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Oh, my goodness!
I am just filled with joy on this day!
Obama is ruling the day and the Clintons' tactics blew up in their faces!
I really believe that the more the Clintons bring up race, the more it's going to accentuate their own failings. Dirty politics has never worked with me, and I'm becoming more and more hopeful that my fellow Americans are waking up and smelling the BS.
South Carolina! Need I say more?
Well, the Cali primary is on February 5th and for the first time in many a long year, I'm thinking that my vote is really going to make a difference, instead of making the best of a bunch of bad choices.
As I've said before, I don't think Hilary can win the Presidential election. Too many people just plain hate Bill. She's going to lose votes because of her husband.
I really believe Obama has a better chance of crossover votes from the Republican side. He's not too, too liberal. He's not too, too conservative. He FEELS like he's a better representative of the majority of Americans.
I was really doubtful that Americans were ready for a Black President, but every day I'm feeling more and more optimistic that Obama is THE choice for the Democrats.
Go Obama!!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Alas, Babylon
Why am I writing about a novel written in 1959, before the Civil Rights movement, before desegregation, before the Cold War ended, before we could even think of peace with Russia and China?
Pat Frank's classic novel, Alas Babylon, in some ways seems outdated, and yet in others, it hits too close to home.
Politics of the Middle East, spy satellites, nuclear weapons -- sound familiar?
We sometimes forget how far we have come.
The novel still calls our Brothers and Sisters of Color "Negros". The water fountain was still labeled "White" and "Colored". People were still concerned about "Negros" bringing down property values. A man of color was still not considered a man in the white dominated society.
Today, we have a Black man running for President. Most of us are aware that the difference between our Brothers and Sisters and ourselves are merely outward appearances. We are all concerned about our kids, crime, finances, survival.
In the novel, in the end a woman is President. Why? Because "the most junior of government departments and a woman" is the only one that survives the nuclear war, because she was on an inspection tour.
Today, a woman runs for President. Not a default position, but as a fully accepted political candidate.
In the novel, men and women, white and Black, pull together to survive.
Today, do we pull together, or do we pull apart?
If, God forbid, we actually had a nuclear strike or some horrible natural disaster, could we survive, not just as a nation, but as humanity?
In the novel, they do survive. Without electricity, without telephones, without even radios, they survive. The United States survives.
In real life, in 2008, we're without power for three days and our lives are in chaos.
I question, what will we do if, God forbid, the worst ever happens?
Perhaps I think too much. Perhaps I worry too much.
But I know one thing. My father always told us, "Proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance."
Who is planning?
Who?
I worry because it seems like we live for the moment. Too much credit, too many bills, too little saved and stored for emergencies. Even during the recent power outages, I had to go and get batteries and ice, and I actually do have a plan. Well, sort of a plan. But I don't have any money set aside or enough non-perishables stored to last more than a week or two.
And so I worry, while the satellite dish is bringing in some inane show the kids are watching, the ceiling fan is whirling, the icemaker drops another chunk of ice into a glass, the computer is humming away as I type this.
What would we do if we really did have to take care of ourselves for not just a couple of days, but for a year, years, a lifetime? No electricity, no computers, no banks, no cars, no stores, no law?
What would we do?
Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank c. 1959 -- Think about it...
Pat Frank's classic novel, Alas Babylon, in some ways seems outdated, and yet in others, it hits too close to home.
Politics of the Middle East, spy satellites, nuclear weapons -- sound familiar?
We sometimes forget how far we have come.
The novel still calls our Brothers and Sisters of Color "Negros". The water fountain was still labeled "White" and "Colored". People were still concerned about "Negros" bringing down property values. A man of color was still not considered a man in the white dominated society.
Today, we have a Black man running for President. Most of us are aware that the difference between our Brothers and Sisters and ourselves are merely outward appearances. We are all concerned about our kids, crime, finances, survival.
