Hate

It is pure hatred of this President by Congressional Republicans that is harming every American. Split government no longer works. We need one party rule. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?....Happy new year...except Congress.

Ignore Him

Happy holidays to all...almost all. I would skip Wayne LaPierre. The manufactured fears by our idiot Congress hurt our nation. All these calls for compromise even as the President moderates his position, are ludicrous. The President has the people on his side. We are more moderate ad thoughtful than we are given credit for. We should all just ignore the Speaker. He and Congress are out of control. The President and the nation will prevail if we simply shut these extremists out. Moderation will win the day...for this I am sure. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Fiscal Snit

Speaker Boehner has forgotten who won the election. He and his ilk just do not like this President. They resent his growing popularity and his growing popular vote mandate as states continue to count absentee ballots. They do not accept that the nation supports the President's 250,000 and above tax rate increase, now compromised by the President to 400,000. They are in a snit. They are petulant and hurtful toward our country. They blame the man who won, won't accept the truth, cannot handle bringing some Democrats on board for a 218 vote while castigating and isolating the extremists. I hope these Plan B, procedural gymnastics and other tricks fail and that we have a real strategy by the end of the year. If not, and contrary to how much they will try to blame the President, We the People know who is to blame. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Enough is Enough

To those who have been afraid to go up against the NRA, you are losers. You are weak at the knees politicians without an ounce of courage or bravery. You have allowed gun freaks and second amendment obsessors to cloud the truth. Guns do kill people. Assault weapons have no place in our society and not a single individual who touts guns as a means of self defense needs one. To those who will continue to bow to the Gun lobby, you are not worthy of your special privilege of representing our nation. If you continue to allow the guns to get onto the streets, to disguise the right to hunt as the same as owning a Glock, then you are not only an idiot, but deserve no support from any fair minded, emotionally stable individual. If we cannot as a nation for once and for all deal with gun control, then we deserve a continuation of such horrific and violent actions. Enough is enough. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Has Been

John McCain lost the 2008 election. He lost to W in 2004. He selected the most incompetent Vice Presidential candidate in modern times and made her a celebrity. He has been calling for War, War and more War since his days in Vietnam. He is a vindictive, jealous and petulant war hero whose quest for relevancy just cost a very competent person her next job over an overblown and preposterous suggestion of scandal over Libya. John McCain is a has been and I only hope his irrelevancy continues to grow and the Senate ignores his bluster and his anger. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

218

Many people dont realize that all it takes is 218 members of the House to approve a bill. No filibusters in the House. Now there are about 75 tea party extremists out of 435 members. They are pushing the Speaker to reject any tax hike on the rich. They defy even the likes of Bill Kristol and Ann Coulter, both who know who won the election and that extra revenue from the wealthy wont crumble the land. The republicans have 235 seats and the Democrats 200, give or take. IF the Speaker tells the 75 to pound salt, gets a majority of his caucus ....say 135 to support a compromise and leader Pelosi delivers a minority of her caucus...say 83 to support a compromise, EVERYONE WINS. Boehner gets a majority, Pelosi can claim she opposed Republicans, President Obama can sign it after both houses pass it and the people get a break. SIMPLE MATH. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Disgraceful

It is absolutely disgraceful that I for one minute actually thought that quickly after the election, these elected idiots from both parties would actually put the country first and do what is easy to do. Any common sense person could fix this cliff problem in five minutes.....protect all 98% of us making under 250,000 a year immediately. Negotiate after the first of the year a program for the top wage earners calling the revenue whatever you want so that both parties can claim victory. Means test Social Security and cut duplicate programs which are as a result of pork barrelling by these elected hogs. It is disgraceful that these power brokers are so incompetent,uncaring and ignorant of their real role... To support We the People, not We the rich People. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

A Learning Disability

When I tell a student something several times and there is still a look of confusion on his or her face, I know there is a problem. Being a sensitive and caring educator, I work to find alternate ways of reaching the student in the hopes that my effort to get through are ultimately successful. I seek out the advice of other teachers or other educational professionals and do whatever I can to address the learning challenges of the student. The Speaker of the House, John Boehner and his cohort in the Senate, Mitch McConnell remind me of this aforementioned student. No matter how many times they read the polls, or look at the election results, or hear their constitutents, they continue to deny reality and hang on to a lost cause, an unsupported notion and blame others for their apparent inability to learn. Remediation of an aggressive sort is needed and needed soon. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Deaf Ears

Just when you think your vote counted, that the nation will begin a healing process, that we voted for compromise and working together, we all find out we were wrong. Our government is deaf. They cannot hear. Republicans continue to say no to tax increases on the wealthy despite overwhelming support for it. Extremist Democrats continue to balk at real entitlement reform even though polls suggest we support the need to do so. Just when you think that John Boehner and Mitch McConnell will move their party to real compromise, they take the old tactic of saying no to everything the President wants and then call him an obstrunctionist. Just when you think we are done with John McCain, the old fart seeking relevancy yells cover up to finally even the scales of his pal Nixon. Nothing has changed. We are lead by a lightweight Congress and a President who continues to be rejected by extremists who still carry much weight. They are deaf. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Compassion vs. Celebration

When Hamas launches missiles toward Israel and kills people, it celebrates in the streets of Gaza. When Israel launches a missile and it kills people, it mourns them with compassion and warnings in advance. Terrorism vs. Democracy. An obvious call. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

A Tough Job

Since the election, Europe has gone back into recession, Syria's civil war has worsened, Israel is at War with Gaza as a result of ruthless attacks on Israel's sovereignty. Key Officials of the Military and Intelligence establishments are embroiled in a sex scandal, costing one his job. The Fiscal cliff approaches, hearings about Lybia are going on and the aftermath of Sandy continue to cause grief and hardship for those affected. Any President would have his hands full under normal circumstances but this one is certainly dealing with his share. Instead of the lack of support he continues to get from his enemies, how about turning to history where during times of crisis, we rally around our leader? Those were the days. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Don't Overanalyze

The pundits are having a field day analyzing the election. Every media personality has an opinion. The country is moving left....Romney was too moderate....This was a status quo election....blah blah blah blah blah. Don't overanalyze. The country is more diverse. Republicans didn't target the population and they got less votes. America didn't trust Mitt Romney, they like the President and the economy is slowly recovering. That's it. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Why I Voted For President Barack Obama

I just returned from my generator charged polling place to cast my vote for President. I proudly voted for President Obama for a second term. Here is why. In January of 2009, President Obama took office while the nation was reeling from two wars and an historic recession. His cry for hope and change was heard by a nation that was tired of the Bush years and the failed financial policies of trickle down economics. The President understands that the greatness of our nation lies in recognition that the future must be different than the past, that climate change is real, that equal pay is essential, that the rights of all Americans must be protected and cherished, that Government can play an important role in improving our lives, that shared sacrifice is in our soul as a nation, that infrastructure repair saves money, that green jobs, alternative energy and reducing reliance on foreign oil is good energy policy, that education and training prepares Americans for the jobs of the future and that America is at its best when we respect each other instead of destroying each other. The President has stayed true to these values and in his time of office has accomplished much. He signed a bill allowing women to sue for equal pay for equal work, he ended the war in Iraq, he authorized the Navy Seals to kill Bin Laden, he provided Federally backed loans to save the auto industry (paid back to Americans with interest), he signed legislation to protect consumers from deceptive credit card practices, put restraints on banks for their most egregious practices, he pushed through a stimulus that helped, contrary to the Republican narrative. The stimulus saved two million jobs, accounted for programs to improve rail, airport runways, electric grid systems and school construction. He got us as close to universal health as we could have, an accomplishment never achieved by his predecessors. He ended Don't Ask Don't Tell, allowing gays to serve openly in defense of our nation. He pronounced his support for gay marriage, putting love above bigotry. He has helped to create 5.5 million private sector jobs over a 33 consecutive month period. He has NOT doubled the deficit as his opponents suggest, but in actuality has reduced the pace of growth of government. He has presided over a growing economy during world financial crisis and has helped reduce unemployment from a high of 10.2 to under 8 percent while his opponents filibustered jobs bills. He has suggested entitlements be put on the table for considered reductions to be balanced with some revenue increases. He has appointed two female Justices to the Supreme Court including the first Hispanic. He has by executive order helped young patriotic immigrants avoid deportation due to the decisions of their parents, keeping their skills and diversity as part of the American dream. He built a coalition of nations in support of Libyan rebels, accounting for the death of Muammar Qadaffi. He has kept us out of another foolish and costly war and has a plan for the end of the longest war in American history. He has presided with skill over national crises such as the BP oil spill and Sandy in a bipartisan and respectful fashion. He has been thoughtful in his approach, respectful of his enemies and has acted with dignity, compassion and has avoided a major scandal. He has acted to give Israel the greatest defense and intelligence support in history, this earning him Israel's largest newspaper endorsement. He is a family man who sets the highest standard of family values and acted with skill in doing his job, against all odds, under constant hateful abuse from his enemies and has elevated the United States back to its respected place in the community of nations. I pray he is our President for four more years to finish the work he has started. The reasons why I did not vote for Mitt Romney are simple. He lies. He has not been a job creator. He wants to overturn Roe v. Wade. He wants to shut Planned Parenthood. He wants to reduce Pell grants. He wants to defund FEMA. His vetoes as Governor were overturned at high levels, mitigating his recent narrative about crossing lines to work with the other party. He is against the right of marriage for same sex couples who love each other. He supports candidates that want to jail women who wish to abort a fetus created through rape and incest. He has picked a VP candidate who says the President in against Judeo Christian values. He pretends to understand the Middle East, pandering to my fellow Jews without an ounce of understanding of Israel's soul and historic importance. He has mocked Palestinian efforts toward a two state solution only to change his mind. He has told his donors that half of America wants to stay on welfare, lied about the Presidents welfare to work support. He has lied about auto jobs to China. He is a charlatan, a fake and a man with no connection to the Middle Class values that make this nation great. Go Obama. Please vote. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Sandy Effect

