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?