GOP hypocrisy: Video of Reagan’s 1988 address to students of America

All week I’ve been riled up about the GOP’s ignorant attacks on a speech President Barack Obama plans to give students across America tomorrow about the importance of staying in school, getting good grades, and working hard to achieve success.

Before anyone had even seen a draft of Obama’s speech, the GOP jumped back on the fast track of the Fear-Mongering Express to insight anger along partisan lines.

Members of the GOP have good reason to fear the power a president holds for indoctrinating children. They needn’t look any further than a speech the golden boy of their own party, former President Ronald Reagan, gave to students in 1988. I was one of those children forced to sit in a school gymnasium listening to the importance of “our duty to bring the values of the American Revolution to all the peoples of the world,” which Reagan defines as a rebellion against “economic restrictions, taxes, and barriers to free trade.”

Reagan’s full speech, which you can also view below, is a complete overreach and abuse of power to spread a political ideology. Of course, only being a second-grader at the time, I didn’t realize this. All I saw was a very important man, someone even more important than my teacher, the principal of my school, and my parents, telling me what my duty was. I didn’t know what the American Revolution was about, much less what economic restrictions were. All I knew is that they must be an important reason for me feeling secure and safe, and that if I wanted to continue feeling secure and safe I should never want things to change.

If Reagan’s remarks had been more like President George H.W. Bush’s speech to students in 1991, then there wouldn’t be a need to post my thoughts on this subject. However, I feel it important to point out the complete hypocrisy of the GOP on this issue.

The last thing our country needs is another division along partisan lines, and I find it completely shameful one was created that will keep American children from hearing a message they all need – stay in school, respect your teachers, and work hard to achieve your dreams.

A public servant to the very end

There is no tribute I could post or words I could write to truly encapsulate the loss our country has had in the death of U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts). He wasn’t a politician. He was a public servant.

Despite serving more than 46 years in office, the third longest of any senator in the history of our country, he remained passionate and diligent to his responsibilities. He was not swayed by special interests or power, and never wavered from his commitment to fighting for the working class.

Even when facing down certain death, Kennedy put the public’s interest first. Just last week he sent a letter to key leaders of the Massachusetts legislature urging for laws governing succession of office to be changed. This was to ensure the state would not lose a vote in the upcoming showdown over health care reform after the summer recess.

My heart aches tonight in a way it hasn’t hurt since the loss of my grandfather in May. Only the sadness I feel is not of a personal nature, but of realizing the void Kennedy’s death will create. When he knew things were blatantly wrong, he didn’t hide under a smooth veneer that was politically safe. He would speak from the heart, reminding his colleagues in Congress they were there to serve the public and nothing else.

So with that, I will leave you with the greatest tribute I can think to post. Kennedy, in his own words, fighting the fight he fought best. The fight of the people.

Life imitates art

Joe, the star of tonight's presidential debate, I would like you to meet Bud.

Tears of joy

I cried them tonight for the first time in my life.

Obama '08!

I reiterate my point

The Debate: A Shameful Night for the U.S. Media

Shame, Shame Mr. McCain

I have been absent from my writings because I've been busy on the campaign trail for Obama. I'm happy to report that I was elected as a Congressional Delegate for Obama and will be attending the Washington State Democratic Convention in June. I'm also eligible to become a national delegate if play my cards right.

That said, even the politico geek in me is very tired of the "he said, she said" reporting about the primaries. Enough already about the word bitter, sniper fire in Bosnia, and the incessant spin cycle of the most recent Gallup Poll.

I want real reporting, like this month's expose in Harper's Magazine about the questionable ethics of John McCain and his nonprofit organization the Reform Institute. The article (in its printed version) clearly details very questionable relationships and salaries being paid to big time lobbyists serving both for the institute and McCain's campaign - two forces supposedly dedicated to reforming the influence and power of special interest money in Washington.

I guess McCain's "Straight Talk Express" omitted the little detail that on his bus the word reform, when it comes to lobbyists and special interests in Washington, D.C., is to give them more power. All I have to say is, "Shame, shame Mr. McCain."

Truth in the light of day

Even a major media outlet whose publisher leans to the right of center and is a critic of Barack Obama reported on the historic nature of Obama's speech today.

U.S. News & World Report: Obama's Race Speech Heralded as Historic

I knew this speech was coming as soon as the media feeding frenzy began last week around the sermons of Pastor Wright, and it makes me even prouder to be an elected delegate for Obama.

I reiterate the quote in my post titled "Interlude."

"Fired up! Ready to go!"

I'm very proud of my home state of North Dakota for bringing it in for Barack Obama last night on Super Tuesday. The tiny red state may not deliver a hefty punch in delivering delegate numbers, but it does deliver a signal loud and clear that change is on its way.

With recent news of Hillary Clinton pumping $5 million of her own money into her campaign this week, I'm reminded of the saying "slow and steady wins the race" from the fable The Tortoise and the Hare.

Clinton's infusion of her own money into her campaign is an indication she has nearly tapped out her primary campaign funding fueled by a small pool of big-money donors. In contrast, Obama's campaign funding continues to grow by relying on just the opposite with trickles of money continuously coming in from a large pool of small donations made by everyday citizens like me who live paycheck to paycheck.

Sure, my $60 contribution to the Obama campaign may not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of what campaigns cost today, but my donation combined with millions of others across the nation is a display of hope and people believing in the words, "Yes, we can."

This comparison of campaign funding to The Tortoise and the Hare can also be shown in the voting results of Super Tuesday. Even though Clinton is still leading in the number of delegate nominations, Obama is slowly closing the gap after winning more states and delegate nominations than Clinton yesterday.

