The Lion Sleeps Tonight
A few years ago I took a road trip through the American West. I spent a day in San Francisco and took a few hours to relax in Union Square. A pollster came up to me and made some chat and asked me who my personal hero was as part of her polling question. I had to think about it for a bit and came up with John F. Kennedy. When she asked why I chose him, I said it was because he was our last idealist President. That idealism actually branched out to his brothers, and this country owes that family a great deal of gratitude for it.
The peace Corps, Immigration rights, Civil rights, Health care, Labor rights, and Space exploration, are just a few ways in which this country benefited from this family's calling.
Ted Kennedy was the only brother out of four that died a non violent death for this country. He served in the Senate since 1962 and was known as a Democratic leader who could reach across party lines to get things done. As the rest of his family, he served his country in service and in politics, was raised in privilege but championed the average American in government.
Senator Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (February 22, 1932 August 25, 2009)
independence
The Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the generation that then existed, but for posterity- unlimited, undefined, endless, perpetual posterity - Henry Clay
If there is any principle of the Constitution that more imperatively calls for attachment than any other it is the principle of free thought, not free thought for those who agree with us but freedom for the thought that we hate. - Oliver Wendell Holmes
Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. - Benjamin Franklin
I prefer a man who will burn the flag and then wrap himself in the Constitution to a man who will burn the Constitution and then wrap himself in the flag - Craig Washington
I also wish that the Pledge of Allegiance were directed at the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as it is when the President takes his oath of office, rather than to the flag and the nation - Dr. Carl Sagen
A Constitution should be short and obscure - Napoleon Bonaparte
Happy Independence Day America.
South Dakota; America's Other Slow Kid
So, let me get this straight; everytime I listen to the diatribe coming out of the conservative agenda, I get to listen to how judicial activism by liberal judges is bad for the country, but at the same time, will support state legislation from South Dakota that would openly defy a 1973 U.S. Supreme Court landmark decision?
Here's some needed review* for the legal councel of South Dakota over The Supremacy Clause and Federal Preemption:
THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE Article. VI. This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding. State courts are bound then to give effect to federal law when it is applicable and to disregard state law when there is a conflict; federal law includes, of course, not only the Constitution and congressional enactments and treaties but as well the interpretations of their meanings by the United States Supreme Court.
I take new comfort in the fact that most of America can't find you on a map anyway.
* sarcasm implied, It is apparent that South Dakota is attempting to force the matter before the Supreme Court now that the recent appointment of conservative justices Roberts and Alito have made the Supreme Court more likely to overturn Roe v. Wade.
You kids and your Rock and Roll Music
I am sure every generation looks at the one before with a little contempt for what seems like a bunch of slack-off jerkwads who someday will be running the show and didn't pay attention to anything you told them. Still, you have to sometimes wonder if you're the first generation with merit to feel that way.
A Jeep-sponsored survey found that most Americans are like clueless about their presidents. Among the survey's findings: - Almost one in ten 18-24 year-olds named Abraham Lincoln as the first president of the U.S. - Three percent of college graduates could not name the current president of the United States. - More than half didn't know that Franklin D. Roosevelt was president for most of World War II. - More than half couldn't name Andrew Jackson as the president on the U.S. $20 bill.
I am going to hope that the smart kids were smart enough to dodge having to answer a survey.
word
I want young men and young women who are not alive today... to know and see that these new privileges and opportunities did not come without somebody suffering and sacrificing for them."
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Judgment Day
It's not that complicated; invite a few friends over, preferably from different political affiliations, and have a discussion about what would be a near flawless and clear counting voting machine. Easy and/or accurate recount, on staff workers who can quickly fix technical problems, voter number id stamped and issued on a receipt as voted and given to the voter as well as recorded internally, electronically and on paper thus giving a triad of verification. We put all of this kind of thought into guarding our nuclear defense strategy and yet the process to elect the man in charge of it all has the complexity of a tin can telephone in some states.
( continue reading over at Watchblog.com )
Substance over Style
I have to admit, I am jaded with the politics of the current presidential election as well as the upcoming debates. I believe both men are equally suited for the job on qualifications but the tone of civility our nation’s leaders have demonstrated as of late, leave me wanting for a reset button on the whole political process.
In the early days of the campaigns, Bush and Kerry both called openly for their opponent to run a fair and clean campaign. This truce of civility lasted as long as you could say “Vietnam”. Soon afterwards were the non-stop commercials by swift boat veterans that aimed to make sure we all knew John Kerry wasn’t a great commander in Vietnam and they wanted to give the impression that everyone in the military didn’t like Kerry. This left the obvious question; why the hell are we talking about Vietnam? What does this have to do with John Kerry in 2004? How does this help Bush since he would like to downplay his own service record? Why should I care about a man's impression of John Kerry when he hasn't had personal contact with him for over thirty years now? Is Vietnam going to be the focal point on picking our president?
It was a red herring and the fact that it got so much attention is proof that we fell for it. So the lesson learned is; let a third party with no real ties (supposedly) to the political party fight your dirty battles for you leaving your opponent on the defensive. If you can make a man with three purple heart medals from fighting as a volunteer in a foreign war look unworthy for his country, who can't you go after?
Kerry responded to the attacks, he had no choice. His campaign was so on the defensive that he came across angry, his return attack ads that soon followed didn’t help his image either. With Kerry, you have a paradox that seems to elude many, but still leaves a quandary about the man. Kerry is (sometimes) an anti-war candidate, and then he isn’t. He wanted to appeal to the anti war movement that grew strong but made certain to not put both feet in the issue. He also wanted to appeal to the undecided voters who favored Bush on his Iraq policy; this leaves you looking like a flip-flopper when your opponent exploits the fact and he should have seen it coming.
Kerry has been fighting a “whatever position is necessary” strategy to win and many of the people who radically oppose Bush seem to excusing this because they have also adopted the same philosophy to get Bush out of office. The problem with this position is that it leaves a lack of substance from the Candidate, from the party, and from the supporters. I want to like Kerry but it is looking more like it makes little matter as to which man wins. The policies change here and there but the tone has already been set for both administrations and they both look quite similar. From the most radical supporters on both sides you have private agenda’s that do not reflect the sum of what it should mean to be our president.
Unless John Kerry finds his mark tonight at the first of the three debates, I predict that George W. Bush will win a second term by another close, but more accurate, election in November.
(published on watchblog)
Happy Birthday America!
"It can never be too often repeated, that the time for fixing every essential right on a legal basis is while our rulers are honest, and ourselves united."
-- Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia, 1782.
There is a great article in the latest issue of Time Magazine about Thomas Jefferson and how his squabbling with his mortal enemy Alexander Hamilton started the two party system in American politics.
Memorial Day
As a former Airman and Soldier, and as a citizen of my Country, I want to say thanks to those who serve today in the military with honor and duty to the Country and to the World.
I also want to say thanks to those who served in the past, during peace time or war, but especially those who died in conflict. Hopefully your lives brought us a better world. Hopefully, we can learn from the past.
The happiest place on Earth.
I went to Disney Land yesterday and it wasthe hapiest place on Earth. Well, except for the girl working the haunted mansion ride. she was not very happy.
Today I got to see Tijuaina, Mexico and you would be suprised at what $60US will get you there as we were approched every few feet we walked. An experience to see but it might qualify as the saddest place on Earth when you see the infants begging for money.
