Barack Obama Slowly Fading Away

Barack Obama has not seen good times lately. The Hillary machine continues to surpass him in the polls, averaging a 30 point lead in the national polls. Obama supporters might argue that in state polls such as in Iowa, those generally considered to matter the most, he has a closer edge on Hillary. Obama does most definitely have the support of an overwhelming group of young first time voters. But in the past few weeks, his campaign has made irreversible gaffes that could cost him the nomination.

Hillary has always been the front runner for the Democratic nomination. When Democrats think of the name ‘Clinton’ in elected politics, it provokes a sense of nostalgia that reminds them of the 1990s and a time of prosperity, and for the most part, peace. If Barack Obama wants to revive a handle on the nomination, he must be out there and talking about what he actually wants to do. His campaign has been great at putting out universal statements such as “Hope” and “Healing” the nation. Obama is worried about bringing the nation together, but what are his actual plans for doing that?

Lately, Barack has been missing on television. When he does get mentioned nowadays, it’s usually part of some cable news packaged story on Hillary Clinton. What he has been doing is appearing on light television shows such as Tyra Banks, Ellen Degeneres, Jay Leno, and David Letterman. He needs to be on Meet the Press or Hardball clearly stating what he wants to do, how and why he wants to bring the nation together to recover from the disastrous effects of the Bush administration.

And with the campaign releasing a memo about how “happy” gays are okay, accompanied by “ex-gay” Donnie McClurkin at an Obama fundraiser, Barack Obama is slow fading away to losing the nomination.

Giuliani Exaggerates Again, This Time Fakes Cancer Stats

Rudy Giuliani has been trying to humanize himself lately, today he was picking pumpkins New Hampshire. But that’s not what I want to talk about, he also mentioned his battle with prostate cancer over the weekend. He says “That in America the survival rate for prostate cancer is 82%, while it’s 44% in England.” He elaborates that “He may have not survived if the health care system had been socialized.”

After doing a quick Google search, I found Cancer Research UK says that the survival rate in England is 72%. But Giuliani’s contrast wasn’t to highlight cancer survival rates, it was to complain about a system in which he believes “Americans will be forced to be part of government health care system.” Interestingly, the statistic he cited was 28 points off, just like his other claims.

If you remember New York City was attacked twice while Rudy was mayor. The first was the 1993 World Trade Center Bombings. He took five years to establish a central command center, despite calls after the terrorist attack to build one. And guess where he put it? In the same complex that had been attacked. He also ignored warnings about faulty radios, which resulted in the unnecessary death of many firefighters.

Most of all he hid the dangers of the World Trade Center dust after 9/11. In an article published in the September 2007 Discover magazine, they report on a class action lawsuit of 10,000 individuals, most of who have come down with illnesses as a result of 9/11. Many of these people suffering from rare disease due to the local, state, and federal government covering up damage to Lower Manhattan to preserve real estate values.

Giulani knew the New York economy would be hurt if people knew Lower Manhattans dangers, so he instead sold New Yorkers and Americans to real estate interests. And now he claims to be a patriotic terrorist fighter?

Teen Accused of “Child Molestation” Freed

Genarlow Wilson, now a man, has been ordered set free by the Georgia Supreme Court. In 2005, the then 17 year old was accused of child molestation for having oral sex consensually performed on him by another 17 year old.

I don’t know about you, but when was the last time you heard of someone thrown in jail for consensual sex? Being that this occurred in Georgia I just assumed racism, with a persistent district attorney appealing his first “cruel and unusual” punishment ruling, which would have let him walk free earlier. But then I found the Attorney General Thurbert Baker, was Democratic and -gasp- black.  I assume others in his office must have pressured him into not looking a person who was lenient on people of his own race, which lead him to fight for this man to be put in prison for something, many, many people do every day.

But thanks to Jack and Jill Politics, I realized the 17 year old girl may have been white, and thus reason for a legal “lynching.” If so this explains the harsh sentencing. But whatever the reason behind this, I’m glad that the justice system, has at least this time, restored the justice part of their name.

Low Congress Ratings due to Republican Control

Two inter sting things happened relating to congress today. First an immigration bill granting children citizenship in the US after meeting certain criteria was struck down. Second a controversial judge, who overwhelming sides with corporations, was elected to the 5th Circuit Federal Court.

But last November Americans voted out the current leadership in congress. But some politicians haven’t realized Americans want change from twelve years of Republican mismanagement. But they’re still voting for (the Iraq war, uncontrolled spending) and blocking (children’s health care, immigration reform), the same policies that Americans are disgusted with. Unless the Republicans can let the Americans have a voice, more can look to loose their seats in 2008.

