GOP plays Nero while Economy Burns

In an attempt to separate themselves from the Bush administration and all his failed policies that have lead our country to the brink of financial collapse, the GOP has failed our country by voting against the Economic recovery bill and the stock market has its 3rd biggest point loss in history.

They went against their leadership and against their own President to pull this political stunt. Take a look at who voted for and against the bill. My quick spot checking shows that Republicans that are retiring or safe districts voted for the bill and those trying to separate themselves from Bush in fear of losing in tight races voted against it. Examples are Hobson voted for it, Schmidt against.

There were also 95 Democrats that voted against the bill Dennis Kucinich among them.

The fact is this. No one is happy about having to do this. Yet, 8 years of Bush policies and 20 years of eliminating or not enforcing regulations caused by people like John McCain have created this problem. Republicans are hell bent on sticking to their voodoo trickle down economics despite the obvious failure of such policies.

It angers me we have to do this, but the reality is the economy is bleeding. We must stop the bleeding first, then do the hard work of diagnosing and healing it.

Bad News for Obama

Ok, now that your heart is beating once again, on the real night of November 4th, as you sit there watching the returns, how will you answer the question: Did I do everything I could to get Barack Obama elected?

Events in Pickerington

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I Come From a Family of Heros

I rarely just post a link to another blog but this is a must read.

I come from a family of heros

GOP Blackmail on Bailout to Help the Rich

The Republicans are using the seeming urgency of the need for this bailout and demanding items to be added that have one and only one purpose, the help the wealthy.

First they are demanding a tax cut. One for the middle class, of course not these are Republicans. They are actually trying to push through another capital gains tax cut. Does this help the current crises in any way. No of course not. It helps the wealthy who may profit from this rescue to make even more money but cutting their taxes on their gains.

But the most disgusting item they are pushing for is to repeal The Community Reinvestment Act. This act which was first implemented in 1977 and adapted in 1995, has as its purpose to require banks to invest in all areas of their market not just the wealthy neighborhoods. The repeal of this act would destroy our urban neighborhoods and severely restrict the growth of small businesses and jobs in the inner city.

So as they did with the Iraq War Vote and the Patriot Act they are trying to sneak in things that the majority of Americans would never want. This will once again benefit their wealthy donors and harm the middle class and the poor.

I am beginning to believe this entire "crises" is a Republican Scheme to try to hold on to some of the house seats they were about to lose in huge numbers.

Pickerington Obama Office Packed House for Debate

I watched the debate at the Pickerington Obama Headquarters tonight with a packed house of supporters. All the chairs will filled as were our stomachs with all the food brought in by the supporters for the night. Also in attendance was Karl K. Stalter who is the candidate for Fairfield County Commissioner as well as the Campaign Manager, Media Consultant and Finance Director for the Neuhardt for Congress Campaign.

There were a lot of laughs at many of McCain's factually challenged statements, as well as cheers at some of Obama's great points made throughout the debate. Overall this group left with a lot of smiles on their faces and with even more energy to hit the streets this weekend for Obama.

Grumpy McCain Proves He is Factually Challenged

McLiar said Obama wanted to raise taxes on people making $42,000 a year.

The Facts: Obama's tax plan as verified by the independent Tax Policy Institute lowers taxes on 95% of American Citizens.

McLiar said he has and will take care of Veterans.

The Facts

Voted twice in 2003 against funding for body armour for national guard & reserve troops. Also in 2003 when the military was clearly about to be overextended he voted against increasing the size of the military. He voted against the dwell time amendment that provided military personnel 12 months at home for 12 months in country. And most recently was against the GI bill in 2008. One veterans group gives McCain a grade of D on veterans issues, another says he has supported veterans with his votes 20% of the time, Obama 80%

McLiar said he worked for renewable energy.

The Facts

He has voted against funding for renewable energy 22 times.

McLiar said he was against torture.

The Facts

In the most incredible flip flop for a former victim of torture. McCliar voted to allow torture in 2005.

Once again McCain proves that he is a:



Honesty is the most important trait in a President, John McCain is not qualified to be President

McCain and GOP play politics while a bank fails

Country First?

After days of intense negotiations and hard work Congressional Leaders had reached an agreement to deal with the economic crisis. Then comes in Super Senator John McCain flying in on his white horse to "save the country."

What happened next is the most disgusting display of politics above the good of the country in the history of this nation. McCain and a handful of Republicans scuttle the deal, at first it appeared they were just stalling so McCain could arrive so he could take credit for the deal. This was clear in an interview McCain was hoping to be given credit for any deal. But now their motives are clearly to delay any deal to create a crises and distraction from McCain's plummeting chances to be elected President.

While they play these games Washington Mutual fails. This is the largest bank failure in American History.

Good job McCain!

She needs more time to study!

Why is John McCain suspending his campaign? Well at first I thought it was just a stunt to look like he actually was engaged in the economic crisis. Then when I heard he was suspending commercials I thought, oh that's it, running behind on cash, find a reason to stop paying for commercials for several days.

But CNN has just reported the real reason. They want to postpone the debate one week, moving the Vice Presidential Debate back another week.

This is rich, apparently someone needs more time to memorize her answers to questions she hasn't a clue about.

Who Broke the Window?

When I was a kid I was clearing the screen on an etch-a-sketch a bit too vigorously and it somehow managed to fly through my parents huge glass picture window. Now in my humble opinion I was a pretty smart kid, well except for how I cleared the etch a sketch, within seconds I was carefully cleaning up the glass.

As expected my parents came flying out to the living room to ask, who broke the window? My response was that it wasn't important how it got broken but that there was glass everywhere and we have to clean it up.

Have you noticed that is how Bush and McCain govern.

Terrorists attack the United States and kill 3000. When questions were asked about the warnings that the Bush administration had, their response was, that what was important is that we do what we need to do now to get the terrorists.

Bush lies us into a war with McCain's support. The response, well how we got into the war is old news, its the surge that matters.

New Orleans drowns and Bush and FEMA show total ineptness at reacting to the problem, causing the additional deaths and suffering of hundreds if not thousands. Their response, no point in pointing fingers except its the democratic governors fault, but we need to work to bring the city back.

Now we are on the brink of an Economic meltdown. Bush, McCain and the Republicans who's 20 years of gutting our economic system of all the safeguards that were put in to prevent this from happening are saying, this isn't a time for blame, we have to work together to fix this.

You know what. My parents didn't fall for this tactic on the window and neither should we. Its time for Blame. The policies of the Republicans like George W. Bush in power have put our country at risk to terrorism, war, more vulnerable to natural disaster and now economic ruin.

Yes it is squarely the fault of the Republicans. Its time for change. Its time for Barack Obama.

Will McCain's Stunt Work?

The man who 6 days ago said: "The Fundamentals of the Economy are Strong." Is trying to convince the American people that he is running to Washington to solve the problem. This is a purely political stunt to draw attention away from his terrible week, and his plummet in the polls.

Lets look at the facts shall we. John McCain a week ago didn't seem to realize there was a problem. Then he was against the bailout for AIG, then he was for the bailout for AIG. McCain is the man with a 26 year history of eliminating all the regulations and safeguards in our banking system that were in place to prevent this from happening, now he wants to fix the problem he created.

This attempt to say this is about leadership and not politics is totally proven false by the fact that Barack Obama called John McCain first at 8:30 this Morning that they put out a joint statement on the issue. John McCain calls Obama back at 2:30 and agrees. Then within minutes he goes in front of the press and pulls this grandstand move asking for the debate to be cancelled.

First of all if John McCain was able to use the technology like "the email" as he calls it, he would have been engaged in this debate at Congress all along. I can assure you Barack Obama has been involved every step of the way. Their physical location in the 21st century is irrelevant to their work on this bill.

Secondly what does a debate at 9pm on Friday night have to do with getting this bill passed. I would hope any President of the United States has the ability to multitask and handle many serious issues at once. If John McCain isn't capable of doing that, then he shouldn't be President.

