And Oh No You Didn't

How much farther with this go? I truly thought that once health care was instated and the hulabaloo was over, the conservative right would calm the freak down, possibly regroup for their next strategy for whatever non productive stance they wanted to take on next and move on. Wow was I wrong.

The death threats are ridiculous. The hatred is absurd and non serving to anyone. And the lies are rampant. I think that’s the part that has my anger up more than anything. It seems that the lambs of the GOP are willing to believe anything they are told regardless as to whether it’s the truth or not. Listen up lambs and listen up good. KNOW YOUR FACTS BEFORE YOU SPEW VENOM.

The one that slays me the most is that health care reform was done behind closed doors. This was brought to the light again by a recent CNN clip that is currently viral on Facebook and other social media sites. Funny, if it was so secretive, why did I watch it all live stream on my computer at work? Why is it I could find the bipartisan summit on most major networks and CNN? I watched that live stream from work as well.

How many of those who are buying into the BS bothered to listen to the State of the Union address explaining health care reform? The Congress vote? The health care reform summit? How many of the naysayers have read any of the reform bill itself? I’m betting none or very few. I have followed its entire journey from the get go and am pleased to say that other than the comprises that were agreed upon and made public, the bill stands as it was originally presented. There are no hidden agendas. There are no behind closed door decisions. It was all out there. As someone who works roughly 60 hours per week, if I can take the time to be educated, anyone can.

But here’s the rub. They don’t want to be. They don’t want to know the truth and they don’t want you to know it either. And it doesn’t make very interesting copy for the media to report, Health Care Reform Passes ~ Everyone is Happy! And no one wants to look back and say they are wrong. People think it’s better to keep the pot stirred than to sit back and see what happens and how it benefits the populous. Or doesn’t. But in the meantime, the anger, aggression and flat out confrontational lies get no one anywhere.

Here are some facts for you. After HCR passed, recent polls showed that the popularity of the bill increased by 9% over GOP opinion previously stated. Another fact. The DOW and NASDAQ finished higher than it had in years the day the bill was signed. I got bad news for the GOP. America is happy.

I have some things to ask of you. Don’t believe every thing you hear. Take some time and do your homework. I recently asked someone who said to me…..”well Obama is going to …[fill in your favorite]….” I asked them, show me where he said that. They said, …“well I can’t. All I know is what I’m told..” And who told you? Rush Limbaugh or someone else who is obviously misinformed? The next time someone spews the trash at you, simply ask them to show you where that is stated. I have found that shuts the majority of the ignorant down on the spot and hopefully gets them to think. A great source is the internet and http://www.factcheck.org/. That’s another great source to share with folks. But again, this will only work on those who want to be educated. That is worth saying again. FACTS ARE ONLY FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE EDUCATED. Let’s face it. There are plenty who and enjoying the fray and you will not change their minds. I live in a very red county and I should know. There is saying out there and you can make up your own mind if it’s worth it. One of my dearest friends once told me this. Don’t wrestle with a pig because the pig likes it and you just get muddy.

This girl is wiping off the mud and will continue to live in the truth and (dare I say it) be happy.

Oh Yes He Did!

What an amazing day in America’s history. For the first time in a long time, legislation recognizes the little guy and not big business. Also for the first time in a long time, I am so proud to be a part of this country and this process.

Two years ago I had the privilege of listening to presidential candidate Barack Obama speak here in Eastern Oregon. He spoke of changing health care and giving the opportunity for affordable health care coverage to millions of Americans who are struggling without. He spoke of how he would make discussions viewable to the public by putting it on CSPAN. How he would give everyone in congress the chance to have a say regardless of your party line. I looked at my son as the gymnasium erupted with applause and shrugged, “beautiful thought if he can do it”. Guess what folks. He did it.

Not only did he do it, he did it just how he said he would. Even as I type that I can hardly believe it. In my lifetime, I had yet to witness a true declaration and follow through quite as this one. I think maybe that is why so many on both party lines were shocked at his audacity and conviction in getting health care not only done, but just the way he said he would. Are we truly so jaded that we cannot see that we for once have a leader that has kept good on the promises he made on his campaign platform? I think so. Even I, Mary Poppins that I tend to be, had doubts that it would be as he said.

Barack Obama campaigned on change we could believe in. He promised to pay attention to the little man and do what he could to change outdated policies that no longer were working. He campaigned on a promise of Yes We Can. Oh yes we did.

Through it all the conservatives for big business did all they could but pull knives to get this stopped (and maybe a little of that, too) through lies, tainting, slander and just all around bad behavior that were not factually based. Our President went above and beyond what I felt was reasonable in including all sides in the debate and hearing everyone. He worked tirelessly toward compromise but when it became clear that if our President said the sky was blue the GOP would argue it was grey, that the show must go on with or without bipartisan support. And he did it.

