We have failed our duty as citizens...

A Day in the Life of a TRUE Conservative

2010-11-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

Joe Conservative wakes up in the morning and goes to the bathroom. He flushes his toilet and brushes his teeth, mindful that each flush & brush costs him about 43 cents to his privatized water provider. His wacky, liberal neighbor keeps badgering the company to disclose how clean and safe their water is, but no one ever finds out. Just to be safe, Joe Conservative boils his drinking water.

Joe steps outside and coughs–the pollution is especially bad today, but the smokiest cars are the cheapest ones, so everyone buys ‘em. Joe Conservative checks to make sure he has enough toll money for the 3 different private roads he must drive to work. There is no public transportation, so traffic is backed up and his 10 mile commute takes an hour.

On the way, he drops his 12 year old daughter off at the clothing factory she works at. Paying for kids to go to private school until they’re 18 is a luxury, and Joe needs the extra income coming in. Times are hard and there’re no social safety nets.

He gets to work 5 minutes late and misses the call for Christian prayer, and is immediately docked by his employer. He is not feeling well today, but has no health insurance, since neither his employer nor his government provide it, and paying for it himself is really expensive, since he has a precondition. He just hopes for the best.

Joe’s workday is 12 hours long, because there is no regulation over working hours, and Joe will lose his job if he complains or unionizes. Today is an especially bad day. Joe’s manager demands that he work until midnight, a 16 hour day. Joe does, knowing that he’ll lose his job if he does not.

Finally, after midnight, Joe gets to pick up his daughter and go home. His daughter shows him the deep cut she got on the industrial sewing machine today. Joe is outraged and asks why she doesn’t have metal mesh gloves or other protection. She says the company will not provide it and she’ll have to pay for it out of her own pocket. Joe looks at the wound and decides they’ll use an over the counter disinfectant and bandages until it heals. She’ll have a scar, but getting stitches at the emergency room is expensive.

His daughter also complains that the manager made suggestive overtures towards her. Joe counsels her to be a “good girl” and not rock the boat, or she’ll get fired and they’ll be out the income.

His daughter says she can’t wait until she’s 18 so she can vote for change or go to the Iraq War.

They get home and there’s a message from his elderly father who can’t afford to pay his medical or heating bills. Joe can hear him coughing and shivering.

Joe turns on the radio and the top story is a proposal in Congress to raise the voting age to 25. A rare liberal opinionator states that it’s an attempt to keep power out of the hands of working class Americans. The conservative host immediately quashes him, calling him “a utopian idealist,” and agreeing that people aren’t mature enough to make good choices until they’re at least 25.

Joe chuckles at the wine-swilling, cheese eating liberal egghead and thinks, “Thank God I live in America where I have freedom!”

Note: This reverse on the riff was copied directly from Thom Hartmann's website. The site is marked "(c) Copyright 1996-2007, Mythical Intelligence, Inc. and Thom Hartmann", however, Thom says of the piece in reply to a request for authorship of item/permission to reprint: "It's not original to me...".

Essay: A Day In The Life of Joe Conservative

2010-11-29T16:20:00.000-07:00

Joe gets up at 6 a.m. and fills his coffeepot with water to prepare his morning coffee. The water is clean and good because some tree-hugging liberal fought for minimum water-quality standards. With his first swallow of water, he takes his daily medication. His medications are safe to take because some stupid commie liberal fought to ensure their safety and that they work as advertised.

All but $10 of his medications are paid for by his employer's medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance -- now Joe gets it, too.

He prepares his morning breakfast: bacon and eggs. Joe's bacon is safe to eat because some girly-man liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.

In the morning shower, Joe reaches for his shampoo. His bottle is properly labeled with each ingredient and its amount in the total contents because some crybaby liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contained.

Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some environmentalist wacko liberal fought for the laws to stop industries from polluting our air.

He walks on the government-provided sidewalk to the subway station for his government-subsidized ride to work. It saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees because some fancy-pants liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.

Joe begins his work day. He has a good job with excellent pay, medical benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some lazy liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe's employer pays these standards because Joe's employer doesn't want his employees to call the union.

If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed, he'll get a worker compensation or unemployment checks because some stupid liberal didn't think he should lose his home because of his temporary misfortune.

It is noontime and Joe needs to make a bank deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe's deposit is federally insured by the FSLIC because some godless liberal wanted to protect Joe's money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the Great Depression.

Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae-underwritten mortgage and his below-market federal student loan because some elitist liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his lifetime. Joe also forgets that in addition to his federally subsidized student loans, he attended a state funded university.

Joe is home from work. He plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive. His car is among the safest in the world because some America-hating liberal fought for car safety standards to go along with the taxpayer funded roads.

He arrives at his boyhood home. His was the third generation to live in the house financed by Farmers' Home Administration because bankers didn't want to make rural loans.

The house didn't have electricity until some big-government liberal stuck his nose where it didn't belong and demanded rural electrification.

He is happy to see his father, who is now retired. His father lives on Social Security and a union pension because some wine-drinking, cheese-eating liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn't have to.

Joe gets back in his car for the ride home, and turns on a radio talk show. The radio host keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. He doesn't mention that the beloved conservatives have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day. Joe agrees: "We don't need those big-government liberals ruining our lives! After all, I'm a self-made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have."

Note: This was originally published (anonymously) under the title A Day in the Life of Joe Republican. But this is a misnomer. In the last 140 years, the Republican and Democratic parties have switched sides several times, with one being conservative and the other being liberal. But labels and party affiliations change. What doesn't change are the underlying political philosophies of liberalism and conservatism, and the fact that the liberals usually turned out to be right and the conservatives turned out to be wrong. And so it goes.

I want this on a sign for my front yard...

2010-11-11T23:00:00.000-07:00

Being loud, rude, and ignorant is not a political movement.

It is just bad manners.

[snagged from We Survived Bush. You Will Survive Obama.]

Diagramming Sarah

2010-11-11T00:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel like listening to Sarah Palin is like playing AdLib... or those magnet word games. Just throw her catch words and phrases into a hat, pull them out in random order, add some conjunctions and prepositions... VOILA! You can now sound just like Sarah!!

For example...

I am qualified for this job because I'm patriotic. I got a college education at America and I majored in flags. I consider myself very great because I'm a patriot. I'll be working to support absolute rulings. I'm looking for a job that pays between one and one billion dollars a year.

I have experience using good freedoms and a constitution. I have a real patriotic attitude that makes me good for freedom. I think these, among many other qualifications, make me the most patriotic candidate for this job.

Sincerely,

Sarah

But seriously, to those of us who actually appreciate the English language, isn't listening to Sarah speak similar to listening to a third grader practicing their recorder? It is so PAINFUL for our ears!!

Remember in English classes, when we had to diagram sentences? Diagramming Sarah would be a whole new level of hell. Of course, someone has tried to do just that...

"The more the diagram is forced to wander around the page, loop back on itself, and generally stretch its capabilities, the more it reveals that the mind that created the sentence is either a richly educated one—with a Proustian grasp of language that pushes the limits of expression—or such an impoverished one that it can produce only hot air, baloney, and twaddle."

Guess which category I think Sarah falls under...

WTF has Sarah Palin done so far?

2010-11-10T23:22:00.001-07:00

Besides run out on Alaska, make $12 million dollars, and go to Canada to use THEIR health care services?

WTF has Sarah Palin done so far??

This is what we wanted... now do we have the stones to support it?

2010-11-10T23:08:00.003-07:00

Probably not. Most cry out to reduce deficit... but as long as someone ELSE is impacted. Don't cut our Medicare or our Social Security, don't raise our taxes or age of retirement, don't cut defense or other programs.

Well, welcome to the grown-up world, folks. When we have to tighten our budget at home, we have to cut back on our expenses... our lattes, our nights out, our movie channels, our cuts of meat, our brand of food or clothing. We have to increase our income... the second job (or third in some families), change jobs, go back to school.

In other words, it hurts. Our egos, our energy, our fun times.

But that is the price we have to pay for our lack of planning, our overspending, our indulgences, our poor choices, and/or our neglect in observing that we were on a runaway train.

$4 trillion in deficit cuts proposed

UPDATE: I'm not saying that I want our Social Security cut... all I'm saying is that our debt is out of control and in order to make our country strong again, it's going to take all of us sacrificing together. Every adjustment is going to cost somebody.

And, as cold as this sounds, WE are the ones who are responsible (even if we didn't vote for Bush or support the war or whatever) for the current debt... NOT OUR CHILDREN. We should be the ones who get our country back on track so future generations don't have to deal with the consequences of our apathy, our stupidity, our ignorance, our egos, etc. They deserve a strong America with a healthy economy. This is America's "death tax" that we are expecting our children to pay? I don't think so...

We broke it, we fix it.

Republicans Don't Care About the Deficit or Helping Unemployed Workers

2010-11-10T22:58:00.000-07:00

Some of us saw this coming. We call ourselves "Democrats".

After spending the past few months convincing the public of their grave concern for the deficit and the American people, what is the first thing the GOP goes to the mat for during the post-election legislative session?

A deficit-funded $700 billion tax giveaway to the wealthiest of Americans.

[Click heading for the full article.]

I would love it if someone could explain this to me...

2010-11-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

If lowering taxes and eliminating regulations created jobs, then how come Bush, after taking account how long he’d been in office, showed the worst track record for job creation since the government began keeping records.

Bush had the WORST PRIVATE SECTOR JOB CREATION IN 75 YEARS.

And how come President Obama is kicking Bush's ASS in job creation with all of his "taxing" and "regulations"?

Jobs Lost: Comparison between Bush and Obama

It's Official: More Private Sector Jobs Created in 2010 than Entire Bush Years

Payroll Expansion Chart, per President

I truly do not understand why some people want to return to the Bush level of "prosperity"...

Facts and information are just SO inconvenient, I know...

2010-11-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

But I really really wish that those RADICAL EXTREMIST CONSERVATIVES would take the time to actually research Health Reform before they start regurgitating the vomit they are being fed by the notoriously inaccurate Faux Noise and the GOP handpuppets...

It's good enough for them, but not for the rest of America.

2010-11-08T01:56:00.000-07:00

I think it's despicable that individuals making $170,000+ per year as well as receiving the BEST heath care program in the United States that pays for 75% of their premiums as well as providing on-site doctors and services at the taxpayer's expense will then declare war on the rest of America who are only asking for affordable access to something similar.

The insurance available to ME alone will cost about 20% of my paycheck and barely covers anything. I make less than $14,000 per year. When I broke my leg, I missed almost two months of work and have all of the medical bills still waiting for me (as I cannot afford the insurance program offered to me). I feel blessed that my boss held my position open for me when I healed.

This is NOT about pride or getting off the government TEAT. This is about being able to provide for me and my children, even in times of injury or illness.

Promises, promises...

2010-11-08T01:52:00.000-07:00

It's easy to scam you if you let them frighten you...

2010-11-08T01:50:00.000-07:00

When INCOME directs OUTCOME, Democracy fails.

2010-11-08T00:27:00.001-07:00

DeMint Says No Lifting Debt Ceiling Without Cuts

2010-11-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

I almost feel sorry for the idiots who voted for DeMint and his partners in crime. I doubt these politicians even kissed them or bought them dinner before they screwed them, just a bunch of flowery promises. Wham! Bam! Thank You, Ma'am. Don't look on the nightstand, and don't hold your breath.

I said I almost feel sorry for them. We tried to warn them that they were only being courted for their votes... not our fault they fell on their backs so quickly and easily.

DeMint Says No Lifting Debt Ceiling Without Cuts Then Can't Name Any Specifics Besides Earmarks | Video Cafe

What I wish the extremist radical conservatives would discuss...

2010-11-07T21:59:00.003-07:00

...instead of calling names, changing subjects, or just ignoring the question altogether...

If raising taxes and eliminating regulations created jobs, then how come Bush, once taking account how long he’d been in office, showed the worst track record for job creation since the government began keeping records. ESPECIALLY compared to Clinton.

And how come President Obama is kicking Bush's ASS in job creation with all of his "taxing" and "regulations"?

Business Insider: Jobs Lost in Bush and Obama Administrations

News Junkie: It's Official: More Private Sector Jobs Created in 2010 Than During Entire Bush Years

Payroll Expansion by President

More visuals...

2010-11-07T21:40:00.002-07:00

Sometimes a picture can say more than an essay...

2010-11-07T21:14:00.004-07:00

Republican Sex and Marriage Advice: Different Political Parties

2010-11-03T13:21:00.000-06:00

"...since you are obviously not Republican..."

While some are patting themselves on the backs...

2010-11-03T08:54:00.000-06:00

...do not fool yourselves into thinking that this was about the Republicans and that Americans have spoken.

This was not about how your plan was better (what f***ing plan?? It was a joke!).

This was not about President Obama ruining our country (even though many Americans with anal-cranial obstruction syndrome seem to slurp up the vomit you've been regurgitating for them).

This was not about a sincere desire to return to the glory days of Bush.

This is a testament to how successful the Republicans, the Mad Hatters--excuse me, TEA PARTIERS, Faux Noise, and all of those blathering idiots are at stirring up fear, hatred, and anger in the least informed of our citizens. You want to keep them stupid and you succeeded.

So, if THAT is something to be proud of, then be proud. Because that is what your victory is all about. Ignorance, fear, and misplaced anger. I hope your God is impressed because mine is not.

"An Open Letter to the White Right"

2010-11-03T08:23:00.000-06:00

For all y’all rich folks, enjoy that champagne, or whatever fancy ass Scotch you drink.

And for y’all a bit lower on the economic scale, enjoy your Pabst Blue Ribbon, or whatever shitty ass beer you favor.

Whatever the case, and whatever your economic station, know this…

You need to drink up.

And quickly.

And heavily.

Because your time is limited.

Real damned limited.

So party while you can, but mind the increasingly loud clock ticking away in the corners of your consciousness.

The clock that reminds you how little time you and yours have left.

Not much more now.

Tick, tock.

Tick.

Tock.

I know, you think you’ve taken “your country back” with this election – and of course you have always thought it was yours for the taking, cuz that’s what we white folks are bred to believe, that it’s ours, and how dare anyone else say otherwise – but you are wrong.

You have won a small battle in a larger war the meaning of which you do not remotely understand.

‘Cuz there is nothing even slightly original about you.

There have always been those who wanted to take the country back.

There were those who, in past years, wanted to take the country back to a time of enslavement and indentured servitude.

But they lost.

There were those who wanted to take us back to a time when children could be made to work in mines and factories, when workers had no legal rights to speak of, when the skies in every major city were heavy with industrial soot that would gather on sidewalks and windowsills like volcanic ash.

But they lost.

There were those who wanted to take us back to a time when women could not vote, or attend any but a few colleges, or get loans in their own names, or start their own businesses.

But they lost.

There were those who wanted to take us back to a time when blacks “had no rights that the white man was bound to respect,” – this being the official opinion of the Supreme Court before those awful days of judicial activism, now decried by the likes of you – and when people of color could legally be kept from voting solely because of race, or holding certain jobs, or living in certain neighborhoods, or run out of other towns altogether when the sun would go down, or be strung up from trees.

But they lost.

And you will lose.

So make a note of it.

Tweet it to yourself.

Put it on your Facebook wall and leave it there so you’ll remember that I told you so.

It is coming, and soon.

This isn’t hubris. It isn’t ideology. It is not wishful thinking.

It is math.

Not even advanced math. Just simple, basic, like 3rd grade math.

The kind of math that proves how your kind – mostly older white folks beholden to an absurd, inaccurate, nostalgic fantasy of what America used to be like – are dying.

You’re like the bad guy in every horror movie ever made, who gets shot five times, or stabbed ten, or blown up twice, and who will eventually pass – even if it takes four sequels to make it happen – but who in the meantime keeps coming back around, grabbing at our ankles as we walk by, convinced that you’re really dead this time.

Fair enough, and have at it. But remember, please, how this movie ends.

Our ankles survive.

You do not.

Michael Meyers, Freddie Kreuger, Jason, and that asshole husband in that movie with Julia Roberts who tracks her down after she runs away and changes her identity – they are all done. Even that crazy fucker in Saw is about to be finished off for good. Granted, he’s gonna be popping out in some 3-D shit to scare the kiddies, so he isn’t going quietly. But he’s going nonetheless, as all bad guys eventually do.

And in the pantheon of American history, old white people have always been the bad guys, the keepers of the hegemonic and reactionary flame, the folks unwilling to share the category of American with others on equal terms.

Fine, so screw you then.

Because you’re a dying breed.

On the endangered list.

And unlike say, the bald eagle or some exotic species of muskrat, you are not worth saving.

In forty years or so, maybe fewer, there won’t be any more white people around who actually remember that Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best, Opie-Taylor-Down-at-the-Fishing Hole cornpone bullshit that you hold so near and dear to your heart.

There won’t be any more white folks around who think the 1950s were the good old days, because there won’t be any more white folks around who actually remember them, and so therefore, we’ll be able to teach about them accurately and honestly, without hurting your precious feelings, or those of the so-called “greatest generation” — a bunch of miscreants who saved the world from fascism only to return home and oppose the ending of it here, by doing nothing to lift a finger on behalf of the civil rights struggle.

So frankly, to hell with you and all who revere you.

By then, half the country will be black or brown. And there is nothing you can do about it.

Nothing, Senõr Tancredo.

Nothing, Senõra Angle, or Senõra Brewer, or Senõr Beck.

Loy tiene muy mal, hijo de Puta.

And by then you will have gone all in as a white nationalist movement – hell you’ve all but done that now – thus guaranteeing that the folks of color, and even a decent size minority of us white folks will be able to crush you, election after election, from the Presidency on down to the 8th grade student council.

Like I said, this shit is math, baby. And numbers don’t lie.

Bottom line, this too shall pass.

So enjoy your tax cuts a while longer.

Go buy whatever you people buy when your taxes get cut – a new car or two, a bigger house, an island – whatever.

Go back to trading your derivatives, engaging in rampant financial speculation that produces nothing of value, that turns the whole world into your personal casino. Whatever.

Play your hand, and for the love of God play it big. Real big. As in, shoot for the moon big. As in, try to privatize Social Security, and health care, and everything else. Whatever.

At least that way everyone else will be able to see what you’re really about.

