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Hispanics
Submitted by John Wood
Why do most people seem to miss the point, the problem is
not the Hispanics coming, it is being forced to change our language to
accommodate them . The first group in history to do this.
Fran
Drescher & The Nanny
By: Mrs.
Sy. Baron
I was a
great fan of The Nanny TV show starring Fran Drescher. I've watched it ad
nausea for years and still watch the reruns when I can find them. I loved
the show. I loved Drescher. Her show was well written and her antics al la
Lucy were sometimes laugh-out-loud. I watched mainly for her outrages
costume changes, sometimes 5 or 6 in a single show.
That
said, I was shocked to find her on Larry King last week announcing that she
is "throwing her hat in the ring" for Hillary Clinton's New York Senate
Seat. When Larry asked her qualifications she said she is a cancer survivor
and she produced "The Nanny" which taught her interaction with people.
Well
folks....based on those qualifications she's got my vote. NOT!
PS/ So
now the two women vying for the Senate seat are Carolyn Kennedy and Fran
Drescher. No Further Comment!
No
Millionaire Left Behind Except My Makheteyneste
By: Sy Baron's Son
No flowery words, no long descriptive paragraphs, no boring details...just
straight to the facts:
Bernie Madoff (the billion dollar Ponzi pyramid schemer) has left
no New York millionaire behind. His tentacles reached every country club in New York and Florida.
My in-laws (Makheteyneste)
are part of that group both in New York and Florida. They, too, have on
several occasions approached the Madoff Group for investment purposes
only to be turned down. There was always a minimum investment required of 2 million dollars. My
father-in-law never wanted to put so much money in with one fund. He, like President Reagan, always believed,
"Trust but verify."
And so, he is the ONLY one in his jet set country clubs to have
escaped Madoff's fraudulent investments not by choice but by design.
All of his friends are numb, walking around in disbelief. One
was quoted as saying, "It's like sitting shiver for my life's savings." (Shiva: A period during which family members mourn a death.)
O. J. Simpson
Submitted by: Sy Baron
O. J. Simpson welcome to
Las Vegas.
We are pleased to inform
you that for the next 15 years
your room and meals will
be comped.
It Is What
It Is!
By: Sy
Baron
My mantra for 2009 will be "It is what it
is!" I hope I will have less stress when I accept the inevitable of things
that I can't change. If it happened & there is nothing that can be done
about it, then I'm going to forget about it, whatever it is, and move on.
Tragic News From Up North
By: Ellen S.
Christmas Came Early for
the Anti-Semite
Bernard Madoff's Billion
Dollar Fraud Scheme & Anti-Semitism
Submitted by: Mrs. Sy
Baron
By now everyone who reads
a newspaper or watches a news broadcast knows about Madoff's scheme.
But how many really know
about the wave of anti-Semitism this woke-up.
How many people can admit
that for the true anti-Semite, Christmas came early this year.
The internet blog-sphere
is filled with Anti-Semitic posts blaming the collapse of the global
financial system on the Jews. I will not help their 'traffic hits' by
listing them here but needless to say, Jews will be in for some hard times
ahead.
Madoff's greed was
uncontrollable enough that he targeted fellow Jews, even Holocaust
survivors, some of them his own friends, as well as Israeli companies who
insured Jews, including Holocaust survivors. He has managed to harm
contemporary Jewry in ways anti-Semites could only dream about. He has
sapped the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles of 11 percent of its
assets, or some $18 million. In the words of prominent educator Avraham
Infeld, he "obliterated" long-standing charitable foundations for Jewish
causes in Israel, Eastern Europe and North America. "Working the so-called
"Jewish circuit" of well-heeled Jews he met at country clubs on Long Island
and in Palm Beach, and through his position on the boards of directors of
several prominent Jewish institutions, he was entrusted with entire family
fortunes.
"The guy was totally
respected. He was a heymishe Jewish guy. He had sweet old ladies and he let
their children in," said a Long island lawyer who invested with Madoff.
"This guy was dealing
with all the rich Jews in Long island and the rich Jews in Palm Beach. This
was passed down from family member to family member because he wouldn't open
up to new people."
In the meanwhile, Bernard
Madoff, you've made the days of uncounted devout Jew-haters. This year, all
they want for Christmas, is you.
PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of share this to as
many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due
to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe.
Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed
themselves for us.
LCDR
Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th
Naval Construction Regiment
OIC,
Logistics Cell One
Al
Taqqadum, Iraq
The embers glowed softly,
and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room
and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her
head on my chest,
My daughter beside me,
angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a
blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to
a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in
the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that
was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my
breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by
love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment,
or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I
started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud,
and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when
it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I
didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps
outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I
struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door
just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold
and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his
face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled,
some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled
here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he
looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me,
and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I
asked without fear,
"Come in this moment,
it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush
the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on
a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw
his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and
the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced
with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he
said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice.
I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at
the front of the line,
That separates you from
the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg
or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here
like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl
on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a
Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in
the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and
so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son
in more than a while,
But my wife sends me
pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he
carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and
blue... an American flag.
I can live through the
cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my
house and my home.
I can stand at my post
through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole
with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of
killing another,
Or lay down my life with
my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front
against any and all,
To ensure for all time
that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he
said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting
and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there
something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I
asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little
for all that you've done,
For being away from your
wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a
tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love
us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights
back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch,
no matter how long.
For when we come home,
either standing or dead,
To know you remember we
fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and
with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you
as you mattered to us."
Major flaw revealed in Internet Explorer; users urged to
switch
Submitted by: Audrey R.
The
major press outlets are abuzz this morning with news of a major new security
flaw that affects all versions of Internet Explorer from IE5 to the latest
beta of IE8. The attack has serious and far-reaching ramifications -- and
they're not just theoretical attacks. In fact, the flaw is already in wide
use as a tool to steal online game passwords, with some 10,000 websites
infected with the code needed to take advantage of the hole in IE.
Virtually all security experts (as well as myself) are counseling users to
switch to any other web browser -- none of the others are affected,
including Firefox, Chrome, and Opera -- at least for the time being, though
Microsoft has stubbornly said it "cannot recommend people switch due to this
one flaw." Microsoft adds that it is working on a fix but has offered no ETA
on when that might happen. Meanwhile it offers some suggestions for a
temporary patch, including setting your Internet security zone settings to
"high" and offering some complicated workarounds. (Some reports state,
however, that the fixes do not actually work.)
Expedient patching or switching are essential. Security pros fear that the
attack will soon spread beyond the theft of gaming passwords and into more
criminal arenas, as the malicious code can be placed on any website and can
be adapted to steal any password stored or entered using the browser. It's
now down to the issue of time: Will Microsoft repair the problem and
distribute a patch quickly enough to head off the tsunami of fraud that's
about to hit or will it come too late to do any good?
Meanwhile, I'll reiterate my recommendation: Switch from Internet Explorer
as soon as you can. You can always switch back once the threat is
eliminated. (To clarify: You don't need to uninstall IE, just don't use it
for the time being.)
Links for other browsers to try: Firefox Chrome Safari Opera
Confirmed on several
websites including
Captain Smartypants
Sings Dreidel
Submitted by: Carol S.
Saving Money
Submitted by: Helen Wright
Stores that informed the Security Exchange of closing plans between October
2008 and January 2009.
Circuit City stores... 150 stores closed
Ann
Taylor- 117 stores nationwide are to be shuttered
Lane
Bryant,, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine's to close 150 store nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January
Cache will close all stores
Talbots closing down all stores
J.
Jill closing all stores
GAP
closing 85 stores
Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January
Wickes Furniture closing down
Levitz closing down remaining stores
Bombay closing remaining stores
Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January.
Whitehall closing all stores
Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.
Home
Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ (New Brunswick)
Macys to close 9 stores after January
Linens and Things closing all stores
Movie Galley Closing all stores
Pacific Sunware closing stores
Pep
Boys Closing 33 stores
Sprint/ Nextel closing 133 stores
JC
Penney closing a number of stores after January
Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores.
Wilson Leather closing down all stores
Sharper Image closing down all stores
K B
Toys closing 356 stores
Loews to close down some stores
Dillard's to close some stores.
44 US
Presidents - George Washington to Barack Obama
Submitted by: Carol S.
The Curious Behavior of
the Roosevelt Administration
Submitted by: Fred M.
Just an interesting piece of evidence of the curious
behavior of the Roosevelt administration toward the Jews during WWII
A few months ago, Secretary of State Colin Powell gave a
posthumous award for ‘constructive dissent' to Hiram (or Harry) Bingham, IV.
For over fifty years, the State Department resisted any attempt to honor
Bingham. For them he was an insubordinate member of the US diplomatic
service, a dangerous maverick who was eventually demoted. Now, after his
death, he has been officially recognized as a hero.
Bingham came from an illustrious family. His father (on
whom the fictional character Indiana Jones was based) was the archeologist
who unearthed the Inca City of Machu Picchu, Peru, in 1911. Harry entered
the US diplomatic service and, in 1939, was posted to Marseilles, France, as
American Vice-Consul.
The
USA was then neutral and, not wishing to annoy Marshal Petain's puppet Vichy
regime, President Roosevelt's government ordered its representatives in
Marseilles not to grant visas to any Jews. Bingham found this policy immoral
and, risking his career, did all in his power to undermine it.
In defiance of his bosses in Washington, he granted over
2,500 USA visas to Jewish and other refugees, including the artists Marc
Chagall and Max Ernst and the family of the writer Thomas Mann. He also
sheltered Jews in his Marseilles home, and obtained forged identity papers
to help Jews in their dangerous journeys across Europe. He worked with the
French underground to smuggle Jews out of France into Franco's Spain or
across the Mediterranean and even contributed t o their expenses out of his
own pocket. In 1941, Washington lost patience with him. He was sent to
Argentina, where later he continued to annoy his superiors by reporting on
the movements of Nazi war criminals.
Eventually, he was forced out of the American diplomatic
service completely. Bingham died almost penniless in 1988. Little was known
of his extraordinary activities until his son found some letters in his
belongings after his death. He has now been honored by many groups and
organizations including the United Nations and the State of Israel.
How Many
Do You Remember?
Submitted by: Charles H.
Head
lights dimmer switches on the floor.
Ignition switches on the dashboard.
Heaters mounted on the inside of the fire wall.
Real
ice boxes.
Pant
leg clips for bicycles without chain guards.
Soldering irons you heat on a gas burner.
Using hand signals for cars without turn signals.
Older Than Dirt Quiz:
Count all the ones that you remember not the ones you were told about.
Ratings at the bottom.
1
Blackjack chewing gum
2.
Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water
3.
Candy cigarettes
4.
Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles
5.
Coffee shops or diners with tableside juke boxes
6.
Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
7.
Party lines
8.
Newsreels before the movie
9.
P.F. Flyers
10.
Bees wax
11.
Telephone numbers with a word prefix or ended with a letter like
OLive-6933 or 2536J (Lee's home phone # as a child)
12.
Peashooters
13.
Howdy Doody
14.
45 RPM records
15.
S&H greenstamps
16
Hi-fi's
17.
Metal ice trays with lever
18.
Mimeograph paper
19.
Blue flashbulb
20.
Packards
21.
Roller skate keys
22.
Cork popguns
23.
Drive-ins
24.
Studebakers
25.
Wash tub wringers 20
I f
you remembered 0-5 = You're still young
If
you remembered 6-10 = You are getting older
If
you remembered 11-15 = Don't tell your age,
If
you remembered 16-25 = You're older than dirt!
I
might be older than dirt but those memories are the best.
Be
thankful for the memories!
The
Newest Virus Circulating
Submitted by: Bonnie Spano
With Christmas fast approaching... watch out for this...
be alert.
The newest virus circulating is the UPS Delivery Failure.
You will receive an email from UPS Packet Service along with a packet
number. NOTE: The word packet is misspelled on this line. It will say
that they were unable to deliver a package sent to you on such and such
a date. It then asks you to print out the invoice copy attached. DON'T TRY
TO PRINT THIS. IT LAUNCHES THE VIRUS! Pass this warning on to all your PC
operators at work and home. This virus has caused Millions of dollars in
damage in the past few days.
Let's hear it for all us mother-in-laws!!! Kudos to President Elect Obama
for planning to move his mother-in-law into the White House with the First
Family. Marian Robinson will be our First Mother In Law.
Casserole Widows and Brisket Brigades
Submitted by: Roberta
Guzman
I
hope my time comes before yours for I will not be able to bear my life
without you. However, given the facts that in 49 years you haven't been
able to find the stove, garbage pail or hamper I have taken the liberty of
preparing an easy to follow list.
You
have not needed nor will you ever need to know where to find the stove. I
promise you my darling that when you return from my funeral you will already
have been visited by the casserole widows and brisket brigades who have left
and will continue to leave fully cooked delicious meals at your doorstep.
Soon
after that you will be invited over to their condo for a home cooked meal.
They will insist you bring your laundry so they can wash, fold and deliver
it right to you.
You
will become more popular than you ever dreamed you could be. For this
reason alone, I asked that you take your time and see past the casseroles
into their hearts. Please let our children meet some of your dates and heed
their input.
I
want you to be happy and be in love again. I will see you when I see you.
With
all my love, Your Wife
PS -
The Viagra is in your night stand.
Aeroporto Marco Polo in
Venice
Submitted by: Sy Baron
Sarah Saga Still Survives
By: Mrs. Sy Baron
No
Sarah we haven't forgotten about you and your interview with Katie Couric:
Couric: Have you ever been involved in any negotiations, for example, with
the Russians?
Palin: We have trade missions back and forth, we do. It's very important
when you consider even national security issues with Russia. As Putin rears
his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where
do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska
that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very
powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there, they are right next
to our state.
Now
that you are no longer running for Vice President, you might have some free
time as governor of the 670,000 residents of Alaska. There is a very
patriotic duty you can perform for your fellow Americans.
It
will suit you just fine, based on your desire to protect our air space from
Russia's Putin.
I am
proud to say that my very own mom performed this job which is tailor made
for you.
Have
a look...what do you think?
Can this be a Permanent Procedure
By: Fred M.
For
the next few weeks, fans of Ann Coulter--anyone?--will have to rely on
Lindsay Lohan to provide mind-bioggling sound bites.
Because of a nasty fall last month, says the New York Post's
Page Six, the 46-year-old will have her jaw wired shut.
News is scant at the moment, but Page Six writes, "WE HEAR...THAT although
we didn't think it would be possible to silence Ann Coulter, the leggy
reactionary broke her jaw and the mouth that roared has been wired shut..."
With Love From Georgie Boy
By: Sy Baron
Ya
gotta love that our asinine George W. is going out in a manner befitting
only him. His faux pas' to date have been too many to mention, but for
this, (I'm sure not his last) there is absolutely no excuse.
He
sent out invitations to our country's Jewish leaders to come to a White
House Hanukah reception.
The
invite showed a picture of a heavily Christmas decorated White House with a
horse and wagon delivering the White House Christmas tree and "White House
Christmas Tree 2008" boldly printed on the wagon.
Where are the menorahs? This was a Chanukah invite. Is he more stupid than
we ever realized?
Is
he anti-Semitic? Where was Laurie Bush's input?
Oversight? I think not. This had to pass through too many White House
hands not to have been caught.
Trivial? I think not. If it was reversed and a Christmas card went out
with only Menorahs on it, we'd surely hear more about it than we are hearing
about this.
What
say you Georgie Boy
Hollywood Walk Of Fame
By: Mrs. Sy Baron
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - "The Hollywood Walk
of Fame is a sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA, that serves as an entertainment
hall of fame. Designed by Southern Californian artist Oliver Weismuller, who
was hired by the city in 1953 to give Hollywood a "face lift", the Hollywood
Walk of Fame represented one of a number of improvements the city undertook
at the time. It is embedded with more than 2,000 five-pointed stars
featuring the names of not only human celebrities but also fictional
characters honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for their
contributions to the entertainment industry. "
All these years I thought a celebrity had to achieve
something special to be honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
It turns out all you need is a $25,000 payable to the local Chamber of
Commerce.
Nomination Form
NOMINEE: ________________________
CATEGORY: (Select One Only)
Motion Pictures Live Theater Television Recording
Radio Posthumous
SPONSOR: ADDRESS: TELEPHONE:
QUALIFICATIONS OF NOMINEE: (use additional sheet if
necessary)
Fans nominating celebrities have to have written consent
from the celebrity and the original letter.
It is understood that the cost of installing a star in the
Walk of Fame is $25,000* and the sponsor of the nominee accepts the
responsibility for arranging for payment to the Hollywood Historic Trust.
It is further understood that, should the above-named
nominee be chosen for placement in the Walk of Fame, said nominee guarantees
to be present at the dedication ceremonies on a date and time mutually
agreed upon with the Walk of Fame Committee. An induction ceremony must be
scheduled within five years of the selection date of Friday, May 29, 2009,
or the nomination must be re-submitted.
Induction ceremonies are public events. Honorees recognize
that, as such, footage and photos of the event are in the public realm.
First-time nominations not selected will automatically roll
over for another year. If not selected during their second attempt, the
nominee must be re-submitted.
Any proposed promotional activities in conjunction with the
Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremonies must be expressly approved in advance by
the Hollywood Chamber's Walk of Fame Committee. Applications must be
submitted by Friday, May 29, 2009. *Sponsorship fees subject to change.
Recipe: Take an ordinary kitchen salad spinner, add a little imagination
and wa-la, you've created a new
'cannot live without' kitchen gadget.
I
spin morning, noon and night. I'm a regular spinster.
What
do I take for a spin?
Lettuce, Veggies
Obviously, the spinner was created for this
Pasta
Removes excess water so sauce isn't watered down
Sliced Potatoes
Removes excess water before putting into hot oil
Pantyhose
After the spin, hang them up and they're completely dry in 5 minutes
Bras, Undies
Speeds the drying process
Chicken
Eliminates the water so bread crumbs adhere better
Now
when my friends come back from the their 'spinning' class at the gym, I too
can say that I've been spinning.
Remember
Your Other 5 Black Presidents
Submitted by: Fred M.
Compiled by the DiversityInc staff
It has been said that this year was the first time a major
political party in the United States nominated a woman or a Black person as
its presidential candidate. For women, that is true, but some historians say
Barack Obama will not be the nation's first Black president. They say he
certainly won't be the first president with Black ancestors--just the first
to acknowledge his Blackness.
Which other presidents hid their African ancestry? Well, it's not
Bill Clinton, even though the Congressional Black Caucus honored him as the
nation's "first Black president" at its 2001 annual awards dinner.
Presidents Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Warren Harding
and Calvin Coolidge all had Black ancestors they kept in their genealogical
closets, according to historians.
Harding did not deny his African ancestry when Republican leaders
called on him to deny his "Negro" history. He said, "How should I know
whether or not one of my ancestors might have jumped the fence?"
Does African ancestry make these men Black? If the bar is the
one-drop rule, then yes. The one-drop rule is a historical term used during
the Jim Crow era that defines a person with one drop of sub-Saharan-African
ancestry as not white and therefore must be Black. If that's the bar, then
there have already been other Black presidents, says historian Leroy Vaughn,
author of Black People and Their Place in World History.
The first president with African ancestry was Jefferson, who
served two terms between 1801 and 1809. Jefferson was described as the "son
of a half-breed Indian squaw and a Virginia mulatto father," as stated in
Vaughn's findings. Jefferson also was said to have destroyed all
documentation attached to his mother, even going to extremes to seize
letters written by his mother to other people.
President Andrew Jackson, the nation's seventh president, was in
office between 1829 and 1837. Vaughn cites an article written in The
Virginia Magazine of History that states Jackson was the son of an Irish
woman who married a Black man. The magazine also stated that Jackson's
oldest brother had been sold as a slave.
Lincoln, the nation's 16th president, served between 1861 and
1865. Lincoln was said to have been the illegitimate son of an African man,
according to Vaughn's findings. Lincoln had very dark skin and coarse hair
and his mother allegedly came from an Ethiopian tribe. His heritage fueled
so much controversy that Lincoln was nicknamed "Abraham Africanus the First"
by his opponents.
President Warren Harding, the 29th president, in office between
1921 and 1923, apparently never denied his ancestry. According to Vaughn,
William Chancellor, a professor of economics and politics at Wooster College
in Ohio, wrote a book on the Harding family genealogy. Evidently, Harding
had Black ancestors between both sets of parents. Chancellor also said that
Harding attended Iberia College, a school founded to educate fugitive
slaves.
Coolidge, the nation's 30th president, served between 1923 and
1929 and supposedly was proud of his heritage. He claimed his mother was
dark because of mixed Indian ancestry. Coolidge's mother's maiden name was
"Moor," and in Europe, the name "Moor" was given to all Blacks, just as
"Negro" was used in America. It later was concluded that Coolidge was part
Black.
Soldier's Night Before
Christmas
(Original Title is "Merry
Christmas, My Friend")
Submitted by: Helen
Wright
I am
not the author of this. It was sent to me I want to share it with the world.
Please share it to your friends. May God Bless them all.
'Twas
the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a
one-bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I
had come down the chimney, with presents to give
And
to see just who in this home did live.
As I
looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no
tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No
stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On
the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With
medals and badges, awards of all kind,
A
sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For
this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.
This
was the home of a U.S. Marine.
I'd
heard stories about them, I had to see more,
So I
walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And
there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.
He
seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
Not
how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was
this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?
His
head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I
soon understood, this was more than a man.
For
I realized the families that I saw that night,
Owed
their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.
Soon
around the Nation, the children would play,
And
grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They
all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
Because of Marines like this one lying here.
I
couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
On a
cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just
the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I
dropped to my knees and I started to cry.
He
must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice
I
fight for freedom, I don't ask for more.
My
life is my God, my country, my Corps."
With
that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I
couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I
watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I
noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.
So I
took off my jacket, the one made of red,
And
covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then
I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
With
an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And
although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
And
for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.
I
didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,
This
guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But
half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
Said
"Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."
One
look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.
Paul Caprio
Submitted by: Maurice E.
Chevalier
Paul
has again informed us all with some great tips and motivated the networking
instincts that can get frigid within our own habits. I especially
appreciated the way that today's technical possibilities towards networking
were dissected. Thanks for another powerful piece of artillery to have in
the fight for a great career!
To Our Veterans
Submitted by: H.L. Wright
To
all our VETERANS AND CURRENT MILITARY PERSONNEL and the families of those
that are still fighting or have left a legacy of their life on the
battlefields of war, Thank You for what you do, Thank You for being where
you are now and where you were then. Had you not fought for us we might be
speaking another language today. And life with all our freedoms that we take
for granted and enjoy without a second thought,( Indeed we expect these
Rights and many more), would not be. GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES
It Ain't Over Even When
It's Over
By: Mrs. Sy Baron
The
Sarah Palin expensive wardrobe purchase controversy continues full steam
ahead.
Palin spoke on the subject in Tampa, Fl on October 27th:
"Those clothes, they are not my property. Just like the lighting and staging
and like everything else the RNC purchases. I'm not taking them with me,"
said Palin. "I'm
back
to wearing my own clothes from my favorite consignment shop in Anchorage,
Alaska."
After the election, McCain's aides have revealed that a Republican Party
lawyer has been dispatched to Alaska to inventory and retrieve the clothes
still in Palin's possession...
This
adds new life to the fallout that the National Republican Committee paid
over $150,000 for her personal wardrobe
Sarah, Sarah...what are we going to do with you? Stay up in Alaska, look
out your window, keep tabs on Vladimir Putin in case he rears his head and
comes into the
air
space of United States because as you yourself said,
PALIN: "consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears
his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America,
where-- where do
they
go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is-- from Alaska that
we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very
powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next
to-- to our state."
Running for Congress
By: Robbie Brodier
An
Indian walks into a coffee house with a shotgun in one hand pulling a male
buffalo with the other.
He
says to the waiter:
"Me Want coffee."
The waiter says, "Sure,
Chief. Coming right up."
He gets the Indian a tall
mug of coffee.
The Indian drinks the
coffee down in one gulp,
turns and blasts the
buffalo with the shotgun,
causing parts of the
animal to splatter everywhere and then just walks out.
The next morning the
Indian returns.
He has his shotgun in one
hand, pulling
another male buffalo with
the other.
He walks up to the
counter and says to the waiter "Me Want coffee."
The waiter says "Whoa,
Tonto!
We're still cleaning up
your mess from yesterday.
What was all that about,
anyway?"
The Indian smiles and
proudly says ...
