The Architect Digests

Burp.

Oh, excuse me.

Bwaaaa-hahahahaha!!!!! —Karl Rove

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[h/t to V]

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Obama Targets Coal Industry

Obama is giving us a clue as to how his ideology will target the coal mining industry, regardless of how we actually currently get our energy as a country. In September 2008, in San Francisco, he declared that he will bankrupt it. [h/t Gateway Pundit.]

I definitely want alternative energy development to take priority, but it needs to be done responsibly, with care to those currently earning their living via coal, and with alternatives being eased in to the mix. Instead, we have a preview of his slash and burn approach, but we need to have the other systems in place before cutting one out completely.

Heads-up Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Indiana! Obama’s coming for you!

Eee-gads. This is a nightmare waiting to happen.

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Why I Doth Protest Too Much

Last week, for the first time in a while, I ventured over to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer show, and there she was. I hadn’t seen her for so long—Donna Brazile that is. Wolf’s question: Will ACORN have an affect on getting voters to the polls and a fair election?

In her mellow voice,

No, Wolf, but there is possibility of voter suppression.

Wolf replied,

Really?

Donna, mellow and assured,

Yes, Wolf.

Well, isn’t that special? Donna Brazile, is concerned about voters being suppressed. Hmph! I do declare she didn’t seem to be all that concerned about the Democratic Party and the MSM suppressing the vote of 18 million Democrats during the Primary, or about the DNC manipulating the Superdelegates to declare their endorsements before the Democratic Convention. She wasn’t concerned about the voters being suppressed when the Dem leadership forced Hillary out of the race. She wasn’t concerned that they shipped out to sea the most qualified candidate with the most potential and specific, intelligent plans to save our country’s sorry ass.

My progressive friends are misinformed when they think that I am for McCain. My surprise remote click to Donna on CNN was a potent reminder of the DNC and Obama’s actions and why I cannot endorse the Democratic Presidential nominee. I was reminded of their blatant sexism. People are often surprised to hear that McCain pays women on his DC staff the same as men for equal work. Obama doesn’t. How about Obama’s shoulder brush off to “99 problems and the bitch ain’t one,” and Hillary is “likable enough”?

My progressive friends fail to see Obama’s switcheroos on positions they care about concerning: Israel, Iran, Iraq, NAFTA, FISA, gun control, refusal of life-saving measures re: late term abortions, appx. 130 “present” votes, and race-baiting of the Clintons and now McCain/Palin. Obama reversed his written promise for this election on public campaign financing, a hallmark of bringing politics to the people, and stabbed McC in the back — kind of like Indian-giving and then adding bragging rights for the most money raised. Was it to Obama’s advantage, yes? But, did it take a step toward reforming the system? No. Clyde’s Place had a great video about Obama placing ads (as in product placement) in Electronic Arts’ video games. Ani at No Quarter reviews Obie’s :30 infomercial, with commentary by McCain, Palin and the AP. How about the questionable associations and affiliations that go to his judgment, like Wright, Pfleger, Khalidi, donations from the Middle East, unidentified multiple small donations coming from the same donor account, denials about illegal connections to ACORN?

When I see Donna, I’m reminded of caucus fraud, based on testimony and collected evidence by ordinary poll workers, of citizens being locked out, pushed around. I’m reminded of the coercion of superdelegates and subverting of the democratic process in Denver at the Dem National Convention. I’m reminded of her support at the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee Meeting on 5/31/08 when four of Hillary’s Michigan Delegates were given to Obama, and he was awarded with votes and delegates he didn’t win after withdrawing his name from the MI ballot in order to have a better chance in Iowa. I’m reminded of Florida, when the RBC gave each delegate a half vote, but restored them to full votes at the Convention. (Gee, I must be psychic—how did I know that would happen?)

The mainstream media, keeper of the Fourth Estate, should be held accountable for dereliction of duty for not vetting Obama and his associations during the primary and the GE, versus their piceyune, sexist treatment of Clinton, Palin, and their classist treatment of Joe the Plumber.