We’ve been trying to tell them, but nothing beats seeing it with your own eyes, so “Go big or go home,”Bubba.

“Git ‘er Done.”

“Cowboy up,” or whatever other stupid-ass catch phrase strikes your fancy.

Just promise you’ll do more than talk this time.

Please, or as one of your celluloid heroes might put it, “make my day.”

Do whatever you gotta do, but remember that those who are the victims of your greed and indifference take the long view.

They know, but you do not, that justice is not for the sprinters, but rather for the long distance runners who will be hitting their second wind, right about the time that you collapse from exhaustion.

They are like the tortoise to your hare.

They are like the San Francisco Giants, to your New York Yankees: a bunch that loses year after year after year, until they finally win.

You have had this confidence before, remember?

You thought you had secured your position permanently after the overthrow of reconstruction in the wake of the civil war, after the elimination of the New Deal, after the Reagan revolution, after the Republican electoral victory of 1994. And yet, they who refuse to die are still here.

Because those who have lived on the margins, who have been abused, maligned, targeted by austerity measures and budget cuts, subjected to racism, classism, sexism, straight supremacy and every other form of oppression always know more about their abusers than the abusers know about their victims.

They have to study you, to pay careful attention, to adjust their body armor accordingly, and to memorize your sleep patterns.

You, on the other hand, need know nothing whatever about them. And this, will surely prove fatal to you in the end. For it means you will not know their resolve. Will not fear it, as you should.

It means you will take their greatest strength – perseverance – and make of it a weakness, called losing.

But what you forget, or more to the point never knew, is that those who lose know how to lose, which is to say they know how to lose with dignity.

And those who suffer know how to suffer, which is to say they know how to survive: a skill that is in short supply amid the likes of you.

You, who could not survive the thought of minimal health care reform, or financial regulation, or a marginal tax rate equal to that which you paid just 10 years earlier, perhaps are under the illusion that everyone is as weak as you, as soft as you, as akin to petulant children as you are, as unable to cope with the smallest setback, the slightest challenge to the way you think your country should look and feel, and operate.

But, surprise…they are not.

And they know how to regroup, and plot, and plan, and they are planning even now – we are – your destruction.

And I do not mean by that your physical destruction. We don’t play those games. We’re not into the whole “Second Amendment remedies, militia, armed resistance” bullshit that your side fetishizes, cuz, see, we don’t have to be.

We just have to be patient.

And wait for your hearts to stop beating.

And stop they will.

And for some of you, real damned soon truth be told.

Do you hear it?

The sound of your empire dying? Your nation, as you knew it, ending, permanently?

Because I do, and the sound of your demise is beautiful.

So know this.

If you thought this election was payback for 2008, remember…

Payback, thy name is…

Temporary.

--Tim Wise

Republicans, thanks for having your priorities straight...

2010-11-03T07:59:00.000-06:00

They are very proud of their "We will fight anything Obama/Democrats try to do".. They don't care who suffers. They don't care if it was THEIR idea first. All they care about is sabotaging America for their own ego and desire to be in power.

Anal blockage. And lots of it.

What Republicans have blocked...

Not that it matters to them...

2010-11-03T07:53:00.000-06:00

I only have one Republican friend who admits to actually reading the research I provide... the rest flat out state that they REFUSE to look at anything that could possibly inform them of anything that doesn't fit in their box of crayons. They are PROUD of being ignorant. PROUD of their hatred. PROUD of their stubbornness.

I know they won't look at this either but it does seem to be written JUST FOR THEM...

WHAT THE FUCK HAS OBAMA DONE SO FAR???

Simple explanation for our national debt... what they forget to tell us...

2010-10-25T09:00:00.001-06:00

n 1981, the country had just elected Reagan to cure the "all-time-high, Trillion-Dollar debt." But compared with the size of the American economy, the debt was at its lowest point in fifty years. Reagan was duped by the "supply siders" and his greatest "disappointment" was adding $1.6 trillion to the $1T debt he said was catastrophic.

Now, here's the new slide show that explains what happened step by step. In case you have questions, it's documented here.

So, NOW you are mad? This is why I don't take you seriously...

2010-10-25T08:04:00.002-06:00

After The 8 Years Of The Bush/Cheney Disaster, Now You Get Mad?

You didn't get mad when the Supreme Court stopped a legal recount and appointed a President.

You didn't get mad when Cheney allowed Energy company officials to dictate Energy policy and push us to invade Iraq .

You didn't get mad when a covert CIA operative got outed.

You didn't get mad when the Patriot Act got passed.

You didn't get mad when we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us. You didn't get mad when we spent over 800 billion (and counting) on said illegal war.

You didn't get mad when Bush borrowed more money from foreign sources than the previous 42 Presidents combined.

You didn't get mad when over 10 billion dollars in cash just disappeared in Iraq .

You didn't get mad when you found out we were torturing people.

You didn't get mad when Bush embraced trade and outsourcing policies that shipped 6 million American jobs out of the country.

You didn't get mad when the government was illegally wiretapping Americans.

You didn't get mad when we didn't catch Bin Laden.

You didn't get mad when Bush rang up 10 trillion dollars in combined budget and current account deficits.

You didn't get mad when you saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed.

You didn't get mad when we let a major US city, New Orleans drown.

You didn't get mad when we gave people who had more money than they could spend, the filthy rich, over a trillion dollars in taxbreaks. You didn't get mad with the worst 8 years of job creations in several decades.

You didn't get mad when over 200,000 US Citizens lost their lives because they had no health insurance.

You didn't get mad when lack of oversight and regulations from the Bush Administration caused US Citizens to lose 12 trillion dollars in investments, retirement, and home values.

No.....You finally got mad

When a black man was elected President and decided that people in America deserved the right to see a doctor if they are sick.

Yes, illegal wars, lies, corruption, torture, job losses by the millions, stealing your tax dollars to make the rich richer, and the worst economic disaster since 1929 are all okay with you, but helping fellow Americans who are sick...Oh, Hell No!!

~~Author Unknown

So desperate, they don't even read their own reports

2010-10-18T01:15:00.007-06:00

"For a single parent with two kids and an income of $20,000, that difference is even more pronounced. The jump is 8 percent (in after-tax income) under the Dem plan, and only 4.4 percent under the GOP one."

RNC Accidentally Highlights Study That Proves Dems' Tax Cut Plan Is More Generous

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/08...

One of the promises made in the GOP's "Pledge to America" is that the party will make all legislation available for three days so that legislators can read it for clarity. One can hardly blame them for seeking to confront their own shortcomings! Perhaps they can take that promise further, and actually promise to read the studies that they circulate to the media, especially the ones that actually undermine their professed policies. This is just an idea I had!

See, yesterday morning, the Republican National Committee really wanted to stick it to Democratic legislators for that time they totally punted on holding a vote on the future of the Bush-era tax cuts. And so, they armed themselves with a shiny new study from the Tax Foundation that they thought really aided their criticism. "What excuse will the Democrats use now?"

Hey, who knows the answer to that question, right? Nevertheless, as Greg Sargent pointed out, the RNC really miscalculated:

As it happens, the study compared the actual Dem plan with the GOP one. And it found that for a family of four with an income of $40,000, the Dem plan -- continuing the low end tax cuts, plus the stimulus measures -- would cause a 7.8 percent jump in after-tax income. That jump would only be 6.8 percent under the GOP plan to continue all the Bush tax cuts.

For a single parent with two kids and an income of $20,000, that difference is even more pronounced. The jump is 8 percent under the Dem plan, and only 4.4 percent under the GOP one.
In fairness to the RNC, the study is good for the GOP in one sense. It confirms that the Bush tax cuts were helpful to the poor, despite popular belief that they only helped the rich. But the author of the study, Nick Kasprak, confirms that this finding isn't directly relevant to what Dems have proposed.
"Our study shows that the Bush tax cuts helped the poor a lot more than the popular perception, so the RNC is right to send it around for that reason," Kasprak tells me. "But the study also shows that the Congressional Democrats' plan is more generous to the poor, because it extends certain stimulus provisions into 2011, which the Republican plan does not. That isn't what the RNC wants to show."

Guess they really, really should have read that study, all the way to the end. But now you know whose tax cut plans are more generous to ordinary Americans.

"I'm a Democrat because I am Mormon"

2010-10-18T01:02:00.002-06:00

This came up during another discussion... I remembered reading this article (or one very similar to it) long ago and was actually able to find it (or, again, something very much like it). I sincerely value my friendships with people of different faiths, but often worry that my political views will cause division with those who lean GOP. I hope that after reading this, my friends will see how we have much in common after all...

I'm a Democrat because I am Mormon

To many, it sounds like a contradiction in terms: a Mormon Democrat. People regularly ask me how I reconcile my religious beliefs with my political opinions, shocked that a good Mormon girl would throw her support behind such a scandalous party. Believe it or not, being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints doesn't automatically make one an ardent member of the GOP, even in Utah. In fact, it's my religious beliefs about compassion and generosity that have made me liberal.

The LDS Church's official position has long been one of political neutrality, endorsing neither major political party. When the church takes one of its rare official political stances, it is always on a particular issue and should not be misconstrued as support of one party or one political ideology. Mormon leaders constantly encourage all followers, regardless of party, to become involved in politics, vote and run for office when possible. Yet many believe that to be LDS, you have to be Republican. It's just not true-if anything, the Democratic Party more closely adheres to basic Christian values.

Obviously, individual Mormons hold different views about the same beliefs, just as members of the Democratic Party take a wide variety of positions. But many elements of liberal politics are principles central to the gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: social welfare, the environment, the role of government, the balance between business and the community. I'm not a Democrat in spite of my religion-I'm a Democrat because of my religion.

A core principle of most religions is a basic sense of compassion for the poor. In fact, most religions view poverty as a symbol of humility and strength, while wealth is seen as a moral failing vice that brings pride and unrighteousness. Yet many on the far right treat the poor as lazy, regarding wealth as a sign of character. Mormons are counseled to work toward a society in which "there are no poor among us." Democrats make social assistance a priority in a way that other parties do not. In many ways, liberals see the government as a useful tool that, when used correctly, can improve life for everyone.

One reason many people assume Mormons must be conservative may be so-called moral issues, like abortion or same-sex marriage. But Joseph Smith taught that matters of conscience should not be regulated but instead, taught through principle by example, letting others choose whether to follow. To me, such issues become peripheral when I examine basic ideological differences about the role of government-to create opportunity and help everyone succeed.

The LDS religion teaches of a basic human responsibility to help and lift others in righteousness and knowledge. It, therefore, makes sense to support a political party that makes social programs a priority. A government that fails to provide for its weakest members is not only destined for failure-it's morally depraved.

Conservatives often maintain that anyone willing to work hard should be able to earn a decent living. But economically, the playing field has never been level. In fact, Mormon scripture emphasizes that worldly goods are gifts from God because of his generosity, not our entitlement. Consequently, my religious views teach me that I have an inherent duty to give to people around me-everything I have is not mine at all, but a gift given to share.

The United States can have a healthy economy without deserting the less fortunate, such as the sick, the poor, the elderly and the homeless. Perpetual handouts are not the answer, but there are countless underprivileged Americans who need help with everything from job training to child care to adequate health-care coverage.

Many conservatives claim social programs are inefficient, and they are right to want to curb waste. Waste can be reduced without deserting social responsibility. It's important to remember the point: we're here to help each other. One of Christ's most basic messages was about giving without thought of reward. It follows that many Christians would feel a sense of social responsibility to give for the collective good.

The most basic of religious principles is that individuals have a responsibility to take care of themselves and a responsibility to help others. Many conservatives have bizarrely distorted self reliance into selfishness, maintaining that you are only responsible for yourself. As a Mormon, it's frightening to see selfishness treated as a virtue-I believe we can take care of ourselves without abandoning those around us.

Republicans are often anti government and pro-business, which makes sense in moderation. Obviously, excessive government power must be curbed and reasonable economic growth should be encouraged. But the LDS Church has a long tradition of strength in community-Mormons know the power that comes when a committed group of people works together to lift the less fortunate. To view money or economic development as the ultimate aim of every political undertaking is grossly misguided-the mission of life and of government is much larger than that. Religion involves a basic sense of decency and social liberals adhering to the belief that it's more important to lend a helping hand than to be rich.

Another basic LDS belief is that as humans, we are stewards over the earth with a responsibility to guard and tend. From a religious perspective, it follows that we should do what we can to preserve the earth instead of exploit it. Typically, Republicans are against environmental regulations because they worry laws could hinder industry. But if I believe the earth is a sacred creation that I'm responsible to look after, it makes sense that preserving its glory would be a higher priority than shortsighted economic development.

Economically, liberals have a more balanced plan for the country than the conservative free-market-fixes-all approach. In his book, Approaching Zion, Hugh Nibley discusses how many Republicans view an ideal economy as purely capitalist, a survival of the fittest in which anything goes. In such a system, the weak, the frail, the sick and the poor will rightfully die off because they will not have the strength to flourish-a remarkable contrast to the parable of Christ seeking after one lost sheep.

Obviously, all views of Mormonism don't match up with all views of the Democratic Party. In fact, I commend the LDS Church's neutral stance that individuals should study the issues, make their own political decisions and act accordingly. Neither party will complement any church on every issue. Yet I see many liberal views directly in line with LDS principles.

I'm a Democrat because I'm a Mormon and I believe in loving our neighbors and in helping the less fortunate. I believe in a wise, balanced stewardship of the earth and that I have a responsibility to share what I have with others. I believe government can be a powerful tool for good and we can be self reliant without being selfish. To be liberal and Mormon is not only possible,it's practical, it's compassionate and it's principled.

Published: Wednesday, April 14, 2004

{I found one reference that claims this is written by Kathleen Gurr, but I don't have it confirmed.}

If Jesus was Republican...

2010-10-06T22:44:00.001-06:00

Who is the man behind the curtain? Good luck finding out...

2010-09-25T13:40:00.000-06:00

Pay very close as to who is behind those influential campaign ads. They know how to scare you and they have the money to do it. They think you are stupid enough to blindly follow their lead. Show them you are smarter than that. Please.

Do they even realize they being manipulated? Never mind, don't answer that.

2010-09-03T14:27:00.000-06:00

see more Political Pictures

I feel his pain...

2010-09-03T14:00:00.000-06:00

see more Political Pictures

How soon we forget our own transgressions...

2010-08-12T16:00:00.002-06:00

They all look the same in the end...

2010-08-12T15:12:00.002-06:00

True patriots come in all types, sizes, colors...

2010-08-12T15:09:00.003-06:00

Why start small?

2010-05-30T02:04:00.002-06:00

There is a campaign ad from a "Republican Businessman" running for Governor of Alabama... in his quaint hillbilly accent, he explains how, if HE is elected governor, he will change the law so driver's license tests will only be available in ENGLISH.

Why don't we take it just a bit further and do it right? I mean, why just focus on driver's license tests when there is so much out there which should be addressed?

Immigration has always been a problem...

2010-05-30T01:26:00.001-06:00

FLASHBACK! Oh, what a NAUSEATING feeling....

2010-05-29T23:27:00.000-06:00

Some of us evolve and learn from the past...
I have a name for the others...

"Well, you asked what we thought!"

2010-05-29T14:34:00.000-06:00

Sometimes, it is just perfect karma...

Greta Van Susteren, a Fox "news" host, gets into an argument via her blog and asks the readers to decide who was "dumber", her or the blog poster...

At this point, 77% of readers said SHE was indeed the dumber of the two.

We survived Bush, you will survive Obama!

2010-04-30T14:37:00.000-06:00

To Sam I am, who doesn't think the President can.

I do not like your hateful ways,
or your spin on the things he says.

I do not like how you spread your fear,
scaring those who I hold dear.

I do not like how you shift the blame,
when for eight years it was insane.

I do not like this Palin chick,
to hear her speak just makes me sick!

I DO believe in my President's HOPE,
you can't sway me, nope, nope, NOPE!

Blasphemy...

2010-04-22T16:46:00.000-06:00

I hope most people who really know me are aware I feel I have close personal relationship with my God. I say "my" God because sometimes when I hear others describe what "their" God demands from us, I do not recognize "their" God. My God loves ALL of His children... like any good parent, He provides love, sustenance, guidance, rules, and natural consequences. Some of His children do not listen to Him, do not follow His teachings, and basically just do their own thing. I think any parent can relate to that...

I believe, as a loving parent, God does not wish harm upon any of His children. He may be disappointed in our behaviors, hurt when we do not listen to Him as He tries to talk to us, and angry when we fight with our siblings (His other children).

I believe God has told us not to judge one another-- it is His responsibility to deal with our misbehaviors and poor choices. I am not referring to the judicial system of punishment, but the spiritual kind. Who are we to decide which one of His children are not true followers of God?

I do not pretend to be a Biblical scholar... I more or less follow the basics of His Word. I will even admit publicly I question the true accuracy of the Bible. (Hold on, I'm waiting to be struck by lightening... wait for it... wait for it... hmmm... okay, I'm still here, so I'll continue...) Why do I doubt the accuracy of the teachings of the Bible? Because over the past thousands of years, it has been rewritten and translated multiple times by imperfect children of God who have had their own bias and opinions. And I don't think any rational human being can state with all certainty these representatives of God are without imperfections. All we have to do is look at society's current population of God's "chosen leaders" to see they are as vulnerable to sin and mistakes as you and I.

But I do believe in my heart that God has certain expectations from us...

LOVE GOD... which means respect Him and obey Him... I personally do not need the Bible or a church representative to tell me what He wants... it's mostly common sense, don't you think? The Bible and my pastor are loving guides for me, but when it comes right down to it, God directly tells me what He wants me to do. I don't need an interpreter...
LOVE ONE ANOTHER... that doesn't mean we get to pick and choose which children we get to love. Cliques are so junior high, don't you think?? We are to love His children of color, His children who have challenges, His children who live in different countries (or states, if you are an Idahoan who has a particular animosity toward Californians!), His children who know Him by different names, His children who live in ways which are unlike the way you are living... I do not believe He has a clause that tells us to love all of His children except X, Y, and Z.
DO UNTO OTHERS as you shall have them do unto you... that really shouldn't be that difficult. Do you want affordable health care? So do others. Do you want to be able to work at a safe job and be fairly compensated for your labor? So do others. Do you want your family and children to live in a safe neighborhood? So do others. Do you want the freedom to worship (OR NOT) in accordance to your personal beliefs? So do others. Do you want to have the freedom to marry the partner of your choice? So do others. And so on. It isn't rocket surgery... it's common sense. And God expects it of us.

