President-Elect Obama

“Change has come to America.”

With those words, Obama accepted the designation “President-elect.”

In Montgomery County,  voter apathy of the Election 2008 primary dissipated as a surge of voters discontent with economic and military policies of the Bush regime turned out in impressive numbers to cast their ballots and make history in the process.

Either way, the election would step onto new ground: with a female Vice-President or with the country’s first African American President. In the early tallies from the East Coast, Obama surged forward with a momentum that garnered all six New England states, including the New Hampshire communities that in an upset vote brought McCain into the race for the presidency.

Florida fell into the Obama camp, and North Carolina. The McCain “Republican red” popped up in dribs and drabs, but with Obama’s taking of Pennsylvania and Ohio, the die was cast; by 11 p.m. the 270th electoral vote was claimed, and surpassed. By 11:30 p.m., Obama was assured victory with 338 electoral votes and counting.

At the Riverview Inn, a packed house of hundreds of campaigners gathered, cheered, chanted and occasionally rattled the rafters with screaming as their candidate deliberately and diligently walked into the White House.

Just a few days ago, many publications including Clarksville Online published a picture of the late Robert Kennedy circa 1968 that stated “in about 40 years we will have a black president.” Tonight, new young voters, older voters, men and women of  varied ethnic backgrounds, gender, economic status and religious beliefs found a meeting of the minds in the casting of their votes. They made history in a way that has not been seen since the political turmoil of the 60s. The result was exhilirating.

With two large screen televisions booming out the results in a play by play, state by state fashion, the electoral votes just kept stacking up. When the West coast went solid blue from the Mexican to the Canadian borders, it was all but over (our apologies to Hawaii and its time zone distance).

Clarksville Online, with two laptops in use for tracking and posting election results, also tracked global coverage: the BBC, which had an Election bus in Clarksville several weeks ago, was tracking the U.S. elections live, as were news sites in China, Kenya, Chile, and a host of other countries. Some 70 countries had in recent months made known their preference for Obama over McCain, and they were all watching American broadcasts Tuesday night, the culmination of a long day.

Charles Moreland fielding a phone call at Democratic headquarters

Early Tuesday morning, Democratic headquarters was bustling. People seeking 11th hour signs, buttons and bumper stickers came through the doors. The aroma of coffee filled the rooms. Volunteers punched out phone numbers, calling registered voters to remind them to “get out and vote.”

Clarksville Online began its traditional circuit of all precincts in Montgomery County, speaking with voters, documenting the election on film, tracking how many people are voting in which precincts.

A tidal wave of voters cast ballots before 9 a.m. At the Jaycee’s on Hwy 48, a poll worker said she had more voters “in the first hour that in the entire primary.” Some polling places had a 100 people in line, some with 45 minute to one hour waits. It is a testament to concerns about the war, the economy, health care and other issues that few if  any left. Conspicuous too was the presence of hundreds of younger and first time voters in the crowds.

Adeline Burr, 100 years young, watched "history" unfold with Obama's win

Adeline Burr, 100 years young, was seated at the MCDP/Clarksville for Obama celebration. She had not voted in 20 years, but re-registered for the 2008 election. She not only went to the polls to cast her Obama vote, she spent time at the Riverview Inn reception despite recent surgery on her knees. She has seen a lifetime of political change and political battles, and had lived through segregation and the civil rights movement. To see a Black American step into the presidency is something she once could only dream about.

“It’s come true,” she said. “It’s true. I’d never thought I’d see this day.”

Glenellen and Hazelwood schools were jammed with traffic as the last few hours of voting descended. A “steady stream” of people became a river, and parking was at a premium even at 500 feet from the polling place.

John and Kadi Ralston though “the voting went smoothly” and said they were “not surprised” by the crowds given that registration of new voters was record-breaking for this election.

Alicia Piekarski, 18, an Obama supporter, wants the kind of generational change she feels Obama will bring to nation. Currently, Piekarski is studying contemporary issues in schools, and had read numerous articles and had class discussion of the candidates and the issues in the race. Piekarski felt “prepared” to make her choice.

Becca Smith casts her first Presidential vote

College freshman Becca Smith cast the first vote of her life at Ringgold Elementary School. Smith, who candidly admitted she voted the Obama ticket, said “I like what he stands for. McCain drives me up the wall, and there are no words to explain (Sarah Palin).” Smith was “nervous” about voting but said the explanations were “comprehensive.” She felt that with her vote she was part of history.

At each polling place, a plethora of volunteers, some settled into folding chairs, hunkered down for a day of campaigning,were armed with signs, balloons and flags (the latter positioned around Obama/Biden signs).

At Republican headquarters, volunteers prepared to celebrate a McCain win for the State of Tennessee, and were quick to defend their roster of candidates.

At Democratic headquarters on Madison Street, phone bankers were making those last minute calls, arranging to get people to the polls, and planning for the evening’s reception.

As twilight fell, and with bated breath, the waiting began. Seeds planted two years ago germinated, grew and matured to a dream harvested in just a few short hours Tuesday night.

On the road, tracking precincts and voter turnout:

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Celebration at the Riverview Inn:

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Sen John McCain

Thank you. Thank you, my friends. Thank you for coming here on this beautiful Arizona evening.

My friends, we have — we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly.

A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Sen. Barack Obama to congratulate him. To congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.

In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight. I’ve always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Sen. Obama believes that, too.

But we both recognize that, though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation’s reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound.

A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt’s invitation of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters.

America today is a world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States.

Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth.

Sen. Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer him my sincere sympathy that his beloved grandmother did not live to see this day. Though our faith assures us she is at rest in the presence of her creator and so very proud of the good man she helped raise.

Sen. Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain.

These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.

I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.

Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that. It is natural. It’s natural, tonight, to feel some disappointment. But tomorrow, we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again.

We fought — we fought as hard as we could. And though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours.

I am so deeply grateful to all of you for the great honor of your support and for all you have done for me. I wish the outcome had been different, my friends.

The road was a difficult one from the outset, but your support and friendship never wavered. I cannot adequately express how deeply indebted I am to you.

I’m especially grateful to my wife, Cindy, my children, my dear mother and all my family, and to the many old and dear friends who have stood by my side through the many ups and downs of this long campaign.

I have always been a fortunate man, and never more so for the love and encouragement you have given me.

You know, campaigns are often harder on a candidate’s family than on the candidate, and that’s been true in this campaign. All I can offer in compensation is my love and gratitude and the promise of more peaceful years ahead.

Gov. Sarah Palin

I am also — I am also, of course, very thankful to Gov. Sarah Palin, one of the best campaigners I’ve ever seen, and an impressive new voice in our party for reform and the principles that have always been our greatest strength, her husband Todd and their five beautiful children for their tireless dedication to our cause, and the courage and grace they showed in the rough and tumble of a presidential campaign.

We can all look forward with great interest to her future service to Alaska, the Republican Party and our country.

To all my campaign comrades, from Rick Davis and Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter, to every last volunteer who fought so hard and valiantly, month after month, in what at times seemed to be the most challenged campaign in modern times, thank you so much. A lost election will never mean more to me than the privilege of your faith and friendship.

I don’t know — I don’t know what more we could have done to try to win this election. I’ll leave that to others to determine. Every candidate makes mistakes, and I’m sure I made my share of them. But I won’t spend a moment of the future regretting what might have been.

This campaign was and will remain the great honor of my life, and my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for the experience and to the American people for giving me a fair hearing before deciding that Sen. Obama and my old friend Sen. Joe Biden should have the honor of leading us for the next four years.

I would not — I would not be an American worthy of the name should I regret a fate that has allowed me the extraordinary privilege of serving this country for a half a century.

Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. That is blessing enough for anyone, and I thank the people of Arizona for it.

Tonight — tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Sen. Obama — whether they supported me or Sen. Obama.

I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here.

Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.

Thank you, and God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you all.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tennessee stayed Red, selecting John McCain as its presidential choice over Barack Obama, 30,167 to 25,702, a disappointment to the Clarksville for Obama organization, which ran a strong and well-organized Democratic effort on Obama’s behalf.

Republican Lamar Alexander retained his U.S. Senate Seat handily with 32,006 over his closest challenger, Democrat Robert D. Tuke, with 16,329.

Marsha Blackburn (R) comfortably held her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, 22,573 to 13,150 over challenger Randy G. Morris.

John Tanner held his U.S. House of Representatives 8th District seat with 97% of the vote, or 6,420 votes.

Democratic Challenger Tim Barnes took the District 22 State Senate Seat, ousting incumbent Rosalind Kurita, 27,996 to 15,700.

Joe Pitts easily retained his Tennessee House of Representatives 67th District seat with 12,519 votes (97,26%).

Tennessee House of Representatives 68th District seat was retained by Curtis Johnson with 18,172 votes (97.94%).

The much touted Wheel Tax Referendum was soundly defeated, 32,924 to 18,353.

With 99.085 (28,282 votes), Judge Charles Smith retained his judiciary seat.

City Council races are as follows:

Ward 3: James Lewis, 1243; Vincent S. Kruk 345.

Ward 4: Wallace Redd, 1358; Edward Fowler, 672.

Ward 5: Candy Johnson, 1501; Gary K. Brown, 611, Aaryn Coyle, 268.

Ward 8: David Allen, 2517;  Jim Doyle, 1359, David Cutting, 633.

Ward 9: Joel Wallace, 2035.

Ward 12: Jeff Burkhart, 2297; Wayne Harrison, 1981.

Obama, with a background of service to community and country, has proven to be an inspiration to millions of people across all demographics. He has conducted himself with ability, honor, and dignity, but most of all has offered clearly workable plans to rebuild America’s economy and military. He has shown qualities of leadership that can mend global fences and re-instill America’s honor around the world. His plans and programs are rooted in realistic assessments and objectives, and he has presented them with cautionary words that “restoring America” will take time, money, and will not happen overnight.

Obama has inspired millions of young people to register and vote, energizing the political playing field across America in a way that has not been seen since the Kennedy era and the time of Martin Luther King Jr. And like the late Martin Luther King, Obama has a dream for America.

Obama is reaching across traditional party lines and into the best of business and industry to accrue the best possible resources for the presidency, and has demonstrated the ability and willingness to work with those “bests” regardless of party affiliation.

Unfortunately, John McCain, despite his stellar service to country and his political experience, despite his self-prescribed “maverick” label, has proven to be too closely aligned to the “status quo” and Bush policies, a more compelling reason to oppose him than age and health issues.

His choice of vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin remains questionable at best: Palin’s “pitt bull” lowest common denominator attitude, “joe-sixpack” mentality and fundamentalist views are offensive to millions of voters and to women in particular, and her ability to conduct coherent political discussions and interviews is at best appalling for any candidate seeking one of the most powerful positions in America. Her apparent willingness to take on anybody at any time for any reason is frightening at best, since she completely bypasses diplomacy and negotiation and has implied she would go straight to war. Given McCain’s age, health and the potential stress impact of the presidency, the possibility of a Palin presidency does exist, and that is too frightening to contemplate.

The 2008 presidential election is being watched worldwide; this Guardian statement sums up the world view:

Not since the Kennedy era has such a contest resonated so potently with so many people in America and beyond, including in this country. But the circumstances of this year’s contest, the character of the protagonists and the immediacy of the internet age combine to mean that the 2008 election is likely to make a defining statement about America for this global generation that may eclipse even the impact of the contest of 1960. ~~ The Guardian UK

Here are some of the Obama endorsements from across America

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch called Obama’s opponent, John McCain, “the incredible shrinking man” who had made a horrific pick for his running mate.

Mr. Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, has emerged as the only truly transformative candidate in the race. In the crucible that is a presidential campaign, his intellect, his temperament and equanimity under pressure consistently have been impressive. He has surrounded himself with smart, capable advisers who have helped him refine thorough, nuanced policy positions … In a word, Mr. Obama has been presidential … .Meanwhile, Mr. McCain, the senior senator from Arizona, became the incredible shrinking man. He shrank from his principled stands in favor of a humane immigration policy. He shrank from his universal condemnation of torture and his condemnation of the politics of smear.

The Tennessean

Though Tennessee projected vote remains red, The Tennessean has endorsed Obama.

Obama, in the newspaper’s view, would bring a refreshing vitality to the White House. He has articulated an approach that would give the nation its best chance for change after the poor policies of the Bush administration for the last eight years. America needs new leadership, and Obama, the Democratic nominee, stands out as the best choice to be that leader … Obama represents a rare quality of hope in a time when hope seems to be in short supply among many Americans.

Dayton Daily News

Sen. McCain’s campaign has been as disappointing as his move toward party orthodoxy. More than his opponent, he has run a relentless stream of commercials that have been discredited by nonpartisan fact-checkers … His selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate was stunning. She is shockingly lacking in presidential qualifications.

Sacramento Bee

In this election, Americans are picking a future, not a past. That makes Barack Obama the better choice for president of the United States … By electing Obama, voters will make a clear break from the policies of the past eight years.

Wisconsin State Journal

America is at a pivotal point in its history — a difficult time that demands talented leadership to renew our nation’s spirit and pull us together to meet the incredible challenges ahead. The right leader for the time is Barack Obama … Far more than his opponent, Obama represents a new direction. He has shown he can inspire and lead people to action. And his relatively short time in corrupt, self-absorbed, terribly-failed Washington, D.C., may actually be a key strength. Obama is not stuck in the status quo of the Capitol crowd or its long-failed Congress. .. Obama doesn’t just give pretty speeches. He speaks to people’s best instincts, encouraging them to shine.

The Blade (Toledo)

As the nation wavers precariously at the precipice of economic ruin, American voters must decide who has the knowledge, steadiness, judgment, and inspirational qualities to lead us effectively out of that morass, for the next four years and beyond … without exaggeration, the country faces a transformational election on Nov. 4, not unlike that of 1932, which prefaced Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal and a long slog out of the Great Depresssion … We believe the person best equipped by temperament and intellect to firmly grasp the reins of government and guide it safely forward in these uncertain times is Barack Obama … Like another member of Congress from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, Senator Obama initially rose to prominence on the strength of soaring oratory. Over the past 18 months of the grueling campaign, his background has been thoroughly inspected and dissected by the press and a political opposition dedicated to keeping him from the White House.

Colin Powell

In what is the most eloquent endorsement of Obama whom he says has “met the standard of being president”, Colin Powell gives the reasons behind his endorsement:

Click here to view the embedded video.

In this momumental election the time has come to indeed choose hope over fear. We suggest that means casting your vote for Barack Obama.

This race isn’t really between Obama and McCain, though. More than any other time in recent history, this election is a referendum on ideas. It’s an election between worldviews and beliefs. While it’s true that all major elections have a certain flavor of mudslinging and catchphrases that run the gamut, one party’s campaign strategy actually attempted to imply the other as un-American and associated with terrorism. Finally, it’s an election between marketing strategies.

This election of ideas can best be summed down into a battle — not between good and evil — but between hope and fear. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen with bitter emails and sanctified drivel from far-right groups, it’s obvious that some would like to have the “good versus evil” image stick to this year’s election. Thankfully, many American voters have seen through the schtick and looked at the issues to make their choice.

After sitting through both conventions, dozens of speeches and interviews, advertising ad nauseum, and commentators galore, the most simplistic way to describe each campaign is a single word. Obama’s message is one of hope. The McCain campaign is driven by fear.

