Change Can Happen

Yes we can! Yes we did. A MANDATE!



I believe again. My faith in our democracy is restored. I am overwhelmed with joy.

Congratulations President-Elect Obama! I wish you well!

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

The First Results are in.....

Well, the first election results are IN!

Dixville Notch, NH.

Grampy McSame: 6 votes

Obama: 15 votes

Usually a strong republican area...kinda wiped the floor up with blue!

Check!

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Hope. Peace. Believe.

My mother sent this to me - I was so uplifted. We only have one more chance to make this change happen. If you haven't already, YOU MUST GET OUT AND VOTE NOVEMBER 4.

Don't worry about long lines....change is coming.....don't fret about long lines....change is coming....don't fear long lines.....change is coming.

When you feel like you can't wait any longer - think of this song and this video....



Vote! Vote! Vote!

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

My Thoughts: Plus other Intresting Tidbits

So here it is. Plain and simple. Interesting information.

The current Republican Strategy for the economy: "Privatize the Profits, Socialize the Losses"

Now - Let's talk about what else is bothering me.

"From Each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."

This is not Karl Marx. It simply is not. Yes, he USED this line in Critique of the Gotha Program but it was borrowed from Louis Blanc in 1840, who actually borrowed it from Henri de Saint Simon, whom I am sure got it from the Bible (YES, the BIBLE - see below). So - for the news anchor in Florida - get your friggin' facts right before you try and "gotcha politic" Biden. Here's the video:



Now - on to an extention of this quote of quotes........What does the BIBLE say about this???? Hmmmm...Let's see - there is the McCain/Palin ticket "claiming" to be the party of the religious - and in the same breath, screaming that Barack Obama is a "SOCIALIST!"...."SPREADS THE WEALTH AROUND."

ok. So. How do they reconcile those attacks with this???

The Acts of the Apostles:
Acts 2: 44-45
"All the believers continued together in close fellowship and shared their belongings with one another. They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed."(Quoted from The Good News Bible Catholic Study Edition)

AND....

Acts 4: 34-35
"There was no one in the group who was in need. Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money recieved from the sale, and turn it over to the apostles; and the money was distributed to each one according to his need."(Quoted from The Good News Bible Catholic Study Edition)

Sounds to me like the word of God is being ignored by the right. and truly....Jesus was a Socialist....a Marxist.

I say this because the "chief purpose [of Acts] is to tell how Jesus' early followers, led by the Holy Spirit spread the Good News about him..." and that "The Acts of the Apostles is a CONTINUATION (emphasis added) of The Gospel according to Luke." >(Quoted from The Good News Bible Catholic Study Edition)

So Republicans - be sure to check where you REALLY stand. Do you stand with Jesus (and Barack) or do you stand with McCain?

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

The Truth Seems to Fail the Right (and my brother)

Ok. My brother has prompted me to post. He insists that he has the facts when he posted the youtube video of excerpts of a 2001 interview Barack Obama gave a local public radio station.


Here is the response to the inaccurate representation of this radio interview:

Barack Obama’s Radio Days

(taken from The Chicago Public Radio Blog)

Monday October 27, 2008 by Josh Andrews, Director of Internet Strategy

I came into work this morning to find the radio program I once produced, Odyssey, on the front page of Drudge. Over the weekend, someone posted audio clips on YouTube from a 2001 program we produced with Sen. Barack Obama as a guest. While we are happy to have our work in the spotlight, we want to provide full context for these remarks. Odyssey was an hour long talk show with a very conversational tone, and Obama, then a State Senator and Senior Lecturer at the U of C Law School, appeared a number of times and spoke at length on a variety of topics (we have been highlighting a number of these clips this fall here on the blog - examples, here, here and here). In the interest of full disclosure, here are links to all of the Obama appearances from the program. These lead to an archived Odyssey website with Real Audio links, so forgive the 2001 aesthetic and audio quality. We hope to get mp3s up later today.

