union79

Seize the Day! "It's not over till the fat lady sings"

Red Sox Mainiac forever ~ Yaz was my first love but now Manny being Manny out in left field.

Political Junkie big time ~ has seriously eroded my time behind my camera lens of late

Love Maine in the winter most of all ~ think snow angels.

Love B+W photography, good books, cooking, eating, good friends, laughing and just showing up as long as life endures!

Recent comments by this user

Durbin On Clinton Camp Raising Wright: Try Your Best

And the media didn't have the integrity to bring up the context in which that chickens quote was made ~ it might kill their ability to play the sound bites over and over and then pretend to have a serious discussion about it.

The media are the real culprits starting with Fox and going to ABC and then to the MSNBC bunch.

It was just what anyone who is biased against African Americans needed to start a frenzy of fear and hate and misinformation. posted 04/02/2008 at 17:24:59

Clinton's Push For Popular Vote Win May Not Persuade Superdelegates

More Kitchen sink strategy, only this time she is dismissing the important of caucus states......oh, I almost forgot, she already did that repeatedly every time she lost one.

As someone else asked, "what part of 'you lost" don't you understand, Hillary and Bill?? posted 04/02/2008 at 10:47:37

Keith Olbermann Continues Feud Against Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart Responds

Thanks, Keith for letting us know about this case.

I've always avoided WALMART due to the way they treat their employees and the way they come into communities regardless of whether they are wanted or not. It takes a mighty fight and big bucks to keep them out.

This explanation by the spokesperson reveals how profit hungry they are .... it doesn't hold water.

Walmart, Just take this out of your enormous profits and let this woman's days be more comfortable as she grieve for the son she lost in Iraq. That will get you off the Worst Person board fast and might give us hope that you too can learn and grow! posted 04/01/2008 at 11:20:15

Architect Of Vast Right Wing Conspiracy "Reassesses" Hillary

Maybe it's because she has proven her loyalty to "The Family" ~ the secret group in DC made up of people support the right wing agenda ~ like the ex senators from Penna and Maryland......???? posted 03/31/2008 at 11:27:52

Obama's Handwriting Found On Survey He Said His Staff Filled Out

And you believe that will happen before she gets the nomination? On thing we do know is that she doesn't want it to see the light of day while the nomination is still up for grabs. posted 03/31/2008 at 11:31:37

Ralph Nader Tells Clinton "Don't Listen" To People Telling You To Drop Out

Ralph, you were great on product safety but very wrong on politics ~ you don't seem to get that! posted 03/29/2008 at 08:09:40

Is Wright Right About Racism?

Thanks for the excellent commentary.

Anyone who questions Rev Wright's basic tenets should have watched the Bill Moyers PBS program last evening. It was on race and the Kerner commission report. The underlying question to the guest, last living member of the commissionc was "have we made any progress since the commission submitted its report and make its recommendations".

It was an extremely timely but disturbing disturbing program. The media prefer to fan the flames rather than to enlighten and inform.

Your article and the Moyers program say a lot we as a nation need to think about deeply and seriously... not just for the during of this election cycle.

Note: for those unfamiliar with the Kerner commission, it was appointed by President Johnson in the 60's after Detroit and many other cities were sites of enormously destructive riots in their ghettos. The question Johnson wanted answered was whether the riots were instigated by a single group and if not what caused them and how should they be prevented. The answer essential was that they were not the product of a single group but rather the outcome of life in these cities ~ the poverty and hopelessness that prevailed. The report was not well received in many parts of society at the time and while many of the recommendations have been implemented, the Reagan administration stopped the progress when "Morning In America" resulted in cut backs on so many effective programs. posted 03/29/2008 at 09:28:44

Senator Leahy To Clinton: Drop Out

"Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter: 'What [Sen. Leahy's] proposing would be like calling a baseball game in the 7th inning"

No, May Nutter ~ in baseball there is no ceiling number of runs needed to win ~ the game can be won in the last half of the ninth or even 15th inning. The Democratic nominee has to win a specific number of delegates to win. Leahy was saying two things, as I read his comments:

1. No matter how many votes are cast and delegates won between no and Denver, Hillary can't get to the magic number.
2. Continuing the Clinton/Obama battle rather than shifting party's to focus on winning in November is not a winning strategy.
3, He recognizes that it is Hillary's choice.