There are many serious issues going on every day. A major American city drowned while Bush flew to California for a fund raiser. Troops are under fire in Afghanistan and Iraq every day. The economy has been heading this direction for months. Yet now all the sudden the Republicans and McCain decides its time for him to be engaged?

These serious issues are exactly why we need debates for Americans to pick the leader who will handle them. Some people are voting already, Ohio can start to vote in 6 days. The debates should not be postponed.

This is a political stunt pure and simple. Are Americans smart enough to realize that?

OH-07:The Coward Fund

Hat tip to the Buckeye State Blog to report that Act Blue has set up a Coward Fund to fight the smears and mudslinging by the desperate campaign of Steve Austria.

Give 5, 10, whatever you can. We cannot let this moral degenerate get into Congress.

The Coward Fund

By the way more smears are coming based on the comments I have rejected today.

OH:07 Austria Sinks to New Low

Steve Austria and his cronies in a false attack reminiscent of the "fathered a black child" falsehood pulled on John McCain by Karl Rove in the 2000 South Carolina Primary, has sunk to a new low in his desperate attempt to gain this Congressional Seat.

Austria's cronies with the complicity of the Dayton Daily News, and the Springfield Sun-Times have run a story that Sharen Neuhardt is harboring an illegal alien.

This is a sick attack using a boy that has lived through hell as a Rwandan refugee.

Here is the true story. Ishema Umuhoza was an 11 year old boy when he was separated from his family as they were trying to flee Rwanda. His parents were diplomats with close ties to Rwanda's former President Habyalimana who was assassinated.

Ishema then spent the next 4 years in a refugee camp alone, where he met Cecile Ntawukulilyayo. She took him under her wing and posed as his Aunt telling him to never let anyone know who his parents were for his own safety.

When Ishema was 15 years old Cecile brought him to the United States still referring to the boy as her nephew. Cecile filed for asylum along with her own son and Ishema and it was denied. There was no testimony at this hearing concerning who Ishema's parents were or on the merits of his case and the likely of his persecution in Rwanda.

Ishema was young was not aware of his rights to appeal or even what his status was. Once he became more fluent in English and had become independent of Cecile he has since began legal proceedings to gain asylum. Ishema remains in this country under a stay issued by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Case No. 3:05CV164. He is therefor at this time in this country legally.

Sharen Neuhardt and her family have done a remarkably generous and moral thing by giving this young man who has lived through hell a place to stay while he fights to legally stay in this country.

The Austria cronies have falsely claimed she is harboring an illegal alien. This is blatantly false. They claim he has a long criminal record. Again completely false, his only record is for traffic violations and being drunk in public. I don't know about all of you but I have been picked up for speeding quite a few times in my life and when I was a young man like Ishema is, drunk in public happened more times then I want to remember.

Austria is scum to use Sharen's generosity to help a young man that faced genocide, that lost his parents, that was dragged to a new country were he didn't speak the language by the only woman he trusted, then to face a complicated legal and immigration system.

The Dayton Daily News and Springfield News-Sun to publish this story without checking into the facts, to refer to the young man as illegal with a long criminal record is irresponsible. This is not journalism in any way shape or form.

We must get the true story out. We must hold Austria responsible. We cannot have a man that shows such immoral tactics to hold any political office let alone be our Congressman. We must call out the Dayton Daily News and Springfield News-Sun for their irresponsibility in this matter.

This tactic of complete lies and distortions by Austria and his cronies is the lowest of the low.

source: Court Filings in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

Wait Just a Damn Minute!

Ok let me get this straight. Wall street and the big banks were given complete freedom by the "conservatives" like Bush and McCain to do anything they want, any time they want with no significant regulation or oversight. Their theory being that the Free Market will control what will happen better then government.

So they did what they wanted. Many in these institutions made millions creating false wealth, shoddy business practices, giving bad loans and creating all kinds of strange instruments in order to get wealthier and wealthier.

And guess what, the Free Market did work, this bubble of false wealth is bursting. But now they are telling us, that the problem is these institutions got so big and so important in our economy that we have to bail them out.

So now comes George W Bush and Hank Paulson. George who created false crisis to rush our country into war, to pass the Patriot act, the single most devastating law to constitutional rights in our country's history, now wants us to buy that this is another crises and we need to jump in and do something now without thinking about it.

Hank Paulson a former CEO of one of the companies that helped create this mess, Goldman Sachs, now Secretary of the Treasurer, wants Congress to give him $700,000,000,000. He is going to hire "consultants" these would of course be people from these very institutions that mismanaged us into this mess. Then Hank and these other cronies what to protect the people that made millions of this mess by giving their former colleagues our tax money to keep them from losing all their millions they made while most of America suffers.

And here is the kicker. He wants complete authority with no oversight whatsoever. Sound unbelievable? Here is section 8 of the proposed bailout. "Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency."

The money they want to give to their friends and colleagues is your money. It is your children's money. In fact 700 billion is approximately $2500 for every man, woman and child in the United States.

Are you ready to give $2500 of your money to help out the guys who made millions through mismanagement? Then tell them use it anyway you want and we won't watch or review it?

I think not. This is Bush and Hank Paulson trying to raid the safe before they leave the company in a few months.

Obama is saying. Hold up lets look at this. McCain is all over the place as usual. The facts are some bailout will be necessary. But throwing more money without changing the regulatory situation that Bush and McCain created is just plain stupid.
Bailing out those that made millions while leaving the people that were wrong who are losing their homes, is just plain immoral.

We need wisdom from a man like Barack Obama to actually solve the problems that created this mess. Not a transfer of the funds of the U.S. Treasury to the millionaires that created and benefited from it.

How Dare They

This morning I sat and watched George W. Bush preach to us on what is good for the economy. Later he went on to say "I decided to act and act boldly." Then he gave us his apparently new revelation. "Turns out that the collapse of one part of the system affects the whole system."

George W you have lost all credibility in telling anyone what is good for the economy. It is your policies that have crippled not only the U.S. Economy but has put the worlds economy in danger. Claiming that you acted at all especially "boldly" is crap. You Sir have done nothing.

Then yesterday there was John McCain. Mr Keating 5 himself who interfered to stop investigation into a failed savings and loan to lead to the last economic crises. Who preached for 26 years against regulation to let the corporations and banks do whatever they wanted. To allow greed to rule rather then common sense. To put our nations economy at risk. To have a campaign run by the very people that has influenced Congress to allow this to happen. Then you try to blame Barack Obama?

Hypocrites, both. Liars both. You are both directly involved in creating this mess. Americans want change. Not more protections for the corporations so that they can operate on a motive of greed and when they mess up we the taxpayers have to pay to keep them alive?

Yes I am pointing fingers. Because it is clear who is responsible. The Republicans are clearly responsible. It is them that said all regulation is bad. It is them that have given the corporations every thing they want. It is them that allowed greed and profits to grow for the rich on the backs of the middle class. Now suddenly they want government intervention to have the very middle class that has been injured by all of this to now pay to bail them out.

How dare they try to take credit for fixing the problem they created. How dare they ask for us to pay for their greed. How dare they try to blame Barack Obama.

Enough is Enough, It is time for real solutions offered by Barack Obama. Not more money to the corporations that have blown it.

OH:07 District no longer "Safe Republican"

CQ Politics that rates the congressional races around the country has changed the 7th congressional district in Ohio from a rating of "republican safe" to "republican likely."

Steve Austria the RepubOILcan candidate has run a lifeless campaign simply repeating old tired Republican talking points and offering nothing new. His problems caused by getting caught plagiarizing an op ed article in the Xenia newspaper and his newest problem with photographs showing military in uniform on his literature and website in violation of Department of Defense rules have not helped. I am sure their response to this news will be their ongoing whine of, but but Austira is handpicked by Hobson.

With the terrific campaign that Sharen Neuhardt is running along with the new fundraising boosts from the DCCC and Emily's List, this could be an upset in the making.

source:CQpolitics.com

McCain's Lie of the Day:Raines

In an ad and in a speech this morning John McCain once again tells a flat out lie to the American People. He claims that Franklin Raines is an advisor to Barack Obama. This is a flat out lie. In fact he has never met with Barack Obama, ever.

