Donald Trump? How about Donald Chump

Yesterday, I read that the phoniest millionaire poser, Donald Trump said that "President Obama was born in Kenya." I had heard through the grapevine that the "Birthers" had begun to fling their fallacy laced dung at the President because of the totally played out idea that President Obama was indeed NOT a United States citizen, I almost shrugged it off, but then I read that Donald Chump decided that it was his obligation to continue to spew that irrational nonsense all over again and I became completely annoyed and infuriated.
One thing that ALL politicians go through is a vetting process in which an inquiry is launched to seek out the most hidden truths, secrets or falsehoods. Let the record show that no such documentation that the Commander in Chief was not a United States Citizen. (Hawaii, though tropical, actually is a state within the United States.
So, this morning, a thought occurred to me: How many of our former POTUS had at least one parent who was not a nationally born American and strangely it turns out that seven of them fall into that category.

• Andrew Jackson
• Thomas Jefferson (my favorite past president)
• James Buchanan
• Chester Arthur
• Woodrow Wilson
• Herbert Hoover
• Barack Obama (my personal favorite)

We have had 44 POTUS and the truth is that according to the ration, 16% of our past and present Presidents fall into that realm. The REAL only difference is that Barack Obama is black. Now, I understand that in the early days of the U.S. that the circumstances were a bit different; we were a nation of immigrants, so of course some of the founding fathers and other early presidents were the product of immigrant parents. There has even been speculation that Chester Arthur was actually a Canadian as his father was a Canadian citizen and resident.

I recently posted my opinion on Facebook and was immediately met with the assertion that the "Birther" propaganda was not racially fueled. I am the last person that would like to see race play such a huge part on the political stage, but I can not help but disagree. If it was NOT racially fueled, then why during the '08 campaign did the GOP and the Tea Party people consistently call President Obama Barack Hussein Obama. IT was just another ploy of misinformation used to confuse voters and assert the idea that President Obama was a Muslim and not an American.

The GOP is threatened by the hope and inspiration that Barack Obama brought to the down trodden American people. The GOP is a party of fear mongering politician who not only focus on the negative but capitalize on the lingering fear of terrorism and the memories of 911. The allegiance now formed between Donald Chump and Mitt Wrongmy is just another example of how out of touch the GOP has become. I think the GOP should abandon all attempts at discrediting the legitimacy of our President's right to serve and focus on what is actually important. Stop making it about race and religious creed and stick to the issues that are actually of some importance. . . . .there must be at least a few more pressing issues facing the United States and it's constituents.

Get over it! Barack Hussein Obama was made in the USA and I am damn proud of it!

Feckless?

The Webster's dictionary defines the word "feckless" as 1.Weak, Ineffective and 2.Worthless, Irresponsible. I am really not trying to give a vocabulary lesson here, but have been bothered by the context in which this adjective was recently used.  I watched the President's Public Address last Super Tuesday and one of journalists in attendance quoted Mitt Romney as saying that "President Obama is the most feckless President since Jimmy Carter.
First of all, Why does he have to burn Jimmy Carter? I don't see Mitt Romney out building houses for Habitat For Humanity, and I am guessing that he also doesn't transport his pets on top of his Thule like camping gear.  (maybe Mitt doesn't like that "wet dog" smell) and second and most importantly: Calling President Obama feckless is a total lie in so many ways it is unbelievable that Mitt Romney could even conceivably make that statement without laughing.
So, in response to the component of "feckless" in which Ineffective is alluded to:

A SAMPLE OF CAMPAIGN PROMISES KEPT BY PRESIDENT OBAMA:

No. 4: Extend child tax credits and marriage-penalty fixes
No. 16: Increase minority access to capital
No. 33: Establish a credit card bill of rights
No. 36: Expand loan programs for small businesses
No. 37: Extend the Bush tax cuts for lower incomes
No. 38: Extend the Bush tax cuts for those making less than $250,000 (couples) or $200,000 (single)
No. 48: Close the “doughnut hole” in Medicare prescription drug plan
No. 51: Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions
No. 53: Give tax credits to those who need help to pay health premiums
No. 55: Require large employers to contribute to a national health plan
No. 56: Require children to have health insurance coverage
No. 57: Expand eligibility for Medicaid
No. 58: Expand eligibility for State Children’s Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)
No. 63: Require health plans to disclose how much of the premium goes to patient care
No. 65: Establish an independent health institute to provide accurate and objective information
No. 69: In non-competitive markets, force insurers to pay out a reasonable share of their premiums for patient care
No. 70: Eliminate the higher subsidies to Medicare Advantage plans
No. 93: Reinstate executive order to hire an additional 100,000 federal employees with disabilities within five years.
No. 105: Increase the Veterans Administration budget to recruit and retain more mental health
No. 109: Fully fund the Veterans Administration
No. 113: Expand the Veterans Administration’s number of “centers of excellence” in specialty care
No. 121: Fully fund the Violence Against Women Act
No. 125: Direct military leaders to end war in Iraq
No. 126: Begin removing combat brigades from Iraq
No. 132: No permanent bases in Iraq
No. 161: End the abuse of supplemental budgets for war
No. 167: Make U.S. military aid to Pakistan conditional on anti-terror efforts
No. 172: Open “America Houses” in Islamic cities around the globe
No. 182: Allocate Homeland Security funding according to risk
No. 195: Seek verifiable reductions in nuclear stockpiles
No. 196: Extend monitoring and verification provisions of the START I Treaty
No. 197: Stand down nuclear forces to be reduced under the Moscow Treaty
No. 215: Create a rapid response fund for emerging democracies
No. 222: Grant Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to Cuba
No. 225: Establish an Energy Partnership for the Americas
No. 229: Expand the Nurse-Family Partnership to all low-income, first-time mothers
No. 239: Release presidential records
No. 241: Require new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.
No. 244: Provide affordable, high-quality child care
No. 247: Recruit math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession
No. 259: Reduce subsidies to private student lenders and protect student borrowers
No. 269: Increase funding for national parks and forests
No. 275: Expand Pell grants for low-income students
No. 290: Push for enactment of Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation and other factors
No. 293: Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy
No. 315: Establish ‘Promise Neighborhoods’ for areas of concentrated poverty
No. 359: Rebuild schools in New Orleans
No. 371: Fund a major expansion of AmeriCorps
No. 411: Work to overturn Ledbetter vs. Goodyear
No. 422: Create new financial regulations
No. 427: Ban lobbyist gifts to executive employees
No. 433: Sign a “universal” health care bill
No. 435: Create new criminal penalties for mortgage fraud
No. 449: Raise fuel economy standards
No. 458: Invest in all types of alternative energy
No. 483: Invest in public transportation
No. 495: Double federal spending for research on clean fuels
No. 500: Increase funding for the Environmental Protection Agency
No. 507: Extend unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits
No. 513: Reverse restrictions on stem cell research

Is that a lot? Damn! I am still proud of the ONE New Year's Resolution that I have kept up from 08!

Weak

One doesn't rise within the Democratic Party from obscurity to become the leader of the most powerful country in the world in such a short amount of time by being "Weak." I would say that takes fortitude, diligence, hard work, strength, stamina, courage, audacity; frankly the list could go on and on. A word that is the antithesis of all of those words is "Weak." Granted, the example I am using to argue my point is from before his presidency, however "Weak" (in this instance) is intrinsic to one's character, and character is not easily changed. And one doesn't keep that many campaign promises by being weak or passive.

Worthless

Just to get my mind around it, Mitt Romney said that President Obama has an absence of value as a president. After eight long and torturous years under the George W administration, what this country needed was hope. It was the promise of change along with extreme intelligence and wit, that caused people to elect him as president. It was the reason that I teared up on election night when it was decided. It is the reason I spent eight long hours waiting to hear him speak at the Kitzhaber rally and why I volunteered for his campaign. Gauging by his list of accomplishments listed above, I think that attributing the word "worthless" to our President is insulting and naive. Plus he killed Osama Bin Laden so there!

