ROMNEY, ROMNEY, HE'S NOT OUR MAN!

Willard Mitt Romney has been running for the Presidency of The United States for over five years. During that time he has earned a well deserved reputation as a flip flopper, by changing from one policy position to the extreme opposite. Romney has often stated "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country." and "I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose, and I'm devoted and dedicated to honoring my word in that regard." but in answering a question posed to him by Mike Huchabee (a leader in the conservative movement), would you support and sign a personhood amendment? (an amendment that would virtually render any abortion an act of murder) He answered with a resounding "Absolutely!" Mitt has asserted himself as being left of Ted Kennedy in LGBT issues for one election, but now supports DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) which restricts the rights of the LGBT community. HRC President Joe Solmonese once stated that "Mitt Romney changes positions on LGBT issues more often than he changes clothes." Romney's biggest flip flop of them all, is in his position on Healthcare. In Massachusetts, as Governor Mitt Romney enacted sweeping healthcare reform ("Romneycare"), and said that "It should be the model for the Nation." Today in order to ingratiate himself to the conservative base of the republican party, Romney continually attacks The Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare" a plan fashion after "Romneycare") and vows to "Repeal it on day one" of his Presidency. The list of severe position changes by Mitt Romney could go on indefinitely. The only conclusion that the American voters can come to, is that Mitt Romney will do and say anything to be President; and he cannot be trusted.
Many pundits say that the election will come down to the economy, and that this is the reason for the tight poll numbers. Polls show that the majority of the American people blame The recklessness of the bush Administration (two unpaid for ill devised wars, unwarranted tax cuts for the rich, deregulation of Wall street, and corporations) for the failing economy, and the Republican obstructionist Congress for why President Obama has not done better at reversing the damage. 
I believe that the American voters as a whole will see the dangers of a saber rattling empty vessel, put in place by a republican party that has openly stated their unwavering opposition to President Obama; no matter what the cost is to the American people. A Republican Party that has openly stated their unwillingness to compromise, and a party whom openly states that their only need of a US President is "enough working digit to handle a pen" and sign legislation that they put forth.
Mitt Romney is a weak candidate for the Presidency and cannot win on his merits, the opposition for President Obama in this election is bigotry, willful ignorance, lies financed by millionaires who stand to gain from a Romney Presidency, voter suppression and voter apathy. Not only must we get energized to combat these powerful entities and assure President Obama a second term, we must also take back the Congress and increase the Democratic majority in the Senate. In a second Obama Presidency we need Democratic control of the House and Senate to produce good and lasting progress, and in a first Romney term we need Democratic control of the House and Senate to counteract Mitts regressive agenda.

CLOSE ELECTION MY ASS

Every cable news host and pundit has been predicting a close election this year. Poll after poll have placed the various Republican candidates in close proximity to, if not beating President Obama in a general election. Over the last three years, the American public has been barraged with vile heinous attacks directed against this sitting President, by Republicans seeking to take his place. For the last Month these same entities have spent most of their time pushing their religious beliefs, and Conservative agenda; while attempting to highjack women's control of their own bodies. President Obama has spent the last 3 years, attempting to bring the economy back from the dismal abyss that the last Republican President placed it in with two unwarranted wars, and an ill conceived tax break for Multi Millionaires. The economy is now showing great signs of recovery, no thanks to an obstructionist Republican Congress, that have blocked every Jobs plan proposed by President Obama. At this fragile time in the American economy, instead of proposing more job stimulus and eliminating unnecessary tax breaks to Multi millionaires and economy crippling tax loop holes for Corporations; Republicans have gone on a crusade against contraception. No new job bills have been offered by Republicans in three years, yet they have been able to speed anti abortion and anti gay legislation through the House and Senate of States that they control; quickly delivering them to eager Republican Governors desks in less than a week. Republicans cheerfully announced years ago, that their main goal was to insure that President Obama is not elected to a second term. Its has been painfully clear that they are willing to destroy the American economy to achieve this goal. The American public has been drastically underestimated by these would be leaders. We know that they are using these cultural and religious issues to deflect from the fact that they don't have a plan, or any idea how to get us out of this mess that they have created. Using high gas prices, or the high unemployment rates will not give them an edge over President Obama in the up coming elections, in fact it will only remind us of the effects of Republican Leadership. I believe that the American people will resoundingly reject the Republicans Conservative agenda, and re-elect President Barack Obama with a Mandate.