Is my memory correct that Obama has said the primary campaign should continue through to Denver?

If so, all we are seeing here is a lot of varied opinions by a lot of concerned Democrats as to the best way to win the White House ~ the objective for all Democrats.

To rant and rave about Leahy's character rather than his opinion is a disservice to a Senator who has spoken out over and over about the issues that matter ~ Bush's trashing of the constitution and the dishonesty of the Justice Department.

Let's stop character assassination so that a variety of opinions can be heard! posted 03/29/2008 at 08:37:37

Barack Obama On "The View": Barbara Says, "You're Very Sexy!"

Can he help it if he's related to Brad Pitt and the looks followed that gene pool?

"constantly fishing for compliments" Based on what?? when?
Is it that your Hillary is so uptight she can't loosen up and enjoy herself ~ always on message, no matter??

Look, it's a campaign and he has to reach the women voter block that watch The View. That's the down to earth, strategy side of things. I guess as a vocal Clinton supporter, you don't like the thought that he could further erode her base.

As to "other things to worry about" ~ where have your been??? He's been talking about the economy, the housing mess and the prospects of a 3rd Bush term among other things.

When you are through vomiting, do try to lighten up dejay ~ your profile reveals your decision not to vote if things don't go your way. That is really dumb and even your Hillary advised her audience yesterday to not make that mistake which I believer she called "dumb" or something along that line. posted 03/28/2008 at 13:18:42

Carville Unloads: Richardson Misled, Promised He'd Back Hillary

YIKES ~ Carville doesn't get it that Richardson's promise was before Hillary joined Bill in the attempt to trash Obama. As I have listened to Richardson, it is clear to me that was the turning point for him, as well it should be.

Why doesn't Carville get this???? Easy to figure that one out ~ he's an over the top loudmouth who values the down and dirty over a focus on the issues that people care about. He doesn't seem to be a nuance man and joins Hillary in his ranking of loyalty over party. posted 03/28/2008 at 11:47:10

Reverend Wright: Raw and Un-Cut

So you prefer to pass judgement before you have the facts from the full text of the sermon ~ are you to lazy to just do it or don't you care about facts? posted 03/27/2008 at 16:01:05

Clinton Donors Object to Pelosi Comment

BRAVO!! DITTO!! YES11 posted 03/26/2008 at 17:01:48

Video Disputes "Black Separatist" Tag On Obama's Church

Ditto and I'm a reformed southern baptist from Florida before the civil rights struggle began. I'm now in Maine and happily Unitarian practicing Buddha's teachings.

The defamation of Rev Wright and his church is a travesty but the greater travesty is that the Media did NOTHING to counterbalance Fox News with context .... context being a basic commandment when reporting, particularly reporting incendiary remarks or actions. When "we the people" have the before and after words the sound bites so cleverly extracted don't sound quite the same!! posted 03/27/2008 at 16:57:50
You forgot Chris Matthews and sad to say in this case also, Keith Olbermann and last but not least ABC nightly news ~ the network/program that bought and then played the clips from Fox New and were the first to run it after Fox.

I am still waiting for answers to 5 or 6 emails I sent to various analysts and column writers a few days after the story broke, asking them to please look at the extended versions and then include this expanded information source the next time the subject came up. Have not heard from a single one and have not seen a single mention of the fact that they exist at all so the public could come to their own conclusion as so many are now doing on HP today. posted 03/27/2008 at 16:48:20
Why indeed, it's a real travesty that it is not at the top but also that the media don't seem to care enough about facts to have researched and reported it ..... YIKES they might have helped stop the resulting replaying of the Fox Lie over and over and over again!. posted 03/26/2008 at 16:29:04
High Fives to you Real Mac Daddy!

