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27 February 2008

Think Obama is just hype? Think Again...

Clinton, Obama spar over campaign tactics

I was reading Politico.com and somehow wound up on someone's page where they actually looked at all the bills sponsored both by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.  They came to the same conclusion I had been saying all along--that Obama's senate record is stronger, and more ambitious than her's is.  Here's an excerpt--

she introduced one bill that offered tax credits for building owners
who clean up lead paint. Which is a very good thing. And Obama is a
co-sponsor. "S.1793 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to provide a tax credit for property owners who remove lead-based paint
hazards."


Obama's anti-lead bill (S. 1306) directed the Consumer Product
Safety Commission to classify certain children's products containing
lead as banned hazardous substances. He had another bill prohibitting
the interstate transport of children's products containing lead.
(S.2132) And Hillary co-sponsored each of these.



In other words, they both care about protecting children from lead.





The difference is in the scope and the approach.


Obama's bill shows how he thinks big: do everything we can to make
sure that lead-painted Thomas the Tank Engine toys don't get into the
hands and mouths of millions of toddlers in this country.



Or Hillary: encourage people by offering tax credits to clean up
lead paint in old buildings. People have been talking about lead paint
in old buildings hurting kids in living in inner cities, since, well
when I was a kid — for decades. If it is still a big problem, is
offering tax credits for clean up, i.e. scrape down the walls and
repaint, the best way to protect kids from lead?



How many of you parents have lead paint problems? How many have (or
had) toxic Thomas the Tank Engine Toys? They are everywhere. The local
bookstore and kid's shoe store and the doctor's office and the
preschool and the toystore all have train tables. There is nowhere you
can go anymore with toddlers that doesn't have a Thomas the Tank Engine
train table covered with toxic toys. But that's just my feeling.



Obama's bills risk pissing off the toy industry and the Chinese. Hillary's risks nothing.


So as you can see-- a lot of people are doing the hard work of going and getting the information themselves and coming up with same result.  Obama simply thinks bigger, and instead of "going after a gorilla with a fly swatter" he chooses to use an A-bomb!  He also seems to get more of his bills passed despite this, and --oh my goodness-- most is due in part to that bi-partisan support he seems to be able to get on a lot of his bills...  Yeah..  Change you can not only believe in, but SEE FOR YOURSELF!!!



On Iran: S.J.RES.23 : A joint resolution clarifying
that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the
Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq, any
resolution previously adopted, or any other provision of law.

On votingPassed out of Committee and now on the Senate Calendar for Feb. 22, 2008

S.453 : A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections
Please check this out! This is a great bill. We need this. I can't
believe that this time voter intimidation is not already illegal.



On veterans and military personnel: S.1084 : A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans;



On global warmingS.1324 : A bill to amend the Clean
Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuel
sold in the United States;S.1389 : A bill to authorize the National
Science Foundation to establish a Climate Change Education Program;
S.AMDT.599 to S.CON.RES.21 To add $200 million for Function 270
(Energy) for the demonstration and monitoring of carbon capture and
sequestration technology by the Department of Energy. (This last one
passed both the House and the Senate as part of the budget bill.)



On campaign finance and lobbyists S.2030 : A bill
to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require reporting
relating to bundled contributions made by persons other than registered
lobbyists; and S.AMDT.41 to S.1 To require lobbyists to disclose the
candidates, leadership PACs, or political parties for whom they collect
or arrange contributions, and the aggregate amount of the contributions
collected or arranged.



On Blackwater S.2044 : A bill to provide procedures
for the proper classification of employees and independent contractors,
and for other purposes, and S.2147 : A bill to require accountability
for contractors and contract personnel under Federal contracts, and for
other purposes.



On global poverty  S.2433 : A bill to require the
President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further
the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction
of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the
achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half
the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on
less than $1 per day.



On global nuclear proliferation S.1977 : A bill to
provide for sustained United States leadership in a cooperative global
effort to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals,
stop the spread of nuclear weapons and related material and technology,
and support the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear technology.

So there's some of that substance some of you have been wanting to see.  Still think he's just hype? 



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watch out, Obama put on a TURBAN! We're dooooooomed!

