Boycotting Stupidity

More trouble in the most dangerous nation on Earth.

BobVADemHawk — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:17:32 EST

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - India warned its citizens on Friday it was unsafe to travel to Pakistan and the prime minister met his military chiefs, while Pakistan canceled army leave and moved some troops from its western border.

The travel warning marked a dramatic rise in tension between the nuclear-armed neighbors after last month's attack on Mumbai that killed 179 people and which India has blamed on Islamist militants based in Pakistan.

It followed media reports in Pakistan and India that "several" Indian nationals had been held in the last two days after bombings in the Pakistani cities of Lahore and Multan.

"Indian citizens are therefore advised that it would be unsafe for them to travel (to) or be in Pakistan," India's Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a statement.

Another Foreign Ministry official contacted by Reuters said the warning referred to all travel to Pakistan...

Twas the Night Before Inauguration (Part 2))

memecat — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:05:50 EST

We may never recover from this hole they dug.
But we will climb to the top with a American tug.
The republican party have destroyed all that matters
They deserve nothing more but to hold the damn ladder.

But his voice did change, along with a smile.
Thinking of the bills that soon would be filed.
Protect those who are old and young alike
Restore our honor and our military might.

Protect our planet, and clean our air.
While creating a surplus we can leave to our heirs
Fix our economy, and health care for all.
And honor those who fought, and those who fall.

Obama sprang to his feet, to his team he gave a shout.
The challenges seem impossible, hard work needed no doubt
But I heard him exclaim ere he talked and ran.
Hey! It's not just a slogan, YES WE CAN!

Twas the Night Before Inauguration (Part 1)

memecat — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:04:08 EST

Twas the Night Before Inauguration
By John Cobarruvias
BayAreaHouston.blogspot.com

T'was the night before inauguration and what to my dismay
The market was tanking, I lost my 401K!
The stocks were hung, in downfall they stuck
While Bush did nothing, a truly lame duck

The republicans were nestled, their heads in the sand
With visions of defeat of the republican brand.
And Cheney with his gun, his heart a pace
Looking for someone, to shoot in the face.

When out on the house floor, there came such a clatter
I sprang to the internets to find what's the matter.
Away to my screen I ran with a flash
Hoping the market, didn't crash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
Showed me someone I needed to know.
When what to my eyes, I paused, with a comma
But a vision of hope, It was Barack Obama!

With excitement and conviction in each of his steps
I wondered what he and his el ves, w ould do next.
More rapid than eagles his appointments they came
And he whistled and shouted, and called them by name.

Now Emanuel! Now, Dashle! Now Richardson and Biden!
On, Clinton , On Napolitano, and Gates, no sense in hiding!
To fix the economy, our reputation and more.
And to stop the killing of this unnecessary war.

As Obama stood still, the republicans they trembled
Remembering 8 years of a disaster they had assembled.
They've broken our banks, and doubled our debt.
They scared us to death with weapons of threats.

They squandered a surplus, They started a war.
They shredded our constitution, littered on the floor.
They attack our unions, our immigrants and those who are gay.
They claim to be Christians, yet on the sick they prey.

Report urges timetable for human mission to Mars

BobVADemHawk — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:58:50 EST

The Obama administration should set a concrete schedule for human Mars missions, and make sure new hardware developed for NASA's return to the Moon can be adapted for missions to other destinations, a new report says.

With a new US president set to take charge of the White House and many questions hanging over NASA's future, many have been trying to advise the agency about where it should go from here.

President-elect Barack Obama's transition team has been very tight-lipped, but if the Obama administration takes its cue from the preponderance of advice it's getting, then human missions to Mars may well move up in priority.

Back in November, the Planetary Society, a space advocacy group, released a report called "Beyond the Moon", which called for delaying new missions to the Moon and channelling more resources into paving the way for human missions to Mars instead (see Moon takes a backseat in new space plan).

Now, an independent group of space experts, led by David Mindell of MIT, is calling for a timeline for human Mars missions, and urging that any Moon hardware be designed with other destinations in mind as well...

Bush Gets a Size 10 Remider of Iraqi Gratitude

Gabriel Felix — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:54:06 EST

I believe that the "shoe throwing" incident was a great example of the sentiment most Iraqi citizens have for our outgoing president and the wonderful decision he made over five years ago involving their country. The frustration of the Iraqi people is not easily dismissed by saying: "that guy has the right to do what he did because we brought freedom to their country." Did we? Even if we did, was it our place to invade a nation on the other side of the world for unfounded reasons and illegal justifications? I am sure many believe in the notion of America being the "protector of international community." I for one do not believe in this role and push others to move away from the notion, choosing instead to focus on the numerous domestic issues that merit our immediate attention.

Oh, one more thing, it was a shame that the journalist lacked the aim to plant one in between the eyes of Bush, that would have made for classic viral video material.

Why The Big 3 Should Get Your Tax Money

BobVADemHawk — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:45:16 EST

Well, the argument for it is millions of jobs will go under. You will lose the largest manufacturing unit in the United States, the heart and soul of American manufacturing. R&D goes with it. Technology goes with it. Engineering goes with it.

