Showing posts with label Barack Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barack Obama. Show all posts
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Not that it matters to them...
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...
I know they won't look at this either but it does seem to be written JUST FOR THEM...
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Blasphemy...
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...
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.]
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...
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
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
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Reason #1969 to vote "NO" for McCain
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
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.
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?
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
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!
Monday, February 11, 2008
If you vote for McCain, please head straight to the recruiters office... don't forget to bring your children and grandchildren...
Watch this video and feel inspired...
Then watch this video and cry...
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!!!
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...
Hypocrites Need Not Apply
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.
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.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Corrections I wish I could have made in Gooding: Unethical purchase of house/land
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.
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???
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:
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:
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:
The Associated Press reported similarly:
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:
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."Moreover, a statement released by the Obama campaign affirmed that:
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.
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.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.
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.
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:
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.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."
Corrections I wish I could have made in Gooding: Missing in Congress
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.
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
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
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
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.)
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.)
Rep. Jaquet: Legislative Report Week 4
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
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
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Super Tuesday: Idaho update!
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.
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.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Names you will recognize...
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
ENDORSEMENT
Boise City Mayor, Dave Bieter
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
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
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
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