The Court and Civil Rights Jan 18, 2001 (The YouTube audio is found in this show)

Slavery and the Constitution Sept 6, 2001

The Right to Vote Feb 27, 2001
We had some trouble converting the end of this show. We’ll get the complete mp3 up later today)

Redistricting Apr 23, 2001

Then Ben Calhoun followed-up this report with this report:

In 2001, Chicago Public Radio interviewed then Illinois State Senator Barack Obama about civil rights. Over the weekend, someone posted excerpts of the interview, edited to misrepresent Obama's statements. The item is now catching national attention.

The clips are taken from an interview that aired in January of 2001. Then State Senator Obama is one of three legal scholars interviewed for a show about civil rights. Over the weekend, someone pulled excerpts of the show and posted them to You Tube—and today, the posting caught fire on political blogs, the Drudge Report, and Fox News.

The 4 minute spliced collection of clips portrays Obama as advocate a redistribution of wealth through the power of the Supreme Court. That folds in with some allegations by the McCain Palin campaign.

The twist here is that, when heard in the context of the whole show, Obama’s position is distinctly misrepresented by the You Tube posting. Taken in context, Obama is evaluating the historical successes and failures of the Civil Rights movement—and, ironically, he says the Supreme Court was a failure in cases that it took on a role of redistributing resources.

The McCain campaign told ABC News it plans to use the material to bolster its criticism of Obama.

I’m Ben Calhoun, Chicago Public Radio.


The truth is hard to walk away from. The only things the right has left is to fabricate and distort the truth to fit their agenda. If you should "beware" of anything..."beware" of the right and their false talking points...they are desperate, and will do anything they can to retain power.

It's just too bad that my brother has bought all of it hook, line and sinker.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

20 Minutes North of Where I Grew Up

Oh, God. I guess I would expect this kind of stuff in Western Ohio, even Southern Ohio....but NORTHEAST OHIO??? Geez - these folks are the VERY PEOPLE that need change ...that need a break - yet for some reason, they have fixated on believing FOX NOISE and the republican blow-hards that have somehow convinced them that Barack Obama is, indeed, a terrorist. I am amazed that people will most certainly vote against their VERY OWN INTERESTS without as much as a thought. 8 years of the Crime Family should have been enough reason for Ohio's to rise up against the Republican party....let us not forget how powerful the media is -STAND UP PEOPLE!!! READ!! EDUCATE YOURSELVES!!! Geez!

This youtube video was emailed to me by my friend John (who is also, originally from Ohio).......sad...sad...sad...sad...sad...



Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Now That's What I Call Truth Tellin'! Maverick Smaverick!

My friend Shakespear sent me this. So true.

The Nation
New York Time
Who You Callin’ a Maverick?
By JOHN SCHWARTZ
Published: October 4, 2008

There’s that word again: maverick. In Thursday’s vice-presidential debate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, the Republican candidate, used it to describe herself and her running mate, Senator John McCain, no fewer than six times, at one point calling him “the consummate maverick.”

But to those who know the history of the word, applying it to Mr. McCain is a bit of a stretch — and to one Texas family in particular it is even a bit offensive.
“I’m just enraged that McCain calls himself a maverick,” said Terrellita Maverick, 82, a San Antonio native who proudly carries the name of a family that has been known for its progressive politics since the 1600s, when an early ancestor in Boston got into trouble with the law over his agitation for the rights of indentured servants.

In the 1800s, Samuel Augustus Maverick went to Texas and became known for not branding his cattle. He was more interested in keeping track of the land he owned than the livestock on it, Ms. Maverick said; unbranded cattle, then, were called “Maverick’s.” The name came to mean anyone who didn’t bear another’s brand.

Sam Maverick’s grandson, Fontaine Maury Maverick, was a two-term congressman and a mayor of San Antonio who lost his mayoral re-election bid when conservatives labeled him a Communist. He served in the Roosevelt administration on the Smaller War Plants Corporation and is best known for another coinage. He came up with the term “gobbledygook” in frustration at the convoluted language of bureaucrats.