In the novel, in the end a woman is President. Why? Because "the most junior of government departments and a woman" is the only one that survives the nuclear war, because she was on an inspection tour.
Today, a woman runs for President. Not a default position, but as a fully accepted political candidate.
In the novel, men and women, white and Black, pull together to survive.
Today, do we pull together, or do we pull apart?
If, God forbid, we actually had a nuclear strike or some horrible natural disaster, could we survive, not just as a nation, but as humanity?
In the novel, they do survive. Without electricity, without telephones, without even radios, they survive. The United States survives.
In real life, in 2008, we're without power for three days and our lives are in chaos.
I question, what will we do if, God forbid, the worst ever happens?
Perhaps I think too much. Perhaps I worry too much.
But I know one thing. My father always told us, "Proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance."
Who is planning?
Who?
I worry because it seems like we live for the moment. Too much credit, too many bills, too little saved and stored for emergencies. Even during the recent power outages, I had to go and get batteries and ice, and I actually do have a plan. Well, sort of a plan. But I don't have any money set aside or enough non-perishables stored to last more than a week or two.
And so I worry, while the satellite dish is bringing in some inane show the kids are watching, the ceiling fan is whirling, the icemaker drops another chunk of ice into a glass, the computer is humming away as I type this.
What would we do if we really did have to take care of ourselves for not just a couple of days, but for a year, years, a lifetime? No electricity, no computers, no banks, no cars, no stores, no law?
What would we do?
Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank c. 1959 -- Think about it...
Sunday, January 20, 2008
What Have YOU Done Lately For Our Veterans?
Yes, this is a challenge.
What have YOU done lately to help your local Veterans?
These are the young men and women who go off to war, to fight our country's battles, and come home again. Some of them were in the National Guard. They NEVER expected to go overseas, the National Guard was meant for homeland security. The government changed the rules on them, so they too went off to Iraq.
(I have major issues about the legality as well as the morality of sending the National Guard overseas -- but I digress...)
Yes, they're welcomed back, but you know, none of us (except other Veterans) really know or understand what they've gone through.
We don't understand the thousand mile stare. We don't understand the hypervigilance. We don't understand the reasons why they try to forget...
What have YOU done to help Veterans?
These are the victims of US policy, of international politics, of war.
There is a long history of Veterans not being able to cope with the changes in their minds, hearts, spirits when they came home again. Not just Vietnam, this has happened after EVERY war, every police action, every single time!
I know what I do.
I work with a Stand Down group.
I'm already working (behind the scenes) on the 2008 North Bay Stand Down, held every October at the Dixon Fairgrounds in Dixon, California. I'm fortunate that my job allows me to do this on company time, that my employer is completely vested in the success of this event.
What do we do? We set up a three-day encampment for homeless and at-risk Veterans, to hook them up with both VA and County services. Our focus counties are Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo. We also include any other Veterans who choose to participate. Last year, Lake County's Veterans began attending our Stand Down.
We set up tents, we register the Veterans, we get medical, dental, eye, and mental health services for them. We have entertainment. We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have Court, with real judges who volunteer to come and help our men and women resolve lingering court issues.
We WORK to benefit the lives of our Veterans, who have not just sacrificed their physical and mental health in service to our country, they've all too often lost their family, friends, jobs and homes.
Living under a bridge is not a fitting reward for someone who fought for the freedoms that you and I enjoy.
What have YOU done lately for our Veterans? And perhaps more to the point, what have your local politicians, members of the House and Senate, done for our Veterans? The people we voted for, have they followed the will of the people? Or are they deciding for us, without listening to our concerns, our opinions, our viewpoints?
What have we all done lately for our Veterans?
Links:
SF Gate: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/01/19/national/a100217S53.DTL&tsp=1
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans: http://www.nchv.org/standdownevents.cfm
California Department of Veterans Affairs: http://www.cdva.ca.gov/Resources/Homeless.aspx
North Bay Stand Down: www.northbaystanddown.blogspot.com and www.northbaystanddown.org
What have YOU done lately to help your local Veterans?
