Message to Obama

With my final contribution to the Obama campaign today, a screen followed the usual confirmation providing me an opportunity to briefly "tell my story." This being my only opportunity to express my thoughts and appreciation to those directly involved in Obama's campaign, I seized that opportunity...

I am a 53 year-old white middle class male in the hard core conservative state of Kansas. McCain signs surround the Obama/Biden sign in my own front yard. When introduced to you the night of your 2004 convention speech I asked out loud (I thought rhetorically!) Why doesn't HE run for president!?!? I have been a passionate supporter ever since. Your books and your message speak to my soul. While I work a few extra hours to fund contributions to your campaign and the DSCC, my wife and 23 year-old son have been making phone calls at our local Democratic office. Thank you for your message. Thank you and your family for the willingness to serve. May God bless you all and your efforts to restore our great nation.

Thoughts on some current events...

• The 'Socialist', 'Communist', 'Marxist' charges against Obama are nothing more than the silliness of a desperate McCain campaign. If Obama is any of these things then so was Abraham Lincoln who instituted the first federal income tax in 1862 to fund the Civil War. The income tax was made permanent by a constitutional amendment in 1913 and we have been a 'socialist' country ever since -- by that standard anyway. Obama is talking about nothing more than restructuring our tax code. We've been 'redistributing wealth' as a nation for well over a century. Even if you believe this is wrong - it is undeniable that Obama is proposing nothing really new. Republicans are fast approaching the McCarthy era with their fear tactics.
  


• Alan Greenspan, a primary architect of modern-day economic policy, testified before congress that he had put too much faith in the self-correcting power of free markets and had failed to anticipate the self-destructive power of wanton mortgage lending. This is monumental. It seems to me that with all the college degrees and lofty theories that people sometimes lose a degree of common sense. I don't pretend to be an expert on anything. When the sub-prime thing started, however, I predicted that the house of cards would fall apart someday based on nothing more than simple common sense. The housing market has always been cyclical - and always will be. When vast numbers of people buy more house than they can really afford it defies common sense to think this sustainable in the long run. Yes, I'm angry at people who can't run their own budget numbers and realize they're in over their heads, but I'm even angrier at the lending institutions. The lenders are supposed to be the professionals. When a bank tells you that you 'qualify' for a certain amount and is willing to lend the money - it is not unreasonable to assume they know what they're talking about. The belief that free markets are fully self-regulating also defies common sense. Capitalism is greedy by definition. Stockholder value is the only thing that really matters in a totally free market. This truth is made irrefutable by the likes of Enron and Worldcom as well as the current economic crisis. Certainly the right balance of regulation is tricky, but a belief that fully open and free markets will self-regulate, or that CEOs will 'do the right thing' regardless of shareholder impact is truly non-sensical. If 'Reaganomics' has not failed outright it is certainly on life support. It is time for a change. It is time for a return to common sense.
  


• Palin is beginning to move toward a power position in the post-election Republican party. She's already speaking of 2012. I sincerely hope she succeeds. Her brand of radical conservatism is increasingly revealed for the sham that it is and quickly declining in popularity. With her at the helm, Republicans are virtually guaranteed to remain the opposition party for a long time. McCain pulled a political master stroke by announcing her nomination after Obama's outstanding acceptance speech and successfully grabbed the news cycle from him. She certainly has excited the base and I'm sure helped him get out that vote. Thankfully, it appears that exciting the radical conservative base may no longer be enough.
  


• I have already voted thanks to early voting here in Kansas. Despite the fact that an Obama vote is no more than a token protest here - I've never been so proud or excited to cast a presidential ballot.

Kansas Crap

Kansas has a way of getting national press for some of the most blatant stupidity. I am honestly embarrassed, at times, to admit I live here. First it is creationism taught as science in the public schools - now it is the popular election of judges. The following is on our district ballot this November:

Shall the following be adopted? The present method of nonpartisan selection of judges of the district court in this judicial district by the governor upon nominations by a district commission and subject to retention in office by a vote of the voters shall be discontinued and there is hereby adopted in this judicial district the election of judges of the district court by the voters. YES or NO

I've seen national press hailing this proposal as leading the advancement of Democracy. Despite the upside-down and backward wording, the intent here is clear. Election of judges by popular vote. It is ludicrous on its face. It is unquestionably contrary to the intent of our founding fathers, as well as, their wisdom. It is yet another power-grabbing attempt by our local radical conservatives. Hmmmmmm -- 'radical conservatives'. Shouldn't that be an oxymoron? A fundamental premise of our judiciary, at least according to the US constitution, is that judges are appointed precisely to keep them IMMUNE from the pressures of politics. Forcing judges to answer to the popular vote would force judges to do what the people want them to do instead of what may be the right thing to do, popular or not. The founding fathers are turning over in their graves.

If you live in Kansas vote NO on this proposition.

Behind the number

In this season of numbers ad nauseam, I've been puzzled to the point of exasperation with the number 26%. It seems like a relatively small number. It is the current job approval rating for George W. and it defies any rational explanation in my mind. I would welcome a comment from anyone to talk me down here. Especially if you're one of those 26%.

Who are you? I can completely understand those who believe and agree with Bush's philosophy, with his policies, or even his 'good ole boy' style. I can understand that you might 'like' him or think he's been maligned by the 'mainstream media'. OK... well maybe not COMPLETELY understand, but I can at least acknowledge that others hold values and priorities different from my own, making them inclined toward a candidate like Bush.

This is his personal job approval rating we're talking about, however. Even if you agree with everything he TRIED to do, I don't understand how anyone can conclude he has done even a majority of it remotely well. How can anyone give this man a passing grade? How do you look at his job performance and be anything but thrilled that his employment contract is almost up?

As I write this, Bush has 105 days remaining in office. My only fear is that it is still enough time for him to screw something else up. Regardless of which presidential candidate you are for, it seems like they would get an immediate 'black mark' in judgment, perhaps sanity, for even wanting the job at this moment in history.