And more important, the auto industry has an enormous future in this world. Americans, we buy, in a good year, 17 million cars. China, India, all these countries are opening up. People are moving into the middle class. They're going to want cars. You will carve the United States out of much of the future. But in terms of viability, what's killed General Motors, and the others, is they have dropped the greatest, highest-paid guys who give the most in taxes, the cleanest, safest factories, and dropped them into global competition against factories in places like China, whose managers would be in a penitentiary if they were doing in the United States what they're allowed to do over there.

We are Americans. Why would you buy a car from a foreign country that hires Americans at a third of what American auto makers pay and all the profits go overseas? That, in and of itself, is un-American.

The Big 3 were instrumental in our winning of WW2. Were it not for GM and Ford converting to make military trucks, jeeps, and other components of the American war machine, we may be all speaking German or Japanese right now. And quite frankly, if we keep "whoring" ourselves out with the trade deficit the way we have been; we may end up speaking Japanese or Mandarin yet.

The time has come to stand up and say no more to our manufacturing jobs being shipped overseas. No more to foreign countries driving down the American standard of living. No more to foreign companies having influence over our elected officials. No damn more! Did Congress ask the AIG executives how they got to Washington? Did they ask Lehman Bros., Bank of America, or anybody else?

Stop selling out your fellow Americans. Look for the Union Label. Look for the Made in America labels. When you walk into a store, ask where the American made products are. Stay the hell out of Wal-Mart. We are Americans and it's high time we remember that. Buy American. At least 3 million of your fellow citizens, and quite possibly the economic future of this country, are depending on you.

The Auto Companies Must Be Destroyed

Frank Lynch — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:11:27 EST

The system of Corporate Governance in America is broken. We must destroy the auto companies as the only way to fix the problem. read more at http://blog.franklynch.org/2008/12/03/we-must-nationalize-the-auto-companies-because-sneaky-auto-executives-cheating-on-bailout/

Al Franken

Gabriel Felix — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:29:54 EST

I believe it is a shame that Al Franken is being wronged in the heated Minnesota Senatorial campaign. It is typical of the Republican party to implement, enforce, and justify the use of policies when it is to their advantage, and to criticize the policies when they are the ones who stand to lose. Disallowing absentee ballots is not only wrong, it is an insult to the people of Minnesota, and a slap in the face of our electoral system. How can you justify the blatant refusal of ballots cast by American citizens? You are essentially putting forth the notion that it is acceptable to enforce policies when it is beneficial to one particular political party, and it is also acceptable to openly refuse the acknowledgment of ballots cast by American citizens. How low will the Republican stoop in other to preserve their political choke-hold on politics that favor the wealthy and further exploit the dying middle class?

WTF GLBT?

BobVADemHawk — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:46:04 EST

Anger Over Prop. 8 Erupts In San Francisco

POSTED: 10:40 pm PST November 14, 2008
UPDATED: 11:57 pm PST November 14, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO -- In San Francisco's Castro District, people on both sides of the same-sex marriage controversy confronted each other on Friday night, as police tried to keep the peace. Proposition 8 passed in a close vote and eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Members of the gay community said that almost every Friday night, a Christian group meets at the corner of Castro and 18th Streets. They try to convert gays and lesbians into a straight lifestyle.

This Friday night, the message didn't go over well. Some gays and lesbians reacted by trying to chase the group out of the Castro.

"Their rights were respected," said Joe Schmitz, an opponent of Prop 8. "They got a chance to go ahead and pray on the sidewalk and I had the opportunity to express my freedom of speech which is telling them to get out of my neighborhood."

San Francisco Police officers in riot gear formed a line and escorted the religious group into a van to safely get them out of the area.

Members of the gay community insisted that their reaction to the Christian group was spontaneous. "It was not an organized thing. We're tired of it. It's not religious. It's not a racial thing. It's about hate. We're trying to send a message across the world that we're standing up and we don't want this to go on anymore," said Adam Quintero.

Supporters of same-sex marriage plan on Saturday to stage a national day of protest against Prop 8. Some demonstrators told KTVU that they are planning on more than protests. They say they plan to break away and carry out acts of civil disobedience.

In San Francisco, the demonstration is scheduled to take place outside City Hall. Other demonstrations are planned in Oakland and Walnut Creek, and in New York, Washington, Chicago and other U.S. cities...

http://www.ktvu.com/news/17986914/detail.html

Please sign this petition to eliminate tax exemptions for churches that lobby for state propositions...

