I've Got Questions!!!!!!

What is really going on at those political rallies for the presidential candidates?

* Why don't we see crowds at the McCain rallies? Why don't the cameras show the people? Have you ever seen so many old white people at a gathering in recent years? Are there any minorities in the Republican Party? Any women under 90?

* According to some recent news items, Sen. Hillary Clinton raised $35 million last month. Sen. Barack Obama brought in $50 million for his campaign during the same time period. How much did John McCain and Mike Huckabee raise last month? Why won't they give us figures? Are they embarrassed because of the paltry amount they've received?

* Did you notice the other day McCain did a little backtracking on his statements about the Iraq war? He said the war would be over soon, but the insurgency would last for years. If he were elected President, would he keep U.S. forces in Iraq because of the continuing insurgency? Is this like President Bush's use of the word "surge" to describe what was really an "escalation" of the war?

I think we need answers to all of these questions.

Cause of U.S. Recession?

With a slowdown in business, the fall of the U.S. dollar, massive layoffs, and foreclosures reaching epidemic proportions, the real cause of the recession is known by many outside of the U.S..

The Australian:
IRAQ WAR 'CAUSED SLOWDOWN IN THE US'

THE Iraq war has cost the US 50-60 times more than the Bush administration predicted and was a central cause of the sub-prime banking crisis threatening the world economy, according to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.

The former World Bank vice-president yesterday said the war had, so far, cost the US something like $US3trillion ($3.3 trillion) compared with the $US50-$US60-billion predicted in 2003......

....The war was now the second-most expensive in US history after World War II and the second-longest after Vietnam, he said.

The spending on Iraq was a hidden cause of the current credit crunch because the US central bank responded to the massive financial drain of the war by flooding the American economy with cheap credit....

Just like the Bush administration tried to stop a recent story from airing on 60 Minutes, the White House has worked to keep the truth about the war and so many other things from the American public. Since Republican presidential candidate John McCain has been in lockstep with President Bush, would a McCain administration continue this secrecy and control of the media?

House Republicans Protecting Oil/Gas Friends

>>>Republican Rep. Wally Herger (CA-2nd), according to Open Secrets, has accepted over $93,000 from Oil and Gas Industries. This might be why Herger votes against taxing the obscene profits of the oil and gas industries. Let Herger know that he works for you, not oil and gas corporations with your call/e-mail here.

>>>Republican Rep. Fred Upton (MI-6th), according to Open Secrets, has accepted over $112,000 form Oil and Gas Industries. This might explain why Upton votes to protect the oil and gas companies. Tell Upton you are tired of paying high gas taxes and tired of his defense of oil and gas corporations.

>>>Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-7th), according to Open Secrets, has received over $63,000 for Oil and Gas Industries. Does Blackburn want to provide cover for oil and gas industries so that she can continue to get those donations? Contact Blackburn here and tell her to get off the oil and gas feed wagon.

Here are some other totals from Republicans
- Republican Rep. Phil English (PA-3rd ) over $171,000 from Oil & Gas (Open Secrets).
- Republican Rep. Paul Ryan (WI- 1st) over $140,000 from Oil & Gas (Open Secrets).

Obviously, these Republicans don't mind that you have to pay high gas prices as long as they get money from their oil friends.

As Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said in her remarks supporting renewable energy program, "....This planet is God's creation and we have a responsibility to keep it....."

Extreeeeeeeeeme Right Wing Radio in Cleveland

I was listening to the Ed Schultz radio show today and Rep. Dennis Kucinich was a guest. Their conversation was about Kucinich's election campaign and how it has become the target of a hate-filled radio station in Cleveland, WTAM. Since I don't live in Cleveland, I'm not familiar with the station, so I decided to visit its website. The things that are said about Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, Rep. Kuchinich are hateful and offensive. If you agree, let them know

Newsradio WTAM 1100
6200 Oak Tree Blvd, 4th Floor
Independence, OH 44131-2510
(216) 520-2600
Talk Show: 216-578-1100
Toll Free: 1-888-723-WTAM
Newsroom: 216-642-4636
Studio Fax: 216-986-WTAM
news@wtam.com

The most disgusting stuff comes from a guy called Bob Frantz ( Bob@wtam.com ). You can check out some of his comments at http://www.wtam.com/pages/bfrantz.html

Dirty Little Secrets In Alabama

Shhhhhhhhh. Don't tell anyone......but there are dirty little secrets in Alabama. If you know someone in Alabama, you might want to let them know that their media is controlled by people who are covering up lies.
This is from The Huffington Post:

......Now, let me tell you what has been going on. As 60 Minutes was putting its show together, the White House put pressure on CBS -- the parent company -- to kill the show. Over the last few days, as word got out that the 60 Minutes show would air tonight, Karl Rove's associates began planting defamatory stories about journalists working on this story (see example here) and attacking the whistle-blower who came forward, Dana Jill Simpson. If you recall, Ms. Simpson testified, under oath, to Congress about Karl Rove's involvement in politicizing the DOJ. What you may not know, however, is that her house mysteriously caught fire and she was run off the road in the weeks leading up to her testimony.....
.......Tonight was something truly unseen in US history. During the 60 Minutes broadcast and ONLY during the Don Siegelman portion -- the screen went black for Huntsville residents and Mobile residents. There are other reports of other locations, but I have not yet confirmed those.....

It appears that Karl Rove, the White House, and the Republican back room smear machine have not only sent an innocent man to prison, Don Siegelman, but their control of the media and the cover up is just plain sickening. It reminds you of the Soviet Union under Stalin and the Nazi propaganda machine.

What other things are being withheld from the good people in Alabama? If you have friends in Alabama, e-mail them a copy of the Huffington Post story and the 60 Minutes story. They'll thank you for it.

Against Advisory Board?

How does a drug get approval? What do you think?

Washington Post:

A drug to treat breast cancer received approval yesterday from the Food and Drug Administration, which went against the recommendation of its advisory panel.

Avastin is already approved for treating lung and colon cancer. The FDA gave preliminary approval to doctors' use of the drug, made by Genentech, to treat breast cancer based on findings that it slowed tumor growth.

FDA approval for late-stage cancer treatments is usually contingent upon data showing that a drug extended patients' lives or improved their quality. Avastin showed neither in a study, according to Genentech.....

In other words, Avastin did not extend lives or revive the quality of life. Why did it get approval? Do you think it had to do with some lobbyists pushing for its approval?

McCain and His Lobbyists

1.Newsweek has more on Sen. John McCain--- A Hole in McCain's Defense.........
Here is a tidbit:

....On Wednesday night the Times published a story suggesting that McCain might have done legislative favors for the clients of the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, who worked for the firm of Alcalde & Fay. One example it cited were two letters McCain wrote in late 1999 demanding that the Federal Communications Commission act on a long-stalled bid by one of Iseman's clients, Florida-based Paxson Communications, to purchase a Pittsburgh television station......

....But that flat claim seems to be contradicted by an impeccable source: McCain himself. "I was contacted by Mr. [Lowell] Paxson on this issue," McCain said in the Sept. 25, 2002, deposition obtained by NEWSWEEK. "He wanted their approval very bad for purposes of his business. I believe that Mr. Paxson had a legitimate complaint."

....McCain's subsequent letters to the FCC—coming around the same time that Paxson's firm was flying the senator to campaign events aboard its corporate jet and contributing $20,000 to his campaign—first surfaced as an issue during his unsuccessful 2000 presidential bid. William Kennard, the FCC chair at the time, described the sharply worded letters from McCain, then chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, as "highly unusual."

2. Robert Greenwald has something on McCain on YouTube:

3. The following is a cache of the NewsBlog (November 1, 2004):

....The letter, first reported in the Boston Globe, was sent by McCain to the Federal Communications Commission Dec. 10. He bluntly demanded that the FCC vote on an issue involving a Pittsburgh TV station and a major contributor.

The contributor, Paxson Communications, is based in West Palm Beach and is the largest owner of independent television stations. Chairman Lowell "Bud" Paxson co-founded the St. Petersburg-based Home Shopping Network in 1982.

McCain has flown on Paxson planes to campaign events and raised $20,000 from Paxson associates. He oversees the FCC as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee.....

More to follow....

Ties To Lobbyists

The article in yesterday's New York Times was attacked viciously by the right wing nuts. Why do the righties refuse to actually look at the story itself? Did McCain have an overly friendly relationship with a particular lobbyist? Did her good looks and charm allow her to dictate to McCain what she wanted in telecom/communication bills? Did the relationship get telecom/communication groups special advantages?

Last night on MSNBC, right wing tool, Chris Matthews had a hissy-fit. His tirade against the New York Times was sickening. Is Matthews unable to fathom the possibility that media darling McCain did something wrong? Matthews was not acting like a journalist but rather a friend trying to defend a buddy.

Some people may think that the story about McCain will die down. However, I believe that the New York Times story will be the beginning of other investigations and inquiries into how McCain has garnered support from lobbyists.

