Does Your Little Susie Really Need A Doll That Poops?

What happened to the simple things in life? I remember when I was growing up our toys consisted of plain old dolls, teddy bears, Legos and trucks. If you were a lucky boy, you might get a train set. A girl might get a fancy Barbie Doll, with all the requisite accoutrements. Now, kids demand (and get) X-Boxes, and dolls like Baby Alive, a supremely creepy doll that actually 'poops' and 'pees'. Manufactured by Hasbro back in 1973, they've brought the Baby Alive doll back, and it's supposedly more "life-like" than ever. You feed the doll a disgusting green concoction and it eventually comes out the other side. The same goes for drink. This incarnation of Baby Alive also talks, and says things like "Uh, oh, I made a stinky."

Apparently appealing to both girls and boys, it's the latest rage and stores are having a difficult time keeping it on their shelves, so the $39.99- $59.99 doll can cost as much as $109.00 on Amazon.com, for the African-American or Hispanic versions.

Why does a young child need to learn how to change a diaper? And whatever happened to make-believe? If we leave nothing to our children's imaginations, what happens to their imaginations? I also have to wonder if all these life-like baby dolls don't somehow contribute to our children having babies at early ages. If they are being given more life-like toys, won't they actually keep yearning for the real thing?

I don't have kids, but I can't help think this is so totally wrong.

Dolls that pee and poop? What next?!

Merry Christmakwanzukkah To All!

I have been rather slack with blogging these days, but will start back at it shortly.

In the meantime, I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Kwanzaa!

With Love,

Incog

Joke of the day: "Global Warming"

From our Zack over at Diversity Lane..........

Taking The Stress Out Of The Holiday Season- Or, Don't Buy Johnny That X-Box!

The holiday season is upon us, and along with all the excitement and joy that this time of year brings for many, comes the inevitable stress (and depression) for many others. It's that Bah Humbug time.

Stress, other than during times of danger, is not our friend, and can lead to many health issues- from stomach troubles to colds, and pretty much everything in between. If chronic, it can cause major health problems including heart disease and a weakened immune system. It's all those chemicals, but specifically cortisol, released during the 'fight or flight' response to some environmental or social stressor, which can have a negative impact on our bodies, particularly if it remains in our bloodstream for prolonged periods of time.

More often than not, we create our own stress during the holidays by having unrealistic goals and expectations, of both ourselves and others. We rush around, frantically trying to figure out what gifts to buy for family, friends and coworkers, most of which won't be appreciated, and are more than likely unneeded. Getting nasty and mean-spirited when parking spaces become a premium at the malls, or trampling someone to death at a Walmart trying to get a bargain on Black Friday. Feeling obligated to go to all the parties and the feasts that we're invited to, we overindulge in unhealthy foods and drink, which leads to unwanted weight gain, and that extra tire, and I'm not talking about the one in the trunk of your car.

American consumerism, bolstered by a retail industry that encourages it- by now extending the Christmas season to way before Halloween- has become a major problem . We overspend and overeat, when we can least afford to. We get all tied up in the hype and commercialism, and we forget the true meaning of this time of year, and what the spirit of giving truly means. During simpler times, kids were happy with a couple of toys under the tree - a doll, legos maybe a bike; now if they don't have a truckload of gifts under that tree, including the latest X-Box, the kids go ballistic.

But, there are ways to handle all the stress that is part and parcel of this time of year, particularly those things you do have control over.

SOLUTIONS

JUST SAY NO- Pick a few parties you want to go to and decline the others. With all the people that are invited to these shindigs, no-one is going to miss seeing you, believe me. Spend time with the people you enjoy, not the one's who cause you grief.

GIFT GIVING/LESS IS MORE- When it comes to gift giving, tell your family and friends you are not exchanging gifts this year. Or offer to give a gift of time. Offer to babysit one night for your brother, or pull the weeds at your parent's house. Tell your kids they are getting one nice present and one small gift, and that they have to choose some toys from their collection to give away to charity. And if you do decide to get a gift for an adult, rather than stressing about what to give them, why not donate to charity in that person's name. In fact, if you are having a party, suggest people do that instead of bringing you a gift. Opt out of the Secret Santa's. How often have you liked what you received, anyway?

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD: Instead of stressing over cooking a huge feast for a slew of people, eat out. Or, go simple and have a pot luck. Make sure everyone helps with the cleanup. If you go to a party, limit your alcohol and food intake, your body and waistline will thank you.

DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE- I'm the queen of procrastination, but there's nothing that causes stress more than waiting until the last minute to do something, including any shopping you might have. So make your list, check it twice and head out for the shops with plenty of time. The closer to Christmas it gets, the fuller the parking lots will be and the nastier you and others will get. It's not worth the added stress.

DON'T FRET OVER THINGS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER- If you can't find what you want, find a substitute or move on, cross it off your list. Nothing is worth fretting over, especially if you have no control over it, which is pretty much everything other than our opinions and how we react to the circumstances in our lives. According to Stoic philosopher Epictetus, to be happy we must know what is and isn't within our control. The only things we have control over are our opinions "and our impulses desires and aversions - in short whatever is our own doing." (Encheiridion C1). Wanting to control things that are not within our control can only cause unhappiness and stress: "Do not seek to have events happen as you want them to but instead want them to happen as they do happen, and your life will go well" (Encheiridion C8).

SLEEP/REST/MEDITATE/BREATHE- This is the time when our bodies and minds rejuvenate, heal, recuperate and recharge. Make sure you don't skimp. Get enough sleep at night, and nap or rest, if you can, even if it's to shut the mind down for a few minutes.

Meditation can also help with stress, as can deep breathing.

When you feel very stressed, take a deep, slow breath. Inhale fully, a long deep breath, through your nostrils. Fill the lungs. Hold for about 10-15 seconds and then exhale. As you exhale, think of all the stress flowing out of your body. Do that a few times.

HERBS/VITAMINS ETC- Instead of a cup of coffee, try a nice hot, relaxing, cup of chamomile tea. That should calm you down. Passion Flower, Oatstraw and Valerian are also calmatives. Ashwaghanda, is an Ayurvedic (traditional Indian) tonic which also has a calming effect. Siberian Ginseng enhances the immune function, strengthens the adrenal glands and helps the body adapt to stress. And don't forget the Vitamins and Minerals: B Vitamins are quickly depleted during times of stress, so shore up on your Bs. What the body doesn't use, it will eliminate. Stress also depletes Vitamin C, which supports the adrenal glands, a healthy immune system and inflammatory response. Stress also depletes magnesium, which is a very important anti-stress mineral that helps promote relaxation by helping the body utilize various antioxidants and vitamins. And for a mood enhancer, try Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids. Omega-3 is not produced in the body, so you have to get it from foods or supplements, and most diets are sorely lacking.

For more information on herbal remedies for stress check here , and here.

When taking herbs, please check to make sure you are not allergic to anything, and that you do research before combining or embarking on any herbal regimen.

Cross posted at Mind, Body Spirit.

