Did Obama Just Lose My Vote?

This is serious. I’ve been saying for quite a while that Obama has not yet earned my vote and I am quite happy voting for Nader to help strengthen efforts toward a multi-party system. However, I voted for Obama in the primary here in Texas and was excited to vote for the first viable African-American candidate in the U.S.

Also, this is the most important election in years, if for no other reason than the necessity to populate the Supreme Court with judges who will protect civil liberties unlike those Bush has appointed or McCain would appoint.

While I have continuously lambasted the lack of character Hillary Clinton and her husband have shown during the primary season, I would not say I have been sipping “Obama Kool-Aid.” I understand that his “Change We Can Believe In” slogan is only as effective as his ability - to put it simply - to get things done. And politicians have to work together to accomplish progress. (Unless you’re President Bush, in which case you use the 9/11 attacks and existence of terrorism to scare Americans and politicians alike into marching behind your efforts to make the U.S. more of an authoritarian regime than ever before. Ugh, the thought makes it difficult to keep my coffee and chocolate granola cereal down.)

Obama is a politician first. With a degree in Government, I never lose sight of this. While Democrats fall in love (and Republicans fall in line) we must not forget that politicians must operate within the existing confines of the Washington Dance. This will inevitably lead to widespread disapointment with Obama, when he’s president, because he simply cannot please everyone and will have to compromise in order to accomplish certain goals. A president must make decisions when no option is the right one. It’s a hard gig - the hardest one in the world; I thoroughly recognize this.

However, much of my free time this week has been spent trolling the internet for a reasonable justification for Obama’s approval of the new FISA Act of 2008. Of course, I already have my fair share of underlying bitterness because the Democrats have performed disgracefully since taking control of the Congress. They are inexplicably banner ankle-grabbers again and again despite Bush’s record disapproval ratings. Yes, they do not want to seem weak on national security, but they are greatly underestimating the American people’s desire to have their civil liberties protected in this era of heightened danger.

Congressional members have far more concern with the length of their federal careers than casting the appropriate vote - rendering them impotent in the areas of war profiteering (Diane Feinstein’s husband is a defense contractor and why she still enjoys support in California, I have no idea. BTW, she vote AYE on FISA as well), criminal activity at the executive level (erasing emails, Karl Rove and Harriet Miers refusing to testify, Valerie Plame, fixing EPA reports and much, much more), reforming health care and national energy policy, policing unfair lending practices and allowing the establishment of a credit industry that works against the American people, not for them. It inexplicable that Congress has utterly failed to inhibit Bush’s harmful activities when the majority of Americans do not favor his policies in the slightest. It is frustrating and goddamned ridiculous.

So, Obama is Change personified, right?

Apparently, not so. Yes, I have read his blog on The Huffington Post regarding his FISA vote, which proffered no substantial logic for his approval of the bill. A few gems from the piece are:

Given the choice between voting for an improved yet imperfect bill, and losing important surveillance tools, I’ve chosen to support the current compromise. I do so with the firm intention — once I’m sworn in as president — to have my Attorney General conduct a comprehensive review of all our surveillance programs, and to make further recommendations on any steps needed to preserve civil liberties and to prevent executive branch abuse in the future.

Democracy cannot exist without strong differences. And going forward, some of you may decide that my FISA position is a deal breaker. That’s ok. But I think it is worth pointing out that our agreement on the vast majority of issues that matter outweighs the differences we may have.

The problem with our agreement on the vast majority of issues is that his vote on the FISA bill illustrates his inherent weakness and willingness to compromise when no comprise is needed simply to prove (which he fails to do with this vote) that he is strong on national security. This “aye” was unnecessary, dangerous, wrong, hurtful and potentially, yes, a deal breaker. Especially when assessing the guts of the bill, along with those who voted against it. On The Huffpo website, David Bromwich provides a very concise, yet in-depth look at the governmental powers granted with this legislation. I strongly recommend reading the blog and the readers’ comments below.

Among the senators who opposed the vote are Biden, Boxer, Dodd, Clinton, Byrd, Durbin, Feingold, Harkin, Kerry, Leahy, Reid and Levin.

The bottom line is that political agreements with a candidate are moot if the candidate does not have the political strength or fortitude to operate in accordance with that agreement.

Of course, Obama’s folding on FISA was a political calculation - that’s practically consensus. And I wish he could offer an honest defense of his vote; but, alas, this theater of election season would lead any such candor to damage the candidate.

Obama will be elected president barring any unforeseen, intensely damaging and highly unlikely circumstances. Though the media portrays the presidential race as close - it is a facade. McCain’s chances of succeeding in November, in my opinion, are around 1 in 5. Incumbent parties do not win when the economy is in the tank - mentally or not (and it’s not mental, Phil, when milk, bread, cereal, gas and all other necessities are more and more expensive and the dollar is weaker and weaker). McCain is not galvanizing and voter trust of most election issues points toward Obama. I wish Obama the best and will be hopeful as he takes his oath of office.

Furthermore, I applaud Obama’s willingness to work across the aisle and understand there will be areas in which he will break with Liberals. Support of faith-based community initiatives, for one (and this coming from an agnostic).

The FISA Act, however, is so detrimental to democracy itself, my respect for not just Obama himself, but the very idea of Obama has been irreparably damaged. I would encourage hardcore Obama supporters to keep this particular vote of his in mind when daydreaming of the days to come as he takes on the heavy mantle of President of the United States of America. Perfection at this level does not exist and any romance with a candidate will certainly abate over time.

