President Bush went on national tv to scare America into taking his bail-out package. It is either that, or economic armeggedon! His whole mission was to build fear so as to set up his plan as the savior—a plan that as it is written will let the cheaters, the speculators, the richest of rich masters of the universe who were, Bush once proudly claimed as his ‘base’—off the hook and able to retain their many millions and even add to them! Further, complete dictatorial power in the bail-out, who gets what, when and how is with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, himself a former Wall Street insider at Goldman Sachs.
These must be corrected before Congress passes the plan, which I would agree is necessary at this point. Let us remember, that it was 25 years of a volatile Republican mixture of total unregulated free-market supremacy, combined with corrupt bribe taking (campaign cash—and possibly non-campaign cash as well—in exchange for favorable legislation) that got us to this brink, and now they all, John McCain especially, are tripping all over themselves to be Democrats and finally get the government they are so quick to hate to come to the rescue.
Great! Adversity makes Democrats of us all.
But what struck me about Bush’s scaremongering is that it seemed so out of place from a person who professes such a Christian faith.
Bush: “More banks could fail, including some in your community.”
Bible: “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Tim 1:7
Bush: “The stock market would drop even more, which would reduce the value of your retirement account.”
Bible: Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Ps 40:4
Bush: “The value of your home could plummet. Foreclosures would rise dramatically.”
Bible: Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let
all the upright in heart praise him! Ps 64:10
Bush: “If you own a business or farm you would find it harder and more expensive to get credit.”
Bible: He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting
in the LORD. Ps 112:7
Bush: “More businesses would close their doors and millions of Americans could lose their jobs.”
Bible: It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man or princes
Ps 118:8-9
Bush: “Ultimately, our country could experience a long and painful recession.”
Bible: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding; Pro 3:5
Of course, we must act and act with faith. However, it would be more credible from the nation’s top elected leader if he would act as if he’s actually learned something from past mistakes and also act consistently with his professed beliefs.
Wisdom and prudence—absolutely, but fear-mongering has no place at his podium.
Richard F. Dawahare 9/25/08
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Upper Crust Socialists--Crony Communism in the USA
Let us now on the eve of who-knows-what-will-really-happen review the facts:
Fact number one: the Republicans now in charge, along with the citizens who so loudly and brashly supported them over these last 28 years, have promoted and enacted 1920's style Laissez-faire free market policies, and have ridiculed sensible regulatory measures while branding those who warned of the danger of unfettered free market capitalism as “socialists,” “communists,” and anti-American sucklings of the government teat.
Fact number two: these same Republicans have long believed in trickle down economics, and to that extent have cut taxes, passed crony-capitalist policies, kick-backs, subsidies, special favors (eg, letting the credit industry write the bankruptcy laws), and no-bid contracts to allow an unprecedented concentration of wealth at the top, the likes of which we have seldom seen before and reminiscent of the pre-Depression era.
Fact number three: Since President Bush took office more than 7 million Americans have lost their health insurance, 4 million Americans have lost their pensions, foreclosures are at record levels, consumer debt has more than doubled and the national debt is $9.7 TRILLION dollars.
Fact number four: Under the Republican control the top .1% now earn more money than the bottom 50% and the top 1% have more wealth than the bottom 90%. The wealthiest 400 people saw their wealth increase by $670 BILLION dollars, while median family income has dropped by more than $2,000
Fact number five: Both McCain and Bush, until JUST THIS MONDAY AFTERNOON, have continually erred about the true state of our economy, repeatedly stating that it was “fundamentally strong.”
Fact number six: The Bush bail-out plan, authored by the nation’s top financial leaders, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, calls on that lower 90%--the mainstream American taxpayer—to pay for the mistakes, the greed, the self-interested ineptitude of their cronies, who at this point keep every dollar of their mis-begotten gains while suffering NONE of the risk! This is socialism all right, socialism for the rich:
WE take the big risk (without wanting or asking for it), THEY get the reward.
I will later present my plan for a sane and just reform.
Richard F. Dawahare September 21, 2008
Fact number one: the Republicans now in charge, along with the citizens who so loudly and brashly supported them over these last 28 years, have promoted and enacted 1920's style Laissez-faire free market policies, and have ridiculed sensible regulatory measures while branding those who warned of the danger of unfettered free market capitalism as “socialists,” “communists,” and anti-American sucklings of the government teat.