We are in the home stretch of the first inning of a grueling race for change that started more than seven years ago in Florida. Those of my generation, including me, who were voting for the first time in a presidential election felt robbed of hope and belief in American democracy.

Despite naysayers who believed my generation was nothing more than another group of idealist youth who wouldn't wouldn't walk the walk, we have marched on in the race for change by giving our voice of dissent.

Over the last seven years our voice has only grown louder after continually being pummeled by lies about:

• Weapons of mass destruction,
• Torture scandals concerning prisoners of war,
  
• An information leak revealing the identity of a CIA agent,
• Help being on its way to Katrina victims,
• The firing of Democratically appointed federal prosecutors for "poor" performance,
• And the list continues to amount.

All of that said, I'm still fired up and ready to go to the polls this Saturday to cast my caucus vote for the only real candidate of change - Barack Obama.

Yes We Can!

The end of an error

Tonight George W. Bush, who will go down in the annals of history as one of the most disastrous presidents of the United States, gave his last State of the Union address to the nation.

Tonight Barack Obama, who will go down in the annals of history as a man (and hopefully president) who restored the hope of a nation, gave his reasons why he is truly a candidate for change.



If you want to know more about exactly how Obama will enact this change through legislation, read The Blueprint for Change: Barak Obama's Plan For America.

Because we are the generation

I have to take this moment and depart from my sharing of brilliant traces to mark tonight's moment in history.

I think many, many, many people - pundits and political strategists alike - are going to fall on their asses in awe of how many young voters end up going the polls in this presidential election.

After winning the Democratic Iowa caucus tonight due to a large turn out of young voters, U.S. Senator Barack Obama said:

"They said this day would never come. They said our sights were set too high. They said this country was too divided, too disillusioned to ever come together around a common purpose.

But on this January night, at this defining moment in history you have done what the cynics said we couldn't do."

I truly believe this wave of young voters turning out in large numbers will grow into a tsunami by November, and here is why:

• Because we are the generation who the cost of the unjust war is falling on - both financially and emotionally.

• Because we are the generation who is finally getting a chance to vote in an election that isn't being altered by political henchmen.
  
  One thing almost all people of my generation who voted in the last two presidential elections will tell you is that we feel betrayed by the electoral process.
  
  They were the first two presidential elections we've been able to vote in, and they were both stolen - the first in '00 due to hanging chads and political favors being played in Florida, and the second in '04 due to "faulty" electronic voting systems.

• Because we are the generation who finally has a candidate who speaks to us, speaks like us, and we can trust to speak for us.
  
  That candidate is Barack Obama -and you can mark my words now that he will be the next president of the United States.
  
  There's a reason Obama's campaign slogan geared toward my generation is "Got hope?" He is a candidate that gives us hope after eight years of feeling powerless, betrayed, and forgotten.
  

• Because we are the generation who will have to live for the next 50 to 80 years in the shambles of what the Bush presidency has left our country and Constitution in.

• Because we are the generation who realizes that change only comes from action, and when your only action in a democracy is to vote - you better believe we're going to vote.

• Because we are the generation who looks past race, gender, and "one-issue" voting to see the big picture - the picture of falling bridges, breaking levees, and crumbling towers.

• Because we are the generation who can't afford not to vote.

Read more about my generation's historic turnout in Iowa:

"Obama: A 'defining moment in history'" in the Chicago Tribune

"Winners triumphed by attracting new voters" in the Boston Globe

"Young Obama voters lead record Democratic turnout" in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Obama's historic victory" in Time Magazine

Reality check

Waterfalls

Watergate to Whitewater to Blackwater

My alive day - Sept. 11, 2001

I am six years alive today, and there is much to celebrate.

Personally

1. Two of my best friends are celebrating their first full day at home with their new baby boy who was born on Labor Day (funny enough.) They survived a very difficult delivery that came very close to taking the life of the mother this weekend.
   
   
2. My mom is cancer-free and recuperating at home from a painful but successful surgery yesterday - and hopefully her surgery tomorrow will be equally as successful.
   
   
3. I have established a great group of friends and a very active social life in a city I adore (although my heart will always be with New York.)
   

Professionally

1. I have a job that I love for the first time in my life, which is opening many doors for me to continue moving forward.
   
   
2. I am making enough money to not only exist, but also to live.
   
   
3. I still get to wear blue jeans at work every now and then.
   

Politically

1. The Bush Administration is floundering like it should have years ago.
   
   
2. It seems that for the first time in my life I will be able to vote FOR a presidential candidate rather than AGAINST one.
   
   
3. The truth behind invading Iraq and all the Wag-The-Dog trickery the Bush Administration has pulled is finally being scrutinized - forcing all his cronies to resign.
   

"I'm sensitive"

While drifting in and out of sleep during an afternoon nap the other day, Iggy the iPod shuffled to the song "I'm Sensitive," which is a favorite Jewel tune I hadn't heard in a years.

I can identify with many stanzas of the song, especially the chorus - "Please be careful with me, I'm sensitive and I would like to stay that way." But this time, one stanza in particular jumped out at me:

"I was thinking that it might do some good if we robbed all the cynics and took all their food. That way what they believe will have taken place, and we can give it to people who have some faith."

The words just kept running through my mind today, and I found it amazing how two simple sentences can apply to everything from White House scandals to jaded hearts to poverty to global warming.

Words are such wonderful, brilliant things when used to make thought provoking art.