Mind and Destiny

Part 6. Obama’s Speech

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Obama accepts the Democratic presidential nomination

“And we will keep our promise to every young American: If you commit to serving your community or our country, we will make sure you can afford a college education.

“Now is the time to finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American. If you have health care, my plan will lower your premiums. If you don’t, you’ll be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves. And as someone who watched my mother argue with insurance companies while she lay in bed dying of cancer, I will make certain those companies stop discriminating against those who are sick and need care the most.

“Now is the time to help families with paid sick days and better family leave, because nobody in America should have to choose between keeping their job and caring for a sick child or an ailing parent.

“Now is the time to change our bankruptcy laws, so that your pensions are protected ahead of CEO bonuses, and the time to protect Social Security for future generations. And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day’s work, because I want my daughters to have the exact same opportunities as your sons.

“Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I’ve laid out how I'll pay for every dime: by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens that don’t help America grow.

“But I will also go through the federal budget line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less, because we cannot meet 21st-century challenges with a 20th-century bureaucracy.

“And, Democrats, we must also admit that fulfilling America’s promise will require more than just money. It will require a renewed sense of responsibility from each of us to recover what John F. Kennedy called our intellectual and moral strength.

“Yes, government must lead on energy independence, but each of us must do our part to make our homes and businesses more efficient.

“Yes, we must provide more ladders to success for young men who fall into lives of crime and despair. But we must also admit that programs alone can’t replace parents, that government can’t turn off the television and make a child do her homework, that fathers must take more responsibility to provide love and guidance to their children.”

Part 5. Obama’s Speech

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:59:00 +0000

Obama accepts the Democratic presidential nomination

“So let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am president. Change means a tax code that doesn’t reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.

“Unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America. I’ll eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.

“I will cut taxes for 95 percent of all working families, because, in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class. And for the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as president: In 10 years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East. We will do this. Washington has been talking about our oil addiction for the last 30 years. And, by the way, John McCain has been there for 26 of them.

“And in that time, he has said no to higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars, no to investments in renewable energy, no to renewable fuels. And today, we import triple the amount of oil than we had on the day that Senator McCain took office. Now is the time to end this addiction and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution, not even close. As president, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. I’ll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America.

“I’ll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars. And I’ll invest $150 billion over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy -- wind power, and solar power, and the next generation of biofuels -- an investment that will lead to new industries and 5 million new jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced.

“America, now is not the time for small plans. Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy.

“You know, Michelle and I are only here tonight because we were given a chance at an education. And I will not settle for an America where some kids don’t have that chance.

“I’ll invest in early childhood education. I’ll recruit an army of new teachers, and pay them higher salaries, and give them more support. And in exchange, I’ll ask for higher standards and more accountability.

Part 4. Obama's Speech

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:15:00 +0000

Obama accepts the Democratic presidential nomination

“When I listen to another worker tell me that his factory has shut down, I remember all those men and women on the South Side of Chicago who I stood by and fought for two decades ago after the local steel plant closed.

“And when I hear a woman talk about the difficulties of starting her own business or making her way in the world, I think about my grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle management, despite years of being passed over for promotions because she was a woman.

“She’s the one who taught me about hard work. She’s the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life. She poured everything she had into me. And although she can no longer travel, I know that she's watching tonight and that tonight is her night, as well.

“Now, I don’t know what kind of lives John McCain thinks that celebrities lead, but this has been mine. These are my heroes; theirs are the stories that shaped my life. And it is on behalf of them that I intend to win this election and keep our promise alive as president of the United States.

“What is that American promise? It’s a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have obligations to treat each other with dignity and respect.

“It’s a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, to look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road.

“Ours is a promise that says government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves: protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools, and new roads, and science, and technology.

“Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who’s willing to work.

“That’s the promise of America, the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation, the fundamental belief that I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper.

“That’s the promise we need to keep. That’s the change we need right now.”

Part 3. Obama’s Speech

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:58:00 +0000

Obama accepts the Democratic presidential nomination.

“For over two decades, he’s (McCain) subscribed to that old, discredited Republican philosophy: Give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else.

“In Washington, they call this the ‘Ownership Society,’ but what it really means is that you’re on your own. Out of work? Tough luck, you’re on your own. No health care? The market will fix it. You’re on your own. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, even if you don’t have boots. You are on your own.

“Well, it’s time for them to own their failure. It’s time for us to change America. And that’s why I’m running for president of the United States. You see, we Democrats have a very different measure of what constitutes progress in this country.

“We measure progress by how many people can find a job that pays the mortgage, whether you can put a little extra money away at the end of each month so you can someday watch your child receive her college diploma.

“We measure progress in the 23 million new jobs that were created when Bill Clinton was president when the average American family saw its income go up $7,500 instead of go down $2,000, like it has under George Bush.

“We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500, but by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a new business, or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take a day off and look after a sick kid without losing her job, an economy that honors the dignity of work.

“The fundamentals we use to measure economic strength are whether we are living up to that fundamental promise that has made this country great, a promise that is the only reason I am standing here tonight.

“Because, in the faces of those young veterans who come back from Iraq and Afghanistan, I see my grandfather, who signed up after Pearl Harbor, marched in Patton’s army, and was rewarded by a grateful nation with the chance to go to college on the G.I. Bill.

“In the face of that young student, who sleeps just three hours before working the night shift, I think about my mom, who raised my sister and me on her own while she worked and earned her degree, who once turned to food stamps, but was still able to send us to the best schools in the country with the help of student loans and scholarships.”

Part 2. Obama’s Speech

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Obama accepts the Democratic presidential nomination.

“On November 4th, we must stand up and say: Eight is enough.

“Now, let there be no doubt. The Republican nominee, John McCain, has worn the uniform of our country with bravery and distinction, and for that we owe him our gratitude and our respect. And next week, we'll also hear about those occasions when he's broken with his party as evidence that he can deliver the change that we need. But the record's clear: John McCain has voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time.

“Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but, really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush has been right more than 90 percent of the time? I don't know about you, but I am not ready to take a 10 percent chance on change. The truth is, on issue after issue that would make a difference in your lives - on health care, and education, and the economy - Senator McCain has been anything but independent.