This is an amazing false accusation considering that John McCain's Campaign Manager lobbied for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. That 700 lobbyists are involved in his campaign in one form or another.

Once again John McCain proves to America that he is a:



Honesty is the most important trait in a President, John McCain is not qualified to be President

White Privilege

Rarely do I post something in whole from other sources. But growing up and currently working in Southeast Ohio, the issue of race is quite clearly, as Ted Strickland said, "the Elephant in the Room." The following article was brought to my attention by Jill on her blog, "Writes like she Talks" I felt it was important enough to re post on mine as well.

This is Your Nation on White Privilege

By Tim Wise

For those who still can’t grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because “every family has challenges,” even as black and Latino families with similar “challenges” are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself a “fuckin’ redneck,” like Bristol Palin’s boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll “kick their fuckin' ass,” and talk about how you like to “shoot shit” for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don’t all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you’re “untested.”


White privilege is being able to say that you support the words “under God” in the pledge of allegiance because “if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it’s good enough for me,” and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the “under God” part wasn’t added until the 1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.


White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.


White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was “Alaska first,” and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she’s being disrespectful.


White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you’re being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you’re somehow being mean, or even sexist.


White privilege is being able to convince white women who don’t even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a “second look.”


White privilege is being able to fire people who didn’t support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.


White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God’s punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you’re just a good church-going Christian, but if you’re black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you’re an extremist who probably hates America.


White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a “trick question,” while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O’Reilly means you’re dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.


White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a “light” burden.


And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren’t sure about that whole “change” thing. Ya know, it’s just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain…


White privilege is, in short, the problem.

www.redroom.com

The Economic crises forces McCain to face reality.

For almost a month now the McCain campaign has tried somewhat successfully distract the media and the voters from the real issues in this campaign. By spouting lies and false accusations and distortions. We have been hearing about lipstick, pigs, troopergate, and tanning beds. But and issue has exploded and forced McCain and the media to deal with it. That is the Economy

For 28 years Republicans have been selling the American voter a bill of goods. That it is government that is the problem. It's the regulations, the controls, and the taxes. Privatize everything and market forces will take care of it all. Help the rich and corporations get richer and some will trickle down to you.

Let's look at what has happened.

Oil Companies were deregulated and given tax breaks, they make record profits while prices are crippling the budget of every American and effecting the economy with higher prices in every sector.

Banks were deregulated. They are failing at an alarming rate causing people to lose their savings, pensions and costing taxpayers with bailouts. Record foreclosures causing millions to lose their homes. Others to lose the value of their primary asset.

Corporate tax breaks were given that has resulted in huge bailouts and salaries for CEO's while these corporations ship more and more jobs overseas.

The rich have gotten richer the middle class has gotten poorer. Averages wages have dropped.

What did not happen is that though Bush and McCain wanted to privatize social security they failed. Can you imagine if they had with what has happened in the stock market? Millions of Senior Citizens would be left with nothing.

McCain has again and again over the years fought regulation, blamed government oversight and tried along with the other Republicans to call responsible oversight, regulation and preventative measures everything from "liberal" evils to socialism.

Now suddenly McCain is for Regulation?

John McCain IS partially responsible for this mess after his 32 years of leading us down this path to economic ruin along with his Republican cohorts.

His claiming he can fix it now is like a guy pushing someone in the deep end of the pool and then asking for a reward for saving him from drowning.


Enough is Enough, John McCain. Americans will not fall for your labeling everything "liberal", to your 3 second sound bites that mean nothing.

There is a man that has detailed the policies and changes this country needs in his 3 books, in every speech and in detail in his literature and web site. A man that has had consistent views and plans on what changes this Economy needs, unlike McCain that came up with his plan yesterday. That man is Barack Obama. He is the President Americans need.

McCain's Friends

Help Moveon.org air this ad

McCain's Lie of the Day:The Economy

McLiar had this to say yesterday on CNBC. "I understand the economy. I was chairman of the Commerce Committee that oversights every part of our economy."

According to the Washington Post this is actually what the Commerce Committee does:

The full list of Commerce Committee oversight areas follows:


1. Coast Guard.
2. Coastal zone management.
3. Communications.
4. Highway safety.
5. Inland waterways, except construction.
6. Interstate commerce.
7. Marine and ocean navigation, safety, and transportation, including
navigational aspects of deepwater ports.
8. Marine fisheries.
9. Merchant marine and navigation.
10. Nonmilitary aeronautical and space sciences.
11. Oceans, weather, and atmospheric activities.
12. Panama Canal and interoceanic canals generally, except as provided
in subparagraph (c).
13. Regulation of consumer products and services, including testing
related to toxic substances, other than pesticides, and except for
credit, financial services, and housing.
14. Regulation of interstate common carriers, including railroads,
buses, trucks, vessels, pipelines, and civil aviation.
15. Science, engineering, and technology research and development and
policy.
16. Sports.
17. Standards and measurement.
18. Transportation.
19. Transportation and commerce aspects of Outer Continental Shelf
lands.

But if McCain really wants credit for this mess the Republicans have created who like him have eliminated every regulation to prevent this banking crises from happening then it's all his.

Also today in McCain's new ad, "Enough", he says: "I won't tolerate a system that puts you and your family at risk. Your savings, your job."

Oh really, for decades McCain has worked to eliminate every regulation that does protect our families and savings. Speaking of savings, when McCain took money to intercede on the behalf of now convicted savings and loan felon, Charles Keating, who's savings was McCain protecting then?

OH-07:Neuhardt gains Emily's List Endorsement

It has been a good week for the Neuhardt for Congress Campaign. Last week they were added to the DCCC's Red to Blue List and now she has gained the endorsement of Emily's List.

Here is what they have to say about Sharen:

"As a lifelong resident of Ohio, Sharen Neuhardt understands and is dedicated to the concerns of Ohio’s 7th district. An accomplished lawyer, Neuhardt will work for fundamental and systemic improvements to health care and to develop new technologies for energy independence. Neuhardt sits on the Board of Trustees of Premier Community Health in Dayton, Ohio, a project that offers free mammograms, pap tests and other services to uninsured women. Neuhardt’s commitment to Ohio is apparent through her active involvement with local communities and farmers to preserve their agricultural heritage, and to protect family farms and agricultural land from development. Because of her leadership, experience, and dedication to her community, Sharen Neuhardt will make her a valuable voice for the working families she will represent in Congress."

The Momentum in the Ohio 7th is clearly with Sharen Neuhardt.

Dr. Bob Fitrakis on WVKO

Starting tommorow Dr. Bob Fitrakis will have a daily radio show on the Progressive Radio Station WVKO 1580 in Columbus. Dr Fitrakis is a nationally known and respected author and advocate for voting rights. Many know his blog FraudbusterBob.

I think this is a great move for WVKO for the 5-6pm drive time slot. Dr. Fitrakis brings a long history of experience and knowledge to the airwaves.

If your not within radio range of Columbus you can pick up the stream on the internet at www.wvko1580.com.

OH-07:Is Austria putting Military Personnel at Risk?

Steve Austria has used this photo both in literature and now on his web site. It Appears to show 3 Military Personnel in Uniform.




Department of Defense Directive 1344.10. Prohibits Military Personnel from appearing at campaign events or to be used in campaign literature while they are in uniform.

So either Austria has put these three men at risk within the military or the picture is fake.

I'm betting on fake.

OH-07:Sharen Nuehardt's Monday

Sharen Nuehardt candidate for Congress in the 7th district, did what needed to be done yesterday. She took a day off campaigning and got out and helped the community to clean up after the devestating windstorm.



Today, I am aware that volunteers and staff of the Obama campaign are spending their day cleaning up debris in the Lancaster area.

Ohio is under a state of emergency, it is impressive that Sharen, her staff and the Obama staff know where to put their priorities.

RepubOILcans show their true motives.

It is quite clear that "drill here, drill now" is just another mean nothing slogan the RepubOILcans want to use to try to fool Americans. As we speak the Democrats in Congress are proposing a compromise measure to be able to actually accomplish something. But as usual the RepubOILcans in Congress oppose it.

