Re: McCain as the R Nominee?

From an email thread

Now about McCain . . . SADLY, I think in terms of realpolitik he's the only solid enough choice in the middle to 'placate' both libs and conservatives . . .

If the libs and cons only need placating, then we have degenerated back to the Roman Colosseum, throwing a thumbs down on each and every gladiator that displeases us. Have we fallen so far?

Look at McCain's Issue pages. The very first one is about our economic situation, and his first proposal is to cut corporate taxes. Who do you really think he is placating? Nearly all of his proposals result in the reduction of tax revenue during times when we are going Trillions of dollars in debt and spending Billions more off-budget in Iraq and elsewhere in this insane foreign policy debacle. I also notice that most of his ideas are coming from places like The Tax Foundation, the American Enterprise Institute, and panels and reports coming out of the current administration. Is McCain going to be yet another puppet presidency?

His tax plan continues with claims of being able to cut middle class taxes, which is a false claim. He might be able to force cuts in the Federal taxes, but then state and local taxes will rise to fill the gap and we'll be worse off then ever. Taxes are the dues that we pay to be part of a civil society. If we don't want to pay our dues, we shouldn't be living in this country. It's insulting, and destructive, to the American Dream to claim that money is the be all and end all of what the US Government can offer our people. I'm completely sick of it.

His economic plan also calls for lowering "barriers to trade", making it even easier for capital to control our lives by shipping jobs out of the country. He says he wants to end "pork barrel spending". Not counting the bridge to nowhere in Alaska, most of that pork is supplementing revenue on a state and local level that states and local jurisdictions can no longer afford because the Federal Government lowered taxes so far under Reagan that it can no longer step up to the table and help. "Pork" is one of the main reasons why we elect people to congress, so they can bring help for local communities back from Washington DC. If that ends, what's the damned point!?

We need investment in infrastructure. We need our roads repaved, our transit systems funded, our water and sewer systems rebuilt, our electrical power systems enhanced to meet the demands of the 21st century. How the hell are we going to do all of that if the Feds decide that it's not their responsibility? Can St. Pete, Florida afford to tax its own people, at least the rich ones living in those condos, enough to help feed all of the people in that homeless park? If they do, those rich people will most likely leave for better areas that don't "tax them so damned much", leaving the homeless population to drown with no tax base to support them.

I could go on and on. If McCain gets the Republican nomination, I'm sure I will go on and on trying to convince people one at a time that 28 years of Reaganism is pushing this country over a cliff, and the entire world will follow. If you think oil wars are bad, wait until you see the water wars.

Chad

State of the Union, 2008

Thanks to CNN for the transcript.

Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:

Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined. We faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the world economy, and the health and welfare of our citizens.

These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it's fair to say we've answered the call.

It's a debate I believe that history will record you lost. That is my hope, anyway.

Yet history will record that amid our differences we acted with purpose, and together we showed the world the power and resilience of American self-government.

All of us were sent to Washington to carry out the people's business. That is the purpose of this body. It is the meaning of our oath. It remains our charge to keep.

This is the first code phrase that I noticed. A Charge to Keep is the title of his book published in November of 1999. But I also notice that it is the title of a Hymn written by Charles Wesley, a Methodist minister, in the mid 1700's in England. Here are the lyrics:

A charge to keep I have,

a God to glorify,

a never-dying soul to save,

and fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,

my calling to fulfill;

O may it all my powers engage

to do my Master's will!

Arm me with jealous care,

as in thy sight to live,

and oh, thy servant, Lord,

prepare a strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray,

and on thyself rely,

assured, if I my trust betray,

I shall forever die.

I'm not Christian, so if these words have some deeper meaning it escapes me. But on face value, this is a really disturbing message.

The actions of the 110th Congress will affect the security and prosperity of our nation long after this session has ended. In this election year, let us show our fellow Americans that we recognize our responsibilities and are determined to meet them.

Let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for results at the same time.

This denies the reality that the goals of the Republicans in Congress do not match with the goals of the Democrats in Congress. How can we reach for results when we are reaching for different goals?

From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we've made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done.

Expanding opportunity for whom? Protecting our country from whom? What kind of progress? What unfinished business? I do expect you to succeed, but I don't consider that to be a good thing.

In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom of ordinary citizens.

Disregard, of course, the poll numbers that show that ordinary citizens believe that you are wrong on absolutely everything that you have done, want to do, or will do. And I don't even believe that you have the first clue on the philosophy that made our nation great, because I have always believed that it is people working together in a community that made things happen. The myth of the individual hero is just that, a myth.

And so, in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free peoples to make wise decisions and empower them to improve their lives for their futures.

Let's trust in their ability, but make sure that their kids are too uninformed and uneducated thanks to your budget cuts to be able to do that for the next generation. That will put us under the control of the media, exactly where you want us to be to help your party stay in political power.

To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their own money and empower them to grow our economy. As we meet tonight, our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty. America's added jobs for a record 52 straight months.

The Math Doesn't Work! How many kids

But jobs are now growing at a slower pace. Wages are up, but so are prices for food and gas. Exports are rising, but the housing market has declined.

At kitchen tables across our country, there is a concern about our economic future. In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic growth, but in the short run, we can all see that that growth is slowing.

So, last week, my administration reached agreement with Speaker Pelosi and Republican Leader Boehner on a robust growth package that includes tax relief for individuals and families and incentives for business investment.

The temptation will be to load up the bill. That would delay it or derail it, and neither option is acceptable.

(APPLAUSE)

This is a good agreement that will keep our economy growing and our people working. And this Congress must pass it as soon as possible.

(APPLAUSE)

We have other work to do on taxes. Unless Congress acts, most of the tax relief we've delivered over the past seven years will be taken away.

Some in Washington argue that letting tax relief expire is not a tax increase.

Try explaining that to 116 million American taxpayers who will see their taxes rise by an average of $1,800. Others have said they would personally be happy to pay higher taxes. I welcome their enthusiasm. I am pleased to report that the IRS accepts both checks and money orders.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

Most Americans think their taxes are high enough. With all the other pressures on their finances, American families should not have to worry about the federal government taking a bigger bite out of their paychecks. There is only one way to eliminate this uncertainty: Make the tax relief permanent.

Members of the Congress should know, if any bill -- raises taxes reach -- reaches my desk, I will veto it.

(APPLAUSE)

Just as we trust Americans with their own money, we need to earn their trust by spending their tax dollars wisely.

(APPLAUSE)

Next week, I'll send you a budget that terminates or substantially reduces 151 wasteful or bloated programs, totaling more than $18 billion. The budget that I'll submit will keep America on track for a surplus in 2012.

American families have to balance their budgets; so should their government.

The people's trust in their government is undermined by congressional earmarks, special interest projects that are often snuck in at the last minute, without discussion or debate. committee reports that never even come to a vote.

Unfortunately, neither goal was met.

So, this time, if you send me an appropriations bill that does not cut the number and cost of earmarks in half, I'll send it back to you with my veto.

(APPLAUSE)

And tomorrow I will issue an executive order that directs federal agencies to ignore any future earmark that is not voted on by Congress.

If these items are truly worth funding, Congress should debate them in the open and hold a public vote.

(APPLAUSE)

Our shared responsibilities extend beyond matters of taxes and spending. On housing, we must trust Americans with the responsibility of home ownership and empower them to weather turbulent times in the housing market.

My administration brought together the Hope Now alliance, which is helping many struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure.

And Congress can help even more.

Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, modernize the Federal Housing Administration, and allow state housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to help homeowners refinance their mortgages.

(APPLAUSE)

It's been a difficult time for many American families and, by taking these steps, we can help more of them keep their homes.

To build a future of quality health care, we must trust patients and doctors to make medical decisions and empower them with better information and better options.

We share a common goal: making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans.

(APPLAUSE)

The best way to achieve that goal is by expanding consumer choice, not government control.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: So I propose ending the bias in the tax code against those who do not get their health insurance through their employer. This one reform would put private coverage within reach for millions, and I call on the Congress to pass it this year.

