Speaking of campaign/media shenanigans...

Obama has been getting all sorts of bad press about his association with a nutjob preacher, who is black, so therefore speaks for all of the scary black people (according to MSM).

BUT:
Huckabee was a candidate for president for 14 months and is a former Southern Baptist preacher, yet wouldn't release his sermons. He doesn't believe in evolution. He supports the anti-gay marriage amendment. He supports the overturn of Roe v. Wade. He thinks the constitution should be changed to make it in-line with the Bible. He doesn't believe in the separation of church and state.

McCain has support from John Hagee and considers Rod Parsley his spiritual advisor. Let's look at Hagee first: Hagee thinks the Catholic church is a "whore" and false religion. He believes in the end days prophecy and that we are nearing them. Now Parsley: He believes that Islam is a "false religion" and that we are at war with them. He makes no distinction between Islamic moderates, and the whackjobs who have warped it into justification for terrorism. (Don't they see their hypocrisy? No of course not...) He believes that Planned Parenthood can be likened to Nazi's. He thinks that we should be prosecuting people for adultery. McCain hasn't had to distance himself from either of these nutjobs.

During the Reagan and Bush I era (as well as Nixon), the Reverend Billy Graham was a regular visitor to the Whitehouse and spiritual adviser. Graham was a confirmed anti-Semite.

My point is that if the MSM is going to take Obama to task about this, then they need to do the same with the conservative white repugnicants who are pushing this shit. I think it is a problem, that religion has made it's way into our politics so insidiously. Any church that promotes political candidates should immediately lose their tax free status. No questions. Religion has to leave our political discourse. Separation of church and state should be absolute. If you can't separate your religious views from your political behavior, then you need to get out of office. NOW. How have conservatives made religion a litmus test for office? I hate them.

In-case you missed it with all the campaign shenanigans of the past couple of weeks:

The EPA has recently made a couple of decisions which go against all their internal scientists and further show how much BushCo. will politicize anything: First, the EPA denied the right of CA to set their own, stricter, standards on automobile emissions. As CA goes, so goes the nation, and the automobile manufactures don't want that. There is precedent for CA to set their own standards, as they've done it many times in the past. Many other states were awaiting this decision as, they want to do the same thing. Apparently, that's not good enough. By EPA justification, since CA doesn't have problems that are any worse than anyone else's, the administration doesn't think that they have the right to do anything about the problems they do have. This has caused the scientists and legal counsel of the EPA to openly state that they have no confidence in the BushCo. puppet director. Remember this is an issue being pushed by a Republican governor, who actually sees the importance of it, and for all of CA's reputation, it's not that blue of a state. If my memory serves me correctly, other than Grey Davis, CA has had a republican governor for the majority of the past 20 years.
Secondly, the president just directly intervened in the decision on regulating seasonal ozone levels nationwide. Again, going against the scientific and legal council within the EPA. If it wasn't perfectly clear that this administration doesn't care about actually enforcing laws, such as the Clean Air Act, which specifically states that economics can't be considered, because the regulations have to be made on health and welfare standards only. President Bush broke the law (again), by intervening in this decision.
Look, I understand that Pelosi can't actually push impeachment, it has to come from elsewhere in the party. If Bush is impeached, Cheney has to be impeached as well, that puts Pelosi as President, and it would be politically impossible for her to push it. That doesn't mean that we can't have others push it. Wexler and Kucinich have called for it. We need to encourage every Dem in the house to sign on. Cheney first, then Shrub.

Molly Ivins wouldn't have voted for her, and I will hold my nose while doing so if she is the nominee. A month or so ago I thought we had two good candidates. The longer this goes on, the more clear Clinton's true character comes out, and I the more disgusted I get. Those that have the chance to vote still, please spread the word.

Molly Ivins: Not. backing. Hillary.

spread the word

There's a text version of this up on DailyKos if you can't forward the html. It's time to stop the lies.