And it’s time for Democrats to be Democrats. I want to see Lyndon Baines Johnson type strategies. Not Democrats defecting, and siding with the Republicans. Many of the issues that have failed to be solved are just as important, if not more than the Civil Rights Movement.

Racism is making a resurgence in America (not that it was ever gone), for instance the State Department wants to shut down a Muslim school, because curriculum doesn’t “Meet their standards.” The head of the voting rights protection agency feels “The white vote is the most important to protect.” And there is a tremendous government/Republican started backlash against legal and “illegal” immigrants.

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid need to become true leaders, willing at any cost to pass important legislation. But blame cannot be entirely placed on the leadership, Democrats need to stop being bullied by Republican tactics. And Americans need to stop being intimated by Republican fear mongering (ever noticed how a new Osama tape appears when Bush needs more money?). Lets live by the motto “Give me freedom or give me death.”

Attorney General Appointee Doesn’t Know What Torture Is And More

Torture is illegal and unconstitutional. Even George Bush admits this. I am not an expert on torture. What I can say is that torture is defined by federal law as “means an act committed by a person acting under the color of law specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to lawful sanctions) upon another person within his custody or physical control”. Mental pain or suffering is defined as “the prolonged mental harm caused by or resulting from - (A) the intentional infliction or threatened infliction of severe physical pain or suffering; (B) the administration or application, or threatened administration or application, of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or the personality; (C) the threat of imminent death; or (D) the threat that another person will imminently be subjected to death, severe physical pain or suffering, or the administration or application of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or personality.” You can’t argue that the definition is something different from what it says right there is in the legal code. You can argue that it is a bad definition, but you can’t argue that it isn’t the definition.
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Fri. October 19th Live Podcast: U.S. Senate Candidate Andrew Rice

Andrew Rice, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Oklahoma.

Oklahoma State Senator, and now a candidate for the United States Senate, Andrew Rice is a true fighter for progressive values. He is interviewed on a wide variety of topics from the War in Iraq, to same-sex marriage.

Co-hosted by Dan Solis, Jordan Stearns, Johnny Camacho, and Henry Wincen.

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Will Bush Be Like Hitler and Start another World War?

I’m sure you’ve all heard about Bush’s World War Three comments.  In case you haven’t Bush has said “If Iran gets nuclear weapons it will be World War III”

I personally don’t see what would create World War III if Iran gets nuclear weapons. India, Israel, Russia, France, and several other countries acquired nuclear weapons and no war, much less a world war followed.  It seems the only conflict we’d have with Iran was if Bush decided he needed to do a “search and destroy” of nuclear weapons in Iran. Much like his failed operation in Iraq.

Israel and the USA are probably the most dangerous nuclear powers, and have been the only nuclear powers to initiate war since 2001. The US invaded two countries, and Israel bombed civilians in the 2006 Lebanon War. Meanwhile Iran has engaged in zero armed conflict in the same time period.

Besides who is Bush as the mediator of Nuclear/WMDs/Bio Weapons? As commander in chief his military flew nuclear weapons over the United Sates. Even though the nuclear weapons where deactivated, an aircraft crash or other midair disaster could have caused an aerial dirty bomb to be dispersed. If the US can make such mistakes endangering it’s own citizens, how can Bush complain of the possibility of terrorists abilities to steel nuclear material from the Iranian military?

It’s time for a reality check. Any global conflict originating in the Mideast would be a result of Bush’s destabilization of the Mideast.

Introducing Mike Rushmore @ Think Youth

Hello everyone, I’m Mike Rushmore, the newest contributor to Think Youth. I’m an American, but for the past two years or so I’ve lived in London. Thanks to the internet, I’ve been able to stay up to date on politics in The States. I’m a Liberal Libertarian. On social issues, I usually support more individual freedoms (save for my being in favor of stricter gun laws). On economic issues, I usually try to support more social programs and regulations when it stops things like monopolies or pollution, but like the idea of a free market (though a market of monopolies isn’t really a free market). I tend to be extremely opinionated, but I’m always open to new ideas and willing to change my mind if the facts are there. So far for the 2008 election, I’m hoping that Ron Paul gets the Republican nomination, and Kucinich gets the Democratic nomination.

I am really looking forward to blogging here at Think Youth, and I also do some vlogging at www.youtube.com/user/xakaxunknownx.

Obama making his move?