I am at a friend's home blogging after a few days to deal with Sandy. I still have no power but I have a roof over my head, food, friends and life. For that I am truly thankful and my heart goes out to all in need, to all who lost loved ones, property and much more. As Gloria Gaynor once sang "I will Survive" so will we all. It was a bit refreshing to be away from the insanity of the pre election craziness, but now that I have some access to the internet, it is time to say a few things. First, to listen to Rudy Giuliani criticize Obama for the Sandy response and the campaign is so boorish. One day we will all learn the real truth about the job the Mayor did during 9-11. Rudy's entire political life and survival was tied to that horrible day and its aftermath, but serious analysis shows that severe criticisms could be leveled against his actions. He is irrelevant and ought to shut up and go back to earning millions as a consultant. President Obama's visit to New Jersey and his bromance with Governor Christie was not a political act. These two men share a common story. An American story, one with roots to a place and to an America that allows the common simple man to achieve greatness and success. They share this story and those who try and make a political mockery of their genuine concern for American are simply out of touch and mean spirited partisans who care little about this country. As Tuesday approaches, Americans must remain vigilant and get to the polls. The choice is clear. A charlatan, a liar, a man without a vision, without a moral compass and without a record of job creation, who mocks the President disrespectfully because he feels entitled, whose wealth resides outside of this country, who is against a woman's right to chose, against marriage between same sex couples who love each other, who would shut Planned Parenthood, stop health care progress, mocks climate change as fantasy, supports the unrestrained spending on military aggression and would make the sick go to emergency rooms, who is an elitist, a robber barren and a man of the one percent, Mitt Romney. Or, a man who came from modest means, who represents the diversity that is so special about our country, who ended a costly and false war, who has moved us forward, created jobs, taken us from an historic economic collapse into a period of growth, saved our auto industry, believes in the rights of all Americans, who believes global warming is real, who will end the war in Afghanistan and protect women's rights, who respects the legitimacy of our immigrant heritage and believes in a fair chance for us all, President Barack Obama. Where are you Americans for reason and truth? Stay Safe all those affected by Sandy. Go vote. It is too important.

This is Different

When W. won the Presidency, I was disappointed but didn't go over the edge. The country and the Supreme Court decided, the process worked and I lived to fight another day for eight despicable years. When Nixon beat McGovern, I was sad but not outraged. Nixon got his and we moved on. When Reagan won with his message of a better America and smaller government, I didn't cry, I accepted his victory and watched for eight long years. This time, it is different. It is hard for me to express but if Romney becomes the President, my outrage and fear and total demoralization will set in in ways that they never have before. Romney is a liar. He has switched his position on absolutely every major social, foreign policy and economic issue and gets away with it every time. Obama should be kicking his ass, but he is not. This is because our nation is filled with tens of millions who tune in after the summer for the first time. They see a man who looks good and can speak articulately so they say, OK, lets give him a chance. We tried the Black Man, we proved we aren't racist so let's go back to our real roots. Mitt Romney can and will say anything with no conviction, belief or moral compass. This automaton is the scariest candidate in modern American Political history, not because he is dumb, or ill informed, but because you do not know which Mitt will show up. This, is why this is different. Where are you Americans for reason and truth? Be safe through the storm.

A Friend of Mine

I have a good friend. On most every aspect of conscience, we agree. This friend however, is voting for Mitt Romney. The response I get is that " I make my choice only on economic issues and don't concentrate on all the other noise ". I smile, walk away with disgust in my bones but with continued love for this person. I simply cannot continue to try and influence this position. I know in my heart that Mitt Romney does not understand or care about the middle class. I know in my heart that Mitt Romney believes in outsourcing and not much about US manufacturing. I know in my heart that Mitt Romney's positions on job creation are tied to failed policies but my friend does not listen. That's OK. What is not OK is that this support cannot be separated from the mean spirited racisim, extremist and hateful positions toward women and gays, the candidates that think rape is a message from G-d, the unwillingness to support equal rights, the march toward defense overspending and the sheer hate toward our President that represents the party of Mitt Romney...and my dear friend, all of these positions have direct, vital and certain economic implications. Please think, my dear dear friend. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

He Doesn't Understand?

Paul Ryan doesn't understand President Obama's bayonet remark? Maybe that is because he makes up the second half of the least experienced Foreign Policy ticket in recent memory. You do not judge the military based on numbers of ships, but capability. The rest of us got it. Read up Mr. Ryan....One day you may wish to run for President. Enjoy the next Congress. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Last One.....Finally

As you watch this evening, remember this.....one man has led the nation as commander in chief and one has no experience at all. One man decided to give the order to kill Bin Laden. The other did not. One man ended the war in Iraq, the other thinks we should go back. One man led a coalition to rid the world of Muamar Quadaffi, the other uses the recent emabassy misfortune and tragedy to score cheap political points. One man has been desrcribed by Israeli leaders as responsible for giving Israel the best intelligence and military cooperation, the other tries to create a wedge between Jews and the Democratic party for some votes. One man thinks before he acts, the other speaks before he thinks and then changes his mind. One man is evaluating the Syrian situation and treading carefully not to start another war with another Middle East nation, the other threatens to act without specifics. One man has thwarted many terrorist plots, the other pretends to know more. This is what you should remember. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Ill Served Again

Debate number two in the books. Again, the American electorate was poorly served. The two men came out battling, gloves off, taking it to each other....these are the descriptions we are hearing. Who won, who lost? The American people lost. There are many pundits that see value in these fiascos, but I do not. There isn't sufficient time to provide depth to any answer. There is no direct questioning and challenging of each other, Lincoln Douglas style. There is little substance. The post debate analysts were aglow with all the topics addressed, but nothing was addressed. We still do not know how Mitt Romney would pay for his tax plan. We still do not know if the President supports more stimulus for more job growth. We still do not know how these men differ in energy policy? We do know that Mr. Romney holds the edge on generalizations and on playing havoc with facts. We still know that Mr. Romney has no keen sense or understanding of foreign policy and we still know that President Obama is a much better choice if you are in the middle class, or are a woman, or are an Hispanic or young voter. But, we knew all this before. So I say, cancel these entertainment shows or put them on as "Reality TV', just don't try and convince me that they are at all instructive. They are not. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Media Will Strike Again

Tomorrow we will see the "Thrilla in Hofstra" and again we will be instructed by the media on how we should see it. A great disservice continues to prevail in our nation as the media turns on every tie color, verbal gaffe, body language, sweat pores, eye contact and other irrelevancies at a time where the differences in content and policy couldn't be more stark. Already there is analysis about how this is a make or break night. This debate does not change one thing. It does not change the facts, figures or realities of the substance required to make an informed decision. Mitt Romney continues to nuance and lie to his heart's content and the media gives him a pass, regrettably, because his eye contact was better. Our President will now have to fall into this maelstrom of irrelevance to keep pace, and the media will be aglow with more nonsense than I can stand. So goes the debate...So goes our politics....and Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth?

Two Against One

Two against one isn't a fair fight unless you are a superhero, but nevertheless we seem to have this in the upcoming Presidential election. On the ballot will be three candidates for President...Barack Obama, Mitt A and Mitt B. Two against one. The problem is that if you vote for Mitt A or Mitt B, the name of Mitt Romney will get the vote. If they were listed separate as they shoud be listed, then Obama gets 50% of the popular vote and the requireed 270 plus electors, Mitt A would get 25% and Mitt B 25% with the associated, if any, electoral votes. Mitt A believes that we should re-enter war with Iraq, that abortion should no longer be the right of a woman, that health care reform should be repealed, that PBS funding should stop, that defense should get an additional 2 trillion dollars, that taxes for the middle class should be disproportionately and unfairly collected, that regulations on banks should be reduced, that global warming may be a fake and that immigrant youth should be deported if their parents came here under false pretenses, that 47 percent of us are leeches and deserve less assistance from government, that we have eroded our support for Israel, that the Palestinians are not peace partners, that we should voucherize Social Security and that underperforming states should continue to underperform educationally because only the states know how to educate. Mitt B believes that the Massachusetts mandate for health insurance is a great idea, that the Federal government is an important source of funds for activities such as the Olympics, that we should withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014 (Obama Plan), that the Palestinicnas should have a state next to Israel (US policy for decades), that there is a role for the Federal Government in Public education, that the middle class and elderly need to be supported, that he really does care about the Middle class, that Social Security should not be cut and that women in this country should not have the government tell them what to do with their health. Now, you can argue intelligently for Mitt A or for Mitt B and you should cast your vote for one, if you believe him to be a better chioce than the other two guys. But....is it really fair to have both votes for A and B go to one man? Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