For seeing and speaking up about this, I have been accused of sowing vile seeds of hate and violence, and not rooting to put an African-American in the White House. How about when the woman was running? Wasn’t she as qualified? No, she was MORE qualified. Oh, I want a woman, just not THAT one. How about the one now? Oh God, certainly NOT THAT ONE!!!

I might not agree with every belief Palin has, but is that a reason to trash the heck outta her or hang-her in effigy? Progressives: Stop using my reproductive organs as a scare tactic. It looks like you’re pretty scared of them yourselves to call these women elected officials every vile name in the book having to do with vaginas. The Democrats will have a majority in Congress, so nothing is getting overturned. Repeating myself, Palin might as well be Hillary with another face pasted on. I don’t condone that kind of treatment by either party. Of course, she’s not Hillary. Duh. The point is, if she weren’t a woman, say, if she were a man, would the violence, sexism, and porn be acted out or permitted to be acted out?

How about the hatred, threats of violence, being locked out of elections, voter rolls being taken, told to go to another location, on another date, little old ladies told they’re not on the rolls when their caregivers checked they were? How about people being bussed in from another county or state to participate in a caucus? How about threats of violence in the streets if Obama doesn’t win?

So, I’m expecting Obama to win. At least that what the polls say, and the Left and Right MSM, and Congressional leaders, my friends, family and Ralph Nader tell us so. But we PUMAs are protesting the process that selected a candidate for us, feeling like he is not trustworthy for All of the Above.

Do I love McCain? No, but I think he’s more honest than Obama. Do I think he’ll do more of what he promises? Straight up, I do. Neither is great, but I’m going with the one who seems to keep his promises and puts his money where his mouth is.

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Memory Lane: Top 10 Reasons Obama Is Unqualified

Lady Boomer NYC’s Top 10 Reasons Obama Is Unqualified

A Walk Down Memory Lane from May 2008

I wrote this Top 10 in May and never published it along with 100 or so other blog posts. I revisited it again two months ago, and even now, it holds water. Imagine how many “Top 10 Reasons Obama Is Unqualified” lists you or I could compile now. In fact, these may not be my current Top 10, but thought I’d get the ball rolling.

Happy Halloween, you trick or treaters! Hey, maybe I’ll awaken tomorrow to discover that this entire year was a trick or a dream. Perhaps, like the musical accompaniment, one could say that Obama doesn’t know the territory. However, after nine months of observation, I am convinced that his apparent gaffes are slip-ups that unintentionally reveal the deeper roots of his ideology.

10. Obama claimed the size of a country has nothing to do with its threat, and that Iran 636,296 sq. miles and Cuba 42,803 sq. miles are small, not big threats. I couldn’t agree more about Cuba, but Japan 145,883 sq. miles was a big threat, N Korea at 46,540 sq. miles, apparently a big threat. Now I’m into size as much as anyone no historian, but what’s size got to do with the nature of a country’s threat? Besides didn’t Columbus begin conquest of the whole damn continent with three boats?

9. Obama said within the period of one week that Iran wasn’t a serious threat, and that Iran was a grave threat.

8. Obama said on 5/18/08 that he was not familiar with Hanford, Oregon’s controversial nuclear production plant–a major source of controversy and anti-nuke protest–situated on the Columbia River that has been leaking radioactive waste for decades. However, Obama voted with the Bush-Cheney nuclear power energy bill.

7. Obama’s silence about and encouragement of sexism, including mean and demeaning behavior, unchecked audience booing, brushing off Hillary Clinton in allusion to a sexist rap song, giving her the finger “nose scratch,” saying she was “likable enough,” having musical friends like Ludacris that publicly call Ms. Clinton a “b*tch” without disclaimer from BO. (Update: week of 10/27/08, not denouncing Sarah Palin hanging in effigy for Halloween in L.A.)

6. Obama voted “present” more than 100 times during his 1 1/2 years in the US Senate before running for President. Where exactly does he stand? It’s easy to say you’ll please everyone without a specific record to demonstrate the reliability of your promises.