So why this rant? Because I am tired of being embarrassed by certain fellow "Christians". Those who thrive on hate and foster it in others. Those who use fear and intimidation to force others to stay silent in the face of evil, to use religion to divide us into "them" and "us", and to claim use God as a reason to be cruel and hurtful to our brothers and sisters. Most don't see how their actions scream "hypocrisy" to others.

The final straw is a "joke" that is going around on Facebook. I know my friends who are posting it strive to follow God's teachings. I just don't understand how they can justify, even as a JOKE, a prayer to our Lord asking for the death of another one of His children. I don't see them joking about abortions or molesting young children... but somehow they've justified this in their souls. I can't picture one of my friends joking to their own children to murder a classmate who he/she doesn't like... because they know that would be wrong. How is this different?

I would like to ignore it and just pass it off as another example of ignorance. But I can't. I don't intend to offend or insult people who I really do like and care about, but I feel that God expects me... no, He DEMANDS me to speak up and say:

"Enough is enough, do not let them use My name in such a manner, do not let them abuse My will to amuse one another, do not let them disrespect My power."

No, I don't hear "voices"... but I do feel God speaks to me. It is His voice which gives me strength and guidance. And it is His voice which is telling me to not let this occur without defending His name.

It is not funny, people. It is blasphemy. And it needs to stop.

[I can picture my Agnostic and Atheist friends using this as yet another example of how hypocritical "Christians" are... they don't need God to tell them that wanting someone to die, even in jest, is just WRONG.]

Enough is enough...

2010-04-22T01:15:00.001-06:00

This was written by my dear friend, Kate Ruef... she took the words right out of my mouth...
I have about had it with the Obama bashing. Give the man a break. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and Obama can’t repair the damage of his predecessors in one year. He probably won’t be able to fix it all in his entire term. Did I say probably? He won’t. Period. This country is a mess, and it has been piling up for a long time.

You’re angry? Fine. Direct it toward the people who deserve it. Contact your congressmen and representatives. Contact the elected officials in your states, cities, and towns. Odds are they have been in office a lot longer than the president has. While you’re at it, brush up on your American government. The president only has so much power. He can suggest. He can manipulate, threaten a veto, and cajole. But he can’t make the laws by himself. You want to be angry? Be angry at the lawmakers who chose not to vote about healthcare reform – or any other issue – because they didn’t want to make anyone mad.

You’re afraid? Join the club! We’re all afraid, and probably none of us more than the man sitting in the Oval Office right now. If we make a mistake, we may lose a job opportunity, or maybe some money or a car. If he makes a mistake, he could lose his LIFE. He could be gunned down like a dog in the streets by his own fellow Americans. You think he’s not afraid? You think he’s not doing the best he can with the hand he was dealt? He’s a man, like any other, with a family that depends on him. He has children he wants to see grown and living secure, fulfilling lives, just like many of you. But he has an entire country depending on him, too... looking to him to be some sort of instant savior. You think he’s not feeling the pressure? You think he’s not afraid?

It took years… YEARS… for America to get in the shape it is in. Where were your cries and rallies then? My God, people!! Most of us have trouble putting together all of our children’s toys on Christmas Eve. What makes you think it is any easier to put a country back together??? If Disneyland was bought out - bankrupt and failing - would you blame the new owners if the debts weren’t paid and some of the rides and attractions were not repaired and open for adventurers the next month? How about six months? A year? That’s what’s happened here. We’ve been living fat and happy for a long time, letting things fall into disrepair. Now the “park” is just short of condemned and everyone wants the new owner to reopen immediately. It’s not going to happen. It is going to take a lot of work, a lot of commitment, and a lot of time to get this country back on its feet. Is Disneyland a bad example? How about New Orleans? Obama wasn’t president when Katrina hit. He wasn’t president for a long time afterward. New Orleans is still a mess. Why? Who is to blame for that?

I get it, okay? He’s the PRESIDENT, and he’s responsible. He made all those promises during the campaign and when he took office. You want them fulfilled, and you want them now. He needs time. When our children were born, we promised to take care of them, to protect them from harm, and to raise them to adulthood. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years… eighteen, and sometimes a lot more. And we don’t protect them from every scratch and bump and bruise that comes along, no matter how much we want to. We can’t. Sometimes, the best we can do is to hold them while they cry. That’s part of growing up.

You’re angry? You’re scared? You want jobs and a strong economy back in America? Fine. Boycott the companies that send their jobs overseas. Demand better, safer, more durable products. Give an honest day’s work and take pride in it. It doesn’t matter if you are a janitor or a CEO. Do the work you are paid to do and do it to the best of your ability. Show these companies why American workers are worth a higher wage. Contact your elected officials and demand responsibility and accountability to the working class voters who are the backbone of this nation. Read the Constitution, read the public laws, know your rights… and your responsibilities as a citizen of this country. Citizenship is not a birthright. It takes work. Look up the definition some time. Then look around your neighborhoods, towns and states, and find out what you can do be an active part of America.

I don’t say this lightly. I am not privileged, or rich or even particularly enlightened to what the future may hold. I am just as frightened as anyone else. I have also buried my head as deeply into the sand as anyone else for a lot of years. Now I am waking up. I am coming into my own as a Citizen of the United States. I have come to understand that people die every day trying to come to this country and start a new life. They are glad to take the risk. My great-grandparents took that same risk long ago so that my grandparents, my parents and, eventually I and my siblings could have a life that was better than what they had known. I am sure they had so many reservations, so many reasons not to make the journey that I will never know. I am sure they had doubts and fears. But they left everything behind – friends, family, everything familiar and safe to them. For that, I owe them a debt that can only be repaid one way: by living up to the citizenship they fought so hard to secure for me. We all have the same history, if we only look back far enough. We all owe the same debt to the people who built this nation, the people who made it strong. We owe it to the next generation of Americans to rebuild that legacy of strength and of hope, to make America once again a nation of promise.
~~Kate Ruef

Don't let facts get in the way of your opinion....

2010-04-22T00:47:00.003-06:00

"Obama is raising our taxes!" I'm hearing versions of this wailing and moaning over and over again, every where I go anymore. Sometimes they add "PelosiRied" (because it's one word to them) and even multiple expletives as well.

And what do they have to base their complaints on? Nothing... just rumors and propaganda and regurgitation of what they hear from their friends on Fox News.

So, what is going on with our taxes?

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, our federal taxes for the middle-class are at historically low levels. Simply put, Americans are paying LOWER TAXES, not higher.

In addition, the stimulus package that has all of their panties in a twist is also responsible for CUTTING our taxes and CREATING jobs.

But let's not confuse these folks with facts... they are quite comfortable in their swampy pools of hate, fear, and ignorance... and refuse to budge. They will continue to spread their toxic venom across the internet and throughout our communities...

If you are offended by what I'm saying, then ask yourself: Did you read the articles above with an open mind? Can you find an OBJECTIVE source which disputes those facts? If the answers are "no", then you are part of the problem. You have planted yourself in your position and are too stubborn to open your mind to perhaps, just PERHAPS, you are WRONG.

And it's attitudes like that which are destroying our country...

Reform Madness

2010-04-19T14:49:00.001-06:00

Some people really believe this... pathetic but true...

Bringing back painful memories!

2010-04-19T14:45:00.001-06:00

Aren't we glad they are MEMORIES FROM THE PAST and not still the PRESENT?!

Finally!!

2010-04-19T14:06:00.001-06:00

It's been a rough couple of years but I finally am back! Now I can stop upsetting some of my friends (or hold my tongue in order to avoid upsetting them) when I go on my rants! I can come to my blog!

No Nukes for Idaho...

2008-02-16T13:43:00.002-07:00

I realize there are a lot of pros and cons to nuclear energy... and since science was never a favorite subject of mine, I won't pretend to understand all of it. My resistance comes from my belief that nuclear power is unsafe, I don't trust the "government" to be honest with us about the long-term affects, and I don't believe we have developed a safe way to deal with waste. I will NEVER support a "solution" that will impact my grandchildren (who aren't born yet).

That being said, I found this very interesting and important for us to know:

Nuclear Power and France: The Most Complex and Unsolved Radioactive Waste Problem in the World

France gets nearly 80% of its electricity from its 58 reactors.

However, such a heavy reliance on nuclear power brings with it many major, unsolved problems, most especially that of radioactive waste. In fact, the French nuclear power program has resulted in the most complex nuclear waste problem in the world and includes an accumulated "pile of plutonium" with no safe disposal option of more than 80 metric tons sitting in tens of thousands of vulnerable containers.

France reprocesses domestic and foreign reactor waste - chemically separating the plutonium from the unfissioned uranium. Only about one percent of this mass is plutonium and only a small fraction of this is "recyled" as reactor fuel in "MOX" reactors. Operating MOX reactors in France - that use a blend of plutonium and uranium oxide fuel - comprise only 16of the fleet and all the waste these reactors generated has to be transported and stored. It is not reprocessed.

Reprocessing itself results in large quantities of liquid wastes that are discharged into the English Channel. This has resulted in radioactive contamination of the seas as far as the Arctic Circle and in leukemia clusters around the French reprocessing plant (La Hague.) Aerial discharges are also highly radioactive - thousands of times higher than natural background radiation.

Read our fact sheet on Nuclear Power in France: Setting the Record Straight to learn more about the French nuclear mess.

And read The Cogema File to better understand the culture of cover-ups and contamination that has marked the corporate nuclear history of France.

Thank you, Sharon, for all you given us...

2008-02-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

Idaho Press-Tribune
Sharon Strauss sstrauss@idahopress.com
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008

Prominent local Democrat dies

CANYON COUNTY — Just days after the largest Democratic caucus in Canyon County memory, local party activist Sharon Van Slyke died of cancer Sunday. In addition to her political work, Van Slyke has been lauded as a strong force for women and for her work to help children.

Van Slyke, 69, of Kuna, died Sunday after battling cancer. She resided at Karcher Estates rehabilitation center in Nampa at the time of her death. She lived for more than 20 years in rural Canyon County with her husband, Carl, before the couple moved to Kuna.

A matriarch of the Democratic party, Van Slyke spent a lifetime championing its causes. In particular, she advocated for a greater role for women in Idaho politics.

Van Slyke dedicated countless hours to the Idaho Democratic Women’s Caucus, holding positions both as the president and regional director. Her years of work positively impacted women politicians across the state, her fellow Democrats said.

“She was a very dedicated Democrat. She worked very hard for the party, not only for Canyon County but for the state as a whole,” said Nampa resident Mary Peck, who worked with Van Slyke for decades on Canyon County Democrat issues.

Under Van Slyke’s leadership, a candidate training module was developed by the caucus to help candidates of both genders run successful campaigns.

She also started “Dine and Dialogue with Democratic Divas,” a lunch forum that featured Democratic leaders and spotlighted issues.

When not advancing Democratic principles, she often held Democratic fundraisers at her home.

The Democratic Party was just one of Van Slyke’s many causes.

“Her claim to fame and the thing she enjoyed doing was being the birthing mother of various organizations,” her husband Carl told the Idaho Press-Tribune. “People would ask her what she did, and she would say she was a community activist.”

Among the organizations she helped bring to life were the local Interfaith Alliance, of which she was a founding member in 1998, and the Idaho Refugee Resettlement Program, where she formerly served as director.

She was a “founding mother” of the Idaho Women’s Network, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. She also served as president of the United Way of Canyon County.

“We were sad to hear of Sharon’s passing and deeply appreciated her efforts in the progressive movement,” said Idaho Women’s Network executive director Donna Wade.

Close to her heart was her affiliation with the Church Women United movement, where Van Slyke served on the national board.

Children’s advocacy was also her passion, and she played a key role in helping head up a campaign against childhood hunger with the Idaho Hunger Action Council, her husband said.

Her strong advocacy for children’s issues was inspired by the challenges she faced rearing her own daughter, who had epilepsy, Carl Van Slyke said. Over the years she served on a governor-appointed state youth council and was involved in various other child-advocacy causes, including the Court Appointed Special Advocates program.

“She was always interested in making the community a better place,” said Sally Zive, president and CEO of United Way of Treasure Valley, who first met Van Slyke in 1995. Van Slyke was a long-time United Way board member as well as the organization’s former Canyon County president. “She was one of these classic community volunteers. She just knew what needed to be done, and either recruited people to help her get things done or she got it done herself.”

Van Slyke’s health began to decline this fall after cancer was found in her stomach. Upon biopsy it was determined that it was breast cancer that had spread to her stomach.

Her husband Carl said that even as she grew weaker throughout the winter, “she still (had) that feisty attitude.”

Van Slyke wore her affiliation with the Democratic Party proudly, said those who knew her, despite an often uphill battle in Republican-dominated Canyon County.

Politics continued to be a mainstay in her life, even near the end. Van Slyke even had a life-size cut-out of Hillary Clinton in her hospital room, and the prop moved in with her at Karcher Estates.

“We have been watching Democratic politics on TV each day. We are just sorry that we were not able to participate in the Idaho Caucuses on Feb. 5,” Carl Van Slyke told friends via e-mail in the days before her passing.

In a 2005 interview, Van Slyke told the Idaho Press-Tribune that she hoped her legacy would be that she helped recruit and nurture a new generation of female politicians. “(R)ight now we have younger professional women who I firmly believe will be the senators, mayors and congress people as we progress into the next century,” Van Slyke said.

[I first met Sharon through the Center for New Directions in the early 90s. I was so thrilled to re-connect with her again via the Idaho Democratic Party... what a role model, what a star, what a DIVA! She has touched many lives and our world is a better place because she was here... -drp]

Reason #1969 to vote "NO" for McCain

2008-02-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

We do NOT need a third Bush term!!

We do not need more LIES!

We do not need more WAR!

We need the TRUTH!

We need HONESTY!

We need to say ENOUGH is ENOUGH!

END THE WAR... NOW!!!
Vote OBAMA!

Reason #1968 to vote "NO" for McCain

2008-02-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

America cannot afford more of the same.

America cannot afford to continue Bush's administration.

America cannot afford to continue Bush's war.

America cannot allow our military men and women
to continue paying the price for our ignorance.

Ask yourself:

How can we continue to fund the war, but not the casualties?

How can we continue to allow defense contractors to profit even beyond their OWN expectations? Especially after all of the misuse of the funds they've been given so far?

How can we pretend that the war in Iraq is about OIL and not 9/11?

How can we allow the war based upon lies to continue for the next ten years?

How can we continue to demand we "win" in Iraq... when we can't even define "win", are NOT winning, and have never even been CLOSE to winning?

How can we continue to send our damaged and broken soldiers back to the war zone? (At least the ones who haven't committed suicide...)

How can we continue to allow this administration to lie to us and bury information?

How can we continue to pretend that the financial and human price that we are paying for the war in Iraq is keeping America safe?

How can we afford the price we will be paying (and NEED to pay) to take care of our veterans?

How can we continue to say the surge is working when our troops still can't come home and are still being killed at alarming numbers?

How can we even consider a "pause" in troop reductions... haven't we been lied to enough?

How can we continue to deny that we are in another Vietnam?

How can we even THINK about starting another war?

When will America say "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!"?

In November 2008... VOTE OBAMA!

Reason #1967 to vote "NO" for McCain

2008-02-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

Go ahead, make fun of me for believing in "HOPE" and having dreams for my children... but you will not convince me that this man should be the next leader of America.

Vote OBAMA!

Why the waving of the flag doesn't impress me anymore...

2008-02-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

It breaks my heart... I feel like I'm letting down people who I respect and admire deeply... but I can't stand the hypocrisy anymore...

"Support the troops" means "sacrifice more Americans"...
"God is on our side" means "I don't care if the government lied..."
"Look, I am wearing a flag pin!" means "I don't have to do anything else!"
"I'm a Republican" means "My head is up my tailpipe and I don't have to pay attention!"

Is anybody paying attention??? Idahoans don't seem to give a rat's ass about our Congressmen and how they FAIL to support our veterans...

Good grief, Senator Larry Craig (formerly Chair of Veterans Affairs) was given consistently FAILING grades by various veterans' associations for the past ten years... did anybody notice?? NO! As long as he was a Republican, Idaho trusted him... as offensive as his betrayal to our veterans should have been, people supported him... until he started playing footsie in a mens' restroom!

And now... their President who shall only be spoken of in reverent tones (or one shall be not "supporting our troops" or is "unAmerican") has committed yet another betrayal to the men and women who are risking their lives for his war...

During the State of the Union, to thunderous applause, Bush fed out more BS to America by stating that:

"Our military families serve our nation,
they inspire our nation,
and tonight our nation honors them."

That would be wonderful... IF HE ACTUALLY MEANT IT!!

He said that in reference to his proposal to allow our military men and women the ability to transfer their unused educational benefits to their family members.

Does anybody care that he neglected to include it in the budget he sent to Congress? How about a press conference where he can explain this to America, okay?? (He can add it to his explanation of all of the lies, where is bin Laden, and how does he define "Mission Accomplished" today.)

May I suggest that you contact your representives and ask them "WTF?"

No, don't do that...
Just ask them if how they plan on addressing this issue... if at all.
If you are an Idahoan, you know you're just going through the motions... but do it anyway!! Save their response letter for their next campaign!

Hey McCain, get out of my pink house!!

2008-02-11T22:05:00.000-07:00

Ooops! Guess who screwed up!!

Make a note:
Before you use someone's songs to promote your campaign... GET PERMISSION!! It's possible the songwriter doesn't SUPPORT you!!

Seriously, folks, do these lyrics sound like a Republican theme song???

There's room enough here

for science to live

and there's room enough here

for religion to forgive...

...And poverty could be just another ugly thing

and bigotry would be seen only as obscene

and the ones who run this land

help the poor and common man...

Like I said, OOOPS!

Words to my heart music

2008-02-11T21:54:00.000-07:00

Separation of church and state... it shouldn't be a complex issue but too many of our elected representatives muddle it up. I've tried to explain how I feel but it's like talking to an empty room sometimes...

