Thank You Amy Klobuchar !!!!

On February 12th I sent this letter to Amy Klobuchar:

Dear Senator Klobuchar,I am a long-time supporter. I appreciated your words regarding remaining silent at this time in the super delegate process as we continue in what is shaping up to be a very exciting Presidential race for our nation and for our party.As you consider your position I hope you will consider the overwhelming support Senator Obama has received by the people of our state.I am a regular party active and have never before seen such crowds at a caucus.In my particular precinct 78% went for Obama. I asked several why and discovered that there were many first timers who turned up for Obama.These first-timers and the youth of Minnesota are energized about the possibility of casting their votes this fall for a Minnesota ballot that is headed by Barack Obama for President and Al Franken in the senate race.Like you, I hope this matter clears itself up long before you need to cast your super delegate vote. But if not, I hope you will give strong consideration to the opinion of the people you serve.Thanks for all you do.

Today, my favorite Senator from the Great State of Minnesota pledged her support for Barack Obama along with the entire congressional delegation from the state of North Carolina.

She was completely within her rights to do otherwise, but I for one am grateful that in this contentious time in the life of the Democratic Party she has chosen to follow the direction of the citizens of her home state.

I must confess that Amy Klobuchar was not my first choice when she first decided to run for senate, but her excellent work and her remarkable abilities and judgement have made me an avid supporter.

Imagine the work she and Franken will be able to do together for the good of Minnesota and the whole nation.

I do not Shop at Walmart

This story is one more reason why you should not shop there either. Pay the extra $1 per $20 to shop anywhere else.

My favorite Clinton

On Tuesday at Butler College in Indiana, Chelsea Clinton got a question.

The school's mascot is a bulldog, so the hyper-controlling campaign probably should have expected that the last question for Miss Chelsea would be about whether her mother's credibility had been, er, damaged by her response to dad's dalliance.

Chelsea Clinton's response:

"Wow, you're the first person actually that's ever asked me that question in the, I don't know maybe, 70 college campuses I've now been to, and..." then she paused for dramatic effect before concluding, "I do not think that is any of your business."

The 200 students applauded.

Clinton then showed all the poise of an old campaigner by saying, "And I don't think that should be the last question." She then ably handled an inquiry about global warming.

And that was that.

Perhaps, now, the Clinton campaign will decide that Chelsea Clinton -- who at this point is the only member of the family who has not embarrassed herself on the campaign trail -- can and should be treated as an adult.

But that won't happen -- not because the Clinton camp actually fears tough questions but because it easier to control the message by maintaining the "Chelsea's a kid" line. So they will.
And her mother and father will continue stepping in it while the most competent Clinton continues to campaign with training wheels rather than as the able adult that she is.

This is me being politically incorrect!!!

This is the latest "so-called" news story to distract us from important world events- like say, I don't know- THE WAR.

The pregnant man story is redicullous. I don't care what people do with their private lives. I really don't. However, a woman who chooses to have cosmetic surgery in order to make herself look like a manwho retains her female reproductive parts is still a woman. Her chromosomes will tell the story. Her existing and functioning female parts will tell the story.

Cosmetics aside, this person is still a woman.

What this person along with this person's mate choose to do reproductively is their business. I do not find the story socially redeeming. I do not find it to provide any particular advance to science (for good or ill). I do think it demonstrates a very creepy detail about the lives of two (or arguably three) people that makes me want to run away covering my ears shouting "La la la- I can't hear you!!"

I did not need to know. I think that at least one of these three people will regret the current media hype at some point. I also think that GLBT groups who are touting this as some kind of 'success' are missing - not making- a broader point.

What kind of a man- who sees themselves as 'trapped in a female body' would want to change the physical appearance but not the functions that make him definitionally female? A more cynical person, if such a person exists, might suggest that this man/woman is a publicity seeker.

I find the headlines deceptive and damaging. I find the apparent glee in reporting this story disturbing. But mostly, I just find it creepy.

I suppose that people will continue to stay glued to this story the way gawkers slow down at car accidents or train wrecks but I think the better course of action would be to impose on these people the privacy that they themselves are not wise enough to seek.

5 Years, 4000 dead, over 29,000 injured

and countless civilians dead and wounded in Iraq. and Dick Cheney says "so?"

They still say it was worth it.

Anderson Cooper Dissects Reverend Wright's Comments

If you click the link above, you will find that the most shocking comments were not actually Jeremiah Wright. He was quoting a former US diplomat to Iraq.

Anderson Cooper, who apparently deserves more attention from me than he has been given in the past sets the record clear on the whole sermon.

It is actually a pretty outstanding commentary on pour culture and government from a Christian perspective.

The other sermon- the one that the news and the right wingers keep trying to conflate with this one ( with the G-D America! declaration) is not part of this text. It was given, apparently much later and in a completely different context. I am eager to see the context of that one as well.

Richardson Endorses Obama-

There is no doubt in my mind that Barack Obama has the judgment and courage we need in a commander in chief when our nation's security is on the line. He showed this judgment by opposing the Iraq war from the start, and he has show it during this campaign by standing up for a new era in American leadership internationally," Richardson said.

