As I see it . . .

2009-08-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

Two Philosophies, Democrats Vs. Republicans; a perspective. . .

You can take the time to look up the philosophies of each major party. You will find many explanations and after you read enough, you will get the gist of their ideals; their platform. Specific issues are described as planks in that platform.

For example, one of the planks in the Republican Party platform is the elimination of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. This plank is not listed in their philosophy, but it exists in their goals to take this nation back to what they believe it should be; self-sufficiency.

A similar plank exists in the Democratic Party platform with the exact opposite goal; to establish a one-payer, or more easily described, Universal Health Care system in addition to Social Security, and Medicare.

In the simplest terms, the difference is “every man for himself” vs. “all for one and one for all.” Put another way, “the means justify the end” vs. “the end justifies the means.” (More on this one later) This blog perspective is not about the values of those two philosophies, but the way in which they are argued to the public.

Simply put, Republicans lie to their constituency to defeat a bill. Democrats try to explain the bill to gain support. It is more difficult to talk with and gain support from people who have been lied to than people who are well informed. When lied to, when misled about the goal, people with a false understanding get riled up. Fox News listeners certainly fall into this category, with 72% of them believing that Obama’s Health Care goal is to 1) Take health care from grandma and give it to illegal aliens, 2) Make the government pay for abortions, 3) Have “death panels” to deny care to old people, 4) Establish health care rationing, 5) Have Government bureaucrats between you and your doctor, and finally, 6) It is a government take-over of the health care system.

All of those are LIES! If you are one of those who believe any or all of those lies, then you probably get your news from Fox, Rush Limbaugh, McConnell or Boehner. They lie to you! They are lying to you. They will continue to lie to you. That is their justification of means to an end. Their desire, their end, is to defeat Health Care reform; in any shape, any form, any style. They SAY they want health care reform, but everything they do says otherwise.

What do the Democrats do? Democrats continue to bargain, deal, debate, and compromise to get a bill. Democrats adjust, back off, back off, and back off trying to get Republican support. No matter what the Democrats come up with, Public Option, Co-ops or even eliminate the Public Option; the Republicans are just saying NO. The only thing Republicans want, (their means to an end), is a requirement for everyone to buy health insurance from For-Profit health insurance companies. What a gift to the health insurance companies. It is similar to the gift they gave the pharmaceuticals with their Medicare Part D. It was a requirement to pay for your own drugs once you exhausted the benefit and reached the donut hole. Remember that?

Remember what I said earlier, about being informed vs. being lied to? Well, those who are well informed out number those who are lied to. We, the well informed, call our representatives, our Senators and are actively working for a Universal Health Care plan. There may be a counter in that work and calling, but we have a substantial advantage. We out number you! We vote, as you do, but when the votes are counted, well, it’s pretty simple; we out number you!

Representatives and Senators want to be re-elected. They need votes to do that. If the Congress does not pass the kind of Health Care reform we want, they will be voted out of office; and they know that!

We WILL get what we want; without lying, without yelling at town hall meetings, without carrying loaded guns to those meetings as a means of intimidation, and without preventing others from being able to speak at those meetings. Our means justify the end; we will have a health care program that serves “We the People” and not corporate profits.

In a way, I feel sorry for you, the uninformed. It will take a complete implementation of the program, your use of it and finally, you fondness of it before you realize what we, the informed, have provided for you. Then you can say, similar to what you say now, “I don’t want no stickin’ government run program and keep your hands of my health care!”

That’s As I See it. . . .

2009-08-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

When voters hand you a Mandate; USE IT!

The House of Representatives is under Democratic Party control by a wide margin. That margin began in the election of ’06 and continued in ’08, rejecting the Republican Party philosophies and control. We the People were fed up with Bush and all of his cronies.

The Senate got a bare majority of Democrats in ’06 by a margin of 51 to 49. That, admittedly, included two Independents, Sanders and Lieberman. Sanders votes solidly with the Democrats, but Lieberman can go either way. That tenuous grasp of control of the Senate could and would transfer to the Republicans when and if Lieberman voted with the Republicans, giving a 50/50 vote and letting the Vice President (Cheney as the President of the Senate) cast the deciding vote.

I explain all of that because I want you to remember what it was like in Congress when the Republicans had complete control. Bush wanted tax cuts for the wealthy; he got it. Bush wanted “No child left behind;” he got it. Bush wanted supplemental bills to fund his war in Iraq; he got it. Virtually every Republican voted for what the president wanted and some Democrats voted with him as well.

Now what do we see? Every; that is worth repeating; EVERY Republican votes against Obama. Republicans demand “Bi-partisanship.” But we know what that means. Just look at their performance when they were in charge. If Democrats didn’t agree and follow, they were called Obstructionists. When the democrats threatened the filibuster, the majority leader threatened the nuclear option of removing the filibuster with a simple majority vote removing the filibuster rule.

Remember that!

Because what I advocate now is for my Representative and my two Senators to do what We the People want. End the tax cuts for the rich to help stop the deficit. Put in a Universal Health Care system that doesn’t rob someone of their home and a life’s worth of work just because they got sick. END Corporate control of my country!

I am fed up with Democrats continuing to seek bi-partisan decisions and attempting to get Republican support. Apparently, THEY DON’T GET IT! Republicans will not cooperate with Democrats. Republicans do not want “Bi-Partisanship” unless it is done their way. Republicans are the true obstructionists, just saying “NO” to everything.

But we don’t need their support!

We have control of the Congress. JUST DO IT! Give us, give “We the People,” what we want; what we voted you into office to get, and what this country needs. Take control of our country away from corporations and give it back to us!

If it doesn’t happen, many Democrats will find themselves voted out of office in the next election.

- - -

Now, a personal note. . .

This blog is not an outlet for religious freaks to bark their philosophy. They have every right to believe the way they do, practice their religion the way they do and to preach about their beliefs the way they do. I will just not allow it on this blog.

There is a separation of religion and government in my country. “We the People” ARE the government. This blog is about how “We the People” can use secular means to make this country fulfill the promise; a government of, for, and by the people.

If what you want is a theocracy, a government based on religious principles (even though you deny it), then live in Iran, Iraq, or Taliban controlled Afghanistan. These are places where religious based thoughts are being worked out. If you prefer a more peaceful example, try Indonesia. It is a religious based, secular government with such stringent rules that there is no freedom of choice. Do the research.