I would never cast a vote for McFlip-Flop, nor would I ever stay home and waste a voting opportunity. Also, I am a thorough, complete supporter of a multi-party system. While I wanted to vote for Obama - and was excited to vote for him - my decision was not cast in stone. It still is not cemented. However, the odds I would pull the lever in support of him this November are greatly diminished. Truthfully, I am ever more looking in Nader’s direction.

If Obama’s political contributions continue to decline, I encourage him to address his FISA ‘08 support with increased seriousness. This is no small issue for those of us who follow politics and government activity.

This weekend, I plan on purchasing Obama’s two books and will begin reading them with a large grain of salt. Perhaps this will allow me some insight behind this recent mind-boggling decision of his.

As of this point, Obama is not Hope and he is not Change We Can Believe In. He is merely Better Than Bush, but isn’t everybody else?

Review: Maxed Out

Are documentaries getting better or is it just me? At least, they’re getting more interesting. Last night, I watched Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lending (2006) and must offer my highest recommendations to those considering adding to their rental “queue.”

While this documentary is certainly a biased vehicle through which writer, director, producer James Duncan Scurlock expresses his opinions on the unethical credit industry and the government’s collusion, it nevertheless provides an eye-opening paradigm behind the every-man’s everyday experience with credit card companies. If you think you have it bad, watch this documentary - for real - and you’ll feel like you’re living large and in charge. And happiness is all in the mind, which is why the Danish are on top of the world.

It’s easy to take away from Maxed Out the the significance of the lack of regulation of the unethical credit industry by the government. It’s so cute when the Republicans and Libertarians parade their free market ideals and forget that the human element prevents these theories from successfully materializing, despite all the good intentions and numerical data. And they want to open the health care industry in the same manner - unregulated, free market doctors, medicine, scalpels. Yeah, that will work out real well! Lack of regulation has proven so effective in the housing industry, which has resulted in mass foreclosures and helped initiate a recession, and global trade, which provides us Americans cheap consumer goods by taking advantage of poor working conditions outside of our borders. Don’t ask don’t tell and the like.

What we need is a combination of economics and anthropology. The human element - which differs from culture to culture - inhibits capitalism, socialism or communism in their pure forms. China has had to mix capitalism with their brand of communism. The U.S. will never fully achieve a free market system that does not victimize the lowest common denominator. Until economists and legislators alike realize this fundamental reality and Americans stop falling for the right-wing line that all their taxes and all the government regulation only benefit the undeserving over the hard worker, we’re going to have these economic meltdowns - most especially when a Republican Congress rubberstamps a Republican White House.

But I digress as I often do.

Maxed Out hit home for me especially as I am a poster-child for financial misunderstanding and irresponsibility. To put it mildly, I bit off more than I could chew when I was in college and partied like a rock star in my early twenties. And while it can take a week to ruin your credit, it can take a lifetime to repair it. The cards are stacked against you and the system is designed to squeeze every penny from your cold, dead hands. It’s grotesque.

As a wise, old 30-something (does 30 count as 30-something?), I have seen the light and rectified my ways. What I have taken from my experience, however, is the belief in the necessity of financial training for children - especially teens. We have typing class, calculus, electives, foreign languages and yet the very basics of money-management is exempt from regular school curricula. I’m very happy to have learned about STD’s and what PCP does to the human and mice brains. But the development of my adulthood would have been greatly improved had the Texas School Board of Education seen fit at some point to include information on CHECKING ACCOUNTS, OVERDRAFT FEES, FICO SCORES, etc., etc., etc…

Few other skills in life rank above that of money management and merely having a weekly allowance doesn’t cut it. I have no idea why there are not parents at every PTO meeting calling for the inclusion of such education. We are left to our own devices and my devices were fairly shitty. I’m improving bit by bit (my stepdad gives me a subscription to Money Magazine), but you know it’s a long, hard slog and watching college loan payments the size of luxury car payments head into the wind every month still stings.

Quality of life is determined by the quality of our decisions and the quality of our decisions is largely dependent on the quality of our training and education. I knew nothing of finance when I entered my twenties, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let avoidable circumstances dictate the outcome of my financial existence.

So, be smart, get learned and watch Maxed Out. Cause that shit is crazy.

Appropriate Immigration Reform: Stop The Hate and Fear-Mongerring

A study, commissioned by the Americans for Immigration Reform Task Force (part of the Greater Houston Partnership), found that if 8.1 undocumented workers (otherwise knows as illegal immigrants) left overnight, the U.S. would lose $1.8 trillion in annual spending, according to today’s Houston Chronicle. While the task force has a vested interest in highlighting the detrimental effects of the absence of illegal immigrants, the study presents a merited discussion on the positive aspects of their inclusion in American society.

There has been much fear-mongering in the media over the ethics of allowing undocumented workers within our borders and workplaces. They’re taking jobs from American citizens! There are criminals among them! They don’t speak English and will marry our daughters! The lack of reasoning among those who cherry-pick statistics and facts and then use them as scare tactics for either political purposes or sensationalist media strategies is appalling.

