25 posts tagged “political”

Like it or not - the change of our governmental seat happens today in just a few short hours.  No matter who you voted for in the Primaries and the General Election - today is the day we welcome a new President and say goodbye to Bush. 

Today is a day of promise, hope and positive contemplation.   Today is a day that we have a President that has made no mistakes while in Office.  Today is the day that we have a President that has committed no crimes or acts of moral ambiguity.  Today is the day that we will see people across the country celebrate our President, our Government and our nation.  Today is the day that we will see people proclaim their national pride.  Today is a day that America will see the ultimate racial glass ceiling broken.  Today is the day that most people will look to Obama and see a man that has the potential to do a good job.

I say that this will be the best day of his Presidency not because I expect him to be horrendous President.  I say it because this is the first day of a term of office that will face challenges.  Before he leaves office he will be required to change his own policies.  He will be required to mitigate the damages of a bad decision.  He will be required to compromise on his agenda.  He will be required breaks campaign promises.  He will have to face scrutiny for military, economic and policy decisions. 

So today President Barack H Obama should enjoy himself.   This term of office will not get any better than the celebrations of hope today.

On November 4, 2008 - I joined with the masses of voters here in the Metro detroit area and voted for President.  Up until the point where I stepped into the booth, I was undecided.   I did not know who I would vote for even though I had educated myself on EVERY issue.   In the days before, I tried to make up my mind using every information resource and election tool available on the internet.  I was even stumped at a non-partisan site that had me fill out a survey of issues so it could match me to the proper candidate - I matched 48% Obama and 48% McCain.  In the end it came down to Palin and her conservative views, attacks on reproductive rights, and I hate to say it - McCain's age.   I voted for Barack Obama because I was worried that if the office took a toll on him - we would end up with a Palin Presidency (possibly worse than Bush).

So now I will stand up and support our new President Elect.  I am going to hope that the Democratic Party can actually do the good that it promises to do.  Obama certainly has the tools to do it - charisma, charm, intellect and a Democrat controlled congress.  If he blows the promises and does stuff I hate - I will disagree out loud.

McCain moved me with his grace last night during his concession speech.  He told booing supporters to be quiet.  He told them that BArack Obama was HIS President.  I loved that he was able to handle defeat without throwing a temper tantrum or calling for recount after recount. 

No matter your candidate - you have to admit that both men fought hard.  The race was MUCH closer than anybody thought it could be after 8 years of George W Bush, a failing economy and an endless war. 

So congratulations to both men on ending such a hard fought campaign with grace and dignity.

This election season, like every other,  we have long time voters that are set on doing their duty and voting - even if it is for somebody they consider to be only slightly better than the person they have deemed the anti-christ. So here are some simple steps for you to follow if you don't like the person you are voting for, are embarrassed to vote for that candidate or you simply don't have a clue.

I don't like the candidate that I am voting for but they seem to be the lesser of two evils:

• Take pride in the fact that you are at least voting.  Half of our nation is too concerned with the winner of American Idol to waste time voting for something silly like President.
• Look for validation before you go to the polls with spokes people that are lending the candidate their credibility (ethos in the campaign biz).   There has to be at least one celebrity, public figure or pundit that you quasi-respect that is campaigning for that person you are being forced to vote for, they can help justify your vote.
• Look for validation on the net.  After all, if there is a Paris Hilton fansite - you are bound to find some third party site giving you reasons that you can get behind the candidate on.
• Make sure you thoroughly list every reason why you think the other guy is evil.  Make sure you reassure your self that they are nothing more than a pure evil person hell-bent on destroying the entire world.  This will help ease your conscious.

I am embarrassed to vote for the candidate I want:

• First off, why be embarrassed?  Once again, take pride in the fact that you are getting up off of your butt to vote.  Remember my American Idol example?  Still applies.
• Once you pick a candidate, be PROUD!   After all nearly half of the Americans that actually decide to vote will back up your choice as a valid one.
• Even if you are still embarrassed at the polls - relax.   Its a secret ballot and nobody knows who or what you voted for on you ballot.  Just make sure your curtain is pulled tight so a nosey election worker or the kid that comes with their parents don't peep your vote.
• Are you afraid of what friends will think of you?  SCREW THEM!  They are probably too busy watching American Idol or America's Next Top Model to actually vote and you don't need those losers!  Real friends will be proud of your patriotic decision to vote!
• Are you afraid of what family will think?  Thats a tricky one because you are stuck with your family for life.  If your candidate wins, gleefully parade through the house with patriotic songs like "Nanny, nanny, boo, boo.  My guy one and your guy lost".  If they lose - LIE!   Its a secret ballot - remember?
• If all else fails...DENY, DENY, DENY!   If it works for politicians - it should work for you!

