Sunday, October 19, 2008

Calm, cool, and collected


I like what Colin Powell says without hesitation in the end. He is still indeed a Republican.

Un-American?

Ok, I'm over being called anti-American, although I was pretty pissed-off yesterday. I saw this video of Rep. Bachmann saying that unAmerican members of government needed to be found and removed along with the Governor Palin video implying parts of our great country are anti-American. Unfortunately for me, I hold views that are different than Rep. Bachman and I live in a large metropolitan city, both are anti-American characteristics according to these important women of power. The more I thought about it the more I realized that they were the ones being unAmerican by espousing views of division and hatred. I mean, can you imagine the witch hunt of the federal government if we extracted those whose policies differed from Rep. Bachmann? Remember McCathyism in the 1950's?

If you think the Democrats will steer this country into socialism (they won't) be afraid that the current Republicans will steer this great, diverse, and wonderful country into fascism.

My neighbor asked me a few days ago if I was concerned about paying more taxes. I replied that with Obama as president I wasn't getting any tax increases. I don't think we'll be making over $250,000 anytime soon. One thing that I didn't mention and I wish I had is that under a McCain presidency our medical benefits will be taxed. This should be a major concern of the elderly. A by-pass surgery can cost over $35,000. Can you imagine the taxes on that much money?

Oh, BTW, my neighbor is alright with me now. We talked yesterday but not about politics!

Friday, October 17, 2008

A neighbor rejects me!

Only 18 days until Election Day! Honestly, I really wish it were over. My Republican friends have been respective of my views for the most part but yesterday one of my neighbors started a conversation with me then walked off. It was uncomfortable and weird.

A little background. I'm not a Democrat or Republican. I'm what is commonly known as an Independent. This means that I have two choices and I want to make the best choice I can. The only way to do this is research by reading different publications. The reason for this is to take out the bias. This is why I don't read or watch Fox News. They are clearly biased on the far right and cannot be trusted. The best source I have found is the BBC and news blogs. People who write their opinions on blogs usually include reference material which I check out and have found very useful. I am very careful and extremely skeptical.

My neighbor Judy who I had the confrontation with is in her late 70's. Makes no bones about being a product of the Depression and WWII. I highly respect her. She is not connected to the Internet and doesn't own a cell phone. Her only source of information is Fox News. I know this because she told me.

Yesterday I was walking the dog when I come up on Judy and Eugene (another Republican neighbor) in the street in front of my house obviously talking about the debate. I thought, "Shit, how am I going to get past this?" I promise you, I wasn't going to engage at all, just say "Good morning" and walk into my house. But as I got closer I could actually hear exactly what they were talking about so I made a comment like "So I guess you guys are talking about the debate?" How could I be so dumb? Judy says "Oh yes, but you wouldn't agree with anything we have to say." To which I answered with a smile on my face and in a happy way, "Maybe not." She then started to ask me questions to which I had factual answers. Mostly what I got from her was a lot of "You've got to be kidding!" and "You really don't believe that, do you?" and she actually suggested that I was brainwashed. Now, I've got an extremely thick skin and I wasn't bothered in the least, which she noticed, so she changed the subject to how ineffective the Democratic Congress has been these past 2 years. I said that Bush has so much power that he's handcuffed the Congress and I think I also mentioned Dick Cheney and his seemingly unlimited power. That's when she stated she couldn't talk to me anymore and walked off. I thought, that's odd, getting upset about that subject.

I haven't seen her yet but I will guess that she'll continue to be neighborly and talk to me about the weather and such. Yes, I wish the election was over!

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Lying for Jesus

Mrs Palin is getting under my skin so I'm writing about her again. Please bear with me.