5. NAFTA and Canada, wink wink.

4. He has produced only abnormal friends and associates, including Tony get me a mansion, will ya Rezko, Bill he lives on my block, what board of directors, or book endorsement? Ayers, and Reverend I was present for 20 years but never heard him preach like that Wright, and Khalidi, who brought Ahmadenijad to speak at Columbia, where he again denounced Israel and assured us that Iran doesn’t have gay folk.

3. Obama’s energy policy, as articulated in stump speeches during the week of May 23, 2008, consists of turning down the heat, not driving SUVs, and eating less. (Worthy objectives, yes. Got policies???)

2. Obama’s education plan consists of hiring more teachers, turning off TV, and talking more. (Good, but is that all you can come up with for a plan-or are you not as sophisticated as you say you are-or will you just change all of the textbooks?)

1. Would it be cool or creepy to have a President who says he loves you back?

Oh, my head’s spinning, catch me before I pass out. In August, I added more: FISA, FISA, campaign finance, Iraq War (Quiz: Which Democrat did those 23 or so generals endorse? Answer: Hillary Clinton), wrote falsehoods in his book, spoke in Germany at a rock-beer ‘n bratwurst concert, but didn’t visit wounded US soldiers. What else? I’m sure I’m forgetting something. Oh, church-based initiatives, systematic caucus fraud, ACORN, fiddling on vacation while Russia burned Georgia, amazing reversal on Israeli/Palestinian policy from helping to letting them figure it out themselves to helping after all, no/yes to offshore oil drilling, PAC money NO, special interest group money, er, ah, um, uh, uh, uh, union money, er, Yes. What else? No help for babies who survive partial birth abortion, um. . . .

Halloween fright night additions:  The downward spiral of his economic Robinhood policy that has proposed no higher taxes for those making $250,000, $200,000, $150,000, $120,000 according to Joe the Biden and now Bill Richardson this week. A law, making the 50-year long secret union ballot into an open vote, which George McGovern has spoken against.

And yesterday, 10/30/08, Bill Clinton said that Obie had to ask his 300 advisers the right thing to do. Why, because he can talk a good game, but doesn’t have a moral compass.

“I haven’t cleared this with him and he may even be mad at me for saying this so close to the election, but I know what else he said to his economic advisers (during the crisis),” Clinton told the crowd at a Wednesday night rally with Obama in Florida. “He said, ‘Tell me what the right thing to do is. What’s the right thing for America? Don’t tell me what’s popular. You tell me what’s right — I’ll figure out how to sell it.’”

Exactly, a flim-flam man, a confidence man. Tell him what is right, and by gosh, he’ll sell it. Doesn’t that say it all?

This is the candidate that the DNC, Dean, Pelosi, Reid, et al, pushed the Democratic faithful to accept instead of Hillary Clinton, who had concrete plans and a proven record to address every segment of our society and foreign relations?

Obama, who ridicules Joe the Plumber and McCain/Palin, yet has the hubris to spend millions on an infomercial, fake Greek columns in Denver, branding his plane. This is the person who will reform our government? I think not! He doesn’t know the territory!

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h/t to V — for the video clip:

ROCK ISLAND from the Music Man
(c) 1957 by Meredith Wilson

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Make Your Voice Count: A Fundraiser

At the end of the Democratic Primary season, this was the situation:

Popular Vote
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton: 17,857,446, (48.04%)
Senator Barack Obama: 17,584,649 (47.31%)

Pledged delegates

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton: 1,730.5 (39.17%)
Senator Barack Obama: 1,747.5 (39.55%)

(source)

Then, for no apparent good reason, in June Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi decided THEY, not the delegates chosen by the electorate and not the superdelegates appointed via proper party procedure, were going to decide who would represent the top of the ticket for the general election. Now that same leadership wants YOU to legitimize their undemocratic and unprincipled methods by putting their selected candidate into the White House on November 4.

But WE can say no to the subversion of democratic principles within the Democratic Party. We can say no with our votes and by urging our fellow Democrats to pay attention to the particulars of the candidate Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi selected to represent the Democratic Party.

Put this ad on the air and let America know that our voices count.