I want to vote but I am completely lost this year and don't have a clue as to who I should vote for!

• First off relax.  Of the voters that will actually turn the TV off and go out and vote - probably a third of them are "undecided" until they enter that voting booth.
• Now rejoice in the fact that you are going to the polls to participate in a right that so many have died for you to have.
• Vote by your political party.  these people are the rocking cool crew of people that you have decided knows you best.  Many people vote by party so blind faith in organizations that take millions from corporations like Target, Chase Manhattan, Enron, Lehman Brothers, Wachovia, etc can't be wrong!
• Pick the coolest name.   Face it, there are some really awesome names on the ballot!
• Pick the name you know the most.  Familiarity is a great thing - if you know the name that means you like them!  There is no way that the only reason you know the name is because of its appearance in a series of exposes showing your candidates seedy criminal dealings.
• Use a blind ballot method - that means close your eyes and just start voting without reading.  Who cares about who you voted for because the important thing is that you vote!
• When all else fails vote for things that make you comfortable - ie men, Christians, traditional major parties or people that showed you their advertisements the most.

Please note...this post was all in fun.  It is completely dripping in sarcasm.

“Make no mistake about this, Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified than I am to be vice president of the United States of America. Lets get that straight.”

“She’s easily qualified to be vice president … and quite frankly, might have been a better pick than me. But she’s first rate. I mean that sincerely. She is first rate. So let’s get that straight."------Senator Biden

Ok, so why is Clinton not the running mate?    We have been told that Biden was the most qualified candidate and that is why he was chosen.  However, when talking about Clinton to a crowd in New Hampshire - he put him out as an equal if not inferior to Senator Clinton.  What the hell? 

So if she was as qualified as Biden, if not more so, why not choose the woman that would bring a guaranteed 18 million votes to the campaign?

Somebody better tell Biden to never go off script again.  He comes up looking like an idiot.   Guess what Senator Biden, Clinton supporters don't want to here she could have been a better choice - it doesn't instill confidence.  It doesn't make us want to vote for you or your buddy.   It actually makes us question why, if she was the better candidate, was she never truly considered. 

Does anybody have one of those little receivers that Bush and Rove used?  Clearly, Biden needs some guidance.

Ladies and gentleman, I have noticed a disturbing trend in American politics.   There is a large majority of voters that are voting based on popularity rather than being informed voters.   What's worse - the popularity of the candidate is created by the same system that gave us "stars" like Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and the cast of "The Hills".

What happened to people that actually went out and learned about the candidates?  In the 18th, 19th and part of the 20th century information was difficult to come by and voters relied on what the news agencies and candidates told them.  This generation has no information accessibility issue - with the internet and half a brain people can find anything they want on the candidates.  So why are people relying on sound bites and packaged information from spin masters? 

People WAKE UP!   You are about to vote for the leaders of your country.  You should put thought into this process.  You should stay up at night wondering who is right for the job.  You should be doing research on their voting history, policy proposals and other pertinent information. 

It doesn't matter WHO you vote for but that choice needs to be an informed one!  Don't let the news agencies, television shows and  (ie corporate america) make that choice for you.   They do NOT have your best interests at heart - they have theirs.  Get the facts and VOTE!

Come on people.   Get off your asses and educate yourself before casting that ballot.  People have DIED for this right and are still dying for this right -  we should show some respect and do it responsibly.

In the immortal words of GI JOE - Knowing is half the battle!

OK Obama Supporters let me give you some advice – enough with the downright dirty attacks on Palin.   We get it – you don’t like her.  You think she is a horrible person.  You don’t want her as the Vice President.  We all understand that and I applaud your passion.  HOWEVER, you must learn to express you dislike for the woman in a mature and intelligent way.  