I served in the military, representing what I believe is a wonderful country and defending the rights we hold dear. Did you? I defend everyone’s rights, whether I agree with what you believe or not. I will fight for you to maintain your rights. But remember this my little inexperienced, ill-informed, radical preacher: I will fight just as hard and to the death to prevent you from taking those rights from others!

Now, go away.

That’s As I See it. . . .

2009-08-11T15:22:00.000-07:00

“Change” Or government as usual?

It’s been quite a respite. I have suffered personally from this economic disaster created by conservative, Republican philosophies. (Ever notice that previous staunch Republicans are now saying they are actually more Libertarian? It was also difficult to find anyone who voted for Nixon after he was disgraced. Before that disgrace, it was hard to find anyone who wasn’t a Nixon supporter.)

I want to pursue my team-of-horses metaphor. The team is now loaded with left leaning, people oriented horses and they are starting to pull the coach toward the center. The Democrats have passed a Recovery Act, pulling us away from the edge of another Republican caused Depression. Republicans can only unanimously vote against it, criticize it and then partake of it by exploiting the advantages to their states that “they” have somehow secured. All without giving credit to the recovery act which is funding that very same project.

As the team makes its way back to some sort of center path through the wilderness of the future, pushing to be progressive with their choices, they discover that some on their team do not want the same things. There are three divisions in our team: Republicans, Democrats and Blue Dogs.

Dogs chase cars and, in our case, coaches. They run along side and bark and bite at the heels of those trying to move the cause ahead. It slows down, stalls and could even stop altogether if some of those horses don’t gather their courage and continue despite the barking and heel biting. Why does this happen? Didn’t “We the People” have our say, vote in Democratic Party control of government and expect things to improve?

Yes, we did. Each one of us, a majority of us, cast our vote for “Change.” Having done that, we sit and we wait and we watch. We may have changed the control of the government by party, but we haven’t yet defeated the influence of money: money that flows for example, in a volume of 1.4 Million Dollars a day to defeat Health Care Reform. Where does that money come from?

Answer: the Health Care industry, the Republican Party and their sub, sub, sub groups they fund. Is that the simple answer? No, because there’s another question. Why are the some of “We the People” so alarmed and scared? Why can’t “We the People” have a discussion at Town Hall meetings all across the country?

Money from special interest groups, the health care and pharmaceutical industries, groups and societies whose funding leads back to the Republican Party, those same special interest groups and health and pharmaceutical industries, pay for commercials that misinform and excite some of We the People. Then, a whole network, Fox News (news in name only) incites and misinforms. Talk radio incites and misinforms with constant references to fascism. Those misinformed and those deliberating misinforming are the dogs biting at the wheels and horses hoofs, trying to stop our coach and our progress. They call it free speech and hide behind that right.

Political contributions cause second thoughts in blue dog Democrats and almost all Republicans. Each politician in office has to run for office every two or six years. That easy money is hard to resist and difficult to disagree with what it represents.

So, instead of Congress investigating the crimes committed by the last administration, instead of reform of the Financial Banking industry that caused a near financial collapse and another Great Depression, instead of passing a Health Care Reform Act that stops insurance companies from denying pre-existing conditions and putting profits before people, (Pay or Die!) instead of pursuing CHANGE that would help “We the People,” we have a government controlled by special interests, industry and money!

This is not what I voted for.

That’s As I See it. . . .

2009-02-18T11:47:00.000-08:00

Left v Right on my Team of Horses . . .

In my last blog, I likened Bi-partisanship to a team of horses all pulling the same load in the same direction. That would be ideal. The challenge, however, is that neither side of the team (left v right) really wants to pull in the compromised direction. Each side wants to pull the load in their chosen, partisan direction.

The result is that the “coach” ends up traveling in a zigzag fashion as one side gains strength over the other and pulls in their direction. Then the other side gains strength, and on it goes. This zigzag pattern pulls us eventually through time to where we are now.

In the last cycle, (a very long Zig) the right side pulled us far to the right starting all the way back to Reagan. The left at first worked with the new direction, compromising and assisting. But as it got more and more radical, the left worked diligently to prevent the worst of such philosophy. The coach is now so deeply off the path of Bi-partisanship that the whole country is hurting, mired in debt, moving slowly and passengers are unsure of the way back.

Some of the things the left was able to prevent were the elimination of the Estate tax, the elimination of the Capital Gains tax and decreasing the Corporate tax. I think I heard an audible gasp through my computer. Yes, I AM serious! Think about it for a moment. Not with the partisan mind warping done by the right in the last twenty-nine years but with your rational brain.

How many readers of this blog are actually susceptible to any of those three taxes? I don’t know anyone wealthy enough to pay an Estate tax. I don’t know any leaders of industry that would pay a corporate tax. Since the middle class has decreased so dramatically under the influence of the right, there are not many left in the middle class that worry about a Capitol Gains tax.

Yet, these are the three taxes that the radical right propose to get us out of this mire and yet apply only to the very wealthy. Newt Gingrich said, “And we have three big things. First, we have zero capital gains. We eliminate the capital gains tax, which is the same as China and Singapore. Second, we go to the Irish corporate tax level, which is 12 and half percent. And third, we make permanent eliminating the death tax, so that small businesses and family-owned businesses aren’t threatened by the IRS when somebody passes away. Let me mention briefly on capital gains, cause it’s a new, bold idea.”

A “Bold new idea?” I don’t think so! It’s the same old strategy they have been using since Reagan. Notice how he calls an Estate tax a “Death Tax?” It’s the right’s way of sound-bite diplomacy to convince the public to vote against their own best interest. By calling it a death tax, it makes it sound unfair and unreasonable. In actuality, the Estate tax affects a very few who have exceeding wealth. Anyone wealthy enough to pay Estate taxes have enough lawyers and advisers to be able to protect their best interests and preserve their wealth. You and I don’t have that access and we don’t pay that tax.

The rights only answer to a sound-bite, created-for-media unfairness is to eliminate it. There are other ways to make things fair. If the level at which the Estate Tax kicks in is too low, then adjust the level with an inflationary calculation. Don’t eliminate the tax.

Will the right’s solutions get us out of the mess they created? NO! It’s what got us here! There will be more on this later.

That’s As I See it . . .

2009-02-14T15:35:00.000-08:00

TEAM OF HORSES OR TUG OF WAR?

I think a fair analogy to make about Bi-partisanship and Partisanship would be to imagine a team of horses. You can imagine the Liberal/Progressive/Democratic horses on the left side of the team and the Conservative/Republican horses on the right side of the team. Let’s imagine them pulling a stagecoach like I used to watch in old TV westerns. That would be Bi-partisanship. Yes, we have different points of view but we are pulling in the same direction for the good of the stagecoach. We work together for a common destination, each member putting in effort.