Subject: The Real Truth About Barack Obama!

As enthusiastic volunteers in the Barack Obama campaign for the Presidency,
we have put together a list of facts about Barack so that you will know the
truth about him. Please follow the links we have included for documentation
of these facts. If you value the truth as we do, please spread this information
via email, blog, or any other means, to everyone you know.

1. Did you know that Barack Obama is a devout Christian? He has been a member of the same United Church of Christ congregation for 20 years, and was married there to his wife Michelle in 1992.


2. Did you know that Barack Obama often leads the US Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance?


3. Did you know that Barack Obama is a strong friend of Israel and has spoken out strongly against anti-Semitism?


4. Did you know his grandparents from Kansas were part of the "Greatest Generation?. His grandfather served with Patton's Army during World War II, and his grandmother, a real "Rosy the Riveter", worked in a bomber assembly plant back home.


5. Did you know that Barack Obama was opposed to the war in Iraq from day one, before we invaded, even while he was running for the Senate, and knowing his opposition might be politically unpopular?
   

   "I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world and strengthen the recruitment arm of al Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars." --Barack Obama, 2002

   
   


6. Did you know Obama favors transparency over secrecy in our government? Did you know that Obama worked with Republican Senator Tom Coburn to pass one of the strongest government transparency bills since the freedom of information act? He's calling it Google for Government and you can see the results at www.usaspending.gov. Sen. Obama has also released his own tax returns for public review.


7. Did you know that after graduating with honors from Harvard Law School, Barack practiced civil rights law and also taught Constitutional Law for 10 years at the University of Chicago, one of the nation's best law schools, where he was consistentl y rated by his students as one of their best instructors? Did you also know that he was the first African-American elected pres ident of the prestigious Harvard Law Review?


8. Did you know that Barack Obama is an outspoken advocate for women's rights and has been a principled defender of the civil rights of women?


9. Did you know that despite the grueling schedule of running for President, Senator Obama remains a devoted family man, making time to do things like pick out a Christmas tree with his wife and two young daughters, or hurrying home to spend Valentine's Day with them? Did you know he hasn't missed a single parent-teacher conference while running for President?


10. Did you know that Barack Obama has a stellar environmental record, including having the highest rating from the League of Conservation Voters (96%) of any Presidential candidate, Democrat or Republican?


11. Did you know that Barack Obama has been an elected legislator longer than Senator Clinton?


12. Did you know that Barack is a member of all of these Senate Committees: Foreign Relations; Veteran's Affairs; Health, Education, Labor & Pensions; Homeland Security and Government Affairs?


13. Did you know that Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become law, and has introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted since he joined the Senate in 2005?


14. Did you know that Senator Obama sponsored legislation working together with Indiana Republican Senator Richard Lugar, to keep Americans safe by keeping dangerous weapons out of terrorist hands? The two senators also visited the former Soviet Union to inspect the decommissioning of nuclear weapons. Sen. Lugar said of Sen. Obama, "He does have a sense of idealism and principled leadership, a vision of the future."


15. Did you know that Barack Obama is the only candidate running for president who voted against using cluster bombs in Iraq and the only candidate who supports banning the use of landmines?


16. Did you know that, as an Illinois state senator, Barack Obama succeeded in passing legislation requiring the videotaping of police interrogations, gaining the respect and support not only of fellow legislators but that of the police, who had initially opposed the legislation?


17. Did you know that Theodore Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, Ulysses S. Grant, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton were all younger when they took office than Barack Obama will be?

During election season many emails are circulated about the candidates. Some are true, some aren't. It's often difficult to determine the truth. We encourage you to visit the following non-partisan sites that do a good job of fact checking the candidates.

http://www.snopes.com/

http://www.factcheck.org/

This shit is just funny: Cracker Plu-ease. It's called "aspirational goods", and whitey is a sucker for it. Well everyone is...

