I am sure a lot of people are congratulating Obama on his denunciation of Jeremiah Wright even though it took him more than 24 hours to do so. But before he tries to finally put this to rest there are still a few disturbing questions that have gone unanswered.
What about all those people applauding and cheering Rev. Wright when he gave his speech at the National Press Club? What will they do now that Obama has renounced Wright? And how will the congregation react now that their church is torn between their former pastor and Obama? What about Farrakhan and all of his followers, including the men now guarding Rev. Wright? Since Obama has also denounced Farrakhan what will these members of the Nation of Islam do now? And how can the Senator truly reconcile his denunciations with the fact that he had been a part of Farrakhan’s Million Man March and that his book was named after a sermon by Rev. Wright?
Most of all, I can't help but ask why the change of heart when just a day ago Senator Obama was defending Wright for his earlier hate filled statements? Perhaps it is because in his latest speech Wright betrayed Obama when he said that the Senator is a politician who would say whatever was needed to get elected. Hmmmm. You don't suppose maybe Obama is now being a politician and only dumping Wright because of the strong public reaction against him? It certainly makes you wonder if on this statement maybe the Rev. Wright is right….
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Wright Stuff
I just watched John McCain come closer to winning the election this fall. His odds of becoming the next President increased with every word that Rev. Jeremiah Wright said this morning. Unfortunately most people were at work and missed a spectacle, a production, a carny show by a man who only cares for himself, Jeremiah Wright.
The phrase “It’s all about me” was created just for this man. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright likes nothing better than to be center stage and to hear himself talk. He thinks he is the smartest, wittiest and wisest man in the room. And when given free reign as he was at the National Press Club today his attempt at humor becomes heavy handed, his sarcasm sounds malicious and he turns on the innocent as he did to the young moderator during the Q and A. This poor woman was simply reading other people’s questions and there was no reason for Wright to be mean to her and to try to look witty and smart at her expense.
As for an apology for any previous statement, forgettaboutit. It would be impossible for this man to say he is sorry because he firmly believes is he always right (no pun intended), that he speaks not for himself but for all black churches, and that he and the church are the victims to whom apologies are due.
Speaking of which, victimhood was a major tenet of his speech. I certainly could understand how the black Christian church originated by the slaves. Yet it seems as if they have never left slavehood according to this preacher. He feels that white America owes an apology to black America for something that occurred over 130 years ago. Instead of an apology I kept thinking sarcastically “Get over it already.” And apparently the government is evil and capable of doing anything, even starting the Aids virus and downing the Twin Towers, according to Rev. Wright. And with every conspiracy theory he spews his credibility drops another notch (and McCain gets another vote). I also wondered where is the outcry for the separation of church and state? Is the Rev. Wright preaching politics only when it suits him and then turns around and argues that he is not a politician but a preacher and will stay a preacher regardless if Obama wins or not.
Then there was his theme of divisiveness. He hammered on the message that black America was different from everyone else. When he said that their churches were not bad, only different, I again thought of his statements of God Damn America. I am sorry but to me that kind of different is bad. But I was even more astounded when he continuously said that black children learn differently. Excuse me? What does he want, a repeal of Brown v Board of Education? And throughout his speech on how black America was different I kept thinking about our founding fathers and their message of “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”….
As for the Q and A afterwards you really had to see it to believe it. This man was so damned smug as he tossed off sarcastic or scathing or demeaning remarks. He was literally strutting behind the podium and you could see his pleasure in being the center of attention while he delivered controversial remarks. It was obvious that he had prepared for questions on his prior controversial statements and he tossed off these retorts with malicious glee knowing that his answers were nonanswers that only added fuel to the fire.
I have been channel surfing through the major news channels since Rev. Wright’s performance (and it was more performance than speech). Ironically Wright has done something that I have rarely seen before – CNN, MSNBC and Fox pundits all agreed on something! Pundits on all three channels agreed that Wright is a kook who threw Barack Obama under the bus. Of all the sound bites from Wright’s speech (and believe me there are a lot to choose from) the pundits go back to Wright’s response when asked about Barack distancing himself from his preacher. To which Wright basically said that Obama is a politician who will say anything to get elected. Wow. And this is the man that Barack compares to his beloved grandmother. To which I can’t help but think “My, Grandmother, what big teeth you have!” And unless Barack decisively walks away from the Rev. Wright then this wolf in sheep’s clothing might take him down for good.
