politicalbull

I must say, I have never seen a President-elect hold as many press conferences as Barack Obama has held.  I’m not talking about all of the publicity that surrounds him, of the press reports of his cabinet picks, his family’s planned puppy, or his strategy for averting the economic crisis.  I’m talking about actual PRESS CONFERENCES.  Why, he looks…well…presidential.  What is “President” Bush doing, in the meantime?  Nothing.  Well, almost nothing.  Last week he DID pardon a turkey, a traditional Thanksgiving presidential chore that should not be taken lightly, especially by Bush.  After all, Bush probably identifies with turkeys.  God knows, his entire eight year reign has been one BIG turkey. 

November 22 marked the 45^th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.  Do you remember what you were doing when you heard this tragic news?

I don’t.  I was on the verge of turning 3-years-old when JFK was assassinated.  But I have relived this event via documentaries, books, movies, and the reruns of the Zapruder assassination film so much that I feel like I CAN remember.

Thanks to old videos, I have watched him get the top of his head blown off, watched his new widow scramble to the back of the moving limousine in terror, and watched that same widow, regal now, lead the funeral procession of world leaders.  At one time or another, I have watched all of this in tears.  

But do you know what saddens me the most?  The question of “what if.”

“What IF” John F. Kennedy had lived?  How would our world be different today had he not taken that fateful trip along Dealey Plaza? 

Would we have ever known of a Vietnam? 

Would Lyndon B. Johnson ever have become President of the United States? 

Would Nixon ever have become President, engineered Watergate, then be forced from office? 

Most of all, I wonder this—

WOULD we still have a true Democratic Party?

Think about it. 

Political punditry doesn’t get any better than this.

Yesterday, ex-Vice Presidential running mate, and Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin did the traditional “turkey pardon” thing in her hometown of Wasilla.  Oh, I was amused to see Palin surrounded by gobbling, dirty turkeys—and appearing quite uncomfortable—but it was what happened next that had me laughing so hard I cried. 

Immediately after the ceremony, Palin agreed to be interviewed outside.  As she gleefully babbled on about politics and her experience as a Vice Presidential candidate—in her bubbly style befitting a former beauty queen—a man in the background calmly slaughtered turkeys.

During the interview, the reporter asked her how she liked this chore of pardoning a turkey, and she said that she was delighted to be involved in an activity that didn’t “invite criticism.” 

Oh, by the way, Palin confirmed that she is charge of the turkey for the family feast this year, as she is every year. 

 I can believe that. 

Here’s the video, in its entirety.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8DTSPzU0RI

“Until they show us the plan, we cannot show them the money,” said House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, at a press conference today.  Pelosi was referring to the “Big 3” automakers, those who had recently been to the Capital pleading for a government bailout of their struggling industry.  

With this statement, Pelosi is making clear that she is holding the automakers accountable for why, and how, any such money would be spent if the government were to give them the money—a very big IF at this point.  

Specifically, Pelosi requires a plan that would demonstrate how the money would “transform” their industry, making them competitive, and demand an accounting of how they plan to spend the money.   

I say…BRAVO.  I wish they had put the same kind of conditions on the banks before they bailed them out.     

WHY have the Democrats in Congress proposed a $25 BILLION dollar bailout for the ailing auto industry? 

I’m really not so surprised that my party wants to help the “needy” automotive companies who pay their Presidents more than OUR President, but I am surprised—and appalled—at the Democrat’s focus on big business here.  I mean…come on!  Are they Democrats or Republicans?

In all this talk about the failing stock market and economy, I am hearing very little about the PEOPLE of America, other than as a supposed “beneficiary” of big business.  (Reagan’s trickle-down theory dies hard.)

Why don’t they propose some real help for the average American, who is poorer right now than he or she has ever been? 

Why don’t they extend unemployment benefits for another six months, instead of the puny 13 weeks of the last extension?  

Why?  Because big business, through their campaign contributions, has corrupted the Democratic Party, and Americans have (and will continue to) suffer because of that. 

Yesterday, I came across a fascinating article written by Cristina Aguilar.  You can read it here:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1170228/the_obama_abe_lincoln_reincarnation.html?cat=34

It seems that there is an interesting theory floating around that I had never heard before; namely, that Obama is the reincarnation of Abraham Lincoln.  I’m intrigued by this theory.

Years ago, I read of the eerie links and parallels between Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, and added some of my own, and I have to say that I truly believe that there is something to the Lincoln/Kennedy link.

But Obama and Lincoln?

How COULD there be a link there, other than the obvious fact that Obama is the first black man elected President and Lincoln freed the slaves? 

Well, according to Aguilar, there are a lot more parallels between these two men, similarities that go beyond a racial link.  Both of these men, for instance, came from modest family backgrounds, served in the Illinois Legislator, and practiced law.  Both are also known for their astounding oratory skills.

What do I believe?

Well, I have noted how often Obama, himself, has mentioned an affinity for Lincoln in his speeches and interviews.  But this is not surprising.  Most Presidents and Presidential candidates mention the great Lincoln at one time or another.  PLUS, I just assumed that Obama mentioned Lincoln so much because of the great man’s stance on racial issues.  Now…I’m not so sure.  Is his affinity for Lincoln more than “skin deep?”

