OpEdNews » John McCain: Morally, Mentally, and Emotionally Unfit

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Tag(s): Commander-in-chief; Creationism; Experience; Judgment; Marriage; McCain-John; McCain-John; Mentally Ill Prisoners; Military; Presidency; (more...) Reality; Republican; Schools; Torture; Torture; Women (less...)
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September 5, 2008 at 23:36:29

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Promoted to Headline (H2) on 9/5/08:
John McCain: Morally, Mentally, and Emotionally Unfit

by Jim Fetzer Page 1 of 2 page(s)

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Madison, WI (OpEdNews) – September 5, 2008 – The Republican Party has now nominated the most unqualified candidate for the Presidency in our history, with the possible exception of George W. Bush. Over his entire life-span, he has repeatedly shown that he is out of touch with reality, impulsive and reckless in his judgment, and intellectually lazy and lacking in curiosity.

You already know that he thinks you have to make $5,000,000 a year in income to be rich. How out of touch with reality is that? You already know he can't remember how many houses he and his wife own. How truly bizarre is that? At a bikers' rally, he suggested that his wife should enter the "Miss Buffalo Chip" contest, a lewd affair that includes a topless competition. Did he have any idea what he was talking about? Did he even care?

He appears to be a man who has been successful with women and uses them. He not only offered Cindy to score points at that bikers' rally but sent her off to the Republic of Georgia in a crass political stunt. His personal life displays a preference for beautiful women, especially models and beauty queens. He married a beautiful divorcee, Carol Shepp, adopted the former model's two children and had a daughter with her.

McCain has blamed the failure to his first marriage on his own selfishness and immaturity. One month after divorcing his first wife, he married Cindy Hensley, 17 years his junior. A cheerleader at USC, they both say that he lied about his age by taking off four years and she by adding four to hers. Even though she has half-siblings, she refers to herself as an "only child" and suppresses their existence. She seems to be a woman who puts appearance before reality.

According to the AP, “He’s Never Taken the Smooth Path”, Wisconsin State Journal (August 31, 2008), "McCain was lucky. Carol McCain, who had been in a crippling car accident while her husband was imprisoned in Vietnam, let him out of the marriage without theatrics or recriminations." Cindy, after all, was "the other woman." If the Christian Right cares about family values-really cares about them rather than merely talking about them when it is politically expedient-how many commandments has McCain violated here? Respect for others is the core of morality and McCain has no respect for women.

He was equally "lucky" in his professional life. Finishing near the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy, he described his experience as a "four year course of insubordination and rebellion". Calling himself a "maverick" appears to be a way to disguise his arrogance and immaturity. Given his own military history, does he even have the self-discipline to subordinate himself to the authority of the U.S. Constitution?

There are reasons to wonder. According to the AP, before he was shot down over Vietnam, he had already crashed a plane into Corpus Christi Bay, ejected from another jet that flamed out as he was flying solo, and knocked down power lines while flying too low in Southern Spain. Most stunning of all, he had survived an explosion aboard the USS Forrestal that left 134 dead.

According to Wayne Madsen, an investigative journalist, "McCain's Past Makes him a Neocon Puppet" (portlandindymedia.com, February 5, 2008), "it is believed by many crewmen and those who have investigated the case that McCain deliberately 'wet started' his A-4E to shake up the guy in the plane behind him, . . ."-as a practical joke, in other words-"[which] apparently 'cooked off' and launched a Zuni rocket from the rear F-4 that touched off the explosions and massive fire" that killed 134. "He was quickly transferred to the USS Oriskany," no doubt to avoid being savaged by shipmates. That would have been 134 counts of manslaughter.

I am a former commissioned officer in the Marine Corps. Anyone with a military background can confirm that, given his history of repeated screw-ups, McCain should have been removed from flight status and subjected to courts-martial. Had that been done, 134 lives might have been spared. I believe that did not happen only because his father and grandfather were four-star admirals and he was receiving preferential treatment.

Such success as McCain has enjoyed appears to have been based upon 5 ½ years as a POW, who was tortured by the North Vietnamese, a story which he tells at the drop of a hat, with a disarming demeanor. But there appears to be a hidden story here. What would 5 ½ years of torture by the North Vietnamese do to you or me? Surely, if the experience was as horrendous as he suggests, then it has to have left profound emotional and mental scars, an issue that has arisen in other cases.

