Check out this excellent article of the Central America Free Trade Agreement. Thanks, Sally, for passing it on to me.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/10/19/no_cheers_for_cafta.php
Friday, October 19, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Just Say NO to Kids
Today, my US Representative, Peter Hoekstra, voted no on the S-Chip veto override. For me this vote boils down to one thing - VALUES. It sure looks like Pete values Blackwater and the defense industry. He values President Bush, even when his mismanagement of the Iraq War kills our American service people every day. It is also clear that Pete values needy children much less.
Pete and his followers can come off being pretty pious at times. They talk a lot about Christian values. I hope he takes the time to reread the words of Jesus Christ. "What you do for the least of these, you do for me."
It is time for our Congressional leaders to do more than mouth words about values while their hand is out for special interest contributions. It is time for us to elect people with real values.
I'm impressed with Scott Killips.
www.killipsforcongress.com
Pete and his followers can come off being pretty pious at times. They talk a lot about Christian values. I hope he takes the time to reread the words of Jesus Christ. "What you do for the least of these, you do for me."
It is time for our Congressional leaders to do more than mouth words about values while their hand is out for special interest contributions. It is time for us to elect people with real values.
I'm impressed with Scott Killips.
www.killipsforcongress.com
Night of the Living Republicans
Democrats Bad - The Video "The Night of the Living Republicans"
http://www.jibjab.com/starring_you/receipt/1594107
http://www.jibjab.com/starring_you/receipt/1594107
Monday, October 15, 2007
Republicans and Global Warming
I found this survey information on Think Progress
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/05/warming-13-percent/
Al Gore just won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with global warming. At the same time Republicans persist in their opposition to science.
I remember a time when the two parties debated ideas like the size of government and the role it plays in the lives of ordinary citizens. Now it seems the two parties debate whether science is real or not.
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/05/warming-13-percent/
National Journal has released a new “Congressional Insiders Poll,” which surveyed 113 members of Congress — 10 Senate Democrats, 48 House Democrats, 10 Senate Republicans, and 45 House Republicans — about their positions on global warming.
The results were startling. Only 13 percent of congressional Republicans say they believe that human activity is causing global warming, compared to 95 percent of congressional Democrats. Moreover, the number of Republicans who believe in human-induced global warming has actually dropped since April 2006, when the number was 23 percent.
Al Gore just won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with global warming. At the same time Republicans persist in their opposition to science.
I remember a time when the two parties debated ideas like the size of government and the role it plays in the lives of ordinary citizens. Now it seems the two parties debate whether science is real or not.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
It is time to repent and be forgiven
When the first settlers came to this country we were ruled by a king. That king was responsible for running the entire British Empire. Blame for wrong doing fell on his shoulders.
The great American experiment changed the way we are governed. Now we rule ourselves. The power resides with the people. Mr. Bush says he is the Decider. But he says a lot of things that are not true. The truth is that we, the American people, are responsible for what America does. We, the people, are the Deciders.
Before I headed off to church this morning I sent some time enjoying coffee and reading the paper. It is a quieting, relaxing time, and a wonderful way to start Sunday morning. I read an article about Blackwater in the Traverse City Record Eagle. It was a first hand accounting of a reporter who was in Iraq and her experiences with Blackwater contractors. What started as a sense of security slowly deteriorated as she watched tough young men emerge into American cowboys, drinking, chasing women, and shooting civilians to “get the job done”. They are mercenaries operating without the code of conduct our military forces live by. Their ruthless and indiscriminate ways of operating causes terror and hatred among the people they came to save and protect.
The other thing that has been popping up in the news lately is torture sanctioned by the American government. Even while claiming Americans don’t torture, secret memos are coming to light that the Bush administration used to justify torture.
Tens years ago we could not have imagined our America, the country we love, being involved in torture, fielding a huge mercenary army living outside of normal rules of conduct, or America loosing the respect the world because of its new found preference for military invasion over diplomacy.
We are to blame. Not George Bush. Or Cheney. Not Rumsfeld, Powell, Rice or any of the others. They just work for us. We, the American people, must accept the blame.