On October 16th, following the announcement that Hillary Clinton had $2.1 million more than Barack Obama, Obama placed the above graphic on his site. The picture depicts Hillary’s support from lobbyists and Obama’s grassroots support. The graphic urges supporters to “Close the Gap” between he and Hillary. A lot of pundits see this as Obama finally explicitly going after Hillary for her Lobbyist support. In the past few months, political pundits and commentators have criticized Obama for being too light on Hillary, claiming he needs to go after her in order to overcome this gigantic lead that she has built in the polls. Read more

Wed. October 10th Live Podcast

Frank Rich, NY Times Columnist and author of “The Greatest Story Ever Sold”. Co-hosted by Jeff Pritchard, Dan Solis, and Henry Wincen of 10 Minute Blitz fame.

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Patriotism: An Idea, Not a Doctrine

The Pledge of Allegiance is a lie, and so I no longer repeat it’s word, forgetting what it says. But even though I no longer utter those thirty words. But I still do love my country, and am willing to die for the freedoms it promises. Here is what the allegiance says, and why I believe I can’t truthfully repeat it’s words:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

If I’m a Christian American, which a later part assumes, shouldn’t I only be pledging allegiance to God, much less a inanimate object? That part is starting to sound like idol worship.

and to the Republic for which it stands,

I Can’t align myself with the Republic part, because Americans are smart enough to pick their own candidates in a Democratic form of government. But for the country it stands behind, I’ll ally myself with it.

one Nation under God,

Really, we’re one nation under God? I suppose that’s why most Americans don’t even try to live by the Ten Commandments.

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The last part can only be called bullshit. Considering this thing was written during slavery, I don’t know how anyone could recite those lies back then. And even with the end of slavery, and the end of wide spread segregation, liberty and justice are only for some. For example, victims of the Jena 6 case appear to be getting justice, but in a country with liberty and justice for all, why did it have to become a national headline, with protests all around America, for the so called “justice system” to do right?

What prompted me writing this, is the flap that Obama is getting for not wearing his flag pin. There are many ways to show your patriotism. From reforming America to make the pledge less a lie, to serving your country in times of war. In fact John McCain says he doesn’t always where a flag pin “Because his record shows his patriotism.”

Republicans Flash Bang Democrats

While Americas brave men and woman are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, we have senators and representatives fighting to censure their political foes. Both from the Republican and Democrat legislation has been issued to both censure and endorse various partisanship groups view points on the war.

And this is exactly what Republicans want. By distracting Democrats with silly comments from Rush Limbaugh, they are taking time that could be used for finding solutions to end the war. Headlines such as “Dems Slam Limbaugh’s Free Speech” distract Republicans from hearing the true bad news about Iraq. They also serve as a diversion for Democrats from being motivated by negative war headlines.

Someone in congress (how about the uniter, Barack Obama) needs to introduce legislation condemning these recent bills to censure free speech. This is exactly why Washington is dysfunctional, because every representative is looking out for their home district, and their home peoples votes.

By the way, next bill up on the GOP agenda: to censure the Oakland Port Authority, for a very unfortunate mistake.

A Personal Declaration — People under 18 should be able to vote!

Here’s an essay I wrote for English, a “Personal Declaration” about how people under 18 should be able to vote. Check out this and this for some more information/support. Hit “Read More” for my writing.

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No Word Yet on Who Will Pay for Iraq

The Democrats tried to find a way to fund the Iraq war, by creating a tax surcharge. Top Democrats, and Republicans as a whole blasted the idea. The idea reported by MarketWatch actually seemed simple and responsible:

The proposed legislation, offered by House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., and Democratic Reps. John Murtha of Pennsylvania and Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, would require low- and middle-income taxpayers to add 2% to their federal taxes, according to news reports, while higher-income taxpayers would see a surcharge of 12% to 15%.

Obey said the measure would help draw a contrast between President Bush’s threat to veto several Democratic spending measures because they exceed his fiscal 2008 budget request by around $22 billion.

“Just as I have opposed the war from the outset, I am … opposed to a war surtax,” said Pelosi, D-Calif., according to the Associated Press.

Someone needs to pay for this war. Obviously the oil money we where promised would finance a war that would go no higher than $50 billion, has gone somewhere else. Probably in Bushes pocket. But my idea for war financing is even better, how about congressional districts that support the Iraq war - as determined by their representatives votes - would have to the tax burden.

This puts the Republicans where their mouth is. First it funds this “All so important war,” which everyday is looking more like a Bush/Vigilante setup (Bush gets to put oil money in his pocket, hateful conservatives gets to watch Blackwater shooting brown people). And besides money, Al-Qaida has warned that anyone who pays taxes, is as guilty as Bush for Iraq and Afghanistan. So why not have the people who support this war be the sole bearers of the blood and money?

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