Armstrong, Contador Leave Team Astana

From left, Schleck, Contador, Armstrong.

Texan Lance Armstrong did not attend the Kazakh-backed Team Astana's post-victory party Sunday in Paris. He did not help Spaniard Alberto Contador celebrate his 2nd Tour de France win with fellow teammates. Instead, he dined with the backers of his new team, RadioShack.

Armstrong, who won the last of his 7 consecutive yellow jerseys in 2005, will be riding for a U.S. team next year, not Team Astana. That team is sponsored by businesses in Kazakhstan, primarily in its capital Astana, for which the team is named.

Team Astana won the final yellow jersey in the Tour de France in Paris, Sunday, 27 July, for the 7th time. However, it was not Lance Armstrong who wore the yellow jersey as winner. It was Madrid native Alberto Contador (# 21) who led Team Astana across the finish line on the Champs - Élyeése.

Andy Schleck (#31) of Luxembourg earned the honor of 2nd place for Team Saxo Bank. Andy Schleck's older brother claimed 5th place, also for Team Saxo Bank.

Contador's fellow Astana team member, Lance Armstrong (#22, USA) arrived behind Contador and Schleck to win third place. Bradley Wiggins (#58), living in Great Brtain and riding for the U.S. team Garmin - Slipstream, found himself in between Lance Armstrong and Frank Schleck.

Recently, Lance Armstrong announced on Twitter that he had found a new sponsor for Astana to take over 31 December 2010, when the Kazakh contract ends. However, he left the door open as to what he might do. What he did do was start his own team with RadioShack as sponsor.

It was Johan Bruyneel, the manager behind American Lance Armstrong’s seven Tour de France victories, who put winning ahead of friendship. This year is Bruyneel 9th win as manager. Bruyneel sensed, as did many others, that Armstrong, 37, was not on pace and, apparently, decided Alberto Contador would be the Astana team leader after years of putting the American first. Speculation is rampant that Bruyneel will quit Team Astana, and manage Team RadioShack. Friendship must do what friendship must do.

Now that this year's competition is over, Contador and Armstrong are exchanging barbs. Armstrong headed to the Bahamas with his family for a well-deserved rest. Contador was greeted as a national hero at Madrid's Barajas Airport. Fans sang the national anthem of Spain over and over because, on Sunday, tour officials played the Danish national anthem for Contador.

When a Spaniard has an opinion he / she desires to express it ASAP, and Contador expressed his of Lance Armstrong at a news conference the day after the race, "My relationship with Lance is zero. He is a great rider and has completed a great race, but it is another thing on a personal level, where I have never had great admiration for him, and I never will."

I live near singer - songwriter Sheryl Crows' hometown. I have met, and on a few occasions, interacted with her parents, but not her. Yet, knowing what I know about her and her family, Armstrong may have exhibited some type of disruptive or abusive behavior that caused her to end their relationship.

Now, not only is Armstrong leaving Team Astana, so is Contador. At this point Contador is not sure which way he will go, but I am told he has offers. 'Tis true. We can't all get along.

Ice Storm 2009 - Have Electricity!

Electricity came on at 7:00 last night. Not sure about Hornersville yet.

S.O.S. E-mail re: Ice Storm 2009

I am happy to report that the Salvation Army is still feeding us. Here is a copy of the "S.O.S" e-mail I sent last week to family and friends. Perhaps you can help too:

Hello, Everyone,

I'm sending this general e-mail to let you know about the big ice storm of 2009 that devastated this area two weeks ago. I am without power and have been since the wee hours of 27 January. So is everyone else here, unless they have a generator. We hope we will have electricity early next week.

Senath-Hornersville schools opened on the 11th. They have generators and have cleaned the debris from the school grounds. Kennett schools may open tomorrow, 16th.

I rented a laptop Saturday, hence I can send this e-mail. You can read more about my adventures on my "Boggling the Mind" Blog as I hope to continue to post there.

You can see pictures of the impact to the area sent by viewers of KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, AR, (http://www.kait8.com/). I took pictures but because I am without electricity, I can't post them. Links to local newspapers are on my Hornersville Page (http://mimifink.virtualave.net/Hornersville.html)

However, the purpose of this e-mail is to tell everyone about the way the people in the southernmost counties of Missouri have stepped up to the challenge. Everyone is helping each other and those who may not be able to help even themselves.

We were both blessed and cursed by this storm. We were blessed because, despite the massive damage to trees, there has been very little structural damage, lose of lives, or personal property. However, because FEMA bases its emergency assistance primarily upon those criteria, small towns like mine will receive the minimum of assistance because of little structual damage.

I want to tell you that this ice storm has really impacted the finances of small towns, and it has hit my hometown hard. Therefore, donaions to help cover the cost of the massive cleanup, food and shelter for some residents (especially the elderly and shutins), are needed and will be greatly appreciated.

All the above is being done in the Community Center. The roof has been patched, but it still leaks in placed. It has needed replacing for over three years. The citizens have been raising money, but it needs to be fixed now.

I plan to start posting on my "Mimi at the Movies" Blog as soon as I have a place to charge the laptop other than when I am in the car.

May God bless you and yours,

Mimi

Ice Storm Fallout

It is now day 19 days since the big storm. I think. Every day is much like the last.

I am still getting a hot meal once a day, fruit and snacks, and ice from the Salvation Army. The Red Cross pulled out over a week ago, but the SA is still here. God bless them and the volunteers in my home town!

Yesterday, I went to a MARC conference at the American Legion building at the County Seat. Filled out a lot of papers, trying to get help to clean up the debris in my yard. We shall see.

When I returned, I noticed that the line hanging down between the pole and my house has been fixed. I think it is the lightning diverter. Also, my outside light was no longer hanging by one chain. It is securely back on the pole. Most important, I found a green sticker on my meter. That means, I am good-to-go!

The word is that we may get electricty about Wednesday. From their lips to God's ears!!

Ice Storm of 2009

Sorry that I have not posted in over two weeks. The Ice Storm of 2009 roared in 26 January and lasted two days. Power is still off. Everywhere I look there are no standing light poles. 90,000 people were out of power in Missouri alone. About 1/2 of them still are.

I have been following what is happening with the Academy Awards, and shall begin posting on my "Mimi at the Movies" blog as soon as possible.

I live in the house my parents built and almost everything is run on Liquid Propane, but my furnace requires electricity to run the circulating fan. I had a laptop but it went down a few days before the storm and I took it to my tech. He determined the problem is the Motherboard. Three days ago, I was able to retreive it. It is now in wthe hands of UPS going to Temple, Texas, for repair or replacement. Meanwhile, I have rented a laptop and am charging it in my car.

The Red Cross was here, but they have turned over their Meals on Wheels and meals at the local community center to the Salvation Army. If anyone would like to help the people in Missouri and Arkansas, they are being asked to send a check to the Salvation Army and/or the Red Cross and mark their check "Ice Storm 2009 Relief." You may designate a particular state, if you wish. Your contribution is tax deductible, and since almost 1/2 million have been affected in.six states, they will certainly appreciate any donation.

At first, the only heat I had was from my propane cookstove. I have a propane line into my house, so a friend went out and bought me a propane infared wall heater that does not need venting. He hooked it up and I have been toasty warm. I also have hot water, and a telephone (land line and cell), just no power, so I see by a battery-powered lantern and flashlights.

But, everything considered, I am well and functioning. They say it may be at least another week before power is restored. I'll try to keep you posted.

Have We Overcome?

Who is Tom Toles? Tom Toles at The Washington Post

Change is Here!

Thanks to the Missouri Democrats for the image!

Top Alaskan Paper Endorses Obama

Today, Alaska's largest newspaper, the Anchorage Daily News, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president.

The newspaper dished Senator McCain for stumbling and fumbling in dealing with the current economic crisis in the U.S., and their own governor for lack of V.P. qualifications. They showered Obama with praise for his reaction to the crises, writing, "In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand."

They wrote that, "Of the two candidates, Sen. Obama better understands the mortgage meltdown's root causes and has the judgment and intelligence to shape a solution, as well as the leadership to rally the country behind it." [Few people know that Obama's father was one of Africa's leading authorities in economics when he was alive.]