(APPLAUSE)

Congress must also expand health savings accounts, create association health plans for small businesses, promote health information technology and confront the epidemic of junk medical lawsuits.

(APPLAUSE)

With all these steps, we will ensure that decisions about your medical care are made in the privacy of your doctor's office, not in the halls of Congress.

(APPLAUSE)

On education, we must trust students to learn, if given the chance, and empower parents to demand results from our schools.

In neighborhoods across our country, there are boys and girls with dreams. And a decent education is their only hope of achieving them.

Six years ago, we came together to pass the No Child Left Behind Act, and today no one can deny its results.

Last year, 4th and 8th graders achieved the highest math scores on record. Reading scores are on the rise. African-American and Hispanic students posted all-time highs. Now we must...

(APPLAUSE)

Now we must work together to increase accountability, add flexibilities for states and districts, reduce the number of high school dropouts, provide extra help for struggling schools.

Members of Congress, the No Child Left Behind Act is a bipartisan achievement. It is succeeding. And we owe it to America's children, their parents and their teachers to strengthen this good law.

(APPLAUSE)

We must also do more to help children when their schools do not measure up. Thanks to the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships you approved, more than 2,600 of the poorest children in our nation's capital have found new hope at a faith-based or other nonpublic schools.

Sadly, these schools are disappearing at an alarming rate in many of America's inner cities. So I will convene a White House summit aimed at strengthening these lifelines of learning.

And to open the doors of these schools to more children, I ask you to support a new $300 million program called Pell Grants for Kids. We have seen how Pell Grants help low-income college students realize their full potential.

Together, we've expanded the size and reach of these grants. Now let us apply the same spirit to help liberate poor children trapped in failing public schools.

(APPLAUSE)

On trade, we must trust American workers to compete with anyone in the world and empower them by opening up new markets overseas.

Today, our economic growth increasingly depends on our ability to sell American goods and crops and services all over the world.

So we're working to break down barriers to trade and investment, wherever we can.

We're working for a successful Doha round of trade talks. And we must complete a good agreement this year.

At the same time, we're pursuing opportunities to open up new markets by passing free trade agreements.

I thank the Congress for approving a good agreement with Peru. And now I ask you to approve agreements with Colombia and Panama and South Korea.

(APPLAUSE)

Many products from these nations now enter America duty-free.

Yet many of our products face steep tariffs in their markets. These agreements will level the playing field. They will give us better access to nearly 100 million customers.

They will support good jobs for the finest workers in the world, those whose products say, "Made in the USA."

(APPLAUSE)

These agreements also promote America's strategic interests. The first agreement that will come before you is with Colombia, a friend of America that is confronting violence and terror and fighting drug traffickers. If we fail to pass this agreement, we will embolden the purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere.

So we must come together, pass this agreement, and show our neighbors in the region that democracy leads to a better life.

(APPLAUSE)

Trade brings better jobs and better choices and better prices. Yet, for some Americans, trade can mean losing a job. And the federal government has a responsibility to help.

(APPLAUSE)

I ask Congress to reauthorize and reform Trade Adjustment Assistance, so we can help these displaced workers learn new skills and find new jobs.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: And I ask Congress to reauthorize the Reform Trade Adjustment Assistance so we can help these displaced workers learn new skills and find new jobs.

(APPLAUSE)

To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology.

(APPLAUSE)

Our security, our prosperity and our environment all require reducing our dependence on oil. consumption over the next decade, and you responded. Together, we should take the next steps. Let us fund new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions.

Let us increase the use of renewable power and emissions- free nuclear power.

(APPLAUSE)

Let us continue investing in advanced battery technology and renewable fuels to power the cars and trucks of the future.

(APPLAUSE)

Let us create a new international clean technology fund which will help developing nations like India and China make greater use of clean energy sources.

And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases.

(APPLAUSE)

This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride.

The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting global climate change, and the best way to meet these goals is for America to continue leading the way toward the development of cleaner and more energy-efficient technology.

(APPLAUSE)

To keep America competitive into the future, we must trust in the skill of our scientists and engineers and empower them to pursue the breakthroughs of tomorrow.

Last year, Congress passed legislation supporting the American Competitiveness Initiative, but never followed through with the funding. This funding is essential to keeping our scientific edge.

So I ask Congress to double federal support for critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America remains the most dynamic nation on earth.

(APPLAUSE)

On matters of life and science, we must trust in the innovative spirit of medical researchers and empower them to discover new treatments while respecting moral boundaries.

In November, we witnessed a landmark achievement when scientists discovered a way to reprogram adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells.

This breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human life.

(APPLAUSE)

So we're expanding funding for this type of ethical medical research. And, as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure that all life treated with the dignity it deserves.

And so I call on Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting or cloning of human life.

(APPLAUSE)

On matters of justice, we must trust in the wisdom of our founders and empower judges who understand that the Constitution means what it says.

(APPLAUSE)

I've submitted judicial nominees who will rule by the letter of the law, not the whim of the gavel. Many of these nominees are being unfairly delayed. They are worthy of confirmation, and the Senate should give each of them a prompt up-or-down vote.

(APPLAUSE)

In communities across our land, we must trust in the good heart of the American people and empower them to serve their neighbors in need.

Over the past seven years, more of our fellow citizens have discovered that the pursuit of happiness leads to the path of service. Americans have volunteered in record numbers. Charitable donations are higher than ever. Faith-based groups are bringing hope to pockets of despair with newfound support from the federal government.

And, to help guarantee equal treatment of faith-based organizations when they compete for federal funds, I ask you to permanently extend Charitable Choice.

(APPLAUSE)

Tonight, the armies of compassion continue the march to a new day in the Gulf Coast. America honors the strength and resilience of the people of this region. We reaffirm our pledge to help them build stronger and better than before.

And tonight I'm pleased to announce that, in April, we will host this year's North American Summit of Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the great city of New Orleans.

(APPLAUSE)

There are two other pressing challenges that I've raised repeatedly before this body, and that this body has failed to address: entitlement spending and immigration.

Every member in this chamber knows that spending on entitlement programs -- like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid -- is growing faster than we can afford.

We all know the painful choices ahead if American stays on this path: massive tax increases, sudden and drastic cuts in benefits, and crippling deficits.

I've laid out proposals to reform these programs. Now I ask members of Congress to offer your proposals and come up with a bipartisan solution to save these vital programs for our children and our grandchildren.

(APPLAUSE)

The other pressing challenge is immigration. America needs to secure our borders. And, with your help, my administration is taking steps to do so. We're increasing work site enforcement, deploying fences and advanced technologies to stop illegal crossings.

We've effectively ended the policy of "catch and release" at the border. And by the end of this year, we will have doubled the number of border patrol agents.

Yet we also need to acknowledge that we will never fully secure our border until we create a lawful way for foreign workers to come here and support our economy.

(APPLAUSE)

This will take pressure off the border and allow law enforcement to concentrate on those who mean us harm.

We must also find a sensible and humane way to deal with people here illegally. Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be resolved, and it must be resolved in a way that upholds both our laws and our highest ideals.

(APPLAUSE)

This is the business of our nation here at home. Yet building a prosperous future for our citizens also depends on confronting enemies abroad and advancing liberty in troubled regions of the world.

Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people, when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace.

In the last seven years, we have witnessed stirring moments in the history of liberty. We've seen citizens in Georgia and Ukraine stand up for their right to free and fair elections. We've seen people in Lebanon take to the streets to demand their independence. We've seen Afghans emerge from the tyranny of the Taliban and choose a new president and a new parliament.

We've seen jubilant Iraqis holding up ink-stained fingers and celebrating their freedom.

These images of liberty have inspired us.

(APPLAUSE)

In the past seven years, we've also seen the images that have sobered us. We've watched throngs of mourners in Lebanon and Pakistan carrying the caskets of beloved leaders taken by the assassins' hands.

We've seen wedding guests in blood-soaked finery staggering from a hotel in Jordan, Afghans and Iraqis blown up in mosques and markets, and trains in London and Madrid ripped apart by bombs.