Now picture a group summer picnic with its potato salads, chips, burgers and dogs and for entertainment, a tug of war game. After everyone has had a fill of the salad, grilled burgers or hot dogs, the game begins. In this type of game it becomes about winning. The goal is to defeat your opponent, or the other “team” in this case of tug of war. I can picture the teams struggling with all their might, straining on the rope to pull the other team to their side and thereby win the match. They sometimes make it interesting by putting a mud hole to pull the opponent into.

Which type of game do you want our Congress to play? I want the team of horses, pulling our country toward a goal of prosperity for all. Obama has been fulfilling a campaign promise to try and make Washington more functional, to make a cabinet of both Republicans and Democrats. He has been attempting to do that and at present has two Republicans there. He has reached out his hand of cooperation. He has traveled to the Congress to meet with Republicans and get their ideas. He invited conservative pundits to the White House for drinks to get their views and impress upon them the importance to this country of Bi-partisanship and with what result?

That hand of friendship and Bi-partisanship has been slapped, ignored, ridiculed and even insulted by those “tug of war” Republicans. Still, Obama has not given up. I believe he will continue with his extended hand diplomacy, but perhaps with a bit more discretion. What will be the result of the continued Republican stubbornness?

We the People should be watching this interplay very closely. Our future and the future of this country are at stake. If Republicans continue their lock-step opposition to efforts at making this country sound, they will continue to loose elections. If We the People don’t pay attention, they may win this Tug-of-War! And then what will happen to our nation?

I can see that symbolic team of horses now; the horses on the right keep pulling right to lead the team. The horses on the left keep countering the pull and pulling forward. The left horses only recently became successful because there are now more of them. But it hasn’t changed the tactics of the horses on the right. Those horses keep playing tug of war, even when it is in their benefit to pull as a team.

Democrats aren’t innocent in this game. Democrats, I believe, have been trying to get Bi-partisanship but have been conditioned into a tug of war by Republicans. I hope We the People are watching this and vote accordingly. We need a team in Congress expressing valid yet different points of view. We don’t need to continue this Tug-of-War Politics that has been happening for the last 16 years.

That's As I See It . . .

2009-01-30T13:04:00.000-08:00

I Disagree with our New President. . .

It didn’t take long before I found something to disagree with. It has always been my intention with this blog to be a discerning blogger, unafraid to voice disagreement with whom ever is in charge.

Obama’s recent efforts at reaching out to the Republicans are commendable. At first my belief was to just discount them and get done what We-the-People want. Republicans and their Conservative philosophy have been running this country for eight years. Look where it has gotten us. (Truthfully, the Conservatives have been running this country since Reagan, 1980; but that’s a different blog).

What is interesting to me is how the Republicans now say they have a plan for stimulating the country that will produce twice as many jobs and cost half as much. They, of course, announce this after the bill goes through the House and have not revealed any details of their “plan.” Their “plan” is merely a continuation of “Tax Cuts” that have not worked. Let’s see now . . , What was that definition of insanity? Oh yeah; keep doing the same failed task and expect different results!

Simply put, the Republicans are just being Obstructionists. With their lips they say they want Obama to succeed and with their efforts they are trying to make the country fail. “In confusion there is opportunity for wealth”. And Conservatives want opportunity to continue. I truly believe they want this country divided into the extremely wealthy and the extremely impoverished.

The Conservative, Republican strategy will fail. Since We-the-People have expressed our desire for the Congress to get something done and move this country forward, Obama has made an effort to “reach across the aisle” to get Republican support for an American Recovery Project. Republicans hold to their hardcore beliefs and slap that hand. When this country begins to recover, (and it will), what will Republicans say then? Watch how they jump on the bandwagon, forget their obstructionists ways and make it sound like they were always working for the country’s benefit.

I admire Obama for his efforts although I wish he had not removed some of the details from the recovery bill that he did. The People will realize that he is doing what he promised and is making honest effort to help the country. Republicans will be seen to be the obstructionists they are! But that is not what I disagree with Obama about. I voted for his judgment, his careful consideration of solutions and his ability to bring people together. So I choose to trust that judgment and let him do it his way.

What I disagree with Obama about is the Super Bowl. I will be backing the Arizona Cardinals!

And that;s As I See It. . .

2009-01-20T17:54:00.000-08:00

It’s Time to Begin The Great Undoing . . .

I watched Barack Obama take the oath of office today. I heard words of praise, respect, admonition, reality and warning. It has been awhile since this country got a dose of reality, asking all of us to get to work and help bring this nation out of the mess 28 years have put us in.

Kennedy was the last one to ask not what this country can do for us but to ask what we can do for this country. Barack is asking us to work together and rightly so. We the people are in a mess!

The mess is from greed, deregulation, trust and belief in the free market system and too many years of Conservative control of our country.

Of note to me were the passages in the inaugural speech that showed a clear separation from the Bush agenda. We, as a people, will not separate our values from our safety. We, as a people, will welcome healthy relations with foreign nations of every religion and creed if they open their fist and shake our hand. If foreign nations choose to clench that fist, they will find a resilient nation ready to defeat them and defeat them we will!

That is the first Great Undoing from the Bush administration!

We the People, must now hold this administration responsible for the proper direction of this country. The time of promises had passed. The time of elections and debates have passed. It is time for the correction to begin.

We must establish fair business practices and prevent the wealthy from exploiting the rest.

We must establish a health system that allows for everyone to receive proper medical treatment without loosing his or her life savings.

We must correct our image to the rest of the world. We are a nation of laws and those who break those laws will be held responsible. No one is above the law; even an ex-president of the United States. Crimes committed against humanity and in violation of International treaties must be prosecuted. It is the only way to correct our image and restore faith that America is a nation of Freedom and Right!

We must begin to heal from within. This philosophical divide between Democratic and Republican ideals must work together so, We The People, are well served by a government that works.

My fear is that too many believe it is “business as usual” for politics. Already, Cronin from Texas has put a stop to the voice vote to accept Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, inevitable as it is. Some Republicans may think they can stifle progress and cooperation. Hopefully, the steady work by Obama and the Democratic Party will counter that and get things done so we can undo all the damage. And when these “Obstructionists” persist in their efforts, We The People will contact our representatives and senators to encourage them to do the right thing for the country and for the masses.

We the People are tired of being spoken down to; like we are too uninformed to understand the complexities of politics.

