Is McCain Becoming The Issue In This Race?

Does Obama have the cooler head?
A truism of politics is that when a candidate becomes "the issue" in race, in other words, when a candidate's personality or credibility comes into question, then the race is over, and the candidate has lost.

John McCain is perilously close to becoming a major issue in this campaign due to his recent antics in regards to our country's financial crisis. By his seemingly impetutous decision to suspend his campaign and insert himself into the negotiations between the White House and congressional leaders, he has raised questions regarding his judgment and his temperment. This quote fairly sums up my impression of what McCain has demonstrated about himself:

"It just proves his campaign is governed by tactics and not ideology. In the end, he blinked and Obama did not. The 'steady hand in a storm' argument looks now to more favor Obama, not McCain... My guess is that plasma units are rushing to the McCain campaign as we speak to replace the blood flowing there from the fights among the staff."
-- Former McCain adviser Craig Shirley, quoted by the Huffington Post.

The question the American people need to be asking is, which person has demonstrated a cool head and steady nerves during this crisis? Who would they want to have at the helm of this country during those inevitable times when it seems that all hell has broken loose? Obama is the man for me.

McCain Didn't Even Read Treasury Proposal

from Wire Services
Though Sen. John McCain says the nation's current financial crisis requires "all hands on deck" because "the whole future of the American economy is in danger," he admitted in an interview in Cleveland on Tuesday that he hadn't even read the Bush administration's proposed rescue plan that was unveiled over the weekend.

American Prayer

2008 Republican Party Platform Opposes Bailouts

New GOP Logo?
from VoteFromAbroad.Org

"The Republican Party platform adopted 3 weeks ago explicitly opposes government bailouts of private companies. Here is the exact quote (from the section "Rebuilding Homeownership"):

We do not support government bailouts of private institutions. Government interference in the markets exacerbates problems in the marketplace and causes the free market to take longer to correct itself. We believe in the free market as the best tool to sustained prosperity and opportunity for all.

"This plank in the GOP platform is not controversial within the party. Republicans have always believed that when companies make bad business decisions the market will punish them and this is the deterrence for future companies to think through their decisions carefully. The problem now is the utter hypocrisy of throwing overboard a principle Republicans have held dear for a century. If (big) companies lose the fear of bankruptcy because they expect the government to bail them out, they will take unconscionable risks in the future. Maybe somebody should send Henry Paulson a copy of the Republican platform."
The GOP is being hoisted on its own petard.

Thanks to my friend Shauna Struby

I sent out my questions I posted yesterday to my friends, and Shauna saying she had heard it this way:

They Privitize the Profits and Socialize the Losses.

Why?

Why do businesses want the government to leave them alone until they get themselves into so much trouble they come running for help?

Why are individual citizens on welfare irresponsible, but businesses on welfare are victims of a bad economy?

Why is it Socialistic for the government to take over the failing health industry, but not for the government to take over the failing banking industry?

Someone explain this to me.

Obama and McCain Tax Plans Compared

from VotefromAbroad.Org

Each of the candidates has a tax plan, but they differ quite a bit. Here is a chart showing the plans. McCain's plan focuses tax cuts on upper-income taxpayers. Obama's focuses them on lower-income taxpayers. However, with the government about to spend something like $1 trillion to buy nonperforming mortgages, it is unlikely the new President will have a lot of budget room left for tax cuts of any magnitude unless they are offset by tax increases of the same magnitude. In that respect, Obama's plan might be doable since it is budgetarily neutral, raising taxes on the rich by as much as it cuts taxes for the middle class. McCain's plan cuts taxes for everyone and thus reduces federal revenue and increases the budget deficit.
from The Washington Post
Read the entire Washington Post article here.

McCain Has A Staff Meeting

With the Rest of his 'Good Ole Boys'

Community Organizers vs Governors

"Wasn't Jesus a Community Organizer and Pilate a Governor?"--e-mail response on NPR's "Diane Rehm Show" to Palin's acceptance speech at the RNC in which she praised governors and mocked community organizers.
1st Century Community Organizer
First Century Governor

Jim Roth Catches a Hit and Run Suspect

Jim Roth, Corporation Commissoner and crime fighter
Jim Roth, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, helped to apprehend a driver after the man allegedly fled the scene of an accident he caused. Roth told reporters that he saw a man rear end a car driven by a woman while Roth was traveling on NW 23rd Street near Ollie Ave. The woman's car then rear ended another vehicle. The man causing the accident tried to drive away, but Roth followed and caught up with him. Roth then blocked the fleeing driver's car. Roth then called 911 and the police

For a complete story use the following link from the NewsOK.com web site

Jim is running in a special election for a full term on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. The Commission is charged with regulating utiliites and consumer rates in Oklahoma. Gov. Henry appointed Roth to replace Denise Bode who resigned from the Commission in 2007. Prior to his appointment, Roth served as one of Oklahoma County's Commissioners.

