We've found it unfortunate that some of the coverage of this year's presidential race has been framed in "race and gender" issues; however, Sojourners featured Mike Huckabee's comment as "quote of the week" regarding Rev. Wright and we found it valuable.
Mike Huckabee: "As easy as it is for those of us who are white to look back and say, "That's a terrible statement," I grew up in a very segregated South, and I think that you have to cut some slack. And I'm going to be probably the only conservative in America who's going to say something like this, but I'm just telling you: We've got to cut some slack to people who grew up being called names, being told, "You have to sit in the balcony when you go to the movie. You have to go to the back door to go into the restaurant. And you can't sit out there with everyone else. There's a separate waiting room in the doctor's office. Here's where you sit on the bus." And you know what? Sometimes people do have a chip on their shoulder and resentment. And you have to just say, I probably would too. I probably would too. In fact, I may have had ... more of a chip on my shoulder had it been me. "
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Which Will We Choose -- Wall Street vs. Main Street -- in the Fight to Fix the Home Ownership/Mortgage Lending Crisis?
It was in the 1980's that many of us who lived on farms in rural communities either lost our land or saw our friends lose theirs. I remember it well because it was then that I moved away from the farm that I loved.
Yesterday, as I watched presidential candidate John McCain speak about his solution for home owners affected by the mortgage lending crisis, it all came back -- an echo of the past about the haunting emotional pain that we felt all across rural America, losing the land we loved, moving away, wondering if we'd ever be financially secure again. I remembered the increase in the divorce rate, the child custody battles, as well as how some turned to increased drug and alcohol abuse as homes and farms were lost.
I asked myself, "Is the mortgage crisis bringing on the same kinds of anxiety and heartbreak that the Farm Crisis did in the 1980's?" And I almost hate to admit it but yes, it seems so as I thought back -- George H. W. Bush was president at the end of this ugly period; he tried to cure our ailing economy by urging us all to go out and buy a couple of pairs of new socks. What I can't remember ... was that before or after he discovered that grocery stores had machines in them (glory be!) that could actually read the price labels. I mean Who Knew?
But now, the more things change, the more they stay the same. We're on the verge of ending another failed Presidency and hopefully, voters will make a wiser choice for President this year, than we did either time we chose a Bush for president.
That choice -- who to vote for President -- is one that eventually we will need to add to our growing list of speeches and program proposals that matter, or don't ... asking ourselves: Are we for or against?
Yesterday -- one year after the home ownership crisis began, we listened carefully as McCain spoke about our fragile middle class economy and what he thought was most important about responding to the crisis. I wondered, "Is he going to choose Wall Street or Main Street?"
McCain emphasized, "A sustained period of rising home prices made many home lenders complacent, giving them a false sense of security and causing them to lower their lending standards ... Lenders ended up violating the basic rule of banking: don't lend people money who can't pay it back."
True. Some people may have purchased homes they couldn't afford and true, we shouldn't "lend people money who can't pay it back" but many of the people who bought homes purchased in good faith. They paid their loans on time.
We have to ask? How is it that McCain blames the people who bought the houses, rather than the predatory lending system that allowed some mortgage brokers to go for the big bucks? 'Looking for excuses to take houses back, they now rush to take the homes back, later to resell and claim additional profit.
Why -- if lenders made mistakes as McCain said, would he want to ease the regulations on lenders?
Why -- didn't McCain offer policies that would aid the families who are hurt by lender mistakes?
Why -- would McCain reward the lenders for their mistakes? ... which he did.
What would have made sense -- common sense -- would have been to propose using the FHA home loan program, offering counseling for the families, loan restructuring and tax breaks -- all ways that offer immediate help to the families, while also penalizing the lenders who over-stepped. Some of these solutions are already being offered in Congress. See Chris Dodd, Barney Frank and the two other presidential candidates -- Obama and Clinton.
