03 September 2008

A Journalist Doing Her Job!

All she did was ask the guy a reasonable, pertainent question. He couldn't answer the question! Now, Campbell Brown is getting slammed by the Republican/McCain surrogates? What's wrong with this picture?

After all the complaints leveled at the media for being biased and for not digging into the issues, this is absolutely ridiculous. Ms. Brown was doing her job, and I applaud her for that.

16 March 2008


I'm sure everyone has heard the controversial remarks made by Rev. Wright, the pastor of the church the Obama family attends. Senator Obama addressed those remarks, and we need to make sure everyone hears what he has to say also.

Please, watch the video and then do what our next President asks...pass this video on to ever person you know. Thanks.

WE ARE THE CHANGE! YES WE CAN!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7piGy0u43c

07 March 2008

NAFTAgate New Information (Too late for Ohio)

Here's a new twist on a not-so-old theme:

Yesterday's edition of the Toronto Star reported new information on the "NAFTA-gate" story that Hillary Clinton used effectively to sway the opinion of voters in Ohio.

You recall Mrs. Clinton using the story to accuse that Barack Obama was "telling one story to Ohio" while "his campaign was telling a different story to Canada." John McCain, of course, jumped on Hillary's bandwagon, criticizing Senator Obama.

GUESS WHAT! The story in the Canadian Press now reveals that it was NOT the Obama team who was practicing double-speak. In fact, it was the Clinton campaign that was doing exactly what they had blamed on the Obama camp.

You can read the Toronto Star article here:
How Harper's Aide Sparked NAFTA Flap.

Those of you familiar with my previous posts know how I felt about the attempts of Hillary supporter and Machinist's Union leader, Tom Buffenbarger, to dismiss and stereotype Obama's supporters as "latte-drinking, Prius-driving, Birkenstock-wearing, trust fund babies." Well, it didn't surprise me that Mr. Buffenbarger was back on the attack toward Senator Obama, saying, "Working families cannot trust a candidate who telegraphs his real position to a foreign government and then dissembles in a nationally televised debate."

Paul Loeb, on the Huffington Post, states that these attacks, without question, made a difference in the outcome of the votes in Ohio. You can read his whole take on the situation here:
Did Clinton Win Ohio On A Lie?

So, it would seem that Obama lost Ohio by taking the blame for what Clinton actually did, and, in part because Ohio Machinist's Union head Tom Buffenbarger ran ads disrespecting Obama supporters and furthering the dishonesty of Clinton campaign.

Please join us in showing we are not stereotypes and that we are not going to fall for the Clinton lies, by joining The Obama Baby Club Group and posting YOUR "beverage-transport-shoe-livelihood description."

Any "latte-drinking, Prius-driving, Birkenstock-wearing, trust fund babies" are more than welcome, and so are the rest of us. Donations are appreciated, but not manditory. (Remember, Hillary is the one with the "mandate.")

There's a tough battle ahead in Pennsylvania, and it's going to take all of our determination, dedication and generosity to keep this grassroots movement going ahead. We know what's at stake, and this is just one more example of the reasons we must send Barack Obama to the White House for the next 4, better yet, 8 years.

YES WE CAN!

Always,
Verna from Waynesburg, PA (a.k.a. "Code Red Mt. Dew-drinking, old Volvo-driving, tennis shoe on one foot/brace on the other 'cause I broke the ankle a month ago-wearing, got to get back to driving the bus 'cause there's no trust fund"
Obama Baby!)

24 February 2008

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.

19 February 2008

Just given the gift of 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



18 February 2008

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