Bush Throws the First Pitch

Quite a mixed response both boos and cheers as Bush threw out the first pitch

Put your thinking cap on

Although I have a lot I'm chewing on, this is a bit of a lighter side blog entry for today.

The graphic to my right is actually a photograph of the peace wall. It was taken by Jessica Raphael. More of Ms Raphael's work can be seen on jpg magazine's website at http://www.jpgmag.com/photos/494968. I hope viewing her work brings you as much joy as it has for me.

Speaking of joy... Some friends of mine were amused by a "thinking cap" and Bush Bumper stickers I created, so I started a cafe press shop for them with said creative hilarity.

After doing so, I realized that Peace and Intelligence is exactly what I want from our next president, so I started this blog. Yet I've never posted about the original joke that started me on this path. You can see the thinking cap, stickers, and more at my cafe press shop which is located at http://www.cafepress.com/peaceandintell

When I create others, I will probably post about them here as well.

Super Delegates and Billionaire Bullies? What is this all about?

I don't know if you saw this, but moveon.org recently sent me an email saying that 20 big Clinton donors tried to bully Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi for saying that super-delegates should let the voters decide who becomes the Democratic nominee. This kind of insider politics needs to stop. I may not always agree with her decisions, but on this one, I believe Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi is dead on.

Everyone who has ever given money or time to a progressive candidate makes up the backbone of the Democratic party. Billionaires should get no more of a voice than those with a lower to middle class income.

So what is this superdelegate thing all about?

According to wikipedia, the term "superdelegate" itself was used originally as a criticism of unpledged delegates. Susan Estrich argued that these delegates, who would be predominantly white and male, would have more power than other delegates because of their greater freedom to vote as they wish.

The Democratic Party has faced accusations that it has been conducting its nominating process in an undemocratic way, because superdelegates are generally chosen without regard to their preferences in the presidential race and are not obligated to support the candidate chosen by the voters. Television commentator Dan Abrams has called it "troubling" that the superdelegates might decide the 2008 race, arguing, "Each of the superdelegates' votes is now equivalent to about 10,000 Democratic voters. There are online petitions calling on the superdelegates to support the candidate who does best in the primaries and caucuses. On the other hand, Geraldine Ferraro, who served on the Hunt Commission, has defended the inclusion of superdelegates as being beneficial to the party; she argues that they should exercise independent judgment in voting for a presidential nominee.

Delegates chosen in primaries and caucuses may not exactly reflect the votes cast, but Democratic party rules require proportional allocation rather than winner-take-all.

Move on suggests we send a strong signal that the small donors will back Democratic leaders with the courage to stand up for Democracy, and oppose the use of superdelegates. Decide for yourself. If you wish, you can sign a petition urging Democrats to support the vote of the people at: http://pol.moveon.org/democracy/?r_by=12391-5769906-z7q4BH&rc=paste

It's all still a bit confusing to me. I see more research is in my future.

A look at 3 Presidential Candidates

Today as I was browsing for information on the current presidential candidates, I came across an interesting website which goes into details on each. Here are a few brief blurbs, but if you want more information as I did, here's where I got these blurbs. My hope is that we can have an intelligent president who is able to improve our current situation at home, and globally. I am tired of seeing "the ugly American" stereotype of Europeans being lived out by actual Americans.

Senator Barack Obama

Current Position:
Senator from Illinois

Website:
http://www.barackobama.com

Featured Quote:

STRENGTHENING OUR COMMON SECURITY
BY INVESTING IN OUR COMMON HUMANITY

[Barack Obama Foreign Affairs, July/August 2007]

“To renew American leadership in the world, I will strengthen our common security by investing in our common humanity. Our global engagement cannot be defined by what we are against; it must be guided by a clear sense of what we stand for. We have a significant stake in ensuring that those who live in fear and want today can live with dignity and opportunity tomorrow.”

More on Senator Obama's views and policies: http://www.usglobalengagement.org/Portals/16/ftp/devfact.pdf


Senator Hilary Clinton

Current Position:
Senator from New York

Website:
http://www.hillaryclinton.com

Featured Quote:
Speech at Saddleback Church in California
November 29, 2007

"As President, I will wage the fight against AIDS with the passionate commitment it demands. I will ask for $50 billion over five years to combat HIV/AIDS, [applause] and I will ask for more money to tackle tuberculosis, and malaria around the world as well."

More on Senator Clinton's Policies: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/speech/view/?id=6196


Senator John McCain

Current Position:
Senator from Arizona

Website:
http://www.johnmccain.com

Featured Quote:

Conference on Bio Economy in Ames, IA
November 5, 2007

"There is no economic force on this globe that is stronger than free people. Entrepreneurs lie at the heart of innovation, growth, and advancing prosperity. Entrepreneurs should not be shackled by excessive regulation that raises the cost of business. Entrepreneurs should not be disadvantaged by earmarking and pork-barrel spending that favors politically connected competitors."