URGENT: Stop The Execution Of Farzad Kamangar

"On 25 February 2008, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Farzad Kamangar to death on charges of "endangering national security" and "enmity against God" (moharebe). The death penalty was confirmed by the Supreme Court on 11 July. "

A teacher, former member of a Kurdish teacher's union (until outlawed) and human right's activist, Farzad Kamangar was scheduled to be executed today! Thankfully, according to one source (International Campaign For Human Rights In Iran), he was not, although 10 others (including a woman) were, and there is still the likelihood that Kamangar will be hanged, at some point.

In a letter from prison, Kamangar describes the details of his arrest, and the torture he has endured while incarcerated:

In July of 2006 I came to Tehran to follow upon my brother's medical treatments. My brother is a Kurdish political activist. Upon my arrival in Tehran I was arrested and taken to an unknown place, it was a very small, dark basement. The cells in this place were empty, there were no blankets or rugs or sheets. They took me to a room and as they were interviewing me they asked me about my ethnicity. When I told them that I was of the Kurdish Ethnicity they lashed my entire body. They also lashed me because of the Kurdish music which I had saved on my mobile phone. They would tie my hands, make me sit on a chair and put pressure on the sensitive areas of my body. They would also strip me naked and threaten me with rape by various objects such as wood.

His trial was a farce. According to Khalil Bahramian, Farzad’s lawyer:

“Nothing in Kamangar’s judicial files and records demonstrates any links to the charges brought against him.” He described the trial as “lasting no more than five minutes, with the judge issuing his sentence without any explanation and then promptly leaving the room.” {snip} the closed-door trial violated the Iranian legal requirements that such cases must be tried publicly and in the presence of a jury.

Please send an email to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad requesting, at the very least, that Kamangar get a fair trial. You can email him directly at: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir

or via the Education International website by clicking here, which has a pre-written letter

Being sentenced to death for being Kurdish, a human right's activist or trade union member, or all of the above, is outrageous.

Please take a moment to do this. That moment could save an innocent man's life.

Holiday Cheer For Our Service Members

The holidays are fast approaching and as you make out your holiday card list, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or New Year, why not add a soldier to your list:

The American Red Cross is partnering with Pitney Bowes to send holiday cards to military personnel, veterans and their families both here and abroad. The deadline is December 10th. Click here for guidelines. For the cost of a card and a stamp you can bring good cheer to someone who deserves it. They also have free cards you can download.

If you feel like sharing a little more than a card, there are organizations that send care packages, year round, to soldiers across the globe. Some of my favorites include:

Treats For Troops- You pick a soldier to shop for, and then have at it. You can also adopt a troop to send a package to. There is a wide variety of items to choose from.

Operation Gratitude- This is a wonderful organization that is totally voluntary, every penny you send them is used to ship packages to our service members. Corporate donors provide all the items, but each box costs $10.00 to ship, and as of today they only have enough funds to ship one-quarter of the 70,000 packages. The organization receives names of soldiers and each care package is personally addressed to them. Especially during the holidays, our service members can feel homesick and depressed, and receiving a card or care package can brighten their spirits. In fact, one soldier wrote to the founder of the organization the following letter:

"HI Carolyn Our unit will be leaving Iraq in a few weeks. I just wanted to thank you for your support of all soldiers over here. Your care packages helped lift morale here greatly and you should know helped save the life of a young soldier.

We had a soldier who never got mail, care packages, or anything. He did not have much family and as it turns out was planning on committing suicide on Christmas, but because that soldier received your care package it was like a Christmas gift. It made the soldier change his mind.

soldier now writes letters and emails to folks whose names were in the box and the soldier's attitude and outlook on life has really improved. This is not a story--it is true. We found out when the soldier finally opened up and talked to the Chain of Command about what was going thru his mind and got help for his depression.

Your care package made a major difference in a human life. Because of your organization, one less family received terrible news at Christmas time.

This has been my third deployment here and I remember how on my first deployment, I almost never got mail and then received a care package from your group. It made me feel much better about being separated from my loved ones. Is there anything I can do to help out? Your group has helped me so I think I should return the great favor. What can I do to help out? Send $$ donations? Just name
it. V/R, SFC J.S."

Our men and women in the military need and deserve our support. $10.00 isn't too much to sacrifice for those who put their lives on the line for us every day.

Obama's Tax Plan or What Will Happen To The Rich

I came across this clever analogy regarding Obama's proposed tax plan. This has been circulating the Internet for quite a while, and no-one knows who wrote it, but it does explain, in layman's terms, what happens when you tax the rich.

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do.

The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.

"Since you are all such good customers", he said, "'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80."

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes, so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay. And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings)
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28% savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant the men began to compare their savings.

"I only got a dollar out of the $20" declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,"but he got $10!''

"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"

''That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!''

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

The same goes for corporate taxation. What's to stop some company from picking up roots and planting them in a country with major tax incentives, like Ireland. That's what happened to the U.S. film and commercial industry; production companies shoot their projects in the states and countries that offer the most tax incentives. Canada has a booming film industry with great incentives, and so we've lost a great amount of film production to Canada and other countries.

If you think the unemployment rate is high now, wait until all those overly taxed corporations and the rich move their operations to other lands. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out.

11/11/08- Veteran's Day

In honor of our veterans-

"You gave for peace with courage

That families may be free

So children could grow strong

And safe they'd ever be.

In giving for the sake of peace

You may have suffered loss

Your body may still show its wounds

From taking up the cause.

May remembrance of your time away

Your sacrifice for peace

Spur us on to strive more strongly

For freedom, that there'll be release.

From causes that sent some away

To fight that we may freely live

With gratefulness we thank you, veterans

For all you gave and give!"

by Susan Helene Kramer

And for those who want to help.

Treats for Troops
Freedom Alliance
America Supports You
Any Soldier
Operation Gratitude
Troops Support

To send e-cards:
Military E-Cards
Hallmark
Let's Say Thanks

How Obama Won The Presidency - 2008

The dust has settled, it's been a few days since Barack Hussein Obama was elected 44th President of the United States Of America, and a little over half the population are still riding on a wave of euphoria. They're talking about how, once again, they are proud of their country (how Michele Obamaesque!), and how "completely inspired" they are by the "new President-Elect and the promise of great things ahead!"; others say they're "smiling and celebrating the brightest new hope this country has had in decades!" Yes, we can be dang proud that a country, with a history of racism and other nastyisms, elected the first black president ever, and that's something to be celebrated. Had Obama been a Republican or even a moderate Democrat I would have jumped on the Barack "hope and change" bandwagon, as well. Who doesn't yearn for new beginnings? However, this was not the right African-American to have chosen to lead our country- a politician who won the dubious title of "Most Liberal Senator in 2007". Add to that his many questionable affiliations including Jeremiah Wright, William Ayers, Tony Rezko and a host of others. As much as he would like to deny those relationships, there is a slew of evidence (including videos) that contradicts those denials. Claiming he had no clue what was going on in a church he attended for 20 years (that Oprah Winfrey left after a few), proves categorically that he is either a prodigious liar or totally out of touch.

I would have accepted his win with more grace and equanimity had it not been for what I consider to be the potentially fraudulent manner in which he won this election- directly and by proxy:

***We have the ACORN fiasco and all the Mickey Mouse, dead-men registered to vote. How many homeless people were bussed around the country to vote?