“He said that our economy has made great progress under this president. He said that the fundamentals of the economy are strong. And when one of his chief advisers, the man who wrote his economic plan, was talking about the anxieties that Americans are feeling, he said that we were just suffering from a mental recession and that we've become, and I quote, "a nation of whiners."

“A nation of whiners? Tell that to the proud auto workers at a Michigan plant who, after they found out it was closing, kept showing up every day and working as hard as ever, because they knew there were people who counted on the brakes that they made. Tell that to the military families who shoulder their burdens silently as they watch their loved ones leave for their third, or fourth, or fifth tour of duty. These are not whiners. They work hard, and they give back, and they keep going without complaint. These are the Americans I know.

“Now, I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans; I just think he doesn't know. Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under $5 million a year? How else could he propose hundreds of billions in tax breaks for big corporations and oil companies, but not one penny of tax relief to more than 100 million Americans?

“How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people's benefits, or an education plan that would do nothing to help families pay for college, or a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement?

“It's not because John McCain doesn't care; it's because John McCain doesn't get it.”

Obama's Acceptance Speech

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:42:00 +0000

Obama’s speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination.

“Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story, of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren’t well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.

“It is that promise that’s always set this country apart, that through hard work and sacrifice each of us can pursue our individual dreams, but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams, as well. That’s why I stand here tonight. Because for 232 years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women, students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors found the courage to keep it alive.

“We meet at one of those defining moments, a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more.

“Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and even more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can’t afford to drive, credit cards, bills you can’t afford to pay, and tuition that’s beyond your reach.

“These challenges are not all of government’s making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush.

“America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this. This country is more decent than one where a woman in Ohio, on the brink of retirement, finds herself one illness away from disaster after a lifetime of hard work. We’re a better country than one where a man in Indiana has to pack up the equipment that he’s worked on for 20 years and watch as it’s shipped off to China, and then chokes up as he explains how he felt like a failure when he went home to tell his family the news. We are more compassionate than a government that lets veterans sleep on our streets and families slide into poverty, that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes.

“Tonight, I say to the people of America, to Democrats and Republicans and independents across this great land: Enough. This moment, this moment, this election is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive.

“Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third. And we are here, because we love this country too much to let the next four years look just like the last eight.”

Success and Victory

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:10:00 +0000

On 8/18/08, McCain told the VFW Convention: “Though victory in Iraq is finally in sight, a great deal still depends on the decisions and good judgment of the next president. The hard-won gains of our troops hang in the balance. The lasting advantage of a peaceful and democratic ally in the heart of the Middle East could still be squandered by hasty withdrawal and arbitrary timelines. And this is one of many problems in the shifting positions of my opponent, Senator Obama.”

Obama hasn’t shifted his position, since July 2007, when he said: “I think we can be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in.”

In June of 2003, McCain said: “many argue that the conflict (in Iraq) isn’t over. Well, then why was there a banner that said ‘Mission Accomplished’ on the aircraft carrier? Look, I have said a long time that reconstruction of Iraq would be a long, long, difficult process, but the conflict, the major conflict is over. The regime change has been accomplished, and it’s very appropriate.”

On 5/22/o3, McCain reiterated that position on the Senate floor: “We won a massive victory in a few weeks, and we did so with very limited loss of American and allied lives. We were able to end aggression with minimum overall loss of life, and we were even able to greatly reduce the civilian casualties of Afghani and Iraqi citizens.”

After, declaring victory in Iraq, five years and three months ago, he’s now telling the VFW Convention: “victory in Iraq is finally in sight.”

Furthermore, at the convention, McCain claimed: “Senator Obama commits the greater error of insisting that even in hindsight, he would oppose the surge. Even in retrospect, he would choose the path of retreat and failure for America over the path of success and victory.”

What is McCain’s definition of success and victory? Another 100 years in Iraq?

The surge hasn’t work, because it was supposed to promote a political reconciliation in the Iraqi government and that has not happened. If the surge had actually worked, our troops would be home from Iraq or at least we’d have the same number of troops in Iraq presently, as we had at the time the surge began.

Tax Evasion

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:01:00 +0000

Clinton provided tax breaks for the middle and lower incomes, who in turn spend the money. Bush provided disproportionate tax breaks for the wealthy, who stash their money in numerous tax havens. Billions and billions of dollars worth of U.S. assets find their way into these secret tax havens. Each year, our treasury loses an estimated $100 billion in tax revenues from offshore tax abuses. Tax havens are engaged in economic warfare against honest, hardworking American taxpayers.

LGT is a private bank owned by the royal family of Liechtenstein. The country is a tiny alpine nation of 35,000 citizens, which supports 15 banks that together boast of holding more than $200 billion in assets. Liechtenstein boasts of secrecy laws even more stringent than those in Switzerland, which has become famous for hidden bank accounts.

Switzerlands UBS bank is one of the world’s largest financial institutions and the world’s largest manager of private wealth. UBS has an estimated 19,000 so-called “undeclared accounts” for American citizens with an estimated $18 billion in assets that have been kept secret from the IRS.

In February 2008, a global tax scandal erupted after a former employee of LGT provided tax authorities around the world with data on about 1,400 people with accounts at LGT Bank in Liechtenstein. By mid-February, the IRS announced it had initiated enforcement action against 100 U.S. taxpayers in connection with accounts in Liechtenstein. Since, February, nearly a dozen countries have announced plans to investigate taxpayers with Liechtenstein accounts, demonstrating not only the worldwide scope of the tax scandal, but also a newfound international determination to fight against tax evasion facilitated by tax haven banks.

The former employee who exposed LGT’s dirty laundry had to go into hiding to avoid arrest by Liechtenstein, which listed him as its number one target for arrest. A $10 million reward has been placed on his head by unknown parties on the Internet.

According to Democratic Senator Carl Levin: “Tax evasion eats at the fabric of society, not only by starving health care, education, and other needed government services of resources, but also by undermining trust.” Consequently, honest Americans feel like they’re being abused when they pay their fair share.