If there’s any doubt to the fear label for the GOP message, then look no further than the infamous robocalls. These calls were so bad that even fellow Republicans cried foul. This little bit from ABC News is an example:

Embattled Republican Sen. Susan Collins is calling on Sen. John McCain to stop paying for automated phone calls which describe Sen. Barack Obama as having “worked closely” with “domestic terrorist Bill Ayers.”

“These kind of tactics have no place in Maine politics,” said Collins spokesperson Kevin Kelley. “Sen. Collins urges the McCain campaign to stop these calls immediately.”

The robocalls also claimed that Ayers’ group “killed Americans.” This statement is so far distorted from the truth that it’s barely recognizable. The only “Americans” that were killed were three members of the group who died during an accident while building a bomb. Those “Americans” essentially died from their own stupidity, not because of Ayers who was never even implicated in the incident. In a word, the calls were about fear.

But that’s not all. Even in her first speech as the Vice Presidential nominee, Governor Sarah Palin evoked terrorism. Earlier in October, her speeches were laced with the word “terrorist” or “terrorism” in almost every paragraph. All of this was in the name of fear.

When Focus on the Family released its “Letter from 2012 in Obama’s America” last week, it was a clear exercise in fear. This is the same message from evangelicals and conservatives from all across the country:

“Be afraid. Be very afraid.”

Some of us remember this as the words uttered by Geena Davis in the 1986 film “The Fly.” This is exactly the message that has been shouted from the rooftops all across the country regarding Barack Obama’s message of ‘Change we can believe in.” We should fear change, especially the kind of change that they believe Obama would (or could) bring. It’s a relentless, drumbeat of fear that’s intended to be driven to the hearts of voters everywhere.

Obama, on the other hand, has been equally consistent on his campaign of “change” and, more importantly, “hope.” It’s been a message that’s so consistent and so powerful that the McCain campaign is actually building their campaign in response to Obama’s.

One McCain ad was very transparent in its intent: “Don’t hope for a stronger America, vote for one.” It’s too little, too late. Sorry, Senator McCain, your entire campaign was built on fear. You can’t spread hope like a thin icing on a bitter cake of fear and lies.

I make no apologies for voting for Obama. In fact, I’m proud to have cast a vote for whom I believe will be the first African-American president in our country’s history. When it comes to a message of hope versus fear, I’ll take hope any day.

Obama’s message and campaign have been so effective, that the Republican message has been converted into a strategy that has lost every time it was attempted. “I’m not (the other guy).” In this case, it’s “I’m not Obama.”

But gosh darn it if they’re letting Obama set the tone for the entire campaign. The Illinois senator jumped out the gate with what this writer (who happens to be a graphic designer) believes is one of the most beautiful and effective campaign websites ever. McCain’s was mediocre by comparison. In fact, back in June, you’ll notice that the Republican’s website is just as slick and clean as the Obama site. Coincidence? Of course not. But then, some people called it a ripoff.

In fact, every time McCain opens his mouth, he has said “I’m not Obama” in so many ways that it’s pretty darn creative by this point. Even Obama’s “Hope” poster has been converted by republicans into a “Nope” poster. Sure, it’s creative, but it breaks one of the most important rule in marketing: Don’t advertise your competition.

This, in my opinion, is why the McCain campaign is losing, and why I believe that John McCain would not be a true leader – he’s too busy responding to what the opponent does. Just look at the McCain website. Once you get past the gorgeous opening page, you’re welcomed to the main page (with more Obama-like graphics). Once you get beyond the graphics, you realize that the content is pointing fingers as well.

One paragraph says “Instead of spreading wealth around, John McCain and Sarah Palin will spread opportunity.” Another paragraph says they don’t talk about change, they deliver. The reader actually has to scroll down to read their platform – which is, again, a comparison to the Obama plan.

On Obama’s site – it also has a splash page for donations, and then the next page is for the goods. Guess who’s name isn’t mentioned or even implied once? Yeah. That other one. In fact, you’ve got to dig around the site to find McCain’s name at all – and it’s on a page with more detailed issues.

From a marketing and advertising standpoint, the Obama camp has been solid and consistent from day one.

The McCain camp has even criticized the “slick marketing” from Obama and his supporters. As much as I hate to say it, that’s what will decide the election this year. In fact, it’s always been what decided presidential elections in the past. Who can forget “I Like Ike” fro 1952? Let’s explore the campaign strategies from 1980 on:

1980:

• Ronald Reagan: “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?”
• Carter, 1980: According to C-Span, there was no memorable slogan.
• Result: Reagan cracked the peanut.

1984:

• Ronald Reagan: “It’s morning again in America” and “Reaganomics”
• Walter Mondale: “America needs a change” (I’m not Reagan)
• Result: Miraculously, Mondale carried Minnesota. Reagan won the other 49 states.

1988:

• George H.W. Bush: “Read my lips, no new taxes.”
• Michael Dukakis: “Don’t I look great in this tank?”
• Result: We read Bush’s lips all the way to the White House.

1992:

• George H.W. Bush: “Oh, those new taxes. But he’s a draft-dodger!” (I’m not Clinton!)
• William Clinton: “It’s the economy, stupid.” The saxophone helped.
• Ross Perot: “I’m a pain in both yer asses.”
• Result: Clinton dodged a tycoon and beat an incumbent president to win.

1996:

• William Clinton: “Building a bridge to the 21st century” and, “Monica who?”
• Bob Dole: “The better man for a better America” (I’m not Clinton.)
• Ross Perot: “It’s me again!”
• Result: Clinton scrapes by, cigar and all.

2000:

• George W. Bush: “Compassionate conservatism”
• Al Gore Jr.: “Prosperity and progress,” and “I’m not Clinton.”
• Result: Gore wins the popular vote, and Bush takes Florida after a month of recounts and court battles. The United States Supreme Court puts an end to the lawsuits, thus clearing the way for Bush to be inaugurated.

2004:

• George W. Bush: “Yes America can!” and the unofficial, “Stay the course.”
• John F. Kerry: “I have a plan” and, “Let America be America again” (I’m not Bush)
• Result: Bush wins by a landslide since no one knew what the hell Kerry’s plan really was.

2008:

• John McCain: “Country First” and “A leader we can believe in” (I’m not Obama)
• Barack Obama: “Change we can believe in” and “Yes we can”
• Result: we’ll find out on November 4th.

So which will it be? Hope versus fear? Change or more of the same? In the last 30 years, no campaign that has resorted to “I’m not the other guy” has ever won. It’ll be crazy night next Tuesday, but something tells me to bet on blue on this round.

1. Put soldiers in schools as teachers without requiring certification and Desert Storm was about protecting the oil.
2. Americans are innocent victims of greed and excess on Wall Street and as well as Washington, D.C.
3. Palin is a role model to women.
4. McCain rallies harbor few fringe peoples.

Here are McCain’s statements:

1. McCain’s solutions to education and why we had Desert Storm.

During the third debate, when asked about the state of education in the US, McCain had this, among other things, to say:

McCain: “We need to encourage programs such as Teach for America and Troops to Teachers where people, after having served in the military, can go right to teaching and not have to take these examinations or have the certification that  are are required in many states.”

My Reaction (Incredulous) : Returning soldiers should go straight into teaching?

Soldiers coming back from the war are all, every one of them, suffering from PTSD, according to local psychologists in Montgomery County.  Here, at the home of Fort Campbell army base, agencies that deal with child abuse issues are spending a lot, if not most, of their time with military families.  Soldiers are gone so long from their growing families that they come back out of touch with their children and how to react and interact with them.

Many soldiers came back from the first deployment with sex addictions that befuddled local psychologist, Mary Coe.  News of rape within the armed forces continues to escalate at an alarming rate.  Now McCain suggests that we should put these soldiers in a room with our young, attractive, hormonal young women and men? Or the youngest of our children?

