Romney Tax Plan

http://www.romneytaxplan.com/

Check out the details.

Thoughts After Debate #2

Our President was back in the saddle Tuesday night, and he didn't let go of the reins!   Hear Roy Rogers celebrate being back!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZqRL7nJB48

I'm feeling good, even a bit optimistic now.  Won't go overboard on the optimism because we still need to work, work, work, and get out the vote.  But it was nice to pause and celebrate Tuesday, wasn't it?

How any woman—unless she subscribes to some patriarchal religion that tells her she's less valuable than a man—could vote for Romney/Ryan is far beyond me.   I hope any undecided women made up their minds Tuesday night.  Women, do we want a boss in the White House or a president?  Romney's not accustomed to the idea that women are NOT in the world to serve him; he doesn't get that all men and women are not required to jump when he says jump.  Did you notice?!  He was a rude steamroller, unaccustomed to being challenged, certainly not by Candy Crowley, who has the gall to be a competent, assertive woman.   Most of all, I couldn't believe the monumental disrespect he showed our President.   Romney acted as if he were talking to a subordinate in his business rather than the leader of the free world! 

Someone said Romney is like the boss who makes a bad joke, and his employees know they must laugh.  They're afraid not to.  

Personally, I see Romney as a petulant plutocrat who dreams of ruling a new kingdom created solely for corporate gain.   There would be more than 47% of us experiencing the bad joke of a Romney presidency—and we wouldn't be laughing.

We Shall See

The butterflies have taken up residence in my solar plexus again and it's only midday.  As Joe would say, "This is a big *&#!-ing deal!"  Jeeeez.  Let's all hold our President in positive thoughts and prayers!  We know he's our guy; we know and respect all he has accomplished in the face of the Congressional Republicans' agenda to be sure he wouldn't get a second term.  I believe we will see an energetic Barack Obama, and I think he will call out Romney on some of his lies and "etch a sketch" plans for the country.   No way he could call him out on every one or surely he'd be seen as a bully or interrupter.   However he handles this debate, you know he will be criticized by the Right Wingers.  GO, Mr. President, GO!  Be true to the core of who you are and get your competitive nature revved up!  We're with you!!! 

MY HERO

A fourteen-year-old Pakistani girl is determined to get an education; she speaks out about it.  No telling what she endures in the way of emotional, verbal and physical abuse.   Then one day the unthinkable happens:  Armed members of the Taliban board her school bus and shoot her at point blank range, in the head and neck.  A child. They could not have expected her to survive.  But she has survived and is now at a hospital in England, condition "stable."   People around the world are praying for her.  May she still have full capacity to think and talk and continue her activism—hopefully from a safer place, another country.

 

Malala is with me every day–in my heart and thoughts and prayers.  She will change the world—I feel a shift already. We are wise to be wary of religious extremists in our own Country.  I'm thinking  of the religious right and their determination to tell us what women and can't do with our bodies, who think of our country as a "Christian nation" rather than as a free nation— and then define it in their fundamentalist terms.  And I think of the Apostolic movement I don't want a Theocracy in this country; I don't want to see the emergence of an American Taliban. 

 

I honor you tonight, beautiful girl.   May you heal completely, brave Malala.

(From WomenUnited. org)

Calling It What It Is

Here is racism you can see with your eyes.  I want to call out racism you can hear with your ears, subtle things that still are clear, especially to someone like me who grew up in the segregated South.  

We've seen racist statements like this many times on T-shirts, handheld signs, banners—especially at Tea Party's rallies.  (We've seen our first black President depicted as a witch doctor with a bone in his nose and as Hitler.)  What's more subtle, but just as clear, are the buzz/code words used by Republican radio talkers,  Romney ads and Romney surrogates on TV.  Words/terms like welfare president, food stamp president . . . the president is "lazy."  I could go on and on, but you know what I'm saying.  Did you hear John Sununu on Andrea Mitchell's show the other day, calling the President lazy?  Sununu's not merely a Republican surrogate, he's co-chairman of the Romney campaign.   In another televised interview he said President Obama is not a "true American." To me, this is unconscionable.  You can see the video clip from Mitchell's show here:

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/john-sununu-calls-president-obama-lazy-and

 

  "We don't know who this man is" is something we hear about President Obama after nearly four years into his presidency.  Give me a break!  He's probably better known than any President in my lifetime, thanks to 24/7 cable, the internet with Youtube and social media, and, more importantly,  the two books he has written about his life—all that, and the fact that he and the First Lady are generous with their openness and candor when interviewed.  Surely anyone who doesn't have a sense of who President Obama is by now must live in a cave or with a TV remote stuck on Fox.

 

 Actually people who say they don't know who he is simply mean what others mean when they say He's not one of us; he is a foreigner; he's not like us.  He's not a true American.  He wasn't born in this Country.  He's a Muslim.  You know and I know the translation:  He doesn't deserve to hold the highest office in the land.  

 

Sadly, those of us outraged by the racism—as those connected with the Obama campaign and Administration must surely be— have little to gain by calling the racism what it is.  When we do, it's denied, of course, and we're accused of "playing the race card" or being "whiners."  I guess the question that has no answer is how do you defend against hate?  And at this moment I'm thinking the best thing is to rise above it.  And this President surely does that.

 

It's mind boggling to think that many Americans will vote against their own best interests and America's future simply because they don't like the idea of a black man in the White House.  I cannot fathom the depth of their prejudice or their inability to see that—unless they're in the highest income percentile —voting for Romney-Ryan will not make their lives better, but worse.  Probably far worse. 

 

Don't Buy a Pig or a Policy in a Poke!

These words in a message from my friend Paul might be helpful to any still- undecided voters visiting Lucy today.   Paul's a smart guy; when he speaks, I pay attention.

