Wednesday, December 24, 2008

I Know Why Obama Picked Warren. But Why?!

The Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart tackles the controversy surrounding President-elect Obama's selection of the Rev. Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at is inaugural by reflecting upon the opinions expressed by his colleagues Richard Cohen and E.J. Dionne, Jr. and engaging in a discussion of the issue on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program.

From Capehart's blog entry on the Washington Post website:

I have been vexed into paralysis by President-elect Obama's selection of evangelical pastor Rick Warren to lead the invocation at his inauguration next month. Sure, I understand politically why Obama chose to give such an honor to Warren. A terrific explanation came from E.J. Dionne today.....

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And because symbols matter, I personally found the choice offensive. That's why Richard Cohen's column today was so soothing.



From MSNBC:


Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Jon Stewart vs. Mike Huckabee on Gay Marriage

Quite a civil and illuminating conversation between Comedy Central's Jon Stewart and Fox News commentator and former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee on the topic of gay marriage.

Stewart calmly, but thoroughly shreds Huckabee's arguments justifying a ban on gay marriage, leaving the former governor with nothing more to support his position than the fact that a majority of Americans agree with him.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

A Sign Of What's To Come

Employees at a Chicago window manufacturer have peacefully occupied a factory shut down due to the plunging demand by the housing industry. Aside from the distress of being laid off just weeks before Christmas, employees are angered by the failure of Republic Windows and Doors to abide by federal and Illinois laws that require advance notice of a business closing.

From the Chicago Tribune:

Idled Workers Occupy Factory In Chicago

By RUPA SHENOY | Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO - Workers laid off from their jobs at a factory have occupied the building and are demanding assurances they'll get severance and vacation pay that they say they are owed.

About 200 employees of Republic Windows and Doors began their sit-in Friday, the last scheduled day of the plant's operation. On Saturday, about 50 workers could be seen through a window sitting on chairs and pallets on the factory floor. Reporters were asked to stay out of the plant's work area. ...continue reading


From NBC Chicago:


Bleak Employment Numbers Indicate Recession Is Worsening

With nearly 2 million jobs lost so far this year the prospect for any kind of economic recovery is bleak. Consumer demand for goods and services has plunged, corporate investment has tanked, the housing market is in a shambles, and automakers have been humbled into begging taxpayers for a bailout.

From the New York Times:

Workers Give Up
By David Leonhardt

How bad was today’s jobs report? The unemployment rate rose to 6.7 percent, its highest level since 1993 — and that understated the weakness in the labor market.

According to the Labor Department, the number of unemployed workers rose by 251,000 in November. But the number of people who were outside of the labor force — that is, neither working nor looking for work — rose by much more: 637,000. These people aren’t counted as unemployed in the government’s statistics, because they are not looking for work. Many of them, presumably, have stopped looking for work because they didn’t think they could find a good job. ...continue reading


Significantly, the loss of jobs has affected men, more than women, due largely to the heavy concentration of women in the healthcare field, education, and other social services.

Unemployment rate

From economist Dr. Mark Perry:

According to today's BLS report, the U.S. economy has lost 2.352 million jobs in the last year (Nov. 2007 to Nov. 2008). Further analysis shows that 82% of the job losses (1.932 million) were jobs held by males, and only 18% of jobs losses (430,000) were jobs held by females (see top chart above). Further, the November unemployment rate for men is 7.2% vs. only 6% for women, and the gap in jobless rates between men and women has been increasing for the last six months (see bottom chart above).

What's going on?

According to this May 2008 BusinessWeek article:

Men have the misfortune of being concentrated in the two sectors that are doing the worst: manufacturing (70% male) and construction (88% male). Women are concentrated in sectors that are still growing, such as education and health care (77% female). ...continue reading


President-elect Obama's desire to provide economic stimulus by investing heavily in infrastructure should provide a boost to employment in the construction and manufacturing sectors. In addition, it's been reported that he wants to provide some relief to states in the form of increased Medicaid funding and education funding, which would likely aid women.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

And The Band Plays On

I learned last evening that Joe, a friend of nearly three decades, finally succumbed to AIDS after waging a valiant battle against the disease for over two decades.

I hadn't been aware that his health was in decline, having not spoken to him since July, but from what I gather, even those closest to him were kept unaware of the seriousness of his deteriorating condition, not at all surprising given Joe's penchant for privacy and stoicism in the face of tragedy.

His sudden death has profoundly impacted me - much more so than I'd have imagined. We haven't been particularly close these past few years, largely because of a geographic separation. After his loss of his life-partner a dozen years ago, he returned to his home state, finding his adopted city of New York oppressive, laden with cursed memories of joy lost.

I don't believe he found returning home to be all that comforting, yet it was recognizable, largely unchanged from his boyhood. He knew what to expect, and found some solace in the predictability of the community - a normalcy, a consistency with which he had learned to cope.

And make no mistake - coping in New York is a challenge in the best of circumstances. For many gay men who flocked to the city during the 1970s and 1980s AIDS made the city unbearable. There really is no way to adjust to the loss of so many friends and associates.

I can recall during the late 1980s and early 1990s attending at least one memorial service per week, a litany of depressing endings so persistent and encompassing that it became dehumanizing. Gratefully, the pace of death over the past decade has slowed considerably due to improved treatment. It's been over a year since the last time I learned of the death of a friend due to AIDS, a respite that has lulled me into a sense of complacency about the seriousness of the epidemic.

Yet, in recent months I've read extensively of a resurgence of infections in the gay community, which some attribute to a sense that the disease is no longer a death sentence, but rather, a treatable illness not unlike diabetes. Joe's passing is a potent reminder of the foolishness of such assumptions, and how important it is that we continue to educate young people about the dangers of the disease and its ultimately lethal consequences.

It's at moments such as these that I wish I possessed the eloquence to offer some profound insight, or at least a modicum of inspiration. Sadly, the talent eludes me, but I welcome contributions from others and offer a reminder:


How did a few failed banks add up to a financial meltdown?

Nobel Prize winning economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman explains how a few failed banks caused an historic financial meltdown at a Zocalo Public Square lecture.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Can The Financial Markets Be Saved?

Saving the financial markets has been at the top of the agenda of the Bush administration for the past couple of months, with literally trillions of dollars in taxpayer guarantees being used to support beleaguered Wall Street. But for millions of Americans, the real problem is the plunge in the value of their homes, which represent their largest asset and have been used to supplement their incomes during years of declining wages.

The crisis facing homeowners is real, and according to McClatchy News:


Housing Is Bad Enough, But Wait - It'll Get Worse


By Kevin G. Hall

WASHINGTON — If you think the housing slump can't get much worse, Martin Feldstein thinks that both home prices and the broader economy can — and very likely will — get a whole lot worse.

The Harvard University professor and former chief economic adviser to Ronald Reagan isn't part of the crowd that continually forecasts doom. For two decades, he's headed the National Bureau of Economic Research, which officially determines when U.S. recessions begin and end.

So when he spoke on Monday night at the annual dinner of the National Economists Club, a gathering of like-minded wonks, Feldstein's grim calculations were noteworthy.

"There are now 12 million homes in the United States with a loan-to-value ratio greater than 100 percent. That's one mortgage in four. The aggregate amount of that is some $2 trillion," said Feldstein. "If you look at the median (midpoint) loan-to-value ratio in that 12 million group of underwater mortgages — mortgages with negative equity — the median loan-to-value ratio is 120 percent." ...continue reading

Inside the Transition: Melody Barnes

An introduction to Melody Barnes, President-elect Obama's Director-designate of the Domestic Policy Council:

Obama and Bush Working to Calm Volatile Market

From the New York Times:

Obama and Bush Working to Calm Volatile Market

CHICAGO — President-elect Barack Obama sought to seize the reins of the economic crisis Monday as he and his new economic team worked closely with President Bush to inject confidence into the trembling financial markets, which rallied and erased most of last week’s losses.

The coordination between Mr. Obama and Mr. Bush was taking place among aides, as well as in direct talks about the rescue plan for Citigroup and unresolved details of the overall Treasury bailout plan. The president said his successor would be informed of every “big decision” that was made, adding, “It’s important for the American people to know that there is close cooperation.”

To calm anxious markets, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury plan to announce a major lending program on Tuesday to jump-start frozen loan markets, administration officials said. The Treasury had signaled earlier this month that it was considering such an action for consumer loans, but the action to be announced will broaden the program to include business debt. ....continue reading


Proposition 8 Exposing Dissent Within Mormon Church

Not all Mormons are opposed to same-gender marriages, nor all they all homophobic. As this article in the Boston Globe illuminates, there is considerable dissent within the church over its public support for Proposition 8, which changed California's Constitution in order to prohibit same-gender marriages.

Gay-Marriage Debate Roils, Unites Mormons

This has been a stormy year for Mormons in the United States. First, there was the candidacy of Mitt Romney for president, which brought to the surface a deep strain of anti-Mormonism in American culture. Then, there was the raid on a group of schismatic polygamists in Texas, which reminded America of Mormonism's uncomfortable history. And now, there is a wave of protest, rolling across the country from west to east, in which some gay rights advocates have targeted Mormons because of their church's support for a successful California referendum to overturn same-sex marriage.

Ironically, the protests appear to be helping repair a rift within Mormonism caused by the election. The church's outspoken support for Proposition 8 exposed an unusual level of disagreement in the ordinarily harmonious Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Internet facilitated grass-roots organizing by the minority of Mormons who support same-sex marriage. But a smattering of anti-Mormon acts since Election Day - the burning of a Book of Mormon, a mailing of packets of white powder to Mormon sites, and some anti-Mormon invective expressed on signs and in sloganeering - has helped rally a denomination with a long history of persecution.

...continue reading


One group of Mormons, "Hotter Than Saints", while not openly taking a position on Proposition 8, has nevertheless earned the reprobation of church leaders for its homo-erotic calendar, "Men On A Mission", which features 12 shirtless young men offered as "12 Reasons To Believe In God". A video promoting the calendar is below.


Monday, November 24, 2008

The Mother Of All Bailouts!

Federal regulators have agreed to bailout Citigroup, one of the world's largest banking companies by infusing it with $20 billion in new capital and assuming the liability for $300 billion in risky loans, largely extended in the form of residential and commercial mortgages.

From the New York Times:

U.S. Approves Plan To Help Citigroup Weather Losses

By ERIC DASH

Federal regulators approved a radical plan to stabilize Citigroup in an arrangement in which the government could soak up billions of dollars in losses at the struggling bank, the government announced late Sunday night.

The complex plan calls for the government to back about $306 billion in loans and securities and directly invest about $20 billion in the company. The plan, emerging after a harrowing week in the financial markets, is the government’s third effort in three months to contain the deepening economic crisis and may set the precedent for other multibillion-dollar financial rescues.

Citigroup executives presented a plan to federal officials on Friday evening after a weeklong plunge in the company’s share price threatened to engulf other big banks. In tense, round-the-clock negotiations that stretched until almost midnight on Sunday, it became clear that the crisis of confidence had to be defused now or the financial markets could plunge further.

Whether this latest rescue plan will help calm the markets is uncertain, given the stress in the financial system caused by losses at Citigroup and other banks. Each previous government effort initially seemed to reassure investors, leading to optimism that the banking system had steadied. But those hopes faded as the economic outlook worsened, raising worries that more bank loans were turning sour. ...continue reading


Details of the plan can be found here.

Should Detroit Automakers Be Allowed To Fail?

There are many arguments in favor of allowing Detroit's "Big Three" automakers to fail, forcing them either into Chapter 11 (reorganiation) or Chapter 7 (liquidation) bankruptcy. No one can deny that GM, Ford and Chrysler have been environmentally irresponsible, promoting gas guzzling SUVs instead of investing in new, fuel efficient technologies so desired in today's market place driven by high gasoline prices.

Yet Detroit cannot be blamed for feeding America's fuel gluttony, anymore than McDonald's or Burger King can be held totally accountable for Americans' insatiable appetite for ever larger portions of unhealthy food. An American truism is that "bigger is better", whether it be cars, meals, homes, television screens, or the size of the local supermarket.

Nor can the United Auto Workers be held entirely to blame for the automakers' current financial straits. While it's true that union employee health benefits add an estimated $1,700 to the cost of each vehicle manufactured by the "Big Three", that's a cost imposed by our society's refusal to provide government funded, universal health care, a benefit enjoyed by workers in most other industrialized countries. Relieved of the cost of health care benefits, Detroits' automakers would earn roughly $900 per vehicle manufactured, as opposed to its current per vehicle loss of $800.

Former U.S. Senator and Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham makes a good case for saving Detroit in a column in today's New York Times:

For Detroit, Chapter 11 Would Be The Final Chapter

MANY commentators and members of Congress have declared that the best hope for the Big Three auto companies is to declare bankruptcy. Airlines have gone through bankruptcy and adjusted, after all, so why can’t carmakers?

This comparison is appealing, but flawed. Almost every carmaker that has ever gone bankrupt has disappeared for good. And there is no reason to believe the Big Three would not do the same. Chapter 11 filing would almost surely lead to liquidation.

Just as financial institutions depend on the confidence of those with whom they do business (as Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers discovered), automakers depend on the confidence of car buyers. To purchase a car is to make a multiyear commitment: the buyer must have confidence that the manufacturer will survive to provide parts and service under warranty. With a declaration of bankruptcy, that confidence evaporates. Eighty percent of consumers would not even consider buying a car or truck from a bankrupt manufacturer, one recent survey indicates. So once a bankruptcy proceeding got started, the company’s revenue would plummet, leading it to hemorrhage cash to cover its high fixed costs. ...continue reading




Detroit makes its own case in the following video:


Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Wal-Mart proves its patriotism

From the Boston Globe, via Arnie Arnesen, comes this incredibly reassuring story:

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has signed on to an Army Reserve program in which the company and the Army will work together to recruit and train people interested in serving in the military and working for the giant retailer. continue reading



This presents so many opportunities! With its vaunted purchasing power, Wal-Mart could save the Department of Defense billions by equipping and arming those reservists. Wal-Mart could contract with Chinese and Indian manufacturers for uniforms, weapons, ordinance, field equipment, and even GPS units and computers and other electronic devices which could then be dispensed to troops as they're called to duty. The cost savings would be phenomenal, not just because the goods would carry a much lower price than what the DOD normally pays through its "competitive" bidding process, but also because thousands of acres of storage facilities could be eliminated and the military would be on a more competitive, "JIT - Just In Time" procurement track.

Not only that, but Wal-Mart could serve as the nation's military recruitment centers, administering tests, physicals, and background checks to ensure that no one of questionable moral or political character somehow found their way into the ranks of the military or in the aisles of their stores. It would reinforce America's confidence in Wal-Mart's commitment to "America".

Imagine, too, how safe Americans will feel shopping in Wal-Mart when its employees are all heavily armed and properly vetted, and know how to respond in case of a Chemical, Biological or Radiological Attack! Terrorists wouldn't dare venture anywhere near a Wal-Mart store, assuring Americans that they can fulfill their patriotic duty to shop.

So many possibilities, so little time to consider them all. I really must put my "snark" device on overdrive.


Sunday, November 2, 2008

The Socialists Are Coming -- And They Are Us

WARNING! WARNING! THE SOCIALISTS ARE COMING! BARACK OBAMA WANTS TO SPREAD THE WEALTH!

Of all the scare tactics employed in this election season, this latest gambit by the McCain-Palin ticket is among the most ludicrous, and would be amusing if it were not for the seriousness with which some people are fearing Armageddon.

Come on, people. Sharing the wealth has always been an American tradition. Sometimes it’s achieved through the largesse of individuals. On other occasions religious and charitable organizations undertake the task of distributing generous donations collected from individuals and businesses. And frequently, we rely upon government to assist us in spreading around the wealth.

Nor is our socialization limited to sharing the wealth. We’re also a nation given to sharing risk and to collectively carrying the burden of catastrophe or disaster. That’s a major part of what defines us as a civilization.

In a little over a month our community will unite behind one of the most incredible annual acts of generosity in which each of us takes pride - the Annual WLNH Children’s Auction. Literally hundreds of local residents volunteer their time, energy and money to this charitable endeavor, and hundreds more anxiously await the opportunity to bid on items they don’t necessarily want or need, frequently donating them back for resale, or providing them for use by other charitable organizations and groups.

This year each of us will be asked once again to pay a share of our income to support the County Nursing home, committed to ensuring our elderly a safe, secure and healthy life no matter their economic or familial circumstances. I’ve not met anyone who believes we should turn these people out on the streets to fend for themselves.

Each month thousands of seniors in the Lakes Region rely upon a check arriving in the mail from Social Security. Get the name? Social Security? It’s socialism, my friends. We’re all asked to contribute a portion of our income to ascertain that seniors and the disabled are not abandoned to poverty. All of us contribute during our working years to support those generations that came before us, and we expect that ensuing generations will continue that tradition.

And what is Medicare but socialized medicine? Again, we all contribute to the pot because we don’t believe being old should mean being denied health care services that are beyond one’s ability to pay.

Let’s look at insurance. All insurance. The purpose of insurance is to share the risk and the costs. It’s a socialization of risk. I’ve driven an automobile for over forty years, dutifully paying my insurance premiums which have amounted to tens of thousands of dollars. Yet the only claim I’ve ever filed cost the carrier $450 and that was in 1970. Nevertheless, I still regard insurance as an important expenditure.

Rarely does a day pass when I don’t traverse at least a segment of our streets and roadways, crossing bridges, passing beneath viaducts, all on a complex network built by shared contributions.

When I awaken in the morning the first thing I do is flip on the kitchen light and brew a pot of coffee, trusting that electricity will flow into my home unless some dastardly storm or errant vehicle has somehow interrupted the transmission system. Like you, I share in the cost of supporting the nation’s electrical grid, aware that it’s highly unlikely that I’d be able to generate my individual energy needs without incurring monumental expenses.

Within minutes of pouring my first cup of coffee I’m greeted by the outdoor sounds of children heading off to school, another collective cost that we share. Yes, our schools are expensive, consuming a large slice of our local tax dollars, yet few of us fail to recognize that public education is a necessary and valuable investment, providing lifetime rewards.

Over the past five years New Hampshire has sacrificed 23 lives in Iraq and another five in Afghanistan. Laconia residents have contributed in excess of $30 million to the costs of the wars. It’s a collective burden, borne most heavily by those families who’ve lost loved ones, yet apportioned to all of us.

Barack Obama has come to the conclusion that too much of the shared burden has fallen upon the middle class, and that for eight years the Bush administration has shifted much of the onus onto future generations, compiling nearly $5 trillion in debt that will be a millstone around the necks of our children and grandchildren. That kind of irresponsibility must stop.

We face serious and expensive problems, from two wars to crumbling infrastructure, and from energy dependence to a financial meltdown. Fixing these problems is going to be costly and necessary. And it can’t be done by bankrupting the middle class.

So yes, the wealthiest among us are going to have to pay a bit more. That’s the American way. We’re all in this together, sharing the same ship of state. It’s time to set aside the petty bickering and senseless name calling and recognize that each of us has a responsibility for our nation’s future. And if John McCain is so opposed to sharing burdens perhaps he should give up his government funded health insurance and disability pension. After all, he and his wife are worth an estimated $150 million.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

The Amazingly Deceitful Jeb Bradley

By Susan Bruce

By far and away, the most amazing deceit in yesterday’s AARP debate (And Jeb gave us plenty to choose from) was his "stance" on Social Security. First, he told us that he opposed Bush's plan to privatize Social Security. Then in a follow-up question, asked very clearly to learn if he was sincere, he was asked if he supported “carve out” measures. Carve out means diverting some Social Security funds to private accounts. To that, Jeb said that all options had to be on the table, and we needed a bipartisan get together to figure it out. So - within a ten-minute span, he was against privatizing...and then it was an option on the table. I was stunned - and I've heard Jeb Bradley speak more times than I can remember.

During the debate, Jeb said numerous times that Carol had cast the deciding vote on taking the August vacation. Carol pointed out early on that those ads were run in the district of every freshman Congressman - so in other states, a different person cast the deciding vote. Carol finally asked him if he knew that those ads were run in other states with other names, and he weaseled out of it by saying "well you voted for it, so you were part of the deciding."

It was clear from the beginning of the debate that Carol had voted twice against the bailout bill, yet Jeb continued to claim all the way to the end that Carol voted with her party 100% of the time. She listed votes (including FISA) when she went against the leadership, but he continued repeating it. The Republicans sitting in front of me were snickering at his obvious lies toward the end of the debate.

On Medicare Part D, Jeb said he is proud that he voted for it, and spoke about what a great thing it was for seniors. He failed to mention the donut hole, and how great that is. Carol said that seniors certainly needed a prescription drug benefit, but she didn't favor giving the drug companies a bigger benefit than seniors. She pointed out that the bill specifically forbid negotiating for lower prices, the way the VA is able to, which has led to huge increases in some drug prices.

Carol emphasized that the 2006 Congress was stuck trying to clean up the mess Jeb and the previous Congresses left behind. Jeb tried to blame rising unemployment, energy costs, the financial problems etc. on Carol and the last 2 years. I don't think that people bought that. Folks are smart enough to know that we didn't get here in less than 2 years.

Jeb continued to try to blame Carol for nebulous tax increases that he seemed to be inventing as he spoke. For all of Jeb's talk about the need to work together in a bi-partisan way, he certainly wasn't leading by example.
Jeb closed by saying that supporting the middle class doesn't mean supporting a government run health care system. He also said, "I'm glad we could have a friendly debate. You all know me, and you know what I've done - like keeping the Shipyard open." At that point, a group in the back of the room laughed at him.

Jeb has learned nothing in 2 years. He didn't even have a handful of people doing visibility when I got there. He got stuck in talking points, just like 2006, where people in the audience snickered at him. The only difference between 2006 and 2008 is that Jeb has adopted the kind of meanness that John McCain has brought to the Republican Party. He was snide, he told obvious lies, and he was visibly mean spirited. It wasn't pretty. I'm embarrassed for Jeb, who at least came across as a decent guy in 2006. Carol has it right; he said he'd do anything to win. Sadly he's begun to prove it.


Friday, October 10, 2008

McCain's supporters reveal the dark underside of humanity

Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin are dangerous. They've moved beyond being mere liars and crooks to stoking violence and fascism.

In viewing this video I was immediately reminded of film clips I've seen of Hitler's Brown Shirts. McCain is intentionally appealing to peoples' most base fears and prejudices, inciting hatred and creating an incendiary atmosphere that borders on treasonous.

One can only hope that wiser heads in the Republican Party exert pressure on McCain to halt his destructive campaign before it erupts into tragedy. Otherwise, all Republicans will be held responsible for the acts and behavior of these frightened people fueled by the inflammatory rhetoric of the leaders of their party.




Send a link to this to your family, friends and neighbors, whether they be Democrats, Republicans or Independents. We must stop McCain's and Palin's assault on civility and the rule of law and encouragement of a mob mentality.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The American Insult

By Lynn Lagasse

While the focus of attention, debate and criticism continues to center primarily around Sarah Palin, the real issue remains obscure and less tangible to many voters, that being John McCain’s selection of a Vice-Presidential running mate. His motivations stridently defended are a thinly veiled disguise for political grandstanding intended to bolster up a floundering campaign.

Palin’s nomination while pandering to the base, targeted disaffected Hillary supporters yearning for a woman on the ticket and a means to defuse the groundswell of criticism and suspicions of elitism over the discovery of McCain’s eleven or so houses. (Really, after the first five or six does it really matter how many he has?) In this ill advised, unprepared and inappropriate choice, John McCain has dealt the American electorate the ultimate insult and in doing so has revealed his true colors. Motivated whole-heartedly by self-promotion and personal aspirations, John McCain chose marketing over substance, selling out his party, his constituents, his supporters and the American people, not to mention Sarah Palin herself, who is in way over her head but too afraid to blink.

As a campaign strategy, Sarah Palin’s obvious appeal is her astounding success story juxstaposed on a backdrop of “everyman” credentials complete with small town upbringing, beauty queen good looks, working-class lifestyle and family values. When this well woven storyline began unraveling over a daughter’s teen pregnancy and a quarter million dollar annual income the campaign managed to diffuse attention from these facts, by shifting greater focus to Ms. Palin’s maverick credentials, feisty attitude and tomboyish appeal as an avid hunter and outdoors enthusiast. While her well documented hunting exploits are especially appealing to sportsmen, I do not personally know a single hunter whose experience includes hunting from an airplane, helicopter or any other aerial device short of a tree stand, which most real hunters find far too exotic and elitist.

Sarah Palin’s role is more spokes-model for the McCain campaign, providing the perfect vehicle for connecting with average folks by delivering up a brand of plain speak and homespun zingers that John McCain could not possibly pull off. As a matter of fact, Sarah Palin barely gets away with it but she seems to combine all the right qualities of base appeal, gutsy feminism and “uncut gem in the rough” to turn out crowds of so-called supporters but I wonder how many are really supporters or just curiosity seekers.

Hell, I’d be tempted to attend a rally if she came to town just for the sheer novelty of seeing her in person. Chances are I probably wouldn’t find the marketing of Sarah Palin as deeply offending if there were a substantive, informed, prepared Vice-Presidential nominee behind the façade or if she were not so “in your face” with the sassy, girl-next-door, plain speak which I am positive has been coached to grating perfection on the Straight Talk Express.

