Rant - Politics makes me a cranky droid

Live in a rural area? Enjoy your phone service and electricity? Thank a democrat for the Rural Telephone Act (Harry Truman) and the Rural Electrification Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt).

Are you a farmer? Thank a democrat for the Farm Loan Bank Act (Woodrow Wilson), the Federal Crop Loan Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt) and the Farm Loan Housing Act (Harry Truman).

Like to work less than 12 hours a day for a dollar an hour? Thank a democrat for the 8 Hour Workday and Overtime Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt) and the Minimum Wage Law (Franklin D. Roosevelt).

Ever been fired from a job? Thank a democrat for the Unemployment Compensation Law (Franklin D. Roosevelt).

Ever had to take off from work to care for a sick family member? Thank a democrat for the Family and Medical Leave Act (Bill Clinton).

Are you a woman? Thank a democrat for the Women's Suffrage Amendment (Woodrow Wilson).

Ever go to college with financial aid? Thank a democrat for the Student Loan Reform Act (Bill Clinton), the GI Bill of Rights (Franklin D. Roosevelt), the Student Loan Reform Act (Bill Clinton) and the Guaranteed Student Loan Program (Lyndon Johnson).

Planning on getting old? Thank a democrat for the Social Security Administration (Franklin D. Roosevelt), the Older Americans Act (Lyndon Johnson), Medicare (Lyndon Johnson) and Medicaid (Lyndon Johnson).

Like illegal and immoral wars, over priced oil, corruption, scandals, cronyism, ineffective policies? Hate science? Prefer to keep "those people" out of your neighborhood? Like seeing America's name dragged through the mud? Thank a republican for the last 7 1/2 years.

Relax, you say, the markets will take care of it.

So, you believe Giant Global Corporation, Inc. would take care of you if you needed time to spend with a sick child? They wouldn't fire you and replace you with someone cheaper?

You think they would make sure your retirement is comfortable? *cough Enron cough*

You think AT&T would have put in phone lines to north central Kansas if they didn't have to? Screw 'em. Make 'em move to the city?

Do you think farmers would be able to plant crops you and yours eat if they had a bad harvest last year because of a drought or a hail storm?

What about your grandmother who scrimped and saved for decades and ends up spending all her life savings on a nursing home? Should she have to wait to go to the ER if she's sick? Serves her right for living so long?

How about your kids? Should they have to rely on your paying for college? Can you put them through four years without federal input?

What about people who are not as lucky to be as wise with their money as you? Maybe they didn't get born into oil money, should they be forced to stay in the lower class? Should we build walls around your house to keep them from stealing your stuff or worse? Maybe we can use them as an alternative fuel source, perhaps?

I hate that there's government waste. I hate that there are moochers off the government teat. I hate that we have decided to turn our backs on our citizens so we can line Halliburton and Blackwater and BP's pockets. But what I hate more are the people who have a smug attitude that anyone who needs a hand up, no matter what their circumstances may be, is a lesser quality person. $10 Billion a month can go along way to rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure. $10 Billion a month can go a long way to putting people to work on that infrastructure. $10 Billion dollars a month can go a long way to helping sick kids get well so they can contribute to our greater good. $10 Billion a month can go a long way to educating our kids and getting us back on top of the planet as the smartest, best prepared people here.

We have wasted the last 7 1/2 years ignoring problems here at home, while we invade and rebuild somewhere else. It's not right.

This fear of Democrats tax and spending us into a paupers grave seems to be misdirected. Do the research yourself.

The Democrats way just works better.

Politics - Why I'm a Democrat.

Democratic Accomplishments: Rural America
* Farm Loan Bank Act (Woodrow Wilson)
* Federal Crop Loan Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Rural Electrification Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Farmer's Home Administration (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Soil Conservation Service (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Rural Telephone Act (Harry Truman)
* Agricultural Adjustment Administration (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Cooperative Extension Service (Woodrow Wilson)
* Farm Loan Housing Act (Harry Truman)

Democratic Accomplishments: Environmental Protection
* Clean Water Act (100th Congress, over President Reagan's Veto)
* Clean Air Act (John F. Kennedy)

Democratic Accomplishments: Foreign Affairs
* United Nations (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* League of Nations (Woodrow Wilson)
* Atlantic Charter (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Marshall Plan (Harry Truman)
* Monroe Doctrine (James Monroe)
* Atmospheric Test Ban Treaty (John F. Kennedy)
* NATO (Harry Truman)
* Truman Doctrine (Harry Truman)
* Peace Corps (John F. Kennedy)
* Louisiana Purchase (Thomas Jefferson)
* Camp David Accord (Jimmy Carter)