Don't Go There?

While being interviewed by phone last night on MSNBC, Pat Buchanan advised Democratic candidates and their campaign staffs on how to react to the McCain-lobbyist rumors. Buchanan suggested that it should not be discussed when he said, "Don't go there."

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Don't go there??? Fat chance.

Staten Island Live:
Aides to Sen. John McCain confronted a telecommunications lobbyist in late 1999 and asked her to distance herself from the senator during the presidential campaign he was about to launch, according to one of McCain's longest-serving political strategists.

John Weaver, who was McCain's closest confidant until leaving his current campaign last year, said he met with Vicki Iseman at the Center Cafe at Union Station and urged her to stay away from McCain. Association with a lobbyist would undermine his image as an opponent of special interests, aides had concluded......

....Three telecom lobbyists and a former McCain aide, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that Iseman spoke up regularly at meetings of telecom lobbyists in Washington, extolling her connections to McCain and his office. She would regularly volunteer at those meetings to be the point person for the telecom industry in dealing with McCain's office.....

......and this from The New York Times: (This is a very large article and I suggest that you follow the like and read all of it.)

Early in Senator John McCain’s first run for the White House eight years ago, waves of anxiety swept through his small circle of advisers.

A female lobbyist had been turning up with him at fund-raisers, visiting his offices and accompanying him on a client’s corporate jet. Convinced the relationship had become romantic, some of his top advisers intervened to protect the candidate from himself — instructing staff members to block the woman’s access, privately warning her away and repeatedly confronting him, several people involved in the campaign said on the condition of anonymity.....

I wonder how the Republicans will react to these rumors?

Feelings

How do you think Republicans felt when this happened? ---> Duke Cunningham's big time contributor, Brent Wilkes, has finally been sentenced.
Washington Post:

Brent R. Wilkes, a California defense contractor and prominent GOP campaign contributor, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison yesterday for lavishing a Republican congressman with money, prostitutes and other bribes in exchange for nearly $90 million in work from the Pentagon.

Wilkes, 53, was convicted in November of 13 felony crimes including bribery, conspiracy and fraud for giving the gifts to former representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.), who is serving an eight-year prison term for accepting millions in bribes from Wilkes and others......

....Wilkes is a Republican Party "Pioneer" who raised more than $100,000 for President Bush's reelection in 2004 and donated -- in concert with his business colleagues -- $656,396 to 64 other Republican lawmakers and the national Republican Party committees in Washington from 1995 through the third quarter of 2005, according to campaign finance records....

How nice.

* Have you noticed the level of excitement at the various political events? People at rallies for Republican presidential candidates are not very emotional. Sure there are cheers, but those cheers are not very loud or enthusiastic. At some McCain events I've seen on TV, the people show as much emotion as someone waiting for the dentist.

However, at rallies for Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama, people are smiling, applauding, jumping up, and shouting for joy. These rallies are loud and crowded.

Why does it matter? If people are enthusiastic for someone, they will contribute time and money, and vote for the candidate. The Democratic candidates are seeing and experiencing voters' devotion and interest in their candidacies. Republican voters just seem dull, dull, dull.

Tonight's Primaries

I was watching MSNBC tonight as they were trying to analyze the results of the Wisconsin primary. Pat Buchanan said something stupid (so what else is new?). Buchanan said that John McCain can capture the people who are voting for Hillary Clinton---senior citizens and white women. Buchanan is wrong.

It would be nice if Pat Buchanan and Joe Scarborough would shut their fat mouths so that the most intelligent person on the panel, Rachel Maddow, could speak.

A Special Photo Album

I was just thinking about those two good buddies, Sen. John McCain and President George W. Bush. Can you imagine the pictures they have in their photo albums?

*** August 29, 2005: While Hurricane Katrina was hitting New Orleans, President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain are pictured with a cake in honor of McCain 69th birthday (Links: 1. Think Progress, 2. WH.):

Obviously, Bush was too busy with the birthday celebrations to help the people of New Orleans.




**** President Bush and Senator McCain share some time at different rallies (Links: 1.Truthdig, and below 2. AZCentral).








*** And, of course, how can we forget the awesome BFF (best friends forever) bear hug (Link: EDCONE):

WARNING: If you are in Columbus this evening and you see a bunch of old white people,

it probably has something to do with Sen. John McCain having a get-together with some

Republicans. (Don't worry! I won't be anywhere near their location!)

