Barack n' Roll

A Blessing for President Obama

by Reverend V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire

O God, we give you thanks for your child Barack as he assumes the office of President of the United States.

Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln’s reconciling leadership, FDR’s courageous boldness and vision, and JFK’s ability to enlist the best efforts of our people.

Give him a quiet heart, for our ship of state needs a steady, calm captain for these times, not a fierce warrior who knee-jerk reacts to every real or perceived threat.

Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired to make the sacrifices necessary to face the challenges ahead.

Make him color-blind, remembering his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states but the United States.

Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on his experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.

Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember even though he’s President, a father gets only one shot at his daughters' childhoods.

And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking way too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you to hold him in the palm of your hand-that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that he might lead us to a place of integrity, prosperity, and peace.

AMEN

Great Expectations

There can be no doubt that Tuesday’s inauguration, with an expected attendance of 3 million viewers (ten times more than the previous one), of President-Elect Barack Obama is a landmark moment for the United States. His inaugural address is perhaps one of the most highly anticipated political speeches in modern American history. So, be sure to tune in tomorrow America. According to history, the most awe-inspiring inaugural speeches have been known to materialize during times of economic distress, and it's believed Barack will deliver just that. The sweeping election marks a significant step for race relations, removing what was an opaque glass ceiling. “The [white, privileged] President doesn’t know what I have been through” is no longer a reason for political apathy. President Obama will be the new model for all Americans as well as living proof that it does not matter how much money you have, what color your parents are, whether you have one parent at home or two, or where you grew up. A better life or change is possible, there are no limits to what is achievable.

"To all of us as adults, he will be the first black president, but for his kids and kids like mine from all different races and backgrounds, he will just be the President. They will not know a country that has never elected a black president, and so you won't grow up wondering whether or not this country is going to accept everyone at every position; you'll already know it."

Adrian M. Fenty, Mayor Washington, D.C.

I am not blind to the lofty expectations to which we have burdened Obama. He is expected to solve a war on two fronts, fix alienating foreign policy, a flailing economy, and a government that has spat on freedom for the sake of a bit of perceived security.

“He who trades liberty for security deserves neither and will lose both.”

President Thomas Jefferson

Heck, why not throw in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for good measure; ignoring the historical fact that it has been going on for years, let's go ahead and put that on his back as well. Despite the unrealistic prospect of completely solving such issues, Barack Obama is a smart, calculating and measured person who will [at least] provide forward momentum towards a solution. Again, he will not be able to do it overnight or even in the first term, policy has always proven to be two steps forward and one back. However, any advancement, as slight as it might be, is progress at this point. Additionally, Obama (among others) has been very clear that a change of this magnitude will take commitment from the entire country in order to turn things around.

"Ask NOT what your country can do for you,

ask what YOU can do for your country."

President John F. Kennedy

Those who lived in World War I and II remember sacrificing for their country, and you can expect come Tuesday that we will be asked to do the same. The change this country needs and deserves will require more than just putting a magnetic ribbon on your car.

That being said, we expect a certain amount of failure. It is impossible to deliver everything promised during a campaign. Obama is a pragmatist, who will certainly not be able to fully satisfy his far left supporters but may pleasantly surprise those on the far right (though FOX will never admit it). While skimming through his campaign promises, I've compiled a list (far from all-inclusive) of bare minimum expectations over the next four years:

Require new hires to deny cronyism

"Obama will issue an executive order asking all new hires at the agencies to sign a form affirming that no political appointee offered them the job solely on the basis of political affiliation or contribution."—Obama's Blueprint for Change

Try to toughen rules on animal feeding operations

"Barack Obama will work for tougher regulations on concentrated animal feeding operations to prevent air and water pollution."—Obama's Blueprint for Change

Implement payment limitation to help family farmers

"Obama will implement a $250,000 [farm comm] payment limitation so that we help family farmers, not large corporate agribusiness. Obama will close the loopholes that allow mega farms to get around the limits by subdividing their operations into multiple paper corporations."—Obama's Blueprint for Change

Clean up the Justice Department

"I will rid the department of ideologues and political cronies…the Civil Rights Division will actually be staffed with civil rights lawyers who prosecute civil rights violations, and employment discrimination, and hate crimes."—09/28/07, Washington D.C.