Where is our outcry? Where is the relentless insistence that America will not torture and will not field mercenary forces? Where is the demand that America must act with honor and compassion even while we act to protect ourselves and our neighbors?
Isn’t it time that we repent and ask for forgiveness?
The great American experiment changed the way we are governed. Now we rule ourselves. The power resides with the people. Mr. Bush says he is the Decider. But he says a lot of things that are not true. The truth is that we, the American people, are responsible for what America does. We, the people, are the Deciders.
Before I headed off to church this morning I sent some time enjoying coffee and reading the paper. It is a quieting, relaxing time, and a wonderful way to start Sunday morning. I read an article about Blackwater in the Traverse City Record Eagle. It was a first hand accounting of a reporter who was in Iraq and her experiences with Blackwater contractors. What started as a sense of security slowly deteriorated as she watched tough young men emerge into American cowboys, drinking, chasing women, and shooting civilians to “get the job done”. They are mercenaries operating without the code of conduct our military forces live by. Their ruthless and indiscriminate ways of operating causes terror and hatred among the people they came to save and protect.
The other thing that has been popping up in the news lately is torture sanctioned by the American government. Even while claiming Americans don’t torture, secret memos are coming to light that the Bush administration used to justify torture.
Tens years ago we could not have imagined our America, the country we love, being involved in torture, fielding a huge mercenary army living outside of normal rules of conduct, or America loosing the respect the world because of its new found preference for military invasion over diplomacy.
We are to blame. Not George Bush. Or Cheney. Not Rumsfeld, Powell, Rice or any of the others. They just work for us. We, the American people, must accept the blame.
Where is our outcry? Where is the relentless insistence that America will not torture and will not field mercenary forces? Where is the demand that America must act with honor and compassion even while we act to protect ourselves and our neighbors?
Isn’t it time that we repent and ask for forgiveness?
Saturday, October 13, 2007
The Pres Primary Mess
Recent article from the Washington Post.
New Hampshire may move its primary up to Decemeber. Or it may stick to a date in early January. Gardner is still playing coy, though increasingly less so, with his open hints about December.In recent weeks, "What Is Bill Gardner Thinking?" has become the major political parlor game in presidential politics. He is, unfortunately, brilliantly obtuse. He has the gift of genial obfuscation. Exploring his thinking process is like trying to stab an olive with a plastic cocktail sword.Ask him a direct question -- and The Post did just that this week over the course of seven hours and a long drive in Gardner's Volvo from Concord to Keene and back, with dinner in between -- and he'll answer with a series of sentence fragments, digressions, anecdotes and ambiguities. His elusiveness is strategic: He wants to keep all his options open.The result is that professional political pundits scrutinize his words with Talmudic intensity. New Hampshire may be famously small-d democratic, a place where it seems as if every third person is in the state legislature, but Gardner is the state's answer to the chairman of the Federal Reserve: The political market can shudder from the impact of a single provocative verb.One person who may know what Gardner is thinking is Jim Splaine, who was along for the ride to Keene and back. Splaine, 60, is a Democratic state legislator who wrote the 1975 law giving the secretary of state power to set the primary date. Splaine also wrote subsequent amendments extending that power. During the ride, Gardner gave interviews by cellphone from the back seat while the reporter drove and Splaine gave the lowdown on New Hampshire politics."I talk about the unpredictability of the date and the person setting it as our secret weapon," Splaine said.Gardner sees it that way, too."Every time I answer, I limit," Gardner said. As in, limits his maneuverability."You're a coy guy," Splaine told him.Splaine has been pushing the Dec. 11 date on a blog called Blue Hampshire."A NH Primary on or around December 11th would encourage the Presidential candidates and their campaigns to spend intensive, quality time here for all of November into the first week or two of December. We could ask for nothing better for democracy than having some concentrated time with the candidates -- face to face, eye to eye, one-on-one, New Hampshire-style," he wrote earlier this week.It's impossible to know whether Splaine is out ahead of Gardner's thinking or is in fact channeling Gardner. At times they clearly echo each other, as when Splaine, in his blog item touting Dec. 11, says that an earlier date might allow a candidate who did poorly to regroup ("No state, whether Iowa or New Hampshire or any other, should be able to by itself render the knock-out punch to a candidate"). Gardner made several similar comments, including: "Certainly the process should not end here. And we don't want it to end here. This is just the beginning."A December primary might shock a lot of candidates and their staffers, as well as journalists, all of whom have been tromping around the country with the presumption that the actual voting will begin next year. The balloting has seemed a long way off -- but may actually be less than two months away.The uncertain date of the primary has befuddled not only the campaigns and the news media but also the hotels and restaurants and all the other supporting players in what has become a quadrennial political circus. Gardner said he will announce his decision soon after the Nov. 2 close of the filing period for presidential candidates. He said the state will need only about two weeks to print and distribute ballots. They don't have to have dates on them, he said.The belief earlier this year had been that Iowa would hold its caucuses on Jan. 14, followed by the Nevada caucuses Jan. 19 and the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 22. But in recent months that calendar has been scrambled as officials and party leaders in Michigan and Florida, covetous of a early role in the nominating process, voted to hold primaries in January. Gardner has been watching the maneuvering with a keen eye."I'm watching Michigan. I'm watching Nevada," he said.During the drive back from Keene, through a rainstorm that darkened the rolling hills of southwestern New Hampshire, Gardner and Splaine chewed over all the possible options.The law tells Gardner to put New Hampshire at least a week before any "similar election." This week, four Democrats pulled their names from the Michigan ballot, saying they would honor a pledge to campaign only in New Hampshire, Iowa, Nevada and South Carolina before the rush of primaries on Feb. 5. Hillary Clinton and Chris Dodd kept their names on the ballot in Michigan but vowed not to campaign there. But the Republicans are competing and that's all that matters, Gardner said. New Hampshire would be no later than Jan. 8.Iowa is another issue. Gardner said he'd like to choose "a date that would allow Iowa to have its eight days." Here's where it gets really complicated.If New Hampshire goes Jan. 8, Iowa couldn't plausibly hold caucuses on New Year's Eve. There is talk that Iowa might hold caucuses on Jan. 3 or Jan. 5, but that would encroach dramatically on the time for candidates to decamp to New Hampshire and make the Granite State the center of the political cosmos.South Carolina Republicans, meanwhile, moved their primary to Jan. 19, which might uproot Nevada, Gardner said. Meanwhile, he said, there's Wyoming.Wyoming?Yes: Wyoming has some kind of delegate-selection caucus-primary thing scheduled for Jan. 5, Gardner said. He's not sure what to think of that.He talked about the news coverage out of Iowa, and Howard Dean's "scream," and how quickly Dean's campaign tanked. He indicated that if the votes are scheduled too closely, there's not enough time for people to digest what's happening."Is it right for me to put that into the equation?" he asked aloud.There remain more questions than answers.As Bill Gardner sat in the back seat of his Volvo, peering ahead at the rain-slicked country road and the enveloping darkness, he continued to talk of dates, and states, and his many options.And only he knew what he was really thinking.
