This weekend a lot of us are off for a four-day weekend. We are celebrating the birthday’s of two Presidents past. Washington and Lincoln. Washington’s birthday is the federal holiday that will be observed, while Lincoln’s birthday was on February 12 and is a state holiday.

What is Presidents Day?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Washington’s federal holiday, which is originally called Washington’s birthday became Presidents Day in the mid 1980’s to celebrate another President, Lincoln, by advertisers, believe it or not. Lincoln’s birthday was never made into a federal holiday but a state holiday.

Where ever any a President is from, that state honors him on Presidents Day. For example, Massachusetts celebrates “Washington’s Birthday”, while the state law prescribes that the governor issue an annual Presidents Day proclamation to honor the Presidents who came from Massachusetts:

• John Adams
• John Quincy Adams
• Calvin Coolidge
• John F. Kennedy
• George H. W. Bush

Since 1862 there has been a tradition in the United State Senate that on George Washington’s birthday, his Farewell Address be read. This federal holiday celebrates and honors the accomplishments of the man we all refer to, for over two centuries, as the “The Father of his Country.”  He was also the general who gave out the first military badge of merit for the common soldier. Revived on Washington’s 200th birthday in 1932, the Purple Heart recognizes injuries received in battle. Like on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, this federal holiday offers the opportunity to also honor our Countries Veterans.

We hope you enjoy the video honoring all of our Presidents. In closing I would like to remember the following scripture found in Hebrew 13:25, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” No matter who we vote for, the President in place was meant to be there for a reason. Our prayers and support for our leaders will only help this country. Some might disagree, some might not. Which ever way you view it, have a wonderful weekend.

Senator Claiborne Pell (1961-1997)

College students across the nation have lost a steadfast champion in their struggle to finance their education. Claiborne Pell died January 1st.

US Senator Claiborne de Bora Pell, Rhode Island-D, for whom the college financing grants program is named, died on New Year’s Day. He served in the US Senate for thirty-six years, from January 3, 1961 to January 3, 1997. Senator Pell was known as a long time advocate of expanding higher education opportunity in America by providing money to prospective and continuing college students.

He served as Chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee. He was also committed to reducing the size of the world’s nuclear arsenal and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. He had also been appointed as the US delegate to the United Nations. He was 90 years of age. Vice President-elect Joe Biden issued the following statement:

Statement by Vice President-elect Joe Biden

U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, W.Va-D

As the tumult of the general elections continues to unfold, there are also small moments of change taking place. Small, that is, in the attention they have garnered in our local political scene. However, one such event must be given proper notice. The most senior member of the senate has announced he will relinquish his position as appropriations committee chairman on January 6, 2009. I speak of the 90-year old senator from West Virginia, Robert C. Byrd,He the most senior member of the senate, having served in that august deliberative body for 50 years.

There has been concern that his frailty has compromised the effective exercise of that position in carrying out the Democratic Party’s agenda in the senate. Byrd has been a stalwart advocate and defender of his party, adherence to The Constitution and its civil liberty protections and a generous benefactor to West Virginia. He will continue to serve in The U.S. Senate and on the Appropriations Committee itself. His past is not without some dark shadows, but his long senate career has been one more of illumination than disdain. The senator’s statement is presented below.

STATEMENT OF SENATOR ROBERT C. BYRD (D-W.Va.)

November 7, 2008

“To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.”

Those Biblical words from Ecclesiastes 3:1 express my feelings about this particular time in my life.

I have been blessed to have had the honor to represent the people of West Virginia in the United States Senate for 50 years. I have been honored to lead the Senate as its Majority Leader for 12 years.

I have been privileged to be a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee for 50 years and to have chaired the Committee for ten years, during a time of enormous change in our great country, both culturally and politically. I have learned that nothing is quite so permanent as change. It is simply a part of living and should not be feared. To be serving in the Senate at such a momentous time in our history fills me with enormous pride. I endorsed President-elect Obama because I believed that we had taken the wrong course both at home and abroad. I am delighted with his victory. I was an early critic of the war in Iraq, as was the President-elect, who decried this war even before he was running for a United States Senate seat. I wish our new President every success with his commitment to unite us as one people.

A new day has dawned in Washington, and that is a good thing. For my part, I believe that it is time for a new day at the top of the Senate Appropriations Committee. I will step away from the Chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee effective January 6, 2009.

I want to stress that this is a decision I made only after much personal soul searching, and after being sure of the substantial Democratic pickup of seats in the Senate. I am now confident that stepping aside as Chairman will not adversely impact my home state of West Virginia.

God willing, I will continue to serve on the Appropriations Committee. I will continue to chair the Homeland Security Subcommittee, and I will work to help my state and the people of our great country in those roles.

Senator Daniel Inouye has stood in line for many years and now his time has come. He is my friend. He is a genuine American hero. He will be a skillful and fair Chairman of the Appropriations Committee because he is a man of outstanding character and great wisdom.