While comprehensive immigration reform should undoubtedly be a priority of our legislative leaders, simply building a wall and kicking out “aliens” would not only NOT address our current problems, it would have a hugely negative impact on the farming, construction, restaurant, meatpacking and many other industries already under severe economic strain. Unfortunately, undocumented workers can be at a tremendous disadvantage in the workplace, receiving unfair wages and facing dangerous working conditions - a much more cogent motivation for reform than the “drain on our economy” argument used by the media crazies and right-wing politicians looking for that next leg up during election season.

The vast majority of our families were at one time undocumented and arrived in the U.S. without adhering to our strict immigration laws. Truth be told, the United States has a strong economy, capable of absorbing the millions of illegal immigrants - a large percentage of whom have been in here for years. Much of the media coverage and the shouting from the right wing is simply unfounded propaganda.

Anna Quindlen wrote in Newsweek last August that Mayor Bloomberg “testified before a Senate committee that they (undocumented workers) are the linchpin of his city’s economy.” She went on to write that new businesses are started by Latinos at a rate three times the national average.

Immigration reform cannot simply focus on kicking them out, having them pay a fine and then they can return. This is a very short-sighted non-solution that would do more harm than good. The path to becoming a citizen must be cheaper, shorter and less bureaucratic. Only then will immigrants opt for the legal route rather than the back alleys. This will also help separate the well-intentioned hard workers (that make up the vast majority of illegal immigrants) from the few bad eggs.

For any of us to claim that the U.S. and the possibilities available here are ours and ours alone is absurd. Numbers, studies and statistics are continually manipulated by all sides for ulterior motives, leaving us the individual duty of researching and judging for ourselves where the solutions lay. Talking heads are merely hurdles for the truth. Unreasonable fears implanted in today’s society prevent many from appreciating the enormous cultural and economic value undocumented workers present. For example, the contribution by these workers to Social Security annually is in the billions, yet they themselves will not benefit from these payments.

I live in Texas and think we should try to extend a helping hand rather than flout the ideals that once made our country great. Let’s be cool about this, people. Get of the ineffective Hate Train and stop yelling, “Off with their heads!” These tactics have been historical failures. Undocumented workers will not stop coming, wall or no. And if we offer a voice and protection and fairness in exchange for the meeting of reasonable, legal demands, only then will the situation benefit all parties involved.

Recommended: An Unreasonable Man

“An Unreasonable Man” is a documentary of Ralph Nader’s life and pursuits and a must-see for any informed voter this election season. The film captures a fairly objective history of Nader’s endeavors, still portraying the consumer activist in a positive light. I must say, I learned quite a bit - though I hit the pause button many times to discuss with my fiancé the merits of certain postulations, actions and opinions presented. The words from Pat Benatar’s “All Fired Up” give a fairly good description of our spirited debates. He had to tell me to stop “yelling” a few times, but the documentary made me want to strangle more than a few people at the upper echelons (past and present) of both America’s corporate and political universes.

Whether you agree with the man’s decisions or not, want to support the multi-party system in America, feel embittered by his inclusion in the 2000 Presidential race, are a head-up-your-ass staunch conservative or bleeding-heart liberal, this is an at-times riveting and interesting reflection of a controversial, controlling man with good intentions who has benefited American society in more than a few vastly significant ways.

You certainly won’t be a lesser person for having watched “An Unreasonable Man” and will probably learn quite a bit. I simply can’t recommend it enough.

Screw The White Working Class

David Axelrod took the words right out of my mouth. According to The Huffington Post, David Axelrod told NPR 4/23, “The white working class has gone to the Republican nominee for many elections, going back even to the Clinton years.”

All day yesterday, as I’m hearing the news stations ask over and over, “Why can’t Obama close the deal? Why can’t Obama close the deal?”, it became even clearer that mainstream media has once again donned the dumbass cap and can’t see the forest for the trees. Again.

You can spin the Pennsylvania results however you like. Hillary won by 10 percent, giving her divine right to continue in the primary and torture the democrat electorate with her negative campaigning and hypocritical criticisms. Obama, however, had been behind in the polls 30 percent when the race for Penn. started and managed to close the gap some 20 percent while being forced off message by the Wright bullshit and Bittergate. Take your pick. They’re both right and irrelevant.

The only guarantee we have is that the race will continue on its U-G-L-Y, YOU AIN’T GOT NO ALIBI, YOU UGLY, YOU UGLY, YO MOMMA SAY YOU UGLY course. Hillary effectively paralyzes Obama when she attacks him and he still has not been able to reach the “everyday man” with specific policies that will better the lives of the lower-middle, white working class.

So, the white working class stays with Hillary. Just like they did in Pennsylvania and possibly will in Indiana and definitely will in Kentucky. The silly white working class! Gotta love ‘em! Right?

Give me a freaking break! Let’s talk about these white working class. They’re the ones who picked Bush. They’re the ones who picked Bush AGAIN. They’ll probably head over McCain’s direction in the general ANYWAY.

I say screw ‘em! They’ve jacked this country up enough. Why don’t we let the educated, young people who will inherit this nation decide this presidency. We’re the ones who are entering the workplace and finding decent salaries and ethical treatment and good management sacrificed in the name of the almighty dollar by the whores who went before us. We’re the ones who will die from black lung as unfair trade with China and others vastly increases pollution in the U.S. because we’re not holding them to our same environmental standards as we hold our own factories. We’re the ones who see inflation, commodity prices, and housing prices double and triple while pay rates go down. Congress has given themselves what, eight?, pay-raises since the last time they increased minimum wage. Thanks, whitey.