The Psychopaths

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:32:00 +0000

Excerpts from “Twilight of the Psychopaths,” by Dr. Kevin Barrett

“‘Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we’re being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I’m liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That’s what’s insane about it.’ - John Lennon

“Civilized people, we are told, live peacefully and cooperatively with their fellows, sharing the necessary labour in order to obtain the leisure to develop arts and sciences. And while that would be a good idea, it is not a good description of what has been going on in the so-called advanced cultures during the past 8,000 years.

“Civilization, as we know it, is largely the creation of psychopaths. All civilizations, our own included, have been based on slavery and ‘warfare.’ Incidentally, the latter term is a euphemism for mass murder.

“The prevailing recipe for civilization is simple:

“1) Use lies and brainwashing to create an army of controlled, systematic mass murderers;

“2) Use that army to enslave large numbers of people (i.e.seize control of their labour power and its fruits);

“3) Use that slave labour power to improve the brainwashing process (by using the economic surplus to employ scribes, priests, and PR men). Then go back to step one and repeat the process.

“Psychopaths have played a disproportionate role in the development of civilization, because they are hard-wired to lie, kill, injure, and generally inflict great suffering on other humans without feeling any remorse. The inventor of civilization - the first tribal chieftain who successfully brainwashed an army of controlled mass murderers- was almost certainly a genetic psychopath. Since that momentous discovery, psychopaths have enjoyed a significant advantage over non- psychopaths in the struggle for power in civilizational hierarchies - especially military hierarchies.

“Military institutions are tailor-made for psychopathic killers. The 5% or so of human males who feel no remorse about killing their fellow human beings make the best soldiers. And the 95% who are extremely reluctant to kill make terrible soldiers - unless they are brainwashed with highly sophisticated modern techniques that turn them (temporarily it is hoped) into functional psychopaths.”

Dr. Kevin Barrett is a co-founder of the Muslim-Christian-Jewish Alliance for 9/11 Truth, and has taught English, French, Arabic, American Civilization, Humanities, African Literature, Folklore, and Islam at colleges and universities in the San Francisco Bay area, Paris, and Madison, Wisconsin.

The Flying Monkeys

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:09:00 +0000

I highly recommend this very important book by a local author.

Words of praise for The Einstein Sisters Bag the Flying Monkeys:

"I wish St. Paul had included comic satirists in the list of indispensable gift ministries. Humour and laughter are much in need."
            — Rev. Stephen Sizer, Vicar, Christ Church, Virginia Water, U.K.
            Author Christian Zionism: Roadmap to Armageddon?

"Einstein Sisters an informative and funny read"
— Jessica Lewis, The Evening Sun, Norwich, NY

"You've woven a fascinating tale with so much information."
— Len Bjorkman, retired Presbyterian minister

"Readers, young and old, will delight in this empowering story, as they are taken on a remarkable journey. . .that shows how ordinary people. . .can change the course of history."
            — Joanne G. Gruettner, Delaware County Times, Delhi, NY

"Students of the New Testament can easily identify the recurring warnings about false teachers, frauds, charlatans, and false prophets. These warnings are not simply from Paul, they are from Jesus as well. In his political and religious satire, Hall shows how charlatans and cult leaders can make a religion of nationalism and war. He has focused on this blasphemous disaster in the spirit of Dante. Yes, here we have a Divine Comedy that identifies the false gods of hatred and idol worship.
          —Blase Bonpane, PhD., Director, Office of the Americas, Los Angeles

". . .thought provoking from the standpoint of my Christian beliefs, informative from its historical perspective, and suddenly funny when you least expect it. I was impressed by the author's depth of knowledge of both current politics and biblical history and how successfully he mastered the challenge of weaving both topics into one great novel. We should all experience the simple and uncomplicated relationship that the youngest heroine, Tina, has with Jesus. . .through the eyes and heart of a child"
— Ellen Mordus, Medical Worker, Hamilton NY

The Einstein Sisters Bag the Flying Monkeys
by Irving Wesley Hall
Not In Kansas Press, 2008
ISBN-13 978-0-9801252-2-1
www.notinkansas.us

Who Do You Like?

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:39:00 +0000

Let me get this correct, I name a couple specific, significant achievements that I think Obama will accomplish after his election, and within a reasonable time frame. “If we can agree on them now, and if he accomplishes them,” you’ll support of him. But, Obama needs to be elected in order to accomplish anything.

You say that: “i’m done with projecting blind hope, faith, and trust onto any pol who hasn’t earned them through solid, consistent performance.”

I assume “pol” is your shorthand for politician. Can you name a politician, who has earned your trust through solid, consistent performance? Who do you consider a better choice for vice president than Joe Biden?

Are you aware that the Kyl-Lieberman amendment, which served to further inflame our relationship with Iran passed by a vote of 76 to 22? Biden voted against that amendment. Only two Republican Senators voted against the Kyl-Lieberman amendment and McCain wasn’t one of them.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers Lobby) applauded Senator Biden’s statement of opposition to the Bush regime’s decision to sell F-16 fighter-bomber jets to Pakistan in the wake of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

Biden is considered the foreign affairs expert for the Democratic party. He was critical of Bush for talking about World War III and Iran’s nuclear weapons program ever though he had the information that it had been shut down last August. Biden pointed out that according to the 16 American intelligence agencies, Iran had shut down their program to build a nuclear weapon in 2003. He called Bush’s remarks irresponsible and insisted it’s the same kind of misrepresented, cherry-picked intelligence that led to the invasion of Iraq.

On the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden joined Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy in opposing Mukasey’s nomination to be Attorney General.

Biden proposed a plan to give regional control in Iraq to Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds. He believes the people of Iraq would support the idea of a confederacy which offers a lot of autonomy to the three separate groups. He emphasized that the decision to divide up Iraq into three regions must be a decision made by the Iraqi people and not one “imposed by an imperialistic occupier.”

Biden said: “cutting the funding is not going to end the war, because it’s not going to change the president’s mind. Bush may be willing to use them as pawns, but I’m not willing to do that.” He insisted that we need to protect those we put in the field and take care of those we bring home.

Under Biden’s questioning it became clear that Bush’s domestic spy program isn’t contributing anything to protecting Americans from al Qaeda type terrorism. Biden asked whether the program had achieved any results. Attorney General Gonzales claimed, it had helped identify would-be terrorists here in the United States. Biden asked: “Have we arrested those people we’ve identified as terrorists in the United States?” Gonzales replied: “When we can use our law enforcement tools to go after the bad guys, we do that.” Biden concluded: “It kind of worries me because you all talk about how you identify these people, and I’ve not heard anything about anybody being arrested.”

Biden brought Republicans and Democrats together to pass the 1994 crime bill, putting 100,000 cops on the streets and started an eight-year drop in crime across the country. He wrote the Violence Against Women Act, which offered woman a place to turn for support. Biden has been at the forefront of the fight for judges who respect the fundamental rights and liberties of the American people, affordable college tuition, equal pay for women, family leave policies and a rising minimum wage. Biden passed laws to lock down chemical weapons and encouraged bringing Europe’s newest democracies into NATO.

Obama would send at least two more combat brigades to Afghanistan, where our troops face rising violence and endured their deadliest attack in three years.

At a Peace Vigil several weeks ago, Joel Canfield stopped by to discuss several issues. He immediately asked Kate Ryan and I, whether we planned to continue our Peace Vigils if Obama, became commander-in-chief and sent two more brigades to Afghanistan. Both, Kate and I indicated that we’d continue to participate in Peace Vigils.

I agree with a statement Reverend Jeremiah Wright made on national television: “Last year, I said to Barack Obama: If you get elected, on November the 5th, I’m coming after you, because you’ll be representing a government whose policies grind under people. It’s about policy, not the American people. And there is no excuse for the things that the government, not the American people, have done. That doesn’t make me not like America or unpatriotic. When Jesus says, ‘You’ll be brought down to Hell,’ that’s not bombastic, divisive speech. If so maybe we ought to take Jesus out of this Christian faith.”

I'd like to see Jeremiah Wright become our vice president. That would be a miracle. Although, I don’t believe in miracles, I do acknowledge that despair could well be the only unforgivable sin.

The reason I remain an optimistic pragmatist is because I have the audacity to hope. As Michelle Obama said on 8/25/08: “this time we listened to our hopes, instead of our fears.”

If McCain overcomes the terrible harm done to our nation during the past eight years, by Bush supporters, we deserves whatever bad things happen to us.

Nick’s Response

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:45:00 +0000

“Well, honey might work if the species has a sense of sweet. But some, like cats, have a deficient gene and no sweet taste. Pols seem to have an extra gene that senses money, votes, and pressure.

“Look, you and i probably have a 99+% agreement on what programs and policies we think would best serve the country. The problem isn’t agreeing on them, but how to get there, and that's where the battles start.

“When i stand on the square in Delhi, all i’m saying is, stop the war. i’m not advertising any particular course of action. That’s for other venues. (By the way, i’m not so much pacifist---yet---as i am anti-war and anti-imperialist.)

“You know very well that we could both spend countless hours and pages arguing specific points about Obama, partisan politics, and questions of incrementalism and accomodation and maybe get nowhere budging each other. Thousands of smarter guys than us are defending both positions every day.

“Obama’s not off to a good start. Picking Biden? That might be smart politics, but what does it say about his principles? Biden voted for bush’s Iraq war---our most disastrous foreign policy issue---which is the main item of bad judgement for which Obama consistently criticized Hillary. So he turns around and picks a VP with the same bad judgement? Give me a break. And Biden voted for NAFTA, opening the gates to global capitalism and the dismantling of American manufacturing and the loss of millions of working class jobs---our most disastrous economic issue.

“So i’ll simplify things. Tell me a couple specific, significant achievements that you think Obama will accomplish after his election, and within what reasonable time frame. If we can agree on them now, and if he accomplishes them, i’ll join you in active support of him and his base. And i’m not asking you to commit to anything.

“Until then, i’m done with projecting blind hope, faith, and trust onto any pol who hasn’t earned them through solid, consistent performance. nick”

“(We) may live diminished lives in the midst of noise, of darkness, and of deadly exhalation. But the world cannot become a factory, nor a mine...Neither the avarice nor the rage of men will ever feed them.” -Ruskin, 1860, Unto This Last

*****
Tomorrow I’ll respond, because I don’t consider hopelessness an option.

Demands

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:38:00 +0000

The following letter to the editor, from Nick Albaugh was published in the Oneonta Daily Star on 8/23/08.

“Congratulations on your well-reasoned editorial urging a moratorium on gas drilling. New York needs a period to study the hazards and implement safeguards.

“But the current quandary is largely a result of congressional giveaways, when our elected officials legislated the 2005 Energy Policy Act repealing Public Utility Holding Company Act and exempting the oil and gas industry from provisions of the Clean Water, Clean Air, Superfund and Right-To-Know acts.

“Local residents must demand of our representatives _ particularly Sens. Clinton and Schumer and Reps. Arcuri and Gillibrand _ that Congress repeal those outrageous exemptions and restore the protections that govern the operations of other industries.

“As for the presidential campaign, there is little encouragement in the facts or the rhetoric that either major candidate will help us. Despite their token support for alternative energy, Obama voted for the 2005 Act, and although McCain voted against it, his mantra to drill is hardly encouraging. Both of them were AWOL for last month's vote to extend the solar and wind credits set to expire in December.”

******
I have known Mr. Albaugh for several years. My response was in the form of the following e-mail.

Nick,

I disagreed with your letter in the Oneonta Star this morning for the following reasons: Honey catches more flies than vinegar. I’ve learned that making demands of others and especially our representatives in Congress can be counterproductive.

We have stood together in some very cold winter weather at Peace Vigils in Delhi. Apparently, frustration and anger have you and other protesters ready to imitate those, who voted for Ralph Nader in Florida in 2000. Voting to send a message in Florida resulted in eight years of death and destruction, when Bush became president. Hopefully, you’ll recognize that your decisions on election day could result in prolonging the blood shed in Iraq.

Do you lack the political savvy to recognize that the only reasonable chance that we have to stop the killing in Iraq and prevent the invasion of Iran is to elect Barack Obama? Reelecting Democrats to Congress will provide Obama with the support he’ll need to bring about the changes our country desperately needs.