I've been sending out these links since the first day the story broke and I found them easily via google.

Seems a lot of the media would prefer to have a sexy story than to help their view understand the real context ~ the words before and the words after the sexy, misleading ones Fox spliced together.

Let's keep the heat on this until someone in the media (think Joe Scarboro/Keith Olbermann etc) does a lead story and followup discussion of the real message. posted 03/26/2008 at 16:25:52
confusing Hillary with facts is also the "best" strategy or so she thinks based on her recent comments regarding Rev Wright.

Pathetic form of character assassination! posted 03/26/2008 at 16:20:30

Hillary Clinton: Truth or Consequences

Thanks Carl for your first hand insight ~

If the jury isn't in already, it should be.

The last thing we need in our next president is a great, informed mind but a soul unable to tell the truth about herself when the stakes are high or she has to be proven right regardless. Unfortunately it isn't a little habit that can be cured with self discipline, it appears to be a major character flaw.

If this whole campaign year weren't so critical for the future of the country, it would be great stuff for a TV series! But it is a time when we deserve better than she is offering. posted 03/26/2008 at 17:14:44

Samantha Power Unapologetic About Iraq Remarks, Hints At Return

then you must be more interested in "voicing displeasure" than voting for change, regardless of who is the nominee. Pretty sad but then perhaps that is what your candidate would have you do!?. posted 03/26/2008 at 15:59:50

Southern Dem Warns Party To Avert Disaster

IF, after the Penna. primary the delegate/vote/primaries won count is such that Hillary cannot catch up, then I believe the Superdelegates should hold a pre-convention conference with the two candidates in an OPEN forum to discuss ways to avoid going all the way to August and having a final fight there with the superdelegates casting the deciding votes.

If the candidates and the superdelegates cannot come to agreement, the I believe the superdelegates will need to act on behalf of the party.

The only down side to this is that some elected delegates could change their support before the first vote at the convention which could change the delegate count. Then they would face music with their state electors which could be an angry group.

It seems like chaos either way so perhaps the superdelegates as the safety net should make the decision soon rather than later, given the general election implications. posted 03/26/2008 at 11:26:57

Hillary Clinton Compares Jeremiah Wright To Don Imus

she also went on to answer, despite her earlier statements that she nor her campaign would comment on the Rev Wright matter.

so much for integrity on all counts posted 03/26/2008 at 16:14:46
My goodness, let's think about that question ...... could it have been a plant so that she could open the subject she had promised not to discuss?????

Even if it wasn't a plant, she could have stuck with her promise and moved on to the next question. It was clear by her answer that she has a VERY one dimensional view of Rev Wright's message that day following 9/11; it was significantly different from the one Fox News would have had us believe. A simple google search would have told her campaign staff that if they had cared about truth.

It's her job to be forthright with the people who are putting their trust in what she says. Obama doesn't need her praise, faint or real. posted 03/26/2008 at 16:11:50

Clinton To Attend Forum At Monica Goodling's Alma Mater

and that are dangerously lacking in knowledge of the constitution, check and balances, role of the courts; definition of "effective prosecutorial standards", and last but not least lawyers whose only definition of "ethics" is "situational ethics".

And the get together is about "compassion" ...... for whom? based on whose definition?? posted 03/26/2008 at 11:00:30

Rev. Jeremiah Wright Cancels Events Due To Security Concerns

How sad ~ I guess Fox News must be celebrating! Their carefully chosen sound bites and the subsequent replays for days after have had their effect. The public has been led to believe the words in the sound bites represent Rev Wright's real message on the day those words were spoken. While I am no surprised at Fox's attempt to manipulate the public, I am shocked that not a single news program or analyst went for the context in order to better inform their viewers. "Context" to my thinking includes not only Rev Wright's past and his midset but the actual words he spoke before and after the sound bites. It particularly shocking since any good reporter or analyst knows context is critical and the most explosive the words spoken, the more important the context.