 

Ever since I voted for Richard Nixon in 1968 because he had a plan “to get us out of Vietnam”— only to later see that part of his secret plan was to draft me—I have had no confidence in a candidate who says he (or she) has a plan but cannot or will not give specifics.  If you happen to see any of the Republican’s plans that give creditable specifics for improving the economy and creating jobs, ending the war in Afghanistan, improving public education, shoring up Medicare and Social Security, or reducing the deficit, please let me know; I have yet to hear or see anything from them except undocumented promises.  To these I no longer give any credence, based on past Republican performance, or lack thereof.  

Good Question!

Just heard writer Andrew Sullivan say this needs to be asked of Mr. Romney:  Which of President George W Bush's policies do you disagree with and how would your administration be different?

The answer would be None and It wouldn't be different.

Wise Words from Edward R. Murrow

I once read a poem by James Kavanaugh that said . . ."There are men too gentle to live among wolves. . . ."   I can tell you that these "gentle men" are not the Republicans vying for your vote in 2012.  From the Presidential and VP candidates on to Senate and Congressional candidates, never have I seen so many wolves.  It's "say anything" time, win at any cost.  ANY cost.  They're assuming (and often rightly so) that whatever they say will air on local news stations —the place a majority of voters consistenly consume their news.  They also assume these voters won't be plugged in to the fact-checkers and analysts we passionate politicos follow on the cable news networks.  So, no bothersome corrections necessary.   They're lying, lying, lying like a pack of—wolves.   Package the rhetoric a little differently for this place or that, just win the damn thing.   Dream up a "scandal" and play it big;  get the witch-hunting Darrell Issa to call a hearing— the new shiny object intended to distract us from the campaign-trail lies. 

 

The right-wing talkers have ratcheted up the racism and hatred recently, too, sharpening their fangs in hopes of catching any sheep among us.  Truly Limbaugh has reached one of his all-time most hateful characterizations of our President.  His President, too, whether he likes it or not.   I don't believe we'll see our leader being quite so polite next debate.  This time he won't be blindsided; he now understands he'll be faced with lie after lie, and likely the new persona Romney adopted for Debate #1.   We know this "leader of the free world" is smart  and wise enough to say what needs to be said— now that he knows who he's likely to be facing.  That is, it should be the same Mitt, unless he runs into "the body snatchers" again or indulges in forbidden pre-debate caffeine.  I've wondered which it might have been.   Take heart.  I believe things will start looking up again, and we're counting on the Prez to look up this time, as well! We don't have to turn into them to turn this election around.  Let's do it. 

He Must Be Out of Pants!

Remember?

  MORE REASONS FOR BEING A PROUD LEFTY . . .

 

This (from Being Liberal) reminds me why my heart is Liberal and inspires me to work harder, speak up, speak out, send a little cash, get an absentee ballot or application for my Liberal mother and offer to do the same for other voters who might need assistance.  Also, to write letters to editors in OH, WI and PA.  Have written NC and VA.   The race is so close, and Ohio's Republican Secretary of State won't give up on suppressing the Democratic vote there.  Help 'em in Ohio if you can, especially Senator Sherrod Brown.  We need him!  And we need Elizabeth Warren in MA and Tim Kaine in VA.  Of course Claire McCaskill is a must-return senator!  The polling numbers in those races aren't looking as good as they did, and the big money is pouring in from the Republican Superpacs.  Send these people $10 or more if you can!   Forward, y'all!

Interesting Insights at The New Yorker

The President's friends from his school days and early years as an organizer and politician react to the first debate.  A good read.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/10/obamas-old-friends-react-to-the-debate.html

Our Vets Support the Commander-in-Chief!

Welcome image from the Pragmatic Progressive this cool Monday morning.  Veterans and those actively serving know they're incidental to Republicans—not even a mention at their Convention.   President Obama, the VP and Jill Biden and Michelle Obama have made veterans, our military and their families a high priority since Day 1 of this administration.  

Watching the Debate We Were All . . .

Finally I can laugh at something referring to THE debate!  You're probably ready, too.  Check this out.

http://www.upworthy.com/watching-the-debate-we-were-all-like

It's Important To Know About ALEC

Check out this trailer for an eye-opening look at what ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council) is all about.  We all need to know what this consortium of state politicians and corporations.  What they are doing is impacting you and me already.  It's disturbing.  It's chilling to me.  I had no idea how much power this "public-private" partnership holds   Learn more by reading this post from Bill Moyers' web site and click the link to see the trailer.  Mercy. 

 

http://billmoyers.com/episode/preview-the-united-states-of-alec/

Preview: United States of ALEC

September 25, 2012

 

This week, Moyers & Company reports on the most influential corporate-funded political force most of America has never heard of — ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council. A national consortium of state politicians and powerful corporations, ALEC presents itself as a “nonpartisan public-private partnership”. But behind that mantra lies a vast network of corporate lobbying and political action aimed to increase corporate profits at public expense without public knowledge.

 

Using interviews, documents, and field reporting, the episode explores ALEC’s self-serving machine at work, acting in a way one Wisconsin politician describes as “a corporate dating service for lonely legislators and corporate special interests.”

In state houses around the country, hundreds of pieces of boilerplate ALEC legislation are proposed or enacted that would, among other things, dilute collective bargaining rights, make it harder for some Americans to vote, and limit corporate liability for harm caused to consumers — each accomplished without the public ever knowing who’s behind it.

 

“All of us here are very familiar with ALEC and the influence that ALEC has with many of the [legislative] members,” says Arizona State Senator Steve Farley. “Corporations have the right to present their arguments, but they don’t have the right to do it secretly.”

