In these times of economic, environmental, and international upheaval, we need members of the house who will be able to work with all parties to effect real change. Martin Heinrich is for an energy independence that doesn't give large tax breaks to the oil companies; health care reform that doesn't reward insurance companies who act on what seems to be pure avarice; and he wants to bring our troops home from Iraq with honor without de-stabilizing the region. No doubt that, and many other reasons, are why the Albuquerque Journal endorsed him, along with the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club, and many, many others. Here's some of what the Journal has to say about Heinrich: "Martin Heinrich established a record of putting one foot in front of the other to build consensus on the often contentious Albuquerque City Council. His liberal leanings are clear, but so is the pragmatism and respect for other points of view that endow Heinrich with the ability to listen, accommodate and move difficult initiatives forward. That would be a welcome talent in Congress."
Tim Johnson, perhaps one of the most famous current members of the U.S Senate, is worthy of re-election. He is a solid supporter of veterans, farmers, and native Americans. In spite of his recent illness, he has worked very hard for his state and his country (see link below to list of some of those achievements). As a long serving senator, he also carries a lot of clout in the Senate, which translates to an ability to get things done for South Dakota on a federal level that his opponent just can't match.
Okay, there are all the so-called serious reasons to vote for Franken- and those are valid. He's smarter, wiser, and better looking than his opponent. But on top of that- he's funny, he's been on SNL, and he was in Trading Places. The country is heading for some bad times, I think- economy failing, environment gone bananas, wars unending- there is going to be a desperate need for someone who will know how and when to break things up, to crack a joke or tell a story about what it was like to work with Eddie Murphy.
LaRocco represents a responsible, progressive voice for Idaho- and he is endorsed by veterans, environmentalists, and working folk through out the state. It is time, on a local and national level, for us all to move in a new direction- away from the scandals, economic disasters, and endless wars that the GOP have brought us. LaRocco will fight for health care for everyone, a fair and intelligent solution to the current financial crisis, and better treatment for out veterans. He's even joining forces with T. Boone Pickens to find a solution to our energy problems. Integrity, innovation, and industry- that's what LaRocco brings to the Senate.
In these trying times, with so many urgent calamities facing our nation, it is vital that we remember what is happening to our planet. Global climate change is not an issue to debate only in times of economic stability- it's an urgent crisis that must and will be addressed by the next congress- and on that issue Udall is clearly the candidate of choice. Here's what Udall says about climate change on his web site: "People claim that we can't save our planet and still save our jobs. They think America can't have sustainability and prosperity; I know we can." We, as a nation, must act now- and I am confident that by electing politicians who understand the gravity of the situation, as well as doing what we can locally, we will weather the coming storm.
On top of all the economic and social issues covered in the above arguments, Markey is also the candidate to vote for in relation to the many, many environmental problems our state, and indeed the nation, is facing. Markey is willing to work with those on the right in finding a way to create domestic energy while maintaining and improving our environmental integrity. I live in Colorado, and it is a beautiful state- but we are losing more and more of that healthy beauty to unhealthy development, thanks to corporate interests. Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund President Rodger Schlickeisen, in a press release endorsing Markey, has this to say about her opponent: "Marilyn Musgrave has spent her years in Congress serving the special interests and not the public interest. She has repeatedly voted with big oil and other polluters at the expense of the environment, a record which earned her a score of zero on our 2007 conservation report card".
Mike Thompson has been a solid member of the house for ten years, building relationships with fellow congressmen, local businessmen, and all those necessary to get things done for his district- a truly vast district that reaches from the north Bay Area all the way to the Oregon coast. His opponent is a wolf in sheeps clothing, espousing most of the same views as Mr. Thompson, but in a watered down, Republican-lite sort of way. Just go to both of their web sites and you'll see what I mean. Mike Thompson's site is http://mikethompson.house.gov/
and his opponents is http://www.zane2008.com/issues/
If you're choices are a democrat who has been if office for ten years on a proven record, or a republican who seems to want the same things as said democrat but hasn't had ten years to build the connections needed to get things done, the choice is clear: Thompson.