Perhaps, before long the short term attention span of the media will change and Rev Wright will be able to speak with fear of retribution but with hope that listeners will understand his message via words that went before and after those few sound bite words Fox excised and repackaged! posted 03/26/2008 at 10:30:22

Obama Wraps Up Vacation: "Just Trying To Be Left Alone"

Get real ~ even hard working candidates get to take and deserve a few days or R+R with their families, left alone by the press!

Sounds like you have an agenda? posted 03/26/2008 at 10:14:17

Pastor Of Clinton's Former Church: Don't Use Wright To Polarize

Let's see what the media does with this ~ will they bury it or use to to balance the previously lousy job they have done on Rev Wright? posted 03/26/2008 at 10:50:22
only if "we the people" allow it to happen! This time we must be more united against 527's that choose character assasination as a means to stay in power. It's us to all of us to protest violently if we care about the future of our country in the short and long term. posted 03/26/2008 at 10:48:06

Chelsea Clinton Has Quick Response For Lewinsky Question

The question was valid but directed to the wrong person.

Someone should ask Bill or Hillary and not Chelsea as it is on the minds of voters who care about the potential effectiveness of their President.

Chelsea should get a lot of credit for being able to handle the situation with grace and dignity. posted 03/26/2008 at 10:34:20

Sen. Clinton's Own Religious Cult Includes Brownback, Santorum

I have tried 3 times to access the mother jones link and the home page shows but then it cuts to an advertisement. I'm usually not paranoid but ???????? posted 03/26/2008 at 16:55:34

Clinton: Wright "Would Not Have Been My Pastor"

I for one would like to have her know what she is talking about and if you would have said the same thing you are also part of the trashing ~ burning problem. posted 03/25/2008 at 13:47:39
Context matters, Hillary!!!

Before you comment on the CNN and MSNBC and Fox and ABC sound bite orgasms during the past week, I urge your to take a look at the actual context ~ you know the before and after the inbetween stuff you find so hateful!!! It will give you an entirely different take on the sound bites and will make you look pretty dumb.

Indeed, you will say anything to win and that is unacceptable, particularly when what you are saying is so revealing of your true character, your values ...... and your poor judgement!! Winning is everything to you even if you have to trash the party and anyone in your path.

Shame on you, Hillary posted 03/25/2008 at 13:45:49

Limbaugh's Lying Voters Under Investigation

I hope this investigation is on a fast tract so that, if anyone has the intention of doing the same in Penna. they will think again. But of course that means these lowlifes have thinking capacity which is a stretch. posted 03/25/2008 at 13:58:33
wouldn't have helped in this case ~ crossover voting as urged by Limburger. posted 03/25/2008 at 13:56:57

"Obama's Test" or Ours?

Good post ~ Good advice:

As to Rev Wright' s 10 sec spot, I am sure it was very offensive to any victim of racism and that is a double cruelty. Unfortunately, the spot was a very clever condensation of his sermons. The condensation gave a very distorted view of Dr Wright's message. I say this because on the first day it was played, I decided to research the context of those remarks. I immediately found a google link to the complete version of his comments after 9/11. The message was a thoughtful answer to the question he put to God while sitting in New Jersey watching the horror unfold on an airport TV screen. That question was "God, how should we respond". He took his congregation through the answer he came up with which included "It is time to look in our own hearts" and "hate begets hate"

It is sad for Rev Wright and for all people who were manipulated by Fox News and the other Media. It could have been a much better conversation if they had the professionalism to seek out and discuss context .... posted 03/26/2008 at 10:05:20
For a truthseeker, you sound pretty close minded! posted 03/26/2008 at 09:39:38
Gary ~ Would that we could have journalists who not only understand but wrote based on that understanding of past/future politics. Then they might fulfill their role as envisioned by the grand old men who put together the framework of our checks and balances system. At the moment their thinking and writing and spewing seems to be to make news where there is none; keep the story sexy rather than helping "we the people" better understand what our government is doing and how it effects the quality of our lives ~ not just short term but in the long term.