Advocate equal treatment of same sex couples

"As your president, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws."—02/28/08, Obama letter to LGBT Americans

Work to overturn Supreme Court's ruling in Ledbetter v. Goodyear

"Obama will work to overturn the Supreme Court's recent ruling that curtails racial minorities' and women's ability to challenge pay discrimination."—Obama's Blueprint for Change

Forgive school loans of public defenders

"We'll recruit more public defenders to the profession by forgiving college and law school loans."—9/28/07, Washington D.C.

End disparity in crack versus powdered cocaine sentencing

"That will end when I am president."—9/28/07, Washington D.C.

Combat methamphetamine use

"As president, he will continue the fight to rid our communities of meth and offer support to help addicts heal."—Obama's Blueprint for Change

Safeguard all nuclear material within four years

"I will lead a global effort to secure all nuclear weapons and material at vulnerable sites within four years."—4/23/07, Chicago

Ban torture

"When I am president, America will reject torture, without exception."—8/1/07, Washington D.C.

Combat terrorism

"Obama will fight terrorism and protect America with a comprehensive strategy that finishes the fight in Afghanistan, cracks down on the al Qaeda safe haven in Pakistan, develops new capabilities and international partnerships, engages the world to dry up support for extremism and reaffirms American values."—Obama's Blueprint for Change

Provide tuition assistance to students who perform community service

"And we will keep our promise to every young American -- if you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford a college education."—8/28/08, Denver

Reduce oil consumption

"Obama will reduce oil consumption overall by at least 35 percent, or 10 million barrels of oil, by 2030."—Obama's Blueprint for Change

Withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq

"I will begin to remove our troops from Iraq immediately. I will remove one or two brigades a month and get all of our combat troops out of Iraq within 16 months. The only troops I will keep in Iraq will perform the limited missions of protecting our diplomats and carrying out targeted strikes on al-Qaida."—10/02/07, Chicago

Expand U.S. forces in Afghanistan

"As president, I would deploy at least two additional brigades to Afghanistan to reinforce our counterterrorism operations and support NATO's efforts against the Taliban."—8/1/07, Washington

"... and in the mornin'

 I'M MAKIN' WAFFLES!"

Why I Am Voting for "That One"

At one point, I was a default Republican. Growing up in Oklahoma during the 1990's, it was a place relatively devoid of ethnic or political diversity. Elections consisted of a choice between a Republican and the "godless liberal." There were two kinds of political conversations, pro-Republican or anti-Democrat.

Through various organizations, I had the opportunity to come in contact with those less fortunate than myself: the downtrodden, mentally ill, elderly and the forgotten members of our society. People, who without help, faced a lonely, wretched existence. There were the single mothers who worked multiple jobs trying to make ends meet and could not come close. There were kids supporting their siblings, missing school to work full-time jobs because Mom and/or Dad were too strung out to buy groceries. Disabled veterans, scarred by the destruction and death they had seen, incapable of making it through the day and tossed aside by the country they served. Elderly Americans living in homes with no family, who would cry when we arrived and were almost hysterical when we had to leave. The radio talking heads told me that these individuals were lazy, did not want to work and born with the exact same opportunities as every other American. Overweight, caucasian, blue-blooded politicians told me that they just needed to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, noting that if they could do it (with their family money and Ivy League educations) anyone could. Something did not compute. I knew some people chose to abuse the system, but to eliminate hand-ups and assistance to those in need because of the sins of others was just not American.

I was transformed. I am no longer a cynic. I believe in the inherent goodness of people. I believe within most, there is a longing for something better and a desire to achieve. As Americans, we root for the underdog and can never forget that this country was once an underdog. I believe that no American should have to choose between life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And Barack Obama subscribes to this worldview. He believes in rewarding success and talent while remaining human enough to remember the back on which corporate empires are built. I believe in the American success story that is Obama. The product of a 19-year-old mother, whose husband left when Barack was only two. A mixed race boy born into a less than perfect situation. They did not have much money but provided love, education and hope. Obama attended Harvard Law School and was elected the first black president of the Harvard Law Review before returning to Chicago to practice civil rights law and teach the Constitution at the University of Chicago. Now, this man of humble beginnings is favored to be the first black President of the United States of America. Obama knows about life for the average American, and he can relate to the struggles and hardships of the middle class.

McCain Gets Mavericky on Socialism

In a last ditch effort; the McCain campaign and the neoconservative machine have taken to calling Barack Obama a SOCIALIST (all caps because you should be startled by this term, I tell you). It hits your brain like a runaway Straight Talk Express, bringing to mind the Bolsheviks and for those like us in the under 30 set, Hugo Chavez. The problems with this line of attack are many. Let's look at socialism, the facts surrounding the uproar, and find out what John McCain really thinks about Obama's tax plan.