***We have the obscene amounts of money he spent plastering the airwaves and Internet, including a 4 million dollar vote-for-me-'cuz-I'm-going-to-save-the-world infomercial. Obama outspent McCain, by more than double, and raised and spent more funds than any other political campaign in history, 650 million dollars. What kind of precedent is that going to set? Campaign spending is already in dire need of reform. And what kind of hypocrite, claiming to be for the people, concerned about the working class and poor, allows his Kenyan aunt to live in a slum in Boston (illegally, at that), and does the following:

At a February 2007 rally in Las Vegas, Obama volunteers fanned through the crowd, gathering the names and e- mail addresses of people who could be asked for small donations again and again. Almost half of Obama's money came from people giving $200 or less.

The Obama campaign actively solicited money from working shlubs, those who could least afford it. Then, with their money, he purchased ad after ad. Everywhere you happened to look Obama's face was urging people to vote early or falsely claiming that McCain was a Bush 3rd term, and chanting his "change we can believe in" mantra. I noticed on one of his ads "Obama- President", not "Obama for President". Flash these soundbites and images in someone's face long enough, and the foolish begin to believe it. I wouldn't be surprised if there were subliminal messages in those ads.

***Then we have the iffy sources for donation monies. $300 million worth, of which Obama refuses to release the names of donors. Granted McCain had some of those, too, but far fewer than Obama. Then factor in the many individuals who donated over the $4,600 election limit who were never refunded, and the possibility of huge amounts generated from foreign donors.

***And don't forget the racial issue. Those of us who were smart enough not to be seduced by the Obama-hype, and chose to vote for McCain instead, were being labeled racists by people like Democratic Rep. John Murtha. Murtha declared that (western) Pennsylvania "could reduce Barack Obama's victory margin in the state by 4 percentage points. " Those self-same 'bitter, clinging to their guns and religion' Pennsylvanians Obama quipped about, while speaking to some affluent San Franciscan donors, actually voted for him.

Some people would like us to believe he won by a landslide, and if you count electoral votes ( an antiquated system that boggles the mind) he did; but as for the popular vote, he did NOT win by a landslide. A 3 to 6 % lead does not a landslide make.

In spite of the myriad of negatives associated with Barack Obama, he continued to be the darling of the media and the proverbial pied-piper of the Democratic Party throughout the election. The media with its unprecedented bias against McCain and its uber favorable coverage of Obama helped propel him to the top. I find this incredibly shameful.

I also blame, for the Obama win, the far right of the Republican Party who either chose not to vote for McCain or backed his campaign far too late. James Dobson of Focus On The Family, the same man who claimed Fred Thompson wasn't a Christian, initially refused to endorse McCain, although he finally did. But it was far too little too late. McCain never had a chance. He had an uphill battle from day one, trying to galvanize the base. Why would anyone else want to vote for him if so many of his own party were hesitant. Admittedly, he was not my first choice, but he was our choice, and I knew how important it was to back him, and so I did, wholeheartedly. However, considering all the challenges he faced, he did remarkably well. He should be proud.

We will survive because we have no expectations of our new president, but those on the other side are setting themselves up for monumental disappointment, if and when Obama does not, or is unable to follow through with his so-called "promises". People have been duped into thinking of Obama as some kind of Messiah, even Louis Farrakhan calls him that; they think he will change their lives, pay their mortgages and gas for their cars. This isn't going to happen folks. He's a mere human. He is NOT GOD. I just pray he doesn't mess this country up too much, and I actually even hope I have to eat my words, but in the meantime, I am going to do my best to make sure this country remains strong and free.

There are those who are disappointed that we have not embraced their 'savior' with open arms, but after 8 years or being bashed and vilified and forced to remain in the political closet, do they really think we would join hands and sing kumbaya Obambi has risen? Be real. I will attempt to be less vitriolic and mean-spirited than they were. I won't call for "Impeach Obama/Biden" for ludicrous reasons, but I will keep his feet to the fire if he tries to take away my freedoms, or attempts to hijack this country down the road to Socialism. You can count on that.

In the meantime, unlike many on the other side who have wished ill on Bush and others, I wish Obama the best. I hope he does try to reach across the aisle and create unity, as he has claimed he would, though never has done as a Senator. I'm now actually glad we didn't win, because at least for the next four years, we won't have to put up with the blame-game. Then again, I'm sure they will find something to blame on us.

Good luck President-Elect Obama, you will need it,

Barack Hussein Obama is Prez

The American people have spoken- Barack Obama is President! So be it.

The American people will deserve what they eventually get under an Obama presidency.

Will weigh in on this this later.

Election Day, November 4th, 2008- Vote!

So, today is THE day- the most important election of my lifetime. I'm off to vote and then hand out McCain material. I have never been this active during an election. I have manned phones, marched, and yesterday I participated in flag waving at a major cross-street near a mall. I have never donated money to an election before, but gave what I could this time, even though I'm not working and have no upcoming projects. This one was just too pivotal not to do anything. At least I know I have done my bit regardless of who wins.

I am still cautiously optimistic about a McCain win, I have hope in the American people that they will do, in the end, do the right thing. But whatever happens, life will go on and I will continue to fight for what is right. I'm actually glad this will be over, I can now get back to fighting against radical Islam and posting about other injustices around the world. And if Obama wins, we will all have more fuel for our blogs. If Obama does happen to win, and he makes this country better, than I will happily eat my words, but if he drags this country down the tubes, which I am confident he will, we will easily regain the presidency and the house and senate in 2012. We will have 4 years to court people to the party. I will be posting about that, in the future.

In the meantime, God Bless you all.

Onward and upward!

Joke of the day: "Little Johnny Was Republican"

A little election day humor!



A teacher in Elmira , New York asked her 6th grade class how many of them were Obama fans.
Not really knowing what an Obama fan is, but wanting to be liked by the teacher, all the kids raised their hands except for Little Johnny.
The teacher asked Little Johnny why he has decided to be different...again.
Little Johnny said, 'Because I'm not an Obama fan.'

The teacher asked, 'Why aren't you an Obama fan?'

Johnny said, 'Because I'm a Republican.'
The teacher asked him why he's a Republican.
Little Johnny answered, 'Well, my Mom's a Republican and my Dad's a Republican, so I'm a Republican.' Annoyed by this answer, the teacher asked, 'If your mom was a moron and your dad was an idiot, what would that make you?' With a big smile, Little Johnny replied,'That would make me an Obama fan.'

NObama08 Tuesday Blog Burst- Today's The Day-Vote McCain

As we count down to the remaining hours of this election, Social Sense and Confession of A Closet Republican urge their readers who have not yet voted to continue listening to what the candidates are saying; feel free to question their rhetoric.

If it is true that most Americans are worried about the economy, then there is no reason to vote for Barack Obama. None. If readers need a quick review, they will find an excellent crib-sheet of the Obama/McCain platforms at Jus’ Sayin'; check it out.

Ultimately, American voters and the Electoral College will make the final decision as to which candidate will serve as our next president. This is not the time to be lulled into accepting false promises and sugar coated solutions to serious challenges. We hope (and pray) Americans will select the one candidate who will best serve the interests of our Nation. Chose wisely, America.