A Culture of Lies

At last week's debate, Mitt Romney lied about the level of the deficit, his tax plan, the percentage of gas exploration on public land, about pre existing conditions, about middle class wages and about medicare. I would say these are pretty big lies, but it didn't seem to bother us at all. Instead of moving away from a bald faced liar, the nation seemed to move a little toward him. Why? I guess it's because we live in a culture of lies. We are skeptical about government in general so we assume all politicians lie. When we are too tired to go to a baby shower, we lie about having other plans. If we are too tired to be intimate with our significant others, we lie about having a headache. When we are in school, we lie about our homework being eaten by a dog and when we look for a job, we put a few things on our resumes that may be a bit untrue. I grew up being told that lying is bad and I have told my share, but the national debt, care for the elderly and the future of our nation were never at stake. Right now, experts on both sides of the aisle have had to admit that the Romney candidacy is frought with more inaccuracy and more bold statements of falseness than that of any other major candidate in decades. We just don't seem to care and I just don't get it. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics

Yesterday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced the monthly unemployment numbers. Because they were better, and came on the heels of the Romney debate victory lap, immediately the Republican bloviates like Jack Welch, Rick Santelli and Rush and the other kooks said the numbers were skewed, dishonest, cooked and conspiratorially played with to secure a second term for the President. Even Mitt Romney, seemingly knowledgeable about how this stuff works, didn't join the chorus of these irrational supporters. He kept lying and showed some frustration with good numbers trying to minimize their impact, but he didn't accuse the President of dishonesty. Those who did, ought to be ashamed. The BLS is an agency of government, bureaucratic to the core. It is made up of lifers, from both political parties, pure bureaucrats that do their jobs, care about what they do and work for an agency unchallenged by both sides of the world of common sense, as to its integrity. The last time any President attempted to curry political favor with the agency was Nixon, who said the Jewish money people were against him and he tried to sway the BLS to see it his way. He was rebuffed and other than that attempt, the BLS has been accepted as an honest purveyor of statistical information related to jobs. Why weren't the kooks accusatory when numbers were not so good? You figure it out. Lastly, to listen and observe leaders of this nation show sadness over good news, is another reason to awaken all you sleepy heads. The Republican party and its leaders care more about re-electability than they do about you or America. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

You Get What You Deserve

It is clear, as in the past, that when a challenger has a good first debate performance against a sitting President, there is a new dynamic that develops. Certainly Mitt Romney had a good performance and is a practiced debater. Whereas the President was not at his best, he certainly upon re-review was not that bad, but you would't know it from the analysis. In fact, Mr. Romney is using the strategy that he was substantive and specific at the debate. First and foremost, he lied. He is a liar and has always been so. On every major political, social and economic policy, he has shifted. On foreign policy he bows to the neo cons and then tries to act knowledgeable and statesmanlike. Today the polls are showing some movement toward Mr. Romney on the strength of his renewed stump speeches and momentum from the debate. The President's supporters continue to berate his performace and pile on. Fact checkers have shown that the lies and distortions significantly tilted toward Mr. Romney. Having said this, there is no doubt that the debate has shifted the the political environment and added some pop to Mr. Romney's fault prone candidacy. I say this, if you want a liar in chief, a charlatan who cannot find a moral compass on anything, if you want a slick, untruthful person in the White House, vote for Mitt. You will get what you deserve. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Big Show

Tonight will be entertainment, a show, but not much else. If you don't know by now who to support then you are not one who really follows politics and have been quite distracted by other things. If you are tuning in to tonight's performance to get clarification on details, or full plans or to even see a debate, you won't. It will be about tie color, body language, zingers, barbs, jokes and one liners. The media will spin the event to favor candidates based on their biases and fact checkers will work overtime to produce facts that we all ignore anyway. So enjoy the big show. Watch it as you would watch reality TV and remember, there is nothing real about it. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

But I'm a Privileged White Guy?

From the outset of this campaign, Mitt Romney and the Republicans have quietly and not so quietly tried to paint President Obama as not "one of us". From birthers challenging his birthplace, from comments about Kenyan tribalism, to comments about his affiliations, the Republicans want to let the white folk in our country vote against Obama in huge numbers out of fear and out of a sense that this is a country defined by the whiteness of our original immigrants. As our country has continued to become the great mosaic of diversity that it is, we see our demographics changing. It is true that often minority voting patterns are smaller than caucasian participation so the strategy has worked somewhat in the past but not anymore. While Romney is losing every single major constituency group except white men, he desperately clings to the strategem of white privilege so as not to lose his base. I can hear him at home saying to himself: "I am a privileged white guy? How am I losing to this guy". He is losing because President Obama represents and understands the real American story. It isn't a story of privilege, it is a story of opportunity, and sharing and compassion. If the President holds on to win a second term, it won't be because of a slow recovery that tries our patience, but because Mitt Romney and his party are losing touch with America and its true greatness as a nation. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Debate Romney Style

Acccording to the pundits, Mitt Romney's chances may hinge on his debate performances being so superior to the President's whose must be a calamitous failure in order to move big blocks of voters toward the Republican. I wish to express my own thoughts. As you watch these debates one thing is one hundred percent sure, whatever Mr. Romney says, it will be the opposite of what he has said on the issue sometime in his recent political past. If he speaks moderately about health care in Massachusetts, remember he vows to attempt a repeal with a friendly Congress of the Affordable Care Act. If he expresses outrage at abortion, remember he was a moderate pro choice republican not too long ago. If he talks about creating jobs, remember he has supported outsourcing as a means to great profitability for himself and his clients. If he talks about small government, remember as the Olympic chair, he begged for and received Federal funds. If he talks about sabre rattling and war in Iraq and Afghanistan as Obama failures, remember he has zero foreign policy experience and has expressed repeatedly in the past that the US should not be in the business of nation building. If he talks about compassion for the poor, remember that he selected a running mate who supports dessimating programs that aid the poor. If he talks about public education successes in Mass. and states' rights, remember he wants to eliminate the role of the Dept. of Education and let Mississipi continue to fail and some states succeed. If he talks about college education support, remember he also said you should borrow money from your parents to do it. If he talks about taxes, remember he promised not to raise middle class taxes but his plan on his own website does this. If he promises a better life for working Americans, remember he was against the car bailout. If he talks about deregulation, remember that he loves regulations on the books that allow him to shield his income from taxes and that provide subsidies for big oil. If he talks about women as partners and leaders in our country, remember he supports canidates and a budget that will strip women of their ability to get important heath care from important agencies. If he rips Obama about how bad things are, remember he told Laura Ingraham on conservative talk radio that things are improving. If he bashes Obama on his economic policies, remember he used to support them as a moderate but now wants to go back to the policies that failed us 8 years ago. I can go on and on, but I won't. Whatever you hear, cannot be taken as truth. You cannot trust Mitt Romney to say what he thinks because he just doesn't think. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

ER

No, not the television program. This ER is the Mitt Romney plan for universal health care. We have it he says, you can leave your apartment when you are having a heart attack and go to the emergency room for treatment. That's it. Universal health care Romney style. Oh, wait, yesterday while bashing Obamacare he touted his Massachusetts Romneycare plan for universal coverage. Each day it becomes more and more scary that this man, with virtually no plan, no conviction or foundation based on principle or good judgement, is just 40 days away from possibly becoming President. If this doesn't scare you, then you need the ER. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

True Colors

Today, amazingly, the Speaker of the House conceded that President Obama may win re-election. By raising that possibility it may show that the reality of a Romney Presidency may not be as near as once thought. Having made this comment, the Speaker then doubled down and promised further obstruction, already saying no to a President still campaigning for re-election. The true colors of his party continue to spread like a peaocock's feathers. I think the Speaker may need to check the polls and realize that he himself may no longer be making those calls after January 1st. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

"Those people"

Mitt Romney says it isnt his job to worry about those who rely on their government for help. We better tell the returning war veteran not to get his prosthetic limb from the VA. or tell the poor kid not to use that college Pell grant.. Let us not forget to alert the senior citizen with Alzheimers disease that he cannot use Medicare for his pills and let us surely remind the unemployed white, blue collar worker not to try and get that community college job training grant. We can't help "Those people" Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Disgraceful Acts of a Desperate Man

Never before in recent memory, has a challenger so blatantly, unprofessionally and inaccurately attacked a sitting President while he engages in a response to violence abroad against our embassies. Calling the President a liar, challenging him on his response, all while our President grieves with the families of the fallen, without any intelligence information of his own, so inappropriately criticizing our efforts to diffuse the situation over a racist documentary that he doesn't even criticize, is the mark of a bad, unprepared and desperate candidate. Americans must look at Mitt Romney for what he is....an ill prepared, lying, directionless poor excuse for a Presidential candidate. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

9-11

May those lost rest in peace. May the families and friends remember those lost with fondness and may we never forget.