This bill takes off the federal moratorium on drilling more the 50 miles off shore and leaves drilling up to the states. This would open a significant number of areas to new drilling leases to the oil companies.

So why would the RepubOILcans oppose this?

1. The bill ends tax breaks for the Oil Companies that are making record profits on the back of American consumers.

2. The bill requires additional usage of renewable sources of energy by the electric companies.

3. The moratorium expires on September 30th anyway, so the Bush administration can pad his buddies in the oil industry's balance sheets by approving unlimited drilling leases.

4. The RepubOILcans don't actually want any actual solutions to the energy crises they instead want to block any progress so they can try to blame the other side in the upcoming elections.


Republicans true motives are simple, more profits for their big oil donors and have a simple minded slogan to use in the next election. This is how they have operated for decades. This time its destroying our economy, hitting our wallets every day, and risking our national security.

Enough is Enough.

We need solutions not slogans.

McLiar's New Ad: Crisis

Here is the text of McLiar's new ad on the Economy.


"Our economy in crisis. Only proven reformers John McCain and (vice presidential candidate name banned from this web site) can fix it."

Proven reformers? McCain has voted with Bush 90% of the time. How is the Bush Economy working out for you. His Vice Presidential Candidate took a town of 6000, that was financially sound and left it in huge debt."

"Tougher rules on Wall Street to protect your life savings."

Really now? This would upset the lobbyists that run McLiar's campaign. In particular his Chief Economic advisor, Phil Graham who was the architect of the banking reform bill that has created this mess in the first place.

"No special interest giveaways."
Lets see, 150 lobbyists are part of McCain's campaign. The VP candidate requested a higher number of earmarks then any other state in the union, and requested 27 Million in earmarks for a town of 6000, people.

"Lower taxes to create new jobs."

Oh yes lower taxes for the rich and corporations and it will trickle down to the middle class. Yes this has been the Republican plan since Reagan now, how is this working out?

Here is the truth on the Tax plans:
Your Tax Cut with Obama


"Offshore drilling to reduce gas prices."
Oh yes drill here drill now, so that our gas prices in 2030 may come down a few cents, what from $8 a gallon to $7.97?

Smoke, mirrors and simplistic do nothing solutions. McCain clearly offers more of the same.

Is John McCain hood winking the Pro life crowd?

Yesterday I heard a McCain ad on WTVN radio in Columbus touting his pro stem cell research stand. I was actually a bit surprised by this after all his newly regenerated pro life supporters are clearly not fans of his stand on this issue.

Chuck Baldwin the Constitution Party's candidate for President has this to say on his web site: "Once again, "pro-life" Christians are doing back flips to try and justify their compromise of the life issue by trying to convince everyone (including themselves) that John McCain is truly pro-life. However, these same people know in their hearts that John McCain shares no fidelity to the life issue in any significant or meaningful way. Like many in the Republican Party, McCain's commitment to life is about as deep as a mud puddle."

He goes on to say: ""? If the GOP had truly wanted to overturn Roe v. Wade and end legal abortion-on-demand, they could have already done it. They controlled the White House, the U.S. Senate, and the House of Representatives for six long years, for goodness sake. The reason they did not do it is because they did not want to do it. They merely want to use "pro-life" rhetoric as a campaign tool to dupe gullible Christian voters every election year. And the disgusting thing about it is--it works."

John McCain did vote twice to support stem cell research so for once his advertisement is actually true.

McCain also had this to say in April of 2000. "But political intolerance by any political party is neither a Judeo-Christian nor an American value. The political tactics of division and slander are not our values.

They are corrupting influences on religion and politics and those who practice them in the name of religion or in the name of the Republican Party or in the name of America shame our faith, our party and our country.

Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance whether they be Louis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left, or Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right."

Is this the same man speaks at Liberty University, and embraces intolerant men like Pastor John Hagee?

So those of you all excited because McCain picked someone that puppets the talking points of the Christian right for Vice President. Are you sure you really know who John McCain really is?




source: http://www.newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin465.htm

Mcain's Lie of the Day: Karl Rove Addition

John McCain's series of attack ads that are full of distortions and lies have even been criticized of by all people, Karl Rove. He said, "McCain has gone in some of his ads -- similarly gone one step too far," he told Fox News, "and sort of attributing to Obama things that are, you know, beyond the '100 percent truth' test."

Today's lie of the day is from Campaign spokesman, Tucker Bonds who said the Obama campaign has shown zero restraint considering what gulf residents were going through.

Zero Restraint? The fact that Obama has zero, nada, not one public campaign event today? That they attempt to make it seems that Obama has been running sleazy attack ads against McCain as well?

The reality is this, name one single untrue or distorted advertisement run by the Obama campaign. Name one single lie uttered from Obama, Biden or any other surrogate of the campaign.

Their tactic is this. To gain from voter apathy. To get people sucked into the "all politicians lie" syndrome. Their hope beyond hope is to keep you from voting because of that frustration.

It will not work. It is clear that one campaign is being run on the issues, with the facts and with the truth. The other tries to misdirect, lie, distort and frustrate. Why because they cannot win with the facts. It is Barack Obama that is on the right side of the issues that are important to most Americans.

Once again even Karl Rove proves that John McCain is a:



Honesty is the most important trait in a President, John McCain is not qualified to be President.

McCain's Lie of the Day September 14th edition

There are so many to choose from today, but most are lies they continue to repeat over and over again despite the fact the media and fact checkers have called them on them again and again.

The Bridge to Nowhere killing (Lie)
Obama will raise taxes on middle class (Lie)
McCain is a reformer (Lie)
The Media is picking on the VP choice (Lie)
The Media has a liberal bias (Lie)

Those are just a few of the lies they repeat over and over again hoping voters will ignore all the obvious facts. Similar to the Bush plan of repeating the lie that Iraq had something to do with 9/11 which by the way the vp choice of McCain repeated again on Thursday.

But for the Lie of the day I choose one from the ad being run in Ohio right now where McCain claims the Obama campaign has belittled his V.P. Choice by calling her good looking.

Here is the total quote they are referencing from ABC News as reported by FactCheck.Org.

ABC News, Aug. 31, 2008: "From our perspective the whole deal is how does the government help you get back up without getting in the way?" Biden asked. "There's a gigantic - gigantic - difference between John McCain and Barack Obama, and between me and I suspect my vice presidential opponent. And that is that - "
The crowd laughed.
"Well there's obvious differences," Biden said, beginning to ham it up. "She's good looking," he said, laughing. "You know there's obvious differences. But there's a whole lot -- "
A woman shouted: "you're gorgeous!" to Biden.
"Where's that person?" Biden asked. "Who said that? Who said that? Would you say that again for my wife?"
"You're gorgeous!" the woman yelled.
"Oh, I tell you what, would you make sure Jill hears that?" Biden joked. "You know what I mean? I just want to make sure she hears that. I haven't heard that in a long, long, long time. And hanging out with this lean, young-looking guy is making me feel pretty old, you know what I mean?"
Biden continued his riff. "I thought I was in pretty good shape til I hung out with this guy, you know what I mean?"
"Joe's looking good," said Obama.
"Yeah, I'm looking good alright, I tell you what," Biden said. "But look, folks, let me end with, on a serious note here. On a serious note -- I was a pretty good football player, man," he said to Obama "We oughta talk a little bit after this. Okay? --But look, on a very serious note ..."
He then continued with his very serious note.

No belittling there that anyone with a brain sees. Therefore once again McCain is proven to be a:



Honesty is the most important trait in a President, John McCain is not qualified to be President.

Greenspan critical of McCain's Tax Plan

Alan Greenspan, despite the fact he is a long time friend of John McCain, made it clear that McCain's plan of willy nilly tax cuts without offsetting spending reductions will only result in more debt. McCain's response is that he will cut earmarks.

As usual more smoke and mirrors from McCain and he just flat out isn't being honest with the American People. First of all earmarks are just a drop in the bucket in the federal budget, secondly not all earmarks are bad nor should be eliminated.

