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Paula Dodd Aiello: The last 2 weeks and the next 2 months

Submitted by BuzzFlash on Fri, 09/12/2008 - 9:42am.

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Paula Dodd Aiello

THE LAST 2 WEEKS
In the first week, the word was change -- from what has been in the last 8+ years, with hope that at least some things could be done better. In the second week, there was also talk about "change" ... mostly to some kind of small-town, good-old-days America, where everyone is "nice" ("even the liberals"); however, some of last week's speakers were not very "nice" at all.
 
For example, Rudy Giuliani's demeaning chuckle when referring to "community organizers" was just plain crass and should have been met with horror rather than applause.
 
Unfortunately, it was an example of not-so-subtle condescension that we hear from true elitists disparaging those who REALLY effect change for the better. I encourage you to check out a wonderful video montage that honors and commemorates community organizers who have done much more good for the world than Giuliani ever did: Educating the GOP: A Photo History of Community Organizers.
 
Furthermore, VP-nominee Sarah Palin was downright mean-spirited and rude ... and anything BUT nice. Nor was she very careful about facts (see the full speech along with a "fact-check").
 
More can be said, of course, but we must move forward ...
 
THE NEXT 2 MONTHS

I feel the greatest urgency regarding November's election.
 
I encourage you to consider carefully your decision for President when you vote in November (and I DO hope you WILL vote).
 
If you are even somewhat inclined to vote for John McCain, consider: he has a hair-trigger temper and a Cold War mentality that distorts his consciousness and vision. Without diminishing the horror of his experience as a POW, let's not forget the anger and hunger for revenge that it instilled and which he has not gotten over. He said some years ago, "I'll always hate gooks." In the international relations arena, the enemy (whether Persian, Latino, African, Korean ...) can easily be made to seem like a "gook." And when push-comes-to-shove (or even when there's an imaginary push), he is likely to react with an exaggerated shove. Bush showed us what that kind of attitude can do and almost everyone in the country in anxious to see him gone. John McCain's displaced aggression promises even less restraint than we've seen, which is just too dangerous in this time of nuclear capability and changing alliances.
 
Moreover, if McCain IS elected to the presidency (at age 72) and does not survive for four more years, we would end up with a reactionary president who proudly calls herself (jokingly but tellingly) a pit bull with lipstick.
 
It is more important than ever that we reject the illusory promise that self-righteous moralists can save us from "evil". . . We must leave to old movies the Wild West image that the heroes are the best gunfighters (which, according to Palin is the only way to "fight" for the right) and that the bad guys are easy to identify because they have black hats.
 
Those deadly misconceptions do not serve us in this global community we live in.
 
Before you place a vote for McCain/Palin, think seriously and reflect deeply.
 
For some, it will be hard to vote for Barack Obama. We have all grown up in a racist nation (world) where the bigotry survives deep in our psyches, despite our best intentions. It slips out in times of stress and anger and fear. It escapes in habit-formed expressions disparaging people of color and people different from ourselves.
 
While we may acknowledge this as part of our psyches, we cannot let it govern us. In that voting booth, we have a responsibility that is too important to be sacrificed to unreasonable fear and distrust.
 
PLEASE. PLEASE. Vote with your heart and mind and conscience. Let us be courageous on November 4. I am hopeful and I trust that we will be.
 
PLEASE REGISTER. PLEASE VOTE. (Remember - anyone can vote absentee!)

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION

Paula Dodd Aiello

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FROM MY HOME I SEE THE MOON----CAN I BE ONE OF YOUR ASTRONAUTS ?

Submitted by codypup on Sat, 09/13/2008 - 8:27am.
THEY SAY....let's talk about the MIDDLE EAST SHE SAYS....we need to drill for oil FINAL PROOF THAT SARAH PALIN DOESN'T KNOW HER IRAQ FROM A HOLE IN THE GROUND ! ! ! i'm NOT running for office, so no issue saying what is...... PALIN IS AN IDIOT OF THE HIGHEST ORDER, and MCCAIN LOST MY VOTE (and all of his free POW POINTS) BY KISSING THE FUNDI-ASSES AND BRINGING SUCH A BIGOT TO THE TICKET. When attacked--- she becomes a crybaby female.... when pointed out--- she cries SEXIST. THE MCCAIN CAMP has to "protect" her from the press......who will protect her from the WORLD. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT MY CHILDREN LEARN ALL THAT SHE DOES NOT KNOW...it would last a lifetime. GOP --- GOODBYE
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Paula - Thank You For This

Submitted by drprodny on Fri, 09/12/2008 - 9:58am.
I would simply add, for those who will de facto vote for McCain by voting for third-party candidates like Nader or Barr with no chance of winning, don't.

