I was amazed  to listen to the evangelist James Dobson call Obama's stance on abortion a "fruitcake" position. I can't recall any of my priests ever using such degrading termionology, but then again they didn't spend time justifying tax cuts or defending the absense of the word "audit" in the Bible as part of their vocation.

We are constantly told by Republicans the worn out theory that if government provided health insurance for those who don’t have it, then it would stand in line America provide housing and food as well. This is a smokescreen playing at Libertarian heartstrings at the expense of basic human decency.

No one is asking for Government to babysit Americans. I believe healthcare coverage should be available for all Americans as a moral minimum standard. We shouldn’t leave who lives or dies up to how much we make for a living, for then we truly have a Darwinian economy – survival of the richest.  

We never should have made healthcare a profit center, but since we have, we should, as the greatest country on the face of the earth, make sure that one’s very existence is maintained regardless of financial status. We are talking about life sustaining procedures where there is imminent danger, a basic safety net, a sign of our humanity. This is especially important in this capitalistic society where more and more people are either losing their coverage, or paying more for coverage from funds they don’t have. Eighty percent of all bankruptcies are due to health items that were charged and cannot be paid back.

Otherwise, without guaranteed coverage, we must admit we are animals. It’s baffling to hear the continued diatribe and subterfuge of “if we pay for this what next?” Especially from a party that espouses family values and believes God is a stockholder on their side.

Charitable contributions are wonderful, but government has to look at the needs of the whole, and count on sufficient revenues to protect their citizenry. Government must rely on a fixed revenue stream, not a variable prayer, and cannot function or be held hostage to the whims of charity. We are talking about basic needs provided for those sick and in pain, rather than hanging them out to dry. That is the measure of a great country.

David DiBello

Are Republcians aware of today's economy or totally out of touch when they cling to the standard stump speech of "55 months of continuous GDP growth," a growth that did not filter down in wages to the working class due to foreign competition via the global economy?
  
Can one pay tuition with that GDP growth? Or healthcare? Or rising prices for basic staples? Or pay down mortgages or provide for one's pension? Can we now tell our landlord "but we had 55 months of unprecedented GDP growth," or would the landlord be more interested in collecting the rent?
  
Where did it go? Better yet, where was it to begin? We couldn't even get trickled on this supply side go-round that will be ending like the last supply side economy - debt, foreclosures and unemployment.
  
Do Republicans really think we are sitting around saying "yeah, wow!" Are they under the impression that sticking to that standard line is going to get them re-elected? That was then and this is now. Where is the 55 months?
  
This November we will ask one question: Are we better off than we were four years ago?
  
Perhaps though, we should ask of the Republicans: "Do you really think we're that stupid?"
  
  
  David DiBello

Knowing Imus, what he said is what he meant in that he was focuing on the fact that Pacman Jones was arrested again, and maybe, maybe, singled out because he was black, although I disagree. It could be he was a celebrity, or he's 6'10" and stands out, or he has a tendancy towards getting into trouble time and again. There is the theory that people cause trouble because they have a streak of malice and disrespect in them regardless of color, sex or religious persuasion.
  
  There is a big difference now then when Imus made the ridiculous remark under the guise of humor a year and a half ago. He, like Howard Stern before him, now has African Americans in his employ, part of his concession in coming back to the airwaves. It is thus assumed that no one could be rascist when they are surrounded by people of different ethnic persuasions, although again, Imus, who runs a ranch for children with terminal illness for all races, along with many charities benefiting all such as SIDS research, did not saying anything racial - quite the opposite.
  
  David DiBello

One would think by listening to alleged pundits, Barack Obama just won nomination in a 60-40 cakewalk, not the nail biting three tenths of one percent in the popular vote, also in dispute. While Obama ran a well organized campaign consistent on message, given in homily format light on substance and questionable in practice, it is Clinton’s underestimating her opponent and clinging to coronation status that contributed to her demise.

This was a split decision, and we have a nominee going into the general election where half his party voted against him. Unlike other years where supporters of a losing candidate easily switched since their candidate didn’t fare as well, we now have a group of people who are politically centrist and upset over the mistreatment of their candidate by the media, and their own party politicians, and had to listen to a litany of “withdraw” since February. This consists of 18 million who bothered to vote, and an additional amount in states where the outcome was a foregone conclusion and stayed home to pick up their children from school.

They are conservative blue dog democrats and working class blue collars who supported Clinton, and reasonable Iraqi withdrawal plans, and are more aligned to McCain than Obama. Emotions are hot and wounds still open, but if the hemorrhage of Clinton support is diminished to 10%, that’s 2 million turnaround votes for McCain – enough to throw the election to him.

If wisdom prevails, Obama will shelf the ego and dislikes and come to a practical conclusion that he will not win the Presidency without Hillary by his side. There is no other VP choice that can stop the bleeding to McCain, and to think otherwise is delusional. The only possibility Obama can hope for to proceed without Hillary is for unemployment to eclipse 6.5%, the market to fall another 10%, or something really bad happening in Iraq, reminding people we shouldn’t be there.

The likely scenario, and one that will provide the drama necessary to motivate the electorate, is for Obama to stand before the convention after months of secrecy, and say he has selected the person with the experience and knowledge to help get his goals achieved, and …before completing a woman walks up the runway and slowly emerges as Barack completes…she is the best person for that job; Hillary Clinton.

The hysteria will be insurmountable. The bad blood, Clinton fatigue, baggage and kitschy catch phrases of change won’t be as important as the novelty and strength of these two together at last, a forced coupling that will pay dividends come fall.

One would hope that Thursday’s clandestine meeting was a sign of the beginning of the process. Otherwise, why would Hillary do an about face and come away with nothing? That makes no sense, especially in light of her personal beliefs and those of her supporters, and when she has come this far having spent so much money and having a debt to extinguish. It is safe to say something happened Thursday and Hillary will be around, otherwise why not let the process play out to the convention?

If Hillary is not selected VP, many will bolt, hedged by a Democrat majority that will become a plurality, stymieing McCain to puppet status. It is also hoped that McCain, who sold his soul to obtain conservative votes, will revert back to the Senator who thought the tax cut plan favored the wealthy, and who avoided misstatements of a 100 year war.  

So be forewarned Mr. Obama. It is best to take the other half of your vote along for the ride on the completion of your fantastic voyage.

David DiBello

Five straight months of job losses, a 5.5% unemployment rate and a rise in the cost of oil to a record high clinches the deal, or at least finally lets Wall Street experience what the American public has been feeling for nearly a year.

Those 55 months of consecutive GDP growth based on a fraudulent mortgage growth bolstered by loan shark credit criteria are now a memory, and not one that filtered down to the average American. All they saw was stagnant wages while they competed with foreign workers in the new world global economy that tears at the fabric of the standard of living for Americans.

Our health care payments, whether co-pays pr premiums themselves are up an annual 6%. Tuition is now the size of a medium sized mortgage, and pensions are disappearing. In NYC a monthly Metro card that cost $63.00 in 1994 now costs $81.00, an increase of 28.6 % in 14 short years. Pell grants for education are the same amount now, as they were two decades ago, even though there is a greater emphasis on completion with foreign countries.

What is the reaction of our President Bush, who in last year’s press conference declared he got a B in economics, but A in tax cuts, something that defies logic since taxes are a subset of the economy; he wants more tax cuts. It’s not enough that he has crippled our government with multi trillion dollar deficits bringing the value of our dollar to an all time low, he wants more. The party that believes in less government is tying government hands by restricting access to tax revenues because they are failing to get their way in Congressional vote.

Here’s an idea; cut the purse string monopoly held by employers and give an adult minimum wage and fair salaries to those who need to spend, most times to survive in today’s world. Like the tax rebate, this economy will recover when money is placed in the hands of the working class, whose compensation has stagnated over the past decade while CEO’s, Hollywood and ballplayers make more money in one year than 20 people make in a lifetime.

We are suffering from a President who “knows tax cuts” and is leaving office with economic levels that match his polling numbers, and rightfully so. He got us in a war we can’t get out of, and can’t afford. He blacklists those who disagree with him. He is an unindicted criminal. We can no longer avoid what we are told was an unfair critique of his abilities – he is dumb.

David DiBello

Isn't it time we caught wind of supply side Presidents and Economics born with massive tax cuts that are a shock to the system leaving a recession, then a few years of good growth, terminating with economic devastation taking away all gains and further segregating economic classes?

During the "good times" our economy was inflated due to junk bonds, over priced stocks, dot-coms and a mortgage bubble created by fraudulent credit criteria. Our economy has ballooned on perception: the buying and selling of others hard work as our manufacturing sector hits an all time low. Reagan's Presidency ended with the market crash, trillion dollar deficits and high unemployment that ballooned under Bush Sr. 