I thank my colleagues and the staff on the Committee for their dedicated work and their years of support in challenging times. I thank the people of West Virginia for continuing to put their faith in me. I thank God for the long life He has granted me and for the opportunity He has given me to assist this great country through long service in this magnificent institution, the United States Senate. I look forward to the years ahead and to making a contribution to a better, stronger America. No mortal could ask for more.”

U.S. Senate Candidate Bob Tuke

Governor Phil Bredesen endorsed Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bob Tuke this week in an email message to Tennessee Democrats encouraging them to donate to the Tuke for Tennessee campaign.

“I have endorsed Bob’s candidacy for many reasons, but chief among them is Bob’s capability to address the critical problems confronting Tennesseans today: bringing down high fuel prices, creating more jobs, jump-starting our slowing economy and better managing our war against terror. He is armed with a profound knowledge of today’s most important issues and a willingness to quickly and effectively achieve bipartisan solutions to help Tennesseans. I join a growing list of Bob Tuke endorsers including Former Vice President Al Gore.” ~~ Gov. Phil Bredesen

In June this year, Governor Bredesen and Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Gray Sasser held a Unity breakfast with Democratic National Committee member Inez Crutchfield endorsing Senator Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee for president.

The Teamsters Local Union 667 in Memphis has also endorsed Bob Tuke.  Local 667 joins a growing list of Tuke for Tennessee endorsers, including:

• Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council – Representing 340 Local Unions and 250,000 workers throughout Tennessee
• Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association
• Teamsters Local Union 519 – Knoxville, TN
• Teamsters Local Union 480 – Nashville, TN
• Teamsters Local Union 327 – Nashville, TN
• Communications Workers of America Local 3808 – Nashville, TN
• UA Local Union 614 – Memphis, TN
• AFSCME Local 1733 – Memphis, TN
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 474 – Memphis, TN
• Atomic Trades and Labor Council – Oak Ridge, TN

Bob Tuke

The Atomic Trades and Labor Council has endorsed Bob Tuke to become Tennessee’s next U.S. Senator and to defeat Lamar Alexander in November.  The ATLC is comprised of 16 international unions and 17 local unions and represents approximately 2,100 members at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex.  The ATLC joins a growing list of Tuke for Tennessee endorsers, including:

• Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council – Representing 340 Local Unions and 250,000 workers throughout Tennesse
• Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association
• Teamsters Local Union 519 – Knoxville, TN
• Teamsters Local Union 480 – Nashville, TN
• Teamsters Local Union 327 – Nashville, TN
• Communications Workers of America Local 3808 – Nashville, TN
• UA Local Union 614 – Memphis, TN
• AFSCME Local 1733 – Memphis, TN
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 474 – Memphis, TN

For a complete list of Tuke for Tennessee endorsers, please visit http://www.tukefortennessee.com/endorsers.

Tuke will be in Clarksville at the Hand Farm for the Democratic Labor Day Celebration on September 6.

The Delta Queen sailed into Clarksville Monday on what may be one its last journeys down the Cumberland, and all the other rivers she’s traveled.

The Delta Queen steams into Clarksville

The Delta Queen is a grand lady and a legacy from our collective history. She is only remaining all-wood paddle-wheeled craft still sailing American waters with a complement of passengers scattered about, some opting to sit on the comfortable white rocking chairs on its decks. The Delta Queen looked and sounded like something in a classic Mark Twain novel.

On Monday, Clarksvillians were treated to the sound of the Delta Queen’s caliope, lilting over the Cumberland with tunes such as Yankee Doodle, It’s a Grand Old Flag, Robert E. Lee, and Give My Regards to Broadway (many show tunes from the pen of George M. Cohen, another piece of American history). Tony Schwartz kept the ivory keys lively with yesterday’s music, but called the concert a “tribute to Clarksville.” (Delta Queen history)

Cruise Director Mary Charlton, in discussing the Delta Queen’s river journey, said:

“Small towns are what made this country great. This (visit with its caliope concert) is our way of saying thank you.”

City Councilors Deanna Mclaughlin and Bill Summers presented the key to the City of Clarksville to the Delta Queen’s captain.

Delta Queen's grand staircase

The steam whistle blew, to the delight of passengers and riverbank visitors, many sitting under tress at Riverfront Park, just taking in the sight of this historic ship.

Within the next two weeks advocates for Save The Delta Queen are going to deliver a set of petitions and resolutions to Sen. Specter’s office at Capitol Hill. This will consist of petitions, resolutions, and Steamboats.org petition messages that we’ve collected since our first delivery to them on April 18. Anyone who has petitions or resolutions, please let us know so we can give you details about whom to send them to and when.