No certification required of soldiers to teach our children?  Well then, what are they going to teach, and how?  Am I jumping off a limb to say that soldiers know how to be good soldiers, how to obey orders without question?  Will classrooms be organized in a military atmosphere, where you listen when told to do so and speak only when spoken to?  Where the teacher’s job is to break down the students and rebuild them as one unit?  People I know, with kids and without, will tell me this is a great idea.  Teach kids how to respect, obey, and have discipline.  To force feed information without question? Without critical thinking and questioning? That works fine if you’re not trying to work with kids who love to learn, who are creative and who can find and express their own personalities.  And the kids who don’t fit in?  How does the military deal with that?  A group is only as strong as its weakest person.

Meticulously programmed Robby the Robot (Forbidden Planet/1956)

Personally, I can’t imagine that making kids into bigger better robots than they are now is the best thing for them or our future.  Or that making them hate school more than many do now is a solution.

No Child Left Behind is teaching kids to memorize data for tests, but we can and should do so much better than that, move beyond that.  We can make kids really hate learning and resist school, essentially pulling them to a place where their choice for the future is narrowed down to the military.

Or, worse yet, it will produce kids who love the discipline so much that they’ll be ready to choose the military as their future.  These kids will be so dedicated that they would turn in even their parents as traitors. Ok, let’s just say there’s something to that idea.  Why does McCain want or need to make larger armies?

McCain: (from the 3rd debate script)

Kuwait

“He (Obama) voted against the first Gulf War. He voted against it and, obviously, we had to take Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait or it would’ve threatened the Middle Eastern world supply.

He said (the war) threatened world supply, not oppressed people.  Kuwait sits on 10 percent of the world oil reserves, so fighting the terrorist Saddam was about protecting our source of oil and now our largest trading partner. This fact has been confirmed to me by a Vet of that and two other wars.

McCain needs armies to conquer oil-rich countries.  Let the Christian extremists believe that Muslims are evil and tell the rest of us that we are defending ourselves against terror.  What happened to the “spreading Democracy” thing?  We bought that for awhile.  Election time arrives: bring terror back into the picture.

If we keep using oil, we burn up the planet, even if we could justify our barbaric invasion into Iraq and Iran for oil.

2.  The Maverick has experience in an economic collapse.

McCain: “Americans are hurting right now, and they’re angry. They’re hurting, and they’re angry. They’re innocent victims of greed and excess on Wall Street and as well as Washington, D.C. And they’re angry, and they have every reason to be angry.”

My Reaction: Both Democrats and Republicans can be blamed for the current economic crisis.  But we should consider who has more “experience” in the world of high finance fraud.  When McCain says American’s are angry, does he know what it is like to lose your life’s savings and your future well-being?

From Wikipedia

“Lincoln Savings and Loan collapsed in 1989, at a cost of over $3 billion to the federal government. Some 23,000 Lincoln bondholders were defrauded and many elderly investors lost their life savings. The accompanying slowdown in the finance industry and the real estate market may have been a contributing cause of the 1990-1991 economic recession.

“Charles H. Keating, Jr., chairman of the Lincoln Savings and Loan Association made substantial political contributions to 5 senators, Alan Cranston (D-CA), Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ), John Glenn (D-OH),John McCain (R-AZ), and Donald W. Riegle (D-MI), totalling $1.3 million. Keating said, “One question …had to do with whether my financial support in any way influenced several political figures to take up my cause. I want to say in the most forceful way I can: I certainly hope so.”

“After a lengthy investigation, the Senate Ethics Committee determined in 1991 that Alan Cranston, Dennis DeConcini, and Donald Riegle had substantially and improperly interfered with the FHLBB in its investigation of Lincoln Savings, with Cranston receiving a formal reprimand. Senators John Glenn and John McCain were cleared of having acted improperly but were criticized for having exercised “poor judgment.”

McCain admitted that was the worst mistake in his life. Thank goodness that hand slap worked; now the Maverick is running for president and I can’t image him being bought out by private interests. (sarcasm, Miss Betty, sarcasm)

So far I see a man with big bucks in his pocket and his hands in the poop when the last recession (so similar to this one!) hit.

3. Palin is a role model to women (in men’s fantasies).

McCain (From the third debate): “Well, Americans have gotten to know Sarah Palin. They know that she’s a role model to women and others — and reformers all over America. She’s a reformer”.

My Reaction: She’s a role model alright. We don’t want a Hillary running things because she stands on her own integrity. Hillary doesn’t support a man because he’s a man. We want a woman who agrees with and defends the man. Palin can take it and turn around and defend it. That’s a role model in the man’s sexual fantasy.

Palin’s a reformer alright. In a YouTube video she greets the Alaskan Independence Party, a group that wants Alaska to secede from the Union.

From their website:

Q: What is the Alaskan Independence Party?

A: An Alaskan political party whose members advocate a range of solutions to the conflicts between federal and local authority; from advocacy for state’s rights, through a return to territorial status, all the way to complete independence and nationhood status for Alaska.

4. Why the negative campaigning, McCain?

So far, I see a man with big bucks in his pocket and his hands in the poop when the last recession (so similar to this one!) hit. And a woman who holds down the victim while developers rape the land; later she and Joe Six Pack threw around their power by shooting down protected wolves from a helicopter. Oh, she’s a role model alright. She can take it and turn around and defend it. A man’s fantasy role model. She even charges rape victims for their medical examination (that is a fact).

How are you going to keep us from knowing about this stuff, McCain?

The best thing for you to do, McCain, is keep us from looking at you, any way that you can. You better find things wrong with your opponent and pounce on it. Even if it’s a complete lie, just say it over and over until people believe it. Keep your opponent busy clearing himself of all the crap you are saying. Remember, it doesn’t have to be true, you just need to say it a lot, and get people scared.

Say something like 9/11 and get people scared about that again. Then make-up doubts about Obama. People will make the connection. Terror = scared = Obama.

The first lie I saw was “the no hand over the heart” affair, in which Obama was accused of not crossing his heart while saying the Pledge of Allegiance.The truth to that image is that he was listening to the National Anthem. That picture of Obama not crossing his heart hangs at our local Republican headquarters today; they’re not keeping up with the rest of the world and perpetuating a blatant lie.

Then there was the no-pin problem, when Obama did not wear an American flag lapel pin. Obama rhymes with Osama. What more proof do we need that he himself is a terrorist? Obama is a Muslim. A co-worker said that to me recently. Or suggested he has a Muslim background. Geez, girl. That was so last spring. Catch up. That’s been disproved and the party has moved on to bigger, better things. Recently I saw a short movie with out-of-context slides of Muslim terrorists. Lots of blood and guts too. IS THAT WHAT WE WANT? (vote McCain)

I’ve been doing a little study of the Neo-Conservative party and their efforts to control the population. They seek to convince people that we are in terrible trouble from terrorists. (The Power of Nightmares). They use control by fear of terror.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Edvard Munch - "The Scream" (1893)

I’ve been to England when people were afraid of bombs in fast food restaurants and airport lockers. But these people did not walk around in fear every minute; they would not buy into fear.

In the last debate, McCain put himself on the line as supporting accusations that Obama is connected to terrorists. Although his campaign had been pushing that subject for weeks, McCain said “I don’t care about an old washed-up terrorist. We need to know the full extent of Senator Obama’s relationship with ACORN, who is now on the verge of maybe perpetrating one of the greatest frauds in voter history in this country, maybe destroying the fabric of democracy.” As Saturday Night Live puts it, he also believes there is a unicorn under his bed.

It’s desperate, McCain, but you know you have to get people scared because when they get scared they get mad and fired up enough to get out there and vote. And anyone who opposes you, well, you have to discredit them, as quick as you can. Liberal, hippie, washed up: use those words.

McCain’s supporters have been recorded calling Obama a traitor and saying things like “kill him.”

