There has been a lot said about the John Edwards situation, and while I count myself one of his most vociferous and steadfast supporters I must confess myself disappointed and a bit shocked.

I do understand that it might have cost us the election, should he have been nominated.  But since he wasn't, that is all conjecture and theory and completely irrelevant.  

His affair really changes nothing.  What we have done, bringing our focus to this, is act in a hypocritical way.  I'm tired of Americans acting this way.  

Today, on CNN, they are touting the 'sixth straight day' of falling gas prices.  

To a lot of uninformed people, like those advocating for drilling in ANWAR right now, that seems like a good thing.  And in our pocketbooks, right now, it will give us some much needed relief.

However, we need to think longer term than next week, or next month.  We should at least be thinking until November, and optimally further out.  Here's why:

As some of you may know, I am gainfully employed.  In fact, I work several jobs:  Mother, employee, artist and writer.  

Which is why it is personally important to me that Senator Obama supports the arts.

I have been looking forward to participating in Barack Obama's presidential campaign, because we need a break from the horrible policies of the neo-cons, particularly Bush and Cheney.

However, I am not going to be able to do so anymore.

It's too late for me.  It's too late for my kid.  

I am just aching to park and ride. But, you see, I can't.

And it's not for a lack of trying.  It's because the public transit system in my city is underfunded and overextended; it's actually cutting routes and upping rates!

Still, in hope, I went ahead and checked the maps.  Because, as a city employee I can still ride for free as a perk.  Excellent, right?  Except buses don't run on my side of town, or near my employer.

The list of what isn't wrong with this country is much shorter than the list of what is; we're all fighting battles against insurance companies, corruption, bad policies and rising prices.

Corruption in our current government is extensive.  In collusion, the media does its part because it is corporate owned; they will determine what others see (Comcast) and hear (Clear Channel). And while the web is good, as many as 1/3 do not have access to the Internet.

It's hard to have hope when you can't see it, hear it or if your routes to it are countered by corporate masters who feel they know what's better for you than you do.

The Huffington Post as a piece here:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/...

An escalating number of voters registering as Democrats is providing evidence that the 2008 election could produce a wave of support for Barack Obama — and trigger a decades-long shift of party allegiance that could affect elections for a generation.

This is excellent news for Barack Obama.

Phil Gramm and his buddies are doing just fine, aren't they?

If gas got to $10/gal, Phil and the GOP elite would still be doing just fine.  After all, they've spent the last 40 years raping and pillaging the Constitution and this nation, contorting laws for their own purposes and lying with every breath they can muster.

What they don't seem to get is when people like me, and the others like me, who shopped at the grocery and paid their bills regularly, are having trouble that means the economy is in serious trouble, no matter what's on paper.  After all, without us spending what we do, what's to keep our consumerist economy afloat.

I no longer know which end is up anymore.  I realized that tonight, as I spent most of the evening crying my eyes out.   I don't recognize this country I live in, and I'm not sure but I think it was me who changed.

A year ago, things were okay in my world.  I had a healthy savings account, a decent job that supported my daughter and I; it was good enough to lift us out of the ghetto and into a mobile home that I will one day own.  It was a modest life, but it was secure and it was mine.

But that is no more; as of this writing I am desperate and exhausted.  Again.

you have people figured out, someone goes and does something like this.

It's an amazing story about a family that, literally, puts their money where their mouths are when it comes to giving to the community.

They got everything right, from Hannah's observation that if the guy in the Mercedes chose a less expensive car, then the guy on the curb could have a sandwich to voluntarily surrendering their consumerist lifestyle - it lets you know the power of one voice, one family and one gesture.

Here's an interesting email I just received from Democrats.com

Let's Escrow Our Money to Keep Obama Progressive

Last week, we asked 1,000 of you to contribute $10 to raise $10,000 to help progressive Democrats like State Senator Regina Thomas defeat "Bush Democrats" like Rep. John Barrow (GA12) in upcoming primaries. Your response was amazing: over 1,300 of you contributed over $60,000! Senator Thomas and our other "Replace Bush Democrats" candidates were thrilled by your support, and so are we!!