For the past 42 years the Delta Queen has journeyed under an exemption from the Safety of Life and Sea Act, but that exemption is up at the end of this year. Congressman Steve Chabot’s bill to continue the Delta Queen’s 42-year exemption from the Safety of Life at Sea Act has been sitting in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since October 16, 2007. Advocates of the Delta Queen say now the only hope to save the Delta Queen lies in the Senate. They request citizen actions in the form of letters and phone calls to federal legislators to continue that exemption from SOLAS regulations.

Senator George Voinovich of Ohio will be introducing a “Save the Delta Queen” bill before the Senate. Since this did not get anywhere in the Congress, supporters of the Delta Queen are lobbying Senators to get them behind this bill.

Charles Greene, member of the Greene family formerly owned Greene Line Steamers, including the Delta Queen and numerous other steamboats, has sent an open letter to the US Congress. This is what he has to say:

Delta Queen Stateroom

Dear Members of Congress,

My name is Charles Greene. My dad, Robert Greene, was ferried off to his WWII troop ship in San Francisco Bay aboard the Delta Queen, which then returned loaded with wounded troops. My dad came back from the war. Far too many did not.

In 1947, my grandfather’s cousin, TomGreene, bought the Delta Queen, had her towed from California to Cincinnati, and put her into operation carrying passengers up and down the Mississippi River and its tributaries just as steamboats had done for more than 100 years.

Today the Delta Queen is the only remaining genuine steamboat carrying overnight passengers on our inland waterways. On her travels, she brings much-needed tourist revenue to many river towns, which will now be needed all the more after the devastating effects of the recent floods on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

Yet now some members of Congress want to put her out of business because she doesn’t comply with a provision of a law that was never intended for riverboats.

The Delta Queen survived being towed through the Panama Canal without incident, and has served honorably and faithfully for more than 80 years without any serious safety incidents. The Delta Queen survived the recession that followed the attacks of 9-11, and Hurricane Katrina (although her then-owners did not). She is surviving $140/bbl oil.

But there is a good chance that the Delta Queen cannot survive her most lethal challenge to date: the inaction of Congress. Without an exemption to legal restrictions due to her wooden superstructure, this will be her last season.

To some in Congress the facts do not matter. They care only about the letter of a misapplied law. So to all of you I ask this question: Come July 4th, just what the hell are we celebrating?

Charles Greene
Lewisburg, KY

This is a transcript of Rep. Oberstar’s argument (in normal type) to dry-dock the Delta Queen, with rebuttals by Mr. Greene (italics).

Apr 27, 2008

Mr. Speaker,

I enormously respect the distinguished and amiable gentleman from Ohio, the weight-lifting champ of the House gym. When he walks on the floor, the weights quiver and shake in awe of his appearance.

He has been an advocate for the Delta Queen even back to last fall when I was in the Bethesda Naval Hospital for an operation to correct a long-standing injury to my neck. He sent a sheet cake with the Delta Queen emblazoned upon it to remind me of his diligence and of his enthusiasm for the Delta Queen. I could only eat one slice of it, but I assured him that the staff at the hospital, who had no idea what the Delta Queen was all about, appreciated this sheet cake from the very distinguished and caring gentleman from the State of Ohio.

But labor has nothing to do with this issue. I haven’t heard from a single person in any labor union about this matter.

What Rep. Oberstar doesn’t explain is why he totally changed his mind since just last year when he voted in favor of the Delta Queen exemption. And he has never explained how it comes that Majestic America Line is claiming the Union issue being the only reason for his opposition.

The Delta Queen was built in 1926 and carried 174 passengers, 88 state rooms. It has extensive wood superstructure. It has extensive wood interior and furniture, and for those reasons, the Coast Guard will not certify this vessel.

Simply not true. The Coast Guard has certified the Delta Queen numerous times in the past and just weeks ago. Citing a DQ crew member: “We passed our annual Coast Guard Inspection on Tuesday [April 15, 2008] and received our new COI. The inspector was very impressed with the crew during the Fire and Abandon Ship drills.”

Opposition is clear. The combustible construction of the vessel presents an unacceptable fire risk that cannot be mitigated by the addition of fire-suppression measures, says the Coast Guard. As such, the Coast Guard’s position remains unchanged. The Delta Queen should be prohibited from operating with overnight passengers. Since May 28, 1936, the United States has required that passenger vessels be constructed essentially of fire retardant material. In the interest of maritime safety, the Coast Guard, continuing their quote, has consistently opposed legislation to prolong the service of the Delta Queen. A vessel constructed of wood operating in the overnight passenger trade presents an unacceptable fire risk to its passengers and crew. It goes on at great length.

We’ve seen such a letter from a high-ranking Coast Guard officer, true. But nevertheless the Coast Guard has always issued certificates of inspection for the Delta Queen testifying her safety and compliance with the regulations while the Coast Guard could easily have refused the certificate in case the Delta Queen was not safe.

The Delta Queen can operate in daytime but not at night.