Earmarks pay for schools, infrastructure, libraries, research that leads to some of the discoveries in medicine, and energy solutions this country needs. Chances are you drive every day on a highway or bridge that was partially paid for by earmarks, perhaps you or your children has attended a school that had some funding from earmarks. You may take medicines or drive a car that is more efficient because of the same earmarks.

McCain like most republicans likes to speak in simplistic, cut taxes and earmarks are bad speeches that have no basis in reality. Where Obama has an economic plan that is realistic detailed and cuts taxes for 90% of of Americans.

Real solutions not middle school phrases is what this country needs.

source:Bloomberg News

OH-07:The Annoited One Whines

Steve Austria's campaign in a panicked response to the DCCC adding the Ohio 7th to the Red To Blue List, has responded in typical fashion. They are repeating their statement that he was "hand picked" by Hobson. Then they claim this is a Republican district.

Well bad news for Austria. Despite the fact this district was clearly gerrymandered to make it a safe Republican district it no longer is. Ted Strickland won it by 22%, Sherrod Brown won it by 2%, Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district 32% to 24% and according to a recent poll voters in the 7th District self identify themselves as Democrats over Republicans 46-36%.

So whine all you want Mr Anointed one, Austria. Panic as you see the inflow of cash and staff and volunteers to Neuhardt's Campaign. Voter's will pick who our next Congressional representative is not Dennis Hobson.

No Palin Zone

I have been as guilty as anyone else on the blogs, in the media and otherwise in letting the McCain campaign use the false prop of Sarah Palin to divert our attention from the real issues.

The McCain campaign manager actually said this election is not about the issues. He told us right out what their strategy was and we have all fallen for it.

No more on this blog will that happen. This is the last post repeating what we all know about her. That she is a fake, that she has lied, that she has about as many qualifications to be Vice President as the waiter where I had lunch today.

It is on the issues that Barrack Obama must win. It is about his vision and sanity in foreign affairs. It is about restoring the moral authority and respect of the United States around the world. It is about using strong diplomacy verses threatening war every other week. It is about real solutions to energy, not elementary school slogans like drill, drill, drill. It is about real proven reform from a man that does not take money from pacs and lobbyists vs a Man that took more money from Charles Keating to intercede on his behalf then any of the other 4 Senators in the Keating five. A man who's campaign staff are lobbyists. It is about fixing a broken health care system with real solutions not gutting the only thing that works in health care, employer provided plans as McCain wants to do. It is about changing the direction this country is in, not supporting 90% of the Bush policies that have lead our country to the state it is in. It is not about bragging about your service to the military 30 years ago while voting against veteran's benefits.

This election is about food prices, home mortgages, leaders that lie our country into war. It is about our country torturing prisoners, about education. This election is about honesty. Where Barack Obama has been entirely consistent on his views on almost every issue, in every book he has written, every speech he has given and all his actions as a State Senator and a U.S. Senator, Meanwhile McCain has flip flopped on almost every issue and has ran a campaign of lies and distortions.

This election is about you and me and what the citizens of this nation need.

This is the message we must get out, because if we do, Americans will see there is one candidate in this race that actually can and will make the changes that this country needs.

I unlike most Americans don't get drawn into American Idol mania every season, and from this point on the name Palin will no longer appear in my blog.

Disrespectful?

In McCain's latest smear ad he tries to accuse Obama of being "disrespectful" to Palin. The truth is they have given her more respect then she deserves. When it is obvious to everyone, especially after her canned responses and display of incredible lack of knowledge on ABC News last night, the Obama campaign has bent over backwards not to attack her. Just imagine if a male candidate had avoided and didn't answer and showed that he didn't even understand the questions like she did last night. The media would be all over him. But no she is a woman so she did ok, considering. Give me a break. She wants to be Vice President for God's sake, this isn't the Miss Alaska pageant

Yet the truth is there is much to attack. Her far right wing actions as mayor of some little town and Governor of some little state leave much to concern all. Book Banning, firing anyone that doesn't bow ot her pressure. Using her office to carry out personal family vendetta's. Ignoring science over issues like evolution and global warming. Saying the Iraq war is a "Task from God," and praying to God to have a pipeline built.

Yet has the Obama campaign come out to attack her.. No. In fact neither has the mainstream media for the most part, despite what the right claims. The people pointing out most of these facts are bloggers.

They criticized the Obama campaign for saying she is lying. The fact is she is!. Last night alone she lied about her position on global warming. She has lied about her support for the bridge to nowhere.. That's just two and there are many more already reported and more to come I am sure.

McCain has put this country at risk by choosing a potential Vice President with no knowledge, no applicable experience for the purpose of political gain. Country First?

They are trying to fool women in this country into believing just because she is a woman any criticism of her record is sexist? Do they think women need to be defended, that they cannot stand on their own, cannot answer questions, cannot stand on their qualifications and experience? Quite clearly it is the McCain campaign that is showing sexism here by assuming all of these things.

The most outrageous yet sly image in this latest ad, is the end where they show a picture of Barack Obama, who by the way, have you noticed is black, with the word "disrespectful." i believe that is what they called Virgil Tibbs in the movie, In the Heat of the Night. But of course McCain wouldn't try to play to racial hate. Would he?

Fact: Palin did inquire about banning books

FACT: Palin did inquire about banning books. She did so at a public city council meeting as mayor.

FACT: Palin fired the Librarian a few weeks later after that librarian stood up in that council meeting and said that she would be completely opposed to removing any books from the library.

FACT: There was a public uproar among the citizens of that small town and Palin had to rehire the librarian

The McCain campaign is trying to gloss over this story by saying she did not actually ban any books. Of course she didn't the public prevented it. What is concerning is that she tried to do it at all.

Censorship, Banning books, Firing public officials that stand up for Constitutional Rights. What an American idol Sarah Palin is indeed.

OH-7:DNCC adds to Targeted List

Congressman Chris Van Hollen the Chair of the Red to Blue program of the DNCC has informed Sharen Neuhardt that the Ohio 7th District race has been added to the targeted list.

This is a reflection of the hard work of Sharen and her campaign along with increasing support and donations made by voters. This district held by Republicans since 1932 was once believed as unwinnable by the experts. So much for the experts.

Though this will help Sharen a great deal it can only be continued if the support directly to her campaign also continues on the same path.

Well done Sharen and staff, keep up the good work.

Donate to Neuhardt for Congress

Justice was Delivered says Bush

Today at the dedication of the memorial at the Pentagon Bush had this to say:

"Seven years ago at this hour, a doomed airliner plunged from the sky, split the rock and steel of this building, and changed our world forever. The years that followed have seen justice delivered to evil men and battles fought in distant lands."

He also said: "They will learn that this generation of Americans met its duty -- we did not tire, we did not falter, and we did not fail. They will learn that freedom prevailed because the desire for liberty lives in the heart of every man, woman, and child on Earth."

When exactly was Bin Laden brought to Justice? Many Americans did it fact meet their duty, the problem with your statment Mr. Bush is that you used the word "we." It is quite clear to the world that you sir, did not.

McCain's Lie of the Day

Today in another false ad approved by John McCain, they show a picture of Obama then quote factcheck.org that some attacks on McCain are misleading.

Factcheck.org had this response. "A McCain-Palin ad has FactCheck.org calling Obama's attacks on Palin "absolutely false" and "misleading." That's what we said, but it wasn't about Obama.

Our article criticized anonymous e-mail falsehoods and bogus claims about Palin posted around the Internet. We have no evidence that any of the claims we found to be false came from the Obama campaign."

This ad also mentioned a Wall Street Journal article by a right wing activist that Obama has an army of 30 lawyers and researchers to dig up dirt on Palin. This again is a blatant lie. There has been no lawyers, researchers or any personnel sent by either the Obama campaign or the DNC to Alaska to do any such thing. There is however an army of Lawyers sent by the McCain campaign to obstruct and strong arm the Alaskan legislature's investigation of Palin's missuse of her office in a family squabble.