Lil' Obama Supporter

Jaida Ship
Last night, I went to our Oklahoma Centennial Bison football game against a team from Empire, Oklahoma. Attending the game was Jaida Shipp and her mother Crystal Shipp. I asked Crystal for permission to take a picture of Jaida wearing a Barrack Obama basketball jersey. Crystal graciously gave me permission.
As you can tell Jaida is an eager poser.

BTW, Centennial won the game 44-20!

What's the Difference between Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney?

Lipstick.

the difference is merely cosmetic?

Palin attacks McCain?

In her speech at the RNC, Palin attacked the "Washington elite." I guess she had in mind the man who is running at the head of her ticket. I mean, really, who is the "elitist" in the presidential race this fall? A man raised by a single, working mother and her family who succeeded by his own talents and intelligence? Or is it the man who divorced a wife who remained faithful to him during his long absence and married into money? A man who owns more homes than he can remember? A man who believes that someone making $5 million a year is merely "middle class?" Come on. It's time that we realize who is a member of the "elite" and which party has been looking out for the elite for the past 8 years.

Sarah's Palin Husband, Todd, Long Time Member of Alaska Independence Party

The "Alaska Independence Party" advocates that Alaska ought to succeed from the United States and become an independent nation. There has been a rumor that Gov. Palin at one time was a member of the party, but that doesn't seem to be the case. She does have ties to the party through her husband, Todd who once belonged to the party for several years but is not registered as "independent" or "undeclared."
Todd Palin, Longtime Former AIP Member

Meet Sarah "Pork Barrel" Palin

More reports are coming in about Sarah Palin's past political activities. One of the more interesting ones is the fact that as mayor of a town of only 6,700 souls, she managed to get over $27 million from the Federal government. This dispite the her present claim that she abhors "Pork Barrel" spending by the Feds.

From the Washington Post:

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin employed a lobbying firm to secure almost $27 million in federal earmarks for a town of 6,700 residents while she was its mayor, according to an analysis by an independent government watchdog group.

There was $500,000 for a youth shelter, $1.9 million for a transportation hub, $900,000 for sewer repairs, and $15 million for a rail project -- all intended to benefit Palin's town, Wasilla, located about 45 miles north of Anchorage.

According to MSNBC:

As mayor of Wasilla, however, Palin oversaw the hiring of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh, an Anchorage-based law firm with close ties to Alaska's most senior Republicans: Rep. Don Young and Sen. Ted Stevens, who was indicted in July on charges of accepting illegal gifts. The Wasilla account was handled by the former chief of staff to Stevens, Steven W. Silver, who is a partner in the firm.

Of course, in politics, if I get it, its "needed funding for the good of the community." If you get it, it's "Pork Barrel Politics."

Working with Gustav Evacuees in OKC

About 9:30 this morning, my friend Barbara Royce called and asked if Cat and I could help with the effort to shelter people coming up from Louisianna ahead of Hurricane Gustav. Barbara is the United Way, Labor Liaison. We told her that we could, so we went down to the old abandoned Lucent plant on the west side of the city where about 1800 evacuees arrived by bus and by car.

Cat ended up on the serving line, and I mostly stood around and helped to answer whatever questions I could. Ramona, Cat's sister who is staying with us for a while, came also to help serve.
Car from Louisianna drives into the Lucent parking lot.
Evacuees line up to be served food.
Cat works in the serving line.

Did Sarah Palin flip-flop on "The Bridge to Nowhere?"

In here introduction as McCain's pick as his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin had this to say about the infamous Alaska "Bridge to Nowhere" decried as an example of Pork Barrel spending at its worst. She claimed, "I told 'Congress thanks, but no thanks,' on that 'Bridge to Nowhere.' If our state wanted a bridge, I said, we'd build it ourselves."