Of their own Governor Sarah Palin they wrote that she has demonstrated success as governor, but that few would argue that Palin is truly ready to step into the job of being leader of the free world. Her passion, charisma and strong work ethic are not substitutes for what she lacks in necessary skills to be one heartbeat from the leader of the free world. They not only found Palin a risky choice at this moment in history, but Senator McCain as well, and indicated Alaskans would not let the fact that their governor was on the ticket cloud their good judgment when they vote.

Are McCain and Palin Playing with a Bad Deck?

Sarah Palin is fulfilling her role of a VP candidate attack dog as she steps up her attacks on Barack Obama. However, the question is, "Is Palin playing with a deck of race / fear cards in a covert suggestive manner?"

Associated Press (AP) writer, Douglas K. Daniel, in an article released today, "Analysis: Palin's words may backfire on McCain," alludes to the possibility. He reports Palin, in a speech aimed at Republican donors in Englewood, Colorado, yesterday (Saturday), proclaimed, "Our opponent . . . is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect, imperfect enough, that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country." The terrorist to whom she was referring is Professor William Ayers and his association with the 1960's - 70's Weather Underground.

Daniel writes that Palin's speech is, "A deliberate attempt to smear Obama. . . . McCain's ticket-mate echoed the line at three separate events Saturday."

This morning, on the talking-heads television political shows, there was a hord of Republican "spokespersons," some of whom I never heard of and the majority being white, dutifully mouthing the same talking point. Is this the October surprise McCain has referenced since the Republican National Convention? Is this all he has?

Has McCain and Palin's handlers nothing constructive to put forth that addresses the problems every American is facing, or will face, due to the financial mess our entire country, most of Europe, the far East, and South America are facing, or beginning to face. Even the Middle Eastern Arab countries, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, etc., are "whoaing-up," ** by tightening their cash out-flow.

** Sorry, I'm trying to get "folksy" like Palin. "Whoa!" is the command a farmer would give to the mules, when farmers used mules, as he pulled the reigns hard for them to stop. "Whoa-up," is the command he gave to indicate to the mules to prepare to stop, as he gently pulled the reigns back. So, he would first command, "Who-o-o-a up" then, "Whoa!" Will the Middle Eastern countries ultimately cry, "Whoa!" and stop investing in American enterprises? How about China? Either possibility is a far more fearful prospect than anyone with whom Obama has, or may have, associated.

Palin also has changed her primary tune. Now, her mantra is, "This is not a man who sees America like you and I see America. We see America as a force of good in this world. We see an America of exceptionalism." Hey! What happened to the corrupt, broken Government / Washington / America - we are going to fix - crusade? Note that she never says, Washington, D.C.

I object to her use of the collective pronoun here since WE own the Government buildings in Washington, D.C., and WE are the Government. Has she never read the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution? She and McCain, alone, can't fix anything relating to America. The American collective WE must join together to do that.

As to William "Bill" Ayers. He is a white man, once a member of the Vietnam-era Weather Underground, an organization which claimed responsibility for a dozen bombings between 1970 and 1974. It was, indeed, a terrorist organization acting against the American Government. However, the former Weatherman, himself, was never convicted of any crime, and now holds the position of distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois, Chicago.

He and Obama are not, and never have been, "pals." Obama was all of eight years old during the time of the Weather Underground. The two met years later when they both worked in some organizations in Chicago to help the poor, while Obama was a Community Organizer there. When Obama first entered local politics, Ayers hosted a fundraiser for him.

Later, when Republicans associated Obama with Ayers and Ayers' history in the Weather Underground, Obama denounced Ayers' behavior, as he has done with the radical Christian Evangelical minister, Jeremiah Wright. Obama has made it crystal clear to any intelligent individual that he does not condone any of Ayers and Wright's present, or past, radical beliefs or actions. For more, see Article.

So, is there a fear-of-black-men card in Palin's false associations? Obliquely, there could be. Palin seems to be trying to pull old fears about black males, and prejudices again black males, into the forefront for her listeners, who might subsequently associate any such fears they might have with Obama. If a black man, or any other individual, can be connected with a primal fear, the connector has a potent weapon.

Think about the movie, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. There was "black male phobia" when the movie was made and there are still pockets of such ignorant behavior in America, especially in the South.

Therefore, Palin's reasoning could be: Obama is a black male (hold on, I'll get to the white part), so she mistakenly accuses him of being a man who is different from Americans (not white), and a man to fear (he's black). The misleading notion here is that Obama is a black male.

He is 1/2 black (father) and 1/2 white (mother). Thus, his official racial classification is by-racial, or Mulatto. But, Palin isn't educated enough to understand cloaked nuances. She says whatever her former G.W. Bush speechwriter writes for her, understand or not.

She is too undereducated and downright stupid to do otherwise, and she is moving McCain and the Republican anti-Obama "talking heads" into the same "stupid" column with her. She is doing so with the vitality and excitement McCain falsely sees as a counter balance to his declining mental and physical faculties. In reality, she is a reminder of them to many Americans.

Yes. I wrote Palin is downright stupid, but I have not called her Alaskan trailer park trash - - yet.

If McCain's campaign is subtly trying to play the "race / hate card" with this tactic, it will fail. If it does, his handlers will then move on to Obama's former relationship with the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, also of Chicago, and try that one. Trust me, that tactic will fail, too, because I am sure that most voting Americans are way past such asinine associations and racial bigotry.

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The author of this blog holds three academic degrees, including a M.A. in Communication, specializing in behavioral communication.

Palin Polls Fall 12 Points

Tom Toles of The Washington Post.

Sarah Palin's poll numbers have fallen 12 points since the Republican National Convention. One-third of registered voters planning to vote for McCain have switched to Obama because of Palin on the Republican ticket. The issues with voters tend to be her lack of knowledge and qualifications, experience, and an erosion of the trust factor.

At the same time, G.W. Bush's approval rating is now 21%. G.W. and Sarah certainly have one thing in common, the way they pronounce "nuclear". Director Oliver Stone calls G.W., "a most dangerous man," and today McCain pulled out of Michigan.

At a recent American Film Event, actor Jim Carrey said (paraphrased), "I am feeling really good about Sarah Palin because I used to live in Canada, and I could see Alaska from there. So I know everything there is to know about her."

If you don't know anything about Jim Carrey, you might interpret that remark as highly complimentary to Palin. If you have seen a Carrey movie, or watched an interview with him, you can assume Carrey really does know more about Palin than she thinks he does.

She watches simpleton sports movies, and can't remember the title of a single magazine or newspaper she read before John McCain tapped her on the shoulder.

The way Sarah Palin speaks: "Before we make a judgment we have got to see what happens a few days after tonight's debate ya betch'a, and hope eye-ran don't pull a nuke-u-ler attack in the meantime."

Well, that's the way she talks, folks - - few paragraphs, few periods, often improper grammar, and a limited vocabulary. I'll be back on the weekend after I check the political polls and financial currents.

Is Palin Beginning to Pale?

OPINION
Tom Toles of The Washington Post

Is the enthusiasm for Governor Sarah Palin for veep beginning to pale? Many think it is. John McCain hasn't helped by keeping her sequestered, allowing her only limited appearances and mainly with him. She memorized her nomination speech, written by a former G.W. speechwriter. She did such a good job at memorizing and delivering one speech that all she does now is repeat that speech, and repeat it, and repeat it . . . .

One might think she is a princess in waiting for coronation the way McCain and his supporters are treating her. She is far from being much of anything.

I, and many others, consider her undereducated, inexperienced, a pompous know-it-all, and certainly a spotlight-seeking wannabe. Some have actually called her Alaskan trailer park trash. I haven't called her that - - yet.

What she does to the English language is worse than what G.W. does, and she waves her retarded baby like a badge of honor. A baby, which if she is elected will get all of its special care at the expense of the American taxpayers, perhaps for life. That kid's care will burn through thousands and thousands of dollars in the next four years alone, and he will never be a productive member of society.

Any thinking person knows Palin is not equipped to be Vice President of the United States to a 72-year-old-man whose mental faculties will only decrease. After his overreaction to the Wall Street supposed crisis, some think his faculties are failing fast.

He has been treated for cancer two or three times, and anyone who faces reality knows that cancer never goes away for good. It is always waiting to reactivate.

Therefore, if he is elected and re-diagnosed with active cancer, he could be debilitated for an extended time, or die. It can happen to any of us at any time, so the odds are high that it could happen to him in the next four years. In that case, this small-town know-nothing WILL be President of the United States. To even consider this fibbity britches for veep is an affront to our founding fathers, all our ancestors, and everyone who has sacrificed themselves in our wars to preserve our feedom.

Dear God. Please save America from her follies.

Lost Interest in the Presidential Election?

OPINION

Who is Tom Toles?

I guess, if you are a Christian Evangelical extremist, you are probably happy with the way things are going in the Presidential campaign. I guess you can get very emotional about the nominated Republican V.P., identify, admire, emulate. I recommend that you save that for church where your heart can be strangely warmed, you can cry, shout, and you know you are right with God, ready to catch the holy train for Heaven. Hallelujah!

That's fine in church. Religion is all about emotions. Elections, on the other hand, are about getting the hard facts and making decisions.

Letting our emotions run away with us is like leaving the house for a long journey where there are no gas stations, simply calculating that we will be able to run on air. Elections are about using our brains and putting our emotions in a box for a few weeks.

I hope Americans are not being hoodwinked again like they were in 2000. Voting in an election is the biggest job a citizen in a democracy has.

Too often, members of political parties are too comfortable in their state of being. Well, this is not the time for that, because comfortable times are fleeting.

Too much reliance on religious ideology is dangerous to a democracy. It has been proven over and over again. Adolph Hitler was a religious man, a practicing Roman Catholic, so was Francisco Franco of Spain. Too much religion is unhealthy for the mind.

Just like an automobile needs gas to run, democracy needs well-informed citizens who constantly pay attention to our government - state, national and local. We all need to constantly read, think, listen, and discuss the issues, problems, and possible solutions. It is our obligation. Our job. We must show up and on time, informed and confident.

It is OUR Government wherever it is, state, national, local, and we are as responsible for it as we are for our spouses, siblings, children, pets, parents. When candidates bash "The Government," they are showing a great lack of knowledge.

To the power seeker running for office, "The Government / Washington," an entity to them that is disassociated from them, is broken, corrupt, inept - - add some more of your own. They will reform it, make it perfect. It will run like an automobile that just had a tune up -- smooth, straight, fast, getting fantastic mileage, saving money, and then everyone will be happy.

The concerned person running for office considers those currently in power responsible for any adverse conditions. The thinking candidate believes in the Constitution and will defend the Consitution, not attempt to rewrite it for his / her own gain.

The people who have been running our National Government, more who are non-elected than elected by you and I, have gotten this country in such a high pile of horse pucky, all our lives are going to be difficult for a long time to come if we don't put our emotions in a box, along with our dislikes, our prejudices, our biases, our wants and our give me, give me.

We must actually vote for what is best for our country, not yours, not mine alone - - OUR country. What is concrete, what is real, not based on some belief. Otherwise, the bad times may be a long time here. We either stand together for strength through the tough times that are coming, or we will all fall singularly and painfully into an abyss without warning.

DNC Parties Hearty!

Tonight, the official work of the Democratic National Convention is almost done. There is only one major thing to do, Barack Obama's acceptance of the Democratic Nomination for President of the United States, but there will be remarks, salutes, and entertainment preceding that.

One important presentation is a salute to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior, as today is the 45th anniversary of his 1963 "I have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. One line is that speech is, "Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado."

Tonight's venue is the open stadium at Invesco Field at Mile High, which can seat about 75,000. The agenda highlights includes (all subject to change, not in order of appearance, and times are EDT):

(7 - 8)
Video & Remarks - Howard Dean (former Governor of Vermont) and Chair of the Democratic Party; Tribute to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior, featuring his daughter Bernice and oldest son MLK, III; remarks by Governor Bill Richardson (NM); and live performances by will.i.am, accompanied by John Legend (piano), Agape Choir, and band; and singer / songwriter Sheryl Crow.
(8 - 9)
Remarks by U. S. Representative Mark Udall (CO), Governor Tim Kaine (VA); and Albert "Al" Gore, former Veep. Plus, a live performance by Stevie Wonder.
(9 - 10)
Retired Generals Tribute by Air Force Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration (Ret), accompanied by additional generals; remarks by a wounded Iraq veteran, John Kuniholm, granddaughter of late President Eisenhower, Susan Eisenhower, and Senator Dick Durbin (IL); plus something called, "American Voices Program" with a list of people.
(10 - 11) Video / Remarks -
SENATOR BARACK OBAMA
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
And, perhaps, some unannounced tributes to Obama and Biden.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi who is Permanent Chair, Democratic National Convention and who opened the Convention, will adjurn the Convention.

TONIGHT'S FULL SCHEDULE. For official Obama / Biden Web site, click title of this post.

Last Night, former President Bill Clinton set the agenda for the 2008 Democratic Electoral Campaign, which will launch officially tonight with Senator Barack Obama's acceptance speech. Clinton wrote his own speech. He presented the two major things that must be restored in the next four years to keep America moving forward, not slipping backward as it has in the last eight years, assuring: (A) the American Dream for every American regardless of race, gender, religion, physical or mental abilities, or sexual orientation, and (B) America's political standing among the other nations in the world.

He emphasized that we must keep our military superiority, but it is more important to lead through the example of America's principles of democracy than to use our military might as the solution to international problems. His words: Lead through example, rather than as an example.

I like to lay it out this way in broader terms. Under our unique Constitution every American is guaranteed individual freedom (vote, live, work, earn a sufficient wage, own private property, marry, procreate, travel, move, to be religious, or not, etc.) without governmental interference; a judiciary grounded in the Constitution (interprets rather than legislates); a legislature that makes laws for the benefit of all, not the few, and sets policy based upon Constitutional rights, not upon a legislator's individual values; and a Chief Executive who upholds the Constitution, setting the ultimate example for other nations based upon the overreaching A and B main points above. For the Commander in Chief, Clinton emphasized not allowing any torture, unlawful imprisonment, or denial of Habeas Corpus to any individual, citizen or not, who is connected to the U.S. in any way. By default, that includes those at Guantanamo Bay, but Clinton didn't specifically mention Gitmo. He emphasized no abuse of military personnel.

Also, last night, Senator John Carey took care of some lingering "what ifs" from the 2004 campaign, and former President Clinton confirmed former First Lady Hillary's remarks from the previous night.

I was thrilled at the reception Senator Clinton received the night before, but her husband's was stupendous. To put it bluntly, the delegates showed that they still love him, and probably wish he was their candidate this year. Using a baseball metaphor, the former President hit the ball out of the convention center many times. Way out.

Most importantly, he reaffirmed his and Hillary's overwhelming support for the nominated candidates, Senators Barack Obama and Joseph Biden. Shortly afterward, Senator Biden accepted the nomination for Vice President, and gave his acceptance speech - - good and solid just like him.

DNC: Bill Clinton and Joe Biden in Spotlight Tonight

The Clintons - Former President and First Lady.

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE

Last night at the Pepsi Convention Center in Denver, Hillary Rodham Clinton commanded the attention of everyone in the center for over 30 minutes. She gave one of the best, if not the best, speeches of her life.

Daughter Chelsea introduced her mother, and when Senator Clinton appeared the delegates rose in a solid standing ovation that lasted almost five minutes. To break the underlying tension she referred to her supporters as, "The sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits," and made it crystal clear that her wish is for them to file the primary away, and solidly unite behind Obama and Biden in the national election.

Convention delegates have been clamoring for more "red meat" in the speeches, and they finally got it last night. Her mantra was, "No way. No how. No McCain," admonishing the delegates that the most important task before them is to insure that Democrats are in the White House come January 2009. The consensus afterward by the media watchers is that she came across strong, positive and sincere.

I was watching Bill Clinton closely. Early in the speech he encouraged his wife by mouthing, "I love you" at least three consecutive times while the camera was on him. Genuine love and pride oozed from his eyes as they almost filled with tears.

Delegates have not seen this between Barack and Michelle Obama, so far. Some have suggested the couple is "too business-like" toward each other.

Last night was ladies night. Tonight will be gentlemen's night.

Former President William Clinton will also speak in prime-time (top of the hour, 8 - 9). The headline prime-time speaker tonight is Vice Presidential Nominee Senator Joseph Biden (9 - 10 hour, CDT).

There is no doubt that Bill Clinton has been angry that Barack Obama, considered by many as a young upstart indorsed early on by the powerful Kennedy family and media mogul Oprah Winfrey, out boxed Hillary to win the nomination. Can Bill take his wife's advice? Has he left anger behind? Can he genuinely support Obama? We shall see tonight.

Some of the other men expected to speak today and/or tonight are: Former Senator Tom Daschle; Governor Bill Richardson; Senators Evan Bayh, John Kerry, Jay Rockefeller, and Ken Salazar; House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn; and Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) along with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Representative Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth will lead a tribute honoring those who give so much to secure our nation’s future - - veterans, active duty military and their families.
See previous posts for more info, times, etc.

DNC: Hillary's Night Tonight

Candidates John Warner and Barack Obama earlier this month in Virginia.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will be in the spotlight tonight at, or about 9:00 local / 10:00 Eastern, in the Pepsi Convention Center, Denver. She will receive a video tribute and will speak. During this time, the delegates are expected to give her a rousing standing applause in appreciation of her campaign.

She will be the star tonight, but please pay some attention to an ascending political star delivering the Keynote Address at or about 8:00 in Denver. He is former Virginia Governor Mark Warner, who is now running for the U.S. Senate.

I met Warner when he was governor of Virginia. He came to a nearby Missouri town with, and to support, the then U.S. Senatorial candidate from Missouri, Claire McCaskill, who gave the Keynote Address last night as U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (MO). Both she and Warner threw their hats into the ring for Senator Obama almost at the start of the primary.

As a student at American University (DC) in the late 1950s, I was very active in the Civil Rights movement. Our sister university was Howard University (DC). I was good friends with Dr. Mordecai Johnson and his wife, Anna. The students from AU jointed the students at HU and protested the policy of the Hot Shoppe restaurant chain in DC of not serving blacks, and it eventually welcomed black customers in the early 1960s.

I also helped with the election of the first black partner in Price Waterhouse, now PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). His name is Frank Alston, who subsequently became head of PwC's Government Contracts Office in Washington, and is now retired. He supports Obama, too. See his contributions.

I was in the Los Angeles Office, which was the home of the main Government Contracts Office until it was later moved to Washington. It is interesting to me that the head partner in that office (a division of the audit department) prior to Alston was also named Johnson. Frank Johnson is also retired now, like myself.

Although I originally supported Senator Clinton, true to my gender and admiring her abilities, and was devestated when the Democratic political machines in Boston (Kennedy) and Chicago (Daley - Winfrey) rolled her out, I was thrilled to watch and listen to Michelle Obama last night.

I have worked all my life for tolerance and equal opportunity for all. I am so proud to have lived to see an African-American man nominated for the highest office in the United States of America. Unlike the current man in the White House, whom I have never and never shall, honor with the title of President, I shall be proud to call Barack Obama, President Barack Obama!

Access the DNC Web site by clicking the title of this post.

DNC Makes Deal With Senator Clinton?

Inside the Pepsi Convention Center, Denver, Colorado

The speculations running through the news services today are:

(1) Senator Clinton will give a prime-time convention speech Tuesday night, and the following day she will meet with her delegates as a group. She has insisted that she will not tell them how to vote, but she is expected to release them from their pledge to her and urge them to support Senator Obama.

(2) The roll call vote is still scheduled to proceed Wednesday, but the expectation now is that when the New York State delegation is called, Clinton herself will move to elect Senator Obama by acclamation.

(3) The chair should then put the motion on the floor, call for a second and a voice-vote by the entire delegation. I expect delegates to respond, "yes" en mass. Then, Senator Obama will have the nomination without question.

Of course, one big question remains, "Will all those die hard delegates of Senator Clinton accept reality and unite for the good of America, or will some continue to sulk?

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To watch the convention on your computer in HD, full schedules, special events, etc., click title of this post.

For full Prime-Time TV Coverage, beginning at 8:00 PM EDT, check your local PBS station, or click here to find nearest station. Check your local stations.

HINT - The Convention Prime-Time begins at 8:00 EDT / 7:00 CDT (Denver time), and ends at 11 Eastern / 10 Central. The Keynote Address is usually in the 8 - 9 / 9 - 10 hour, and the "major segment" address (Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, etc.) are scheduled for the 9 - 10 / 10 - 11 hour. Of course, the schedule is subject to change, but they should be at the top of those hours, so don't tune in late.

Will Angry Clinton Supporters Accept Divorce?

Hopeful Hillary Clinton

Will American Women Vote Their Own Principles?

The question most often being asked by the hosts of the "talking heads" on the television / radio political shows is, "Will Senator Hillary Clinton's supporters vote for the Obama - Biden Democratic ticket?" The response was basically, "Let's wait to see what Hillary says in her speech at the National Democratic Convention on Tuesday night."

There are many organized groups of women who are damn angry about Senator Clinton's miss, and jump to place blame on anyone or anything they possibly can. You know what all this reminds me of? A group of divorced middle-aged hate-all-men-in-the-universe women screamers. I know the type because I have been there. Thankfully, I have passed that stage in my life. I accepted my divorce and moved on years ago, making my own and my children's future my utmost priority.

Psychologically, I think these women are bashing Obama because they can't accept the fact that he dumped Hillary for Joe, i.e., emotionally "divorced her." Come on, ladies. Get over it.

Also, I am one of those older middle-class women who lives in a rural area. Nationally, three out of five such women say they will move from the Democratic Party and vote for John McCain. I am not among them, even before Hillary speaks. I was born a Democrat and I shall die a Democrat. There. Now, you know from where I come.

One of my earliest dreams was to see a woman elected President of the United States in my lifetime. I hoped the bravery of Senator Clinton might make my dream come true. Unfortunately, that dream has been dashed, but I still have a dream, an immediate dream - - to see any and everyone associated with the Bush Administration out of Washington in January 2009!

I do not want them out simply because they are a Republican administration. It is because of the (insert your own expletive) mess they have gotten our country into. The only way to accomplish that dream is to elect as many Democrats (national, state and local) as possible in November, especially the two at the top of the ticket - - Senators Barack Obama and Joseph Biden. This is no time for sulking women to break ranks.

There are a number of Web sites and blogs where women are doing all they can to undermine the Democratic Party with anti-Obama rhetoric, so much so that many have been accused of Republican sponsorship. I checked one of those this morning, "Just Say No Deal," and the venom is still spewing as their representatives head to Denver. Their invitation to those who view their Web site is "Our readers - simply weave the copy: Just Say No Deal or No Deal into the body of your blogpost [sic] or title and submit to blogs@justsaynodeal.com."

Whoa! They just flunked English 101, and they call themselves capable of making decisions for the women of America? Not! Anyway, I shall send them the link to this post. I doubt they will post it.

I, myself, cannot let any disappointment or anger about the Democratic Primary results dominate my judgment. I have always made my own decisions based upon what I know and not upon what someone tells me.

For the future of all Americans, I must trust America's women, especially mothers, to make their own decisions without succumbing to brainwashing by any group. For instance, I think Senator Obama's choice of Senator Joseph Biden (Delaware) for his V.P. could not have been surpassed by choosing Senator Clinton. I have watched, paid attention to, admired, and agreed with most of Senator Biden's policy decisions. I think that team in the White House is best for America.

Senator Clinton and her husband bring too much baggage to the race. In other words, too much negative ammunition for the Republican smear machine. It is a safe bet that Karl Rove is again involved in some way, and he is the propaganda Master of Mean.

Therefore, my decision is to MAKE THE DEAL. At every national election, I always think what President John F. Kennedy said at his inauguration, "Ask not what your Country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your Country."

This November 4th, our Country needs each of us more than ever. That's the AMERICAN way.

Hillary Clinton's name will be placed in nomination!

Senator Hillary Clinton's name will be placed in nomination for the roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention, in Denver, CO, 25 - 28 August. The announcement was made earlier today.

I watched the 1960 Democratic National Convention very carefully, and I witnessed what Bobby Kennedy and the Kennedy machine did to upset the apple cart of "pledged delegates," and obtain a majority vote for his brother John (JFK). It was either on the second, or third ballot.

Delegates can change their minds. The delegates are "pledged," but they are not bound to cast their vote for the candidate to whom they are "pledged." Their votes are not carved in stone. It's not over until the final roll call vote, and I have seen conventions where two, or more, roll call votes were necessary to get an actual majority for the "presumptive" candidate, thereby declaring an official winner.

Senator Clinton will speak the second night of the Convention, Tuesday, 26 August. The keynote speaker that night will be former Virginia governor Mark Warner, currently running for the U.S. Senate from Virginia.

Some speculate Mark Warner is at the top of Senator Obama's VP shortlist. I have met him when he was Governor of Virginia, and I have a very high opinion of him. My dream ticket is Clinton - Warner. You know, it could still happen.

It ain't over until the lady in the pant suit says it is!

Related article: "Clinton backers to make noise at Dem convention".

Barack Obama is NOT a Black Man

Senator Obama

Senator Barack Hussein Obama Jr. (IL), has repeatedly been referred to as a black man. He is not. He is the son of a white woman and a black man. That classifies him as a mulatto.

As to the word mulatto, it comes from the Spanish and Portuguese word mulato, which means brown-skinned and is pronounced "mu-lah-toe"). In contrast, the English mulatto is usually pronounced "mu-laa-toe," halfway between a short and long "a".

The English definition of a mulatto is: Any person with one white parent and one black parent. Obama is neither totally black nor white. He is a mulatto. As such, Obama is the first mulatto presumptive presidential nominee the U.S. has ever had, and he has, indeed, made history in American politics beyond being a U.S. Senator.

I have noticed that, belatedly, most of the media have now come to the realization that it is incorrect to refer to him as "black," and are now saying, " . . . the first African-American . . . " That is the better choice.

The definition for African-American is: A black American with African ancestry. This definition allows over 90% of black Americans to claim that they are African-Americans. However, in Obama's case, he has proof that his father was born in Africa (Kenya), and his mother Ann Dunham was born in the U.S. Thus, he is truly an African-American. The genuine article!

Now, please point out to anyone who incorrectly identifies him as a "black" man, that he is not, but he is African-American and, as such, he is the first African-American male to become a presumptive nominee to be a candidate in a national election for the Office of the President of the United States of America.

Click title of this post for the latest personal, career, voting record, etc., about Obama. I have found that his middle name, Hussein, is his Kenyan grandmother Sara Obama's maiden name. He is the son of the late Kenyan economist Barack Hussein Obama Sr. who, for the record, could have been classified as a black man because he was very dark-skinned.

After checking the Additional Biographical link on that page, I discovered that the senator and I have the same tastes in movies, music, and food. Plus, we both have two daughters, and do not have a pet.

It is also interesting to note that, unlike singer Michael Jackson and talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, he doesn't appear to have had a nose job. That's the whole enchilada.

China Prepares for Summer Olympics

Comrads. The first thing we must do to make sure that the Olympics Games in Beijing bring honor to our homeland this summer is to quiet the rabble in the terrorites we have annexed by force. We did it for their own good, and now we silence them for their own good, and the world will see our best side. We know all our people love us and our great leaders! Long live China!(Attach credit for any brainwashed Chinese.)

Some unofficial links you might like to access:// Tibet Online // Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) // 14th Dalai Lama official site. //

Click title of this post for Official Chinese Olympics Link.

Mimi's Back!

Sorry for being away for over a month. I haven't actually been anywhere geographically, simply busy posting on my Mimi at the Movies blog, and a couple of my other movie pages. I'm usually not tardy from this blog during the height of the movie awards season, which really heats up after Christmas and climaxes with the Academy Awards®. This year everything was crowded together.

In addition, most of the political primaries were moved to earlier dates, and there was that big Super Tuesday. I voted, and pledged to myself that I was not going to post anything political until the candidates for both parties had been decided. So far, I have stuck to that. However, I am interested in following them, and that takes time, too.

The Democratic race will now probably go to the convention in June, unless either Senators Clinton or Obama get the required number of delegates to win the nomination outright. That doesn't seem likely without the votes from Michigan and Florida.

I hope the decision comes down to the convention. The TV ratings for the political conventions in both parties have been in consistent decline. It would be wonderful to have an old-time Democratic knock-down maneuvering convention like they used to be. What fun they were!

The Democrats must resolve the problem of the 300-plus votes in Michigan and Florida now lost to the candidates and the delegates lost to the Denver Convention. I think they will, but we may not know the final results of that debacle until the end of May.

There has been a lot happening in the world on which I wanted to comment, but I haven't had enough time to do it. I'll try to do better.

More Hate Mail Directed At Muslims

[Material in brackets are comments by Mimi. Parentheses are in the original as are the single quotation marks.]

Please read this entire post before you get angry. This is an e-mail I received today:

"Subject: Allah or The Lord Jesus Christ?

"This is very interesting and even more alarming . The Muslim religion is the fastest growing religion per capita in the United States , especially in the minority races!!! Allah or The Lord Jesus Christ? ... By Rick Mathes

[I guess they are quoting Mathes from here. This was all one paragraph in the e-mail, but I paragraph for easier reading.]

"Last month I attended my annual training session that's required for maintaining my state prison security clearance. During the training session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of their beliefs. [Roman Catholic and Protestant are NOT faiths. They are divisions of the Christian faith.]

"I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say. The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a video. After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers.

"When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked: 'Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad (Holy war) against the infidels of the world and, that by killing an infidel, (which is a command to all Muslims) they are assured of a place in heaven. If that's the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?'

"There was no disagreement with my statements and, without hesitation, he replied, 'Non-believers!' I responded, 'So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can have a place in heaven. Is that correct?'

"The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command to that of 'a little boy who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.' He sheepishly replied, 'Yes.'

"I then stated, 'Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr. Stanley ordering all Protestants to do the same in order to guarantee them a place in heaven!'

"The Imam was speechless! I continued, 'I also have problem with being your 'friend' when you and your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me! Let me ask you a question. Would you rather have your Allah, who tells you to kill me in order for you to go to heaven, or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going to heaven and He wants you to be there with me?'

"You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame. Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the 'Diversification' training seminar were Not happy with Rick's way of dealing with the Islamic Imam and exposing the truth about the Muslims' beliefs. In twenty years there will be enough Muslim voters in the U.S. to elect the President! I think everyone in the U.S. should be required to read this, but with the Liberal justice system, liberal media and the ACLU, there is no way this will be widely publicized. Please pass this on to all your e-mail contacts. This is a true story and the author, Rick Mathes, is a well-known leader in prison ministry. The Man who walks with God always gets to his destination. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Now you can either delete it or pass it on. No wishes, or promises or threats - just a choice."

[Mimi answers: I shall do neither. I shall publish this trash on the Internet for all to see and rebut it. Anyone who reads this is invited to leave a comment.

First of all Allah is the Arabic word for the English word, God. Funny, I never see anything like this directed to Yahweh, the Hebrew word for the English word, God. Allah, God, Yahweh, all in one!

Who is this Dr. Stanley? What, or who, gives him authority to speak for anyone?

Who is this Rick Mathes? Why should he or this Dr. Stanley be authorities about God, Jesus, or anything about religion? What is the name of the Imam who "hung his head," and with what Mosque, located where, is he associated?

That said, I have read most of the Koran, and I know of at least one passage in it that does order Muslim believers to slay the infidels. But, more than once the Bible, especially the Old Testament, has ordered the Jews (Israelites) to take up arms against non-Jews. I don't see, "Yahweh or Jesus Christ?" in any e-mails. What about the horrendous death toll throughout the centuries in the name of Jesus Christ, such as the Crusades in the 11th century because "God wills it." Then, there is Iraq in our own lifetime, but I'll go there another day.

The teachings of Jesus are in the Koran. Whenever a Muslim utters the name of Abraham, Moses, Mohammed, or Jesus, they always say immediately afterward, "Peace (or blessings) be upon his name."

Muslims revere, and try to follow, the teachings of Jesus that are incorporated into the Koran. However, they revere him as a prophet, and consider Mohammed the greater prophet, and they do not buy the "fantastic" that Jesus was the Son of God.

Jews and Muslims are descendents of Abraham. Literally. Christians? No. Most Christians come from a Gentile, pagan background. The Europeans, Anglo-Saxons, Greeks, Romans, Irish, etc. If any of these are Christians now, they have been converted from paganism, or non-belief, at some point in history. The Christian legacy is only 500 years more than the Muslim legacy. The Jewish legacy is 2,000 years more than the Christian legacy.

Emperor Constantine ordered the New Testament re-written about 300 A.D., mainly to attract the pagans. The goal was to give them a God that could promise them something none of their Gods did -- eternal life.

Many Biblical scholars suspect all the fantastic (virgin birth, wise men, resurrection, and, perhaps, some of the supposed words of Jesus) were incorporated into the New Testament during the rewrite to align Christianity closer to the pagan gods. Constantine ordered all of his subjects (pagans) to convert to Christianity. It certainly worked. The Christian community took off. Up until that time, it has been a very minor sect.

For all you good Christians out there who believe that homosexuality, and / or bisexuality, is a sin, be advised that King James I of England (James IV of Scotland), who supervised the translation of both the Old and New Testaments into English, was an open homosexual. His subjects would often exclaim, "Long live Queen James!" I am referring, of course, to The King James Version of the Bible.

After James' coronation as James I, he dutifully married Princess Anne of Denmark, which points to him being bisexual. After she produced three children, two boys (an heir and a spare) and a girl, she was banished from the royal court to Hampton Court Palace where she died in 1619. Their son, Henry, Prince of Wales, died at age 18 in 1612. However, she lived to see her second son Charles ascend to the throne as King Charles I. Good thing they had the heir and spare.

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "Throughout his life, however, James exhibited little interest in the opposite sex. It seems that he never had a mistress and was interested in women only as the wives and mothers of his male friends."

James supposedly said, in 1617, when he addressed the venerable Privy Council with an official affirmation of his right to love men:

"I, James, am neither a god nor an angel, but a man like any other. Therefore I act like a man and confess to loving those dear to me more than other men. You may be sure that I love the Earl of Buckingham [known as James' "wife"] more than anyone else, and more than you who are here assembled. I wish to speak in my own behalf and not to have it thought to be a defect, for Jesus Christ did the same, and therefore I cannot be blamed. Christ had John, and I have George."

I bring this up to shake a finger at so many, "I'm better than you" Christians. There are some scholars who believe Jesus was a homosexual because he loved his "beloved" John, and that Jesus was crucified because of his homosexuality, not because of his religious beliefs. Constantine probably took care of the question of Jesus' sexuality with the rewrite.

Also, there are some who believe that Saul of Tarsus (who became known as Paul the Apostle, although he never knew Jesus in person) was likewise, because he had his "beloved" Timothy, and other young men who were his constant companions. As far as we know, Jesus never married and as a Palestinian Jew, he would have been obligated to have been married by the age of about 18. Saul, as a former Rabbi was reqired to be married before he was strangely drawn to the Christians, and "saw the light" on the road to Damascus.

Finally, a Muslim as president? Well, congressman Keith Ellison, the first black congressman from Minnesota, and a Democrat, was sworn in using a Koran from the Library of Congress, published in London in 1764, and owned by President Thomas Jefferson. So there, ye of little minds!

Go ahead, all you "I am better than you Christians," who live in a tiny pod of this world, cast your stones at all those who do not believe as you, but before you do it again, please read some actual history books. The Bible is not history. It does not contain all you need to know to be considered knowledgeable in this life.

The Bible is a book of stories and allegories, written by men and only men, in their attempt to explain the human existence, and to control the behavior of others, especially that of women. The same is true of the Koran. As to either being inspired by God? That I cannot challenge, because I would never presume to know the mind of God, Allah, Yahweh.]

LINKS RELEVANT:

King James & homosexuality: Rictor Norton, "Queen James and His Courtiers," The Great Queens of History, 8 January 2000, updated 16 February 2006

Anne of Denmark / King James I of England

Congressman Ellison and the Koran

Blood shed in the name of Jesus Christ

I VOTED!

Oh, happy day! I mailed my absentee ballot for the February 5th super-duper presidential primary. That will be the same candidate, if nominated by his / her party, for whom I shall vote in the national election next fall.

This happy announcement is to let you know that I shall waste no more time paying any attention whatsoever to political ads, or following the polls, pundits, and overly pushy news anchors and reporters. You know who they are. Those who use slurs, euphemisms, and twisted rhetoric to push the candidate their organizations and / or networks endorse.

"Swift Boaters," and "Move On.Org" take note, I shall pay no attention to you or any 527 political PACs, so don't bother sending that e-mail. If it gets past my "spam eater," I shall click delete. You can forget about making that "push" telephone call, too. I'm told the push calls will register all zeros on my caller ID, so I shall not answer.

What a blessed relief, and I highly recommend it to everyone. Of course, I do not vote for any candidate whose platform promotes his / her religion over the general welfare of everyone, gender over good sense, race and bigotry over tolerance, or the candidate downright irritates me.

If the candidate from whom I voted receives his / her party's nomination, I'm already free of any political angst for the rest of this year!!

I pray that I will be able to sing at the top of my lungs after the national election, "Happy Days Are Here Again."

All Hail FOX, ABC and Walt Disney!

The Iowa caucuses are over. Obama and Huckabee are the clear winners in Iowa, but to start yelping that everyone else might as well quit now, as some media commentators are doing, is ridiculous.

What a circus of media hype. Where I live, we haven't gotten any political ads on television yet. So, counting only national news and commentary, only six candidates seemed to receive any substantial "face time" on television, receiving less on radio.

About the only ones we saw or heard about were Obama, Clinton, and Edwards on the Democrat's side and Huckabee, Romney, McCain and Thompson on the Republican's. I listed them in order as I perceived it.

Surprise. Surprise. The candidates seemed to have faired better in direct relation to the amount of exposure they received from the national broadcast media, not counting ads. Of course, I'm not in Iowa, but in the middle of the country in an adjoining state, and I'm only guessing.

However, I do hold an M.A. in Communication, and I know that big media in the U.S. can influence outcomes though purposely selecting images and words, and allocating time amount and slot to favor one candidate over another. I hope the researchers at the Annenberg Center for the Study of Journalism & Democracy are studying this, and will publish some statistics about the correlation of the amount of broadcast time, not counting ads, to winning candidates.

Fox News (owned by Rupert Murdock) prevented Dennis Kucinich, from participating in the political debate in Des Moines, Iowa, before the caucuses. Yesterday, ABC (owned by Walt Disney) announced that Democratic presidential candidates Kucinich and Mike Gravel, and Republican Duncan Hunter would not be allowed to participate on its prime-time debates tonight in New Hampshire.

The network purposely set benchmarks to narrow the participants in the debates, so much so that Senators Joe Biden and Chris Dodd immediately bowed out of the race after the Iowa results were announced. Are they gentlemen or quitters?

According to the AP, "Candidates had to meet at least one of three criteria: place first through fourth in Iowa, poll 5 percent or higher in one of the last four major New Hampshire surveys, or poll 5 percent or higher in one of the last four major national surveys."

Tonight, Republicans Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul will be allowed by ABC to debate. They start at 7 p.m. EST.

Shortly after their debate, which is scheduled to last 90 minutes, the ABC chosen Democrats Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Bill Richardson will take the stage for 90 minutes. ABC has chosen.

All hail FOX, ABC, and Walt Disney!

The airwaves belong to the American people. Yet, Americans must now pay a "provider" in order to obtain the programming from those airwaves, and a year from now they must have new, expensive digital receivers or they will be deprived of receiving anything. This is crazy stuff.

Even more important, never before has a network arbitrarily set rules to block Americans from making their views known in a national election. That was something unimaginable when I received a Masters in Communication, exactly 200 years after the establishment of the United States of America.

Kucinich has filed a complaint with the FCC. That won't do any good. The FCC is totally in the pockets of the huge media complex, the growth, or power grabs, of which the FCC is facilitating.

Americans want change. Well, Americans will get change, but it may turn out to be the worst kind of change.

Let's face it Americans, we are already you-know-what. This isn't an election, it's a media-driven circus.

NOW Addresses Negative Obama E-mail

The PBS television show NOW, hosted by David Branccachio, addresses the issue of my last post tonight (Friday, 4 January) in "Dirty Politics 2008," political mudslinging and using the Internet in a malicious way with an intentional attempt to harm the reputation of a political candidate by spreading an untrue rumor. Such rumor-mongering tactics will only increase.

On NOW's Web site they have an entire page devoted to the "Anatomy of a Smear." The very smears against Senator Obama that I address in the previous post are addressed. Listed on the page are Web sites where one may go to check whether a statement made in any medium is "true" or "false." In a box, called "Debunking Resources," seven sites are listed with links. I urge you to visit that page and explore the links.

Happy 2008!

Senator Obama Hate Mail

Senator Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. (D - IL)(Official Government Page)
There is e-mail circulating that is hateful toward Senator Barack Obama. Now, don't get me wrong. I am not a member of Team Obama, but I received an e-mail this week with a seemingly harmless picture of him that was negatively interpreted by the sender. It appears that it is being forwarded into infinity.

I prepared this for posting last night, but decided to wait until tonight. Just before I was ready to post, I saw an article about this picture and the accompanying e-mail. According to Senator Obama the picture was taken in September during Iowa Senator Tom Harkin's annual Democratic fundraiser, and Obama says the national anthem was playing.

Senator Obama, Governor Richardson and Senator Clinton

The e-mail included the above picture. Obama is the only one who does not have his hand over his heart. The text under it indicated that Obama refused to put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag at a political rally.

I hasten to state that putting ones hand over ones heart is not mandatory while the National Anthem is playing, nor for the Pledge. Putting ones hand over ones heart under those circumstances is a voluntary sign of respect. The last time I checked there are no "hand over heart" police in the U.S.A.

In the same e-mail, the sender immediately pointed out that, " . . . his full name is Barack Hussein Obama. Yes, Hussein." By associating Obama with that bad guy Saddam Hussein who used to live in Iraq, it implied that Obama is evil, although Obama was named for his father. Hence, the Jr., but the person so quick to misjudge him didn't know that.

The name Hussein is Arabic, it means good, small, handsome. Hussein is usually associated with a prominent person in Islam and can denote royalty in Jordan. Saddam Hussein was a prominent person in Islam and handsome when he was young, but he was neither small nor good. So much for the meaning of names.

Deriders also love to point out that Barack Obama's name sounds like Osama, as in Bin Laden, too. Making associations such as these name associations is a propaganda technique called "inference by association."

More about the picture. In today's world where digital photography is growing ever more sophisticated, anyone can manufacture a picture about anything. A picture may have been worth a thousand words years ago, but today a picture is not always what it seems to be.

Today, anyone can literally "make" a picture out of anything without ever "taking" a picture. It's called "photo schlocking". I considered that this picture might be photo schlock, but the senator says it is genuine.

Remember the picture of O.J. Simpson as the third Beltway sniper that flew around the Web? There are photo schlocks of Obama. One shows him with Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. The original black and white picture was made before Obama was born. Here is an example of a photo schlock someone made using Senator Obama:

The next e-mail I received stated that Obama is Muslim, going on to say, "I for one do not want a Muslim president." This is blatantly incorrect. Obama is a Christian and a member of the United Church of Christ. Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, to be specific. His name may be a common one among Muslim men, and his father was a Muslim, but Obama was raised by his Christian American mother.

Please, never believe any e-mail that someone forwards to you, especially if it comes from someone you do not know. If you receive e-mail that goes down the slippery slope towards ignorance, misinformation and possibly hatred, please analyze it carefully before reacting to it, and especially before forwarding it to someone else.

I definitely analyze such e-mail. Then, I fire right back to the person (sometimes everyone that forwarded the junk), dispute the accusations in the e-mail, and tell them that I do not wish to receive such junk, derogatory and/or hate mail. I do that even when I know the person who sent it to me. It's amazing how much less e-mail I now receive. Halleluiah!

AL GORE WINS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

The Nobel Committee awarded their 2007 Peace Prize to former Vice President Albert Gore, Jr., and cited his, "strong commitment, reflected in political activity, lectures, films and books, [that] has strengthened the struggle against climate change. . . [he is] probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted" to combat climate change. The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was named as a joint winner of the prize.

Gore plans to donate his half of the $1.5 million prize money to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a bipartisan nonprofit organization that is devoted to changing public opinion worldwide about the urgency of solving the climate crisis. The last American to win the Nobel Peace Prize, or share it, was former President Jimmy Carter, who received it in 2002.

Gore won an Academy Award® (Oscar®) earlier this year for the documentary, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, a warning about global warming and what can be done about it. See my Universal Mind Warp blog blog.

I don't think G.W. Bush will ever win a the Nobel Peace Prize, and certainly he will never win an Oscar. He may have gotten the title of President of the United States through dubious means, but I do not think any educated person will ever use his name and peace in the same sentence, unless the connotation is negative!

So, what words of congratulations did G.W. offer the man who was once considered the next President of the U.S.? None. Instead, according to ABC News, he issued a terse statement, "Obviously it is an important recognition, and we're sure the Vice President is thrilled." Sour grapes?

0 - -* * - - 0

NEW ADDITION: After I posted this, I watched "Saturday Night Live" (NBC). One of the segments I try not to miss is "Weekend Update." Last night, Amy Poehler said, "Yesterday, Al Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the environment. The Supreme Court immediately reversed that decision and awarded it to G. W. Bush."

Also, they did a sketch about Gore's awards, and I realized I had forgotten to write here that Gore was awarded an Emmy last month in a new category, "Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Television" for founding and implementing the first Internet interactive online network, Current TV, which he co-founded with businessman Joel Hyatt. Actually, the award was awarded to Current Network, but everyone knew it was for Gore and Hyatt who accepted on behalf of the network.

However, Current is suspended for improvements and will have a re-launch 16 October, it will be known only as Current.com, losing TV in the name. It is headquartered in San Francisco. G.W. never responded to this Emmy win.

I doubt G.W. even knows how to turn on a computer. Had Al Gore been able to assume the office of president to which the majority of American's voted he do in 2000, there is no doubt in my mind that I, living in a rural area, would now be able to access the Internet using a better connection than 45 kpbs dial-up. Yep. I'm bitter.

ROVE, PART III - ROVE GONE BUT NOT LEGAL PROBLEMS

FINAL - PART 3 OF 3 - ROVE'S LEGAL PROBLEMS

Three posts on the subject of Karl Rove preceded this one, Part I of III; Part II, A; and Part II, B. You might want to read them in order by scrolling down to Part I of III (Part One).

Where are all those supposed "experts" who pontificate on television and those crack-shot investigative reporters? What do they know about Karl Rove? Why don't they "sick" their crack investigative teams, or at least a few German Shepherds, on Rove and find truthful answers about his past?

Perhaps, Rove will eventually reveal all with easily checked authentic information, not speculations on the Internet. However, probably not until he publishes that yet undisclosed book for which he will sign a multi-million dollar deal. Can we trust him to write the truth? More importantly, does he even know the truth? Or, as my grandmother would say, "If truth was a snake, it would have bitten him by now." Maybe not, Grandma.

Now, we learn Karl Rove has a family of his own and, glory be, it includes one child at least, a son with his second wife Darby Tara Hickson, whom Rove married in 1986. Wikipedia is not the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and you can't quote it even in a first grade paper but, often as not, the information there is correct. According to Wikipedia, the son Andrew Madison Rove was born in 1989 [same year Rove's mother committed suicide], and Andrew is currently an undergraduate at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

That son is Rove's primary excuse for leaving his good buddy George standing in a pile of political rubble now that the fictional land of "Bushoz," which Rove so painstakingly created for Bush, has collapsed. Rove is leaving the White House for his family? Bull shards!

Here's something else I found on Wikipedia. Rove left Texas in late 2000 after Bush was illegaly elected president. Rove now owns a house in DC that is valued at $1.1 million. Rove sold his long-time home in Austin in 2003. After that, Rove registered to vote in Kerr County, Texas, about 80 miles west of Austin in the Texas Hill Country.

The residence that Rove claims on Texas voter registration rolls consists of two small rental cottages, the largest of which is 814 square feet. There had been a lodge on the property, but the Rove's sold that. Darby T. Rove, his wife, is listed as a director of Estadio Partners, LLC., the new owner of the lodge.

In early October 2005, a resident of Kerr County filed a complaint with the District Attorney of the county, requesting an investigation into whether Rove and his wife violated Texas state law by illegally registering as voters in Kerr County, since neither had ever lived there, and they have a residence in D.C. Texas law defines a residence, for voting purposes, as "one's home and fixed place of habitation to which one intends to return after any temporary absence."

On November 3, 2005, Rex Emerson, the District Attorney, announced that he had determined there was insufficient evidence to prosecute either Rove or his wife, and that his office would close the case without further action. Well, what did you expect? I am writing about Texas afterall.

Concurrent with this, the Roves have also claimed a homestead exemption on the house in DC, although it is illegal to do that if one is registered to vote elsewhere. He got caught and paid back almost $4,000 in taxes he had not paid. No other legal penalty extracted.

Rove, only a high school graduate, made up his life and doctored resumes in order to teach a course at a Texas university and sit in the White House West Wing next door to a president of the United States. What is the harm in a little doctoring of one's resume and stretching the point in voter registration, homestead exemption, or condemning those so-called hanging chads? It's a wonder the didn't incarcerate those chads and throw away the key!

One would think that Rove, at the very least, would be branded a liar. Not Rove. Surrounded by a den of liars, he waltzes through his lies. Of course, he has told so many, and written so many for Bush, that he may be on the verge of a nervous breakdown because he can no longer determine what his truth is. That last statement relates back to the previous question, . . . does he even know the truth?

It gets worse. Rove has apparently broken at least one Federal law, one of the worst anyone can break. He may have revealed the name of a CIA covert spy, and doing so could result in the death penalty, if convicted. However, since the spy in this case was a woman, and a woman married to a man who revealed the truth that Saddam Hussein was NOT buying nuclear material in Africa thereby removing the reason to invade Iraq . . . . Quick guys, sweep guys, sweep it under the rug. And they did, but they hung the Albatross around Scooter Libby's neck.

"Poor Scooter," as Ann Richards, late former Governor of Texas, might have said, "He had his prison sentence commuted by the president, and his fine paid by his rich Republican cronies." Poor Scooter, indeed!

Rove must think he got away with all the lies. However, it is not over. "Tricky Dickey" Nixon thought he had gotten away with what he did, too. He didn't. Rove will not, either.

Goebbels went mad when he realized the war was lost. In the same bunker under Berlin where Hitler shot his lover Ava Braun and then himself, Goebbels poisoned his six children, shot his wife and himself.

One day, perhaps soon, some little birdie who had his/her wings clipped by the Nazi-like hatchet man for Bush will eventually sing. Some in the U.S. Justice Department pricked up their ears the day Alberto Gonzales announced his resignation. There's always hope as long as we protect our Democracy against power grabbers unless the devils we knew, Rove & Gonzales, turn our to be better than the devil we get, their replacements.

BYE, BYE, KARL ROVE!

ROVE, Part II, B -- COMPARING ROVE AND GOEBBELS

Rove and Bush -- Best Buds
NOTE: See below for previous posts about Karl Rove (PART I, and PART II, A)

Karl Christian Rove has been called "Bush's Brain." Joseph Goebbels is still called "The man behind Hitler". A comparison between these two men can be made.

Although no one knows for sure about anything connected to Rove, many incidents and his family connections are widely reported on the Internet. One is that in the 1990s when G.W. Bush was going to make a run at a gubernatorial race in Texas, he needed someone with a heart full of hate for Democrats to act out what G.W. wanted done without implicating himself. It's called transference. Transfer the bad thoughts and actions to someone else and keep thyself looking lily white. Richard Nixon was a master practitioner of transference and G.W. is as well. So, who best for G.W. to take onboard but lying, conniving Karl Rove?

When G.W. met Rove he had spent a little time working for the Democratic organization in Texas. Just enough time to steal documents from their office that would help the Republicans win elections -- think Watergate. Rove has never hidden his hatred of Democrats in general, as well as the then Texas Governor Ann Richards and those pesky Clintons of Arkansas in particular.

In 1942, Hitler said: "Dr. Goebbels was gifted with the two things without which the situation in Berlin [taking over Parliament and seizing complete power] could not have been mastered: verbal facility and intellect.

Hitler had good reason to praise his colleague, for it was Goebbels who had created the "führer myth," orchestrating a pseudo-religious worship of Hitler as the savior of Germany from Jews, profiteers, and Marxists. Hitler and Goebbels were best buds. Goebbels was always at Hitler's side. They practically lived together. Hu-u-u-um.

Now, let's do a transference of Goebbels to Rove the man, who in his role as chief spin doctor, created the 'God has chosen and blessed G.W. to be president of the United States myth,' orchestrating a pseudo-religious worship of G.W. as the savior of America from terrorists, abortionists, homosexuals, and Muslims. Hu-u-u-um.

Got the creeps yet? At any rate, you must admit that Rove is a master of "verbal facility". I am not so sure about the "intellect" part of this comparison, although Republicans are always touting how intelligent he is.

Joseph Goebbels was a short man, with one foot crippled from Polio. He walked with a limp and often used a cane [think Herr Flick on Allo' Allo']. Goebbels was a devout Roman Catholic consumed with hatred for Jews [think Mel Gibson], Marxists, and the then elected democratic Weimar Republic of Germany [think Francisco Franco of Spain].

Goebbels said in 1932, "We are entering the Reichstag [Parliament], in order that we may arm ourselves with the weapons of democracy from its arsenal. We shall become Reichstag deputies in order that the Weimar ideology should itself help us to destroy it." [Think neo-cons.]

The White House staff, along with other governmental agencies may have hidden many unsavory truths about Rove, because to reveal certain facts would curry the disfavor of Bush supporters. There are members of the American media who have gathered snippets about Rove's life, but all have failed to investigate the who, what, when, where and whys of Karl Rove. If they have unfavorable information about Rove, they, too, are not revealing it for the same reason as the White House. The media want those one-on-one interviews with the prez and are not about to risk any offense by tattling on Herr Rove.

Americans have been told relatively nothing about the man using the last name of Rove, which now is alleged not really to be his last name, because if his birth name is Rove, changed from the German Rover, Rovener, or Rovener when father Rove immigrated to the U.S., dear cherished Karl has direct genetic ties to a family in Germany who were not only Hitler supporters and built tanks and jeeps for his army, they were openly anti-Semitic, helping to build at least one concentration camp. Mission: Must get rid of that connection, so enter an unnamed man who deserted his family.

I have read that Rove has a dual citizenship with Germany, and I have read that his mother and "Rove" father did, too. What is the truth? When will it be revealed. Who is going to reveal it?

Again, mainly from the Internet, one will quickly surmise that there is nothing simple about Rove, nee Rover, nee Rovner, nee Rovener, or nee whatever the name of that new guy who has recently been revealed. New guy? Well, you see, the new guy is the last "father fact" to surface only a couple of years ago. Rove now says that the mysterious guy is his birth father. That's right. Rove is not Karl's birth name, according to this latest information.

He and his siblings were adopted by his mother's German-born second husband. There is a man, by an unrevealed name supposedly living in California, who is really Karl's birth father. Legally, Karl's last name is Rove.

Wikipedia [Okay, it's not the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and you can't quote it even in a first grade paper but, often as not, the information there is correct.] the son, Andrew Madison Rove was born in 1989 [same year Rove's mother committed suicide], has posted that Rove's biological father [name not given] abandoned the family early on and his mother remarried. The "name not given father" abandoned not only Rove's mother, Reba Wood, but an older brother Eric and younger sister Reba as well.

Rove's adoptive father [the one whose family has the Nazi past], Louis Claude Rove Jr., was a geologist and his mother, Reba Wood, was a gift shop manager. Karl's mother committed suicide in 1989 in Reno, Nevada. Gee, I can't imagine why.

As the soap opera continues to roll, Americans still don't known who Karl Rove REALLY is. [Think BOYS FROM BRAZIL].

More about Karl Rove (1), (2).

NEXT: PART III of III, Rove's Legal Problems and a not so fond final farewell [we can only hope about "final"].