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.