This past weekend, I discussed the upcoming election with a fervent McCain supporter. When asked why he supported McCain, his response was "electing a socialist president would destroy this country." Probing further, I asked how would he define socialist. He replied "you have a dictionary, you are voting for the guy, look up socialism and take a look at his policies, then YOU tell me why he is a socialist." This person was asking me to explain to him why he would make such a preposterous argument, but I digress. The conversation illustrates the first problem: most people do not have a basic understanding of socialism.

so.cial.ism [soh-shuh-liz-uhm] n. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.

The definition is so vague and does not sound like the Obama policies I know. Let's hear the truth straight from the socialist horse. Is this what Obama believes in?

F.N. Brill, National Secretary of the World Socialist Party (US): "Obama is as much a socialist as the Pope is an atheist. Income redistribution isn't a socialist act. It might aid in ameliorating income disparities within a capitalist economy for a limited time. But the logic of capitalism demands the rich grow richer (more capitalization is needed) and the poor grow poorer (their work creates the needed capital used by the rich)."

Rea Hederman, assistant director at the Heritage Foundation, "whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies," said the following in regard to Obama's tax policy.

"I wouldn't call the plan socialist. I have concerns anytime that the tax code is made more complex or used as a tool for social policy. Ideally, the tax code should be made as efficient as possible to maximize economic growth and minimize the distortions that arise from taxation."

Rea, you crazy liberal...who just happens to work for a conservative think tank.

An actual socialist does not think the Obama tax plan (that you can evaluate here) is socialist. The Heritage Foundation does not think it is socialist. What about Warren Buffett, one of the richest men in the world, a man who would presumably have the most to lose should taxes increase on high earners. What say you, Warren?

May 5, 2008 Interview with Buffett on CNBC:

The interviewer, Becky Quick, asked Buffett to pretend for a moment that she was John McCain. She then asked, "Is there anything I can do, any economic issue I can get behind, that would actually make you think twice about potentially supporting me?"

Buffett: "I would say that if you felt the tax burden should be shifted in a significant way to the super-rich and away from the middle class, I would say that would make me re-evaluate you."

Quick/"McCain": "So I could eventually gain your support come November?"

Buffett: "Well, in the end, I vote on issues NOW. I think it's pretty clear in many major areas what all three candidates would do."

Then he said, chuckling, that it was "unlikely" he would back McCain "unless he has a serious change, a lobotomy or something like that."

Okay, okay. I get it. Nobody likes to pay higher taxes. Under the Obama plan, families earning more than $250,000 will pay the same amount as during the Clinton era, and we all remember how horrific the economy was back then! The chart below tracks the level of the highest tax bracket since 1913.

From a historical perspective, high-income earners under the age of 40 have never paid high taxes. If your parents were making big bucks during the Carter administration, they paid 70% in taxes of all money made above the high earner cutoff. That was the LOWEST rate since 1931! If you want to know how your taxes will change, then visit the Obama-Biden Tax Calculator and enter your information.

I will wrap this up with Mr McCain's own words, though I could go on for days. Obama's tax cuts for those making less than $250,000, and an increase to Clinton levels for those making more. What he has argued for is a laddered tax rate, the same tax structure that the US has had since the beginning of time. It is not socialism, but you can make up your own mind. So what about John McCain? We know that this mavericky maverick thinks that raising taxes on the rich and cutting taxes for the middle class is a recipe for disaster. Go ahead John, tell that socialist Obama where to put his tax plan!

Whaaaat? Say it ain't so John, you sound just like Barack Obama. Surely, someone so mavericky would have the political spine to stand behind your true beliefs. We will give you one more shot John, tell me something true.

Where did the John McCain of 2000 go? America was a better place when you stood up for what you believed and were an independent voice far away from the Republican machine. Your legacy was going to be one of a war hero, far above Washington politics, who cared more about the success of this nation than pandering to a political party. Values were thrown to the wind and you were told to win at all cost, even stooping to hire Steve Schmidt as your campaign director, the same man who shamelessly smeared you in 2000. Now, barring a surprising result on Tuesday, you will be relegated to the scrap heap, a relic who sold out his core beliefs, took part in the politics you despised only four years earlier, and utterly irrelevant.

Choose Hope, Not Fear

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Holy Mudd Bath, Batman!!!

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