One of my friends is a 5th grade school teacher. She is a single mom with two adorable girls, 6 and 10. We were talking about Sarah Palin and my friend made a statement which resonated with me. She said there was no way she would vote for a woman who would force a 13 year old girl (or any age) to give birth to a baby conceived as a result of a rape or incest. She said that she couldn't imagine putting her own daughters though the trauma of an unwanted pregnancy on top of being victimized by a rapist. Mrs Palin misquoted Madeline Albright by saying, "There’s a place in Hell reserved for women who don’t support other women." I agree. Her position on abortion ain't supportin' women so there must be a special place for her in the nether regions of mythology.

Note: the correct quote is: “There’s a place in Hell reserved for women who don't help other women.” One of my favs.

I'm concerned about Mrs Palin's soul as well. (OK, not really.) She is bearing false witness by saying this statement. "Our opponent ... is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect, imperfect enough, that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country." She was referring to Bill Ayers.

This is what the NY Times had to say in response: Summing up its findings, the Times wrote: "A review of records of the schools project and interviews with a dozen people who know both men, suggest that Mr. Obama, 47, has played down his contacts with Mr. Ayers, 63. But the two men do not appear to have been close. Nor has Mr. Obama ever expressed sympathy for the radical views and actions of Mr. Ayers, whom he has called 'somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8.'"

These kinds of personal attacks have a way of backfiring. In an age where information is readily available you would think the Republicans would stick with the facts. Mrs Palin ain't lookin' so good after all, is she?

You betcha!

Saturday, October 4, 2008

My opinion on the VP debate

So far major media has Biden winning by a substantial margin. There is a good reason for this. Mr Biden, although many thought he was boring, presented facts in a professional way and corrected Mrs Palin over and over again when she tried to lie to the American voters. She tried her best to stir the debate away from McCain's mcsame record as the current president by being folksy and cute: "Say it ain't so, Joe. There you go pointing backwards again." He was pointing backwards because that's where we'll be going under another Republican administration.

I'm sorry but all that winking and using folksy language was unprofessional. If she's like this with us then she'll be like that with world leaders and diplomats. It might look good to the masses but world leaders will expect professionalism. She has yet to show that side to us. I cringed and felt bad for her every time she said "ain't" and winked. (BTW, I believe I counted 5 winks, who does that at board meetings?)

Was Mr Biden boring? I didn't think so. But if others thought he was boring at least he was honest. Mrs Palin was a cute, winking liar and I'm amazed that Christians love her so. (I thought not lying was a rule. Perhaps I'm wrong.) Being that she's a conservative Pentecostal Christian I'm surprised that she accepted this position with 5 kids and a special needs baby. As a concerned mother, instead of forcing an 18 year old hockey player to marry her pregnant 17 year old daughter, she should've had him thrown in jail for rape.

Only one thing I have to say about Mr McCain. He is a warmonger and I know you conservative Christians like war, but think about how these current conflicts are bankrupting us. It's not a good idea. We cannot be the world's police force anymore. Mrs Palin and Mr McCain both say that negotiating with unfriendly world leaders without preconditions is not a good idea, and that's not what Obama/Biden are suggesting, but I don't see a problem with it. I think if our leaders are willing to meet on good terms with unfriendly world leaders it just might make us look eager for compromise or resolution. Threatening unfriendly countries with sanctions and force has not and does not work.

Taxes. They are going to be raised no matter who is in office. We have to pay for these wars and the bailout. I'm willing to sacrifice, like those did in WWII, to make our country great again.

This is what one of my relatives had to say the day after the debate:
What a great debate last night. Sarah did wonderful and seemed she was a vice president all her life. She certainly has a smooth way about her and does not get ruffled in the least. Our prayers were answered, Praise God. We do need to be in constant prayer and praise to our wonderful Father in Heaven. It is going to take a long time to get out of this mess as it took a long time to get into it.....like **** back to President Carter's presidency.

There's no talking to people who hold this kind of opinion. They can't see the lies or they think with God on their side there are no lies. It's difficult not to say anything but in this case I chose not to respond. Their minds are closed and nothing can make them change their minds. It's tragic that much of our country is made up of people who are proud to be this way.