More on McCain:http://www.usglobalengagement.org/CandidatesCorner/tabid/674/Default.aspx or click here to read his thoughts on AIDS policies

David Beats Goliath

Recently I received the following email from Democracy for America. Apparently the Republicans are lowering themselves to Democratic smear campaigns (nah, really?) Doesn't surprise me, it is traditionally what many politicians do. I've always thought why not just speak the truth and move forward. "Truth will out!" as they say across the pond. BTW, I was never a Democrat or a Republican. I was actually a member of another party. In college I joined the Green Party. I soon realized, that meant that I had little to no voice in the primaries. But I stuck with it. Recently it became clear that joining the Republicans or the Democrats was the only way that one could actively participate in elections. And although they've now got super delegates (What the hell is that about) I still want to believe my vote counts. So I'm about as nonpartisan as it gets over the long haul:

So now I thought I would pass this email along so anyone reading my blog can help out. Perhaps just by sending this email along I'm choosing a side. It's about time:

www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/DavidBeatsGoliath

At one time, "Defense of Democracies" actually had a bipartisan advisory board which included Democrats Donna Brazille, Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Elliot Engel. Not surprisingly, all three stepped down from their positions as advisors once the misleading attack ads started running.

Here is what Donna Brazille said about Defense of Democracies:

"I strongly condemn their misleading and reckless ad campaign. The organization is using fear mongering for political purposes..." She added that due to the influence of its right-wing funding, Defense of Democracies has "morphed into a radical right wing organization that is doing the dirty work for the Bush administration and Congressional Republicans."

Her statement was clear: "I no longer wish to be affiliated with such a group and have asked them to remove my name from the Board."

We can stop Joe Lieberman and his Republican friends from swiftboating Democrats who are standing up to President Bush. When 1,000 DFA members band together and contribute $100, we'll have the resources to fight back and win. Contribute whatever you can afford right now.

www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/DavidBeatsGoliath

They have a two million dollar war chest. We have you.

Together, we're standing up to Republican fear mongering and taking our country back.

Thank you for everything you do to move America forward.

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain
Political Director

And the Tigress shall lay down with...

In a zoo in California, a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born pr ematurely and due to their tiny size, they died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only orphans' that could be found quickly, were a litter of weaner pigs. The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed the babies around the mo ther tiger. Would they become cubs or pork chops??

Take a look....... you won't believe your eyes!!

'When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you command the attention of the world'

And the Lion shall lay down with the lamb. OK, so the tiger will lay down with the piglet...

live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly.

Fwd: So? ... A Note from Michael Moore

Monday, March 24th, 2008

Friends,

It would have to happen on Easter Sunday, wouldn't it, that the 4,000th American soldier would die in Iraq. Play me that crazy preacher again, will you, about how maybe God, in all his infinite wisdom, may not exactly be blessing America these days. Is anyone surprised?

4,000 dead. Unofficial estimates are that there may be up to 100,000 wounded, injured, or mentally ruined by this war. And there could be up to a million Iraqi dead. We will pay the consequences of this for a long, long time. God will keep blessing America.

And where is Darth Vader in all this? A reporter from ABC News this week told Dick Cheney, in regards to Iraq, "two-thirds of Americans say it's not worth fighting." Cheney cut her off with a one word answer: "So?"

"So?" As in, "So what?" As in, "F*** you. I could care less."

I would like every American to see Cheney flip the virtual bird at the them, the American people. Click Here and pass it around. Then ask yourself why we haven't risen up and thrown him and his puppet out of the White House.

The Democrats have had the power to literally pull the plug on this war for the past 15 months -- and they have refused to do so. What are we to do about that? Continue to sink into our despair? Or get creative? Real creative. I know there are many of you reading this who have the chutzpah and ingenuity to confront your local congressperson. Will you? For me?

Cheney spent Wednesday, the 5th anniversary of the war, not mourning the dead he killed, but fishing off the Sultan of Oman's royal yacht. So? Ask your favorite Republican what they think of that.

The Founding Fathers would never have uttered the presumptuous words, "God Bless America." That, to them, sounded like a command instead of a request, and one doesn't command God, even if they are America. In fact, they were worried God would punish America. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington feared that God would react unfavorably against his soldiers for the way they were behaving. John Adams wondered if God might punish America and cause it to lose the war, just to prove His point that America was not worthy. They and the others believed it would be arrogant on their part to assume that God would single out America for a blessing. What a long road we have traveled since then.

I see that Frontline on PBS this week has a documentary called "Bush's War." That's what I've been calling it for a long time. It's not the "Iraq War." Iraq did nothing. Iraq didn't plan 9/11. It didn't have weapons of mass destruction. It DID have movie theaters and bars and women wearing what they wanted and a significant Christian population and one of the few Arab capitals with an open synagogue.