Over the next 24 hours and across the internet, we as a community will urgently be raising money to run edgy and persuasive ads made by Democrats in key battleground states. Generous contributors have pledged $500 in matching funds. Your voice counts. Please contribute now.

CLICK ON ROSIE TO DONATE:

Or go to Democrats For Principle Before Party – The Denver Group’s general election website, where you can view other ads the group is running:

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In Your Wildest Dreams . . .

In Your Wildest Dreams . . .

Did you ever think you/we would be here at this time in this election year—refugees from our Party of origin, protesting its candidate? Goes to show, we’re still the rebel’s rebel! Ain’t that the story of my life? If that’s the case, and they do pull it off, I’m concerned for my freedoms. It’s so weird, with Obama, Dean, Pelosi, Reid, Frank, Dodd, orange kool-aid types running things, that I feel just as suppressed as when the far Right was in charge.

Many of our disenchanted were out canvassing or making phone calls as Democrats for McCain/Palin last weekend, and they will continue until the election. Some people stepped up right away. Others have cautiously dipped a toe in with mixed feelings. Some PUMA/Just Say No Deal coalition members say it’s the only way to voice our stand for a just and transparent democracy. They consider McCain/Palin more trustworthy, prudent for the economy, and ethical, although most of us disagree with their stance on reproductive rights and the environment.

The Nature of Palin

In my assessment, Palin was very good-natured about being trashed on SNL right in front of her face twice, first by Tina Fey whom she watched on the monitor, then by Alec Baldwin, who told her she was hotter in person. She looked comfy in her body as she moved and danced, which is always a good sign to me.

In comments broadcast the following Sunday from a taped interview on local TV-9 here in Manhattan, Palin spoke of how you much fun it was to do the show, and how nice the cast and staff were to her. When asked if the jokes about her bothered her, she replied that in deciding to go for the job, you have to be thick skinned, but that it hurt to have her family trashed in the MSM. However, she said that running for office is a group deal; everyone in the family knows they need to be on board and also have thick skins. That strikes me as a pretty healthy, energetic attitude. I guess it bothers me that in order to be considered cool, Governor Palin has to get approval by actor, writer, director, Tina Fey, (wow, she’s accomplished—turnabout) who also belittled her on Letterman the previous evening.

Of course, these days we want our prez to be cewl, which is why we liked Bill (in addition to his being brilliant) when he wore shades and played sax on Arsenio and MTV, and jammed along with the band at his Inauguration Ball. Remember, Bill was a product of the type of school system I grew up in, where they offered orchestra, chorus, art, drama, PE, and square dancing. This system helped round pegs like me fit into square holes, but I digress . . .

Donna, Howard, Remember Us?

Nobama has warned: Democrats, be careful, you can still mess it up, just when it looks like you’ve got it in the bag. However, I’m a bit disheartened these days. With Obama raising a record $150 million in September, and 175,000 turning up in Missouri on Saturday, October 19, you might understand why.

So I got this classic Moody Blues song in my head and checked out the YouTube. Their video is your tacky eighties fare, basically about a girlfriend of a rock star. Don’t miss the choreographed dancin’ in the street. But the lyrics could be anybody wondering about a long lost love, friend, dear one, or someone from whom they’re estranged.

This got me wondering if Howard Dean and Donna Brazille ever think about us? You know those bitter white women, old people, the ones Donna declared they didn’t need, and Howard acted like they could win without. They’ll have to, as far as PUMA and Just Say No Deal-ers are concerned. Playing out the roles in the video, I kept getting hung up with the end—when the band is dragging him away, and he just can’t help it, of course. And the girl is standing watching him go, after having tried to get in touch several times, and she’s now a bored housewife. I just couldn’t wrap my brain around which role fit Howard, Donna, me or us. Neither, I think, because we’re not suckers and they ain’t helpless. But that’s not what’s important. It’s the wildest dreams part that’s on my mind, and upon which I’d like to refocus some energy and attention.