On a clear September day, we saw thousands of our fellow citizens taken from us in an instant.

These horrific images serve as a grim reminder. The advance of liberty is opposed by terrorists and extremists -- evil men who despise freedom, despise America and aim to subject millions to their violent rule.

Since 9/11, we have taken the fight to these terrorists and extremists. We will stay on the offense. We will keep up the pressure, and we will deliver justice to our enemies.

We are engaged in the defining ideological struggle of the 21st century. The terrorists oppose every principle of humanity and decency that we hold dear.

Yet, in this war on terror, there is one thing we and our enemies agree on. In the long run, men and women who are free to determine their own destinies will reject terror and refuse to live in tyranny.

And that is why the terrorists are fighting to deny this choice to the people in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Palestinian territories.

And that is why, for the security of America and the peace of the world, we are spreading the hope of freedom.

Let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for results at the same time.

(APPLAUSE)

From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we've made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done.

In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom of ordinary citizens.

And so, in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free peoples to make wise decisions and empower them to improve their lives for their futures.

(APPLAUSE)

In Afghanistan, America, our 25 NATO allies and 15 partner nations are helping the Afghan people defend their freedom and rebuild their country.

Thanks to the courage of these military and civilian personnel, a nation that was once a safe haven for al Qaeda is now a young democracy where boys and girls are going to school. New roads and hospitals are being built. And people are looking to the future with new hope.

These successes must continue. So we're adding 3,200 Marines to our forces in Afghanistan, where they will fight the terrorists and train the Afghan army and police.

Defeating the Taliban and al Qaeda is critical to our security, and I thank the Congress for supporting America's vital mission in Afghanistan.

(APPLAUSE)

In Iraq, the terrorists and extremists are fighting to deny a proud people their liberty and fighting to establish safe havens for attacks across the world.

One year ago, our enemies were succeeding in their efforts to plunge Iraq into chaos, so we reviewed our strategy and changed course.

We launched a surge of American forces into Iraq. We gave our troops a new mission: Work with the Iraqi forces to protect the Iraqi people, pursue the enemy in his strongholds, and deny the terrorists sanctuary anywhere in the country.

The Iraqi people quickly realized that something dramatic had happened.

Those who had worried that America was preparing to abandon them instead saw tens of thousands of American forces flowing into their country. They saw our forces moving into neighborhoods, clearing out the terrorists and staying behind to ensure the enemy did not return. And they saw our troops, along with provincial reconstruction teams that include Foreign Service officers and other skilled public servants, coming in to ensure that improved security was followed by improvements in daily life.

Our military and civilians in Iraq are performing with courage and distinction, and they have the gratitude of our whole nation.

(APPLAUSE)

The Iraqis launched a surge of their own.

In the fall of 2006, Sunni tribal leaders grew tired of al Qaeda's brutality and started a popular uprising called the Anbar Awakening. Over the past year, similar movements have spread across the country.

Today, the grassroots surge includes more than 80,000 Iraqi citizens who are fighting the terrorists.

The government in Baghdad has stepped forward as well, adding more than 100,000 new Iraqi soldiers and police during the past year.

While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have imagined just one year ago.

(APPLAUSE)

When we met last year, many said that containing the violence was impossible. A year later, high-profile terrorist attacks are down; civilian deaths are down; sectarian killings are down.

When we met last year, militia extremists, some armed and trained by Iran, were wreaking havoc in large areas of Iraq.

(APPLAUSE)

When we met last year our troop levels in Iraq were on the rise. Today, because of the progress just described, we are implementing a policy of return on success, and the surge forces we sent to Iraq are beginning to come home.

This progress is a credit to the valor of our troops and the brilliance of their commanders.

This evening, I want to speak directly to our men and women on the front lines, soldiers and sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast you and more.

Our nation is grateful for your courage. We are proud of your accomplishments.

And tonight, in this hallowed chamber with the American people as our witness, we make you a solemn pledge: In the fight ahead, you will have all you need to protect our nation.

(APPLAUSE)

And I ask Congress to meet its responsibilities to these brave men and women by fully funding our troops.

(APPLAUSE)

Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated and we can still expect tough fighting ahead.

Our objective in the coming year is to sustain and build on the gains we made in 2007, while transitioning to the next phase of our strategy. American troops are shifting from leading operations to partnering with Iraqi forces and eventually to a protective over-watch mission.

As part of this transition, one Army Brigade Combat team and one Marine Expeditionary Unit have already come home and will not be replaced. In the coming months, four additional brigades and two Marine battalions will follow suit.

Taken together, this means more than 20,000 of our troops are coming home.

(APPLAUSE)

Any further drawdown of U.S. troops will be based on conditions in Iraq and the recommendations of our commanders.

General Petraeus has warned that too fast a drawdown could result in, quote, "the disintegration of the Iraqi security forces, al Qaeda- Iraq regaining lost ground, and a marked increase in violence."

Members of Congress, having come so far and achieved so much, we must not allow this to happen.

(APPLAUSE)

In the coming year, we will work with Iraqi leaders as they build on the progress they're making toward political reconciliation.

At the local levels, Sunnis, Shiite and Kurds are beginning to come together to reclaim their communities and rebuild their lives. Progress in the provinces must be matched by progress in Baghdad.

(APPLAUSE)

We're seeing some encouraging signs. The national government is sharing oil revenues with the provinces. The parliament recently passed both a pension law and de-Baathification reform. They're now debating a provincial powers law.

The Iraqis still have a distance to travel. But, after decades of dictatorship and the pain of sectarian violence, reconciliation is taking place and the Iraqi people are taking control of their future.

(APPLAUSE)

The mission in Iraq has been difficult and trying for our nation, but it is in the vital interest of the United States that we succeed.

A free Iraq will deny al Qaeda a safe haven. A free Iraq will show millions across the Middle East that a future of liberty is possible. A free Iraq will be a friend of America, a partner in fighting terror and a source of stability in a dangerous part of the world.

By contrast, a failed Iraq would embolden the extremists, strengthen Iran and give terrorists a base from which to launch new attacks on our friends, our allies and our homeland.

The enemy has made its intentions clear.

At a time when the momentum seemed to favor them, al Qaeda's top commander in Iraq declared that they will not rest until they have attacked us here in Washington.

My fellow Americans, we will not rest either. We will not rest until this enemy has been defeated.

(APPLAUSE)

We must do the difficult work today so that, years from now, people will look back and say that this generation rose to the moment, prevailed in a tough fight and left behind a more hopeful region and a safer America.

(APPLAUSE)

We're also standing against the forces of extremism in the Holy Land, where we have new cause for hope. Palestinians have elected a president who recognizes that confronting terror is essential to achieving a state where his people can live in dignity and at peace with Israel.

Israelis have leaders who recognize that a peaceful, democratic Palestinian state will be a source of lasting security.

This month in Ramallah and Jerusalem, I assured leaders from both sides that America will do and I will do everything we can to help them achieve a peace agreement that defines a Palestinian state by the end of this year.

The time has come for a Holy Land where a democratic Israel and a democratic Palestine live side by side in peace.

(APPLAUSE)

We're also standing against the forces of extremism embodied by the regime in Tehran.

Iran's rulers oppress a good and talented people. And wherever freedom advances in the Middle East, it seems the Iranian regime is there to oppose it.

Iran is funding and training militia groups in Iraq, supporting Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, and backing Hamas' efforts to undermine peace in the Holy Land.

Tehran is also developing ballistic missiles of increasing range and continues to develop its capability to enrich uranium, which could be used to create a nuclear weapon.

Our message to the people of Iran is clear. We have no quarrel with you. We have respect your traditions and your history. We look forward to the day when you have your freedom.

Our message to the leaders of Iran is also clear. Verifiably suspend your nuclear enrichment so negotiations can begin. And to rejoin the community of nations, come clean about your nuclear intentions and past actions. Stop your oppression at home. Cease your support for terror abroad.