Fact number two: these same Republicans have long believed in trickle down economics, and to that extent have cut taxes, passed crony-capitalist policies, kick-backs, subsidies, special favors (eg, letting the credit industry write the bankruptcy laws), and no-bid contracts to allow an unprecedented concentration of wealth at the top, the likes of which we have seldom seen before and reminiscent of the pre-Depression era.
Fact number three: Since President Bush took office more than 7 million Americans have lost their health insurance, 4 million Americans have lost their pensions, foreclosures are at record levels, consumer debt has more than doubled and the national debt is $9.7 TRILLION dollars.
Fact number four: Under the Republican control the top .1% now earn more money than the bottom 50% and the top 1% have more wealth than the bottom 90%. The wealthiest 400 people saw their wealth increase by $670 BILLION dollars, while median family income has dropped by more than $2,000
Fact number five: Both McCain and Bush, until JUST THIS MONDAY AFTERNOON, have continually erred about the true state of our economy, repeatedly stating that it was “fundamentally strong.”
Fact number six: The Bush bail-out plan, authored by the nation’s top financial leaders, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, calls on that lower 90%--the mainstream American taxpayer—to pay for the mistakes, the greed, the self-interested ineptitude of their cronies, who at this point keep every dollar of their mis-begotten gains while suffering NONE of the risk! This is socialism all right, socialism for the rich:
WE take the big risk (without wanting or asking for it), THEY get the reward.
I will later present my plan for a sane and just reform.
Richard F. Dawahare September 21, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Will the Real Democrat please stand up!
Quick, who said?
a) “I think, still the fundamentals of our economy are strong.”
b) “The American economy is in a crisis”
c) “The greed and corruption that some engaged in on Wall Street and we’ve got to fix it.”
d) “We will clean up Wall Street. We will reform government.”
Answer: John McCain, all of the above.
Incredibly McCain, on the same day, began his Monday saying the economy was strong, but after seeing the Dow drop 500 points turn an about face and say that it was in a crisis. Further, he has loudly and repeatedly donned the traditional Democratic cloak as the new superhero to reform, regulate and thereby restore prosperity while he has been part of the big money taking politicians in charge that helped create this mess.
John McCain has been an erstwhile member of the Republican trickle down, de-regulators who has voted with President Bush 95% of the time, and now he is saying he will adopt what is bedrock Democratic policy.
One more question: who’s the better Democrat, one who has been one and acted like one from day one, or one who fought Democratic policy and who now, on the eve of an election where he is about to be defrocked as an aider and abettor of the Wall Street carnage is doing a 180 to proclaim his change of heart to Democratic principles?
Intellectual honesty knows the answer to that, but I will spell it out. The better, and only, Democrat in this race, the one who will oversee proper regulation, a change of tax laws that will indeed restore Clinton level tax rates (hardly onerous, the top rate being just under 40%), and more help for workers suffering from a distressed economy is B-A-R-A-C-K O-B-A-M-A.
You can sit down now Mr. McCain, but thank you for your support of the Democratic principles. Oh, and you don’t have to be president to help, just support the new measures, the ones you now say you’ll lead to have enacted.
And one final request: if you really have a secret plan to capture bin Laden, why won’t you share it until you are elected? It might be the all-American thing, the right thing, to speak up NOW, if you have some special information that could help in his capture. To wait is un-American. To delay what may strengthen our national security in a vain effort to win votes from people who should know better might reasonably be called by what it is: traitorous.
Richard F. Dawahare 9/18/09
a) “I think, still the fundamentals of our economy are strong.”
b) “The American economy is in a crisis”
c) “The greed and corruption that some engaged in on Wall Street and we’ve got to fix it.”
d) “We will clean up Wall Street. We will reform government.”
Answer: John McCain, all of the above.
Incredibly McCain, on the same day, began his Monday saying the economy was strong, but after seeing the Dow drop 500 points turn an about face and say that it was in a crisis. Further, he has loudly and repeatedly donned the traditional Democratic cloak as the new superhero to reform, regulate and thereby restore prosperity while he has been part of the big money taking politicians in charge that helped create this mess.
John McCain has been an erstwhile member of the Republican trickle down, de-regulators who has voted with President Bush 95% of the time, and now he is saying he will adopt what is bedrock Democratic policy.
One more question: who’s the better Democrat, one who has been one and acted like one from day one, or one who fought Democratic policy and who now, on the eve of an election where he is about to be defrocked as an aider and abettor of the Wall Street carnage is doing a 180 to proclaim his change of heart to Democratic principles?