Irresponsible

There are many examples of how responsible he has proven to be, but none greater than that of being responsible with human life. Remember that victory banner that George W stood in front of on an aircraft carrier proclaiming that we had won the war in Irag, well it turns out that we didn't! I know, shocking. Obama ended the war in Iraq, he pulled troops out and sent them home. A war that served no purpose other than an ego boost was ended and countless lives were saved because of that. There is nothing irresponsible about that call.

So, Mr. Romney, I hate to say it is a liar and a mere mouthpiece for the GOP agenda. The average Joe (except Joe the Plumber) can not relate to The GOP any longer. They alienate people and make blatant falsehoods while spinning the rhetoric so thick that it is impossible to understand. 

President Obama is an extremely effective President. Just sayin'. 

And the GOP winner is. . . . It is a trick question, if you are in the GOP there is no winner.

The political commentary is a little mind numbing right now to say the least. For the GOP candidate for the 2012 election there is no clear cut choice. It comes down to Mitt Romney, (puke) Rick Santorum (double puke) or Newt Gingrich (puke fest 2012.) The GOP is as discombobulated now as ever. We have Rush Limbaugh calling women who want contraception covered by their insurance sluts and prostitutes,  but Viagra being covered seems to be a non-issue. I really wonder if they are doing this on purpose? How can one party be so totally out of touch with the reality of America? The total scope of the GOP has missed the mark. . . . is this really the crem de la crem of the GOP? These guys? Really?These three numb nuts is the best that the Republicans have to offer? Newt (the epitome of family values) Gingrich clearly has no chance in winning enough delegates to run as the GOP candidate so it really comes down to Mitt(my family defected to Mexico in order to practice polygamy)Rpmney of Rick(I am fucking crazy) Santorum. I wonder where on Earth has Sarah Palin gone? Doesn't her name just bring you back to simpler times? I am beginning to believe that the GOP really does not want it's name on the cluster fuck that George W left us. .Let's just let the Democrats figure that rubix cube of disasters out, we will just sit on the sidelines, make passive aggressive moves in Congress and wait until 2016, then ATTACK! Unless the GOP somehow figures out a way to pull their head out of their asses anytime soon and figure out how the "Average American" thinks then it is unlikely that they will find a candidate that really resonates with the country.

Taking Liberty for Granted

When my husband and I were invited to dinner by our Bosnian neighbors I appreciated the invitation, but did not know what to expect in terms of commonalities and conversation as we had always exchanged pleasantries and were cordial, you know, neighborly. We had watched their cat while they were away, they had watched ours while we were away, but that had been the extent of the relationship. That was, until my husband shared the task of rebuilding our shared fence..
Upon completion, the invitation for dinner was extended by Vladamir's wife, Maria. So, with a bottle of wine, we went  and as we sat outside on their covered patio, we ate, drank and talked. Before dinner, I glanced down at the glass patio table which was adorned with fine china and crystal glasses. It seemed a bit overboard for a casual dinner. I remember thinking how similar their china looked to the pattern that Jeff and I had selected as our wedding china, which was only used for very special occasions.
While we ate, I inquired about the china and Vladamir commented on how one should enjoy the things they have when they have it. A bit puzzled I contemplated the comment, then he expanded.
The Family Cingel (our neighbors) immigrated to the United States in 1993 after fleeing Bosnia during the Bosnian War. They were forced to leave their home in the middle of the night and left every single possession behind; other than what they could carry out in a backpack. They had left their photos, their clothes and other personal items behind for freedom, which included the wedding china bought for them by their best friend. "Now," Vladamir said "we appreciate what we have and use it when we can."
My neighbors now are citizens, own a home, have stable jobs, contribute to society and have wonderful, civil serving children. They are kind and generous people, people that I am proud to call friends and a great representation of an exemplary U.S. citizen.
Over the last twelve months I have come across similar stories. Stories of immigrants turned U.S. citizens. People who left the confines of their inherent nation just to become citizens of the United States of America.
Those who know me, know  that I volunteer for the 2012 Obama campaig; for which,  I make countless phone calls to former Obama supporters and on Sunday, I called Ron, a name on my call sheet,  twice, as my first call went to voice mail so I tried again later.
Which brings me to today. While watching television tonight after a long day of work, my Democratic Party designated phone rang and when I answered I knew not what to expect on the other end. On the other end was Ron who was returning a call that he thought was attributed to a Craigslist ad that he posted. I explained to Ron the reason for my call,  and our conversation made an otherwise frustrating day amazing and rewarding.
I learned that Ron came to the US for school and fell in love with this country. He attended Cornell University and gained a PHD and subsequently employment here. He became a citizen in 1994. He married and had two American born citizens who are now in law and medical school. Later, his mother immigrated and became a citizen at the age of 65 years! Ron said it was the proudest moment of his life.
He is a proud American citizen and supports our President. He believes the problems that face Obama are the product of a past administration. He still supports the President and believes in American government.
These stories of people impassioned by the American Dream and have seen it realized, makes me cherish what it means to be an American, no matter what the political view. We have an amazing country and should never take our liberties for granted.
It is a truly wonderful privilege being a citizen of the United States. We should be grateful for our opportunities and realize that it is the difference in opinion that keeps us free.

