Seven years ago on this day, a thick cloud of dust shrouded one of our greatest cities. Amid the tragedy, something else emerged: sympathetic hands from points around the globe. But as the Bush/McCain team employed it's intricate web of lies and mismanagement to lead us to an unprecedented "preemptive" war, those sympathetic hands withdrew. Then backs were turned. Today, America is hated more than ever.
I am afraid of the people that hate us. I am afraid of them because they would kill my daughter without a moment's hesitation. In the eyes of the people that hate us as well as many others, John McCain is George Bush.
No one believes Barack Obama is George Bush.
When we elect Barack Obama, there will still be a great deal of hate and some portion of it will remain no matter what. But I believe Obama will lessen that hate and breathe life into a more globally-minded America. He will surround himself with smart competent people, selected for the good of the country. I trust Obama's judgment.
I do not trust John McCain's judgment. The Bush/McCain team has shrunk the dollar, sold my daughter's America to China, and deregulated the banking industry straight to Hell. McCain's tactics prove that he will embrace the same sort of lying, manipulation and conniving that have kept his party in power for eight years during which they have swindled the American people of their rights as well their money with the sole purpose of keeping the wealthy elite in control.
As President, Obama has a massive job before him. The one thing I can give him right now in order to succeed is my belief.
I believe in Barack Obama.
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23 comments:
Erin, there are a lot of europeans including myself who believe in Barak Obama. I just hope America votes for the right man! I'ts time for change :)
amen sister. amen.
Well said.
I really believe that 9/11 was one of those rarest of historical moments when the course of the whole world could have been changed. And we pissed away.
Crikey. One of the most glaring failures of the Bush administration.
And yet, people are more worried about a candidates position on gay marriage?!?!?! I don't get it.
Erin, the difference between the current political campaigns is the difference between an adolescent boy, eager for the keys to dad's car, feeling he is about to enforce his will on the world, because it is his right and, by god, he is/was a POW who, wink, will always put country first (do as I say not as I do) AND someone who understands we no longer live in the age of Nationalism where chants of USA seem to miss the point.
John doesn't get it. But then again, I wouldn't expect a 72 year old, who's life was lived in the 20th century and who celebrates what happened 40 years ago as the event that shaped and defined his world, as understanding the subtle nuances of the twenty-first century. We are the most powerful nation on the earth, by might, not so much anymore by right; and the rest of the world is as a child, a teenager and an aging parent, disgusted at the abuse of our adult power. We lead no one anymore. Those that follow us do so out of fear or with outstretched hands for our money. The ugly american, as viewed in the world, has now become, the ugly american nation.
As I watch the McCain campaign practice the politics of personal destruction and outright, boldfaced lies, I can't help but feel, wonder, if we are not at the beginning stages of the decline and fall of the American empire. It doesn't have to be this way, but it seems as if we do not have the collective intelligence to avoid the path of all great civilizations.
And, for what it's worth, I'm a registered independent (since 18) and have voted Republican in every presidential election. Prior to this year, I had never contributed to any campaign on any level.
I should probably finish my coffee before I write such things. :-D
My husband often muses over the decline of the American empire.
"They only last about 200 years," he says.
Your pre-coffee musings are not lost on me.
Oh, and dig this:
Trée
: )
I had this nightmare last night that we were bombing everyone. There were all these refugees on the news. And there was this announcement that we had killed Bin Laden, too.
When I woke up, I was amazed at how overwhelmed I am--and everyone is--by this election. By the nightmares of the last eight years. I got a note from the Beatitude House about their work with the homeless, and I was thinking of how many more homeless kids there are now, how the buses have trouble finding them all because they move from home to home to shelter to . . .
The other day I passed these Mexicans with signs: WIll work for food. They were camped out on the sidewalk.
These things scare me. A lot. And the heartlessness of our current regime that can bale out Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers . . . but has no interest in the economic woes of its people . . .
Okay. I'll shut up.