First off, children should be off limits.  Guess what – it’s nobody’s business about Trig’s birth.  I don’t care if she gave birth to him or if Bristol or the Devil himself gave birth to that kid.  Fact is, Sarah Palin is the baby’s mother – so leave the kid and its mom alone.  Also, who cares if Bristol is pregnant?  She is 17 (a few months young than when Obama’s unmarried mama gave birth) and she is taking care of it in her own way.  That girl is not our concern.

Second, do we really need to attack working women?  That is what is happening when democrats are screaming about how Palin is an unfit Mother.  I actually heard a woman that identifies herself as a feminist declare that if Sarah Palin had stayed home and done her job as a mother – her kids wouldn’t be so screwed up.  WHAT?!?!?!?!  Please people; remember your own values when you attack this woman.  As a liberal – I expect you all to understand that a woman CAN work and be a mother.   Having children should not dictate that you only take low level jobs either.  Don’t even get me started on people saying that she can’t do the job because she nothing but a beauty queen.

Come on people – talk about her stance on the environment.  Talk about her qualifications for the job.   Talk about her positions on social issues.   Talk about things of substance.   I promise you, it can be done.  I know that when talking about Palin’s anti-choice, abstinence only positions – it’s easy to use Bristol Palin as an example but you don’t need to do it.  You can discuss the issue without using her kid.  Do you realize what the nasty attacks are doing?

These attacks on Palin’s family have actually energized the Republican base.  Democrats have actually done the work for the Republicans.  The GOP was worried that conservatives wouldn’t come out to vote for the moderate McCain – but the DNC fixed that problem.  The latest polls are now showing McCain 15 points ahead.  I know that people say the polls are irrelevant but that is crap.  The DNC has a case of chronic apathy when it comes to voters – the GOP does not.  An Obama lead in the polls means little because many supporters will just be too lazy to vote in November, but a McCain lead is huge.  The GOP voters go to the polls.

So we need to find new ways to attack Palin and McCain.  If you want Obama to be in office and to be the “Change” that this nation needs – act like you are representing him.  Right now, many Obama supporters are acting like petulant children rather than mature informed voters and that has to change.  Obama supporters need to go at this differently or else they will be the reason that Obama loses.

Oh and FYI – I have been hesitant to support Obama in the past but McCain’s choice of Palin as his running mate changed my mind.  She is far too conservative for my taste.  As the tie-breaking vote in a narrowly divided Senate, she would work against most of my interests.  So I guess as of right now, I support Obama.

Its 2008 and guess what, it’s time to elect a President in the United States of America.  We have a choice between the Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama and the Republican Presidential candidate, John Sidney McCain.  What if NEITHER of these candidates meet your needs?  Even moving out to the minor parties (that don’t have a chance in hell of being elected) – what if none of them meet your needs either?  What’s a girl to do?  I know…maybe if I blog my needs somebody can help me find that perfect candidate – regardless of the party.

In no particular order, I want a candidate who:

·         Understands that all people in this nation are equal.

·         Supports the equal citizenship rights of gay people.  This includes the right to equal recognition of gay and straight marriages.

·         Protects a woman’s right to choose when it is right to have a child. 

·         Knows that while reproductive rights are paramount to a woman’s independence, there comes a point where life takes over and that choice is ended by a sentient life that can survive beyond the uterus.

·         Declares that a baby born alive and that has the chance of life – deserves that chance. 

·         Pushes for programs designed to end the societal flaws that force women to choose abortions.

·         Fights for programs that are designed to move the poor into well-paying jobs rather than minimum wage service sector positions.

·         Fights for programs to push people unwilling to work off public assistance rolls.

·         Secures our border that leaks like a sieve to prevent our nation being the Central American welfare solution.

·         Develops a policy that allows the illegals that are already in the country to become legal long-term tax paying guests in this country – without full citizenship.

·         Implements a guest worker plan that allows foreign nationals to come to the US to work and prevents abusive employer practices.

·         Has military experience – if you want to be commander-in-chief, you need to understand how the military works and how you lead the military.

·         Wants to eliminate the budget deficit by making necessary cuts to the US government and its agencies.  There is a ton of fat in our government and its agencies – it needs to be cut.  It really doesn’t take 10 people to place a piece of paper in a filing cabinet.

·         Only allows AMERICAN corporations to research and build the weapons and tools of our military.

·         Makes English the official language.

·         Acts with honor and dignity.  They will also demand that all around them do the same.

·         Says what they mean.

·         Makes diplomacy over military might a priority.