We are on the threshold of another collapse, with a deficit that dwarfs prior periods, and living costs burying the working class while their wages stagnate due to the globalization of economies, a lose-lose for the American worker. Thankfully and ironically, we are sustained by a falling dollar.

Of course the wealthy disproportionately benefited both times, yuppies created under Reagan, and the “uber class” under Bush Jr.

The most important part of a movie is the end. As said in the movie The Untouchables, "you can always tell the winner, he's the last man standing." Supply Side is down and out on the canvass.

Again.

David DiBello

 

Congratulations Hillary, we love you!

Remind everyone of the running back who goes over the 1,000 yard mark then loses 20 yards on next play - delegates, super or otherwise, can change their minds between now and August. Looking at the polls is the best way. You're beating McCain handily.

Amazing in the last week of the campaign, you took two out of three primaries; netted an additional 124,000 votes and certain people were expecting you to concede?

This primary season was utter BS, listening to pundits asking you to drop out months ago, while you were amassing victories, and collecting 18 million votes. What does that say (I know - men!)?

Fight for you right until you're guaranteed the VP. I know it might best to wait for 2012 (Obama can’t win without you), but answer the desire of the people - we can't wait another 4 years. You’ll get more done for those longing for results as VP, and it puts you closer to the pulse of government "for the people."

  

You have passionately advocated "it takes a Village" your whole career, and I can't see any moral person seeing any other way how to help people and strengthen a nation from within. Funny how Republicans co-op the belief they are the party of God yet disbelieves this notion. I thought 9/11 solidified that idea!

Instead we have a President who tells us of the importance of competition in this global economy, then cuts the education budget, and refuses to increases Pell Grants. Republicans talk a good game, like flag lapels, yet is AWOL to its citizens in actions, as with military service.

We need your dedication to the “We are one” principle in office where you can achieve for the good of "the people!"

Don't quit. "We love you!"

David DiBello

Those rascally Republicans are up to their old bag of tricks again, taking a page from the Lee Atwater / Carl Rove Playbook.  In prior years we were led to believe our country had an epidemic: Dukakis asking prisoners to shut the light as they left, Ann Richards having a gay hiring quota, McCain with a mysterious black baby and people lighting their barbeques with Old Glory.

This campaign season’s contrived epidemic is focused on flag lapels, a sign in modern times of Patriotism. It is worn by those who love this country which includes a Vice President who had four deferments (does he wear one lapel for each deferment?), a President who went AWOL although through his connections wasn’t arrested (much like his drunk driving record), and a former defense secretary who was MIA when it came time to serve, yet available to direct other’s children into harm’s way. They compound their audacity by pointing at others who don’t wear flag lapels.

The ability to perpetrate such hypocrisy was created by Reagan, who under the guise of volunteerism ended the draft. What he created was a military class system whereby the well off no longer lived in guilt for not serving. It created the illusion of free choice which is no choice at all for those who feel military service is their only economic option. America wanted an end to the draft as a way to protest service in unjust wars; the wealthy wanted the draft to end as a way for “them” not to fight at all, while the balance of the citizenry fought for their interests.

Many Americans forgo wearing flag lapels and conduct their Patriotism with quiet dignity; no ostentatious displays, no hearts on their sleeves. They are soldiers, volunteers, politicians, and millions of every day Americans who choose to give back to their country as JFK suggested; they choose action over rhetoric and lapels.

I listened to the Limbaugh talk show this past fall as a caller thanked him for his service to our country and “all he does.” Hannity’s callers praise the show’s host for being a great American as he returns the compliment. Both spend days talking about less government, tax cuts and separation of responsibility to this country and its citizens by taxpayers. They pat each other on the back as a form of self reinforced denial and call themselves patriots.

It is wonderful to give back to those who bear the ultimate burden. We contribute to the Freedom Alliance, we provide services for free to injured Vets, we try to get them free education; we idolize their commitment. Showing gratitude is not however comparable to the sacrifice they make – it is simply a way to acknowledge and thank them, and help them when they return home. To think otherwise is an insult to every enlisted soldier and veteran.

The question for every voter is “are we going to get fooled again?” We have an administration who told us we are unpatriotic if we criticize their actions or the war. They expanded wire taps by first breaking the law. They imprisoned people without trial or representation, taking us back to the logic of internment camp days. Is this an example of Patriotism? Isn’t this the tyranny we fought against since Boston Harbor days? Aren’t these issues more important than flag lapels? When it comes to patriotism, this administration displays sound and fury, but when it comes to their personal resume, they baffle us with symbolic gesture that signifies nothing.