Gretchen — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:15:23 EST

Sign this petition to support the legal effort to amend our tax laws such that the Mormon Church, and other transgressing churches, would lose tax-exempt status if they continue lobbying for state propositions.

http://www.mormonsstoleourrights.com/#petition

Moving in Right Direction

Gabriel Felix — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:21:52 EST

Let's put aside political differences for one moment, and forget the historical significance of race in the election results. What we have collectively accomplished as a country is beyond comparison to any political move in the history of this country. Seems a little drastic right? Nevertheless, how else can you explain bring ing in youth and intelligence into the highest office in the nation for the first time since the 1960's? Even then we were still taking baby steps towards change and hoping that we would make ripples in the water, not tidal waves. That is precisely what we have accomplished with the election of Barack Obama. Positive change that will ripple through the social establishment and bring forth the dawning of a new era of political representation in this great nation. Power no longer rests in the hands of the "old guard" who has for too long ruled this nation with great disconnect and disregard for the common people. President Obama is just the beginning, the face of the revolution. The great changes are still yet to come, in development, and on its way. We are finally on our way to establishing rule OF the people. The right direction is not somewhere you turn, but the direction you follow a great leader in; that leader is Barack Obama.

Thank you Senator Clinton (D-NY)!

BobVADemHawk — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:12:41 EST

I think we all owe a debt of gratitude to Sen. Clinton for her help in the general election. Sen. Clinton proved once again that is a class act and the epitomy of what it means to be a Democrat. Though a few of her supporters never came around, the fact that well over 90% of Democrats voted for President-Elect Obama showed that the "PUMA effect" was practically non-existent. The election of President-Elect Obama was due to the Clinton Democrats' full support and for that, I, and many others like me, are certainly grateful.

R.I.P. PUMA and Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild. You're about to learn how cold it is in the poltical wilderness.

A sign of the times.

BobVADemHawk — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:03:33 EST

Marriage has traditionally been between a man and a woman since the founding of the United States. To change something that embedded in the history of America should be put to a fair vote of the electorate as was civil rights. The results of CA Proposition 8 should send a clear message to the GLBT community that even in the most liberal of states; more than half of the electorate do not share your view in this matter. That is a democracy. That is the very foundation our great nation is built upon.

The GLBT community should reconsider their strategy at this time and come to the realization that, for at least another generation, Civil Unions will have to be an alternative. Polling indicates that state electorates, such as in CA, will have a lot easier time supporting Civil Unions than they will gay marriage.

Is this fair? No. Is it the old axiom of "separate but equal"? Yes, it is. But the civil rights contingent had to go through this period and it would appear that a majority of the electorate would want the same for the GLBT community if for no other reason than to give society, as a whole, time to adjust.

I'm confident that in one generation, or less, homosexuality will be considered as little as someone who is left-handed as many do now. I, like the GLBT community, look forward to that day. Every tax paying American citizen should be allowed to enjoy the benefits of a legally recognized marriage.

But while 52%+ of the electorate are prepared to accept an African-American as POTUS, the CA results clearly indicate that gay marriage is not that widely accepted. That is a true shame but, as in the POTUS election of two nights ago, the people have spoken. And the Democratic Party should not squander and of its mandate to force this through the Congress. To do so would violate the trust of a majority of the electorate. At best, this is a late second term item for the agenda and we need to see one state, any state, have a majority of its electorate approve gay marriage as opposed to judicial ruling(s). Pursue Civil Unions. That is your best chance, IMHO, for the foreseeable future.

Will be in D.C. for Inauguration Day!!

Gretchen — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:18:55 EST

I booked my tickets and hotel for January 19-25th-- Am taking my daughter! Would love to meet up with others from my PB "family"...

I knew it was going to be a LANDSLIDE!!! Now let us CELEBRATE!!!!

OBAMA WATCH: THE COUNTDOWN

Sharkhunter — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:04:27 EDT

LATEST POLLING DATA:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/latestpolls/index.html

Early vote. Organize and mobilize friends and family to early vote. Organize your your precincts to early vote. Educate. Organize. Mobilize.

Obama/Biden 08'

Yes We Can!

Yes We Will!

Keep Hope Alive!

Palin is going to donate her campaign clothes to charity after the election...

Gretchen — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:43:03 EDT

Does that mean that the Republicans don't think that she is going to need her new wardrobe because she won't be in the White House and have a need for them once she goes back to Alaska??

If they are saying that she will donate them to charity after the election doesn't that mean they don't have confidence in the McCain/Palin ticket???

Palin is an insult to pitbulls....

Gretchen — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:23:39 EDT

One more Palin video-- It really tells it like it is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDdhvR1sdpg

Obama's 30 minute Infomercial... Get out your kleenex... as it is Obama at his best...

Gretchen — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:04:51 EDT

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

Elizabeth Dole uses McCain's ad writer and calls opponent "godless"

Gretchen — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:07:42 EDT

Elizabeth Dole calls her opponent, former Sunday school teacher, Kay Haggen "godless" CNN says that the Dole campaign contacted the person who is in charge of McCain's advertising in desperation. This is the ad they came up with: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/29/dole-ad-fabricates-audio_n_138874.html

Shame on you Elizabeth!!! SHAME ON YOU!!!

109 year old woman, daughter of a slave votes

Gretchen — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:58:55 EDT

for Obama!! She has lived through 3 centuries... This is a remarkable and heartwarming story: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/10/27/1027jones.html