Vote Republican

If you believe that votes of your fellow citizens should be suppressed over a non existent issue of fraud, then vote republican. (This is racism by the way) If you believe that Roe vs. Wade should be overturned, vote republican. If you believe that programs for women's health care should be defunded, vote republican. If you believe that the Affordab;e Health Care Act eliminating pre existing condition waivers, extended care for college grads. and health care cost equality between genders should be eliminated, vote republican. If you want the current jobs bill that would add one million jobs immediately should be obstructed further, vote republican. If you want to increase tax spending on military equipment that the Pentagon has not asked for, vote republican. If you want to extend the war in Afghanistan and open more fronts of violence in Syria, Russia and Iran, vote republican. If you sincerely believe that trickle down economics works, then vote republican. If you want tax breaks for the wealthy at the expense of the middle class, vote republican. If you want to ignore 4.6 million newly created private sector jobs, vote republican. If you want to deny the fact that the stimulus bill saved conservatively, 2.5 million jobs, vote republican. If you are against saving the car industry, vote republican. If you are not satisfied with the killing of Osama and the dismantling of Al Qeda, vote republican. If you want to suppress freedoms for gay people and treat them as unequal, then vote republican. If you want to deny that natural gas production is up, prices are down, and the percentage of oil imports are lowest in the last 40 years, vote republican. If you think global warming is a joke, laugh at green energy initiatives and want more guns on the street, vote republican. If you want less money for college grants, vote republicans. If you want to see programs reduced for the poor, vote republican. If you believe giving a voucher to your grandmother for health care is better than Medicare, vote republican. These are not the ramblings of a supporter of the President but simply the platform items, ads, stated viewpoints of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan and the story they told. I have a choice and will make it, but if you like what they said, vote republican. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Proud and Still Inspired

When I listen to my President speak about education and the future, about green jobs and investment in the Middle class, about shared sacrifice and fairness, I feel proud to be a supporter of Barack Obama. Anyone who supports the other guy is not opening their eyes to some basic realities that were highlighted at the conventions. The notion of an entitlement President is disturbingly dishonest. The notion of government choosing for women is nauseating, the suggestion that we return to failed policies is just plain stupid. Sorry my Republican friends. You are represented by people who have been praying for bad economic news, who care little for this country, who promote ignorance and have picked two people that have neither a conscience nor an ability to tell the truth. Progress is always slow, and currently this is the case, but progress is better than moving back and truth is better than lies. We are better off today than four years ago and to deny it is to bury your heads in the sand. Two visions, one good, the other not. You will decide for yourself but I am inspired and hopeful. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Day Two

Nuff said.

10 Years Old

In 1980, Paul Ryan was ten years old but today, as the pre convention attack dog, he claims to know how to compare President Obama with Jimmy Carter. Mr. Ryan is a petulant little ass, with an extremely high opinion of himself. He loves to take liberties with the truth, from his marathon run to his blame game against others, while he took similar views and awful votes. I think at the end of the election, the Republicans will regret having selected Mr. Ryan who still acts like a ten year old. To disrespect a former President who he only knows from his handlers is another example of his mean spiritedness and inexperience. Jimmy Carter gave us peace between Israel and Egypt, warned us against our profligate consumption of oil and insured every hostage came home alive. The circumstances of his Presidency and the malaise in the nation at that time was captured successfully by Reagan who then went on to lead our country on a path toward economic insolvency, the results of today tied to his economic philosophy. Anyhow, while Mitt Romney prepares for the debates, trying to figure out how to backtrack and avoid falling into the trap of being caught with his many lies and shifting positions, Paul Ryan is out there shouting like a ten year old. I implore him not to shut up, but to keep behaving like the child he is. If he has half the life's accomplishments of Mr. Carter, he will be lucky. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Not Smaller...Just Different

If you want to simplify the rhetoric in our politics, then the Republicans want small government and low taxes with no regulation, and the Democrats want big government, higher taxes and regulation. This is easy to understand and 80 percent of us are unwavering in our beliefs that this is where the two parties differ. If you care to exercise your brain just a little, and think, and recognize the truth, these two easy to understand views are simply not based in reality. When George Bush left office, he had swollen the deficit and the size of government by almost 11 trillion dollars with every one of his spending bills endorsed for six years by the small government Republican Congress. It isnt that Republicans want smaller government, they want different government. They want the government to find you a job....if not, they wouldnt be complaining about anemic job growth under this President. They certainly did not care about jobs while they presided over the loss of nine million of them. They want government to decide what a woman can do with her own body, just not allow her to go to a government funded clinic for preventive care. They want defense to remain at 26 percent of the Federal budget but want to shrink the Education department and other programs. They want to raise the deficit through tax breaks for the wealthiest, they just don't want the deficit to rise through spending on unemployment insurance, Pell grants or food stamps. They want to give big oil tax exemptions, they just don't want to fund alternate energy initiatives. They want farmer drought insurance to be paid by the Federal government, they just don't want to spend on mass transit or bridge building. So it isnt about smaller government, it is about different government and unless one brave Republican says this and is honest about the difference, we will continue to go nowhere. Small government my ass. I hope the President says this, but I guess he cannot be so vulgar. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

If You Don't Watch

If you aren't going to watch the convention in Charlotte, then at least think about this. During Reagan's election against Jimmy Carter, he asked a simple question: "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?". What a great question, and the answer is what lost it for President Carter. Republicans are trying this approach again, but this time, it won't work. It is the wrong question. The question, if you are a Republican should be "Is the country recovering fast enough or not?" They win on that, but this isn't what they are asking, because if they did, they would be admitting to a recovery. I want to answer their question and I think you should too. Are we as a nation better off today than four years ago? YES We were losing jobs, now we are creating them. We were fighting two wars, now only one. We were contracting as an economy, now we are growing. We had a dying domestic auto business, now it is thriving. Banks were on the brink of bankruptcy, now they have mostly recovered and repaid their Tarp loans. The Dow was at 6,000, now it's at 13,000. Corporate coffers were depressed, now there is record cash on the books. Real Estate lost one trillion in value, now it is stabilizing. Inventories were swollen, now they are depleted with better manufacturing prospects. Everyone's taxes were higher than they are now. Natural gas prices are low and have offset the costs of rising gas prices. Our level of reliance on foreign oil is lowest in 40 years and improved since 08. Mortgage rates were higher in 08 than in 12. Osama Bin Laden and Muamar Qaddaffi were alive, now they are dead. This is just in three and a half years. I can list many aspects of our economy that continue to struggle and in fact, the recovery is slower than anyone wants. Deficit spending continues, and Congressional gridlock and games continues, but, the question as to whether we are better off as a nation is easy to answer. This is what the President will be discussing this week in Charlotte. You can focus on the bad, or you can answer the question honestly....then vote. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

It's Our Turn

The moment has passed. Mitt Romney gave a speech letting us know he loves his family. Very sweet. We also saw a conversation with a chair. This is appropriate in crazyland I guess. We heard Mitt Romney repeat the CBO estimate that normal economic growth will produce 12 million jobs in four years irrespective of who is President, so his number isn't anything to boast about. We also heard him say he wants to take care of your family while mocking global warming and ignoring his party's willingness to cut those programs your family needs most, like Health care? We heard him tell you he is willing to take us to War and lie about Obama's performance with Israel. I'm a Jew, Mitt, not you. So is Ehud Barak, Defense Minister of Israel who spoke of historic support from our President. We also heard him say he wants to care for the poor, but supports cutting their benefits and we heard not one word of thanks or appreciation for our troops in Afghanistan or any reference to the war there. We heard him mention college students, but he supports cutting Pell grants and represents a party that mocks intellectualism. We also heard another vague racist reference to needing an American to run our country. Red meat for his audience in the room. We also heard from Lyin Ryan, and that has already been pretty much vetted but the people in that room didn't care much about the truth anyway. We heard from his wife, but she ignored the realities of her husband's affiliation with the most extreme platform in recent history. We saw a parade of women in an effort to reduce the gender gap and Hispanic gap and we heard from young Rubio whose biography was manufactured to make him look like an escapee from Castro's regime. Most disturbing, we heard from Condaleeza Rice, a member of the cabal that couldnt find Bin Laden, brought us into war under false pretenses, declared victory when there was none and actually tried to take credit for Bin Laden's death as a Bush victory. Lastly, she spoke of civil rights, lunch counters in Alabama, poor schools for black kids and her own personal story while she accepts a party that is engaging in the most historic voter suppression since 1965, wishes to cut education funding, accepts Texas rewrites of text books denying the truth during the Civil War and accepting the unspoken draconian cuts to all non defense programs that would help the plight of the unfortunate in our land. Condi Rice's speech for all its eloquence was the most hypocritical and disturbing of all from my viewpoint. The balloons have dropped. It' over. Now it is our turn. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

From Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/08/30/paul-ryans-speech-in-three-words/

What She Didn't Say

Last night Ann Romney came to the defense of her husband. As a good wife, she attempted to humanize the man who many view as an unemotional automoton. To the extent that someone watching will change their mind or now support this man on the strength of his wife's speech, this blog is not for you. If you make decisons like that, then I cannot reason with you. What angered me the most about this speech is when she tried to convince us that their lives were filled with tough times and that it hasn't always been easy due to the illness that Mrs. Romney has, MS, thanfully in remission. I open my heart to anyone who struggles with illness and suffering. What Mrs. Romney didn't remind us, is that even though she struggles with this terrible disease, she doesn't have to worry about medical care or insurance or paying the bills for expensive care. Why? Because she is financially privileged. Her husband, who she asks us to support, will however on his first day in office ask Congress to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act, and anyone on Main Street with a pre existing condition of MS will not get insured, probably not be able to afford the care and will likely experience pain and suffering that Mrs. Romney is financially able to avoid. He also wants more tax breaks for himself at the expense of Middle Class America. This is what her husband will do as President. This is what you did not hear. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Bully Pulpit