The phrase “It’s all about me” was created just for this man. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright likes nothing better than to be center stage and to hear himself talk. He thinks he is the smartest, wittiest and wisest man in the room. And when given free reign as he was at the National Press Club today his attempt at humor becomes heavy handed, his sarcasm sounds malicious and he turns on the innocent as he did to the young moderator during the Q and A. This poor woman was simply reading other people’s questions and there was no reason for Wright to be mean to her and to try to look witty and smart at her expense.
As for an apology for any previous statement, forgettaboutit. It would be impossible for this man to say he is sorry because he firmly believes is he always right (no pun intended), that he speaks not for himself but for all black churches, and that he and the church are the victims to whom apologies are due.
Speaking of which, victimhood was a major tenet of his speech. I certainly could understand how the black Christian church originated by the slaves. Yet it seems as if they have never left slavehood according to this preacher. He feels that white America owes an apology to black America for something that occurred over 130 years ago. Instead of an apology I kept thinking sarcastically “Get over it already.” And apparently the government is evil and capable of doing anything, even starting the Aids virus and downing the Twin Towers, according to Rev. Wright. And with every conspiracy theory he spews his credibility drops another notch (and McCain gets another vote). I also wondered where is the outcry for the separation of church and state? Is the Rev. Wright preaching politics only when it suits him and then turns around and argues that he is not a politician but a preacher and will stay a preacher regardless if Obama wins or not.
Then there was his theme of divisiveness. He hammered on the message that black America was different from everyone else. When he said that their churches were not bad, only different, I again thought of his statements of God Damn America. I am sorry but to me that kind of different is bad. But I was even more astounded when he continuously said that black children learn differently. Excuse me? What does he want, a repeal of Brown v Board of Education? And throughout his speech on how black America was different I kept thinking about our founding fathers and their message of “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”….
As for the Q and A afterwards you really had to see it to believe it. This man was so damned smug as he tossed off sarcastic or scathing or demeaning remarks. He was literally strutting behind the podium and you could see his pleasure in being the center of attention while he delivered controversial remarks. It was obvious that he had prepared for questions on his prior controversial statements and he tossed off these retorts with malicious glee knowing that his answers were nonanswers that only added fuel to the fire.
I have been channel surfing through the major news channels since Rev. Wright’s performance (and it was more performance than speech). Ironically Wright has done something that I have rarely seen before – CNN, MSNBC and Fox pundits all agreed on something! Pundits on all three channels agreed that Wright is a kook who threw Barack Obama under the bus. Of all the sound bites from Wright’s speech (and believe me there are a lot to choose from) the pundits go back to Wright’s response when asked about Barack distancing himself from his preacher. To which Wright basically said that Obama is a politician who will say anything to get elected. Wow. And this is the man that Barack compares to his beloved grandmother. To which I can’t help but think “My, Grandmother, what big teeth you have!” And unless Barack decisively walks away from the Rev. Wright then this wolf in sheep’s clothing might take him down for good.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
All Shook Up
I’ll get back to politics later but I had to take a few moments on something else. Maybe I am being paranoid but I can’t help but be a little bit concerned about the recent increase in earthquakes.
It first caught my attention on April 12 when I read a MyWay article mentioned in the Drudge Report. This article reported that more than 600 quakes had occurred in less than two weeks off the coast of Oregon. Scientists called it a “swarm of earthquakes”. Strange…
Two weeks later there was an earthquake. But the earthquake popped up in Illinois, not Oregon. Stranger and stranger….
Then I read another MyWay article again mentioned by the Drudge Report today. It stated that a week ago there was a 6.0 quake in northern Nevada near the Utah border. A week later, on Friday, April 25, a 4.7 earthquake occurred outside of Reno. More than 100 quakes have been recorded since then. Nothing unusual about aftershocks but in this case there is something strange, again. After an earthquake the following quakes normally get smaller and smaller but these are getting stronger and stronger.
Something is going on underneath the surface. I’m just glad I live on the east coast….
It first caught my attention on April 12 when I read a MyWay article mentioned in the Drudge Report. This article reported that more than 600 quakes had occurred in less than two weeks off the coast of Oregon. Scientists called it a “swarm of earthquakes”. Strange…
Two weeks later there was an earthquake. But the earthquake popped up in Illinois, not Oregon. Stranger and stranger….
Then I read another MyWay article again mentioned by the Drudge Report today. It stated that a week ago there was a 6.0 quake in northern Nevada near the Utah border. A week later, on Friday, April 25, a 4.7 earthquake occurred outside of Reno. More than 100 quakes have been recorded since then. Nothing unusual about aftershocks but in this case there is something strange, again. After an earthquake the following quakes normally get smaller and smaller but these are getting stronger and stronger.