Participants: Always on Watch; And Rightly So; Big Girl Pants; Cheese In My Shoe; Chuck Thinks Right; Confessions of a Closet Republican; Defending Crusader; Farmer’s Letters; Fore Left; GeeeeeZ; Has Everyone Gone Nuts?; Learn Something Today; Long Range; Palace for a Princess; Papa Frank; Mind of a Misfit; Paleocon Command Center; Political Yin and Yang; Pondering Penguin; Right Truth; Social Sense; The Amboy Times; The Bitten Word; The Crank Files; The Jungle Hut; The Logic Lifeline; The Merry Widow; TSOFAH;

"Twas The Night Before Election"-

Inspired by an email that PatJKnowistall sent me, my Democratic Dad (who is not voting Obama and is an amateur writer/songwriter) came up with the following:

'Twas the night before election, and I was Biden my time,
Wondering out loud if it would turn out a crime.
Then I heard a barry loud noise, like, Oh,- Bam! an' I thought,
Was it just fireworks or a socialist plot.

I grabbed My Cane 'cause I had A corn on my toe,
And fast as I could, hobbled out the front doh.
My face turned Pale 'n I felt like I'd faint.
I wasn't Putin on Ayres 'cause a phoney I aint.

Were the Russians invading across the "Bridge to Nowhere"?
Al-ask-an Inuit if I see one out there.
Wright or wrong I'll address a big crowd,
"Vote for the Elephant", and I'd say it out loud.

But I'm happy to say, it was nothing at all,
Just some Republican voters out having a ball.
'Cause an E-Mail from Santa said "You've nothing to fear,
'Cause the last North Poll shows "It's a Republican year!

Alternate ending. We weren't sure which was better:

'Cause an E-Mail from Santa said "It's a close race but you have nothing to fear.
My North Poll has the Donkey nosed out by an Elephant's ear."

From your lips to God's Ears, Pops!

Yes WE can win this!! Marching For McCain!

I've been busy manning phones at our local McCain headquarters, and yesterday joined a march for McCain/Palin, incognito, of course. Accompanied by my camera and several hundred people, I took some pictures of the march as we traipsed along some major streets waving our signs and U.S. flags. What I found very heartening was the extremely positive reception we received from people driving by. Granted we did get the occasional, incredibly rude, Obama supporter, but that was to be expected. For the most part, almost all the cars driving by honked enthusiastically, in support.

Thought I'd share some photos I took of the microcosm of people attending. We had representatives from every ethnic and religious group, people from all walks of life, gays and bikers. This is what America is all about!!

We started off at a sandwich shop across from the McCain/Palin Victory HQ.

Heading to the streets.

Several hundred strong. Not bad for an unpublicized event. Group was estimated to be from 200 to 400 people.

Men, women, children, babies and doggies in strollers.

Women in wheelchairs.




Dads and their baby girls.

Democrats and their baby dogs.

And we even had some special guests.. :-)

And last but not least, look who is supporting McCain...

Yes WE can, win this, go out and vote McCain!!

"It 'Aint Over 'Til The Fat Lady Sings"- Vote! McCain!

All you hear from the liberal media, and other biased idiots, is that the race is over, Obama has it in the bag, fughettaboudit, don't vote; but as I have commented before, polls can't be trusted. Remember Dewey? Most papers predicted a Thomas E. Dewey win: The New York Times proclaimed “Thomas E. Dewey’s Election as President is a Foregone Conclusion.” Life Magazine also predicted a Dewey win, when months prior to the election they published a photo of Dewey with the caption: “The Next President of the United States." The Chicago Daily Tribune even plastered "Dewey Defeats Truman" on their front page, on November 3, 1948. But incumbent Harry S. Truman (Democrat) trounced Dewey, in spite of Gallup Poll predictions that Dewey would win, and endorsements by only a measly 15% of U.S. daily papers.

Polls these days are liberally biased, and the media's pro-Obama stance will have you believe there's no point in voting. An AP Poll claims that 'Obama backers are gleeful, McCain backers glum.' George E. Marcus (political scientist from Williams College) says this is not good for McCain. Feeling discouraged can cause people to not vote, because of what they perceive as the futility in voting for a candidate who they presume will not win.

Don't fall for it. Get out there, and vote..... McCain!!

Gary Trudeau's "Doonesbury" comic strip has apparently created a cartoon for next week, presupposing an Obama win.

Let's hope we have another Dewey/Truman scenario, but that it's the Republican who wins, this time around.

Crossposted at Red County.

Black, Republican and Voting For McCain!

This guy is brilliant. Worth the viewing. Too bad McCain didn't have Zo do some of his campaign ads.

Obama Speech Writer Jumps Ship-Voting McCain!

Wendy Button, Obama's speech writer (and Huffington Post blogger) has crossed over from the dark-side and is voting for John McCain! In a post on the Daily Beast entitled, "So long, Democrats", Button explains how she came to this decision. A speechwriter for Barry O (and Edwards, Clinton and Kerry in the past), the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back was what the Obama camp (via the liberal media) did to Joe The Plumber.

"The final straw came the other week when Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher (a.k.a Joe the Plumber) asked a question about higher taxes for small businesses. Instead of celebrating his aspirations, they were mocked. He wasn’t “a real plumber,” and “They’re fighting for Joe the Hedge-Fund manager,” and the patronizing, “I’ve got nothing but love for Joe the Plumber.” Having worked in politics, I know that absolutely none of this is on the level. This back and forth is posturing, a charade, and a political game. These lines are what I refer to as “hooker lines”—a sure thing to get applause and the press to scribble as if they’re reporting meaningful news."

Not only has this party belittled working people in this campaign from Joe the Plumber to the bitter comments, it has also been part of tearing down two female candidates. At first, certain Democrats and the press
called Senator Clinton “dishonest.” They went after her cleavage. They said her experience as First Lady consisted of having tea parties. There was no outrage over “Bros before Hoes” or “Iron My Shirt.” Did Senator Clinton make mistakes? Of course. She’s human. But here we are about a week out and it’s déjà vu all over again. Really, front-page news is how the Republican National Committee paid for Governor Sarah Palin’s wardrobe? Where’s the op-ed about how Obama tucks in his shirt when he plays basketball or how Senator Biden buttons the top button on his golf shirt?"

It's blatantly obvious that the mainstream media is in the tank for Obama. I have never, in my many years voting, observed such overtly biased reporting during an election. It's disgraceful. So, you can be sure there will be no mention of this anywhere other than blogs.

HatTip: GOPMOM
Crossposted at RedCounty.com

Obama's Youth Brigade... "Yes We Can"

This is another creepy video of some high school kids marching, dressed in fatigues, and chanting more Obama dreck. "Because of Obama I'm inspired to become the next doctor." How sad and pathetic that people can't be inspired on their own, and that they are looking to Obama to change their lives. Looks like the beginnings of Obama's civilian security force.

DEMOCRAT HALLOWEEN

Some cartoons for your enjoyment. Happy Halloween to all!





and from Zack over at Diversitylane.