Intellectual honesty knows the answer to that, but I will spell it out. The better, and only, Democrat in this race, the one who will oversee proper regulation, a change of tax laws that will indeed restore Clinton level tax rates (hardly onerous, the top rate being just under 40%), and more help for workers suffering from a distressed economy is B-A-R-A-C-K O-B-A-M-A.
You can sit down now Mr. McCain, but thank you for your support of the Democratic principles. Oh, and you don’t have to be president to help, just support the new measures, the ones you now say you’ll lead to have enacted.
And one final request: if you really have a secret plan to capture bin Laden, why won’t you share it until you are elected? It might be the all-American thing, the right thing, to speak up NOW, if you have some special information that could help in his capture. To wait is un-American. To delay what may strengthen our national security in a vain effort to win votes from people who should know better might reasonably be called by what it is: traitorous.
Richard F. Dawahare 9/18/09
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The Elections and the (psychotic) State of the Union
The conventions laid bare the psychotic state of the union. And nothing better portrays our bi-polar body politic than the Republican convention. How else to explain why the party of Jesus is able to shout love and life in one breath then spew lies, hate and hypocrisy in the next, all to the roaring and prolonged cheers of those who deep down should know better than to accept the fraud fed to them like red meat thrown to ravenous wolves.
McCain/Palin are banking their whole campaign on this delusion, hoping that their web of lies will once again ensnare voters too scared or scornful to see reality. McCain's biggest lie is that he is now all of a sudden for change and that he is best suited for it.
Change? For what, exactly? Certainly he does not mean a change from disastrous Bush policies that have under-funded government's rightful ability to help the average American, for McCain calls for even more tax cuts. Does anyone need reminding that the mortgage and credit crises were caused by lax federal oversight and laws written by the credit industry who were given that favor with their large payoffs to the Republican-led politicians paid to do their bidding?
Surely he can't mean change in our bull-in-a-china-shop foreign policy, as he has long called for attacking Iran, and he seems too intent on exerting American military might in places and at times that are totally inappropriate for it.
McCain has been part and parcel of the Republican-dominated federal government for over 20 years. In fact, according to the Congressional Voting Studies the self-proclaimed "maverick" McCain has voted with President Bush 95 percent of the time.
Let that sink in: The man now calling for change is apparently admitting the errors of his whole previous career in Washington and is willing to change course.
Yet, if this is so, why choose Sarah Palin as his running mate? For she stands as firmly for those same disproven policies as McCain, and she is just as eager to lie about it. Her claim that she's a master pork fighter is completely bogus. As a mayor, Palin hired a lobbyist to canvass Washington annually to support earmarks for Wasilla totaling $27 million. As governor she has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the nation's largest per capita request.
Palin's biggest whopper is her one and only professed credential to fight pork (as if that is even the biggest problem facing America), namely her opposition to the famous $398 million "bridge to nowhere." In fact she supported the bridge until it became a national embarrassment and the impossibility of its construction became a fait accompli. As governor in August 2006, she said, "We need to come to the defense of southeast Alaska when proposals are on the table, like the bridge, and not allow the spinmeisters to turn this project or any other into something that's so negative," according to the Ketchikan Daily News.
McCain/Palin foisted other distortions as well. From the real nature of the tax proposals (Obama's would actually leave a big majority of citizens with 5 percent more after-tax income, McCain's with only 3 percent) to the true mission of Republican politics (diminishing Social Security, Medicaid and public education). McCain/Palin covered their lies with a thick layer of lipstick.
Coated with Prozac.
McCain/Palin are banking their whole campaign on this delusion, hoping that their web of lies will once again ensnare voters too scared or scornful to see reality. McCain's biggest lie is that he is now all of a sudden for change and that he is best suited for it.
Change? For what, exactly? Certainly he does not mean a change from disastrous Bush policies that have under-funded government's rightful ability to help the average American, for McCain calls for even more tax cuts. Does anyone need reminding that the mortgage and credit crises were caused by lax federal oversight and laws written by the credit industry who were given that favor with their large payoffs to the Republican-led politicians paid to do their bidding?
Surely he can't mean change in our bull-in-a-china-shop foreign policy, as he has long called for attacking Iran, and he seems too intent on exerting American military might in places and at times that are totally inappropriate for it.