You can thank the white working class for giving Bush the free pass to continue Iraq with failed polices. You can thank the white working class for prejudicial Constitutional Amendments across the country against gay marriage. Amendments that would make founding fathers cringe. You can thank the white working class for continued government support for abstinence-only programs that have never proven to be effective and are possibly harmful. You can thank the white working class for ensuring that semi-automatic weapons and other needless, non-hunting fire-arms stay on the street and continue to wreak havoc in poor neighborhoods with ever-spreading tentacles.

I say it’s time the white working class stepped aside and retire their failed philosophies. We are worse as a nation - and as a world - than we were eight years ago. And, you know what I think, peeps? It’s only going to get worser. Especially in the last 270 days of the Bush presidency. Especially if McCain is elected president. They the white working class is truly insane if for no other reason than they keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting things to change or improve. Talk about tyranny of the masses - or, at least, the majority. The rest of us suffer because of their inadequate critical analysis and decision-making.

Forget political correctness. The white working class as a demographic, as an electorate, and as a decider has failed themselves and failed the rest us.

Let us pick this one, White Working Class, and I bet your life will improve. The Republicans have tricked you into thinking they’re looking out for your best interests by holding poor people accountable for their poorness. They haven’t. They’ve just ceded power to the multi-billion dollar corporations in exchange for campaign contributions and free golf games while your kids go without health care. It’s not your fault. You didn’t know. But if the reprehensible actions of Bush and Cheney and a whole slew of Congressional members haven’t taught you anything, I don’t know what will. You’re losing your homes. You can’t afford your medicine. You’re overweight and unhappy. Well, take a seat. Sit back. Put the Depends on. And give the rest of us a chance to right your wrongs.

And OBAMA - for CHRISSAKES - start giving specific examples of policy you will enact instead of simply saying You’re Going To Change Washington. We’ve heard that shit over and over before. We want specifics and we want them now. Definable, tangible solutions. Not generalities. Not campaign rhetoric. It’s time to get with the g.d. program. And if you lose Indiana, so help me, I’m voting for Nader!

Prosecuting the Bush Administration

This morning is a beautiful morning, if a little chilly. And it only improved when I clicked on The Huffington Post and read the headline “Obama Would ‘Immediately Review’ Potential Of Crimes In Bush White House.”

The HuffPo basically provided an excerpt from The Philadelphia Daily News’ Will Bunch’s Attywood column in which Obama said:

What I would want to do is to have my Justice Department and my Attorney General immediately review the information that’s already there and to find out are there inquiries that need to be pursued. I can’t prejudge that because we don’t have access to all the material right now. I think that you are right, if crimes have been committed, they should be investigated. You’re also right that I would not want my first term consumed by what was perceived on the part of Republicans as a partisan witch hunt because I think we’ve got too many problems we’ve got to solve.

So this is an area where I would want to exercise judgment — I would want to find out directly from my Attorney General — having pursued, having looked at what’s out there right now — are there possibilities of genuine crimes as opposed to really bad policies. And I think it’s important– one of the things we’ve got to figure out in our political culture generally is distinguishing betyween really dumb policies and policies that rise to the level of criminal activity. You know, I often get questions about impeachment at town hall meetings and I’ve said that is not something I think would be fruitful to pursue because I think that impeachment is something that should be reserved for exceptional circumstances. Now, if I found out that there were high officials who knowingly, consciously broke existing laws, engaged in coverups of those crimes with knowledge forefront, then I think a basic principle of our Constitution is nobody above the law — and I think that’s roughly how I would look at it.

Now, there have been plenty of crimes committed by the Bush administration, whether it was illegal domestic spying, no-bid contract assignment in Iraq, torture, the illegal destruction of mountains of documentation and more. It would give me untold satisfaction if Congress or the next administration conducted effective investigations of the goings-on under Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld. I have little faith that such investigations will proceed as most politicians are in the re-election business and obviously care more about the preservation of their careers than carrying out their fundamental duties as lawmakers and designated check-and-balancers.

Furthermore, I have not allotted my general election vote as of yet and am seriously considering marking the box next to Nader’s name. If Obama gives serious commitment to investigating criminal activity in the Bush White House, he will greatly increase the odds I will vote for him. But, he wants to be a uniter and that probably entails glossing over most of the illegal activity or going after smaller potatoes than those at the top of the administration. Also, Bush will most likely strategically hand out pardons, as he did with Scooter Libby, that will help prevent investigation of his activities the way his father did at the end of his term regarding his participation in the Iran Contra affair.

It’s enough to make me want to win the lottery and buy an island in the South Pacific on which to live and wear a sarong for the rest of my days.

You know what else makes me want to go native among palm trees? This comment on The Huffington Post:

“In the end, elitist liberals are impotent and embittered by that fact. They cling to fantasies such as prosecuting righteous, upstanding American patriots. They fall back on empty rhetoric such as “I’ll fight for the common man, because they know in their own feeble, prejudiced minds, that they don’t have the courage to fight anything evil or anything with the capacity to fight back.

They denigrate core beliefs such as Christianity, because they are empty vessels, devoid of any faith other than weak dependence on the wished-for power of twisted liberal government to FORCE their will upon those made of real and stronger stuff. They are deathly afraid of true faith because they have none. They are terrified of tools such as guns because they generally don’t know how to use them to feed themselves and are too afraid to use them to defend themselves.