In 1999, the McCain campaign-engaged in a contest with George W. Bush-released 1,500 pages of medical reports, which included a great deal about his mental health. They were open to public inspection. This time around, however, the campaign hesitated and delayed their release. When it finally happened, they restricted access to a few selected reporters. One of them, CBS NEWS contributor Sanjay Gupta, M.D. (cbsnews.com, May 23, 2008), observed that there was very little-almost nothing-about his psychological state. Something is wrong. Concealing information the nation needs is grossly corrupt and immoral.

It may not be Alzheimer's, but if John McCain is suffering from other serious mental problems, the American people are entitled to know. When he sang about bombing Iran-"Bomb, bomb, bomb; bomb bomb Iran"-to the tune of The Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann", that should have set off alarm bells with the national press. It has to be investigated.

Past indications of his reckless judgment have been reinforced by his choice of a transparently unqualified running mate, Sarah Palin, another beauty queen. He married a trophy wife and has now selected a trophy nominee to run with him. She is pro-life, even in the case of rape and incest, and supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

She belongs to the NRA and favors teaching creationism in the public schools. The problem is that creationism is not science and has no place in the science curriculum, as I explain in my latest book, RENDER UNTO DARWN. We need to get religion out of public schools, not put more in!

She is the governor of a large state with a small population, the former mayor of a hamlet, and-we are told-a member of the PTA. She received 115,000 votes during her election as Alaska's governor, not many more than Barack Obama drew to his acceptance speech at Mile High Stadium. The typical member of the House has more constituents.

So this 72-year old man with a history of cancer is putting an anti-environmental, anti-choice, creationist zealot-who has so little respect for other women that she does not trust them to choose for themselves about the most private matters!-just a heartbeat away from the Presidency of a nation with a population of some 300,000,000! How responsible is that?

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McKnight Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota, Duluth; Founder, Scholars for 9/11 Truth; Editor, Assassination Research.

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25 comments

Sherwin Steffin is a retired educator, and research analyst. His working career ranged from classroom teacher, university administrator, founder and CEO of two software companies, independent consultant, ending as a research statistician for a large Internet Service Provider. Although he has some mobility problems, his life continues to be productive and enjoyable. He spends his time doing online tutoring, reading writing entries in his blog, operating an online store, and dabbling a bit in ...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Sherwin SteffinSherwin Steffin is a retired educator, and research analyst. His working career ranged from classroom teacher, university administrator, founder and CEO of two software companies, independent consultant, ending as a research statistician for a large Internet Service Provider. Although he has some mobility problems, his life continues to be productive and enjoyable. He spends his time doing online tutoring, reading writing entries in his blog, operating an online store, and dabbling a bit in ...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Too bad there those who need to read this, won't

After watching the roar of the crowd at the Republican convention both Wednesday and Thursday night, and listening to comments from the man (or woman) on the street, I have to wonder whether the wall of ignorance, and unwillingness to even give the slightest consideration to documented facts, can ever be breached.

Inspecting the campaigns of both candidates, the claim made by McCain supporters that Obama is "not one of us," is really true. That he has intelligence, maturity of judgement, integrity, and all the other qualitities so lacking in the McCain/Palin ticket, sets him apart from those who make their decisions ffrom the reptilian portion of their brains,. Indeed these factors set him apart from the lemmings so happily heading for the destruction of the America we once knew and loved.

Not that it will do any good, but great article!

by Sherwin Steffin (15 articles, 26 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 103 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 9:06:13 AM

I am a soldier in the war against my children and their children. The enemies preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried, not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, no secret is revealed. I may not win, in fact I probably won't, but neither will I be silenced by those who wish to do so. Intellect is my weapon, the written word my bullets.
jeff pragerI am a soldier in the war against my children and their children. The enemies preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried, not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, no secret is revealed. I may not win, in fact I probably won't, but neither will I be silenced by those who wish to do so. Intellect is my weapon, the written word my bullets.