Today, I remembered why I am a Democrat

I am a small business manager; a job that intrinsically is much different than my former career choice. In addition, I volunteer for a Pro Obama organization in an effort to take the pulse of the community and determine how they feel about the current administration and President Obama.
Most days, I resolve my volunteer activities without incident. Of course there is perhaps a hang up or an "I hate the president" comment, but most days people are cordial and treat me with dignity and respect. Today, that absolutely did not happen.
While I was on my lunch break and in between meetings I decided to "canvass" part of my designated "turf" which is essentially the people in which that I need to communicate and interact with in order to find out whether or not they support the president and how they feel about how the country's trajectory is going.  Unknowingly I encountered,,  which was by far, my most difficult and combative individual/Republican, with whom I have ever engaged.
My friends and family know that I am a Democrat: No question. Growing up in Salem, Oregon where the majority of residents are a bit more on the conservative side, my views often rub many of my friends the wrong way, but we accept each other for who we are and look beyond our political differences and identify with the individual and who they are at the core and not their political views.
While canvassing, I ALWAYS say," I don't care how you vote or who you vote for, just use your Constitutional right and FREAKING VOTE!" So, today I approached a few people who were admiring a particular rose bush with the question: "Are you registered to vote at your current address?" Unknowinglly I had embarked on a quest.That simple question led to the most painful and frustrating experience with the opposing side.
I was called "foolish" which insulted my  intelligence. I was also called ignorant and a sheep. "A woman who could not think for herself."
He told me to get a job and when I explained to him that I was a manager of a successful business he replied with "Than how can you have time to do this?" I then explained that I was able to allocate my time in accordance to my schedule demands and that was none of his concern.
He told me that President Obama was a racist and that the only reason he was elected was because people felt badly that there had not been a black President.  He implied that I had no concrete evidence of the President's accomplishments or lack there of.
This man was unnecessarily cruel and harsh. I politely asked him to stop calling me names and tried to engage in a polite conversation, but it soon became evident that there was no way that I could dissuade this man's interpretation of reality. He was spewing FOX news propaganda and told me that "Just because I was educated did not mean that I was smart." Women have no place in politics apparently, according to him.
I handled this lashing with as much poise and kindness as possible, and as he verbally assaulted me, I tried to assure him that I heard and understood his concerns and promised to look into his arguments. This man insulted me personally and tried very  hard to break my composure, but I would not give him that satisfaction.
I left the conversation with "I appreciate your input and hope that you have a great day." The ONLY thing that this man did was make me appreciate what the non-judgmental attributes of the Democratic Party.
It is very clear that the repugnance and stench of the Republican Party is beyond repair and it is clear that the drastic personalities of the extreme right are against the very nature of our Nation's Constitutional Beliefs.
Our Constitution clearly identifies that we, as people have the right to hold difference in opinion and still coexist; then why would any American find it necessary to make the conscience effort to diminish the competence or legitimacy of another person's view or efforts?
This was a hard day for me and a blow to my efficacy of a human being of the female variety. This man can hardly help himself with FOX news relaying misinformation to the  perfect ear. I try not to take it personally and know that he was not directing his anger toward me, but it was still hurtful and difficult and a day that I will not soon forget.
The upside is that this man made me realize why  I am a Democrat and proud to be so. As far as I am concerned, although he verbally assaulted me, he did not , in anyway diminish my passion for my country  or my President.