They are everything in reverse that Obama tried and failed to heap disdain upon with his elitist mumblings in San Fran. No, we know who they are and what they lack; and they know we know, and that’s what really destroys them.”

To which I responded, complete with typos:

“wow. you are seriously living in fantasy-land. and your one-sided, close-mindedness makes me shudder because your zeal presents you prime meat for the those politicians who would take advantage of your brainwashed, sheep-like desire to follow and believe the lies you are fed.

Committing torture does not make you a patriot. It makes you an immoral hypocrite.

We have faith. Faith in reason, logic, common sense. Not unfounded fairytales only constructed as a tool to control. It is a good thing to question everything. And I’m not deathly afraid of anything except profound ignorance.

And I’m from Texas, honey. I KNOW how to use a gun.

Remember, discussion and debate is always a good thing. No one is right on ALL the issues and when you are certain you are right and no one else, it is time to retire. For your mind is petrified, you can progress no more and are no longer useful.”

I should proofread, I know, I know…

Freakonomics Posts Newt Gingrich’s Answers to Reader Questions

You can read his answers here.

Of course, they were boring and politically contrived. The explanations he gives for the partisanship of the 90’s is an example of his delusional excuses for the behavior of him and his ilk. He seems to be reaching into the same bag of untruths and ambiguous explanations that provide Dick Cheney with all his diarrhea of the mouth.

Example:

“Q: Do you think that corporations have too much power in government, through lobbyists and monetary incentives? What should be done to correct what I see as an imbalance of power between voters and the rich/powerful?

A: There is a direct relationship between the size, influence, and power of a government and the influence of lobbyists on that government. If we are serious about limiting the ability of lobbyists to dictate government policy, we should be serious about limiting the size and scope of the government’s power. Until that happens, the wealthy and powerful will always be able to have influence through lobbying.”

I disagree wholeheartedly. Anyone can see that through lobbying efforts, corporations receive tax privileges and are not regulated, increasing the burden on consumers. I agree that there is a direct relationship between lobbying and government and it seems very much that the more lobbyists there are, the less government. Blackwater has received no-bid contracts and has answered for only a few of their many criminal actions. Yet, they have a slew of lobbyists and have made more money than god on the war in Iraq.

Gingrich, buddy, you’re on the train going to hell and no amount of old-school Republican dogma cult bullshit followers are going to stop it. I’d recommend you pull your head out of your ass, but it’s probably too swollen.

Hillary - The Gift For McCain That Keeps On Givin’

Ugh. Does everyone feel like that this morning? I do and it’s not because of the three glasses of wine I had, either. The foreshadowing last night provides as to what’s in front of us makes me want to hit the bottle again and it’s only 10 in the morning! The Democrats might just turn into New Guinea cannibals if that’s the measure it takes for personal glory. Hillary already has blood all over her face.

Alright, alright. I’ll say it. She deserves to stay in the race. The results last night by no means require her to step aside in the name of Democratic success. She wouldn’t do it anyway. I think she probably would have taken Texas and Ohio by a slight margin without all the negative ads and ridiculous answers on 60 Minutes and reprehensible comments saying she and McCain have life experiences and Obama just has a speech. She’s beginning to make me ill. But, Texas and Ohio are slow to change their ways - especially in TX with the cultural divide between Latinos and African-Americans. And the race continues.

Now Axelrod and Obama are going to have to decide how down and dirty they want to go in response. They’ll take into consideration the health of the party in the general election, unlike Hillary, before making this decision. And, believe you me, there is plenty of meat for them to throw in Hillary’s face - plenty. In fact, they don’t even have to get dirty, but can simple reiterate time and time again her singular focus on personal victory rather than ensuring the Democrats succeed in November.

The fact is that Hillary’s willing to stop at nothing for the nomination - trying to seat Florida and Michigan, leaning on the superdelegates, and ripping Obama to shreds whenever she can. The reality and results of such actions will reveal itself if she wins the nomination and people are so disgusted, they either don’t vote or the independents head over McCain’s direction.

She should be on notice now that if the Republicans win the general election, it will be her fault and everyone will blame her. She’ll be vilified worse than Nader ever was.

I’m all for the Democratic process and I’ll get over the events of last night, but if the next few months devolve into a frenzy that sucks all the enthusiasm out of the Democratic Party and McCain wins and stacks the Supreme Court and abortion is criminalized and the tax cuts for the wealthy are made permanent and the war in Iraq continues for years and big business gets even bigger and trade gets more and more unfair, I will never forgive her. For staying in it, I can forgive, for going negative and attacking, not a chance.

Think about that, Hillary.

Insurance Company In Trouble For Dropping Cancer Patient

I saw this story this weekend and was so encouraged! Health Net was fined $9 million for canceling the policy of Patsy Bates while she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Can you imagine the audacity?! I would have a hard time not resorting to vigilante justice if this happened to me. Hopefully, this will start a trend in the reining in of the insurance industry’s running a muck over customer rights.

Nader’s In - Suck It, Bitter Democrats

Nader, as we thought he would, announced on “Meet The Press” yesterday that he would enter the 2008 presidential race. Here’s the transcript - it was a good show.