But above all, know this: America will confront those who threaten our troops; we will stand by our allies; and we will defend our vital interests in the Persian Gulf.

(APPLAUSE)

On the homefront, we will continue to take every lawful and effective measure to protect our country. This is our most solemn duty.

We are grateful that there has not been another attack on our soil since 9/11. But this is not for the lack of desire or effort on the part of the enemy.

In the past six years, we've stopped numerous attacks, including a plot to fly a plane into the tallest building in Los Angeles, and another to blow up passenger jets bound for America over the Atlantic.

Dedicated men and women in our government toil day and night to stop the terrorists from carrying out their plans. These good citizens are saving American lives, and everyone in this chamber owes them our thanks.

(APPLAUSE)

And we owe them something more. We owe them the tools they need to keep our people safe. And one of the most important tools we can give them is the ability to monitor terrorist communications.

To protect America, we need to know who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying and what they're planning.

Last year, Congress passed legislation to help us do that.

Unfortunately, Congress set the legislation to expire on February 1st. That means, if you don't act by Friday, our ability to track terrorist threats would be weakened and our citizens will be in greater danger.

Congress must ensure the flow of vital intelligence is not disrupted. Congress must pass liability protection for companies believed to have assisted in the efforts to defend America. We've had ample time for debate. The time to act is now.

(APPLAUSE)

Protecting our nation from the dangers of a new century requires more than good intelligence and a strong military. It also requires changing the conditions that breed resentment and allow extremists to prey on despair. So America is using its influence to build a freer, more hopeful and more compassionate world.

This is a reflection of our national interests. It is the calling of our conscience. America opposes genocide in Sudan.

(APPLAUSE)

We support freedom in countries from Cuba and Zimbabwe to Belarus and Burma.

(APPLAUSE)

America's leading the fight against global poverty with strong education initiatives and humanitarian assistance. We've also changed the way we deliver aid by launching the Millennium Challenge Account.

This program strengthens democracy, transparency and the rule of law in developing nations, and I ask you to fully fund this important initiative.

(APPLAUSE)

America is leading the fight against global hunger. Today, more than half the world's food aid comes from the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

And tonight, I ask Congress to support an innovative proposal to provide food assistance by purchasing crops directly from farmers in the developing world, so we can build up local agriculture and help break the cycle of famine.

(APPLAUSE)

America is leading the fight against disease. With your help, we're working to cut, by half, the number of malaria-related deaths in 15 African nations. And our emergency plan for AIDS relief is treating 1.4 million people.

We can bring healing and hope to many more. So I ask you to maintain the principles that have changed behavior and made this program a success. And I call on you to double our initial commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS by approving an additional $30 billion over the next five years.

(APPLAUSE)

America is a force for hope in the world because we are a compassionate people. And some of the most compassionate Americans are those who have stepped forward to protect us. we might live in freedom and peace.

Over the past seven years, we've increased funding for veterans by more than 95 percent. And as we increase funding...

(APPLAUSE)

And as we increase funding, we must also reform our veterans' system to meet the needs of a new war and a new generation.

And, as we increase funding, we must also reform our veterans system to meet the needs of a new war and a new generation.

(APPLAUSE)

I call on Congress to enact the reforms recommended by Senator Bob Dole and Secretary Donna Shalala so we can improve the system of care for our wounded warriors and help them build lives of hope and promise and dignity.

(APPLAUSE)

Our military families also sacrifice for America. They endure sleepless nights and the daily struggle of providing for children while a loved one is serving far from home.

We have a responsibility to provide for them. So I ask you to join me in expanding their access to child care, creating new hiring preferences for military spouses across the federal government, and allowing our troops to transfer their unused education benefits to their spouses or children.

Our military families serve our nation. They inspire our nation, and tonight our nation honors them.

(APPLAUSE)

The secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our greatness lies not in our government, but in the spirit and determination of our people. When the federal convention met in Philadelphia in 1787, our nation was bound by the Articles of Confederation which began with the words, "We the undersigned delegates." Constitution, he offered an important revision, and opened with words that changed the course of our nation and the history of the world: "We the people."

By trusting the people, our founders wagered that a great and noble nation could be built on the liberty that resides in the hearts of all men and women. By trusting the people, succeeding generations transformed our fragile young democracy into the most powerful nation on earth and a beacon of hope for millions.

And so long as we continue to trust the people, our nation will prosper, our liberty will be secure and the state of our union will remain strong.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: So tonight, with confidence in freedom's power and trust in the people, let us set forth to do their business. God bless America.

Shades of Myth

Saw a note from Citizens For Legitimate Government this morning about the spread of poppy production in the countries that we have invaded. Both countries that we have invaded and occupied. They are now spreading in Iraq as well as Afghanistan, and Afghan farmers are actually making trips to Iraq to help maximize the yields. One part of the article quote said that the fields that are now producing the opium were once the sources of oranges and pomegranates. My wife, ever the mythologist, mentioned that opium was connected with Hades and Hypnos, while any Pagan worth their athame knows that the pomegranate is the symbol of Persephone. Her comment was that the marriage must not be going very well.

Then the weather of the last few weeks came to mind. Snow in Iraq and Iran. Frost threatening the citrus crops in Florida. Georgia becoming a dessert. Demeter removing her blessing from the land...

We live in times of myth, that will be spoken of by our surviving descendants in hushed tones of awe and wonder. Will it be because we listened to the Earth and learned our lessons, leading to a wonderful future that our children can look forward to? Or will it be because we were hypnotized by our media, failed to listen, and turned the Earth into an dark place of nightmares? Will our grandchildren wonder how we did it, or wonder why we did not?

Δημητρας, ακουμε εσας. Θα μαθουμε. Θα ακουσουμε. Παρακαλουμε να επαναφερετε τις ευλογιες για τη γη, ετσι ωστε να μπορει να επιστρεψει σε σας λατρειας.

NBC v. Kucinich

I spent some time searching for the decision, and found a bunch of references. This one was interesting, from Canada:

ecanadanow.com

"The judges ruled that the lower court went above and beyond their jurisdiction by ordering that Kucinich be allowed to participate."

This is a media corporation, registered to do business in the state of Nevada. But Nevada courts have no jurisdiction on the actions of that corporation. That's a terrifying precedent. Which state is the NBC corporation registered in? NBC is owned by "NBC Universal", which is owned by General Electric and Vivendi. General Electric is incorporated in the State of New York. Vivendi is a French media conglomerate. So should Kucinich have filed in New York or France?

"Since FCC rules do not apply on cable networks though, MSNBC is allowed to not put him on."

The Federal Communications Commission has no jurisdiction over cable networks?! If true, that needs to change.

Finally found the decision itself:

http://www.nvsupremecourt.us/documents/cases/50889.ordergrantingpetition.pdf

"The FCA's purpose is to protect the public interest. Under the FCA, primary and exclusive jurisdiction to vindicate this interest ... is vested in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the courts' sole function with respect to FCA enforcement is to review final FCC orders under the federal statutory scheme."

So, referring to what I say above, the decision itself enforces the notion that state courts, and even Federal courts, have no jurisdiction over the actions of corporations, only executive branch agencies. Again, this is a terrifying precedent.

The other part of the decision is the "lack of an enforceable contract". The parts of an enforceable contract are "an offer and acceptance, meeting of the minds, and consideration". Give me a break.

This is corporate abuse of power at the deepest level.

Herman Scheer

Thanks to Todd for sharing this video with me. I think Herr Scheer is completely accurate, and I would like to push a law such as the German Renewable Energy Act within the United States.

Staples, go jump off a cliff

Staples.com has a radio ad that is playing on AM1090 here in Seattle. The ad starts with some audio clips from the Apollo 11 moon landing, and then interrupts that audio to plug their special sale of the month or whatever it is that they are selling. Then the announcer guy says dismissively "Now back to that other thing."

Based on these advertisements, I WILL NEVER DARKEN STAPLES DOOR. I like the gimmick of the ad, replacing some kind of news with the "important" offer, but choosing the Apollo 11 moon landing, the pinnacle of scientific and technological achievement of man in all of world history, is an insult to the United States and an insult to mankind itself.