Now we are asking you to use your money to ensure that Barack Obama lives up to his promise to deliver "change we can believe in. "

How? By creating a progressive "escrow" fund that you control.

Cross posted at MyBarackObama.com, on Xysea's blog:

Hi,

I've only blogged once on MyBarackObama before, but this time I'm on a mission.  I have something to say to Senator Obama.

DON'T PLAY THE MIDDLE.

Someone wrote me this, and it really made me think.  Not about whether or not I'm clueless, because I'm not, but rather about what 'my planet' is all about.

What pathology (0+ / 0-)
is necessary for one to equate the forced taking of one's income by government for redistribution as "compassion"? Do you have any inkling of what true compassion is?

I really cannot believe someone could be so clueless. I may as well be asking the color of the sky on your planet.

A new MSNBC article today deals with some of the 'tax and spend' myths we've been hearing about Senator barack Obama.  Specifically, that his economic proposal will increase taxes.

Here's what the economists profiled for the NY Times had to say about that:

Economists of various ideological persuasions, however, view Mr. McCain’s assessment as inaccurate or exaggerated. Some question whether Mr. Obama’s tax plan can even be characterized as an increase. Some also argue that contrary to Mr. McCain’s assertions, the Democrat’s proposals, if enacted, would actually reduce taxes for the middle class — the voters both candidates see as the key to victory.

The original NYTimes article is here:

Will The Real Tax and Spender Please 'Fess Up?

Here we have a seemingly innocuous story about the housing crisis.  On the face of it, you might actually agree somewhat with the premise that Ed McMahon should not be the face of the housing crisis.  I know I do.  

I agree, Ed has a lot of resources.  But what's also true is nothing in this country addresses problems like a celebrity or a senator who feels the pinch himself. Ed McMahon probably isn't the best choice, but he's a celebrity (of sorts) and he attracts attention. So I guess I can understand the basis of his argument, as far as that goes.

Until you get to this buried nugget:

A lot of people hear the word "foreclosure" and immediately picture a family living in an alleyway or in a city shelter, but that's not usually the reality.

Hello, everyone!

I've been in a discussion with someone who states that 'felons vote Democratic, overwhelmingly'.  And I'm curious about it.  Where did this line start?  When I google it, all I get are right wing news outlets.  So, it sounds like an oft-repeated but unsupported conservative meme.

Does anyone have an idea of where this came from, and/or how to debunk it?  It seems to be the only thing the GOP can come up with to attempt a reclamation of 'higher moral ground'.

Sounds crazy, and desperate, I know.  But I'd rather be armed than unarmed, if I elect to pursue the destruction of this meme.

I'm not knocking Barack's victory.  In fact, I am quite pleased that a country that so many around the world felt was irredeemably racist could choose an African American to lead the party and expect him to win in November.  

Even in the 1990s, that was unthinkable.  Laughable for some, even.  Eddie Murphy did a famous bit about Jesse Jackson, wherein  drunk white people go to the polls and pull the lever for Rev. Jackson, wake up the next day, look at each other and say, "What?  He f***ing won?!!"

Yet no one can say this about Barack Obama.  We wouldn't dare.  He's earned it, and he deserves it and he got there fair and square.  It isn't about being a black man running for President; it morphed into being about the best person to run for President.

But this diary isn't about Barack Obama.

This will be a short diary, but I just wanted to say what a great exchange I had with a person who I thought - in a million years! - would never listen to me re: Barack and Michelle Obama.

The original post by this person?

Just goes to show you that the Democrats are as crooked as the nazi's (a.k.a. republicans) ...when it comes to SIEZING power as dictated by the media.......... who now run our country. (The lowly scum they are). If Hillary really wants change, maybe she has to disconnect from this bunch of hooligans and run as a third party candidate. I think she would win. Who wants a choice between a muslim extremist moron with his white hating wife... and John (alzheimers, Bush ) McCain? Not me. Not you. Not alot of people.Florida..... a chance to redeem. Failed attempt. It is Bull@#$@ .......... and now it's demo bull@$%@.  
Stinks the same, doesn't it?
d.