While he will meet a lot of opposition from Democrats who feel as if he “stole” the election from Gore in 2000, I happen to think his presidential endeavors - though predictably fruitless - increase the democratic health of this country. Even the whirlpool of poor judgment Goober Bush’s presidency has been does not preclude the benefits Nader brings by running as a third ticket. Nader says he received quite a few Republican votes that year as well - and I agree that it is far from conclusive his participation in that election kept Gore from The White House. Gore acted like dick during that campaign and he deserved to lose it. VP’s cannot behave as though it is their inalienable right to be president and shun the very president who gave them their VP post in the first place. And that’s the tip of the ice burg when it comes to reasons Gore was not the 43rd president.

Furthermore, the Republican and Democratic parties own the U.S.’ political system and their corruption and poor behavior are frequently intertwined into a single motivation to lengthen careers and increase power. What have the democrats accomplished since taking Congress back? Certainly not pressuring Bush to scale the war back - in fact, he achieved a surge in troop levels under their watch. Have they launched any significant investigations against the impeachable president and his V.P.? Not at all! Sure, they helped bring about Gonzales’ ouster, but who gives a crap? Mukasey won’t even say whether waterboarding is illegal or not - talk about worthless yes men! Congress’ approval rating is in the outhouse and they’re hardly more beneficial than the rubber stamp Congress that preceded them.

It has long been time for third-party candidates to raise their voice. Ceding power to two political parties handicaps our ability to participate in this representative government and demand they represent our best interests. More choice means a healthier democracy. I’m not delusional enough to think Nader could win the election (unlike the Ron Paul suckers), but he just might get my vote on principal. The simple back and forth negotiating between Republicans and Democrats has created a quagmire of corruption and inefficacy that bleeds power to the mega-corps who really run the country today. I don’t want to participate in that.

If you’re still upset Nader’s entering the race, give a good research to the guy and take a hard look at his past. You might find something you like and can get behind. Haha. I said “behind.”

Bring it Nader! Bring it good!

Corporatocracy Update - CEO’s Face Congressional Questioning on Pay

Woohooo! I will have the popcorn ready of C-SPAN broadcasts these hearings!

CNN is reporting the “A total of 10 witnesses are due to appear before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Thursday including Countrywide Financial’s (CFC, Fortune 500) founder and CEO Angelo Mozilo, former Merrill Lynch (MER, Fortune 500) Chairman and CEO Stanley O’Neal and ex-Citigroup (C, Fortune 500) chief Charles Prince.”

“Upon his departure from Citigroup in November, Prince left with approximately $68 million, while O’Neal collected about $161 million after he stepped down in October.

Citigroup and Merrill Lynch lost billions of dollars on risky investment in mortgage-backed securities.

Countrywide’s Mozilo reportedly stood to collect a windfall of $115 million dollars after his firm agreed in January to a $4 billion sale to Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500). But after facing heavy criticism from lawmakers, Mozilo said he would forfeit $37.5 million in payments tied to the deal.”

Praise jeebus! You know all that talk about the widening wealth gap in this country? Makes sense now, doesn’t it?

Limbaugh Craziness & Members of Congress Under Investigation

If I decided to post all the insane shite Limbaugh disgorged on his show, I’d be busy from now until his train reaches it’s final destination of Satanville.

In any case, I’m posting these words from yesterday because I don’t know how many of you are located in the South and understand the Republican mentality down here - at least, the old school mentality. Many of the older members of my extended family, who are straight-ticket Republicans who would rather suck on a tail pipe than vote Democrat, feel exactly like this:

“The story is that this paper endorsed McCain, sat on this story and now puts it out just prior to McCain wrapping up the nomination. And McCain says he’s disappointed. Why? Why is anybody disappointed or surprised but [sic] this? They are who they are. A snake is a snake. A tiger is a tiger. The New York Times is the New York times. Folks, if you expect me to be angry about the story and angry at the New York Times, you have tuned to the wrong radio show. I refuse to get mad when something I have predicted is going to happen, happens. I refuse to get mad when something I know is true, is true. It is a total waste of energy.

The important question for John McCain today is, is he going to learn the right lesson from this, and what is the lesson? The lesson is liberals are to be defeated. You cannot walk across the aisle with them. You cannot reach across the aisle. You cannot welcome their media members on your bus and get all cozy with them and expect eternal love from them. You are a Republican. Whether you’re a conservative Republican or not, you are a Republican. At some point, the people you cozy up to, either to do legislation or to get cozy media stories, are going to turn on you. They are snakes. If the right lesson is not learned from this, then it will have proved to be of no value. There’s a great opportunity here for Senator McCain to learn the right lesson and understand who his friends are and who his enemies are. He’s had that backwards for way too long. He has thought the New York Times is his friend. He has thought Chris Matthews and these other people in the Drive-By Media are his friends. They aren’t. That’s the lesson today.” - Rush Limbaugh, 2/21/2008

That’s right. Democrats are snakes. Democrats. That’s how the old school Repubs feel here in the South. Those who are in or near my generation are much more open to cooperation and also tend to vote less straight-ticket than the seniors. This gives me a sense that the ugly, extreme partisanship “you’re either with us or against us” attitude is becoming a relic of the past. We’re just so sick of it - which is why Independent numbers are growing.