"Training for position in
United States Congress:
Come in, drink coffee,
shoot the bull,
leave mess for others to
clean up,
disappear for rest of
day."
W.G.A.S.*
By: Sy Baron
Federalist Party (1792 - 1816) (2)
George Washington
John
Adams
Democratic Republican (1792-1824) (4)
John
Quincy Adams
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
James Monroe
Whig (1833 to 1856) (4)
Millard Fillmore
William Henry Harrison
Zachary Taylor
John
Tyler
Republican (1860-Present) (17)
Chester A Arthur
George Bush
George W. Bush
Calvin Coolidge
Dwight D Eisenhower
Gerald R Ford
James A Garfield
Ulysses S Grant
Warren Harding
Benjamin Harrison
Rutherford B Hayes
Herbert Hoover
Abraham Lincoln
William McKinley
Richard M Nixon
Ronald Reagan
Theodore Roosevelt
William H Taft
Democratic (1824-Present) (14)
James Buchanan
Jimmy Carter
Grover Cleveland
Bill
Clinton
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Johnson
Lyndon B Johnson
John
F Kennedy
Franklin Pierce
James Polk
Franklin D Roosevelt
Harry S Truman
Martin Van Buren
Woodrow Wilson
W.G.A.S.*(Who gives a sweat)
Windmill & Pecos
By: Mrs. Sy Baron
Did I just die and go to
heaven? I cannot believe that I just indulged in incredibly delicious
Chinese style Cashew Chicken inside Vons on Windmill & Pecos. I shop at
Vons at least once a week but never stopped at the Panda Express inside.
It was beneath my
station in life to dine in a supermarket. I am not and have never been a
'food court' type of person. The food displays were surprisingly inviting
and everything appeared fresh. The counter and back area were spotless.
Not easily impressed, I must confess I was indeed impressed with the
freshness and excellent taste of this dish. Not to ignore the friendly
attitude of the very anxious to please employees.
This is not a commercial
for Vons or Panda Express. It's just me sharing a bit of my snobbish self
changing with age.
The Vegas Resort Lament
By: Robbie Brodier
Standing on the corner watching all the tourists go by
Passing me up for the other guy
They
waived their 'resort fee'
Now
no one comes to me
The
suffering on Wall Street, the housing market and the American auto industry
get a lot of press time but the troubles here in Vegas have hit us with the
force of a tsunami.
First we had the collapse of the Vegas real estate market but now tourism,
our main industry and revenue, is being threatened by our failing economy.
McCarran Airport reported that it's September traffic was down more than 13
percent from the same month last year. The hotel occupancy rate hasn't been
very good lately. In fact, it's seeing the lowest drop in recent memory.
AND
YET...
We
continue to discourage those who would want to come and fill up our rooms by
sneaking in the dreaded "resort fee" that in some cases add more than a
third more to the price of the room.
As
an example: Why advertise a room rate at $100 plus $25 resort fee. The real
rate is $ 125. per nite. It blind sides many guests and turns them off to
repeat visits. Call a spade a spade.
Eons
ago I traveled the country staying at the Motel 6 chain. It was $12 a
night. If you wanted a TV in your room it was an additional $4.00. That
was an excellent idea. If I 'ain't gonna use it, why pay for it.'
Why
do we now have to pay IN ADVANCE a "resort fee" for things we go to the
resort for. We are charged extra for use of the gym and pool. Duh!
Hello! Why am I going to a resort? Some Vegas hotels say they charge the
resort fee for phone usage and amenities like a coffee machine in the room
and clean towels. Give me a break!!! I use my cell phone and don't drink
coffee.
Things here are bound to get worse before they get better. And they will
get better. But in the meantime, I appeal to our hotels to PLEASE WAIVE &
PROMOTE THE WAIVE OF THE RESORT FEE. I promise those of you that do, will
be able to boast 99% occupancy rate in these troubled times.
Amen!
Watch for these consolidations in 2008-2009
Submitted by: Nina W.
Investment tips for 2008-2009 for all of you with any money left, be aware
of the next expected mergers so that you can get in on the ground floor and
make some BIG bucks.
Watch for these consolidations in 2008-2009
1.
Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W.R. Grace Co
will merge and become: Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.
2.
PolyGram Records, Warner Brothers, and Zesta Crackers join forces and
become: Poly, Warner Cracker
3.
3M Co., will merge with Goodyear and Become: MMMGood
4.
Zippo Mfg., Audi Motors, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining will merge and become:
ZipAudiDoDa.
5.
FedEx is expected to join its competitor, UPS and become: FedUp.
6.
Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers will become: Fairwell
Honeychild.
7.
Grey Poupon and Docker Pants are expected to become: PouponPants.
8.
Knotts Berry Farm and the National Organization of Women will become: Knott
Now.
9.
Victoria's Secret and Smith & Wesson will merge under the new name:
TittyTittyBangBang.
It was the best of times,
It was the worst of times
Submitted by: Olga
Rhinderfleisch
Obama's grandmother died the day before Election Day.
Politics aside, this just had to be heart wrenching for him.
Our
family extends him our sympathies and our congratulations.
How
incongruous.
Battle of Sarah Palin
Submitted by:
M. Roberts
Leave Sarah Alone
Submitted by:
G. Puccini
C'mon, enough with the wardrobe! Leave Sarah Palin alone...Barack
wears $1,500 suits and is spending $3 million on an election eve party. So
what???
Joe the Plumber, Meyer the
Buyer, Benny the Bagel Man
By: Sy Baron
Joe the Plumber has
nothing over Meyer the Buyer, Benny the Bagel Man or Nana Nancy. Nana Nancy
lives on a meager social security income subsidized with food stamps,
Medicaid and meals on wheels. Should McCain become president Nana Nancy
might very well, at the very least, lose all or part of her benefits?
Benny's Bagel shop is on the verge of bankruptcy thanks to Mr. Bush and his
republican economics. Meyer the Buyer lost his garment center job last
spring also as a result of squeezing the little guy out, a Republican
philosophy.
Plumbers who are in their
own business have benefited greatly under the Bush politics. Don't kid
yourself, self employed plumbers are WEALTHY. Yes, yes and yes. No matter
what you read or think you know, self employed plumbers bring in at least
$150,000 annually with at least half coming from 'tax free cash payments.'
Think I'm exaggerating? Next time you need a plumber and he begins to write
up an invoice, ask him if he would take the tax off if you pay him cash.
Most times you won't even have to ask. He will offer. You save the sales
tax and he doesn't pay tax on the income. Some plumbers make more than
doctors because they don't have the expenses and exorbitant liability
insurance premiums doctors have to pay. So, Joe the Plumber is a bad
example. I want to know how Nana Nancy will fare in an administration lead
by McCain? Obama?
What is a
Billion?
By: Rhonda M.
The
next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner,
think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money.
A
billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did
a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of it's
releases.
A.
A
billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B.
A
billion minutes ago Jesus was alive on earth.
C.
A
billion hours ago our ancestors were
living in the Stone Age.
D.
A
billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E.
A
billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our
government is spending it.
While this thought is still fresh in our brain... let's take a look at New
Orleans....
It's
amazing what you can learn with some simple division.
Louisiana Senator,
Mary
Landrieu (D) is presently asking Congress for 250 BILLION DOLLARS to rebuild
New Orleans. Interesting number... what does it mean?
A.
Well... if you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man,
woman, and child) you each get $516,528.
B.
Or.... if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans , your home gets
$1,329,787.
C.
Or... if you are a family of four... your family gets $2,066,012.
Washington, D. C
<
HELLO! >
Are
all your calculators broken??
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL
License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog
License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food
License Tax
Fuel
Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS
Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS
Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real
Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road
Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well
Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not
one of these taxes existed 100 years ago... and our nation was the most
prosperous in the world.
We
had absolutely no national debt... We had the largest middle class in the
world...
and
Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What
happened? Can you spell 'politicians!'
And
I still have to press '1' for English.
What
the heck happened?????
Palin, The
Aerial Hunter
By: Mrs. Sy Baron
This is
the last issue of VegasCommunityOnline.com that I can say, "It ain't over
till it's over." By the next Friday Flyer, it will be all over.
So
here's my last licks.
Palin is
a big aerial wolf hunter. (That's where you take an arsenal of guns on a
plane, find a wolf and chase the wolf with your plane until the wolf
is totally fatigued, then you land and shoot it.) Doesn't sound too
sporting now does it. But this does seem to be consistent with the
Republican line of thinking. Do you remember when Dick Cheney goes
hunting. He shoots sedated quail, called 'canned hunting.' (canned hunt - a
hunt for animals that have been raised on game ranches until they are mature
enough to be killed for trophy collections). If you remember, Cheney also
likes to shoot Republican lawyers in the face.
I think
this might qualify Palin to go on an Osama bin Laden aerial hunt. IIf
McCain wins, the first thing he should do is to assign his Vice President to
take off on Air Force 2 loaded with weapons and not to return until Bin
Laden is strapped to the plane like her wolves.
It Just Keeps Getting Better & Better, What's Next?
Submitted by:
Dr. Gene Bragg
Lay
off the candidate's children. Excellent advice. So, I'm not picking...I'm
just asking...
Here's a picture of Governor Palin's 7 year old daughter Piper.
She
has a McDonald's cup in one hand and an $800 Louis Vuitton handbag in the
other.
These are the choices:
The American Dream Realized....McDonald's & Louis
together at last.
The Louis Vuitton came inside the Happy Meal Box.
Piper is holding it for mommy who expensed it out on
the Republican budget.
The bag is a fake making Palin a supporter of
trademark infringement.
Palin solves economic crisis by purchasing $800+
handbag.
I am Not a Lesbian
I am Not a Reader
Submitted by: Margaret
Murphy
I am 54
years old and up until now have only read 3 books in my life, The Good
Earth, The Diary of Anne Frank and A Stone for Danny Fisher.
I was on the CAT about a
month ago when I noticed a middle aged man reading a book "From Shame to
Pride." The cover was done in bright pink flowers. I thought it was odd
seeing a man with a floral covered book and being the gregarious soul that I
am, I told him the title & floral cover was intriguing and asked the subject
matter.
He turned out to be a
friendly fellow very anxious to converse. He said the book was written by a
70 year old lesbian describing her life as a lesbian in the 1950s and all
that happened to her. He said his wife read it and asked him to read it.
When he got up to leave,
he handed me the book and said, "Here. I finished it. Read it and pass it
on."
I have absolutely no
interest in the subject matter and I am not a reader. But I had time on the
bus so I began reading. It gripped me from the get-go. A very fast read,
it's more of a story of a daughter and her mother and her anguish. I
finished the book in one night and gave it to my husband who looked at me
like I was from another solar system.
I decided to leave the
book in his library (the bathroom). About a day later he admitted to
reading it and over dinner discussed what a powerful story it is.
If the author, Marcia
Zeimer happens to read this, I want her to know how many people outside of
the lesbian community enjoyed her book. What a story! What a life! I
admire you Ms. Zeimer. You are truly a survivor. I would love to know if
you will be writing another book on your life now. I am going to read it
again and pass it on. If I've intrigued your interest, it's about $12 on
Amazon.com. and also you can click on pages and read the heartbreaking
letter she wrote to her mother. It's free, just go onto Amazon and type in
"Marcia Zeimer" then "look inside this book."
Will the REAL Governor
Palin Please Stand Up! (Princess Palin)
By: Sy
Baron
I'm not
referring to Tina Fey's portrayal of Senator Palin on Saturday Night Live.
I am talking about the REAL Palin who has nothing intelligent to say unless
it's explicitly written out for her.
On
Monday October 6th Senator Palin spoke at a Republican rally in Pittsburgh.
When she
made reference to Senator Obama someone in the crowd yelled out, "Kill Him."
Palin continued her pre-scripted speech never stopping to admonish the
person for speaking that way about a United States Senator.
Yes, I'm
all for freedom of speech but it also would have been her place to have the
freedom
to admonish such a statement.
Never
have so many disliked a particular candidate. Look at all the Feedback
on this subject here in our Vegas Community Online.
If you love this country you MUST see
this
A concern voter!
I
know that not everyone is Catholic, but most people that LOVE this country
come from a strong Judeo-Christian faith. Please view the video and pass it
others.
Sarah Palin:Soccer Mom, Joe-Six Pack or Haute Couture Wearer?
Submitted by: Mrs. Sy Baron
The
Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 to clothe and
accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family since her
surprise pick by John McCain in late August.
According to financial disclosure records, the accessorizing began in early
September and included bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New
York for a combined $49,425.74.
The records also document a couple of big-time shopping trips to Neiman
Marcus in Minneapolis, including one $75,062.63 spree in early September.
The RNC also spent $4,716.49 on hair and makeup through September after
reporting no such costs in August.
The cash expenditures immediately raised questions among campaign finance
experts about their legality under the Federal Election Commission's
long-standing advisory opinions on using campaign cash to purchase items for
personal use.
Politico asked the McCain campaign for comment, explicitly noting the
$150,000 in expenses for department store shopping and makeup consultation
that were incurred immediately after Palin’s announcement. Pre-September
reports do not include similar costs.
Spokeswoman Maria Comella declined to answer specific questions about the
expenditures, including whether it was necessary to spend that much and
whether it amounted to one early investment in Palin or if shopping for the
vice presidential nominee was ongoing.
“The campaign does not comment on strategic decisions regarding how
financial resources available to the campaign are spent," she said.
But hours after the story was posted on Politico's website and legal issues
were raised, the campaign issued a new statement
"With
all of the important issues facing the country right now, it’s remarkable
that we’re spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses," said
spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt. "It was always the intent that the
clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign."
Comment by Mrs Sy Baron:
Keyword: INTENT by definition: an
anticipated outcome .....
Intent does NOT mean it WILL DEFINITELY happen. In my opinion
it's just a way to excuse this away. I can promise you, Sarah Palin WILL
keep these clothes. I'll wager the family farm on it !!!!
A powerful video....
Bay Area girls speak out against Sarah Palin
Voting? Consider This
Submitted by: Leon S. Drzewiecki
President Reagan proved upper income tax cuts through his "trickle-down'
theory resulted in more jobs, put an end to the Cold War and to the USSR.
PEACE AND PROSPERITY FOR WHICH CLINTON PRESENTLY ASSUMES CREDIT FOR WAS IN
FACT THE LEGACY OF REAGAN.
President Clinton spent eight years making massive cuts demoralizing our
military. Thus encouraged, enemies realized they had simply to wait and plan
attacks when the USA reached a point of maximum vulnerability. Attacks came
when terrorists observed change in this policy with President Bush.
Meanwhile Clinton signed NAFTA into law even though presidential candidate
Ross Perot warned this would result in massive job losses. Perot was right
and this lead to massive home mortgage foreclosures.
THE 9/11 ATTACKS AND THIS ELEMENT OF THE CURRENT ECONOMIC DISASTER IS THE
LEGACY OF CLINTON AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Civil war continues in Iraq, but attacks on the USA came to an end for at
least seven years to date under President Bush.
AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS OF NATIONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY IS THE LEGACY OF GEORGE
W BUSH.
McCain and Palin will restore and preserve the legacies brought forth by the
Republican Party. They promise peace, prosperity, a return to a robust
economy, more jobs, a cleaner environment through alternative energy sources
and national security in the style to which we are accustomed.
They're Everywhere
Submitted by: Hannah T.
Republican
Scott McClellan endorses Barack Obama, who next Laura Bush?
You
Gotta Have A Gimmick
Gypsy
Rose Lee & John Mc Cain
Submitted By: Mrs. Sy Baron
Lyrics
from GYPSY
You Gotta Have A Gimmick
You can
pull out all the stops
Till they call the cops
Grind your behind till you're bend. But you gotta get a gimmick If you wanna get a hand.
You can sacrifice your sacharo
Working in the back row.
Bump in a dump till you're dead. Kid you gotta have a gimmick If you wanna get ahead.
You can uh...You can uh...
You can uh...uh...uh...
That's how Burlesque was born.
So I uh...and I uh...
And I uh...uh...uh...
But I do it with a horn...
Once I was a Schleppa,
Now I'm Miss Mazzeppa,
With my revolution in dance. You gotta have a gimmick If you wanna have a chance!
I never had to sweat to get paid 'Cause if you got a gimmick Gypsy girl, you got it made.
Apparently McCain was terribly ill-advised when he chose Sarah Palin
over Joe Lieberman as his running mate. He took a chance with the Palin
'gimmick' to attract attention to his campaign. But as most gimmick's do,
it would prove to be the unexpected twist which lead to the drawback he is
now suffering. Palin's convention speech sounded good but we wanted to know,
"What's the catch? "
To hawk
their products advertisers turn to gimmicks that are not really relevant to
the product's functioning, sometimes even earning negative connotations.
Such is
what has happened to McCain. Palin with her good looks, soccer mom
speeches, Joe Six Pack reference are really not relevant to the
vice-president's functioning, and in this case earned negative
connotations for the Republicans.
Personally, I would have been first on line to vote a McCain/Lieberman
ticket.
Countdown: Special Comment Oct. 14, 2008
Submitted by: Fred M.
Keith's latest edition of McCain in the Membrane and his Special Comment on
the McCain campaign. UNBELIEVABLE!
Palin
Vindicated?
Submitted
by: Georgia D.
Published: October 13th, 2008 10:02 PM
Governor offers Orwellian spin
Sarah
Palin's reaction to the Legislature's Troopergate report is an embarrassment
to Alaskans and the nation.
She claims the report "vindicates" her. She said that the investigation
found "no unlawful or unethical activity on my part."
Her response is either
astoundingly ignorant or downright Orwellian.
Page 8, Finding Number
One of the report says: "I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power
by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch
Ethics Act."
In plain English, she did
something "unlawful." She broke the state ethics law.
Perhaps Gov. Palin has
been too busy to actually read the Troopergate report. Perhaps she is
relying on briefings from McCain campaign spinmeisters.
After
listening to the candidates over the past several months, here is my
viewpoint:
Obama = all style without substance;
McCain = all substance without style.
Style is promising but hollow and shallow in the end; substance is
invigorating and dedicated to the end.
For me, I'll take substance over style any time.
A Good Source of Information Submitted
by: Robert K.
Click on Graphic for
some good information on the candidates
What if?
Submitted by: Rhonda M.
Sometimes the best way to see the flaws in an image is to examine its
opposite...
What
if the Obamas had paraded five children across the stage, following the
debate, including a three month-old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage
daughter?
What
if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
What
if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his college graduating
class?
What
if McCain had only married once, and Obama was a divorcee?
What
if Obama had met his second wife in a bar and had a long affair while he was
still married?
What
if Michelle Obama was the wife who not only became addicted to pain killers
but also acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?
What
if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?
What
if Obama had been a member of the Keating Five? (The Keating Five were five
United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major
political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late
1980s and early
1990s.)
What
if Obama couldn't read from a teleprompter?
What
if Obama was the one who had military experience that included discipline
problems and a record of crashing seven planes?
What
if Obama was the one who was known to publicly display a serious anger
management problem?
What
if Michelle Obama's family had made their money from beer distribution?
You
could easily add to this list. If these questions reflected a reality, if
the tables were turned, do you really believe the election numbers would be
as close as they are?
This
is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes qualities in
one candidate and emphasizes negative characteristics in another when there
is a color difference.
And,
think of this - the candidates' educational backgrounds:
Barack Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in
International Relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna cum Laude
Joseph Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)
John
McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899
Sarah Palin: Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism
Education isn't everything, but this is about the two highest offices in the
land as well as our standing in the world.
You
make the call.
Hmmmmmmm? November can't
come soon enough!
Submitted by: Debbie Z.
Courtesy of The Huffington Post
Thought you all might like this one. Spin is In!!! (Karl Rove)
Looks like some one hit the target on center with this one.
If
you are biracial and born in a state not connected to the lower 48, America
needs darn near 2 years and 3 major speeches to "get to know you. If you're
white and from a state not connected to the lower 48, America needs 36
minutes and 38 seconds worth of an acceptance speech to know you're "one of
us."
If
you get 18 million people to vote for you in a national presidential
primary, you're a "phoney." Get 100,000+ people to vote you governor of the
47th most populous state in the Union, you're "well loved."
If
your pastor rails against inequality in the United States of America, you're
an "extremist." If your pastor welcomes a sermon by a member of Jews for
Jesus who preaches that the killing of Jews by terrorists is a lesson to
Jews that they must convert to Christianity, you're a "fundamentalist."
If
you give your wife dap on stage, it's actually a "terrorist fist jab." If
your daughter licks her palm so that she can slick down your youngest
child's hair on national TV it's an "adorable moment." (Seriously, forget
about abstinence only, teach these folks some grooming skills).
If
you're 18, white, and get a 16 year old girl pregnant "life happens." If
you're 18, black, and impregnate a 16 year old girl, you're a "registered
sex offender."
If
you're a black man and you use a scholarship to get into college, then work
your way up to being the president of the Harvard Law Review, you're
"uppity." If you're a conservative and your parents pay your way to Hawaii
Pacific University . . . you only have four more schools to attend over the
next five years before you somehow manage to graduate (it might be five more
schools over the next five years. No one has yet verified whether or not
Palin was actually ever registered at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. But,
you know how shady people are who ever attended any kind of school in
Hawaii).
If
you spend 18 months building a campaign around the theme of "Change," it's
just "empty rhetoric. If one week before your party's national convention
you SUDDENLY make your candidacy about "Change," that's "red meat."
If
you're a minority and you're selected for a job over more qualified
candidates you're a "token hire." If you're a conservative and you're
selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "game changer."
If
you live in an Urban area and you get a girl pregnant you're a "baby daddy."
If you're the same in Alaska you're a "teen father." (Actually, according to
your own MySpace page you're an F'n redneck that don't want any kids, but
that's too long a phrase for the evil liberal media to take out of context
and flog morning noon and night).
Black teen pregnancies? A "crisis" in black America. White teen pregnancies?
A "blessed event."
If
you grow up in Hawaii you're "exotic." Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers,
you're the quintessential "American story."
Similarly, if you name you kid Barack you're "unpatriotic." Name your kid
Track, you're "colorful."
If
you're a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fulling vetting the
individual you're "reckless." A Republican who doesn't fully vet is a
"maverick."
If
you say that for the "first time in my adult lifetime I'm really proud of my
country" it makes you "unfit" to be First Lady. If you are a registered
member of a fringe political group that advocates secession that makes you
"First Dude."
A
DUI from twenty years ago is "old news." A speech given without proper
citation from twenty years ago is "relevant information."
And,
finally, if you're a man and you decide to run for office despite your
wife's reoccurrence of cancer you're a "questionable spouse." If you're a
woman and you decide to run for office despite having five kids including a
newborn with Downs Syndrome Well, we don't know what that is 'cause THAT'S
NOT A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK!
John McCain: Negative Attack
Ads Show You Have No Vision
Could
there be more appropriate nicknames for our favorite
three republicans
Palin's Qualifications
By: Mort & Marsha
1.
She can practically see Alaska from her home's windows.
2.
She has "presidential" in her genes. According to genealogists at
Ancestry.com, "Roosevelt, the Depression-era Democratic president, is a
distant cousin of Sarah Palin. Roosevelt is Palin's ninth cousin once
removed. Their common ancestor is Rev. John Lothrop, who came to
Massachusetts in 1634."
Be Aware When you Vote
Submitted by: P. Philpot
You
may want to verify this policy with your area's election dept. I am sending
this because of the constituents you work with or your interest in voter
activism.
F.Y.I., people....
Please, please, please advise everyone you know that they absolutely can NOT
go to the polls wearing any Obama (or whoever you are voting for) shirts,
pins, hats, etc. It is AGAINST THE LAW and will be grounds to have the
polling officials to turn you away.
This is considered campaigning and no one can campaign within X amount of
feet of the polls. They are banking on us being overly excited and not being
aware of this long standing law that you can bet will be ENFORCED THIS
YEAR!!!!!
They are banking that if you are turned away, you will not go home and
change your clothes and return to the polls to vote. Please just don't wear
ANY gear of any sorts to the polls! Please share this information with as
many people as you can. If you are already aware of this, please don't take
it as insulting your intelligence.
Have a great day and see you at the polls on November 4th.
Bush in Drag
Submitted by: Sy Baron
Anita Hill, Sarah Palin & Hillary Clinton
Biology is NOT Destiny
Submitted by: Mrs. Sy Baron
This is only the 2nd time in my 65+ years that I've seen so
many women so upset. Not since the Anita Hill hearings in 1991 were women
so disrespected.