Ohio's Bridges in Trouble

A local TV station, 10TV.com, investigated the problems with the state bridges. According to an investigative report done by Paul Aker, Ohio's bridges are in terrible condition. Here is a tidbit from the report:

.....Drivers have no clue that beneath them a bridge crossbeam vibrates after it divorced its steel base. A corrosive coating of rust appears to be the culprit.

It is part of a $60 to $90 million problem statewide.

A corrosion consultant hired by the Ohio Department of Transportation inspected 500 bridges statewide. The consultant turned up 80 percent, or 300, that proved to have flawed paint jobs, said spokesman Scott Varner....

The construction on the bridges was completed in 2006 during the Taft administration. Surprise. Surprise.

Soldier Forced Out of Hospital to be Deployed

This is what George W. Bush's Iraq War has done to our military:
(Originally posted at ICasualties)

CBS4 Denver:

A Fort Carson soldier who says he was in treatment at Cedar Springs Hospital for bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse was released early and ordered to deploy to the Middle East with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

The 28-year-old specialist spent 31 days in Kuwait and was returned to Fort Carson on Dec. 31 after health care professionals in Kuwait concurred that his symptoms met criteria for bipolar disorder and "some paranoia and possible homicidal tendencies," according to e-mails obtained by The Denver Post.

The soldier, who asked not to be identified because of the stigma surrounding mental illness and because he will seek employment when he leaves the Army, said he checked himself into Cedar Springs on Nov. 9 or Nov. 10 after he attempted suicide while under the influence of alcohol. He said his treatment was supposed to end Dec. 10 but his commanding officers showed up at the hospital Nov. 29 and ordered him to leave.....

Let me highlight the following--- ....after health care professionals in Kuwait concurred that his symptoms met criteria for bipolar disorder and "some paranoia and possible homicidal tendencies"---

If this kind of incident was discovered, it probably has happened before but it was not published. According to the news story, last year Fort Carson deployed another 79 soldiers who had similar mental problems. Doesn't this show you the strain that the current administration has put on our military and their families? This is just sad.

Senator Carl Levin (MI-Dem) had additional concerns about this soldier and others who've been forced back into service. Denver Post:

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee blasted the Pentagon on Wednesday for sending a wounded Fort Carson soldier back to Iraq, questioning whether it had been done to fill depleted ranks.

Citing a Denver Post report, Sen. Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, asked about an Army captain's e-mail saying that Fort Carson's 3rd Brigade Combat Team had "been having issues reaching deployable strength," and that some "borderline" soldiers were sent overseas.

"Are there shortages in deployment strength that are now causing some of these decisions to be made that otherwise would not be?" Levin asked at a committee hearing.....

I'm glad Sen. Levin is investigating this. It is no wonder that so many of our military have committed suicide or suffer from PTSD.

McCain Offers Something

There is a brand new website that shows exactly what John McCain plans to do: Less Jobs More Wars.

There are three videos that you absolutely must see at Less Jobs More Wars.

Stay Away from Stark County Ohio

When I saw this yesterday, I was outraged at how a woman was treated by the Stark County Sheriff's Department. If you didn't see this story, here it is (CBS News):

.....In Canton, Ohio, a woman claims that that police wrongfully strip searched her.

Hope Steffey had called 911 because she said she'd been the victim of an assault but when police responded, a series of arguments and miscommunications led police to arrest her, reports The Early Show.

They later videotaped her being undressed by male and female officers while pleading with them to stop. She says when all of her clothing was removed, she was then left in a cell for six hours.

The Stark County sheriff denies Steffey's allegations.......

If law enforcement forcibly remove one's clothing, leave a person in a cell naked, isn't that a strip search?

Take Note

You must see the You Tube video titled, john.he.is about John McCain. It is the one of the most popular videos today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gwqEneBKUs

Endorsements

Do these political endorsements surprise me? Not in the least. Does an endorsement make me want to choose one candidate over another? No.
-Right winger Jeb Bush endorsed McCain. Ho-hum. However, is Jeb Bush's endorsement his bid to get the nod to be a Vice Presidential candidate? Just what we need----another Bush.
-Is Mike Huckabee also campaigning for the second spot on the Republican ticket?

One story that needs attention is that Ron Paul said he will not support McCain.
The Chicago Tribune:
.... Paul, a Texas congressman, said he will not back McCain if he is the party's nominee unless the Arizona senator "has a lot of change of heart."
"I cannot support anybody with the foreign policy he advocates, you know, perpetual war. That is just so disturbing to me," Paul said in a Monday telephone interview. "I think it's un-American, unconstitutional, immoral and not Republican."

I wonder which candidate Ron Paul's supporters will vote for in the election if he is not a candidate.

