Musings

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Donations

Why oh why did I not donate to Mr. Obama's campaign. He understands pay-to-play as well as any Chicago politician. Those who did donate to him have been favored with jobs, White House visits, reduced oversight and favorable treatment in new laws. He is a true friend when you are on his side. I missed my chance.

posted by Marcel at 6:17 PM

22 Comments:

  • I donated and I'm not seeing my pay to play. I don't have the war ended. I don't have affordable health care (yet--fingers crossed). I don't have more faith in the economy. I'm thinking it's a bit more complicated, but then I love the guy and love is blind.

    But on the counting my blessings side of things, the ridiculous stance on stem cell research and abortion suppression is out. Obama can take a stronger stance against Israel's extremists building settlements, because hey, they already think he's muslim, so no harm, no foul. Hostile countries around the world are less justified in their negative rhetoric against America. I just heard this morning that the demonstration commemorating the taking of hostages in Iran--normally a day of "death to America" sentiment in Iran has turned into a protest against the government of Iran by its people. Pretty free speech and democratic of them--rather encouraging.

    All in all, that was a pretty well spent $40. I wonder if I could have gotten the rest (end of the wars, affordable health care and stronger economy) if I paid just a little bit more? We are a capitalist society and nothing is free.

    Here I am thinking that I'm sitting in the middle and there you are thinking you are in the middle. I only hope that we stay the ends--I trust us a lot more than I trust the people left of me and right of you.

    By Blogger KathrynVH, at 9:09 AM  

  • I can understand why you say you love the guy. After all, the majority of the people last year did so. He is slender, active, educated, committed, married, two nice kids, for abortion, speaks extremely well, plays basketball and is loyal to his supporters.

    For me, he is a marxist, has little understanding of Economics, no understanding of the capitalist system, is willing to take away other people's money and distribute it to those he sees as deserving, desires to change the Constitution even though he took an oath to defend it, is critical about this Country to foerign governments, will close a charter school after his kids graduate from it and is duplicitus with everybody about his smoking. Other that this, I like the guy too.

    By Blogger Marcel, at 4:49 PM  

  • Given what you say, financial support to Obama's campaign is not a "donation" it is more like the money one leaves on the night stand.

    By Blogger John Beauregard, at 5:27 PM  

  • That's mean, but then all politicians probably deserve that sentiment.

    I've studied the constitution some--how is President Obama trying to change the constitution? I mean, I haven't heard of any flat out violations such as Bush's conducting searches without probable cause and a warrant?
    Enlighten me.

    "duplicius about his smoking?" Would you prefer him being an open role model for smoking? If that's his biggest vice, we are all pretty darn lucky.

    By Blogger KathrynVH, at 10:02 AM  

  • Kathy,

    How is he trying to change the constitition you ask? Just starting at the first admendment and his desire to abridge speech. He has told the people that one news outlet, Fox, should not be listened to. His communications Czar is working on a method of silencing that network utilizing the misnamed "Fairness Doctrine."

    By Blogger Marcel, at 1:03 PM  

  • I personally think that Fox News should not be listened to also. It is propaganda for the extreme right wing.

    I still think Obama should have come out and said "absolutely NO health care reform on my watch!" Then Fox News would have taken up the cause: "how DARE he not provide health care to all citizens." Fox News has proven time and time again they are anti-Obama no matter what. If he came out and said puppies are cute, they would accuse him of hating cats. The tea-party would be whipped up to support all those poor neglected cats, hated by the administration. It is just that silly, because it works on those that listen. The simple fact that Obama planned to talk to the school children of the nation (as many presidents have) turned into "indoctrination." Nonsense. They are a silly propaganda machine masquerading as a "news" station.

    The Fairness Doctrine has nothing to do with "silencing" Fox News. If Fox News were truly "fair and balanced" as they ludicrously proclaim, what are they worried about? Other people might have a chance to talk, why does that scare Fox News so much? So, Obama is not even remotely trying to change the constitution, unlike his predecessor. Fox News had no problem with him completely ignoring the constitution when it suited him.