These are the young men and women who go off to war, to fight our country's battles, and come home again. Some of them were in the National Guard. They NEVER expected to go overseas, the National Guard was meant for homeland security. The government changed the rules on them, so they too went off to Iraq.
(I have major issues about the legality as well as the morality of sending the National Guard overseas -- but I digress...)
Yes, they're welcomed back, but you know, none of us (except other Veterans) really know or understand what they've gone through.
We don't understand the thousand mile stare. We don't understand the hypervigilance. We don't understand the reasons why they try to forget...
What have YOU done to help Veterans?
These are the victims of US policy, of international politics, of war.
There is a long history of Veterans not being able to cope with the changes in their minds, hearts, spirits when they came home again. Not just Vietnam, this has happened after EVERY war, every police action, every single time!
I know what I do.
I work with a Stand Down group.
I'm already working (behind the scenes) on the 2008 North Bay Stand Down, held every October at the Dixon Fairgrounds in Dixon, California. I'm fortunate that my job allows me to do this on company time, that my employer is completely vested in the success of this event.
What do we do? We set up a three-day encampment for homeless and at-risk Veterans, to hook them up with both VA and County services. Our focus counties are Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo. We also include any other Veterans who choose to participate. Last year, Lake County's Veterans began attending our Stand Down.
We set up tents, we register the Veterans, we get medical, dental, eye, and mental health services for them. We have entertainment. We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have Court, with real judges who volunteer to come and help our men and women resolve lingering court issues.
We WORK to benefit the lives of our Veterans, who have not just sacrificed their physical and mental health in service to our country, they've all too often lost their family, friends, jobs and homes.
Living under a bridge is not a fitting reward for someone who fought for the freedoms that you and I enjoy.
What have YOU done lately for our Veterans? And perhaps more to the point, what have your local politicians, members of the House and Senate, done for our Veterans? The people we voted for, have they followed the will of the people? Or are they deciding for us, without listening to our concerns, our opinions, our viewpoints?
What have we all done lately for our Veterans?
Links:
SF Gate: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/01/19/national/a100217S53.DTL&tsp=1
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans: http://www.nchv.org/standdownevents.cfm
California Department of Veterans Affairs: http://www.cdva.ca.gov/Resources/Homeless.aspx
North Bay Stand Down: www.northbaystanddown.blogspot.com and www.northbaystanddown.org
Friday, January 11, 2008
Interesting, How Little We Know
It's interesting, how little we know about other candidates in other states.
I had no idea that there was another Black candidate, Albert Howard. I also didn't know that his vote count changed during the New Hampshire primary.
"The 41-year-old father of eight said he was watching C-SPAN and was pleasantly surprised to see a tally of 50 votes with just 12 percent of returns in early Tuesday night. About an hour later his total went as high 187 votes.
"By primary's end, he officially received 44 votes, but insists he had more that seemingly disappeared."
I find that very suspicious. He had 187 votes, but by the end, he had 44?
Where the heck did the other 137 votes go?
I'm glad he's challenged the count. And like many others, I'll be watching to see what the tally is after the recount.
Thanks to the Internet and friends, I can dredge up a lot of stuff that, back in the day, we'd have never heard about.
So for now, let me just say, "hmmmmm".
http://www.mlive.com/elections/index.ssf/2008/01/chauffer_challenges_nh_primary.html
I had no idea that there was another Black candidate, Albert Howard. I also didn't know that his vote count changed during the New Hampshire primary.
"The 41-year-old father of eight said he was watching C-SPAN and was pleasantly surprised to see a tally of 50 votes with just 12 percent of returns in early Tuesday night. About an hour later his total went as high 187 votes.
"By primary's end, he officially received 44 votes, but insists he had more that seemingly disappeared."
I find that very suspicious. He had 187 votes, but by the end, he had 44?
Where the heck did the other 137 votes go?