The last time I heard the expression “Golly-gee,” was on a rerun of the Andy Griffith Show or Gomer Pyle and I can honestly say, I’ve never heard those words used in real life until they came out of Sarah Palin’s mouth. The gosh darnit, geewiz, down-home, back-slappin’, “gettin’ folksy with ya’ll” routine was already wearing thin on me when the final blow was delivered.

An apparent attempt to connect with us common folk down here on Main street, at the kitchen table or wherever else we ordinary people are storied to be found, the McCain campaign has come up with catchy nicknames for the American electorate which Sarah Palin used in addressing us during last week’s debate when she said, “for all you Hockey-Moms and Joe Six-Packs”. My blood immediately began to boil not because of the words used per-se, but because their meaning disclosed the darkest of truths about the McCain campaign. In those words a revelation of how John McCain and the Republican Party view the average American citizen became crystal clear.

These one-dimensional, unsophisticated, over-simplified characterizations describe who the McCain campaign thinks they are speaking to when they ask for your vote. To anyone who remains undecided I say, John McCain does not deserve your respect for his politics, your consideration for his candidacy and least of all your vote for our country’s highest office.

As a registered Independent for 30 years, I voted for John McCain in the 2000 primaries, considering him a man of principles, representing higher ideals in government and non-partisan politics. Admittedly a liberal leaning voter, I enthusiastically became a registered Democrat two years ago and now have absolutely no regrets, remorse or second thoughts about not supporting John McCain. How could anyone support a candidate who would trade our future, our security and our country’s best interests for personal gain, ego and self-promotion? John McCain is an insult to the intelligence of a nation and the dignity of its people.

My support and my vote goes to the candidate that respects the American voter and respects us enough to be honest, clear and straight forward about our circumstances and the difficult choices and sacrifices we will all have to make in the days ahead. The “Dumbing Down” of America encouraged and exploited by the current administration tells us that “The world is a scary place, we should fear evil doers and terrorists who would harm us - but not to worry, go about our business, live our normal lives, don’t be concerned with the war, the economy – they’ll take care of everything”.

Great leaders instead are straight with people, inspire people, ask people to participate in the solution, enabling everyone to be part of the process. I believe that Barack Obama is one of those great leaders who possess the qualities that inspire, unite and build up. In that, there is only one choice for us to make at a time where change in leadership is so desperately needed and only one candidate that can deliver on that tall order – our Democratic Presidential Nominee, Barack Obama.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Making A Choice

I’ve heard from many people commenting on how nasty and negative the Shaheen-Sununu race has become, and I concur that it's really despicable. You'd think both of these candidates are evil incarnate. Allow me to offer my opinion.

John Sununu is a decent man who simply is on the wrong side of the issues. He favors big business, has a long record of opposing corporate and financial regulation, and has consistently voted against legislation that would benefit working families, from an increase in minimum wage to an expansion of health care coverage. He's been unwavering in his support of George Bush, including Bush's horrific foreign policy and his devastating fiscal irresponsibility that has buried us in an oppressive $10 trillion debt. John simply does not reflect New Hampshire's values.

Jeanne Shaheen performed admirably as governor for three terms, working with Democrats and Republicans alike. She's a moderate voice in a nation and a state where too often the extremists are most vocal. I disagree with Jeanne on capital punishment, and I believe she missed an opportunity to change New Hampshire's unfair system of taxation that places an extreme burden on working families. But I also know that she embraces New Hampshire's values, from protecting the environment to expanding access to affordable healthcare, and from improving our children's educational opportunities to strengthening the Granite State's economy. She brings an incredible amount of common sense to the table, and offers a breadth of experience that will prove invaluable to New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate.

Let's not lose sight of the fact that all of our major candidates are decent people and do not deserve the abuse being heaped upon them. This even includes John McCain, for whom I’ve lost nearly all respect since he launched his campaign of lies and distortions, and abandoned all principles of integrity. While today he is but a hollow shell of the John McCain who earned the admiration of millions, one cannot discount his past contributions to his country, nor question his patriotism no matter how misguided he may be today.

I truly hope that voters will not be swayed by the extreme messages with which they’re incessantly being bombarded and will instead choose a candidate based upon his or her positions on the issues.

We are today confronted by serious challenges, from a crumbling financial system and a plunging economy, to global terrorism and two mismanaged wars. We’re being held hostage by our reliance upon foreign oil, and we’re despoiling our environment by neglecting the need for serious investment in alternative sources of energy.

Our infrastructure is crumbling, our health care system is in crisis, and our system of public education is in peril. Gratefully, New Hampshire and the nation are equipped to confront these challenges, possessing the resiliency and the creativity needed as we move forward.

What is clear is that we cannot afford to continue along the course we’ve been following for the past eight years. We cannot endure another decade of war and neglect or of allowing unbridled greed to sap the underlying strength of our economy and put at risk our savings, investments, pensions, and even the value of our homes.

Our state and our nation are at a precipice. How we vote this year will determine whether we plunge into an abyss of despair or leap to new heights of achievement. A vote for Republicans is a vote to “stay the course” - to continue on the path we’ve been following.

By contrast, a vote for Democrats will ensure a change of course. That doesn’t mean it will be an easy ride, nor that every trail embarked upon will lead to success. But what it does mean is that we’ll be free to explore new avenues, to navigate the future with confidence in our potential rather than retreating into the paralysis of fear.

When choosing a candidate this year the first question you should ask yourself is that posed by Ronald Reagan in 1980 - “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” The second question you should ask is “Is the country better off than it was eight years ago?”

If you can answer yes to both of those questions, you should vote Republican. Otherwise, the decision is clear.


Friday, September 19, 2008

Media Announces Bailout Of McCain Campaign

WASHINGTON, DC -- Acting to avert a possible crisis in the U.S. presidential election, the media today announced a bailout of Sen John McCain's (R-AZ) campaign. Cable news commentators scrambled to prop up the Senator's sagging poll numbers Friday as the fast-disappearing dream of a nail-biting horse-race threatened to bring down America's entire punditry system.

A senior CNN political analyst speaking on condition of anonymity said that the collapse of McCain's campaign could prove disastrous to the pundit industry. "A horse-race is vital to our bottom line," he said. "Without neck-and-neck poll numbers we can't maintain an air of suspense right up to election day, and our ratings will suffer. I could be out of a job by this time next week."

....continue reading

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Do We Want An Actual, Ordinary American In The White House?

By Joanne Rosenfeld

Last Friday, Senator McCain picked Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate in the presidential election. Though I like to avoid voicing political or even moderately serious thoughts of mine, I simply can't help but react to this latest McCain blunder. About a month ago, Palin said she wasn't ready to discuss being VP because she didn't know what the VP did; moreover, she wanted to stay in her more "busy" and "active" job as Governor of Alaska. It's certainly saying something that she thinks being second in line to become Commander in Chief is a smaller, less-productive role than being governor of less than 700,000 constituents.

Governor Sarah Palin's resume includes two terms on City Council and two terms as Mayor of Wasilla, a town with a population of 8,500. This means that anyone who's been president of a mid-sized university for that length of time has as much experience as she does. She's currently only two years into her first term as Governor of Alaska, which by the way has a population of 670,000, or just over half the population of that sprawling land mass, Rhode Island. But thanks to the erudite leadership of John McCain, a person who's never been voted for by more than 120,000 people and has never worked in national politics, is now a potential leader of the free world.

Governor Palin is married to her high school sweetheart, who happens to be a competitive snowmobiler. I don't know what that is, but apparently it is in line with the activities of "ordinary" Americans. She has five children, the youngest of which is named Trig, like trigger, as in gun (!!). Sarah is applauded for having had Trig even though she and her husband were well aware he had Down Syndrome a few months into the pregnancy. That is not only a sacred and personal decision, it is one that takes both courage and resilience as a parent, and I do applaud her conviction in her beliefs. You see, when you have the freedom to choose, you get to display conviction to your own beliefs, not just the ones McCain/Palin would like to legislate.

A small part of me rejoices in this, the latest in a series of misguided campaign decisions, because now, I am certain, McCain will not be elected. No one can say in seriousness that Sarah Palin is ready to lead a nation (some are saying it out of a habit of making hypocritical statements, but that's a whole 'nother issue). Despite a strengthened belief in an Obama/Biden victory this November, however, I am still plagued by the worry of what-if.