This is not just an election - it is a war for the Soul of Our Country...and so far, the Dark Side (which is the Right, as even Naderites can plainly see) is winning. Hold your nose and vote for Obama - or deal w/the lethal consequences of your "purity" in not voting for a compromise candidate.

Selah.
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there are 2 choices....NOT THREE...

Submitted by codypup on Sat, 09/13/2008 - 8:32am.
i don't have to agree with EVERYTHING of EITHER candidate... I GET TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE 2 THAT MADE IT... if Ralph has the swag, run as a DEM and win the nomination!!! THE MEDIA SAY....let's talk about the MIDDLE EAST SHE SAYS....we need to drill for oil FINAL PROOF THAT SARAH PALIN DOESN'T KNOW IRAQ FROM A HOLE IN THE GROUND ! ! ! i'm NOT running for office, so no issue saying what is my opinion...... PALIN IS AN IDIOT OF THE HIGHEST ORDER, and MCCAIN LOST MY VOTE (and all of his free POW POINTS) BY KISSING THE FUNDI-ASSES AND BRINGING SUCH A BIGOT TO THE TICKET. BIDEN is to my left by a couple big steps, and OBAMA a bit to liberal on a couple issues....... BUT When attacked--- she becomes a crybaby female.... when pointed out--- she cries SEXIST. THE MCCAIN CAMP has to "protect" her from the press......who will protect her from the WORLD. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT MY CHILDREN LEARN ALL THAT SHE DOES NOT KNOW...it would last a lifetime. GOP --- GOODBYE
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Sorry, you lose

Submitted by Mike5000 on Fri, 09/12/2008 - 1:13pm.
When you vote for a corporate-controlled candidate you lose.

You could vote for the candidate who has promised more war and increased military spending. Or you could vote for the senile senator. Either way, you lose.

You could vote for the candidate who will throw you in jail if you don't pay off the corporate health-care mafia. Or you could vote for the guy who can't remember all the houses he owns. Either way, you lose.

You could vote for the candidate who gave the corporations a get-out-of-jail-free card. Or you could vote for the guy who chooses his veep based on how she looks in a skirt. Either way, you lose.

You lose your rights. You lose your jobs. And the balance each American newborn must repay on the national debt doubles from half a million to a million.

This country cannot afford four more years or corporate kleptocracy. Vote for the best candidate or don't vote at all, but don't vote for the lesser of two weasels. Don't vote to prolong the rape of America. Don't be a loser.

Go Ralph! Go Cindy!

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H-m-m, well, you're a loser

Submitted by CathyQ on Fri, 09/12/2008 - 2:56pm.
H-m-m, well, you're a loser no matter how you slice it. A vote for Ralph or a vote for Cindy as well as not voting at all is the height of self-righteous stupidity. Wow, you'll feel s-o-o-o-o good about yourself protecting the world from kleptocracy. NOT. Now, let's see how this works. McCain gets 62,500,001 votes, Obama gets 62,500,000 votes, Nader gets 60,000, Cindy gets 20,000, 50,000 people who are too pure to sully their hands by voting stay home, and guess, what? One of the two that you so despise still becomes president in spite of your brilliant analysis and purity of action. Now, according to you there's no difference between them, so it doesn't matter at all, right? Of course, if it's McCain we can, for example, be pretty sure that any change in the health care system in this country will be for the worse; at best we'll maintain the status quo--which ain't too great. If it had been Obama, we would at least have had a chance to move forward, but, gee, too bad for all those that lose out so Mike5000 and his like high-minded buddies can tell us all how pure they are. I guess it will make all the uninsured feel s-o-o-o much better that Mike5000 made a statement with his vote that he is above supporting any corporate kleptocrat. Go on, Mike, keep on fooling youreslf that there's no difference between the candidates and that only thing that counts in this election is you and your evaluation of yourself.
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Please read Obama's policies

Submitted by Mike5000 on Fri, 09/12/2008 - 3:48pm.
Unfortunately, your argument is completely backwards. McCain has no real interest in health-care. He won't make it better and he won't make it worse. Obama, on the other hand, sold out early on this issue. Obama is so opposed to single-payer that he has promised to make the current awful system compulsory. You pay the corporate health-care mafia or you go to jail.

In summary then, on the one issue you chose as a basis for comparing the candidates, McCain is a big fat zero and Obama is a huge leap backward. (On some issues McCain is, of course, worse than Obama.)

Please study the candidates' policies before regurgitating corporate talking points on Buzzflash.

And please stop confusing Cindy with Cynthia. Thank you.

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