Songbird

Need I say more?

by jeff prager (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 186 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 9:31:05 AM

Married with three children, and three grandchildren. Former Sgt. USMC,Vietnam Veteran. Degree in Substance Abuse and Sociology,and also am a master carpenter. I am retired and a disabled Veteran. Now I mostly read and write and do some traveling with my soul mate and love of my life, my wife Pat.
Angel OcasioMarried with three children, and three grandchildren. Former Sgt. USMC,Vietnam Veteran. Degree in Substance Abuse and Sociology,and also am a master carpenter. I am retired and a disabled Veteran. Now I mostly read and write and do some traveling with my soul mate and love of my life, my wife Pat.

Not Really

Except for the fact that when Senator Obama said that Change in Washington comes from out side of Washington, Senator McCain went looking for a Moose Hunter or a Pit Bull with Lipstick.

by Angel Ocasio (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 6 comments) on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 4:03:34 PM

Retired university professor.
francineRetired university professor.

Great article

...but it leaves out some damaging items in McCain's military CV; read this:

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/cin_unfit_2.htm

by francine (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 378 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 9:44:07 AM

Joel S. Hirschhorn is the author of Delusional Democracy - Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government (www.delusionaldemocracy.com). His current political writings have been greatly influenced by working as a senior staffer for the U.S. Congress and for the National Governors Association. He advocates a Second American Revolution, beginning with an Article V Convention to propose constitutional amendments. He is Chair of the Independent Party of Maryland.
Joel S. HirschhornJoel S. Hirschhorn is the author of Delusional Democracy - Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government (www.delusionaldemocracy.com). His current political writings have been greatly influenced by working as a senior staffer for the U.S. Congress and for the National Governors Association. He advocates a Second American Revolution, beginning with an Article V Convention to propose constitutional amendments. He is Chair of the Independent Party of Maryland.

Another take on McCain

Too Old and Brain-dead

Joel S. Hirschhorn

In the over half a century that I have been politically engaged I have never seen such an unqualified presidential candidate as John McCain. There are tens of millions of Americans in their seventies and beyond that have been smart enough to become technology literate, but not McCain, who is unable to even use the Internet. The man has a medical history that makes Dick Cheney look like the picture of great health.

How anyone can still see McCain as a legitimate maverick is insane. The man has switched positions on so many key issues as to make him unbelievable on anything. He routinely says things in public that are totally false. McCain has sold his soul to get the Republican nomination and while Republicans deserve no better, Americans would be beyond stupid to vote for McCain. Yet if polls are to be believed history could repeat itself and nearly half of voters could vote for him. For me this is entirely understandable, because I find Barack Obama a clever charlatan and nothing more than another conventional, dishonest politician with exceptional eloquence and a winning smile. Is he the lesser evil compared to McCain? Sure. But that just depresses me, not motivate me to vote for him.

The contrast between the youthful Obama and the elderly McCain simply on the basis of visible physical and mental sharpness and vigor is remarkable.

Every time I see McCain he looks and sounds pathetic. Anyone who keeps repeating an insipid phrase demonstrates a complete lack of mental competence. With McCain it is constant reference to “my friends” along with his cartoon grin.

It is time to stop thanking McCain for his military service and honoring his stint as a war prisoner by giving him credit for being qualified physically and mentally to be president. We have all seen how being president ages all the men in that office. The before and after photographs of presidents convince you that the office inflicts incredible stress, even on someone as brain-dead as George W. Bush. But Bush was a relatively young man in good health. He may have escaped the price of impeachment that he richly deserves, but he has not escaped the physical deterioration produced by the presidency.

Now imagine McCain aging as all other presidents have in office. It is a frightening prospect. Something akin to some horror movie that shows a transformation from a normal human being to some frightening alien life form.

There must be some way out of this.

There is.

It is time for more Americans to face the truth about the two-party plutocracy that has robbed our political system and weakened our democracy. The one important thing that McCain and Obama have in common is that they are both products of and servants to the corrupt, dysfunctional two-party system.

Clearly, the corrupt political system has accommodated itself to only about half of eligible voters actually voting, a disgrace that hardly anyone even bothers to talk about anymore, as if a first class democracy has such a disgusted population. But this is consistent with the fact that some 84 percent of Americans see the country on the wrong track.

