I have to admit I have been admiring Palin's taste in clothing, especially the red leather jacket she wore the other day. Thanks to recent news reports now I know why I've been paying attention to her wardrobe. Palin's outfits have been created by the finest designers in the world of haute couture. Sigh. Guess I'd better forget about ever owning that red leather jacket unless I can find a knock off at Chico's.
Sarah sure has exquisite taste in clothes. Price seems to be no limit when someone else is footing the bill. And like "Joe the Plumber" who is not a plumber, Palin does not like to pay her fair share of taxes, either.
Another grim lesson I have learned from Republicans who are running for office is that when they demonize something or something or attack someone for doing something they should not be doing, chances are the Republican is doing the very thing they are hyperventilating about.
Lately Sarah Palin has been stomping across the so-called red parts of America in her $600 a pop high heels and $12,000. suits while attacking Barack Obama whom she calls a socialist b/c he wants to redistribute the wealth. Duh, isn't that what taxes are supposed to do? Never mind.
According to Palin, Obama wants to steal money from the small business owners like Joe the Plumber who is not a plumber, nor does he own a business, and give it to other Americans who are very likely fake or anti-American.
The truth of the matter is Sarah Palin is the real socialist. Aside from the $150K wardrobe handout, as the governor of oil rich Alaska Sarah taxes the oil companies and transfers the revenues to her and the people of Alaska.
Well, yesterday was Mr. dks' birthday; he turned 61. We had been celebrating in a quiet way, suitable for an older, slightly portly, but by no means overly dignified, gentleman, since Sunday when the grandkids and their parents came for barbecued ribs and pecan pie to celebrate. So yesterday was the day to set out the modest gifts of shirts with a bigger neck, a new pipe, and a new book on Abraham Lincoln. Then, this arrived in my inbox.
As history has shown, there is a difference between submitting a voter registration application and finding your name on the rolls when you go to vote. With registration coming to a close, Project Vote is conducting emergency efforts to ensure that no one who wants to vote is left out on Election Day.
Project Vote's Registration Repair Program is an intensive and urgent effort to collect and rectify large numbers of registrations that have been rejected by boards of election. We have been working all over the country to obtain disqualified applications and to contact would-be voters to repair applications with missing or erroneous information.
As much as Bristol Palin's pregnancy has been batted about in the MSM and the blogs, I believe something important has been left out of the discussion.
Even John Stewart missed it when chatting with Newt Gingrich; Stewart noted that the press release stated that it was "Bristol's decision to have her baby" -- a choice the McCain/Palin ticket would seek to take away from American women.
But here's what's missing in the coverage and discussion:
While it will be the most life changing event of her life, Bristol Palin's pregnancy will have less of an effect on her life than a pregnancy would have on a teenager living in, say, Appalachia. A teenager I'll call "Megan"."
You see, Bristol has the support of a loving family. "Megan" might not. "Megan" most likely comes from a dysfunctional family.
Bristol, as a governor's daughter, will have access to more than adequate prenatal care. "Megan" might not.
Bristol will always be able to get to her appointments. "Megan" might not.
Bristol, and her child, will have excellent care after the baby is born. "Megan" might not.
Bristol will have access to excellent child care while she finishes high school. "Megan" might not.
Bristol will have someone to care for the child if she decides to go to college. Not only will "Megan" almost certainly not have someone to care for her child if she wanted to attend college, she almost certainly won't be able to afford to go to college in the first place.
Bristol, due to her mother's turn in the spotlight, will have life chances denied "Megan", living a life of quiet desperation in the mountains of Appalachia.
So. While her pregnancy will be a significant life change for Bristol Palin, it will not destroy her life chances, or those of her child.
For "Megan", however, an unwanted pregnancy will significantly impact the odds she'll finish high school, and put college out of reach, if not out of imagining. Lack of an adequate education will significantly impact "Megan's" chances at getting a well paying job. Which will significantly impact her housing, her health...and almost certainly lead to a sense hopelessness and helplessness. All of which will impact her child's chances. And thus the wheel turns. And turns. And turns.
In sum; from the stage of the Republican Convention, Bristol Palin's pregnancy looks familiar to many American families. But in the details, it is nothing like the majority of teen pregnancies in America. Nothing like the challenges faced by "Danielle" in urban America, or "Amanda" in suburban America, or "Nicole" in rural America.
Once in a lifetime a candidate comes along who embodies the hopes and dreams of a gender or race. That's happened on both counts in this election year.