    BTW, as for being critical of this country to foreign governments, is there anyone at Fox News that thinks it might be a bad idea to undermine our president with every breath they take? No! I didn't think so.

    Since you framed it this way, I have certainly gotten my moneys worth from Obama. Stem cell research was worth every penny. If we get rid of the asinine "don't ask, don't tell" policy it will be a bonus.

    By Blogger EZ Travel, at 4:17 AM  

  • Freedom of speech is okay only if I agree with the speech.

    I really love Fox News if for no other reason than it PISSES OFF liberals.

    By Blogger John Beauregard, at 12:52 PM  

  • Erika,
    The topic was freedom of speech as stated in the Bill Of Rights. Is he or is he not attempting to silence speech?
    Does Fox have a right to say what they do?

    By Blogger Marcel, at 4:13 PM  

  • Get rid of the "don't ask don't tell" policy?????????? What..??? If you think any of our troups should come out and say they are gay....... I'm sorry......that is just the stupidist thing I have ever heard......
    They come out and say they are gay......we will see a lot more "frendly fire"....

    By Blogger cheryl, at 10:40 AM  

  • Friendly fire? Sorry, I've fallen into the abyss and I can't get up.

    Uncle Marcel, just because he doesn't think people should listen to fox news and says so out loud does not violate or change the constitution--Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. Is limiting access an abridgment of the freedom of speech? 20 years ago when I went to law school, the law was that limiting access was not an abridgment of free speech. (As I recall, the actual case was that journalists were not allowed open access to a prison). Your own Cheny would be the cheerleader for that interpretation, but now that the shoe is on the other foot, maybe not so much.

    BTW, the bill of rights was violated by congress almost right away with the Sedition Act. Obama's got nothing on Congress back in the early days of this country when they were trying to come to grip with their big talk. The bill of rights was written in a time when men could not phathom the communication means and understanding of psychological manipulation that we have today. The underlying idea of the constitution is checks and balance. The fact that fox news can loudly protest not being allowed into a press conference is a pretty effective check and the fact that the current administration has some tools to check Fox's bias is a balance.


    Cheryl, Friendly fire? You are right, don't ask, don't tell, don't let anyone you love serve in the military, don't support troops that will kill you if you are liberal, don't send troops to Afganistan or anywhere with human beings, disband the army right now! Take everyone's gun away from them right now!

    Your conservative end of the spectrum is much farther away then I imagined. I know your son is in the military and my prayers (yes Aunt Pat, my prayers) are with him everyday, but kill the gays??? OMG

    I'd like some sand now, my head is getting cold.

    By Blogger KathrynVH, at 12:16 PM  

  • Liberal, government controled networks:
    ABC
    CBS
    NBC
    CNN
    MSNBC
    PBS
    Independent network:
    Fox
    Six against one. Seems like a fair competition to me.

    By Blogger John Beauregard, at 1:34 PM  

  • Uncle Marcel, of course Fox news has the right to say whatever they want, and as Kathy pointed out, we are not trying to change that (or the constitution). But I also have the right (as does our president) to say I wish people would turn the channel.

    Wow, Cheryl, friendly fire? Really!! Are you suggesting that some of our troops would be tempted to shoot a fellow military person for coming out as gay? Unbelievable.

    The "don't ask, don't tell" policy is ludicrous because it acknowledges that we have gays in the military, but that we would prefer to *pretend* that we don't.

    If you don't want gays in the military say so and then be prepared to defend that position. If you do, then say so and be prepared to defend that position. But to have a "policy" that says we will stick our fingers in our ears and say "la la la" is crazy and not becoming of a world super-power.

    I love coming here in the morning and getting my blood pumping. It is a good thing I am not grading student papers after this.

    By Blogger EZ Travel, at 4:15 AM  

  • Erika,
    The policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was instituted by president Clinton. He did it as a sop to the gay community who wanted full recognition in the U.S. Military. The other side wanted to discharge all gay people in the military and Clinton found a middle way.

    Cheryl is right, when a person is found to be gay he may be subject to undue harassment from overly high testosterone individuals. While a gay person may be safe with those who know him, there are others with whom he comes in contact that may cause him harm. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was for the safety of gays in the military.