Once again McCain is proven to be a:




Honesty is the most important trait in a President, John McCain is not qualified to be President

Dear God what does this mean?

We watched in confusion at the screen as smoke and flames poured out of one of the mighty structures. Wondering what, where, who and why this had just happened. Then We felt the collective gasp of the world as another plane struck.

Dear God what does this mean?

We forgot about everything our days were to be. We fixed our eyes on the images as they rushed into our living rooms slower only to the thoughts racing through our minds We stood there frozen in place, physically and mentally. How could this happen? Who would do this? Why?

Dear God what does this mean?

As we began to breath and try to pull ourselves together, moving toward the door to get to our lives, the horror of realizing it was not over, as the most powerful fortress ever conceived by man was ruptured with force and flame.

Dear God what does this mean?

Now it was fear that gripped us. How many? Where? Are we in danger? Where is my family? Where are my friends? We got on the phones or tried. We took inventory of our loved ones; we listened or watched every piece of news when we could where we could. Was this real, or something far away? I looked up to a sound to see two fighter jets fly over my city. My eyes met with the man’s eyes next to me who had also seen the jets. We said nothing with our lips but our eyes said the same thing.

Dear God what does this mean?

We became aware of the words to the loved ones of those on the plane still in the air. They expressed their love, their fear and their bravery. The words “Lets roll” as they gave their lives to save others. The sadness at the knowledge their lives ended in the field in Pennsylvania.

Dear God what does this mean?

As we watched in shock and horror as the towers fell. The fear in the eyes peering from the ash covered faces. Our own fear turned to desire to help, to pray, to find something anything we could do to help those people and their families.

Dear God what does this mean?

We felt the anger as it was clear who was responsible. This far away Man in this far away place expressing his hate for us. We don’t know him, he doesn’t know us. We as a nation were one; the vast majority of the world was one. There was resolve. There was determination. There would be justice; no one does this to us, to anyone. He will pay. They will pay.

Dear God what does this mean?

Our military with speed and power moved in response, our enemies and their supporters died were captured or fled. In such a far away place, in a far away culture our soldiers moved to seek justice. To right the wrong, to prevent it again, to ease our anger, to ease our fear. But is that possible?

Dear God what does this mean?

Seven years have now passed. We watch the families grieve for the ones they lost. We hear the bell toll the times of each act of tragedy. We think of how we thought the world would change, but did it? We have heard the numbers 9-11 used for many things on almost every day since. For reasons that make sense and many that do not. The unity of the country and the world is no longer evident. Fingers point as to who is at fault and who isn’t. We see the far away men from that far away place continue to tell us of their hate and how we should fear.

Dear God what does this mean?

Today we pray for those that were lost, for their families and their friends. We pray for the children whose memory of their parent is based more on a photograph then recollection. We pray for the city that still hurts in many ways. We pray for the soldiers that still fight for us and for them.

Dear God is this what it means?

Our prayers must continue for the nations with power and wealth that they use it for right. For those in the world that feel oppressed that they may feel enabled. For the poor that they might find comfort. For the hungry that they may find nourishment. For those that hate, that they may find love. For those that believe lies that they find the truth. For those that are ignorant that they find wisdom. For those that truly seek to serve their God that they understand truly his will. And most of all for Peace for us, for the Middle East, for this entire world.

Dear God please let this be what it means.

Barack's Quote of the Day: Enough is Enough

Barack Obama said what many voters were feeling today at an appearance in Norfolk, Virginia.

He said, "Enough! I don't care what they say about me. But I love this country too much to let them take over another election with lies and swift boat politics. Enough is Enough."

Later he went on to say, "So spare me the phony outrage. Spare me the phony talk about change. We have real problems in this country right now. And the American people are looking to us for answers, not distractions, not diversions, not manipulations. They want real answers to the real problems that we are facing. That's the kind of debate I intend to have because that's the kind of debate the American people deserve."

You go Barack!!

Here is the full video of the speech.

The issue we dont like to think about

An issue that though its rarely talked about that lies just under the surface in the minds of many Americans is, what if something happened to either John McCain or Barack Obama after they were elected President. It is an issue I don't like to think about either but McCain's choice in Vice President has forced me to do so more and more.

What if? That leaves us with either Joe Biden or Sarah Palin. Biden an experienced leader, has been a United States Senator for many years, raised his family has a track record of accomplishments on not only the national but the world stage, or Sarah Palin. She is no more then a prop with a good story which is falling apart at the seams every day. She was a Mayor of a town of 6000. She was elected Governor of one of the most least populated States in the Union a mere 18 months ago. Already she is being investigated for misusing her office for personal matters. She makes false claims and assertions each and every day and uses the Republican tactic of "Repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it."

A man that was chosen based on the only reason one should choose a Vice President their qualifications to be President, or a woman that excites the far right wing of the party with a good background story, but no substance.


This is an important "what if" question. Just think about the fate of our country with a President Joe Biden, vs a President Sarah Palin.

McCain Supports Sexual Predators?

In another in a series of lies and false attacks John McCain is running an ad criticizing Barack Obama for supporting a bill in the Illinois Legislature on sex education. This ad not by some wacko right wing fringe group but actually includes the statement, "I am John McCain and I approve this message," is an out right lie. It states that Obama supported a bill to give sex education to kindergartners.

The facts are that this bill was about age appropriate education to kids. For young children it was about education relating to sexual predators. Things like "good touch, bad touch."

By attacking this bill one can only surmise that John McCain is against trying to fight the scourge of sexual predators on our children.

Enough with the lies McCain, the gloves are off.




Honesty is the most important trait in a President, John McCain is not qualified to be President.

OH 07:Video of Sharen On the Trail

Here is a video of Sharen Neuhardt on the campaign trail this past weekend. I wrote about my experiences riding with Sharen on part of this trip a few posts down.

Neuhardt for Congress

Barack's Quote of the Day

Last night on Kieth Olberman Barack Obama said, "The Republicans can't govern but they run good campaigns."

He hit it right on the head. How else can you explain that RepubOILcans keep getting votes from people that are actually hurt by how they actually rule. Just look at the fact that most Americans now know that Iraq was a mistake in fact most know we were lied into war. Yet the Republicans have managed to change the topic not to getting into the war itself but to the "surge." How else do Americans by a whopping percentage know that American is on the wrong track on just about every issue, yet McCain is selling a message that another 4 years of the same is "change."

How do you explain that most Americans are horrified that we now torture prisoners, they are upset that we have lost our respect and moral authority around the world, yet the Republicans have convinced them that 200,000 people turning out showing their respect and excitement for a Barack Obama in Germany was somehow a bad thing. Remember Kennedy in Berlin, Reagan's "tear down this wall", we were proud of the respect our leaders garnered around the world, now we have a President that has to be snuck in at night to attend a meeting in a European country.

8 years of mismanagement of tax policy, spending, energy, banking has lead this country to the brink of economic collapse with more foreclosures since the depression, oil prices that are breaking the budgets of most citizens, food prices that shock every time you go to the store, and even people losing their life savings because of illness. McCain offers the same policies of the last 8 years, yet the polls are close?

McCain who was part of the Keating five savings and loan scandal, and has 7 top lobbyists running his campaign, a Vice Presidential Candidate that lies about her support for the "bridge to nowhere" and hired a lobbyist to obtain 27 million in earmarks for a town of 6000 people now claims they are "reformers."

While the Republicans have tried to convince that for our "safety and security" we must elect them, while in the last 8 years, we were victims of the worst terrorist attack on American soil in history, a city drowned while unqualified campaign donors placed in official positions showed their incompetence, and Iran, North Korea and terrorist organizations are now more a threat to us then ever. Now they want us to reward them with electing McCain President?

Yes quite clearly the Republican's cannot govern, but they sure can campaign.

Reality Check

Since the RepubOILcan convention the news media, the blogs and the general narrative has seemingly turned the Presidential campaign into some personality contest rather then a debate on issues. In fact a McCain spokesman actually said this election is not about the issues.