Anita Hill had all the credentials and job experience
needed to be taken seriously. She wasn't. Palin has virtually none. Yet
her shockingly thin credentials have made her candidacy possible. The
Republicans are using her gender as an excuse to promote the poorly prepared
Palin for the vice presidency. Could it be? Might I even think it? Is it
white affirmative action with a gender twist.
Senator Clinton would have been a step forward for women.
Palin is a step down to low level thinking. Palin's nomination is an insult
to the principled life that Senator Clinton has lived on behalf of women and
children.
The public is already seeing through the post-nomination
frenzy and is now recognizing that principles are not genetically
determined. Life affirming principles come from social movements and working
for justice. We need to move beyond talk of lipstick on pit bulls or pigs
and square framed eye glasses.
Farewell Paul
Submitted by: Mrs.
Sy Baron
I was in
my freshman year of college when I fell in love for the first time. He was
strikingly handsome, older and unattainable. David Eaton had a love affair
with Natalie. Oh how I wanted to be that Natalie. I wanted David Eaton to
look at me like he looked at her. But that was not to be for David Eaton
and Natalie were on-screen lovers in the movie From The Terrace. This
was the very first movie I saw with Paul Newman aka David
Eaton. I've been in love ever since.
I just
wanted to be his Natalie (Ina Ballin). Forget his real life wife Joanne
Woodward and co-star in the movie. I only wanted him to care for me like
his character cared for Ballin's character.
I've
never fallen out of love with Paul Newman. It is with great sadness that I,
along with thousands of his fans, bid this screen idol farewell. Today
(September 26, 2008)
he lost is battle with cancer and we all will miss him terribly.
Mommy's Busy
Submitted by: Ellen S.
McCain's YouTube Problem Just Became a
Nightmare
Submitted by: Sally White
Don't let them insult your intelligence
Submitted by: Renee W.
A
Must video to watch!
The Sarah Palin Pity Party
Submitted by: Ellen S.
Everyone seems to be
oozing sympathy for the fumbling vice-presidential nominee. Please. Cry me a
freaking river.
By
Rebecca Traister/salon.com
Sep. 30, 2008 | Is this the week that Democrats and Republicans join hands
-- to heap pity on poor Sarah Palin?
At
the moment, all signs point to yes, as some strange bedfellows reveal that
they have been feeling sorry for the vice-presidential candidate ever since
she stopped speaking without the help of a teleprompter. Conservative women
like
Kathleen Parker and
Kathryn Jean Lopez are shuddering
with sympathy as they realize that the candidate who thrilled them, just
weeks ago, is not in shape for the big game. They're not alone. The New
Republic's
Christopher Orr feels that Palin has
been misused by the team that tapped her. In the New York Times, Judith
Warner feels for Sarah, too! And over at the Atlantic, Ta-Nehisi Coates
empathizes with intelligence and nuance, making clear that he's not
expressing pity. Salon's own
Glenn Greenwald watched the Katie
Couric interview and "actually felt sorry for Sarah Palin." Even Amy Poehler,
impersonating Katie Couric on last week's
"Saturday Night Live," makes the joke
that Palin's cornered-animal ineptitude makes her "increasingly adorable."
I
guess I'm one cold dame, because while Palin provokes many unpleasant
emotions in me, I just can't seem to summon pity, affection or remorse.
Don't get me wrong, I'm just like all of the rest of you, part of the
bipartisan jumble of viewers that keeps one hand poised above the mute
button and the other over my eyes during Palin's disastrous interviews. Like
everyone else, I can barely take the waves of embarrassment that come with
watching someone do something so badly. Roseanne Barr singing the national
anthem, Sofia Coppola acting in "The Godfather: Part III," Sarah Palin
talking about Russia -- they all create the same level of eyeball-squinching
discomfort.
But
just because I'm human, just because I can feel, just because I did say this
weekend that I "almost feel sorry for her" doesn't mean, when I consider the
situation rationally, that I do. Yes, as a feminist, it sucks -- hard -- to
watch a woman, no matter how much I hate her politics, unable to answer
questions about her running mate during a television interview. And perhaps
it's because this experience pains me so much that I feel not sympathy but
biting anger. At her, at John McCain, at the misogynistic political mash
that has been made of what was otherwise a groundbreaking year for women in
presidential politics.
In
her "Poor
Sarah" column, Warner writes of the wave of "self-recognition and
sympathy [that] washed over" her when she saw a photo of Palin talking to
Henry Kissinger. Palin -- as "a woman fully aware that she was out of her
league, scared out of her wits, hanging on for dear life" -- apparently
reminded Warner of herself. Wow. Putting aside the massively depressing
implication that Warner recognizes this attitude because she believes it to
be somehow written into the female condition, let's consider that there are
any number of women who could have been John McCain's running mate -- from
Olympia Snowe to Christine Todd Whitman to Kay Bailey Hutchison to Elizabeth
Dole to Condoleezza Rice -- who would not have provoked this reaction.
Democrats might well have been repulsed and infuriated by these women's
policy positions. But we would not have been sitting around worrying about
how scared they looked.
In
her piece, Warner diagnoses Palin with a case of "Impostor Syndrome,"
positing that admirers who watched her sitting across from world leaders at
the U.N. last week were recognizing that "she can't possibly do it all --
the kids, the special-needs baby, the big job, the big conversations with
foreign leaders. And neither could they." Seriously? Do we have to drag out
a list of women who miraculously have found a way to manage to balance many
of these factors -- Hillary Clinton? Nancy Pelosi? Michelle Bachelet? -- and
could still explain the Bush Doctrine without breaking into hives? This is
not breaking my heart. It is breaking my spirit.
The
Atlantic's Coates takes a far smarter, but ultimately still too gentle,
approach to Palin in his blog. He writes, compassionately, "There are a lot
of us lefties who are guffawing right now and are happy to see Palin
seemingly stumbling drunkenly from occasional interview to occasional
interview." Coates asserts that McCain "[tossed] her to the wolves" and
notes that while she surely had some agency in this whole mess, "where I am
from the elders protect you, and pull you back when you've gone too far,
when your head has gotten too big."
Where I come from, a woman -- and especially a woman governor with
executive experience -- doesn't have to rely on any elder or any man to
protect her and pull her ass out of the fire. She can make a decision all on
her own. (Palin was more than happy to tell Charlie Gibson that she made her
decision to join the McCain ticket without blinking.) I agree with Coates
that the McCain camp was craven, sexist and disrespectful in its choice of
Palin, but I don't agree that the Alaska governor was a passive victim of
their Machiavellian plotting. A very successful woman, Palin has the
wherewithal to move forward consciously. What she did was move forward
thoughtlessly and overconfidently, without considering that her
abilities or qualifications would ever be questioned.
Christopher Orr writes sympathetically about the scenario that Palin may
have envisioned, in which she tours the country on the wave of adoration
that buoyed her out of St. Paul and through a post-convention victory lap.
In his mind, she might well have continued to give winning, grinning
interviews, charming the pants off regular folks all across the country, if
the accursed McCain campaign hadn't nervously locked her in a
no-press-allowed tower. Orr compares Palin to a talented athlete who, as a
result of being over-coached, doesn't soar to new physical heights but
instead gets "broken down, [loses] confidence in his game, [becomes]
tentative, second guessing himself even to the point of paralysis."
Surely if Palin's political muscles were as taut and supple as Orr suspects,
the campaign would not have been so quick to put her on a special training
regimen.
It
was so predictable that we would get to a pity-poor-helpless-Sarah phase.
The press was already warming up for it on the day McCain announced her as
his running mate, when NBC reporter Andrea Mitchell speculated that McCain's
choice was designed to declaw scrappy Joe Biden, whose aggressive style
would come off as bullying next to the sweet hockey mom from Alaska. Now, of
course, we know about the hockey moms and the pit bulls; the
more-powerful-than-expected Palin juggernaut forestalled the
pity/victim/mean boy/poor Sarah phase.
So
here it is, finally. And as unpleasant as it may be to watch the humiliation
of a woman who waltzed into a spotlight too strong to withstand, I flat out
refuse to be manipulated into another stage of gendered regress -- back to
the pre-Pelosi, pre-Hillary days when girls couldn't stand the heat and so
were shooed back to the kitchen.
Sarah Palin is no wilting flower. She is a politician who took the national
stage and sneered at the work of community activists. She boldly tries to
pass off incuriosity and lassitude as regular-people qualities, thereby
doing a disservice to all those Americans who also work two jobs and do not
come from families that hand out passports and backpacking trips, yet still
manage to pick up a paper and read about their government and seek out
experience and knowledge.
When you stage a train wreck of this magnitude -- trying to pass one
underqualified chick off as another highly qualified chick with the lame
hope that no one will notice -- well, then, I don't feel bad for you.
When you treat women as your toys, as gullible and insensate pawns in your
Big Fat Presidential Bid -- or in Palin's case, in your Big Fat Chance to Be
the First Woman Vice President Thanks to All the Cracks Hillary Put in the
Ceiling -- I don't feel bad for you.
When you don't take your own career and reputation seriously enough to pause
before striding onto a national stage and lying about your record of
opposing a Bridge to Nowhere or using your special-needs child to garner the
support of Americans in need of healthcare reform you don't support, I don't
feel bad for you.
When you don't have enough regard for your country or its politics to cram
effectively for the test -- a test that helps determine whether or not you
get to run that country and participate in its politics -- I don't feel bad
for you.
When your project is reliant on gaining the support of women whose
reproductive rights you would limit, whose access to birth control and sex
education you would curtail, whose healthcare options you would decrease,
whose civil liberties you would take away and whose children and husbands
and brothers (and sisters and daughters and friends) you would send to war
in Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Russia and wherever else you saw fit without
actually understanding international relations, I don't feel bad for you.
I
don't want to be played by the girl-strings anymore. Shaking our heads and
wringing our hands in sympathy with Sarah Palin is a disservice to every
woman who has ever been unfairly dismissed based on her gender, because this
is an utterly fair dismissal, based on an utter lack of ability and
readiness. It's a disservice to minority populations of every stripe whose
place in the political spectrum has been unfairly spotlighted as mere
tokenism; it is a disservice to women throughout this country who have gone
from watching a woman who -- love her or hate her -- was able to show us
what female leadership could look like to squirming in front of their
televisions as they watch the woman sent to replace her struggle to string a
complete sentence together.
In
fact, the only people I feel sorry for are Americans who invested in a
hopeful, progressive vision of female leadership, but who are now stuck
watching, verbatim, a "Saturday Night Live" skit.
Palin is tough as nails. She will bite the head off a moose and move on. So,
no, I don't feel sorry for her. I feel sorry for women who have to live with
what she and her running mate have wrought.
Abortion Rights At Risk
Submitted by: Mr. & Mrs. Sy Baron
There are 3 players in this actual event...all 3 come
together to prove how intent Sarah Palin is to reverse Roe vs. Wade
(fundamental and constitutional right of women to have choice.) We have
never seen any politician so intent on reversing Roe vs. Wade. As quoted
below she won't even allow it in the case of rape or incest.
Be scared....be very scared of this pariah wearing a $2,500
jacket from Saks Fifth Avenue designed by Valentino Garavani for her speech
while claiming to be an ordinary soccer mom....
Please read who the players are and you will see why what
leaked out in Palin's secret email is so imperative.
PLAYER 1
Dan Fagan is a prominent conservative talk radio host in
Anchorage, Alaska on station KFQD. In a recent column in the Anchorage
Daily News, Fagan wrote: Abortion is our most pressing issue Gas pipeline,
who cares? Raise taxes on the oil industry, go ahead. There is only one
issue facing Alaskans and it is this. A 13-year-old girl can today walk into
Planned Parenthood and get an abortion without her parents’ knowledge or
permission. I know there are few things you can say these days that are more
politically incorrect than calling abortion murder. And that’s the problem.
Those of us who are pro-life are afraid to speak out for fear of offending
someone. Well it’s time to offend. It’s either offend or sit by and watch
the far left use our courts to promote its culture of death. The article
goes on leaving no doubt that Fagan is a pro-life extremist.
PLAYER 2
Alaska's Lieutenant
Governor Sean Parnell, the PRO LIFE Republican candidate for Alaska's lone
seat on the U.S. House of Representatives. Alaska Right to Life announced
today, August 6, 2008, its endorsement of Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell,
Republican candidate for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of
Representatives.
"Sean Parnell is a man of outstanding character and
ethics,” said Ed Wassel, president of Alaska Right to Life. “We know he will
represent Alaska with integrity and that Sean is a champion for the issue of
life, from conception to natural death. We are proud to endorse him.”
“I am honored to receive this coveted endorsement,” said
Parnell. “As a son, husband, and father, I believe the right to life is
foundational to human existence and liberty.”
PLAYER 3
Sarah Palin, Pro-Life Republican candidate for Vice
President of the United States
Excerpt: Charlie Gibson Interviews GOP Vice Presidential
Candidate Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin on Abortion Rights:
GIBSON: In the time I have left, I want to talk about some
social issues.
PALIN: OK.
GIBSON: Roe v. Wade, do you think it should be reversed?
PALIN: I think it should and I think that states should be
able to decide that issue... I am pro-life. I do respect other people's
opinion on this, also, and I think that a culture of life is best for
America... What I want to do, when elected vice president, with John McCain,
hopefully, be able to reach out and work with those who are on the other
side of this issue, because I know that we can all agree on the need for and
the desire for fewer abortions in America and greater support for adoption,
for other alternatives that women can and should be empowered to embrace, to
allow that culture of life. That's my personal opinion on this, Charlie.
GIBSON: John McCain would allow abortion in cases of rape
and incest. Do you believe in it only in the case where the life of the
mother is in danger?
PALIN: That is my personal opinion.
GIBSON: Would you change and accept it in rape and incest?
PALIN: My personal opinion is that abortion (ONLY) be
allowed if the life of the mother is endangered.
Now that you know the 3 players:
The pro life Radio Commentator, Dan Fagan
The pro life Republican Congressman Sean Parnell,
The PRO-LIFE VERY ANTI ABORTION VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE,
SARAH PALIN.....
I now offer up an email from Sarah Palin's personal Yahoo
email account, that leaked to the press on Wednesday 9/17/08.
Vice President Nominee & Governor Sarah Palin to Sean
Parnel Alaska's Congressman about Fagan the conservative radio host
Palin writes: He (Referring to Fagan) is so inconsistent
and purposefully misleading. I am sorry Sean. He can keep trying, but you
are the right one for the Congressional positions and he KNOWS it.
..remember how he's (Fagan) said it all only really matters on matters like
LIFE, honesty, ability, etc. all those things you are. He knows you fit
all of his, and confederatives', and Alaskans' criteria. His fighting you
reveals some evil stuff going on with him. Does he want someone OPPOSED to
the life issue in Congress?
My point is that Palin has pro-life coming out of every
pore in her body.
Be very careful who you vote for. I promise you that if
McCain/Palin win, we will retreat to dark age secret abortions in back
alleys and foreign countries.
Pick your president!
Submitted by: Rhonda
M.
Click on graphic below to "Pick a President"
Why
Women Should Vote
Submitted by: Rhonda M
As
you read this, just remember that Woodrow Wilson was elected president as a
Democrat in 1912.
A
Message for all women
THIS
IS MOVING. HOW QUICKLY WE FORGET....IF ....WE EVER KNEW......
WHY
WOMEN SHOULD VOTE
This
is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers; they lived only 90
years ago.
Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to
the polls and vote.
The
women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for
picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote.
(Lucy Burns) And by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty
prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage
against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'
They
beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left
her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.
(Dora Lewis) They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head
against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, Alice Cosu,
thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits
describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming,
pinching, twisting and kicking the women.
Thus
unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the
Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the
suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's
White House for the right to vote. For weeks, the women's only water came
from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with
worms.
(Alice Paul) When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger
strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured
liquid into her until
she
vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to
the press. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/suffrage/nwp/prisoners.pdf
So,
refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because-
-why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work? Our vote
doesn't matter? It's raining?
Last
week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new movie 'Iron Jawed
Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I
could
pull
the curtain at the polling booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I
needed the reminder.
All
these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the actual
act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote. Frankly, voting
often felt more like an obligation than a privilege. Sometimes it was
inconvenient.
My
friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history, saw the HBO movie,
too. When she stopped by my desk to talk about it, she looked angry. She
was-
-with herself. 'One thought kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,'
she said. 'What would those women think of the way I use, or don't use, my
right to vote?
All
of us take it for granted now, not just younger women, but those of us who
did seek to learn.' The right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her
'all over
again.'
HBO
released the movie on video and DVD. I wish all history, social studies an d
government teachers would include the movie in their curriculum I want it
shown on
Bunco night, too, and anywhere else women gather. I realize this isn't our
usual idea of socializing, but we are not voting in the numbers that we
should be, and I think a
little shock therapy is in order.
It
is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a
psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently
institutionalized.
And
it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said,
and brave. That didn't make her crazy.
The
doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for
insanity.'
Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know.
We
need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by
these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or
independent party - remember to vote.
A Vote for Sarah is A Vote
For This All Over Again
Submitted by: Sy Baron, his wife, children and grandchildren
Carol McCain (Former Mrs. John McCain) A
MUST READ
Submitted by: Julie C.
From
a forwarded e-mail I received.
I
thought you might find this interesting. On the show we saw last week,
McCain mentioned that his greatest failure in life was the ending of his
first marriage. I guess he had to admit some remorse because his wife was
going public with the story.
A
must read!!!! First wife out of sight, how shallow can one man be?
Carol McCain
McCain likes to illustrate his moral fiber by referring to
his five years as a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam. And to demonstrate his
commitment to family values, the 71-year- old former US Navy pilot pays warm
tribute to his beautiful blonde wife, Cindy, with whom he has four
children. But there is another Mrs. McCain who casts a ghostly shadow over
the Senator's presidential campaign. She is seldom seen and rarely written
about, despite being mother to McCain's three eldest children.
She was the woman McCain dreamed of during his long
incarceration and torture in Vietnam's infamous 'Hanoi Hilton' prison and
the woman who faithfully stayed at home looking after the children and
waiting anxiously for news. But when McCain returned to America in 1973 to a
fanfare of publicity and a handshake from Richard Nixon, he discovered his
wife had been disfigured in a terrible car crash three years earlier. Her
car had skidded on icy roads into a telegraph pole on Christmas Eve, 1969.
Her pelvis and one arm were shattered by the impact and she
suffered massive internal injuries.
When Carol was discharged from hospital after six months of
life-saving surgery, the prognosis was bleak. In order to save her legs,
surgeons had been forced to cut away huge sections of shattered bone, taking
with it her tall, willowy figure. She was confined to a wheelchair and was
forced to use a catheter. Today, she stands at just 5' 4' in and still walks
awkwardly, with a pronounced limp. Her body is held together by screws and
metal plates and, at 70, her face is worn by wrinkles that speak of decades
of silent suffering.
For nearly 30 years, Carol has maintained a dignified
silence about the accident, McCain and their divorce. But last week at the
bungalow where she now lives at Virginia Beach , a faded seaside resort 200
miles south of Washington , she told The Mail on Sunday how McCain divorced
her in 1980 and married Cindy, 18 years his junior and the heir to an
Arizona brewing fortune, just one month later.
My marriage ended because John McCain didn't want to be 40,
he wanted to be 25. You know that happens...it just does.'
In 1979 - while still married to Carol - he met Cindy at a
cocktail party in Hawaii. Over the next six months he pursued her, flying
around the country to see her. Then he began to push to end his marriage.
Some of McCain's acquaintances are less forgiving, however. They portray the
politician as a self-centered womanizer who effectively abandoned his
crippled wife to 'play the field'. They accuse him of finally settling on
Cindy, a former rodeo beauty queen, for financial reasons.
Ted Sampley, who fought with US Special Forces in Vietnam
and is now a leading campaigner for veterans' rights, said: 'I have been
following John McCain's career for nearly 20 years. I know him personally.
There is something wrong with this guy and let me tell you what it is -
deceit.'
When he came home and saw that Carol was not the beauty he
left behind, he started running around on her almost right away. Everybody
around him knew it. Eventually he met Cindy and she was young and beautiful
and very wealthy. At that point McCain just dumped Carol for something he
thought was better.'
McCain is the classic opportunist. He's always reaching for
attention and glory,' he said. After he came home, Carol walked with a limp.
So he threw her over for a poster girl with big money from Arizona. And the
rest is history.'
Ross Perot, a billionaire Texas businessman, and a former
presidential candidate, who paid her medical bills all those years ago, now
believes that both Carol McCain and the American people have been taken in
by a man who is unusually slick and cruel - even by the standards of modern
politics.
GEORGE
WASHINGTON
was the first President to write to a synagogue. In 1790 he addressed
separate letters to the Touro Synagogue in Newport, RI, to Mikveh Israel
Congregation in Savannah, GA, and a joint letter to Congregation Beth
Shalom, Richmond, VA , Mikveh Israel Philadelphia, Beth Elohim, Charleston,
S. C., and Shearith Israel, New York. His letters are an eloquent expression
and hope for religious harmony and endure as indelible statements of the
most fundamental tenets of American democracy.
THOMAS
JEFFERSON
was the first President to appoint a Jew to a Federal post. In 1801 he named
Reuben Etting of Baltimore as US Marshall for Maryland.
JAMES MADISON
was the first President to appoint a Jew to a diplomatic post. He sent
Mordecai M. Noah to Tunis from 1813 to 1816.
MARTIN
VAN BUREN
was the first President to order an American consul to intervene on behalf
of Jews abroad. In 1840 he instructed the U.S. consul in Alexandria, Egypt
to use his good offices to protect the Jews of Damascus who were under
attack because of a false blood ritual accusation.
JOHN
TYLER
was the first President to nominate a U.S. consul to Palestine. Warder
Cresson, a Quaker convert to Judaism who established a pioneer Zionist
colony, received the appointment in 1844.
FRANKLIN
PIERCE
was the first and probably the only President whose name appears on the
charter of a synagogue. Pierce signed the Act of Congress in 1857 that
amended the laws of the District of Columbia to enable the incorporation of
the city's first synagogue, the Washington Hebrew Congregation.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN was the first President to make it possible for
rabbis to serve as military chaplains. He did this by signing the 1862 Act
of Congress which changed the law that had previously barred all but
Christian clergymen from the captaincy. Lincoln was also the first, and
happily the only President who was called upon to revoke an official act of
anti-Semitism by the U.S. government. It was Lincoln who canceled General
Ulysses S Grant's ' Order No. 11' expelling all Jews from Tennessee from the
district controlled by his armies during the Civil War. Grant always denied
personal responsibility for this act attributing it to his subordinate.
ULYSSES
S. GRANT
was the first President to attend a synagogue service while in office. When
Adas Israel Congregation in Washington D.C. was dedicated in 1874, Grant and
all members of his Cabinet were present.
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES
was the first President to designate a Jewish ambassador for the stated
purpose of fighting anti-Semitism. In 1870, he named Benjamin Peixotto
Consul-General to Romania. Hays also was the first President to assure a
civil service employee her right to work for the Federal government and yet
observe the Sabbath. He ordered the employment of a Jewish woman who had
been denied a position in the Department of the Interior because of her
refusal to work on Saturday.
THEODORE
ROOSEVELT
was the first President to appoint a Jew to a presidential cabinet. In 1906
he named Oscar S. Straus Secretary of Commerce and Labor. Theodore Ro
osevelt was also the first President to contribute his own funds to a Jewish
cause. In 1919, when he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts while
President to settle the Russo-Japanese War Roosevelt contributed part of his
prize to the National Jewish Welfare Board
WILLIAM
HOWARD TAFT
was the first President to attend a Seder while in office. In 1912, when he
visited Providence, RI, he participated in the family Seder of Colonel Harry
Cutler, first president of the National Jewish Welfare Board, in the Cutler
home on Glenham Street.
WOODROW
WILSON
was the first President to nominate a Jew, Louis Dembitz Brandeis, to the
United States Supreme Court. Standing firm against great pressure to
withdraw the nomination, Wilson insisted that he knew no one better
qualified by judicial temperament as well as legal and social understanding,
con firmation was finally voted by the Senate on June 1, 1916. Wilson was
also the first President to publicly endorse a national Jewish philanthropic
campaign. In a letter to Jacob Schiff, on November 22, 1917, Wilson called
for wide support of the United Jewish Relief Campaig n which was raising
funds for European War relief.
WARREN
HARDING
was the first President to sign a Joint Congressional Resolution endorsing
the Balfour Declaration and the Palestine Mandate supporting the
establishment in Palestine of a national Jewish home for the Jewish people.
The resolution was signed September 22, 1922.
CALVIN
COOLIDGE
was the first President to participate in the dedication of a Jewish
community institution that was not a house of worship. On May 3, 1925, he
helped dedicate the cornerstone of the Washington, D.C. Jewish Community
center.
FRANKLIN
D. ROOSEVELT
was the first President to be given a Torah as a gift. He received a
miniature Torah from Young Israel and another that had been rescued from a
burning synagogue in Czechoslovakia. Both are now in the Roosevelt Memorial
Library in Hyde Park. The Roosevelt administration's failure to expand the
existing refuge quota system, ensured that large numbers of Jews would
ultimately become some of the Holocaust's six million victims. Fifty-six
years after Roosevelt's death, the arguments continue over Roosevelt' s
response to the Holocaust.
HARRY S.
TRUMAN,
on May 14, 1948, just eleven minutes after Israel's proclamation of
independence, was the first head of a government to announce to the press
that 'the United States recognizes the provisional government as the de
facto authority of the new state of Israel.' Truman was also the first U.S.
President to receive a president of Israel at the White House, Chaim Weizman,
in 1948 and an Ambassador from Israel, Eliahu Elat in 1948. With Israel
staggering under the burdens of mass immigration in 1951-1952, President
Truman obtained from Congress close to $140 million in loans and grants.
DWIGHT
D. EISENHOWER
was the first President to participate in a coast-to-coast TV program
sponsored by a Jewish organization. It was a network show in 1954
celebrating the 300th anniversary of the American Jewish community. On this
occasion he said that it was one of the enduring satisfactions of his life
that he was privileged to lead the forces of the free world which finally
crushed the brutal regime in Germany, freeing the remnant of Jews for a new
life and hope in Israel.
JOHN F.
KENNEDY
named two Jews to his cabinet - Abraham Ribicoff as Secretary of Health,
Education and Welfare, and Arthur Goldberg as Secretary of Labor. Kennedy
was the only President for whom a national Jewish Award was named The annual
peace award of the Synagogue Council of America was re-named the John F.
Kennedy Peace Award after his assassination in 1963
JIMMY CARTER
in a number of impassioned speeches, stated his concern for human rights and
stressed the right of Russian Jews to emigrate. He is credited with being
the person responsible for the Camp David Accords.
GEORGE
H.W. BUSH
in 1985 as Vice President had played a personal role in 'Operation Joshua,'
the airlift which brought 10,000 Jews out of Ethiopia directly to
resettlement in Israel. Then, again in 1991, when Bush was President,
American help played a critical role in 'Operation Solomon', the escape of
14,000 more Ethiopian Jews. Most dramatically, Bush got to the U.N. to
revoke its 1975 'Zionism is Racism' resolution.
And now:
Consider the last two officeholders
BILL CLINTON appointed more Jews to his cabinet than all of the
previous presidents combined and put Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer,
both 1st appointed to the federal bench by Jimmy Carter, on the Supreme
Court.
GEORGE
W. BUSH
is the first president since Herbert Hoover who has no Jews in his cabinet
at all and has appointed no Jews to the Federal bench.
Professor Sherman L. Cohn, Georgetown University Law Center
Obama
Submitted by:
Debbie Dunn
You seemed to get caught up in the fireworks. I question
Obama's wisdom. Let's not forget Rev. Wright (who has been his
mentor/spiritual advisor for 20 years) up until the world became aware of
what a bigot he was....then he was supposedly dropped by Obama. Do we
believe he had not heard this man's views for all those years. All we had to
do is see Rev. Wright interviewed 1 time to realize it would be difficult to
be in his company 1/2 hour and not get a good idea of his views. Then, Obama
choose the CEO of Fanny Mae to head up the committee that helped him choose
his VP. Wonderful judgement there. I do take offence at your calling McCain
and old man..........He has laid his life on the line for this country. You,
me and 99.9999% of this country can't even come close to the sacrifices he
has made for the good old USA. I'm always surprised at how easy it has
become for so many to trash our candidates, especially for something like
age. Maybe someday it will rank right up there with race and become a NO
NO.
McCain's Queen of Hearts
Intervention
Submitted by: Fred M.
I
think George Will nailed him in this article, and he’s a very respected
Republican!
"The queen had
only one way of settling all difficulties, great or small. 'Off with his
head!' she said without even looking around."
--
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"
Under the pressure of the financial crisis, one presidential candidate is
behaving like a flustered rookie playing in a league too high. It is not
Barack Obama.
Channeling his inner Queen of Hearts, John McCain furiously, and apparently
without even looking around at facts, said Chris Cox, chairman of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, should be decapitated. This childish
reflex provoked The Wall Street Journal to editorialize that "McCain
untethered" -- disconnected from knowledge and principle -- had made a
"false and deeply unfair" attack on Cox that was "unpresidential" and
demonstrated that McCain "doesn't understand what's happening on Wall Street
any better than Barack Obama does."
To
read the Journal's details about the depths of McCain's shallowness on the
subject of Cox's chairmanship, see "McCain's Scapegoat" (Sept. 19, Page
A22). Then consider McCain's characteristic accusation that Cox "has
betrayed the public's trust."
Perhaps an old antagonism is involved in McCain's fact-free slander. His
most conspicuous economic adviser is Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who previously
headed the Congressional Budget Office. There he was an impediment to
conservatives, including then-Congressman Cox, who as chairman of the
Republican Policy Committee persistently tried and generally failed to
enlist CBO support for "dynamic scoring" that would estimate the economic
growth effects of proposed tax cuts.
In any
case, McCain's smear -- that Cox "betrayed the public's trust" -- is a
harbinger of a McCain presidency. For McCain, politics is always operatic,
pitting people who agree with him against those who are "corrupt" or "betray
the public's trust," two categories that seem to be exhaustive -- there are
no other people. McCain's Manichean worldview drove him to his signature
legislative achievement, the McCain-Feingold law's restrictions on
campaigning. Today, his campaign is creatively finding interstices in laws
intended to restrict campaign giving and spending. (For details, see The
Washington Post of Sept. 17, Page A4; and The New York Times of Sept. 20,
Page One.)
By a
Gresham's Law of political discourse, McCain's Queen of Hearts intervention
in the opaque financial crisis overshadowed a solid conservative complaint
from the Republican Study Committee, chaired by Rep. Jeb Hensarling of
Texas. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Fed Chairman Ben
Bernanke, the RSC decried the improvised torrent of bailouts as a "dangerous
and unmistakable precedent for the federal government both to be looked to
and indeed relied upon to save private sector companies from the
consequences of their poor economic decisions." This letter, listing just
$650 billion of the perhaps more than $1 trillion in new federal exposures
to risk, was sent while McCain's campaign, characteristically substituting
vehemence for coherence, was airing an ad warning that Obama favors "massive
government, billions in spending increases."
The
political left always aims to expand the permeation of economic life by
politics. Today, the efficient means to that end is government control of
capital. So, is not McCain's party now conducting the most leftist
administration in American history? The New Deal never acted so
precipitously on such a scale. Treasury Secretary Paulson, asked about
conservative complaints that his rescue program amounts to socialism, said,
essentially: This is not socialism, this is necessary. That non sequitur
might be politically necessary, but remember that government control of
capital is government
control of capitalism. Does McCain have qualms about this, or only quarrels?
On "60
Minutes" Sunday evening, McCain, saying "this may sound a little unusual,"
said that he would like to replace Cox with Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic
attorney general of New York who is the son of former Gov. Mario Cuomo.
McCain explained that Cuomo has "respect" and "prestige" and could "lend
some bipartisanship." Conservatives have been warned.
Conservatives who insist that electing McCain is crucial usually start, and
increasingly end, by saying he would make excellent judicial selections. But
the more one sees of his impulsive, intensely personal reactions to people
and events, the less confidence one has that he would select judges by calm
reflection and clear principles, having neither patience nor aptitude for
either.
It is
arguable that, because of his inexperience, Obama is not ready for the
presidency. It is arguable that McCain, because of his boiling moralism and
bottomless reservoir of certitudes, is not suited to the presidency.
Unreadiness can be corrected, although perhaps at great cost, by experience.
Can a dismaying temperament be fixed?
When Atheists
Attack
Submitted by: Jerry B.
A noted provocateur rips Sarah Palin—and defends elitism.
Sam Harris
NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Sep 29, 2008
Let me confess that I was genuinely unnerved by Sarah Palin's performance at
the Republican convention. Given her audience and the needs of the moment, I
believe Governor Palin's speech was the most effective political
communication I have ever witnessed. Here, finally, was a performer
who—being maternal, wounded, righteous and sexy—could stride past the
frontal cortex of every American and plant a three-inch heel directly on
that limbic circuit that ceaselessly intones "God and country." If anyone
could make Christian theocracy smell like apple pie, Sarah Palin could.
Then came Palin's first television interview with Charles Gibson. I was
relieved to discover, as many were, that Palin's luster can be much
diminished by the absence of a teleprompter. Still, the problem she poses to
our political process is now much bigger than she is. Her fans seem inclined
to forgive her any indiscretion short of cannibalism. However badly she may
stumble during the remaining weeks of this campaign, her supporters will
focus their outrage upon the journalist who caused her to break stride, upon
the camera operator who happened to capture her fall, upon the television
network that broadcast the good lady's misfortune—and, above all, upon the
"liberal elites" with their highfalutin assumption that, in the 21st
century, only a reasonably well-educated person should be given command of
our nuclear arsenal.
The point to be lamented is not that Sarah Palin comes from outside
Washington, or that she has glimpsed so little of the earth's surface (she
didn't have a passport until last year), or that she's never met a foreign
head of state. The point is that she comes to us, seeking the second most
important job in the world, without any intellectual training relevant to
the challenges and responsibilities that await her. There is nothing to
suggest that she even sees a role for careful analysis or a deep
understanding of world events when it comes to deciding the fate of a
nation. In her interview with Gibson, Palin managed to turn a joke about
seeing Russia from her window into a straight-faced claim that Alaska's
geographical proximity to Russia gave her some essential foreign-policy
experience. Palin may be a perfectly wonderful person, a loving mother and a
great American success story—but she is a beauty queen/sports reporter who
stumbled into small-town politics, and who is now on the verge of stumbling
into, or upon, world history.
The problem, as far as our political process is concerned, is that half the
electorate revels in Palin's lack of intellectual qualifications. When it
comes to politics, there is a mad love of mediocrity in this country. "They
think they're better than you!" is the refrain that (highly competent and
cynical) Republican strategists have set loose among the crowd, and the
crowd has grown drunk on it once again. "Sarah Palin is an ordinary person!"
Yes, all too ordinary.
We have all now witnessed apparently sentient human beings, once provoked by
a reporter's microphone, saying things like, "I'm voting for Sarah because
she's a mom. She knows what it's like to be a mom." Such sentiments suggest
an uncanny (and, one fears, especially American) detachment from the real
problems of today. The next administration must immediately confront issues
like nuclear proliferation, ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (and covert
wars elsewhere), global climate change, a convulsing economy, Russian
belligerence, the rise of China, emerging epidemics, Islamism on a hundred
fronts, a defunct United Nations, the deterioration of American schools,
failures of energy, infrastructure and Internet security … the list is long,
and Sarah Palin does not seem competent even to rank these items in order of
importance, much less address any one of them.
Palin's most conspicuous gaffe in her interview with Gibson has been widely
discussed. The truth is, I didn't much care that she did not know the
meaning of the phrase "Bush doctrine." And I am quite sure that her
supporters didn't care, either. Most people view such an ambush as a
journalistic gimmick. What I do care about are all the other things Palin is
guaranteed not to know—or will be glossing only under the frenzied tutelage
of John McCain's advisers. What doesn't she know about financial markets,
Islam, the history of the Middle East, the cold war, modern weapons systems,
medical research, environmental science or emerging technology? Her relative
ignorance is guaranteed on these fronts and most others, not because she was
put on the spot, or got nervous, or just happened to miss the newspaper on
any given morning. Sarah Palin's ignorance is guaranteed because of how she
has spent the past 44 years on earth.
I care even more about the many things Palin thinks she knows but doesn't:
like her conviction that the Biblical God consciously directs world events.
Needless to say, she shares this belief with mil-lions of Americans—but we
shouldn't be eager to give these people our nuclear codes, either. There is
no question that if President McCain chokes on a spare rib and Palin becomes
the first woman president, she and her supporters will believe that God, in
all his majesty and wisdom, has brought it to pass. Why would God give Sarah
Palin a job she isn't ready for? He wouldn't. Everything happens for a
reason. Palin seems perfectly willing to stake the welfare of our
country—even the welfare of our species—as collateral in her own personal
journey of faith. Of course, McCain has made the same unconscionable wager
on his personal journey to the White House.
In speaking before her church about her son going to war in Iraq, Palin
urged the congregation to pray "that our national leaders are sending them
out on a task that is from God; that's what we have to make sure we are
praying for, that there is a plan, and that plan is God's plan." When asked
about these remarks in her interview with Gibson, Palin successfully dodged
the issue of her religious beliefs by claiming that she had been merely
echoing the words of Abraham Lincoln. The New York Times later dubbed her
response "absurd." It was worse than absurd; it was a lie calculated to
conceal the true character of her religious infatuations. Every detail that
has emerged about Palin's life in Alaska suggests that she is as devout and
literal-minded in her Christian dogmatism as any man or woman in the land.
Given her long affiliation with the Assemblies of God church, Palin very
likely believes that Biblical prophecy is an infallible guide to future
events and that we are living in the "end times." Which is to say she very
likely thinks that human history will soon unravel in a foreordained
cataclysm of war and bad weather. Undoubtedly Palin believes that this will
be a good thing—as all true Christians will be lifted bodily into the sky to
make merry with Jesus, while all nonbelievers, Jews, Methodists and other
rabble will be punished for eternity in a lake of fire. Like many
Pentecostals, Palin may even imagine that she and her fellow parishioners
enjoy the power of prophecy themselves. Otherwise, what could she have meant
when declaring to her congregation that "God's going to tell you what is
going on, and what is going to go on, and you guys are going to have that
within you"?
You can learn something about a person by the company she keeps. In the
churches where Palin has worshiped for decades, parishioners enjoy "baptism
in the Holy Spirit," "miraculous healings" and "the gift of tongues."
Invariably, they offer astonishingly irrational accounts of this behavior
and of its significance for the entire cosmos. Palin's spiritual colleagues
describe themselves as part of "the final generation," engaged in "spiritual
warfare" to purge the earth of "demonic strongholds." Palin has spent her
entire adult life immersed in this apocalyptic hysteria. Ask yourself: Is it
a good idea to place the most powerful military on earth at her disposal? Do
we actually want our leaders thinking about the fulfillment of Biblical
prophecy when it comes time to say to the Iranians, or to the North Koreans,
or to the Pakistanis, or to the Russians or to the Chinese: "All options
remain on the table"?
It is easy to see what many people, women especially, admire about Sarah
Palin. Here is a mother of five who can see the bright side of having a
child with Down syndrome and still find the time and energy to govern the
state of Alaska. But we cannot ignore the fact that Palin's impressive
family further testifies to her dogmatic religious beliefs. Many writers
have noted the many shades of conservative hypocrisy on view here: when
Jamie Lynn Spears gets pregnant, it is considered a symptom of liberal
decadence and the breakdown of family values; in the case of one of Palin's
daughters, however, teen pregnancy gets reinterpreted as a sign of
immaculate, small-town fecundity. And just imagine if, instead of the Palins,
the Obama family had a pregnant, underage daughter on display at their
convention, flanked by her black boyfriend who "intends" to marry her. Who
among conservatives would have resisted the temptation to speak of "the
dysfunction in the black community"?
Teen pregnancy is a misfortune, plain and simple. At best, it represents bad
luck (both for the mother and for the child); at worst, as in the Palins'
case, it is a symptom of religious dogmatism. Governor Palin opposes sex
education in schools on religious grounds. She has also fought vigorously
for a "parental consent law" in the state of Alaska, seeking full parental
dominion over the reproductive decisions of minors. We know, therefore, that
Palin believes that she should be the one to decide whether her daughter
carries her baby to term. Based on her stated position, we know that she
would deny her daughter an abortion even if she had been raped. One can be
forgiven for doubting whether Bristol Palin had all the advantages of
21st-century family planning—or, indeed, of the 21st century.
We have endured eight years of an administration that seemed touched by
religious ideology. Bush's claim to Bob Woodward that he consulted a "higher
Father" before going to war in Iraq got many of us sitting upright, before
our attention wandered again to less ethereal signs of his incompetence. For
all my concern about Bush's religious beliefs, and about his merely average
grasp of terrestrial reality, I have never once thought that he was an
over-the-brink, Rapture-ready extremist. Palin seems as though she might be
the real McCoy. With the McCain team leading her around like a pet pony
between now and Election Day, she can be expected to conceal her religious
extremism until it is too late to do anything about it. Her supporters know
that while she cannot afford to "talk the talk" between now and Nov. 4, if
elected, she can be trusted to "walk the walk" until the Day of Judgment.
What is so unnerving about the candidacy of Sarah Palin is the degree to
which she represents—and her supporters celebrate—the joyful marriage of
confidence and ignorance. Watching her deny to Gibson that she had ever
harbored the slightest doubt about her readiness to take command of the
world's only superpower, one got the feeling that Palin would gladly assume
any responsibility on earth:
"Governor Palin, are you ready at this moment to perform surgery on this
child's brain?"
"Of course, Charlie. I have several boys of my own, and I'm an avid hunter."
"But governor, this is neurosurgery, and you have no training as a surgeon
of any kind."
"That's just the point, Charlie. The American people want change in how we
make medical decisions in this country. And when faced with a challenge, you
cannot blink."
The prospects of a Palin administration are far more frightening, in fact,
than those of a Palin Institute for Pediatric Neurosurgery. Ask yourself:
how has "elitism" become a bad word in American politics? There is simply no
other walk of life in which extraordinary talent and rigorous training are
denigrated. We want elite pilots to fly our planes, elite troops to
undertake our most critical missions, elite athletes to represent us in
competition and elite scientists to devote the most productive years of
their lives to curing our diseases. And yet, when it comes time to vest
people with even greater responsibilities, we consider it a virtue to shun
any and all standards of excellence. When it comes to choosing the people
whose thoughts and actions will decide the fates of millions, then we
suddenly want someone just like us, someone fit to have a beer with, someone
down-to-earth—in fact, almost anyone, provided that he or she doesn't seem
too intelligent or well educated.
I believe that with the nomination of Sarah Palin for the vice presidency,
the silliness of our politics has finally put our nation at risk. The world
is growing more complex—and dangerous—with each passing hour, and our
position within it growing more precarious. Should she become president,
Palin seems capable of enacting policies so detached from the common
interests of humanity, and from empirical reality, as to unite the entire
world against us. When asked why she is qualified to shoulder more
responsibility than any person has held in human history, Palin cites her
refusal to hesitate. "You can't blink," she told Gibson repeatedly, as
though this were a primordial truth of wise governance. Let us hope that a
President Palin would blink, again and again, while more thoughtful people
decide the fate of civilization.
Harris is a founder of The Reason Project and author of The New York Times
best sellers “The End of Faith” and “Letter to a Christian Nation.” His Web
site is samharris.org.
Be Afraid...Be Very Afraid
By: C. Olga
I am
so frightened at the thought of McCain being elected. His poll numbers were
very low until he came up with Palin. It's McCain who's running, but with
all the hoopla you'd think it was Palin.
Palin's opinions trouble me. She lies continually about the Bridge to
Nowhere, she was for it before she was against it; her position on the
outcome of incest or rape is that "you have to have the child" — should that
not fall into the same category as the health of the mother? Her opinion of
no equal pay for the same job held by women, her disappointing neglect of
seniors.
She
states that God is on our side in
the Iraqi war. She also says that God is on the side of the Alaska
pipeline., I didn't think God approved of war — shocker!
She is so far to the right with absolutely no balance or fairness. What if
something were to happen to McCain while he was in office.
Palin's Witch Hunting Pastor
Submitted by Lori A.
Do I
need to say ANYTHING here!
Am I the only one who
remembers this?
Submitted by Fred M.
Let's talk about Judgment, Competence and
Temperament.....
Keating Five
From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The
Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989,
igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan
crisis of the
late
1980s and early 1990s. The five senators, Alan Cranston (D-CA), Dennis
DeConcini (D-AZ), John Glenn (D-OH), John McCain (R-AZ), and Donald W.
Riegle (D-
MI),
were accused of improperly aiding Charles H. Keating, Jr., chairman of the
failed Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, which was the target of an
investigation
by
the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB).
After a lengthy investigation, the Senate Ethics Committee determined in
1991 that Alan Cranston, Dennis DeConcini, and Donald Riegle had
substantially and
improperly interfered with the FHLBB in its investigation of Lincoln
Savings. Senators John Glenn and John McCain were cleared of having acted
improperly but were
criticized for having exercised "poor judgment".
All
five of the senators involved served out their terms. Only Glenn and McCain
ran for re-election, and they were both re-elected.
Alan Cranston
Dennis DeConcini
John Glenn
John McCain
Donald W. Riegle
(D-CA)
(D-AZ)
(D-OH)
(R-AZ)
(D-MI)
Confused
From: John M.
I'm
a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight..... (hope I'm not
offending anyone)
* If
you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic,
different."
*
Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, a quintessential American story.
* If
your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
*
Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.
*
Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
*
Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.
* If
you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black
President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that
registers
150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend
8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people,
become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee,
spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13
million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign
Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you
don't have any real leadership experience.
* If
your total resume is: local TV sports girl, 4 years on the city council and
6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the
governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to
become the country's second highest ranking executive.
* If
you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2
beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real
Christian.
* If
you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured
wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.
If
you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper
use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
*
If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other
option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen
daughter ends up pregnant , you're very responsible.
* If
your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a
prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community,
then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent
America's.
* If
you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction
and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once
was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA,
your family is extremely admirable.
OK,
much clearer now.
From the
leader of the Jewish Congregation
across
the street from Barack Obama
From: Rhonda M
The following site is from
http://www.kamii.org/aboutus/staff/ the congregation of Rabbi Wolf. I
inserted the web address to show that it is indeed from the leader of the
Jewish Congregation across the street from Barak Obama's home in Chicago.
For those who say that they cannot vote for Barak because of his policies on
Jews and Israel here is one more example of how you are being misled by
Internet lies. Please, if you are up to it, forward this to all your Jewish
friends and acquaintances who may oppose Barak Obama because they believe he
is anti-Semitic, anti Israel and anti Zionism
By Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf Special to the Jewish Week
Not everyone can claim to be the neighbor of a Presidential
candidate - I can, though, because I am. Barack Obama's Chicago home is
across the street from KAM Isaiah Israel, the Hyde Park synagogue at which
I've served for 27 years. He spoke to our congregation as an Illinois state
senator; more recently, his Secret Service agents have made use of our,
shall we say, facilities. But it's not neighborly instinct that's led me to
support the Obama candidacy: I support Barack Obama because he stands for
what I believe, what our tradition demands. We sometimes forget, but an
integral part of that tradition is dialogue and a willingness to disagree.
Certainly many who call me their rabbi have taken political positions far
from mine - just as Barack Obama's opinions have differed from those of his
former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. On March 18, the candidate gave a
speech that made abundantly clear that he and Wright often disagree. Obama
condemned Wright's 'incendiary language,' and 'views that have the potential
not only to widen the racial divide, but that denigrate both the greatness
and the goodness of our nation.' Of course, race is only one issue on which
Wright has stepped beyond the bounds of civil discourse. He's frequently
made statements regarding Israel and the Jewish community that I find
troubling. But to limit our understanding of Obama to the ill-conceived
comments of the man who once led his church is dishonest and self-defeating.