But then I found this post from Texas:

The real question is not whether GLBT people should be allowed to marry; the question should be is there a valid reason for the government to sanction marriage of any kind?

The Maryland General Assembly has seen the issue this way and has a bill pending that would eliminate all civil marriage and replace it with recognized domestic partnerships. The term marriage would be left to the religious sector where it belongs and the RDPs would be the construct for all legal purposes. Consider it a separation of church and state issue. Marriage is a religious institution and Domestic Partnerships can function for tax and other legal purposes.

This kind of law makes debates about “gay marriage” toothless. After all, the state gives equal rights to all its citizens and it’s up to churches to perform marriage ceremonies. This move will no doubt enrage many folks on the right, but to me it makes complete sense. It keeps the government out of the religious institution of marriage completely. Couples can be joined in a civil union and still receive all the rights of a married couple without the need for a religious ceremony.

For a gay or lesbian couple to get “married” they would first get a civil ceremony and then find a friendly church. This gets the government out of the marriage business and that seems a good idea to me.

DUH.

If you vote for McCain, please head straight to the recruiters office... don't forget to bring your children and grandchildren...

2008-02-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

Watch this video and feel inspired...

Then watch this video and cry...

If America screws up yet again, it will be YOUR brothers and sisters, YOUR children and grandchildren who will pay the price...

Friends don't let friends vote STUPID.

Even the DEAD endorse Obama!!!

2008-02-11T21:01:00.000-07:00

Mitchell Van Yahres, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, who died Friday, February 8, 2008, in Charlottesville, aged 81, tended trees for a living and people for a lifetime. [...]

His friends, who nearly included everyone who met him, are asked, in lieu of expenditures on flowers and the like, to make a healthy and significant contribution to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama or, if they insist, the charity of their choice.

Go to Raising Kaine for the commentary... there is a personal anecdote about Mr. Van Yahres that is quite touching...

Still undecided? WATCH THIS!

2008-02-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama answers an undecided voter in Alexandria on February 10.

Hypocrites Need Not Apply

2008-02-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

Here on my blog and out in the real world, some people keep talking about Obama's faith... he isn't Christian enough for them or something. One comment here on my blog stated that Obama should have his picture taken holding a Bible in order to prove his Christianity.

I want to remind these "Christians" about what the Bible says about "hypocrites":

Luke 11:39
And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

Ezekiel 33:31-32
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

Isaiah 29:13
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.

Matthew 15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Matthew 23:27-28
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Matthew 6:1-61
Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

5And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:16
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

If you really think about it, Obama is following God's law... and following Christ. He doesn't need to carry a Bible around as a photo op to remind people ... he is following Christian Principles by through his actions.... and that is what matters.

CDC Warning: New STD

2008-02-11T17:41:00.000-07:00

The Center for Disease Control has issued a warning about a virulent new strain of Sexually Transmitted Disease.

The disease is contracted through dangerous and high-risk behavior. The disease is called Gonorrhea Lectim and is pronounced "gonna re-elect him."

Many victims contracted it in 2004, after having been screwed for four years. Cognitive characteristics of individuals infected include:

anti-social personality disorders,
delusions of grandeur with messianic overtones,
extreme cognitive dissonance,
inability to incorporate new information,
pronounced xenophobia and paranoia,
inability to accept responsibility for one's own actions,
cowardice masked by misplaced bravado,
uncontrolled facial smirking,
ignorance of geography and history,
tendencies towards evangelical theocracy,
and categorical all-or-nothing behavior.

Naturalists and epidemiologists are amazed at how this destructive disease originated only a few years ago from a bush found in Texas.

To increase your own immunity to this disease, go here.

Jesus as VP... it's almost this bad...

2008-02-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

If JESUS ran for President...

2008-02-08T20:24:00.000-07:00

I posted this two years ago, I'm sure it's been around even longer. But with the current chatter about which Presidential nominee is the best "Christian" for the job... I felt the need to re-post...

Click the image for a bigger picture...

Bush's legacy... makes ya feel all warm and fuzzy...

2008-02-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

Click on image for bigger picture... click on title for link to original with sources.

Larry Craig: The Man With The Miracle Cure

2008-02-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

Larry Craig has always known what really is causing America's economic woes...

The war in Iraq? Nope.
The lack of jobs which pay a living wage? Nope.
Increased cost of health care and related bankrupticies? Nope.
Credit companies sucking the blood out of struggling Americans? Nope.
Corporate CEOs who rape the retirement funds of their employees? Nope.
The increased cost of gas? food? utilities? Nope. Nope. Nope.

It's ALWAYS been the housing market.

And Larry boy has always known that. He's so smart! And polite too! He didn't want to be rude and point out the obvious a few months ago... it would have embarrassed the Republican presidential nominees who all claimed that our economy was doing SO well! He didn't want to point it out last year... or the year before...

But now it is the right time for Larry Craig to not only explain to America what the real problem is but to also offer the miracle solution!

Are you ready?

No, no, he doesn't support the economic stimulus bill that the House and Senate passed February 7 because it did not address the housing problem.

He also opposed the bill because he felt that it was "fiscally irresponsible to increase our budget deficit by $150 billion just to give everyone a few hundred extra bucks to spend."

Fiscally irresponsible?! I didn't realize he even knew what those words MEANT!! (I happen to agree with him... as much as I will appreciate the money to catch up on our outstanding bills, I know we'll be paying for it later.)

No, Larry's magic potion consists of providing a $5,000 tax credit "to buy homes sitting on the market".

That will not help those who are losing their homes right now... or are behind on their payments.

That will not help the folks who are struggling to pay rent.

That will not help the families living in substandard housing.

That will not help the families who use their full paychecks to pay for gas, food, and medical bills.

That will not help the families whose credit is already so damaged due to wages that can't keep up with the cost of living that they would never be able be approved for a loan.

That will not help the families who haven't even been able to set aside money for a down payment (they put it in their kids' college fund instead... ha ha ha!).

So... who does this help?

The banks... who have foreclosed on many homes.
The people who want to sell their $200,000 home to buy a $300,000 home.
The developers who got greedy and built more homes than the market could absorb.
The families who need to sell their $200,000 home so they can move into a $100,000 home because they can no longer afford to pay for their $200,000 home.
The wealthy who need a second/third/fourth vacation home, and another tax break like I need another dog.

What does Larry see that I'm missing???

Larry closes with this:
"It may help some, but it won't be enough. I believe that because Congress didn't address the housing market this time around, we will be back in a few months doing this again. Next time, I hope Congress gets it right."

Why do I feel like throwing up?

Check out his E-Newsletter... and don't forget to answer his survey question:

Would you or someone you know use

a $5,000 tax credit to purchase a home this year?

Personally, just about everyone I know would is struggling to hold on to the house they already have...own or rent.

Veterans: NO to McCain!!!

2008-02-08T17:04:00.000-07:00

TO: Interested Parties
FROM: VoteVets.org
RE: Senator McCain’s Real Record on the War in Iraq
DATE: February 8, 2008

Senator John McCain presents himself as a maverick and a critic of the Iraq war. But a close read of his record indicates that his position on the Iraq war has consistently matched President George W. Bush’s.

Before The War:
McCain used many of the same arguments as Donald Rumsfeld, Vice President Cheney and President Bush when advocating going to war with Iraq.

McCain co-sponsored the Use of Force Authorization that gave President George W. Bush the green light – and a blank check - for going to war with Iraq. [SJ Res 46, 10/3/02]

McCain argued Saddam was “a threat of the first order.” Senator McCain said that a policy of containing Iraq to blunt its weapons of mass destruction program is "unsustainable, ineffective, unworkable and dangerous."

McCain: "I believe Iraq is a threat of the first order, and only a change of regime will make Iraq a state that does not threaten us and others, and where liberated people assume the rights and responsibilities of freedom.” [Speech to the Center for Strategic & International Studies, 2/13/03]

McCain echoed Bush and Cheney’s rationale for going to war. McCain: “It’s going to send the message throughout the Middle East that democracy can take hold in the Middle East.” [Fox, Hannity & Colmes, 2/21/03]

McCain echoed Bush and Cheney’s talking points that the U.S. would only be in Iraq for a short time.

McCain: “It’s clear that the end is very much in sight. … It won’t be long…it’ll be a fairly short period of time.” [ABC, 4/9/03]

McCain said winning the war would be “easy.” “I know that as successful as I believe we will be, and I believe that the success will be fairly easy, we will still lose some American young men or women.” [CNN, 9/24/02]

During The War:

Senator McCain praised Donald Rumsfeld as late as May 12, 2004, after the Abu Ghraib scandal.

Asked if Donald Rumsfeld can continue to be an effective secretary of defense, McCain: “Yes, today I do and I believe he's done a fine job. He's an honorable man.” [Hannity and Colmes, 5/12/04]

Senator McCain repeatedly supported President Bush on the Iraq War – voting with him in the Senate, defending his actions and publicly praising his leadership.

McCain maintains the war was a good idea.

At the 2004 Republican National Convention, McCain, focusing on the war in Iraq, said that while weapons of mass destruction were not found, Saddam once had them and “he would have acquired them again.”

McCain said the mission in Iraq “gave hope to people long oppressed” and it was “necessary, achievable and noble.”

McCain: “For his determination to undertake it, and for his unflagging resolve to see it through to a just end, President Bush deserves not only our support, but our admiration.” [Plain Dealer, 8/31/04]

Senator McCain: “The war, the invasion was not a mistake. [Meet the Press, 1/6/08]

Asked if the war was a good idea worth the price in blood and treasure, McCain: “It was worth getting rid of Saddam Hussein. He had used weapons of mass destruction, and it's clear that he was hell-bent on acquiring them.” [Republican Debate, 1/24/08]

McCain defended Bush’s rationale for war. Asked if he thought the president exaggerated the case for war, McCain said, “I don’t think so.” [Fox News, 7/31/03]

McCain has been President Bush’s most ardent Senate supporter on Iraq. According to Michael Shank of the Foreign Policy in Focus think tank, McCain was at times Bush’s “most solid support in the Senate” on Iraq. [Foreign Policy in Focus, 1/15/08]

McCain voted against holding Bush accountable for his actions in the war. McCain opposed the creation of an independent commission to investigate the development and use of intelligence leading up to the war in Iraq. [S. Amdt. 1275 to H.R. 2658, Vote # 284, 7/16/03]

McCain praised Bush’s leadership on the war. McCain: “I think the president has led with great clarity and I think he’s done a great job leading the country…” [MSNBC, Hardball, 4/23/03]

Senator McCain has constantly moved the goal posts of progress for the war – repeatedly saying it would be over soon.

January 2003: “But the point is that, one, we will win this conflict. We will win it easily.” [MSNBC, 1/22/03]

March 2003: “I believe that this conflict is still going to be relatively short.” [NBC, Meet the Press, 3/30/03]

June 2004: “The terrorists know that this is a very critical time.” [CNN, 6/23/04]

December 2005: "Overall, I think a year from now, we will have a fair amount of progress [in Iraq] if we stay the course.” [The Hill, 12/8/05]

November 2006: “We’re either going to lose this thing or win this thing within the next several months." [NBC, Meet the Press, 11/12/06]

Senator McCain opposed efforts to end the overextension of the military that is having a devastating impact on our troops.

McCain voted against requiring mandatory minimum downtime between tours of duty for troops serving in Iraq. [S. Amdt.. 2909 to S Amdt. 2011 to HR 1585, Vote 341, 9/19/07; S Amdt. 2012 to S Amdt. 2011 to HR 1585, Vote #241, 7/11/07]

McCain was one of only 13 senators to vote against adding $430 million for inpatient and outpatient care for veterans. [S Amdt. 3642 to HR 4939, Vote 98, 4/26/06]

Senator McCain has consistently opposed any plan to withdraw troops from Iraq

Senator McCain repeatedly voted against a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq. [S. Amdt. 3876 to S.Amdt. 3874 to H.R. 2764, Vote #438, 12/18/07; S.Amdt.. 3875 to S.Amdt.. 3874 to H.R. 2764, Vote # 437, 12/18/07; S.Amdt.3164 to H.R. 3222, Vote # 362, 10/3/07; S.Amdt. 2898 to S.Amdt. 2011 to H.R. 1585, Vote #346, 9/21/07; S.Amdt. 2924 to S.Amdt.. 2011 to H.R.1585, Vote #345, 9/21/07; S.Amdt.2 087 to S.Amdt. 2011 to H.R. 1585, Vote #252, 7/18/07; S.Amdt. 643 to H.R. 1591, Vote #116, 3/27/07; S.Amdt. 4320 to S. 2766, Vote #182, 6/22/06; S.Amdt. 4442 to S. 2766, Vote #181, 6/22/06; S.Amdt.. 2519 to S.1042, Vote # 322, 11/15/05]

Senator McCain has consistently demonized Americans who want to find a responsible way to remove troops from Iraq so that we can take the fight to al Qaeda.

McCain: "I believe to set a date for withdrawal is to set a date for surrender.” [Charlotte Observer, 9/16/07]

McCain called proponents of a congressional resolution opposing the troop surge in Iraq intellectually dishonest. [Associated Press. 2/4/07]

The Future:

Senator McCain now says he sees no end to the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq.

McCain: "[M]ake it a hundred" years in Iraq and "that would be fine with me." [Derry, New Hampshire Town Hall meeting, 1/3/08]

McCain on how long troops may remain in Iraq: “A thousand years. A million years. Ten million years. It depends on the arrangement we have with the Iraqi government.” [Associated Press, 1/04/08]

Rep. Jaquet: Food Tax Update

2008-02-08T16:48:00.000-07:00

I am writing to update you on the situation that is surrounding the issue of food tax credits that is again before the legislature this session. Today proved to be an interesting meeting of the House Revenue and Taxation committee as the controversial issue of food tax credit was brought to the table. The bill under consideration today was that of HB 0439. This bill proposes an addition to existing law to provide for income tax credits or refunds for certain resident individuals to offset the cost of sales tax on food.

This legislation addresses the inadequacies of the current law by incrementally increasing this "Food Tax Credit" starting with an increase to $55 for the poorest Idahoans, $30 for all other Idahoans, and an additional $20 for seniors for tax year 2008.

However, the majority of the committee believe that this issue is better accomplished by a repeal of the tax on food, a basic necessity. After numerous testimonials from members of the community and representatives from various churches and organizations it was decided by the committee that the bill, HB 0439 will be held in committee until other options have been brought forth and considered.

One such potential bill is being brought forward by one of our Democratic Representatives, James Ruchti. Our Food Tax Elimination Act proposes an elimination of the 6% sales tax on food by a reduction of 1% per year for six years. Not only does this provide a fiscally responsible and feasible approach to this necessary repeal, but it also has a greater positive impact for those Idaho citizens who are not eligible to receive a refund under the current grocery tax program. In addition to our bill, there are others that will be brought forward for consideration, and I will continue to keep you up to date with the developments surrounding this crucial issue.

Please be sure to keep in touch if you have any questions or concerns about this issue. I can be reached at wjaquet@house.idaho.gov or 800/626-0471. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

Rep. Jaquet: Legislative Report Week 5

2008-02-08T16:18:00.000-07:00

What a hectic week. Friday was the last day to get bills submitted to afternoon committees. Combine that with the County Winter Conference which featured a speech from Speaker Newt Gingrich, a trip home to vote in the caucus, a presentation to the credit union association, a luncheon with the FFA students and a phone that was drowned by a leaky water bottle and now I’m hoping the roads are open to Ketchum to make it home this weekend.

I’ve had some ups and downs with legislation:

The counties approved, in concept, large generation facility siting legislation. The legislation applies only to merchant plants and creates the opportunity for informed decision making at the local level. This next week I’ll be presenting the concept/draft to the cooperative and municipal utilities that are exempt as are the investor owned utilities.

An attempt at introducing a bill to require renewal portfolio standards at 25% by 2025 will not get a hearing this year.

Affordable workforce home legislation has been dropped off with the House Revenue and Taxation Committee for introduction in the near future. The bills include adding affordable workforce housing as an eligible use for development impact fees, requiring developers to ensure the development of workforce housing or pay a fee in lieu of development, a voter approved proposed tax levy to home owners whose home is valued at $1 million plus and who don’t qualify for the homeowners exemption, and an expansion of county local option sales tax to include affordable workforce housing.

The residential sales price disclosure legislation that was drafted and introduced last year was re-introduced this week in the senate. The hearing should be within a week. A second piece of legislation brought by the Idaho Association of Realtors also addresses this situation in a different way. I would appreciate your comments on both of these. You can find them at www.legislature.idaho.gov, under the Legislation link. The bill numbers are SB1400 and SB1401.

Senator Langhorst re-introduced last year’s legislation to abolish the one mile restriction on who may testify in confined animal feeding operations public hearings. The goal is to get the bill through the House this year. I also have drafted a bill that would provide for mediation between cities and/or counties who have concerns about decisions that cross boundaries.

The grocery tax credit was defeated in committee this week. We’re hoping that a bipartisan solution to decreasing the sales tax on food at the cash register will come forth. Legislators are also working on a new credit bill.

A bill to allow highway districts to increase their levies with a vote of the people is before the House Revenue and Taxation committee. Revenues were frozen many years ago at an artificially low rate and districts are having a hard time keeping up with inflationary costs. The Emergency Communications Commission has asked for a 25 cent increase per month on phones to a maximum of $1.25 to provide grant funding for rural communities who don’t have the population to support the Enhanced 911 systems as well as the ongoing maintenance costs of those systems.

Also introduced for hearing is the Ranch, Farm and Forest Protection Act which would give a tax credit to owners of agricultural and forest land who voluntarily agree not to develop lands important to fish and wildlife. I am supporting all of these bills.

The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC) are scheduled to finish up state agency budget hearings on Wednesday, February 13. Budget setting will start on Monday, February 18 and should finish around March 7. Revenues have begun to slide due to the national recession (most now say we are in a recession!) and we’re anticipating some tough decision making.