Yesterday, as I watched presidential candidate John McCain speak about his solution for home owners affected by the mortgage lending crisis, it all came back -- an echo of the past about the haunting emotional pain that we felt all across rural America, losing the land we loved, moving away, wondering if we'd ever be financially secure again. I remembered the increase in the divorce rate, the child custody battles, as well as how some turned to increased drug and alcohol abuse as homes and farms were lost.
I asked myself, "Is the mortgage crisis bringing on the same kinds of anxiety and heartbreak that the Farm Crisis did in the 1980's?" And I almost hate to admit it but yes, it seems so as I thought back -- George H. W. Bush was president at the end of this ugly period; he tried to cure our ailing economy by urging us all to go out and buy a couple of pairs of new socks. What I can't remember ... was that before or after he discovered that grocery stores had machines in them (glory be!) that could actually read the price labels. I mean Who Knew?
But now, the more things change, the more they stay the same. We're on the verge of ending another failed Presidency and hopefully, voters will make a wiser choice for President this year, than we did either time we chose a Bush for president.
That choice -- who to vote for President -- is one that eventually we will need to add to our growing list of speeches and program proposals that matter, or don't ... asking ourselves: Are we for or against?
Yesterday -- one year after the home ownership crisis began, we listened carefully as McCain spoke about our fragile middle class economy and what he thought was most important about responding to the crisis. I wondered, "Is he going to choose Wall Street or Main Street?"
McCain emphasized, "A sustained period of rising home prices made many home lenders complacent, giving them a false sense of security and causing them to lower their lending standards ... Lenders ended up violating the basic rule of banking: don't lend people money who can't pay it back."
True. Some people may have purchased homes they couldn't afford and true, we shouldn't "lend people money who can't pay it back" but many of the people who bought homes purchased in good faith. They paid their loans on time.
We have to ask? How is it that McCain blames the people who bought the houses, rather than the predatory lending system that allowed some mortgage brokers to go for the big bucks? 'Looking for excuses to take houses back, they now rush to take the homes back, later to resell and claim additional profit.
Why -- if lenders made mistakes as McCain said, would he want to ease the regulations on lenders?
Why -- didn't McCain offer policies that would aid the families who are hurt by lender mistakes?
Why -- would McCain reward the lenders for their mistakes? ... which he did.
What would have made sense -- common sense -- would have been to propose using the FHA home loan program, offering counseling for the families, loan restructuring and tax breaks -- all ways that offer immediate help to the families, while also penalizing the lenders who over-stepped. Some of these solutions are already being offered in Congress. See Chris Dodd, Barney Frank and the two other presidential candidates -- Obama and Clinton.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Today -- Governor Richardson Endorses Obama
Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico has endorsed Barack Obama for President.
Richardson's remarks in part are, "Today I am endorsing Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States because I believe he is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime leader that can bring our nation together and restore America’s moral leadership in the world. As a Presidential candidate, I know full well Senator Obama's unique ability to inspire the American people to confront our urgent challenges at home and abroad in a spirit of bipartisanship and reconciliation.”
Richardson is our nation's only Hispanic governor and served as both Secretary of the Department of Energy and Ambassador to the United Nations under President Bill Clinton. Richardson's extensive experience and record of accomplishment in foreign affairs has earned him five nominations for the Nobel Prize.
Major news reactions include the following stories:
CNN: "Richardson Endorses Obama ... "He brings out the best in us".
New York Times: "Is Obama a Plan B for Richardson voters?".
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports that a key Clinton Campaign aide has dismissed the endorsement, calling it "insignificant."
Richardson's remarks in part are, "Today I am endorsing Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States because I believe he is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime leader that can bring our nation together and restore America’s moral leadership in the world. As a Presidential candidate, I know full well Senator Obama's unique ability to inspire the American people to confront our urgent challenges at home and abroad in a spirit of bipartisanship and reconciliation.”
Richardson is our nation's only Hispanic governor and served as both Secretary of the Department of Energy and Ambassador to the United Nations under President Bill Clinton. Richardson's extensive experience and record of accomplishment in foreign affairs has earned him five nominations for the Nobel Prize.
Major news reactions include the following stories:
Baltimore Sun: "Bill Richardson joins Obama for endorsement"
CNN: "Richardson Endorses Obama ... "He brings out the best in us".
New York Times: "Is Obama a Plan B for Richardson voters?".
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports that a key Clinton Campaign aide has dismissed the endorsement, calling it "insignificant."
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Our National Budget -- $14 Million an Hour
Yes -- $14 Million an hour is what our nation is spending on Iraq.
Yes -- We're entering the sixth year of this war.
Yes -- When President Bush kicked off the war on March 19, 2003, he promised that the war would be brief and inexpensive.
Well, so much for promises. We must honor our soldiers who serve in Iraq and also Afghanistan ... their sacrifices, their service, their missing time with their families. We also must honor and protect our military families who have lost loved ones or who daily help our soldiers who came home injured and now have a new kind of "how to get healthy" battle to fight
But it's going to take more than simply honoring these brave men and women, because things won't change unless we move our country in a new direction. President Bush's plan calls for ten years ... and a trillion dollars.
This morning Vice President Cheney was reminded that two-thirds of America think the war isn't worth fighting. Cheney's response was, "So?" And the most amazing thing -- Cheney also called the Iraq war a "major success."
For rural America's soldiers, Cheney's comment must be seen as particularly insulting since our soldiers have had a 60% higher death rate than those from urban America. And for those who come home injured, there are additional challenges caused by cut-backs in healthcare for veterans and miles and miles to go before one reaches a Veterans Hospital where once again, our men and women stand in line for assistance.
Yes -- We're entering the sixth year of this war.
Yes -- When President Bush kicked off the war on March 19, 2003, he promised that the war would be brief and inexpensive.
Well, so much for promises. We must honor our soldiers who serve in Iraq and also Afghanistan ... their sacrifices, their service, their missing time with their families. We also must honor and protect our military families who have lost loved ones or who daily help our soldiers who came home injured and now have a new kind of "how to get healthy" battle to fight
But it's going to take more than simply honoring these brave men and women, because things won't change unless we move our country in a new direction. President Bush's plan calls for ten years ... and a trillion dollars.
This morning Vice President Cheney was reminded that two-thirds of America think the war isn't worth fighting. Cheney's response was, "So?" And the most amazing thing -- Cheney also called the Iraq war a "major success."
For rural America's soldiers, Cheney's comment must be seen as particularly insulting since our soldiers have had a 60% higher death rate than those from urban America. And for those who come home injured, there are additional challenges caused by cut-backs in healthcare for veterans and miles and miles to go before one reaches a Veterans Hospital where once again, our men and women stand in line for assistance.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Together Today
At My Rural America, we've often said that we rural Americans care about the same things urban Americans care about, including that we want ...
We share with you Barack Obama's speech today because we found it outstanding. Just when have we heard a candidate who answers hard questions straightforwardly -- yes ... no ... absolutely no spin?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU
Once you watch it, please let us know what you think?
- Our children to have it better than we did.
- Our nation to be safe.
- Our land to be protected.
- Our friends (and ourselves and even people we don't know at all) who work hard and study hard to have the opportunity to climb the "economic ladder" to success.
- Justice and fair play for all, including economic justice and/or fairness, or more personally, access to health care and an end to discrimination.
We share with you Barack Obama's speech today because we found it outstanding. Just when have we heard a candidate who answers hard questions straightforwardly -- yes ... no ... absolutely no spin?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU
Once you watch it, please let us know what you think?
Rural Economy -- Bush Budget Endangers Public Safety
As part of our continuing coverage on the rural economy, this week's feature focuses upon public safety.
Remember how proud we were when during the 1990's our Federal government paid for "cops on the street"? It was vital assistance for small communities and rural businesses because it is in our small towns that the challenges of finding resources to combat violent and drug-related crimes like "Meth" abuse are most difficult. The Bush Budget eliminates funding for the COPS program.
Juvenile justice programs are also targeted by the President's Budget. This program works to prevent juvenile delinquency. The Bush Budget eliminates Juvenile Accountability Block Grants.