I am absolutely appalled at the 50% of Americans not willing to THINK and analyze the issues and the platforms on which both these men are running, and instead content with 30-second soundbites. We need to get off our asses and stop being lazy. WORK to understand the elemental differences of these two platform. I read a comment from a Conservative supporter who asked to be told what Obama's platform is, and in the same sentence said (paraphrasing now): "...and don't ask me to go to his website and read about it." WTF? Why not? Where else would you get the info? From Fox News? Aaah, indeed. From Fox (Faux) News. It's this kind of lack of interest and laziness which drives half of voters. If we (not me) elect the Conservative platform, we deserve all the rubbish that will befall this country; socially, economically, internationally, and politically. It's astounding to me that this race is so close. It's mindboggling that 50 % of Americans actually think that we're doing well internally, and that what the rest of the world thinks and how they view us doesn't matter. But then again, this is the same percentage that scoffs community organizing. Giuliani's pompous smirk regarding community organizing forever...FOREVER made me lose respect for this party. If McCain/Palin take over the White House, we deserve all the shit that they haul along. And I challenge people, when times become rougher and more freedom and privacy is lost, to shut the fuck up and take it. It's through our own doing that this abberation of government is still possible. This is our chance to speak. This is the goddamned 21st Century. We're through with old white insiders as presidents. Vote Obama.
Well, as one of the folks who lost their home, whose company closed, who can't find any work above minimum wage, I certainly know where my vote is going.
Under the Clinton administration, I was comfortable, could afford a few nice things, that has all changed dramatically.
I live in Ohio, things here are not going well here at all, if McPalin get elected, I shudder to think what may become of me and other folks like me.
I can only hope that we can get folks like me to get out and vote, I'm terrified that all the fundies and men with a hard-on for the MILF are going to destroy any chance this country has to survive.
Vote Obama indeed.
I'm stunned that people have been running around screaming about this whole "lipstick on a pig" comment. And now that Palin is doing this whole "I voted for it, before I voted against it" bullshit regarding the Bridge to Nowhere.
How in the name of all that is decent can these people be the party of "do what I say"? This is such extraordinary bullshit.
The McCain camp has made this election about personalities, of which he and Palin are complete devoid of. How the hell can Obama and Biden stear this bitch election back on the tracks without appearing like elitist meanies?
I mean, FUCK!
Well, I have thrown my hands up in the air over this election...whoever gets it, gets it.
Have fun!
I don't think most Americans--even the guys running--have any idea what the job REALLY IS...
...how about them Steelers??
would it be possible that every person who commented here could go find 5 conservative blogs and offer an intelligent (non-bashing) perspective? something that might resonate, point out the obvious but in a way that helps people make the connection, help people understand what's at stake? we are baffled and enraged but is there a way to help them understand why without calling them stupid? because i don't think that's working. ideas anyone?
I'm afraid that for most of us outside your country, there's little likelihood that the USA can redeem itself any time soon. There's too deep a legacy of flawed foreign policy and a presidency change always seems more like a new paint job on an old car. It might look flashy and promise speed, but what's underneath is still a clunker.
Will foreign policy really change that much under Obama? Will he reign back interventionist politics, deregulate and de-subsidise American import/export, get rid of Guantanamo Bay or at least deal with its inmates properly, and deal properly with the terrible consequences of the Iraq invasion? Will he reel in the excesses of the CIA? Will "rendition" cease?
I wish. But probably, American policy is a juggernaut driven by a bureaucracy, power structure - and public paranoia - probably largely outside the President's control.
One thing is for sure: there is no chance of any change or reform under McCain. There is no way he will deal properly with the Iraq debacle since he's backed it since its inception.
The only chance we have is with Obama, so that's where I have to throw my support.
It's so goddamn embarrassing being an American these days. I'm sorry. I really am. I am so so so sorry.
Thanks everyone for commenting and reading. To those out there who are red around the edges, or red all the way through, we'd love to hear from you too.