This evening, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, my governor, will take the stage at the Republican convention and deliver the keynote address. The narrative about him is one of the biggest canards in recent political history. He was literally begged by Ann Coulter to run for President. The neo cons love him for his directness and small government pro business pretend bona fides and he has become a contender for future Presidential opportunities. The truth, as is often the case with this party, is different however. The governor is brash, is direct and is loud and obnoxious, good qualities if you are a prison warden, but his approach to his job has been hurtful to our state which is not performing according to the story Mr. Christie likes to tell. He demonizes teachers and their pensions as the root cause of the state's fiscal difficulties. He has promised property tax relief which has not materialized and instead has played funny math with pension contributions and projected revenues which have not materialized. He rails against the wealthiest New Jerseyans from paying a little more in tax, and has reduced funds to schools, only to restore them due to the State Supreme Court's judgement that he violated the Constitution with his draconian methods. He destroyed an infrastructure project, a needed tunnel, with job opportunities galore by lying about the level of cost to tour state. Under his leadership, New Jersey has the fourth highest unemployment rate in the nation, and this is NOT a result of Obama policies. The real story about Chris Christie is different than what his handlers tell, and despite his popularity in some quarters, he remains a bully, an arrogant and overly rambunctious and obnoxious, self serving man. This is who the Republicans are using to represent them and to deliver the red meat consumed by the party faithful. I for one will not be able to watch. I have a much more important task this evening.....to take out the trash. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Republicans

There was a time when moderate Republicans roamed the Earth. They believed in small government and low taxes, but they also believed that diversity is our greatest strength. They believed that those who are unfortunate need a protected safety net. They believed that compromise and accepting opposition points of view were essential qualities for doing the peoples' work and they governed. Republicans opened up barriers to trade, ended unpopular wars and believed that building bridges and roads and airports were good things to do. These Republicans deserved consideration during elections and were welcomed and most definitely the bulk of the party. Today, these moderates cannot co-exist with the extremist direction that the Republican party has taken. This intense move to the right, will cost them the election at a time when the incumbent is vulnerable. Today, I am embarrassed that this party has become so extreme and so unwavering in its obsession with the wrong things that I cannot in good conscience give them a second look as a voter. I have pledged to no longer try and convince some of my friends who are otherwise capable and reasonable people, that their denial of the extremist views of their party, makes them culpable for its heinous beliefs. The litany of those items that are frankly so extreme as to be borderline un American are too numerous to list, but as Mitt Romney tries to re cast himself as the beacon of future prosperity for all, as he tries to become a man of Main street and as he embraces the callous disregard for the unfortunate in our land, or the hard working young immigrants looking for a better life but deserving of no help or to solidify behind extremist views on abortion, health care, fairness, climate change and wealth, I only hope that those watching realize there is much more that we need to demand from our President. Republicans have become scary, uncompromising and hurtful to our nation. I am sad to say. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Vacation

Taking a needed rest from the lies and the bull. See you soon.

Recovery

Albeit a slow recovery for reasons explained in my past post, there is a statistic worth noting, one which was included in today's Bloomberg employment report. Bloomberg is not the most friendly media organization to our President but here is the statistic nevertheless: We have recovered 50% of the 8.8 million jobs lost during the recession during Obama's term in office. Is the glass half full or half empty? Guess it depends how much you love or hate our President. I thank him for his efforts. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Trend

Whereas a recent report cited the historic sluggishness of the economic recovery, within this report was also a citation regarding historic declines in home values prior to recovery. Over a trillion dollars in equity was lost, equity that would have been used by people to drive consumption and demand. As such, the middle class was hurt by far the most, since this group has most of their wealth in their home value. This fact has much more to do with the recovery than tax policy, business incentives, the national debt and Mitt Romney's taxes. Having said this, the recent spate of economic news is trending better. Unemployment claims remain below 400,000, jobs are still being created, inflation remains low, retail sales as just reported were up, permits for home building reached a four year high and all this despite no policies from Washington DC. If you notice, the economic message that Republicans are using to replace the President, is not as much of an advantage as initially thought. This is why you are seeing racial matters, Medicare, statements about Presidential power grabbing and mean spirited personal attacks entering the political arena very aggressively. If the message shifts by Republicans and they cede ther advantage to Democrats because of improving numbers, it will be a lost cause for them. They may actually have to deal with a Congress significantly in play in the election. All they have left is the hope of economic failure, a huge gaffe by the President, or a cataclismic unanticipated event. I am sure this is what they are praying for, certainly not a good news trend. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Reset

Mitt Romney's campaign is claiming that with Ryan on the ticket, he is resetting his campaign to focus on the economy. This is another Romney canard. It has always been about the economy. Romney does not like when we focus on his taxes or on his Bain experience, but these two elements of the campaign are undeniably about the economy. They represent the kind of economy that Mitt Romney favors....one that ignores the Middle class and focuses on the wealthy who he still believes will drive economic vitality contrary to all evidence. If the economy is to focus on jobs, Mitt Romney's various interpretations of his job creating ability at Bain have been confusing at best with no real number. The real number I know to be true is that 4.5 million jobs have been created under President Obama and a conservative estimate of 2 million more saved, in spite of the filibuster process led by Mitch McConnell and an intransigent House Republican majority. As far as tax revenues, most Americans believe that we should all pay our fair share. Mitt Romney believes that the wealthy are entitled to even more of an advantage as his tax plan shows, but he has not given us any indication as to how these additional deficit producing policies would be paid for? His VP pick would pay for them by cutting programs that support the middle class so at least we have a clearer picture from the number two....but wait, Romney is already distancing himself from his running mate's policy...so what does he really think? This is no reset at all. It has been about the economy all along and what kind of economy Mitt Romney believes in. The matter is clear. We have a choice and it is an easy one. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

A Bold Pick? I Think Not

Mitt Romney selected 42 year old House member Paul Ryan to be his running mate. Other than having some part time jobs as a youngster, Mr. Ryan's paid experience is totally on the taxpayer's dime so his claims about private sector job creation and growth may seem hollow, but nevertheless, this bright, young, energetic author of the budget plan that bears his name is not as bold a pick by Romney as some would have you believe. Desperate? Not quite. Good politics? Only if the economy re-enters an out of control spiral. Smart? I do not think so. Transparent? Certainly to me. Romney has seen slippage in the polls. The tax and Bain stories will not go away, and the base seems a little luke warm. So what does he do? He picks the guy that the Koch Bros. and the Tea Party folks and the right wing fanatics want him to pick. He stirs the base, but loses the rest of us. Condaleesa Rice? That would have been a bold pick. She is black, a woman and pro choice. Romney would have picked up some black support, some more women and may have even given a message that he cares about womens'issues. He may have been able to show that there is a large tent under which Republicans debate and tolerate alternative positions. That pick would have been bold. His pick is simply another knee jerk reaction to the extremists that continue to have him over a barrel. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Pot Calls the Kettle Black...or Half Black

Willie Horton and Swift Boaters against Kerry were two of the most damaging ads in recent political history. In both cases, the Democratic candidate was deeply affected and lost a lot of momentum and focus and ultimately the elections. Both these ads were filled with innuendo and an absence of truth. Negative advertising is always complained about and ridiculed by the recipient, but they are regrettably effective, thus they continue. Now, Mitt Romney is calling foul on the President for negative advertising, but isn't this from the Republican playbook? Sure it is. That's the pot calling the kettle black. Now Mitt Romney is complaining about his business experience at Bain being fodder for the ad buys. But, isn't his business experience the key issue for his supposed qualification for the Presidency? This inconsistency is troubling and is an obvious attempt by Romney to keep the truth from getting out. Well, I'd like to know the real story. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Dust off the Old Strategy

One thing is sure in politics....republicans love to race bait. They love to pit working class whites up against minorities and rail against the welfare state. Mitt Romney's new ad does just that. It is attempting to do two things....change the subject away from his taxes and role at Bain and stir up the passions of those blue collar whites who tend to be lower information voters. It doesn't matter that the ad is filled with lies...it doesn't matter that Romney himself supported such a states' rights prerogative when he was governor along with most other republican governors and it doesn't matter that it stirs up the ignorance and hate that still exists in parts of this country. I believe it is an act of desperation and America won't buy it this time, but nevertheless, dust off the old strategy and see if it works. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Word Terrible