But that's all gone now. Show a movie and you'll be shot in the head. Over a hundred women have been randomly executed for not wearing a scarf. I'm happy, as a blessed American, that I had a hand in all this. I just paid my taxes, so that means I helped to pay for this freedom we've brought to Baghdad. So? Will God bless me?

God bless all of you in this Easter Week as we begin the 6th year of Bush's War.

God help America. Please.

Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com

World Peace?

What we want isn't always what we see and vice versa.

Last night I spoke with a volunteer at a local GLBT youth support program, who had some powerful words to say. We had gathered to remember a young man who occasionally put on women's clothing. One day while going out in a dress, he was killed. He had been attending her support program, and she was relating to me how much she misses people like him. They have lost 4 people to hate crimes since Bush took office.

Her comment was about her hopes that some day the organization would no longer be needed. At one point, she had thought that was about to happen. Then she said this, "When Clinton was in office, we were down to only one kid who needed our support. Then Bush came into office and our meetings became flooded with kids" Those kids are now being abused, yelled at for their gender identity or sexual orientation, verbally attacked in school (sometimes by professors, sometimes by other students) dealing with hurt over President Bush's comments about marriage, and more. I think it is so sad that a person's legacy is so much death.

5 years of war, 4000 dead soldiers, and 4 hate crimes just in one town. How many people like this young man have died that aren't being counted in the statistics of this Presidency?

The question becomes how. How can we reach a time of peace, love, and no more need for candle light vigils, peace rallies and support groups for those being attacked by others simply for existing? I think it starts one person at a time, one song at a time, one painting, one poem, one conversation, one step at a time.

My first step is in educating myself. My second step is by sharing that process with whomever wants to read it here.

Fwd: We the People (song) free download today

(I thought some of my friends who read this blog might be interested in the following, so I'm forwarding it along. Any questions should be directed to Sage at his myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/screamingshivamusic)

Today marks the 5th year anniversary of the war in Iraq. In honor of this I am offering my song "We the People!" for free download today on my myspace music profile.

Please tell your friends about this song, and if you believe in what it has to say, place it on your myspace page as your profile song in protest of the war.

Lets get the word out today that 4000 dead American soldiers, uncountable injuries, civilian deaths, and 5 years in an unjustified war is 5 years too many!

Regards

Sage Michaels

Go to
http://www.myspace.com/screamingshivamusic
To download this song for free. And please spread the word.

Fwd: Peace RallyToday - 5 Years Too Many Peaceful Protest

Don't forget the Vigil/Rally tonight!!
5 Years Too Many, End the Occupation of Iraq
Senator John McCain's Office (Phoenix, AZ)
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008, 4:30 PM

Why Senator McCain's Office? Because in response to suggestions of peace, he said "100 years in Iraq" would be fine with him.

They will organize speakers, and commemorate the loss of lives with a candlelight vigil as well as voice our concern for the burden the war costs are having on our resources and democracy. The event will be peaceful with signs and banners. The event will be out of doors in the public right of way (sidewalks). Civil disobedience is not expected and Phoenix Police Department will be informed of the gathering.

At 5 p.m. Wed. March 19 these community leaders will speak: Charles Goyette, daily talk show host at KFNX 1100 News and Talk. In 2004 lost his Clear Channel KFYI program because of his sharp criticism of the war.

www.antiwar.com Warren Stewart, senior pastor at the First Institutional Baptist Church of Phoenix. Led the coalition which successfully campaigned for the Martin Luther King, Jr./Civil Rights Day in Arizona.

Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona State representative Eleanor Eisenberg, recently retired Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona and long time community, peace and civil rights activist.

Deedra Abboud, executive director of the Muslim American Society of Arizona Freedom Foundation. On January 18, 2008, awarded the Phoenix MLK Jr. “Living the Dream” award.

Antonio Bustamante, immigrant rights attorney and civil rights advocate with Los Abogados, a Maricopa County Hispanic legal organization,

Alfredo Gutierrez, Arizona State Senator between 1976 and 1982 and current Radio Campesina talk show host.

Jeff Farias, daily talk show host at progressive talk KPXH 1480.

Jarrett Maupin, Phoenix Union High School District Board member

Karen Johnson, Arizona State senator

Dennis Stout, Viet Nam war army journalist who reported war crimes later described in the Pulitzer Prize winning series "Buried Secrets, Buried Truths." Founder of Phoenix Veterans for Peace and current co-host at KPHX’ s weekly “About Face” talk show.

Music by folk/political duo Dakota & the Black River Bandit and as well as by rock n' funky blues musician Thomas Oliver

The Music that Brings Peace

The Hang (pronounced Hung) drum was developed by a couple in Switzerland. They hand make them and one must journey to their Hanghouse to have your Hang find you. I find the music they make is a bringer of peace.