If You Want It

Concurring with riverdaughter about the anger, I think it’s time to bring out the heavy-duty tools—as in prayer and intention! You know about The Secret? Sshhh, don’t tell, but as Norman Vincent Peale and healers believe, “You Can If You Think You Can.” It’s like The Little Engine That Could, right? I saw The Secret the movie, didn’t read the book, hah, but it’s about manifesting your life by feeling, thinking, seeing, and being your intention in every cell of your body. Actually, that’s how I work with chronic pain as a somatic practitioner and hands-on-healer. I put my attention into blending with, then overpowering the sensations of pain with my complete attention, leaving no room in my touch or mind for it to be otherwise. Sometimes it’s a battle, pain can be a stubborn sucker, but I always win.

Group prayer can create miracles for its willing recipients. Many people have experienced the power of prayer ease their own or a loved one’s plight. When in dire situations, people may pray for the best possible outcome and the recipient feels at ease, although the result might not be the desired one. I’m no evangelical, but I am ecumenical and believe that no matter what form of prayer or deity one uses as intercessor, it will forward their intention. One might say that the panic-driven recent stock market sell-off, which many observers have remarked is psychological, is a form of prayer or belief working in the mode of fear or negativity. In other words, attention may also be directed negatively and have an affect, as in voodoo. Being a good witch, I always advocate for manifesting for good.

It must be in the zeitgeist, because in her Sunday Late Night Open Thread, riverdaughter played a beautiful video rendition of “Down to the River to Pray.” Earlier in the evening, Heidi Li Feldman, Marc Rubin, and Harriet Christian joined RD, who filled in for Sheri Tag on her “No We Won’t” PURrr show. Recalling all the February HAKA that Obama would beat Hillary according to the numbers, and that there was no way she could win, Heidi Li made the point that this is basically a theme that has been perpetrated upon the American public. It’s like an ad that’s been played often enough over time. She said, “It’s only a self-fulfilling prophesy if you let it,” which reminds me of John Lennon’s, “War is over, if you want it.”

I’m not saying only pray. I’m saying pray and take action. Harriet says: Be pro-active! Do whatever you can to stop Obama. Heidi and Marc say donate to Democrats For Principle Before Party so they can run an ad during the World Series. Murphy invites you to visit PUMA PAC’s Action Center. And last but not least, find out how to join in a variety of activities by visiting Just Say No Deal.

Perchance To Dream

I’ve arrived at my point in a roundabout way, but . . . please use this entry as a way to dream. Listen to the music, take the poll, and comment away about your dreams. You’ll notice that I did not include Hillary as a presidential choice, because I’m asking that you focus on the choices we currently have. We used to dream about some illegality knocking BO out of the race, but in two weeks, with the momentum now, Hillary is just not, well, dare I say, there’s a limit to my band width. Although, of course, you can dream and write her in under “other.” For any interlopers, know that the PUMA McCain choice is a protest vote. Oh, and yes, I question that the options include a Dean/Brazille, et al apology, and, sadly, fair elections.

What is your wildest election dream given our options? Make it happen, people. In its short life to date, isn’t that what our ragtag underfunded coalition has always been about? By paying attention and speaking up, haven’t we actually made a dent in the narrative of this election cycle and the vetting of its candidates? A determined voice that roars like a PUMA. Who knows what we yet can accomplish? In your wildest dreams . . .

Addendum to Poll: Don’t believe the stats as representative of PUMA. I followed a link from The Confluence’s admin page, and it seems that an Obot site put out the word to crash my poll, and they’re giving my cross-post lots of hits from their link to it, which shows up on the poll across sites. Oh. The link to my post was just put up on Just Say No Deal, so let’s see if PUMAs balance it out.

I’m new at this polling thing, and should have known better than to have included BO as a choice. I was just being fair. Hmph, what a concept. So, now I’ve revised and left them a little turnabout surprise: Fair play and touché.

Prologue: A New Voice —

From THE JOURNEY by Mary Oliver, 1986

” . . . though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice . . .”

It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own [. . .]

performed by The Keith Jarrett Trio

When You Wish Upon A Star

Music: Leigh Harline
Lyrics: Ned Washington

When a star is born
They posses a gift or two
One them is this
They have the power
To make a wish come true

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do

Fate is kind
She brings to those to love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

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NYC McCain PUMAs vs. Obie Pinocchios

NYC POC PUMAs, among other supporters of Hillary Clinton, have endorsed John McCain as the best candidate in this race, and as a protest vote against Barrack Obama. PUMAs showed up to support McCain after he decided to do a make-up appearance on The David Letterman Show last Thursday, October 16, 2008.

POC PUMAs and NY Area Democrats for McCain weren’t the only ones who decided to appear outside of the show’s Broadway venue. Obama supporters, sporting Pinocchio noses, came to weigh in to set the record straight, asserting that McCain and Palin are liars. The passion of the campaign erupted as Pinocchio’s tried to shout down the Pumas who were shouting, “country first.” The only thing I couldn’t understand, although the noses were a catchy device, is: Why were the accusers wearing the noses? Wasn’t the nose on the wrong face? Their prop made THEM into the liars. Well, if the nose fits, wear it!

NYC POC Pumas are coordinating a bus to Scranton, PA again this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday. They are planning to talk with people of their very own Democratic Party about casting a protest vote and “supporting McCain as the best presidential candidate for our country at this time.” It’s not too late to sign up, follow the POC PUMA or JSND links and go, if that’s what your heart tells you. I have not endorsed a candidate, and, until post-Denver, I have always averted my eyes rather than look toward a Repubie candidate. However, I will make my vote count, despite that I live in a Blue State, to send a message to the corrupt Dem Party leadership, which no longer speaks for me.

For this weekend’s event and others around the country, check Just Say No Deal.

And not to scare anyone off, but to illustrate 1) how hairy it is out there, 2) who’s really perpetrating the negativity and scare tactics during this campaign season, and 3) that protesters need to be aware of their surroundings, read this linked article. Right here in New York City, a middle-aged lady was assaulted by a male Obama supporter. As they say in our fair city, “If you see something, say something.” Well, I’m sayin’.

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The Clampdown: Coming To Your Neighborhood

The Clampdown — The Clash

According to FOX News’ anchor and attorney, Megyn Kelly, the GOP said that Ohio Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner should “fork over the list,” and Jen said no, she didn’t want to prepare the list. Apparently the SOS had better things to do with her time than to make sure voter registrations were not fraudulent. An Ohio Federal Court said she had to, but today the US Supreme Court said she didn’t.

So these registered Ohioans get to cast a real ballot and vote, not just a provisional ballot. The problem is that 200,000 of 666,000 who have registered since January 1, 2008, do not match.

From Ohio’s WBNS 10TV, October 17:

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, faced a deadline of Friday to set up a system to provide local officials with names of newly registered voters whose driver’s license numbers or Social Security numbers on voter registration forms don’t match records in other government databases.

Ohio Republicans contended the information for counties would help prevent fraud. Brunner said the GOP is trying to disenfranchise voters.

The US Supreme Court ruled procedurally that they did not have jurisdiction over this matter and now time is running out.

One by one, as we see our curbs of freedom abated even BEFORE a potential Obama presidency, what will come to pass if this pretender assumes the throne? Be afraid, be very afraid. Take action. Speak up and speak out!

. . . and for every hung up person in the whole wide universe, and we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing. —Bob Dylan, 1964

UPDATE: The Cleveland Plain Dealer Politics Blog, in their updates, quotes both Brunner and the McCain campaign.

Brunner was elated with the ruling. “That’s it,” she said, noting that Republicans could not take their argument any further than the highest court in the country.

Brunner said the high court’s ruling shows that the state Republican party had no right to file the suit to begin with last week in an Ohio federal court.

“There was no private right of action here,” she said.

However, sounds like the Repubs aren’t done with this.

John McCain’s campaign, responding to the court decision, suggested Brunner cannot be trusted to make nonpartisan decisions in this election.

“Today’s decision by the United States Supreme Court does not address violations of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) by Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner,” McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said. “Rather, the court ruled that Congress had likely not authorized private individuals or political parties to bring suit under the section of HAVA requiring voter registration verification through data-matching. It remains our belief that American citizens should be guaranteed that their legitimate votes are not wiped away by illegally cast ballots. What is no longer in question is the partisan nature of Jennifer Brunner’s efforts to minimize the level of fairness and transparency in this election.”