This Maverick’s son, Maury Jr., was a firebrand civil libertarian and lawyer who defended draft resisters, atheists and others scorned by society. He served in the Texas Legislature during the McCarthy era and wrote fiery columns for The San Antonio Express-News. His final column, published on Feb. 2, 2003, just after he died at 82, was an attack on the coming war in Iraq.

Terrellita Maverick, sister of Maury Jr., is a member emeritus of the board of the San Antonio chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas.
Considering the family’s long history of association with liberalism and progressive ideals, it should come as no surprise that Ms. Maverick insists that John McCain, who has voted so often with his party, “is in no way a maverick, in uppercase or lowercase.”
“It’s just incredible — the nerve! — to suggest that he’s not part of that Republican herd. Every time we hear it, all my children and I and all my family shrink a little and say, ‘Oh, my God, he said it again.’ ”
“He’s a Republican,” she said. “He’s branded.”

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Ali Velshi: Cuteness in the world of finance

Yeah, I think he is SO CUTE! and smart! and cute!

Don't know if he's gay or not...but my friend The Maggie (Bess) says he is. Just wanted to let you all know, while I am sitting in my hospital room, I have nothing better to do than to obsess over a CNN Financial Correspondent....isn't that enough reason for me to be released????

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

"Lil' O'Reily" .....the way things became

Ok, I laughed at this. Absolutely hillarious. Showed it to The Maggie...she nearly peed.

Love the one liners. Thank you to my dear friend John (who wants to stay out of the political arena 'whimp')...but I love him anyway!



Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

War on War: Sam Harris

Being tied down to a bed lately, I have finally been able to catch up on some of my "you-tubing." One of my most favorite artists, Sam Harris, has done amazing things with the new medium, including VLOGING.

But what I was really impressed with was a contest that Sam developed where he gave people footage of him singing a new song from his NEW CD "FREE" (dowload now on Itunes) called "War on War." Each person's entry was uploaded and voted on by viewers until it came to the Top 8 videos. From there, Sam had a variety of his people choose the winner. Needless to say, what a great choice. The song is EXTREMELY powerful, and the images that the winner chose simply speak to the power of the lyrics.

I ask that you listen to the words, then go back and listen and watch. Powerful. If there isn't enough reason for change to happen now...I don't know if it ever will!

Enjoy the video!

Sam Harris: War on War



Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

In case you wanted to know.....

So, I was bored, I looked up the information on bank failures. It is interesting.
So far this year 13 banks have failed including one of the largest Washington Mutual. There is a complete list of failed banks since 2000 listed HERE


Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Can You Say..."Flip-Flop?"

McCain is no Maverick....He is an opportunist. He will say and do anything to get elected...he does not believe in "Country First"....Just see a few examples below.

And for all of you "Joe six-pack" and "Hockey mom's" out there...voting for McCain is voting against your very own interests. Get informed. Stay Informed. and DO SOMETHING.

Visit: THE REAL MCCAIN for more information


Disaster Politics....and Flip-Flops



Drill..Baby...Drill



Tax Cuts...and Flip Flops...



Anti-Choice


Pass these videos to everyone! Don't stop! This isn't an election We The People can afford to lose!!!

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Thank you Christian!

Ok, so most of you know I have been under the weather. I have been bored during the day so I was on facebook - my friend Christian (can you believe we have know each other for 28 years??) just happend to post the most funny video ....believe it or not, we don't talk that often - but needless to say, he certainly hits it outta the park when you need it (and he didn't even know I needed a pick-me-up!). So here's the video that included his added soundtrack. Thank you Christian! I needed a laugh today!



Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

So Angry!

I love my brother. I really, truly do. I know he doesn't believe it...we try hard to work through things...to see the same side of the road....but for some reason, we have managed to move further apart on things that really have little to do with "us" as brothers. We are both passionate about our positions...so much so...we will never be able to appriciate each other's point of view - and that is sad...so I try not to involve myself with these types of conversation with my brother....and it's been working (until the past few days....).