Yes, Obama is the single, currently standing candidate who can and will lead us into a new era of finding to the knot of problems we face ~ problems that, whether willfully or blindly have been created by people who have no integrity, intellectual honesty or the courage to risk their futures by seeking perhaps risky but potentially effective solutions not only for this election cycle but for the more distant future.

Thanks, as always for your take and for your support of Sen Obama! posted 03/26/2008 at 09:36:03

McCain Says US Succeeding in Iraq

go find another couch! you're nuts and need help. posted 03/25/2008 at 13:36:29
PS: Just wait and watch ~ the Irian Shi'ite leader is planning an unraveling of the peace. What will it take for you to recognize failure of the Iraqi government's failure to take advantage of the surge breathing space??

You're delusional not to mention just plain crazy, Senator McCain! posted 03/25/2008 at 13:32:43
YIKES ~ why is it all these warriors don't care what "we the people" think??? We heard it the other day from Cheney; not from McCain and for 5+ years from George W Bush.

What are we, the ones who pay their salaries? Chopped Liver???

If it were so serious it would be funny...... but funny it is not. posted 03/25/2008 at 13:27:16

David Brooks Slams Hillary: "She Possesses The Audacity Of Hopelessness"

Well said! I don't often agree with David Brooks, but he got it right this time. posted 03/25/2008 at 13:53:36

Cheney On 4,000 Dead Americans: They Volunteered

There are so many aspects of this report that should make every American's blood boil!! Mine certainly is and I am will never forgive Chaney for what he and George Bush have done to Irag, to our armed forces, to the families of the dead and wounded and most of all to the image of our country. The Sec of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff and all members of the military should be outraged that is man, who has never served his country nor had a child do so, would so cavalierly dismiss the heroic effort and blood that have been given in this war ~ a war based on lies to the American people and then once begun, a war that was so incompetently planned and executed. posted 03/24/2008 at 15:47:31

Obama Tells Smerconish That He Confronted Wright On Statements

Amen! posted 03/24/2008 at 21:29:38
where is it? posted 03/24/2008 at 21:26:41

Bill Richardson: Clinton Advisers "Kind Of Turned Me Off"

Bill Richardson made the decision when he saw how nasty Hillary and her campaign turned with their kitchen sink strategy. I might have liked it to be earlier but applaud his decision ~ only he knew the right time for that very personal decision. That he had a long term and friendly relationship with the Clintons made it doubly hard I am sure.

While not surprised, I am appalled at how willing they are to turn on those who aren't loyal. The entire gang has not an ounce of grace, dignity or good judgement. We have someone in the White House at the moment who values loyalty over country and duty ~ we sure don't need another!

Richardson and Dodd were and are two heroes. Tip of the hat to you both!! posted 03/22/2008 at 15:46:03

More Fox Lies: Jeremiah Wright -- the Whole Sermon

He is also, during the post 9/11 sermon on the tape, telling how he sat that day asking God what our response should be and concluded it is a time to search our own hearts. That part of the message demonstrated where his heart and mind was that day.

I was very touched by how he lead his flock that day. We should all be offered such wisdom and such perspective particularly when the earth shakes under our feet and we are afraid and angry. posted 03/22/2008 at 16:51:48
If you took the time to watch the entire sermon, you might come to a different conclusion! posted 03/22/2008 at 16:43:22
AMEN! posted 03/22/2008 at 16:40:18
I sent an email to Joe Scarboro, of Morning Joe on MSNBC asking why he, his colleagues and his network failed to cover this expanded video of the Rev Wright sermon.

I told him that they and the other MSM did "we the people" a grave disservice when they either failed to research the full sermon or choose not to give us the truth because their story would be less sexy? Which is the better reason, I could not say ~ they both demonstrate the very worst kind of journalism on a topic that effects peoples lives, reputations and our countries future.