McCain (from third debate):

“Let me just say categorically I’m proud of the people that come to our rallies. Whenever you get a large rally of 10,000, 15,000, 20,000 people, you’re going to have some fringe peoples. You know that. And I’ve — and we’ve always said that that’s not appropriate. I’m not going to stand for people saying that the people that come to my rallies are anything but the most dedicated, patriotic men and women that are in this nation and they’re great citizens.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Colin Powell is upset enough with McCain’s campaign to reprimand him in a press release.

The next thing McCain will do is insist on election fraud by ACORN. McCain will tell his lies and then it becomes our job to disprove it. Visit the ACORN website. Might as well get versed up in it ahead of time.

To my fellow people on this Earth who believe in McCain:

Our founding fathers gave us a Bill of Rights that has undermined our freedom

You refuse to watch the films, you refuse to question the stuff that is thrown at you.  We knew that Bush would not kill Osama, he is best friends with the Bin Laden family (see Farenheit 9/11).  He flew the Bin Laden family out of the U.S. directly after 9/11.  We, liberals, freethinkers, decent and creative people, were right. We were right about a lot of stuff: the war, Bush, torture, oil, violations to the constitution, our rights to free speech, and our rights to privacy. When we told you about it, you bullied us to get us to shut up. You are a long way from admitting that you were being bullies, just as you are a long way from admitting that fear lay beneath that. But know that it was all cleverly controlled. Being a bully is a way you were shown (by Fox News icon Bill O’Reilly and others) that gives you a sense of power when in reality you felt powerless. Now you need to WAKE UP. See the beautiful things around you that you have the power to destroy as you sleep.

You have been controlled through images of fear and terror. You react to it by hating and bullying and believing bullshit. Having to be “right” is a very low form of emotion for Democrats and Republicans alike. It’s barely above apathy. This is not the future we want for our United States. We are all in this together. Come back to us in this uphill battle to regain our freedoms and our prosperity and our health.

We miss you and miss America. We miss decency and fun. This is our most important choice.

Click here for a CNN transcript of the third debate.

The following video is the full 90-minute 3rd presidential debate.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This is obviously a different kind of Joe from the “Joe Sixpack” from Sarah Palin’s disastrous, wink-wink performance in the Vice Presidential debate. In the third Presidential debate last week, McCain invoked the Iowa plumber, who asked Obama if his taxes would increase if he bought a business that had an income of $250,000.

Obama’s response was that any revenue over $250,000 would be taxed at 39 percent instead of 35 percent.

This conversation lasted for more than five minutes. One much-maligned comment was, as McCain summed it up, that Obama said we should “spread the wealth around.” Naturally, this phrase immediately invoked a battle cry of anti-socialist rhetoric from republican pundits. However, when the statement is put back into context, it helps to explain Obama’s point of view.

“My attitude is this, if the economy is good for the folks on the bottom-up, it’s gonna be good for everybody. If you’ve got a plumbing business, then you’re going to be better off if you’ve got a whole bunch of customers who can afford to hire you. Right now, everybody is so pinched that business is bad for everybody. And I think when we spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”

Watch the full video below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

He later told that Wurzelbacher that he’d remove the capital gains taxes for small business, and as a result could possibly pay less taxes than he would now. But that’s not the point. Those who malign Obama’s tax policy speak of the “income” of small businesses like that of Mr. Wurzelbacher’s potential buy-out.

Here’s the question: Would that $250,000 be gross income, or net profit?

And yes, there IS a difference. There’s a simple fact of Federal tax plans, and it’s this: the proposed 39% tax bracket is for net profit. Even a simple review of the required forms illustrates just what is really taxed under Obama’s or any other tax plan.

So what’s the “net profit?” Simple. If an S-Corporation files form 1120-S as they’re required by the IRS to do, then they enter their gross receipts on line 1c. Once the appropriate deductions are applied (including inventory, payroll, advertising, interest, rent, the final amount is applied on line 22a. The taxes are then determined by the figure on line 22a, NOT the total gross income, which is on line 1c.

Since this article is a little dry with its number crunching, let’s break it down. An S-corporation (which many small businesses are) must pay federal taxes on its net profit — or final profit — not its gross receipts. It’s state and local governments. Quite simply, the cost of running a business is deducted from your total receipts.

Put simply, if a business has total gross receipts of $250,000, then they’d deduct their “Cost of Goods Sold,” and then finally their business expenses. The remaining amount could be as little as $40,000 or $60,000. That would be the amount taxed, not the quarter of a million dollars that was taken in.

Profit is exactly that – profit. It’s what’s left over after all other expenses are paid, and that’s what is taxed. Not the gross receipts. In fact, there’s a very good chance that the S-Corp’s owner has his salary already deducted from the receipts.

If the American public would take the time to research the issue, then we’d all know the clear truth that the Obama tax plan proposes an increase of a whopping three percent tax increase for those who generally wouldn’t miss it. How much would a person (or business) pay if they have that kind of a net income? Right now, at 36%, it’s 90,000. If it’s raised to 39%, then it goes up to $97,500.

Naturally, someone who has a net income of $250,000 would be a little stung by that extra $7,500, but the reality is that anyone with a competent accountant would be able to live very comfortably off that amount, especially assuming that they’ve itemized their deductions (like interest paid on their primary mortgage), etc. This would be a total increase of $625 per month… which is pocket change for those in that higher tax bracket.

Let’s be fair. The Obama tax plan would benefit well over eighty percent of the general public, and would put money back into the pockets of those of us who actually shop for groceries, and might need to replace an old washer and dryer… which is a major purchase for nearly all of us, presumably even Joe the Plumber.

Sadly, the McCain campaign will distort these simple facts as it has so many others. Maybe a little truth will start to break through to reveal some common sense.

Senator Obama’s complete tax plan can be viewed here.

And, unlike Wurzelbacher, he’s a licensed plumber.

Joe Moenck, a plumber in Zumbrota, Minn., is a member of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters (UA) Local 6—which, like all building and construction trades unions, has high professional standards for its members—such as making sure they hold a license to practice their craft.

Moenck was dismayed to see McCain repeatedly trot out “Joe the Plumber” during this week’s presidential debate with Sen. Barack Obama. Says Moenck:

“I felt that when John McCain was talking about Joe the Plumber, I didn’t feel that that was sincere. He didn’t mention the middle class in the last two debates at all. It upset me that he brought this up strictly because he had to, because his ratings are low among the middle class. I don’t think he believes what he said, but he knows his support is low there and said that strictly for the ratings, as a campaign strategy.”

When “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher met Obama in Toledo on Sunday, Wurzelbacher expressed concern about being taxed on earnings of $280,000 per year should he ever start a small plumbing business.

But, as Moenck can tell you, hard workers like him in the building trades aren’t paid anywhere near $250,000 a year. For Moenck—and even for Wurzelbacher, who right now makes far less than his dream salary—Obama’s tax plan would mean a decrease in taxes by more than $1,200 a year—more than under McCain’s tax plan. And should Wurzelbacher ever pull in $250,000, he’d only pay a few hundred dollar more in taxes under Obama’s plan. Not a deal-breaker for a guy thinking of starting a small business.

Wurzelbacher also has a bit of an agenda. He’s a member of the Associated Builders & Contractors, a nonunion trade group that has endorsed McCain.

So, in addition to Moenck, we’d like to introduce McCain to a few other real Joe the plumbers.

There’s Joe Gutzwiller, a licensed plumber in Indianapolis and member of UA Local 440. Gutzwiller shares a lot in common with Moenck, including seeing through McCain’s pretensions of support for America’s middle class.

“I heard the one about health care, where McCain wants to tax our benefits, and I just think he’s looking out for bigger businesses and corporations leaving middle class people out of the whole picture.

“I think Obama is actually trying to help out middle class people who are feeling the effect of our economy. From what I’ve seen in the debates, he’s trying to prevent future problems and give the middle class a tax break to help stimulate the economy.”