I’ve noticed that pacifists constantly complaining about politicians, but are never able to come up with a plausible solution. They appear to be so “principled” that they are incapable of being pragmatic.

Your letter provided misinformation about the positions Democratic candidates have proposed regarding energy legislation. On national television, Obama said: “I’ll make oil companies like Exxon pay a tax on their windfall profits, and we’ll use the money to help families pay for their skyrocketing energy costs and other bills.”

Gillibrand voted several times to repeal $14 billion in tax breaks to oil and gas companies and reinvest those savings to create jobs to diminish our dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

Has the Delhi peace movement been infected by third party operatives, who are attempting to persuade unsuspecting Americans to not vote, or vote for a third party candidate?

I’ve sent dozens of messages to Gillibrand, Clinton and Obama. I offered compelling accurate information in persuasive language, which I believe works better than demands.

Tomorrow, Nick’s response.

Illegal Wiretap

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who was appointed to the bench by former President George Bush is the chief judge for the Northern District of California. He has ruled on a lawsuit brought by an Oregon charity and determined that the wiretapping law established by Congress was the exclusive means for the president to eavesdrop on Americans, and rejected the government’s claim that a president’s constitutional authority as commander in chief trumped that law.

The Oregon charity insists that it has evidence of an illegal wiretap used against it by the National Security Agency under the secret surveillance program established by Bush after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The Justice Department has tried for more than two years to kill the lawsuit, by claiming that any surveillance of the charity or other entities was a state secret and citing Bush’s constitutional power as commander in chief to order wiretaps without a warrant from a court under the agency’s program.

In a 56-page ruling, Judge Walker rejected the claims of the Justice Department, by writing that the rules for surveillance were clearly established by Congress in 1978 under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which requires the government to get a warrant from a secret court. The judge wrote: “Whatever power the executive may otherwise have had in this regard, FISA limits the power of the executive branch to conduct such activities and it limits the executive branch’s authority to assert the state secrets privilege in response to challenges to the legality of its foreign intelligence surveillance activities.”

Judge Walker’s voice carries extra weight because all the lawsuits involving telephone companies that took part in the N.S.A. program have been consolidated and are being heard in his court.

The ruling came as the Senate was about to overhauling the foreign intelligence law. The measure would reaffirm FISA as the exclusive means for a president to order wiretaps through court warrants, but it would also provide legal immunity to phone companies involved in Bush’s eavesdropping program.

The immunity issue would not directly affect this lawsuit because the Oregon charity was suing the government and not the phone companies.

The Decision

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 08:28:00 +0000

I don’t support the petition, that was posted yesterday, because it was promoted by a pacifist, who has no intention of voting for a Democrat.

Frustration and anger has some pacifists imitating those, who voted for Ralph Nader in Florida in 2000. Voting to send a message in Florida resulted in eight years of death and destruction, when Bush became president. The most hawkish representatives in our government are sometimes elected by good citizens who do not vote or vote to send a message. Voters should consider the possibility that their decision might result in continuing the blood shed in Iraq.

Some pacifist lack the political savvy to recognize that the only realistic chance that we have to stop the killing in Iraq and prevent the invasion of Iran is to elect Obama. Reelecting Clinton and Gillibrand to Congress would provide him with the support he’ll need to get the job done.

I’ve concluded that some pacifist are so “principled” that they are incapable of being pragmatic. This isn’t unlike atheists and “the faithful,” who are incapable of being intellectually honest by admitting they “don’t know.” Some pacifist constantly complain about politicians, but seldom write letters to the editor, which might educate voters and correct misinformation.

In 1977, Jimmy Carter pardoned 10,000 draft evaders, which became a factor in his being a one term president. Only a Democrat in the White House would consider pardoning a deserter, who is wants to stay in Canada.

I object to the petition, because it singles out two Democrats in the first paragraph. The second, third, forth and fifth paragraphs have considerable merit. However, the last two paragraphs are irrational, because under the Constitution, the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are part of the executive branch of government. Congress can’t “direct” them to request direct diplomatic talks with Iranian leaders and Iraqi leaders. Furthermore, should McCain be elected President it will be his prerogative as Commander-in - Chief to renewed ties with Iranian diplomats and protect our departing Armed Forces. It’s highly unlikely McCain would use diplomacy with Iran or end the occupation of Iraq.

I can’t imagine Congress passing or a President signing a bill, that says: “any United States personnel or elected representative engaging in any provocative, aggressive, or covert or overt military or lethal behavior towards leaders in Iran be censured or removed from office.” It’s naive to suggest it could happen.

The Peace movement might be infected with Republican or third party operatives, who are attempting to persuade us to shoot ourselves in the foot by not voting for a Democratic candidate.

A Petition

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:03:00 +0000

Petition For A More Positive Engagement With Iran:

To be respectfully presented to Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman, New York 20 th Congressional District, and Hillary Clinton, Senator New York State.

We the undersigned are moved to petition our elected representatives, who are responsible for articulating and managing our international ties with other nations, who are responsible for maintaining harmonious relationships between the United States and foreign nations. We ask that you guide our government to make fundamental and expeditious changes in how our country acts and speaks to leaders of the nation of Iran. We ask that our representatives in our Federal government including the Department of State and the Executive Branch of government make a complete reversal of the current actions toward the nation of Iran.

We the undersigned recognize that the history of our relationship with Iran has been negative, with errors and grievous injustices committed by both nations. We wish to extend a had holding an olive branch to the people of Iran and their leaders. We ask for open, unconditional diplomatic contact with the leaders of Iran in order to arrive at a new relationship in which any and all issues can be openly discussed.

Recognizing that nations can be threatened just as individual humans can feel threatened, we ask that all aggressive language directed towards Iran be restrained and in its place, we ask for respect to be given to Iranian diplomats and leaders, in complete disregard for any offensive remarks either party have expressed in the past.

Recognizing that America is a vast military and economic power and that our past sanctions have threatened Iran’s economy and the health of Iranians, we ask that sanctions be terminated or at lease eased as they affect the well being of ordinary citizens, the least powerful persons in this situation.