What if McCain wins? Sure the idea of a woman in the White House is exciting on face value alone, but this particular woman will likely prove to be an incapable vice president for a number of reasons, chief among which is her startling lack of experience. When she does so, which she will, she risks hurting the cause of so many other aspiring female candidates in the years to come. If Kennedy hadn't been such a salient and capable president, no one would point to him as a shining example of religious difference in the Oval Office, thus encouraging the political careers of the many well-qualified Catholic, Jewish, etc. men and women who followed his groundbreaking presidency. And if Sarah Palin flops as she surely will do, she will become an all-too-visible and simply unrepresentative example of the kind of bumbling misdirection a woman will bring to the White House. I can just hear it now: "Don't bring any more in. Remember that Sarah Palin chick? What a mistake that was."

Considering the average life expectancy of an American male is 77 years old, it would simply be imprudent to ignore the possibility that 72-year-old will not make it thorough 4 years in the White House. What then? One would think McCain would make an extra effort to assuage such fears and concerns related to his age and health with his VP pick. I certainly assumed he would choose a person with a resume that rivals his own; someone whose years of experience on the national and even international level could prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he/she was ready to lead the second "VP" turned to "P". Instead, he picked Sarah Palin. We want a president who is in touch with ordinary Americans, sure, but do we really want an actual, ordinary American in the White House? We seriously, seriously do not.

The greatest problem that I have with McCain's VP pick is that, once again, his decision has proven how misguided and illogical he is as a leader. Every move he has made in this campaign has been motivated by a follower's mentality: What do the voters want to hear? How do I get them to like me? What will make them like me more? A true leader works to change minds, inspire others, and move forward with an agenda he or she believes in and remains loyal to. Instead, McCain has become almost cartoonishly desperate for approval and support, lowering his standards, which should be presidential to the level of TMZ and perezhilton.com. This time, instead of carefully selecting a viable vice presidential candidate, he jumped a bandwagon that wasn't wound up with a soccer mom.

No one doubts this was a political decision; this is, after all, politics. But if McCain is after the women's vote, or more particularly, the vote of hardheaded Clinton supporters, he would have done better to align himself with someone who is not her ideological opposite. Women are not going to go after anything with boobs that moves like a drunk in a dive bar, and it is frankly both disturbing and insulting that McCain thinks otherwise.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

We Deserve A George W. Bush Holiday

By Steven Borne

I propose creating a George W. Bush Day — a national holiday, the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend to be the new national election day, instead of the first Tuesday in November.

This day will become a day of remembrance — a chance to avoid repeating the historic national mistakes of the past eight years. Our past generations have enabled our great nation to be divided, the balance of governmental power distorted, our national identity betrayed and our economy crushed by debt and irrational economic policies. We are now obligated to right our nation and help make America, America again.

The economy can certainly absorb the influx of holiday shopping and more people will be home to vote or know sufficiently in advance to request absentee ballots. Holiday-focused shows, events, classroom content, sales promotions, etc., can all help drive educated participation and motivate the population to be more informed of the candidates and positions. We can build a national message that leverages our past mistakes (from both parties) to enforce the importance of education, participation and the role of the populace to mandate responsible, effective government.

This new holiday will encourage our schools and media to educate and emphasize the responsibilities of the electorate to maintain the health of our democracy. With all due respect to exceptional educators, the national evidence of the past eight years proves that our educational and media system has failed our democracy. There is no better learning example of what can go wrong than the George W. Bush administration and how we failed to prevent its actions. As we re-educate our nation, imagine the potential quiz questions.

n Of these six acts by the Bush administration, which one is actually permissible under the Constitution?

n True or false, Vice President Dick Cheney controlled and determined more executive and policy decisions than President Bush?

n What is the estimated level of global competitiveness America forfeited that is directly attributed to the No Child Left Behind program?

n Extra credit essay: Defend either statement using at least five reference points — "In presenting the justification for invading Iraq, the Bush administration was a) incompetent or b) intentionally lied to the nation?

We face a long, hard uphill climb. Only by acknowledging our collective failure and recognizing how national apathy enables single-minded individuals to manipulate a nation, can we begin to heal our nation and to rebuild our economic and national strength. George W. Bush Day, will stress the patriotic duty of every American to fight through the propaganda, misinformation, irrational logic, bias news sources and then to question everything by participating in the debate and discussion required for a healthy and evolving democracy.

Communism taught in school shows how intelligent and educated people accepted the misguided logic and rational of a communist government and how most chose to follow, rather than question or fight back. We learned how the mass majority in these countries were driven into a rut by the ruling powers and were incapable of climbing out. We had always assumed that America was immune to this type of behavior. Well, America has proven that we too, can be led into a national rut. America needs to acknowledge and constantly remind ourselves what happened during the George W. Bush administration. The many manipulative acts of this administration must never be forgotten. We can never ignore how the conservative faction took a large lever labeled "faith" and drove it deep into the nation where it touched enough of the populace so too many of us aligned behind the calculated power grab. Then the national outrage from the 9/11 attacks was leveraged to accelerate our democratic demise as more citizens were driven into a deeper national rut, executive power expanded, and the conservative agenda enacted.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Sarah Palin's Leadership Promise


Not enough attention has been paid to John McCain's rationale behind the choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate. Clearly he envisions an important leadership role for the athletic young frontierswoman whose vivacious energy adds spark and vigor to his lethargic leadership.

Friday, August 29, 2008

American Democracy Is In Danger

To the Editor:

This is a response to a letter written by Mr. Jack Stephenson of Gilford on 8/18/08.

Mr. Stephenson, your use of the word "negro" denotes that you still see color when you look into the heart of a man. We differ. In Barack Obama, I see light, hope, and inspiration. I see a man who has devoted his life to working for the middle class, a bright Constitutional attorney, a fellow American determined to remedy the sorry condition of our country. I admire him. The future of our country as a peaceful, respected, and prosperous nation rests with him, as does the job, health, financial and old-age security of the vast majority of Americans.

You make reference to a desire for a fair election. I welcome fair elections. I suspect all Americans demand fair elections, because, as we all know, legitimate, open, honest elections go to the heart of democracy, and democracy is the gateway to everything else.

But America has a disgusting history of unfair elections ... rigged elections in 2000 and 2004, which changed the course of world history. Election fraud '08 is already in progress. Yes, the shameful scheming used in Florida in 2000 to purge legitimate voters, mostly blacks, and mostly Democrats, has now spread to the swing states: Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and, once again ... Florida. 19.4 percent of Colorado voters have been purged; 600,000 voters in Ohio purged.

Voters in thirty (30) states this November will vote on electronic voting machines bearing no paper receipt or ballot; thus, no recount is possible. Including New Hampshire's optical-scan machines, more than 85 percent of the total votes cast in November will be cast on electronic voting machines, all of which are programmed in complete secret by corporate vendors. No one is allowed to know how these machines are programmed - not you, not me, not the Secretary of State, and this secrecy is protected by state and federal law. Would it alarm you to know that our privatized elections system could soon be controlled by Allied Technologies, the 7th largest military defense contractor? If you share my concerns for fair elections, here's where you need to start: www.gregpalast.com

It's never been more important for all Americans to unite, to think independently of 30-second attack ads, to reject the hate and fear mongering which has so divided our nation, and to demand from our elected officials meaningful election reform. The great experiment in representative democracy is squarely in harm's way.

Bob Perry, State Representative, Dist. 3
Committee of Election Law
Vice-Chair, Electronic Voting Machine Subcommittee

Monday, August 25, 2008

Don't Know Much

This is another great ad from the Obama campaign set to the music of the legendary Sam Cooke. What I find especially powerful is the use for a full five seconds of the photo of McCain hugging Bush. It's awesome!

Watch, Digg it, make it viral!



For A Vet, McCain's Record Sorely Lacking

By Seth Lovell

On July 7, at a town hall meeting in Denver, a Vietnam veteran confronted John McCain about his support of veterans' issues.

"I have a perfect voting record from organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and all the other veterans service organizations," responded McCain.

Although this sounds good, it is inaccurate and misleading. The VFW and American Legion do not compile congressional voting records, and other veterans' organizations that do compile records aren't favorable.

Disabled American Veterans is an organization that was founded following World War I, and today has 1.4 million members.

It not only tracks this legislation, but tracks how politicians vote. John McCain is documented as having voted with DAV-supported legislation 34 percent of the time. Barack Obama has voted with the DAV 89 percent of the time.

Another organization that tracks legislation important to veterans is Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the first and largest organization dedicated to those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

IAVA is only concerned with bettering the lives of returning veterans, and advocating for their rights. Its records show McCain voting with IAVA 58 percent of the time, and receiving a "D" rating. Obama voted with IAVA 89 percent of the time, receiving a "B-plus" rating.

If the overall records do not speak for themselves the specific examples will. In April 2003 McCain urged Senate members to table a vote that would appropriate more than $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve Equipment in Iraq. In October of 2003 once again McCain voted to table a bill that called for an additional $322 million for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq.