 

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We Will Get By—Lessons From Yertle the Turtle

Touch of Grey—Grateful Dead

Well, where have I been, fa God’s sake? You know what they say? When times get tough, the Jews get cleanin’ — at least those of us raised by borderline obsessive-compulsive moms. My New York pad had been suffering from nine months of neglect after blogging up a storm for our gal, Hillary. My cleaning strategy (or was it a tactic?) fell under the rubric of build it and they will come, for all you clients who might have unknowingly been demagnetized by the New York film of white dust that seems to settle on everything in my little flat, despite air purifier. And there’s something about wiping the slate clean during the Jewish New Year that compelled me to also clean the space around me. So am I next to godliness now? Hard to say, God only knows.

Like many of my Confluence sisters and brothers, I imagine I’ve been suffering from an influx of fluctuating moods and diminishing incomes, having dedicated so much to our PUMA cause. Yes, as has been told repeatedly, we’ve been putting out fires all year. Just when we thought we’d found each smoking gun of Obama’s dirty dealings and his trail of broken promises that would put his campaign out to pasture and reward Hillary with her rightful place of stellar leadership, we would be surprised by the MSM, Dem leadership, and general populace’s silence. So we’ve been running this relay race, and frankly, we’re tired. Our team members have carried the baton when any one of us could not. Some of us have felt beaten down by hitting our heads against the wall with cries of illegality and the smarmy tactics and associations of the Obama campaign. Frankly, I’ve cited so many instances that I’m numb, so if you want a reference, just look at almost any post on my blog or that of any one of my blogroll links.

So what kind of horse am I to stop before the race is over? I’m not really stopping, I’m just refueling, and that means refocusing and looking for work. Blogging, as I have found, is almost like having a job, it just doesn’t pay the cash. After all, to do it right, one must read other blogs, comments, stay up on the news, have an opinion, gather audio/visual accompaniment, cite supporting resources, links, and articles.

What blogging has gotten us is that our PUMA protest voice has made a huge difference in forcing the truth into the media, which has largely obfuscated its purpose as keepers of the Fourth Estate. In one example, after all of our yammering, finally the ACORN improprieties in voter registration are coming to light in thirteen states of the union. Most of us are lifelong Liberals who refused to give in to the philosophy of “by any means necessary.” Reference to those words by Malcolm X were woven in as code during the primaries against Hillary and now against McCain.

When Obama says in grandiose speeches that people are trying to “hoodwink and bamboozle you,” he’s speaking in code. And most knife-twisting of all, the chief hoodwinking bamboozler is calling the kettle black or white if you’re John Lewis. Those words by Malcolm X are part of the “by any means” philosophy, which gets to the heart of why we feel so angry and hurt by his campaign. We are fundamentally against this way of being in the world and see this MO permeate every level of Obama’s opportunistic campaign at each step of the way — from the trail of broken promises to his associations with shady characters, from ACORN to his Fannie and Freddie on-the-take, and how he stepped on the heads of those who helped him rise to power. We’re frustrated because when we or the McCain campaign point out these things, we/they are called haters and racists in the most vile, stringent terms. We are called haters by a campaign and its followers who have threatened, shouted us down, made it unsafe to wear normal campaign gear, carry or post signs, speak out. We are called names by a campaign that has used people within their governmental capacity to stifle free speech. Why?

Saddest of all is that we are like the wandering Jews. Welcome, people, to my world. We have no home. My thousands of friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, people I’ve known for my entire adult life, going on forty years, think that I’m a pariah. I don’t talk about my views with them, as I’m usually met with a barrage of hatred toward the candidates I believe in or am placing my hope in to counteract Nobama. So, basically, I don’t go there. I just write to get out the word. I write to you and for myself as an outlet, and because I cannot stay silent. You are my new community, my solace, my rock, my connection to the reality I see — the reality that so many of my counterparts don’t see. It’s as if the truth before their eyes is invisible.