And then there’s Joe Tatum in Virginia, who’s been a licensed plumber for 35 years after apprenticing with UA Local 10.

“McCain thinks we make over $200,000. I don’t make anywhere close to that. If I did, I could retire now instead of waiting ’til I’m 62.”

Over in Colorado, Joe Martinez, a plumber and member of UA Local 3, has this to say:

“John McCain doesn’t understand working families and I don’t understand how any plumber can vote for John McCain. He’s just not in touch with the working man at all.”

And there’s Joe Vicena, a member of UA Local 75 in Milwaukee, who sees McCain as continuing the same disastrous economic policies as George W. Bush.

“Our jobs are being sent overseas, people are losing their pensions and their 401(k)s, and the stock market is tanking. We need change in a positive manner. McCain is not the person to do it.  He is absolutely not the person.  Me and my family can’t take four more minutes, much less four more years, of the missteps and mis-policies we’ve had the past eight.”

Moenck, Gutzwiller, Tatum, Martinez and Vicena agree with their union that Obama is the best choice for America’s plumbers—and all middle-class workers—because, as under Bush, McCain’s economic policy would benefit the wealthiest and flush the rest of us down the tank. As Moenck puts it:

“If the middle class doesn’t have money to call Joe the Plumber, Joe the Plumber’s not gonna be in business very long.”

About the Author

This is a cross-post from the Firedoglake blog in partnership with the author Tula Connell, AFL-CIO managing editor. The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly known as the AFL-CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States made up of 56 national and international unions including Canadian together representing more than 10 million workers. This organization gave Barack Obama one of his biggest Union endorsements.

Okay, when McCain first popped on the Election 2008 radar back in that early New Hampshire primary, I was next door in Vermont, wondering with a bit of perverse pleasure how McCain managed to dislodge the likes of Romney, Giuliani, and others in a presidential nomination bid. It just got interesting, I thought. Little did I know…

I know now, though, that his nomination has been a boon to the Democratic Party, a boon magnified orders of magnitude by his choice of Palin as VP. Thank you, John for handing over so many states to the Dems. Three times in a row, I watched the debates, and watched the post debate charts fade from red to pink to yellow to light blue…you get the idea.

Senator John McCain

I am dumbfounded that in three debates, McCain never found his footing, never managed to get the knock-out punch in, not one, not on any subject. All Obama had to do was break even to win. The first debate was not the showstopper it should have been; the subsequent and much heralded town meeting was a colossal bore with more action on the streets of Nashville than the under the lights at Belmont University. In both cases, Obama came out ahead, though not with the power of his early campaign speeches and interviews. One more shot, I thought. They have one more chance to get it right.

Wednesday’s final debate in New York, which was deftly moderated by Bob Schieffer of CBS, was the right format with the right moderator. It was the right fit for Obama, who both looked and sounded presidential, who exuded the right levels of charm and intelligence (not hard considering the competition), who had the answers to the questions, even when the answers were tough for some viewers to swallow. McCain entwined himself in the life of “Joe the plumber” (perhaps not the same Joe six-pack of Palin fame) and hammer that poor man to the ground. Once, twice a mention, maybe. But for heaven’s sake, John, give it a rest.

Senator Barack Obama

What America saw Wednesday night was an articulate educated black man who was at ease with himself, his opinions, his ideas, a man who looks at America with a reality check, not a blank check, and looks and sounds presidential while doing it.

What America saw Wednesday night was a war hero who despite his honorable service to his country was now incapable of staying the subject, unable to pronounce or string words and sentences together without rambling off the issue and changing the subject, a man who resurrected old themes and could not give any genuine assurance that he was not still a participant on the GOP/Bush playing field.

What distressed me the most?

McCain’s opinion that we “need to reward these good teachers.” Hey, nothing wrong with that. Oh wait, here’s the rest of that story:

• “We need to encourage programs such as Teach for America and Troops to Teachers where people, after having served in the military, can go right to teaching and not have to take these examinations which — or have the certification that some are required in some states.” ~~ John McCain
  

And then there was:

• A little detail of McCain’s not knowing the difference between Down’s Syndrome that affects Palin’s youngest son, interchanging that diagnosis for autism, which is an entirely different issue. If he does know the difference, he failed to articulate that.

And then there was:

• That detail of the $5,000 taxable tax credit for health care. Oh, yes, somewhere there is a plan available for $5,800 a year. How many families will actually find a $5,800 plan that covers all their needs? I certainly haven’t found one yet. And probably don’t have the difference to fund a realistic plan that would run me, at my present age/health, somewhere in the vicinity of $10,000-12,000 a year. McCain has also said nothing about pre-existing conditions.Is that $5,000 tax credit something you have to spend before you can claim it and then have it taxed? Or am I missing something here?

And was anyone else bothered by the fact that McCain simply could not stay on point? That he stumbled through words and phrases in a way that rivals George Bush? That he meandered across his own view of the political landscape, which holds a wide disconnect from middle America reality? That he fumbled and stumbled through a number of questions just as Palin did in several of her interviews? McCain simply did not look or sound presidential and that’s a trickle down effect on Palin. Or did it surge up from her?

My belief is that college needs to be made affordable, that the bar in educational standards must be raised significantly higher, that everyone has a right to health care and prescription medications, that we need to build a new economic structure for America that will include green jobs and a return to industry that has for some time been shifted offshore. My belief is that women need to have a right to choose, not have reproductive choices made for them by people who do not have to deal with the realities or circumstances behind these choices.

My belief is that no candidate is going to fix America’s problem in four years of a first term presidency. The only thing a new president can do is start working on the problems we face as a nation, and as individuals. The only thing a new president can do is have a plan rooted in reality that can be implemented in a progressive series of laws and actions for the long term. Investments in education, energy, industry, small business, take time to mature: we have lapsed in many areas, and there is no quick fix, no painless recovery.

What I saw Wednesday night was a candidate, Senator Obama, who had a reality check and a plan to fix what ails America. I’m not exactly sure what McCain was offering that would be of any use to middle America.

Sarah Palin has stated she believes in a literal translation of the Bible; a literal translation of the Bible dates creation of the Earth at 4000 B.C. Is the U.S. prepared to elect someone who truly believes dinosaurs became extinct only 6000 years ago? Forget the fact that science has proven the age of the Earth to be in the billions of years through countless (independent of each other) disciplines. Is the U.S. prepared to give the nuclear launch codes to someone who cannot pronounce the word ‘nuclear’ and refuses to believe in the science that created it?

Sarah Palin stated that it was God’s will to have a pipeline in Alaska; she followed this statement by asking a church full of followers to pray for its manifestation. I may be wrong because I admit I am not a Bible scholar, but it has been my understanding that God’s design for the planet was perfect to begin with and ever since sin man has only been able to ruin it with greater ease. Wouldn’t that include destroying thousands of square miles to drill for oil? Shouldn’t a Christian ask in their prayers to end man’s destruction of the Earth and not to increase it?

Sarah Palin supports making abortions of all sorts illegal under all circumstances, yet when asked up front about it in an interview with Katie Couric she was unable to defend her position other than to say she would advise the hypothetical worst case scenario woman/girl not to seek an abortion. If you stand for something, stand strong, state your case and stand by it. This sort of political meandering is surely a sign of things to come. She supported a bill while mayor that makes rape victims pay for their own rape kits while under the care of the public health system(getting raped in Sarah Palin world= $1200 and 20 to life for an abortion, electing an idiot= Priceless). Is this the sort of compassion America needs in a leader?