Thank you for keeping in touch with me. Please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Email: wjaquet@house.idaho.gov or Phone: 1/800/626-0471

Rep. Pence: Legislative Report Week 5

2008-02-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

What a week for Democrats!! The Obama rally Saturday was inspiring and then being able to drive back to Gooding for the Democrat Caucus last Tuesday was frosting on the cake. It was great visiting with everyone and listening to politics served up grassroots-style. Gooding County about doubled their last caucus numbers. Also heard great reports from the rest of the District 25 caucuses.

Bad news appeared on the economic scene. Tax receipts are down $35 million for January. If this trend continues, it will not bode well for agency budgets and establishment or continuation of programs. Bare bones budgets are hard on all concerned.

This is the last week for Routing Slips (RS) to be introduced in our afternoon committees (for me Agriculture and Natural Resources). Not only am I listening to 5-8 new concepts being introduced each committee, but was also tying up loose ends and generating support for an RS with Rep. Eskridge dealing with the operation and use of state outdoor sport shooting ranges. It establishes a uniform noise standard for these ranges and offers them grandfather protections from nuisance actions resulting from new housing moving in around them. There is great support state wide from sportsmen and it will be heard Monday.

No concrete information on a teacher pay plan. There is the possibility that the category 4 contract (the one requiring teachers to give up continuing contract) will be dropped as part of the pay plan. Still some movement to better train administrators to evaluate teachers and to supervise improvement plans designed to help a teacher become more proficient. There is a still a lot of support for concurrent enrollment in our high schools. This would allow students to take classes which qualify for both high school credit and college credit at the same time. This would enable students in some cases to graduate from high school with enough credits for an AA degree. College of Southern Idaho is working hard to develop classes available in the Magic Valley. A longitudinal data system which would enable instant access to individual records by authorized individuals looks to be a go. If a student were to move to Gooding from Sandpoint, this system would enable a teacher to instantly access records and put that student in classes at his or her proper level. There will be many other educational uses for this type of statewide data system.

Are you aware of the Department of Corrections has the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) program? This is a free, automated hotline that provides crime victims with vital information and notification 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. This service will allow you to obtain offender information and to register for notification of a change in offender status, such as offender release. This program offers peace of mind to victims of crime and does protect the public. Visit the Idaho VINE hotline at 1-866-9VINE-ID or visit http://www.vinelink.com/.

The Lincoln, Camas, Blaine and Gooding County elected officials were in Boise this week. It was great to talk with all of you. Thanks for the work you do and for the great ideas you come up with for making Idaho such a great place to live.

If you are in town, drop in and personally give me your opinions. Otherwise phone me at 1-208-332-1271, e-mail at dpence@house.idaho.gov, or write P.O. Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0038

Rep. Pence: Legislative Report Week 4

2008-02-08T15:43:00.000-07:00

The week began with the news of Senator Stennett’s impending surgery. I am thankful that he was up and moving around quickly and was released Thursday. He will be in all our prayers as he continues his treatments in pursuit of recovery.

The Senate Education committee was scheduled to take up the iStars and We Teach Bills last Wednesday, but action was postponed. It appears neither of these concepts have enough approval to make it through committee. There is an effort to salvage the concept of rewarding effective teachers with additional pay. This may take the form of fewer steps or reduced amounts for each step. With tax income falling below expectations, legislators are wary of ongoing commitments of this magnitude. Any bill which ties relinquishing a continuing contract to eligibility to receive a step up the career ladder, will not get my vote.

One of the results of this summer’s Interim Water Resources Committee is H404. It asks for $20 million over ten years to develop aquifer planning and management throughout Idaho. These funds will be used to provide technical studies, facilitation services, hydrologic monitoring, and for the development of measurement and comprehensive plans for these aquifers. Water is becoming a valuable commodity and the need for comprehensive plans aimed at achieving aquifer sustainability is a necessary long-term goal. These plans will also provide data which will help to protect Idaho’s water as we confer with Washington officials over cross boarder water issues near Coeur d’ Alene.

Speaking of water, what about the snow this week? I trust it extended to the east as well. If so, it would go a long way in easing the anxiety over those pending shut down orders on irrigation wells all along the Snake River Aquifer.

The State Board of Education recently released a 113-page report concerning Medical Education in Idaho. This preliminary study was contracted to MGT of America. This report documented that a significant need for more physicians exists in Idaho. In addition the following results were noted:
· Access to physicians by the general population is extremely limited.
· Many of Idaho’s physicians are 55 or older and nearing retirement.
· Idaho’s population base is sufficient to support the clinical part of medical education.
· There are a number of highly qualified Idaho students seeking medical education.
· Idaho is dead last among states in the number of seats available in medical education.
· Less populated states have supported medical schools for years.
· Healthcare is an important component in the national economy, but much less so in Idaho.
· Idaho’s limited investment in medical education makes us ill-prepared to compete for a share of the rapidly expanding biomedical industry.

As a result of this report, the following four alternatives for medical education were identified.
· Create a new university–operated medical school on the distributive model. Sixty - one hundred students could be enrolled per class. Students take introductory courses on the university campus for two years and complete two years clinical training at several sites across the state (lead to a M.D. or equivalent degree)
· Expand the package of contract programs with medical schools in other states. (University of Washington and University of Utah, Others?)
· Develop a new joint medical school from current medical education resources. This approach would draw from the medical education resources of the three state universities.
· Expand graduate medical education (residency) programs in the state.

The Board spokesman, Mark Browning, emphasized that a cost benefit analysis of the data will be forth coming and will be important in any decision. A Medical Education Study Committee has been formed and will be meeting from March through May. Included in their proposed activities are public meetings at five sites around the state in April. Twin Falls is one of the sites and would be a good place to voice your opinions.

Recommendations from the committee are scheduled at the June Board Meeting. If you want to look more closely at the report, it is available through the Office of the State Board of Education [click here].

If you are in town, drop in and personally give me your opinions.

Otherwise, phone me at 1-208-332-1271, e-mail at dpence@house.idaho.gov, or write P.O. Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0038

Corrections I wish I could have made in Gooding: Unethical purchase of house/land

2008-02-07T23:02:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, one individual made a lot of statements that my group was unable to correct during the discussion part of the Gooding County Caucus. I would like to address them...

Statement #2: Obama purchased a very expensive house for a very low price from a crook/slumlord blah blah blah...

Mr. Clinton-supporter, again you've tried to sound like you knew what you were talking about and failed miserably.

"In 2005, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, bid $1.65 million for a house on the south side of Chicago. According to newspaper reports, the owner was also trying to sell an undeveloped parcel of land adjacent to the property Obama was buying, and he wanted the sales of the two to close on the same day. Obama has said that he mentioned he was buying the house to a longtime political patron, Antoin (Tony) Rezko, a developer. Rezko’s wife wound up buying the lot adjacent to Obama’s. At the request of the Obamas, who were seeking a bit more space for their yard, she later sold them a 10-foot wide strip, or about one-sixth, of her land. The Obamas paid $104,500 for it, or about one-sixth of what Mrs. Rezko had paid for the entire property." [More at FactCheck.org]

This information is VERY easy to locate ... FactCheck.org even includes sources. What a concept, don't ya think? Probably not as fun as creative story-telling or blowing things out of proportion or stretching the truth... but it works for me.

Who is Obama???

2008-02-07T23:02:00.000-07:00

UPDATE 2/07/08: Due to multiple comments/statements which display either deliberate ignorance or sincere misinformation, I have updated this post.

What are Obama's positions?
There are several locations to find out this information. A simple resource is at Glassbooth.org. This site is very helpful for clarification regarding his position on gay rights, abortion, and guns.

For even more information and research, you can learn more about Senator Obama's positions on the issues on his website.

The most information can be located in his BluePrint for Change ... he states his position, describes what he sees as problems to target, his plans, and his record.

Now people should no longer have an excuse to say "what does he stand for?", "it's all hype", "he has no plans, just promises", and all of the other covers for "I haven't bothered to do the research." What are you waiting for? A 60-second commercial with Paris Hilton to get your attention? This ain't Burger King, folks, this is the future of our country... this is the legacy we're leaving future generations.

But... but... but... he's MUSLIM!!
No, he's not. Never was. The TRUTH is HERE.

But... but... but... he's black!
Um... yeah... and his mother was white... from Kansas. What's your point?

He's not patriotic... doesn't support the troops... etc.
Short and sweet: his grandfather was a WWII veteran and taught him to put his hand over his heart during the pledge, and down by his sides while singing the anthem... which is what they were doing at the time of the infamous picture. For more of the truth, go here.

There are other posts on my blog that address Obama questions... click the tag...

ORIGINAL POST: I am not posting this in order to promote any particular candidate... I respect a person's right to vote for the candidate of your choice, and I appreciate their respect of my own right to vote for the candidate of my choice.

I am posting this because I have received multiple e-mails from people which repeat the rumors of Obama's supposed American citizenship, religious beliefs and so on. Almost every e-mail starts out with something like "I looked it up on Snopes and they said it was TRUE!!"

If you receive a similar e-mail, you may be inclined (as many are in today's busy world) to not do your own research and will believe the statements to be true...

So I just wanted to share the following, because I believe patriotic Americans want to be informed voters, no matter who they decide to vote for... I also hope that if you receive a future e-mail which attempts to spread misinformation, you will research its accuracy before forwarding it to others, no matter WHO it is about or which party the candidate belongs to... www.snopes.com and www.truthorfiction.com are both very good sites for research...

If one actually checked out the Snopes findings (at http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp), one would learn that Snopes has actually determined these rumors to be FALSE, in MULTIPLE parts. It is also determined to be FALSE at truthorfiction.com: http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/o/obama.htm.
*Regarding the anthem and hand-over-heart incident, you can research here: http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/anthem.asp...

For example, the statement:
"ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office — he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran (Their equivalency to our Bible, but very different beliefs)..."

This statement is a mistaken reference to Minnesota congressman Keith Ellison, not Barack Obama. More debunking follows...

Barack Obama, 45, served as an Illinois state senator for several years, and in 2004 he won a seat representing that state in the U.S. Senate. His keynote address before the Democratic National Convention in June 2004 brought him national prominence, and he is currently one of the leading contenders for the nomination to represent the Democratic Party in the 2008 presidential election. Barack Obama has an unusual and interesting background, which the above-quoted piece draws on to paint him as a dangerous, camouflaged radical Muslim.

Much of the information presented therein about his background is distorted and exaggerated, however, and no evidence supports a claim that Obama is currently "ideologically Muslim" or has ever been a "radical" Muslim.

Claim: Barack Obama has been a U.S. senator for only 100 days.

Barack Obama was sworn in as a U.S. senator representing the state of Illinois on 4 January 2005, so as of late December 2006 (when the e-mail about his Muslim background appeared) he had been in that office for two years.

Claim: Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a radical Muslim while admitting that he was once a Muslim, mitigating that damning information by saying that, for two years, he also attended a Catholic school.

Barack Obama has not "admitted" to being a Muslim, nor has any evidence been produced demonstrating that he is, or ever was, a "radical Muslim." (As with everything else in the e-mail quoted at the head of the page, this is asserted as "fact" despite a complete lack of supporting evidence.)

"Senator Obama has never been a Muslim," Obama communications director Robert Gibbs said. "As a six-year-old in Catholic school, he studied the catechism." Barack Obama has been associated with the United Church of Christ since the mid-1980s, describes himself as a Christian, and says that he is "rooted in the Christian tradition."

When he was a child in Indonesia, Obama spent a couple of years at a Catholic school and another couple of years at a school that was predominantly Muslim (because Indonesia itself is predominantly Muslim). In his 2006 book, The Audacity of Hope, Obama elaborated on his early schooling, explaining that he attended both Catholic and Muslim schools in Indonesia — not out of any particular religious affiliation, but because his mother wanted him to obtain the best education possible under the circumstances:

During the five years that we would live with my stepfather in Indonesia, I was sent first to a neighborhood Catholic school and then to a predominantly Muslim school; in both cases, my mother was less concerned with me learning the catechism or puzzling out the meaning of the muezzin's call to evening prayer than she was with whether I was properly learning my multiplication tables.

Claim: Obama's father, Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. was a radical Muslim who migrated from Kenya to Jakarta, Indonesia. He met Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, a white atheist from Wichita, Kansas at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Obama, Sr. and Dunham divorced when Barack, Jr. was two. Barack Obama's father (also named Barack Obama) was born on the shores of Lake Victoria in Alego, Kenya. Although the elder Obama was raised as a Muslim, no evidence supports the claim that he was ever a "radical Muslim," and Senator Obama's family histories note that his father was an atheist or agnostic (i.e., no longer a practicing Muslim) by the time he married the younger Obama's mother.

Claim: Obama's spinmeisters are now attempting to make it appear that Obama's introduction to Islam came from his father and that influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya immediately following the divorce and never again had any direct influence over his son's education.

The notion that "Obama's spinmeisters are now attempting to make it appear that Obama's introduction to Islam came from his father" and deliberately obscuring the "reality" that his father had little "influence over his son's education" is just silly in light of the fact that Barack Obama himself has repeatedly acknowledged that his parents split up when he was two years old and that he scarcely knew his father:

My father was almost entirely absent from my childhood, having been divorced from my mother when I was two years old. At the time of his death, my father remained a myth to me, both more and less than a man. He had left Hawaii back in 1963, when I was only two years old, so that as a child I knew him only through the stories that my mother and grandparents told.

(Barack's only other childhood contact with his father occurred when he was eleven years old, and his father came to visit Hawaii for a month at Christmastime.)

Claim: Dunham married another Muslim, Lolo Soetoro who educated his stepson as a good Muslim by enrolling him in one of Jakarta's Wahabbi schools. Wahabbism is the radical teaching that created the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad on the industrialized world.

The claim that Obama attended a radical Wahabbist school in Indonesia in the 1960s is exceedingly far-fetched, given that:

The large Indonesian community resident in Mecca was a medium through which knowledge about Wahhabism reached Indonesia, but the community itself appears to have remained virtually immune to Wahhabi influences. In reality there was little direct influence of Wahhabism on Indonesian reformist thought until the 1970s.

Insight magazine claimed in a January 2007 article that Barack Obama spent at least four years attending what is variously described as a "madrassa," a "radical Muslim religious school," or a "Muslim seminary" in Indonesia, but CNN has more recently reported that its own investigation found those claims to be false:

[R]eporting by CNN in Jakarta, Indonesia and Washington, D.C., shows the allegations that Obama attended a madrassa to be false. CNN dispatched Senior International Correspondent John Vause to Jakarta to investigate. He visited the Basuki school, which Obama attended from 1969 to 1971. "This is a public school. We don't focus on religion," Hardi Priyono, deputy headmaster of the Basuki school, told Vause. "In our daily lives, we try to respect religion, but we don't give preferential treatment."
Vause reported he saw boys and girls dressed in neat school uniforms playing outside the school, while teachers were dressed in Western-style clothes. "I came here to Barack Obama's elementary school in Jakarta looking for what some are calling an Islamic madrassa ... like the ones that teach hate and violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan," Vause said on the 'Situation Room.' "I've been to those madrassas in Pakistan ... this school is nothing like that."
Vause also interviewed one of Obama's Basuki classmates, Bandug Winadijanto, who claims that not a lot has changed at the school since the two men were pupils. Insight reported that Obama's political opponents believed the school promoted Wahhabism, a fundamentalist form of Islam, "and are seeking to prove it."

"It's not (an) Islamic school. It's general," Winadijanto said. "There is a lot of Christians, Buddhists, also Confucian. ... So that's a mixed school."

The Associated Press reported similarly:

A spokesman for Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs said claims that Obama studied at an Islamic school are groundless. "SDN Menteng 1 is a public primary school that is open to people of all faiths," said the spokesman, Sutopo, who goes by only one name. "Moreover, he studied earlier at Fransiskus Assisi, which is clearly a Catholic school."

Obama later transferred to SDN Menteng 1 the elite, secular elementary school at the center of the controversy. The school is public but is very competitive and has exceptionally high standards. It is located in one of the most affluent parts of Jakarta and attracts mostly middle- to upper-class students, among them several of former dictator Suharto's grandchildren.
Indonesia is home to several of the most radical Islamic schools in Southeast Asia, some with alleged terrorist links. But Akmad Solichin [the vice principal at SDN Menteng 1], who proudly pointed to a photo of a young Barry Obama, as he was known, said his school is not one of them.

Moreover, a statement released by the Obama campaign affirmed that:

In the past week, many of you have read a now thoroughly-debunked story by Insight Magazine, owned by the Washington Times, which cites unnamed sources close to a political campaign that claim Senator Obama was enrolled for "at least four years" in an Indonesian "Madrassa". The article says the "sources" believe the Madrassa was "espousing Wahhabism," a form of radical Islam.

All of the claims about Senator Obama’s faith and education raised in the Insight Magazine story and repeated on Fox News are false. Senator Obama was raised in a secular household in Indonesia by his stepfather and mother. Obama’s stepfather worked for a U.S. oil company, and sent his stepson to two years of Catholic school, as well as two years of public school. To be clear, Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised a Muslim, and is a committed Christian who attends the United Church of Christ in Chicago. Furthermore, the Indonesian school Obama attended in Jakarta is a public school that is not and never has been a Madrassa.

Claim: Since it is politically expedient to be a Christian when you are seeking political office in the United States, Obama joined the United Church of Christ to help purge any notion that he is still a Muslim, which, ideologically, he remains today.

As noted above, Barack Obama describes himself as "a Christian," says that he is "rooted in the Christian tradition," and his association with the United Church of Christ began well before his political career. (Obama was first elected to the Illinois state senate in 1996, but he has been involved with the United Church of Christ since the mid-1980s.) The beginnings of Obama's relationship with the church were described in an April 2004 Chicago Sun-Times article:

Obama is unapologetic in saying he has a "personal relationship with Jesus Christ." As a sign of that relationship, he says, he walked down the aisle of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ in response to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's altar call one Sunday morning about 16 years ago. The politician could have ended his spiritual tale right there, at the point some people might assume his life changed, when he got "saved," transformed, washed in the blood. But Obama wants to clarify what truly happened. "It wasn't an epiphany," he says of that public profession of faith. "It was much more of a gradual process for me. I know there are some people who fall out. Which is wonderful. God bless them ... I think it was just a moment to certify or publicly affirm a growing faith in me." These days, he says, he attends the 11 a.m. Sunday service at Trinity in the Brainerd neighborhood every week — or at least as many weeks as he is able.
His pastor, Wright, has become a close confidant. So how did he become a churchgoer? It began in 1985, when he came to Chicago as a $13,000-a-year community organizer, working with a number of African-American churches in the Roseland, West Pullman and Altgeld Gardens neighborhoods that were trying to deal with the devastation caused by shuttered steel plants. "I started working with both the ministers and the lay people in these churches on issues like creating job-training programs, or after-school programs for youth, or making sure that city services were fairly allocated to underserved communities," he says. "And it was in those places where I think what had been more of an intellectual view of religion deepened. "I became much more familiar with the ongoing tradition of the historic black church and its importance in the community. And the power of that culture to give people strength in very difficult circumstances, and the power of that church to give people courage against great odds. And it moved me deeply."