And it's not just crime fighting that was targeted in the Bush Budget. There is a $925 million cut in Firefighter Assistance Grants (assisting local fire departments protect firefighters) relative to the level appropriated in 2008, and the Bush Budget totally eliminates funding for the rural fire assistance program at the Department of Interior ... thus, wildfires can be expected to become more dangerous.
There is more, including funding cuts for Violence Against Women programs and other programs that work to improve our justice system as a whole.
Remember how proud we were when during the 1990's our Federal government paid for "cops on the street"? It was vital assistance for small communities and rural businesses because it is in our small towns that the challenges of finding resources to combat violent and drug-related crimes like "Meth" abuse are most difficult. The Bush Budget eliminates funding for the COPS program.
Juvenile justice programs are also targeted by the President's Budget. This program works to prevent juvenile delinquency. The Bush Budget eliminates Juvenile Accountability Block Grants.
And it's not just crime fighting that was targeted in the Bush Budget. There is a $925 million cut in Firefighter Assistance Grants (assisting local fire departments protect firefighters) relative to the level appropriated in 2008, and the Bush Budget totally eliminates funding for the rural fire assistance program at the Department of Interior ... thus, wildfires can be expected to become more dangerous.
There is more, including funding cuts for Violence Against Women programs and other programs that work to improve our justice system as a whole.
"Never Do I Want to Hear Again From My Conservative Friends about..."
Our economy -- at home, down the street and on Wall Street -- is truly at risk. Washington Post op-ed writer" E. J. Dionne, Jr. writes today "The Street on Welfare." He begins with ...
"Never do I want to hear again from my conservative friends about how brilliant capitalists are, how much they deserve their seven-figure salaries and how government should keep its hands off the private economy. ... But in the enthusiasm for deregulation that took root in the late 1970's, flowered in the Reagan era and reached its apogee in the second Bush years, we forgot the lesson that government needs to keep a careful watch on what capitalists do. "
There is much more, but Dionne's last words are particularly worthy ...
"So now the bailouts begin, and Wall Street usefully might feel a bit of gratitude, perhaps by being willing to have the wealthy foot some of the bill or to acknowledge that while its denizens were getting rich, a lot of Americans were losing jobs and health insurance. I'm waiting."
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke acted on Friday -- Bear Stearns Bailout -- and again today -- "Fed Cuts Key Interest Rate". Bernanke will likely need to be taking additional actions as he in part uses what legislative "safety nets" remain. These "safety nets" -- legislation originally designed and utilized by Franklin Delano Roosevelt to reconstruct our nation's economy from the collapse of big business during the Great Depression -- are important tools. It will also be important for the President and the Congress to work together to make sure that working people don't get stuck paying more of the price than they already have.
Our need for new jobs, health insurance and opportunities for education and new skills will be balanced against the cost of bailouts. $1 Billion was the cost of Friday's bailout. The cost of the Iraq war will soon be $600 Billion.
For today, we ask you: Please pause ... think about what could have been done with this money had President Bush and his followers been more careful about going to war. How many kids could we have sent to college? How much research could have been paid for ... research that would have made this country energy independent.?What will the families of the 4000 soldiers lost to war do without their sons and daughters? What can we do to strengthen our Congress so that we both end the war and end the Bush tax cuts that benefit only the richest people in our country?
Thank you.
"Never do I want to hear again from my conservative friends about how brilliant capitalists are, how much they deserve their seven-figure salaries and how government should keep its hands off the private economy. ... But in the enthusiasm for deregulation that took root in the late 1970's, flowered in the Reagan era and reached its apogee in the second Bush years, we forgot the lesson that government needs to keep a careful watch on what capitalists do. "
There is much more, but Dionne's last words are particularly worthy ...
"So now the bailouts begin, and Wall Street usefully might feel a bit of gratitude, perhaps by being willing to have the wealthy foot some of the bill or to acknowledge that while its denizens were getting rich, a lot of Americans were losing jobs and health insurance. I'm waiting."