Obama said he was "deeply honored" to have Richardson's support. "Whether it's fighting to end the Iraq war or stop the genocide in Darfur or prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists, Gov. Richardson has been a powerful voice on issues of global security, peace and justice, earning five Nobel Peace Prize nominations," Obama said in a statement.

Barack Obama as Commander -in- Chief

Click link above to see a 2:20 video clip or follow the link to read the whole awesome text of his second spectaular speech in two days. And before anyone accuses me of a bias against Hillary- give me examples of such speeches from her and I will gladly make them available.

What Am I still waiting to hear?

All day long, we have been hearing that after five years in Iraq the American people are more concerned about the economy. I doubt that is true. But to the extent that it is, I am looking for a candidate to make this connection.

Five years after we invaded Iraq in an ill-conceived, poorly planned, discretionary war- the situation there is less stable than it was when we went in, 4000 American live and hundreds of thousands of innocents have been killed or injured, the most conservative estimates are that this war has cost $three trillion and upwards.

We have never been asked as a people to make any kind of sacrifice for this effort- except to go spend money-

The Iraqi war and the economy are inextricably linked. In order to solve the economy problems we need to solve the Iraqi conflict. We need someone to say so.

President "W" gave a speech on five years in Iraq.

Was it worth it? What do you Think Bailey? I just can't watch this guy anymore. We killed Saddam Hussein- Yeah!!! But at what cost?
I think he has sad 'Saddam's Regeme' like nine times and counting. He claimed, without a shred of evidence, that the US is safer because of this action.

I have to turn this off but am looking forward to Keith Olbermann's take on this.

Since when does "W" pronounce the word 'horror' as horra- or is it whora?

I want Pat Buchanan to SHUT UP about Barack Obama and Race

This web site uses Pat Buchanan's own words to describe his various statements of bigotry over the years. His own extreme views makes him ill- equipped to even comment on the current flap. Certainly, since he has made such charged statements himself as Rev.Wright has made, I don't think he has a credible voice as to Obama's associations.

Barack Obama- In His Own Words (Click)

Video and text copy

I strongly recommend Campaign Process Reform.

Everyone always talks about campaign finance reform. That will never be the answer.I posted earlier about Bobby Kennedy not even entering the 1968 campaign until March 16th of that same year. And that was at a time when news didn't travel at lightning speed.I believe that congress should pass legistlation that would delay declaring candidacy until 'no earlier than January 15 of the election year" and that no primaries or caucuses should occur before March 15 of that same year.This tightened rocess would require the news to provide more balance. There would be less time to bicker and spend money on negative campaigning and I believe fewer people would enter the races.It worked in the early to latter part of the last century and I believe that with on-line access and 24 hour news cycles would significantly help in the process.Further, more states would have their contests at the same time and media created momentum would play less of a factor than regional interest in a particular candidate.These are my thoughts for the day based on the fatigue I am feeling right now about the process.

Al Franken on David Letterman March 18th

Be sure to check it out.

Calling them Out!!!

Keith Olbermann got this absolutely right in his special commentary regarding the Ferraro comment.

Be Clear- Keith did not compare the Clinton's to David Duke. He did not compare Ferraro to David Duke. What he said, referring to a comment Ferraro made in 1988 about Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign, was that the comment reads as if it is stolen from David Duke.

And all the while the Clinton surrogates keep race baiting Hillary Clinton manages to turn herself into the woman victim. She did it in New Hampshire. She continually accuses the media of 'picking on her' and throwing soft balls at her opponent while she attacks Obama on credibility and on security in ways that will hurt the party in November. Can anyone name another campaign in our history that has been so masterful in its ablity to influence, shape and threaten the medai to get the stories to play there way?

Can anyone name in our history another candidate where the talking heads from the opposing ideology lined up to support them as the candidate. Hillary Clinton has had the right wing frothing at the mouth since before she announce her 'decision' to run.

Make no mistake, they want to run against Hillary Clinton.

Now Ferraro, while making statements that, if not racist in their intent, make me cringe by their stupidity- she accuses the Obama campaign of unfairness and introducing race into the campaign.

The worst part of this whole campaign is that Hillary's image is getting tarnished in ways that can never be undone. In the 90's we lived with the fact that Bill Clinton was a political animal- to the point of lack of scruples. This campaign is reaching to depths that we have never seen before. He may be behind it but her name is on the front of it.

What would Hillary Clinton, or Geraldine Ferraro for that matter, say if someone of prominence in the party wee to say that the only reason she is in her position is because she is a woman.

The fact is, we already know. When Chris Matthews made a comment complimenting her strength in dealing with the issues of her past- her campaign twisted the statement to a point where it was no longer recognizable and accused him of totally discrediting every accomplishment of her carreer because she is a woman who handled being a victim with grace.

When she reacted so heavy handedly to a tv talking head, did anyone accuse her of introducing gender into the campaign? No.

So how is it that when Obama says that the comments made by Geraldine Ferraro are 'unfortunate, divisive and ridiculous' it can be said that the Obama campaign introduced race into the campaign.

There is no denying the racial nature of what Ferraro said. It is doubtful that Ferraro had racist intent. But for her to deny, time and again, that saying a man is only where he is because he is black is definitionally racist, is intellecually dishonest.