The Audacity To Question: Big Brother Obama Is Gonna Get Ya

I have always been proud of the inherent freedoms we enjoy in this country- to question, to criticize, to voice our opinions without any fear of negative repercussions. People have been free to criticize and mock presidents and politicians, to condemn government actions (right or wrong) with the express knowledge they wouldn't wind up beheaded or rotting in some jail for decades-

up until now.

In this amazing democracy we call the United States of America, I never thought I would feel fear, particularly from my government, but come Tuesday, if Barack Hussein Obama wins, that's exactly what I will feel. Fear. Why? Because Obama shows little or no tolerance for questioning or criticism, and although not yet president, wields such power and influence, he has already found ways of silencing the voices of opposition.

Look at Joe, The Plumber. He had the audacity to question Obama about the whole "spreading the wealth" ideology, and what happened to him? Obama media minions went after Joe, a private citizen, like a pack of vultures on road kill, and found ways of discrediting him. Had Joe questioned McCain, he would have remained in relative obscurity.

And then we have Barbara West of WFTV, Orlando, FL. The Obama campaign cut off any further interviews with the TV station, after West asked Joe Biden some probing questions they didn't happen to like, including the "spreading the wealth" Marxist connection. Laura K. McGinnis, Obama's Central Florida communications director, stated "This cancellation is non-negotiable, and further opportunities for your station to interview with this campaign are unlikely, at best for the duration of the remaining days until the election." Asinine liberals at democraticunderground are calling for West to be fired, and for people to complain to the station's advertisers. What happened to free speech?! Anyone call for Katie Couric to be fired for her unfair Palin 'gotcha' interview? Doubt it.

And what about Obama's Truth Squads in Missouri? Yes, you heard it Truth Squads! Apparently, Obama has enlisted law enforcement and state prosecutors to make sure no-one smears Obama. The Truth Squad, according to a campaign press release, will “respond quickly, forcefully, and aggressively when John McCain or his allies launch inaccurate claims or character attacks about Barack Obama, or when they distort Barack Obama’s record or plans.” Problem is, who defines what is the truth and what is a lie, considering Obama has lied and about so many things, including his affiliations with Reverend Wright, and other unsavory characters. Governor Matt Blunt said "The only conceivable purpose of Messrs. McCulloch, Obama and the others is to frighten people away from expressing themselves, to chill free and open debate, to suppress support and donations to conservative organizations targeted by this anti-civil rights, to strangle criticism of Mr. Obama, to suppress ads about his support of higher taxes, and to choke out criticism on television, radio, the Internet, blogs, e-mail and daily conversation about the election. Barack Obama needs to grow up. Leftist blogs and others in the press constantly say false things about me and my family. Usually, we ignore false and scurrilous accusations because the purveyors have no credibility. When necessary, we refute them. Enlisting Missouri law enforcement to intimidate people and kill free debate is reminiscent of the Sedition Acts - not a free society.”

Yes, McCain/Palin have their own truth squads but they are not enlisting law enforcement to intimidate those who might dare criticize them. They established a Palin Truth Squad after hordes of media descended upon Alaskan soil to sift through garbage to find some dirt on Palin, and the smear campaigns began.

Obama's actions smack of Big Brother. What will he do as president?

If you want to see what an Obama presidency might look like, click here.

Crossposted at RedCounty.com

U.S. Should Pull Out Of Chicago!

From now until November 4th, I am going to be posting anything and everything, including my own commentary, to ensure Obama does NOT become our next President. I will probably post more than once a day.

I received the following in my email. I'm not sure who authored it, but most of it happens to be true, as far as I can tell. Although there are Republicans in the state house and senate, the majority are Democratic; and the 2 U.S. Senators (Barack Obama and Dick Durbin) are both Democratic. Chicago does have the highest murder rate in the U.S. and has for years. The state pension fund debt is the worst in the country, the Chicago sales tax is the highest in the country, and Education Secretary William J. Bennett claimed that Chicago public schools were the worst in the nation.

The person who wrote this has a point. With all the troubles in Chicago on his watch, as Senator, what is he going to do to our country?

U.S. should immediately pull out of Chicago!

Body count. In the last six months 292 killed (murdered) in Chicago, 221 killed in Iraq.

Sens. Barack Obama & Dick Durbin, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., Gov. Rod Blogojevich, House leader Mike Madigan, Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike), Mayor Richard M. Daley (son of Mayor Richard J. Daley).....our leadership in Illinois.....all Democrats.

Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago. Of course, they're all blaming each other.

Can't blame Republicans, there aren't any!!!!

State pension fund $44 Billion in debt, worst in country.

Cook County (Chicago) sales tax 10.25% highest in country. (Look'em up if you want).

Chicago school system one of the worst in country.

This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois.

He's gonna 'fix' Washington politics?

Burning Down The House: What Caused Our Economic Crisis? Bombshell

Brilliant must-watch video. Has been banned on YouTube, so in case it gets banned again, here's a link to the MouthPiece's YouTube page.

NObama08 Tuesday Blog Bust- Presidential Character

This is the 5th in the series of Tuesday NObama08 blogbursts. By LA Sunset.

Presidential Character

Some people argue that domestic issues are of far greater importance than any discussion of character. I could not disagree more. All elections are about character. If we cannot trust the honor, patriotism, and fidelity of our elected representatives, then the issues don’t matter because whatever a candidate of low character shall say about political issues cannot matter.

I believe we each must consider the character of the two men who want us to elect them as our next president. Some may argue “What more is there to know about either candidate?” after a campaign that has lasted far too long. Ordinarily, at this point in the campaign, I would say, “nothing more.” Except in this election, “We the People” have found the press (as guardians of American democracy) seriously deficient. Rather than remaining impartial, the media has fallen head-over-heels in love with one of the candidates; we must excuse them from the jury of the court of public opinion. This year, the American people have not witnessed a fair trial.

Samuel Adams once said, "The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men,” but this was long before the Obama Era. Political correctness and liberal bias have led us to outcries of racism for even asking questions not even remotely related to race.. The press castigated our friend “Joe the Plumber” for daring to ask about income redistribution. According to one radio report, the Secret Service visited a woman because she told an Obama Campaign worker that she would vote for Barack Obama, “over her dead body.” This kind of attention applied to citizens for merely expressing an opinion is patently un-American, but it is also reminiscent of the intimidation used to silence dissent in communist countries. Character matters all right, especially if suppression of the right of expression is what we can expect from an Obama presidency.

In order to assess the character of our presidential contenders, we must decide upon an appropriate exemplar. On the democratic side of the aisle, the obvious notables are Thomas Jefferson, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. Jefferson may be too far back in time to serve as our role model. Roosevelt was a patent socialist. Truman left office as one of the most unpopular of all our presidents. Lyndon Johnson gave us too many scars. Mr. Carter was a buffoon and Bill Clinton . . . well, I wonder if we aren’t just a little too tired of hearing about him. Kennedy seems to qualify as the best Democratic Party exemplar, even if he was a womanizer; no one is perfect.

In the twentieth Century, notable Republican presidents have included Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan. Of these, Roosevelt was impetuous, Eisenhower cautious, Nixon resigned in disgrace, and Reagan was the great communicator. I therefore propose Reagan as our Republican Party exemplar.