We understand this: You, the politicians, work for us! And we are taking this country back!

That’s As I see it. . .

2009-01-08T19:58:00.000-08:00

Bi-Partisanship? What the Hell?

I have been watching the political scene since Georgie-Boy became president. Until then, I left politics up to my representative and senator in congress. Since then, I have heard a lot of word tossing of “Bi-Partisanship” by both parties. It scares me.

Republicans have controlled the congress for over eight years. They have had their way with complete disregard of Bi-Partisanship while at the same time, requesting it from Democrats. What I heard was, “Let us do what we want because we have the majority!”

To prove that, remember when the Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist from Tennessee ®, threatened the “Nuclear Option” of modifying the rules-of-the-senate to eliminate the Filibuster? Remember how the Republicans whined when they couldn’t have their way in the 109th Congress in every little detail because of the filibuster by the Democrats? Remember that they had their way enough to put this country in the mess it is in right now! (If you don’t know what the filibuster is, Google it)

Now I am hearing the same bit of “Bi-Partisanship” requests from the Democrats in the upcoming 111th Congress. It scares me because I want the Democrats to act as swiftly as they can to undo as much of the harm the Republicans have foisted on We The People as they can in the shortest amount of time!

Conservative Economics does not work! It has never worked! It will never work! Any time you hear “supply side” “trickle down” or “conservative” associated with an economic philosophy, vote against it! It gives increased wealth, power and control to the wealthy and transfers the tax burden to the middle and lower classes. Just look at the situation we are in; record setting deficits, high unemployment, we are a debtor nation instead of a loaner nation, we manufacture very little. Conservative Economics, by its very nature, hates labor, a strong middle class and tries to give as many breaks as possible to business. The last go-around did it by eliminating regulations. The lack of regulations allowed risky loans, bad decisions and theft of our National Wealth.

Talk to your congressman and senators. Tell them to move swiftly to restore regulations that prevent their sort of economics, just as this country did after the Great Depression.

I wonder what we will call this Republican Depression?

2008-12-08T20:13:00.000-08:00

And again, the Democrats fall into the trap!

Republicans have once again tricked the Democrats into doing the dirty work of the Conservative Economic Philosophy, (hereafter called the CEP). It is the CEP that created the economic disaster we face today; major financial companies, the big three car companies, and, of course, Wall Street.

Notice that the CEP didn’t consult with the nation or the Congress about whether to “Bail Out” Wall Street. They just did it. Want to complain? Write you Congressman? Vote them out? Too late! It’s DONE.

Want to help the big three auto companies? Refer that to Congress. Let the Democrats take up the cause of all the potential unemployment, the economic disaster of putting two million people out of work and the cascade effect to confidence and trust in the government to run this country!

It doesn’t matter that the people have spoken, dissatisfied with the Republican Administration and economic philosophy, and elected to replace this corrupt and ethically challenged system! It only matters that the Republicans can now say. . . ! ! !

“The Democrats did it! They wanted the Auto Bail Out! They wanted the deficit spending! They are responsible!”

Remember that in four years when their way of doing politics rears its ugly head and starts blaming this country’s woes on the Democrats. They will. My fear is that some, stupid inattentive ones, will listen and be persuaded.

The Democrats have done it again! Walked into the political trap of wanting to help We-the-People and save our country.

Is there something wrong with this picture?

That’s As I see it. . .

2008-11-05T20:38:00.000-08:00

The most significant FIRST in this Presidential election, for me. . .

Pundits have talked about the first “Black” President elected. That is not so significant to me. I’ve worked with, been hired by, hired and fired black people, white people, Asian people and many other people of differing . . . something, all without thought of race or gender. Race, color and gender are not significant to me. It is the quality of a person’s character and their work ethic that matter most.

I voted for Obama, not because he is “Black.” I voted for him not just because he is a Democrat, although I have voted that way in the past and it was an important factor in my vote in this election. At times, my vote has been cast “against” something as much as it was cast “for” something. But that wasn’t the significant thing in this election.

It is easy to be against the Bush philosophy and the Karl Rovian tactics. The fact that Obama didn’t use those kinds of tactics is not why I voted for him and it is not the most significant part of this election.

Political “Dirty Tricks” by Republicans have been around for my entire voting career. My first vote was cast “against” Richard Nixon. They didn’t call him “Tricky Dickey” for nothing. Remember Water Gate! Don’t forget the Iran Contra Hearing, which revealed that the Reagan Administration was paying the Iranians to hold our hostages until he won the election in ’80. And the Willie Horton ads George H. W. Bush ran in 1988 got my candidate, Dukakis, defeated. Yeah, those were dirty tricks! But that wasn’t the most significant thing about this election and this President elect.

The world’s reaction to the President elect is completely understandable, given the flagrant disregard the Bush Administration has given to other countries sovereignty. The Bush Doctrine of Pre-emptive War doesn’t exactly instill the other nations to rush to our side. Still, that was not the most significant part of this President elect.

I worked hard for Obama’s election. I contributed money to the campaign and Democrats in tight races and came through when asked to contribute. I called, emailed and talked to people about the issues (many of them total strangers), trying to convince them (and was successful in some cases) to vote for Obama! I have yard signs, probably to my neighbors chagrin. But I had done all that before in the Kerry Campaign. So that wasn’t all that significant.

No, none of those things were the most significant to me. The most significant bit of reality to me: This is the first President that will be younger than I am!

How’s that for reality? That’s As I See It. . .

2008-10-26T20:00:00.000-07:00

Gay Marriage Vs. Civil Union

I wanted to get married at the courthouse and my wife wanted to get married in a church. Guess who won? She did. I was unsure about most religions having observed a great deal of hypocrisy and she was dedicated to the idea of a church wedding. The end result was a church wedding with the majority of guests sitting on “her side” of the isle.

My personal experience isn’t that relevant but in the interest of full disclosure, I explain it. You see, I agree with the “Christian Right” that “marriage” is generally accepted as a Bible based ceremony and belongs in a church. But since in this country we have a practicing separation of church and state, we the people have laws that allow for church ceremonies to be accepted as state ceremonies by sanction of the state. A “Preacher” must have state authority to perform the ceremony and that’s what makes it legal. Look at your marriage "license" to view it for your state.

What if I had had my way and we married at the courthouse? We would still be “married” (a derivative of the word Marriage) and we would still be “legal.” The difference? Both are state sanctioned but only one is church sanctioned.