Recognizing that we need Iran as an ally to establish peace in Iraq and in Afghanistan, we ask that Congress direct the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the the Joint Chiefs of Staff to request direct diplomatic talks with Iranian leaders an d Iraqi leaders. As our forces leave Iraq , we ask that renewed ties with Iranian diplomats be established firmly, in order to protect our departing Armed Forces and to strengthen the security making powers of the remaining Iraqi Armed Forces.

In conclusion, we regard peace and diplomatic relations with Iran so highly, that we ask that any United States personnel or elected representative engaging in any provocative, aggressive, or covert or overt military or lethal behavior towards leaders in Iran be censured or removed from office. We are saddened that our petition has to include the later request.

I’ve been asked to support the above petition. Tomorrow, I’ll post my decision.

McCain’s Agenda

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:01:00 +0000

Initially, the Russian invasion of the Republic of Georgia seemed to be just what John McCain’s candidacy needed. Namely, a foreign policy crisis that provided an opportunity to show voters that his experience was needed in a dangerous world.

The Russian action in Georgia was intended to support separatist pro-Russian enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Furthermore, it demonstrate to other former Soviet Republics that alliances with the West have very little value if they come into conflict with Russian interests. The Russians know our mismanaged national security has left America with very few options to limit Russian influence.

Our military units are either deployed, preparing to deploy or recovering from deployment. Presently, our military doesn’t have the wherewithal to respond militarily to a crisis even if such a response was appropriate.

The occupation of Iraq has made it very difficult for America to take the moral high ground against Russia when six years ago we invaded Iraq, which didn’t have weapons of mass destruction to threaten our security.

McCain has appointed Randy Scheunemann a paid foreign agent (lobbyist) to be his chief foreign policy adviser. As a board member of the Project for a New American Century, Scheunemann was a major organizer of the campaign to get America to invade Iraq. Neo Cons, Donald Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz were among 18 signatures on a manifesto, which in 1998 was sent to President Clinton urging a preemptive war against Saddam Hussein. Of the eighteen signers of the manifesto, eleven held post in the Bush administration, when Iraq was invaded.

According to the Justice Department’s foreign agents registration office, Scheunemann’s two-person firm received $830,000 from Georgia since 2004. Although, Scheunemann claims to have taken a leave of absence from lobbying, his latest contract, with Georgia’s National Security Council, was signed on April 17th.

Quick Fix Scheme

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000

“I’ve been an oil man all my life, but this is one emergency we can’t drill our way out of.” - Legendary Texas Oilman, T. Boone Pickens

The era of cheap oil is over and opening up environmentally sensitive areas for oil drilling is not going to change that reality. Members of Congress must oppose efforts to expand drilling in environmentally sensitive areas and support market-based policies to reward energy innovation, which could free us from our addiction to oil.

Americans are angered by $4 per gallon gas prices. Consequently, deceitful politicians are suggesting a quick fix scheme. They’re insisting that Congress lift the ban on offshore drilling and expand drilling in environmentally sensitive areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. However, our government’s own Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that the amount of oil that might be available in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would reduce the cost of gas by a few pennies per gallon in 2027.

Furthermore, the EIA estimated last year that opening the coasts to offshore drilling would have no significant impact on oil prices before 2030. The only way to free ourselves from expensive oil is to get off of oil and the best way to do that is to create incentives to unleash clean energy innovation and create a clean economy for the 21st century.

That’s precisely what a cap on global warming pollution will do: cut our oil imports by as much as $490 billion over the next two decades, and kick start the development of clean energy alternatives. America has waited too long to develop a common sense national energy policy, and we must demand better energy policies, which rewards innovation. We should make a commitment to free ourselves from depending on foreign oil, by developing renewable and clean energy alternatives.

Arrogant Elitist

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000

William Eckardt spread misinformation by stating that Obama: “exposed himself to the American public as an arrogant elitist.” (see post of 8/16/08.)

For the purpose of this article arrogant is defined as presumptuous and elitist is defined as a person of the highest class. These are dictionary definitions of those words.

Apparently, Eckardt labels Obama an arrogant elitist, but ignores the fact that John McCain is one of the richest people in Senate, which is filled with millionaires.

Obama was raised by a single mother and his grandparents. At one point, his mother was on welfare and the family lived in a modest apartment. Obama’s attendance at private school in Hawaii was made possible by his grandparents, sacrificing their own prosperity for the sake of Obama and his sister.

On the other hand, John McCain, was born into a family of privilege, his father and grandfather were Admirals in the Navy. His mother is an oil heiress and his wife Cindy is a beer distributor heiress and is said to be worth $100 million. Reportedly, McCain and his wife own more than eight homes, which include several plush, multi-million-dollar houses. McCain wears $500 Ferragamo loafers, which sound rather presumptuous and not like a regular guy, who is in touch with the working-class.

Obama was asked, what the dividing line should be between the rich and the middle class. He said that people making $250,000 per year were in the top 3% of Americans and that under his tax plan, those making less than $150,000 per year would actually get a tax cut, while those making more than that would see a modest tax increase.

When asked the same question, McCain gave his standard answer: “I don’t want to raise taxes on anybody.” When pressed for an answer, McCain said that if it were to be decided solely on income, rich would be around $5 million.

Five million dollars definitely puts a person of the highest income class.

William Eckardt continued distorting the truth by writing: “Then there’s William Ayres, the homegrown terrorist who is one of Obama’s closest friends.” The truth about that relationship was posted on this web site on 8/9/08 and is entitled “Eight Years Old.”

Jeremiah Wright

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000

In his letter of 8/12/08, William Eckardt wrote: “Birds of a feather flock together, and the ‘birds’ Obama chose to flock with were not American heroes but the anti-Semitic bigot Jeremiah Wright, who hates America and was Obama’s mentor for 20 years.” (see post of 8/16/08.) Eckardt never provides the reason, that he considers Jeremiah Wright an anti-Semitic bigot. Nevertheless, the following are reasons many of us consider Rev. Wright to be an American hero.

He gave up his student deferment, left college and joined the Marine Corps and became part of the 2nd Marine Division. In 1963, after two years of service, Wright transferred to the Navy and entered the Corpsman School at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, where he graduated as valedictorian. Having excelled in corpsman school, Wright was then trained as a cardiopulmonary technician at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland where he graduated as salutatorian. In 1966, Wright was assigned as part of the medical team charged with care of President Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1967, the White House awarded Wright three letters of commendation.