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke acted on Friday -- Bear Stearns Bailout -- and again today -- "Fed Cuts Key Interest Rate". Bernanke will likely need to be taking additional actions as he in part uses what legislative "safety nets" remain. These "safety nets" -- legislation originally designed and utilized by Franklin Delano Roosevelt to reconstruct our nation's economy from the collapse of big business during the Great Depression -- are important tools. It will also be important for the President and the Congress to work together to make sure that working people don't get stuck paying more of the price than they already have.
Our need for new jobs, health insurance and opportunities for education and new skills will be balanced against the cost of bailouts. $1 Billion was the cost of Friday's bailout. The cost of the Iraq war will soon be $600 Billion.
For today, we ask you: Please pause ... think about what could have been done with this money had President Bush and his followers been more careful about going to war. How many kids could we have sent to college? How much research could have been paid for ... research that would have made this country energy independent.?What will the families of the 4000 soldiers lost to war do without their sons and daughters? What can we do to strengthen our Congress so that we both end the war and end the Bush tax cuts that benefit only the richest people in our country?
Thank you.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Admiral William "Fox" Fallon Quits!
Who would have thought? Admiral William "Fox" Fallon has resigned. See story from Times OnLine: Admiral Fallon Quits Over Iran Policy. Only a few days ago, Esquire magazine asked the question:
"As head of U.S. Central Command, Admiral William "Fox" Fallon is in charge of American military strategy for the most troubled parts of the world. Now, as the White House has been escalating the war of words with Iran, and seeming ever more determined to strike militarily before the end of this presidency, the admiral has urged restraint and diplomacy. Who will prevail, the president or the admiral?"
And now we have the answer ... the President is once again firm in his intent to escalate the possibility of another war -- this time with Iran.
What we worry about ... (1) Afghanistan needs more troops; (2) Iraq is a mess and we don't seem to be able to fix it, i.e., it is one thing to declare victory and another to have peace; (3) our military is stretched entirely too thin to support a third war.
What we worry about -- our shrinking middle class, the possibility of deeper recession, almost one-half billion dollars wasted in the Iraq war, the fact that our soldiers from rural America are dying (and being injured) at a 60% higher rate than the soldiers from urban America. What's fair about any of this?
We think the answer is nothing if fair, or right --just more proof that bad politics results in war.
"As head of U.S. Central Command, Admiral William "Fox" Fallon is in charge of American military strategy for the most troubled parts of the world. Now, as the White House has been escalating the war of words with Iran, and seeming ever more determined to strike militarily before the end of this presidency, the admiral has urged restraint and diplomacy. Who will prevail, the president or the admiral?"
And now we have the answer ... the President is once again firm in his intent to escalate the possibility of another war -- this time with Iran.
What we worry about ... (1) Afghanistan needs more troops; (2) Iraq is a mess and we don't seem to be able to fix it, i.e., it is one thing to declare victory and another to have peace; (3) our military is stretched entirely too thin to support a third war.
What we worry about -- our shrinking middle class, the possibility of deeper recession, almost one-half billion dollars wasted in the Iraq war, the fact that our soldiers from rural America are dying (and being injured) at a 60% higher rate than the soldiers from urban America. What's fair about any of this?
We think the answer is nothing if fair, or right --just more proof that bad politics results in war.
Middle Class Economic Squeeze ... Hurting Rural America Now
Sometimes we're all so busy trying to avoid the economic squeeze that is happening now, that we miss taking time to be thoughtful. In 2006, Senator Byron L. Dorgan wrote a book called "Take This Job and Shove It ... How Corporate Greed and Brain-Dead Politics Are Selling Out America." Two of its key points are:
- "As big companies move their jobs to China, sell their products in America, and run their profits through the Cayman Islands to avoid taxes, they undermine American workers and threaten our future."
- "Trade can't be "free" when our small businesses and working people are expected to compete with exploited workers and slave labor in third-world nations that care little about the conditions in their factories and not at all about the pollution they generate."