I'm glad he's challenged the count. And like many others, I'll be watching to see what the tally is after the recount.
Thanks to the Internet and friends, I can dredge up a lot of stuff that, back in the day, we'd have never heard about.
So for now, let me just say, "hmmmmm".
http://www.mlive.com/elections/index.ssf/2008/01/chauffer_challenges_nh_primary.html
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Hmmm... Now this is interesting!
The primaries are certainly causing the local commentators to talk. All of their predictions seem to be completely off. Now that's a fascinating thought, have America's political commentators and radio talk show hosts finally lost all touch with the public?
I've been wondering about that for a while. I've noticed that all too many are marching lockstep with their broadcasting brethren and dissenting voices were disappearing. It was basically becoming the two extremes, Bernie Ward vs Rush. (Umm, we won't go into current legal issues...) It seems like they'd discounted both Obama and McCain. And now, oh my goodness!
I have to admit, I wasn't sure that America was ready to accept Obama. I am, but the rest of the country, hmmmm, I really thought the Clinton machine was going to roll over the Democratic Party like an M1 Abrams tank crushing aluminum cans.
And McCain, what a surprise! The only candidate that admits to being in favor of the Iraq action and on top of it, his campaign is out of money!
I must admit, I'm pleasantly surprised by this turn of events. Of course, there are a lot more primaries ahead, so things can change pretty quickly. But now, this is interesting!
I've been wondering about that for a while. I've noticed that all too many are marching lockstep with their broadcasting brethren and dissenting voices were disappearing. It was basically becoming the two extremes, Bernie Ward vs Rush. (Umm, we won't go into current legal issues...) It seems like they'd discounted both Obama and McCain. And now, oh my goodness!
I have to admit, I wasn't sure that America was ready to accept Obama. I am, but the rest of the country, hmmmm, I really thought the Clinton machine was going to roll over the Democratic Party like an M1 Abrams tank crushing aluminum cans.
And McCain, what a surprise! The only candidate that admits to being in favor of the Iraq action and on top of it, his campaign is out of money!
I must admit, I'm pleasantly surprised by this turn of events. Of course, there are a lot more primaries ahead, so things can change pretty quickly. But now, this is interesting!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Broderick Boys - Revisited
Oh great! Here we go again!
Once more, the Yolo County District Attorney has managed to get the judge to sign off on the Broderick Boys gang injunction. Once again, the cops have free reign to harass our Hispanic and Latino Brothers and Sisters in West Sacramento.
Funny how the residents of Broderick, who are directly affected by this, are mostly against this trampling of residents' civil rights.
Funny how our opinions are ignored in this matter.
Funny how it's OK to trample on the rights of AMERICAN CITIZENS just because they're olive complected and have a Spanish last name.
I think it's well past time that I put "La Casa de" above my front door. Because it's about darn time that we start putting out there that just because we live in Broderick and have Spanish last names, it DOES NOT mean that we belong to a gang.
I don't want MY kids to become the victims of well-meaning but brainwashed and oblivious cops who see olive skins, Raider jackets, or a red sweatshirt (or car) as signs of gang affiliation. Cops need to learn that just because a Broderick resident is brown, it doesn't mean the police force has the right to trample on that person's right to live in our white dominated culture. My neighbors have the same rights as the white guy that lives across the street, the Russian guy that lives over in Bryte, the Asian or white or Black neighbors in Broderick, in Bryte, in Southport, in West Sacramento.
It's about darn time we started sticking up for our neighborhood and our neighbors.
"Broderick Boys - Revisited" needs to become "Broderick Residents Win The Battle For The Civil Liberties".
Because it's a heck of a slippery slope and when we turn our faces from our neighbors, we'd best expect that we'll be next on the DA's list. Just because we live in the same neighborhood, or go to the same schools, or hang out at the same parks, or attend the same churches as the "Broderick Boys". Pretty soon, we'll be profiled as members of the same gang.
We are all in the same gang.
