Views of a "Code Red-drinking, Volvo-driving, tennis shoe-wearing, working-to-make-a-living/there's-no-trust fund baby

In the debate last Thursday night, our next President, Barack Obama, touched on a subject that I take personally: specifically, HRC's "get real" comments, and the statements of some of her supporters that I and my fellow Obama supporters are somehow "delusional". I'd like to share the views of a "Code Red-drinking, Volvo-driving, tennis shoe-wearing, working-to-make-a-living/there's-no-trust fund baby."

To put it simply, THIS IS AS REAL AS IT GETS!!!

I'm not good with numbers, so I don't spend a lot of time looking at the statistics of who is or is not voting for a particular candidate. The one statistic that I do find interesting is that, as was the case with the last presidential election, the higher the educational level of the individual, the more likely he/she is to vote for Barack Obama.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that people with more education are any smarter or more intelligent than those who may not have had the opportunity to continue into higher levels of education. What I am saying is that people who have had that opportunity are more likely to look at any given situation more closely, have been exposed to a wider range of views, and have had the chance to explore the world a bit more deeply. They are also more likely to look at a broader range of sources before making a decision, and are less likely to just simply take somebody else's word for something.

I don't have a college degree, but I do have education beyond high school. My work history includes being the administrative secretary for a local ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens), volunteer work for the American Cancer Society (office worker) and the local Hospice (phone solicitations), office staff and residential monitor for a half-way house for women in early recovery from drugs and alcohol, and currently, driving a motor coach/tour bus for a national carrier.

My husband is a historian, his area of expertise being the American Civil War. He has taught me a great deal. My family background includes many nationalities. Some of my ancestors were here to welcome others of my family tree to the New World. I have a thirst for knowledge and information, and having a personal history of having made some really "bone-headed" decisions in my past, I've tried to learn to get all of the information I can on any given subject before making a final decision.

I don't like "labels" that some try to put on other people, but accept that this has become a part of our society. I have been labeled "liberal," and our Greene County for Obama group's member, Birdalone, covered that topic quite eloquently in an earlier post. I consider myself to be a "moderate" since I shy away from extremists of any sort, and believe that there are AT LEAST two sides to every issue. I suppose I would classify myself as an "optimistic skeptic" in most areas, though I prefer the term "realist." I don't take any one's word for anything!

In the time leading up to this campaign, having had a chance to get to know John Edwards in the previous presidential election, he was my first choice this time around. I had still paid attention to the other candidates. I listened to HRC change her tune and tone on her stance on the War in Iraq. Since she listed her time as first lady in her resume as "experience" that qualifies her for becoming president, I took a look at what she did. I wasn't impressed, though I respect her strength. I had to take into consideration the target that she and President Clinton (who I believe was a very good president) presented to the Republican Machine, and while I don't think they deserved all the criticism they got, they certainly did give their critics a ton of ammunition.

Before his keynote speech to the Democratic Convention in 2004, I didn't know anything about Barack Obama. I set out to learn about him, and have no hesitation in saying that I have discovered him to be everything he presents himself to be. He's REAL. There's nothing fake about him, that I can find. He works toward the goals he believes in, and he believes in as I do, the promise of what our great nation can be. He is NOT just words. He puts his ideas into action, to the best of his ability. He turned out to be exactly what he first appeared to me to be.

HOPE. Despite my education and life-experience, I am puzzled by one thing. Could someone please explain to me what Hillary and her supporters seem to have against "hope"? I suspect that they wouldn't think it was such a bad thing if HRC was the one who had the ability to inspire that intangible quality in others. She doesn't have it. Yes, she has been involved in politics longer than Obama, but what does that offer? Change? Progress? Hope? I'm sorry, but that's not what I see when I look at the evidence.

I choose to make an informed decision. I choose to look at the history and the evidence for myself. I choose to cast my vote for the person who is best able to lead our country in the direction that it has been diverted from by the current administration and those who have used their power to allow them to do so. I choose the person who will bring our men and women in uniform out of Bush's bastard war, and refocus our attention on bringing to justice those who attacked our nation in 2001. I choose the person who will be a true leader and begin to work with the leaders of our neighbors in the world community, from a position of mutual respect, instead of a position of bull-headed obstinacy. I choose the person who will make affordable health care available to ALL of our citizens, without using a stick to force us into compliance. I choose the candidate who knows how to unite people in a movement to get things accomplished, without having to sell out to special interests and big business.

I choose HOPE. I choose Barack Obama.

Thanks for letting me share.



Always, Verna C.

Just given the gift of Peace Pilgrim!

Mildred Norman Ryder, AKA Peace Pilgrim

I was just given a gift by someone I don't even know, and I'd like to pass the gift on to you.

While I was reading posts in my Obama '08 groups, I came across a post about Peace Pilgrim and a quote from her. I'd never heard of her before, so I clicked the link in the message and started reading.

How amazing this woman was! What a powerful message and life! What a gift!

If you've never heard of Peace Pilgrim before, I hope you'll take a look at her story.

Always, Verna

My thoughts on "Experience"

I've been driving a charter bus all over the east coast for about five years now. Without fail, there's usually one passenger in every group who feels the need to tell me how to do my job, i.e., what routes to take, where to park, which lane to be in, etc. When I ask them how long they've been driving a passenger bus, the answer is always that they haven't, but they've been going on tours and trips on buses for years. They've never been in the seat and really have no idea what's involved in doing my job, but because they've been along on some trips in the past, they think they know how to do it. Hhhhmm.

