Some papers did not carry the election results on the front page – Big damn deal
Picture of Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery - San Antonio, TX
Up on my pedestal again I guess, but I am sick of hearing about local papers not carrying the Barack Obama wins the Presidency story on the front page, or for that matter at all. WHO CARES? Really, who the heck has so much time on their hands and so little going on in their life that they feel the need to berate an editor or a town for not carrying the story as a headline?
I wonder, do these same people complain when the paper does not carry the death count in the wars around the world, the atrocities in 3rd world countries, genocide, or the horrendous education system in this country, I think not? In fact I do not hear people crying foul when national papers do not cover these stories. What makes Barack Obama’s win so much more important than these real and ongoing issues that effect all of us, and all the citizens of Earth, the answer is nothing, absolutely nothing.
But knowing this will not keep them off their high horse, and will not keep them from spouting their ignorance to anyone who will listen. I ask these so called patriots who say they are only expressing their pride and joy for the sake of America to look at every paper in this country today, and if Veteran’s Day is not on the front page, and if the paper does not show 100% of the due appreciation for our Veteran’s on this day then by all means make that paper explain themselves, because today and all days like it deserve the front page.
I am sure even the new President Elect would agree that our Veterans are far more important than he is, and I encourage you to ask him if I am wrong.
It is time to heal not reel – Change is a-coming
I am going to break the anonymity rule of this site by revealing more about me than just my generic author name – They. I am a male, I am between 20 – 50 years old, and my race is always an option on any general federal form. Now that you know more about me it is time to give my opinion on a topic that has been in my craw since Wednesday morning.
I am rapidly growing sick of hearing people complain about Barack Obama becoming the next President of the United States. I do not mind people expressing their opinions, but I do find myself feeling nauseous when I hear under-educated people regurgitating inaccuracies about him, and then acting as though these are fundamental issues they can never look past and therefore his Presidency will always bother them. I see these comments on Facebook and other blogs, and I hear them from coworkers and of course talk radio.
I think the reason it is bothering me soooo much this time, as opposed to all the other Presidential elections, is I for the first time in my adult life actually feel optimistic about a future President’s chances of making a real change in America. I am sure the naysayers just screamed out loud about the changes they fear, but I am referring to real positive changes, and not the fear of change itself. I hope we for the first time in a long time will have a federal government focused on real changes, for example:
- An education system extreme makeover
- Direct federal loan program for student loans – Federal first and private for those who want it
- Affordable health care for everyone and free health care for children under 18
- National credit card interest rate limits – Arkansas model 5 percent above the federal discount rate
- Simplify the federal tax system, and eliminate deduction
- Corporate oversight reform
- Gun control
- Tariff reform
- Work with Mexico and Canada to provide equal but non-voting rights to all citizens in all 3 countries including land ownership, private property rights and wage scales based on community average incomes
- Environmental reform
- Energy independence
There are many topics covered in the above bullet points, and some may be unrealistic, but it is a unique time in America when for the first time in a long time there is a chance some of them may. This hope, this chance, is the thing that has made me truly happy for the first time in recent memory about an election, and about the direction America may be headed, both domestically and internationally.
So for all the naysayers out there I ask the following. Let’s stop the hate, and let’s for the first time accept the current situation on face value and work together to show the rest of the world just how great we as a unified America really can be. It is time to lead the way to peace and prosperity.
Thank you,
Today I have a dream
Today I have a dream. Yesterday I did not know I needed one, but today, and more specifically tonight I realize a dream is what we all desire, nay require to understand the great journey we are poised to undertake. I watched the President Elect tonight in Chicago’s Grant Park give a speech that made me believe the future is more promising than the past. I watched a speech that made me realize I was not optimistic about the future without even knowing it. I watched a speech that made me proud to be an American. And I watched a speech that made me remember great speeches of the past that inspired me to undertake politics as a passion.
Barack Obama’s speech recalled the feelings I experienced the first time I read Washington’s 1789 pledge to protect America’s “liberties and freedoms” under “a government instituted by themselves”, and Abraham Lincoln’s plea during the Civil War to heal “with malice toward none, with charity toward all”, and of course John F. Kennedy’s exhortation to “ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
Today I realize dreams are not just for those who know they need them. Dreams are for all of us. White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, and other all need to believe that America not only represents their current desires and hopes, but the dreams and aspirations of the world. We are today’s great nation, and tonight was a shinning light that showed me, and I hope others just how spectacular calling yourself an American really can be.