Today I have made the decision to stop trying to convince Obama haters that they are wrong. The intransigence and denial that these folks harbor, including a couple of my own close friends, has made them incapable of listening to the truth and condemning the acts of those they support politically. The economy throughout the world is in a precarious state and yet, facing all these obstacles in addition to our own self inflicted wounds, we as a nation are growing. Slowly, unsatisfactorally but growing. This in spite of regular filibusters of credible jobs programs and an extremist right wing obsession with defeating our President. The standard bearer for the Republicans has a big problem with speaking the truth and continues to prove to be one of the least able candidates to show any conviction, vision or set of beliefs. If one wishes to ignore the economic facts of the years prior to Obama's Presidency, or ignore the extremist legislation being passed in republican states in violation of womens' needs or ignore the ending of an unjust and needless war, or ignore the false claims of voter fraud in an effort to suppress voting rights then so be it. BUT, if for no other reason than the killing of Bin Laden, this President deserves re-election. Yesterday Newark airport had a terminal closure delaying thousands because of a passenger breach of security. My shoes come off when I travel. I cannot bring more than twenty ounces of liquid to a Met game and I am searched when I enter a tourist sight. All of us are impacted daily as a result of 9-11 which remains etched in our souls. On that day, Osama Bin Laden directed a terrorist attack killing 3000 of our citizens. Bush and Cheney brought us to war, failed to accomplish the revenge we all desperately needed. Due to their failure, all of a sudden it no longer seemed to be important to them. It remained important to us. Obama acted decisively, with great risk to our Seals, but he killed the man we all so desperately wanted dead. Bush and Cheney, reckless incompetents failed, Obama succeeded. Today, Cheney said Mr. Obama is a terrible President. Such gaul, such arrogance and such bluster coming from a heartless, vindictive and monstrous man is just plain sickening. Thank you Mr. President. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Reminder

Before the Republicans and Mitt Romney try to spin a negative on today's jobs report, here is an economic reminder to all with the willingness to accept facts. Whenever there is increased confidence on the part of job seekers who are once again joining the job search community, unemployment rises. It is an indication of worker confidence. Additionally, today's increase was a rounding to the nearest tenth. The increase was in hundredths. Instead of Romney expressing confidence and goodwill toward a surprisingly good jobs numbers, he won't. Nor will his party who hopes that their do nothing strategy to kill economic growth, was enough to kill the President's prospects for a second term. Such bad, bad people. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Romney Tax Plan

This post is not tinged with political spin. It is fact based. If you still believe that trickle down economics works....that the wealthy will use their additional wealth to drive job creation and economic expansion contrary to all recent historic evidence, then support this tax plan. Mitt Romney, candidate for President, while taxation remains a key issue for Americans, has presented a plan that actually raises the taxes on the Middle Class and reduces them for the richest in the land. If you don't believe me, check it out for yourselves. Do your homework. The election is coming. Don't listen to me. Do it. Don't let your usual and customary political orientation cloud you toward the truth. Don't vote against your own interests. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

August 1, 2012

This post is for all you Romney supporters out there. Today marks the beginning of the next phase of the Affordable Health Care Act that polls continue to suggest people hate....but in decreasing numbers for sure. As of today the following services are required to be covered by Health Insurance companies with no co pay: Mammograms Contraception (reduces unwanted pregnancies and abortions) Annual Well Care visits for women Gestational diabetes screening for pregnant women. Family Planning and Conseling sessions AIDS screening Cervical Cancer screening Breast Feeding Counseling Counseling Services for Domestic Violence Your candidate for President vows to repeal the above on his first day in office (which Presidents' do not have the authority to do by the way) and Senate Republicans will again symbolically try and eliminate in a sham vote today. I only hope you never need the above services, or a loved one. Get your heads out of your collective asses. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Mitt Romney Cannot Learn

It is no surprise to my followers that I hate Mitt Romney as a candidate for President. I think he would be awful at the job and although I have looked for it, he has not been able to make any case for replacing President Obama. In fact, he is making the case against it, more and more each day. He simply cannot learn. He cannot read an audience. He cannot make a decision that isnt manufactured for him and again, he cannot learn. His gaffe at the Olympics may be fodder for the British press and of no consequence on our shores, but his transparent attempt at getting some Jewish votes by his ludicruous bluster and lack of information about our history with Israel is just plain frightening. I am an aggressive supporter of Israel, but I also know that Israel is a democracy, with free speech and an aggressive press. I have seen Israeli officials publicly argue for settlement building in opposition to American foreign policy. I have seen Bibi Netanyahu embarrass our President by meeting with a Congress that has not been helpful to Mr. Obama. The danger in Mitt Romnney is that yesterday he announced that he would never support speaking out against Israeli policy. He exhibited a dangerous and naive understanding of foreign policy and that kind of amateurishness would threaten our national interests. The moderates in Israel as well as the Palestinians, other nations and our own electorate are watching Mitt Romney. He is simply looking for every way possible to suck up to the neo cons, the tea partiers and the moderates all at the same time while dangerously proposing and spewing inaccuracy and frightening ignorance. This won't work. Americans need to wake up to this transparent man, with no conviction, no real vision and no idea what the hell he is doing. Yes, he is banking on economic failure but he is also risking his own chances by his obvious inability to learn. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

A Failing Grade

The European Financial crisis was not of America's doing. Even Mitt Romney would agree to that. With so much of our manufacturing capacity going for European consumption, obviously our growth would be affected and it is. But, in this country, in every state and almost every community, there are bridges, tunnels, airport runways, schools, hospitals and vacant properties just waiting for construction and improvement. These many well worth it projects would ensure a brighter future for our country. This infrastructure initiative as proposed regularly by the President has stalled in the Republican dominated House and filibuster prone Senate. There is just no way these buffoons can allow the President any success. The nation be damned. As I see it, while the economies of many other places confront serious recession, the U.S. continues slow growth which is evidence of our strength and power as an economic engine. The politics of this great land however are getting in the way of all that is good and hopeful and needed. A failing grade....depressing, deliberate and unnecessary. I call for a Constitutional amendment for a one term six year Presidency. Only then will these bastards in Congress do the people's work. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Mitt's Real Problem

It isn't a coincidence that Mr. Romney will not release at this moment, further tax returns. Even thought past campaigns have also had such a distraction as a momentary focus of the media, the difference is that we have not had such a rich man's man leading his party to the nomination. Mitt Romney is rich beyond belief. Where Obama watches basketball, Romney cruises Lake Winnepasaukee on his boat. Nothing wrong with this other than a man who claims to be for the middle class and Main Street, cannot seem to get out of his own way. I have often railed against those Americans who are too ill informed to vote for their own interests and would rather support a party that has abandoned equity and opportunity for all but successfully hides beyond the large government rhetoric. There is one thing that is sure, most of us regardless of party do support the wealthy giving more and do support the elimination of special advantages for the rich. Mitt Romney has taken advantage of these advantages as his tax records would show and with Obama ready to pounce on this hypocrisy, Mitt has figured this to be a fatal wound. He is right, but he is wrong that we will get off his back about it. Tough being scrutinized huh Mitt? Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Corn

Yesterday I called an orchard in New Jersey to hear the picking schedule for some local fruits and vegetables. A friend of mine gave me a heads up that it was time to pick some peaches. On the recorded announcement the message given alerted me that there would be no corn to pick. I didn't think much about it until I got into my car to drive somewhere and lo and behold, Bloomberg news was doing a report about corn. I was so taken by it that I decided to blog about it today. I had no idea the extent that the corn crop in this country can impact so many different issues and I will save the best ones for last because of the politics involved. The corn producing states east of the Mississippi have been experiencing an epic drought and temperatures in the hundreds over the last two weeks. As such, corn plants are not being properly or adequately pollinated. This is reducing the corn yield by billions of bushels. Less corn means that a major food source will be limited thus raising prices of it and related items. Beyond that however, corn syrup, high fructose sugar, cattle feed, ethanol proudction, tortillas in Mexico, soy beans as a substitute for corn thus limiting our supply globally, gas prices due to the ethanol component and the economic reality of the farmer facing such a crisis are only some of the issues being affected along with my inability to buy it locally. Incredible just how much corn impacts us all and the world. Farmers, generally are one of the more conservative and republican party oriented constituents. Many are beginning to admit that global warming may indeed be impacting the current situtation thus flying in the face of many in their party, elected officials in many cases, who deny the reality of climate change. Additionally, 70 percent of crop insurance policies are from the Federal government and the payouts will be extraordinary thus adding further burden to the taxpayers and the debt. How many of these farmers, from red states, wish to forfeit their policies in order to reign in government spending? How many red state senators from states affected, are willing to stand against the farmers and continue to deny global warming? What would Mitt Romney say? Where are you Americans for reason and truth? Sorry about the corn.