But let's look at that claim. On August 29, 2008, she says she told Congress "no thanks" on money for the bridge. But what did she actually say at the time? It took a bit of digging, her office's press release from September 21, 2007 paints a much different picture.

"Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport, but the $398 million bridge is not the answer," said Governor Palin. "Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it's clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island," Governor Palin added. Source of Quote

"Despite the work of our congressional delegation?"But didn't she tell "ongress no thanks!"Still, this could be interpreted as "he congressional delegation wanted it, but I didn't."So let's go earlier for a quote. October 22, 2006, Palin was asked:

Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?"

Her response was solid:

Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now - while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist." Source of Quote

The implication is clear. Governor Palin wanted Alaska's congressional delegation to get Federal funding for the Bridge to Nowhere. When they were unable to secure full funding, she canceled the project, willing only to spend Federal money on the bridge, not State money.

(My thanks to Stan Simpson for this report.)

Obama Tax Cut (for 95% of us)

Want to know how much of a tax cut you would get under Barack Obama's tax plan (and how much more you would have to pay under McCain's tax plan)? Go to this web site and calculate your potential savings:

ObamaTaxCut.com

Will McCain/Palin Beg Hillary's Forgiveness?

As anyone who follows politics knows, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been chosen by Sen. John McCain to be his running mate. The choice has been touted as being a "bold move" that reaffirms McCain's "maverick status."

Well, maybe so, maybe not.

In her introductory speech by McCain's side, Palin praised Sen. Hillary Clinton for creating "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling" for women. Palin promised to be the one who "broke through" for them.

Of course, Palin was referring to the 18 million votes, many by women, for Sen. Clinton in the Democratic primaries. She claimed this mandate, and hopes to claim their votes, despite the fact that she did not do one thing to earn it or them. She did not raise or contribute a single dollar to Sen. Clinton's campaign. She did not knock on a single door or make a single phone call on Clinton's behalf. She did not take the heat Clinton took in the senator’s historic bid for the nomination. All she did do was say "Yes" when the man in charge asked her if she would hitch a ride at his side.

What really galls me is that Palin now praises Hillary even though Palin is a member of the party that spent the last 18 months trashing Hillary. Palin is valued for the fact that she will "excite" the party's conservative and evangelical base, the very people who said of Hilary, "Life is a B*tch; Don't Vote for One."

The GOP supposedly decries identity politics now brags, in Rush Limbaugh's words, to "have a babe of our own." So it seems that the Double Standard is alive and well in the GOP despite all their pretensions.

That is unless Palin and McCain wish to issue an apology to Sen. Hilary Clinton and beg forgiveness from the woman they once all hated but now pretend to love.

Barack Obama's Extraordinary Speech

Barack Obama speaks to the 84,000 listeners crammed into Invesco Field in Denver
Obama delivered dead-on campaign speech in Denver tonight. “Tonight, tonight, I say to the people of America, to Democrats and Republicans and independents across this great land — enough!”

I agree.



McCain would only be McSame. I believe we have seen what it means to have the Republican ideology put into actual practice.

It's not a pretty sight.

New Orleans after Katrina

I'm Teaching at Rose State College

Sunset looking from the Rose State College campus
I'm teaching once again at Rose State College in Midwest City, OK in eastern Oklahoma County. I've been there more or less steadily since 1991. Midwest City is the location for Tinker Air Force Base, a major logistics center servicing AWACs and B-52 Bombers, among other military flyware.

I enjoy being able to spend some time teaching adults. The average age for my classes must be somewhere in the early 30's. I get many military personnel and Tinker employees along with those who have figured they need a college degree if they are going to get very far in life.

This Fall semester I am teaching Composition I & II in two 8-week segments on Mondays and Wednesday nights. As I said, it's a pleasant change after dealing with teenagers all day long.

Views from My Classroom

looking towards my windows
flying the flags of the USA and Oklahoma
one of my poster boards

Saturday Pancake Breakfast

Last Saturday was the annual Oklahoma County Democratic Party Pancake Breakfast. We gathered once again at the Del City Community Center to eat pancakes, sausage, and eggs and hear our candidates for office tell us about their campaigns. Frosty Troy was the M.C. and did his usual great job. We raised over $1600 for our campaigns.
A gathering of great Democrats
Cat and state Rep. Al Lindley talk politics
OK Lt. Gov. Jari Askins speaks to the crowd

Setting Up My Classroom

Oklahoma Centennial High School
Today was my first day back at Oklahoma Centennial since last June when I came in for a couple of days to help move some items in.
View from the school looking north
One thing I am going to enjoy is the view from our school. We have very wide vistas. We are on one of the higher points in Oklahoma City with very little blocking our view. You can see the state capitol from our front lawn.

