I'll bet you are a grouch, but your street smarts have given you the skills to sugar-coat your grouchiness, huh?

Thanks for the compliment, but I'm still in pre-school with regard to the "knowledge about life" thing.  Still learning, though.

Politics???  People hear me ranting against Bush and McCain and think I'm a Democrat.  I'm not.  I'm a "Green", and before that I was registered "Peace & Freedom Party" (way back in 1966, a year before P & F" was founded as a national party, and the same year I was drafted into the Army).

I, like many progressives, was seriously impressed and encouraged by Barack Obama .. from the time he gave his inspirational speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, until somewhat recently ... when he has apparently turned his back on his grassroot supporters and flipped on some of his promises.  One major promise was that he would vote to allow citizens to sue the telecom companies for unauthorized surveillance of our phone and internet records (Requested by the Bush administration).  That spying was illegal, and violated our Constitutional rights to privacy.  Obama recently voted to grant immunity (from lawsuits) to the telecoms.  That was total bullshit ... and I believe that had he done that before Clinton dropped out ... she would have been the Democratic candidate (she opposed immunity for the telecoms).  Anyway, Hillary was a scary proposition in her own right.  I would not have ever voted for her.

Many other things Obama has done (over the past two months) are frightening, and a betrayal of his original promises of "change and hope".  He is seeming like every other pandering, lying politician ... especially with his promises to Israel.  Another story, but little Israel truly manipulates and dictates our (U.S.) foreign policy.  Israel gets billions of our tax dollars, and AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) is the most powerful lobbying agency in the world ... it seriously influences our policies, and if ANY american politician, public figure, celebrity, etc criticizes Israel, then they are placing their political or professional futures in Jeopardy.  AIPAC will insure that that person is ruinded or that they have no political future.

I shouldn't get started on this, so I'll try to wrap it up.  I wouldn't tell anyone how to vote.  McCain will be like George W. Bush on steroids.  He's for remaining in Iraq indefinitely.  Plus he's a liar.  Obama says he wants us out in 16 months .... (he says).

Issues?   One might think the Iraq War should be number ONE, but the environment is even more critical.  The "War on Terror" is a trumped up image to generate fear, just like the "War on Drugs".  Once you have people scared, they're willing to sacrifice Constitutionally guaranteed liberties for the promise of "protection" by their government.  Terror around the world would be reduced significantly, if more value was placed in truth and justice.  90% of the Islamic nations wouldn't be becoming extremists if Israel would only stop tormenting Palestinians and gobbling up occupation lands (in violation of many UN sanctions).

The environment is what will kill our children, our grandchildren and their grandchildren.  It's serious, and we're at a point where it's about too late to fix it.  We've just got to do everything possible that we can ... starting with reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Education, health care, insurance, alternative energy ...  Stop pouring billions into a war about oil and Israel that should never have been started in the first place.  Iraq wasn't a threat to the U.S..  It wasn't even a threat to its immediate neighbors (except Israel, perhaps).  You notice that Israel was not among the "coalition of the willing" who came to join the battle or occupation of Iraq. 

I don't know what it's like in your state, but here in CA, we can cross party lines during the General Election, and vote for anyone.  Since California's electors will be voting for Obama, I'll probably vote for Ralph Nader .... the only one of the candidates who has actuall EVER done good for Americans.  My Nader vote will NOT be a vote for McCain (as some fools would like to say).  It'll be a vote of my conscience.  I ain't giving my vote to a liar.   Sadly, nearly all politicians lie.

I'm not a pacifist.  I believe in a strong national defense, but I don't believe in pre-emptive war or wars for profit.  I do not buy the claims that we're trying to establish "democracy" around the globe.  We say that until a people democratically vote in a regime we don't like, and then we throw the "democracy" bullshit out the window.  Our government (especially the one we've had for the past 7+ years) is about lies, greed and power.  I never had such an appreciation of the word "evil" in my entire life.  These fuckers are evil.

Truth is the first victim of war.

No truth, no justice .... no justice, no peace.

Speak truth to power.

Hey, you've got a computer and the internet.  The world is at your fingertips ... it's an amazing research tool, when you can learn to filter the truth from the BS.

Take care!! ... And YES, vote (for whomever).  You have a voice.  Encourage others to speak their voices.  Stay on your representatives, they're supposed to be representing YOU.

Thanks!!!!

Well, your still a grouch, but if you would break down the voting for me ..this is great..cause i Do RESPECT Half of your KNOWLEDGE about life ..like POLITICS

and I would really like to learn this stuff, and vote this year..

So for you to single out important issue's for people like me is AWESOME..and

THANK YOU

Wish'n you a wonderful day

Good for you!!!!  Thank you!!

ok done