Though much, much more intelligent than McCain and a far better communicator, Obama is no political messiah. And to simplistically see him mainly as so much more preferable than the decrepit McCain misses the core problem. Obama will do nothing to change the corrupt, unworthy political system. He is a talker, not an agent of change, certainly not systemic political change that requires bucking the elite status quo political powers that pull the strings of the two-party plutocracy.

Make you vote count. Make it a vote against all Democratic and Republican candidates and against the two-party plutocracy that makes a mockery of our democracy, which is as fake and delusional as any in the world. The time is right for Americans to vote for third party or independent presidential and congressional candidates, not because any of them can be elected, but as an action to demonstrate through voting that they reject the two-party duopoly. Nonvoters are ignored, but we need to get on the electoral scoreboard with votes against the two-party status quo.

[Joel S. Hirschhorn can be contacted through www.delusionaldemocracy.com.]

by Joel S. Hirschhorn (135 articles, 37 quicklinks, 63 diaries, 539 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 10:32:49 AM

Politically, I lean Libertarian. When discussing issues, I will slam Dems and/or Republicans.

Now, when it comes to really irritating me, just make an unfounded charge; I will call out whomever makes the charge if there are no facts to back it up! Another version of this is when I see something that is just plainly silly/ridiculous.

An example could be something stated which could be very easily disproved. Another example, and I see this frequently: Rather tha...

to see more of bio, click on member name
steve scheetzPolitically, I lean Libertarian. When discussing issues, I will slam Dems and/or Republicans.

Now, when it comes to really irritating me, just make an unfounded charge; I will call out whomever makes the charge if there are no facts to back it up! Another version of this is when I see something that is just plainly silly/ridiculous.

An example could be something stated which could be very easily disproved. Another example, and I see this frequently: Rather tha...

to see more of bio, click on member name

As I read this, I started to laugh out loud!!