Something is going on underneath the surface. I’m just glad I live on the east coast….
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Short Retort
I heard a funny line a while ago that I liked so much that I repeated it to others. It basically went "For decades, a lot of people have claimed to have seen UFO's, but now with everybody having camera phones how come we don't see more pictures of these flying saucers?" But now after seeing the news today showing those strange red lights in the night sky that quite a few people have filmed, maybe the joke is on me after all!
A Classy Win
My hat’s off to Hillary’s campaign team. Oh sure, everyone knew she was going to win. But it is what happened after the win that impressed me. I went to bed right after her speech and when I woke up there were emails from both the Clinton and Obama campaigns waiting for me.
Barack’s email was pretty much as expected. His campaign wrote that although they lost in PA they still have a commanding lead. It went on to state that they still have to fight a two-prong attack by Clinton and McCain. So guess what? He needs your support right now and to send in at least $25. Typical. Even though he outspent Hillary something like 3-1 and still lost in PA. I guess that although money can’t buy everything it doesn't stop him from needing more…
Then I opened Hillary’s email expecting to read an email about her big win and how they want to keep the momentum going and so need my support and money right now. Except that wasn’t what they wrote. Instead the email first talked about the importance of the win in PA. Then it went on that there will be a lot to do starting tomorrow but for tonight just celebrate the win and ended with a thank you for your support. That was it. No request for money or help of any kind. I am sure that later today or tomorrow I will get another email requesting money but that doesn’t negate that this was a classy gesture. I can’t help but think that this also reflects the new campaign manager now that Mark Penn is gone. Nonetheless for the first time Hillary’s campaign impressed me with this thoughtful and restrained email.
It is all too little too late as Obama has the numbers to win this primary. And yet …. Every time you think the Clintons (husband or wife) is down and out they somehow manage to come back again. About the only sure thing on this day after the PA primaries and Hillary’s win is that the only person celebrating more than she is John McCain!
Barack’s email was pretty much as expected. His campaign wrote that although they lost in PA they still have a commanding lead. It went on to state that they still have to fight a two-prong attack by Clinton and McCain. So guess what? He needs your support right now and to send in at least $25. Typical. Even though he outspent Hillary something like 3-1 and still lost in PA. I guess that although money can’t buy everything it doesn't stop him from needing more…
Then I opened Hillary’s email expecting to read an email about her big win and how they want to keep the momentum going and so need my support and money right now. Except that wasn’t what they wrote. Instead the email first talked about the importance of the win in PA. Then it went on that there will be a lot to do starting tomorrow but for tonight just celebrate the win and ended with a thank you for your support. That was it. No request for money or help of any kind. I am sure that later today or tomorrow I will get another email requesting money but that doesn’t negate that this was a classy gesture. I can’t help but think that this also reflects the new campaign manager now that Mark Penn is gone. Nonetheless for the first time Hillary’s campaign impressed me with this thoughtful and restrained email.
It is all too little too late as Obama has the numbers to win this primary. And yet …. Every time you think the Clintons (husband or wife) is down and out they somehow manage to come back again. About the only sure thing on this day after the PA primaries and Hillary’s win is that the only person celebrating more than she is John McCain!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
A Better Not Bitter America
As I sit here watching the Pope and listening to his preaching I can’t help but think back to the “preaching’s” of Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Add in the repugnant statement last week by Barack Obama and I have come to some interesting conclusions.
The Pope in his very first speech at the White House concluded with “God Bless America”. I don’t know if it was intentional but I bet a lot of folks were comparing that to Wright’s “God Damn America”. So far the Pope has been preaching a sermon of forgiveness, encouragement and love. Wright, on the other hand, seems to spend a lot of time preaching about blame and anger and even hatred.
Ironically, Pope Benedict XVI has more reason to hate a group of people than Wright ever will. This German Pope lived through Hitler’s regime and had to deal with the terror and ugliness of Nazism. Now Jeremiah Wright may talk of slavery but he was never shackled in chains, nor his father or probably even his grandfather.
Anyway, in addition to comparing the Pope’s message of love and forgiveness to that of Wright’s hate and anger filled sermons throw in Barack Obama’s message last week. If Barack does attend a church that preaches hatred then you can almost understand why he might think that bitter people turn to religion when they are frustrated.
If your church reflects your frustration and anger with the world then I suppose it would be appealing to a frustrated bitter person. But most people who go to church go to one that preaches a message of love and forgiveness similar to the Pope’s sermons.