In the video embedded above you will find the Hang used along with voice and other instruments to create a lovely peace song.

Prayer and Meditation for Peace

One Minute Each Night:

During WW II there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace.

This had an amazing effect -- bombing stopped.

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America.

If you would like to participate:
Each evening at 9:00 PM Eastern, 8:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM Pacific, stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens and for peace in the world.

It has been said that if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, and meditation, we might be speechless.
Some say they are the most powerful assets we have.

If you are so moved, please pass this on to anyone you think will follow through.
Thank you.

I plan to meditate nightly for peace. What will you do? Visit www.peaceoneday.org for more peaceful ideas, and to learn about the international day of peace. Also, check out this video!

7 Little Letters Music Video (Cartoon)

I took a break from reading today and came across this little gem:



This song and cartoon cracked me up. If you can't see it for some reason, here is the url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va-tRD9KN2A&feature=related

And here's a look at the musician who wrote the song:

The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell

I was shopping for a gift for a friend's son who likes reading about war. While there, one title kept drawing me in, so I grabbed it. I am currently reading The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell - An Accidental Soldier's Account of the War in Iraq by John Crawford.

This is the first person story of a college student from Florida who joined the national guard, and ended up in Iraq far longer than the soldiers he was there with. So far, it is aptly named. Written in an easy to read style, it sounds like the boy next door gone to war. Most of the books which my military enthusiast young friend reads are of course glorifying war and read more like propaganda than history. However this book seems much closer to the truth mirrored in the eyes of those coming home from Iraq.

"The very word "secrecy" is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings.

We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers which are cited to justify it." -- John F. Kennedy

In a time when journalists are detained without trial, and speaking truth about the war in Iraq is called treason, I admire John Crawford for writing his truth. I will write a more complete review when I finish reading it.

Today's Reading - Who is Paul Charlton

"Right knows no boundaries and justice no frontiers."

-Atty Paul Charlton

Today I was sent the above quote in an email from an aquaintance. I'm not sure why he sent it. He has no idea I started this blog, or what I've been reading and researching in my free time. So I thought I would do some research of my own. Off I went to the ever faithful google, and here are some web pages I read starting of course with Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_K._Charlton_(attorney)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dismissal_of_U.S._attorneys_controversy
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070321/21attorneys-timeline.htm
http://www.epluribusmedia.org/features/2007/gonzales_7_backgrounds_paul_charlton.html

Something to think about:
Mr Charlton was among the many US Attorneys the Bush Administration fired. Read this Timeline at US News for an idea of what happened there. US News quoted Sampson on why this would be done, and it was one of the most honest quotes I've seen from a Bush staffer, ""...we would like to replace 15–20 percent of the current U.S. Attorneys–the underperforming ones. (This is a rough guess; we might want to consider doing performance evaluations after Judge comes on board.) The vast majority of U.S. Attorneys, 80–85 percent, I would guess, are doing a great job, are loyal Bushies, etc."

Atty Paul Charlton's office received various awards for doing a great job. Senator Kyl said,"My understanding is that Paul Charlton's departure resulted from disagreements with the Department of Justice about some office policies," A spokeswoman for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he also believes Charlton "was an exemplary U.S. attorney." So why would Bush fire him if he wasn't slacking off? I'm just your average everyday American, but it seems pretty clear to me that this was one of those instances of getting rid of those who were not "loyal Bushies."

You have to ask yourself whether you buy into the party line that Bush and his staffers used saying that it was just good management, or if this goes somewhere deeper. Somewhere more insidious. It's odd, Bush initially put him in his the office in 2001, but a lot has happened since then.

I have no answers on this one. I'm just trying to educate myself on what is happening in the current administration and why. While I'm at it, I decided to share with you what I'd been reading today and let you come to your own conclusions.

Just a Quick Introduction

This blog will contain book reviews, political satire, peacemakers, and... humor and hilarity Buddah willing. Until recently the creator of this blog was just your average American, numb and jaded to politics. But recently has become awakened to some of the current and potential badness going on in the USA.

Hopefully this will provide not only a glimpse into the author's brain, but also some good brain food.

............................................................................

When I was a child being taught civics was a normal part of the curriculum, but these days it is optional. This is good and bad. It means there's a choice, and choices are a good thing in my book. But it also means there is a whole generation growing up who knows even less about our constitutional rights and the intent of the forbearers of this country than even I know. And that's scary being that I already had a hallmark version of politics.

My hope is that as I educate myself, I can share the books, blogs, articles, etc. That I am reading, and others will find something useful, fun, interesting, or thought provoking about it.

For Peace and Intelligence,
Shanti