"It's just like the mafia, you can call the Democrats the Genoveses and the Republicans the Gambinos. They all treat it like it's one big craps game, and while they might shoot each other once in a while, any time the whole game is threatened they circle the wagons to protect it." -- Michael Ruppert in "America: Freedom to Fascism"

[When a friend quoted Ruppert on codepink forum she almost had her Achilles tendon ripped out by their rottweilers!]

You are all likely aware of my deep interest in politics and the attention I've paid to the issues over the years.

In this presidential election I have supported Dennis Kucinich for his clear advocacy of peace and single payer health insurance reform.  I have supported John Edwards for his advocacy of issues related to poverty and class and for his committment to fighting global warming.

And now, we are left with two candidates, both of whom have failed so far to advocate as fiercely as I would like for the issues of greatest importance to me but either of whom are on the issues infinitely better than what we have.

So how do I choose?  There are many things which are required in order to make meaningful change.  For me, I am convinced that the ability to lead and produce change requires, more than anything, the ability to inspire.  It was that aspect of Lincoln, Rosevelt, and Kennedy which leave them so well remembered in our country.  

Watch this video link:  http://www.dipdive.com.  Inspiration is why I am voting for Obama.

Peace,

Aaron

Peace, Aaron

Yes we can.

Have health care that enriches insurance companies, drug companies, and hospital corporations.

Yes we can.

Vote for lobbyist inspired inspiration.

Yes we can!  But should we?

Dry your eyes and face the facts.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

Hillary and Barack's healthcare plans compared.

The rockstar and his fans aren't that worried about getting sick.  

We baby boomers (who actually vote, unlike the much touted "youth" vote) wonder if/when our life savings will be taken away by ourselves or a close family member's sudden catastrophic illness or accidental injury.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

"Just the place for a Snark!  I have said it twice:
  That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark!  I have said it thrice:
  What I tell you three times is true."
>>

So sure, let us keep saying "Yes we can" over and over and over again.  Is it supposed to mean something?  

And it strikes me as mightily creepy, that I should be made to feel churlish, for telling all these happy, weepy children from around the globe that I just do not get this Obama emotionalism, and continue to mistrust him.

As a supporter of John Edwards since early 2003, I feel nauseated right now, on the eve of the New York primary.  How I wish he had remained in the race, at least till tomorrow, so I would know for whom to vote!

Aaron,
I hope your inspiration works out, for you and for all of us.  But I need something a bit more.  My pastor, an old Irish Catholic JFK-worshiper, is pretty openly supporting Obama, so I guess if I do decide to vote for Obama tomorrow, I can look up to the Madonna and explain, it is what my pastor wants me to do.

But we are still very far from that moment of truth ...

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

As I am currently one of the many millions of Americans without health insurance (lovely that NY is one of only 4 states in the nation where you cannot buy catastrophic health insurance) this is a key issue for me - but I guess I need to delve into the details.  Certainly, right now, health insurance is "available" to me and to my fiance - but as it would cost nearly as much as our rent, and we prefer a roof over our heads to the wind and snow.... so, we are taking our chances.

I guess I am more focused right now on which Dem candidate has the best chance of beating McCain in the polls - I have a sneaking suspicion that the tally is in Mr. Obama's favor. But Canis makes a good point - our primary is tomorrow, and I still am not sure.

The only sure thing for us is a Hillary/Barack ticket.  Mom and the rockstar.  A team we can trust.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

On the other hand, there are many progressive Democrats for whom Hillary looks far too hawkish.  (One of her friends and supporters, though, Wesley Clark, was opposed to the invasion of Iraq from the beginning.  So was Zbigniew Brzezinski.)

So it may come down to just that point, tomorrow: Vote for Obama, as the messenger of peace.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

Climate Change: Clean Coal

Health Care: For-profit health insurance companies get first crack at your dollar and give you whatever's left for health insurance.

Jobs: More blah, blah, technology, blah. Jobs are leaving the country in jumbo jet lots and H1b visa holders fly in on the return flights to hand over what good jobs are left to immigrants.  I don't see any protection for unions or unemployment benefits.

What we will get with Obama. More health insurance runaround, massive uneployment due to the economic crash, foot dragging on climate change and lots of gee whiz speechifying. I've got no helath care now and a nasty chronic condition. So I'm just sludging along towards bankruptcy where with some decent medical care I might be productive.

I'm still voting for Kucinich.

Put the Carbon Back

I've been on the fence for months, but not anymore.  This notion that a certain subset of people are entitled to power, that they must simply wait in line for their "turn" to come, like a tired, anemic royal family.  I won't do it anymore.  I'm thirty-one and my whole life has been this ridiculous power-game for an American aristocracy, and I'm not going to play it anymore.  I opt out beginning tomorrow, when I cast a vote for Barack Obama.

This gross cynicism, this default notion of ours that anyone rhetorically gifted can't be anybody worth listening to, that anyone well-spoken should prompt mistrust, by whatever device we're able to justify it . . . well, I'm done with that too.  It's an understandable byproduct of an old politics that I'm ready to toss out.

I've never given a shit before and man does it feel good.  YES. WE. CAN.

The good old reliable voters need a reliable candidate.  Barack could use a couple terms as vP to prove himself.

If he hadn't given in to healthcare lobbyists and nuclear power lobbyists and ethanol lobbyists and clean coal lobbyists...  maybe we could trust him to lead right now.  But he has given in.

A more experienced hand at fighting for we the people should guide his progress, Hillary has that hand.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog