November 7th America Faces a Crossroads
Regardless of one's political affiliation, it is obvious that this nation has not been as fractured as it is right now since the days just before the Civil War fought almost 150 years ago as North battled South, and brother fought against brother. Even during the Vietnam War, the divisions seen in America were not/did not seem as extreme as they are today. We have blue states verse red states, legals against illegal aliens, and Christians against everyone else, with a Congress that seems to feed and foster the hatred between various groups of competing interests in shaping the direction this nation should take.
We cannot hope to heal wounds and fix problems without first admitting the problems exist. Secondly, do not think we can fix everything all at once, which means we as a whole have to agree to set aside certain problems, agree to disagree until we have time to address those issues at a later date after more serious problems have been discussed, and dealt with in a way that is fair to the majority of Americans, while at the same time protecting the rights of defined minority interest groups.
If we as a nation set aside the issues of abortion and gay marriage for awhile, which are moral issues, as well as being the great divide between those in the red camp and the blue camp, it would become much easier to admit that most Americans in the lower and middle classes are far worse off under Republican governance. Wages are down and/or stagnant for most Americans, and though some refuse to believe or accept it, a big contributing cause to this reality is the huge influx of illegal aliens flooding into America, stealing our jobs, lowering our wages, and taxing our social services. It is true that they are just trying to find a better life for themselves, but should our government be perpetuating and illegal migration into America that so negatively impacts on the lives of legal citizens of our great land? Last year alone, 4 million Americans slipped from being middle class into poverty, and we are rapidly closing in on 50 million Americans who have no major medical coverage.
Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Condi Rice would have us believe that things are getting better in Iraq, but they are not. This month, in the first 18 days we have lost the lives of 67 of our brave young fighting men and women in the Iraq War, and if the pace continues through the end of the month, it will be the deadliest month for US troops since the start of the war...an escalating pattern of death similar to that faced in Vietnam, though at a quickened pace. We had a general all but state our troops would remain at current levels through 2010, even though we have soldiers that have already rotated in and out of Iraq four times. Former Secretary of State James Baker will release a report soon after the November elections that will paint a very tragic picture of Iraq, and will recommend drastic changes in our approach to the war, actually embracing many of the suggestions of Representative John Murtha.
Despite George W Bush's promise of bringing integrity back to the White House, he and his administration have failed miserably in that task. Yes, there are corrupt politicians in both parties, but at every turn for two straight years, we have watched a litany of scandals come out into the light of day which involve high ranking Republicans, and the phrase Do Nothing Congress can only be laid squarely in the path of Republicans running for re-election, as they are in control of both the House and the Senate, as well as the White House and our Supreme Court.
Plame Gate, Iraqi Press Gate, Abramoff Gate, Foley Gate are but a few of the scandals that have rocked the Republican Majority. Tom DeLay is under indictment, Duke Cunningham is already in prison with Bob Ney close behind, and it is only a matter of time until Mark Foley follows in their foot steps. At least two members of the White House staff have resigned and plead guilty to crimes, and two others have resigned and are under indictment, with Scooter Libby the most famous of the two. The Republicans can cry foul and trot out old scandals to distract our attention, but there are too many crimes of greed to be ignored.
The latest scandal involving Mark Foley brings up some ugly monsters that some wish to ignore, as to admit their existence means abandoning a party you've placed all your faith in. Yet, we must examine this scandal, the actions or lack of actions on the part of KEY members of the Republican Congressional majority. We are not talking just a sex scandal here, we are talking about a sexual predator that was preying upon our children, and despite their protestations, many Republicans KNEW ABOUT FOLEY. None of the investigations will be complete before the elections, but we can look at what information is out in the public domain and draw certain conclusions.
First, we know that a significant handful of Republican Congressman either A) knew about what was going on, or B) should have known what was going on, but for some reason failed to keep a close enough eye on the Page Program, failed to protect our children. That list so far includes Dennis Hastert, Tom Reynolds, Congressmen Kolbe, Alexander, Boehner and Shimkus, as well as my own Congresswoman here in the 19th Congressional District of New York, Sue Kelly who chaired the Page Board from 1999-2001.
It is now accepted fact that pages were being warned about Mark Foley as early as 1995. We also know that one page has come forward claiming to have received inappropriate IM's and emails as early as 1999 when Congresswoman Sue Kelly was Chairwoman of the Page Program, and Congressman Kolbe was second in command. We also know for a fact that one page came to Congressman Kolbe in the year 2000. Congressman Sue Kelly first claimed that none of the inappropriate activities took place during her term as Chairwoman, and when that statement was disproved, she simply stated she had no knowledge of any abuses, and if she had, she would have taken immediate actions.
Boehner, Tom Reynolds and Hastert all claim not to have any knowledge until last fall, and each of them claims they thought someone else was taking care of the problem. Alexander and Shimkus both claim they handed the problem off to someone else after it was given to them. We are talking about our children here, and a sexual predator preying upon them as Pages in the Congress of the United States of America. Regardless of their excuses, every one of these members should resign effective immediately, and it amazes me that the Christian Right of the Republican Party has not demanded their resignations...you cannot claim to be the party of morals when you do not demand accountability and responsibility from those you trust to serve. There is and old saying that you are only as strong as your weakest link, and every one of these Congressman represent a weak link in the Republican chain of command, and should be eliminated sooner rather than later.
The economy, Social Security, affordable access to medicine, National Security since 9/11, jobs and wages are all issues Bush and the Republican Party promised us they would deal with clear back in the 2000 and 2002 and 2004 elections...ask yourselves, "Have they?" We are losing ground in Afghanistan, and Iraq is in a full fledge Civil War with our American Soldiers sitting ducks stuck in the middle of warring Shiites and Sunni's as the number of flag draped coffins grows day by day. Our borders and ports are not secured, and despite the President's false assurances, we are not safer now than before 9/11. We all know the Republican Mantra, can recite it in our sleep...Stay The Course. The course we are on is leading to a horrific train wreck with the very heart of America at risk. As November 7th fast approaches, we as a nation are at a crossroads, and must carefully weigh which road we will travel down...yes, we can Stay The Course, allow the Do Nothing Congress to remain in power, but at what cost to the Average American Family, at what cost to our children, and our grand children?
The Republicans granted themselves raises every year since they have been in the majority, their salaries have SOARED to $167,000 a year in BASE SALARY, yet they have consistently refused to raise the minimum wage. They have passed numerous laws that protect and assure their own retirement packages, while our safety net of Social Security sits on the brink of financial ruin and bankruptcy.
Since George W. Bush has taken office, the number of Americans without Major Medical Coverage has climbed by over 15 million Americans, and the Republican Party's refusal to address TRUE BORDER SECURITY has seen six million more illegal aliens coming to American in just the last six years, and that is a conservative estimate. Despite Republican promises made to the masses in campaign speeches all across America, when it comes time to deliver, they are not there for us, Republicans are far to busy catering to the nations rich and elite, too busy pampering Corporate America and protecting their ability to maintain a CHEAP LABOR FORCE.
With Current and future costs of the Iraq War, and it's aftermath, it is estimated that the total price tag for the war in Iraq if we pulled out completely today will exceed 7 TRILLION dollars (before inflation). If we stay until 2010, that cost could triple to $21 Trillion dollars, and it will be our grand children's children who will finally pay off that bill. We could build a wall (not a fence) across all 2100 miles of our Southern Border with Mexico, and triple the size of our Border Patrol and ICE with what it costs to fund ONE WEEK of the war in Iraq. Another week of the money being poured into the Iraq War could completely rebuild the city of New Orleans, properly repair their dikes, and secure EVERY PORT IN AMERICA. So, at what cost to the United States of America and its citizens do we Stay The Course? Right now, October 19th, 2006 each and every one of us (including children) would have to go into debt $30,000 to cover our individual share of the Federal Government's debt, and average family of four would need to take out a second mortgage of $120,000 to clear the debt that the Republican Party has accumulated for our nation...is this the America we each have dreamed of for our children?
On November 7th when that curtain closes and you find yourselves alone in the voting booth, you are not just voting for a candidate, but are voting on which path we as a nation choose. We can stay the course, endorse the Republican Mantra that the direction we are traveling is fine, and working for most Americans, or we can demand a change of course...the choice is ours, singularly and collectively.
I made my own choice back in the Spring of this year, and am supporting John Hall to be the next Congressman for the 19th District here in New York. I'm not voting for him because he is a Democrat, I am voting for him because of his positions on MOST OF THE ISSUES that are out there right now. I've looked at the voting record of Sue Kelly, weighed her twelve year career in Congress, and find her lacking of moral fiber, and see a voting record that consistently has sided with Big Business, the rich, and the elite to the detriment of those of us in the lower and middle class. I don't see eye to eye with John Hall on every issue, and I would be unrealistic to expect that out of him, or any candidate. However, I can agree with him on most issues, and believe him to be an honorable man who stands prepared to be the voice of ALL PEOPLE in our district, rather than the VOICE of an elite chosen few. The winds of change are blowing, and come November 8th we as a nation will have a better idea of what our collective future holds...it is my own hope and prayer that November 8th finds us as a nation choosing a new road and direction as we travel into the future of our lives and the lives of our children. When you pull that lever down, are you going to vote for the Republican Mantra of "Staying The Course" that does not seem to be working, or are you going to vote for a Democrat or Independent and in doing so demand a change in National Direction?
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Comments: 28
I have heard lots of "We will have to take a good look at...."
"We will need to evaluate....."
"We will need to find an alternative solution to...."
Six years of Bush, three years of war and they haven't already evaluted, found alternatives, taken a good look?
Oh yes, and I have heard promises to repeal ALL the Bush tax cuts, SOME of which help me and lots of my middle class friends (child credit for one).
And lots of complaints on the left that the border fence or ANY heightened border security measures are OBVIOUSLY racist.
And the left has even told me how NECESSARY the illegals are...even that they are the backbone of America.
And lets not forget that Dems brought us the idea of selling ports to China, I guess THEY are not a threat to our interests ?
You complain of a do nothing congress, while ignoring the near total unity of Dems as the opposition party...so much for independent thinkers. Had the Reps been able to enforce such unity and do things, you would then complain of that.
I am willing to consider voting Dem (choke,gasp,ARRGGGHHH) but you are going to have to give me something to vote FOR Porgie, not just something to vote against.
If I had a Democratic Congressman with Sue Kelly's record, I would be looking to cast my vote for someone else. I have a Republican Congresswoman who has FAILED THE VOTERS, which means she has to go. Secondly, sometimes you have to look at interim changes.
As for Democrats coming up with ideas...
A) They came up with plenty of ideas, suggested plenty of laws that the Republicans never let out of committee.
B) Secondly, look what has happened when Democrats have come up with ideas....Jack Murtha came out with an alternative plan for Iraq, was by Republicans as a Cut and Run Democrat, and yet James Baker's report due out just after the election ENDORSES many of his ideas.
C) My candidate here in the 19th District here in NY has ideas, has laid them out for the voters. I do not live in your district, so have no idea what your incumbent's record is, nor what the challenger has laid out on the table.
diebold Corp. to count the votes. They promised to deliver the presidency. to Bush. go to www.votergat.com. and see more. We have to get the constitution out of the toilet, restore our bill of rights. And begin the rest of the investigations this do nothing congress isn't doing. Heck it took them 2yrs. to agree, under immense pressure from 9-11 widows, to investigate the biggest mass murder on any president's watch in my lifetime! Imagine the Bush administration blocking an ivestigation to the mass murder by people from Saudi-Arabia. where children are taught to hate America from the time they can walk and talk. Where women are forced to ride in the back seat and can't even bring charges of Rape unless she's ready for the consequences of such a daring act. A country whose despotic leaders are friends with our first family here. Does anybody serously believe that aside from all this, the collossal incompetence that has been demonstrated to us and the world shouldn't be enough to get a new set of players in the congress? America has finally woken up and even the kool-aid drinkers are sobering up and realized they were neo-conned into supporting the trashing of our constitution in order to raid the tresasury of the United States chasin those WMD's. Well at least we are still the richest nation in the world. Oh oh . I mean used to be ...Well at least we are the freest nation. oh oh not even in the top ten any more.. well at least we are still the smartest... Oh oh, not even the top ten there either. Well at least our exporting of our goods is enriching us! oh oh .. not that either.. Well at least our borders are secure and our war on drugs and poverty is going well. oh oh. Well at least we brought liberty to Iraq and Afghanistan. and they greeted us with flowers and candy as we l iberated them and it's all been paid for with their oil... oh oh. Just what has this congress and president done for us. We did hire them to do a job didn't we. ohhhh that's right they are keeping us SAFE. oh oh. The American Intelligence Community has concurred that our presense in Iraq is making us and world LESS safe. At least he smoked Osama out of that cave! oh oh.. See... we really do need to stay the course. right into the sewer. By this point anybody who votes republican, what with the cesspool of crime corruption and pedophilia that oozes out of its every pore. Should stop and speak to a professinal. Patriots! Don't forget to vote to get the constitution out of the toilet and put a check on this unchecked incompetence! Love your country men, get govt. accountability!
I understand they may have presented ideas in commitee, but few read the proceedings. I would think it would be to their advantage to broadcast their ideas to a slightly larger audience. BTW, we were discussing national issues and national direction.
BTW the Reps learned well from all those years of Dem control....back in the days when a Rep leader was lucky to get a COPY of the bill before a vote.
Bakers report may contain all kinds of stuff....but I doubt it contains Murtha's suggestion to fall back to Okinawa?
I live in Va. Porgie...and so far most of the debate has been about which candidate is MORE racist. It is total crap and is being RUN by the local media. Washington Post runs WEEKS of "Macaca" on page one.. shoves reports of Webbs activities to B section, or simply takes his word for it that his views have changed since then.
Nelson the world may be less safe but so far all the evidence suggests that the US is more so. I don't vote in order to protect the rest of the world - just my own.
The Republicans love to say we have not been attacked in FIVE YEARS...curious, have you counted how many years it was between the first and second attack of the World Trade Centers....it's a RED HERRING arguement.
Michael.....All I can say, is that Macaca was a very recent racial slur, whereas the alleged racial slurs of Webb did happen many years ago....we were all young and stupid once, and I know I was. I was not racially insensitive, but can admit to saying things to girls back then I wish now I'd not said, and unlike Bill Clinton, I did inhale, and more than once.....should those follies from my youth disqualify me from a political career if I decided at this late stage in my life to enter into the arena?
this administration has also betrayed the social conservatives. and you know what the reason is? cause 1) it wouldn't pass, 2) it isn't constitutional anyway, and 3) if the social conservatives got anything they wanted, they will stay home. and the republicans don't want that.
but they don't tell you that. they just keep you hanging on. they want you to believe that you will get what you want. meanwhile the pork barrel is still there, the local control isn't, and fiscal responsibility is unheard of.
you can forgive illegal immigration, you can forgive outsourcing, you can forgive the decision to go to war, but you cannot forgive telling some woman who lives 1000 miles from you for making a decision that impacts her life but not yours?
As for falling back to Okinawa, that is one of the most a$$@#$ statements anyone could make. If we cut and run, not only are we disgracing the sacrifice of those brave men and women who died there, but we are going to wind up with a major civil war in another Middle Eastern country.
We have lost less people in Iraq than have been murdered in Los Angeles in the Same period, but I don't see Murtha suggesting we fall back to Las Vegas.
Republicans are a deflating balloon that could use another term to complete flaccidity. It has been interesting seeing such events as Tom Foley and Trent Lott and the pure idiot talk from Bush administration: with their jokes about WMD and the need to disenfranchise mothers of soldiers lost from war due to such "Funny WMD" jokes.
Let the Republicans finally collapse into the dust that will bury them forever. Vote them in another term so we can watch them publicly humiliate themselves to death, while their supporters get giddy at the thought of "making other mad".
I would like to see limits on Congressional terms to help limit the influence of special interests over politicians for long periods of time. They have corrupted both major parties.
But it will not really matter what the rest of us do at election time, because unlike the last few, this one will be electronically fair and balanced, just like FOX says ! It is 'their' people that have pushed fair and balanced Diebold ET-ALL, into the equation.
I say give 'them' enough rope and let them hang themselves ... of course 1/2 of the country may die also in the process ... gee, wouldn't that be a loss ... of course it depends upon which side goes doesn't it ?
Maybe we are sort of between a rock and a hard place. We can give the incumbents a message of change, in which case they will surely engineer an Iranian blowout to get it going before they lose the chance ... and then surely the Dems would be criticized the next round for not being able to properly clean up the mess when they get in. ... OR ...
We can give (or let them take) the next 6 years, in which time they will be able to complete their plan of Fascism ... in which case 'their' 1/2 of the people will don the Brown Shirts and rid the world of the rest of us ... as O'Reilly said last night, " If I could get away with it ... I would settle it ... with a hand grenade " in his response to Heraldo about the bloggers that criticize His President.
With the biggest mouth on FOX that informs (with no other voices allowed) the MOST 'patriotic' half of (RED) America ... what have we to lose ... the red half asks.
Everything or Nothing ... it depends upon where your bread is buttered it seems ... we each know where we stand on that ... all that is left is the preparation and the fire is already at temperature ... but sure to get much hotter.
So vote as if it is ALL or NOTHING ... because it probably is.
Amen
Freckles1994
Margaret....sorry, but your thinking is wrong. Let's use Social Security as just one example. By the time my wife and I retire, we will have jointly paid into the system well over $500,000 including our funds, and those matched by our employers, though in my own case, as a self employed person, have paid by sides of that coin. If we collected $25,000 a year in benefits, we would be able to collect for 20 years on said system, and that is without assuming one cent in growth. Where is our wanting something for nothing in insisting our Social Security benefits be preserved?
Don't let these koolaid drinking enemies of the average American keep changing the subject! When it comes to lies and deception, we know who the heavyweight champions are and the bigger they are the bigger they are falling! Since Bush, the great Uniter has succceeded in Uniting the world against us and America against each other, we must begin the process of change now.. And Republicans, swallow your pride and admity that maybe , just maybe you made a mistake to allow this incomepetnce and assault on the constitution and middle class people to go on. As a Christian I have already forgiven those who were duped into this in the name of thier Christian Faith, whether Catholic or Protestant or Orthodox, all Christians were subjected to humiliating statements by this cesspool we call the republican party. I just pray the country votes its conscience on Nov 7 th. vote early. Early voting starts soon!
Margaret Kohler
Margaret Kohler
Secondly, I have medical coverage.
Thirdly, I don't want brain implants, I am fine just the way I am.