Obama's strong positions on poverty and the climate, his early and
consistent opposition to the Iraq War, his commitment to ending the Darfur
genocide - all these speak directly to Jewish concerns. If we're sidetracked
by Wright's words, we'll be working against these interests. After all, a
preacher speaks to a congregation, not for the congregation. Many people
remain concerned that Obama isn't committed to Israel. Some want him to fall
in line behind the intransigent, conservative thinking that has silenced
Jewish debate on Israeli policy and enabled the Bush Administration's
criminal neglect of the diplomatic process. Clearly, though, anyone who
thinks Obama waffles on Israel hasn't been paying attention. In 2007, he
spoke to AIPAC about 'a clear and strong commitment to the security of
Israel.' Today, his website states clearly that America's 'first and
incontrovertible commitment in the Middle East must be to the security of
Israel.' For my part, I've sometimes found Obama too cautious on Israel. He,
like all our polits, knows he mustn't stray too far from the conventional
line, and that can be disappointing. But unlike anyone else on the stump,
Obama has also made it clear that he'll broaden the dialogue. He knows what
peace entails. Speaking recently before a Jewish audience in Cleveland,
Obama did the unthinkable - he challenged the room. He talked about the need
to ask 'difficult questions' on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: 'I sat
down with the head of Israeli security forces,' he said 'and his view of the
Palestinians was incredibly nuanced…. There's good and there's bad, and he
was willing to say sometimes we make mistakes… and if we're just pressing
down on these folks constantly, without giving them some prospects for hope,
that's not good for our security.' Yet, in spite of all of Obama's
strengths, we've been loathe to admit a difficult truth: Among some American
Jews, race plays a key role in the hesitation to support the Obama
candidacy. We've forgotten that Black and Jewish America once shared a
common vision. In the civil rights era, I and many in our community stood
shoulder to shoulder with the giants of our generation, demanding freedom
for all Americans. Obama himself doesn't share our amnesia, however. 'I
would not be sitting here,' he said in Cleveland, 'if it were not for a
whole host of Jewish Americans.' That was literal truth, but not everyone
remembers it. I've worked with Obama for more than a decade, as has my son,
a lawyer who represents children and people with disabilities. He has
admired Obama's dedication and skill as he worked on issues affecting our
most vulnerable citizens. Obama is no anti-Semite. He is not anti-Israel. He
is one of our own, the one figure on the political scene who remembers our
past, and has a real vision for repairing our present. Barack Obama is
brilliant and open-hearted; he is wiser and more thoughtful than his former
minister. He offers what America, Israel, and the Jewish community need: a
US President willing to ask hard questions, and grapple with difficult
answers. I am very proud to be his neighbor. I hope someday to visit him in
the White House.
Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf is rabbi emeritus at Chicago 's KAM
Isaiah Israel , Illinois's oldest Jewish congregation.
Sarah Palin and the Environment
Submitted by: Carol P.
From the
Governor Sarah Palin
has an extreme anti-conservation record on issues ranging from global
warming, energy and drilling to wildlife and habitat protection.
Governor Sarah Palin: A
Champion for Brutal Aerial Hunting
Governor Palin is an
active promoter of Alaska's aerial hunting program whereby wolves and bears
are shot from the air or chased by airplanes to the point of exhaustion
before the pilot lands the plane and a gunner shoots the animals point
blank.
Palin offered a $150 bounty for wolves to entice hunters to kill
more wolves in certain parts of the state, with hunters having to
present a wolf's foreleg to collect the bounty.
She actively opposed a ballot measure campaign seeking to end the
aerial hunting of wolves by private hunters and approved a $400,000
state-funded campaign aimed at swaying people's votes on the issue.
She also introduced legislation to make it easier to kill wolves
and bears and which would have also removed the aerial hunting
initiative from the ballot and block the ability of citizens to vote on
the issue.
The Board of Game, which she appoints, has approved the killing of
black bear sows with cubs as part of the program and expanded the aerial
control programs.
The media is currently looking into reports that state officials
implementing one of the aerial wolf killing programs illegally killed
five-week old wolf pups just outside their dens.
Global Warming
As recently as August 2008, Governor Palin questioned
whether man-made fossil fuel emissions are responsible for global warming,
defying worldwide scientific consensus (Newsmax
8/29/08). And her drill-drill-drill approach to energy issues will do
nothing to ease the causes of global warming, promote the use of clean,
renewable energy sources, or break our addiction to foreign oil.
Endangered Species
Palin has repeatedly opposed the listing of endangered
animals under the Endangered Species List despite overwhelming scientific
evidence that such listings are warranted.
Polar Bear
The U.S. Geological
Survey predicts that loss of summer sea ice - crucial habitat for polar
bears - could lead to the demise of two-thirds of the world's polar bears by
mid-century, including all of Alaska's polar bears. The Bush administration
has proposed listing the polar bears as threatened under the ESA to help
protect polar bear habitat from threats such as oil and gas development.
Governor Palin has
actively opposed the listing of the polar bear despite the fact that
Alaska's top marine mammal biologists agreed with the federal scientists who
believed the bear should be listed. She wrote the Secretary of Interior
urging him not to list the bear on the ground it might hurt the state's oil-
and gas-dependent economy. After the bear was listed, she recently filed
suit seeking to overturn the listing of polar bears.
Beluga Whales
Alaska's Cook Inlet
beluga whales are a unique group of white whales whose numbers have
dramatically declined in the past two decades due to pressures ranging from
pollution to increased ship traffic. Governor Palin opposes the listing of
the Cook Inlet beluga whales, citing the listing as a threat to oil and gas
development, despite their genetic uniqueness and the fact that their
numbers have decreased from 1,300 in the 1980s to about 350 today.
Drilling
Palin is a strong
supporter of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a vital
wilderness area. It is home to hundreds of thousands of caribou who use the
refuge as a calving ground, more than one million migratory birds, and
countless other wildlife. It's the most important onshore denning habitat
for female polar bears. Senator McCain himself has repeatedly voted to
protect this pristine wilderness area. Palin is also a supporter of
drilling in Bristol Bay and other offshore sites despite the risks to
sensitive marine wildlife in the area, including the endangered polar bear
and Beluga whale.
Clean Water and Pebble Mine
Governor Palin actively
campaigned against a state ballot measure this summer aimed at protecting
Alaska's Bristol Bay. The mining industry seeks to develop a gold and copper
mine in the area that would pollute the Bay's headwaters and threaten the
spawning grounds for the largest remaining wild salmon run. The initiative
would have prevented large-scale mining operations from dumping waste
materials into salmon watersheds.
What
does one do with a Sarah Palin?
By: Mrs.
Sy Baron
What
does one do with a Sarah Palin? First we need to understand the woman
so we
can know the candidate.
She takes every
issue personally.
Issues are either
black or white
with no shades of gray.
She looks for
simple one dimensional solutions that create more problems than they
solve.
She ignores the
scientists and refuses to accept the fact that us humans have an impact
on the environment.
She does as she
pleases with public resources.
She adamantly
believes her behavior is beyond reproach.
She believes
her agenda is what's best for everyone regardless of what others
think.
If you dare to
cross her she will retaliate.
She will
increase the contentiousness of the national debate without making
room for even the slightest compromise or real solution.
What possessed McCain to give this position of prominence to such a
contentious, negative and divisive politician. When McCain was a POW would
he rather have had Gerald Ford or Sarah Palin advising and assisting the
president in the vice president's office.
McCain
made a very dangerous choice in his absence of judgment. She will be a
heartbeat away from endangering our lives and national security with her
total lack of experience. This scares me to death.
Obama and the Palin Effect
Submitted by: Joe M.
Taken from a blog of
Deepak Chopra
Sometimes politics has
the uncanny effect of mirroring the national psyche even when nobody
intended to do that. This is perfectly illustrated by the rousing effect
that Gov. Sarah Palin had on the Republican convention in Minneapolis this
week. On the surface, she outdoes former Vice President Dan Quayle as an
unlikely choice, given her negligent parochial expertise in the complex
affairs of governing. Her state of Alaska has less than 700,000 residents,
which reduces the job of governor to the scale of running one-tenth of New
York City. By comparison, Rudy Giuliani is a towering international figure.
Palin’s pluck has been admired, and her forthrightness, but her real appeal
goes deeper.
She is the reverse of
Barack Obama, in essence his shadow, deriding his idealism and turning
negativity into a cause for pride. In psychological terms the shadow is that
part of the psyche that hides out of sight, countering our aspirations,
virtue, and vision with qualities we are ashamed to face: anger, fear,
revenge, violence, selfishness, and suspicion of “the other.” For millions
of Americans, Obama triggers those feelings, but they don’t want to express
them. He is calling for us to reach for our higher selves, and frankly, that
stirs up hidden reactions of an unsavory kind. (Just to be perfectly clear,
I am not making a verbal play out of the fact that Sen. Obama is black. The
shadow is a metaphor widely in use before his arrival on the scene.) I
recognize that psychological analysis of politics is usually not welcome by
the public, but I believe such a perspective can be helpful here to
understand Palin’s message. In her acceptance speech Gov. Palin sent a
rousing call to those who want to celebrate their resistance to change and a
higher vision.
Look at what she stands
for:
–Small town values — a
nostaligic return to simpler times disguises a denial of America’s global
role, a return to petty, small-minded parochialism.
–Ignorance of world
affairs — a repudiation of the need to repair America’s image abroad.
–Family values — a code
for walling out anybody who makes a claim for social justice. Such
strangers, being outside the family, don’t need to be heeded.
–Rigid stands on guns and
abortion — a scornful repudiation that these issues can be negotiated with
those who disagree.
–Patriotism — the usual
fallback in a failed war.
–”Reform” — an italicized
term, since in addition to cleaning out corruption and excessive spending,
one also throws out anyone who doesn’t fit your ideology.
Palin reinforces the
overall message of the reactionary right, which has been in play since 1980,
that social justice is liberal-radical, that minorities and immigrants,
being different from “us” pure American types, can be ignored, that
progressivism takes too much effort and globalism is a foreign threat. The
radical right marches under the banners of “I’m all right, Jack,” and “Why
change? Everything’s OK as it is.” The irony, of course, is that Gov. Palin
is a woman and a reactionary at the same time. She can add mom to apple pie
on her resume, while blithely reversing forty years of feminist progress.
The irony is superficial; there are millions of women who stand on the side
of conservatism, however obviously they are voting against their own good.
The Republicans have won multiple national elections by raising shadow
issues based on fear, rejection, hostility to change, and narrow-mindedness.
Obama’s call for higher
ideals in politics can’t be seen in a vacuum. The shadow is real; it was
bound to respond. Not just conservatives possess a shadow — we all do. So
what comes next is a contest between the two forces of progress and inertia.
Will the shadow win again, or has its furtive appeal become exhausted? No
one can predict. The best thing about Gov. Palin is that she brought this
conflict to light, which makes the upcoming debate honest. It would be a
shame to elect another Reagan, whose smiling persona was a stalking horse
for the reactionary forces that have brought us to the demoralized state we
are in. We deserve to see what we are getting, without disguise.
Spite
Submitted by: Rala Rand
Brodier
Spite by definition: Petty ill will or hatred with the disposition to annoy,
or thwart.
I
don't want McCain and I don't want Obama. As a life long democrat, I would
normally choose Obama by default. Even though I am opposed to everything
McCain
and
his Bush mentality stand for, I will probably vote for him just to spite
Obama who didn't deserve to beat Clinton.
So I
will go against everything I believe just to spite Obama. How nutz and/or
senile have I become.
The Living Room Candidate
Submitted by: Ellen S.
The
Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials 1952-2008
is an online exhibition presenting more than 300 television commercials from
every election year since 1952, when the first campaign TV ads aired. The
website will be updated through the 2008 election between John McCain and
Barack Obama. The site includes a searchable database and features
commentary, historical background, election results, and navigation
organized by year, type of ad, and issue. There is a playlist feature that
allows visitors to select, annotate, and share their own groups of ads, and
to view playlists by guest contributors. Each selected commercial is
accompanied by a list of related ads. There is a transcript for each ad and
a feature that allows visitors to search the entire database by title and by
words in the transcripts.
The
Ugly New McCain
Submitted by: Fred M.
Article from Washington
Post columnist
Richard Cohen Dated
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008
Following
his loss to George W. Bush in the 2000 South Carolina primary, John McCain
did something extraordinary: He confessed to lying about how he felt about
the Confederate battle flag, which he actually abhorred. "I broke my promise
to always tell the truth," McCain said. Now he has broken that promise so
completely that the John McCain of old is unrecognizable. He has become the
sort of politician he once despised.
The precise moment of
McCain's abasement came, would you believe, not at some news conference or
on one of the Sunday shows but on "The View," the daytime TV show created by
Barbara Walters. Last week, one of the co-hosts, Joy Behar, took McCain to
task for some of the ads his campaign has been running. One deliberately
mischaracterized what Barack Obama had said about putting lipstick on a pig
-- an Americanism that McCain himself has used. The other asserted that
Obama supported teaching sex education to kindergarteners.
"We
know that those two ads are untrue," Behar said. "They are lies."
Freeze. Close in on
McCain. This was the moment. He has largely been avoiding the press. The
Straight Talk Express is now just a brand, an ad slogan like "Home Cooking"
or "We Will Not Be Undersold." Until then, it was possible for McCain to say
that he had not really known about the ads, that the formulation "I approve
this message" was just boilerplate. But he didn't.
"Actually, they are
not lies," he said.
Actually, they are.
McCain has turned
ugly. His dishonesty would be unacceptable in any politician, but McCain has
always set his own bar higher than most. He has contempt for most of his
colleagues for that very reason: They lie. He tells the truth. He
internalizes the code of the McCains -- his grandfather, his father: both
admirals of the shining sea. He serves his country differently, that's all
-- but just as honorably. No more, though.
I am one of the
journalists accused over the years of being in the tank for McCain. Guilty.
Those doing the accusing usually attributed my feelings to McCain being
accessible. This is the journalist-as-puppy school of thought: Give us a
treat, and we will leap into a politician's lap.
Not so. What impressed
me most about McCain was the effect he had on his audiences, particularly
young people. When he talked about service to a cause greater than oneself,
he struck a chord. He expressed his message in words, but he packaged it in
the McCain story -- that man, beaten to a pulp, who chose honor over
freedom. This had nothing to do with access. It had to do with integrity.
McCain has soiled all
that. His opportunistic and irresponsible choice of Sarah Palin as his
political heir -- the person in whose hands he would leave the country -- is
a form of personal treason, a betrayal of all he once stood for. Palin, no
matter what her other attributes, is shockingly unprepared to become
president. McCain knows that. He means to win, which is all right; he means
to win at all costs, which is not.
At a forum last week
at Columbia University, McCain said, "But right now we have to restore trust
and confidence in government." This was always the promise of John McCain,
the single best reason to vote for him. America has been cheated on too many
times -- the lies of Vietnam and Watergate and Iraq. So many lies. Who
believes that in Afghanistan last month, only five civilians were killed by
the American military in an airstrike, instead of the approximately 90
claimed by the Afghan government? Not me. I first gave up on the military
during Vietnam and then again when it covered up the death of Pat Tillman,
the Army Ranger and former NFL player who was killed in 2004 by friendly
fire.
McCain was going to
fix all that. He was going to look the American people in the eyes and say,
not me. I will not lie to you. I am John McCain, son and grandson of
admirals. I tell the truth.
But Joy Behar knew
better. And so McCain lied about his lying and maybe thinks that if he wins
the election, he can -- as he did in South Carolina -- renounce who he was
and what he did and resume his old persona. It won't work. Karl Marx got one
thing right -- what he said about history repeating itself. Once is tragedy,
a second time is farce. John McCain is both.
Palin: Wrong Woman, Wrong
Message
Submitted by: Jacie M.
By
Gloria Steinem
September 4, 2008
Here's the good news:
Women have become so politically powerful that even the anti-feminist right
wing -- the folks with a headlock on the Republican Party -- are trying to
appease the gender gap with a first-ever female vice president. We owe this
to women -- and to many men too -- who have picketed, gone on hunger strikes
or confronted violence at the polls so women can vote. We owe it to Shirley
Chisholm, who first took the "white-male-only" sign off the White House, and
to Hillary Rodham Clinton, who hung in there through ridicule and misogyny
to win 18 million votes.
But here is even better
news: It won't work. This isn't the first time a boss has picked an
unqualified woman just because she agrees with him and opposes everything
most other women want and need. Feminism has never been about getting a job
for one woman. It's about making life more fair for women everywhere. It's
not about a piece of the existing pie; there are too many of us for that.
It's about baking a new pie.
Selecting Sarah Palin,
who was touted all summer by Rush Limbaugh, is no way to attract most women,
including die-hard Clinton supporters. Palin shares nothing but a chromosome
with Clinton. Her down-home, divisive and deceptive speech did nothing to
cosmeticize a Republican convention that has more than twice as many male
delegates as female, a presidential candidate who is owned and operated by
the right wing and a platform that opposes pretty much everything Clinton's
candidacy stood for -- and that Barack Obama's still does. To vote in
protest for McCain/Palin would be like saying, "Somebody stole my shoes, so
I'll amputate my legs."
This is not to beat up on
Palin. I defend her right to be wrong, even on issues that matter most to
me. I regret that people say she can't do the job because she has children
in need of care, especially if they wouldn't say the same about a father. I
get no pleasure from imagining her in the spotlight on national and foreign
policy issues about which she has zero background, with one month to learn
to compete with Sen. Joe Biden's 37 years' experience.
Palin has been honest
about what she doesn't know. When asked last month about the vice
presidency, she said, "I still can't answer that question until someone
answers for me: What is it exactly that the VP does every day?" When asked
about Iraq, she said, "I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq."
She was elected governor
largely because the incumbent was unpopular, and she's won over Alaskans
mostly by using unprecedented oil wealth to give a $1,200 rebate to every
resident. Now she is being praised by McCain's campaign as a tax cutter,
despite the fact that Alaska has no state income or sales tax. Perhaps
McCain has opposed affirmative action for so long that he doesn't know it's
about inviting more people to meet standards, not lowering them. Or perhaps
McCain is following the Bush administration habit, as in the Justice
Department, of putting a job candidate's views on "God, guns and gays" ahead
of competence. The difference is that McCain is filling a job one
72-year-old heartbeat away from the presidency.
So let's be clear: The
culprit is John McCain. He may have chosen Palin out of change-envy, or a
belief that women can't tell the difference between form and content, but
the main motive was to please right-wing ideologues; the same ones who nixed
anyone who is now or ever has been a supporter of reproductive freedom. If
that were not the case, McCain could have chosen a woman who knows what a
vice president does and who has thought about Iraq; someone like Texas Sen.
Kay Bailey Hutchison or Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine. McCain could have taken
a baby step away from right-wing patriarchs who determine his actions, right
down to opposing the Violence Against Women Act.
Palin's value to those
patriarchs is clear: She opposes just about every issue that women support
by a majority or plurality. She believes that creationism should be taught
in public schools but disbelieves global warming; she opposes gun control
but supports government control of women's wombs; she opposes stem cell
research but approves "abstinence-only" programs, which increase unwanted
births, sexually transmitted diseases and abortions; she tried to use
taxpayers' millions for a state program to shoot wolves from the air but
didn't spend enough money to fix a state school system with the lowest
high-school graduation rate in the nation; she runs with a candidate who
opposes the Fair Pay Act but supports $500 million in subsidies for a
natural gas pipeline across Alaska; she supports drilling in the Arctic
National Wildlife Reserve, though even McCain has opted for the lesser evil
of offshore drilling. She is Phyllis Schlafly, only younger.
I don't doubt her
sincerity. As a lifetime member of the National Rifle Assn., she doesn't
just support killing animals from helicopters, she does it herself. She
doesn't just talk about increasing the use of fossil fuels but puts a
coal-burning power plant in her own small town. She doesn't just echo
McCain's pledge to criminalize abortion by overturning Roe vs. Wade, she
says that if one of her daughters were impregnated by rape or incest, she
should bear the child. She not only opposes reproductive freedom as a human
right but implies that it dictates abortion, without saying that it also
protects the right to have a child.
So far, the major new
McCain supporter that Palin has attracted is James Dobson of Focus on the
Family. Of course, for Dobson, "women are merely waiting for their husbands
to assume leadership," so he may be voting for Palin's husband.
Being a hope-a-holic,
however, I can see two long-term bipartisan gains from this contest.
Republicans may learn
they can't appeal to right-wing patriarchs and most women at the same time.
A loss in November could cause the centrist majority of Republicans to take
back their party, which was the first to support the Equal Rights Amendment
and should be the last to want to invite government into the wombs of women.
And American women, who
suffer more because of having two full-time jobs than from any other single
injustice, finally have support on a national stage from male leaders who
know that women can't be equal outside the home until men are equal in it.
Barack Obama and Joe Biden are campaigning on their belief that men should
be, can be and want to be at home for their children.
This could be huge.
Gloria Steinem is an
author, feminist organizer and co-founder of the Women's Media Center. She
supported Hillary Clinton and is now supporting Barack Obama.
Read This Button Mrs.
Palin
Submitted by: Ronnie T.
'Alaska Women Reject Palin' Rally is HUGE!
Submitted by: Joanne T.
September 14, 2008
From
the website
I attended the Welcome
Home rally for Sarah Palin this morning. Hooo. It was an experience. About
a thousand (maybe) hard-core Palin supporters showed up to hear her speak at
the new Dena’ina Convention Center in downtown Anchorage.
After shaking it off
with a good double shot of espresso, and a brisk walk back to my car, it was
time to head to the Alaska Women Reject Palin rally. It was to be held
outside on the lawn in front of the Loussac Library in midtown Anchorage.
Home made signs were encouraged, and the idea was to make a statement that
Sarah Palin does not speak for all Alaska women, or men. I had no idea what
to expect.
The rally was
organized by a small group of women, talking over coffee. It made me
wonder what other things have started with small groups of women talking
over coffee. It’s probably an impressive list. These women hatched the
plan, printed up flyers, posted them around town, and sent notices to local
media outlets. One of those media outlets was KBYR radio, home of Eddie
Burke, a long-time uber-conservative Anchorage talk show host. Turns out
that Eddie Burke not only announced the rally, but called the people who
planned to attend the rally “a bunch of socialist baby-killing maggots”, and
read the home phone numbers of the organizers aloud over the air, urging
listeners to call and tell them what they thought. The women, of course,
received many nasty, harassing and threatening messages.
So, as I jettisoned
myself from the jaws of the ‘Drill Baby Drill’ crowd and toward the mystery
rally at the library, I felt a bit apprehensive. I’d been disappointed
before by the turnout at other rallies. Basically, in Anchorage, if you can
get 25 people to show up at an event, it’s a success. So, I thought to
myself, if we can actually get 100 people there that aren’t sent by Eddie
Burke, we’ll be doing good. A real statement will have been made. I
confess, I still had a mental image of 15 demonstrators surrounded by
hundreds of menacing “socialist baby-killing maggot” haters.
It’s a good thing I
wasn’t tailgating when I saw the crowd in front of the library or I would
have ended up in somebody’s trunk. When I got there, about 20 minutes
early, the line of sign wavers stretched the full length of the library
grounds, along the edge of the road, 6 or 7 people deep! I could hardly
find a place to park. I nabbed one of the last spots in the library lot,
and as I got out of the car and started walking, people seemed to join in
from every direction, carrying signs.
Never, have I seen
anything like it in my 17 and a half years living in Anchorage. The
organizers had someone walk the rally with a counter, and they clicked off
well over 1400 people (not including the 90 counter-demonstrators). This was the biggest political rally ever, in the history of the state.
I was absolutely stunned. The second most amazing thing is how many people
honked and gave the thumbs up as they drove by. And even those that didn’t
honk looked wide-eyed and awe-struck at the huge crowd that was growing by
the minute. This just doesn’t happen here.
Then, the infamous
Eddie Burke showed up. He tried to talk to the media, and was instantly
surrounded by a group of 20 people who started shouting O-BA-MA so loud he
couldn’t be heard. Then passing cars started honking in a rhythmic pattern
of 3, like the Obama chant, while the crowd cheered, hooted and waved their
signs high.
So, if you’ve been
doing the math… Yes. The Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was significantly
bigger than Palin’s rally that got all the national media coverage! So take
heart, sit back, and enjoy the photo gallery. Feel free to spread the
pictures around (links are appreciated) to anyone who needs to know that
Sarah Palin most definitely does not speak for all Alaskans. The citizens
of Alaska, who know her best, have things to say.
About Sarah Palin, from a
resident of Wasilla, Alaska
Submitted by: Rhonda M.
I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992. Everyone
here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name
basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her father was my
child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a first name basis with
her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings during
her administration than about 99% of the residents of the city.
She is
enormously popular; in every way she's like the most popular girl in middle
school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won't vote for her can't
quit smiling when talking about her because she is a "babe".
It is
astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her
most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven
months.
She is
"pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby. There is no
cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.
She is
energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.
She is
savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out there" and if
they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.
Her
husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion
snowmobile racer. Todd Palin's kind of job is highly sought-after because of
the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for
salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the
imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style
ever been anything like that of native Alaskans.