The Delta Queen's paddle wheel

In the operation of the trade on the Mississippi River, the worst disaster in history occurred, fire onboard a paddle wheeler. Yes, in the 19th century, but 1,700 people died 100 yards from shore.

Mr. Oberstar obviously is referring to the Sultana disaster of 1865. That fire was caused by a boiler explosion, something absolutely untinkable as of today. At that time due to a lack of safety standards steamboats had an average lifetime of 3-5 years and boiler explosions were relatively common. The Delta Queen now is 82 years old and never had any major incidents in her whole lifetime. The Sultana could carry 376 persons, including crew, about double than the Delta Queen today. But the ruthless captain of the Sultana overloaded the boat with the incredible number of more than 1,700 passengers, mainly Civil War soldiers on their way back home. If it makes any sense to compare the Sultana with the Delta Queen, then we also have to compare the Titanic with modern cruise ships and stop (at least) all Alaska cruises immediately.

On March 22 of this year, of this year, the Delta Queen had a fire in the generating room requiring the use of their fixed C02 extinguishing system. Fortunately, no one was injured. The generator shorted, caused flames to shoot out the generator end.

Isn’t that just an example how safe the Delta Queen in fact is and how well her safety appliances are working? The fire detection and extinguishing systems acted exactly as designed and did their job flawlessly. By the way: According to our sources, the fire was caused by a generator overspeed, not a short. And the fire was contained to the generator space, which is basically a metal room within the boiler room. No wood even close to it.

Earlier this month, the Queen of the West, this April, a similar paddle wheel operated by the very same company that owns and operates the Delta Queen had a fire in the engine room, required evacuation of 177 passengers and crew. Three crew members were treated for smoke inhalation.

What does the Queen of the West have to do with the Delta Queen? She is an all-steel boat with a hydraulic-driven paddlewheel; no wooden superstructure, no steam.

Last year, in May, the Empress of the North, another excursion vessel operated by the same company owning the Delta Queen, ran aground in southeast Alaska, evacuating over 200 passengers and crew; fourth grounding of that vessel in less than 4 years.

Again, what does this have to do with the Delta Queen? And very important: The Queen of the West as well as the Empress of the North are of course Coast Guard certified vessels, the navigational crew of both boats of course are holding an appropriate license issued by the Coast Guard.

Now I can understand those who live along the Mississippi River, which starts nearly in my district all the way down to the Gulf, but friends, we would never stand for limiting safety on a 747 aircraft.

a) what does a 747 airplane have to do with a steamboat?

b) nobody is talking about limiting the safety on the Delta Queen. The Delta Queen is safer than she’s ever been and absolutely up to modern standards and beyond.

And over a decade ago, a foreign airline was trying to remove over-wing exits from a 747.

Trying to remove over-wing exits in fact reduces safety on a 747. Renewing the Delta Queen’s exemption does not reduce safety but maintains the level of safety she had over the last at least 40 years since she is running under these exemptions from a law that was never made for riverboats but for sea-going passenger vessels. Remember: Great Lakes ships are exempt from this law by default; riverboats had just been forgotten about to exempt by default in that law.

Congressman Bill Clinger, Pennsylvania’s ranking Republican on the Committee on Aviation stopped them from doing that. We stopped the FAA from allowing that risk to safety. We should stop this risk to safety here. Fire at night is terrifying. Oppose the amendment.

EDITOR’S NOTE: My appreciation for City Councilor Deanna McLaughlin for her comprehensive newsletter on the Delta Queen.

“We have had over a decade of Republican representation in the US Senate and look at where it has gotten us. We are at the bottom of almost every social indicator for quality of life. We are near the bottom of the list in terms of health, education, life expectancy and even infant mortality. It is time to invest in the health of our state instead of wasting our federal dollars on war and corporate subsidies.” — Chris Lugo

Lugo said he is seeking the U.S. Senate seat because “it is time to end the war and bring the troops home. It is time to use our taxpayer dollars wisely to provide universal healthcare. It is time to repair our nation’s domestic infrastructure. It is time to end poverty in America. It is time to end our dependence on oil by developing safe and viable alternative energy sources. It is time to leave our children a clean, healthy and peaceful environment in which to live and raise their families.”

Lugo was the Green Party of Tennessee candidate for US Senate in 2006.

“In 2006 I ran with the Green Party. I think it was the right decision in 2006 but this is a different election season. Americans waking up to the cause of peace and they are looking for leadership on health care, the environment, education and poverty I am a progressive, regardless of which party I represent. I think we need to come together this year to end the war and and bring America together as a country. We have so much work to do to reverse the damage of eight years of the Bush administration.”

He is calling for an end to the Iraq war, and has called for redirecting attention to the housing crisis which is “pushing Americans out of their homes.” He advocates a national response to the issue and impact of global warming.

Lugo said health care is a major theme of his campaign.