In 1961, John Kennedy issued this mandate to the American people: “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” John Kennedy became the darling of the American people; many around the world shared this view. We called his presidency Camelot. He was young, relatively inexperienced, but he excited the people about America ’s future. He believed in the rights of man, a strong national defense, and the protection of liberty throughout the world. He believed that nuclear deterrence was insufficient to maintain peaceful coexistence. He believed the United States should be a beacon of hope, and he argued for increased world trade. He sought to achieve working partnerships with other world leaders to achieve dignity, justice, and liberty for all the people of the world. He sought to attain solidarity among the western (Atlantic) nations; he refuted communism as doomed to failure. He set forth an economic policy of unshackled enterprise, industrial leadership, and vibrant capitalism. He sought to lower interest rates in order to increase the flow of money, reduced government spending, and lower taxes. He also vowed to help small businesses through government loans and fair trade policy. Mr. Kennedy was a fiscal conservative.

Ronald Reagan was once a Democrat. He said, “I didn’t leave my party; my party left me.” We assume he spoke about the party of John Kennedy, a platform designed to inspire the American people to greatness. This was also the platform of Ronald Reagan. He repudiated the policy of Jimmy Carter; looking forward, he said, “Democratic politicians are without programs or ideas to reverse economic decline and despair. They are divided, leaderless, unseeing, uncomprehending, they plod on with listless offerings of pale imitations of the same policies they have pursued so long, knowing full well their futility.”

Reagan brought the American people a new pride in their country and themselves, their achievements and future possibilities. He wanted the American people to have liberty and freedom of choice, low taxes as a catalyst for economic growth. He repudiated the so-called Great Society because it created low human productivity. He fought for an expansion of private property ownership, committed himself to improved economic opportunities for black Americans, rights and equality for every minority, and equal opportunities for women. He was committed to the rights of unborn children.

Modern Democrats have turned Kennedy’s ideal upside down; now the cry is “Ask what your country can do for you.” Today’s Democrat pursues the politics of dependency, the essential breaking point between civil rights leaders Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jesse Jackson . King wanted black Americans to realize the reality of equality, while Jackson ’s policies pursue racism, separatism, and demands for greater gifts from the government. King wanted black Americans judged according to their character; Jackson views character as secondary concern because the means justifies the end. King fought for unity, Jackson has dedicated his entire life to reverse-segregation.

Modern Republicans have broken faith with the American people. They broke their Contract with America . Much of what has happened since mid-2005 is the result of this failure. As a Republican, I bemoan a Democratically controlled Congress, but I realize that men such as Duke Cunningham brought it to fruition. But, before anyone starts gloating, we should note that the United States Congress today has achieved the low point of popular opinion; it cannot possibly get worse. Or, can it?

It is time to ask ourselves where Barack Obama and John McCain stand with regard to our exemplars of presidential character. We should assume that “Country First” is a sentiment that every patriotic American deeply subscribes; that all of us want to see positive changes for the future. That said, let us dispense with bumper-sticker ideology, and investigate the actual character of each candidate. Let us consider the deeds of these men rather than their words.

Before announcing his candidacy for the highest office, Barack Obama associated himself with socialist organizations, a peculiar philosophy that supports state or collective ownership of all property and the means of production. Since we achieve personal and national wealth through property and the means of production, Mr. Obama apparently believes than an egalitarian society is only possible when the state controls property and wealth. By extension, the State will distribute wealth according to its own priorities, and the State will achieve this through any number of programs, including taxation. Socialist programs relieve individuals of responsibility, for themselves, and for their families. We see this clearly in Mr. Obama’s platform;

Economic Policy

· An immediate energy rebate to American families

· An expenditure of $50 billion to jumpstart the economy

·Federal assistance to states and localities in education, health care, and infrastructure

· Implement the Congressional housing bill through state and local spending

· Federal investment in infrastructure to replenish highways and bridges

· Expenditures in education to replace and repair schools

· Immediate steps to stem the loss of manufacturing jobs.

· Increase employment and implementing shared prosperity.

· National health care initiatives

We should perhaps note at this point that governments do not create wealth, people do. Governments may facilitate productivity through sound economic policy, but they cannot interfere in a market economy without significant disruption to capitalist investment and diminishing personal and corporate income and profits. Barack Obama’s socialist platform is anathema to Kennedy’s economic philosophy, and may be unparalleled since the days of Franklin Roosevelt. Simply stated, responsible government cannot spend more than anticipated revenues, and it is contrary to American values to redistribute income in a free-market environment.

John McCain is a moderate conservative approximating John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. He believes that the Constitution of the United States limits the role of the federal government, and he strives to work with the Congress within a constitutional framework to improve government efficiency and reduce waste. Like Kennedy and Reagan, McCain believes that lower taxes improve productivity, and that reduced spending is fiscally responsible and economically necessary. While there are some things the federal government must do, other projects constitutionally fall within the purview of the 50 states. National defense and homeland security is something the federal government must do, but the central government must form partnerships with the states on other important human-services programs. Reflected in Mr. McCain’s platform:

Economic Policy

· Implement immediate transparency to the budgeting process

· Evaluate and reduce spending on wasteful and inefficient programs

· Empower states to improve public services

. Implement meaningful (and trustworthy) oversight of government programs

· Make government more efficient and responsive to citizen’s needs

· Prioritize spending to improve and safeguard America ’s infrastructure

· Modernize Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid Programs

· Restore Social Security to a sound financial basis

· Expand opportunities to promote personal and industrial prosperity

Of these two men, which has the greatest character? Which of these candidates maintains faith with our founding principles of Constitutional Federalism, a steady hand on the tiller of state, while allowing individuals to choose for themselves their best course? John McCain is not a perfect man, nor is he without justifiable criticism of his previous positions; but John McCain is an open book. His service to his country and his associations has been honorable, and trustworthy.

Barack Obama has not been honest and forthright with the American people. He has hidden his past associations or played them down. He has defamed religious teaching through adherence to black separatist theology and racism, consorted with known terrorists, and enjoys the backing of organizations harmful to the interests and the people of the United States . As an advocate of socialist/Marxist ideology, Barack Obama is frankly, in our judgment, un-American. He falls far short of exemplars such as John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.

Character matters because our nation is facing crises on several critical fronts. If we intend to resolve these problems, we must have the steady hand of true statesmanship. We must have in our president wisdom, experience, honesty, fidelity, and valor. Our president must be a man whose character is consistent with our Nation’s legacy of liberty and equality.

Every presidential election brings forth professional pundits who tell us that this election is the most important of our entire lifetime. This time, they could be right. Our selection of the right man will assure our children, and theirs, of a nation dedicated to individual liberty, prosperity, and the pursuit of happiness. If we choose the wrong man, we may very well witness an end to the United States as created by our forefathers. We are living in perilous times — there is no room for error in our selection of the 44th President of the United States .

On Election Day, one of these candidates will receive a majority of popular votes. In December, the Electoral College will validate the popular vote and confirm the identity of our next president. But this election is more than a referendum on the ability of the American voter to discern between two well-educated men. This election is rather a test of America ’s ability to distinguish and reward personal character and to recognize integrity and statesmanship between one man who possesses these qualities and the other who does not.

We urge Americans to vote for John McCain. There simply is no other choice that is good for the American people, or our great country.