Remember “Yertle the Turtle” by Dr. Seuss? Obama is like Yertle in his unbridled ego and hubris, fake seal, O-plane, fake Greek columns. His attitude is cloaked in the language of noblesse oblige, but instead of by birthright, he will use the power he has garnered to re-distribute the wealth to the less fortunate. And the people, the other lowly turtles in the land, afraid or deluded, they will obey:

My throne shall be higher!” his royal voice thundered,
“So pile up more turtles! I want ’bout two hundred!”
“Turtles! More turtles!” he bellowed and brayed.
And the turtles ‘way down in the pond were afraid.
They trembled. They shook. But they came. They obeyed.
From all over the pond, they came swimming by dozens.
Whole families of turtles, with uncles and cousins.
And all of them stepped on the head of poor Mack.
One after another, they climbed up the stack.
Then Yertle the Turtle was perched up so high,
He could see forty miles from his throne in the sky!

So, as we say, we don’t really have a horse in this race. Again, as in prior elections, we are forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. We are forced to turn a blind eye toward a Yertle who has stepped on the heads of the people. But WE are like Mack. When Yertle the Turtle could not bear to see the moon rise higher in the sky than he himself, he ordered more turtles onto the pile, but poor Mack, suffering under the burden of the millions who followed their king, he did the most simple, natural thing, and brought the tyrant down:

But, as Yertle, the Turtle King, lifted his hand
And started to order and give the command,
That plain little turtle below in the stack,
That plain little turtle whose name was just Mack,
Decided he’d taken enough. And he had.
And that plain little lad got a bit mad.
And that plain little Mack did a plain little thing.
He burped!
And his burp shook the throne of the king!

And Yertle the Turtle, the king of the trees,
The king of the air and the birds and the bees,
The king of a house and a cow and a mule…
Well, that was the end of the Turtle King’s rule!
For Yertle, the King of all Sala-ma-Sond,
Fell off his high throne and fell Plunk! in the pond!

So, all you wanderers who feel you have no home except for that of your fellow bloggers and protesters, YOU, WE will survive. We will continue to do what comes naturally, to put one foot in front of the other, and just burp.

 

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Bill Clinton Tells It On The View 9/22/08

Bill Clinton on The View, Part 1

September 22, 2008 — Bill Clinton is in his element this week, out and about in New York City, in his fourth year of convening world leaders, wealthy philanthropists, and citizens’ groups at the UN on behalf of his worldwide Clinton Global Initiative. He outlines what we all can do to change the world in his 2007 book, Giving.

In his first-ever appearance on The View, get fascinating insights from one-half of the power duo we could have had. Was Hillary really dying to be VP, grasping at it, as the Obamabots and MSM snootily suggested for several months? What does Bill think of her supporters who would vote for McCain? (Hint: he gets it.) Does he think there was sexism directed toward Hillary during her run? Oh, yes he does. He describes it as subconscious in our society and because of that, maybe more insidious. He also gives his take on how people should treat voters who don’t agree with one’s own views. Let’s just say that his attitude is more gentlemanly than that of the Dem nominee and his followers.

Part 2

Bill gives his take on: the economic proposals currently on the table; if today’s economic woes stem from his administration’s policies; and the breaking Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley filings to reorganize from investment banks to bank holding companies. The View’s Whoopi Goldberg introduces Bill as one of her favorite people. Too bad The View hosts didn’t treat Hillary and Bill as if they mattered at all during the Democratic Primary, preferring to tout and fawn unashamedly over Barack and Michelle.

Part 3

Find out what the former Pres thinks of McCain, and who he thinks will win in 2008. He seemingly gives a black and white answer, (wild guess: the Democrat), but makes some crafty modifications. He attempts to clarify why he was given a bum rap over saying Obama wasn’t ready to be POTUS. I found it all quite interesting. Et vous?

[At this posting, the video wasn't yet available on ABC's website, so here's a three-part YouTube, sans commercials, which is how I can actually use it. Let's see if it stays up. If not, will replace.]

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