When Katie Couric asked Sarah Palin what periodicals she has read that have influenced her world view, first she replied that she had read them again (therefore at least twice), then afterward when asked to give an example said “uh… all of them, uh… any of them” and was unable to give a single example after an awkward moment of silence followed by a diversion about Alaska not being a foreign country…? WHAT? I have heard rhetoric like this before usually immediately followed by my saying in a loud voice “LIAR!” Really, if you cannot answer the question, ‘what magazines do you read’ honestly, what else are you going to lie about?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sarah Palin supports Hamas seriously? She would rather say Hamas needs our support before admitting she doesn’t know what it is? This makes a good leader? Since when is more obfuscation what Americans need?

Basic Geography: You can see Russia from the outermost Alaskan Islands

While commenting on what qualifies her having ‘foreign policy’ experience by way of Alaska’s proximity to Russia, Sarah Palin explained that she could actually see Russia from Alaska. What? So I have seen dozens of countries; does that mean I have dozens of times more experience than Sarah Palin? By her definition it does. If she bases her qualification to be V.P. on such nonsense can we trust her judgment about accepting the nomination for V.P.?

In a discussion about whether or not the U.S. has the right to invade Pakistan to stop Al Queda without the approval of their government, Sarah Palin said she would not even blink before she invaded. This was actually in complete contradiction to John McCain, whose platform has been not to invade without prior approval and should in no way be acceptable to the American people. Are we about to elect a V.P. who thinks we have the right to invade any sovereign nation in the world without blinking?

Sarah Palin spent 48 million dollars on a road that literally goes nowhere! Yet she gave her speech dozens of times claiming to have championed the fight against useless spending: is it ignorance or boldface lying? Which is worse?

Unfortunately, we should all know where this is headed. After eight years of leadership(or something), Bush has brought the U.S. success and pride in the Justice system, Iraq, the writ of habeas corpus, the hunt for Osama bin Laden, the hurricane Katrina disaster, preventing terrorism, the economy, torture, interpretation of the constitution, and general overall prosperity and good fortune across the globe (when was the last time Americans were so well liked?). If Sarah Palin, oops, I mean when Sarah Palin becomes President I am sure more great successes just like these are in store for Americans and the rest of the world, God bless.

70 is the new 40, vote Mccain 08!

The Austin Peay State University Library will be the scene the College Republicans and the College Democrats on Thursday, October 16 at 7 p.m. The topic will be the Presidential Election.

A debate between the Chairmen of the Republican Party and the  Democratic Party will take place in the ballroom at the Morgan Center at Austin Peay State University on Wednesday, October 29 at 2PM.

The Republican Party will meet at the GOP Headquarters, 1820 Madison (next to TCBY) at 7PM on Tuesday, October 28.  The public is welcome.  Phone 648-0174 for information.

The public is welcome to attend all of these events.

Sen. Barack Obama

Sen. John McCain

The Montgomery County Democratic Party will host the third and final debate watch party at MCDP headquarters, 534 Madison Street,  on Wednesday, October 15 at 8 p.m. (CST).  Refreshments will be served.

The first debate, held in St. Louis, Missouri, gave an edge to Senator Obama, while the second debate, deemed “lackluster” by viewers and political pundits alike, nonetheless also gave Obama an edge.

The global fiscal crisis underwent a volcanic eruption in the intervening week and has given both candidates new urgency when it comes to calming voter fears and offering a strong economic platform rather than feinting off accusatory blows and personal attacks. The American public wants a steadfast candidate with a solid plan to resurrect the US economy, keep jobs afloat and keep enough money coming in to pay bills and mortgages, and put food on the table.

For additional information call 931-552-5523.

Not so, it seems. With McCain himself now saying he’ll kick Obama’s “you-know-what” in the upcoming debate (of course, it’s been the opposite at all of the debates so far), Palin has gotten the blessing to keep on blathering about things she clearly does not understand.

ABC News says that Palin “tones it down a notch,” but a “notch” down from the fever pitch of accusing the Democratic nominee of “pallin’ around with terrorists” and insinuating that he’s a terrorist himself, is, well, not much of a notch at all.

The ABC article reflects much of what’s been reported in the Associated Press, so the quotes that follow are pretty universal. With each passing statement, she proves just how out-of-touch with reality she really is. Take, for example, her asinine interpretation of just what all the “anger” their campaign has seen is all about:

While Palin cited the anger felt by many of her supporters — as expressed verbally at two separate town meetings earlier in the week — Palin attempted to turn it into a positive message on Republican nominee John McCain reforming Washington.  She did not turn it into anger at the Democratic nominee, who is leading the race in most national and battleground state polls.

“All across America, I know that there’s a lot of anger right now,” Palin said. “There’s anger about the insider dealing of lobbyists and anger at the greed of Wall Street, and anger about the arrogance of the Washington elite. And with serious reforms to change Washington, John McCain is going to turn your anger into action.”

Okay, Governor, let me see if I can explain it in small words so that you can understand. The anger you’ve seen isn’t about “insider dealing” or “lobbyists.” It’s all because you and your running mate (that’s the old guy who calls Obama “that one”) have whipped your base into a frenzy of vile hate. You’ve accused your opponents of “pallin’ around with terrorists,” and have created a state of fear across the country.

You, like many Americans, don’t even know the difference between a lobbyist and a lobby, which is made evident by all of these preachers who violated their 501(c)3 code last month with their “freedom Sunday” garbage. They clearly don’t understand the difference between an educational organization (which is what they’re supposed to be) and a lobbying group, which is a 501(c)4 organization.

Apparently, a “Christian-based” group of attorneys, the Alliance Defense Fund, encouraged pastors all across the country to do exactly what the 501(c)3 charter says they can’t do: attempt to influence an election from official positions within their organizations. Those many thousands of pastors violated the agreement they signed, and should be given the appropriate fines. Their goal, apparently, is to file a suit to have the tax laws rewritten or struck down by the Supreme Court.

Good luck with that.

So, Governor, since you have no clue what lobbying is for, and you have even less of a clue as to why there’s so much anger in your rallies, maybe you need to seriously consider the possibility that you just need you shut your mouth and learn something about how your government really works.

Clearly, this is a person who doesn’t need to be anywhere near the White House, let alone a heartbeat away from occupying it.

The ABC article further discusses her usage of the phrase “bad guys.” Apparently, she’s replaced “terrorist” with “bad guys” in order to continue to rile that low-level base of supporters for whom “terrorist” is probably too big of a word. No, wait. Maybe it’s too big of a word for Governor Palin. After all, she’s “one of us,” right? As Newsweek’s cover said recently, maybe that’s the problem:

While Palin made no mention of William Ayers, who just days ago she charged was “a terrorist” with closer ties to Obama than he will acknowledge, she did speak about “terrorists” in general as the “bad guys,” and then went on to describe the “bad guys” in the current economic crisis. It was unclear if Palin was attempting to allude to Ayers when speaking about “terrorists.”

“Help me Ohio to help put John McCain in the White House,” Palin said. “He understands… For one thing, we know who the bad guys are, OK? We know, we know that in the war, it’s terrorists, terrorists who hate America and her allies and would seek to destroy us, and the bad guys are those who would support and sympathize with the terrorists. They do not like America because of what we stand for: liberty, freedom, equal rights. Those who sympathize and support those terrorists who would seek to destroy all that it is that we value, those are the bad guys, ok?”

Really, Governor? Those are the bad guys? You mean that those who have completely shredded our constitution, diluted the right to free speech and the right to assemble peacefully, supported rampant wire taps, and have even put gay rights groups on list of “domestic terrorist” groups in recent years aren’t the bad guys?

There’s one phrase we need to look out for: “destroy all that it is that we value.” You see, dear friends and neighbors, her “values” have been clearly demonstrated in this past week as she continues to spread the lies and insinuations that Senator Obama is “pallin’ around with terrorists who would strike at their own country” and that she has abused her power in the firing of her ex brother-in-law.

Her “values” even questioned the local librarian as to whether or not certain books would be removed from the shelves of the Wasila public library if the then-mayor asked them to be. The librarian said no. She was later fired. More here and here.