And, as for the Democrats are snakes comment, here is a count of Congressional Members under investigation. Let’s count. 19 Republicans. In fact, Renzi was indicted this morning. How many Democrats? Oh yeah, 5. Now, of course it sucks that any amount of political leaders might behave unethically, but hellooooooooo - Repubs seem way more naughty than Dems. So, who are snakes? I’m going to try and find numbers on actual indictments on political leaders as well.

So, FYI, old school southern Republicans are crizazy - just like Rush Limbaugh is. And they probably dislike McCain enough to keep their freaky asses at home November 4. Maybe. I won’t say hopefully because I believe EVERYBODY should vote, but it’s something for pundits to take into consideration and anyone who plans to put money on the presidential race.

BTW, even if McCain continues his cow towing to the insane Right base, it only solidifies his flip-flopping past Romney proportions and gives Obama (or Clinton, but probably not) more ammunition during the run-up to the general election.

In Unpolitical News….Golf Numbers Declining

The New York Times is reporting that men are having the gall to spend more time with their families than meander around pretty grass for four hours. My main concern? Whatever are lobbyists to do? Now that most of their receptions have to be standing-only with finger foods and back-slapping opportunities on the putting greens are diminishing how will they ever continue to bribe with the same pace as the glorious yesteryears?

New York Times Goes w/ Story on McCain’s Possible Relationship w/ Female Lobbyist

This is a looong article. Of course, The NYT’s timing of the article brings their motivation for running with the story into question. It rehashes McCain’s involvement in the Savings and Loan Crisis, as well. Old hat, I think, that won’t really have an effect on the election. Maybe that’s why they held it until Huckabee was mathematically incapable of catching up and Romney had jumped ship. I’ve had a couple beers, though, so perhaps that’s why I think this is such a long article.

Missouri Considering Law Redefining Morning-After Pill So Pharmacists Can’t Be Sued If They Refuse To Dispense It

Obviously, I hope this bill doesn’t get much traction. According to this article in the The Kansas City Star, a reproductive rights advocate says 26 percent of women in Missouri already live at least 30 miles away from a pharmacy that does not carry Plan B, or the morning-after pill. Perhaps they live in the boonies, but still… The bill would simply make it harder for pharmacists to be sued if they refuse to fill a prescription for Plan B if the pharmacy in which they work carries the drug.

No where in the bible does it tell people to prevent others from having an abortion. God and jesus never said, “And thou shalt prevent thy neighbor from ending or preventing a pregnancy!” A pharmacist should check their personal beliefs at the door when practicing their medically-significant profession. If we all went about our day forcing our beliefs onto those with whom we have professional relationships, we would be the land of oppression and intolerance rather than freedom and liberty.

I will never use the pharmacies at CVS because, years ago, they refused to fire a pharmacist who would not fill birth control prescriptions. And, I really only ever want to go to Chick-fil-a on Sundays when the damn place is closed due to religious doctrine. If their chicken biscuits and coleslaw weren’t so tasty - I’d never go! It’s about consumer activism and I try my best. But, I have to say, not getting birth control at CVS is a really easy boycott as opposed to trying to buy NOTHING from China. I’ve tried. It’s a bitch!

German Arms Co. Halts Cooperation w/ Blackwater

It’s good to  know that not everyone is so money hungry, they’re willing to look past the U.S. government’s outsourcing of the war in Iraq. German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch says it will end its relationship with mercenary firm Blackwater (legally answerable to no one, btw) after a media report in Germany that the Blackwater was using H&K’s arms in Iraq. The report went on to say that the German government had not issued permission to H&K to provide Blackwater with arms.

Aaaahhh, we don’t need not steenking laws! Perhaps one day when the birds once again sing and The White House no longer subverts the American legal system for its own gain, indictments will naturally gravitate to all those involved in the no-bid contract work in Iraq (Halliburton, Cheney, Bush, Blackwater, etc.). Hopefully, this will not happen before Goober Bush is out so he can’t pardon ever Tom, Dick and Shithead (pronounced Shi-theed) he helped make rich with his baseless war.

Dems Cracking Down on Pharmaceutical Companies - Commentary on Republican Aiding of Big Corporations

While this just might be political payback - after all, Edwards kept accusing Obama and Clinton of taking contributions from big drug companies - but, either way, Democrats in Congress have launched investigations into pharmaceutical corporation’s behaviors regarding Medicare, television advertising and the drug approval process. I for one, am thrilled. The pharmaceutical companies committed many transgressions under the approval of the Republican Congress.

Political philosophy has long held the belief that a vote for a Democrat means a vote for bigger, more powerful government. And this may be true (though not under Bush, who has expanded governmental powers above and beyond what any democrat could have ever gotten away with). The philosophy that a vote for a Republican will result in smaller government. Hmmm. That might be so, but instead of the powerful government you get with Democrats, you get powerful corporations with Republicans. And that is not good for the everyday American.

The pharmaceutical industry is simply one example of the havoc unregulated companies and industries can wreak on Joe Schmo. Just this past Sunday, 60 Minutes offered a report on the deaths caused by Bayer’s Trasylol each month due to the FDA’s unwilling to pull the drug that is 200 times more expensive than other drugs that are just as effective and don’t lead to renal failure and death.