On issues relating to veterans' health care McCain's record is even worse. Since 2004 McCain has voted twice against closing corporate tax loopholes to help fund healthcare for veterans. In March 2004 Senator McCain voted against an amendment that would have created a $1.8 billion reserve fund to increase Veteran's medical care.

Again in March 2006 McCain voted against an amendment to close corporate tax loopholes in order to increase veterans' medical services funding by $1.5 billion. In April 2006 McCain joined only 13 other senators in voting against an amendment to increase funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs for outpatient care and treatment of veterans. This amendment provided a paltry $430 million compared to the billions of dollars being spent each week in Iraq, yet McCain opted to vote against it.

His neglect of veterans goes on and on. Most recently in May of 2008 McCain spoke out against the updated GI Bill being sponsored by Virginia Sen. Jim Webb.

On the day of the vote McCain was not present, a convenient way to avoid criticism over his promised oppositional vote. The biggest injustice to those who worked so hard to make this bill a reality came when President Bush praised McCain for his work on this legislation.

Every American should appreciate and honor the service that Sen. McCain gave to our country during Vietnam. There is no doubt John McCain supports the war in Iraq.

It doesn't mean he supports the veterans who served.

Seth Lovell is a veteran of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is pursuing his master at James Madison University. E-mail him at stlovell@comcast.net.

(Note: This column was first published on August 24, 2008 by The News Leader of Staunton, Virginia)

Thursday, August 21, 2008

He May Be Skinny, But He's Tough!

For weeks many Democrats have been lamenting the fact that Obama has not been forceful enough in attacking McCain - that his commitment to running on issues rather than stooping to personal attacks was going to cost him the election.

Those critics might want to rethink their position.

Today he launched a new ad that goes to the heart of why McCain is out of touch with the needs and desires of average Americans. View it below:



Throughout the campaign I've heard Barack say "I might be skinny, but I'm tough." Anyone who doubts it is in for a shock. This latest ad is but one of many produced by the campaign over the past week that slam McCain for his positions on issues.

Another of my favorites points to McCain's history of being associated with some of the most corrupt political operatives in Washington.



As we head toward the Convention and beyond, I feel confident that Barack Obama will successfully control the message and turn attention to the real needs of America's workers and families.

Try Harder Next Time Jack, You Don't Write Like A Democrat

To the Editor,

I read Jack Stephenson's recent letter with great interest, but I confess, I'm having a hard time understanding why he's pretending to be a Democrat.

If he really were a supporter of Senator Hillary Clinton, he'd be supporting Senator Obama, since that's what she asked her supporters to do.

It seems far more likely that Mr. Stephenson is trying, not too cleverly, to create division and dissent within the ranks of Democrats.

Mr. Stephenson, I think you're confused about some of the issues you mentioned. I've seen Senator Obama speak in public, with nary a "cue card" in sight. He wasn't using the 21st century version of the cue card, the Teleprompter, either. It's actually Senator McCain who relies on notes and Teleprompters.

When McCain spoke in front of the great wall of cheese last month, he needed to look at his notes in order to find out the price of a gallon of milk! I guess we can't expect a guy who has a private jet, 8 homes, $100 million, and wears $500 loafers to remember silly things like the cost of milk. After all, it's not as if he ever has to shop, like the rest of us do.

As for energy, Senator Obama is, regrettably, in favor of nuclear power. Fox News keeps saying he is anti-nuke, which is probably why you're so woefully uninformed. Nuclear power is NOT a cheap, or a clean energy source, which explains why no nuclear plants are being built. Uranium (a finite resource) mining requires huge outputs of energy and water. The radioactive tailings left behind are quite dangerous, and seldom cleaned up. Most uranium mining in the US takes place on Indian reservations, where mining companies destroy the land and water, and leave the mess behind.

Given your rather racist commentary about "negros", I'm suspecting you don't care too much about the polluting of Indian lands. I'm not sure who the "successful USA negros" you mention are, but one thing is certain, I bet they'd appreciate it if you at least spelled the plural term for negro correctly. It's Negroes, Mr. Stephenson, a term that hasn't seen popular usage since 1962. You need to update your vocabulary.

I am shocked to hear that you're concerned about having a "Hollywood style" president, since I'd bet my life's savings that you voted for Ronald Reagan.

Try harder next time, Jack. You don't write like a Democrat.

Susan Bruce
Jackson

People With Common Sense Will See Stephenson's Letter For What It Is

To the editor,

This is in response to a recent letter concerning Barack Obama, that states "some of us thought that he was the same as most USA negros,"

1. Do you realize computers have spell check and the word "negros" is misspelled. The proper spelling is Negroes. This is a term long in disuse, by the way, and that statement also shows how bigoted you are. To state that "anyone" is the same as "all" black people, white people, Asian people, is denying that anyone can be an individual or different than all in their ethnic group. You cannot clump everyone into one group.

2. You also misrepresent his position on the issues we are all concerned with. Do you believe all the ads you see on TV against him?

3. You insinuate that Obama has stolen the title of "world's best liar" from Clinton. I assume you mean Bill Clinton for you go on to say everyone should try to elect Hillary Clinton in order to have a fair election.

I firmly believe that people who read the letters to the editor and read the newspapers have enough knowledge and common sense to see that letter for what it was/is.

Elaine Seibel
Hill

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Living Under A Rock

To the editor,

Clearly, Mr Stephenson has been living under a rock for years. I suggest he crawl back under it and keep his racist, small minded, uninformed views to himself. He is spreading hate and he is spreading lies.

Betsey Phillips
Franconia

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Stop Playing at Being Outraged

To the editor,

I am responding to a letter-to-the-editor by Mr. Jack Stephenson (below).I am not sure where Mr. Stephenson is getting his information about Barack Obama and his position on various issues. The Obama Energy plan, for example, includes:

1. more renewable (solar, wind, and geothermal) research and use
2. crackdown on oil speculation
3. energy rebate to American families
4. increase automobile fuel economy standards
5. use-or-loose it for existing oil & gas exploration leases
6. develop & deploy clean coal technology
7. create millions of clean & green jobs
8. reduce greenhouse gas emissions with an industry-wide cap-and-trade program

A full summary of the Obama plan can be found at Barack Obama.com.

Senator Obama has been consistently against the illegal, immoral, and unnecessary war in Iraq throughout his public career. He has not vacillated on this issue. He, as well as, Mr. McCain have adjusted their stance on many issues, as facts change. After all, it was not long ago that McCain was categorically against off-shore oil drilling. I could go on refuting each of Mr. Stepehnson's fallacious assertions about Barack Obama, but we there would not be enough room to print them.

What might the real reason be for Mr. Stephenson's tirade against Senator Obama? I believe Mr. Stephenson is really a conservative McCain supporter playing at being an outraged Hillary fan. We all see through your shannigans, Mr. Stephenson. We know Barack Obama is an educated 'African-American' and the best candidate running. He will be our next President.

Ray Iannuzzelli
Amherst

Mr. Stephenson Hasn't Been Listening

To the editors,

I really must respond to Jack Stephenson's letter of August 19th. First, Obama has proved, by standing tow-to-tow with Hillary through 20 some debates how well he thinks on his feet. She was great - a good person, a good policy wonk and a good candidate - but the "new kid" stayed with the experienced pro in every way.

Second, readers should get their information on Obama's policy positions from Obama, not Mr. Stephenson or the McCain talking points. Obama does not oppose nuclear, but is cautious, and is out front in his support for wind and solar. And forget that tired tax increase rhetoric unless you're talking about the top 1% who got all the benefit from the Bush tax cuts.

But when Mr. Stephenson goes on about "USA negros" and "WAR" his letter just gets too mixed up and flailing to even try to follow. If Mr. Stephenson thinks Barack Obama lacks substance and his positions lack logic, he just hasn't been listening. Go to his website and catch up.

Anyone still talking about nominating Hillary is actually working for John McCain, the only guy reading from note cards.

Bill Duncan
New Castle

Thank You Mr. Stephenson For Reminding Me of How Lucky I Am To Be An American

To the editors,

I know that most read Mr. Stephenson's letter of the other day and dismissed him as an oddball or was offended by his inappropriate language.

For me, I want to thank him for it. It gave me the perfect opportunity to reflect on why I chose to be in public life. There is nothing about my life story that is special but it does remind me how alive the American Dream is today.

When I was three, because my Dad was looking for work, my young parents and I packed up and left New Hampshire for Detroit, Michigan We happened to find an apartment in an area where my school, my church and my neighborhood were all integrated. Skin color meant nothing to me in nursery school, kindegarten, first grade, the playground or in Sunday school.

