In health-care plan, give secession a chance.

This is a very interesting and slightly depressing take on what the problem with healthcare is. I have always been a little skeptical about southern society, I have always felt the south's hospitality is double speak. The numbers about tax distribution make me a bit sick. I think it is too drastic, but I wonder if proposed how southerners would feel.

A scary quote I hope is not true.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, maybe the thing about Barack Obama that offends the red states most is neither that he is black, nor that he is somehow socialist pink, but that he is very, very "blue" -- a liberal college professor with a foreign-sounding name and lots of overseas fans. According to one poll, nearly half of southerners question whether he can really be the legitimate president.

In health-care plan, give secession a chance - MarketWatch

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Political Landscape Is Shifting

I love that right now beneath our feet the landscape is changing.  The main reason I wanted Obama in office is coming to fruition.  I wanted him to appoint liberal justices to the Supreme Court.  If you don't know my politics, I am stunned.  I believe marriage is misery all people, including same-sex couples have the right to enjoy.  I also believe in a woman's right to choose.

This is a fantastic opportunity to appoint a female justice who shares the same values that I do.  Beyond that, with my boy Arlen Spector's transition away from the dark side of the force to use his Jedi abilities for good, coupled with Al Franken's likely certification as the next Senator from the great state of Minnesota we have the chance to push through a pragmatic and progressive agenda with a filibuster-proof majority. 

What a fun time to be an American.  Any guesses on the next Justice?  Any guesses on policy coming down the pipe?  Any comments on Spector's re-election chances as a democrat?

Palin can't stay out of the news.

Even while being the governor of a state no one really cares about, Sarah Palin will do anything to stay in the news.  

As her popularity is swiftly fading into the shadow of the economy, the mortgage crisis, and the multitude of problems she was completely unqualified to handle, Sarah Palin uses her daughter Bristol's personal life to stay in the news.  Apparently they released a statement today that her daughter's engagement is now off and that the couple has split up.  I do not know anyone who believed that they were getting married for any reason other than to help Gov. Palin become the VP.  

The guy has released a statement to A.P. that the engagement has been off for "a while."  

Why muddle in your daughter's life just to keep your name in the headlines... pathetic.

Hope, the Age of Obama begins today!

I am pretty sure the Blogger has had a million or more posts about the inauguration of Barack Obama today.  I must admit that a little tear appeared on my cheek as a result of watching a black man take the oath of office.  Moreover, I was just plain proud of America for putting him there, proud of him for being someone who can unite and bring common vision, and mostly thrilled to have the "Shame of a Nation" fly back to Texas for good. 

My favorite moment would have to be when he screwed up the oath... he had to have it repeated to him.  Due to his great charisma and unwavering confidence, we sometimes forget that the man is human.  I like that he stumbled on the oath, just a little reminder, he breathes air just like you and I do.  With any luck, in four years, he will get it right.  

I am full of hope, optimism, whatever you call it.  My head is high, I am ready to help in whatever way my life can add value to this country.  If President Obama wants me to do something within my abilities, yes I will.  I will answer his call for the next generation of men to be better fathers, not absent or neglectful, to teach their children right from wrong and all moral virtues.  I will answer his call for more community service, to help the downtrodden among us not through socialist like policies but by doing my part, helping my neighbor, being a better citizen.  

I am full of hope because my friends in the military, the many I have lived with, drank with, loved, are in the hands of someone who I believe have their best interests and the military's best interest at heart, not settling a family score or pining for higher oil prices to get rich.  I am hopeful that President Obama will bring home all of my people, all of your people, all of our people safely and securely.  

I love this country!

insert cricket noises here...

An ere calm has beset me, a first in a while. I am not longer pensive about the campaign, I am no longer fretting about closing costs, down payments, and appliance shopping. We seem to have all of that squared away. I am not concerned about moving day, I think we have the trucks and the help required for such a job. I am only slightly worried about not being worried... the scariest thing in the world is not knowing what you are scared of*. Where will that big shoe drop?





*please note that for the last 8 years, the Rovean Republican Religious Right (my english teachers would be so proud of that alliteration) has told Americans what to fear, so there was little wonder about what to be scared of... mostly it was Muslims, homosexuals, non-religious types, and minorities. I woke up this morning scared of none of those things, so I guess I should worry about what flat screen to pick out on Monday!!!

Election

I have no idea what to type here. I know there have been a thousand posts per minute about the results of this campaign, I do not need to add my commentary to the world wide web. I will merely sum it up for me with some bullet points below.