Democratic Accomplishments: Labor
* Creation of a Cabinet Level Labor Department (Woodrow Wilson)
* The 8 Hour Workday and Overtime (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* National Labor Relations Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Minimum Wage Law (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Unemployment Compensation Law (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Civilian Conservation Corp (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* The Full Employment Act for Labor (Harry Truman)
* Family and Medical Leave Act (Bill Clinton)
* Worker's Compensation (Woodrow Wilson)

Democratic Accomplishments: Civil and Political Rights
* Women's Suffrage Amendment (Woodrow Wilson)
* VISTA (John F. Kennedy)
* Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Lyndon Johnson)
* Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Lyndon Johnson)
* National Voter Registration Act (Bill Clinton)
* Americans with Disabilities Act (101st Congress)

Democratic Accomplishments: The Economy
* Largest Deficit Cutting Plan in History (Bill Clinton)
* Federal Reserve Bank Act (Woodrow Wilson)
* Clayton Anti-Trust Act (Woodrow Wilson)
* Securities & Exchange Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt)

Democratic Accomplishments: Education
* Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act (Woodrow Wilson)
* Fulbright-Hays Scholarship (Harry Truman)
* Creation of the Education Department (Jimmy Carter)
* National School Lunch Program (Harry Truman)
* Guaranteed Student Loan Program (Lyndon Johnson)
* Smart Start (Governor Jim Hunt)
* More at Four (Governor Mike Easley)
* Head Start (Lyndon Johnson)
* Ameri-Corp (Bill Clinton)
* GI Bill of Rights (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Student Loan Reform Act (Bill Clinton)
* School-to-Work Opportunities Act (Bill Clinton)

Democratic Accomplishments: Senior Citizens
* Social Security Administration (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Older Americans Act (Lyndon Johnson)
* Medicare (Lyndon Johnson)
* Medicaid (Lyndon Johnson)
* Consolidation of Older Americans Act (Jimmy Carter)
* Successful Defense of Social Security (Democratic Minority of the 109th Congress)

Politics - Running mates and flip flops

Joe Biden, huh?

A safe, if misguided, pick.

I'm not crazy about his stance on the drug war. Or his pro-RIAA/MPAA, anti-network neutrality or his anti-technology positions, either.

We'll see.
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Just posting this as reference for those claiming McSame is a maverick who won't kowtow:

TAXES: In 2001 and 2003, McCain opposed the Bush tax cuts, saying that they would “mostly benefit the wealthy.” But in 2006 he voted to extend them and now he wants to double them.

IMMIGRATION: In 2006, McCain sponsored immigration reform legislation with Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), but in a January 2008 debate, he said that he “would not” vote for his own legislation.

ROE V. WADE: In 1999, McCain told reporters that he “would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade.” In 2006, McCain expressed his unequivocal support for overturning the decision.

OFFSHORE DRILLING: In 1999, when he first ran for president, McCain supported the moratorium on offshore drilling. In June 2008, however, he called for an end to the federal ban on offshore oil drilling.

RADICAL RIGHT: In 2000, McCain declared Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell “agents of intolerance,” but in 2006 McCain said he no longer considers Falwell an “agent of intolerance.”

Politics - It's the end of the Constitution as we know it

Dennis Moore (D - Kansas) has officially lost my endorsement for ANYTHING he ever runs for again.

He has thrown in with 292 other traitors to the Constitution of the United States in approving retroactive immunity for George W. Bush and the giant telecom corporations.

May they all rot in hell.

Current events - A defining moment

America, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past. Our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love.

The journey will be difficult. The road will be long. I face this challenge with profound humility, and knowledge of my own limitations. But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people. Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth. This was the moment - this was the time - when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves, and our highest ideals.

Barack Obama, June 4, 2008

A Picture Share - What Bill is thinking...

"I should have let Ted Kennedy drive her home from my first inauguration."

Politics - Bitter?

You are goddamned right I am.

And If you aren't... you haven't been paying attention.

Politics - The difference?

Someone once told me that the difference between a liberal and a conservative could be explained thus -

Liberals are fine with some people getting benefits they don't need in order to ensure that the people who do need the benefits get them; Conservatives are fine with the people who need the benefits NOT getting them in order to ensure those who don't need them, don't get them.

Politics - Tax & Spend Republicans

Since 1938 the Democrats have held the White house for 35 years, the Republicans for 34. Over that time the national debt has increased at an average annual rate of 8.7%. In years Democrats were in the White House there was an average increase of 8.3%. In years the Republicans ran the White House the debt increased an average 9.7% per year. Those averages aren’t that far apart, but they do show a bias toward more borrowing by Republicans than Democrats even including World War II.