- President Bush's budget TERMINATES! 19 Rural Development programs including grants:
- For energy projects in areas with extraordinarily high heating costs
- For expanding broadband access to rural America
- For the Delta Regional Authority, and to Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities
- Housing programs, including construction, purchase and rehabilitation of single family homes and also rental assistance
- At USDA, the Bush Budget also makes severe cuts or terminations in renewable energy, conservation, water and sewer grants and disaster assistance.
Farm Bill -- Yes Delayed ... Again! and Still!
Not that anyone totally knows for sure, but it could be that we're looking at a one to two month extension of the current Farm Bill -- coming soon?
According to Jerry Hagstrom reporting for DTN, House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson has blamed some Senators who want to turn the Farm Bill into a tax bill.
"Credit" for the delay in passage of the Farm Bill can also be blamed on other factors, including USDA, which even with the confirmation of the new Secretary, isn't exactly cooperating and on Western and Southern Plains Senators who are committed to creating a new permanent disaster program. Of course, this "blame" list leaves out the environmentalists who had hoped to turn the Farm Bill into a healthy food/health land bill, the corporate interests who specifically oppose change in farm programs and the President who again and again has promised to veto the Farm Bill if the costs threaten his tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans -- Bush Threatens Farm Bill Veto: Opposes Public Nutrition, BioFuel and Land Stewardship Programs.
Meanwhile, rural communities and their farming constituencies are paying the price. Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin's longstanding commitment to stronger funding for rural development programs, conservation and programs strengthening school lunch are also at stake. See House Farm Bill, Senate Farm Bill and USDA Farm Bill for detail on the differences.
According to Jerry Hagstrom reporting for DTN, House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson has blamed some Senators who want to turn the Farm Bill into a tax bill.
"Credit" for the delay in passage of the Farm Bill can also be blamed on other factors, including USDA, which even with the confirmation of the new Secretary, isn't exactly cooperating and on Western and Southern Plains Senators who are committed to creating a new permanent disaster program. Of course, this "blame" list leaves out the environmentalists who had hoped to turn the Farm Bill into a healthy food/health land bill, the corporate interests who specifically oppose change in farm programs and the President who again and again has promised to veto the Farm Bill if the costs threaten his tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans -- Bush Threatens Farm Bill Veto: Opposes Public Nutrition, BioFuel and Land Stewardship Programs.
Meanwhile, rural communities and their farming constituencies are paying the price. Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin's longstanding commitment to stronger funding for rural development programs, conservation and programs strengthening school lunch are also at stake. See House Farm Bill, Senate Farm Bill and USDA Farm Bill for detail on the differences.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Ohio Needs More Information
Kevin Merida writes "In Rural Ohio, It's No Country for Democrats". It's yesterday's story in the Washington Post but it's also a 2000, 2002 and 2004 story because of the continuing theme that all too often rural voters vote against their own needs and values simply because they lack information.
In the Post's story, elected county engineer for Darke County (Greenfield, OH) James Surber asks, "I have always said that the three most baffling questions you could ponder forever are: What's the meaning and purpose of life? Why is Bruce Willis a star? And why do farmers vote Republican?"
At My Rural America, we have to admit that Surber's Bruce Willis question is completely above our pay grade, but as to why farmers voter Republican, we are still pondering. Overall, the simple answer to his question is that the news isn't getting to farmers.
For example, a test of rural policy issues recently debated shows:
In the Post's story, elected county engineer for Darke County (Greenfield, OH) James Surber asks, "I have always said that the three most baffling questions you could ponder forever are: What's the meaning and purpose of life? Why is Bruce Willis a star? And why do farmers vote Republican?"
At My Rural America, we have to admit that Surber's Bruce Willis question is completely above our pay grade, but as to why farmers voter Republican, we are still pondering. Overall, the simple answer to his question is that the news isn't getting to farmers.
For example, a test of rural policy issues recently debated shows:
- 2008 -- President Bush is still wielding his "veto" club over the Farm Bill.
