As active members of the voting electorate here in Miami, my wife and I receive mail from both major parties - even though we're registered in the same party. What is interesting to see is the dichotomy between party candidates' advertising material.
The Democratic party candidates - the party to which my wife and I are both registered - have no problem telling you that they are Democrats. It is clearly labeled on the campaign material. The Republican party candidates - we still receive mail from them - has seen an interesting trend. Within the last two weeks, gone is all indication of party or affiliation with President Bush. I combed through recent material received from Illeana Ros-Lehtinen, and found that nowhere on the material was it to be seen that she is (a very prominent) Republican.
I guess my real question here is this: why drop the affiliation now? Why try to distance one's self from the party that has embraced you and given you your dais upon which you can stand to voice your opinion?
I invite your opinion…
In today's New York Times Opinion Section, the editors talk about the “distortions of truth” placed before voters in the run-up to any election. Specifically, they mention several scams that are ongoing presently, in which “ethically-challenged” campaign spin doctors are being revisionist in order to curry the favor of voters who my otherwise not carefully check the “facts” presented to them by the campaign ads.
I would ask anyone out there who reads this - all two of you - to please not rely on campaign advertising in order to make your choices. Go somewhere like Fact Chcek or Project Vote Smart in order to make up your mind.
It's important now, more than ever, that we're working with the best possible information, so that we can choose the best possible candidate for the job.
I think it's important to hear from someone who went to the front-lines… Thanks go to for this article, which was copied from http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/200601019_after_pats_birthday. It was written by Kevin Tillman, Pat Tillman's brother. Pat is the former NFL player who gave up his potentially lucrative career to fight for our country.
After Pat
In a New York Times article today, Adam Nagourney and Jim Rutenberg write that the war in Iraq is providing grist for the mill that is the Democratic party's advertising machine. It's pleasing for me to see that this is finally happening.
I'm all for a withdrawal of troops from the civil war in Iraq, but my idea for this is tempered by the fact that we, the United States, caused the calamity. As Colin Powell said, “If you break it, you own it,” and we for sure bought the china shop by sending the bull in.
My idea for change, if you're interested (and even if you're not), is the following:
- Start by changing the leadership in this country by voting in the general election on November 7th.
- When the 110th Congress goes into session, write your senators and congressional representatives and explain to them, not in form letter, but in writing (maybe longhand would have a greater impact), outlining the changes that you'd like to see made.
- Ask your congressional representative, whomever wins, to KEEP YOU ADVISED of what they are doing. I believe that your representative, if asked, must keep you in the loop on the decisions they are helping to turn into action.
- Even if your representative is not like mine (down here mine, even though they are in the other party, writes me periodically to tell me what they're doing), check out Congress' website, and the Congressional Record, and stay up to date on decisions that are being made. If you don't like something, take the time to send your congressional representative and senator a brief note.
- Keep in mind that even though you can't afford the millions of dollars that the lobbies can, that the people we elect to send to Washington are there to represent us… not the lobbyists. A nice, handwritten note can have tremendous power.
Yes, I can be a cynic when it comes to politics; but I will also admit that I have not told my representatives what I expect of them. Therefore, I don't have the right to expect them to vote the way I want them to on various issues. But I have made up my mind that I will do this from now on. It's time…
It's time that we put a more sensible leadership in place. I firmly believe that this is the only way we will be able to regain a semblance of respect in the realm of foreign policy.
Thank god it's Friday… and that's all I'll say about today.
But seriously, folks… since I am without an automobile presently (and thus the family is, too), I have started listening to “State of Denial” by Bob Woodward. I really want to get the text, rather than the audiobook format. Not that the audiobook is bad, but I feel I'm missing out on some details in the abridged version.
This weekend, it's supposed to cool off down here.
The high Saturday is supposed to be only 87F. Sunday, we're positively getting a cold front… it'll be 86F.
AP: Allen Didn't Disclose Stock Options
For the past five years, Sen. George Allen, has failed to tell Congress about stock options he got for his work as a director of a high-tech company. The Virginia Republican also asked the Army to help another business that gave him similar options.
While this is not nearly as salacious as the issue with former Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL), it does point to more lapses in judgment on the side of the party which claims the moral high ground.
Tsk tsk tsk…
Mr. Allen, what does the American gentleman from your opponents camp who is following you around on your campaign have to say about this? You know - the one you called a racial slur a couple months ago, while the tapes were rolling.
technorati tags:ethics, politics
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We did well against Boston in the season opener, but we really do need to pull it together.
A shut-out by Atlanta just won't do…
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