We returned the summer of 1966 and in second grade I learned of Abe Lincoln, slavery and the Civil War. I was stunned and horrified to learn that my former friends' great grandparents were slaves. Lincoln's childhood of poverty, commitment to justice and willingness to put his values into action inspired me to find a way to make a difference too. In the next election, just months after the assassination of Dr. King and Sen. Kennedy, I organized my friends to help with Democratic candidates and I haven't stopped since.

This week I, just a kid from a poor family without any ties to power or wealth, will travel to Denver, Colorado to lead New Hampshire's delegation to the 2008 Democratic National Convention where, forty five years to the exact date of Dr. King's "I have a Dream" speech, Senator Barack Obama will be nominated to be the next president of the United States.

Forty five years ago when Dr. King said "let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire" little did he know that a little boy of a Kansan mother and Kenyan dad would grow up and mark his historic anniversary with such a significant history making occurrence. Nor did he know of the young poor kid from NH who would grow up to join 80,000 other proud Americans to witness the event or the estimated billion across the planet witness his dream come true.

When Dr. King dreamed of a day where people were judged by the content of their character not the color of their skin. He was dreaming of 2008 America. Dr. King's Dream is truly the American Dream. A dream for all Americans and for all members of the human race.

I am sure Mr. Stephenson wanted to inspire animosity and divide but for me, he reminded me of how lucky, and how proud I am to be an American. Let freedom ring indeed.

Sincerely,
Raymond Buckley, State Chair
NH Democratic Party

Beyond Hope, Deserving Pity

To the Editor,

Jack Stephenson of Gilford has tragically revealed himself to be beyond hope. One would have thought that his 75 years of living would have taught him something about decency and civility. Clearly it has not.

Stephenson wrote a letter to the editor that was published Monday in both the Laconia Citizen and the Laconia Daily Sun that was offensive and provokes pity. In it he said, referring to Barack Obama, “Back then some of us thought that he was the same as most USA negroes, but he is not, and he has become a total insult to our great successful negroes in the USA.”

Left to the reader’s imagination is how Stephenson defines most “USA negroes“, or “great successful negroes in the USA”. One can only assume that the aging curmudgeon believes such a definition would be superfluous given that clearly his views must be conventional. Perhaps they were five or six decades ago, but the world has moved beyond such uncomfortable and unsavory stereotypes.

Sadly, Jack hasn’t. Somehow he’s avoided any evolutionary thought.

That doesn’t come as a surprise. Having read his letters over the years, a number of which I refused to publish when I was an editor at the Daily Sun, I’ve always been struck by how miserable Mr. Stephenson is. Seventy-five years of life and all he does is complain.

That’s tragic, and deserves pity. If after 75 years one hasn’t found at least a modicum of happiness and good cheer one’s life must seem a complete waste.

Ron Tunning
Laconia

'Negro' History 101

To The Editor,

Jack Stephenson's letter of 8/18 ("For it and against it") about Obama smacks of antiquated and current racism as well as ignorance of ethnic history. He claims that Obama needs "cue cards" to speak, cue cards being a semi-antiquated term (the other being Negro — fully antiquated) he uses in his letter.

On the contrary Obama has proven to be the most extemporaneous (and exceptional on his feet) candidate speaker in 2008, unwavering and beyond eloquent without a teleprompter most of the time. I have yet to see him use "cue cards" on any political issue, important to Americans. (When thanking local advocates he uses cards to remember hundreds of names in hundreds of towns). But that's about it!

Beyond belief, however, is Stephenson's use of the term "Negro" twice in his letter, in the year 2008 as a term for an African-American, (albeit he's one-half by DNA). One would think Stephenson's last book he read was "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee in 1960 instead of "The Name Negro — Its Origin and Evil Use" by Richard B. Moore of the same year (1960). Since Senator Obama's mother was white (S. Ann Durham) and from the flatlands of Kansas, Stephenson might be expected to have used the outdated term "mulatto" since Mr. Obama's father was Kenyan making Obama biracial. He is only half-black (or half-white) so why would Stephenson call him a "Negro."

The term "Negro" in 2008 is generally used today for black Spanish olives, not African Blacks, and the oppression of black slaves and their culture has resulted in an evolution of more modern terms of respect for a substantial portion of our nation's citizenry and voting public. The root of the word, Negro, means "black" in all European and African cultures. Admittedly in previous letters to the editor, Stephenson has acknowledged his age as in the mid-70s. He must surely realize by now that the term, Negro is obsolete.

Disparaging terms had their evolution from the 1830s to the mid-1890s when Blacks were called "colored" or even "Colored-American." At the beginning of the 20th century and by 1920, the term Negro was born. From the 1930s on, to the 1960s with the Black Power movement, there was dissatisfaction in general with the Negro term. There was a cultural movement of more respect for Blacks and their heritage/ culture, which was designed to remove "a host of other slurs" that will not be mentioned here. During this cultural nationalism, terms evolved; with "Black" or "African-American" the latter moniker predominating since the 1980s until now. The term, African-American highlights both "historical lineage and ethnogeographic origins" and not skin color, as in the older terms.

Stephenson shows his implied bigotry and ignorance when he says (in referencing Cbama), "Back then some of us thought that he was the same as most USA Negros, but he is NOT and he has become an insult to our great successful Negros in the USA." Is Stephenson thinking MLK, Jr here? Might Stephenson be thinking MLK was the "Numero Uno Negro?" Mea culpa, mea culpa!

Obama is no "insult" to intelligent life on this earth, Mr. Stevenson, and he does speak "for all people" and is far from "Hollywood" in style. One last point. The New York Times began capitalizing the word, Negro (as in African-American history) in 1930, should you wish to use the quasi-racist term again for relevant historical purposes. You didn't capitalize it as a former ethnicity in your last letter and yet "spell check," alerts you. Typewriters don't however.

Jack Polidoro

Laconia

For Some People There Is No Hope

This letter to the editor was published in both the Laconia Citizen and the Laconia Daily Sun on Monday, August 18. It was submitted by Jack Stephenson of Gilford and has prompted outrage throughout the community.

Many have vowed to write letters in response for publication in the two newspapers. As I receive them, I'll be posting them on the blog.

Meanwhile, feel free to leave your comments. I realize that it requires a good deal of restraint to remain civil in light of these kinds of attacks, and I'm hardly one to lecture people about responding with anger. As many of you remember, I was quite forceful in my rebuke of local talk show host Niel Young a couple of years ago while I was still an editor at the Daily Sun.

Nevertheless, I ask that you avoid profanity and consider the source. His message sucks, but not nearly so much as he does.

The Letter

To The Editor,

It is clear that IF we all had the knowledge about Obama which we have heard since he got the "nomination" (not confirmed until their convention), Hillary would be the Democrat candidate. But back then we didn't know that brilliant Obama could not speak intelligently without his staff prepared cue cards. Back then we didn't know that he opposed any increase in safe, clean, cheap energy sources (long proven nuclear, wind, solar and clean coal). Back then we didn't know that he would propose the biggest tax increase ever in the US! Back then some of us thought that he was the same as most USA negros, but he is NOT, and he has become a total insult to our great successful negros in the USA. Back then we didn't know that he was both against the Iraq war and for it, both against battles in Afganistan and for it, and wants to greatly increase number of our troops in Afganistan (the most dangerous place on earth). He is totally for WAR and totally against war, totally for outrageous taxes and totally against taxes, totally for 100% control of all medical care, and totally oppossed to government control of health care.

It is absolutely clear that Obama is totally for and totally against every issue which Americans are concerned with. IE, he is the ultimate politician, as his Church Pastor long ago told us!

Honesty, practicallity, need, usefulness, has nothing to do with Obama. Clearly, Obama is trying to steal from Clinton the title of the world's best LIAR! Hillary tried that, but Obama beat her out for that title.

We must encourage Hillary to take the nomination away from misleading Obama, and give the nation a chance for a fair election. It can happen, and if it doesn't, we are in for a "Hollywood style" president!

Jack Stephenson

Gilford

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Food, Heat or Medicine?

By Senator Kathy Sgambati

Food, heat or medicine? By all indications, we have a growing number of families and elderly people who will be asking themselves this question as winter approaches.

Several of us in the state Senate have held meetings with our local welfare officers and social service agencies to get a sense of the scope of the crisis we face this winter. As state leaders, we are doing everything we can to prepare and to find ways for aid to be efficiently and effectively delivered to those in need.

But no one expects the energy crisis to evaporate or for oil costs to fall back to the levels of prior years -- which makes energy efficiency and alternative energy that much more critical to our future.