McCain has been part and parcel of the Republican-dominated federal government for over 20 years. In fact, according to the Congressional Voting Studies the self-proclaimed "maverick" McCain has voted with President Bush 95 percent of the time.
Let that sink in: The man now calling for change is apparently admitting the errors of his whole previous career in Washington and is willing to change course.
Yet, if this is so, why choose Sarah Palin as his running mate? For she stands as firmly for those same disproven policies as McCain, and she is just as eager to lie about it. Her claim that she's a master pork fighter is completely bogus. As a mayor, Palin hired a lobbyist to canvass Washington annually to support earmarks for Wasilla totaling $27 million. As governor she has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the nation's largest per capita request.
Palin's biggest whopper is her one and only professed credential to fight pork (as if that is even the biggest problem facing America), namely her opposition to the famous $398 million "bridge to nowhere." In fact she supported the bridge until it became a national embarrassment and the impossibility of its construction became a fait accompli. As governor in August 2006, she said, "We need to come to the defense of southeast Alaska when proposals are on the table, like the bridge, and not allow the spinmeisters to turn this project or any other into something that's so negative," according to the Ketchikan Daily News.
McCain/Palin foisted other distortions as well. From the real nature of the tax proposals (Obama's would actually leave a big majority of citizens with 5 percent more after-tax income, McCain's with only 3 percent) to the true mission of Republican politics (diminishing Social Security, Medicaid and public education). McCain/Palin covered their lies with a thick layer of lipstick.
Coated with Prozac.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Do you REALLY believe this GOP?
If you are loving the notso G OP convention, the speeches of Palin, Thomas, Giulliani and company, I’d be embarrassed. Of course, some of you probably aren’t and may be thinking the same about me in relation to the Democratic convention.
Fact is, however, that none of the speakers in Denver spoke critically of McCain except in regards to the failed Bush policies that he vows to continue. None of the Democratic speakers condemned an entire religion, the Muslims. None of the Dems even hinted at any religious test for the presidency, much less a fundamentalist Christian one. No Dem invoked religion, hatred of another race or culture, or fear as a reason to either vote for them or against McCain.
However, every Republican speaker has done so. It is vile. It is hypocritical to their professed belief in Jesus Christ to lie, to invoke his name in a false appeal to fear. Yet the hypocrisy of donning the cloak of Jesus while acting precisely in the opposite manner is totally consistent with the notso G OP since the Reagan revolution, and even moreso during the Bush tenure.
For 6 years, SIX YEARS, they controlled both houses of Congress AND the White House, a period in which our current problems were created. What was once a surplus has become a record deficit. What was once a near-balanced budget has become an unprecedented disaster. What was once a world-respected America has become a world-reviled renegade.
Yet these charlatans claim the Democrats will somehow outspend the Republicans who have, in their 6 years of control recklessly spent RECORD amounts! Further,the self-professed disciples of Jesus crucify the Democrats for choosing peace, and peaceful approaches to troubled areas, as being the wrong way.
Did you get this? Jesus’ way, according to Palin, Thomas, Giulliani and company, is the wrong way, the evil way, the LOSING way. Instead, as if we have forgotten that Bush sold the Iraqi war on lies and misinformation—a war that went horribly wrong and for which we will pay for many decades—they have essentially called for permanent war.
Watching the Convention Tuesday night I was greatly amused by the repeated promotion of AMERICAN UNITY. Did they not realize that the number two in their party, McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin, once belonged to The Alaskan Independence Party that called for Alaska to secede from America?!
And now, after two nights of what seems more a Saturday Night Live parody than the real thing, I will agree with my buddy that “I’ve never known how great John McCain was till tonight.” Palin touts McCain as one who will keep America safe like he apparently did in Vietnam. While my admiration runs deep for a man who answered the call of duty and who suffered so much in the prison camp I must ask in response to Mrs. Palin's claim—What did McCain do in the Vietnamese war--like Iraq one we wrongly, unnecessarily and illegally waged—to keep us safe? Was he, before his capture, one who napalmed Vietnamese kids? Did he help kill the over two million Vietnamese civilians who did not in the least jeopardize our safety?
The fact is, these Republicans still believe the Vietnamese war was right and just and that our only mistake was in not nuking them into submission. The real danger is that these people are still in the thralls of this flawed mindset, and so see nothing wrong with the Iraqi war or, more importantly, future wars if pursued against any country that they find sufficiently scary, ie opposed to our will and way.
Thus, get ready for perpetual warfare. Iraq? We are there forever. And Iran is on deck with China in the wings.
Get ready to send your children or grandchildren to battle my friends. This Republican ideology is based on error and fear and opposes every principle of Universal Morality and the REAL teachings of Jesus. Should they retain power they will follow this false dogma to a guaranteed state of constant conflict and our ultimate destruction.
This is not to say that Obama and the Democrats will “make it all better.” His own militant bias is seen in his avowal to increase our presence in Afghanistan, and to use pre-emptive and unilateral force in even the vaguest of circumstances. Yet, in every other way he, and the Democrats, start from a position of an open-minded inquiry and dialogue and not an automatic mind-shutting “Islamic terrorism—KILL!” mentality.
The fact is that people will, for the most part, not be swayed. Those who are diehard conservatives, or who are totally prejudiced towards blacks will vote McCain; those who are…well, what do I say here—sensible, fair, in tune with the American ideal of sharing and caring, compassionate, what?—will vote for Obama.
How many swing voters, who they are and how the candidates may sway them I do not know. But it is obvious the Republicans are banking on their usual M.O. that the average voter is a shallow thinking, superficial automaton.
This year, however, they just might be surprised. I truly hope so.
Fact is, however, that none of the speakers in Denver spoke critically of McCain except in regards to the failed Bush policies that he vows to continue. None of the Democratic speakers condemned an entire religion, the Muslims. None of the Dems even hinted at any religious test for the presidency, much less a fundamentalist Christian one. No Dem invoked religion, hatred of another race or culture, or fear as a reason to either vote for them or against McCain.
However, every Republican speaker has done so. It is vile. It is hypocritical to their professed belief in Jesus Christ to lie, to invoke his name in a false appeal to fear. Yet the hypocrisy of donning the cloak of Jesus while acting precisely in the opposite manner is totally consistent with the notso G OP since the Reagan revolution, and even moreso during the Bush tenure.
For 6 years, SIX YEARS, they controlled both houses of Congress AND the White House, a period in which our current problems were created. What was once a surplus has become a record deficit. What was once a near-balanced budget has become an unprecedented disaster. What was once a world-respected America has become a world-reviled renegade.
Yet these charlatans claim the Democrats will somehow outspend the Republicans who have, in their 6 years of control recklessly spent RECORD amounts! Further,the self-professed disciples of Jesus crucify the Democrats for choosing peace, and peaceful approaches to troubled areas, as being the wrong way.
Did you get this? Jesus’ way, according to Palin, Thomas, Giulliani and company, is the wrong way, the evil way, the LOSING way. Instead, as if we have forgotten that Bush sold the Iraqi war on lies and misinformation—a war that went horribly wrong and for which we will pay for many decades—they have essentially called for permanent war.
Watching the Convention Tuesday night I was greatly amused by the repeated promotion of AMERICAN UNITY. Did they not realize that the number two in their party, McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin, once belonged to The Alaskan Independence Party that called for Alaska to secede from America?!
And now, after two nights of what seems more a Saturday Night Live parody than the real thing, I will agree with my buddy that “I’ve never known how great John McCain was till tonight.” Palin touts McCain as one who will keep America safe like he apparently did in Vietnam. While my admiration runs deep for a man who answered the call of duty and who suffered so much in the prison camp I must ask in response to Mrs. Palin's claim—What did McCain do in the Vietnamese war--like Iraq one we wrongly, unnecessarily and illegally waged—to keep us safe? Was he, before his capture, one who napalmed Vietnamese kids? Did he help kill the over two million Vietnamese civilians who did not in the least jeopardize our safety?
The fact is, these Republicans still believe the Vietnamese war was right and just and that our only mistake was in not nuking them into submission. The real danger is that these people are still in the thralls of this flawed mindset, and so see nothing wrong with the Iraqi war or, more importantly, future wars if pursued against any country that they find sufficiently scary, ie opposed to our will and way.
Thus, get ready for perpetual warfare. Iraq? We are there forever. And Iran is on deck with China in the wings.
Get ready to send your children or grandchildren to battle my friends. This Republican ideology is based on error and fear and opposes every principle of Universal Morality and the REAL teachings of Jesus. Should they retain power they will follow this false dogma to a guaranteed state of constant conflict and our ultimate destruction.