Think about it.
It's only a matter of time...
Once more, the Yolo County District Attorney has managed to get the judge to sign off on the Broderick Boys gang injunction. Once again, the cops have free reign to harass our Hispanic and Latino Brothers and Sisters in West Sacramento.
Funny how the residents of Broderick, who are directly affected by this, are mostly against this trampling of residents' civil rights.
Funny how our opinions are ignored in this matter.
Funny how it's OK to trample on the rights of AMERICAN CITIZENS just because they're olive complected and have a Spanish last name.
I think it's well past time that I put "La Casa de" above my front door. Because it's about darn time that we start putting out there that just because we live in Broderick and have Spanish last names, it DOES NOT mean that we belong to a gang.
I don't want MY kids to become the victims of well-meaning but brainwashed and oblivious cops who see olive skins, Raider jackets, or a red sweatshirt (or car) as signs of gang affiliation. Cops need to learn that just because a Broderick resident is brown, it doesn't mean the police force has the right to trample on that person's right to live in our white dominated culture. My neighbors have the same rights as the white guy that lives across the street, the Russian guy that lives over in Bryte, the Asian or white or Black neighbors in Broderick, in Bryte, in Southport, in West Sacramento.
It's about darn time we started sticking up for our neighborhood and our neighbors.
"Broderick Boys - Revisited" needs to become "Broderick Residents Win The Battle For The Civil Liberties".
Because it's a heck of a slippery slope and when we turn our faces from our neighbors, we'd best expect that we'll be next on the DA's list. Just because we live in the same neighborhood, or go to the same schools, or hang out at the same parks, or attend the same churches as the "Broderick Boys". Pretty soon, we'll be profiled as members of the same gang.
We are all in the same gang.
Think about it.
It's only a matter of time...
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
2008 - A Year of Change?
Is 2008 going to be a year of change?
Or is it going to be lots of noise and talk and bull hockey, with no real change at all?
Shoot, I don't know!
I can say that it's going to be interesting as the politics get deeper and mudslinging gets uglier. And there's a whole lotta mud that's going to be slung. The Clinton machine is churning away. Obama is looking better by the minute. Edward's wife is looking tired (I need to pray for that woman, she needs ALL our strength and prayers as she continues to battle cancer). The Republicans are in about the same boat, lots of uncertainty.
Bottom line, which candidate has the best ability to win? Who can win the hearts of Americans? Actually, it's more of business as usual -- who is going to be the best of a bunch of bad choices?
I like Obama. I'm just not sure he's going to be able to win this year.
I don't like too many of the other Democratic candidates.
I pretty much don't like any of the Republicans.
Most of the other candidates aren't viable.
I'll be honest, I don't know who's going to win the election.
One thing I do know: No matter what any candidate promises the American public, if he/she thinks anything will be accomplished without the cooperation of Congress, he/she is a fool. And we're fools for believing anything different...
Or is it going to be lots of noise and talk and bull hockey, with no real change at all?
Shoot, I don't know!
I can say that it's going to be interesting as the politics get deeper and mudslinging gets uglier. And there's a whole lotta mud that's going to be slung. The Clinton machine is churning away. Obama is looking better by the minute. Edward's wife is looking tired (I need to pray for that woman, she needs ALL our strength and prayers as she continues to battle cancer). The Republicans are in about the same boat, lots of uncertainty.
Bottom line, which candidate has the best ability to win? Who can win the hearts of Americans? Actually, it's more of business as usual -- who is going to be the best of a bunch of bad choices?
I like Obama. I'm just not sure he's going to be able to win this year.
I don't like too many of the other Democratic candidates.
I pretty much don't like any of the Republicans.
Most of the other candidates aren't viable.
I'll be honest, I don't know who's going to win the election.
One thing I do know: No matter what any candidate promises the American public, if he/she thinks anything will be accomplished without the cooperation of Congress, he/she is a fool. And we're fools for believing anything different...
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