Two major pieces of legislation passed in the last two years have the potential to provide homeowners with some relief over the long term when it comes to energy costs. We are seeking to stimulate the development of alternative energy and to provide much-needed funds to reduce our overall energy use. These initiatives are now more important than ever.

New England has an older housing stock, and drafty old houses waste energy. Improving insulation and other weatherization efforts become essential to make our heating dollars go farther. Few low income people have the resources to invest in making their homes more energy efficient but we waste both charitable contributions and our tax dollars when we fail to address those needs.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, passed this year, limits the emissions that contribute to global warming. But the program also will raise millions of dollars for conservation and energy efficiency in New Hampshire. Homeowners and businesses will be able to tap into this fund for projects that reduce their costs for heat and electricity by improving efficiency or drawing on cheaper renewable sources.

The Renewable Energy Act, passed last year, requires utilities to seek out renewable energy to provide a growing portion of New Hampshire’s electricity. If utilities fail to hit the mark, they pay into a fund that also will be available to certain residential customers who find ways to generate their own energy, for example by installing solar panels. The goal is to provide for a $3 per watt payment reduction for customers under certain circumstances.

Neither of these programs is fully in place as of today. The state Public Utilities Commission must establish rules and application procedures so we know the money is going to appropriate and worthwhile projects. It will likely be well into 2009 before these programs are ready to launch and can begin to show results.

So state leaders and our congressional delegation are right to fight for additional federal heating aid for this winter. We’re right to fight for more federal weatherization money so we can reduce home heating costs. But we’ve taken some smart steps to prepare for the future as well.

Not only did this Legislature make funds available in the near future for more homeowners and businesses to reduce their energy use, we’re stimulating New Hampshire’s economy by creating incentives for developing renewable energy. We’re encouraging new jobs in energy conservation and alternative fuels. These jobs will make it possible for more New Hampshire citizens to afford to heat their homes, feed their families and pay for their medical needs.

This winter, however, many people face troubled times. The number of eligible families receiving food stamps has swelled even as food stamp allotments fail to keep pace with rising prices. Food banks around the state are struggling to stay stocked.

So while I’m optimistic about New Hampshire’s future when it comes to energy, I’ll add my voice to those of others. Many people need help right now and many more will need help this winter. You can help by setting up neighborhood watches to check on your neighbors this winter, especially the elderly. And if you can, please donate to your local food bank

Unfit To Lead

This video echoes my column "No Regard For Truth Or Integrity".


Thursday, July 31, 2008

No Regard For Truth or Integrity

Last week John McCain ventured into Rochester, N.H. for a Town Hall Meeting and before a crowd estimated at 700 people managed to embarrass himself, his party, and his country by accusing his opponent of being a traitor while pretending that his own unremarkable record qualifies him to serve as the Commander-in-Chief of our military and as the Chief Executive Officer of our government.

Senator McCain has earned the respect of a grateful nation for his having endured 5 ½ years of imprisonment and torture in a Vietnamese prison camp. Aside from that, however, he’s done little to deserve the esteem being heaped upon him by a compliant press, although one cannot fail to appreciate how he’s managed to parlay that life-changing experience into a life-long career on the public payroll.

Not quite as flattering is that his military career included the loss of five naval aircraft – one in combat, three during training exercises, and one in an explosion on the deck of the USS Forrestal; or his having graduated 894th out of 899 mates in his 1958 class at the Naval Academy. Nor especially distinguishable was his retirement at the rank of captain after having served over 25 years in the U.S. Navy, a departure prompted by his dim future prospects for promotion.

Although McCain is among the wealthiest members serving in the U.S. Senate, his accumulation of a vast fortune hasn’t been through the dint of hard work, nor derived from the wise investment of his $58,000+ in annual military disability payments and $161,700 annual salary as a U.S. Senator. Rather, he married a wealthy heiress after dumping his first wife, a one-time beauty queen whose physical allure had waned as a consequence of physical injuries sustained in an automobile crash.

As a U.S. Senator, McCain earned attention early in his tenure as the heir to the Arizona seat long held by Barry Goldwater who retired in 1987. By 1989 McCain was embroiled in the Keating Five corruption controversy and admonished by the Senate Ethics Committee for having accepted $112,000 in contributions from Charles Keating, Jr. and his associates. Keating ultimately served five years in prison for his role in the collapse of Lincoln Savings, one of the major institutional failures that led to the $125 billion taxpayer bailout of the Savings and Loan industry, and McCain had twice met with federal regulators to discuss the government’s investigation of Keating and his company.

While McCain today admits an error in judgment in the Keating affair, and earned enmity among fellow Republicans and a reputation as a “maverick” for his support of campaign finance reform, he seems to have learned little from the experience. His presidential campaign is run largely by lobbyists and financed by special interest money. According to the Washington Post, over $1.1 million was contributed to his campaign last month by oil and gas industry executives and employees, a propitious windfall that he claims had nothing to do with his recent high-profile split with environmentalists and reversal of his position on the federal ban on offshore drilling.

In an editorial published on Monday, The Citizen was effusive in its praise for Senator McCain’s leadership and “straight talk”. It lauded the senator for his support for the “surge”, neglecting to mention that the senator supported the blockheaded invasion of Iraq and was unwavering in his endorsement of the Bush administration’s execution of the failed occupation of the country.

The editorial offensively repeated some of McCain’s most insidious remarks, showing neither a regard for truth nor integrity. Its purpose was consistent with that of Sunday’s editorial in Foster’s Daily Democrat which attempted to portray Obama as arrogant and imperial. “Obama's grand tour of Europe and the Middle East was the most presumptuous and pompous act in the modern history of American politics,” it claimed.

What appears to be troubling to The Citizen and its sister publication Foster’s Daily Democrat is that Barack Obama emerged from his week abroad looking presidential, while McCain managed only to look pathetic when left alone on the domestic stage. From cruising around in a golf cart with former President Bush to looking befuddled in a grocery checkout line, McCain’s image was hardly senatorial, much less commanding.

One understands The Citizen’s fear that an Obama administration might actually require an increase in taxes to cover the costs of eight years of Bush’s perfidy. With over a half-trillion dollars added to the nation’s credit card to support the failed Bush war policies, an untoward and unconscionable shift of hundreds of billions of dollars of the nation’s wealth to Middle-Eastern nations who are purveyors of terrorism, a crumbling infrastructure too long neglected, a housing crisis that’s wiped out hundreds of billions of dollars of family wealth, and a financial crisis that may end up costing taxpayers a half-trillion dollars, higher taxes do seem inevitable.

The Citizen has no one to blame but itself for having relentlessly supported the Bush administration and the Republican controlled Congress which conspired to create this mess. Now it whines because the Democrats, in their less than two years of having a majority in Congress constrained by the President’s veto pen and Republicans in the U.S. Senate, have not been able to repair the damage.

Contrary to The Citizen’s conclusion, John McCain is not “the kind of leader who can restore the trust and confidence of the American people.” Quite frankly, he’s been a major part of destroying that trust.

Update:

Contrary to what the anonymous commenter asserts, I greatly respect John McCain's service to his country. However, he was not a stellar leader, he did not exhibit even an average intellect, his record suggests that he was reckless with aircraft - each of which cost taxpayers millions of dollars, and nothing in his military record recommends him for promotion to commander-in-chief.

Anonymous is entitled to his opinion regarding Senator McCain. However, he is outside his realm when he attempts to impugn the character or integrity of people about whom he knows nothing.

I've never been one to tout my military experience. Indeed, I was quite happy when it was comfortably behind me. As were my two brothers who served along with me, both of whom suffered serious injuries in Vietnam, and one of whom in spite of being severely wounded twice on the battlefield in Vietnam, returned to the country for two additional tours.

My father and grandfather, along with numerous uncles and cousins were/are veterans, so believe me, I have tremendous regard for those who don the uniform of their country. I don't, however, have much respect for those who attempt to parlay a marginal military record along with sympathy for wounds and indignities suffered into an entitlement for promotion to the highest office in the land.

Most veterans I know, and I know many, served their country proudly and humbly, quite aware of their sacrifice, yet also cognizant of the millions of others who've shared their burden. They really don't talk much about their combat experiences, realizing that their stories are not all that unique. Okay, I admit that I love regaling people with the tale of the woeful indignity I suffered being treated for a piece of shrapnel lodged in my ass. But that only occurs on the rare occasion when someone presses me on my military experience.

Anonymous, for you I'm posting a couple of photos. One is of quite good quality because it's scanned from one of those portrait photos taken during basic training. The other is of poor quality because it's scanned from a well-worn, not well-preserved snapshot.

You may not share my views. But you certainly cannot tell me that I know nothing about serving my country.