Sarah
and her whole family are avid hunters.
She's
smart.
Her
experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the
time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000
residents.
During
her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small
city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this
administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some
trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.
Sarah
campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative". During her 6 years as
Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During
those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by
38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced
progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed
even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property
owners way more than they benefited residents.
The huge
increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration weren't enough
to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed, too.
She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over
$22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for?
Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment
plant that the city lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus
for construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to
build on a piece of property that the City didn't even have clear title to,
that was still in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the lawyers
involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but
a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also
supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7
yrs without any borrowing.
While
Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more
than once.
These
are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.
As an
oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in Alaska.
Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy
independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed distribution
of this surplus to every individual in the state.
In this
time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she recommended that the
state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of
surplus state revenues: spend today's surplus, borrow for needs.
She's
not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or
compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by her or her
staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who
proposed them.
While
Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City
Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the
library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the
defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at out-and-out
censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People
who fought her attempt to oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this
day.
Sarah
complained about the "old boy's club" when she first ran for Mayor, so what
did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin fired most of the
experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as Governor she hired or
elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people, creating a staff totally
dependent on her for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercely
loyal--loyal to the point of abusing their power to further her personal
agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the case of pressuring the
State's top cop (see below).
As
Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he "intimidated" her, she
told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska's top cop has the
ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every
legal right to fire him, but it's pretty clear that an important factor in
her decision to fire him was because he wouldn't fire her sister's
ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation for abuse of power, she has
had to admit that more than 2 dozen contacts were made between her staff and
family to the person that she later fired, pressuring him to fire her
ex-brother-in-law. She tried to replace the man she fired with a man who she
knew had been reprimanded for sexual harassment; when this caused a public
furor, she withdrew her support.
She has
bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help. The City
Council person who personally escorted her around town introducing her to
voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her first
targets when she was later elected Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal City
Administrator; even people who didn't like the guy were stunned by this
ruthlessness.
Fear of
retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly about
her.
When
then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got the best,
Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one of the few jobs
not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no background in oil & gas
issues. Within months of scoring this great job which paid $122,400/yr, she
was complaining in the press about the high salary. I was told that she
hated that job: the commute, the structured hours, the work. Sarah became
aware that a member of this Commission (who was also the State Chair of the
Republican Party) engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move
which some undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah
solved all her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and
garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a
gutsy fighter against the "old boys' club" when she dramatically quit,
exposing this man's ethics violations (for which he was fined).
As
Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from Senator Ted
Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics and publicly
humiliated him. She only opposed the "bridge to nowhere" after it became
clear that it would be unwise not to.
As
Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget guidelines, then
made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing projects, calling them
pork. Public outcry and further legislative action restored most of these
projects--which had been vetoed simply because she was not aware of their
importance--but with the unobservant she had gained a reputation as
"anti-pork".
She is
solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party leaders hate her
because she has bit them in the back and humiliated them. Other members of
the party object to her self-description as a fiscal conservative.
Around
Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They call her
"Sarah Barracuda" because of her unbridled ambition and predatory
ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories circulated
around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made point guard on the high
school basketball team. When Sarah's mother-in-law, a highly respected
member of the community and experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah
refused to endorse her.
As
Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package of
legislation known as "AGIA" that forced the oil companies to march to the
beat of her drum.
Like
most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to global warming. She
campaigned "as a private citizen" against a state initiaitive that would
have either a) protected salmon streams from pollution from mines, or b)
tied up in the courts all mining in the state (depending on who you listen
to). She has pushed the State's lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior's
decision to list polar bears as threatened species.
McCain
is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat
away from being President.
There
has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and
experienced than she.
However,
there's a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.
CLAIM VS
FACT
"Hockey
mom": true for a few years
"PTA
mom": true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not since
"NRA
supporter": absolutely true social conservative: mixed.
Opposes
gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits to employees
in same-sex relationships (said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to promote
it.
"Pro-life": mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby BUT
declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation
"Experienced": Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has
residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska. No
legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory
or managerial experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of
about 5,000.
Political
maverick: not at all gutsy: absolutely! open & transparent: ???
Good at
keeping secrets. Not good at explaining actions. ohas a developed philosophy
of public policy: no
"a
Greenie": no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and
disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
fiscal
conservative: not by my definition!
pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without
a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early
20th century standards.
pro-tax
relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on residents
pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in
Wasilla's history.
labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union doesn't make her
pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is
pro-labor/pro-union.
WHY AM I
WRITING THIS?
First, I
have long believed in the importance of being an informed voter. I am a
voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting programs in the
schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny + Alaska), you will find
references to my participation in local government, education, and
PTA/parent organizations.
Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that "Bad things happen when
good people stay silent". Few people know as much as I do because few have
gone to as many City Council meetings.
Third, I
am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out of. I don't
belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no fool; she is
immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will cost me somehow in
the future: that's life.
Fourth,
she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100 or so people
who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah's attempt at
censorship.
Fifth, I
looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to say anything
because they were somehow vulnerable.
CAVEATS
I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in
spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor) from
information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of Wasilla,
and I can't recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust for inflation?
for population increases? Right now, it is impossible for a private person
to get any info out of City Hall--they are swamped. So I can't verify my
numbers.
You may
have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the population
of Wasilla, ranging from my "about 5,000", up to 9,000. The day Palin's
selection was announced a city official told me that the current population
is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was 5,460. I have used about
5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to 2002, and the city was growing
rapidly in the mid-90's.
Anne Kilkenny, resident of Wasilla, Alaska.
August 31, 2008
Political Montra...Short n'
Not-So-Sweet
By: Sy
Baron
Republican's:
No Country for Gay Men
Democrat's:
No Country for Old Men
McCain's
Veep Choice Based on Genitals
By: Mrs. Sy Baron
McCain, in his attempt to woo the female voter, selected Sarah Palin based
on a single qualification: She has a vagina.
It certainly couldn't be for her foreign policy or national affairs
experience which is
'none.'
Could he have chosen her for her very photogenic beauty queen appearance.
Could he have chosen her for her strong anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage
stance.
What about her 'drill here, drill now' policy which is in tune with McCain's
own oil development policy.
Given McCain's advanced age and failing health, is right wing extremist
Sarah Palin who we want to be a heartbeat away from the presidency?
Palin And Abortion
From: Sy
Baron's Sister Jessi R.
Palin is anti-choice
and is a member of an "anti-abortion group called Feminists for Life."
In 2002, when she was
running for lieutenant governor, Palin sent an e-mail to the anti-abortion
Alaska Right to Life
Board saying she was as ‘pro-life as any candidate can be’
and has ‘adamantly supported our cause since I first understood, as a child,
the atrocity of abortion.
Among other things, she
supports drilling in Alaska, with limits, she’s pro-life and she’s a fiscal
conservative. … Plus, Palin's an interesting character: a former beauty
queen, she was a star high school basketball player who married her
childhood sweetheart.
In
April '08 she gave birth to a baby boy who has Down syndrome. Testing
during early pregnancy revealed the condition. Palin said she was sad at
first but they now feel blessed that God chose them. The couple has lots of
family support, she said.
Her
17 year old high school senior daughter is five months pregnant, unmarried
and plans to keep the baby.
How much
more does one need to confirm her pro-life, anti-abortion stance.
FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED
It's Broke & Time To Fix It
By: Sy Baron
There is something
very wrong with a government which allows the winner of the majority vote to
lose an election and a primary. Gore had the people's vote yet Bush became
President. Hillary had the people's vote in this recent primary and yet
Obama is the candidate. Our system IS BROKEN....who's going to step up and
fix it...we need election reform NOW!!!
Click here: Reform Elections.org
McCain’s choice is blatant pandering
From: Ellen S.
John McCain’s choice
for vice president, Sarah Palin, is an example of the worst kind of
political pandering and is a crystal-clear example of McCain’s complete lack
of understanding of the women who supported Hillary Clinton.
Palin, governor of
Alaska, is under investigation; her previous government experience is, aside
from two years as governor, as part-time mayor of a town of 8,000. This just
goes to prove Sen. Barack Obama was right — McCain “doesn’t get it.”
Worst of all, in his
eagerness to pander to women, McCain leaves our nation open to leadership by
someone who is staggeringly unprepared.
His choice, in short,
is an insult — not just to women, but to all Americans.
Wallpaper Norm, Pencil, Bagels & the Pump
Mrs. Sy Baron
My
50th High School Reunion just came and went without me. Without my friends.
Last week-end we held our own reunion, of sorts.
"Back in the day" for us was the late '50s.
We
came home from school, did our homework, had dinner and walked to 'the
pump.' No candy store, soda fountain for us. We hung out at the pump.
What the attraction was, to this day none of us can fathom except that we
were all there. In school we would ask, "Are you going to the pump tonight?"
We
utilized the park cars as chairs. No liquor, no drugs, just hardcore laughs
and comradely. On any given night, at least 2 or 3 of us would be there.
Most nights there were ten or more.
We're all scattered around the country now and sadly we did lose a few but
for the most part we are still in touch, more so now thanks to email.
A
few months ago the inevitable calls/emails began circulating. "You going to
the reunion?" "Nah!"
The
'nah's' and 'nay's' ruled. Not a one of us wanted to go to our high school
reunion.
Suddenly, an email circulated from Pencil (Tall Thin Bart). "Hey you guys,
anyone up to flying into the big city for our own reunion at the pump?"
Normie Bagels (he worked Sundays rolling bagels in a bagel factory) and his
wife were definitely on board.
Wallpaper Norm (had a tattoo) said he and his wife would fly in from Oregon.
"Hello Beauty" Beverly (she was always looking in the mirror and when she
did we chanted, "Hello Beauty.") was excited and drove across the river
from Jersey.
Roz
& Stan (you always said their names as one...people thought that was a name,
RozStan. They dated since Junior High and their names blended.) They drove
down
from Boston.
All
in all, 11 couples showed up at the pump in jeans, poodle skirts and
cardigans buttoned in the back.
We
had one wheelchair, two canes and the rest of us 65+ er's were doing the
lindy in the street. Neighbors came by and asked if we were making a movie
because
we
were video taping each other.
We
took taxi's to Dante's Pizzeria where we used to go after basketball games.
Believe it or not, same family owns it, albeit their children.
This
'homemade' reunion of ours was over-the-top with love and emotion and so
much more enjoyable than a group of now-strangers walking around a generic
hotel party room elbowing their way to the buffet for over cooked meatballs
at $250. a couple.
Did
I have a nickname back then? You betcha I did.
We
would go to a popular Poconos resort called Tamiment on 'single week-ends.'
One particular Friday night show starred a hypnotist who asked for audience
volunteers. I succumbed immediately and was told when I awake every time I
hear the word "Tamiment" I would giggle.
For
the rest of the week-end all the guests, strangers and friends alike, would
walk up to me and say "Tamiment." And yes, I would giggle.. And so, I
earned the nickname Tami.
.
I Never Lost A Game Of
Musical Chairs
By: Mrs. Sy Baron
I never lost a game of
musical chairs, pick-up sticks or jacks. It wasn't that I was so good at
them, it was simply due to the fact that I was a cheater. I cheated in box
ball, hopscotch, 'don't-step-on-the-line 'and every other childhood game. I
had to cheat. I couldn't bear losing. On the rare occasion that I didn't
win, I earned the title of 'sore loser.'
While I haven't cheated
in over 60 years I am still a sore loser. A big cry baby. A sore sport. A
regular whiner.
Right now I am whining
long and loud. When the two sides were choosing teams I joined the
'absolute for sure' winner's side. Thought this would be an easy win. But
we lost. I don't do
'losing' well...It's not my strong suit.
I thought for sure I
would be in the next round with the winner. But not this time.
And so this spoiled sport
is not going to vote in November. Sad? Perhaps. But true to myself. I
can't vote for Bush's clone (McCain). I can't vote for the empty shell, no
substance Obama. (Even with Biden). Hillary and I lost...and I don't like
it. I don't like it ...not one little bit!!!!
Bases Loaded... Bottom of The Ninth
By: Mrs. Sy Baron
It's the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded.
The manager looks to bench. He's going for the pinch hitter in this crucial
moment. His two favorites are ready. But he calls for the rookie. The
rookie walks to the plate amid jeers and boos from the fans, vistors and
home team alike. On the very first pitch the rookie batter hits it clear out
of the ballpark. Sarah Palin wears the Vice Presidential Candidate uniform
with pride.
Side Bar: My ideal ticket...Hillary/Sarah
Wouldn't that just stick it to good ol' boys.
Déjà Vu All Over Again
From: Sy Baron
July
25, 2000 Bush Officially Introduces Cheney as His Running Mate
My
foremost goal has been to select an outstanding individual who is capable of
serving as president of the United States.
August
23, 2008Obama Announces Biden as Running
Mate
Above
all, I searched for a leader who is ready to step in and be President.
Cheneyʼs
Nigerian nightmare: Investigators in three countries are probing an alleged
$180 million bribe
involving Halliburton...
Biden
has taken $344,400 from lobbyists since 1997 --
Déjà Vu
All Over Again
Michael Phelps: The Early Days
From: Ellen S.
I would like to
receive information of any Federal update in regards to the H.R. 4208, The
Reconnecting Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act discussed by US
Representative Shelly Berkley in Nevada after visiting the Nevada
Partnership for Homeless Youth on March 20, 2008.
I have a teen who is
currently in the court system who has come into my home requesting for my
husband and I to obtain guardianship so she does not have to return to her
home because of abuse/drug use. She is a very smart and intelligent girl who
has made high honors and involved in a special program at the High School
that she attends which promotes seeking college opportunities. Although the
article focuses on Runaways and Foster Children, let’s not forget the
children that become involved with families through friendships who also
need a safe place to escape as well.
Many of our Teens
across the US are enduring everyday what you have described is happening in
Nevada. It is imperative that we save our youth. They are our future.
I want to support this
bill; could you please tell me how I can get involved?
Thank you for your
time.
L. Lancaster
Danville, IL
Editor's Note to our readers: If you
have information of any Federal update in regard to the H.R. 4208, as
mentioned above, please contact us:
editor@vegascommunityonline.com so that we may send the information to
L. Lancaster. Thank you.
John McCain is George Bush Clone -
(Satire)
From: Mrs. Sy Baron
The Real McCain
(OUCH!!!)
Focus John, Focus
From: Mrs. Sy Baron
Senator John
McCain comes from a military family. (His father and paternal
grandfather were in the Navy.)
The Senator was a
fighter pilot and a prisoner of war.
McCain's first
marriage ended in divorce because of his extra marital affairs.
McCain sides with
George W Bush almost all the time.
If elected,
he would be 72
when taking the oath. That's far beyond retirement age.
With 100%
certainty he would keep us in
Iraq forever
I question whether
he really wants to steer this country back to its splendor or is he just
power hungry.
Not long ago I
respected John McCain, a true Republican Party maverick. I trusted he
wouldn't follow the party line but would speak up for what's right.
I also hoped he
would run as an independent and as such I would easily vote for this man
of courage and virtue.
But something
happened!!! He became an attack dog.
I lost my respect
for him as I now see his 'dark side.'
Is it too late?
Will he realize how destructive his negativity and dirty politics are to
the good health of our country?
FOCUS
JOHN...FOCUS
!!! STOP THE ATTACKS...Let
us know exactly how you will be dealing with the issues facing our
country.
Tyranny Of Oil
From: Sy Baron
The
Washington Post
Breaking Own Record, Exxon Sets Highest U.S. Profit Ever
Second-Quarter Earnings Total $11.68 Billion
By
Steven Mufson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 1, 2008
As
political heat rises over high oil prices, Exxon Mobil yesterday announced
the biggest quarterly profit of any corporation in U.S. history, breaking
its own previous record with $11.68 billion in earnings during the second
quarter. The company's revenue surged 40 percent, to $138.07 billion for the
quarter. If it were a country, the company would have the 18th-largest
economy in the world.
The
Vancouver Sun
Rising oil prices power enormous Exxon profits
Highest quarterly amount in U.S.
Tom
Bergin and Michael Erman, Reuters
Published: Friday, August 01, 2008
Exxon Mobil Corp. broke its own record for the highest quarterly profit for
a U.S. company on Thursday, joining other major oil companies in posting
stronger earnings on the back of sky-high oil prices.
THE
NEW YORK TIMES
August 1, 2008 Exxon’s Second-Quarter Earnings Set a Record
HOUSTON — Exxon Mobil reported the best quarterly profit ever for a
corporation on Thursday, beating its own record, but investors sold off
shares as oil and natural
gas
prices resumed their recent decline.
Record earnings for Exxon, the world’s largest publicly traded oil company,
have become routine as the surge of oil prices in recent years has filled
its coffers. The
company’s income for the second quarter rose 14 percent, to $11.68 billion,
compared to the same period a year ago. That beat the previous record of
$11.66 billion set by Exxon in the last three months of 2007.
Presidential Olympics
By: Sy Baron
The Olympic silver
medal
in the category of Presidential Campaign Spending will go to Barak Obama
having spent $5 million
on advertising during the Olympics.
John McCain took out a $6 million
ad to buy airtime during the Bejing Games that open today 8/8/08. McCain,
therefore, goes home with the GOLDhaving
spent $1 million more than Obama.
The spending by these two campaigns are the first substantial advertising on
national network TV by any presidential candidate in 12 years. (Bob Dole,
1996 5.5 Million in '96 dollars)
Click
HERE to see Cartoon of the Presidential Olympics by
Vegas Olympics
Mrs. Sy Baron
The Olympic torch relay began at the Monte Carlo Hotel where it was handed
over to the first bearer, Lance Burton by Mayor Oscar Goodman. The flame
traveled to its final destination, Fremont Street. Among the torch bearers
were Steve Wynn, Bette Midler, Sy Baron and James Caan.
Opening ceremonies began with the Vision canopy & light show. Psychedelic
shows followed.
Venues such as the Cashman Center and Thomas & Mack Center are host to
several competitions including roulette spin, card shuffle and the always
popular slot pull race. The spectacular final competition, the Elvis
Gyration is completely sold out.
Some Olympians are staying at Motel 6 on Tropicana while others were invited
to be house guests at various trailer and mobile home parks near Stallion
Mountain Country Club.
Award ceremonies for the Silver and Bronze Dice will be held next Tuesday at
the senior community center on East Flamingo and Cabana Drive. The
televised Gold Dice ceremony will be held a week later in the parking lot of
the Elvis-A-Rama Museum on Industrial Rd.
Remember, it's August in Vegas. The temperatures are soaring so we are
continuing with our clothing is optional policy.
Olympic Apathy
From: Roberta Bradi
Presidential Olympics
From: Roberta Bradie
The presidential event
will be the competition of the flip flop.
Step Family
From: Audrey
Meyers
My husband past away several years ago and I had been
raising our twins alone. There weren't any grandparents on either side.
A year ago I was fortunate enough to marry a wonderful man who has
two caring parents who became instant grandparents to my children just in
time for their bar/bat mitzvahs
As is the custom, relatives are called up one by one to light a
candle. Prior to each person coming up, the bar/bat mitzvah child usually
recites a poem or story they've written, which describes their relationship
with that relative or friend.
For a full month before the affair both children were diligent in
their preparations. I wanted to oversee what they were going to say but
they wouldn't tell me.
My son called his new grandpa to come up:
Grandpa Bob
likes to make jokes
But at 80,
he's one of the old folks
He likes to
tease me and the rest of our clan
But for
tonight I hatched a plan
Today I
became a man
And now it's
my turn to make fun
Last week you
turned 80 and it's just begun
You won't
have much of choice
Driving will
soon be done by Grandma Joyce
Will you be
signaling left and making a right
Did you drive
thru that red light...
Are you gonna
wear your belt up near your chest
And open your
pants for you food to digest
Hope you know
this is all in jest
I think you
are the absolute best
For the rest
of your life, you have a job
And that's to
be my Grandpa Bob
Followed my daughter saying:
We never know
what's around the corner
Did ya ever
think you'd have a granddaughter
Especially
one as charming as me
Don't you
agree?
We never know
what's around the corner
I never
thought I'd have a Grandpa Bob
So down to
earth, not a snob
We both cudda
gotten stuck
But instead
we had a lot of luck
I got you and
you got me
And now we
are a family.
Please know
that it's true
That I really
do love you.
Need I say more? I am so proud of my children. What goes around
comes around.
These two senior citizens embraced their new step grandchildren and
my children felt it and
responded in kind.
I don't have to tell you my mascara was running down my cheeks.
Al Gore For President 2008
Not a fantasy....we need YOU!
By: Mrs. Sy Baron
My stress has reached a feverish pitch when I think of the possibility of
there being a
Commander in Chief McBush. Even worse is the thought of a President Barack
Hussein Obama and his promise of
change. Fifty years ago another young charismatic leader
promised change which was
the beginning of the downfall of Cuba.
What are
we to do? Do we vote for McCain and his foreign policy. A man who only
last night spoke of Czechoslovakia in the present tense. McCain expressed
“regret some of the recent behavior that Russia has exhibited…including
reduction in oil supplies to Czechoslovakia.” Czechoslovakia was a country
that ceased to exist in 1993 after separating into the Czech Republic and
Slovakia. Do we vote for Obama who's speeches promise change without substance...similar to Castro's some 50 years ago. Obama's
change
can also be defined as a revolution. A revolution against
the
current administration and it's policies. His is an intellectual revolution
put forth with his ideology & beliefs to get his points across to the
American people. Much like Fidel Castro did against the Batista
administration. The people rallied
behind Castro with his promises of change.. only to be misled by
him...the rest is history my dear folks.
Well, Ladies & Gentlemen.. There Is Hope.. But We Need You
Democrats, both at the grassroots level and in elected office, said that Al
Gore's voice and vision offer us the best chance to reclaim our country
and to fight again for the values our party has historically stood for.
That's why a campaign has been mounted. A historic effort to try to Draft Gore for
2008.
We still
believe that the man who was the people's choice for President in 2000 will
make a great president someday. And what happened in the Democratic
Primaries for 2008, many suggest that this may turn out to be Gore's year
after all.
It's NOT too late.
Please
click this open, add your name to the petition and click it into
cyberspace. It will take you less than 10 seconds. Forward it to your
friends.
Gore is
our ONLY hope. His land is our land.
Open Letter To Jay Leno
Mrs. Sy Baron
Whadya doin' ta me Jay? You know I can't fall asleep without you in my
room. Now yuz gonna leave The Tonight Show. After all we've meant to each
other. Will you please consider another network in the same time slot.
When it was announced that Conan would be taking over for Leno in 2009
I shook in fear. Leno's Tonight Show is my favorite of the late night fares.
I love Jay's monologues, his skits and the 'on location' schtick he does. I
love his guest and audience interaction.
Of all the late
night talk shows, Conan is my least favorite. Conan just flops and flares
his hands around, shakes his bobble head a bit, and calls that comedy. It's
not funny to me.
So come on
Jay....Negotiate with another network....We need you at night.
Buyer's Remorse
The George W. Bush Story
Submitted By: Mrs. S. Baron
Their positions are
virtually indistinguishable.
If you liked President
George Bush, you will love President John McCain
Bush has told people for
months that he hoped McCain would be the nominee
and also that McCain
would be the best to carry forth his agenda
Conservatives distrust
McCain because he Is exactly like Bush.
Conservatives'
discontent with McCain is widely known.
.McCain and Bush agree on
nearly every issue that upsets conservatives,
from immigration to
campaign finance
If you liked the second
Bush term, you will find much to admire in a
Commander-in-Chief
McCain.
Between
a Rock & a Hard Place
Submitted By: Mrs. S. Baron
Stop Them In Their Tracks
Congratulations Bush & Cheney
By: Mrs. Sy Baron
Congratulations are in order for our maniacal president, George W. Bush &
his very evil vice president Dick Cheney. They are the two thugs who pulled
off the biggest hoax on the American people and are only months away from
retirement and living their lives out in luxury. We should stop them dead
in their tracks.
They
should be charged with criminal intent and fraud against their country.
Bush got us into Iraq to steal their oil and then gave it to his
conservative Texas buddies.
Scam! Scam! Scam!
The GI Bill
Submitted by: Bea Fogelman
I
would like to see the GI Bill advance one more step and allow our veterans
and in-service military to purchase a home with no money down... the
CRV (certificate of Reasonable Value) to not exceed $350,000... with a low
interest rate (5% -6%)...to not exceed 1 point to the lender... and the
government guaranteed loan to exceed 75% to the lender in case of default.