We have one of those fiberglass bison in our foyer. Don't know if it has been named yet.
My classroom
This is what my classroom looked like when I got to it. Boxes and boxes of books.
Windows in my classroom looking west.
I have a nice view from my classroom also.

School starts in a week!

House Painting

The Mess
For the last 3 days, our house has been in a complete uproar.

We've been painting the living room, dining room, and breakfast room.

I hate having my living space disrupted, even when it's necessary, and this was very necessary. We should have done this years ago.

But I hate it when I can't get to my comfortable reading chair, when I can't get to any chair really.

But we're nearly finished. We just have to put everything back in order.
Weapons of Mass Distraction

Jim Roth Takes Part in Mayflower Pulpit Series

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner, Jim Roth

Jim Roth, newly appointed member of the 3-person Oklahoma Corporation Commission, delivered the sermon this Sunday at Mayflower Congregational Church in Oklahoma City. Roth was appointed to the commission last year by Gov. Brad Henry following the resignation of Denise Bode from the commission. The Corporation Commission is given the task of regulating the activities and rates of Oklahoma's public utilities like electricity, natural gas, and phone service.

The topic for Roth's sermon was "Quiet Faith" which he constrasted to flashy demonstrations of religiousity. "Some people are more concerned about putting up giant crosses by the Interstate Highway, having loud rock and roll bands in order to attract worshippers, or trying to get lower income people to contribute large sums of money to rich evangelists than they are in trying to follow the teachings and example of Jesus," Roth noted. He praised Mayflower Church members for putting their faith into action. "Here we have Care Teams visting the sick and dying, our '363' group feeding the homeless on Saturdays, our medical mission to Nicaragua, and many other examples of quiet faith in action."

Roth is running for election to a full term on the Corporation Commission. He previously served as County Commissioner for Oklahoma County District 1.

Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater speaks at the OCDP Friday Luncheon

Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater
Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater talked about how he has worked to expand Drug and Mental Health Courts as well as relating a moving narration of his work to end gang violence in the county during his talk on August 8th at the Oklahoma County Democratic Party Luncheon. The luncheon is a regular function of the OCDP held at the Boulevard Cafeteria in midtown Oklahoma City.

DA Prater told the over 50 people gathered that his predecessor only had a little over 200 participants in the OK County Drug Court program, a program created by the legislature to provide alternatives to incarceration for drug offenders. "My office expanded the Drug Court to over 600 participants," Prater stated. "We hope to soon have 720 participants in the near future." He challenged those present to visit a "Drug Court Graduation" sometime. "Graduates talk about getting and holding jobs, reconciling marriages, and healing families with the help of Drug Court." He also hopes to expand the Mental Health Court noting that the Oklahoma County jail currently houses more of the mentally ill than any institution in Oklahoma.

Prater also discussed his work dealng with gang violence in Oklahoma County through his work with a former gang lord turned pastor whose ministry works with those in Oklahoma City gangs. The pastor arranged for Prater to meet with gang leaders in at his church. David Prater came to the meeting alone and unarmed. "The gang members had posted 'look-outs' around the building who sent text messages to the leaders inside the church when I drove up. The look-outs were alerting the leaders about whether or not I had come with police to arrest them." The gang leaders, the pastor, and David talked for over 2 hours together. "At first, the talk was very confrontational, but it gradually changed. I talked with them about how we can end the gang violence that has plagued the county." Prater was moved try this unusual and personally risky step after an 8 year old child was shot and permanently impaired due to a gang revenge attack.