Mixing all of these thoughts together and I am arriving at two interesting conclusions. First, it isn’t small town folks who are bitter but the Democrats. Liberals, like Obama, seem to be very frustrated and bitter and angry at the USA. These liberals have yet to forgive anyone; not the people, the Supreme Court, Republicans, Southerners, Floridians nor anyone else who they think helped to elect President Bush in 2000 and again in 2004.
On the other hand, the most successful Republicans, like Reagan, campaign on the promises of hope and a better tomorrow. Their positive messages reflect that of main stream churches. History has shown that most people want leaders who are positive, who offer the masses hope and encouragement to be a better person, a better country. Actully it isn't only Republicans who are elected if they have a message of hope. Think of Roosevelt, Kennedy even Bill Clinton. All of them encourgaed the population that there would be a new tomorrow filled with hope and the good life.
Obama had initially started off campaigning on hope and the offer to bring Americans together again. But after the divisiveness of Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s proclaimed spiritual advisor, then Obama himself began to be tainted with the brush of liberal anger and hatred. Obama then compounded the problem with his bitter statement. He probably will still be the Democratic nominee for President. But if McCain can emulate the Pope by giving Americans a message of hope and prosperity he just might win over an opponent who is portrayed as seeing a bitter not better people and country.
The Pope in his very first speech at the White House concluded with “God Bless America”. I don’t know if it was intentional but I bet a lot of folks were comparing that to Wright’s “God Damn America”. So far the Pope has been preaching a sermon of forgiveness, encouragement and love. Wright, on the other hand, seems to spend a lot of time preaching about blame and anger and even hatred.
Ironically, Pope Benedict XVI has more reason to hate a group of people than Wright ever will. This German Pope lived through Hitler’s regime and had to deal with the terror and ugliness of Nazism. Now Jeremiah Wright may talk of slavery but he was never shackled in chains, nor his father or probably even his grandfather.
Anyway, in addition to comparing the Pope’s message of love and forgiveness to that of Wright’s hate and anger filled sermons throw in Barack Obama’s message last week. If Barack does attend a church that preaches hatred then you can almost understand why he might think that bitter people turn to religion when they are frustrated.
If your church reflects your frustration and anger with the world then I suppose it would be appealing to a frustrated bitter person. But most people who go to church go to one that preaches a message of love and forgiveness similar to the Pope’s sermons.
Mixing all of these thoughts together and I am arriving at two interesting conclusions. First, it isn’t small town folks who are bitter but the Democrats. Liberals, like Obama, seem to be very frustrated and bitter and angry at the USA. These liberals have yet to forgive anyone; not the people, the Supreme Court, Republicans, Southerners, Floridians nor anyone else who they think helped to elect President Bush in 2000 and again in 2004.
On the other hand, the most successful Republicans, like Reagan, campaign on the promises of hope and a better tomorrow. Their positive messages reflect that of main stream churches. History has shown that most people want leaders who are positive, who offer the masses hope and encouragement to be a better person, a better country. Actully it isn't only Republicans who are elected if they have a message of hope. Think of Roosevelt, Kennedy even Bill Clinton. All of them encourgaed the population that there would be a new tomorrow filled with hope and the good life.
Obama had initially started off campaigning on hope and the offer to bring Americans together again. But after the divisiveness of Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s proclaimed spiritual advisor, then Obama himself began to be tainted with the brush of liberal anger and hatred. Obama then compounded the problem with his bitter statement. He probably will still be the Democratic nominee for President. But if McCain can emulate the Pope by giving Americans a message of hope and prosperity he just might win over an opponent who is portrayed as seeing a bitter not better people and country.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Sigh of Relief
Is there anybody else out there giving a big sigh of relief over the Republican’s choice for president? I am not a huge McCain fan but right now I am very glad that Mitt Romney is not the GOP’s presumptive candidate for president. Why, you ask? Well, let me tell you….
When you think of Romney what comes to mind? Most people would say things like Mormon, businessman, Governor of Massachusetts and Olympics. Now, what has been headlined in the news over the past week? The 401 children found in that sick extreme Mormon compound in Texas and the debacle over the progress of the Olympic torch.
By no means is Mitt Romney the least bit involved in either of these events. Yet because he is a Mormon and because he helped save the Olympics once he is strongly associated with those two topics. Can you imagine the heat and the questions he and the GOP would be getting if Mitt were the Republican candidate? Whew. And I am afraid that because of recent events Romney shouldn't even be considered for VP. Right now Mormonism is just too big of baggage to carry into the White House.