No evidence supports the claim that Barack Obama is, despite his professed Christianity, "an ideological Muslim," and those who have made this claim have offered nothing to support it — no letters or documents in which Barack Obama has ever stated such, no reports of conversations in which he ever admitted such, no revelations from friends or associates that he ever demonstrated such.

Corrections I wish I could have made in Gooding: Missing in Congress

2008-02-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, one individual made a lot of statements that my group was unable to correct during the discussion part of the Gooding County Caucus. I would like to address them...

Statement #1: Obama was missing during many Congressional votes.

Mr. Clinton-supporter, may I please point out to you that according to The Washington Post Vote Database (as published in Newsweek, January 21, 2008) that yes, Senator Obama missed 11 votes (1.7%) during the 109th Congress... while Senator Clinton missed 16 (2.5%).

For 110th Congress, Senator Obama has missed 174 votes (38.3%) and Senator Clinton has missed 112 votes (24.7%).

Yes, Senator Obama has missed some votes... so has Senator Clinton. Last year, she missed more than he did. This year, he has missed more than she has. Nothing to brag about for either of them.

So... what was your point again?

Interesting note: Senator McCain missed 58 votes (9%) during the 109th, and 257 votes (56.6%) during 110th.

Republicans endorsing Obama

2008-02-07T21:18:00.000-07:00

What do Susan Eisenhower and Joe Scarborough have in common?

They are what Obama recently called "Obamacans"—disaffected Republicans who have drifted away from their party...[Read more]

And I bet their heads won't explode in the voting booth!
-drp

Report on Gooding County Caucus

2008-02-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

What a night! We didn't have hundreds of participants like Twin Falls... or THOUSANDS like Ada County... but we DID have a great turnout!

We all gathered in the back room at Sally's Office Solutions and Deli... folks started arriving early but they were very patient while we finished getting set up. (It helped that they could order soup, sandwiches, coffee, and more while they were waiting!)

Carpools came from Hagerman and a nice group came from Wendell... it was wonderful to see them! We missed folks from Bliss, but hopefully we'll be addressing that over the next few months. Since we live in a rural area, many of the faces were familiar and some were a surprise! I was able to re-connect with a woman from Wendell who I hadn't seen in at least 8 years, and put some faces to some names I recognized. A couple of Republicans joined us and I really think they felt welcomed.

As volunteers, some who are new to the caucus process, we had some bumps during the evening... I hope those of you who noticed will be willing to help us out next time! We'd greatly appreciate it!

We broke into our groups and that is when the "fun" started...

I prepared for the night by bringing information about Senator Obama's positions and plans. I wanted to be able to inform, clarify, educate, etc. if there were any questions or concerns. Others in our group were willing to also present our candidate that way. I made a conscious decision to NOT bring information about Senator Clinton's weak areas... I am not willing to play that type of game. I believe in success based upon our candidate's great qualities... winning as a result of trashing the opponent is not a "win", in my opinion.

Unfortunately, others were of another opinion. Yes, a couple of folks in the Obama group did get a dig or two... but they didn't dwell on it. But when it was time for the Clinton group to begin speaking, their spokesperson began a ten-minute (or more?) spew of attacks and misinformation regarding Senator Obama. In all fairness, Clinton's group as a whole were not expecting their representative to speak in that manner... but nobody stopped him. After a few minutes, our group tried to re-focus him on sharing Clinton's attributes but to no avail... he was too intent on spitting out poison. Finally, somebody called "time" and he sat down. It was so awful that people next to me were asking if he was a Republican... I said "no", that "all families have their drunk Uncle Bob and he was ours... sigh..." {Since our group was unable to address the accusations of this individual during the caucus, I will be doing so here on my blog and welcome the input from other participants of the evening...}

That was the only negative part of the evening... overall, the night was a complete success, in my opinion, no matter which candidate the participant was supporting. I don't think we could have fit another body into the room... everyone felt welcomed and listened to... if one wanted to speak, they were given the opportunity... we connected with old friends, strengthened friendships with current ones, and developed new friendships as well. Our delegates will represent us well at the state convention...

My favorite moments...
Joking around with one of the Clinton supporters... he's a great guy and we tease each other about our choices... in a friendly and respectful manner. He's someone I've only met this last year and I've sincerely enjoyed our conversations... and I really enjoyed it as Obama's numbers kept increasing during the evening, while his candidate's numbers ... well, let's just say that Obama was the clear winner of the evening! He's a gracious gentleman and took my teasing well!

Sharing the evening with some of my dearest friends... some were old friends, some are relatively new friends... we've shared our fears, our concerns, our frustrations about our losses, our families, our faith. Tuesday felt like the dawn of a new day... and I can't think of a more wonderful bunch of people to share that feeling with...

There were other "Kodak" moments of the evening, but the blue ribbon goes to sharing this memorable evening with my 17-year-old daughter. She will be 18 this summer and will be able to vote for the very first time. Watching her experience democracy in action is priceless.

Oh, yes, the results?
Clinton: 15 (23%, 1 delegate)
Edwards: 1 (2%)
Obama: 48 (73%, 2 delegates)
Uncommitted: 2 (3%)
(For complete statewide caucus breakdowns, go here.)

Call to ACTION!! Si Sue Puede!

2008-02-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

Have you heard? Idaho had 22,000 Democrats around the state attend our caucuses on Super Tuesday. That is more than 4 times the turnout in 2004!

What does that mean?

IDAHO IS READY FOR CHANGE…

ARE YOU?

The Idaho Democratic Party sent out an email last week asking Democrats to get involved, and the response has been fantastic. Idaho Democrats are ready to get into the act. They have great program that will make it easy and fun for you to make a difference in 2008.

Become a Neighborhood Leader Today! Click here to sign up!

Or visit www.idaho-democrats.org

You can also sign up directly with our Field Directors. You can contact either Shelley at shelley@idaho-democrats.org or Randy at randy@idaho-democrats.org

He sacrificed Himself for the little people

2008-02-07T19:34:00.000-07:00

As most of the world has probably heard by now, Romney has "suspended" his Presidential campaign. What really ticks me off is that he (like so many others) plays upon American's fear of another terrorist attack as a reason... if we elect a Democrat, the bad guys will get us. Oh puh-lease! I'm getting so tired of that line of crap...

Romney Suspending Campaign
By Jill Kuraitis
CNN is reporting that Mitt Romney will suspend his presidential campaign today. [read more]

Mitt, we knew ye too well....
Fraud to the end, Myth Romney told the American people that he is suspending his presidential campaign because of treason monkeys like me. [read more]

Note to "Anonymous"

2008-02-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

I am open to discussion... I don't mind folks wanting to preserve their identity... but to those who are only interested in "drive-by shootings"... I will delete your comments.

'Nuff said.

Rep. Jaquet: Legislative Report Week 4

2008-02-07T16:52:00.000-07:00

Thank you to so many of you who have touched base to check on Senator Clint Stennett. Clint is recuperating from his surgery at his Boise rental house and is planning to come back to work shortly. He gets to look forward to chemo/radiation, but he’s a tough guy and we know that he’ll be setting records for his recovery!

I’m hoping to see many of you at the Senator Barack Obama Rally on Saturday, February 2. The doors open at 7:00 am and I’m intending to be there between 7 and 7:30. I believe that Obama is our best chance for change. He has ignited young and old people around his candidacy. He represents a transformation regarding business as usual in Washington DC. I’m planning on attending my caucus in Blaine County, Tuesday, February 5. I’m carpooling with Jon Thorson, who is sitting in for Clint, and with Commissioners Schoen and Bowman who will be in Boise for a County conference.

Food tax: The Republicans introduced a complicated expansion of the grocery tax credit this week. I’m hoping that the Chairman of the Rev and Tax committee will allow us to introduce our bill which takes the sales tax off food over a six year period. There is also a Republican bill which has a similar approach. It’s so much easier to do it at the cash register!

School construction bond subsidy access: Several years ago a safe schools bond program was developed which was utilized by seven school districts including Wendell. Wendell had tried to pass a bond for a new middle school. Their old school had been condemned. The second time around with the subsidy it was successful. Now, Wendell would like to present a new request for voter consideration which includes an agriculture/technology and athletic expansion. We discovered that Wendell, because they had taken advantage of the first program, would not be able to access the new program which all districts now had the benefit of. Today I’m presenting legislation which will open this back up to the 7 districts including Wendell. The chair of the Revenue and Taxation Committee has asked to be a co-sponsor.

Energy Efficient State Energy Act: This week in the House Environment Affairs committee this bipartisan bill passed out of committee and it will now go to the House floor for a vote. The bill will require all major state buildings, and building renovations, to be designed, constructed and certified to a standard that achieves energy savings at least 30% greater than the current state approved energy code. I support this bill.

Next Monday is the deadline for draft requests for new legislation. That puts pressure on us to get our bills drafted, reviewed and into the committee chairs. Bills that are not drafted by then don’t have much of a chance to get across to the Senate for approval. I’m scrambling.

Good to hear from so many of you this week. It is always good to have the Representatives from the Association of Idaho Cities.

Let me hear from you: Phone: 1-800-626- 0471 email: wjaquet@house.idaho.gov

Super Tuesday: Idaho update!

2008-02-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

Many Idaho bloggers will be reporting on their local caucus activity over at New West/Boise so check throughout the day and night, share the discussion, and report on your own local caucus experience!

Julie will be keeping us informed (and providing a forum for discussion) regarding national results over at Red State Rebels.

The Idaho Democratic Party will report statewide numbers on their website.

Names you will recognize...

2008-02-02T20:41:00.000-07:00

UPDATED 2/2/08 8:40PM:
After the original posting, Gov. Cecil Andrus has added his support for Senator Obama. He introduced Obama at today's event... watch it here!

Larry Grant has also provided his endorsement for Senator Obama.

After I made my decision to support Barack Obama, I put forth even more effort to learn more about him. AFTER I decided to campaign for Obama, I found out who else in Idaho is publicly endorsing him.

I can't tell you if knowing this before hand would have hastened my own decision, but I can tell you that once I saw these names below... I knew I had made the right one. -drp

ENDORSEMENT
Jerry and Rickie Brady

Democrats have a host of qualified candidates who could win in November and be exceptional presidents. However the person best suited to our times is Barack Obama.
Why?

The next president must reverse the catastrophic decline in America's moral leadership in the world, a decline that has made us among the least admired nations in the world. Barack Obama can do that.

The next president must cut through the partisanship and divisiveness that have poisoned our public life for 30 years to achieve the unity craved by most Americans. Barack Obama can do that.

As a legislative assistant to Senator Frank Church in the l960's, I had a front row seat for the cascade of critical legislation that followed the death of John Kennedy. Something on the scale of Lyndon Johnson's accomplishments is needed today. If anyone could do that it would be Barack Obama.

The Bush Administration has placed America in a deep financial hole. Any responsible Democrat must reverse the catastrophic rise in the national debt piled on our children while mobilizing a national consensus for universal health care. Those who dug this hole and oppose health care for all will use the filibuster rule in the Senate to resist. In my judgment, Obama has the best chance to rally the nation to override this resistance and renew our country.

Some say Obama should have waited his turn. I say we cannot afford to wait. On many of our challenges, the hour is late and conditions dire. Obama offers the best hope for a breakthrough. Bush, Clinton, Bush and-once again-Clinton does not.

Rickie and I are packing our bags to work for Obama in Nevada come January. We hope Idaho Democrats will do all you can as well.

ENDORSEMENT
Boise City Mayor, Dave Bieter

Dear Obama for America in Idaho:
First, I want to thank the many Barack Obama supporters who turned out in numbers to help me be successful in my reelection as mayor of Boise. Your work made a big difference in my decision of whom to back for president.
But I admit that I took the time between my campaign and before the Iowa Caucus to decide between the candidates. After weeks of following each of them, and before any vote was cast in Iowa, I concluded that I will do whatever I can to ensure that Barack Obama be the next president of the United States.
This is a contentious and often bitter time in America. He is the only candidate who inspires us to push for a future that fulfills the promise our country has always had but too often has failed to fulfill.
Most of all, he is the only one with the courage to speak with hope in a cynical time. He is the right person at the right time for our country, our state and the City of Boise.

IDAHO STATE LAWMAKER ENDORSEMENTS:

State Senate Minority Leader Clint Stennett: Dist#25, Blaine, Camas, Gooding, Lincoln
State Senate Assistant Minority Leader David Langhorst: Dist 16, Ada
State Senator Diane Bilyeu: Dist.29, Bannock
State Senator Mike Burkett: Dist. #19, Ada,
State Senator Edgar Malepeai: Dist. # 30, Bannock
State Senator Elliot Werk: Dist.#17, Ada

House Minority Leader Wendy Jaquet: Dist.#25, Blaine, Camas, Gooding, Lincoln
House Assistant Minority Leader George Saylor: Dist.#4, Kootenai
House Minority Caucus Chair John Rusche: Dist.#7, Lewiston
State Representative Les Bock: Dist.# 16, Ada
State Representative Liz Chavez: Dist. #7, Nez Perce
State Representative Margaret Henbest: Dist.#16, Ada
State Representative Nicole LaFavour: Dist.#19, Ada
State Representative Anne Pasley-Stuart: Dist.#19, Ada
State Representative Donna Pence: Dist #25, Blaine, Camas, Gooding, Lincoln.
State Representative Shirley Ringo: Dist. #6, Latah
State Representative James Ruchti: Dist. #29, Bannock
State Representative Jerry Shively: Dist. #33, Bonneville

OTHER IDAHO ENDORSEMENTS:
· Paul Woods, Ada County Commissioner
· Jim Hansen, Former State Representative, Executive Director - United Vision for Idaho
· Gail Bray, Idaho's National Committeewoman - Super Delegate, Former State Senator
· Grant Burgoyne, Idaho's National Committeeman - Super Delegate, Private Attorney · Mike Kennedy, City Councilman - Coeur d'Alene
· Steve Scanlin, Former State Representative, Private Attorney
· Brian Cronin, Ada County Democrats Chair, 2004-2007

Larry Grant endorses Senator Obama for President

2008-02-02T20:33:00.000-07:00

January 31, 2008

FRUITLAND – Larry Grant, Democratic candidate for Idaho’s 1st Congressional District, announced today he is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for President.
In his letter to Senator Obama informing him of the endorsement, Grant said, “Having followed your campaign with growing admiration, I believe that you are the candidate best qualified to lead America in the coming years.”
Obama is scheduled for a campaign appearance in Boise Saturday, three days before the state’s Democrats hold their presidential caucus as part of “Super Tuesday” on February 5th.
Grant thanked Senator Obama for including Idaho in his campaign. “I ran for Congress in Idaho in 2006 and am doing so again in 2008. I can assure you that the people of Idaho are drawn to your message of hope and are excited about your upcoming visit.”
Grant said he is endorsing Senator Obama because he “embodies the new political ethic that we need in this country. He is doing on a national basis what we started in 2006 and are continuing to do in this campaign, which is getting people involved on a local basis.
“People are asking for change. They aren’t happy with the old style of politics,” Grant said. “Obama represents the idea that working together, we can restore America, that people can come together to solve the problems we face and not use them to divide us for partisan gain or to advance a narrow personal agenda.”

Contact: Don Rosebrock
Communications Director
Grant for Congress
208/602-6524
don@grantforcongress.com

Larry Grant
208/707-2386
larry@grantforcongress.com
www.grantforcongress.com

Clinton rally in Boise, ID

2008-02-02T20:30:00.000-07:00

"A group of 50 people had been hastily organized at a downtown Boise restaurant on less than a day’s notice to hear Washington Senator Maria Cantwell speak on Clinton’s behalf. "

More here.

"Biggest crowd in arena history"

2008-02-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful way to start a birthday!! We left around 6AM and drove carefully and slowly to Boise. The angels were with us and we quickly found a parking space reasonably close to the entrance. Thank God we had passes (because of our volunteer work) and we didn't have to stand in the lines that wrapped out to the Green Belt (from what I was told).

I'm hearing that the crowds were the biggest in the Arena's history (estimated to be more than 14,000, with another 2,000 unable to enter). Talk about "WOW"!! For an AWESOME picture of the crowd, check it out here!!

Right now I'm still processing so I can't write any words of wisdom... I'll just post some of my favorite moments...

{Quick insert here: This is the best description of this morning's rally I've read yet... others have more quotes, more details... but this is what I'd have written if I was as talented as he is... the site has been having troubles tonight but keep trying to check out Juggernaut... it's worth it...!}

First I want to say that the introduction by Gov. Andrus was inspiring all in its own. If you don't have the time/inclination to watch the whole thing, at least watch Andrus' intro which includes:

“I’ve been around a long time, and I’ve seen a lot of political candidates come and go. I have not seen since John F. Kennedy in 1960, a candidate that has the capacity to unite and inspire the people of America like Barack Obama.”

Andrus said Obama could bring about change – in Washington, in the economy – and the war in Iraq. “It takes too many. It costs us too many lives. It’s a war that costs us too much. And for what reason? It’s a war that no one can justify. This is a man that can bring an end to that in my opinion,” Andrus said.

Then former Gov. Cecil Andrus introduced “the man I think should be and will be the next president of the United States.”
"He is the custodian of the hope and the dream of millions and millions of Americans.”

Some of my favorite statements from Obama:

“They told me there weren’t any Democrats in Idaho — that’s what they told me. But I didn’t believe them.”

"Our nation is at war, our planet is in peril and the dream that so many generations fought for feels like it is slowly slipping away... You and I together will remake this country, we will remake the world."