DA Prater credits his approach as being instrumental in preventing some gang "turf wars" and revenge killings that threatened to break out in the county. He plans to work with schools to try to deal with the problem of school drop outs, a prime source of new members for the gangs. "When I asked the gang leaders at the meeting how can we best work to curb gang participation, the answer one gave was, 'Keep the kids in school.' "

Karl Springer Talks With AFT Building Leaders

AFT President Ed Allen, left, with new Oklahoma City School Superintendent Karl Springer, right, addressing the AFT-OKC Worksite Leaders
New Oklahoma City School Superintendent Karl Springer spoke at some length on Wednesday, August 6th, to a gathering of American Federation of Teachers Worksite Leaders. The Worksite Leaders, who are the primary representatives for OKC-AFT Local 2309, met in the union's conference room to discuss their responsibilities for the coming school year in their respective school buildings . OKC-AFT is the bargaining representative for all certified teachers in the Oklahoma City Public School District.
New Oklahoma City Superintendent Karl Springer
Mr. Springer talked about his goals for the district emphasizing the need for "responsibility" and "transparency." He stated that while he will delegate authority where necessary, "I can never delegate responsibility. When that happens, all you get in finger pointing." When one teacher asked Mr. Springer about the problems the district has had with previous superintendents, Springer stated, "When I am driving, I find it is best to always look through the windshield. I cannot be always looking in the rearview mirror." Mr. Springer outlined his strategy for building relationships in the community which is to maintain complete transparency. He also promised that he will also set aside time on a regular basis to visit building sites.
Worksite Leaders and AFT President Ed Allen listen to Superintendent Karl Springer
Mr. Springer seemed to impress the teachers present for the meeting. Said one veteran teacher, "The best thing about him is that he talks like a teacher." Mr. Springer emphasized his years in the classroom before becoming superintendent of the Mustang School District, his last assignment before accepting the job in Oklahoma City following the resignation of superitendent, John Q. Porter who served only a few months as superitendent of the district.
AFT President Ed Allen and OKC Superintendent Karl Springer pledge their best effort for a successful school year.

Paris Hilton for Prez Ad

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

I love good satire, and this is cool, hot even.

Today School Begins

Oklahoma Centennial High School
Well, not classes, but summer is bascially over for me. Today, I will be getting into my class room to set up things for the coming term that start August 21st in our district. Tomorrow and Wednesday are workshops for the new textbooks we adopted. Then we have workshops for our union building leaders, and so on and so on until classes begin.

I am looking forward to this year. New building, new school, new attitude.

Voting on Primary Election Day

While the turnout for Primary Voting Day in Oklahoma only totaled 18%, the Greenflame voting turnout was 100%. Here is half of the household voting in the Democratic primary.

Obama Rally in OKC

Sen. Connie Johnson addresses the Obama Unity Rally
Yesterday evening, I attended a rally for Barack Obama in Oklahoma City. It was sponsored by our local "Women for Obama" organization. It was a very hot day, around 104, so the attendance was small but spirited.
Kitti Asberty, Vice-Chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, fires up the crowd.

Doing the Lord's Work on the Campaign Trail

Dana Orwig

Cat and I went out this morning to help the campaign of Dana Orwig who is trying to become the representative for State House District 87. Dana is one of several fellow teachers, along with Donnie Lewis in HD 100 and Ed Holzberger in HD 83, who have taken on the difficult job of running for elective office.

What we did was not very challenging. We just went into a precinct and put door hangers on designated doors telling the voters that Dana would soon be in their neighborhood to visit with them personally. It is a kind of introduction.

Other than it being very hot, this wasn't hard at all. It simply involved walking the neighborhoods and hanging the cards on doorknobs. But I always feel good after doing something like this because it makes me feel like I am fulfilling my duties as a citizen. I call it "Doing the Lord's Work" since I feel that any good work is the work the Lord would have us do.

Are Wal-Mart Employees Citizens or Subjects?

According to The Wall Street Journal, Wal-Mart is is so intimidated by the very possibility of a unionized workforce that its supervisors have been holding mandatory meetings essentially telling employees to vote against Democrats and Sen. Barack Obama this November.

Wal-Mart is taking this outrageous step because the Democrats and Barack Obama have committed to pass the Employee Free Choice Act to restore workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain for fair wages, health care, decent working conditions and a real voice on the job. All of America’s workers have the right to freely decide whom to vote for independent of employer pressure and intimidation.

We are seeing a return of old-fashioned employer intimidation tactics that harken back to the 19th and early 20th century.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle in his book Politics claimed that the difference between a citizen and a subject is that a citizen is able to participate in his countries political decision making.

When an corporation uses the threat of intimidation against their employees to force them to vote a certain way, then those employees become subjects of the corporation rather than free citizens able to fully participate in their government.

To get more information on this, check out the AFL-CIO Now Blog:
AFL-CIO Now Blog