REP. MARIO BIAGGI (D-NY): In 1988 he was convicted of obstructing justice, tax evasion, conspiracy, extortion, and accepting bribes.
CORRINNE BROWN (D-FL): Failed to pay unemployment taxes to the state of Florida; sued by several airlines for unpaid bills and falsified travel reports; failed to report sale of her Tallahassee travel agency; improperly reported the sale of her Gainesville travel agency; sued by Whirlpool Corp. for unpaid bills; pursued by the IRS for $14,228 in unpaid taxes; investigations by the House Ethics Committee for possible acceptance of bribes; refused to file reports in the House about potential conflicts of interest while overseeing airlines she dealt with through her travel agencies; charged with money laundering.
REP. ALBERT BUSTAMANTE (D-TX): Convicted in 1993 of racketeering and accepting an illegal gratuity.
TONY COELHO (D-CA): Currently under investigation for fraud while serving as U.S. Commissioner General of Expo '98 in Lisbon, Portugal.* He was Al Gore's primary presidential campaign manager until he resigned citing health reasons.
REP. WES COOLEY (R-OR): Convicted of falsifying VA loan applications. Paid $7,000 in fines plus court costs, and placed on probation. Subsequently tried to gather support to get re-elected to Congress.*
REP. JERRY COSTELLO (D-IL):
REP. BOB DORNAN (R-CA): In 1983 attempted to leave Grenada with a stolen AK-47. It was confiscated by the Army and destroyed.
REP. WALTER FAUNTROY (D-DC): Financial disclosure misdemeanor (1995).
REP. BARNEY FRANK (D-MA): Accessory to a male prostitute who ran a whorehouse in their Washington townhouse.
STATE REP. ALCEE L. HASTINGS (D-FL): From the 1998 Almanac of American Politics: "He was impeached by the House of Representatives by a vote of 426-3 in 1988 and convicted and removed from office by the Senate by a vote of 69-26. The impeachment arose from allegations that Hastings conspired with a friend to accept $150,000 for giving two convicted swindlers a break in sentencing. Hastings was acquitted in a criminal trial in 1983, but the friend was convicted. In the House, the case for impeachment was made by John Conyers, senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Removed from the bench, Hastings was unapologetic."
SEN. JESSE HELMS (R-NC): In 1990, the Helms campaign sent out 125,000 postcards primarily to black North Carolina voters claiming that they might not be able to vote, and would be prosecuted for vote fraud if they tried. His campaign, the North Carolina Republican party, and four consulting and marketing firms were charged with violations of the Voting Rights Act. The Helms campaign signed an admission of guilt (claiming later that they didn't have the money to fight it in court), but Helms and his staff were never prosecuted.
REP. CARROL HUBBARD (D-KY): Convicted in 1994 of misappropriation of funds.
JAY KIM (R-CA): Convicted of accepting illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources.
REP. GERALD KLECZKA (D-WI): Convicted of DUI in 1987; arrested for DUI in 1990 and 1995.
REP. JOE KOLTER (D-PA): Fraud and conspiracy (1996).
REP. NORMAN LENT (R-NY): In 1982 tried to have fifty counterfeit Rolex watches mailed to him from Taiwan.
REP. DONALD E. "BUZ" LUKENS (R-OH): In 1989 was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
REP. NICK MAVROULES (D-MA): In 1991 pleaded guilty to charges of bribery and tax evasion.
REP. EDWARD MEZVINSKY (D-IA): Indicted in March of 2001 on federal fraud charges. Claimed that he developed mental problems after using a malaria drug called Lariam. "Clearly, the responsibility lies with the manufacturers," claimed Mezvinsky's lawyer, Michael Barrett.*
REP. JAMES MORAN (D-VA): Charged with spousal abuse, and assault and battery. A regular instigator of bar fights while mayor of Alexandria, VA, his position made him immune to arrest. Once said he thought about becoming a boxer because "I like to hit people."
REP. AUSTIN J. MURPHY (D-PA): Vote fraud, including forgery, conspiracy, and tampering with federal records (1999).*
REP. MARY ROSE OAKAR (D-OH): Charged with seven federal felonies related to financial-disclosure irregularities (1998).
SEN. BOB PACKWOOD (R-OR): Charged with sexual harassment. Oddly enough, many of the women named as harassees defended Senator Packwood.
REP. CARL PERKINS (D-KY): In 1994 pleaded guilty to filing a false financial-disclosure statement, conspiracy to file false statements with the Federal Election Commission, and bank fraud. Sentenced in March of 1995.
REP. MEL REYNOLDS (D-IL): In 1995 was convicted of having sex with a minor and obstructing justice.
CHARLIE ROSE (D-NC): Financial disclosure irregularities (1994).
REP. DAN ROSTENKOWSKI (D-IL): Illegally converted official funds to his personal use and mail fraud; accused in 1996 of embezzling $700,000 from the federal government, he was charged with 13 of the original 17 counts against him. Went to prison after serving in Congress; now back in Washington working as a lobbyist.

REP. LARRY SMITH (D-FL): In 1993 was convicted of income tax evasion and campaign-reporting violations.
REP. PAT SWINDALL (R-GA): In 1988 was convicted of perjury.
REP. JIM TRAFICANT (D-OH): Indicted on 5/4/01 by a Cleveland, OH federal grand jury for bribery, tax evasion, racketeering, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. Found guilty of all charges in April 2002.
REP. WALTER TUCKER (D-CA): Federal extortion charges; convicted of accepting $30,000 worth of bribes while a Congressman, and sentenced to 27 months in the federal penitentiary.

REP. J.C. WATTS (R-OK):
CHARLES WILSON (D-TX): In 1995 was forced to pay a $90,000 fine to the Federal Election Commission.
Number of members of Congress who escaped tickets and/or arrest from a variety of driving offenses ranging from speeding to DUI in 1999 due to Congressional immunity: 217

Number of members of Congress who were released after being pulled over for drunken driving in 1998 by claiming Congressional immunity: 84

These are just a few of the more qualified people in the halls of the legislature who sit back in judgement of everyone else.

You bring up how horrible John McCain is, YET you were more than happy to heap praise on him as he ran against the other republicans... You were MORE than happy to heap praise on him when he voted against his own party....

Before you lay down a massive amount of criticizm against John McCain, you better think long and hard about the candidate you put up for the office of president... A candidate who can not even run the finances of his own campaign...