·         Understands the economy and employs people that know how to fix it.

·         Continues the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

·         Withdraws troops from Afghanistan.

·         Work WITH the UN, rather than against it.

·         Is honest about policy issues.

·         Understands that both the far right wing religious extremists and the far left wing extremists are equally bad for this nation.  Enough of extreme science and extreme religion.

·         Understands that religion become irrelevant when it condemns most Americans to the fiery pits of hell because they believe that social acceptance and science are good things.

·         Understands that scientific devotees become irrelevant when they completely dismiss other scientific viewpoints and studies because it does not fit their ideology.

·         Understands that there are thousands, if not millions, of embryos that will be destroyed because they are not needed and that these embryos should be used for embryonic research.

·         Does not support human cloning in any way, shape or form.

·         Understands that the lower the taxes – the more people have to spend and give.

Dear Obama Supporters:

Thank you very much for being concerned about how I vote if my candidate, Hillary Clinton, does not get the nomination. I think its nice that you are showing concern for other voters in the divided democratic party. However, you are being a tad bit simplistic if you think that we should vote for Obama just because he is a Democrat. Many of us that are facing this decision are not taking it lightly - we want the best CANDIDATE even if that pushes us outside of the Democratic party.

I have seen many views of Clinton supporters that are having a problem getting behind Obama. So far - they are all quite nasty to tell you the truth. We have been called "spiteful", "racist" and "selfish". All of these names and accusations just seem like attempts to shame people into supporting Obama rather than giving solid reasons why we should vote for him. The really sad part of this issue is most of these names come from the radical far left of the Democratic Party and it infuriates moderates like myself.

Take the accusation that we are spiteful, vindictive women trying to punish Obama for beating Senator Clinton. That couldn't be farther from the truth. If I thought that Obama was a quality candidate - I could easily support him if Clinton failed to garner the nomination. I have done it multiple times in the past and I even managed to support a questionable John Kerry. I simply have found nothing of substance in Obama - that does not make me spiteful folks.

The "racist" claim is beyond annoying. I could care less what color the man is - black, yellow, white, red, purple - IT DOESN'T MATTER FOLKS. I want a quality candidate. I currently have three choices and my ranking of their qualifications has NOTHING to do with the hue of the man's skin. Why is it ok to call a person that cannot support Obama a racist but not a person that is only voting for him because he has a darker skin tone a racist? Sadder yet, it amazes me that being called a racist is such a travesty but people could care less about blatant chauvenism - even from Barack Obama. Can you imagine the reaction if Clinton had called a young african american journalist "boy" as Obama called a female journalist "sweetie".

Just today, Ariana Huffington noted that women who supported Clinton were somewhat selfish because they don't care about Roe V Wade and reproductive rights. Excuse me??? I will fight for the reproductive rights of women until the day that I die. Huffington likes to point out that McCain is pro-life. She goes through his history (this is the part of McCain that I disagree with). She pimps out Obama as if he had been marching along side women for reproductive rights. However she fails to mention the fact that the man did NOT vote "no" on FOURTEEN new abortion restrictions when he had the chance to in the state of Illinois. According to Senator Obama, his "present" votes were only used when he SUPPORTED a bill but had some questions about the way the bill was written. Sorry folks - that does NOT scream "pro-choice" to me.

I think its wonderful that Obama is charismatic enough to draw new voters and people that were just too lazy to vote in past elections (those of you Obama supporters that simply didn't vote in 2004 are hypocrites if you dare question voters that have done their duty for years). However, fact of the matter is this - the man has been a Senator for 2 1/2 years. However, he has been running for President for four years. We simply do not know enough about the man to make him our President.

Guess what - when it comes down to it, this elections is a case of voting for the lesser of two evils. Personally - Obama is too big of a risk to take. So I will be voting McCain (unless something incredible changes my mind.)

Thanks for listening.

Detroit-Skyline-Web

1 comment

Detroit is an incredible city.  It is full of wonderful, colorful, creative, intelligent and interesting people.   The architecture is absolutely gorgeous ranging from 300 year old buildings to new ones.  The history is rich and wonderful to tell.  It is a city that deserves to survive. 