“It is time to insure that every man, woman and child in this country has access to quality and affordable healthcare and I believe that a universal single payer health care system is the best way to achieve that goal. I believe that most Americans now favor single payer healthcare and it is time that our legislation reflects that value.”

In 2005 Lugo was an active participant and supporter of the protesters who occupied the Governor’s office during the Tenncare protests.

“I was horrified when 323,000 Tennesseans were cut off of their health care and Tenncare was dismantled. I was an active supporter of the Tenncare protesters at the Governor’s office and I still support what they did but I think that the only solution is to address this at the federal level. I think that health care is a basic human right, and that a majority of Americans support this today. We are facing a health care crisis in Tennessee where 700,000 people do not have basic health care. In addition 50 million Americans do not have health insurance nationwide. This is a moral issue which only the federal government can address. With a strong and determined will, we can achieve this and provide health care for all Americans.”

The issue of immigration is also a key concern which Lugo plans to address in his Democratic Senate bid

“I believe that human rights are for everyone. It is time to stop breaking up families and terrorizing people who have come to this country to work hard and contribute to our economy. This is an especially relevant issue here in Tennessee, where the Hispanic population has nearly doubled since 2000. People are coming to Tennessee because they believe in the American dream and want a better life for themselves and their children. We need to issue driver’s licenses so these people can go to work. We need to stop rounding up workers and treating them like criminals. We need to offer a path to citizenship to people who have become an integral part of our communities.”

Lugo feels that the tide is turning in Tennessee.

“I think that Tennessee is ready for a liberal in Washington. The outcome of 25 years of Republican leadership in Washington DC is war, a failed economy, poverty and a domestic infrastructure that is falling apart. We can see now that the policies of trickle down economics, union busting, and poverty level wages will not make America stronger. The middle class is shrinking and the federal deficit mushrooming because of reckless war profiteering, corporate subsidies and tax breaks for the most privileged members of our community. It is time for a positive change in Tennessee. It is time to turn away from the politics of greed and fear that the Republicans represent. Americans are ready for a compassionate government that addresses real human needs. It is time to invest in this country and to invest in our future. “

Democratic candidate Chris Lugo’s full platform can be found at the website: www.chris4senate.org

American’s are highly skeptical about the notion of progress in Iraq, with only 11% polling responding that they are “pleased” with the results of the war. Yet Americans seem resigned to the fact that US troops are going to remain in Iraq. The simple fact is that the United States cannot afford to continue this war. In addition to the complete lack of international support for Bush’s folly, the middle class can no longer afford to pay for the war. The national debt is at an all time high of $9.1 trillion dollars and Congress has appropriated another $580 billion dollars in military spending, far in excess of the actual amount of appropriations needed to defend the national security .

The United States Senate has sent a message to the American people, that they do not care about them or about their future. By voting in line with the President the Senate has showed that what it cares about most are defense appropriations and handing out thousands of spending contracts. This makes sense in light of the fact that the Senate is composed mostly of millionaires, as almost 50% of the Senate is in this category, while in the US population as whole only about 1% are millionaires. The investment interest of the current class of Senators is heavily weighted towards money and much less toward people or the American interest.

Then there is the military . . .

According to a recent poll from the Center for American Progress, the Bush administration is doing a remarkably poor job of helping out veterans and their families. Military families have turned sharply against the Bush administration, with only 35% responding favorably when asked if their needs were being met. The Senate does not have a clear direction for the war in Iraq and it is relying on the Bush administration for leadership on this war that the President has unilaterally led us into. What the Senate should be doing is exercising leadership of its own, by rejecting the Omnibus Spending Bill, reducing federal spending for the war in Iraq, and bringing our troops home.

By spending another $70 billion dollars on a failed war, we are only prolonging the inevitable withdrawal. Although Americans feel ambiguous about their responsibilities to the Iraqi people, the Iraqi people do not feel nearly so ambiguous. They want the troops out and they want their country returned. We have bombed their country, killed their people, created two million refugees and polluted their country with depleted uranium, and still the Senate thinks we should stay the course and that we are making progress.

It is time to end the war and bring the troops home. Tennessee deserves progressive leadership and deserves a candidate who will stand up for common sense and not for private contractors and military appropriations. We have lost to many good men and women, created too much devastation and human misery because of our narrow sighted actions in the middle east. It is time for us to face up to our mistakes and begin to reconcile ourselves with the international community. It is time to begin reducing our national debt, reducing our military spending and stepping out of the post cold-war mentality of the neo-cons. It is time to bring the troops home now!

The numbers grow even more distressing when minority figures are reviewed. There is a direct correlation between the high numbers of Hispanic dropouts and the travesty of the Senate’s failure to pass the Dream Act last week. Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006.