 

“United States of ALEC” is a collaboration between Okapi Productions LLC (the filmmakers Tom Casciato and Kathleen Hughes) and the Schumann Media Center, headed by Bill Moyers, which supports independent journalism and public watchdogs including the Center for Media and Democracy, whose investigators are featured in the report.

 

Also on the Moyers & Company broadcast — making a timely return appearance — is master media decoder Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center and founder of FactCheck.org. Jamieson joins Bill to discuss deception and truth in the 2012 campaign.

Say Anything! ANYthing!

Don't sweat the fact checkers, Mitt.  Your peeps will handle it in the spin room—and they did. Here's the spin-free truth on five points.  (From AATTP on FB. )

Smile Time

Posted by Meme GOP on FB. Thanks!

Interesting Debate Point from Newt

VERY interesting and especially relevant after the first Presidential debate!  Take a look.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/01/gingrich-you-cannot-debate-somebody-who-is-dishonest/

On Ayn Rand

Curtis LeMay

My article on Ayn Rand in its entirety.

[S.C. Congressman] Mick Mulvaney,  [S.C. Senator] Jim Demint, as well as Vice Presidential Nominee, Paul Ryan and a number of other Republican lawmakers share a common philosophical hero in the author Ayn Rand. Mick Mulvaney has declared that he has read, “everything she wrote six or eight times.” Until recently

, Ryan and Mulvaney have championed running our government according to her principles. Ryan tried to distance himself from Rand recently, but he didn’t change any of his proposals.
With so many of our leaders wanting to govern us by her principles, perhaps it is time to find out more about Ayn Rand.
In a nutshell, Rand was a radical atheist who celebrated the wealthy to the point where they were the only people who had any value whatsoever. Much of her conversation was about money and how accumulating it should be a primary goal of everyone, no matter who they hurt in the process. A man’s, “highest moral purpose is the achievement of his own happiness.”
On the other hand, the poor and middle class have no value except to meet the needs of the wealthy. She even went so far as to say that the poor don’t deserve to be loved because they haven’t earned love. According to Rand, “Love should be treated like a business deal, but every business deal has its own terms and its own currency.” She also states that a man should love no-one above himself. Rand believed one should be loved only if he or she demonstrated virtue and that virtue usually manifested itself as financial success.
Rand made a big show of her philosophy, which she called Objectivism. It touts a rigid and absolute individualism. She famously said, “I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.” She hated any government program that helped anyone, yet she took Social Security benefits as soon as she was eligible.
Rand despised both people who need help and those who provide it. Her term for them was ‘Moocher”. She displays her attitude in her book, Atlas Shrugged, with her treatment of the hero’s mother and brother who had the temerity to ask for support for their charitable causes. Rand refers to nursing homes as, “the halls of the useless” and demonizes any businessman with any sense of commitment to society as a whole in her books.
Rand held that selfishness is a virtue, selfishness to the point that it is ok to lie, cheat and steal to achieve your goals. She was adamantly pro-abortion declaring, “a potential has no rights, only actual beings have rights.” She was so radical as an atheist that she didn’t just deny the existence of God, but stated that she was, “against God,” in a 1959 interview with Mike Wallace. It baffles me that so many on the Christian Right are buying this philosophy hook, line and sinker.
The part of Rand’s philosophy that Mulvaney and Demint undoubtedly like the most, is her assertion that government should have no power to regulate businesses. In her terms, businesses should be free to do what they want without any interference whatsoever. Many businesses would use this power for good, I’m sure, but we no from distant and recent history that unregulated business leads to a few dishonest businesses cheating people, poisoning our air and water, and ruining our economy to enrich the CEO’s and boards of directors.
Rands sums her philosophy up well in the eleventh chapter of her book, Anthem, when she says, “There is no God but I,” and, “I need care only for myself and my chosen friends.” If Mulvaney, Demint and Ryan gain more power, this is the philosophy our government will follow.

   Mr. LeMay is an art teacher at two South Carolina schools.  His insightful essay was shared on Facebook, and I believe it's worthy of every voter's attention.  The ironies in "Ayn Rand worship" continue to amaze me. And the worshippers are beyond belief!  Thank you, Curtis LeMay.

 

Why Obama Now?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9G8XREyG0Q

Women's Voices - Join Women for Obama

Reasons I'm Feeling Much Better

The first reason I'm smiling this Friday morning is unemployment going down to 7.8%  Woooo hoooo!   Great news for the country and for the President.  The only disheartening thing is some people are disappointed to see this great sign for our economy.  The economy isn't Democratic or Republican.  It affects all of us!  How can any American allow the political impact to be more important than this wonderful sign that the economic situation continues moving forward.    Jack Welsh has already said the numbers were "manipulated."  Sick.  And sad.  It's good news, no matter how frantic it makes frightened Romney supporters.  I'm celebrating it first as an American and then as a Liberal!

 

 Here's more happy news from The Huffington Post.

7 Election: 7-Eleven Coffee Poll Goes Overwhelmingly For Obama

The Huffington Post  |  By Alice Hines Posted: 10/03/2012 4:10 pm EDT Updated: 10/03/2012 4:57 pm EDT

Mitt Romney should take a big gulp -- 7-Eleven shoppers have already decided on President Obama.
According to 7-Eleven's "7-Election" poll, which allows coffee drinkers to pick a blue cup for Obama or a red one for Romney, Obama is leading with 60 percent of "votes." Romney currently has 40 percent.
President Obama has held the lead since the first day the poll opened on September 6, said Margaret Chabris, a 7-Eleven spokeswoman. That day, Obama received 57.2 percent of cups, compared to Romney's 42.8 percent.
Though the poll calls itself "unabashedly unscientific," it has never been wrong in its three-election history. Six million cups were cast for candidates in each of the past polls, according to a press release. (In contrast, the sample size for a typical Gallup poll is 1,000 adults.)
7-Eleven, the world's largest retailer by number of stores, has managed to expand successfully to 16 countries by cleverly harvesting sales data in real time and adjusting each store's assortment to local tastes. The same technology allows the chain to track purchases of red and blue cups and report the data to its website the same day.
In the Philippines, where 7-Eleven has roughly 750 stores, the company also polled shoppers with soda cups printed with pictures of the country's nine presidential candidates in 2010. The poll correctly predicted that Benigno Aquino III would win the election. Originally founded in Dallas, 7-Eleven is now based in Japan, where its official name is Seven & I Holdings.
Of course, the poll is also good marketing for 7-Eleven. In 2004, hot beverage sales grew by 6.5 percent per store per day during the second U.S. "7-Election," Jim Keyes, 7-Eleven's then-president and CEO said in a call with analysts.