Well this isn't the Miss Alaska contest, this is about electing a President and Vice President of the United States. The voters elected a guy they would "like to have a beer with" 8 years ago, how is that working out. What is even more frustrating is even the personality aspects the RepubOILcans are selling are false.

In the last 8 years under a RepubOILcan President, our economy has hit the skids, gas prices have tripled, food prices have gone up, the number of jobs created has reduced, the rich have gotten richer and the middle class has gotten poorer. Average wages have gone down. As far as our safety and security, during this administration we suffered the worst terrorist attack on American soil, a major American city drowned while Bush went to fundraising events, we had the support of the world after 9/11 and now we have lost all moral authority in the world to accomplish anything, so that Iran and North Korean is more of the threat, Al Queda is as strong as they ever were, and Russia is taking steps to restore the Soviet Union and restarting the cold war.

Harry Truman once said, how long do you have to be beat over the head before you figure out who is hitting you.

Now McCain realizing American's want change is actually trying to portray himself as a "change" candidate. How can anyone believe this for a moment. The only thing he changes is his positions. On 27 major positions he has changed. He at one time did stand up to his party but now he has changed every single position to come in line with the far right of his party in order to get their nomination, and now he has selected as a running mate a totally unqualified small town hockey mom that has severe right wing positions that make McCain seem liberal. McCain supported the war, McCain was against the Bush tax cuts and is now for them. McCain voted with Bush 94% of the time. McCain talks about cleaning up corruption and the control of lobbyists in Washington when McCain was part of the biggest corruption scandals of all time being one of the "Keating 5." As far as influence by lobbyists, his campaign is being run by 7 of the biggest lobbyists in Washington.

It is Barrack Obama and Joe Biden that actually do and can work for change. First of all they are qualified. Second of all Obama's positions are clear and consistent. Those that say they don't know what Obama's positions on the issues are, are lazy. The man has written 2 books, clearly spelling out his stands. His web site covers every issue that anyone has interest in detail. By taking some time and reading through these things one can see that Obama's positions have not changed, his vision is realistic and intelligent and he has a History of bringing people together to actually get things accomplished.

This election is critical. We cannot elect a President and Vice President based on what happened to them 30 years ago or that they can kill a moose. We need actual leadership. One that has the knowledge, skill, motivation, and the ability to inspire people to achieve the things that every American needs. McCain and Palin offer nice stories, smoke and mirrors and distortions. Obama and Biden offer qualifications, vision and leadership.

OH 07: My Day with Sharen Neuhardt

I had the opportunity to get away from my keyboard and get out into the world of the real campaigns Sunday as I was invited by Sharen Neuhardt to travel with her for a day on the campaign trail. Sharen who is the Democratic Candidate for Congress in the 7th district has been a workhouse traveling hundreds of miles every week through out her very long district that encompasses at least part or all of Clark, Fairfield, Franklin, Fayette, Pickaway, Greene, Ross and Perry Counties. The district is 2848 square miles and over 110 miles from end to end.

Sunday which was a light day for her schedule began at 9 am at her home in Greene County, traveling over to Powell ohio, northwest of Columbus to attend the Teamsters local 413 Family Picnic at the Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay.



Though I was not yet with Sharen at this stop its my understanding she had to opportunity to introduce herself and talk to a number of the union members and their families.

The next stop was in Northwest Fairfield County to meet up with two more members of her staff and to pick me up at a local restaurant in Pickerington. A bit of small world irony here as we all got a chuckle at what else was at the same restaurant.


We then began our hour and a half trip to the town of Corning in Perry County. Along the way I had the opportunity to get to know Sharen. I was impressed on her grip and understanding of the issues and the needs of her district. This is no small task considering her district encompasses everything from the military families and workers in Fairborne who work at the Wright Patterson Air force Base, affluent families in suburbs of major cities such as the residents of Beavercreek near Dayton and Pickerington near Columbus, to small rural towns in Appalachia that had their hey day in the coal mining boom.

I asked Sharen why with her comfortable career as an attorney why she would decide to put in all this work, travel and sleep deprivation to run for Congress. She had an answer I respect. Because she got mad. She watched what was going on in this country and how things were going in Congress and she felt she had the ability to do something about it now, rather then let these problems be passed on to her children's generation as they were passed on unsolved to ours.

We discussed how the 7th district has been represented by a Republican since 1932 and though the Hobson put most of his attention on the western part of the district, the central and eastern parts, such as Circleville, Lancaster and New Lexington had little attention during his tenor.

Along our drive through the hills of Perry county we took notes of towns like Shawnee that were clearly once bustling towns in the past now decaying and show the poverty that is now evident in an area that has lost its primary industry, coal. We arrived at the Perry County Democratic Club Picnic and Forum at a community park in Corning Ohio around 3:15pm



After listening to one of the local residents giving a historical presentation about Perry County Democratic Politics in the 1960's the candidates and a representative of the Obama campaign had the opportunity to speak for a few moments.

Sharen spoke to the group about the importance of electing Democrats from Barrack Obama and to Congress and to local races, such as Sheriff and County Clerk. She talked about how Steve Austria her Republican opponent was the "hand picked" one to be appointed to Congress in the 7th district by the Republican party. But Sharen said that we changed that kind of politics in 1776. She also pointed out on the issues that effect Perry County that "We do not ever get anything done unless we change the people in office."

From Corning we then traveled over to U.S. 33 up through Lancaster and arrived at the Violet Township Bicentennial Picnic in Pickerington Ohio.



Here I watched Sharen as she moved through the crowd listening and talking to citizens in attendance at the event. She introduced her self and listened to and discussed issues that concerned the people she talked to. Sharen told me she had talked to a woman who ran the Pickerington Food Bank, and what was surprising to me is that in what is seen as a fairly affluent area, the food bank is serving more and more people every day. She spoke of some elderly citizens that asked for less items in assistance from the Food Bank as they were concerned that there would be enough for the children and families also having need to use the services. She also stated that some were coming to the food bank less often due to the inability to afford the gas to get there.

Also at this event I had the opportunity to speak with some of Sharen's very talented staff. There are media and logistic challenges because of the shape and size of the 7th District but a unique challenge this year was attracting volunteers. The good news is there are legions of volunteers working with the Obama campaign the bad news is that leaves few to work on the down ticket races. However, the assistance and cooperation between the campaigns is helping a great deal.

I arrived back at my car at about 7pm and was exhausted. I can't imagine doing this every day as they do.

A few points of observation in summary. Sharen is an impressive hard working candidate. She has an understanding and can relate to the most affluent in Pickerington, to the union workers of the teamsters, to the struggling unemployed in Appalachia. One thing for sure, no matter how this race turns out, it will not be because Sharen didn't give her all.

It is imperative that all of us not only work for Barrack Obama but for our congressional candidates as well. To achieve the change and progress we all hope for and this country needs, it will take more then any President it will take people like Sharen Neuhardt in Congress. So fellow bloggers and readers, write away, but also get away from that keyboard and hit the streets for our candidates.

OH 07:What is Austria Copying in this Picture

Steve Austria's tendency to copy things and claim them as his own has been well documented. First Jeff at Ohio Daily Blog reported this week on the plagiarism by Austria in a Labor Day Op-Ed Austria submitted to the Xenia Gazette. This story was later picked up by the Dayton Daily News and the Springfield News-Sun.

Then I saw a copy of Austria's leaflet that his campaign is distributing. There is not a single line in this piece that is anything other then regurgitated republican talking points. The only thing in it that even mentions his potential district or Ohio at all is he lists the names of the military bases in the area. What is not in the piece is the word republican, apparently that he doesn't want people to know.


Speaking of Military, the piece also includes a photograph of Austria and seemingly active duty military personnel in uniform. Now either these are fake or he has put them at risk of charges for violating the military code of conduct.

Austria is a puppet with nothing unique or original from same old republican blathering we have heard for years.

I wonder what he is copying from a book in this picture, his biography perhaps?



His slogan on the front is Honesty, Integrity and Experience. Seems to me plagiarism and violating the Military code of conduct eliminates the first two. If he has so much experience you'd think he would have his own ideas and words to use once in a while.