"We can help rural communities build new schools. I won't just talk about how great teachers are, I will reward them by paying them higher salaries."

If you watch the video, you will hear him talk about his plans for America's security, meeting the needs of our military, and more...

I remember "do not negotiate in fear, but do not fear to negotiate", why he wants to be President now rather than later (great statement... something about now they want him to wait until they "boil the hope" out of him!), his praise for our troops... oh, heck, I don't have the right words to describe it! WATCH IT!

Complete uncut speech from KTVB here, another video from KIVI here.

More from KTVB and KBCI Channel 2.
Check out photos here.
Idaho Statesman, 2/2/08
Idaho Statesman pics here.

Other blog reporting at this time:
Great post from Julie at Red State Rebels: Barack Obama fires up 14,000+ in Boise
DailyKos: 14,000 for Obama in Boise this morning!!
Ridenbaugh Press: Obama in Boise
(To check for current Idaho blog coverage, go to LeftyBlogs.)

On the flip side, what do you think about THIS???
GOP: Obama hoopla good for Idaho
Republicans say Obama’s visit draws welcome attention, but they’ll still dominate the state.
Wayne Hoffman, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Bill Sali, said Democrats suffer by comparison:

“Clearly, Americans are frustrated by the garbage spilling out of Washington, D.C. ... The question is: What kind of change do they want? If you want bigger government, higher taxes, more expensive energy and the loss of your Second Amendment rights, then I guess Obama’s your guy. I don’t think Idahoans want that.”

I would have included FOX 12 but their top stories at this time did not include any coverage, nor did the Times-News.

Now I think I will go take a nap!!

If it feels really really good, is it a sin?

2008-01-31T23:36:00.000-07:00

Or am I breaking a dozen federal laws??

I sure hope not! This is just too dang fun!!

No further explanation is really necessary... just sit back and play!

Thank you, d2, for sharing it! I needed the release!!

{Bush lied about the war... WHACK! Bush protects his oil buddies... WHACK! Bush is a moron... WHACK!....and on and on and on....}

Governor Andrus: Obama's message is the right one for the country

2008-01-31T22:43:00.000-07:00

Former Idaho Governor Andrus Endorses Obama for President

BOISE - Former Idaho Governor Cecil Andrus announced today that he is endorsing Barack Obama for President. Andrus said that Barack Obama's message of change, hope and unity for the future is the right one for the country.

"The people of America are thirsting for a change. Barack Obama is the one candidate who can take on the special interests, reach across party lines and unite this entire nation around a common purpose so we can finally start making progress for all Americans," Andrus said.

Andrus served four terms as Idaho's Governor. He also served as the Secretary of the Interior under the Carter Administration. He is a leading advocate for land and wildlife conservation and education.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2008
Contact: Chani Wiggins, 208-871-4934
Communications Director
Idaho for Obama
208-345-6210
202-236-7750

My path toward Obama

2008-01-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

I support Obama as President of the United States of America.

There. I said it.

It was easier to say than it was to decide, that’s for sure.

First of all, my personality type is ENFP... there are lots of academic ways of describing an ENFP (here and here!), but in simple terms, I “go with my gut”.

In addition, I am not astute at political issues... I'm more of a KISS type of person. I struggle to overcome the barrier that creates and really do try to make an effort to educate myself about the areas I'm most concerned with.

However, as a responsible voter, I know that I owe it to myself, my children, my country, and my candidates to not leave it at that. I really need to do my research before I make a final decision.

I went to Glassbooth and compared my priorities and positions on the various issues with ALL of the Presidential candidates.

Surprise… the results were all Democratic candidates!!

Another surprise, as addressed in another post: the top two in which I had the most in common were Kucinich and Gravel. Then it went Clinton, Edwards, and finally Obama. There was only a percentage point or two apart in difference, but Obama was ranked #5!

But my gut still kept leaning for Obama…

So I looked into the two areas in which Obama and I held different positions… and I researched his argument for his position and compared it to mine. He made sense… I didn’t necessarily agree with him, but I could respect the basis of his position.

I still was undecided, however…

Hillary Clinton… wow, the first woman President! She does have many years of experience in the political arena. But… is being the first woman President a good reason to elect her as the leader of our country? Just because she has experience, does that necessarily mean that she’s the best choice? (Haven’t we all had EXPERIENCED bosses or teachers… who still sucked at their job?) She’s got a lot of baggage… very little do I feel is actually her fault… but I’d really like the country to focus on OUR issues… and not the Clintons’. Her interaction with others, her ego, her marital situation… can we afford to take our eyes off the ball? I don’t think so…
I have to say that one simple sentence pushed me over the fence…

I received an Obama brochure in the mail last week… In this campaign flyer, he states he will “take on the drug and insurance lobbyists to cut health care costs for the typical family…”

That leapt out to me… this isn’t the time or place to discuss “why” but it was something I was waiting to hear from one of the candidates. (You can read more about Obama’s health care plan here.)

After I acknowledged to myself that Obama WAS the candidate I believed in, I learned which other Idahoans had endorsed him. This list contained individuals who I deeply admired and respected. People who I knew were more politically astute than I am and who understood more clearly the issues.

I realized then that I had made the right decision.

Update on Obama's visit to Idaho

2008-01-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

Presidential candidate Barack Obama be at the Taco Bell Arena at Boise State University Saturday, February 2.

Doors will open at 7 a.m. to the public.

People attending the speech are being asked to use Entrance No. 3.

Obama is expected to take the podium about 9 a.m.

The event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is strongly encouraged.

RSVP by visiting www.idaho.barackobama.com/boise or call 345-6210.

For security reasons, bags are not allowed inside the event. It is suggested you limit personal items. No signs or banners will be permitted.

Fact, not fiction: Part 4

2008-01-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

Chicago Tribune, Factcheck.Org, Washington Post:
Obama Never Represented Tony Rezko
January 23, 2008

FactCheck.org
On Clinton's Claim Obama Represented Rezko: "That's Untrue." Factcheck.org reported, "Obama was associated with a law firm that represented the community groups working with Rezko on several deals. There's no evidence that Obama spent much time on them, and he never represented Rezko directly. So it was wrong for Clinton to say he was 'representing ... Rezko.' That's untrue." [FactCheck.org, 1/21/08]

Chicago Tribune
Review Of "Land And Court Document And Law Firm Files As Well As Correspondence And Other Records...Supports [Obama's] Contention That He Did Not Directly Represent Rezko's Development Firm." The Chicago Tribune reported, "Obama angrily rejected Clinton's accusation at Monday's Democratic debate. And a Tribune review of land and court documents and law firm files as well as correspondence and other records related to Obama's eight years as an Illinois state lawmaker supports his contention that he did not directly represent Rezko's development firm. Instead, the records show, he represented non-profit community groups that partnered with Rezko's firm." [Chicago Tribune, 1/23/08]

Tribune Examined Miner Barnhill's "260 Civil And Criminal Cases," IHDA And DOH Files, Clients From Obama's "Unusually Frank Ethics Disclosure Reports" And Found Obama Represented The Non-Profit Partner.

The Chicago Tribune reported, "At the Tribune's request, Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy Evans produced a list of all 260 civil and criminal cases in which the firm filed appearances, and the Tribune separately examined 1990s lawsuits that Rezmar Corp. listed in applications for government grants.

The paper also examined files from the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the city housing department, as well as the hundreds of clients Obama listed in the unusually frank ethics disclosure reports he filed as a state senator from December 1995 through April 2004.

Those and other records disclosed five instances in which Obama did legal work for ventures that included Rezmar Corp. The case of City of Chicago vs. Central Woodlawn Limited Partnership is one example. In 1992, that community group partnered with Rezmar Corp. to rehab the former slum apartment building at 6107-6115 S. Ellis Ave. As work was ongoing, city officials sued the developers, alleging 16 serious code violations at the property, including a dangerously dilapidated porch. Obama and a co-counsel filed appearances in February 1994, but the court records show they appeared on behalf of Central Woodlawn, Rezko's non-profit partner, not Rezko or his company." [Chicago Tribune, 1/23/08]

Washington Post Fact Check:
"Investigations By Chicago Newspapers Have Not Produced Evidence That [Obama] Represented Rezko In A Slum Landlord Business."
The Washington Post reported, "William Miceli, Obama's supervisor at the law firm, said the firm represented the Woodlawn Preservation and Investment Corp., a nonprofit group that redeveloped a run-down property on Chicago's South Side with Rezko. He called Clinton's assertion that Obama represented Rezko in a slum landlord business 'categorically untrue. He was a very junior lawyer at the time, who was given responsibility for basic due diligence, document review,' said Miceli, adding that Obama did what he was told by the firm. According to Miceli, that was the only time Obama worked on a Rezko-related project while at the law firm…But investigations by Chicago newspapers have not produced evidence that he represented Rezko in a slum landlord business. What has been demonstrated so far is that he did some due diligence legal work for a joint venture between Rezko and a Chicago nonprofit. Two Pinocchios for Clinton." [Washington Post, 1/22/08]

MINER: OBAMA DID MINOR WORK REPRESENTING THE NON-PROFIT
Miner: Obama Filed Incorporation Papers For The Non-Profits. The AP reported, "Attorneys there say Obama never represented Rezko directly. The future senator did represent community organizations that were Rezko partners in rehabilitating buildings to provide apartments for the poor…Judson Miner, a partner in the firm, said that Obama's role was small. He said Obama did perhaps six or seven hours of work on such projects, mainly filing incorporation papers for the nonprofit groups." [AP, 1/22/08]

Obama Said That Miner Barnhill "Was Representing The Non-For-Profit Partner, Where There's No Allegations That They Did Anything Wrong." Obama said, "My law firm was representing the non for profit partner, where there's no allegations that they did anything wrong. They were simply trying to develop non for profit housing in the district." [Fox News, 4/24/07]

Obama Said That Miner Barnhill Was "Brought In Through [The Non-Profits], Not Through Rezko." The Chicago Tribune reported, "Responding to a Chicago Sun-Times report that Obama's former law firm did legal work for Rezko's low-income housing development business, the Illinois senator said he performed five hours of work on behalf of non-profit housing groups that partnered with Rezko. 'We were brought in through them [the non-profits], not through Rezko,' Obama said." [Chicago Tribune, 4/24/07]

Truth in advertising!!

2008-01-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

Fact, not fiction: Part 3

2008-01-29T17:58:00.000-07:00

It is so sad to see that some Americans still can't think for themselves, but instead rely on rumors, gossip, and innunendo... the truth is there, if you choose to see it.

Friends shouldn't let friends vote stupid...

BARACK OBAMA and PATRIOTISM

Barack was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was born and raised in a small village in Kenya. His mother, Ann Dunham, grew up in small-town Kansas. Her father worked on oilrigs during the Depression, and then signed up for World War II after Pearl Harbor, where he marched across Europe in Patton's army.

Barack's grandfather taught him to say the Pledge of Allegiance and love his country.

After graduating from high school in Honolulu and attending Columbia University in New York, Barack became a community organizer working with churches on the South Side of Chicago. He then attended Harvard Law School, where he was the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review.

Barack's patriotism and profound belief in the underlying principles of this country led him to teach Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago. He also worked as a Civil Rights attorney in Chicago, protecting the voting rights of minority communities. Eventually, his commitment to the people in his community led him to run for office as an Illinois State Senator where he served for 8 years representing the 13th district.

In the U.S. Senate, as a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Obama has fought to help Illinois veterans get the disability pay they were promised, while working to prepare the VA for the return of the thousands of veterans who will need care after Iraq and Afghanistan.

Barack believes that you show your patriotism by how you treat your fellow Americans and veterans.

In November of 2007, General Tony McPeak, Major General J. Scott Gration, and Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig wrote an open letter praising Barack's commitment to our troops and to US veterans. Here's an excerpt:

"We also admire his strong support for our troops and veterans. As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, he has fought to improve care for wounded troops, slash red tape, and reform the disability review process. He also passed legislation to combat homelessness among veterans. As President, he will expand housing vouchers, and launch a new supportive services housing program for at-risk veterans and their families. In addition, he will improve mental health screening and treatment at all levels: from enlistment, to deployment, to reentry into civilian life."

ASSOCIATED PRESS: "Obama said, 'My grandfather taught me how to say the Pledge of Allegiance when I was 2...During the Pledge of Allegiance you put your hand over your heart. During the national anthem you sing.'

WASHINGTON POST: "Anonymous attacks by e-mail are, or at least should be, un-American. This particular one was also wrong on the facts: the ceremony in question had nothing to do with the pledge of the allegiance.”

ST PETERSBURG TIMES: "Danzig, McPeak, Gration: 'Barack Obama Is A Patriot.' 'Senator Obama's attackers are peddling lies and smears because they disagree with his strong opposition to the war in Iraq and the rush to war in Iran,' wrote Richard Danzig, secretary of the Navy under President Bill Clinton, and retired Gens. Merrill "Tony" McPeak and J. Scott Gration. 'We have served this nation for decades, and we know a true patriot when we see one. Barack Obama is a patriot.'"

DES MOINES REGISTER: "Still, when a reporter in Iowa asked presidential candidate Barack Obama why he wasn't wearing a pin, it turned into a national news story. The pin, Obama said, 'became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security. I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest.' He rightly noted that some people wearing lapel pins don't act very patriotic. Staff from other campaigns criticized him. One political analyst said the absence of the pin might hurt him politically. Reporters started asking other candidates about the whereabouts of their pins. Perhaps in an image-fixated world, a flag secured to one's lapel speaks louder than words or actions. But Obama is right. It shouldn't."

Fact, not fiction: Part 2

2008-01-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

BARACK OBAMA and FAITH

Barack grew up in Hawaii with his mother and his grandparents, and he lived in Indonesia with his mother and step-father for four years when he was in elementary school.

After graduating from Columbia University in New York, he became a community organizer working with churches on the South Side of Chicago. After studying at Trinity United Church of Christ, he was baptized and remains a committed and active Christian. He continues to attend regular services with his family at Trinity United Church of Christ.

Barack has never been a Muslim or practiced any other faith besides Christianity, and in January 2005 he was sworn into the U.S. Senate on his family Bible.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: The Rumors About Obama Are "False And Vile." The Los Angeles Times wrote in an editorial, "That the rumors are false and vile is self-evident...Presidential candidates of both parties have a duty to denounce not only the smear against Obama but the bigotry that underlies it."
NEWSWEEK: "Dueling chain e-mails claim he's a radical Muslim or a 'racist' Christian. Both can't be right. We find both are false. If these two nasty e-mail messages are any indication, the 2008 presidential campaign is becoming a very dirty one. One claims that Obama is 'certainly a racist' by virtue of belonging to Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, which it says 'will accept only black parishioners' and espouses a commitment to Africa. Actually, a white theology professor says he's been 'welcomed enthusiastically' at the church, as have other non-blacks. Another e-mail claims that Obama 'is a Muslim,' attended a 'Wahabi' school in Indonesia, took his Senate oath on the Koran, refuses to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and is part of an Islamic plot to take over the U.S. Each of these statements is false. These false appeals to bigotry and fear remind us of the infamous whispering campaign of eight years ago, when anonymous messages just before the South Carolina primary falsely accused Republican candidate John McCain of fathering an illegitimate child by a black woman."
THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: "'Trinity UCC is rooted in and proud of its Afrocentric heritage,' [Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president] said. 'This is no different than the hundreds of UCC churches from the German Evangelical and Reformed stream that continue to own and celebrate their German heritage, insisting on annual sausage and sauerkraut dinners and singing Stille Nacht on Christmas Eve. Recognizing and celebrating our distinctive racial-ethnic heritages, cultures, languages and customs are what make us unique as a united and uniting denomination.' While Trinity UCC is predominately African American, it does include and welcome non-Black members. The Rev. Jane Fisler-Hoffman, Illinois Conference Minister, who is white, has been a member of the congregation for years."
PROMINENT JEWISH LEADERS: "As leaders of the Jewish community, none of whose organizations will endorse or oppose any candidate for President, we feel compelled to speak out against certain rhetoric and tactics in the current campaign that we find particularly abhorrent. Of particular concern, over the past several weeks, many in our community have received hateful emails that use falsehood and innuendo to mischaracterize Senator Barack Obama's religious beliefs and who he is as a person. These tactics attempt to drive a wedge between our community and a presidential candidate based on despicable and false attacks and innuendo based on religion. We reject these efforts to manipulate members of our community into supporting or opposing candidates."
JEWISH U.S. SENATORS: "Over the past several weeks, many in the Jewish community have received hateful emails that use falsehood and innuendo about Senator Barack Obama's religion and attack him personally. As Jewish United States Senators who have not endorsed a candidate for the Democratic nomination, we condemn these scurrilous attacks. We find it particularly abhorrent that these attacks are apparently being sent specifically to the Jewish Community. Jews, who have historically been the target of such attacks, should be the first to reject these tactics. We won't dignify these falsehoods by repeating them in order to refute them. Instead, we will express our outrage at these tactics, which are being used to demonize a good and decent man and our friend and colleague. Attempting to manipulate voters into supporting or opposing one candidate or another based on despicable and fictitious attacks is disgraceful. These false and malicious attacks should not be part of our political discourse."

Fact, not fiction: Part 1

2008-01-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

It is so sad to see that some Americans still can't think for themselves, but instead rely on rumors, gossip, and innunendo... the truth is there, if you choose to see it.

Friends shouldn't let friends vote stupid...

BARACK OBAMA and HIS CHURCH

Barack was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961. Barack's father, Barack Obama Sr., was born and raised in a small village in Kenya. His mother, Ann Dunham, grew up in small-town Kansas.

After graduating from Columbia University in New York, he became a community organizer working with churches on the South Side of Chicago. After studying at Trinity United Church of Christ, he was baptized and remains a committed and active Christian.

Trinity United Church of Christ is the largest congregation in the United Church of Christ. It is part of a liberal denomination that was the first to ordain an African American, a woman, and a gay man. Congregants have described it in the New York Times as a "warm and accepting community," and while it is in a predominantly African American congregation, people of all backgrounds attend and are enthusiastically welcomed.

Barack was sworn in as a U.S. Senator on his own personal Bible and continues to attend Trinity United regularly with his family.

THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: "'Trinity UCC is rooted in and proud of its Afrocentric heritage,' [Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president] said. 'This is no different than the hundreds of UCC churches from the German Evangelical and Reformed stream that continue to own and celebrate their German heritage, insisting on annual sausage and sauerkraut dinners and singing Stille Nacht on Christmas Eve. Recognizing and celebrating our distinctive racial-ethnic heritages, cultures, languages and customs are what make us unique as a united and uniting denomination.' While Trinity UCC is predominately African American, it does include and welcome non-Black members. The Rev. Jane Fisler-Hoffman, Illinois Conference Minister, who is white, has been a member of the congregation for years."

NEWSWEEK: "Dueling chain e-mails claim he's a radical Muslim or a 'racist' Christian. Both can't be right. We find both are false. If these two nasty e-mail messages are any indication, the 2008 presidential campaign is becoming a very dirty one. One claims that Obama is 'certainly a racist' by virtue of belonging to Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, which it says 'will accept only black parishioners' and espouses a commitment to Africa. Actually, a white theology professor says he's been 'welcomed enthusiastically' at the church, as have other non-blacks. Another e-mail claims that Obama 'is a Muslim,' attended a 'Wahabi' school in Indonesia, took his Senate oath on the Koran, refuses to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and is part of an Islamic plot to take over the U.S. Each of these statements is false. These false appeals to bigotry and fear remind us of the infamous whispering campaign of eight years ago, when anonymous messages just before the South Caroli na primary falsely accused Republican candidate John McCain of fathering an illegitimate child by a black woman."

PROMINENT JEWISH LEADERS: "As leaders of the Jewish community, none of whose organizations will endorse or oppose any candidate for President, we feel compelled to speak out against certain rhetoric and tactics in the current campaign that we find particularly abhorrent. Of particular concern, over the past several weeks, many in our community have received hateful emails that use falsehood and innuendo to mischaracterize Senator Barack Obama's religious beliefs and who he is as a person. These tactics attempt to drive a wedge between our community and a presidential candidate based on despicable and false attacks and innuendo based on religion. We reject these efforts to manipulate members of our community into supporting or opposing candidates."

JEWISH U.S. SENATORS: "Over the past several weeks, many in the Jewish community have received hateful emails that use falsehood and innuendo about Senator Barack Obama's religion and attack him personally. As Jewish United States Senators who have not endorsed a candidate for the Democratic nomination, we condemn these scurrilous attacks. We find it particularly abhorrent that these attacks are apparently being sent specifically to the Jewish Community. Jews, who have historically been the target of such attacks, should be the first to reject these tactics. We won't dignify these falsehoods by repeating them in order to refute them. Instead, we will express our outrage at these tactics, which are being used to demonize a good and decent man and our friend and colleague. Attempting to manipulate voters into supporting or opposing one candidate or another based on despicable and fictitious attacks is disgraceful. These false and malicious attacks should not be part of our political discourse."

Road Trip, anyone???

2008-01-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

Obama will be visiting Boise this upcoming Saturday...

If you are an Obama supporter...
If you are an undecided Democrat...
If you are an American who wants to make an informed choice at the polls...

Consider being a part of this gathering!!

{Currently, there is a group from the Gooding area who is coordinating a "road trip"... contact me for more information if you would like to join us! The song that is going through my head right now is "Convoy" by C.W. McCall! Can you picture it... from Eastern Idaho, picking more in the MiniCassia area, then Twin Falls, then at the Bliss exit, then Glenns Ferry, then Mountain Home... and then BOISE?? Wouldn't that be a sight to see!!)

Nuclear siting initiative will protect Idaho's way of life

2008-01-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

Published in Times-News on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

By Diana Obenauer
I was born and raised in Jerome, Idaho, a wonderful, neighborly and special place to live. My roots go deep in my love for our wonderful Magic Valley.Military service and nursing education taught me how to preserve our fighting strength and care for all people in need. I am proud to have served in the Gulf War, and I am proud to serve Jerome County as a county commissioner.

It is important to learn from the past, as we prepare for Idaho's future.When I returned to Jerome from military service, I found changes I had not expected. I do not oppose growth, but it is important to live within our limits. Few people wanted to look at any limits, or at growth that was diversified. Idaho's water has to be used for our agricultural base and our people. It defines our limits.

I discovered neighbors had sold property to Sempra coal company and county permits were already approved. These plants spew mercury, affecting our children and our water. At first, we seemed defenseless, however, miraculously widespread citizen action from all over Magic Valley including the Idaho Dairy Association achieved a legislative moratorium on coal plants, overruling the ill-conceived local decision of county commissioners.

No nuclear power plant is totally "safe." The Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission admit continual threats from disgruntled employees, lax security, and terrorist threats from both physical and computer intruders are today's reality.

Mike Sparks, director of the DOE Office of Technology, admits, "The adversary has full use of the technology in advance to being made. And if we stand still and don't take the initiative to stay a step ahead on the technology, I think we're setting ourselves up for a disaster sometime down in the future."

I believe in "local control." These plants make all Idahoans "local." I am concerned about how decisions to allow nuclear power plants in Idaho will be made and so should every citizen in Idaho.The 2007 Idaho Energy Plan invites merchant nuclear power plants to use Idaho.

Will Payette and Owyhee county commissioners succumb to local pressure, special interest or intimidation to allow these plants in their county? Who stands to profit from them?

Do those who profit live in close proximity to them? If they are built, will Idahoans have to outbid California costs for any electricity generated from our soil and water?

I believe in being proactive instead of reactive and have joined with Dr. Peter Rickards and the good citizens of Idaho all across our state who have started an initiative to help protect Idaho and its citizens. This proactive group, Idaho Families For The Safest Energy (IFFSE) simply endorses the adoption of laws other states use to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens. IFFSE also endorses the development and support of a wide diversity of safer, more cost effective, sustainable energy development.

Why should Idaho get stuck with these risks? The IFFSE initiative bans nuclear power until a final waste dump is approved and open. Idaho still houses the melted core of Three Mile Island. Why should our state become a bigger repository for more radioactive waste? If that is ever resolved, county commissioners still make the decision.

However, before the final permit is granted, statewide voter approval is required.This provides a fail-safe opportunity for all citizens within Idaho to have a voice in decisions that ultimately affect all of us. All citizens have the constitutional right to protect their family's life, liberty, health and personal property. This Initiative does just that, and we recommend the Legislature enact this safeguard into law this session.

Diana Obenauer, a Republican, is a Jerome County commissioner.

Pennies from heaven...?

2008-01-29T09:37:00.000-07:00

I don't quite understand this... the President will be sending Americans a check to help stimulate the economy? This accomplishes what...? How?

If my household receives any money, we'll be using it to catch up on bills... I guess that's stimulating the economy...?

How will YOU stimulate the economy with your gift from Dubya?

It's your ONLY chance!!

2008-01-29T02:02:00.000-07:00

If you are Republican or Independent (or ___!) and either still thinking about it or possibly leaning toward a Democratic candidate, please read the following with an open mind...

For ALL Idahoans, it is VERY important for you to know about our political process...

If you decide that you wish to support one of the Democratic nominees for President, you need to know Tuesday, February 5 is a critical day.

No matter what your party affiliation, if you support a Democratic president, Feb. 5 is your ONLY opportunity to participate in the selection of the Democratic candidate for the November election.

Yes, I said "ONLY" opportunity.

The Democratic Party nomination for President is based upon Caucus results... NOT THE MAY PRIMARY. This is new information to me... maybe not to others, but I'm still in the "learning process" of politics!

IF YOU ARE NOT A DEMOCRAT...
The Democratic caucus does not require participants to be members of the Democratic Party!!! We only ask you NOT to vote for a Republican Presidential candidate in the May primary. You can still vote on the Republican side of the ticket in the Primary—just not for President. And however you choose to vote in November is still your choice (obviously!).

IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE...
You can vote in the caucus as long as you are a county resident, whether you are registered to vote at that time or not. (You can register at the caucus if you choose.)

IF YOU ARE 17 YEARS OLD...
If you will be 18 by November 4, you can also participate in the caucus.

IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION...
For further information about your local Democratic caucus, please go to the Idaho Democratic Party website. If you are in Gooding County, you can contact me if you want.

What's next? "Yo quiero Taco Bell" to Hispanics?

2008-01-29T01:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, watch this and tell me if you don't think "OUCH!"

Talk about a pathetic attempt to "connect with people"!!!

Of course, it's especially awkward if one remembers the anecdote about his family pet!!

"God's Politics: Why the right gets it wrong, and the left doesn't get it."

2008-01-29T01:16:00.000-07:00

It's been over two years since I clipped this review from BushFlash.com ... has anything really changed??? Just a thought...

God's Politics

Why the right gets it wrong, and the left doesn't get it.

By Jim Wallis

The republicans have been able to lay claim to being the "party of God, faith, and family values", while at the same time, they wage illegal wars, punish the poor, exalt the rich, ignore the true value of human life, despoil our environment, and promote lining the pockets of massive corporations, while the least of us suffer the results of their hubris.

Wallis asks us important questions:

"When did Jesus become pro-war?"
Indeed- the right wing claims to be "pro-life"- it rails against abortion, stem cell research, and works itself into a froth over a brain-dead woman in Florida, yet it aggressively persues the death penalty, promotes wars against nations that never attacked, nor threatened us, and condemns universal health care as "socialist." How did this come to be?

"When did Jesus become pro-rich?"
Indeed- the right wing loves tax breaks for the rich, cutting of social programs for the poor, and social infrastructure, in favor of the aforementioned. How did this come to be?

"When did Jesus become a selective moralist?"
Indeed- the right wing loves to condemn those on welfare, those who happen to have been born gay or lesbian, and those who suffer from the great racial divide that still exists in this country. How did this come to be?

It came to be, because we on the left are quick to condemn, and slow to understand. Wallis breaks it down, for anyone who is willing to read, and learn.

Would the Jesus that opened up a can of whoop-ass on the money changers in the temple condone Bush's coddling of Ken Lay, and Enron, who robbed thousands of their pensions and life savings?

Would the Jesus who said "blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God" condone the Bush Bowl's war in Iraq?

Would the Jesus who said "That which you have done to the least of these, you have done to me", condone the Bush administration's cuts to programs aimed at aiding the poor, the starving, and the homeless?

I think you know the answer...Wallis sounds a clarion call in his book, reminding us that the principles that he, and the millions of other progressive people of faith across this nation are fighting for, are not unique to christianity- they are universal. The only reason that Bush, Frist, and DeLay have been able to co-opt christianity, and bend it to their corrupt will in the poilitical sphere, is that we on the left have been silent, for far too long.

Wallis constantly reminds us that the greatest christian prophetic voice that ever appeared in our nation, Martin Luther King, spent his life fighting poverty, racism, and war. When we turn our backs on the foundations that he built, we let Bush, and his ilk, define the moral paradigm of our country.
The one qualm I have about Wallis' work is that he boasts about the meetings he's had with the Bush Bowl, and the letters that he's sent to the white house. He doesn't seem to realize that in the few times that he's had face time with Bush, his pleas have fallen on deaf ears, and that whatever letters he's sent to Bush were most likely shipped off to the local landfill, after being put through the nearest paper shredder, without even being read.

Wallis doesn't seem to understand the true nature of the beast that we're all fighting against.

Winning the war? At what cost?

2008-01-29T01:03:00.000-07:00

In a casual conversation the other day, a very sweet but very conservative gentleman commented that America needed to "win the war".

First of all, can someone tell me what we "win"? Is there a prize, a trophy, a ribbon that I don't know about?

Or is this about ego? Is this like the man who refuses to ask directions-- because he refuses to admit he's lost?

Are we banging our heads against the wall... in order to demolish the building... in order to say we cleared the lot for a new structure? What good is it to have a new structure after we've bashed our brains in for twenty years trying to remove the wall?

Just think, if the taxpayers in my congressional district (2-Rep. Mike Simpson) didn't spend our $206.6 million that we are instead spending on the Iraq War in FY2008, our district would be able to provide...

56,247 Idahoans with Health Care OR
171,088 Homes with Renewable Electricity OR
5,088 Public Safety Officers OR
3,920 Music and Arts Teachers OR
52,071 Scholarships for University Students OR
22 New Elementary Schools OR
1,903 Affordable Housing Units OR
131,142 Children with Health Care OR
23,974 Head Start Places for Children OR
3,920 Elementary School Teachers

This is our money... used for the war in Iraq. I guess Idaho doesn't have residents needing health care, children needing teachers or schools, young people needing help with tuition, or families needing affordable housing.

So... tell me... who's winning what here? And who is really paying for it?

Honor those who sacrificed so much...

2008-01-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

The women were innocent and defenseless. And by the end of the night they were barely alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of "obstructing sidewalk traffic."

They beat Lucy Burn, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air. They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack.

Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women. Thus unfolded the "Night of Terror" on November 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote.

For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food - all of it colorless slop - was infested with worms. When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.

So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because - why exactly?? They have carpool duties? They have to get to work? Their vote doesn't matter? It's raining?

The HBO movie "Iron Jawed Angels" is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that we could pull the curtain at the polling booth and have a say - our say.

One woman, who had studied women's history saw the HBO movie too. She looked angry and she was - with herself. "One thought kept coming back to me as I watched that movie," she said. "What would those women think of the way I use - or don't use - my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn."

The right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her "all over again."

All history, social studies and government teachers should include this movie in their curriculum. It should be shown on Bunco night and at tea parties, and anywhere else women gather. Because women are not voting in the numbers that they should be and perhaps this film might be a little reminder to how far we've come, but how far we still have to go. It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies in the film try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. "Alice Paul was strong," he said, "and brave. That didn't make her crazy." The doctor admonished the men, "Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity."

Let's keep building courage, and if they think that women are insane because of it, then let's spread the insanity.

This is a personal issue for me... my great-great-grandmother moved from Indiana to California when she was in her late 80s. She left her home and family and all she had known to make the trek across the United States because she wanted to exercise the right to vote before she died. Women in California had won the right to vote (in 1911) and she didn't know if she'd live long enough to see Indiana do the same (it finally happened in 1917).

For my great-great-grandmother and all of the others who sacrificed so much so that I may have the right to vote, I must not dishonor them by not exercising that right. I don't have to move 3000 miles or go to jail -- all I have to do drive a few blocks (and some research, of course!). Thanks to them, I have a voice in my government.
Honor YOUR ancestors... VOTE!!

Christian Principles in an Election Year

2008-01-29T00:27:00.000-07:00

I try to post this every year... as a liberal who also somehow manages to be a Christian at the same time (YES, IT CAN BE DONE!), I sure wish other "C"hristians would remember the following...

Christian Principles in an Election Year

July 14, 2004, NEW YORK CITY - The National Council of Churches USA has released 10 principles for evaluating candidates that it hopes all Christians - from liberals to conservatives - will study and apply in this election year.

Our Christian faith compels us to address the world through the lens of our relationship to God and to one another. Public discourse is enhanced as we engage civic leaders on the values and ethics affirmed by our faith. At the same time, religious liberty and the integrity of our democracy will be protected as candidates refrain from using faith-based organizations and institutions for partisan gain. We offer these ten principles to those seeking to accept the responsibility that comes with holding public office.

1. War is contrary to the will of God. While the use of violent force may, at times, be a necessity of last resort, Christ pronounces his blessing on the peacemakers. We look for political leaders who will make peace with justice a top priority and who will actively seek nonviolent solutions to conflict.

2. God calls us to live in communities shaped by peace and cooperation. We reject policies that abandon large segments of our inner city and rural populations to hopelessness. We look for political leaders who will re-build our communities and bring an end to the cycles of violence and killing.

3. God created us for each other, and thus our security depends on the well-being of our global neighbors. We look for political leaders for whom a foreign policy based on cooperation and global justice is an urgent concern.

4. God calls us to be advocates for those who are most vulnerable in our society. We look for political leaders who yearn for economic justice and who will seek to reduce the growing disparity between rich and poor.

5. Each human being is created in the image of God and is of infinite worth. We look for political leaders who actively promote racial justice and equal opportunity for everyone.

6. The earth belongs to God and is intrinsically good. We look for political leaders who recognize the earth's goodness, champion environmental justice, and uphold our responsibility to be stewards of God’s creation.

7. Christians have a biblical mandate to welcome strangers. We look for political leaders who will pursue fair immigration policies and speak out against xenophobia.

8. Those who follow Christ are called to heal the sick. We look for political leaders who will support adequate, affordable and accessible health care for all.

9. Because of the transforming power of God’s grace, all humans are called to be in right relationship with each other. We look for political leaders who seek a restorative, not retributive, approach to the criminal justice system and the individuals within it.

10. Providing enriched learning environments for all of God’s children is a moral imperative. We look for political leaders who will advocate for equal educational opportunity and abundant funding for children’s services.

Finally, our religious tradition admonishes us not to bear false witness against our neighbor and to love our enemies. We ask that the campaigns of political candidates and the coverage of the media in this election season be conducted according to principles of fairness, honesty and integrity.

A study guide to the principles is available on this Web site at: www.ncccusa.org/electionyearprinciplesguide.html.

Just in time for Groundhog's Day...

2008-01-29T00:14:00.000-07:00

I'll poke my head out... maybe I'll stay a while this time!

I've been out of the loop obviously, and am trying to catch up on my reading/researching/reviewing... so not to post about old news (even if it's new to me!) or about something that has already been posted about a dozen times...

So... bear with me if I mess up... as always, gentle corrections are appreciated!

It must be a secret...

2008-01-19T17:53:00.000-07:00

... because nobody seems to be talking about the twenty-three Americans where were killed so far in Iraq this year... at this rate, we'll hit 4,000 dead before Easter.

Please take a moment to pay your respects to Danny, David, John, Keith, Curtis, Todd, Sean, Christopher, Matthew, Jonathan, Zachary, David, Ivan, Phillip, Timothy, James, Jason, Menelek, Andrew, Thomas, Ryan, and Joshua. Send a special prayer to the family who is being notified today...

My deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers go out the their families at home and their military families who are still serving our country...

Since they were willing to sacrifice their lives for our country, I hope the rest of us are willing to take a little time to become informed about our current candidates... and for God's sake, VOTE...