ChapeauphobiaWhy the hell is it that Americans call ourselves the most progressive, inclusive, non-judgemental society on Earth, but let someone who just happens to be running for president be seen in a picture wearing the garb of the locals in a country he's visiting, and let that dress look like something certain "enemies of the state" would also be wearing, and then that person is labeled a "terrorist sympathizer".

This is nuts. Someone in the Clinton camp let a photo of Barack Obama while on tour in Somalia be misconstrued into him being associated with terrorists. Umm right, so that means that when I am in Japan, and dressed in a karate gi, or jinbe or men's kimono, that must mean I am a Asian Nationalist and if this were 1941, then I would be seen as a sympathizer too...

This is ludacris, and now it only shows that Clinton is grasping at straws--whatever it takes for her to win. She's no different then the Bush campaigns of 2000 and 2004 at this point. I'm not for that talk.
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25 February 2008

An Open Letter to members of the U.S. Congress about the FairTax...

Please read the FairTax books by Congressman Linder and Neal Boortz. Visit www.Fairtax.org and look at all the empirical data and research that has been done on this taxation system. I won't pretend to be an economist, but I have worked for the IRS and currently am employed by a large banking firm in the tax compliance section. I am behind the FairTax 100%--even if it means I'd be unemployed! It just makes more sense than the 65000+ page code I have to read in order to make sure my clients are within the boundaries of the law.

I vote independent, but lean just left of center--moderate democrat. PLEASE DEMOCRATIC SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN/WOMEN, don't for the love of our nation play the normal partisan game with this... Vote with your hearts and minds, actually read Linder's bill *YOURSELF* and then decide clearly if it makes sense or not. This can be the policy that makes America the best country to live in and restore confidence in our nation just like the New Deal did after the Great Depression. I invite any member of congress to call me personally if they need reasons why they should consider voting on the FairTax... I'll gladly take them on a tour of St Louis, MO--my hometown, or Atlanta GA, my home now. Show them how good hardworking Americans are jobless now with the vanishing of GM, Ford and Chrysler plants in both towns. Show them how it's cheaper to build ANYTHING overseas half a world away and ship it here to be sold, rather than build it across the street from the store it would be sold in here in AMERICA!

Lastly, some of you may have questioned my patriotism when people like me were against the war in Iraq... But now I question yours if you are against the FairTax. Think about that. I love my country, and 3 generations of my family have worn its uniform, even while fighting to be equals in this country (I'm afro-american) So now I pose this question to you--why be against something that would truly help restore the USA to glory and keep our hard earned dollars in this country and bring even more money, people, and RESPECT to us in the world... ...are YOU a PATRIOT?
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06 February 2008

Missouri, uncalled, called - Ben Smith's Blog - Politico.com

"HILLARY'S BIG NIGHT CONTINUES Southwest to Midwest, Clinton Picks Up Two More Toss Up States Two more closely contested toss-up states have gone for Hillary Clinton. MISSOURI Barack Obama outspent Hillary by $300,000 in TV ads in Missouri. He also benefited from the endorsements of high-profile surrogates across the state such as Representatives Carnahan and Clay, and Senator McCaskill, all of whom actively campaigned for him and appeared in ads on his behalf. Despite these challenges - and with the help of Kansas City Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and Former Majority Leader Dick Gephardt - Hillary Clinton won this important toss-up state." --courtesy AP/Politico.com

Like I said, these people are living in a dream world. I am pleased to be from the Show-Me State tonight, a proud son of the City of St. Louis where over 150 years ago a court case was tried against a black slave fighting for his freedom and said that blacks were 3/5ths human... Now the voters in my city chose a black man by a large margin--2 to 1! I felt bad to be back home during my granny's condition, but this is definitely a bright spot here.
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Barak takes the Peach State!

Mr Obama, I am proud to have helped to deliver the great state of Georgia! I voted early last week in the Advanced Voting Polling center; its a good thing too because I'm here in St Louis tending to family business... Speaking of which, I got my grandparents to the polls today in St Louis County-- Both staunchly behind Obama. So I think I really voted 3 times!! Yeah!

BTW, What in the blue hell was Rep. John Lewis thinking? Joseph Lowery had it right when he basically said that he was out of his mind not supporting Obama... I think Mr Lewis had some favor he owed the Clintons... But that's just me...
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04 February 2008

Obama and Clinton in DEAD HEAT!!!!