This would remove more than 80% of the foreclosures all around the USA.
The VA loans (and FHA) as they exist today are unreasonable, time-consuming
and expensive.
It is my understanding that the VA never list a dime on this program and
there is no reason the veterans and in-service military cannot obtain a home
of their own and, at the same time, solve the foreclosure problem by
allowing those losing their homes to refinance them, providing they are
veterans, with a reasonable GI home mortgage loan.
PS- How about Shelly Berkley for President??!!
Marriage Of The Rind
Submitted by: Sy Baron
Just finished reading
Pete's article taunting the RIND of the WATERMELON having the same effect as
Viagra. On that note allow me to share one of my all time favorite
watermelon recipes...
Seedless Watermelon
Chunks
Thin Sliced Red Onions
Cubed Feta Cheese
Greek Olives
Gently mix together in a glass bowl
Serve using Tongs
ENJOY this incredibly tasty yet unlikely marriage of ingredients
McBush
Submitted by: Sy Baron
A Word to the
Wise
An American who votes
for McBush is like a German Jew voting for Hitler.
Babel
Confessed by: Sy Baron
My
attention span as of late as become slightly better than that of an ameba.
I've been reduced to watching inane situation comedies & magazine news
shows. Having
become an Olympic quality channel surfer, I happened across the Academy
Award nominated movie Babel.
It
was engrossing and gripping. Best of all I found myself drifting only once
or twice. I will have to watch it again to totally comprehend the story.
But this proves to me that my attention span hasn't completely atrophied as
I had feared. Hang in there all ye seniors!
Next Year in Jerusalem
Be Very Careful Who You
Vote For
Mrs. Sy Baron
An
illegal alien from Mexico "sexually tortured preteen boys & girls in
unspeakable & unimaginable ways", said the prosecutor in the Oregon
town. The illegal alien has been sentenced to 75 years in prison, but he
needs dialysis, and it will cost the state of Oregon $312,000. a year to
keep him alive plus the normal costs of housing and feeding a prisoner.
Another
illegal alien from Mexico will be going to prison after raping a 14 year old
girl. His public defender told the court that his client is a victim of
“cultural disorientation” and should not be sent to prison for “what his own
culture doesn’t recognize as criminal at all.” “In Mexico it’s not a crime to be with a
young girl under age,”
Please
don't let the media decide who we vote for. Carefully examine the illegal
immigration policy of your local elected officials as well as those of the
presidential candidates. For all the monies we spend to arrest, prosecute
and house these illegal aliens we could easily have free health care for the
masses.
The Rind
Submitted by: Pete
Hey guys...heads
up!!!!!
The chemicals in watermelon work much like Viagra. There's
something new that watermelon growers can hang their hat on. "The rind on
watermelons has some of the same effects as Viagra.
Really, really, get me another one." The director of Texas A&M's fruit and
vegetable improvement center has discovered that watermelons have an
ingredient that delivers viagra like effects and may even increase libido.
The phyto-nutrient called citrulline that relaxes the
blood vessels is found in watermelon. The researcher who
conducted the study says the watermelon rind also has a beneficial effect
on the heart. But no one seems very interested in that aspect right now.
There is, however, a catch: The phyto-nutrient called citrulline that
relaxes the blood vessels is found in highest concentrations in the part you
generally don't eat...The watermelon RIND
Just Some Applause
Roy Clark
Mount Charleston, NV.
I've been reading Kid
Cary's column for a few years and it's interesting/encouraging to note how
his column seems to be coming better and better while so many others are
going stale and stuffy.
The last few were like Herb Caen in San Francisco of NYC's Jimmy Breslin.(Yes,
I now, they're gone. Still... The mix of wry humor and useful information,
the straight reportage and editorial zaps are just right. Only a few of the
columnists I've read have pulled all this off so well. I'll keep on
a-reading Kid Cary regularly.
Please convey my applause to this heft maven. And what's the story on the
column's name? 'The Boss Asked Me . . . ' Seems like KC is his own boss.
Such is a draw - independence and a feisty nature - for readers to come in
and stay, week after week.
{NEW}
High School Graduation Ala the 2008
Extended Family
By: Nana Banana
Mom & New Husband
Dad & New Wife
Younger Brother
Maternal Grandma (me) &
Grandpa
Paternal Grandma &
Grandpa
Mom's new husband's
Parents
Dad's new wife's father
Each
of these family members are actively involved in my granddaughter's life.
Except for me (of course), each grandparent either natural or step are
equally important in this family.
I,
am the self-appointed and uncontested family matriarch.
Six
tickets to the graduation ceremony were allotted to each of the graduating
students.
We
needed no less than 12. There was no one to cut. After calling the school
only to
be
told 'no exceptions, 6 tickets per student,' I told my granddaughter to ask
her peers if anyone had any extra tickets.
What
happened next still leaves me with my mouth ajar. Her 'friends' told her
they
are going to 'sell the tickets outside the school on the morning of the
graduation.'
I
got to the school one hour before everyone was due to arrive on the big day.
Sure
enough it was like Madison Square Garden. There were at least a dozen
students adorned in cap & gown hawking their extra tickets. Student
Scalpers!
I
managed to purchase the needed 6 extra tickets at a negotiated price of
between
$25
and $75 each before the scalping was discovered by the school security
and
the students forced to go into the school.
Until this confession, only my granddaughter and I know how we got 12
tickets to her graduation. Unbelievable!!!!
How Do You Draw McCain?
By: Sy
Baron
BUSH +
CARBON PAPER = McCain
American Idol
By: The Baroness
(The Sy Baron Family Granddaughter)
More
Americans voted for American Idol contestants than they did in
any presidential election.
Could it be that we liked the
contestants who ran but didn't like the candidates who ran.
Could it be that a 17 year old can vote on American Idol, serve in
the military and yet not be allowed to vote in a presidential election.
Could it be that on American Idol, what you see is what you get but in a
presidential election it's all smoke & mirrors, undeliverable promises,
deceptions & lies.
American Idol counts the actual votes.
There are no super delegates.
All
votes are equal.
American Idol doesn't have chads or hanging chads.
American Idol contestants strut their stuff without berating the
competition.
What say you out there?
Where to Buy Gas - Not from OPEC
From Nina W.
WHERE TO BUY AMERICAN GASOLINE.
THIS
IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW.
READ
ON.
Gas rationing in the 70's worked even though we grumbled
about it. It might even have been good for us!
Are you aware that the Saudis are boycotting American
products?
Shouldn't we return the favor? Can't we take control of
our own destiny and let these giant oil importers know who REALLY generates
their profits, their livings? How about leaving American Dollars in America
and reduce the import/export deficit?
An appealing remedy might be to boycott their GAS. Every
time you fill up your car you can avoid putting more money into the coffers
of Saudi Arabia. Just purchase gas from companies that don't import their
oil from the Saudis.
Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every
time I fill up my tank, I'm sending my money to people who I get the
impression want me, my family and my friends dead. Don't you think it
might be of interest to know which oil companies import Middle Eastern oil
and which do not?
These companies import Middle Eastern oil:
Shell
205,742,000 barrels
Chevron/Texaco.
144,332,000 barrels
Exxon /Mobil.
130,082,000 barrels
Marathon/Speedway.
117,740,000 barrels
Amoco.
62,231,000
barrels
And CITGO oil is imported from Venezuela by Dictator Hugo
Chavez who hates America and openly avows our economic destruction! (We pay
Chavez's regime nearly $10 Billion per year in oil revenues!)
The U.S. currently imports 5,517,000 barrels of crude oil
per day from OPEC. If you do the math at $95 per barrel, that's over $524
million PER DAY ($191 BILLION per
year!) handed over to OPEC, many of whose members are our
confirmed enemies!!!!!
Here
are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:
Sunoco.
0 barrels
Conoco
0 barrels
Sinclair
0 barrels
BP / Phillips
0 barrels
Hess
0 barrels
ARC0
0 barrels
Maverick.
0 barrels
Flying J
0 barrels
Valero.
0 barrels
I AM
GOING TO ADD THE FOLLOWING…
Murphy Oil USA sold at Wal-Mart is from South Arkansas and
owned USA. Not only that they give scholarships to all children in their
town who finish high school and are legal US citizens.
All of this information is available from the U.S.
Department of Energy and each company is required to state where they get
their oil and how much they are importing.
But to have a real impact, we need to reach literally
millions of gas buyers. With the help of the internet, it's really simple
to do. Now, don't wimp out at this point....keep reading and I'll explain
how simple it is to reach millions of people!!
I'm sending this note to about thirty people. If each of
you send it to at only ten more (30 x 10 = 300)....and those 300 send it to
at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000)....and so on, by the time the message
reaches the sixth generation of people, we will have reached over THREE
MILLION consumers!!!!!!!
If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten
friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted! If it goes
one level further, you guessed it....THREE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE-the entire
population of the United States of America!!!!
Again, all you have to do is forward this message to 10
people. How long would that really take you? If each of us sends this
e-mail out to ten more people, within one day all 300 MILLION people could
theoretically be contacted during the next eight days!
Is Life
Just A Bowl Of Cherries
Mrs. Sy Baron asks
Life
is just a bowl of cherries
Don't take it serious,
Life's too mysterious
You
work,
You
save,
You
worry so
But
you can't take your dough
When
you go, go, go
No
matter how clever I think I am, there's no beating the slot machine. I
reconciled myself to seeing my coins flowing away in a steady stream, paying
tribute to the engineering brains which have designed these pick-pocket
machines so efficiently that they can't fail to keep half or more of the
coins I feed into them, giving me nothing in return except the thrill of
seeing my money vanish.
If
"Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries" these cherries will never pay enough to
make me rich.
Bob Wins the Lottery
Brought to you by
The Green Frog
(1) Rearrange the
letters: SLOT MACHINES.
(2) Bob rushes into
his house and yells to his wife, `Carmen, pack up your things! I just won
the lottery." Carmen replies, "Should I pack for warm weather or cold?" Bob
responds, "I don't care. Just get out!"
Answer: CASH LOST IN
EM.
Open Invitation to Obama, Clinton & McCain
For Dinner at My House
From Sy Baron & Family
I
finally figured out how to
figure out who to vote
for. At first I thought I'd vote for the guy/gal who promises to end the
Iraq war. Perhaps the candidate who will bring down the gas prices. Or
even better, which one will promise a lifetime pass to Disneyland. Any of
these would be great.
But
then I gave serious thought to deciding who will get my vote. You see, none
of the candidates are really capable of delivering on any of those
promises. I had to come up with a better decision making plan. I want
someone who will make the country it's old self again as seen by the rest of
the world.
I
will not try and
see if he/she are in agreement with me on any issue. I have a better
plan. I will invite each of them, one at a time, over for dinner. After
dinner we can relax in the living room and I will look into their eyes and
listen to the words coming out of their mouth. If I feel comfortable, not
with what's being said, but with the tone of how they are said, then that's
my man (or woman).
My
point is that I've got to trust them to do the job the same way I do mine,
with determination and sincerity and a strong belief that makes me feel I'm
in the presence of an honest person. I want to believe that he really
doesn't want the power of the presidency but he/she takes it because they
know America is a great country and wants nothing more out of life than to
serve his fellow Americans.
My Short Bucket List
By: Mrs. Sy Baron
Sixty Five years in
the making, I am now ready to attack my personal bucket list.. one by one.
In no particular order, my top 10 list is as follows:
1.
Learn how to twirl a baton.
2.
Attend Friday night services at least once a month.
3.
Call my college sweetheart requesting a current photo.
4.
Wear a bikini swimsuit at the Rio's beach.
5.
Clean behind the refrigerator.
6.
Organize my car trunk.
7.
Learn how to accessorize my wardrobe.
9.
Make Gefilte Fish from scratch.
10.
Take the Jeopardy contestant test for the 3rd time.. this time try and pass.
Chutzpah 101
By Merner Terna
It was only a few months ago that we flew back to New York
to attend a wedding.
While there we drove past our old house in Forest Hills to
see if the new owners changed the landscaping or built additions to the
house. As luck would have it, the owner was on the lawn talking to the
mailman. We stopped and introduced ourselves and immediately realized he
wasn't the owner we had sold our house to just 6 months earlier. The couple
to whom we sold turned out to be 'flippers.' They would purchase a house,
renovate it and resell it almost immediately for huge profits. In this
case, there were no renovations, just the flip. The new owner was shocked
to learn that he paid $150,000 more than we sold the house for just 6 months
earlier.
My husband, on the other side of the coin, still laments
that we “lost $150,000." He insists we should have asked more for the
house. But like life, timing is everything. In today's housing trend, we
should consider ourselves lucky to have gotten our asking price back then.
My husband now walks around the house mumbling to himself
or whoever will listen about the Chutzpah of the 'flippers' we sold to. In
my mind they were just savvy. But I keep my mouth tightly shut....he feels
bad enough.
Dear VCO
As I
prepare for my Mother's Day with my children and grandchildren, I can't help
but feel for the mothers who have a son or daughter in the military. Could
you find a Clark County mother who ONLY has one child and that child is in
the military unable to be home for Mother's Day. Without fanfare or fuss
please give my prize to that mother.
I
love working as an extra on the movie and TV sets here in Vegas. Retirement
has afforded me the ability to divide my free time between charitable causes
and fun. I love opportunity of meeting new people, many in my age range and
financial bracket. Many even share my politics. With all the 'waiting
around time' one can't help but engage in conversation. The extras come
from all walks of life and all areas of the country. In this last year I've
learned more about people than I did in my previous 65 years. Fascinating
melting pot we have going on here in Vegas. Veddy veddy interesting! Lovin'
every day of it....
Deja Vu All Over Again(Thanx
Yogi)
Submitted by: Sal Sagev
The time has come the walrus said to talk of many things...of shoes & ships
and ceiling wax and cabbages & kings.
The time has also come to talk about our first grandchild going off to
college
Wasn't it just yesterday when we took her mother, our first born, up
to college for the first time.
Where have the years gone...these are all good things happening and we are
happy but the years are slipping by so fast. My own father is almost 95 and
sharp as a tack, so there is hope I can dance at my grandchildren's
weddings. (Or at least be wheeled in if need be)...
I'm just
sitting here wondering where the years went. So quick....so darn quick.
Today's Souvenir, Tomorrow's Garbage
The Baron Family
We
returned from a recent visit to Lake Havasu to see the infamous London
Bridge.
Three hours in each direction, back and forth on the same day. Took some
pictures,
did
a little exploring and came back home.
The
first people to greet us were my children and grandchildren..."Did you bring
us back a souvenir?" We didn't. To be perfectly honest we didn't even
think of it. We did
visit the gift shop but it just had the usual generic overpriced items.
How
far do we have to travel? Is it distance that counts?
What
is the criteria that needs to be met to bring back a souvenir gift.
Old
Vegas vs. Vegas Now
From:
Old-time Las Vegan
I'm a real old-timer who's been here since the
late 60's and have watched Las Vegas grow from a small town to a
mega city... but what have those changes brought? Below is a
miniscule of the MANY reasons I'd like the Old Vegas back!
Old Vegas
Vegas Now
"The Boys"
Corporations
Giving Comps
all the time
Every
department - bottom line profits
No Traffic
hassles
Total traffic
congestions
99 cent Shrimp
Cocktail
$4.99 Shrimp
Cocktail
Lounge shows -
$5 incl. 2 drinks
Nightclubs -
$500 - $2,000 a night
You do the
math!
Thank You
Lois & Ben
We are proud that our submission on preventing global warming has
been chosen
as the winning Feedback for March.
It would please us to have our prize offered to Dr. David Hassenzah,
the Chair of the Environment Studies Department at UNLV for him to
present to a student of his choosing who is a member of S.S.C.Sierra
Student Coalition
S.S.C. is a student organization at UNLV that focuses on
environmental
issues facing Southern Nevada and the world.
Brando at the Seder
From: David S. Newman
This
was published last year in the LA Jewish Journal and this year some other
papers are running it.It is such
a weird juxtaposition of people----Dylan and Brando.Louis Kemp, of Kemp Seafoods, the author, is achildhood friendof Bob
Dylan.
Brando at the Seder
Louie Kemp
You
might remember him as Don Vito Corleone, Stanley Kowalski or the eerie Col.
Walter E. Kurtz in Apocalypse Now , but I remember Marlon Brando as a mensch
and a personal friend of the Jewish people when they needed it most.
I
got to know Marlon about thirty years ago through a mutual friend. His son,
Christian, came to work for me in fisheries I owned in Alaska and Minnesota.
Marlon impressed me as a dedicated parent. He would often call me to check
on his boy with all the tenacity and loving concern of a Jewish mother: Was
he eating enough? Did he get to work on time? Was he hanging out with the
right people?
Christian was a great kid. He worked hard, had a good attitude and earned
the respect of all his co-workers.
In
the mid-1970s, when I would visit Los Angeles from my home in Minnesota,
Marlon and I would get together. I was becoming increasingly involved in my
religion and he would tell me with great pride and satisfaction about his
support for Israel even before it became a State. Marlon explained that in
1946, two years before Israel achieved statehood, he desperately believed
that the survivors of the Holocaust deserved to have their own land wh ere
they could live free from oppression and the anti-Semitic tyranny of the
outside world.
True
to form, Marlon put his money where his mouth was and donated all of his
proceeds from the play, 'A Flag Is Born,' to the Irgun, a Zionist political
group dedicated to rescuing European Jewry and the establishment of Israel
as an independent sovereign nation. He continued his donations and
charitable work over the entire two-year run of the play as it went from
Broadway to touring destinations around the United States.
'A
people that fought so hard to survive need and deserve their own land,' he
told me. 'I did all that I could and actively supported Israel's statehood
anyway I was able.'
Marlon also told me with great emotion that his success in theater and
movies was largely due to the Jewish people in New Y ork who befriended and
taught him. He warmly mentioned Stella Adler, the legendary acting coach who
both taught Marlon his craft and housed him with her family while he was
getting on his feet as an actor. He was also especially proud of the fact
that he could converse in Yiddish, having learned it while living with her
family.
One
of my visits to Los Angeles coincided with Passover. I was not yet Orthodox
and made plans to attend a seder at a local synagogue with my sister. Marlon
called me that very day and invited me out to dinner. I graciously declined,
explaining that it was Passover and I was going to a seder. Marlon became
audibly excited over the phone and said, 'Passover -- I've always wanted to
attend a seder. Can I come with you?' He had made mean offer I couldn't refuse. I told him it could be arranged and
called the synagogue to add one more to our list.
A
short time later, Marlon called me back and asked if he could bring a
friend. I said, yes, by all means, never thinking to ask his friend's name.
I
called the shul again. They were a little less patient this time and
begrudgingly told me that they could squeeze one more person in, but this
was absolutely the last one as they were now officially sold out.
Still later that day, I received a phone call from a childhood friend of
mine who had become a well-known singer/songwriter. Being Jewish himself,
and hearing I was going to a seder, he asked if he and his wife could go
along. The shul was unhappy to receive my most recent request, but somehow I
softened the heart of the receptionist and she agreed to let my people go --
to the seder.
I
will never forget the sight of our table in the synagogue. Marlon Brando was
to my left and sitting next to him was his guest. This was during the height
of Marlon's involvement with Native American causes and he had brought with
him noted Indian activist Dennis Banks of Wounded Knee fame.
Banks was dressed in full Indian regalia: buckskin tassles on his clothes
and long braids hanging down from a headband, which sported a feather.
My
childhood friend Bob Dylan sat to my right, joined by his wife, my sister
Sharon, and other friends.
At
first the seder progressed normally without anyone in the temple noticing
anything out of the ordinary. After about forty-five minutes, the rabbi
figured out that ours was not your average seder table. 'Mr. Brando, would
you please do us the honor of reading the next passa ge from the Hagaddah,'
he said. Marlon said, 'It would be my pleasure.'
He
smiled broadly, stood up and delivered the passage from the Hagaddah as if
he were reading Shakespeare on Broadway.
Mouths fell open and eyes focused on the speaker with an intensity any rabbi
would covet. When he was done I think people actually paused, wondering if
they should applaud.
Somewhat later the rabbi approached another member of our table.
'Mr.
Dylan, would you do us the honor of singing us a song?'
The
rabbi pulled out an acoustic guitar. I thought he would politely decline
Much
to my surprise Bob said yes and performed an impromptu rendition of 'Blowin'
in the Wind' to the stunned shul of about 300 seder guests. The incongruity
of a seder, with Marlon Brando reading the Hagaddah followed by a Bob Dylan
serenade, would have made for a good Fellini movie. Needless to say,
everyone was both shocked and thrilled by this unusual Hollywood-style
Passover miracle. The entire shul came by to shake both Marlon and Bob's
hands and they actually paused and spent time with everyone.
Just
a couple of years ago, Marlon called me up in Minnesota, out ofthe blue. We had kept in touch through the trials and tribulations he
was going through with his family. 'Louie Kemp,' he said, 'I've been
thinking about you. Twenty years ago you took me to a seder. I want you to
know that I still think about it to this very day. In fact, I was thinking
about it today and that's why I called you.'
He
continued to thank me and tell me of the special spiritual impact it had on
him and how much he identified with a people freeing themselves from bondage
and uniting to celebrate and remember that freedom.
He
told me he was sending his three youngest children to a Jewish day school in
Los Angeles. When I asked him why, he said, 'Louie, don't you know that the
Jewish schools are the best?' I could almost hear him smiling over the
phone.
Dining Out Wishes
From: Lucky in Love Lucie
That li'l cup of coleslaw that accompanies a burger or
sandwich changed to potato salad
Gravy should be offered as a beverage
Instead of a pickle on the side, two strips of bacon
(yum!)
Seltzer (club soda) in lieu of the free water
Extra napkins in the middle of the table mandatory..
part of the table setting
A few large print menus upon request as well as a
Braille menu
No auctioning off of food ....order taker codes who
gets what by seat #...
Specials of the day, when recited, should also include
the price
Diners at a table should be served simultaneously..
one dish shouldn't be served and the other guest told, "Yours will be
out shortly."
All That Glitters is Not Gold
By: Delilah
I really adore our city. I love the weather, the people and the landscape.
What I abhor is the traffic congestion. It has become unbearable. Years
ago I would drive to the Rio for their lunch buffet, pull a few handles,
play a little black jack then drive home. I would return to the strip later
in the evening for dinner and perhaps a show or a roll of the dice.
But that was then and this is now. If I drive to the strip it's not more
than once or twice a month. I avoid it like the plague. I cannot cope with
the traffic and time lost waiting for traffic lights to change 5 or 6 times
before I can cross an intersection. This is the one big drawback to living
in the valley. Legislation proposals come and go without any viable plan.
New York City's traffic, in it's peak gridlock days, the week before
Christmas, pales by comparison to everywhere in Vegas
Tony Curtis,
Horse Hair, La Cote Basque
By: Mrs. Sy
Baron
Back in the Bronx in the early 50's I joined the Tony Curtis Fan Club. At
the ripe old age of 11, I was madly in love with Tony Curtis and Eddie
Fisher. My mom (may she rest in peace) playfully made fun of my infatuations. When I watched the
15 minute show Coke Time starring Eddie Fisher she would say, "Oh you're
watching Eddie Pisher
again?" I sent away for a lock of Tony Curtis' hair. When it arrived I was
in ecstasy and slept with it under my pillow. One night during my mom's mah
jong game I heard the yentas laughing and heard words, "Curtis" "hair" and
"horse." I got out of bed and listened by my door. My mom was telling her
friends that they probably cut off part of the tail of a horse and sent it
to me as a lock of Tony's hair. That was the kiss of death for my love
affair with Tony Curtis.
FAST FORWARD...UPTEEN YEARS to the late 60s.
I was a guest at a dinner party at La Cote Basque in Manhattan.
The publishers from Simon and Schuster were wooing Jack Molinas (the
expelled basketball player) to write an autobiography.
At that time I was between husbands and was Molinas' date. Among
others at the table was Tony
Curtis. I remember feeling like a fish out of water. I
was very much out of my league and unable to participate in much of the
conversation. Tony Curtis
sat diagonally opposite me. He was the only person at that table to make
any effort to engage me in conversation. He was personable, witty, smiled
at me, made appropriate eye contact and most importantly he put me at ease.
Jack and I were the first to leave. I 'made the nice'
saying good-bye to all and how nice it was to have met them. Tony stood and
said to me, "The pleasure was mine. It was nice meeting YOU!" I'm sure he
doesn't remember the evening, and has no reason to remember me but I never
forgot how 'menchy' he was. I write this because he is a local and I want
everyone to know what a kind man is living in our midst.