 

Next reason comes from Brenda Peterson at HuffPost—  "Why Romney Lost the Debate with Women: It's Not a Prizefight"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brenda-peterson/mitt-romney_b_1940508.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=354243,b=facebook

Another cheer-up from Krysta Ball on "The Cycle" at MSNBC yesterday.  Check out the short video.

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-cycle/49292894/#49292894

And, after messaging a close and very-smart, high-information voter friend (saying I hadn't slept much after the debate) here's the comforting reassurance she offered:

Agree it [the debate] was not that  good. But think in some ways it was smart for Obama to hold back and get the "lay of the land."  His watching it again and again will provide him great understanding of what he needs to do differently. . . . It's much easier to come from behind in assessing and evaluating  - than to feel like a quick winner.  If I were a Republican - especially a tea partier -  I would have been shocked by how Romney was changing his story. And I personally disagreed with a lot of what he said; in fact it was scary. The only other person I know who can change colors with such ease depending on the audience was someone I knew as a child - and I realized later it was pathological. 

 

To me Obama, although he seemed tired, was consistent with himself, and I did not think he was weak. Could he have done better? Yes. Were there too many numbers and too much economic theory wonkiness? Perhaps. I found it interesting but many would have been lost. But personally I think it was smart not to attack with barbs - smart to hold back. He has time and other opportunities. I may be a contrarian but I do not think that in the end Obama was hurt by this. Romney may have had more energy and won some "debate style points" but what will stick (and will be on Saturday night live) is that he promises a "20% tax rate, higher military spending, covering preexisting conditions and balancing the budget - all paid for by eliminating PBS."

 

 Remember that folks thought Paul Ryan's convention speech was energetic and new and fresh - until they actually listened to what he said - and then what is remembered is "he lies." Give it a bit of time and let's see what comes out of them all. I don't think Romney will skate into the White House on this debate. All stations and papers began to look at what was actually said, and the articles are not flattering to Romney. I am sleeping well!

Nope, Not Just Any Night

The debate:  Too painful to talk about just yet.  We can't afford another one like it, right?  Romney definitely didn't worry about the fact checkers!  Wondering what his handlers did to him during debate prep.  He was a totally different person than I've seen over the past year.

 

Next debate is the VP  candidates,  October 11, and I'm counting on Joe to "bring it home!" More later—maybe.

Keep the faith, even when it's not easy.

 

Tonight, tonight won't be just any night . . . .

The butterflies in my solar plexus:  a combination of anticipatory excitement and dread.  

And I'm wondering which Mitt Romney we'll see tonight.    With "No Drama Obama" what we see is what we get consistently.  I like that.  Makes me sleep better at night.   Knock their socks off, Mr. President!

Women in the Mormon Church

An article in "The Daily Beast" today would like Jim Lehrer to ask Mr. Romney whether he stands by the Mormon Church's views of women.  We already know the Republican base (by which I mean mostly Tea Partiers and hard-right fundamentalist and evangelical Christians) isn't concerned about women's rights, about doing away with those we've gained.  Congressional Republicans voted against equal pay for equal work; they want to criminalize abortion even in cases of rape and incest. That's in their platform.  Romney has said he would de-fund  Planned Parenthood, the sole resource for thousands of women seeking cancer screenings, information on birth control and many other services, including pregnancy terminations (which are a very small percentage of their overall services).

 

We know VP nominee Paul Ryan voted for the "Personhood Act" which fortunately didn't pass.  It would have outlawed even birth control and stem cell research! 

 

So, we women have clear and abundant evidence that Republicans have nothing but trouble to offer us.  We understand this even without knowing Mr. Romney's position on women in the Mormon faith. Still, it would be interesting to hear his response to the question.

 

This election may well be in our hands, sisters.  Let's make sure we vote— sure we vote in our own best interest as women.  In our best interests as full and free citizens of these United States.  In the interest of retaining that status!

 

Here's the Daily Beast article:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/02/jim-lehrer-ask-mitt-romney-if-he-stands-by-mormonism-s-views-of-women.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=cheatsheet_morning&cid=newsletter%3Bemail%3Bcheatsheet_morning&utm_term=Cheat+Sheet

Phoenix Mayor Attemps Living on Food Stamps

I'm sharing a link to a short eye-opener.  You might want to share it with anyone you know who believes people are living large on food stamps.  Most of us understand that's an outrageous belief.   Much like the belief that people don't look for jobs because they're living lazy on unemployment.  Wouldn't it be fun to see people who believe such an outrageous thing actually living on unemployment for a month?  Trying to pay their bills?  Ooops, no latte today!  Or lunch.  And the same experiment would be educational for people who complain about people receiving public assistance (welfare)?  