Someone should play “Connect the dots” for the U. S. Senate. As syndicated columnist Cynthia Tucker noted in her October 29th commentary, when the Senate rejected the Dream Act, it effectively slammed shut the door through which 500,000 young adults could have become eligible for permanent residency. One of the provisions for gaining that eligibility is graduating from high school with a good record and then attending college or serving in the military.

Couple that scenario with the AP IMPACT Study by Johns Hopkins University on the alarming number of U. S. high schools that qualify as “dropout factories”- “a high school where no more than 60 percent of the students who start as freshmen make it to their senior year. That dubious distinction applies to more than one in ten high schools across America.” [baltimoresun.com/news]

For an immigrant child, whose parents entered this country illegally, that has progressed positively through a local school system, there comes a time when harsh reality stares them in the face. By no fault of their own they will reach a solid wall. While their non-immigrant schoolmates prepare for ACT and SAT exams, apply for college, financial aid and scholarships, these illegal immigrant students are faced with the reality that they can go no further in pursuing their dreams. They can’t go on to college, no matter their academic worthiness or athletic prowess and talents. The actions of their parents to seek a better life, albeit at modest wages, has doomed their children to also live in a third-class underground culture. These students can’t apply for scholarships, financial aid, or even take the SAT or ACT exams. They lack that simplest of basic requirements – a valid social security number.

Around ninth or tenth grade this reality-check usually makes itself known to these students. Their options are not encouraging. They could leave their families and return to their native homelands and seek legal immigration over the next 10 or 15 years, with no assurance of success; they could continue to their graduation and then enter the underground labor market; or they could just dropout in the 9th or 10th grade and enter that underground labor market. And along the way, they could join a gang and become criminals. Great options, aren’t they?

The AP – Johns Hopkins University Dropout Factory Study shows that immigrant Hispanic students suffer an elevated dropout rate. The above detailed background goes a long way towards explaining why this is so. There were sensible provisions in the Dream Act that would have directly attacked this sorry situation. Sadly the Senate and the Bush White House worked against its passage. Their actions perpetuate the cycle of underground labor, gangs and immigration round-ups and deportations for people who had no voice in being here in the first place.

Glory be, how noble we are!

On Thursday, July 12, Rajan Zed became the first person to offer a Hindu prayer on the Senate floor. Sadly, the prayer was disrupted by “Christian patriots” who were eventually arrested on the misdemeanor charge of disrupting Congress. This “protest” was an utter disgrace to not only the Senate, but to Christianity as a whole.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Fox News reported:

Zed, who was born in India, was invited by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Speaking in the chamber shortly after the prayer, Reid defended the choice and linked it to the war debate.

“If people have any misunderstanding about Indians and Hindus,” Reid said, “all they have to do is think of Gandhi,” a man “who gave his life for peace.”

“I think it speaks well of our country that someone representing the faith of about a billion people comes here and can speak in communication with our heavenly Father regarding peace,” said Reid, a Mormon and sharp critic of President Bush’s Iraq policies.

Now, I don’t think Senator Reid really understands that the Hindu religion doesn’t worship “our heavenly father.” But that’s not the point. His invitation to bring Chaplain Zed to pray on the Senate floor was a first for the Senate. The invitation drew the ire of the American Family Association as well as other fundamentalist groups.

It’s not clear what group the protesters were associated with, but their disruptive shouts were a true embarrassment to Christians everywhere. They yelled from the visitors gallery, “This is an abomination!” and were eventually arrested.

MSNBC reported the content of the prayer as well:

Zed, the first Hindu to offer the Senate prayer, began: “We meditate on the transcendental glory of the Deity Supreme, who is inside the heart of the Earth, inside the life of the sky and inside the soul of the heaven. May He stimulate and illuminate our minds.”

As the Senate prepared for another day of debate over the Iraq war, Zed closed with, “Peace, peace, peace be unto all.”

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. As a Christian, I think that these three protesters are a disgrace and an utter embarassment to not only Christianity but to Christians everywhere. They should be ashamed of themselves, and I’m glad they were arrested. Sadly, I’m not surprised that this happened. 

Of course, the concept of “peace” is offensive to many fundamentalists, which is unfortunate. What concerns me more than anything is the notion that many of today’s Christians have that insists that the United States was founded to be a “Christian nation.”

If this were so, then why are the words “God” or “Bible” completely nonexistent in the Constitution?

Yes, many of the framers were Christian. John Adams and John Jay were both very passionate in their faith. They also understood that faith was a personal matter of the individual. And the individual expressions of faith (indeed forms of Christianity were the most prevalent) was meant to be exactly that: Individual.

When the first amendment was ratified, it clearly stated that “Congress would pass no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” It would keep the federal government out of the religious affairs of the people. It would also prevent having one religion elevated above any others.

The modern idea of twisting this as a “Christians-only club” is as much a perversion as it would be to say that all of the framers were Christian. Clearly, they were not. More importantly, Christianity as most modern evangelicals understand it did not exist until the early 1800s with the rise of Charles Finney.