OH 07: Austria a RepubOILcan Puppet on Energy

As it is on every issue Austria just repeats the RepubOILcan party line on energy. He uses their simplistic do nothing mantra of drill drill drill, which has been proven by every expert won't have any effect on oil prices for many years if ever, and will only serve to pad the the balance sheets of the oil companies.

When it comes to real solutions however Austria's record is even worse.

As a State Senator he voted to raise the gas tax.

He voted against investment in ethanol and biofuels which would have brought jobs and helped farmers in Ohio.

He voted against requiring a portion of the state governments electricity use come from renewable resources.

He even voted against increasing energy efficiency in state buildings.

In short Austria's plan is pad the oil companies prices and do nothing about gas prices for you and me.

Sharen Neuhardt on the other hand has a real plan.

She will work to:
Create 5 million new green jobs by investing $150 billion in green technology over the next 10 years.

Reduce our dependence on foreign oil by saving in the next 10 years more oil than we currently import from OPEC countries.

Place 1 million American-made, plug-in hybrid cars on our country’s highways by 2015.

Mandate 10 percent of our nation’s electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012 with an increase to 25 percent by 2025.

Once again the choice is clear, RepubOILcan slogans vs real solutions.

The Failure of McCain's Speech

It's a given that McCain is not the orator that Barack Obama is but his acceptance speech failed for reasons having nothing to do with his speaking skill.

First of all the one thing Republicans are good at is cynical false attacks. This was evidenced all week by speaker after speaker and is the tone that has been used by Republicans for decades that have divided this country along partisan lines. McCain despite the false and misleading commercials that he runs on a daily basis, wanted to come off as Mr. Nice Guy last night and it was frankly not believable.

The second and biggest problem was that the speech was all about how bad the last 8 years have been under the leadership, and I use that word loosely, of a Republican administration and how a new republican administration will fix the mess they made.
McCain tried to push a change message when the details of his speech was the same old republican mantra they have been chanting for the last 8 years.

He talked a lot about helping business, and high corporate tax rates, yet he seemed to forget the middle class. He stated that the good jobs were gone and mentioned some ridiculous government give away program to pay those the difference in the good Jobs people once had and the crappy jobs they can find now because of republican trade policies.

The most telling disconnect with the middle class came when McCain, instead of talking about the thousands of Americans actually losing their homes because of the mortgage crises, he instead used as an example a guy who lost all his real estate investments.

McCain also had a section on bi partisanship. He talked about reaching across the aisle, the example his campaign manager used today was working with Lieberman. I have news for you McCain, Lieberman is no democrat. He talked about getting things done without a care for who gets credit. Good sentiment but it was the Republican party that brought us Gingrich, Bush, Cheney and Rove, it was the republicans that demonized Clinton, that relentlessly attack the current House and Senate Leadership and block every single attempt by the Democrats in Congress to pass real solutions for the energy crises unless it involved padding oil companies profits with new unused oil drilling leases.

Then there was the old and tired "maverick" claims. You know I used to admire McCain for his "maverick" stance. But that was 4 years ago. Since then he has sold out on almost every single issue to suck up to the far right wing of his party to gain the nomination, including torture. He tried to claim he would change the damage caused by 8 years of the Bush presidency and 6 years of Republican rule, yet this man voted with Bush 90% of the time.

McCain's speech failed not because he is a boring speaker, but because it lacked three things, passion, substance and facts.

McCain's Speech Summarized

In short this was the message of McCain's speech tonight.

The last 8 years were a disaster, elect us again and we will work with Democrats and will bring change. Oh and don't forget I was a POW.

Democrats Running Scared?

Ever since the Palin pick the right wing talking point repeated over and over again is "The Democrats are Running Scared." When I was a boy I was taught that when one comes accross a barking dog, that if the tail is wagging they are just being playful if not they are scared.

Well as more and more facts have come out day by day about Sarah Palins actual qualifications, views and background, along with the total lack of reaction to her pick in the polls, our tails are wagging.

After all Barack Obama chooses a respected accomplished Senator with a life time of service and foriegn policy experience, and McCain chooses a wet behind the ears former Mayor of a town of 6700, and has barely had the time to find the bathrooms in the state capitol of Alaska.

I have news for the right wing wack jobs, there is no fear on our side, then again we deal in reality. We are looking to elect the next President and Vice President of the United States, not who can dress a Moose faster.

The Fantasy and Reality of Palin

As I watched Sarah Palin's speech last night I was struck by the similarities she was to a number of fictional political figures in television and movies. She has a good story, she looks good, and she says her lines well. Good job to the McCain casting director.

However she isn't a fictional character, she is being tapped by McCain to be second in line to commander in chief. Let's look at the reality here. She is completely unqualified. Twist the facts all they will about "small towns vs. cosmopolitan" but face it Obama's Senate Staff is larger then the whopping 50 employees she managed in her town. Call her a reformer all you want but the reality is she raised taxes, requested more earmarks per capita for Alaska then any other state, and she has been closely tied to disgraced Senator Ted Stevens and his 527 groups.

She delivered her script well on changing Washington, but the reality in what few actual positions she spoke of it was clear that she is another in the long line of RepubOILcans that want the same policies, the same direction and use the same lies as those that lead this country into losing its moral authority around the world, reduced our safety, lied us into war, devastated our military, promoted an energy policy that has lead our economy into the doldrums and increased poverty while enriching the oil companies, created a mortgage crises and health care costs that bankrupt families every day.

She played the role and spoke the lines to play the character of a "hockey mom" to appear to be like many women in this country. But in reality she is a right wing evangelical who wants to enforce her morals on all by taking away a woman's right to choose, ban books, ban sex education, choose judges based on ideology rather then qualifications, supports lies to start a war because she says it was a "Task from God," ignore the science of global warming and she wants schools to teach the religion of creation rather then actual science and she tries to use her positions to fire anyone that she disagrees with or has personal issues with.

Jimmy Smits made a great fictional Presidential candidate on television in the West Wing, and Sarah Palin makes a great fictional vice presidential candidate. But this isn't a television show, this is reality.

The "Reformer" Sarah Palin

The Mcsame campaign and Sarah Palin herself are touting her as a reformer.

But lets look a the facts. She was a director on the incorporation papers of the 527 group of indicted Senator Ted Stevens called the Excellence in Public Service, Inc.

She also claims to be against earmarks but just last year as Governor of one of the smallest by population states in the union, she requested through that same corrupt Senator, 31 Earmarks for 197 million dollars. That is more per-ca pita then earmark requests for any other state.

She also flat out lied when she said she was against the "Bridge to Nowhere." She actively campaigned for that earmark which is documented by citizens and photos available through many sources.

Palin is just giving us more of the same lies we are used to from RepubOILcans. To all those in the Christian Right that are so enamored with her, was "thou shalt not lie", removed from the 10 commandments recently?

Palin fires Police Chief to help her campaign contributors

ABC News is reporting that when Sarah Palin was elected Mayor by 671 voters in Alaska, she fired the Police Chief because he wanted to change the closing time of bars from 5am to 2 am. He wanted to do this to cut down on fights and drunk driving arrests. Now why would the champion of the Christian Right who was "saved" from her Catholic upbringing and "found Jesus," want to keep bars open longer? Well because they were contributors to her campaign of course.

They along with the contributors in the NRA who also had issues with the Police Chief because he had concerns about allowing concealed weapons, were not happy thus she fired him.

Now how much money in contributions does it take exactly to win 671 votes? Well you wouldn't think much but it cost a long time Police Chief his career.

Reformer, yea right.

The Republicans Laughable Experience Argument

The Republicans with a straight face keep trying to claim Palin has credible experience and actually trying to claim it's more experience then Obama. Let us examine this shall we.

Palin: Bachelors at Idaho State














Obama:Top of class Harvard Law


Palin: Runner Up Miss Alaska


Obama:Community Organizer in Chicago



Palin: Part time Mayor of Wasilla?


Obama: Illinois State Senator


Palin: Governor here at Alaska State Capitol


Obama: United States Senator


Republicans may lie, but pictures don't.