CATHOLIC RIGHT..EOUSNESS

There is a debate taking place today on Contraception in America. The Obama Administration has extended a law requiring employers to include contraception in women's health care coverage. This law is already in effect in 28 States and has been for some time now; without undue protest by any person or organization. Many of these states have an exemption for religious institution, some do not. The proposed extension by the Obama Administration honors the exemption, and give the religious institutions that were formerly left out the ability to stop providing contraception in their female employees health coverage. The Catholic Church has known about these existing regulations, and have not made an issue of them; despite their standing anti-contraception doctrine. This may or may not be due to the fact that 98% of Catholic women use or have used contraception, despite their churches doctrine. The Catholic Church have decided to make this a wedge issue during this election season. Conservatives, and opportunistic republican lawmakers have enthusiastically joined in. News pundits, catholic and non catholic have chimed in with their opinions, and have lit up the air waves with controversy. The Catholic Church believes that not only their religious institutions should be exempt, but also the many business ventures that they receive government funding for, such as schools, hospitals, etc. They define these businesses as charitable organizations. Conservative Presidential Primary Candidates have used this issue to lodge outrageous charges against President Obama, and to push their so called 'pro life' agenda forward. Among the new legislations proposed is a 'personhood amendment'. An amendment that would define life as being at conception, and would make abortions, and many forms of contraception a crime. President Obama in the spirit of cooperation if not in letter of law, have decided to adjust the legislation to require insurance carriers to pay for the contraception coverage mandated; relieving the church of possibly violating their "conscience?' The Catholic Church has not exercised good conscience when it came to the many acts of sexual violence against children in their parishes, by pedophile priest. They have routinely transferred offenders to other parishes, without warning parishioners. Where these wolves in sheep's clothing continued their heinous acts on other innocent children. I am no expert on Catholic doctrine, but I'm sure it does not condone these despicable acts. Yet the Catholic Church have not expressed a fraction of the concern shown in the contraception issue, to the issue of their Priest destroying young lives. Many have come to the aid of the Catholic Church on the contraception issue, saying that the government has no right to interfere with the teachings of their religion. Few have addressed the issue of one church, and one religion, dictating policy that effect people from many churches and religions (not to mention countless millions of non religious Americans).
The Catholic Church is arguing Separation of Church and State, and Religious freedom; while effectively forcing their beliefs on the government and intruding on the religious freedom of others.

SPOILS OF WAR

Lately there has been a wave of celebratory sentiment in the US. Osama Bin Laden Killed, the end of the Iraqi war, Libya liberated, and The NY Giants won the Superbowl. In St. Louis there was even a Celebratory Parade for the returned Iraqi War Vets. No one will deny that the true heroes of this time in our history, are the men and women who serve in the U.S. Military. They have well earned our respect and admiration, and deserve to be celebrated. Mayor Bloomberg in standing tradition, held a Ticker Tape Parade in honor of the World Champion Giants after their Superbowl Victory and came under attack by many for not having held a welcome home parade for the returned Iraq War Vets. He concisely explained that he had been in conference with representatives of the U.S. Defense Dept., and that they have decided that a parade for Iraqi War Vets would be premature and possibly harmful; given the fact that many of the U.S. Soldiers that have left Iraq were redeployed to Afghanistan; where we are still actively in combat with the Taliban. Some talking heads of Liberal and Conservative Media have had the arrogance to believe that they are better suited to decide whats good for U.S. war vets than the Pentagon or the Defense Department. They site some Veterans and Veterans Groups and use their opinions as cover for their own arrogance. Mayor Michael Bloomberg rightly (in my opinion) followed the Defense Departments recommendation, and should be praised for not seeking to gain temporary favor of the press and the public by haphazardly throwing an impromptu parade. Im not indicting the many fair minded and Patriotic Americans who agree that a parade should be held or even those who disagree with the Defense Dept. on when it should be held. My fight is with those who choose to crusade against The Defense Dept. and Mayor Bloomberg with pseudo patriotic rhetoric, those who use parades and flag waving to soothe their own conscience for never sacrificing anything for the betterment of their Country. They yell U.S.A!, America Love it or Leave it!, and other empty phrases; while leaving the fighting and dying to someone else. I know that the opinions of others have as much validity as my own despite the fact that I have served My Country, My State, My City, and My Community. No one opinion is greater than another. I recently asked the opinion of a few of my Friends and acquaintances about this subject, and the best response That I have received was from a former Marine and Twitter Buddy. T. Moriarty