• Winning is just the beginning. It is a luxury to have the other party in power, it gives you justification to piss and moan. When it is your guy, he as your surrogate, you are responsible and accountable for the promises made.
• I am so proud of North Carolina, who could have guessed that this ruby red stalwart would have been this close. Even if they eventually call if for McCain, I am impressed that the Tarheel State is last to be called and was this competitive.
• I really respect John McCain's concession speech, if he had run his campaign with that kind of poise and grace, he may never have had to deliver that speech.
• I pledge to remove the Obama/Biden after the first 100 days in office. Nothing on the road would piss me off more than a Ford Explorer with a W 04 sticker on the back. I would yell "quit gloating, he is horrible." I don't want to be that guy.
• I hope that Barack Obama's election ends the race victimization feeling within the African American community. I pray that children are inspired and encouraged by what they see. I hope that he acts as a role model to all children. With Clinton's womanizing, W's drinking, drugs, and unprovoked attacks of sovereign nations, kids have not really been able to look to the President as a role model.
• I am glad I got to see the President speak the night before he was elected into office.

Speeches: Motivate & Influence

Power is truely the ability to influence and motivate other people. I witnessed power tonight that I have never felt in my life.

Tonight, with my gorgeous wife and best friend, I watched the man who COULD (and God willing WILL) be our next President, Barack Obama, speak at my alma mater.

This is easily the biggest thing to ever happen at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I know we have made the Final Four, I know we have won conference championships, I know we have hosted world leaders and Presidents before, but this, this was really special.

The three of us met at 4:30... waited in line at Verizon Wireless Amplitheatre to catch the busses to get over to Campus. We boarded busses at 5:45 and made our way over. At 6:15 we made it to the recreation fields where the event was set up. After two periods of rain and phone calls to Andy to track Obama's progress through Charlotte, the motorcade arrived. Like a rock star he wasted little time taking the stage and lighting it up.

Barack's grandmother died today, he talked a bit about her. He really touched me with sincere pain as he rememberd the way she has affected his life. I wish she would be alive if he could have taken the oath of office. The speech touched us all. Amanda and I were both really excited the the good parents of the world brought their kids to witness this history, brave the rain, and give them a real civics lesson.

The rally served its purpose, I am going to find a way to volunteer and canvas for Barack tomorrow. If you need a ride to the polls, call me, if you need some info, I will find it for you.

Funny comments from Countdown

"Are You Smarter Than A Third Grader."

Q: Finally governor we've been trying to engage some local grade schoolers for the last few elections. We do a feature called 'questions from the third grade.' Brandon Garcia wants to know, "What does the Vice President do?"

(Palin)"Aw, that's something that Piper would ask me, as a second grader, also. That's a great question, Brandon, and a Vice President has a really great job, because not only are they there to support the President agenda, they're like a team member, the team mate to that President. But also, they're in charge of the United States Senate, so if they want to they can really get in there with the Senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom. And it's a great job and I look forward to having that job. "

(Olberman) Oh! I'm so sorry, Governor!

The correct answer can be found in the Constitution of the United States...
Article One, Section Three: "The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided."

So, the Vice President is not in charge of Jack, Governor, let alone in charge of the Senate.

And you are not smarter than a Third Grader.

Pundits

• Barack Obama looked like a President, McCain looked like W with the laughing, wandering around aimlessly, I wonder if he can correct that.  No one wants a statesman like W.
• You can see Barack channeling Bill Clinton circa 1992 (that is a good thing btw)
• It took McCain 75 minutes to say "we don't need a President that needs on the job training."
• Why did McCain bring up Herbert Hoover, he was negative & old, he was the only person in the room that was alive in Hoover's day

Just thought I would post some of these immediate responses.

Debate Observation

Here is what I am yelling at the TV, since everyone is in bed, I typed them instead of yelling.  

"The Straight Talk Express lost a wheel on that one."  

BO... HA, 

JM, stop talking about taxes, you are in favor of Bush tax cuts for wealthy people, just admit it and hope that your 5% of wealthy friends will help you retire even better.  

BO- I know it is difficult, but don't look so damn smug when McCain lies again... you will only have smug still shots if you grin every time he fibs.

JM- I agree, nuclear power rocks

BO- I agree, I we cannot drill our way out of the problem.  Rudy is retarded.  Thank you for bringing up China's new coal plants, that hurts the west coast's environment.

JM- I know you are old, but you need to concentrate on the question and answer them in less than 20 minutes.  When did Barack become the direct one and you become the rhetoric spewer?