Here’s what I propose; Let the churches keep their ceremony of marriage and let the state perform “civil ceremonies” at courthouses and let them both be legal! The difference would be a true separation of church and state, but both satisfy the requirements of the state. The technical difference is that a church “wedding” would be “marriage” and a courthouse “wedding” would be a “civil union.”

Churches that deny homosexual marriage do not have to allow them. The state, which does not allow discrimination based on race, gender, national origin, sexual preference, (or any others I may have overlooked), would not call it a “Marriage.” Thus, one is a civil union while the other is a marriage. Both are equal under the state law.

Problem solved, solution applied and let’s get on with serious problems. . .What was that? You say, “What about religious gays that want to marry in a church?”

That’s between you and the church! Don’t get the state involved. It doesn’t belong there!

That’s As I see it. . .

2008-10-26T17:36:00.000-07:00

I recently sent the following to friends and relatives. It created quite a stir among non-Barack supporters. So I thought I would share it with as many people as I could. Sorry I've been gone for awhile.

I want to change the world.

So I ask myself, “How do I do that?” I want the world to be peaceful. I want the world to be tolerant of each other. I want the world to empathize. “How do I do that?”

Well, if I had the power, I could make the world leaders meet and agree on a plan to get along. Make them compromise on issues that everyone can live with. And I don’t mean to just “tolerate” but to really live! Get along!

But I don’t have that power. I barely control the world I live in with bills and obligations. I don’t hear from my children as often as I would like. Taxes on my house keep going up. They haven’t fixed the street I live on in a long time. How can I change the world?

I listened to the promises of the presidential candidates. I’m no fool. I know that neither of them can do everything they want. But I did hear the same kind of desire I have, “I want to change the world.”

I’ve lived long enough to know that this election, in my country, can have the biggest impact on the future more than any election I have ever voted in before. Why? It will decide if “we the people” want to keep giving our power to the wealthy or take back our country. We can only do that if we put in power people who will listen to us, the people, and not to the wealthy.

We have lived in a great experiment since 1980. The promise of wealth will trickle down to all if we just let the wealthy have their way. Well, they have had their way. And now we find that “we the people” have to come to their aid and “bail them out.” I guess that promise didn’t work out so well.

It’s time to take another approach. Let the people rule! Tax the wealthy! Give the revenues to the state and let the state pay for the debt, the streets, the sick, the poor, the destitute and maybe even fix my street.

We, the people, cannot continue to pay the greatest share of taxes and let the wealthy take the greatest share of profits and wealth. We just can’t let it continue!

I’m voting for Democracy! I’m voting for Barack Obama! I hope you do too.

Householder
Tax Payer
60 Year old soon-to-retire fed up with the status quo of rich getting richer and we the people inheriting deeper debt.

2008-02-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

THE AMERICAN WAY

I believe we are at a defining moment of choice in America. We, the voters, the people, must decide if we want a Me or We Society. I believe that is the simplest way to describe the choice before us.

We the People can decide to be a Me Society by voting and putting into office the conservative philosophy of big business and every man for himself. Or we can vote in Progressives who believe that a successful society works together, a We Society. Progressives believe that government works best when it works for all the people and regulates corporations for the benefit of its workers, stock owners and the consuming public.

Look what conservatives have brought to this country in the last seven years; deregulation that allows contaminated food, toothpaste, toys and a devaluation of the dollar; jobs being exported at an alarming rate; a doubling of the National Debt and tax breaks for the top 1%.

Choose the conservative way and there will be more of that. Choose the progressive way and it will start to turn around. It will take time to undo the damage done but it will start and gradually a strong middle class will establish itself again.

I am encouraged by the strong turn out of voters in the Democratic primaries. So far they have almost doubled the Republican turn out. It is a sign that Americans, the People, have had enough of “Rich man rule.”

My concern now is for the future, both immediate and long term. We must reverse the deficit spending, end the Occupation of Iraq, raise taxes on the rich, give the poor and middle class a tax break and pass legislation that reestablishes regulations on corporations.

But that will be only a start. We the People must keep watch so these Me Philosophy, power hungry, war-mongering conservatives don’t assert control some time in the future. There is a tendency for the People to become lax and loose attention, eventually allowing the conservative shallow promise of “tax breaks” to cloud their minds.

How will you vote? Me or We.

2007-10-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

I’M ABOUT TO GIVE UP, AMERICA . . .

There are so many things happening in the news today and over the last three months that I wonder if Americans are watching and, more importantly, listening. Republicans (which may be an unfair way of describing ALL the people in the administration) are trying desperately to do several things: make the Democrats look bad or stupid, make the Iraq OCCUPATION look successful and make the Congress look ineffective.

First: The Democratic Party is the official name of the Democrats. So when you hear any Republican or the president refer to the “democrat party,” they are being purposely disrespectful. No matter how much you (both the individual and group “you”) disagree with someone or a group’s opinion, showing enough respect to address them by their proper name is considered proper decorum. Republicans are being deliberately disrespectful. If you ask why, it is because their opinion poll revealed that the term democrat polled as less positive than Democratic.

Second: The Iraq occupation is referred to as the “Iraq War” solely for the purpose of gaining (or appealing to) patriotic feelings that we, the nation, are at war! The reality is that the war was over when “Mission Accomplished” was declared. We, the Americans, as represented by the American military, had vanquished Iraq. The obvious next step was to find the “weapons of mass destruction” that we could never find; and still have not found.

Third; Republicans are obstructionists! Remember when they accused Democrats of being obstructionists? And all because the Democrats didn’t want to allow the blanket acceptance of right wing judges? What did the Republicans do then? They threatened the “Nuclear Option” of removing the rule allowing filibusters from the senate rules. Have you heard the Democrats propose anything like that? Of course not! The Republicans are truly obstructing governing by majority by not allowing the Democrats to complete motions and laws that would put an end to this “Dictatorship” of Bush!

Are you listening America? Are you watching your rights slip away? Are you listening to the spin of Republican rhetoric and realizing how much they are lying to you, subverting our government “by the people” and turning it into a Fascists State of Corporatists?

If you don’t wake up soon; get involved soon; speak out soon; we will loose this country!

2007-08-28T19:41:00.001-07:00

DOES RESIGNATION TRUMP TRUTH?

Within the Bush administration, many loyal servers of George Bush have left. The most recent are Alberto Gonzales and Karl Rove. Both George and Karl are two of the most sought after witnesses in Congress. Congress is trying to get to the bottom of the attorney firings done for political reasons. All “roads” seem to lead to the White House and to Karl Rove, Roberto Gonzales and George Bush.