As I discussed this once, someone pointed out the final article of the Constitution:

Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America…

It seems that some Christians insist that the usage of the phrase “the Year of our Lord…” was indicative that this was intended to be a Christian nation. This is about as logical as insisting that because the sky is blue, this was intended to be a blue-skinned nation. Why is this?

Quite simply, it was a tradition of the time. Just as this is the year 2007 A.D. In fact, the Latin phrase ano domini translates to “the year of our Lord.” This was simply the calendar year—nothing more, and nothing less. It’s about as religious as saying, “God bless you” to a person who’s just sneezed.

Thomas Jefferson wasn’t in the country when the Constitution was written, but his clear approval of the hands-off approach to religion was an indication that he understood it enough to write to the Danbury Baptist association when he was president that the first amendment “erects a wall of separation between church and state.”

Faith was an important part in the lives of early Americans, and each faith was protected. We should be careful not to try to put words in the framers mouths by quoting them out of context and making them say that they intended to found America as a “Christian nation.” Clearly, they did not.

In fact, the Treaty of Tripoli, proudly signed by John Adams (who also co-wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence) in 1796 has a particular statement in article 11:

Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

There is, however, no question that the Christian faith was deeply rooted in the culture of the late eighteenth century. This was just a few decades after the Great Awakening, during which men like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield impacted the colonials through the power of the Holy Spirit in a profound way. Christian historians (including myself) believe that the Awakening prepared the hearts of the colonists for the long, bloody war that came with the Revolution.

One of the phrases I hear a lot is “original intent.” This is something that we have to be very careful of, especially since the “original intent” of the framers was clearly that only white men would have a say in what their country would look like. Radical ideas of women who vote, black men who vote and own property, and the end of slavery were far-reaching pipe dreams as far as the framers knew. Even Washington and Jefferson were slave owners.

The Constitution was written to allow some flexibility in several issues, and its interpretation clearly changes with time. During his 2000 Presidential campaign, Then-Vice President Al Gore spoke of it as a “living and breathing document” that changes with time. This is the opposite extreme. In reality, the constitution is neither rigid nor living. It’s deliberately specific in its language yet deliberately vague in its application.

Where the “original intent” interpretation fails in the relationship with Church and State is that there is little argument that the framers had a Christian worldview. We simply can not apply that same worldview to the multi-cultural society that is in the United States today.

Here in Clarksville, there are literally dozens of different countries represented in its residents. There are Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, as well as Christian residents. Yes, most of Clarksville’s residents are Christian. But our city is best reflected when we celebrate the spiritual diversity of the region. Such is the same with the Senate.

This really isn’t all that different from last year’s brouhaha over Keith Elliston’s swearing-in ceremony where he placed his hand on a Quran instead of the Bible. Interestingly enough, the copy of the Quran that he used once belonged to Thomas Jefferson (By the way, such ceremonies are common, but are not the “official” swearing in, which is done on the Congress floor en masse).

Clearly, even if it was in the days of the Framers, the United States is clearly no longer a Christian nation. It’s important that we respect the intent of the framers and their flexibility by keeping faith where it belongs: in the churches and hearts of the American people, and out of government. They knew then just as we know now that when government meddles in religious affairs, it will only result in tyranny.

Just imagine what kind of a country those three protesters would have us live in. I sure wouldn’t want any part of it.

My opponents are also well qualified in this campaign. I do not intend to run a smear campaign or engage in any form of dirty or dishonest platforming. I believe my own platform stands on its own and represents a clear distinction between my values and the values of my fellow candidates. I am ready to campaign across the state of Tennessee talking about peace. But the message of progressive politics cannot happen without your support so I am writing to you today to ask for both your personal and financial support this election season.

I am proud of my service on the board of the Nashville Peace and Justice center, as well as my continuing work as a contributing editor to the Tennessee Independent Media Center as well as my longstanding work to end the war with the Nashville Peace Coalition, without whose support I would not have considered this campaign. I am also proud of my own work with the Green Party of Tennessee as well as the work of so many others who have helped to sustain and grow this party since its inception in 1996. I understand the important public trust the Green Party has placed in me by nominating me as their candidate as well as the trust the peace community has placed in the message of my campaign.

I pledge to be an honorable candidate and to run my campaign with truthfulness and compassion, understanding that it is my mission to serve the people of Tennessee and that the best way to do this is by promoting the progressive values which the peace movement and the Green Party stand for.

I am asking for your help today. You may contribute to my campaign by sending your contributions to Chris Lugo for Senate, 9 Music Sq So #164, Nashville, TN 37203 or by visiting my web site at http://www.chris4senate.com/ and making your commitment there.

Also I would like to invite you to join the Vote for Peace listserv to keep you updated about the Chris Lugo for US Senate campaign in Tennessee.