BO- I love that you have a plan that works.  I am interested to know if anyone calls themselves a one-issue voter on healthcare AND will vote for McCain... I want to meet you and pick your brain on how you think this privatization is acceptable.

JM- You repeated Barack's line on reducing medical errors.  YOUR HEALTHCARE PLAN SUCKS!!!  The open market will not work for the lower middle class and will not provide equal access, a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.   Equal access to healthcare is a right, free healthcare is not, but access is!

BO- Thank you... healthcare is the right of every American!  We need to crack down on insurance companies.... 

JM- You looked childish when you asked about "did we hear the size of the fine?"  You are supposed to be my representative in the world arena, will you talk to the leaders of countries like that.  

BO- Please point out that JM is on the loosing end of the judgement argument, he should stop bringing it up.  Nice job.... hit him hard... liberators ha!!!!  You lost me on the Obama doctrine?

JM- McCain Doctrine... still not your friend, you called me that again and that is disrespectful!  Talk about your policy, not Baracks... or is it... that just maybe... he is the only one with a policy so all you have is the opportunity to beat down his... get creative GOP, its called a platform, build one and stand on it.  Note: Quit changing the direction the platform faces.

BO- I am happy you linked the Pakistan problem to the Bush/McCain foreign policy.  Be tough on Pakistan.... okay, that was the Diet Coke of tough.... nevermind... kill Bin Laden and crush A.Q. 

JM- Is your hero Teddy Roosevelt or Ronald Reagan?  You have said both are your biggest hero.  Oh, you accidentally admitted Barack was right, you may want to fix that.  I am okay with your policy on that.  Big kid, you want the follow up too... wah wah!!!

BO- Wow, you just fought with McCain head on. I liked you calling him out on the speaking softly, you cannot be a quiet maverick.  That is like being a fat skinny chick.  Wow that was brief.

JM- That was not brief, but you did say that "it is the same strategy."  The surge did not really work, you put a wad of gum in a leak in the Hoover Dam, how long will that hold?  I do agree with you that we have to support Georgia and the Ukraine.  We still however need to punish Georgia for starting it.

BO- Thank you, we do need to help Georgia's economy.  Thank you for talking about looking ahead.  Both of you talk about putting out statements... neither of you did shit about the Russian invasion.  

JM- I liked your answer best on "is Russia an evil empire."

Why wouldn't you seek permission from the UN, or at least try diplomacy?  Answer the question... would you help Isreal?  I am still not your friend.

BO- You better answer this lie about "without precondition" crap this old guy keeps bringing up..... I like that you said you would use diplomacy to try to talk to Iran.  You bring a multi-prong approach to trying to solve the problem.  Energy is part of the Iran answer.   Yeah... he said DIRECT TALK John, DIRECT TALK.  

BO- No really, what don't you know.  I love how you quantified this election as a referendum on the Bush/McCain policy.  

JM- I cannot wait for your response.  You just insulted my geography prowess.  You are trying to copy Baracks hope speech... you are a rich bastard.  

Please vote... I don't care for who, please just vote.

I cannot hold on....

Sarah Palin needs to resign, if the average person can be the President, I should be.  This lady is an idiot.  I don't have sympathy because she knows what I am going through, she is a main streeter, hockey mom, all that crap.  I want my President to be unique, I want my President to be smarter than me, I want my President to have been groomed their entire life for that position for one reason.  When they get there, they will know what to do.  

• She did not answer a question directly unless she agrees with Joe Biden
• She had no ability to defend McCain's healthcare plan, I am interested by it and wanted to hear it defended, she could not
• Joe could have crushed her skull on a few answers, but was a great statesman and showed restraint.  I would have blasted her
• She tried a few zingers, she failed
• I enjoyed when she tried to make it look like only a mom raises children and he turned that on by saying he was a single dad for a long time  His values were obvious
• I love Joe Biden (in case you didn't notice, I wish he were President)

Random Bullet Points on the debate and others

• Damn Cubs, lost game one 7-2
• Isn't foreign policy supposed to be John McCain's strong point?  Why didn't he sound like he knew what he was talking about?
• Barack Obama only answered one question directly, one more than McCain, but only one nonetheless. 
• Why wouldn't John McCain look at Obama?  He looked like the plantation owner who was embarrassed to be in the same room as a black man, not a good look. 
• Overall, it was a draw, this week I give the nod to Obama, not because of anything he did, just because John took credit for the bailout, until it failed and then it was the Dems fault.