Obama Railroaded To Washington

     President Elect Barack Obama has started out the first day of the inaugural celebrations by taking the train.  He is recreating the trip that President Lincoln took in 1861.  It is a 137 mile trip from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.   It is a deliberate attempt to rally the citizens of the United States.  Obama has called on the American public to rebuild this country and he called for a new declaration of independence.  He acknowledged the issues facing this country and said that we need to make a new declaration of independence not only in our country but also in our personal lives.  This day is a historic day in our nation and one that needs to be viewed as the kick off to a new beginning.

         The things that made this country great when it began can help us to regain it’s strength and pride of achievement if only we can get back to the basics and build upon those things that are the foundation of our country…namely perserverance and ideology according to President Elect Barack Obama. 

       The train stopped and picked up Sen. Joe Biden and his wife in Wilmington, Delaware with just a small misstep.  Joe tried to get on the train to greet Barack and Michelle Obama…but they were not in the caboose when he opened the door.  With a trademark self-effacing grin…he stepped back off of the train when informed that the Obama’s would step off the train to the platform for a meet and greet.  Slightly awkward…but very “real person-like” moment…not one overly rehearsed and performed like many public figure robots.

        Sen. Joe Biden also is acknowledged for his pledge to raise his boys in Wilmington, Delaware  after his first wife and daughter were killed in an accident.  He has a rich history of his dedication of riding the Amtrack train back and forth from Wilmington to Washington daily so that he could keep his commitment of raising his sons in his hometown.

     January 2oth is coming upon us.  There is excitement and hope…and an awareness of the work ahead that must be accomplished to put this country back on the right rails to greatness.

    

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Political Grudges–Is Being An Independent, Free Thinker Against The Winds of Change?

      Well, the political grudges and paybacks have begun according to news reports.  It appears that there are those within the Democratic party who are holding a grudge against Sen. Joe Lieberman for publically supporting Sen. John McCain for president of the United States.

       Sen. Joe Lieberman was a Democrat when he ran for the Vice Presidency in 2000.  He is now an independent; but is still on the books, registered as a Democrat.  Senator Joe Lieberman spoke his mind about Barack Obama in September.  He was spoke on the subject during the Republican National Convention.  There was some outrage expressed and it appeared to shock the political world that he threw his opinion out there in support for John McCain; because, Sen. Joe Lieberman often sides with the Democrat party on issues. 

       The Democratic party has not forgotten that Lieberman went against the Democratic choice, Barack Obama.  My question is…if he was an Independent…why is it such an outrage that he would choose to support Sen. John McCain as his candidate of choice for the Presidency?  Doesn’t Sen. Lieberman have the same rights as you and I to choose who he thinks would make the best choice for the leadership of our great country?

       Today it was widely reported that Senator Lieberman had a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid…a Democrat from Nevada.  It appears that Reid is seriously considering removing Sen. Lieberman from his position of chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committe.  Majority Leader Reid allegedly offered Sen. Lieberman a lesser committee position on another committe; if he would continue to align himself with the Democrats to make policy decisions.

        It appears that Sen. Lieberman is taking some time to consider his options.  However, I ask you…since our new President ran his campaign on change…Is being an independent, free thinker against the winds of change?  Or is this a political grudge that has evolved into some sort of payback.  Or, is it business as usual in Washington, DC?  And, if it is true that it is payback time for going against the public party line…who’s going to pay the price next?  What does this say about the future leadership of our country; how will it be run during the next four years? 

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Debate, Political Choices…It Could Go Either Way!

         What a stinking mess we are living with.  Fear smells up a place…we have a huge financial crisis, a huge political crisis; and, it could be a privotal moment of rescue or a plunge into the abyss and truthfully, the whole thing could go either way!

          Huge meetings are taking place in Washington…panic is like a throbbing headache…it is there making it presence known…threatening to turn into something much worse than a mere pain.  Into the frey, we have a bailout plan that was possibly agreed upon, until some say McCain derailed it with the House Republicans who disagreed strongly with parts of the plan. 

          Throw on top of that…a debate that is scheduled for tonight between Sen. McCain and Sen. Barack Obama.  Battle lines have been drawn, in a somewhat blurry manner.  Sen. Obama says he will definately show up for the debate…McCain says…we should reschedule the debate and focus on this immediate crisis with a plan for the financial stabilization for our country.  Our leaders have been in financial denial too long to let this negatively impact our country any longer.  It is time for commitment to understanding the problem and taking action.