Here's an alternative. Play a news broadcast talking about Paris Hilton, Alex Rodriguez or OJ Simpson, and interrupt that. That would at least be true advertising, because saving $5 or more at Staples is certainly more important than anything that goes on with our Media personalities.

Of Gods and Man

It is not for the Gods to decide whether or not Man exists - it is for Man to decide whether or not the Gods exist. - Donald Blake

I woke up this morning with Marvel Comics running through my head. It's been happening more and more over the past few months, and it's a nice distraction from my normal political work. I've always enjoyed reading Thor and Captain America, but the current story line in Cap's books has really been bothering me. I've also appreciated the character of Iron Man, but his current trends remind me too much of what I am actively fighting against in the real world.

I've read several blog posts about what the Death of Captain America means symbolically. [1], [2] I've read that his death meant the end of Eisenhower Conservatism. [3] But there is a larger story waiting to be told.

I'm reading the early years of Thor, written by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the 1960's. Thor fought communist dictators in South America, the Soviet Union, crazy fools from a peaceful future who wanted to exert domination over their world, Chinese characters wanting to expand the power of red China. So from the beginning he was fighting on behalf not only of Marvel Comics America, but for Real American ideals. Over the past 40 years of comics, we have seen the Gods from many cultures show up in books, like Hercules and Shiva. Watching what the comic writers and artists do with the Gods has always been interesting.

But now we have an opportunity. In the real world, Gaea is under attack. Not from super-villians, but from human ignorance. Climate Change is affecting Marvel's Earth already. Thor walked through the ruins of New Orleans, and wondered why the great heroes didn't do more to save the city. He blames himself for not being there to help, believing that he could have turned back the storm. I wonder.

If it is for mortals to say whether the Gods exist, then I say that they live on, in the hearts and souls and minds of mortals. They only need to be found, and awakened. - Donald Blake

Political activists like me want to awaken the American spirit. It's the spirit that says we can do something, like earn our independence from Britain, like building a railroad all the way across the continent, like winning two wars overseas at the same time. It's a spirit that looks to the best of what people can do.

Here's a storyline for Straczynski to consider. In Thor's quest to restore Asgard, Gaea appears to him, and explains the threat. She is a manifestation of the Earth's biosphere. And she is sick. [4] This is not an enemy that can be fought with a hammer, it is the ultimate struggle of humanity to define itself. It will take the reawakening of all of the pantheons, and the return of those pantheons to the peoples of Earth to teach and help instead of to destroy and harm. That is the quest that we are on, here in the real world.

In Africa, anyone with the power of life and death is a God. - Village Elder

- Chadlupkes 19:05, 15 December 2007 (UTC)

A New Foundation

I am so glad we're putting things on the table.

If the cap became a shield, relieving people making less than 97K of the "burden of the tax", it would certainly be popular. However, it wouldn't solve the problem. I don't know the numbers, but the mean income is about 45K, so we would be leaving out probably around 2/3rds to 3/4ths of the workers. This would be as bad to the financing as leaving out the rich. If we're going to leave an economic class out to help them, we should set the shield at the minimum wage, around 12K now that the minimum is $5.85. It should be locked at minimum wage as well, just as minimum wage should be locked to the inflation rate. But everyone who works should have to pay into the system, otherwise it's not a shared sacrifice, it's just something to "stick it to the man". Populist, but not fundamentally fair.

I'd be really wary of plans to put a cap on benefits based on need, either as a means test or otherwise. That would open the door to those who would demand that their "investment" in this insurance program get back a return on their money. That's our entire debate right now, whether Social Security is or should be an insurance or investment program. Too many people are saying either-or, when the answer should be both. I'll get back to that. First, some background just as a reminder.

Remember that the program was changed in the 1980's, when people realized that the Boomers would create a massive strain in the system 20 years down the road. A "lock box" was created, and the tax rates were raised. This was supposed to create a surplus within the Social Security system that would carry the Boomers through their retirement years. It didn't happen because Reagan instead decided to go after the "Evil Empire" and build up our military. (i.e. He succumbed to the pressure of the military industrial complex that was clamoring for profits, just like he had succumbed to the oil companies in his first term.) The money in that lock box exists, but it's in the form of I.O.U.'s because we've opened up the box and taken out all of the real value.

We need to acknowledge that money itself is simply a promise, no matter what form it takes. Money has no value until it is exchanged for goods or services. It is always just a promise until a transaction takes place. The real value in a bank balance, or a trust fund balance like Social Security, is not the large number that most of us hopefully see, but the transactions that are occurring with that money because that money is in a bank or other financial institution. When we deposit money into a bank, or when the bank sells a Bond, the money that we give in exchange for our deposit slip or the Bond certificate is put to work by that bank. They lend it to other individuals or businesses, and charge them interest. They keep a part of that interest and pay us our share as our dividends or interest earnings.

The Social Security Trust Fund is tapped out because the money that we pay into it is used by the government immediately, either to pay benefits with the core principle which is the redistribution of wealth part of it, or by the purchase of goods and services. What is left behind is a promise made by the government to pay the benefits that the money represented. Full Faith and Credit of the United States of America, meaning that our children and grandchildren will somehow pay it off. That's a promise that we can't continue to make without putting a structure into place that can fulfill that promise.

The solution is simple, at least as far as I can describe it. Yes, eliminate the cap, and make everyone making more than minimum wage pay into the system. Yes, create some type of means testing so that the money coming out of the system goes mostly to people who need it. But there is so much more we could do with a national system like this.

How about a National Savings program, sort of a national 401K. People would pay into Social Security at their usual 6.2%, but would have the option of paying up to $15%. The extra they pay above 6.2% would be credited to them as the certificate holder, and the money would be deposited by the Social Security Trust into a bank. Specifically, banks in areas that need secure financial foundations for their community. States like Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, the three states with the lowest household income. An influx of cash into local banks in an area creates extra supply of that cash for personal and business loans, enabling the banks to lower the price (i.e. interest rate) on those loans. A foundation of capital like that would increase the rate of economic activity, create jobs and generate income for local taxes and boost the entire community as a result. The banks would take their share of the interest, and the balance would never go down, as long as the system was set up correctly.

The way I see it, the most important thing that has been stolen from the people of our country is our foundation, and I'm referring to physical, financial and social. The rich fools have charged us with fees and high prices, taken away our money and left us with nothing. Local communities no longer have engines of economic activity because all of the capital has been pulled away to Wall Street instead of being put to work on Main Street. This has resulted in a failure of local governments to keep up with their task of maintaining our physical infrastructure. How old are our water systems? Seattle has pipes that are over 100 years old. And I'm not talking the small pipes, I'm talking about the backbone of our entire system. Bringing our foundations back also means social connections and the sense of community security that comes from knowing our neighbors and knowing that our children are safe playing outside and walking down our streets.

A deal is where I give you something and you give me something in return. We don't need to make a deal, New or otherwise. We need to build a Foundation. A strong foundation under our feet will let us reach for our potential much more than making a deal that we can see eroded by future deals. In the 1930's, we needed a New Deal. In the 21st century, we need a Foundation.

Property? Only if I can take it with me.

In a discussion about the difference between progressive and libertarians, I came up with the following paragraphs. I would be interested in your thoughts.

What progressives understand that conservatives and libertarians refuse to acknowledge is that we are all in this together, and that we have a responsibility to secure our mutual foundation as well as our personal foundation. The main difference is that libertarians seem to believe that anything that takes "private property" away from one person to give to another, whether we're talking about land or capital or physical property like cars, is theft. They consider property rights to be more important than anything else, because that's where everything flows from in their world-view.

I pay for the food that I eat, the water that I drink, the home that I live in and the methods of transportation that I use because those payments are my share of the burden to keep these things available to everyone. My priority is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, not the pursuit of property. Because property is fluid. As far as I'm concerned, anything that I can take with me when I die is my property and nobody has any right to any of it. Throw all your money into the air, and anything that God wants, he keeps. Anything that will still be here when that happens is not "my" private property, but is something that should be managed by our social norms and laws to enable me to live my life in comfort and to encourage me to reach for my potential. It's my responsibility to pay my share to provide those opportunities to everyone else as well.