John McCain ONLY has a chance, because the Democrats nominated the most unqualified candidate in the history of the United States! I am not going to discuss what he has done, because he has don/accomplished NOTHING...

This is by no means a praise of John McCain... John McCain in his DECADES worth of experience on "the hill" has been part of the problem, not part of the solution.

So, as you sit in Judgement, bear in mind that we are here because of a DEEPLY flawed nomination process!

Ciao, CZ

by steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 734 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 10:38:25 AM

Ida Hakim is the founder and CEO of Caucasians United for Reparations and Emancipation (CURE). Ms. Hakim co-authored and edited CURE's latest anthology, "The Debtors: Whites Respond to the Call for Black Reparations." She also co-authored and edited CURE's first book in 1994 as well as a magazine published by the organization from 1995 to 1997. She has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, and participated in panels and spoken at universities.
Ida HakimIda Hakim is the founder and CEO of Caucasians United for Reparations and Emancipation (CURE). Ms. Hakim co-authored and edited CURE's latest anthology, "The Debtors: Whites Respond to the Call for Black Reparations." She also co-authored and edited CURE's first book in 1994 as well as a magazine published by the organization from 1995 to 1997. She has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, and participated in panels and spoken at universities.

he and his vp are beyond scary

Comment from Ratings: why aren't americans MORE concerned about mccain's mental health??

by Ida Hakim (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 12:32:48 PM

A retired sales ad marketing trainer, escapee from the automobile business, who reads vorciously and writes whenever possible. The rest of the available time is spent doing woodworking or cooking. Lives in central TX, where the weather is great and politics are dubious. Usually logical and sensible but can be very cranky when assaulted by anybody leaning too far to the right and doesn't know it.
Ivan HentschelA retired sales ad marketing trainer, escapee from the automobile business, who reads vorciously and writes whenever possible. The rest of the available time is spent doing woodworking or cooking. Lives in central TX, where the weather is great and politics are dubious. Usually logical and sensible but can be very cranky when assaulted by anybody leaning too far to the right and doesn't know it.

An error

Ida, you are assuming he has some....

by Ivan Hentschel (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 280 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 3:06:54 PM

Just an ordinary nobody who's glad he took typing in 9th grade.
Alan WilliamsJust an ordinary nobody who's glad he took typing in 9th grade.

In-credible

"John McCain: Morally, Mentally, and Emotionally Unfit"

I almost blew coffee all over the screen when I read this line from a guy who believes space beams brought down the WTC towers, and no airliner hit the Pentagon. If you want to be taken seriously beyond the fringes of the Internet, Jim, your best bet is to simply renounce these ridiculous notions.

As for McCain, he's not perfect, and neither is anyone, but last time I checked the constitution, the United States was meant to be the United States, not Sweden, Canada or Great Britain. McCain at least seems to understand this basic concept, but I don't think the other guy really does.

by Alan Williams (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 776 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 12:59:16 PM

This quote summarizes the nature of my concerns and the content of personal experiences which stir my activism:

"Necessity is the plea for every infringement on human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves". --Paul Revere, House of Commons
Kathryn SmithThis quote summarizes the nature of my concerns and the content of personal experiences which stir my activism:

"Necessity is the plea for every infringement on human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves". --Paul Revere, House of Commons

Alan Williams, I wish you were right

"As for McCain, he's not perfect, and neither is anyone, but last time I checked the constitution, the United States was meant to be the United States, not Sweden, Canada or Great Britain. McCain at least seems to understand this basic concept, but I don't think the other guy really does."

McCain voted for torture in absence of habeas corpus, and specifically voted against the restoration of Habeas Corpus: What does that say about McCain's understanding of the Constitution? Are you aware that the Military Commissions Act (torture bill) for which McCain voted, makes it possible for US citizens like you and me DUBBED terrorists without any hope of ever seeing a day in court or a lawyer, can be deported and tortured based on our stripped citizenship? Just google the name of Marjorie Cohn, law professor par excellence: That is her analysis of the MCA. If you think this is what the Constitution is all about, I am afraid you are gravely mistaken.

by Kathryn Smith (105 articles, 2 quicklinks, 42 diaries, 479 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 5:19:16 PM

Just an ordinary nobody who's glad he took typing in 9th grade.
Alan WilliamsJust an ordinary nobody who's glad he took typing in 9th grade.

re: I wish you were right

I disgree with your assessment. Adjustments made in response to 9/11 are mild compared to those made after other traumatic events in the nation's history. The alternative is to ignore or minimize the threat of future terrorist attacks; I don't think the average citizen wants their government to do that. The Democrats and Obama finally supporting things like the Patriot Act and communications data-mining is evidence of that.