On national television, Rev. Wright pointed out: “Our congregation has sent dozens of boys and girls to fight in the Vietnam War, the first Gulf War, and the present two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. My goddaughter’s unit just arrived in Iraq this week, while those who call me unpatriotic have used their positions of privilege to avoid military service, while sending over 4,000 American boys and girls of every race to die over a lie.”

Furthermore, Wright stated: “Last year, I said to Barack Obama: If you get elected, on November the 5th, I’m coming after you, because you’ll be representing a government whose policies grind under people. It’s about policy, not the American people. And there is no excuse for the things that the government, not the American people, have done. That doesn’t make me not like America or unpatriotic. When Jesus says, ‘You’ll be brought down to Hell,’ that’s not bombastic, divisive speech. If so maybe we ought to take Jesus out of this Christian faith.”

Theodore Roosevelt said: “To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but it is morally treasonable to the American public.”

Tire Pressure

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000

William Eckardt criticism of Obama included: “Tuning up your car and checking the tire pressure was one of his latest ‘lala land, dumb de dumb’ ideas, claiming it would save us from having to do any off-shore drilling.”

In fact, when talking about energy and low gas prices, Obama responded to a question from his audience by stating that one way the average American can help lower gas prices and keep energy costs down is to inflate their tires and get tune-ups.

Obama didn’t suggest inflating your tires would be an end all, but McCain’s sarcastically dubbed those words as “Obama’s energy plan.” McCain asked: “Do you think that’s enough to break our dependence on Middle Eastern oil. My opponent doesn’t want to drill. He doesn’t want nuclear power. He wants you to inflate your tires.

Actually, Barack Obama’s energy plan fills page after page on his web site. Furthermore, Obama has suggested that Congress put together a comprehensive compromise bill, which would open up off shore drilling. He has never ruled out more nuclear power plants, but insists that a plan be in place for the disposal of nuclear waste. Bush and McCain seem to have forgotten that it’s the constitutional responsibility of Congress to make our laws. At the present time nothing is getting done in the Senate because our representatives are not willing to compromise. That will change after the political campaigns and voters have made their decision. Remember, Americans get the government we deserve.

The Automobile Association of America isn’t mocking tire inflation and points out that on some vehicles, just one tire, being under inflated would result in losing about 8 percent of your fuel economy.

Obama fought back against Republicans like William Eckerdt, who have been mocking him about keeping tires inflated. Obama responded: “They know they’re lying about what my energy plan is. But, the other thing is they’re making fun of a step that every expert says would absolutely reduce our oil consumption by three to four percent. It’s like, these guys take pride in being ignorant.”

Joe Klien of “Time” magazine said: “I think the McCain campaign has this weird idea that you can win a presidential election through mockery.”

The Republican Strategy

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000

William Eckardt is a regular contributor to the Star and for years has been throwing out misinformation in hope that some of it will stick. On 8/12/08, the following letter by Eckardt was published in the Oneonta Daily Star.

“Barack Obama’s recent international jaunt was an attempt to portray him as a world leader and improve his polling numbers. He believed this phony strategy would put a stake into John McCain’s heart and start an unstoppable political steamroller. Even with the mainstream press swooning over his every word, he exposed himself to the American public as an arrogant elitist offering nothing but idea changes based on polls.

“This modern-day Judas had the audacity to meet with the very troops he betrayed. His 30 pieces of silver strategy would have left Iraq in bloody chaos, reopened the door to a revitalization of worldwide terrorism and elevated Iran's political and military influence, while throwing Israel under the bus. How the troops kept from throwing up is a credit to their training.

“As chairman of the Senate subcommittee with oversight of Afghanistan, Obama never uttered a peep about the war. But that's par for the course, since in his entire "finger-pointing" career he never had the courage to take the lead on any major subject.

“Tuning up your car and checking the tire pressure was one of his latest "lala land, dumb de dumb" ideas, claiming it would save us from having to do any off-shore drilling. If McCain said that the media would have laughed him right into a mental institution.

“Birds of a feather flock together, and the ‘birds’ Obama chose to flock with were not American heroes but the anti-Semitic bigot Jeremiah Wright, who hates America and was Obama’s mentor for 20 years. Then there’s William Ayres, the homegrown terrorist who is one of Obama’s closest friends.

“No stranger himself to shady land deals, Obama is on a par with Harry ‘the bird’ Reid, who has more hold-ups to his credit than Jesse James.”

It will take more than one letter to the Star to pick apart the distortions Eckardt's letter contains. Therefore, I’ll start posting my responses tomorrow.

Extinction of Reason

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000

In a letter, published in the Delaware County Times on 8/8/08, Edgar Thompson again expressed an unsubstantiated opinion, by stating: “Obama is dead wrong on every issue.... and his election would lead to “the extinction of common sense.”

On the issue of invading Iraq, Obama was not wrong. Therefore, Thompson’s opinion that Obama is “dead wrong on every issue,” is an exaggeration, irrational and contradicted.

Logic suggests that a Creator would expect us to acquire vast amounts of objective information and make maximum use of our ability to reason by thinking critically. By doing so, we would be making use of the greatest gift a Creator might bestowed upon mankind.

Common sense is based on common experiences, but no two adults have had identical experiences. Thus, common sense is irrational at best. My concern is that electing John McCain would lead to the extinction of reason.

For example: Regarding the situation in Georgia, McCain denounced the aggressive posture of Russia by claiming that: “in the 21st century nations don’t invade other nations.” Anyone, who is capable of critical thinking would immediately recognize the statement as ludicrous and irrational, because our military is currently occupying two foreign nations, while threatening to attack a Iran.

Iran’s interest in a nuclear weapon is to insure that an imperialistic superpower would hesitate, before invading them for their oil reserves. However, it’s unreasonable to insist that Iran would attack Israel with a nuclear weapon, because the Iranians recognize that Israel wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate by completely destroying their country with dozens of nuclear weapons.

Reasonable people recognize that spending nearly a trillion dollars on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is irrational and unsustainable. For the Republicans in the Senate to refuse to raise taxes on war profiteers and the wealthy elite of our county, who are making unconscionable profits is unreasonable and blatantly pandering to a greedy constituency.

