology.

6 years ago there was hope for peace in the world. Even the Middle East was heading toward a Palestinian homeland, Iran was reaching out to us and North Korea and South Korea were working toward reconciliation. The world pulled together to stop ethnic cleansing among the Bosnians and Serbs.

Today places that were at peace there is now war. Our enemies no longer reach out to us they are emboldened against us. The rebuilt Beirut is being destroyed once again. Missiles fall on Israel. Our word our power our morals are no longer respected or believed by either our enemies or our allies. The Leaders of the United States preach to the world that a ceasefire to stop the killing would be wrong. And Ethnic Cleansing goes on unabated in the Sudan and many other places in the world

Iraq, the country that had no connection to terrorism, no weapons of mass destruction has gone from a rouge isolated country ruled by a dictator to a lawless place of violence and terrorism with our young troops stuck in the middle.

On Terrorism

On September 11th, 2001 the horrid realization of terrorism shook all of us. America was united; the World was united against this threat. Our leaders then took this motivation and squandered it. The used it as an excuse to settle old scores. Increase the wealth of many and to increase political power. They used it to lower our moral standards in how we acted as a country in the world. They used it to take away our liberties. Even the freedom that has saved this nation time and time again, the freedom of the press, is under attack. Yet Katrina proved to us all that our government is not prepared.

The world is no longer behind us. The hatred among the radicals against us has been joined by hatred among the moderates. Countries that were our enemies are now more steadfast in their opposition. Those that are our allies are backing away from us. People that we “bring” democracy to elect terrorists in their governments. And worst of all the majority of Americans no longer trust our leaders.

On Religion

According to the bible, Jesus preached about loving your brother as yourself and Loving God. Loving your enemies and to not judge others. Helping the poor and less fortunate. He preached for peace.

Jesus did not preach about hating anyone. He never mentioned homosexuality at all. He didn’t preach to hate the equivalent of Arabs and especially not Jews. He even did not preach against the occupying force of the time, the Romans. He never preached for war. He never preached using religion to control governments and in fact the only time he ever came close to violence was when religion was misused by the greedy.

Religious radicals are dangerous regardless of whether they are Christian, Muslim or any other faith. They are dangerous whether they are home or abroad. They are dangerous when they preach hate and intolerance. They are dangerous whether they use violence to impose their beliefs on others, oppress people, express racism, bomb buildings, trains or abortion clinics.

They are dangerous when they fight to defy science and intelligence. Some of the greatest discoveries in the history of the world were by those who were considered heretics at their time. Some even gave their lives. If one truly believes in their religion, the science and intelligence of man is no threat to the truths of God.


On Responsibility

Ask yourself these questions. Are you better off then you were 6 years ago. Is our Country Better off then 6 years ago? Is the world better off then 6 years ago?

If you believe the answer is no to any of these questions, it is not only your right it is your responsibility as an American to take action.

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
The Declaration of Independence

It is no longer ok to sit back and ignore what is happening. If you were waiting for things to affect you, look around, it is. Talk to your friends, Talk to your neighbors, write your elected leaders, write letters to the media, get the facts and most of all vote!