My brother and I do not see eye to eye on very much. Ok-we don't agree on anything really...but we do agree on one thing...the bailout that is currently being considered is WRONG. That said, we disagree as to how we got to this point (nothing new there. To put it in perspective, you should read his posts as of late....blame the democrats ...and oh, yeah, by the way Bush wasn't strong enough to stand up to the bullying Democrats...so he is a little to blame as well...(whatever!)

So I read his blog...even though it really angered me to my core (so I'm an emotional, sappy, liberal)....and I made a few responses,. My brother then stated that I was being "pompus" (but he used the big word "bloviate" ...and i'm elitist???)and accused me of not reading through his analysis to the end. So...angered, yet again, I responded (DAMMIT!!)..and here is my response:

We do agree on this. But as I stated earlier - you still want to lay blame with the Democrats. Your President has presided over some of the most disasterous policies this country has ever seen....he has been a FAILURE. Yet, Obama (and McCain aren't leaders -they are populists?) What does that make Bush..besides the obvious IDIOT and FAILURE?

This economic "SHOCK" as Naomi Klein aptly describes it, is a scare tactic devised by the same people that gave us the buildup to war with Iraq. "Grave Danger" "Impending Doom"...etc, etc...fear fear fear. Ridiculous!

The fact that we are even discussing a "bailout" has me ready to burst at the seams. So - while we agree that the bailout is the wrong answer to this problem - we disagree on how we got to this point in the first place...

And why is it the Democrat's fault that they didn't "push back" enough on the ruling party when these changes took place in 1999? IT WAS YOUR PARTY THAT WAS IN CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yet again, the Republican Party bears no responsibilty for what has happend. And yet again I say...shame on them.

The buck stops with the current administration...one you faithfully helped get elected and re-elected....one that you so staunchily defended on several occassions....let's really see who is taking from the the middle class .....sounds like your argument of redistribution of wealth (that you always preach to me) has been going on ...just in the opposite direction - and with all of us holding the bag!

I am sorry that you think I am the pompus one here ...interesting considering that you are always pontificating the merits of the Republican Party ...well - your party is the party that brought us to the table where we currently sit...so Cheers!

Yes, you do slightly blame Bush, but he is only guilty of "not being stronger" on the issue..What?

I did read your complete analysis....I respectfully believe that you look through glasses that paint a one-sided view of the entire situation. There is enough blame to go around. But the blame ulitmately lies with this administration. So, I will not apologize for speaking out....I love you Jimmy - but you stand on the wrong side of the "blame" issue here.

I promised myself that I would not get ensnared in these arguments with you - I really try...but I am sick and tired of this administration and the Republican party not taking responsibility for what has transpired over the past 7 years.

Our country is in dire straits. you can continue to believe that 40 years of Democratic rule has caused this (funny considering that the republicans have run Congress since 1994 until 2006...12 years! With a number of those years having the White House and the Supreme Court as well.) But this mess lays squarely on the policy positions of your party...."free markets"....no government regulation. This is where that gets us.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

The Shock Doctrine: It is coming true

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ NAOMI KLEIN'S BOOK THE SHOCK DOCTRINE YOU NEED TO NOW. Don't stop to think for a moment that the words she writes aren't based in serious research and fact. Her detailed accounts bring to light what is REALLY happening. If you LOVE this country...you need to read this book.



Disaster Capitalism in Action
Now is the Time to Resist Wall Street's Shock Doctrine
Naomi Klein, Huffington Post, September 22, 2008

I wrote The Shock Doctrine in the hopes that it would make us all better prepared for the next big shock. Well, that shock has certainly arrived, along with gloves-off attempts to use it to push through radical pro-corporate policies (which of course will further enrich the very players who created the market crisis in the first place...).