If you look at the 59-year record of debt since the end of WWII, starting with Truman’s term, the difference between the two parties’ contributions to our national debt level change considerably. Since 1946, Democratic presidents increased the national debt an average of only 3.2% per year. The Republican presidents stay at an average increase of 9.7% per year. Republican Presidents out borrowed and spent Democratic presidents by a three to one ratio. Putting that in very real terms; for every dollar a Democratic president has raised the national debt in the past 59 years Republican presidents have raised the debt by $2.99.

Politics - Why I will be caucusing for Barak Obama tonight

Clinton vs. Obama.

They share a lot of the same views on policy. In fact, their platforms are nearly identical.

So it comes down to character and integrity.

Obama wins that walking away.

The major reason I'm caucusing for Obama tonight is that he won't bring in the baggage that Hillara has.

The right loathes her. There is no faster way to get under a 'publicans skin than to mention her name. (Ok, maybe Gore, but I digress.) You want to see McCain in the WH and four more years of embarrassing foreign affairs gaffs and pointless wars? Then nominate Hillara. She'll bond the fractured GOP together so fast it'll make Super Glue look like bubble gum.

Even the religious right will overlook McCains less than conservative voting record to keep her out of the White House.

Aside from that, Obama is competent, literate, well liked abroad and can recover some of the damage our reputation has taken under this administrations holy war. We need that. We need our friends and allies to know who we really are. We need to restore the presidency to an office of hope. Not one of divisive politics as usual.

Hillara and Obama don't differ that much on policy stands. (I supported Kucinich early on because he DID differ from everyone.) Now it's about who can lead us out of the fucking mess Dubya/Cheney/Rice/Wolfowitz/Libby/Rumsfield and all the other PNAC ass-wipes got us into.

Then there's the whole lobbyists thing:

Clinton took in $823,087 from registered lobbyists and members of their firms in 2007 and the second-biggest recipient was McCain, who took in $416,321, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based group which tracks political giving. Barack Obama, Clinton's rival for the Democratic nomination, doesn't take money from registered lobbyists, although he received $86,282 from employees of firms that lobby, according to the center.

Politics - No child left behind... unless they need health coverage, then screw 'em

Email your congress critters and point this out to the little weasels:

How many days of the Iraq war would pay for children's health care?

1 Day = $300 Million = 246,000 Kids
1 Week = $2.1 Billion = 1.7 Million Kids
1 Month = $9.1 Billion = 7.4 Million Kids
41 Days = $12.2 Billion = 10 Million Kids

Tell them to stand up to Bush and his, claim that the SCHIP bill contains “excessive spending,” even as he’s requested $200 billion more for the war in Iraq.

Current events - FISA and you.

Complicated? No!

Here's the short version...

ALBERTO GONZALES, liar, loyal Bushie and attorney general of the Corporate States of America, can listen to your phone calls and read your email with NO judicial or congressional oversight.

And your democratic majority in congress said it was just fine and dandy with them!

See? Simple.

Politics - Performance based pay?

Last week, the House of Reps voted themselves a big pay raise. Three of our Kansas house members (Nancy Boyda, Dennis Moore both dems and Jerry Moran a 'pub) voted no but 'publican Todd Tiahrt voted yes. It would take a miracle and twelve gallons of Guinness to get me to vote for Tiahrt anyway, but you can bet I'll be making sure all of my friends in the Wichita area know how this vote went.

The Senate has yet to vote on their pay raise, but I suspect Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts (both 'pubs, natch) will be lining their pockets a little deeper soon.

Fiscal responsibility, my ass.

Current events - Oil and water

Think noted humanitarian Sam Waterston and conservative Fred Thompson have some interesting and heated discussions on set?

Politics - Kansas Pubs go Dem

Via KC Buzz Blog

The ol' switcheroo continues.

With the 2006 filing deadline just hours away, Kansas Democrats today claimed a total of eight Republicans who have switched to the Democratic Party to run for office this year.

That list, of course, is headed by Mark Parkinson, the former GOP chair who is running as Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' running mate, and Paul Morrison, the Johnson County district attorney running for attorney general.

The other six:
Steve Lukert, seeking re-election in the 62nd House District.
Cindy Neighbor, former GOP lawmaker running to again represent the 18th House District Shawnee area.
Duane Mathes, current Edwards County Commissioner, in the 117th House District.
Judy Leyerzapf, current Abilene City Commissioner, in the 68th House District.
Kent Goyen in the 114th House District.
Walt Chappell in the 91st House District.

Maybe it's my inherent lack of faith in anything humans do, but I wonder how progressive (or even moderate) you can expect a former Kansas GOPer to be. I keep thinking it's a ploy to get the free publicity and if the Dems start sliding in the polls these fair-weather 'crats will change back.

Why not just run as an independent moderate and be done with it?