The best part? Unlike politicians of the past, it’s not win at any cost for Obama. He has stated that he would rather be a one term president to do what is right rather than to do what is popular with the GOP. I don’t think this will happen. Especially once people begin to reap the benefit of this bill. But the fact that he’s willing to hang that out there in order to make a difference for the little guy makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Unique? Oh yes, oh yes folks. We have someone who cares. How lucky are we to see this and feel the benefits of this time and to know that our children and grandchildren will not be without health care coverage. This makes a difference not only for me but for my college age children.

Congratulations, Americans. Not just Yes We Can….but Oh Yes We Did! And the best is yet to come.

President Barack Obama

I don't even know where to start. I can't get enough MSNBC Live. I can't read enough on CNN. I can't wait for tomorrow to get here. I'm like a little kid who can hardly wait for Santa to arrive. There will be no sleep. My behavior will be extra good...well....let's not take things too far. But I'm as giddy as a little kid waiting to open that shiny package.

The time between holidays was long. There has been no light and few moments to celebrate in the past 8 years. In fact, I can't think of any. Oh yes. Capturing Bin Laden. I mean, Sadam Hussein. On my 40th birthday, in fact. Yes, the Bush admininstration can have bragging rights to that one. But no more. The election four years ago severely divided this country between so called Godless Liberals and the Christian right wing. Both incorrect and devisive statements that did far more to divide a country than unify a party.

I can already feel those wounds start to heal. I haven't heard those terms thankfully in this election as I did in 2004. I think that is why Barack Obama had such a profound effect on so many of us during that speech at the DNC. He spoke of healing and reconciliation between the parties that had been so damaged in the last campaign. He spoke of hope and unity back then as he continues to do today.

I see very little change in the leader I saw that day in 2004 until now. In fact, the changes I do see are growth and maturity and a poise and composure to take the reigns and lead this country out of the dark abyss that has come to seem so normal to the American people. How wrong that we have come to expect that as normal. It's the only explanation I can find for those who still want to keep the dark as a normal way of life.

Yes, on the eve of this nation electing our first president of color, I stop to think about how far this country has come on subject of race. And how far it has to go. My own ethnic children (16 and 21) received a disturbing email from their own father yesterday full of ignorance and intolerance that made my stomach turn. Fortunatly, my children dismissed it for the bigotry that it was but it lefting me thinking about those who put some much energy to fill their hearts with hate and wrong that has no premise other than the color of one's skin, birthright or heritage. Amazing. And I continue to look for the day that we no longer have to consider whether it's the first African American, Native American, Hispanic, or fill in your own ethnic favorite first, we just know it's the best choice. And the day that we choose due to who is the best choice and the color of their skin in no longer a consideration.

Yes, tomorrow will be a wonderful day for so many reasons. It's checking off another first. Its the start of a new era. A new day and a new way of life and thinking. It's the beginning of new prosperity and possibilities the likes this country has not seen in a very long time. It's a day I can hardly wait to share with my children especially my daughter who is voting for a president for the first time in her young life. And for my son who wants to save the Obama/Biden sign we have in our front yard to show his own children one day that he remembers when he was elected and attended a rally where he spoke.

It won't happen over night. This, as all things, will take time. But progress is worth having. We may not recognize it right away because we aren't used to having it but it will feel wonderful. I can feel the change already. And it feels good. So here's to tomorrow night. To quote my dear friend who, upon mixing the happy hour drinks on Friday nights, toasts us all by stating, "Let the healing begin!"

Sorry. I had to.....it's too much fun!

I Just Don't Get It

A lot of attention has recently come up regarding unfortunate comments made by Jesse Jackson. When it read things like this, it never fails to shock me. I guess the wagon left me behind because I don't see this campaign as a "black man" running as much as I see what he stands for and what he can do for our country.

Yes, I'm excited that we are on the threshold of electing our first African/American president but I am far more consumed by what he stands for and how the changes he is set to make will influence not only this nation but rather the world. I really, really wish people could get on THAT wagon and stop dropping the race card.

Someone once told me that there are African Amercians and there are *that degrogitory word that I won't even type* and there are white people and there is white trash or . Why must good and evil be segrigated? Why can't we simply acknowledge that there are now and always will be good and bad in this world and stop lumping them into racial divides?

Barack Obama is a man who can lead this free country and make some positive changes. Can't we start to LISTEN to him rather than just LOOKING at him?

A Note From the OBAMA Campaign

Barack announced an important decision for our campaign today.