This is my new favorite blog: Grocery Eats. This cat is in Minneapolis and knows a thing or two about strange food combos. Look around for the Pork House. Could anyone imagine such a wonderful land?! Yippeee......

So, somehow San Marcos and Texas State University made it onto the Obama radar. Last week, a thousand people or so showed up for Ted Kennedy (for comparison only about 100 showed up for Chelsea Clinton earlier this week). Kristen and I waited in line for an hour or so to get in. I figured it was a last chance to see the last one of that generation of Kennedy. We actually got two Kennedy's. One of the grandsons talked briefly. One of the former governors of Texas spoke (Dolf Briscoe I believe (but it might have been Mark White), who is still a muckity-muck in Texas Democratic party, Texas politics, and very spry given his age (89?)). I was most impressed with Lloyd Doggett, as one of the introductory speakers. I'd hate to lose him representing this part of Texas, but he's be a great pick for VP. Ted Kennedy was o.k. He's no master orator, but he still has some fire, even if he forgot that TxState is the Bobcats, and not the bulldogs. At that point I figured that was all we were going to get, and I was impressed that that many students actually know who Ted Kennedy is. It's not every day a Kennedy comes to central Texas.

Then Monday, it was announced that Obama would be here. I was amazed by how many people showed up! I think the unofficial estimates are 10,000 - 13,000. I didn't think that many people in San Marcos would show up for free beer! I'm sure we had people from out of town, but about half the crowd was wearing TxState garb. San Marcos is only 50,000 or so people. Half of them are students. Don't believe me about the crowd? (update: The local paper has the estimate at greater than the expected 15,000. Any street you could possibly see from was packed...)

Whatever you may think about his politics, you have to admit that it is bordering on a movement. I've been voting since we got stuck with Bush I. Even Bill Clinton didn't get this kind of attention, and I remember feeling pretty good about him (my feelings have changed somewhat, which is why I'm not a Hillary supporter. I'll vote for her if she ends up being the nomination, but I don't see that happening at this point.) The crowd was a mix of everyone. Young, old, Black, White, Hispanic..... Hell, it IS a movement.

I have to admit that I have some hesitation with how enthusiastic people are about him. Mainly because I get suspicious when people like the same things I do, and I have to resist the conspiracy buff in me letting me think that he is some sort of Manchurian Candidate. I don't think he is, but I do think we need to stay open about what his faults are and not blindly support him (like Ron Paul supporters do their guy). Dammit, I've been cynical for so long, it's hard to let go. I've grown up with an intense mistrust of politics, and seen how nasty and deceitful the repugnicants are willing to get. My grandparents were the eternal optimists about politics and future generations. Because of the past..., well ever since Reagan, I've been unable to live up to their optimism. I've been so disillusioned with the past two elections that I don't know what to do with actually feeling like he could do some good. Feeling like I am actually voting FOR someone, instead of voting for the lesser of two evils. Fuck. He's getting to me. I just don't want to be disappointed again...

Anyways, I've never seen a political rally this big. I've been to a couple of smaller ones. None were ever that close, and no one cared enough. Hell, the biggest before Ted Kennedy was actually in Mexico, and by accident. Last night, we ended up being about 15m from the stage. I don't get star struck much. I've met musicians and sports stars. They're regular people. I have to say, that I'm a little in shock having been that close to who I want to believe will be the next president. Dare I hope? Can he repair the damage done by the current administration? Will people believe that the government can work for the people and not Exxon/Mobil/Shell/GM/Halliburton/Boeing/Lockheed? Could this be the moment where we live up to the challenge of JFK and RFK? We lost 40 years of progress because of RFK's assassination, can we finally get back on track?

It's my favorite city I could never live in...

Any time a Republican tells you they are the party of fiscal responsibility, mention this. Then tell them to go away.

Because alien cattle abduction is a growing problem....

Yes, it is the most retarded exercise machine ever.

No you shouldn't listen to everything in the bible. Sometimes it's just bad advice.