This is not to say that Obama and the Democrats will “make it all better.” His own militant bias is seen in his avowal to increase our presence in Afghanistan, and to use pre-emptive and unilateral force in even the vaguest of circumstances. Yet, in every other way he, and the Democrats, start from a position of an open-minded inquiry and dialogue and not an automatic mind-shutting “Islamic terrorism—KILL!” mentality.
The fact is that people will, for the most part, not be swayed. Those who are diehard conservatives, or who are totally prejudiced towards blacks will vote McCain; those who are…well, what do I say here—sensible, fair, in tune with the American ideal of sharing and caring, compassionate, what?—will vote for Obama.
How many swing voters, who they are and how the candidates may sway them I do not know. But it is obvious the Republicans are banking on their usual M.O. that the average voter is a shallow thinking, superficial automaton.
This year, however, they just might be surprised. I truly hope so.
Do you REALLY believe this GOP?
If you are loving the notso G OP convention, the speeches of Palin, Thomas, Giulliani and company, I’d be embarrassed. Of course, you probably aren’t and may be thinking the same about me in relation to the Democratic convention.
Fact is, however, that none of the speakers in Denver spoke critically of McCain except in regards to the failed Bush policies that he vows to continue. None of the Democratic speakers condemned an entire religion, the Muslims. None of the Dems even hinted at any religious test for the presidency, much less a fundamentalist Christian one. No Dem invoked religion, hatred of another race or culture, or fear as a reason to either vote for them or against McCain.
However, every Republican speaker has done so. It is vile. It is hypocritical to their professed belief in Jesus Christ to lie, to invoke his name in a false appeal to fear. Yet the hypocrisy of donning the cloak of Jesus while acting precisely in the opposite manner is totally consistent with the notso G OP since the Reagan revolution, and even moreso during the Bush tenure.
For 6 years, SIX YEARS, they had both houses of Congress AND the White House, a period in which our current problems were created. What was once a surplus has become a record deficit. What was once a near-balanced budget has become an unprecedented disaster. What was once a world-respected America has become a world-reviled renegade.
Yet these charlatans claim the Democrats will somehow outspend the Republicans who have, in their 6 years of control recklessly spent RECORD amounts! The self-professed disciples of Jesus crucify the Democrats for choosing peace, and peaceful approaches to troubled areas, as being a wrong choice..
Did you get this: Jesus’ way, according to the hypocrites Palin, Thomas, Giulliani and company, is the wrong way, the evil way, the LOSING way. Instead, as if we have forgotten that Bush sold the Iraqi on lies and misinformation—a war that went horribly wrong and for which we will pay for many decades—they have essentially called for permanent war.
Watching the Convention Tuesday night I was greatly amused by the repeated promotion of AMERICAN UNITY. Did they not realize that the number two in their party, McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin, once belonged to The Alaskan Independence Party that called for Alaska to secede from America?!
As my buddy says after watching a couple of nights of the Republican Convention, “I’ve never known how great John McCain was till tonight.” Palin touts McCain as one who will keep America safe as he apparently did in Vietnam. While my admiration runs deep for a man who answered the call of duty and who suffered so much in the prison camp I must ask in response to Mrs. Palin—What did McCain do in the Vietnamese war, one we wrongly, unnecessarily and illegally waged—to keep us safe? Was he before his capture one who napalmed Vietnamese kids? Did he help kill the over two million Vietnamese civilians who did not in the least jeopardize our safety?
The fact is, these Republicans still believe the Vietnamese war was right and just and that our only mistake was in not nuking them to submission. The real danger is that these people are still in the thralls of this flawed mindset, and so see nothing wrong with the Iraqi war or, more importantly, future wars if pursued against any country that they find sufficiently scary.
Thus, PERPETUAL WAR. Iraq? We are there forever. Iran is on deck and China is in the wings.
Get ready to send your children or grandchildren to battle my friends. This Republican ideology is based on error and fear and opposes every principle of Universal Morality and the REAL teachings of Jesus. Should they retain power they will follow this false dogma to a guaranteed state of constant conflict.
This is not to say that Obama and the Democrats will “make it all better.” He has his own militant tendencies as witnessed by his avowal to increase our presence in Afghanistan, and to use pre-emptive and unilateral force in even the vaguest of circumstances. Yet, in every other way he, and the Democrats, start from a position of an open-minded inquiry and dialogue and not automatic mind-shutting “Islamic terrorism—KILL!” mentality.