“Ignorant Nonsense”

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:02:00 +0000

On 8/6/08, the Oneonta Daily Star published, “No basis for impeachment” by Edgar Thompson of Treadwell.

“I thought it was very interesting to read your criteria for consideration for publication of letters stating that you will not include letters that make unverifiable accusations. Yet you published, “Impeach our administration” and “Call Bush out on broken laws” that do just that. These two letters are ignorant nonsense, as are your so-called criteria for publication. No matter how badly you and these letter writers wish their words to be true, every word is false. Just because the liberal media, which you are obviously part of, continually repeat this nonsense, that does not make it any more true.

“Anyone who brings up the word “impeach” in regard to this administration is simply speaking from utter ignorance and can’t possibly have any idea what it means. There are obviously no impeachable offenses. This president is constantly lambasted by the liberal media simply because he is Republican. Democrats have used the same methods that this administration has, and that is a fact. How naive can someone possibly be?

“Don’t expect the government to take care of your every need. Liberals have this sense of entitlement. Liberalism is a mental disorder. We are individuals. Get off your rear end. Get an education and make something of yourself.”

****My response:

Edgar Thompson’s accused others of “ignorant nonsense” and concluded: “Don’t expect the government to take care of your every need. Liberals have this sense of entitlement. Liberalism is a mental disorder. We are individuals. Get off your rear end. Get an education and make something of yourself.”

Thompson insists that: “We are individuals,” but immediately over generalizes by suggesting that liberals are uneducated and a burden to society. My family has always been very liberal, and fortunately liberalism has not resulted in a mental disorder or being uneducated. I was the first in our family to attend college and my younger brothers followed. Today, we have obtain advanced university degrees and enjoy a comfortable living.

It’s true many liberals are in favor of impeaching Bush, but I’ve written several, factual, persuasive and rational arguments defending Nancy Pelosi’s refusal to impeach.

Furthermore, Thompson appears to be somewhat paranoid regarding both the Delaware County Times and the Oneonta Star. He may suffer from a mental disorder known as denial. If so, it’s “ignorant nonsense,” to expect him to write a reasoned persuasive letter or to substantiate his opinions with factual information.

For example, my least factual, persuasive and rational argument against Bush’s impeachment would be that it’s too lenient a penalty, because I’d rather see him “go down to the vile dust from whence he sprung, unwept, unhonored, and unsung.”

*****
Monty Calandros of Walton had the following letter published in the Oneonta Daily Star entitled: “Impeachment can be justified." His rebuttal of Edgar Thompson’s letter convinced me that there was no need for me to respond with a letter in the Star.

“Upon reading Mr. Thompson’s rant on liberalism and impeachment of Bush, I searched for even the slightest bit of informed intelligence to back his stance. Instead, I found accusations of ‘ignorant nonsense’, ‘utter ignorance,’ ‘liberalism is a mental disorder,’ ‘liberals have a sense of entitlement’ and ‘should get off their rear ends and get an education.’ Wow! What an intelligent and well-founded piece of writing! No proof, no facts, nothing.

“It is apparent that Mr. Thompson’s education consists of reruns of Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh’s tired rhetoric. No originality here.

“Basis for impeachment Mr. Thompson? Read on.

“The president and his administration invaded a foreign country under false pretenses, possibly manufactured by themselves.

“Authorization and monitoring of American citizens’ e-mails and phone calls by the NSA without even the most minimal authorization of the FISA courts.

“Using the FBI to monitor and collect information on anti-war protesters, as was done during the Vietnam era. More?

“Policies advocating the torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners. Holding same, some American citizens, indefinitely without trial, access to legal counselor or having their cases reviewed by courts of law.

“Conservative Bill Barr, former congressman from Georgia, stated, ‘The American people are going to have to say ‘enough of this business of justifying everything as necessary for the war on terror.’ Either the Constitution and laws of this country mean something or they don’t.’ He is no liberal.

“The president and his administration should be held accountable for the many untold lives lost and, as a direct result, the harsh economic times this country will face for years to come.

“If that means impeachment, so be it. He has committed far graver offenses than the last impeached president!”

Liberal Agenda

noreply@blogger.com (Jim O'Leary) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Edgar Thompson’s letter of 7/25/08, ended with him playing the fear card: “If it weren’t for conservatives keeping the liberal agenda at bay, this country could not exist.”

Definitions of the word liberal include: “radical, tolerant, progressive and not traditional. Advocating progressive political reform; representative forms of government as opposed to monarchies; and maximum individual freedoms, which are secured by government protecting our civil liberties.”

Without liberals this county wouldn’t exist, because our founding fathers were radicals, who weren’t satisfied with the status quo and declared their independence from the English monarchy by establishing a representative form of government. Those founding fathers, who were most radical insisted on maximum individual freedoms in a Bill of Rights, which would secure our government’s protection of those civil liberties.

Radical abolitionist were tolerant of differences in skin color. They asserted that it was intolerable for white Americans to consider men from Africa their property and treat them as slaves. The radical suffragette movement advanced the status of women by demanding the right to vote. More recently radical members of Congress insisted that we ensure the security and dignity for our senior citizens, by creating Social Security and Medicare programs.

Under the leadership of America’s first female Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi bills were passed, by progressive members of the House of Representatives, which instituted lobbying and ethics reform, increased the federal minimum wage, expanded children’s health care, lowered the interest on college loans and implement the recommendations of the 9/11 commission.

Radical members of the House are committed to fiscal discipline in the form of pay-as-you-go, reforming healthcare by lowering the cost of prescription drugs and investing in stem cell research, but unfortunately none of this is apt to become law, because of the very close majority in the Senate.

Conservatives insist liberals spend money foolishly. However, they remain silent as Bush spends $10 billion a month in Iraq. For what we spend in three weeks in Iraq, we could secure our public transportation systems and for what we spend in five days, we could put radiation detectors in all of our ports.

Thompson’s letter of 7/25/08, was posted on Mind and Destiny on 8/1/08. The mindanddestiny.com web site strives to accurately present factual information.

“Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness.” — James Thurber