The Worst Thing to Happen to Women in Politics: EVER!

As a female that likes to pay attention to politics and would consider myself to be politically involved, I just have to say that I HONESTLY believe that Sarah Palin may just be the worst set back for women in politics: EVER.

There are some brilliant and effective female politicians that have made and continue to make positive impact in this world; Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, serious left-wing Nancy Pelosi (sorry Jeff), Barbara Boxer and Condalisa Rice for example, but Sarah Palin is DEFINITELY not one of these women.

I have a friend who commented earlier this week that a very " Right Winged" friend of hers made the comment "When is this woman going to go away?" I completely agree. Her persistence has become so pervasive that I would have equate it to toxic black mold.

The level of her ignorance is staggering and I would love, L.O.V.E. to see her in a political debate with Barack Obama, who has brilliant mind and a firm grasp on political concepts. He taught Constitutional Law for crying out loud.
The thought of Sarah Palin being the Commander in Chief would make me sick if it weren't so laughable.

Some impeccable Sarah Palinisms (and my thoughts) below:

"So we discussed what was going on in Africa. And never, ever did I talk about, Well, gee, is it a country or is it a continent, I just don't know about this issue.''—Sarah Palin, asked about the post-election revelation by McCain staffers that Palin thought Africa was a country, not a continent, Fox interview with Greta Van Susteren, Nov. 11, 2008

(Possible contestant on "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?)

"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil." –Sarah Palin, in a message posted on Facebook about Obama's health care plan, Aug. 7, 2009

(Weird, I have really been waiting for this Death Panel Thing to take off. What's Up With That?!)

"We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada. And I think now, isn't that ironic?" -Sarah Palin, admitting that her family used to get treatment in Canada's single-payer health care system, despite having demonized such government-run programs as socialized medicine that will lead to death-panel-like rationing, March 6, 2010

(Really? After mocking "Obama Care" you admit to using socialistic medicine because it was cheaper? Does Canada have a "Death Panel too?)

"I don't know if I should Buenos Aires or Bonjour, or... this is such a melting pot. This is beautiful. I love the diversity. Yeah. There were a whole bunch of guys named Tony in the photo line, I know that.'' - Sarah Palin addressing a Charity of Hope gathering , Hamilton, Ontario, April 15th, 2010

(Ohhhhhh? And here I thought that The United States of America was known as THE melting pot and FYI, I am pretty sure that there are a whole bunch of guys named Tony everywhere in North America AND Buenos Aires? WTF?)

"Refudiate,' 'misunderestimate,' 'wee-wee'd up.' English is a living language. Shakespeare liked to coin new words too. Got to celebrate it!" --a Tweet sent by Sarah Palin in response to being ridiculed for inventing the word "refudiate," proudly mistaking her illiteracy for literary genius, July 18, 2010

(So, you compare yourself to the brilliant playwright, William Shakespeare. . . . you maybe a bit more like the "Shakespearean Fool", say, for instance the character " Puck" from "A Midsummer Night's Dream".)