I believe that Barak Obama will be the next president for a myriad of reasons. First off, he's more charismatic than McCain, and that holds more weight in modern politics than anything else- he's better looking, a better speaker, and comes off as a nice guy who you wouldn't mind shooting some hoops with or going to the movies with or whatever activity floats your boat- in general, people do indeed vote for the candidate they'd like to have a beer with. On top of that, the economy is so deep in the tank that it's very survival is in question- and on this issue, in poll after poll after poll, Obama is trusted by more Americans than McCain as the person with the best chance to do something to fix it. Why? Because they remember the last time a president named Bush brought the country to the brink of bankruptcy, it was a democrat who pulled us out of it. Add to that the inevitable mentions of the Keating 5 scandal and McCain's role as one of those five senators in these fiscally trying times. And then add Palin's curiouser and curiouser displays of ignorance and arrogance on nationally televised interviews to the mix. And to top it all off, add the massive voter registration of democrats that the Obama organization has run, and there is no way, in the current political climate, for McCain to win. Of course, something could happen- some new calamity or scandal could surface that changes everything. But until that happens, we can look forward to seeing an Obama White House.
It's very simple. The Republican party got us to where we are today- disgraced abroad, displaced at home. The economy is in the tank, the environment is in peril, and federal support for education is a joke. I live in Colorado, and I am excited at the thought of having two senators with a little "d" by their name. And, from the amount of lawn signs in my area (Wash Park, Denver) I have many neighbors who feel the same.
Einstein once famously said "my sense of God is my sense of wonder at the universe". He then ordered a large plate of spaghetti with a spicy Bolognese sauce, proclaimed it wondrous, and said "Mama Mia, that's a spicy, Omnipotent meat ball!".
Vonnegut once said "music is to me proof of the existence of God", and then added " and so is the proper amount of Parmesan cheese on my pasta".
McAllister , in his play Muse of Fire, said "Forever and never and life and death are just illusions we make up to make it easier to understand things." And then he added "And the same goes for God.
And on the seventh day he rested.
Read the manual? What kind of commie-pinko bleeding heart insanity is that? No, I usually put it somewhere I'll forget, so that when something breaks down, whatever the product, I won't be able to fix it.
No question- legalize. All of these laws that try to regulate morality don't end the activities they are trying to prevent. Making prostitution illegal only sends it underground, creating a fertile ground for crime, abuse, and STDs- not to mention un-wanted pregnancies resulting in more abortions . People will cheat on each other- it is part of human nature, and nothing will ever stop that. There is a reason prostitution is called the oldest profession- human desire.
The answer to that question is the same as the answer to the following questions, which are related: Who has more money? Who has worked in Washington D.C. far longer? Who has more houses? Who has more cars? Whose family had more prestige, money, and power? Who was pals with millionaire crook Keating? I can't see how someone who pulled himself up by his own bootstraps, as the GOP always encourages people to do, then took a job helping those less fortunate in the Chicago are when he could have gotten any number of high paying jobs from firms, can be considered high falutin', or elite.
Obama, no questions. He's cool, he can dance- as evidenced on the Ellen show, and he has a nice smile. McCain seems cranky, off center, and picked for his running mate someone who shoots wolves from planes. I just get this image of a little kid running down the street in one of those bursts of kid energy, and seeing McCain and Palin giving chase in a helicopter, shooting tranquilizer darts at the little guy. Yikes!
If by valiant- and I am assuming that there was a typo and you are talking about valiant the adjective and not the town in Oklahoma- you mean brave, courageous, and stout hearted, there is no question in my mind that the Democrats are the more valiant in there collective beliefs. Of course there are many variations within each party, and each party has had a varied past, with different beliefs prominent at different times, so let's assume that we are talking about the prevalent ideologies of the past forty years or so. JFK urged the nation to be bold and put a man on the moon within ten years. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, knowing full well it would cost the Democratic party their traditional majority in the South. Nixon opened trade with China- a communist country lead by a tyrant of epic proportions. Ford pardoned Nixon who has the distinction of being the only president (so far) to resign in disgrace. Carter brokered the Camp David Accords. Reagan covertly sold arms to Iran. Bush 41 invaded Panama. Clinton intervened in the Balkans. Bush 43- well, the list of non-valiant things he did is too long, but let's just say Katrina, Iraq, and Enron and leave it at that. Those are the valiant, or not so valiant, things that come to mind when I consider our most recent leaders.