Ron Paul's "Honest Look"

Representative Paul has put out a press release that proclaims him the champion of the working class, with plans to reduce the tax burden that we carry on our shoulders. What he does not describe is the effect that lifting that burden will do to the road at our feet. It's time to take an honest look at where his ideology is coming from and where legislative proposals based on that ideology will lead us. It's not a pretty picture.

In 1981, Ronald Reagan declared that government is the problem. He also talked about tax burdens, and stated his belief that not singling out any particular group to pay a higher price is somehow equitable, regardless of the differences in the ability of various economic classes of people to pay those prices in the first place. Government was set aside as a group outside of the people, and was set up as a straw man to be knocked down in speeches whenever necessary for political gain. This completely eliminated the notion that government is supposed to be of, by and for the people. We are the government, whether we want that responsibility or not, whether we are participating in it or not, and whether it seems to respond to our desires or not.

Paul's statement that "taxation is the most direct way government increases Americans' cost at the pump" is yet another way of separating the people from our government. Remember that our elected representatives in Congress debate and set those tax rates, and that they are approved by an elected President and enforced by locally elected or appointed officials. Fundamentally we the people tax ourselves in order to provide funds for highway maintenance, roads, transit and other costs associated with our transportation system. And this is not a sales tax that you calculate based on the purchase, it's figured into the cost of the gas before purchase.

Paul seems to want to give people the impression that we can just do without taxes once prices get too high. So we have to ask where the money goes that would get cut off if HR 2415 gets passed. The Government Accountability Office has a report that it gave to Congress in April of 2006 that shows this graph:

What you are seeing in this graph is the end of highway projects, the end of bridge maintenance, the end of safety improvements and the end of increased transit options to reduce the pollutants that go into the atmosphere. It means more potholes, more vehicle damage and more cost to consumers. But because that cost is not being paid by the government, it's not considered important.

Our refinery capacity is certainly an issue, but the solution presented of reducing or removing the environmental regulations that prevent new refineries from being built ignores the reason that those regulations were created in the first place. Does anyone remember how much attention the lack of refineries got after Katrina? It doesn't seem to have stopped, although I'm not surprised that it is the Washington Times opinion writers like H. Sterling Burnett who disdains clean air regulations. Who wouldn't want to breathe pollution when they can save a few dollars at the pump? I mean really, don't you just love the smell of hydrocarbons in the morning? Smells like progress, doesn't it. And cancer, but let's not talk about that. Let's also not talk about the 100 or so refineries that have been shut down by the industry due to consolidations or the cost of keeping our kids healthy was just too much for their profit margin.

Lowering the price at the pump is a solution, but it's a solution to the wrong problem. Rep. Paul makes a very important assumption in his press release, that oil and gas are, and indeed should be, the only way that we can keep our cars and trucks moving, the only way that we can transport ourselves, our products or anything. Like Al Gore has said, do we really need to carry 6,000 lbs of metal with us back and forth to the store? And if so, do we really need to move it by burning ancient sunlight? The pain that we feel at the pump is our own doing, and we can do something different if we choose to.

Unfortunately, Representative Ron Paul doesn't seem to be interested. He doesn't care about air pollution, doesn't care about climate change, has no interest at all in rail transportation, and wants nothing to do with renewable energy. In fact, it's hard to pinpoint exactly what he cares about, except the Iraq War because it's a waste of taxpayer dollars. Saving us money is nice, and it goes well with the meme that we are all on our own. However, the United States was founded on different principles. Progressive principles. Some even call them Christian principles. They can be summed up in a simple phrase: I am my brothers keeper.

quote worth sharing

Greed and integrity are very close to being the same thing in Republican Politics.

Medical update.

So, I've been feeling really tired recently, needing much more sleep than usual, and have little to no energy. I had a lot of trouble recovering from the last virus that went around in mid-October, so I went to the doctor on October 30th for a blood test. Liver count was way up, like 4 times normal. TSH was also way up. So, no alcohol until the liver count goes back down to normal.

But what about the TSH?

TSH is Thyroid-stimulating hormone. It is the chemical produced by the pituitary gland to tell the Thyroid to produce T3 and T4, the main chemicals that help regulate energy in the body's cells. When TSH is high, it means that the Thyroid is not doing its job. The condition is called Hypothyroidism. It's not that umcommon. My doctor said that the Chemo and Radiation therapy from the cancer in 2003 likely did some damage. Gee, surprise.

So, what he prescribed is Levothyroxine. This is an synthetic T4. It's been around since 1926, and there are evidently 12 different doses available. I've started with 50 micrograms per day, going to 100 mcg per day after a week. I have another appointment in a month. We'll find a dosage that gets me the numbers on the tests that he wants to see, and then I'll be on that dosage forever.

I really like my doctor. He's a straight shooter. He literally told me that if they did nothing, the condition is fatal within a year or so. Treated, I can look forward to lots of energy and a long life.

I'll choose life.

Chad

S.2248

Dear Senator Leahy,

I'm writing to you from Washington State as a constituent concerned about the FISA bill currently before the Judiciary Committee. I believe that laws have been broken, and that the Bush Administration has the intention to continue to break those laws. I do not believe for a minute that what they have done is the result of incompetence or a mistake. I believe it has been their intention since the very beginning to take America down the path that Germany took in the 1930's, and I strongly believe that it is the responsibility of Congress to stop them.

Please do your utmost to prevent any changes to the law that excuse violations of that law. If the telecommunications companies or this administration succeed in getting away with those violations, the United States Constitution will cease to exist as the founding document of this country, and will instead become a legacy that we will never again be able to live up to.

This administration has shown us that our liberties and rights are in the hands of men, not based in a foundation of law. Please save that foundation for future generations.

Sincerely,

Chad Lupkes

Eliminating Conservatives?

A question came up about what I mean by "wanting to eliminate conservatives". My email response follows, along with some additional comments I would like to throw out in the context of the yet ongoing abortion debate:

"Conservative thought" is not centered on a pro-life stand. It's the attitude that one person, any person, is more worthy than another person. It's a way of thinking that "those people over there" are not worth as much as "we are over here". That's the kind of thinking that I want to eliminate. The conservative movement has been fighting for 7,000 years for total domination of the planet's resources. I don't want power, I want peace. I don't want to control, I want to cooperate. That's where I'm coming from. Differences should be explored and celebrated, but I will always stand against one group gaining control over another, regardless of who it is.

I'm against the ideology, not the people who hold that ideology. The meme that one person has the right to control the lives of other people may have the right to exist, but I would say that it should only exist in history books that tell the story about what the Human Race has done wrong in the past and why we should not follow that same ideology moving forward into the future.

---

I have never said that final term terminations were ok. Except in cases where the life of the mother is in extreme risk, or severe deformities where the child has little chance, I think every effort should be made to give the body as much nourishment as possible. I think the picture changes during the first and second trimesters, although I fully agree with the people who say that the US Supreme Court should not have taken it upon themselves to draft law based on that idea. It should have been the US Congress after a healthy debate.

I'm reading the book "Capitalism at the Crossroads" by Stuart Hart. Part of the business ideal that he describes is the concept of Stewardship, taking responsibility for a product throughout the entire life cycle of that product from the development process through the initial raw materials being drawn from the environment, the conversion of those raw materials into a saleable product, the use of that product by the customer, and the disposal of that product to ensure that it does not pollute the environment.

The metaphor can be translated to human life in the following way. As a society, we need to take responsibility for the lives of our people from conception through death. Women who wish to have children should be supported physically, mentally and spiritually to ensure her children have an advantage from the very start. Parents should have all the resources they need to help the child reach their potential. Children should be nurtured and supported while they learn about our world and their place in it. Adults should be supported as they reach for their potential. Seniors should be celebrated and respected, while their needs are provided for. Our family members and friends who pass beyond the veil should be celebrated. All of this is the responsibility of that individual, their family and friends and society at large. Each of those is part of the foundation that we create and nurture for ourselves and everyone else. And that is a detailed description of one of the core principles that I hold dear.