Every time I hear Hillary or her supporters talk about all her experience, I think of my "experienced" passengers. Other than being a US Senator since 2000, she doesn't REALLY have that much more time on-the-job than Barack Obama. When you look at time in public office, Hillary actually has LESS!

Senator Obama was a state senator for eight years, and is now going on his third year as a US senator. That's a total of nearly eleven years. Mrs. Clinton, on the other hand, has been a US senator for just over seven years. Now, I'm not real good with numbers, but even I know that eleven is more than seven!

Hillary claims that because she was "along for the ride" when Bill was a governor and the president, that she somehow has more experience. Uh, yeah, okay. Let's get this straight: being ON the bus and actually DRIVING the bus are two totally different things. I mean, with whom would you rather travel...someone who's actually been doing the driving, or someone who thinks they know what to do because they've been a passenger a long time???

I'm really surprised that somebody hasn't brought this up before, and why Mrs. Clinton hasn't been called on this.

She really has to stretch to make herself look better. It seems to me that the more she tries to make herself look like the wiser choice, the more she shows character traits that make me more sure of my support for Senator Barack Obama. She also reminds me of the commercial for a popular hotel chain...

Hillary: 'My time as 1st lady makes me qualified to lead the greatest nation on the planet." Uh huh,...and I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Give me a break.

So, does America really want someone with EXPERIENCE, or someone who was simply ALONG FOR THE RIDE? For me, I think we better let Barack Obama drive.

Always, Verna

Things to do while you have a broken ankle...

While it's driving me absolutely crazy to be spending most of my time on the sofa with my foot in a boot, I have found a few things to do with my time...this blog being one of them. I thought I'd share some of them here.



My main activities revolve around the upcoming presidential elections, primaries and general. I feel very strongly that our nation needs to move in a more positive direction than it has for the past seven years...maybe longer. That's why I'm supporting Barack Obama for president. I believe he is the most promising candidate of those from which we have to choose. I also believe Senator Obama is the most honest of the candidates, and that is something we have been lacking in our current president and his administration.



If you believe as I do and would like to get involved (every single American SHOULD be involved!), please visit Senator Obama's campaign website and sign up and lend a hand. You can do this at OBAMA '08. You can find friends in your area and get involved with groups, either nationally or locally.

Another site I've been spending a bit of time on is CARE2.COM. It's another way to get involved with issues that are of concern to people who are paying attention to what's going on in our world. There are some really nice people on there, and it's a way for us to make a difference.

I feel that it's important to be an informed voter, so I've looked up a few ways to do that. A couple of sites I've found are PROJECT VOTE SMART and GOVTRACK.US. Project Vote Smart is a tool to find information on any and all of our government officials and candidates. Govtrack.us is for "tracking the 110th United States Congress", as the subtitle of the site states, and allows users to keep up-to-date on their senators and congressmen, as well as legislation and bills being considered in Congress. Very cool sites!

The other thing I've been doing is playing with my new email program, IncrediMail. It's fun and you can find lots of user created stationery, and even make your own originals. It includes stationery, notifiers, animations, sounds, e-cards, and skins. It's so fun! You can have tons of fun with the free version, or you can go all out and get the premium version. (I just HAD to, ya know.)

So, thanks for letting me ramble on a bit. Please check out some or all of the sites that I've mentioned, if you have a chance.

Always, Verna

What I've Been Up To Lately

My husband, Doug, and I have been remodeling our home. A week ago I thought I'd save him some work and change the burned out light bulb in our second floor hallway. High ceilings, an uncooperative chair, and a lack of coordination on my part resulted in a broken ankle. Ouch! I've spent a lot of time on the sofa with my laptop, reading current events, playing games, and getting more familiar with all the tools offered by Google these days. I've been having a great time, except for the pain in my leg, ankle and foot. Last night I wandered in here.

For some time now, I've been discouraged about our national condition. I listened to the sitting President as he gave us his version of the State of the Union. I didn't vote for the guy to begin with, and I've agreed with very little of what he's said and done since he got into office. I'm now to the point of just waiting him out. The one truly positive thing about this upcoming presidential election, in my opinion, is that "he" can't run again! I'm SO grateful for that fact.

My parents raised me to believe that honesty is one of the most essential values one must have. I have a real problem with dishonest people. That is exactly where all my problems with the current occupant of the White House began! I HATE being lied to, and he's done so much of it throughout the past seven years that I don't know how anyone can stand to even listen to him anymore! I just want him to have a safe trip back to the ranch...SOON!

So, I've been paying a great deal of attention to politics lately. That's probably what this blog is going to focus on for at least a while. I've been talking to people online and reading what others have to say. I've been listening to the candidates during the debates and interviews. I've been keeping an eye on the "side shows" too, and have learned a lot about the character of the candidates from the way they participate in the "game". It's totally fancinating and informative, and, sometimes, entertaining.

Let's see where this blog goes, if anywhere at all. I'm not getting too far from the sofa in the very near future, obviously. Please feel free to participate by commenting, stopping by for a chat or an email, or contributing. This is a time when everyone of us should be involved in some way or another with what's' happening in and to our nation.

Thanks for letting me share.

Always,

Verna