I don’t know but, since Aguilar has intrigued me, you can bet that I will be doing some more research on this issue.   

Well, Reagan’s “trickle down” theory has now been proven to be the “voodoo economics” that George Bush, Sr. said it was.  It doesn’t work. 

“We are on the verge of the second GREAT depression, if we don’t DO something NOW,” most of the members of Congress (on both sides of the political aisle) said, so they did.

The problem is that they’ve decided to apply the “trickle down” solution to solve the problem that “trickle down” created (with a little help from deregulation, also a Reagan policy) Don’t we (or they) ever learn?

The answer is, apparently, no. 

Do you know what one bank did as soon as they got word that they would partake of that bailout money?  They bought out a smaller bank, silly.

That’s right. 

PNC Bank, of Pittsburgh, has shelled out $5.6 BILLION dollars of the Cleveland based, National City Bank.  I have banked with NCB for over 20 years now and, needless to say, I am pissed. 

But here’s the question:

Do you think that this merger is going to create jobs, under the “trickle down” theory, or lose jobs for people?

Here’s an even better question:

Does PNC really CARE?

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Obama may be admiring Lincoln for much more than his stance on slavery. 

According to msnbc, Obama is imitating Lincoln’s approach to feuding factions of the two major parties—an approach roughly akin to, “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” (My thanks goes to ancient Chinese General Sun-tzu for this quote.)

Nobody did that better than did Lincoln, whose move to the White House was accompanied by a LOT of enemies, not the least of which was the South.  As soon as Lincoln was elected President, in fact, the South started to secede from the union in earnest, so afraid were they of Lincoln’s intentions towards slavery and other economic issues.

This threat of secession caused bitter divisions both within, and without, Lincoln’s own Republican Party. 

How did Lincoln handle it?  Why, that great, wise man (can you tell that Lincoln is just a half step below God, in my book?) not only overlooked his enemies, he embraced them.  Most of his cabinet, in fact, was composed of former opponents of his.  Lincoln’s reasoning for this, again according to msnbc, was “we need the strongest men.  These were the very strongest men.  I had no right to deprive the country of their services.” 

Today, Obama, who has literally read the book on this subject—Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals,” about how Lincoln engaged his enemies in his presidency—is signaling his intention to do the same thing.  To date, he has made Joe Biden, his Vice President and is considering Hilary Clinton as his Secretary of State, despite the fact that both (particularly Clinton) were bitter rivals of his for the Democratic nomination.  There is also a great deal of talk about Obama appointing members of BOTH parties to his cabinet. 

CAN he do it and, even if he could, is it a GOOD idea to do so?    Well, certainly, I believe that Obama can do it but, whether or not it would be a good thing depends on one, very big IF…

IF the two parties, and Obama’s other opponents, can hammer out agreements, for the good of their country, in spite of their differences, only THEN will this be a good idea.

That’s a very big IF.

Hello, and welcome to my first blog.

Allow me to introduce myself.  I am in my mid-forties, divorced from a man I still live with (it’s a LONG story), and childless.  I am approaching the end of my six-year school odyssey at Hiram College, and look forward to obtaining my BA in Communications in May of 2009.    

What else should you know about me?

Oh, yeah…

I’ve finally decided to pull my head out of my ass and become politically involved.  It’s about time.

For most of my life, I’ve been cynical about politics and—especially—about politicians.  Can you blame me?  I came of age in the post Watergate world, where all politicians are crooks, and liars, and cheaters.  Sadly, I never knew the world of my parents, the one where politicians were perceived as honorable public servants, where the President of the United States was truly the “Father of his Country.”   In MY world, the only interests that politicians serve are THEMSELVES. 

Consequently,

I am NOT surprised politician are caught cheating with women, or money, or anything else.  (They’re POLITICIANS.  That’s part of their jobs.)

I am NOT surprised when business and industry—and Wall Street—gets all the government bread while Main Street barely gets a crumb.  (Without campaign contributions from business and industry, HOW would the politicians ever get ELECTED?)

I am NOT surprised that the two parties are more polarized than they have ever been (with great POWER comes great EGOS.)

But, though I am not surprised, I HAVE had enough now.  Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t expect politicians to be perfect, but I do expect them to look out for the best interests of the people they were elected to represent.  I have gone too long thinking that my voice, and my vote, doesn’t really matter. 

With this blog, I am stepping into the political fray, not as a candidate for political office, but as a concerned citizen who wants to remake the United States into the one envisioned by our founding fathers, the “land of the free, the home of the brave.”  I want our country to be one that supports the efforts of the “common” man and woman again.  I want our country to be just and fair to all law-abiding citizens.  I want our country to be one of equal opportunity, where every citizen has unlimited opportunities for growth, as long as he or she is willing to work hard.  . 

Finally, for the first time in my life, I feel that my voice, and yours, IS important to the political process; for, as famed anthropologist Margaret Mead said:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizen can change the world.  Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”