The fact is that people will, for the most part, not be swayed. Those who are diehard conservatives, or who are totally prejudiced to blacks will vote McCain; those who are…well, what do I say here—sensible, fair, in tune with the American ideal of sharing and caring, compassionate, what?—will vote for Obama.
How many swing voters, who they are and how the candidates may sway them I do not know. But it is obvious the Republicans are banking on their usual M.O. that the average voter is a shallow thinking, superficial automaton.
This year, however, they just might be surprised. I truly hope so.
Richard F. Dawahare9/3/08
Fact is, however, that none of the speakers in Denver spoke critically of McCain except in regards to the failed Bush policies that he vows to continue. None of the Democratic speakers condemned an entire religion, the Muslims. None of the Dems even hinted at any religious test for the presidency, much less a fundamentalist Christian one. No Dem invoked religion, hatred of another race or culture, or fear as a reason to either vote for them or against McCain.
However, every Republican speaker has done so. It is vile. It is hypocritical to their professed belief in Jesus Christ to lie, to invoke his name in a false appeal to fear. Yet the hypocrisy of donning the cloak of Jesus while acting precisely in the opposite manner is totally consistent with the notso G OP since the Reagan revolution, and even moreso during the Bush tenure.
For 6 years, SIX YEARS, they had both houses of Congress AND the White House, a period in which our current problems were created. What was once a surplus has become a record deficit. What was once a near-balanced budget has become an unprecedented disaster. What was once a world-respected America has become a world-reviled renegade.
Yet these charlatans claim the Democrats will somehow outspend the Republicans who have, in their 6 years of control recklessly spent RECORD amounts! The self-professed disciples of Jesus crucify the Democrats for choosing peace, and peaceful approaches to troubled areas, as being a wrong choice..
Did you get this: Jesus’ way, according to the hypocrites Palin, Thomas, Giulliani and company, is the wrong way, the evil way, the LOSING way. Instead, as if we have forgotten that Bush sold the Iraqi on lies and misinformation—a war that went horribly wrong and for which we will pay for many decades—they have essentially called for permanent war.
Watching the Convention Tuesday night I was greatly amused by the repeated promotion of AMERICAN UNITY. Did they not realize that the number two in their party, McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin, once belonged to The Alaskan Independence Party that called for Alaska to secede from America?!
As my buddy says after watching a couple of nights of the Republican Convention, “I’ve never known how great John McCain was till tonight.” Palin touts McCain as one who will keep America safe as he apparently did in Vietnam. While my admiration runs deep for a man who answered the call of duty and who suffered so much in the prison camp I must ask in response to Mrs. Palin—What did McCain do in the Vietnamese war, one we wrongly, unnecessarily and illegally waged—to keep us safe? Was he before his capture one who napalmed Vietnamese kids? Did he help kill the over two million Vietnamese civilians who did not in the least jeopardize our safety?
The fact is, these Republicans still believe the Vietnamese war was right and just and that our only mistake was in not nuking them to submission. The real danger is that these people are still in the thralls of this flawed mindset, and so see nothing wrong with the Iraqi war or, more importantly, future wars if pursued against any country that they find sufficiently scary.
Thus, PERPETUAL WAR. Iraq? We are there forever. Iran is on deck and China is in the wings.
Get ready to send your children or grandchildren to battle my friends. This Republican ideology is based on error and fear and opposes every principle of Universal Morality and the REAL teachings of Jesus. Should they retain power they will follow this false dogma to a guaranteed state of constant conflict.
This is not to say that Obama and the Democrats will “make it all better.” He has his own militant tendencies as witnessed by his avowal to increase our presence in Afghanistan, and to use pre-emptive and unilateral force in even the vaguest of circumstances. Yet, in every other way he, and the Democrats, start from a position of an open-minded inquiry and dialogue and not automatic mind-shutting “Islamic terrorism—KILL!” mentality.
The fact is that people will, for the most part, not be swayed. Those who are diehard conservatives, or who are totally prejudiced to blacks will vote McCain; those who are…well, what do I say here—sensible, fair, in tune with the American ideal of sharing and caring, compassionate, what?—will vote for Obama.
How many swing voters, who they are and how the candidates may sway them I do not know. But it is obvious the Republicans are banking on their usual M.O. that the average voter is a shallow thinking, superficial automaton.
This year, however, they just might be surprised. I truly hope so.
Richard F. Dawahare9/3/08
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