To sign up for vote for peace go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/voteforpeace

Please feel free to contact me at 615-593-0304 to share your concerns or request a speaking engagement or meeting with your group or other groups and once again, thank you in advance for your support this election season.

Sincerely,

Chris Lugo
Green Party of Tennessee
Candidate for US Senate
email:
phone: 615-593-0304
web: http://www.chris4senate.com/

Click here to view the embedded video.

I was unable to find one for Bob Corker, so if anyone knows of one online let me know! I try to be non-partisan in my election coverage. If you are a local Republican Party supporter, or candidate, and are interested in contributing as an author, we would welcome your contributions to the site as well. Balance is important.

Click here to view the embedded video.

For more Information Please Contact: The Montgomery County Democratic Party Head Quarters (931) 553-0355

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(The text below is from the Harold Ford, Jr. Campaign Web site)

About Harold Ford, Jr.

At a time when politicians define themselves by their parties or ideologies, Harold Ford, Jr. is the rare politician who puts solutions before partisan politics. He focuses on making government work for people.  When government is ineffective or gets in the way, he works to reform it and remove barriers that prevent people from getting ahead.

Elected in 1996, Ford has been re-elected four times by an average of 80% of the vote and enjoys a reputation as a consensus builder. In 1998, Ford was 28 years old when he cast his vote for the first federal balanced budget – the first time America’s budget had been balanced since 1969. He has played pivotal roles in advancing legislation to reform the nation’s campaign finance laws, to crack down on corporate cheaters by strengthening corporate governance laws, to encourage more Americans to serve their country and to raise standards in public education.

As a candidate for the U.S. Senate, Ford wants to make government work for all Tennesseans, not just a few. He is working to make our country independent of Middle East oil, wants a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, and is sponsoring bipartisan legislation, the ASPIRE Act, to provide an investment account for every child born in America. He believes in the transformative power of early childhood education and the ability of faith and community based organizations to heal our communities.

Harold Ford believes that protecting the American people is the first responsibility of government. He is a leader in ensuring that first responders and law enforcement get the resources they need to protect Tennesseans and the country against terrorism and catastrophic events. As a member of the Department of Defense’s Transformation Advisory Group, he is helping to advise the Pentagon on developing a new organizational framework to defend the country and our future.

When too many of our leaders seek to divide us, Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. has the vision and blueprint to bring Tennessee together and move us forward. 

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The below quotes are attributed to Donald Rumsfeld by Think Progress

‘I Have Never Painted A Rosy Picture’ About Iraq – Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld

What he actually said:

Dec. 18, 2002: Lary King : What’s the current situation in Afghanistan? Donald Rumsfeld: It is encouraging. They have elected a government through the Loya Jirga process. The Taliban are gone. The al Qaeda are gone.

Feb. 7, 2003: “It is unknowable how long that conflict [the war in Iraq] will last. It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months.”

Feb. 20 2003: “‘Do you expect the invasion, if it comes, to be welcomed by the majority of the civilian population of Iraq?’ Jim Lehrer asked the defense secretary on PBS’ The News Hour. ‘There is no question but that they would be welcomed,’ Rumsfeld replied, referring to American forces.”

Mar. 30, 2003: “It happens not to be the area where weapons of mass destruction were dispersed. We know where they are. They’re in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat.”

What the General Abizaid, the Commander of the U.S. Central Command in Iraq is saying:

I believe that the sectarian violence is probably is as bad as I’ve seen it in Baghdad in particular, and that if not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could move toward civil war. – Commander of the U.S. Central Command, General Abizaid

Think Progress also reports that:

It will be the first time Rumsfeld has testified publicly about the war before the committee since February 2006. Here’s what’s happened in Iraq since then:

– Approximately 300 U.S. troops have died in Iraq
– Approximately 2,530 U.S. troops have been wounded
– Well over 10,000 Iraq civilians have been killed
– Insurgents have conducted an average of 620 attacks per week
– In March there were 7.8 hours of electricity per day in Baghdad (down from 16-24 hours before the war), last month there were 7.6 hours.
– In March there were 133,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. Today there are 132,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and plans to raise that number to 135,000.

That’s Rumsfeld’s record. Now he has to explain why it shows that we should “stay the course.”

Senator Clinton says that Donald Rumsfeld should resign:

“The secretary has lost credibility with the Congress and with the people. It’s time for him to step down and be replaced by someone who can develop an effective strategy and communicate it effectively to the American people and to the world.” – The Associated Press

What is the plan for victory in Iraq and Afghanistan? Where is the timetable to bring our troops home out of harms way? Why are our soldiers really still fighting and dying in Iraq? Is it for a new neocon version of the cold war? To enrich Haliburton and the military industrial complex? Forget the sound bites! I want, no I demand a honest and truthful answer in plain and clear english!

If Donald Rumsfeld can not provide a straight answer to my questions, then I must agree with Senator Clinton on this issue.