New Hampshire may move its primary up to Decemeber. Or it may stick to a date in early January. Gardner is still playing coy, though increasingly less so, with his open hints about December.In recent weeks, "What Is Bill Gardner Thinking?" has become the major political parlor game in presidential politics. He is, unfortunately, brilliantly obtuse. He has the gift of genial obfuscation. Exploring his thinking process is like trying to stab an olive with a plastic cocktail sword.Ask him a direct question -- and The Post did just that this week over the course of seven hours and a long drive in Gardner's Volvo from Concord to Keene and back, with dinner in between -- and he'll answer with a series of sentence fragments, digressions, anecdotes and ambiguities. His elusiveness is strategic: He wants to keep all his options open.The result is that professional political pundits scrutinize his words with Talmudic intensity. New Hampshire may be famously small-d democratic, a place where it seems as if every third person is in the state legislature, but Gardner is the state's answer to the chairman of the Federal Reserve: The political market can shudder from the impact of a single provocative verb.One person who may know what Gardner is thinking is Jim Splaine, who was along for the ride to Keene and back. Splaine, 60, is a Democratic state legislator who wrote the 1975 law giving the secretary of state power to set the primary date. Splaine also wrote subsequent amendments extending that power. During the ride, Gardner gave interviews by cellphone from the back seat while the reporter drove and Splaine gave the lowdown on New Hampshire politics."I talk about the unpredictability of the date and the person setting it as our secret weapon," Splaine said.Gardner sees it that way, too."Every time I answer, I limit," Gardner said. As in, limits his maneuverability."You're a coy guy," Splaine told him.Splaine has been pushing the Dec. 11 date on a blog called Blue Hampshire."A NH Primary on or around December 11th would encourage the Presidential candidates and their campaigns to spend intensive, quality time here for all of November into the first week or two of December. We could ask for nothing better for democracy than having some concentrated time with the candidates -- face to face, eye to eye, one-on-one, New Hampshire-style," he wrote earlier this week.It's impossible to know whether Splaine is out ahead of Gardner's thinking or is in fact channeling Gardner. At times they clearly echo each other, as when Splaine, in his blog item touting Dec. 11, says that an earlier date might allow a candidate who did poorly to regroup ("No state, whether Iowa or New Hampshire or any other, should be able to by itself render the knock-out punch to a candidate"). Gardner made several similar comments, including: "Certainly the process should not end here. And we don't want it to end here. This is just the beginning."A December primary might shock a lot of candidates and their staffers, as well as journalists, all of whom have been tromping around the country with the presumption that the actual voting will begin next year. The balloting has seemed a long way off -- but may actually be less than two months away.The uncertain date of the primary has befuddled not only the campaigns and the news media but also the hotels and restaurants and all the other supporting players in what has become a quadrennial political circus. Gardner said he will announce his decision soon after the Nov. 2 close of the filing period for presidential candidates. He said the state will need only about two weeks to print and distribute ballots. They don't have to have dates on them, he said.The belief earlier this year had been that Iowa would hold its caucuses on Jan. 14, followed by the Nevada caucuses Jan. 19 and the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 22. But in recent months that calendar has been scrambled as officials and party leaders in Michigan and Florida, covetous of a early role in the nominating process, voted to hold primaries in January. Gardner has been watching the maneuvering with a keen eye."I'm watching Michigan. I'm watching Nevada," he said.During the drive back from Keene, through a rainstorm that darkened the rolling hills of southwestern New Hampshire, Gardner and Splaine chewed over all the possible options.The law tells Gardner to put New Hampshire at least a week before any "similar election." This week, four Democrats pulled their names from the Michigan ballot, saying they would honor a pledge to campaign only in New Hampshire, Iowa, Nevada and South Carolina before the rush of primaries on Feb. 5. Hillary Clinton and Chris Dodd kept their names on the ballot in Michigan but vowed not to campaign there. But the Republicans are competing and that's all that matters, Gardner said. New Hampshire would be no later than Jan. 8.Iowa is another issue. Gardner said he'd like to choose "a date that would allow Iowa to have its eight days." Here's where it gets really complicated.If New Hampshire goes Jan. 8, Iowa couldn't plausibly hold caucuses on New Year's Eve. There is talk that Iowa might hold caucuses on Jan. 3 or Jan. 5, but that would encroach dramatically on the time for candidates to decamp to New Hampshire and make the Granite State the center of the political cosmos.South Carolina Republicans, meanwhile, moved their primary to Jan. 19, which might uproot Nevada, Gardner said. Meanwhile, he said, there's Wyoming.Wyoming?Yes: Wyoming has some kind of delegate-selection caucus-primary thing scheduled for Jan. 5, Gardner said. He's not sure what to think of that.He talked about the news coverage out of Iowa, and Howard Dean's "scream," and how quickly Dean's campaign tanked. He indicated that if the votes are scheduled too closely, there's not enough time for people to digest what's happening."Is it right for me to put that into the equation?" he asked aloud.There remain more questions than answers.As Bill Gardner sat in the back seat of his Volvo, peering ahead at the rain-slicked country road and the enveloping darkness, he continued to talk of dates, and states, and his many options.And only he knew what he was really thinking.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Presidential candidates withdrawl from Michigan primary
Barack Obama, John Edwards and Bill Richardson and Joe Biden filed paperwork today to have their names removed from the primary ballot in Michigan. Now I have read and heard people on both sides of this issue. But the way I see it is that moving our primary has only hurt our state in relevance to the election. If the MDP goes through with the primary, it really amounts to a beauty contest for Senator Clinton (as Dodd is the only other candidate staying on the ballot). We also risk the chance of losing our delegates to the National Convention. Don't get me wrong...I do not think Iowa and New Hampshire fully represent the nation in regards to it's demographics and have an unfair leverage on the nominee process. But the problem instead is that the entire system is broken. A parliamentary system would work so much better, and would make candidates work harder for our votes and run more on issues. That's just my take....talk amongst yourselves.