 

Those Romney ads saying President Obama weakened welfare have taken hold hereabouts—partly because people want to believe that.  The fact is, as most of you well-informed Lucy Lefters know, the Prez strengthened the work provision in "welfare"eligibility allowing States to implement that provision in their own chosen ways.  Republicans, historically and always, have favored giving power to the States.  Can you imagine— if Obama were a Republican president— what accolades he'd be receiving for accomplishing this?   No way for Obama to win the truth game on this.  Some voters need to believe something, anything specific  to justify voting against Mr. Obama whom they don't like or trust.  And there's no doubt in my mind that most of the reluctance to support him is his ethnicity.  I figured that out yesterday after overhearing one conversation and foolishly injecting myself in another at a local store.

 

Even though he can't win at correcting false ads like the welfare one, he CAN win November 6—if all of us V O T E.   If we will help make it happen by phone banking, making sure like-minded voters cast their ballot and that those would-be disenfranchised voters have the photo ID's they need.  E-mail/message/text friends on election day to ask whether they've voted yet.  

Here's a link to a very short post you will like.

  http://www.jimrigby.org/phoenix-mayor-attempts-to-live-on-food-stamps/#.UGrPB-7-Uy0.facebook

Countdown to Wednesday's Debate

Political junkies like me have begun counting down to Wednesday night.  Mr. Romney’s debate prep team has been feeding him “zingers” to memorize.  He’s been rehearsing with Rob Portman playing the role of Obama.  President Obama has Sen. John Kerry pretending to be Romney.  Both stand-ins must be turning themselves into pretzels trying to get into the head of  men so totally different from themselves. 

It bothers me a little that Mr. Romney has to memorize zingers.  I can see being prepped for probable questions and advised on body language and possible pitfalls to avoid.   But that he has to rely on clever, memorized lines for responses to questions tells me he can’t be counted on to think on his feet.  Or it would tell me that if I hadn’t realized that from seeing him interviewed a number of times.  So, probably that’s why the memorization.

Quick thinking (with answers that are true, accurate, and not a terrible diplomatic gaff) is something I like seeing in a world leader, especially our President.   Ohhhhh, yes, there was Mr. Romney’s unforced diplomatic error in London the day before the Olympics, remember?  Mr. Romney told Brian Williams on the NBC Nightly News he didn’t know whether our longtime greatest ally was prepared to host the games!  That insult angered London’s mayor, major government officials, and most likely every Brit on the planet.  So, maybe that’s why the Romney team went for memorization.  Wonder if he’ll borrow Sarah Palin’s interview strategy and write key words on his hand?

The one time I’ve heard Mitt Romney sound comfortable in his own skin and speaking words that seemed to come from a true and honest place inside him was at that $50,000 (or was it $150,000?) a plate fundraiser, remember?  He felt at home in that elegant mansion, relaxed enough among his own kind to say what he really thinks of “47%” of the people in our Country.   Ever since the video became public, Mr. Romney and his surrogates have said that Mr. Romney was “inarticulate” when he said what we heard him say in the video.  No, no, no.  He was not inarticulate. In fact, that was the most articulate Mitt we’ve ever heard. We got to see the real Romney.  Behind those beautiful doors that night he was being the man he really is—instead of the candidate the hard right/Tea Party base has bullied him into pretending to be.  Whatever he was that night, it was NOT inarticulate.  Forgive me for rambling off-topic here.  I will move back toward topical relevance.

The President’s people (I hear and I hope) are advising him to keep his answers out of the rambling zone; we do know this professorial Prez likes to teach his audience.  He explains things, sometimes far more than listeners' attention spans will tolerate.   I hope he’ll be able to keep  responses crisp and to the point.  For President Obama, keeping it brief in a forum without time limits would be for me like being offered everything I’d like from a to-die-for dessert cart, knowing if I give in to the temptation, it’s likely to cause problems (allergic reaction) later. 

The President’s ability to cozy up with brevity will be one of the suspense factors for me Wednesday night.  Brevity is something I struggle with, as well.  And I'll be waiting for Mr. Romney to match one of his memorized zingers to the wrong question.  It will be the Academy Awards combined with Christmas mornings for me.  Total junkie.

Tick tock.

DEBATE SCHEDULE

Whoever prepared this, I'm grateful!

Global Views - a new forum for internationals

Sharing this online global forum with Lucy Lefters.  The recommendation comes from my friend Lyn, whose judgment and sensibilities I deeply trust:  

My friend Michael Sharnoff, PhD in Middle Eastern Studies, has created a very interesting online global forum, "GLOBAL VIEWS", that is well worth taking a look at, and I hope you will like it enough to subscribe and/or "like" it on Facebook. There has not really been a site quite like this available until now.

The first articles that I've read have been very intriguing. Global Views launched in September 2012 to serve as a unique open forum specifically for internationals to communicate and convey their views to Americans about politics, economics, technology, environment and other relevant issues. Global Views is non-partisan and does not endorse any contributor. Global Views' policy is that comments will not be censored or deleted unless they have content that promotes hatred or violence, uses profanity, contains personal attacks, or contains spam. Articles may be reproduced or electronically distributed as long as full citation including the the link to Global Views is provided.
I am attaching a link below, I hope you'll check it out!

 

http://www.global-views.org/promoting-moderation-and-balance/

Promoting Moderation and Balance

www.global-views.org

A Rational Republican's Take on Ryan Econmics

from Facebook/I love it when I wake up in the morning and Barack Obama is president.

VOTE FOR DEMS ASAP

(from the Pragmatic Progressive's Facebook page.  Thanks!)

African-Americans Aren't Single-Issue Voters

Letter to the editor appearing in today's State newspaper, Columbia, SC. 

http://www.thestate.com/2012/09/28/2459184/african-americans-arent-single.html

 

The State recently carried a story on black clergy and Christians “wavering” over whether to stay home on Election Day because of President Barack Obama’s stance on same-sex marriage and candidate Mitt Romney’s Mormon religion (“African-American Christians waver over presidential vote,” Sept. 17).
 