It's too bad that one or the other couldn't have waited to run another time, because each means so much to the voters who believe in them. Neither should be sacrificed to the other; when one of them loses, as one must, it will be like a death in the family.
Politics has moved from the realm of casual interest among voters to a visceral feeling that it's now or never. How did we get this way? It's simple: a backlash against the horrible situation into which George W. Bush has put this country, like a bad case of food poisoning.
Not just any candidate would do, either. They had to stir the hearts of voters. Hillary Clinton represents all that women ever hoped to achieve, and Barack Obama represents the equality of African-Americans.
There will be sadness in the country when the dust has settled in the Democratic Party - not just because of voter fraud and disenfranchisement, and not because someone had to win and someone had to lose, but because the hopes and dreams of what the loser represented will be gone.
- Shirley Bumbalough, Watauga
Shirley's letter was published in the Fort Worth Star Telegram and shared with friends. I think it expresses realities which we, as Democrats, need to remember as we face off with our friends and neighbors in Senatorial and State Conventions and discuss politics in our homes and workplaces.
I was amazed at my reaction this election cycle. I have never voted for or against a candidate because of race or gender. This year, I found myself thinking that when the woman is more qualified or as qualified, shouldn't she get the job! I was honored to be a Jesse Jackson delegate to State Convention when he ran for U.S. President. This year I shared with my precinct that this is the first time I've had the opportunity to be a delegate for a qualified woman for president.
I don't think we should vote for or against a candidate based on race or gender, yet this year, many people are voting that way. This year it is much more personal for many than ever before. As Americans, many of us seem to be seeking a "rite of passage", an untettering from the discrimination and marginalization of our childhood and years in the community and work place.
(It is good to have a voice in the nomination process, ain't it? - promoted by boadicea)
By Faith Chatham - March 2, 2008 Crossposted from Texas Campaign 2008 Tarrant County was Clinton Country Saturday when Senator Hillary Clinton arrived at the Fort Worth Stockyard. The crowd has been estimated between 10,000 to 14,000.
Young, old, healthy, frail, all races stood in line for hours to be screened and admitted to the rally area on Exchange Avenue near the Stockyard's Hotel. Secret Service and the Fort Worth Police Department controlled access. Swat team snipers were positioned on all the roof tops. Attendees, including the handicapped, entered behind Billy Bob's, through the cattle walks and allies before they were screened to enter the rally grounds. Organizers grossly underestimated the size of the crowd. Most attendees never got close enough to see Senator Clinton, yet the enthusiasm was not dampened by the long wait.
Accompanied by Henry Ciscernos and the Mayor of Los Angeles, with former Speaker Jim Wright in attendence, Senator Clinton charmed the crowd with her warmth, straight talking and deep comprehension of what truly challenges us. She speaks straight to the people. Her stump speech is not littered with slogans or platitudes. She doesn't place herself on some loftier plane than the people. She has poise and confidence which comes from years of hard work and preparation and service.
Photo by Lydia Foster - used by permission. Copyright 2008
ENDORSEMENT OF VALINDA HATHCOX
FOR U.S. CONGRESS, DISTRICT 4
by Maria Luisa Alvarado
The people of Texas and America will gain exceptional representation in Washington D.C. from VaLinda Hathcox as the next United States Representative for District 4 of Texas. Let me explain. I believe my campaign experience in 2006 afforded me an opportunity to get to know the heart of other candidates on the campaign trail. As candidate for Texas Land Commissioner, VaLinda Hathcox was an inspiration to me in that the truth to her was not to be compromised for popularity. The people and the land of Texas are vast in diversity but for the most part they are solid and true. That is the character of VaLinda Hathcox, and is the desperate need in Congress.
However, it is not enough to rely solely on the character that our elected officials take to our Nation's Capitol. VaLinda Hathcox takes to Washington D.C. a proven record of public service as an attorney in the defense and protection of health services for the poor, as well as administration of legal judgments and education on tax matters. There is much work ahead to restore this nation that her hands?on experience on solving issues will be an advantage for us all.
Good morning. Today marks the last day of our Exploratory Campaign for the United States Senate and the first of my official candidacy to unseat Republican John Cornyn. It's time all Texans had representation in the United States Senate. It's time to put an end to the politics of division. It's now time to work together to get our country back on track.
We are wasting no time. Today is the first day of the candidate filing period, and I have in hand the official forms, completed and signed, along with the candidate filing fee to offer myself for service as a Democratic candidate to be the next United States Senator to serve the Great State of Texas.