June Jobs

The summer is always a down period for politics. People are interested in other things. Pundits take vacation, investors invest less, and Americans worry about some rest, time off and outside activities. Only the cable operators and political spin machines are busy. Today's jobs report will be dissected and argued over by both candidates for President but all this noise is meaningless. The difference today, on an economy with 165 million jobs, between gloom and hope is 25,000 jobs. This amount is almost a statistical irrelevancy but those watching will be treated to extreme analysis on both sides of the philosophical aisle. Here is my analysis. The job creators have record wealth, but are tepid in their hiring. Not because of an overregulatory government but because of a world economy that is still struggling. In our country, 4 million jobs have been created in 3 years versus 8 million lost during the recession. 84,000 people found jobs last month and this fills a football stadium. The prior month was revised upward by 7000. For those working, they were given more hours, thus more disposable income and gas prices continued to decline. Our economy is growing, not receding, and a slow and steady pace still beats a recession any day. So if you want gloom, you can find it. If you want hope, it is clearly there. The Dow is almost 13000 and it was 6000 a few years ago. I will happily take the progress. If a ship is sinking and about to capsize but then brought upright, I will take that Captain any day. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Inappropriate Conclusion

Mitt Romney has stated after days of his advisors explaining things to him that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was wrong. Romney said Roberts did not come to an "appropriate conclusion". What training or legal background or Constitutional experience does he have that gives him credibility with his analysis? NONE. Typical Romney. A man with no vision, no ideas and no understanding of the nations' needs. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Big Tax

Licking their wounds, the Republicans are seizing upon Mitt Romney and the Cato Institutes' idea of an individual mandate being acceptable by the Court as a TAX. So, if you want to avoid paying the tax, follow the law. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Neither Purse Nor Sword

In approximately one hour from now, our Supreme Court will rule on Health Care. Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist 78 that due to [having neither purse nor sword]the high court will in essence be the weakest and least feared branch of our government. As I teach the Federalist Papers to my AP students, I always challenge them to explore this notion. I for one, believe it to be the strongest and most powerful branch having stolen its powers through an assumed role of judicial review which we have come to respect and accept. The Founding Fathers recognized the need for a small group of able minded men to make decisions for the rest of us in a three branch organization that checks and balances each other. They correctly believed that our inability as a total electorate to make the important decisions for the land was limted by our lack of exposure to information, education and time. Our Founders, however, were not the government of today. Today if you have an obnoxious personality, a loud voice and a stupid audience, you can easily get elected to Congress. We listen to lies because it is easier. We oppose things without understanding them and we answer poll questions without the foggiest notion of what we are saying. For instance, most Americans are opposed to the mandate, but most Americans have insurance so this view is meaningless. If the mandate prevails, their costs will actually go down. This is just one example of our incapability. Whereas when our nation was founded our government in general was made up of educated, experienced and well heeled men, today our elected officials are made up of those who are intellectually challenged, prone to slick and managed statements and personally attracted to money, power and fame. It isn't, regrettably, populated by the best amongst us. For the rest of us, with limited time, great apathy about the great issues of the day and lazy minds, we vote for people who are not capable of running our land. Due to this reality, the Court has lead the way. For example, were it not for the judgement that "Separate but Equal" is inherently unequal, there would be no Civil Rights Act. The court paves the way, and the rest of the government follows suit with legislation that follows their lead. Courts will tilt one way philosophically and then shift back, but it is made up of people with the sharpest and most intellectually curious minds we have produced. So, when they make their judgement in an hour, pundits from both sides will claim victory and defeat, politicians will continue to lie and distort, and campaigning will continue. The worst of our system will prevail in the short term, but the long term will be protected. Until we think for ourselves, judge in our best interests and smarten up, this process will co-exist with our ignorance. I must say, that President Obama has been a shining example of intellect and since many of us condemn the smart as elite and un American, he is in a tight race....evermore making my point. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

For the Record

Tomorrow the Supreme Court will rule on the Affordable Health Care Act. For the record, this is a law passed by Congress and signed by the President who did not initially support an individual mandate, but rather a single payer system. In essence, this law was not the first choice of President Obama so Obamacare has been a misnomer from the outset. For the record, the individual mandate was a Republican idea raised by President Nixon and most leaders of the Republican party as they obsessively railed against a single payer system. For the record, Mitt Romney signed into law signature legislation as Mass. Governor that required the purchase of health care, a mandate that he now denies as important while he hides behind states rights. For the record, the Supreme Court has beoome overly politicized to our great misfortune as a nation. When Earl Warren lead the court, he realized that the nation would never accept a split vote on the matter of Brown vs. Board of Education so he worked to insure unanimity through some arm twisting and much compromise but in the end the decision was accepted, grudgingly by some, but its impact was given credibility due to a unanimous court. Chief Justice Roberts for the record, is ruling a deeply split and divided court and these differences are manifestly apparent with each major vote. Bush v. Gore, 5 to 4. Citizens United, split and the public just as it has grown tired of Congress, is now giving the court its least popular rating in decades. These facts, for the record, will put tomorrow's decision in perspective if the mandate is struck down. I hope the justices took the nations' collective disgrace in protecting the health of its citizens more seriously than they took their personal politics. It is just too important. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

He Simply Cannot Sell It.

With a recent spate of economic news that is less than stellar, the President still retains a lead over Mitt Romney.....close, but the real fight hasn't yet begun and the incumbent has some serious bullets yet to be fired. Why you might ask is the President ahead? Because Mitt Romney cannot sell what he is selling because we don't even know what that is. He has nothing to offer except negativity and blame while six out of ten Americans still hold Bush responsible for the economic downturn. The most recent sales pitch is that the word outsourcing is not offshoring and Mitt only destroyed jobs that he replaced within the country with computers and mergers not with jobs in India. What a great argument to make while running for President. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Issa's Folly

Ask Americans who Daryl Issa is and they wouldnt know. Yet this Chairman of the House Oversight committee is in the news. His politically motivated attempt to embarrass a decent man and further attempt to hurt our President is disgusting. But watch out Mr. Chairman....your folly is about to blow up in your face. We just dont care. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Morally Bankrupt

With focus on the economy, often times the word bankrupt is used, but I would like to change its context for today's post and use it to describe Mitt Romney. He is morally bankrupt because he offers no view on anything, that is his own. His only consistency is in evoking the opposite of whatever the President says and does and then calls it politically motivated, like there's a shocker. Seriously, however, this man is a danger because on any given day and in any given moment, he will change his alleged convictions, spin them as if there was never any record, say the opposite and then take credit for something he never said. On today's Sunday roundup of news, Mr. Romney was simply unable to give a declarative answer on Obama's Immigration announcement. Why, because he was too busy weighing what the tea party and other influences would think, he was spinning, he was waffling and putting politics aside, he simply doesn't have a moral compass to guide him. He is rich, smart, but soulless and Americans, when they tune in, will run from him like a chicken running from the fox. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Dedication

Today I dedicate my post to the eleven remarkable students that have just completed their Advanced Placement, Government and Politics course. It has been my utmost pleasure to teach them, encourage them and guide them throughout the myriad challenges that are faced in understanding our Government and our Politics as a nation. My goal for them, during the course has only been to help them find accurate information on the most important issues of our time so that they can make intelligent and reasoned decisions as voters and citizens. I am confident that they will do just that. Great job kids. Thanks and always remember that We are the People. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Hold your Horses

Let's not make such a big deal over Scott Walker's win last night. It was expected. Union membership across the country is declining. The public has always during economic downturns resented unions and has responded to political demonization of them. Wisconsin is a highly divided state on cultural and rural/urban grounds. Tom Barrett was the same candidate who lost the last time and isn't accepted statewide. Lastly, those who voted yesterday would have given President Obama the edge over Mitt Romney by six points. Republicans will chirp that this is a national signal, entrench further in their opposition to growing the economy and run ads nationally about this win, but it is meaningless on the national stage, no matter which experts say it ain't so. Just hold your horses and wait till November. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas...Hopefully

On the evening that Mitt Romney officially garners the delegatges required, he continues not to disavow the birther comments from the bloviate Trump. I am sorry, but this diminishes whatever other potential characteristics his canididacy may have for some. Mitt Romney through his silence, by his parading at a fund raiser with the low life, multi bankruptcy filing reality TV idiot Donald Trump, he distances himself from the mainstream normalcy that happily makes up the American electorate. For Romney to think his affiliation with the Donald works for him, is another indication of how totally underqualified and how awful a man, Mitt Romney really is. He should have stayed in Vegas. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Class Size

Mitt Romney says class size matters little in the ability for students to achieve. When was the last time he taught a class of 35 students at once? This man, born to wealth, educated in prep schools, thinking it cool to bully others, is speaking as if he has credibility on the issue? With each passing day, Mitt Romney shows his inadequacy and unpreparedness for higher office. As a teacher, I am insulted that he speaks to me, a voter, with such an obvious lack of understanding or conviction on every major issue. Back to School for you Mr. Romney, or else you'll find yourself the richest Presidential election loser in history.....and I hope so. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Mr. Education

Mitt Romney is attempting to develop bonafides for every issue that he has zero experience with. First, foreign policy and his statements have been reckless at best. Next, he touts his job creation performance and we know what the real numbers say. Now he is trying to distinguish himself as an education expert...there is a role to play for the Fed. and lets keep local control. Standard BS. Oh, and by the way, he blames the teacher unions for blocking progress. More demonization from the phoniest fake of a candidate in my lifetime. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Mr. Tweet

If you follow Twitter as a political geek, you would notice that Mayor Cory Booker from Newark is a gold medal twitterer. Whether it be at a fire, or a restaurant, or shoveling snow, he uses this form of instant media activity with much vigor. Mr. Booker is considered a rising star in Democratic circles and a supporter of the President. The kerfuffle over his criticisms of negative advertising as nauseating are being used by the conventional media to drive a wedge between him and the President. It is the topic of the next few days for sure. Romney will use this in his ads to suggest the negative influences in media by Obama while ignoring the constant vitriol and bull coming from their ads and there it goes. What is most striking however, is the way Booker's comments are being portrayed. He condemned the negativity on both sides , not just the Dems. and it is being suggested that he is critical of Obama and therefore this could be a great media wedge issue as they battle for network superiority. No big deal. Political advertising is nauseating and so are the five justices that let this all happen. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Republican Anti Regulation Attitudes