Her “values” have said that she believes that homosexuality can be “prayed away” despite the fact that every single major medical, psychiatric, and professional group that works within the gay and lesbian community says otherwise.

Do us all a favor, Governor. You’ve said that you can see Russia from the front door of your home. Great. Go home. Better yet, we’ll help send you back there on November 4th.

Withholding a handshake is a direct violation.

It’s easy to look at Sen. McCain begging off a handshake from Sen. Barack Obama and just see a white guy dissing a black guy. But I wouldn’t get Al and Jesse on the BlackPhone just yet — I think that whole thing is a sight more complicated than prejudice and politics. I’m (arguably) as much a race man as anyone, but real men everywhere know McCain’s in clear violation of the man code. Let me explain.

For me and most of the men I know, the handshake is as good as gold: it’s a bond that seals a covenant of honor and mutual respect. Now, some cats go overboard. Like, shake my hand firm, man, but don’t squeeze too hard. Who are you? Popeye? No need to break my fingers.

Also, there’s hand hygiene: Don’t sneeze into your palm and offer your hand—that just shows a lack of home-training.

And don’t let me catch you in the washroom not washing your hands after you take care of business, son. Instant violation.

If you are eating ribs or barbecue, dap will do just fine, thank you. Unless you know me as a Free Mason and can hold your light, don’t try to slip me any finger-dance, hand-jive or crazy-ish. Just give me a grip, make it firm, and keep it moving. And if you’re white, my name is Jimi Izrael, not Jimmie Walker — shake my hand like a man and keep that ’70s-era-black-power handshake you’ve been perfecting for the last 10 years. Nothing like a white man hunched over in a lean trying to give you some “soul.” Holy crap.

Everywhere in America, the handshake is a mark among men, an unspoken rite of affirmation and respect that says, “You know what? After all is done and said, you’ve got a pair, I’ve got a pair, and we both respect and revere that commonality.” White men shake honorably. Black men have the half hug, which includes a grip. Gay men hug freely (as all real men should). Women kinda shake each others’ fingers, and men shake hands with women as a matter of business: it’s an equalizer, a nod of respect. One thing is for sure: the handshake is not to be taken lightly.

Like anything, there are degrees of insults. Like offering a man your left hand instead of your right — particularly if you are not left-handed — it’s a declaration of intention: a gesture that signifies a deeply held enmity, hinting of vendetta. Refusing a handshake altogether is a violation that, from the boardroom to the poolroom, will pretty much get your ass kicked. And when a man won’t shake another man’s hand, it’s insulting at a base level.

There are laws among men for shaking hands. There is no “ladies first” when it comes to the handshake: Deferring a handshake to your woman is like an open-hand slap — something you just don’t do. You reject these simple truths as just street-corner protocol or puff-puff-pass politicking at your peril. This is real talk. This is the code of men.

McCain said more by not shaking Obama’s hand — passing off to his wife — than words ever could. If he didn’t want to touch him, he surely would not have let his wife do so. So to all you racial Chicken Littles out there: No, the diss was not about race. It was a violation 10 times more serious than that. McCain refusing Obama’s hand was about dismissing Obama’s manhood, refusing to meet him on the level, denying his equality as a man and worthy opponent.

Jimi Izrael is a culture-critic and award-winning journalist living in Cleveland, Ohio. He can be reached through his website, www.jimiizrael.com

Reprinted with permission from author and take from http://www.theroot.com/id/48400

The snake-oil blathering reached its fever pitch last week just after the Vice Presidential debate when corrupt governor Sarah Palin accused Obama of “pallin’ around with terrorists who would strike at their own country.” Well, imagine the reaction that she got. As if on cue, the rallying supporters shouted their jeers against the Democratic candidate. What they didn’t expect was the shouts of “off with his head” or “kill him!”

Never mind the fact that the accusation is completely false. CNN reviewed the claims and the project records, and points out that the William Ayers, a founding member of the radical Weather Underground group, was involved with a series of bombings in the 1960’s — when Obama was eight years old. Ayers is now Distinguished Professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Both Ayers and his wife Bernardine Dohrm, who were fugitives at the time, surrendered themselves to the authorities in 1980. The charges were later dropped due to improper evidence gathering, and both “domestic terrorists” avoided prison. Oh, by the way, no one was hurt in any of their attacks.

Let me be clear: His actions of damaging public property was irresponsible, dangerous, and potentially deadly. One thing is certain, though: they made a point NOT to attack people or individuals. Their fight was against what they viewed as “the system,” which was in the middle of an unpopular war at the time. Their actions were illegal, and they were wrong. In my opinion, they should have served hard time. Alas, they did not, and were given a second chance.

Apparently that second chance is exactly what they needed. Since then, they’ve given back to the community and Ayers has received high recognition for his service by Chicago mayor Richard Daley. In fact, Daley has gone on record for his support of both Obama and Ayers, as reported in the Chicago Tribune back in April.

With Sarah Palin’s (and John McCain’s) irresponsible and incindiary accusations that Obama is “pallin’ around with terrorists,” the frenzied responses really aren’t all that surprising. Apparently, they’re surprising to McCain, though. CNN now reports that the Republican candidate is now trying to calm people down:

At a rally in Minnesota on Friday, a woman told McCain: “I don’t trust Obama. I have read about him and he’s an Arab.

McCain shook his head and said, “No ma’am, no ma’am. He’s a decent family man…[a] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. That’s what this campaign is all about.”

One man at the rally said he was “scared of an Obama presidency.” McCain later told the man he should not fear Obama.

“I want to be president of the United States, and I don’t want Obama to be,” he said. “But I have to tell you, I have to tell you, he is a decent person, and a person that you do not have to be scared as President of the United States.”

Really, Senator? You think he’s decent? I thought he was so contemptable that he was reduced to being “that one.” I couldn’t believe my eyes! This man — who wants to be our PRESIDENT – is actually behaving as if he’s surprised at the fear and hate that he helped to produce! Not only is this a classic case of deception in politics, but it’s downright revolting; horrifying, even.

Please, Senator McCain, stop with the personal attacks and get back to the issues. No, wait. You can’t campaign on the issues because you know that the American public doesn’t want another four years of Republican thrashing.

Corrupt Alaska governor Sarah Palin, who has already proven herself to be the perennial pit bull in drag, throws gallons of fresh new blood into the frenzy with every stump. By using words like “fearful” and “terrorist,” she has defiantly created one of the most volatile situations in recent history:

At a rally Tuesday in Clearwater, Florida, Sarah Palin said Obama was being “less than truthful” about his ties to Ayers. “His own top adviser said they were ‘certainly friendly.’ … I am just so fearful that this is not a man who sees America the way that you and I see America — as the greatest source for good in this world,” she said.

Palin told the crowd that she sees “a pattern in how our opponent has talked about one of his most troubling associations.”

One member of the Palin audience in Jacksonville, Florida, Tuesday shouted out “treason.” And at another rally in the state Monday, Palin’s mention of the Obama-Ayers tie caused one member to yell out: “kill him” — though it was unclear if it was targeted at Obama or Ayers.

Truthfully, folks – who are we kidding? Palin is willingly fanning these flames of hate. No amount of “aw shucks” hockey-mom-and-Joe-sixpack” excrement will excuse it. With each passing statement, she reveals her true ignorance and contempt for intelligence more and more.

When the hell are the American people going to wake up and realize that it’s just this kind of political wrangling that will destroy everything we stand for? Clearly, the Republicans know that they’re in a losing battle, so they’ve pulled out all the stops in this hateful, fear-mongering, damn-near race riot-inducing onslaught.

They’ve appealed to the uneducated, the racists, and the bigots. Is it any surprise at the response they’ve gotten? Every time I think that America has gone beyond this kind of hate and stupidity, this kind of thing comes up.

Please, America — Grow. The. Hell. Up!

As posted on Skipping to the Piccolo