Through all of our faults, through all of our tragedies, through all of our disagreements we are one nation, and we are one people who for any one moment in time can truly demonstrate and represent the greatest of ideals about Democracy and humanity.
The Big Day!
I love election day, it feels like the Superbowl to me and I am already thinking of all the munchies I am going to put together to watch the returns come in.
I expect an Obama victory, but not the blow-out that many forecast. I believe, and have a $0.25 bet with a fellow blogger, that the over-under on the electoral college count will be 310 for Obama. I took the “under”.
I would like to see McCain pull it out, but I just do not think it is in the cards.
However, I thought I would take a moment and say a few good things about Obama, why I do not fear the socialist takeover of the American system that many on the left would like to see and many on the right fear (and probably have blown out of proportion).
First, I think that Obama is highly intelligent, honest and loves his country. I also think he is a consensus seeker and will surround himself with highly intelligent advisers. Obama also has a track record of taking in all views. On this last point I will give him credit over the current Administration.
Secondly, I think the Republicans will keep 42 seats in the Senate and that combined with the moderate Democrats in the Senate will provide a ballast against any radical moves to overhaul anything (tax policy, healthcare, etc) in a way that would be disruptive to the economy.
Thirdly, the weak state of the economy itself requires treading carefully into any attempts at modifying the system, particularly tax rates, and the glaring problem that both parties want and will attack aggressively in the first 100 days will I suspect be to repair the lax regulation that led to the recent financial crises. I think the focus on this will be so intense it will take away from other initiatives that may be less attractive to conservatives.
Finally, with respect to tax policy, the Bush tax cuts were going to be allowed to roll-off in 2010 regardless of who was elected President. Anyone who says differently is just wrong. With the makeup of congress as is, much less with the make up we will have after this election, extension of those tax cuts had no chance. I think allowing those tax cuts to expire will be the extent of major adjustment to tax rates in the first two years of an Obama Administration. I did not feel like the federal government was extracting unfairly from my income prior to the Bush tax cuts, so allowing them to expire does not bother me that much. Plus, anyone paying attention at the time, and I recall thinking about how the tax cuts were structured, knew that this was a temporary windfall that would go away at some point any way.
So all in all, I still feel good about our nation and its future and so should you (especially if you are an Obama supporter). I will also add that I do think Obama might be the right guy to restore some of our prestige internationally. The world wide support for him is great. I know that should not matter to voters what people in Africa, Asia, India, Europe think. But the fact is our credibility and respect has been hammered and as long as Obama strongly supports our national interest – if his international popularity restores some of that prestige I am all for it.
October 24th election prediction – Obama 375 – McCain 157 – Ties 6
Obama 375 McCain 157 Ties 6
The October 19th prediction was Obama 364 McCain 171 Ties 3, but with 30+ polls reporting today, including some key Midwest states it is looking like Obama may be widening his lead. I know some of the other contributors have their own guideposts, but until they post their predictions this will be the official prediction number for Hearditinabar.com as of today. As with all good statistical data we reserve the right to change it on demand to make us look smart, so don’t go telling us that we are wrong, because I am certain after the election when you review this post it will be modified to look exactly like the official results. After all have you ever heard someone in a bar admit they were wrong? I did not think so.
Also, just so you know I get these wonderful maps from a great site called http://www.electoral-vote.com, and (whisper) that is also where I get my predictions… I have been using this site, as well as many others for several years, and even though they were not spot-on about the 2004 election, the data is great and it is fun site to explore. Keep up the good work http://www.electoral-vote.com.
October 19th Prediction – Obama 364 – McCain 171 – Ties 3
Obama 364 v. McCain 171 Electoral Vote
It is looking like we could see a Regan like butt whooping. I am actually not certain at this point how McCain can win. Unless Obama gets caught sleeping with a dead girl or a live boy he has this race won.
I do want you to take a moment and consider that one party will control all three houses, and it may very well have a super-majority in both the House and the Senate. It would and probably will be able to do whatever it wants. WORDS of ADVICE…. DON’T SCREW IT UP.
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