I read this on Helium.com and posted this as my opinion:
So a woman looses her freedom to be President just because she was married to a former President. The way the constitution reads now any person over the age of 35 years old who was born a citizen can be President. Women have struggled for to many years to count just to get half the respect these some 231 years of pasty white men needs to end. So what is really being said here is lets come up with a amendment to the constitution to keep Hillary Clinton from being President. Also what is being said is women can't think for themselves they let their husband think for them so they should not be able to be President, if their husbands have been before them. This is ridiculous. Nepotism is favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power. President Bill Clinton can not be President again. Hillary Clinton is running for this office on her own merit and to put this type of amendment into Law, you would need to include Sons, Daughters, Nephews, Nieces, Friends, Brothers, Sisters, Fathers, Mothers, and even Cousins into the amendment in order to be fair. So basically Mr. Bush has committed this harmful act many times over. Does that mean he will need to be impeached if this becomes law? Oh! And that would mean his Daughters could never run for President or his brother Jeb it would have to stop with him. Okay I'm game if it keeps the Bush's from ever being in the white house again let's do it. Just remember when stepping on the toes of democracy remember it is the people who's feet get bruised. Where was this amendment before Hillary Clinton decided to run for office? It's was not in existence. It was not needed and why should we ask because, no woman before has ever has come as close to being The first Female President in the United States History. This is shameful that they need to call it out of its name this isn't Nepotism, this proposed amendment is nothing more then sexism of the worst kind. This would not even be a issue if Hillary Clinton was his Brother, Male Cousin, Son, Male Friend, Nephew, or Father. This is plan and simple, she is a woman and she is roaring toward the White House at full speed and the "Men" are shaking in their boot's. I say Hillary you go girl blaze that trial so someday my daughter may follow in your brave footsteps. Men have run this country into the ground for 231 years its time for a woman to lead us into a brighter future. So Hillary blaze away!
(The simple words of wisdom on the "Fence" make this dairy worth it , not to mention the rest of the "quilt"..... - promoted by lightseeker)
I have been mulling over several thoughts recently, none of which seem to individually offer a complete day’s work, and I ask the reader’s indulgence as I attempt to stitch some of these disconnected concepts into a larger, and hopefully more interesting, quilt.
All of the talk lately about the religious preferences of the presidential candidates or their lack of them has me concerned for the direction of the current campaign and the fact that religion has any place in this discussion at all.
Yesterday, while drinking my second cup of coffee and mentally preparing for the second week of moving to a new residence, a letter to the editor of USA Today caught my attention.
I agree with Focus on the Family's founder James Dobson, who seems to believe that a Christian should be the GOP presidential nominee ("What is a 'real' Christian?" On Religion, The Forum, May 21).
If for no other reason, a Christian would balance the power of the left, the atheists and those waging open war against many conservatives.
But where is this real Christian who is willing to run for president? The fact that Mr. Dobson is not considering it illustrates the problem Christians in this country face. It seems there is a perception that real Christians don't get involved in politics. Though we are willing to support someone who meets our conservative criteria, we are not willing to be him.
Could it be that many professing Christians are not real Christians and are afraid of being exposed as hypocrites? It seems to me that a religious conservative is the best we can hope for this time around.
Perhaps, due to my past exposure to various "Christian" denominations, and various experiences with other religious groups, sects, cults, klaverns, whatever, I no longer claim a religious affiliation of any kind and hope to quietly live out my days as far from religious authority, zealotry, bigotry and lunacy as possible.
I think that it was Einstein who said, "If God did not exist, man would have to invent him" or something along those lines.
(Founding documents remind us of who we set out to be, and who we still can be if we choose. - promoted by lightseeker)
A document produced in the heat of our Nation's birth, back in that distant time of 1776, remains etched in our consciousness today for its revolutionary declarations regarding the roles of Citizen and Nation.
To this day it remains as relevant as it did then, both as a rallying cry for Freedom, and an expression of our greatest aspirations as a People.
Another document, produced in the town of Washington, remains much less well known, yet that document also offers great relevance, and warnings that shine clear and bright through the fog of today's politics.
This Daily Kos diary is STUNNING! How could any politician, be he Democrat or Republican, be THIS insensitive to millions of Americans who are without health insurance.
It's bad enough that Republicans did nothing to address the health care crisis in this country during their control of both the White House and Congress. But for a U.S. Senator up for re-election in 2008 to tell folks not to worry about the cost of health care is evil and despicable.
(Link: http://www.dailykos.... ).
More below.