          Who is correct…Obama says the debates are important to help the people understand how the Senators would handle things if they were the chosen one for the Presidential office.  McCain says, these meetings in Washington are critical and that they should be involved in them.  This whole thing is larger than a difference of opinion.  Does it say something very basic about Obama’s nature to hold to the plan for the debate when all of the rest of the country is focussed on this crisis?  Does he feel set apart from it all?  Or is he making a statement by letting the others take the action behind the scenes?  Is he right to stay out of it?  Or should he be more involved? If he doesn’t get involved in the planning of the bailout…will he understand best how to run the country if he should win the election?  Will Obama will the voter’s approval in November for not going to Washington at this time? 

        Is McCain right to be in the middle of things?  Should he be in there fighting for the things to be included or excluded in the bailout plan?  If he wins the election will it help him to run the country by being involved in the planning of the bailout?  Should he back out of it and go do the debate?  Will McCain’s involvement hurt his chances for election in November?  Or will he be seen as trying to make a difference?  Does his involvement help or hurt his chances for election?

          What i don’t understand is why they both can’t be right?  Why can’t the debate be moved to Washington and take place there…while the rest of their time could be focussed on the meetings to keep current on what is happening behind closed doors.  Those meeting are going to not only impact the country in deep and profound ways…but, will also impact whoever does end up in the Presidential position!  This is real, this is so much bigger than either of the candidates and they both need to understand that the American people are going to have their decision made for them by the end of this crisis!

          This is no time for game playing, no time for political mud slinging, no time for experimentation…this country is looking for someone to take the helm of this country and be proactive in guiding the ship to a safer, less rocky course than it is on at this very moment in time. 

          Wall Street is in turmoil, the American tax paying public is in no position to fund a bailout when most of it’s residents are barely surviving as it is.  Banks are collapsing, housing is bottoming out, businesses are busting out all over the place, people’s investments and retirements are in jeparody…this is shaky ground; reminescent of what happened in Russia just a few short years ago. 

          Other countries are getting nervous as well.  Beware of the person who says they have all of the answers…because no one possibly can.  This is uncharted areas of expertise.  The last thing we need is a knee jerk policy…however, we need to start doing some major corrective action or things will not be able to recover. 

           Anyone with half of a brain knows that you don’t make crucial decisions when everything is imploding…because you need to make rational choices.  How in the heck did we get this far gone in this country before the “experts” in the markets and financial infrastructure sent up a red flag or a flare?  Couldn’t they see this coming down the road early enough to start changing the direction of this disaster?

           People’s very quality of life is slipping through the cracks of our governing body.  Something has to be done…but, who knows best?  Who do we trust?  Are we going to waste time having a political showdown between the two very people who could possibly be running the government in less than two or three months?  The sky is falling people…the sky is falling…for real this time; we are not crying wolf when we say…we need an immediate comprehensive plan to stop this country from disappearing into a black hole in the universe!  It is time to pray for the leadership of this country and ask that they be given wisdom in their decision making!!!  update:  Breaking news…McCain now says: he WILL attend the debate this evening in Oxford, Mississippi!

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Words Americans Can Live By

       Tonight, a totally moving and strong speach was given by Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for the Vice President of the United States.  This woman i believe could very much be good for our country.  She has given a message that the people of the United States have wanted to hear from their leaders…whether they be Republican or Democrats.

       She is down home, grass roots…and very direct.  She exhibits qualities that hit home with real people…who work hard for their money and struggle to keep it for their families.  She believes in cutting down on government control.  She encourages improving the living conditions for special needs children and their families.  She promises that when elected…those families will have a friend in the highest offices of the land.  She has a sense of humor and she knows how to use it.  She asked what the difference was between soccer moms and a pit bull…she said soccer moms wear lipstick…she classifys herself as a soccer mom!

         She illustrates the difficulties that the American middle class families face with job cuts and taxes that burden families; she declares that she and McCain will cut excess government spending.  She has proudly underscored the strength of the hard working people in the country who do not live as the elite in Washinton DC.