I'd like to find out how to contact Tom Brokaw since he was a guest on Morning Joe Friday and made one of the same points Obama did in his speech: Race needs to be an ongoing discussion in this country AND we need to not be distracted from the important problems facing this country since they are what citizens worry about.
posted 03/22/2008 at 16:39:01
AMEN!

posted 03/22/2008 at 16:26:27
Thanks Erika for revealing this outrageous manipulation by Fox and any other networks that know the truth.

Now, How can we get this truth into the hands of someone who will run with it on the networks???

We can't let it the character assassination go unanswered. posted 03/22/2008 at 07:12:29

Another Bill Clinton Moment On The Campaign Trail

If anyone believes Bill Clinton will be able to hold his tongue should Hillary become President, you need to think again. He has the emotional development of a an adolescent. I say that with qualifications as I have met some very mature adolescents ..... perhaps 3 year old would be more accurate.

No thanks, Hillary. We don't need 4 or 8 years of ego, power driven, self absorbed, adolescent "leadership" from the Oval Office. posted 03/22/2008 at 17:10:28

Reactions to a Tough Decision

Thanks for your story.

I hope more will come out for Obama and thereby say an emphatic "NO" to slash and burn politics. The Clinton machine approach to this election is so self serving and arrogant ~ it is clear they are more concerned about their power than the countries problems.

posted 03/21/2008 at 21:59:01

McCain Spiritual Guide Accused Gov't Of Enabling 'Black Genocide'

Spot on, strikeknot!

Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ ~ it will give you more ammunition to get this manipulation quieted down and people understanding the Fox News has again done a job on the american people! posted 03/22/2008 at 07:02:25
Thank you julescator. Well said.

I too want to get this out and think I'll go to mediatmatters.com with it.

This manipulation is too sad and too destructive to be ignored. I hope everyone who reads your post will help get the letter into the New York Times and on Morning Jee!! posted 03/22/2008 at 06:59:03
what is the reference on this Wright quote? It would help. posted 03/22/2008 at 06:53:04
I saw this yesterday and was aghast!

Is MSNC, CNN etc unaware of this manipulation. It shows how the Wright comments were taken out of context and that context was a message is 180 degrees different from the what the MSM would have us believe.

I am outraged at how this could escape the nightly news or the morning joe blab fiest and but then what would they talk about ~ they certainly aren't in the business to enlighten or educate their viewers as to what going on. I've been trying to think of how to get into the hands of someone who will pull the covers back and show the public what is going on!

Yex, everyone sent this link to everyone you know and to the networks as a start. posted 03/22/2008 at 06:46:59

Mayhem At Fox News: Anchor Walks Off Set, Wallace Rails Network For "Obama-Bashing"

thank goodness at least one person on this network has the character to stand up for what he believes! Maybe more will come out of the woodwork durng the days ahead.

Hope reigns eternal in this 70 year old heart!! posted 03/21/2008 at 12:40:59

Placing Reverend Wright's Sermons In Context

YIKES ~ what a difference context makes. The message is 180 degrees different from the one Fox would have us believe.

The upsetting part is that our television and radio have been non stop response to this clip and as a result just intensifies and inflames the divisions in our society ~ and in the process drags Obama through the mud of ridicule and judgement.

Is there no bottom to FOX's hate pit? Is there nothing society can do to stop this? If nothing else, Wright should sue them for defamation of character! posted 03/21/2008 at 13:29:39

Obama Endorsed By Bill Richardson

Great News and powerful statement at a time when this nation needs bipartisan, biracial and thoughtful leadership.

Bravo, Gov. Richardson!! posted 03/21/2008 at 10:49:19

Obama, Clinton And McCain's Passports Breached: Two State Dept Officials Fired, Investigation Underway

"FUN"????? for whom????

I wonder if you also think the question of Republican Voter Crossover fraud Investigation is also fun?

That last time I recall "fun" being used in this political season was when Hillary said "now the fun begins" earlier this year as the campaign moved into the primary/caucus phase. Any connection here?

None of it has been fun ~ politics as usual is harmful and sickening, which is why Obama has been so inspiring ~ the Rev Wright matter not withstanding.

posted 03/21/2008 at 11:24:43

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