As a pastor and a participant in intra-denominational, ecumenical and interfaith circles, I haven’t detected a lot of African-American enthusiasm for candidate Romney, but that seems to be a result of his politics. I’ve worked with Mormons in interfaith circles, appreciate diversity in faith and don’t see Romney’s faith as an issue. The Mormons have a dubious history on matters of race, but the same is true of many Protestant denominations.
 

I haven’t detected any great African-American Christian reluctance to vote for President Obama, because most black voters heard him speaking not as Rev. Obama, but as President Obama. He’s the chief executive not of a theocracy but of a representative democracy, who must safeguard the rights of those of varying faiths and those who embrace no faith. Most African-American Christians I’ve spoken with understand that he was not dictating to the church but advocating what he sees as a civil right.

 African-Americans are not single-issue voters and usually vote for candidates whose overall positions best reflect their own. Most black voters are conservative on morality but progressive on equity and fairness. We generally take a dim view of those who express outrage about who loves whom and the rights of the unborn while promoting political division based on race and class and taking a mean and punitive attitude toward those struggling in humble and impoverished circumstances.
 

Most African-Americans are also leery of unfamiliar black spokespersons who materialize out of nowhere to proclaim what black people are thinking and of “leaders” whose words don’t reflect their positions. I found it curious that the “black clergy leaders” outraged by the president’s same-sex marriage stance haven’t expressed equal outrage about prejudicial voter photo ID laws, law enforcement racial profiling and inequity in public education.
 

No black clergy I know plan to “go fishing” on Election Day, as does the clergy person quoted in the article. Too many people sacrificed, suffered and died for the right to vote for any citizen to sit on the sidelines and cheapen a sacred right.
 

Rev. Joseph A. Darby
Senior Pastor, Morris Brown African
Methodist Episcopal Church
Charleston

Journalistic Integrity?

Editorial Page Editors: WSJ Lack Of Romney Advisers Disclosure "Inexcusable" And "Shameless" 

The Wall Street Journal's failure to disclose that 10 of its op-ed writers are Mitt Romney advisers has drawn criticism from veteran editorial page editors at some of the nation's top newspapers.

In a total of 23 pieces, the op-ed writers attacked President Obama or praised Romney without the paper acknowledging their Romney connections. 

Media Matters reached out to several veteran opinion editors who either criticized the Journal directly or noted that their papers handle such disclosures more openly.

To read more at Media Matters:

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/09/27/editorial-page-editors-wsj-lack-of-romney-advis/190152 

 

 

Time to DO Something!

I'm about to write letters to editors in the swing states—letters for our President and Dems in key Congressional races like MA, VA, MO, WI and OH (Sen. Sherrod Brown). 

 

We're nearing the end of this long slog.  Early voting has begun in a number of states!   Time to get it in gear for positive outcomes November 6, right?   Let's make a pact to do at least one thing a day to offset the voter suppression, Super Pac cash, and the hateful lies appearing in swing-state mailboxes, courtesy of the Romney campaign or Romney supporters.  Provided the nasty accusations don't stick and voter turnout goes against Republican hopes, Obama will prevail. In that happy scenario we'll have a good laugh and continue celebrating November 7.  (The hate and lies will simply turn into gifts for comedians:  The President with a bone in his nose, ha ha!  President Obama driving a train dressed like a Communist dictator, LOL. )   But the combination of the accelerating hate, the blatant racism, the Super Pac money and the voter suppression will impact the current favorable polls.  It's far from a "win" at this point.  So, if you live in a hopelessly red state, consider volunteering in the nearest swing state for a few days or longer if you're free to do that.  Campaigns often are able to provide housing.    Call or e-mail friends in states that have the greatest electoral impact.  By now we can talk easily about the President's accomplishments and how screwed we'll be if Romney wins:  The environment, the economy, health care, women's health and reproductive choices, national security, Wall Street, student loans . . . .

 

Choose to volunteer.  Canvass or phone bank.   Work at the polls on election day.  Help get out the vote.   Give rides to the polls.  Help someone get an absentee ballot this week.   Urge like-minded friends to vote early wherever that's happening.  Call Democratic headquarters or Obama headquarters to learn how you can help.  Or you could sign up with MoveOn to make phone calls from home.  There are many available volunteer jobs.  (This is beginning to sound familiar.  I must have posted similar suggestions earlier.)  So, I'll stop writing here and get going on those letters to editors.  

 

 I'm glad we're all in this together.   I'm comforted by that.

 

 

 

Love My First Lady!

(Thanks, Curtis Hewston via The Pragmatic Progressive's Facebook Page)

Our President at the UN

Here's a link to President Obama's words today at the UN General Assembly.  Memorable and inspiring words on religious tolerance.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/09/25/remarks-president-un-general-assembly

Essay on Encouraging Students to Vote

An excellent essay from Inside Higher Ed is one not only for college administrators but for activists who want to see a high voter turnout November 6.  Understanding that every vote CAN make a difference is critical to motivating every voter,  especially those affected by the  unconscionable "voter ID" laws—a solution looking for a problem.  Those most affected by these laws (intended to disenfranchise massive numbers of voters who traditionally vote for Democrats) are the elderly, minorities and students.  

Let's encourage students we know to get the ID they need (school ID must have an expiration date in some places) and to get absentee ballots if they aren't able to get to their home precincts to cast their critical vote.  Let's tell them their vote DOES matter.  Considering reading this essay and identifying some times in history when a small number of votes have made the difference.   This comprehensive piece is a great starting place for any activist working to turn out the vote—and for anyone who needs to be inspired toward that goal! 

 

http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2012/09/25/essay-role-colleges-encouraging-students-vote

Are We Better Off Today?