    By Blogger Marcel, at 5:19 PM  

  • Oh, I understand that it was initiated by Clinton, but that doesn't make it right.

    Black soldiers endured undue harassment too, we didn't try to pretend they weren't black. I choose to believe that our military men and women are smart enough to say people are people are people. You either like them or you don't. You either trust them or your don't based upon their actions and not the color of their skin or their religion or their sexual orientation.

    To say that we have some bullies in the military that don't like you and therefore you have to pretend to be something that you aren't is silly. It is the bullies that need to be outed and then kicked out of the military because harassment should not be tolerated.

    By Blogger EZ Travel, at 3:40 AM  

  • Erika,

    There are people in the military that view gays as sexual deviants and perverts. For whatever reason, some people will try to harm them just because they do not want to be around them.

    I have been thinking about how I can get this across to you so you will understand. Maybe this will do it. A known child molester moves in next door to you. He is a true sex offender and and has been so for many years. He is a very pleasant person and compliments you on what a pretty boy you have. He asks that your boy attend a little party he plans on throwing for some of the neighborhood kids. Does the thought that he is a sexual pervert influence your decision on wheather to allow your son to go?

    By Blogger Marcel, at 2:11 PM  

  • what does the don't ask don't tell policy really say? Does it mean you CAN'T tell even if you want to or does it mean you just don't HAVE to tell?
    -Tracy

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:00 AM  

  • But the difference there is that a child molester *IS* a sexual deviant a gay person is not. So what we need is education, not obfuscation.

    What I hope the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy will have accomplished is to show everyone that gays are not sexual deviants, they are human beings just like everyone else. The person you have been fighting next to, that you have come to trust, is not going to be any different once you find out that they are gay.

    To follow your analogy, would I allow Jackson to go to his house? No. And, if a gay person propositions you, you can feel free to say "no" too. If it escalates from there, that is harassment and should be punished as such, just as male harassment of a female (or vice versa) should.

    Tracy, to answer your question the way it stands is that if you say you are gay you are kicked out (or not allowed in). So, what Obama needs to do is to get rid of that policy and institute one that says that every qualified* individual is welcome to serve in our military.

    *I am not qualified. I would be screaming that I am gay, gay, gay, you would not believe how gay I am, if anyone tried to make me run an obstacle course.

    By Blogger EZ Travel, at 3:21 AM  

  • Erika,
    You have missed a very important distinction, just because you say they are not deviants does not change the attitude of the members in the services. The operative point is what service members think, and some (not all) think of them as sexual deviants. It is this attitude that makes it dangerous for gays in the military.

    By Blogger Marcel, at 11:45 AM  

  • Thinking that a black person is not as good as a white person does not make it so. And it should not hinder the black person it should impede the white person that thinks that.

    The point is the gays are already there. They are everywhere whether you know it or not. So, then you make it up to them to stand up and say "I am gay" or not. They know the consequences, they know the narrow minds of some that they come in contact with, they know harassment they might face. They are gay, not stupid.

    The government should not have a policy that perpetuates the misconceptions. It should not have a policy that has dishonesty at is core. It should not have a policy designed to keep bigoted people from harassing other people. it should have a policy that says these people are people too. They have the right to serve their country--DON'T HARASS THEM! That should be our policy.

    By Blogger EZ Travel, at 6:00 AM  

  • Isn't it fun to get the liberals all fired up?

    You can give them facts and they go into a tail spin.

    You try to protect "their" people and that's still not good enough.

    By Blogger cheryl, at 7:54 AM  

  • Darn, all this time I thought it was us getting the right-wing all riled up trying to defend an indefensible policy.

    BTW I haven't seen any facts. Which ones did I miss?

    Also, BTW, me and my people didn't ask for protection. And, I disagree with the premise that this policy all about protecting gays. My hypothesis is that it is actually about protecting the people that would do them harm. Go ahead and do a poll of who wants this policy in place. All of the gays will say "no" all of the closed-minded, over-testoteroned will likely say "yes." Because it is illegal to do someone harm based on their sexual orientation.

    By Blogger EZ Travel, at 6:02 AM  

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