Have the parade only after all combat troops are back on American soil to include all who fought, like a National Pride Day. When having this parade, the place of highest honor is usually the front. This spot should not be for the highest ranking officers, but rather reserved for the Soldiers whom have made the highest sacrifice; their lives . The surviving spouses with a picture of the fallen soldier in hand, or otherwise prominently displayed will hold the place of highest honor along with their children. This will help show to the American people the true cost of war. I think that if people start seeing the faces of the small children who have lost their mother and or father, they just might start to see the everlasting hidden effect that war has on families and the Nation. Next in the parade line will be those who have been wounded, lost limbs, and who have been permanently disfigured, marching along with their families. all other Soldiers will bring up the rear. This will show the American People that there are lasting effects of war on the Soldiers and the Soldiers families (whom have served in their own way) long after the last remnants of confetti are cleaned from the streets, and the public is safely tucked back into their usual routines. Any local or National Politicians in need of a photo opportunity are welcome to follow along. Hopefully then, the war hungry Conservatives who profess to be the vanguards of family values, will see the effects of war first hand, and will be less Gung Ho about entering into another war like Iraq. Then we will see their true family values.

TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN

REPOST FROM OCTOBER 25, 2009:
"HE WALKED THROUGH A VALLEY FILLED WITH DANGER. THOSE WHO WALKED BESIDE HIM CONSPIRED WITH THOSE WHO FOLLOWED CLOSELY BEHIND. WITH EVERY STEP THEY LONGED FOR THE PAST DAYS OF ROGUE LEADERS, AND OPPRESSIVE INSTITUTIONS; AT THE SAME TIME ACCUSING HIM OF THE DAMAGE DONE BY HIS PREDECESSOR. BUT HE WAS SMARTER THAN THEM ALL. DISPITE THEIR CONSTANT DISSENT AND OPPOSITION, HE LED THEM SAFELY THROUGH THE VALLEY AND INTO A LAND OF HOPE, PROMISE AND PROSPERITY. IT WAS AN UNFORGIVEABLE ACT, AND THEY HATED HIM FOR IT."

ALTHOUGH MANY ARE MORE INFORMED AND NOW TRUST PRESIDENT OBAMA WITH THE DIRECTION THAT HE IS TRYING TO TAKE THE COUNTRY, THE LEVEL OF HATE FROM THE OPPOSITION HAS ESCALATED BEYOND REASON. REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS HAVE OBSTRUCTED EVERY POLICY AND SEEDED THE HATE WITH RACIAL AND ECONOMIC DIVIDE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF EXTENDING THEIR OWN CAREERS, AND LINING THEIR OWN POCKETS. PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SUCCESSES LIKE RIDDING THE PLANET OF NOTORIOUS TERRORIST, SECURING HEALTH CARE FOR MOST AMERICANS, ENDING THE WAR IN IRAQ, ENDING DADT, DEFENDING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE FROM AN ALL OUT ASSAULT BY THE OPPOSITION, SAVING THE AUTO INDUSTRY, BEING ONE OF ONLY FIVE PRESIDENTS TO OVERSEE A 60% GAIN IN THE DOW JONES SINCE TAKING OFFICE, CREATED NEARLY 4 MILLION JOBS, DEFENDING WOMENS RIGHTS, ENDING INSURANCE COMPANY ABUSES, ETC. ETC. HAVE BEEN DISCOUNTED, AND COUNTLESS LIES HAVE BEEN PERPETUATED AGAINST PRESIDENT OBAMA. THE LEVEL OF DISRESPECT TOLERATED AGAINST THIS PRESIDENT HAS DAMAGED THIS COUNTRY GREATLY, AND OUR STANDING ACROSS THE GLOBE HAS BEEN DENIGRATED BY THE INSANE DIALOGUE INITIATED BY THE "TEA PARTY" AND TEA PARTY PROPONENTS. I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT THAT AMERICANS OF GOOD CONSCIENCE WILL NOT ELECT A NEWT GINGRICH OR A MITT ROMNEY TO SINK US FURTHER INTO THE ABYSS. THEIR RHETORIC AND POLICIES ARE THE SAME.