 

Better off in ohhhh so many ways.  Instead of disappearing, the auto industry and the many related industries are thriving; the war in Iraq has ended; we now have equal pay for equal work, at long last; people can serve in our military and openly love who they love at the same time; thousands more Americans have health care coverage and insurance companies can't stop paying benefits just because treatment gets more expensive than they like and pre-existing conditions are now covered.  Young people can stay on their parents' policies until age 26.  And as this front page from 2008 reminds us, the Obama administration kept us from going into a full-fledged Depression.  Private-sector jobs have been added every month since President Obama took office (huge numbers of jobs were being lost monthly prior to 2008.  The economy is turning around, all indications are showing.  As you've probably heard:  It takes longer to turn around a huge ship of state than to turn around a canoe.  We're getting this, and we're all in this together.  VOTE on November 6 or earlier if possible.  Please!

A Teacher's Experience With Governor Romney

Education is a critical subject—and it's usually overshadowed by foreign policy and economic issues in this campaign.  Education is in the spotlight this week at NBC.  "Education Nation" they're calling it.

 

 Early this morning a short educational video came to my attention.  It offers a glimpse of the Presidential candidate through the eyes of a Colorado school teacher who spent time with him on the campaign trail.  

 

For me, it was further confirmation that Governor Romney prefers being in charge to being informed.  I've heard him characterized as "clumsy" and "awkward" in his interactions with middle-class folks; this teacher speaks volumes to me about a man steeped in arrogance and a need for control that overrides the Golden Rule.  He displays bad manners that most mothers would feel compelled to correct.   Here's the link.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/22/1135384/-Romney-to-teacher-I-didn-t-ask-you-a-question

Reflections on "Holding Paradox"

Although I've never met Parker Palmer in person,  he's a human being I admire.  I respect the straightforward clarity of his insights and his obvious desire to make the world a more harmonious place.   The author of Healing the Heart of Democracy (and eight other books) posted this essay today.  You can visit him at Parker J. Palmer on Facebook; after reading this, you're likely to go there and "like" his page.

REFLECTIONS ON "HOLDING PARADOX"

If I didn't have the idea of "holding paradox" to help me understand myself and the world around me, I'd be more lost than I am! For me, holding paradox means thinking about some (but not all) things as "both-ands" instead of "either-ors."

So many of our troubles, personal AND political, come from either-or thinking. For example, when I'm talking with a person who holds religious or political beliefs that differ from my own, either-or thinking can create a combative situation: "I'm right, so he/she is wrong. Therefore, my job is to win this argument by any means possible." How rarely such encounters bear fruit!

But both-and thinking can lead to something much more creative: "Maybe I don't have everything right, and maybe he/she doesn't have everything wrong. Maybe both of us see PART of the truth. If I speak and listen in that spirit, we both might learn something that will expand our understanding. We might even be able to keep this relationship and conversation going."

Think of how much more civil and creative our conversations across lines of difference would be if we thought that way more often! We'd be working to create a container to hold our differences hospitably instead of trying to win an argument.

Of course, like everything human, this issue begins inside of us, in how we hold our own internal paradoxes. If we can't hold our inner complexities as both-and instead of either-or, we can't possibly extend that kind of hospitality to another person.

Here's an ancient truth about being human: we cannot give gifts to others that we are unable to give to ourselves! That's why "inner work" done well is never selfish. Ultimately, it will benefit other people.

"The Angels and the Furies," by May Sarton, challenges us to do some of the inner work that can help us hold the tensions of personal and political life more creatively. As I struggle with "the angels and the furies" within me, I often re-read this poem to get re-grounded.

The struggle is not easy. But I always find myself comforted by what Sarton has to say in the third and fourth stanzas about what it means to be human. I hope you'll find it as meaningful as I do...

Sunday Sermon

It's Sunday morning.  In churches throughout the USA messages from the pulpit are likely to include compassion for fellow humans, especially the less fortunate among us.  Congregants will listen in silent reverence.  When the benediction's done, some parishioners will gather in the parking lot, talking about "welfare cheats" or "the gays" and "what a shame our country can't get back to the way it was."  And they probably won't notice the irony.

 

The very short "sermon" resonating with me today is from Willie Nelson, who incidentally, is about to do yet another Farm Aid concert.  He practices what he preaches; no doubt he'd be stunned at being referred to as a "preacher. "

                                                       (Image from Teabonics/Facebook)

On November 6 I'm voting for public servants who feel that way and live it—Obama-Biden and Dems down the ticket!  Can I get an Amen?

A Must-Read from Ezra Klein

Ezra Klein's post on "Wonkblog" at The Washington Post today is a must-read.  Here Mr. Klein says what I attempted to express about Mr. Romney saying, "I didn't inherit anything."  And Klein gives it to us in lean, straightforward prose. Beautifully presented.   He delves into privilege and personal responsibility, opening a clean window so we can see the everyday realities faced by the poor in this Country.  We something of the enormous energy it takes to be responsible while in a David-Goliath struggle with poverty—a struggle too often unlikely to end in David's favor.

 Kudos, Ezra Klein, for every word in  "What Romney Doesn't Understand About Personal Responsibility."  You nailed it.

 Click the link and have yourself an illuminating read.  Then share it. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/09/20/what-romney-doesnt-understand-about-personal-responsibility/

Voters Lose, Money Wins

 "Voters Lose, Secret Money Wins" (9/18/12) at Common Dreams.

In a setback for those trying to curb the secrecy behind election year 'issue ads' funded by shadowy special interests groups, the DC Circuit Court today overturned a lower federal court’s ruling which made public disclosure of such spending a statutory requirement.  (Click link to read the entire article.)