How do you tell a Communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin" — Ronald Reagan

Participants: Always on Watch; And Rightly So; Big Girl Pants; Cheese In My Shoe; Chuck Thinks Right; Confessions of a Closet Republican; Defending Crusader; Farmer’s Letters; Fore Left; GeeeeeZ; Has Everyone Gone Nuts?; Learn Something Today; Long Range; Palace for a Princess; Papa Frank; Mind of a Misfit; Paleocon Command Center; Political Yin and Yang; Pondering Penguin; Praesidium Respublicae; Right Truth; Social Sense; The Amboy Times; The Bitten Word; The Crank Files; The Jungle Hut; The Logic Lifeline; The Merry Widow; TSOFAH

Obama, Carter's Second Term

H/T TheoSpark

Obamaniacs Vandalize Cars, Property and People

I have never seen an election polarize a country as much as this one. And frighteningly so. The other side seems to be taking things to the extreme.

I have friends who have been ostracized by Obama-lovers because they don't share the love. I've had friends lose work, for the same reason.

A man in Clearwater Florida, with a McCain/Palin and anti-Obama bumper sticker, had his 2006 Lexus vandalized. KKK was scratched into the paint, and a U.S. flag was burned into the car. And to add insult to injury, they apparently urinated on the car, as well.

A small, middle-aged woman with a McCain/Palin placard, in Manhattan, N.Y., was assaulted by a large man who went ballistic when he saw the signs.

In an Ohio nursing home, Edith Walker, a 73 year-old Democratic poll worker jumped on the back of 75 year-old George Manos and beat him on the head several times. This occurred after he accused her of ballot tampering when the person they were helping wanted to vote for McCain and Walker marked Obama.

York County, MD GOP headquarters were vandalized with "Republican Means Slavery". The idiots obviously don't realize it was the Republicans who ended slavery.

Also in Maryland, a Democrat who is voting for McCain had his RV spray painted with "Vote For Obama 2008". They also defaced his house, a truck cover, and a 2 x 8 foot sign.

A hotel in Maryland has received threatening calls since it put McCain/Palin signs on it's front lawn. Community leaders are recommending a boycott.

McCain/Palin signs are being stolen and vandalized all over the country. One man replaced his stolen sign with the following:

Although there are probably Obama signs being stolen as well (more likely in retaliation for all the McCain ones being filched), I have yet to see any violence perpetrated against Obama supporters by McCain supporters. And I can't imagine a McCain supporter rejecting a friend who happens to support Obama.

What happened to our freedom to vote for whom we wish, without being assaulted, threatened or blackballed, ostracized or have our property vandalized?

What has happened to this country?

"Dear Mr. Obama"- Iraq War Vet Tells It All

This is one Iraqi war vet voting for McCain.

This is his personal message to Obama, and a very poignant one at that. Please watch to the end, and tell me if this doesn't affect you as much as it did me.

God bless all our military personnel.

Stealing The Votes From The Mentally Challenged

Looks like Obama and his supporters are going to steal this election, in whatever way they can, even if it means taking advantage of the mentally challenged.

Jack Justice, a mentally challenged man in Albany, Georgia, claims he was forced to vote for Obama by an aide at his adult day rehab programme, even though his choice was McCain.

Georgia state election officials are investigating the allegations, and the aide could face criminal charges, but one wonders how much of this is going on, nationwide? How many physically or mentally challenged individuals are being forced, or coerced, into voting for Obama? How many people have filled out absentee ballots for others, without their knowledge of who they are voting for? How easy it would be for an aide, or relative, of an incapacitated senior citizen to simply fill out "Obama", on the ballot.

How sad and pathetic that people feel the need to cheat to get their candidate in office, but it looks like that's what Obama supporters are doing.

Crossposted at redcounty.com

Blog Burst: Nobama08- An Enigma Named Barack

Here is the next Tuesday NoBama08 blogburst installment, submitted by L.A. Sunset.

An Enigma Named Barack
by L. A. Sunset

We The People, in order to preserve a more balanced reality, are committed to learning the truth and uncovering the obscurity of a presidential candidate; a man long cloaked in a mysterious veil, and one that we presume hides the truth and distorts the true man who is Barack Obama.

Our opposition to Mr. Obama is not a factor of race, ethnic identity, nor even his place of domicile (i.e., Chicago); it is rather about his past associations, his character, his judgment, and his vision for the future of the United States of America. We believe that these are valid questions and concerns, that the American press has failed to address them in an honest and forthright manner, and that the American people have the right to know the answers to several questions.

Despite rhetoric designed to mislead and misinform the American voter, such as that Barack Obama is a political centrist; that he sincerely wants to change politics inside the beltway; and/or there is hope for a new day under an Obama administration, the issue of his past associations, statements, and activities demand greater scrutiny. We have learned that Mr. Obama’s associations have deep roots within the modern socialist movement, black separatist theology, known ties to anti-Jewish/Pro-Muslim persons, and Chicago-styled machine-politics. We believe that when combined these radical elements present a clear and present danger to American social tradition and every citizen’s quest for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The “A” list of Mr. Obama’s associates includes (but is not limited to):

William Ayers, an unrepentant terrorist, who by his own admission assures us that he did not participate in enough acts of terror to advance his cause properly, has achieve national attention.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright, whose vile condemnations of “white America” entertained Mr. Obama for twenty years.

Rev. Louis Farrakhan (born: Louis Eugene Walcott) who, as the leader of the Nation of Islam is a racist, a black separatist, a homophobe, and an anti-Semite. Barack Obama joined with Louis Farrakhan and Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi supporting Raila Odinga in his bid to become president of Kenya. Odinga’s political defeat resulted in Muslim violence, burning churches, murdering 1,000 anti-Odinga voters, and renewed demands for the imposition of Shari’ah Law.

Abongo (Roy) Obama, the brother of Barack, is a former Christian now radical Muslim convert, supporter of Cousin Raila Odinga. Roy Obama wants to institute Shari’ah law, wants Barack Obama to convert back to Islam and, as an American president, adopt anti-Israeli policies.

Moussa Marzook is a member of Hamas and author of the Hamas Manifesto, first published in the Los Angeles Times and later reprinted and sold by Jeremiah Wright from the vestibule of Trinity United Church of Christ. Mr. Marzook was indicted by the United States government on issues relating to foreign terrorist activities inside the United States of America. Hamas endorsed Barack Obama for the American presidency in April 2008.

Tony Rezko gave financial backing to Barack Obama early in his to-date short-lived political career. Even though Mr. Obama plays down the association with Mr. Rezko, it is difficult to ignore that the facts prove differently. (See also: Allison Davis, below)

Nadhmi Auchi is linked to Barack Obama through Tony Rezko. He is an Iraqi born billionaire who the U. S. government claims operated as a bagman for Saddam Hussein. He is a London-based financier, one of the world’s richest men. In 2003, he was convicted of fraud involving the “Elf Affair,” Europe’s largest scandal since the end of World War II.

Allison Davis, former employer of Barack Obama, who later closed his law firm and became a partner of Tony Rezko. Davis assigned Mr. Obama to legal work on behalf of Mr. Rezko.