Does their resignation allow the investigations to just stop? Should they?

Every person who has resigned so far has put an end to the concern about their performance while they held the office. It was a magic eraser, making all the official interest go away. If that has been the history, will it be the same with Roberto and Karl?

Our society “seems” to want to put unimportant things behind us. By unimportant, I mean things no longer pressing, in the news or seemingly of done with. My fear is that if Democrats in Congress continue with investigations about warrant less wiretapping, torture, ignoring the Geneva Convention, going to war with intelligence fixed around the desire; then the people will tire and just want the problem to go away. That is my concern.

If you should feel that way, think about this. What precedent has been set for the future? Also ask this question: If a Democrat were President, would the Republicans want the same policies? Remember how they were when Clinton was president?

A greater principal is involved. That principal deals with respect for the Constitution, being a nation of laws, and a check and balance system of democracy with the three branches of government.

If you DON”T believe in the three branch system with oversight, then go back to you video games and TV. If you do, WRITE your congressman and senators. Tell them how you feel. Remember! They work for us in the this country.

2007-08-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

OPEN LETTER TO CONGRESS

Bush is a bully. He’s a bully on the people’s “playground” of congress. Bush has ignored the Constitution he swore to uphold. Bush considers himself above the law. He has dedicated followers, Cheney, Gonzales, Harriet Meyers, and a great many young, dedicated, (however delusional), interns, a few generals and a great many fellow neo-cons. Bush threatens and gets his way because no one is willing to stand up to him and endure the criticism of the Republican “Spin Machine.” Many representatives talk a tough line, but when called upon to stand up, make excuses and give in. We, the people, have had enough!

We are an orderly people. We are a nation ruled by laws, not kings. We ARE the government. As Lincoln said, “…a government of the people, by the people and for the people.” When our representatives stray from the course we want, we must act. We the people, will elect a whole new set of representatives who will do our bidding. We, the people, will not allow a sect of idealistic power to rule us!

Act now! IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY! Or we will surely replace all of you!

It takes only one to stand up and start because a bully cowers in fear when challenged. Bush has yet to be seriously challenged. If any one of you, the congress, will stand up despite the political incriminations from the right wing spin meisters, begin the investigations for impeachment and let the truth come out, We, the people, will be served!

The truth is: bush has spied on Americans without judicial oversight and admitted it, misled the American people into pre-emptive war against a country that did no harm to us, destroying the middle class with tax breaks for the rich, and has taken over the judiciary system.

When one person stands, suddenly many others have the courage to stand with them. Then the bully looses his courage, his friends and his power.

Congressman or Congresswoman, you could be the one to stand up! Start impeachment hearings. Impeach Bush and Cheney! These people have done so much damage and harm to our country, our Constitution and our image in the world. If you can’t be the one, be one of those who stand together.

Speak truth to power!

2007-07-27T22:20:00.000-07:00

REPEATING AN ACTION AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS IS. . .

. . .the definition of INSANITY. If that is true, then George W. Bush has taken insanity to a new level. All experts on Arabic culture agree that Arabs will unite when threatened. The “Uniter” keeps saying that al Quida in Iraq is the enemy. Experts say that of those opposed to American occupation, only 5% are al Quida. The remaining fighters are Arabs opposed to American occupation believing that America is there to hurt Islam.

George W. Bush, the “Uniter,” the “Decider,” the “Commander Guy,” says we are “fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them over here.” The reality is that if we get out of Iraq, the Iraqis will fight al Quida because they don’t want them there either.

So the “Decider” is not only committing the same action and expecting different results, he is basing his action on a wrong assumption that he refuses to re-think! He is even going further in his insanity in that he refuses to change his actions with changes in developments on the “battle front.”

HOW INSANE CAN ONE PERSON GET?

The question I keep asking is “Why?” Can he possibly be that stupid? That fixated? That ideological; that he pursues his “dream” despite the rationale of reality?

Apparently; Yes!

IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL!

2007-07-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

WHAT IF CLINTON DID IT?

. . . ignored the co-equal part of government, the Congress, and just did what he wanted by “Executive Order?” What if Clinton spied on Americans without warrants and completely ignored the FISA Court? What if Clinton ordered torture and extreme “rendition?”

Imagine what the “family values,” conservative right, “moral majority” would respond to all of that! They would IMPEACH him!

Why are the President of the United States, the Vice-President of the United States and the Attorney General of the United States still in office? If roles were reversed and the Democrats had done what this president claims is his right as the “Unitary Executive,” you know the Republicans would be hollering at the top of their lungs, “Foul! Foul!”

I have been patient, waiting for the congress to plod through the seemingly endless rounds of subpoenas, investigations and committees. What I didn’t expect was for the president to simply declare himself above the law and completely ignore the processes well established by this country, our Constitution and the hard work of Congress. That surprised me. That scares me!

We are closer to a Fascist government than we have ever been before! This president, his vice president and the attorney general need to be removed. The only thing that protects them from the Constitutionally authorized process of getting it done are some stalwart Republicans that support their party above their country!

If you have followed the Congressional hearings into the attorney firings, you will observe things like witnesses saying they took an oath to their president. WHAT!?

When people are elected or appointed to an office to serve the people, they swear an oath to the CONSTITUTION! Not the president! They serve at the “pleasure of the president,” but they do not swear an oath to him. If you study history, you will find the last few times people swore an oath to an individual, their FUHRER, it was either to Hitler or Stalin! Did that come out well?

America, WAKE UP!!!! Pressure your representatives and senators to action! We have to take back our country!

That’s not only “As I See It”; It should be how we ALL see it!

2007-07-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

WITHDRAW FUNDS, PULL OUT, IMPEACH!

So says former National Security Advisor for Ronald Reagan, Gen. William Odom. His logic is perfect. I just hope the Congress of the United States is listening.

. . . but probably not.

I have talked to my congressman, written my senators and received explanations. I have listened to politician’s interviews on Air America by various talk show hosts and what I hear is this: “They are so busy with day to day business, they do not have time to keep up with the news media.”

What does Congress listen to? Do you realize how meaningful ‘what they listen to’ is? They listen to you! . . .IF you communicate with them. . . .

The principal of our government is representation. That means that many voices are represented by one; and for that voice to represent us, they must understand what we want. For our representatives to do their job, they have to hear from US! Contact your Congressman or Senator and tell them how you feel.

Tell them how you feel about . . .