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/09/18-6

Political Quotes

Here we are on the threshold of Autumn—when the average American realizes it's time to pay attention to politics.  Since I've been paying attention all along, I'm devoting some time to "balance"on this day—as the equal hours of darkness and light invite us to do.  I'm opting for a little sloth, just to balance, and will post other people's words today.  Also, in in the interest of balance, I'll probably post long ones.   Hopefully clever enough to amuse you "smart elitists" whom I love so dearly. 

[A post-post note: So help me, peeps, I spent over a freaking HOUR trying to get the Reagan quotes to appear in the same size font as the others.  It's not because he's a Republican.  I think his quotes are the cleverest.  Just want to clear that up in case his son Ron pays a visit; I like him a lot. He inherited his father's wit but thankfully not his political views.] 

 

       ''The Democrats are the party of government activism, the party that says government can make you richer, smarter, taller, and get the chickweed out of your lawn. Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work, and then get elected and prove it.''

—P.J. O'Rourke, 'Parliament of Whores'

 

  ''Being president is like running a cemetery: you've got a lot of people under you and nobody's listening.''                  —President Bill Clinton 

''A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward."                                   —President Franklin Roosevelt

 

*''I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.''   

—Ronald Reagan 

 

''Once you leave the womb, conservatives don't care about you until you reach military age. Then you're just what they're looking for.''—George Carlin  (You got that  right, George.)

*''Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.''

—Ronald Reagan

(Source:  Ask.com)

David Letterman's Interview With Our Prez

 This is entertaining and also has some good information.  Check it out!


http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7422156n

Senate Republicans Shaft Veterans

 Here's an excerpt from Robert L. Borosage's piece on Thursday's Senate's action ( HuffPost):

. . . So yesterday, in one final vile act before adjournment for the elections, Senate Republicans used a point of order to block passage of the Veterans Jobs Corps proposal that would have provided a modest $1 billion to hire veterans to tend federal lands or gain priority in hiring at police and fire departments. The bill was crafted with bipartisan support. 58 Senators supported the bill, but Republicans put together the 40 votes needed to block its passage. 

Mr. Borosage goes on to explore possible reasons for this irresponsible action by the Senate GOP that hurts returning war heroes:  Here's one:  . . . Is it because Senate Republicans remain committed to block any action that will produce jobs in their monomaniacal effort to make Barack Obama a one-term president. In the midst of the worst recession in generations, Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell famously announced at the beginning of the term that "the single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."

 See this post in its entirety:

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-l-borosage/senate-republicans-shaft_b_1899480.html

Note:  If you have friends and relatives in states where key Senate races are happening, consider reminding them how important it is for the country—100% of the country which includes our veterans—to elect Democrats to the Senate and the House on November 6.  

I contribute very little monetarily, but did send a contribution to Elizabeth Warren's campaign in Massachusetts.  We need her voice in that Chamber bigtime.  I'm also sending $20 to Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio.  He's being targeted by the big-bucks Super Pacs already flooding the airwaves with negative ads.   Republicans just can't take his hard-working dogged determination to keep the banks honest. Will write more about Senator Brown later.  Now I'm going to write a check! 

And at the Sports Bar

                                Thanks for posting, GOP Meme/Facebook.

More Fox "News"

Adding this post to the Fox commentary about the Pirate in the oval office.  (Thanks for sharing this on FB, Pragmatic Progressive.)   A few posts like this might be helpful to  Fox viewers whose common sense is still plugged in—and who are at least somewhat interested in finding truth in the news they consume.

When Liz Cheney has been challenged on the accuracy of her comments (on other networks!), she merely repeats the inaccurate accusation du jour and neither defends nor retracts what she said.  I generally fault the moderator for not pressing her, then remember there's only so much time between commercials; they do have to move on.  Why they invite her back is beyond me.   

Being with Barack Obama

Author Michael Lewis had unprecedented access to President Obama—on the basketball court, Air Force One and places in between— for six months.  Lewis was working on a piece for Vanity Fair.  Check out this article about his experiences with the President and listen to a story about it on NPR (Fresh Air).   Enjoy getting to know our President a lot better!
 
http://www.npr.org/2012/09/12/161003362/michael-lewis-studies-obamas-way

One of Many Reasons I Don't Watch Fox

“TOO BUSY FOR ISRAEL / PRESIDENT FINDS TIME FOR PIRATE, LETTERMAN,” Fox and Friends’ screen read Thursday. “This pirate got a sit-down in the Oval Office yesterday,” Fox and Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade said on-air. “So much for the Middle East peace. The White House doesn’t even have time to meet with Israel, but the president got a private sit-down with a pirate yesterday in the Oval Office. Sorry, Bibi,” Steeve Doocy added.

One small problem: the photo was taken in May 2009 for use as a joke during the White House Correspondents’ dinner. 

To read more of this at Talking Points Memo:  http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/09/fox-obama-pirate-israel.php?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

 My note:  Brings back memories, not of pirates, but of Foxy moves like this one:  Fox has been known to distort facts, make up their own "facts" and even alter video footage to suit its purposes.  Remember some march they promoted that didn't get anywhere near the expected turnout, and they just used crowd shots from a bigger event?  (Was that Glenn Beck?  Can't remember the details but well remember that video was edited in that way!)

When people believe my not wanting to talk politics is because my viewpoint differs from theirs, I have to correct that assumption:  In fact, I welcome civil, informed discussion on political issues.  But I'm unwilling to engage in dialog with anyone who watches Fox Cable News on a regular basis.  Sadly, Fox is the primary or sole source of information for a large swatch of the American populace.  Most of them adults who will vote.   Breaks my heart.  But, no, debating someone who's that poorly informed, or totally misinformed,is a waste of time. 

Jon Stewart on Romney's "47%"

 If you missed The Daily Show's take on this.  It's rich.  Like the supporters Romney values.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/19/jon-stewart-romney-47-percent-video_n_1896310.html