Update: Kucinich withdraws as well.
Update: Kucinich withdraws as well.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Preparing for Victory
It was great to see so many Democrats attending our Dist. 2 training session put on by the Michigan Democratic Party. We had great participation as we came together to be more skillful in our election efforts. This seems typical for this election cycle. We are energized and impatient to get started as we work to turn around Republican policies that hurt our state and country. We all see the energy that is out there.
Clearly the hot race of this election cycle will be for State Rep. Dan Scripps brings to the race name recognition, proven fund raising and campaigning skills, and a host of volunteers who smell blood in this election. The Republicans are spending their time duking it out with each other in a three way primary race. The Dec. 31 reporting deadline for fundraising may be a pivotal day for them. The field may shrink if a candidate does not have adequate money coming in.
Democrats are fortunate in this race because we have have a candidate who has earned the respect of many people in the Republican party as well as our own. Many in our district view the Republican contenders as second tier. Probably this is happening because it looks more likely that Republicans will lose this seat after controlling it for several years.
This upcoming election will see a great deal of passion from Democrats who are crying out for change. For Republicans it seems to be a season of embarrassment and frustration. From the top of the ticket on down their choices are just not that exciting. And sometimes they are disgraceful.
Will this be the year that the radical religious right pushes the Republican Party to the brink of collaspe? Maybe that has to happen before the Republicans can turn to a more moderate middle.
It will be an interesting year. Our MDP training session was just the start. Next month we have Camp Millie. Democrats are planning to work hard and also work smart. This is our year. The excitement builds.
Clearly the hot race of this election cycle will be for State Rep. Dan Scripps brings to the race name recognition, proven fund raising and campaigning skills, and a host of volunteers who smell blood in this election. The Republicans are spending their time duking it out with each other in a three way primary race. The Dec. 31 reporting deadline for fundraising may be a pivotal day for them. The field may shrink if a candidate does not have adequate money coming in.
Democrats are fortunate in this race because we have have a candidate who has earned the respect of many people in the Republican party as well as our own. Many in our district view the Republican contenders as second tier. Probably this is happening because it looks more likely that Republicans will lose this seat after controlling it for several years.
This upcoming election will see a great deal of passion from Democrats who are crying out for change. For Republicans it seems to be a season of embarrassment and frustration. From the top of the ticket on down their choices are just not that exciting. And sometimes they are disgraceful.
Will this be the year that the radical religious right pushes the Republican Party to the brink of collaspe? Maybe that has to happen before the Republicans can turn to a more moderate middle.
It will be an interesting year. Our MDP training session was just the start. Next month we have Camp Millie. Democrats are planning to work hard and also work smart. This is our year. The excitement builds.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Military families increase support to Democrats
Where are military families putting their money when they decide to contribute to political campaigns? This article in the Boston Globe breaks down the numbers. http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/09/military_shifti.html
Military families usually give more to the Republicans. However, since the incredible bungling of this war by Bush, former House Intelligence Chair Pete Hoekstra, and others, military families are taking their dollars away from Republicans and giving them to Democrats. It is not surprising to see more of them supporting Obama than Clinton.