- 2007 -- Despite the fact that a few Republicans joined the new Democratic Majority to pass disaster assistance for drought stricken farmers, and despite the fact that the President signed the bill into law, some farmers who were stricken by drought in 2005 still are not paid. Why? It's USDA's job, but it's the President who ultimately is responsible to be sure USDA carries out the law.
- 2007 -- Health Insurance for Children. Sure ... the Senate voted overwhelmingly to support SCHIP but rural Republicans in the House are still dragging their feet about over-riding President Bush's veto. Meanwhile, it is rural children who are most likely to benefit from the bill's passage.
- 2006 -- The Republican Majority in the House voted overwhelmingly to cut back veterans' benefits.
- 2006 -- Two Republican Members joined House Dems on the Appropriations Committee to save the American food aid requirement for international food aid to Sudan. It stopped the President's Budget request to allow purchase of the food from other places. Where would the President have purchased the food ... maybe from France? or maybe from the Middle East?
- 2003 -06 -- Republican Majority, following the President's Budget Request, overwhelmingly vote to cut back veterans' benefits in a time for war.
Dear Reader: Please forward this story to a friend in Ohio. The election is coming and Ohio's rural voters need to get started preparing themselves for the general election.
The Match Up -- Obama & Hillary vs. McCain
SurveyUSA: Hillary And Obama Win Electoral College In Distinct Ways
By Eric Kleefeld - March 6, 2008, 1:48PM
SurveyUSA has a new set of polls out, testing Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in all 50 states. The bottom line: Both candidates would narrowly win the Electoral College, but in very different ways.
Obama vs. McCain - Obama Would Win 280 to 258
Clinton vs. McCain: Clinton Would Win 278 to 260
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Clinton, Obama, McCain
Tuesday's results made a clear path for Senator McCain to be nominated as the Republican candidate for President. Meanwhile, Governor Huckabee closed the door on his campaign, saying that he didn't think he would be asked to join McCain on the ticket.
What's more interesting to us is the race between Senators Clinton and Obama for the Democratic nomination. Obama's winning streak -- 14 states in a row, ended last night with Hillary claimed victory for three states against Obama's singular win. Certainly, the news media, with Hillary almost gleeful, made much of her wins in Ohio, Rhode Island and yes ... even the very narrow win in Texas. What was more interesting to us was what happened in the delegate count since the victories for both candidates were actually very tight.
Overall, the Wall Street Journal reports that before Tuesday, Obama lead with 1,386-1,276 lead over Clinton, or a 110 delegate advantage, according to the Associated Press. With all but nine of the 370 delegates at stake Tuesday awarded by mid-afternoon today, Obama still led 1,562-1,461 — with a 101-delegate advantage. The full story is available at "Obama Maintains His Delegate Lead."
The more serious question about the contest between Obama and Hillary was asked today by Newsweek: "A Game of Survivor ... Hillary takes Texas and Ohio, setting back Obama and staying alive. But with McCain securing the Republican nomination, will the continuing battle between the two Democrats cost them the White House?"
That question -- will the continuing battle cost Democrats the White House? -- is definitely one that could keep us up nights. For 2008, Democrats losing would mean a McCain victory. His commitment for the U.S. to stay in Iraq for "100 years", his commitment to privatize Social Security, and last but not least, his commitment to make the tax cuts permanent for the richest people in this country is a prescription for disaster.
What's more interesting to us is the race between Senators Clinton and Obama for the Democratic nomination. Obama's winning streak -- 14 states in a row, ended last night with Hillary claimed victory for three states against Obama's singular win. Certainly, the news media, with Hillary almost gleeful, made much of her wins in Ohio, Rhode Island and yes ... even the very narrow win in Texas. What was more interesting to us was what happened in the delegate count since the victories for both candidates were actually very tight.
Overall, the Wall Street Journal reports that before Tuesday, Obama lead with 1,386-1,276 lead over Clinton, or a 110 delegate advantage, according to the Associated Press. With all but nine of the 370 delegates at stake Tuesday awarded by mid-afternoon today, Obama still led 1,562-1,461 — with a 101-delegate advantage. The full story is available at "Obama Maintains His Delegate Lead."