A two billion dollar loss at JP Morgan Chase may not be much for the behemoth bank, but its leader has been considered one of the geniuses of the industry. In front of his nose, the loss happened. What about other banks? Just as we turn a corner from severe financial distress and a deregulatory atmosphere toward at least rhetoric for change, another scam, yes scam occurs, jolting our confidence in the financial sector. The President has been calling for tighter reigns on the industry and the public seems to endorse this, but no matter what happens, short of a repeat of 1929, Republicans will fight tooth and nail, anything that regulates or controls banks. Even Dodd/Frank, ridiculed by Republicans, is giving us a watered down approach to regulatory needs. Many Democrats in fact avoided support for the tougher controls that we need. The problem is that we as citizens think of banks as safe havens for our money, for our mortgages, for small business loans and for our basic money needs. What has happened, is that they have become purveyors of financial scams that we simply do not understand. Ask the average citizen about synthetic derivatives as hedges against loss and they would think you are speaking Klingon. As such, we have become slaves to an industry that develops portfolios and risky financial ventures that go unchecked and unexplained. Why the Republicans continue to shy away from needed reform and why Mitt Romney endorses such recklessness is reason enough to condemn this approach and stay the course with the President. Good Luck to my AP Government students who are about to take their test. They worked hard and my thoughts are with them. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The President's Role

As my Advanced Placement Government students finish their preparation for next week's test, I cannot depart from the fact that President Obama's declaration in favor of same sex marriage is an issue appropriate for our final discussions. It is being complicated due to the diverse moral and religious opinions and interpretations that exist but it is really simple. Let us suppose, today, a woman and a man who cannot bear children decide to marry and a State Government decides to disallow the infertile from marrying. Would those who view marriage as a union for the purpose of propagation be offended? Maybe so. and if not,they are hypocrites. Suppose a black man were to go to the polls to vote and immediately as in days past was excluded based on race, would segregationist bigots have a problem with this? Probably not. These two extreme views that exist within a minority of our people today, would have been mainstream opinions during periods of our history. Yet, today, laws to protect the rights and liberties of individuals have been passed to insure the American mosaic is protected as part of our diversity. To treat one individual or group differently because of a characteristic, is anathema to most of us and our nation continues to march slowly toward acceptance, tolerance and a higher sense of right and wrong. A President is in the job to execute the laws and the laws of this great nation are designed to protect our rights and liberties, not to make decisions based on religious fundamentals. I do not quarrel with or object to anyone whose faith and conscience does not have room for same sex partnerships but I do quarrel with those who use these ideas to deny others the freedom to be who they are and to have the rights they are equally entitled to. The President is just doing his job. Thankfully so. Mitt Romney has no understanding of the role he feels entitled to have. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Civil Rights

The President supports civil rights for all Americans, Mitt Romney for selective Americans. No matter how you try and spin it, no matter what forces religious conscience may compel, no matter what your fears of gay people are, one thing is clear, you cannot in America, deny basic rights to any one group, one orientation or one ideology. Our civil rights and liberties are guaranteed and protected by our Constitution and our Bill of Rights. Politics aside, homophobes aside and religion aside, people are people, not animals not property and not able to be denied the freedoms and liberties due to us all. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Seniors

President Obama is losing amongst senior citizens. None that I am affiliated with, but across the nation he is. Now this makes no sense and I hope it isn't because the most capable and most experienced amongst us have lost their way, but rather due to a temporary case of amnesia. Mitt Romney supports the Ryan plan which would gut Social Security as we know it. Mitt Romney condemns Obamacare and Government run programs but Medicare is single payer and follows the pattern that Romney callously dismisses. Seniors tend to be fixed income focused and yet Romney supports the old tired and failed trickle down economic theories that gut the programs seniors most dearly rely on while trickling wealth into the pockets of the few. Mitt Romney would have allowed the auto industry to fail and there are many seniors today whose working lives relied on the manufacturing jobs that used to be in America. Instead, Romney's experience as a venture capitalist supported jobs overseas and shrunk companies or destroyed them, favoring productivity increases at all costs. President Obama has protected this nation from terrorism and seniors have a disproportionate belief in American security moreso than other age groups. So, once this case of amnesia clears, seniors will do the right thing, and that is not to support Mitt Romney. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Let's Play Gotcha

While Presidents attempt to do their jobs in an election year, the opposition loves to play gotcha, often because they just don't have anything original to offer. This is obviously more intense when it is a first termer running for reelection. So the advisors to the opposition listen all day to news reports, and look for verbal gaffes or made up issues so that they can enter the news cycle to embarrass their foe. Republicans are much better at this than Democrats. Yesterday, the Flunkies in the Romney campaign took the monthly jobs numbers and went on their talk shows and spun the numbers to make it appear as if it is all Obama's fault. Gotcha Mr. President. Well, let me play Gotcha too. This President more than any other, knows that there are jobs waiting to be filled, but we simply do not have the trained experts to fill them. He talks about funding community colleges and training programs and offers stimulus to do it. Romney's party says No, college is elitist. Gotcha. The March jobs report which caused consternation for many, was yesterday revised upward to the original consensus estimate, therefore not making it so bad after all. Republicans ignored that. Anyhow, we have had eight consecutive months of over 100,000 new jobs, the longest streak in a long while. Gotcha. Republicans like to blame the shrinking unemployment number on people leaving the work force as both sides always do. If you look at who is leaving, it is mostly the expected baby boomer retirees who perhaps see a better time to do so now rather than compete with soon to graduate college kids willing to work for less. So, in essence, it is real reduction in unemployment, the lowest in three years. Gotcha. Gas prices are starting to come down and whereas Obama deserves the same non credit for this as he did for the rise, it still helps Americans at the pump. Gotcha. Game over today. Mitt, go campaign in Kansas where their legislature passed the most extreme and nonsensical non scientific abuse of womens' rights in recent history. This seems to be your kind of legislature since you have denied, forgotten and condemned your own moderate credentials. Leave the rest to the President. Gotcha. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Opposite

Yesterday in Virginia at a campaign rally, Mitt Romney was asked what he would do about the economy. His answer was that whatever the President did, he would do the opposite. So here is the Romney Plan....Study it well: -Tax Increases for every American. -The Dow at 6000. -Auto Industry left destroyed. -4 million less private sector jobs. -Unemployment trending up instead of down. -TARP program dismantled instead of continued. -Unemployment insurance extensions voided for long term unemployed. -Kick off all college grads. under 26 from their parents' Health plan. -Record corporate profits reversed. -Reliance on foreign oil to again go above 50% GREAT PLAN MITT. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Getting Worse and Worse

On September 11, 2001, over 3000 Americans were killed by Osama Bin Laden. After failed attempts to kill him, President Bush backed off from the priority of finding and killing him trying to change the narrative to hide his failures. As a candidate for President, Obama vied to get Bin Laden and to act alone if there was actionable intelligence to do so. Rudolph Giuliani supported this policy. Mitt Romney did not. Today marks the one year anniversary of President Obama's order to carry out the ultimately successful mission to kill Bin Laden and offer some sense of closure and revenge for that awful day. Presidents always take credit for their successess and try to mask their failures both during, after and separate from a campaign. The mean spirited swipes at this President by his enemies to deny the success and minimize it not only does an injustice to the bravery of those involved, but shows how singular in focus these people are. They care less for our country and more for their own self preservation. Particularly Mitt Romney who gets worse and worse and worse each day. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Chutzpah

The same aide to Mitt Romney who declared his candidate an etch a sketch in terms of his views...shake them, they disappear, and start anew, has the utter gaul, the utter chutzpah to say that the auto bailout was Mitt Romney's idea. Folks, when you stop laughing, get serious. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

A Calculator

When I need to do complicated arithmetic and my head is a little slow, I use a calculator. It is an object, without a soul, without remorse, without a conscience. I do not need or want a calculator for President, and we have in Mitt Romney, a candidate who acts like a calculator, without a conscience and without a soul. Mr. Romney looks at each issue as a calculation, a number in his vote tabulating head. He doesn't answer a question with any specificity or offer any opinion other than what today's numbers say. He looks at his stance with young people and says to himself, "Am I better off supporting the President on lower college loans or supporting the extremists who I need for the nomination." He doesn't say to himself..."Is an affordable education an important American value that is right"? When he goes around with potential VP candidate Marco Rubio, in an attempt to be seen as a supporter of Latin voter issues, he says to himself "since I do not have support from Latinos and have bowed to the right on immigration issues, I can reject immigration compromises and look like I support Latinos by going around with one". He doesn't say to himself "Isn't it morally right to allow people who for no fault of their own reside in this country due to their parents' decisions, with basic education and a positive pathway to citizenship because it is right to do". Mitt Romney is nothing more than a privileged American, wanting to be President and offering no vision of his own. He offers us a calculator. I can buy one in Staples. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

It's Our Time?

When Diane Sawyer interviewed the Romney's, the most extraordinary comment was made by Mrs. Romney. "It's our time" as if the Presidency was some mantle piece moving from one royal family to another. I was stricken by the pompousness and ridiculousness of such a comment. Mitt Romney has been running for the Presidency for almost a decade, spending millions of other people's money to buy the victory. He will get as close as ever this time, with a fifty fifty shot at succeeding but this interview was quite disturbing to me. The Presidency isn't a joke, it isn't something that is given to someone because of their age, or wealth or their name. The Romney's are due nothing from the American people. They represent the privileged few and this may entitle them to build elevators for their cars in their vacation home, but it doesn't entitle them to the White House. That must be earned and by my account, they have a long way to go. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?