Moment: those who find their way on those blogs, and who offer even an inkling of a cerebral argument, are hounded off and beaten away (verbally, of course) into oblivion. It is the opinion of many a columnist that the Obama campaign start to fire back aggressively at McCain/Palin, attacking them almost personally. It's been historically shown that sticking to the issues is not working with Americans. Friedman has a column in today's Times that basically says Americans vote with their gut, not their brains. I agree with that. Unfortunately, being civil and cerebral in politics doesn't work. At least for American voters.
I read excerpts from Charlie Gibson's interview with Sarah Palin on the ABC News website, and she's not only in support of letting Georgia and the Ukraine become part of NATO, but if Russia attacks Georgia again, believes that the United States should become part of that war and send it help.
No, no, no! Not again! Enough! We've already lost 4,000 Americans, how many more do we have to lose?
My vote's already going toward Obama, but I hope this interview smartens people up and forces them to actually think about the future and not base their votes entirely on looks.
But then, I'm hoping for too much.
Personally, I'm waiting for my McCain bumper sticker, poster, and T-shirt to show up. I'm sure I'll get lots of dirty looks from the people here in Montpelier when I sport all of them in public.
Al
TRAG
P.S. Meat fabrication is fun, actually.
I think most Americans, and the world, would understand and appreciate it if the U.S. were to defend Georgia and Ukraine from Russian occupation. Unlike in Afghanistan and Iraq, Georgia and Ukraine's leaders will ASK for our help.
This whole situation with Russia is making all of Yerp (as W. calls it) hold their breath.
This won't be a Cold War, but a full on Hot War. I don't think nukes will be involved, but it's going to get nasty.
Pray on it Sarah Palin. Prey on it.
And, it provides the Republican leadership the perfect excuse to un-ass Iraq! There's also a lot of oil and gas at stake, so that should satisfy the old "Well, what's in it for me?" argument.
uh. That is because conservatives BELIEVE stuff. They don't need to bother actually verifying anything... um. As long as Bill O says it, then it is true.
Here's Lincoln Chafee, former Senator of Rhode Island, with his opinion of Sarah Palin, off the CNN Ticker:
"Chafee, the lone Senate Republican to vote against the Iraq war who endorsed Obama’s White House bid earlier this year, told an audience at the New America Foundation in Washington Tuesday that Palin’s selection has energized Obama backers.
“People were coming into my office, phone calls were flooding in, e-mails were coming in, ‘I just sent money to Obama, I couldn’t sleep last night’ — from the left. To see this cocky wacko up there,” he said.
He also described McCain’s candidacy as “lackluster” and described the selection of Palin as a throwing “this firestorm, this tornado, into the whole presidential election.”
Cocky wacko. Bless you, Sir! Those two words are music together.
Me too, sister. Me too.
Oh Al? Um .. darling?
I think you forgot something. That's your McCain/PALIN bumper sticker, poster and tee-shirt. Don't forget that, baby. it's McCain/PALIN.
You just forgot to add the PALIN, right? You are just as excited about the GOP VP nominee as you are about McCain, right?
Right? Al?
Erin,
Actually, I bought the McCain version (that's what they had on the website). And I'm aware it's McCain/Palin, as I am it is Obama/Biden.
Am I excited about Sarah Palin being the Republican VP nominee? No. I don't get excited about such things as a matter of record. Do I think I know why McCain picked her instead of someone else? Yes (and it's not just her looks contrary to those who believe that to be the case).
Am I excited at the prospect of John McCain possibly becoming our next president? Not excited, but as I've noted elsewhere, I prefer him to Obama for any number of reasons. Again, I don't get excited about such things, but I do prefer one course of action over another. For me, it's McCain rather than Obama.
Al
TRAG
P.S. Making sausage is fun (no snide comments from the peanut gallery).
P.S.S. My brother sent me a great website to check the facts on both Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin. It's called www.factcheck.org. Some may already know about it. That it came from my brother Jay, who is an admitted liberal and Obama supporter tells me a lot. This site, according to my brother treats both parties/candidates fairly, and does its best to dispel rumor and myths on both sides of the aisle. Worth a look if I may be so bold.
Keep hype alive, and keep passing those hot potatoes.
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