DTV Transition and the Coupon Program
The Kassops
At
midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the
United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital
broadcasting. Digital broadcasting promises to provide a clearer picture and
more programming options and will free up airwaves for use by emergency
responders.
Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing
to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009. The Program
allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can
be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.
A TV connected to
cable, satellite or other pay TV service does not require a TV converter box
from this program.
Consumers have a variety of options. Options to explore include:
Keep your existing analog TV and purchase a TV
converter box. A converter box plugs into your TV and will keep it
working after Feb. 17, 2009, or
Connect to cable, satellite or other pay service, or
Mrs. Sy Baron's article about Cheney flipping the bird to
us, reminds me of a few years ago when Tim Russert interviewed Cheney on
Meet the Press for the fifth anniversary of 9/11. Even though this was
about two years ago, I never forgot the interview.
Mr. Cheney repeatedly disagreed and repeatedly
disregarded virtually every concern voiced by many Americans about the way
Mr. Bush is managing his war. I never forgot how frustrated I felt when
listening to Cheney, in a position of responsibility such as his, could be
so callous in his views towards many of our citizens. There was simply no
connection either in his demeanor or his arguments that would give anyone
the feeling that views different from his might have a place in the grand
scheme of things.
I'm pretty comfortable with Teddy Roosevelt's axiom to
speak softly but carry a big stick. I am not comfortable with a brash
display of force to overcome some imagined adversary. If you have the big
stick you don't have too much to worry about when war is forced upon you.
But when you are the aggressor (as we are in Iraq) no stick is big enough
since, in addition to the new enemy, you've also chosen to fight the weight
of public opinion, here and worldwide. Cheney, of course, not being the
statesman we might wish for, will give no credence to opinions other than
his own. The literature is full of such tragic figures.
I have memories of the grandeur of America when we had
the respect of all nations on earth; when that respect filtered down,
despite our sometimes dysfunctional but generally operational political
system, to the rest of us because we were known as a people who gave more
than we took from the rest of the world. Now where are we? When I get up in
the morning, I have to beg for the ability to "forgive them for they know
not what they do."
A reporter from ABC News this week told Dick Cheney, in regards to Iraq,
"two-thirds of Americans say it's not worth fighting." Cheney cut her off
with a one word answer:
"So?"
"So?" As in,
"So what?" As in, "The heck with you. I could care less."
I would like
every American to see Cheney flip the virtual bird at us, the American
people.
Then ask yourself why we haven't risen up and thrown him and his puppet out
of the White House.
The Democrats have had the power to literally pull the plug on this war for
the past 15 months -- and they have refused to do so. What are we to do
about that? Continue to sink into our despair? Or get creative? Real
creative. I know there are many of you reading this who have the chutzpah
and ingenuity to confront your local congressperson. Will you?
Cheney spent Wednesday, the 5th anniversary of the war, not mourning the
dead he killed, but fishing off the Sultan of Oman's royal yacht! So?
Ask your favorite Republican what they think of that.
The Founding Fathers would never have uttered the presumptuous words, "God
Bless America." That, to them, sounded like a command instead of a request,
and one doesn't command God, even if they are America. In fact, they were
worried God would punish America. During the Revolutionary War, George
Washington feared that God would react unfavorably against his soldiers for
the way they were behaving. John Adams wondered if God might punish America
and cause it to lose the war, just to prove His point that America was not
worthy. They and the others believed it would be arrogant on their part to
assume that God would single out America for a blessing. What a long road we
have traveled since then.
I see that Frontline on PBS this week has a documentary called "Bush's War."
That's what I've been calling it for a long time. It's not the "Iraq War."
Iraq did nothing. Iraq didn't plan 9/11. It didn't have weapons of mass
destruction. It DID have movie theaters and bars and women wearing what they
wanted and a significant Christian population and one of the few Arab
capitals with an open synagogue.
But that's all gone now. Show a movie and you'll be shot in the head. Over a
hundred women have been randomly executed for not wearing a scarf. I'm
happy, as a blessed American, that I had a hand in all this. I just paid my
taxes, so that means I helped to pay for this freedom we've brought to
Baghdad. So? Will God bless me?
With Easter just passed and Passover less than a month away let God bless
all of us as we begin the 6th year
of THE BUSH WAR.
We need more than for God to bless us, we need God to help America.
Please!
Vegas'
1st Annual April Fools' Day Parade
Satirically Presented By: Sy Baron
The 1st
Annual April Fools' Day Parade will march down Las Vegas Boulevard South
beginning at 12 noon, Tuesday, April 1st, 2008.
The Las Vegas April Fools' Day Parade is being created to remedy a glaring
omission of Vegas' failure to recognize the importance of April 1st, the day
designated to commemorate the perennial folly of mankind. In an attempt to
bridge that gap and bring people back in touch with their inherent
foolishness, the parade will annually crown a King of Fools from parading
look-a-likes.
The
parade will be led by President George Bush and his entire cabinet. They
will be given a 60-second lead and then pursued by an outraged lynch mob.
This will be followed by a humongous parade-size helium balloon of a B52
Bomber Equipped with Nuclear Missiles flying overhead as the April Fools'
Day Parade Marching Band plays Woody Guthrie's "So Long, It's Been Good to
Know You." The Parade's Grand Marshall will be Ralph Nader, appropriately
dressed as The Jester.
The public is encouraged to participate, in or out of costume, with or
without floats, and may join the procession at any point along the parade
route. Floats can be no wider than 10 feet and no longer than 25 feet. They
can be self-propelled, towed, pushed or pulled. Customized bicycles,
tricycles, baby carriages and aerial balloons are welcome. The Parade
Committee assumes no liability for damages caused by satire. All
participants are costumed look-alikes.
This
year's floats will be led Mardi Gras-style by Angelo Mozilo, CEO of
Countrywide Financial, and instead of beads his Loan Shark Cronies will toss
out loans you can't refuse to the crowd; Michael Vick will be taking bets on
his Dog Fight Float with caged, snarling pit bulls; a Chinese Dry-Cleaning
Float will feature Roy Pearson screaming, "Where are my pants? I'm going to
sue!"; an Archeological Dig float designed by James Cameron will feature
Jesus and Mary's Bones; a Tourette's Syndrome Float will feature radio
personality Don Imus, political pundit Ann Coulter, the Reverend Louis
Farrakhan, radio talk show host Bill Cunningham, and Dog the Bounty
Hunter-all shouting obscenities at the crowd.
Marching celebrity fool look-alikes will include Senator Larry Craig
insisting, "I'm not gay!"; Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore insisting,
"I am gay"; Cheaney Aide Scooter Libby pleading "Pardon me, pardon
me!"; disruptive political protestor Andrew Meyer surrounded by cops
screaming, "Don't tase me, bro"; ex-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
asserting, "To the best of my recollection, I don't remember anything";
baseball great Roger Clemens protesting, "I never used steroids!"; ex-cop
Drew Peterson calling for his missing wife to "Come home, just come home";
contagious TB world traveler Andrew Speaker coughing on the crowd; and a
dazed Britney Spears looking for the Halloween Parade.
Color commentary will be provided by ex-Philadephia TV newscaster Alicia
Lane in a thong bikini. Security this year will be provided by mercenaries
courtesy of Blackwater.
As the parade ends in downtown Vegas , the party begins, featuring live
music, food, concessions & entertainment. The Chinese Government will be
sponsoring a Food and Drug Concession and a Chinese Pet Food Booth. The USDA
will be giving away free hamburgers. Attorney General Michael Mukasey and
the CIA will provide free demonstrations of Waterboarding. Sex offender Deb
LaFave will run a Day Care Center for paraders' children. And OJ Simpson and
his posse will hawk his sports memorabilia to raise money for next year's
parade.
We are grateful to the Las Vegas Council on the Arts, National Endowment for
the Arts, Mayor Goodman, Governor Gibbons and private funders for their
support of this year's parade.
The King or Queen of Fools will be chosen based on the loudest cheers of the
crowd on Freemont St. The winner will reign through March 31, 2009.
Green-Collar Jobs
Mrs. S. Baron
With all the building constantly going on in Vegas, I have yet to
see anyone spurring the creation of green-collar jobs. To me a green-collar
jobs is any job that directly contributes to preserving or enhancing
environmental quality. Like traditional blue collar jobs, green-collar
jobs can range from low-skill, entry-level type positions to high-skill,
higher paid jobs.
Green-collar jobs are found in construction, manufacturing,
installation, maintenance and many other industries. Some green-collar
jobs are extremely well paid, career track jobs that contribute directly to
preserving or enhancing environmental quality. Green-collar jobs tend to be
local because many involve work transforming and upgrading the already built
and natural environment—work such as retro fitting buildings, installing
solar panels, construction like our monorail, and landscaping.
NOT A GREEN COLLAR JOB: If a job improves the environment,
but doesn’t provide a family-supporting wage or a career ladder to move
low-income workers into higher-skilled occupations, it is not a green-collar job.
(e.g. workers installing solar panels without job security or proper
training, or young people pushing brooms at a green building site without
opportunity for training or advancement.)
I would be beholden to anyone who would direct me to the proper
agency and/or person who has the means, motive and opportunity to create
some honest-to-goodness GREEN COLLAR JOBS in Clark County.
Bush's Marching Orders
By: Mrs. S. Baron
I am delighted that John McCain finally made it as front runner of his
party, if only for the fact that anyone who went through what he went
through in Vietnam is certainly entitled to declare his candidacy for
president of the United States. Despite his allegiance to what has become of
the Republican party in recent years, he has still made an ongoing attempt
to comfort the afflicted as well as afflict the comfortable in the U.S.
Senate. And that is something sorely needed.
He has not yet announced who his running mate might be
and I'm disappointed that he turns toward Mr. Bush for support. For if he
panders to that kind of corruption, might he also not call for someone like
Mike Huckabee to be his vice-president if only to reach the far right vote
as well?
And, at 71 years old, is there not a reasonable
assumption that McCain might die in office, leaving the country in the hands
of a doctrinaire belief system of someone the Founding Fathers warned us
against?
I would much rather this country be led by a man
dedicated to the laws of the United States rather than another president who
talks and listens to God for his marching orders.
Do Not Call Registry
By: Sy Baron
The National Do Not
Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing
calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has
been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at
this Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free.
How To Intelligently
Choose Between Hillary & Obama
By: Sy Baron
One Potato, Two Potato
Eeny Meany, Mighty Moe
Odds, Evens
Rock - Paper - Scissors
Corned Beef My Way
Mrs. Sy Baron
As a card carrying, dues paying member of the Reformed Jewish Faith I look
forward to St. Patrick's Day for a few reasons. St. Patrick's Day means
corned beef is in abundance and on sale in the supermarkets. It's time to
fill the freezer. I love a corned beef sandwich on New York Rye Bread with
side of potato salad, a sour pickle and a Dr. Brown's Celery Tonic or Cream
Soda.
Arby's just came out with their new Corned Beef Reuben Sandwich with
Thousand Island Dressing and Swiss Cheese served on what they call marble
rye but is really soft texture.
Now I ask you, be honest....how would you prefer your corned beef sandwich?
Submitted For Your Enjoyment
By The One & Only Tony Cedrini
Green Gore
Submitted by Alice
Green with Envy
Submitted by Sy Baron
Go Green
Submitted by the Green
Family, Lois & Ben Green
Bike Instead Of Ride.
Riding your bike instead of riding in a car saves energy and reduces
pollution, of course. But it is also fun! That makes it a double benefit.
Buy Products Made Of Recycled Paper.
How can you tell if a package is recycled? Look right on the package. Many
have specific claims, such as "made of 100 percent recycled material."
However, some recycled packages don't advertise this fact, although there
are ways you can find out for yourself. For example, when shopping for
cereal, cookies, crackers, and other groceries packaged in cardboard boxes,
make sure boxes are made from recycled paper. If the underside is gray or
dark brown, the cardboard is made of recycled material. If it's white, it
is made of unrecycled material.
Change A Light Bulb.
By replacing a standard bulb with a compact fluorescent one you will get
more light for less money and save a lot of energy.
Cut Down On Packaging.
We've already given you several ways to do this. Keep in mind that about
half of what we throw away is packaging. By buying products that have as
little packaging as possible, you can help to reduce those mountains of
trash.
Don't Buy Aerosols.
There are environmentally better packages for most products. Aerosols can't
be recycled--which means that they are guaranteed to end up in
landfills--and some of their ingredients contribute to air pollution.
Instead of aerosols, look for spray bottles, liquids, powders, and roll-ons.
Eat Organic Produce.
Organic produce contains far fewer chemicals than other produce. That's
probably better for your health, and it is definitely better for the
environment. All those chemicals get washed off of farmers' fields into
rivers and streams, where they pollute our water. In addition, many of the
chemicals are made from petroleum and other nonrenewable resources. So,
don't eat chemicals--eat real food
Elect "Green" Candidates. During election
campaigns, ask candidates about their position on the environment. Try to
ask specific questions that relate to situations in your community--whether
they support a mandatory recycling program, for example, or whether they
plan to get tough on polluting companies!
Hold On To Balloons.
Helium balloons--they kind that float up into the sky--are lots of fun, but
if you let them fly away, they may harm fish and animals. Helium balloons
eventually fall back to earth and can be blown by strong winds miles away
into the ocean. Some sea animals mistake the balloons for jellyfish. When
an animal tries to eat a balloon, it can kill the animal. So if you have a
helium balloon, hold on tight. If you know of others planning to use them
for a celebration, warn them about the dangers of letting the balloons fly
away.
Look At Labels.
Reading labels can tell you a lot of things. First, you can find out about
a product's ingredients--whether it contains anything that might be
hazardous to your health or the the environment. A label will also tell you
how to contact the product's manufacturer with your questions and comments.
Feel free to let them know what's on your mind. Do you think their product
is good? Let them know! Could it be better? Let them know that, too. In
particular, let them know if you've decided to buy--or not buy--their
product for environmental reasons. Companies listen very carefully to what
their customers have to say. It doesn't take very many letters and calls
for a company to think seriously about making changes.
Quit Throwing Away Batteries.
Americans go through more than two billion batteries a year to power such
things as radios, calculators, watches, flashlights, and computers.
Unfortunately, batteries contain many hazardous materials, which leak into
landfills when batteries are thrown away. Many of these dangerous chemicals
get into our water supply. There are two ways you can avoid throwing away
batteries. One is by using batteries that can be recharged over and over.
You should also find out if there are companies in your area that recycle
batteries. If you must throw batteries away, do so at a hazardous-waste
collection site, if there is one in your area. Still another idea is to
send the batteries back to the manufacturers, signifying that you consider
used batteries a potential danger. This may encourage companies to begin
recycling
Green Eggs and Ham à la
Sam-I-Am
By: Lola
Ingredients
1-2
tablespoons of butter or margarine
4 slices of ham
8 eggs
2 tablespoons of milk
1-2 drops of green food coloring
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
Melt a teaspoon of butter in a large frying pan
over medium heat. Add sliced ham and brown until edges are slightly
crisp. Remove the ham from the pan, cover with aluminum foil, and set
aside.
In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine the eggs,
milk, salt, and pepper. Beat with a whisk until frothy. Then add 1-2
drops of green food coloring until you reach the desired shade of green.
Heat a tablespoon of butter or margarine in a
large frying pan over medium heat until the butter begins to sizzle.
Then add the egg mixture to the pan.
Stir the egg mixture with a spatula until the
eggs are firm and not too runny.
Transfer the eggs to individual plates. Garnish
with a sprig of parsley. Add the ham prepared earlier. Serve with toast
or warm rolls.
Feeds 4
hungry green-egg lovers
My Next Life
Mrs. Sy Baron
I want to live my next life
backwards!
You start out dead and get that out of the way right off
the bat.
Then, you
wake up in a nursing home
feeling better every day. When you are
kicked out of the home for being too healthy, you
spend several years enjoying your retirement
and collecting benefit checks.
When you
start work, you get a gold watch
on your first day.
You work
35-40 years or so, getting younger every day until pretty
soon you're too young to work.
So then, you
go to high school: play sports, date, drink,
and party.
As you get
even younger, you become a kid .
You go to elementary school, play, and have no
responsibilities.
In a few
years, you become a baby and everyone runs
themselves ragged keeping you happy.
You spend
your last 9 months floating peacefully in luxury,
spa-like conditions: central heating, room service
on tap.
It's Not Easy Being Green
Sing-a-long
Submitted By: Jamie
Cooper
It's not that easy being green
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves
When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow or gold
Or something much more colorful like that
It's not easy being green
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things
And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're
Not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water
Or stars in the sky
But green's the color of Spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like
And green can be big like an ocean, or important
Like a mountain, or tall like a tree
When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why
Wonder, I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful
And I think it's what I want to be
From Sesame Street "It's not
easy to be green"
Wearin' Of The Green
Compiled by Mr. & Mrs.
Sy Baron
Leap Day
By: Freida
February is the only month that has four even weeks....four weeks of seven
days each. Except, every four years when we get a bonus February day.
Today is our bonus day. It's strange that this day is not celebrated. We
have a day of love celebrated right smack in the middle of February so why
shouldn't we celebrate February 29th. It is, in actuality, special.
Special because it surpasses what is considered usual.
Now
that we've been given a gift of an extra day, what say you we do on this
day?
I
vote for taking a leap of faith and paying a good deed forward...meaning
let's do something anonymously for someone who doesn't expect it. I, for
one, am planning to spend the afternoon at the home of a neighbor who is
homebound. I've already prepared a special meal for us to share. Happy
Leap Day!
On the Boardwalk of Atlantic
City
Mrs. S. Baron
It
cudda been any boardwalk resort town in the 1950s, Lakewood, Rockaway,
Jersey Shore, Wildwood or in my case Atlantic City. Fascinated by the
'claw/lobster machine' and the Planter's Peanut boardwalk store, I still
remember some 50 odd years later, the aroma of peanuts roasting and the Mr.
Peanut souvenirs. I still have my green plastic Mr. Peanut bank which
according to EBay sales commands something more than sentimental value
now. This is a photo of my brother and me on the boardwalk circa early
1950s. Notice my brother's gun and holster which was commonplace toys back
then.
Say it isn't so
Mrs. S. Baron
My 2 Cents Plain
By: Mrs. S. Baron
Bet On Bette
What a wonderful evening of entertainment. Midler on stage and a star
studded opening night audience. Where does one look first. As usual The
Devine was truly devine. Bath House Bette will not disappoint. One
question, she looks half her age and struts her stuff like she did 30 years
ago. How?
Pleeze No Obama...Pleeze
Obama has many flaws and omissions that seemed to have eluded the
press. The following is just one but says volumes. He is so very, very
inexperienced in the international arena that it is frightening to think
that he might lead this nation. He talks the talk but I seriously doubt his
ability to walk the walk.
He has taken several long trips as a lawmaker—through the Middle
East, Africa and the former Soviet Union. But there is one noteworthy gap in
Obama’s itinerary: except for a brief stopover in London, returning from
Russia in 2005, he has apparently never been to Western Europe since
launching his political career. What renders this gap especially surprising
is that Obama is Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on
Europe. Not only has the Senator not visited the region his committee
oversees, but as, Obama’s committee has not held a single policy-oriented
hearing since he’s been chairman. Europe may not be the central playing
field but it remains essential to the global set of alliances and
relationships that the U.S. needs to cultivate in the new century. In fact,
there is no place where it will be more urgent to rebuild bridges. As Obama
knows, the United States cannot do it alone—and Europe will need to play a
supporting role in whatever strategy the next president articulates.
I have voted in all presidential elections since and including
JFK. I would lose the farm on this election because if Obama beats
Hillary, I will be forced for the first time in over 65 years to vote
Republican.
Waterboarding is a form of torture
used to obtain information, coerce confessions, and for punishment and
intimidation.
Mukasey & My Mom
Submitted by
Brooklyn Benny
The
Background
President Bush nominated Mukasey to replace retired Attorney
General Gonzales.
He was eventually confirmed by the Senate but by the narrowest
margin in more than 50 years.
The Senate's concern was over Mukasey's opinion or lack thereof of
using Waterboarding as a means of interrogating terror suspects. Before his
confirmation, Mukasey said he would keep an open
mind on Waterboarding. After his confirmation, he said he reviewed the
CIA's current methods of interrogating terror suspects, which includes
Waterboarding, and finds them
to be lawful.
So on January 30th 2008 when Senator Ted Kennedy asked Mukasey if
he (Mukasey) would "considerwater
boarding torture if it was done to you", Mukasey
replied, "I would feel that it
was."
The Opinion
When I think of the lies I could have gotten away with as a
kid but was too afraid of what my mother would have done to me, I get
terribly upset.
If she hadn't bugged me so much about telling the truth,
I could have been president, for Pete's sake.
And, assuming I didn't make it to the White House, I
could at least have been elected to Congress and had a pretty good income
(plus medical benefits) for just repeating over and over again whatever I
could get the public to believe .. especially if I had the good sense to
deny I ever said what I said to begin with.
And if we assume I couldn't get elected to Congress .. a
big assumption considering how meager those qualifications are .. maybe I
could at least have settled into the job of Attorney General like this guy
Mukasey.
He and I are definitely cut from the same cloth. I
remember his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee a couple of
months ago when he conned them into believing that he'd keep an open mind
(after they gave him the job of course) about whether he believed
Waterboarding was constitutional.
I remember his words so well because it's the kind of
convoluted lie I could have told if only my mother had let me get away with
it! "If it amounts to torture then it is not constitutional." Beautiful...
Couldn't have done better myself.
Ah, what the heck. I'm too old now to change my ways.
Which just goes to show you what a terrible job my mother did in bringing me
up
In Depth
Waterboarding is a form of torture that consists of
immobilizing a person on his or her back, with the head inclined
downward and pouring water over the face and into the breathing passages.
Through forced suffocation and inhalation water, the subject experiences the
process of drowning and is made to believe that death is imminent.procedure.
It
was the Labor Day Week-end 1954. The camp bus pulled into the parking lot
of the "Y" and I immediately saw my uncle waiting for me. I was surprised
my dad wasn't there, but being away for two weeks at sleep away camp, I was
happy to see any family member. The walk home seemed exceptionally long
because I was anxious to see my mom who had been ill all summer.
My
house was full of relatives and friends. How nice, I thought, so many
people came to welcome me home from camp. After my father's initial hugs
and kisses he escorted me into his bedroom and closed the door. He
awkwardly began, "Do you know why all these people are here?" "Sure," I
said. "They're here because I'm home from camp." Then I asked if mom is
back in the hospital again. He said that mom is in a coma in the hospital
and the family has gathered here because mom is very sick. I was only 12
years old and had never heard the word 'coma.' I had no idea what that
meant. I asked when I could see mommy and he repeated that she is in a coma
and will not come out of it. I didn't know what it meant, but I remember
saying, "Will I ever see mommy again." I heard him say "No." I don't
remember anything else until found myself hours later in the bath with my
grandma sitting on a chair next to me. Why she thought a bath would help me
I have no idea, but nonetheless I am certain they did the best they could
under the circumstances. Mommy died that night.
Fifty-four years ago and I'm still not over it. I still cry. Correction, I
still sob. I can't watch any movie in which a mom dies or is ill. All my
life I was a daughter without a mother, a motherless daughter.
I've
had two marriages and didn't do either very well. I am, however, a
wonderful mother and grandmother. My children are devoted to me as I am to
them. My grandchildren adore me and I can't do enough for them. Over the
years my memory of my mother has faded despite my best efforts to hang on to
them but the sense of loss and a lack of a mother's nurturing love is very
real and ever present.
There is no other love like the selfless love of a mother. We only get one
mother. I missed growing up with that love. But I am sated knowing that I
have been fortunate to have my own children and grandchildren to whom I
bestow my motherly love.
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The
USA was then neutral and, not wishing to annoy Marshal Petain's puppet Vichy
regime, President Roosevelt's government ordered its representatives in
Marseilles not to grant visas to any Jews. Bingham found this policy immoral
and, risking his career, did all in his power to undermine it. 
So
here's my last licks.
I am 54
years old and up until now have only read 3 books in my life, The Good
Earth, The Diary of Anne Frank and A Stone for Danny Fisher.
children. But there is another Mrs. McCain who casts a ghostly shadow over
the Senator's presidential campaign. She is seldom seen and rarely written
about, despite being mother to McCain's three eldest children.