        It is powerful to see this speach take place.  It will be interesting to see what happens in the polls now.  Whether in the Vice President position or not…this woman is going to make a huge impact on America.  She is proud of her son in the United States military, her daughters and her husband, as well as her son with Down’s Syndrome.  I applaud her support of those with special needs.     See related website on special needs: http://www.growingupspecial.com/

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Suicide On Demand-Washington Tries To Make It Legal

      There are people who wish to die everywhere around the world…they each have their reasons…some actually make it happen.  Those people are often desperate, sick, experiencing financial, emotional or physical difficulties which can cloud, or influence their decision to take their own life.  My concern is, that in those moments of desperation or depression, having the stamp of approval from people approved by the state legitimizing the option of suicide will only reinforce their hopelessness.

     The state of Washington is trying to get 225,000 valid voter’s signatures before July 3rd so that they can get an initiative on the November ballot called Death with Dignity.  If they can accomplish this goal…in November, voters will have the chance to create a new law condoning suicide in certain circumstances.

        If a person has been diagnosed as having a fatal disease; and has less than 6 months to live, and two seperate doctors are in agreement about that diagnosis; the patient will then have the option of submitting a request to receive a perscription for a medicine combination that will cause their death.  When making their verbal request to receive that medication, they must request it twice, 15 days apart; they must also submit a written request, witnessed by two other people who are not their doctor, family or friends who will not benefit, legally or financially, from the death of that person making the request.  It all seems so logical and thought out; however, it doesn’t take into account the possibly opposing wishes or moral convictions of the patient’s loved ones.   What about religious beliefs…suicide goes against the grain of most religious beliefs…and family members who are left behind struggle with their feelings and emotions at the complex blend of rejection,fear,anger and loss..not to mention guilt about being unable to prevent the suicide.  At the end of that person’s life…offering the option of suicide can cause great distress, at a time when support is what is needed most!  I think great harm can come from this with regards to having emotional conflicts between the patient and the people closest to them.  What do you think about this issue?

       Washington state is and will always be my second adopted home state.  I have many loved ones there; I would hate to think that anyone i loved could choose to leave the world in this way.  Every life has value…and is precious…every day is a gift of time with each other.  http://www.save.org/ or http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or http://www.afsp.org/

       

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News teasers for the day

          Does it seem like the news scene is exploding with activity to anyone else but me lately?  Geez…each day there are tons of news stories that are equally important…but, there is not enough time to do them justice so i will just touch briefly on the most noteworthy for today.

            The biggest story is that Hillary Clinton the ended her bid for the Democratic nomination for running for the office of the President of the United States…she says that she endorses Senator Barack Obama now and urges her supporters to throw their support to him in his bid for the office of the President of the United States.  This is newsworthy because their duo quest for the Presidency was historic; Hillary because she was a female running for the job…and him because he is the first African American who was running.  Some of Hillary’s supporters are angry and say they will not vote for Barack.  Both Hillary and Barack are calling for unity in the Party so that a Democratic can win the Presidency from the Republicans.

            Today it was announced that Lynda Carter, the actress who played Wonder Woman, found a body in the Potomac River, Washington.  It was a woman and Lynda didn’t have a cell phone so she called to some fishermen to get help.  She stayed near the body until help arrived.   She said it was something anyone would do.  I beg to differ, as earlier this week…a video showed a person being hit by a car and noone stopping to help him out.  The world is slowly becoming desensitized to people in  need.  Good job Lynda for acting with compassion.

            On a sad note….a person of great renown in the sports world passed away.  Jim McKay a wonderful sportscaster who set the bar for todays new crop of televised sportscasters died at the age of 86 at his home in Maryland of natural causes.  I remember watching him while i grew up and he had a voice that you wanted to listen to.  He could create a natural excitement about whatever sport he was addressing at the time.  He was special.

           Also, the weather is playing a big part in the news this past week.  There has been horrendous storms in the central part of the country.  There have been tornadoes, torrential rains, flooding and lightening strikes.  Right now the National Weather Service has issued warnings for 15 counties in Indiana.  There are several dams that are on the brink of failing…and already widespread flooding is occuring.  Parts of several highways have been shut down due to flooding and people are being evacuated in several areas for the same reason.  With rain predicted off and on over the next few days…the threat could become more widespread for the residents of Indiana.

              Last but not least, the Dow Jones dropped 400 points today and the price of oil jumped again making the leap up 13% in the last two days.  The price of gas continues to fly skyward…making many families fearful about their financial future.  There seems to be no end in sight as to the lengths that the gas/oil industry will push the cost of purchasing the much needed precious fuels that make the world go round.  It is frightening to think what this winter will hold when it comes to gasoline and heating fuels. 

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