Those of us who follow the true teachings of Jesus understand that life does not begin at conception, nor does it end at death. Life is a cycle that never ends. I am focused on building the foundation for the entire cycle, not just a 9 month portion of it. When we can say that every child has a loving home to go to, a great school to attend, a competent and caring doctor to see when needed, and an exciting future in a healthy society on a healthy planet, then we will have succeeded. Until then, we still have work to do.

That work is what I do every day as a progressive activist working within the Democratic Party infrastructure.

Chad

WSPC Chair Election Statement

My name is Chad Lupkes, and I am running for Chair of the Washington State Progressive Caucus.

You have seen my name on blogs, mailing lists, and around the Internet.  You have met me and heard me speak of where I stand on this issue or that.  Many of you have been friends and partners in our ongoing quest as Progressives within the Democratic Party to stay engaged, get educated, and feel empowered to be the change that we wish to see in the world.  I want to speak to why I stand with you, and what my core principles are as a candidate for Chair of the Progressive Caucus.

Many people have their own definition of "Progressive".  Put 10 of us in a room, and you'll get at least 20 different answers, depending on how long you let us talk.  It's hard to boil all of these ideas and values down into a 10 second sound byte.  I don't usually try, except for a phrase I throw out occasionally.  "Progressives put the concerns of people and the planet ahead of profits".  But there is a lot more to it, and I want to give you my "8 statements for 2008".

1        Grassroots Democracy.  If a decision is being made that affects your life, your voice should be heard.  It doesn't mean that our individual desires should always win.  But we can do better by bringing the voices of our neighbors and friends into the discussion. 

2        The concept of WE.  We are all in this together.  We breathe the same air as everyone else, drink the same water, eat the same foods, and live on the same planet as everyone else. There is no "them".  Drawing lines between 'us' and 'them' divides our world's resources.  By sharing what we can as much as we can, we maximize the benefit to all.  This is more than just academic nonsense.  It's a fundamental aspect of sustainability, whether we're talking sustainable growth or sustainable life. 

3        Learn from the past.  We've made mistakes in the past, and the only way to prevent making them in the future is to learn from them.  Sometimes it takes more than once to learn a hard lesson.  How many more times will it take to fight against the control of the few at the expense of the many? 

4        Plan for the future.  We can't turn over a new leaf and expect a single decision, a single election, or a single leadership change to solve the problems that we face.  We need to set goals, identify resources, establish milestones, and accept incremental change.  Even in the current context of our climate crisis and the potential economic meltdown due to poor planning in the past, we need to recognize and accept that it is going to take time and work to turn things around.   

5        Shared Sacrifice.  I don't think that any of us should be required to shoulder the burden of this transformation by themselves.  If our expectations are too high, we need to reduce them to something manageable.  If expectations coming from elsewhere are too much for us, we need to communicate better what we can, and can't, do.  The more people stepping up to move a single brick, the fewer people needed to carry an entire brickyard. 

6        Fairness for all.  In a world as diverse as ours, we need to be mindful that everyone has a place.  We have to write resolutions and draft legislation to be fair to everyone, not just ourselves.  That's part of understanding that we are all in this together.  Laws are written in black and white to apply to everyone. 

7        See, and take advantage of, opportunities.  Being part of the Democratic Party gives us the opportunity to change the country for the better, and we can't let that slip by.  We have to step up and do the work. It's not compromising our values to work for something better in the future by doing the hard work today. 

8        Strong Foundations.  We can't reach our potential if we are not standing on a solid foundation.  That includes understanding our history and knowing what resources we have available to get the job done.   We have to know what we stand for, or we will fall for anything.

 

I believe that it is time for us to answer some very basic questions having to do with our relationship with the Democratic Party.  Some of you have been working within the party for years or even decades, some for only a few years.  We're all working towards the same goals, but too often we don't articulate what those goals are, leaving it to our fellow activists to figure out what we mean.  We need to communicate than that.  I define my overall goal as a better world for my children.  Whatever else being an American means, or what the American Dream is, that seems to be a key part of it all.  We want our children to have the same or even more opportunities as we did, with the ability to reach for their potential as individuals and as part of a healthy society living on a healthy Earth. 

What does being a Progressive activist mean in the context of the Democratic Party? 

Who we are matters.  We are middle class America.  We live mostly above the poverty line, and mostly below the line of those who consider themselves to be financially self-sufficient.  Very few of us earn our living sitting around "waiting for the dividend check", as Thom Hartmann frames those who are at the top of the economic pyramid.  We are also the stakeholders of the future.  We should be mindful of that as we make our decisions both in life and in political activism. 

What do Progressives want to get out of our involvement and activism within the Democratic Party? 

We want elected officials to make decisions and draft legislation in accordance with our values.  We want the political party infrastructure to support our goals for a better world.  We want leaders that listen to us, and we want them to keep their promises to us.  We want a political party that leads by example.

Why should Progressives work within the Democratic Party? 

It is an existing political infrastructure.  The oldest political party in the world, and it changes every election to reflect the times, the candidates and the situation on the ground to get those candidates elected.  “Past history" is just that - history.  What the party does and what decisions it makes now (and in the future) does not depend on what it has done in the past, but only on who is involved NOW.  If we are those people, who work hard to show that we can get our candidates elected, and we focus on our values of cooperation and our goal of peace, we will be the ones making those decisions.  

How specifically can we help the Democratic Party grow and our candidates win? 

By doing what we already know how to do.  Networking with friends and neighbors in our social circles, our business community, our faith community and everywhere else.  Many of us know how to use technology for this type of networking, and many more of us want to learn.  We can become the teachers that can continue to expand our ability in this. 

I mentioned that the Democratic Party is existing infrastructure.  I believe that we have the ability to make that infrastructure of, by and for the people of this country, while we reach for the stars together.  I believe in our message, and I believe in our values and I believe that we win elections by standing firm. 

I'm good at flowery statements and (obviously) long emails.  I hope most of you by now know that I mean every statement from the core of my soul. 

My name is Chad Lupkes, and I am running for Chair of the Washington State Progressive Caucus.  I would appreciate your vote

Videos that hit home

Source: Daily Kos

More info: Iraq Veterans Against the War

John Edwards in Seattle, September 19th

These are my raw notes from the event. I'll clean them up as I have time. I don't type well enough to do quotes, so much of this is my interpretation of what he said, not the words he used.

John Edwards event, SEattle, 20070919

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Paul Berendt

Jenny Durkins, chair of the campaign in Washington

John

Health Care
global warming
carbon caps to 80%
Sacrifice needed.
economic inequality, worst since Depression
surge in NOLA
9.5 per hour, indexed
unions supported
college access
College for Everyone: graduate HS, 10 hours a week work, we pay for tuition and boks
housing, predatory lending laws
innovation
anti-science, worst in hisotry
stem cells
invest in (double) NIH
scolarship help, in areas we need help, science & math
GW destroyed americas reputation
end the mess in Iraq
congress mandate, 2006, end the war
we elected congress for a change of course,
no funding without timetable, return return return.
end it
we must make him change course.
50K out immiediately
engage sunni, shia, reach compromise
on top of that
close guantanamo, day one
no more secret prisons, no more spying on US, no more torture or condoning torture,
so contrary to what we believe in
what's possible
responsibility to humanity
expand capacity to lead, we must be the light
they care about themselves and the rest of the world.
instead of 500Billion in Iraq, education for 100Million children 4Billion per year
sanitation & clean drinking water around the world.
economic development
microlending, microfinance
american leadership would matter
the righ tthin g to do
in the self interest of america
generation of young people looking at Osama and American making a choice
that choice is up to us.
are we a bully? they join Osama
they see light, they move toward us.
like a magnet
moral force we are capable of being
Pres needs to travel the world an dspeak to the world. Not just leaders, but everyone
what they need to hear
We believe in diversity, we embrase it
all kinds of
respect other people with different cultures and faith believes
equality
the world doesn't believe it, and that must change
take responsibility for this country
do it tgether


*Yvonne
crossroads

Backbone Campiaign welcomes back Congress

Hillary, where is your health care bill?