"He who warned, uh, the British that they weren't gonna be takin' away our arms, uh, by ringing those bells, and um, makin' sure as he's riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be sure and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed." -Sarah Palin, botching the history of Paul Revere's midnight ride, June 3, 2011

(Does that once popular catch phrase "THE RED COATS ARE COMING! THE RED COATS ARE COMING!" ring even the tiniest bell? Seriously, this is first grade history people. Unbelievable.)

There are people in this country who whole heartedly think that this woman is capable of running what is arguably the most powerful country in the world. Give me a break.

FDR's Final Address

An excerpt from "Nothing to Fear" by Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
FDR died on April 12th 1945, this speech was intended to be delivered at the Jefferson Day Dinner on April 13th 1945. It has eerie similarities to our current plights both politically and economically. He was unable to make this final address to the country, but his last address was found and published.

Americans are gathered together this evening in communities all over the country to pay tribute to the living memory of Thomas Jefferson-one of the gr; and greatest of all democrats; and I want to make it clear that I am spelling that word "democrats" with a small "d."
I wish I had the power, just for this evening to be present at all of these gatherings.
In this historic year, more than ever before, we do well to consider the character of Thomas Jefferson as an American citizen of the world.
As a minister to France, then as our first Secretary of State and as our third President, Jefferson was instrumental in the establishment of the United States as a vital factor in international affairs.
It was he who sent our first Navy into far distant waters to defend our rights. And the promulgation of the Monroe Doctrine was the logical development of Jefferson's far-seeing foreign policy.
Today this Nation which Jefferson helped so greatly to build is playing a tremendous part in the battle for the rights of man all over the world.
Today we are part of the cast Allied force-a force composed of flesh and blood and steel and spirit-which is today destroying the makers of war, the breeders of hate in Europe and in Asia.
In Jefferson's time our Navy consisted of only a handful of frigates-but that tiny Navy taught nations across the Atlantic that piracy in the Mediterranean-acts of aggression against peaceful commerce and the en the enslavement of their crews was one of those things which, among neighbors, simply was not done.
Today we have learned the agony of war that great power involves great responsibility. Today we can no more escape the consequence of German and Japanese aggression than could we avoid the consequences off attacks by the Barbary corsairs a century and a half before.
We, as Americans, do not choose to deny our responsibility.
Nor do we intend to abandon our determination that within the lives of our children and our children's children, there will not be a third World War.
We seek peace-enduring peace. More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginnings of all wars-yes, an end to this brutal, inhuman and thoroughly impractical method of settling the difference between governments.
The once powerful, malignant Nazi state is crumbling, the Japanese lords are receiving, in their home land, the retribution for which they asked when they attacked Pearl Harbor.
But mere conquest of our enemies is not enough.
We must of on to all in our power to conquer the doubts and the fears, the ignorance and the greed, which made this horror possible.
Thomas Jefferson, himself a distinguished scientist, once spoke of the "brotherly spirit of science, which unites into one family all its votaries of whatever grade, and however widely dispersed throughout the different quarters of the globe."
Today, science has brought all of the different quarters of the globe so close together that it is impossible to isolate them one from another.
Today we are faced with the pre-eminent fact that, if civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships- the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together and work together in the same world, at peace.
Let me assure you that my hand is steadier for the work that is to be done, that I move more firmly into the task, knowing that -you, millions and millions of you-are joined with me in the resolve to make this work endure.
The work my friends, is peace, more than an end of this war-an end to the beginning of all wars, yes, and end, forever, to this impractical, unrealistic settlement of the differences between governments by the mass killing of peoples.
Today as we move against the terrible scourge of war-as we go forward toward the greatest contribution that any generation of human beings can make in this world-the contribution of lasting peace, I ask you to keep up your faith. I measure the sound, solid achievements that can be made at this time by the straight edge of your confidence and your resolve. And to you, and to all Americans who dedicate themselves with us to the making of an abiding peace, I say
" The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith."


The correlation of our wars and influence on the world are clear. Whether it be Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya or North Korea. The intent and responsibility of the United States is ultimately peace.