Falsified information to go into Iraq,
Conflating the 9/11 attack with Iraq,
The outing of a CIA agent working on nuclear proliferation,
Torture,
Suspension of habeas corpus,
The denial that habeas corpus is in the Constitution,
Cronyism,
Being above the law,
Granting “no-bid” contracts to Halliburton,
The Energy Commission being private,
The Vice-President declaring he is not part of the Executive Branch,
The deaths in Iraq; of Iraqis and Americans.

Choose a topic and call your representative. Choose from the above or make your own issue. Just call!

If you really want to support our troops, you will do this simple thing!

That’s As I See it. . .

2007-06-30T20:35:00.000-07:00

PASSION VS. ARTICULATION

At first, articulation seems to out weigh passion. Articulation seems like it should logically explain a point of view. Passion seems like someone who blurts out a view without consideration for the process. RETHINK YOUR VIEW!

What I’ve noticed about the discourse between Democrats and Republican supporters is the tone of their argument. Republicans are articulate and slow to explain their point of view. Democrats are passionate. Which has more believability?

To me, the answer is that whoever has the shortest argument is supporting the truth. The longer, slower argument is a masterful way of constructing the defense of the lie! It takes very few words to tell the truth. It takes many, many words to spin a lie. The truth is always passionate.

I am partisan when it comes to this issue because I listen to Republican Senators and Representatives spin their tales of logic. They are so determined to get the public to believe their twisted sense of justice and morality, they explain it slowly, letting each step of logic set in the listeners brain so the next step will sound more logical. In reality, they are twisting a person’s sense of justice to make the dishonest sound honest.

For example: Americans love their country. Americans support their country. The President is the leader on the country. Therefore, Americans support their president.

It SOUNDS logical, but in reality, some Americans support certain policies of presidents and some do not. The difference is in the policy and the individual’s beliefs. Don’t let them fool you into false logic. Trust your beliefs. So when they go down the false trail of logic that makes you feel like you SHOULD agree, Question that decision. Listen to your heart. Vote your conscience.

Notice that I have not suggested HOW you should vote; just that you should consider the logic of your vote.

That’s As I See It . . .

2007-06-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

DON’T WATCH THE LEFT HAND! KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE RIGHT!

This administration, George Bush, Dick Cheney, Roberto Gonzales and their direct subordinates that support and implement directions, are guilty of “High crimes and misdemeanors.” Their wire tapping, torture of detainees, and fabrication of evidence alone are enough to put them in jail. Of course, they want the public to believe that the important issues are to keep this country “safe” from terrorists. That is their left hand.

Watch the investigation into the attorney firings. THAT is the right hand. This administration has tried to make the Department of Justice an extension of the Republican Party. Because the House of Representatives was controlled by the Republicans for the first six years of Bush’s reign, Bush got a rubber stamp on all his wishes. Now that the Democrats have a slight majority and can do committee hearings, the facts are coming out.

Watch the investigations into this issue. Watch the White House claim “executive privilege” and attempt to block internal investigations by the Department of Justice. Just watch; and you will see an administration guilty of “High Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

That's As I See It . . .

2007-05-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

I HAVE NOT COME TO PRAISE JERRY FALWELL. . .

I have come to bury him, . . . in reality and truth!

It is a simple reality about religious people. Some are sincere and some are in it just for the money. Which was Jerry Falwell?

I remember coming across the Jerry Falwell’s religious programs during the 70’s and 80’s. The big thing I remember was the way he asked for money. Jerry told people how it took faith for God to act. To express that faith, they should send him what ever they could send so that Jerry could “pray” for them. They should send in their “prayer wish” and explain what their need was. Then Jerry Falwell would pray for them and their need.

Of course, Jerry Falwell had proof that his prayers worked. Jerry Falwell produced witnesses that told their stories about how they sent in their “Prayer wish” and how they were rewarded. Jerry Falwell got a lot of “prayer wishes.”

I can imagine poor, needy, and yet gullible people; so desperate for help in their lives that they took their last few dollars and sent them in. I can imagine those who had abundance and yet sent some money in to Jerry Falwell with a hope that more abundance would come their way. I can imagine struggling families, with sick members, desperate for hope, sending in all they had; just so Jerry Falwell would say a prayer for them and God would help them.

Can you imagine this?

Was Jerry Falwell doing the work of the Lord? Or was Jerry Falwell doing the work of a con man preying on the weakness of true believers? How does sending money to Jerry Falwell equal faith? How does money equate to cure? Why do people in need believe that Jerry Falwell can help them through prayer, aside from the obvious that Jerry Falwell told them he could? How was Jerry Falwell feeding the sheep of Jesus? How was Jerry Falwell fulfilling the directive that Jesus gave to his disciples?

The twenty first chapter of John highlights some of the activities of Jesus after he was resurrected. After feeding the disciples on fish and bread for breakfast, Jesus asked some interesting questions of Simon Peter. Starting with verse 15; When, now, they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him: “Yes, Lord, you know I have affection for you.” He (Jesus) said to him: “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again he said to him, a second time: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He (Simon Peter) said to him: “Yes, Lord, you know I have affection for you.” He (Jesus) said to him: “Shepherd my little sheep.” 17 He (Jesus) said to him the third time: “Simon son of John, do you have affection for me?” Peter became grieved that he said to him the third time: “Do you have affection for me?” So he said to him: “Lord, you know all things; you are aware that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him: “Feed my little sheep….”

Feeding the sheep was so important that Jesus emphasized it three times. Jesus never talked or asked about what the sheep would do in return! Jesus only emphasized “Feeding the sheep.” In fact, Jesus said that loving him would mean feeding the sheep. How was Jerry Falwell “feeding the little sheep”? Or was Jerry Falwell fleecing the “little sheep”?

That’s As I See It. . .

2007-05-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

WHICH TWO HUNDRED SOLDIERS DO YOU WANT TO SEE DIE?

That may seem like a crazy question! But the reality is this: the Iraq government wants to take two months vacation this summer whether or not they have solved their problems. Since we are losing soldiers at the rate of one hundred per month, we would loose two hundred soldiers waiting while their government rests and relaxes.

If you were a soldier over there, would you like your prospects while their government is on vacation? If you’re a family member, are you going to worry? Of course you are. Family members worry the whole time their loved ones are over there. But it would be so meaningless to die while the government is on vacation!

Dick Cheney was over there recently. He supposedly talked to the Iraqi government and told them it would not be advantageous to do it. Dick then reported from the deck of an aircraft carrier that the Iraqi government listened. I just wish Dick had been right about anything in the past. Perhaps that would represent some hope for the future.