S.895 : A bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to ensure that every child in the United States has access to affordable, quality health insurance coverage, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 3/15/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 3/15/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.982 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for integration of mental health services and mental health treatment outreach teams, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 3/23/2007) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1032 : A bill to amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish an Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives in the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 3/29/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Latest Major Action: 3/29/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

S.1034 : A bill to create investment opportunities for rural families and access to credit for rural entrepreneurs and microenterprises, to support rural regional investment, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 3/29/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 3/29/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.1065 : A bill to improve the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in members and former members of the Armed Forces, to review and expand telehealth and telemental health programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 3/29/2007) Cosponsors (8)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 3/29/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.1075 : A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to expand access to contraceptive services for women and men under the Medicaid program, help low income women and couples prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce abortion, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 3/29/2007) Cosponsors (8)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 3/29/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.1240 : A bill to provide for the provision by hospitals receiving Federal funds through the Medicare program or Medicaid program of emergency contraceptives to women who are survivors of sexual assault.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 4/26/2007) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 4/26/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.1363 : A bill to improve health care for severely injured members and former members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 5/10/2007) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 5/10/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.1452 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a national center for public mental health emergency preparedness, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 5/22/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 5/22/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1500 : A bill to support democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 5/24/2007) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: Senate Foreign Relations
Senate Reports: 110-136
Latest Major Action: 7/24/2007 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 284.

S.1542 : A bill to establish State infrastructure banks for education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 6/5/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 6/5/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1604 : A bill to increase the number of well-educated nurses, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 6/13/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 6/13/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1712 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve newborn screening activities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 6/27/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 6/27/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1800 : A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require emergency contraception to be available at all military health care treatment facilities.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 7/17/2007) Cosponsors (13)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 7/17/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.1950 : A bill to require a report on contingency planning for the redeployment of United States forces from Iraq.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 8/2/2007) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: Senate Foreign Relations
Latest Major Action: 8/2/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

S.1967 : A bill to provide administrative ease and incentives for increased saving by Americans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] (introduced 8/2/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 8/2/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

---

Senator Clinton is running for President, and putting out lots of ideas on the legislation she might introduce once she sits in the Oval Office. Too bad she's too busy to actually introduce them now, while she could put then on the table. Too bad she's with the crowd that is willing to see the Constitution taken off the table, while promising to put it back when we give her the power. Too bad she's not willing to use any of the power she has now, as a US Senator.

Hillary, where is your health care bill?

Re: Bush's Mistake

My mom sent me a link to this article:

President Bush did make a bad mistake - National Word

The only reason that Muslims around the world are sympathetic to the radicals is because this time around we, as a country, no longer have any idea what we stand for and we're instead willing to fall for anything. Because we ignored the Israel/Palestine situation for decades, or supported Israel against the people they took their land from, we made the situation worse. Because we caused an popular elected government in Iran to be replaced by a brutal dictatorship, we made the situation worse. Because we have, for the past 60+ years, provided the Saudi royal family with billions of dollars traded for oil, allowing them to create and support the Madrases around the world like the ones that trained 15 out of the 19 hijackers in 2001, we have made the global situation worse.

In 1941, we had a government in our country that had been focusing for 9 years to support the people of this country in our struggle for daily life. We had elected FDR by 57% in 1932, 60.8% in 1936 and 55% in 1940. Unlike Bush's administration, Roosevelt understood early on the threat posed by Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan. But instead of being allowed to do anything meaningful, the conservatives and isolationists pushed a neutrality bill through Congress, preventing him from openly supporting Britain, France or China. He had to wait for the fall of Paris, where 1.6 million people fled the city in May of 1940. How does that number compare to 3,000? The America First Committee, an isolationist group led by Charles Lindbergh, argued that our oceans would protect us, something that Roosevelt understood was false. Pat Buchanan says "By keeping America out of World War II until Hitler attacked Stalin in June of 1941, Soviet Russia, not America, bore the brunt of the fighting, bleeding and dying to defeat Nazi Germany." What a wonderful way to make friends in Russia, allowing their people to die while we watched and waited to pick up the pieces. The founders of this country, who all bled and died to create our land of opportunity, must be spinning in their graves.

As a contrast to the 1940's, the 2000 election has been proven stolen, the 2002 election had Senate seats that were stolen, the 2004 election was stolen, and Bush holds hands with the head of the Saudi royal family, his Vice President plans to divide up Iraq's oil before we were even planning attacks, and his Secretary of Defense proceeds to eliminate any true planners in the Pentagon who were focused on avoiding war by undermining the Secretary of State's office. Most of the "intelligence" that Colin Powell used in his speech to the United Nations Security Council was drummed up by intelligence agents within the Pentagon, not the CIA or other intelligence services. The President says that oceans will not protect us, something we learned 60 years earlier. But protect us from what?

Religious Fundamentalism, from any religion, is dangerous. Those who believe in the literal interpretation of Revelations are just as dangerous as those who believe in the Return of the Third Imam. The parallels are obvious.

Tenets of Islamist terrorism have been summarized by one counterterrorist as being:

* A belief that Muslims have deviated from true Islam and must return to “pure Islam” as originally practiced during the time of the Prophet.
* The path to “pure Islam” is only through a literal and strict interpretation of the Quran and Hadith, along with implementation of the Prophet’s commands.
* Muslims should interpret the original sources individually without being bound to follow the interpretations of Islamic scholars.
* That any interpretation of the Quran from a historical, contextual perspective is a corruption, and that the majority of Islamic history and the classical jurisprudential tradition is mere sophistry.

Compare that to what the Evangelical Churches here in the United States are saying.

The characteristics of Evangelicalism have been defined by David Bebbington in his study of British evangelicalism. Known as the Bebbington Quadrilateral the four characteristics of evangelicals are :

1. Conversionism - Emphasis on the conversion experience, also called being saved, or new birth or born again after John 3:3. Thus evangelicals often refer to themselves as born-again Christians. This experience is said to be received by "faith alone" and to be given by God as the result of "grace alone".
2. Biblicism - The Protestant canon of the Bible as the primary, or only, source of religious authority, as God's revelation to humanity. Thus, the doctrine of sola scriptura is often affirmed and emphasized. Bible prophecy, especially as interpreted according to dispensationalism, is often emphasized.
3. Activism - Encouragement of evangelism (the act of sharing one's beliefs) -- in organized missionary work or by personal encounters and relationships with others.
4. Crucicentrism - A central focus on Christ's redeeming work on the cross as the only means for salvation and the forgiveness of sins.

Fascinating parallels, don't you think? I like my secular humanism values much better.

Things were a lot different in the 1940's. We didn't have US Senators looking for sex in airport bathrooms. We didn't have Vice Presidents collecting money from corporations that got no-bid contracts from his own government. We had a 1.9% unemployment and we trusted our government to look out for our welfare first. We had CEO's making maybe 40 times what the average worker earned; now that ratio is 500:1, and the conservatives in government are trying to keep wages as low as possible, driving a third of our population onto the brink of poverty and nearly a quarter outside of the existing health care system.

There is a war going on in the world. It's a war of ideas, and it's a hot war. Hot tempers flare up and encourage violence within families and communities here in the US as often as suicide bombers kill people in the middle east. Nobody has a clear picture of what the United States stands for anymore, because the current administration leadership doesn't care about the people and the current congressional leadership is gaming their words to encourage electoral victory instead of moral victory.

We can win this war. It's easy. All we have to do is care. If we cared about our fellow citizens, and cared about the rest of the people around the world, we could show that by building a strong foundation at home and a foreign policy based on morality instead of money. It's really not that tough. Jesus showed us the way 2,000 years ago. Too bad we stopped listening.