Military families usually give more to the Republicans. However, since the incredible bungling of this war by Bush, former House Intelligence Chair Pete Hoekstra, and others, military families are taking their dollars away from Republicans and giving them to Democrats. It is not surprising to see more of them supporting Obama than Clinton.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Why SCHIP is good for Michigan
SCHIP is known as MIChild and Healthy Kids here in Michigan. In 2006 the programs covered 118,501 children. There are still approximately 171,000 children without health care in our state. With the $50 billion additional proposed for the SCHIP reauthorization, Michigan could get $1.32 billion in funding for it's programs over the next five years.That amounts to three times the current federal funding. Funding to provide care for children who have it and cover the 171,000 who do not. In Michigan, children who's family's income is 200% above poverty ($34,340 for a three person family in 2007) are covered. According to a report by Families USA the funding would also create $528.5 million in increased business activity, $198.7 million in increased wages, and 5,941 additional jobs for Michigan from a ripple effect of spending called "economic multiplier effect".
Our Congressman Pete Hoekstra voted no on SCHIP stating in a press release that " It would be a step toward a massive expansion of government-run health care."
Maybe Pete hasn't been paying attention, but that's what most Americans want. There are 9 million children without health coverage in the United States. The SCHIP program has reduced uninsured children by 2.7 million from 1998-2005. SCHIP funding is a step in the right direction toward a goal of all children receiving health care and the ultimate goal of Universal Health Care for all.
Our Congressman Pete Hoekstra voted no on SCHIP stating in a press release that " It would be a step toward a massive expansion of government-run health care."
Maybe Pete hasn't been paying attention, but that's what most Americans want. There are 9 million children without health coverage in the United States. The SCHIP program has reduced uninsured children by 2.7 million from 1998-2005. SCHIP funding is a step in the right direction toward a goal of all children receiving health care and the ultimate goal of Universal Health Care for all.
An Analysis of Bill Richardson
I like Bill Richardson. I believe his brings a lot richer resume to the table than Hillary. And I like his philosophy. He takes a little different approach than some Democrats and I like the way he thinks. I also likes the way he delivers on some traditional Democratic goals. Talking philosophy is nice, but I really appreciate a person who actually delivers the goods.
Obama is my choice for President. He is a leader with the right values and the ability to inspire people to take action. More and more I believe Richardson would make a great VP on his ticket. I think they compliment each other very well. Right now I would say they are my dream team.
I also like http://www.reason.com/ They offer some analysis without all the emotion and hype. They get me to look at things in new ways. You don't have to agree with them, but consider what they are saying.
Here is an article on Richardson that I found thought provoking. See what you think.
http://www.reason.com/news/show/120758.html
Rick
Obama is my choice for President. He is a leader with the right values and the ability to inspire people to take action. More and more I believe Richardson would make a great VP on his ticket. I think they compliment each other very well. Right now I would say they are my dream team.
I also like http://www.reason.com/ They offer some analysis without all the emotion and hype. They get me to look at things in new ways. You don't have to agree with them, but consider what they are saying.
Here is an article on Richardson that I found thought provoking. See what you think.
http://www.reason.com/news/show/120758.html
Rick
Monday, October 1, 2007
Obama Looking Strong, Romney Looking Rich
On September 30 the Obama campaign hit some landmark goals: more than 500,000 donations from more than 350,000 people.
The latest news from Iowa – Obama is leading in the latest Newsweek poll of likely caucus-goers. Here’s the breakdown:
Obama: 28%
Clinton: 24%
Edwards: 22%
The leader in Iowa gets a lot of press coverage and picks up momentum in the overall nomination process.
In other news Mitt Romney reported that he gave himself another $6,000,000 or $7,000.000 this quarter.
One candidate has unprecidented grassroots support from common people. Another candidate keeps writing himself checks trying to buy the election. This election should offer a clear choice to American voters.
The latest news from Iowa – Obama is leading in the latest Newsweek poll of likely caucus-goers. Here’s the breakdown:
Obama: 28%
Clinton: 24%
Edwards: 22%
The leader in Iowa gets a lot of press coverage and picks up momentum in the overall nomination process.
In other news Mitt Romney reported that he gave himself another $6,000,000 or $7,000.000 this quarter.
One candidate has unprecidented grassroots support from common people. Another candidate keeps writing himself checks trying to buy the election. This election should offer a clear choice to American voters.
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