I want to add a little context to the video message you received earlier announcing that we will not participate in the public financing system for the general election.

Even though we stood to receive more than $80 million in taxpayer funding for our campaign, the system has been so gamed and exploited by our opponents that it is effectively broken.
John McCain, the Republican National Committee, and their allies in so-called 527 groups that raise and spend unlimited contributions are dedicated to manipulating this broken system to raise as much money as possible -- and they've proven that they're very good at it.

A top McCain adviser told MSNBC earlier this month, "now that we're in the general election, the RNC money counts, the DNC money counts. So the truth is today, John McCain has more cash on hand and more money than Barack Obama does."

In April alone, they raised nearly $45 million. That's more than our campaign and the Democratic National Committee combined. And that doesn't include the plans of 527 groups like the one called "Freedom's Watch," which has said it will spend as much as $250 million under Karl Rove's direction to attack and defeat Barack Obama.

To compete, Barack has put his faith in ordinary people giving only what they can afford. That's been the strategy of this campaign from the beginning, and more than 1,500,000 supporters like you have gotten us this far.

We have a historic opportunity to prove that a movement of ordinary people has the power to change the way political campaigns are funded. And we have a clear goal as we begin this new challenge: 50,000 people declaring their independence by making a donation before July 4th.
You can help take on John McCain and the RNC by making your first donation today.
A previous donor is standing by to match your gift and double your impact. You can even exchange a personal note with them about why you've chosen to support Barack.

Declare your independence from our broken system. Make a matching donation today:
https://donate.barackobama.com/match

Opting out of public matching funds was an extremely difficult decision, and frankly we are at a disadvantage when it comes to raising money. Unlike John McCain, this campaign has never accepted donations from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs.
While McCain has built his fundraising strategy around high-dollar donors giving huge checks to the RNC, you are creating a new model for publicly financed campaigns.

Thank you for your support and for taking on the masters of a broken system,
David
David PlouffeCampaign ManagerObama for America

Barack on the Economy

History

A day I didn't think history would see in my lifetime. A man, unwavering in his convictions and unwilling to bend to the negative has been nominated for the democratic ticket for the White House. And not that this is that amazing, though in these times it is, but that fact that he is a black man running for the white house is historic.

I fell in love with this candidate when I saw him at the DNC four years ago as did many others. I watched it alone in my front room at midnight on the edge of my chair wondering if I should wake my children to hear it. I watched that speech on You Tube again tonight and wasn't completely suprised to see that he has not wavered on the convictions he spoke of back then. He still believes now as he did then.

And more amazing? He has not dipped into that negative abyss to get to where he is today. He didn't vote for the war and he still stands behind so many other things that he held dear then. Have you ever thought about why you don't see negative ads about him? Because we finally have a candidate folks that doesn't have skeletons in the closet. I've watched this man for four years and I have to say he has yet to disappoint me. You have someone running now that will not accept lobbyist money. You have someone now folks who is vowing for an open door politics. Get the dirty laundry out there for all of us to see and let us decide who we want in the senate and congress. Never in my life have I heard someone willing to do just that.

I heard him speak and he's not afraid to say when he doesn't know. And he has a plan to back up his ideals and he has the conviction to see it through.

Oh yes, I am very excited about these winds of change. Change that is so needed in the world right now. The world needs healing and if anyone can do it, this man can. And on this historic day in the world, I was touched once again to find in this clip below of a moved Chris Matthews from Rev. Desmond Tutu and he feelings about Obama. Matthews also points out that we are not the only one's glued to our sets and radios at this time, the world is listening also. And this excitement radiates all over.

Yes, if healing can occur, I believe this is the man to do it.

Mr. President in Pendleton Oregon

It's Third Down and Long

On this eve of what could be the most pivotal part of the Democratic election primaries, Hillary Clinton faces a third down and long. She's in the pocket and the defense is blitzing. She needs to strike it big with her receivers or she is most likely in a punt situation. This is the moment of the game that all the fans on both sides of the playing field are huddled together asking their Higher Power "pleeeeeeeeezzzzz". Both sides holding their breath. If she hits a strike with her receivers, then its' a first down and goal to go. If she misses, then she is in a punt situation or risk another miss on a fourth down and the game is over. The fans of Barack are anticipating the Hail Mary or (if you're a Raider fan) the Ghost to the Post. Am I REALLY that old???? They hope for an incomplete pass or better yet, an interception and hopefully the run back for the touchdown. If that's the case, you know who will be the last one in the foot race to throw that final shoe string tackle attempt.

So what will it be? Which side will finish the conference championships tomorrow victorious? And who will be sent home to watch the Big Show from the couch?