When you think of Romney what comes to mind? Most people would say things like Mormon, businessman, Governor of Massachusetts and Olympics. Now, what has been headlined in the news over the past week? The 401 children found in that sick extreme Mormon compound in Texas and the debacle over the progress of the Olympic torch.
By no means is Mitt Romney the least bit involved in either of these events. Yet because he is a Mormon and because he helped save the Olympics once he is strongly associated with those two topics. Can you imagine the heat and the questions he and the GOP would be getting if Mitt were the Republican candidate? Whew. And I am afraid that because of recent events Romney shouldn't even be considered for VP. Right now Mormonism is just too big of baggage to carry into the White House.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Organizing Fellowship Feels Wrong
I signed up to receive emails from both the Obama and Clinton campaigns. Last week I was sent an email from the Obama headquarters that was different from the typical ones asking for money. Normally I briefly glance over then delete them but this one caught my attention and I think it is something more people should know about.
Obama is announcing an Organizing Fellowship project. He first talks about being inspired by the civil rights movement and then how he worked as a community organizer in Chicago. And then he writes about this new Organizing Fellowship but instead of explaining it I will let you read his words about this new project.
That's why we're introducing a program that's going to train a new generation of leaders -- not only to help us win this election, but to help strengthen our democracy in communities across the country.
If you apply and are selected, you'll be trained in the basic organizing principles that this campaign and our movement for change are built on. You will be assigned to a community where you'll organize supporters. Assignments will begin in June, and you'll be required to work a minimum of six weeks over the summer.
I don’t know why but this concept bothers me. I suppose one problem I have with this is what will these organizers be doing this summer? I could understand if they organized during the general election this fall but Obama may not even be the presumptive Democratic candidate in June. And other than college students who else is available for six weeks without pay? What kind of activities will they be organizing? Can Obama control what they do? Will they harass McCain’s less organized supporters? How might they react if he ultimately loses? If Obama does become president what role might they play in perhaps “helping” to pass or enforce his new laws? And why hasn't any news organization picked up on this yet?
I suppose all political campaigns do something like this yet this idea seems more militant than in the past. Isn’t this the model by which the Black Panthers and even the KKK tried to get organized years ago? Or maybe I am just being paranoid. But I can’t help smell the whiff of fascism within this “fellowship” and its goal to "strengthen our democracy". Let’s hope I am wrong.
Obama is announcing an Organizing Fellowship project. He first talks about being inspired by the civil rights movement and then how he worked as a community organizer in Chicago. And then he writes about this new Organizing Fellowship but instead of explaining it I will let you read his words about this new project.
That's why we're introducing a program that's going to train a new generation of leaders -- not only to help us win this election, but to help strengthen our democracy in communities across the country.
If you apply and are selected, you'll be trained in the basic organizing principles that this campaign and our movement for change are built on. You will be assigned to a community where you'll organize supporters. Assignments will begin in June, and you'll be required to work a minimum of six weeks over the summer.
I don’t know why but this concept bothers me. I suppose one problem I have with this is what will these organizers be doing this summer? I could understand if they organized during the general election this fall but Obama may not even be the presumptive Democratic candidate in June. And other than college students who else is available for six weeks without pay? What kind of activities will they be organizing? Can Obama control what they do? Will they harass McCain’s less organized supporters? How might they react if he ultimately loses? If Obama does become president what role might they play in perhaps “helping” to pass or enforce his new laws? And why hasn't any news organization picked up on this yet?
I suppose all political campaigns do something like this yet this idea seems more militant than in the past. Isn’t this the model by which the Black Panthers and even the KKK tried to get organized years ago? Or maybe I am just being paranoid. But I can’t help smell the whiff of fascism within this “fellowship” and its goal to "strengthen our democracy". Let’s hope I am wrong.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Short Retort
Everybody knows that you're supposed to drink at least 8 glasses of water. Or that water helps you lose weight faster. Or that water makes your complexion look better. Or that water is better than any other drink. Turns out that they are all urban myths. A group of doctors discovered that there is no research or studies to suppprt any of these claims about drinking water. In fact they now say you can get your needed water from other drinks and from the food you eat. Yes, water has fewer calories than soda but other than that there is no health benefit from drinking water. As somebody who can't stand to drink water you can imagine how gleeful I am over this news. Most of all I no longer feel guilty for not drinking all that water everyone told me I should drink. Of course doctors will now do the studies to see if any of the above claims about water are true. Until then I will stick with my coke and not feel shamed any more by all of you with your bottled water!
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