Rev. James T. Meeks, whom Barack Obama regularly sought for counseling, who served as an Obama delegate at the Democratic Convention and is a long-time political ally, who aided Obama as an influential black supporter, received funding from Tony Rezko. Meeks is known for anti-Jewish and homophobic rhetoric.

Rashid Khalidi, along with William Ayers and Barack Obama, is a former professor at Chicago University. He directs the Palestine Press Agency in Beirut, is an agent of the Arab American Action Network, and according to a top official of former-President George H. W. Bush and a former CIA intelligence officer, former Weather Underground leader William Ayers funneled money to Khalidi, who maintains ties with the Palestine Liberation Organization. Khalidi also received $70,000 from the Woods Fund, and held fund-raising events in his home on behalf of Barack Obama. Barack Obama is a former director of The Woods Fund, a non-profit organization that, in addition to its interests in “giving a voice to less advantaged people,” helped funnel money to Rashid Khalidi for the Arab American Action Network, which presumably includes Palestinian interests within the United States. The Woods Fund also helps to finance “community organizing, and public policy.” Created in 1995 to help raise funds to reform Chicago public schools, the Chicago Annenberg Challenge involved William Ayers as a leading founder, who in turn appointed Barack Obama to its board of directors. Mr. Obama served on the board for six years. According to investigative journalist Stanley Kurtz, writing for the Wall Street Journal, reforming Chicago public schools is a bid misleading: it was a program designed to radicalize students more than it was to educate them. According to Ayers, “Teachers should be community organizers, dedicated to provoking resistance to American racism and oppression.”

Astute Bloggers has illustrated additional past associations; it is a well-researched expose providing a clear view of what lays just beneath the surface of Obama’s deception. We understand why Mr. Obama would want to play down these associations; we do not understand why the American news media would assist him in doing so. Nevertheless, Astute Bloggers lifts the veil on two well-known groups: The New Party, and the Chicago Democrat Socialists of America. Let's take a closer look.

The New Party is an obscure, lesser-known political group. It practices a political strategy called electoral fusion, which entails placing a political candidate on several lines of the same ballot. An example of how electoral fusion works is located at this page; look for the lead “Vote your values,” two-thirds of the way down on the right-hand side of the page. Once a candidate receives the support of Democratic kingmakers, and if the New Party feels the candidate will serve their socialist cause, they will add the candidate's name more than once in order to gain votes that are more popular. From the above link:

The New Party is an umbrella organization for grassroots political groups working to break the stranglehold that corporate money and corporate media have over our political process. Our current work and long-term strategy is to change states' election rules to allow fusion voting - a method of voting that allows minor parties to have their own ballot line with which they can either endorse their own candidates or endorse the candidates of other parties. Through fusion, minor parties don't have to always compete in the winner-take-all two party system and can avoid "spoiling" - throwing an election to the most conservative candidate by splitting the votes that might go to two more progressive candidates (ours and another party's).

Not surprisingly, “community organizing” is the bedrock of The New Party; socialist progressivism is their ideology. The Chicago chapter maintains a close relationship to the Associations of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). According to this 1996 publication, Barack Obama is clearly affiliated with The New Party

Illinois: Three NP-members won Democratic primaries last spring and face off against Republican opponents on Election Day: Danny Davis (U.S. House), Barack Obama (State Senate), and Patricia Martin (Cook County Judiciary).
Note: Readers familiar with Chicago politics will recognize the names of former Chicago mayor Danny Davis on that list also.

From this evidence, we begin to understand the role electoral fusion played in Mr. Obama’s rapid rise to political power.

Chicago Democrat Socialists of America pursues socio-political programs implied by the title of their organization, but even this organization is more than meets the eye. Cornel West, while serving as an Honorary Chair to Chicago DSA penned a remarkably revealing essay entitled Toward a Socialist Theory of Racism. Chicago DSA and Dr. West were particularly interested in Barack Obama because of his New Party affiliation, his success in running for State senator, and the strategies he employed, to wit: “Barack Obama, victor in the 13th State Senate District, encouraged NPers to join in his task forces on Voter Education and Voter Registration.”

Well, so what if Barack Obama peaks the interest of the Chicago DSA? It is important because no one backs a dark-horse candidate unless there is a chance he will win, and/or there is a reasonable expectation for a return of political capital. In an article entitled, The End of Liberalism socialist author Daniel Cantor wrote, “A massive Times-Mirror poll registered 53% of the public in favor of a ‘major third party,’ so there's no doubt that the soil is fertile. Among the hopeful contenders is the ‘New Party,’ one of a handful of newly forming independent, progressive parties in the country. New Party chapters have backed 93 candidates in nine states over the last eighteen months and won 62 elections.” An index of New Party political propaganda is available, here.

Daniel Cantor, of course, is the executive director of New York’s Working Families Party, another socialist group with chapters in Connecticut and Oregon. He urges socialists, “Vote Your Values.” This would appear to be good advice for everyone with values.

John Nichols writes for The Nation, a politically progressive publication. Nichols is a well-established writer, perhaps best known for ad nauseum demands for the impeachment of George W. Bush for war crimes and other frivolous reasons; so much for his credibility.

Taken by themselves, none of these concerns will alter the course of human history. After all, as Americans, we encourage political and social discourse; we value the right of everyone to express an opinion, no matter how insane that opinion may be, and all of us have the right to associate with anyone we choose. Yet it is instructive to note that socialist radicals have completely infiltrated the Democratic Party, and we need no further proof than the inane rhetoric emanating from every Democrat in the House and Senate. The concern expressed in this essay is not that other ideas are unworthy of debate; it is rather that Barack Obama freely decided to associate with dangerously radical and disreputable influences and he now seeks to hide those associations. Why would he do that? Barack Obama wants to become our next president; he knows that most Americans repudiate Marxist/socialist ideology; he is aware that if most voters begin to see the real Barack Obama, John McCain will win the election. But we believe that Barack Obama has been dishonest with American voters who are capable of thinking. We believe he has taken advantage of Americans voters who are incapable of thinking. We believe that if Mr. Obama stepped up to a microphone and told us what he really believes, he would be lucky to win the post of an Animal Control Specialist.

Honesty, truthfulness, clarity, judgment, motivation, patriotism, and common sense are all important attributes for the office of the President of the United States. We do not believe that Barack Obama has any of these qualities. And, if Mr. Barack Obama has been less than truthful about his associations, what makes anyone think we can trust his campaign promises, his vision for America? The fact is that every man is free to associate with whomever he pleases; but this does not protect any man from judgments about those associations. We believe that the sheer weight of Mr. Obama’s involvement with questionable individuals and organizations will lead a reasonable person to query both his judgment and motivation for nefarious associations.

We the People of the United States, who are also a loose confederation of bloggers, categorically reject Barack Obama for president. He is a radical socialist, he is a black separatist, a racist, he harbors pro-Muslim/Anti-Jewish sentiments and associates, he identifies with homophobes, convicted swindlers, known terrorists, creative financiers, and he has already signaled his willingness to sacrifice National Security for a dialogue with Muslim fanatics.

We cannot vote for this man. We urge you to join us in defeating Barack Obama. So say us one, so say us all.

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