Barack Obama has surged to a statistical tie with Hillary Rodham Clinton in a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, erasing a double-digit national lead she held just two weeks ago and turning the Democratic nomination race into a nail-biter.

The pair stood at Clinton 45%, Obama 44% in a snapshot of voter intent just two days before 22 states hold primaries and caucuses on Super Tuesday.

On the Republican side, Arizona Sen. John McCain gained 11 percentage points for a decisive 42%-24% lead over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney...

...Obama gained 11 percentage points to erase Clinton's lead. The Illinois senator has been riding a wave of momentum since a landslide victoryin South Carolina's Jan. 26 primary. He's been collecting endorsements from Sen. Edward Kennedy and other prominent Democrats, and in January alone raised $32 million.

Source

I saw Barak speak in St Louis last night at the Edward Jones Dome downtown. On the way there and back on the subway, I heard all sorts of different people here saying things like "he'd make a damn fine president" and "Kennedy like" and "not only bring some respect back into the white house, but also show other countries that America is over the tribulations and hangups of the last century" What surprised me was that those comments were from older white people... IN ST LOUIS!! I have always considered my hometown to be one of the most racially and economically divided cities in the country, but since I've been in Atlanta, they managed to elect a black county executive, and a woman senator. (They still need to recall that damn Mayor Slay for amongst other things demoting the african-american Fire Chief for no reason)
The crowd in St Louis was so mixed... I was truly amazed. people of all colors, and economic strata... But what really struck me was the number of people.... 20,000+ on the floor of the Ed Dome! Damn, I've never seen that many people come out to ANYTHING political before. Youngest I saw there was an 8 year old girl telling her daddy she liked what he could do about having better schools if Barak was president. The oldest I saw was my Grandma-- 84 years old and pulling me into the crowd so she could get a better view.
My faith in America not being sheep is very low, but I really hope these poll numbers translate into some deep thought Tuesday, March 5th, and in November. We aren't choosing a president anymore due to the mistakes of the past 8 years-- we are now choosing a path to take for the country. We either choose to heal ourselves and our image around the world, or we choose to sink further into despair and irrevocable chaos until we have no country worth fighting for.


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03 February 2008

The Rule of Threes

Sorry for not blogging in a while y'all (actually I still blog a lot, but not here--check out http://starrwulfe.blogspot.com for more of my randomness)

I've been going through a lot in 2008, and it's only just begun.  As much as I try to remain positve, a tremendous amount of sadness has already occured.  My oldest brother is in jail in my hometown on murder charges that he shouldn't even have...  My granny had a stroke that has started her on the path for her homegoing (Those of you that know me know I don't believe in death; only in another life beyond this one.  Consequently passing on doesn't evoke sadness from me unless you are killed, or die way too young.)  I am both happy and sad for my granny.  Happy because she's heading for the Great Continueum, the nexus that all lives and souls end and begin, but sad because I won't see her for a while, and have so many memories of her keeping my brother and I when we were kids.

Which leads me to a greater sadness, because when she finally does pass, my brother Pete will not be able to attend her funeral because he's imprisioned.  He knew granny the best, and had such a special relationship with her.  I'm also saddest for my mom; granny raised her without any help and my mother adores her, and now it's all on her to make these preparations...  But also keep in mind we were just in St Louis last weekend to try and get my brother some legal counsul. 

This weekend too finds me in St Louis once again searching my soul for reasons why 2008 is starting off so surrealistic...  Its like I'm sleeping awake in a nightmare.  You know, I was looking forward to taking my 2 teenaged rugrat "almost siblings" to the movies and just generally watch them cause mayhem all over the place and laugh--when I hang out with them, I tend to forget I'm as old as I am, and regress a little bit back in time when I had no bills, little responsibilities and my only worries had to do with hoping the pimple I got on my face would disappear if whatever girl I was into at the time saw me...  God I miss those days.

When this is over, and things return to some state of relative calmness, please buy your buddy J a drink...  He could use it.

...oh yeah, the rule of threes suggest that bad things happen in triads; so somewhere sometime soon perhaps one last thing could happen to us.  I can't take much more.

Currently listening :
Alpha
By Sevendust

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