Drug companies have armies of lobbyists who push the approval of drugs onto the public without effective clinical trials, who push for the approval of the use of adult cold medicines and antibiotics for children with no testing on children, who lobby doctors incessantly to prescribe chemicals for people for the slightest ailment and questionable diagnosis. Has anyone ever considered depression to be a developed-world condition and perhaps a visit to Sierra Leone or a labor camp in China or regular exercise might help to alleviate the symptoms rather than a myriad of tablets and pills? Just wondering…

Furthermore, and this is a comment on the free-market ideals of all the Ron Paulies out there, pharmaceutical companies control the patents on their drugs for years and can assign any cost they choose to life-saving medication. Customers simply cannot wander over to another drug company if they are unhappy with the services provided by the makers of Drug X.

Corporations collude, they merge, they control prices when unregulated. The free-market ideals introduced by Adam Smith and others that came during the Industrial Age in their purity do not apply in today’s setting. Pure theories, such as Communism, Capitalism and Socialism fail when taking into account the human psyche and cognitive dissonance. A balance must be struck. And the Republicans certainly are not willing to attempt such an endeavor. And so, we have unregulated industries.

The oil industry, with its record profits soaring - along with the prices of consumer goods; the airline industry, with its delays, overcrowding, and mass consumer disapproval; out-of-control lenders with their adjustable-rate-mortgages preying on subprime borrowers; dangerous toys from China making their way to kids’ mouths; CEOs with bonuses in the tens of millions while bottom-level employees can’t afford healthcare; monolithic corporate mergers; insurance companies that won’t pay their customers’ claims; the list goes on an on.

Personally, I’d rather a vote for bigger government. With a vote, I still have the power over who has the power. With a corporatocracy, I have no control over board-room deals that dictate my expenditures and consumer choices.

I do not prefer the idea of government regulation of our life, such as media censorship, but I choose react to the political reality of today, rather than the political ideal of what is supposed to be. The result of a Republican vote no longer means limited government, if it ever did. Republicans limit government when it comes to corporate behavior, not citizen behavior.

If it were up to Republicans, government would have greater control over what we do and don’t teach our kids in schools (creationism, abstinence) with very detrimental consequences. If it were up to Republicans, the government would control our decision to have an abortion. If it were up to Republicans, we would be much more concerned with NFL coaches destroying tapes of opposing teams’ play signals than the destroying of the CIA tapes and much more concerned with a boob shown during the Superbowl than genocide in Darfur. If it were up to Republicans, the concentration of executive powers acquired under Bush would remain, thwarting the effort of checks and balances intended by the founding fathers. If it were up to Republicans, government would launch a massive effort to criminalize undocumented workers in this country, going against the very foundations of our country’s greatness. Small government? Whatever!

We have a reality that must be recognized. Political party philosophies no longer apply to political party behavior. It is a shame we do not have a greater choice in the political parties to whom we may assign our votes. Given the two we got, however, I’m going with the Democrat. Because, in reality, with the Democrats, I stand a much better chance at determining the situations which affect my life rather than ceding them to Republican power whores and their corporate pimps.

Lightning is About to Strike K Street

Of all the groups in all the word to cry foul during this election campaign, you would think the American League of Lobbyists would be the last. Billions of dollars go through K Street to produce votes in favor Big Business, Christian-supremacy groups, government contractors and more, making a lot of white men very rich and a lot of politicians very corrupt. Now, the ALL wants the presidential candidates to take back all their lobbyist-bashing of late. I’d throw up if my computer weren’t in front of me (i suppose i could move, but i’m comfortable).

ALL President Brian Pallasch released a letter to the presidential candidates today claiming the political rhetoric used during in the campaigns unfairly characterizes the benefit lobbyists provide. You can read the text of the letter here.

Um… Hello, McFly!!!

It is ever clearer these days that corruption and corporate interests are determining the quality of government Americans receive. The ethics and competence of our government, especially federal, reflects that of corporate America - not the other way around. Because our representatives - including presidents and judges - turn their hand toward their own self-interests, lobbying efforts succeed in places they have no business existing. No longer should we assign seats in Congress by geographical location, but by lobbying interest. The Cuban lobby, the Israeli lobby, the tobacco lobby, the gun lobby, the telecommunications lobby, the Saudis, the Chinese, the mercenaries, the oil&gas groups, etc., etc. That’s basically who these politicians serve - not you or I. If you’d like to see who the most recent big spenders were visit opensecrets.org and poke around there a bit.

I’ve felt for a while that until we demand our corporate entities behave virtuously, our government will languish in a corrupt cesspool of inefficacy and million-dollar golf trips and high-dollar hookers. Really, why should CEOs of companies such as Ford, CountryWide, and Merrill Lynch receive payouts in the tens of millions of dollars and stock for even more when the lowest paid employee at those companies cannot afford health benefits for their kids? Our self-interested culture of more-for-me is leading to the rest of us getting screwed. Yous who vote Republicans aren’t voting for free-markets like you assume, you’re giving assholes like these guys a leg up to take the rest of us for a ride. I’m not saying wealth should distributed evenly among the masses, but let’s put a little common sense back into these shareholder and board member meetings. It’s out of control.

Lobbying efforts have developed into a bad deal all around, from top to bottom. They do not represent the interests of the citizen - the way they claim. K Street should be cut off at the knees to remind the politicians who they answer to - us. And if your corporation is dicking you around, lets remember we don’t have to be doormats to those ethically-challenged asshats. Go start an organic farm or something. Those seem to be doing well…