The more serious question about the contest between Obama and Hillary was asked today by Newsweek: "A Game of Survivor ... Hillary takes Texas and Ohio, setting back Obama and staying alive. But with McCain securing the Republican nomination, will the continuing battle between the two Democrats cost them the White House?"
That question -- will the continuing battle cost Democrats the White House? -- is definitely one that could keep us up nights. For 2008, Democrats losing would mean a McCain victory. His commitment for the U.S. to stay in Iraq for "100 years", his commitment to privatize Social Security, and last but not least, his commitment to make the tax cuts permanent for the richest people in this country is a prescription for disaster.
Keeping Our Nation and Our Families Safe
As we catch our breath from yesterday's ballot box results (Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont), it seems a good time to reflect upon our values. Here at My Rural America, we frame ours like this:
On Saturday, Brian O'Malley wrote a story that offers a sample of George Washington's wisdom that is still current today. We offer it as a sample of why we believe that our values -- Independence, the Great Outdoors, Family and Prosperity -- are inter-related. We also offer it as a challenge to our readers: Lessons on Iraq from a Founding Father, as published in the Washington Post on 3/1/08.
As you read it, we ask you to reflect upon how we as a nation have gotten to the point that our priorities are so mixed up that we have spent almost $500 Billion dollars on the Iraq war. This war has cost every U.S. family more than $4000 and at the same time, has run up a national debt of over $30,000 per family that at one time or another we are going to have to pay. And for what? Al Qaeda was not in Iraq but our going to war so destabilized the region that now they are -- making things worse rather than better; oil prices have sky rocketed -- think $4 per gallon coming soon; more than 4000 U.S. soldiers have been killed and more than 60,000 have been wounded. Regarding our soldiers -- remember that rural America is paying almost double the price since there is a 60% higher death rate for rural soldiers as compared to the soldiers who come from urban America.
Meanwhile, President Bush and the conservatives that support him have placed the President and the Executive Branch above the law ... ignoring the Constitution ... as Bush and the conservatives support the use of torture, illegal wiretaps, secret courts where "secret evidence" is used against defendants who don't even get to know what they are charged with and much more. It's a dangerous time for our country.
Read More:
- The Great Outdoors – Cherishing our land and water, saving nature so that it can remain as glorious as God made it.
- Family – Children, good neighbors, friends helping friends, working together to solve problems … teamwork.
- Prosperity – Honest work, education, sharing wealth, critical thinking, healthcare...making sure that our Middle Class is working smarter to remain strong.
On Saturday, Brian O'Malley wrote a story that offers a sample of George Washington's wisdom that is still current today. We offer it as a sample of why we believe that our values -- Independence, the Great Outdoors, Family and Prosperity -- are inter-related. We also offer it as a challenge to our readers: Lessons on Iraq from a Founding Father, as published in the Washington Post on 3/1/08.
As you read it, we ask you to reflect upon how we as a nation have gotten to the point that our priorities are so mixed up that we have spent almost $500 Billion dollars on the Iraq war. This war has cost every U.S. family more than $4000 and at the same time, has run up a national debt of over $30,000 per family that at one time or another we are going to have to pay. And for what? Al Qaeda was not in Iraq but our going to war so destabilized the region that now they are -- making things worse rather than better; oil prices have sky rocketed -- think $4 per gallon coming soon; more than 4000 U.S. soldiers have been killed and more than 60,000 have been wounded. Regarding our soldiers -- remember that rural America is paying almost double the price since there is a 60% higher death rate for rural soldiers as compared to the soldiers who come from urban America.
Meanwhile, President Bush and the conservatives that support him have placed the President and the Executive Branch above the law ... ignoring the Constitution ... as Bush and the conservatives support the use of torture, illegal wiretaps, secret courts where "secret evidence" is used against defendants who don't even get to know what they are charged with and much more. It's a dangerous time for our country.
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