President Black-Guy

Well, it has happened. We have elected the first black President. This is a historic moment that will affect society from the impoverished to the elite and from the black to the white and all the shades in between and I gotta tell ya, I could not care less. Now I am not going to begrudge anyone from their moment, but please remember, the only thing President-Elect Obama has done so far...is be black. I am not impressed.
Let's remember, the bar is very high for the freshman Senator turned president. He has promised everything from bringing the troops home to breaking the log-jammed economy to free healthcare. With the possibility of the stock market crashing, rampant terrorist attacks on American soil and one of the worst healthcare industries on the planet, the next president needs to be much more then just black. Fortunately I think he is. That is why I voted for him.
It was not the anticipated tax-break, providing those I have pledged my career to with free healthcare or even bringing home the tired heroes from over seas that convinced me to vote for the man named "Hope". Simply...I drank the kool-aid. My track record and comfort zone was screaming at me to vote "Mccain". There was so much risk in voting for the new guy with the ideals. But I remember hearing one of Obama's fellow classmates explain why "they all" elected him President of the Harvard Review. He said they knew he was a liberal, but he just had a way of bringing both sides together. I could not think of more appropriate attribute for the most powerful man in the world.
Of course this one compliment cannot stand alone as justification to elect a president. Actually no single reason alone can justify voting for a candidate for president. So I will save my celebration for when he has earned it. After all, Obama is just as white as he is black.

Could Not Be More Different

From "johnmccain.com":

“I do not want to keep our troops in Iraq a minute longer than necessary to secure our interests there. Our goal is an Iraq that can stand on its own as a democratic ally and a responsible force for peace in its neighborhood. Our goal is an Iraq that no longer needs American troops. And I believe we can achieve that goal, perhaps sooner than many imagine. But I do not believe that anyone should make promises as a candidate for President that they cannot keep if elected. To promise a withdrawal of our forces from Iraq, regardless of the calamitous consequences to the Iraqi people, our most vital interests, and the future of the Middle East, is the height of irresponsibility. It is a failure of leadership. “

From "barackobama.com":

Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats; if al Qaeda attempts to build a base within Iraq, he will keep troops in Iraq or elsewhere in the region to carry out targeted strikes on al Qaeda.

This one is a toughy. I would love to have our troops home but not just to fight the battles on our front yards. To pull everyone out without regard to how it affects Iraq is to say that we never should have gone in; which I do not disagree with. I am not interested in being blackmailed into staying in Iraq but I do wonder if the recent decreased violence in Iraq is al Qaeda waiting until the votes are in and if the U.S. is on the way out.

Jim

Let's play "Hide the Tax Hike"

Taken from "Barackobama.com":

Simplify Tax Filings for Middle Class Americans:
Obama will dramatically simplify tax filings so that millions of Americans will be able to do their taxes in less than five minutes. Obama will ensure that the IRS uses the information it already gets from banks and employers to give taxpayers the option of pre-filled tax forms to verify, sign and return. Experts estimate that the Obama proposal will save Americans up to 200 million total hours of work and aggravation and up to $2 billion in tax preparer fees.
Simpification: Barack does not want you to be burdoned with paying $150 for that hour with your tax preparer to save you $450. He will just use his "Big Brother" to find out how much you can afford to pay and then give you the option of automatic withdraw from you account or "go suck an egg."

Thank-you Senator Barack-o-Flower

Jim

Flint-Town

I know I live in Flint. There is no one who lives in Flint who is not aware of the fact that Flint is in the top 3 worst and most miserable places in America. Living in Flint, you actually believe it. It is hare to go into any plaza without being hit up for "spare change". One fond memory I have is getting into my car after shopping for a suit for my graduate presentation. From behind me I hear, "Excuse me sir..." (remember I am half in my car). A nice man came up to me and told me that some guy just called him a "Nigger" (his word not mine) and asked me if I could believe that. Then he asked me for change. I was actually happy that he did that, I was a bit worried that he was going to mug me with my back turned. But as it turned out, he was just asking nicely. You know, after a disturbing preamble (which was probably untrue.
Today I had the opportunity to witness another what has to be a truly Flint experience. I saw a woman pushing a shopping cart that only had her purse in it... over railroad tracks... on the road... into oncoming traffic... as a cop car drove by. Now I noticed this scene. I really hope the cop didn't because he just drove right by. I will never forget that the look on her face as she pushed the cart, as if she was looking for pickles in isle 12. Maybe she wanted to return a lot of groceries she had purchased earlier. Maybe she was in the middle of neighborhood shopping spree. Personally, I think if you go to the local Kroger, you will find a beat up 89' Buick Century parked in the cart corral.

For NAME'S SAKE!

You know, I DO actually know that it may sound silly and maybe even a bit prejudice, but I just cannot do it. I cannot vote for someone who shares the same name as, well let's just say it: pure evil. I just do not want to live in a country where the leader shares the name of utter evil. "Hello President Evil, please feel free to run the country as you will." It is just not right. Plus, he would probably want to make everything "green"!
I mean think about it: BARACK-obama... BROCCO-flower. Do you even KNOW anybody who eats this stuff? It's PURE EVIL!

Jim

Pillar of Society

I am not sure if this is getting out, but I need to try and broadcast during this troubling and frightful time. As you may or may not know, one of the cornerstones of our society, a pillar that supports not only our world but how we understand it has crumbled. This massive event has shaken not only our vast infrastructure, but it has also shaken the perception of reality that we all depend upon for the basic necessities of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Of course I am talking about how Little Debbie snacks are now 35 cents instead of 25 cents.
Long ago as a youth I remember with fondness skipping happily to the corner store, quarter in hand and smiling in anticipation of the chocolaty goodness (or banana goodness, fudge goodness, oatmeal goodness...I never really decided until I got there) that awaited me upon my arrival. From now on, those happy boys (or 36 year old balding men) skipping to the store will be turned away at the door with a broom the the butt and a "It's another dime Rockefeller!".
In the tradition of the most respected interviewer of our time I will conclude with a "Final thought". Little Debbie cannot be faulted for suddenly raising their price 40%. They can however be faulted for ripping off little kids by obviously keeping their prices so inflated that it has taken decades for inflation to catch up with them.

Herrrrrrrrrrrrrre's EDITING!