The best summary of how the right plans to use the economic crisis to push through their policy wish list comes from Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich. On Sunday, Gingrich laid out 18 policy prescriptions for Congress to take in order to "return to a Reagan-Thatcher policy of economic growth through fundamental reforms." In the midst of this economic crisis, he is actually demanding the repeal of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which would lead to further deregulation of the financial industry. Gingrich is also calling for reforming the education system to allow "competition" (a.k.a. vouchers), strengthening border enforcement, cutting corporate taxes and his signature move: allowing offshore drilling.

It would be a grave mistake to underestimate the right's ability to use this crisis -- created by deregulation and privatization -- to demand more of the same. Don't forget that Newt Gingrich's 527 organization, American Solutions for Winning the Future, is still riding the wave of success from its offshore drilling campaign, "Drill Here, Drill Now!" Just four months ago, offshore drilling was not even on the political radar and now the U.S. House of Representatives has passed supportive legislation. Gingrich is holding an event this Saturday, September 27 that will be broadcast on satellite television to shore up public support for these controversial policies.

What Gingrich's wish list tells us is that the dumping of private debt into the public coffers is only stage one of the current shock. The second comes when the debt crisis currently being created by this bailout becomes the excuse to privatize social security, lower corporate taxes and cut spending on the poor. A President McCain would embrace these policies willingly. A President Obama would come under huge pressure from the think tanks and the corporate media to abandon his campaign promises and embrace austerity and "free-market stimulus."

We have seen this many times before, in this country and around the world. But here's the thing: these opportunistic tactics can only work if we let them. They work when we respond to crisis by regressing, wanting to believe in "strong leaders" - even if they are the same strong leaders who used the September 11 attacks to push through the Patriot Act and launch the illegal war in Iraq.

So let's be absolutely clear: there are no saviors who are going to look out for us in this crisis. Certainly not Henry Paulson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs, one of the companies that will benefit most from his proposed bailout (which is actually a stick up). The only hope of preventing another dose of shock politics is loud, organized grassroots pressure on all political parties: they have to know right now that after seven years of Bush, Americans are becoming shock resistant.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Words to Live By

Quote: "And to preserve their independence,we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude." -Thomas Jefferson


Enough said.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Umm....Yeah....DUH!

As if it wasn't plainly obvious. Yes, dear Claymates! Clay is Gay!




Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Excellent Analysis

My mom sent me this.....it is so clear now....WOW! I guess I was all wrong - I can totally see why I need to vote for McCain/Palin (NOT!)


By Roger Freedman

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight...(hope I'm not offending anyone)

* If you grow up in Hawaii, and are raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."

* If you grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're a quintessential American story.

* If your name is Barack, you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

* If you name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

* If you graduate from Harvard law School, you are unstable.

* If you attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people
while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system, while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant and if you try to make victimized women pay for their own rape kits, you're very responsible.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.

* If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

There is no one like: Sam Harris

Sam Harris is just amazing. I can't even do justice with my words to describe his voice, his personality, his charm....he is just amazing.

Add to that - he has recorded my most favorite song of all time "I can't make you love me" from his new CD entitled "FREE".

"This song is especially emotional to Sam, and hard for him to get through, so he insisted that what you hear (and see) is what you get the first time around. Therefore, what you are hearing here is the actual recording you will hear from the album. Does not get anymore raw than this!"

I know how he feels - because this is what happens to me when I listen to this song - whether it is Bonnie Raitt, George Michael, or now Sam Harris - the song is so pure, the lyrics so profound.

Here is Sam Harris recording "I can't make you love me" Please visit his website and purchase the full length - you won't regret it!!



Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Something to remember before you vote

A friend of mine sent this to me....how appropriate:



While walking down the street one day a U.S. Senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the
senator.

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St.Peter is waiting for him.

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down,
down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a
barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.
'I don't understand,' stammers the senator. 'Yesterday I was here
and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and
caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now
there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.
What happened?'

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were campaigning.. .



.... today you voted!


Peace.Love.Live.
JPB