I think the reality about Dick Cheney’s visit was that he was there to offer a threat to Iran. He warned Iran to keep the water ways open! I have not heard anything about the water ways being blocked by Iran. There was that one skirmish between England and Iran. Iran captured the English soldiers and held them for a short time. Personally, I believe the English were in the right. But perhaps that was what Dick was warning Iran about.

Let me get back to the main point. We should be deploying our soldiers out of Iraq and limiting our engagements with the locals. While we deploy to other locations, we should only be defending ourselves and preparing to leave. The U.S. Army, Marines and the rest of the military have done their job. They removed Sadam from power and looked for WMD. It is time to get out.

Imagine soldiers coming to your door at all hours, kicking the door in, ransacking your house looking for three kidnapped soldiers of theirs. Would you like it? I see the video on TV of our troops doing exactly that to the Iraqis. Put yourself in their place. I wouldn’t like us either.

That’s As I See It . . .

2007-05-02T14:01:00.000-07:00

"SUPPORT OUR TROOPS" is yet another buzz phrase for "SUPPORT OUR WAR"

I served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. When I returned from Okinawa where I had been stationed for 15 months, I had to travel in uniform. As I got off the plane in San Francisco, I was walking through the terminal and looking for the baggage claim area. I was tired and disoriented for, to me, it was the middle of the night.

A woman with child in tow caught my eye. As she approached, she looked straight into my eyes, leaning slightly as she herded her child along. It was evident to me she was trying to intercept me. The child was confused. As a result, the woman was partially dragging the poor girl. We got nearer and nearer.

I’m not sure, or at least, I don’t remember what went through my mind as she approached. Perhaps I was hoping to be greeted and welcomed. When the woman and child got within a few feet, the mother spoke these two words, "Baby Killer!"

I took perhaps two more steps as the words sunk in, then stopped, turned to watch her dragging her child away. The woman looked back and observed my reaction. Our eyes met and locked for an instant. She spat in my direction. I read such hatred and loathing in those eyes. Then a rush of emotions surged through me. Instantly, I understood all the things I had heard about the discontent back home and even though I had not killed anyone, for I was never in combat, I felt ashamed.

As soon as I could, I removed my uniform and put on civilian clothes.

Now, as a country, we are fighting another war. The street demonstrations are not like they were then. The protest against this war is civil, organized and takes to a new technology called the internet. Even as things change, they remain the same. War is killing, destruction and chaos. War is not the result of sane men talking through problems. War is an act of desperation, futility and in many cases, greed. War is profitable. This war in Iraq is a misdirection of what this country should have done; get Osama bin Laden!

The Vietnam War was to stop communism. The Iraq War is to stop terrorism. The real enemy during Vietnam was Communism and the North Vietnamese. The real enemy in Iraq is a tactic used by Islamic fundamentalists. Both were mistakes that the leader of this country refused to acknowledge.

Another significant difference between Vietnam and Iraq is the push to honor the soldiers. Magnetic ribbons on cars, posters, bumper stickers all proclaim the need to support our troops. To me, the people that failed to get the public’s support for the war in Vietnam learned a lesson. They learned that they must get public support in some way. And that way is to "support the troops." This administration, like the administration during Vietnam, keeps this war going because it is profitable. They do NOT THINK about the troops, although they say they do. They do NOT CARE about the troops, although they say they do. They use the troops to further their selfish goals of power and oil. Those who buy into the buzz phrases and talking points are not really supporting the troops. They are supporting the war. This administration has been successful in conflating the two.

With George’s veto of the supplemental bill, he is using the troops in a political battlefield. He is using the emotion they have been successful in building about the troops. He uses them to blackmail congress to give him what he wants. He believes public opinion will force the congress to give him the blank check he so desperately wants to continue his endless war.

There is legitimate emotion about the troops. Those who truly understand the horrors of war, the futility of endless service, the separation from loved ones and the impact to those who have seen what they have seen, want the troops to come home. They want to repay the troops for their service, ensure they receive proper medical and mental care and benefits when they come home. Walter Reed shows how this administration shows support.

Today, soldiers are welcomed home. Soldiers are greeted and showered with honors and parades. Before, they were insulted, spat on and disparaged. But the wars are the same. It is futile, wrong, wastes lives, gives wealth to the wealthy and power to the powerful.

We the people learned something from Vietnam, too. Do not misplace your anger. Direct it at the war mongers, not at the troops. Bring the troops home! That’s how you show support!

That’s as I see it. . .

2007-04-26T19:18:00.001-07:00

Republicans are screaming, “This is just a witch hunt!”

Interesting how they think that what is happening in the congress is a “witch hunt” when it is what the Constitution requires. It’s what’s called, Oversight! The Democrats are doing what the Constitution calls for, investigating the Executive branch to ensure it is operating in the best interest of the people.

The “Do Nothing” one hundred and ninth congress was a rubber stamp for Bush and his ego. It, controlled by a Republican majority, allowed Bush and his administration to do whatever it wanted. Not, just without objections, but with no oversight what so ever!

Do you know how many subpoenas have been issued against this administration? Five! And three of those were issued just yesterday. Now guess how many subpoenas were issued against the Clinton administration. Before you answer or take your guess. . .

Remember that the then Republican controlled congress wanted to investigate White Water, Travel Gate, Hillary’s investments, Bill’s sex-capades, and every thing they could possible exercise “oversight” on. They, the Republican controlled congress, finally got Bill Clinton on lying about sex in the White House. But how many subpoenas were issued? One Thousand and Fifty Two!

Kind of makes the Republicans yelling “witch hunt” a little silly, doesn’t it? This Congress is investigating egregious acts of hubris.

What is so interesting to me is the Hatch Act. Orrin Hatch, the senator from Utah, a good Republican deeply involved in the impeachment of Clinton, spear headed the Hatch Act. He was so concerned about the Clinton administration using government offices or government time to do campaigning. Hatch was convinced the Democrats and the administration was using their office and power to ask for campaign contributions, get out the vote efforts and furthering the interests of the Democratic Party. Thus the Hatch Act was conceived, passed by both houses of congress and signed by the president.

Can you guess which law the Republicans are probably guilty of breaking? Rove put together an Excel Program encouraging all government workers to perform their jobs in a way that will further the Republican efforts for elections. It was required viewing for all administration workers, not just in Washington, but all across the nation. It is a violation of the Hatch Act.

You gotta admit, this is not just justice, this is a metaphor for Karma!