My View From Ohio

MSNBC's David Shuster made an inappropriate comment describing the campaign work that Chelsea Clinton was doing for her mother's presidential campaign. David Shuster is lucky that he didn't say that about one of my daughters because I would have kicked his sorry a** into the next county.

Shuster and his counterpart at MSNBC, Chris Matthews, share the same reporting style. They both talk endlessly and carelessly about other people without showing respect and common sense. Shuster, unfortunately, is a graduate of the University of Mi-----n. Now we know why he behaves as he does.

346 more days?

On this morning's Bill Press radio show, the radio host mentioned that there were only 346 more days left until the end of the Bush administration. However, until then, we have to suffer through the campaigns of John McCain and Mike "holier than thou" Huckabee. Any Republican who believes that McCain, Huckabee, or some other Republican will grab the votes of Democrats, moderates, liberals, and independents, has been smoking some funny cigarettes.

>Both McCain and Huckabee are against a woman's right to choose.
> Huckabee wants to make the USA a Christian nation. Mr. Huckabee obviously has no respect for the Americans who are Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, other religions, or no religion.
> Both McCain and Huckabee want to load the Supreme Court with right wing judges who support businesses over the rights of the American workers.

Have we had enough? You bet.
We've suffered through "Attorneygate," the Abramoff Scandals, the Bob Ney scandal, the outing of a CIA agent, the Libby affair, the lies that started and continue the war in Iraq, our military sent to war without proper body armor, spying on American citizens without warrants, waterboarding, "heckuva job, Brownie," Karl Rove, unprecedented oil prices, Tom DeLay, the Duke Cunningham scandal, a vice president involved in a hunting accident, etc., etc.

McCain, Huckabee, or some other right wing presidential candidate will only bring us more of the same old policies and lies. We owe it to ourselves and our children to vote for change and vote Democratic. Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama are both well-qualified and deserve our respect, our support, and our votes.

Can't Help the Poor?

The Columbus Dispatch:
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield says it no longer can afford to provide managed-care services for Ohio's health insurance program for poor children and families.

The Indianapolis-based company is pulling out of Medicaid's Covered Families and Children program because the rates Ohio pays the managed-care provider are so low that the company is losing money. It will continue to participate in Ohio's Medicaid program for the aged, blind and disabled.

The decision forces 146,000 Medicaid recipients statewide, including about 40,000 in the Columbus area, to replace their Anthem plans. In central Ohio, recipients have two other managed-care plans to choose from....

According to Yahoo Finance, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is part of WellPoint Inc. (WLP). If the key executives of this company gave up a million each, then the poor could get the medical help they need.

Super Tuesday?

> The primary is not being held yet here in Ohio. In other states, it is 'super Tuesday.'

> If you watch Korean dramas on AZN-TV, you might be interested in this:

http://starbulletin.com/2008/02/01/business/engle.html
AZN-TV will no longer exist as of April 9th. Contact your local cable provider and demand a replacement.

> The next time you see a rally for a presidential candidate on TV, look at the audience. Every time I see Republican John McCain at a rally, he is surrounded by OWM (old white men). Are they the only voters interested in his rhetoric? I have yet to hear how McCain will help improve the economy.

> Women are the keys in the upcoming election. Do we want to support Republicans and thereby continue the war, and return to the 1950's for women? I don't think so.

Smart Car News

If you've seen some tiny little cars around the city, I'm probably one of the drivers. I finally got my Smart Car. It is cute and sassy. From what I've heard, Easton will have a local Smart dealership at 4300 Morse Crossing (614 291-2007).

(Pictures from SmartUSA)

So far, I'm getting 42mpg on the highway and about 33 mpg in the city. In the last few days, I've had people waving to me and asking lots of questions. I'm enjoying every moment in my sweet little car.

Bill Kristol Thinks I'm A Problem

He might be correct. Crooks and Liars has this quote from right wing extremist, Bill Kristol:

Look the only people for Hillary Clinton are the Democratic establishment and white women… it would be crazy for the Democratic party to follow the establishment that’s led them to defeat year after year… White Women are a problem - but, you know… we all live with that…

As a white woman, I'm glad that Bill Kristol thinks that I'm a problem. As a matter of fact, I bet that Bill Kristol and his right wing boys club think that all women are problems. Kristol probably would like to go back to the ancient days when women were not permitted to voice their opinions, work outside the home, control their own bodies, own property, or run for high office. My advice to Bill Kristol and the old white men of the Republican Party is this---- Women are not going to go back to the old days. Deal with it.