Unfortunately, auto maker woes, economic upheaval and racial issues dragged this once great city down int a quagmire that is has yet to escape from.   Every once in a while, we see glimmers of the incredible city that we once were and can be again.  The Super Bowl.  New buildings.  New business.   All-Star games.   Festivals in Hart Plaza.  Then we are inundated with scandal after scandal as a immature race-baiting mayor threatens to drag the city down with him.

We have seen this game before.   For decades, Coleman Young ran the city.   He inflamed racial tensions.  He chased way business.  He let buildings fall into disrepair.  He screamed "racist" at every suburb and told them they weren't welcome in his city.   We thought we got away from that when he left office.  We thought we were safe from that kind of mayor when Young passed away.

We had Dennis Archer, a man that fought tirelessly to bring new business to the city.  He pushed forward a Riverwalk project that is beginning to show promise.  He brought the Super Bowl to a city that has never seen its football team play in it.   He brought the football team in from the suburbs.  Archer realized that this is a metropolitan community that is tied to one another for survival - city and suburbs.   Archer was an incredible mayor and he changed he city for the better.

Then came Kwame.   The young man whose mother was in the House of Representatives.   A family man with a beautiful wife and the cutest little kids.   Fresh ideas and a reborn Detroit were what was promised but instead Detroit was given the shaft.   At 31, he was the youngest man ever elected mayor of Detroit but at 31, he was by no means a child - even though he acted like one. 

He cheated on his wife.  He cheated on he tax payers.  He used his mayoral power and city money to hide his philandering ways.   He fired good police officers when they dared to ask why his guards were being paid thousands in overtime dollars to attend stripper parties and to hide the affair.  He spent more time playing than actually working and when good things happened because of the work that Dennis Archer did - he claimed credit for things that weren't his doing.

Apparently, behind the scenes he was laughing with his girl friend/Chief of Staff, Christine Beatty, about the city full of "idiots".   They were calling city council members childish names.    They were manipulating the police department to fill it with people that they could control and wouldn't ask questions.   They were treating the city legal department as their personal lawyers.   Worse yet - Kwame Kilpatrick betrayed the taxpayers of Detroit and used 9 million dollars of their dollars to hide his misdemeanors and moral philandering.

At this point, Kwame Kilpatrick is nothing more than an embarrassment to the city, the region and the state.   HE hinders progress by laughing at the charges against them.  The old ways of Coleman Young race baiting are now being played with him on a daily basis.   The evil suburbs and the evil white media are all to blame for his woes according to dear Kwame.

How does he continue to sleep at night, much less stay in office, with the things that he is doing to his city and his family?   How can he look his constituents in the face knowing that he consider them "idiots".  How does he look his wife and children in the face after text messages telling Christine Beatty that they would be married and he would be her children's stepdaddy in 2012?  To see these horrendous text messages

The excuses of "oh, he's a young guy" are null and void now.  He is almost 40 years old - he knows better.   The excuses that he was hurt by being called the "n" word are null and void seeing as he uses it liberally in his own conversations - even calling Beatty his "nigette" (please note that it pained me just to write that word).  The excuses are gone Kwame.

in the document that got Kwame to steal 9 millon dollars of the city's money to prevent it from the public seeing it - read here.

Mr Kilpatrick, for the good of this beautiful city, please leave.  Please leave office today.  You once talked about how the New York Times likes to write about you because you were a young black man with power.   Well now they like to talk about you because you are creating enough scandals by yourself to fuel paper sales for the next year.   Your salacious life is better than fiction now. 

Please leave before they really start investigating the murdered stripper from your alleged Manoogian Mansion stripper party with cops that you don't control.  I would really hate to see what happens if it comes back to you...

PS...Can you please let somebody else vote at the democratic convention.  You don't deserve to be a super delegate.

I saw this question posted on a message board and the responses were so interesting.  Please note, this is not meant to imply that anybody running for office in the US is Muslim - so please do not take it this way.

Personally, if it was a moderate Muslim and they were completely qualified to fill the position. YES!!!   I know many moderate Muslims here in the Detroit area and let me tell you - they aren't any different from other Americans.   I would happily support a Muslim if they were right for the job!

NOW...if the Muslim is a conservative, fanatic, zealot or extremist Muslim then the answer would be 100% NO!!!  However, that rules applies to extremists of ALL religions and that includes far right evangelical Christians, hard-line Catholics, Orthodox Jews, and all others.  

So would YOU vote for a Muslim?   Please try to respect anybody that answers this question and not attack people.