What I'm talking about is respect for the constitutional concept that power belongs to the people, not the government. McCain and Palin made that respect clear, and in fact generally have before during their tenures.

Contrarily, Obama speaks of larger government, shackles on the engines of the economy, national service programs and military scale-backs. I feel convinced that he's out to reduce freedoms, not protect them, although I'm sure he thinks his approach is somehow noble.

I think he's misguided as to what America's all about. And if his true ambitions are made known the the public, he'll lose.

by Alan Williams (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 776 comments) on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 1:58:57 AM

I am a white female, 60 years old, and a school teacher. I live in the midwest. I have two grown children and 4 grandchildren. I am married. My husband has early onset of Alzheimer's Disease. I love governement and politics.
Linda BaileyI am a white female, 60 years old, and a school teacher. I live in the midwest. I have two grown children and 4 grandchildren. I am married. My husband has early onset of Alzheimer's Disease. I love governement and politics.

Amen, Mr. Fetzer

Ditto and ditto........McCain's mental health is of vital importance. I've cared for many vets who suffer from psychological trauma from war. Some worse than others. McCain states he was tortured for 5 1/2 years. He received preferential medical care because he gave up certain information about his squadron, or in effect, he violated the military code. So, I am very very concerned about this man's truth telling, was he really tortured all that time or is he lying? If tortured, I am certain he has psycological effects, if not tortured, then did he lie? He tells rape "jokes"......how mentally stable is that?

by Linda Bailey (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 64 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 1:09:37 PM

Just seeking truth for my soul and justice for all sentient beings, especially the innocent and helpless. Won't be limited by self-imposed labels or cliched thinking.
FleurJust seeking truth for my soul and justice for all sentient beings, especially the innocent and helpless. Won't be limited by self-imposed labels or cliched thinking.

The Dumbing Down of Americans

Most people with a serious or terminal disease will choose a health care specialist with the best qualifications. Yet Americans are about to choose their next leader in very challenging times and it seems to be all about childish emotion, ossified old feelings and tribal instincts rather than on common sense, informed perspectives and a long term view of the future. They behave as if this is a backyard bar-b-que with beer and good times. It seems almost certain that McCain will win because too many Americans are riding along with double digit IQ's and still caught up in the dark ages. It seems as if they hate Obama more than they love themselves or their children and grand children. If so, then they deserve everything that will fall their way under McCain and Palin once the election is over and reality knocks on the door with its grim countenance. Let us see how emotional they will be when they realize that they used their two only minutes of power to vote for a mentally disturbed and emotionally absent president who holds nothing but contempt for them .....a man who hears nothing but his own voice in a warped world of delusion and cleverly hidden madness.

by Fleur (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 29 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 2:27:17 PM

The Dumbing Down of Americans

by Fleur (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 29 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 2:35:40 PM

I am a 66 yrs old Pakistani who has been working and living in the Arabian Gulf since 1965. I schooled at an American Jesuit School and colleged at a Cambridge Brotherhood College, both in India. Moved to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1964 after miraculously escaping being thrown alive into a steel mill boiler by Hindus at Jamshedpur in 1964. Moved from East to West Pakistan early 1965 after surviving a bloody language riot in Chittagong in which local Bengalis targeted Urdu speaking refugee...

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syed mahdiI am a 66 yrs old Pakistani who has been working and living in the Arabian Gulf since 1965. I schooled at an American Jesuit School and colleged at a Cambridge Brotherhood College, both in India. Moved to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1964 after miraculously escaping being thrown alive into a steel mill boiler by Hindus at Jamshedpur in 1964. Moved from East to West Pakistan early 1965 after surviving a bloody language riot in Chittagong in which local Bengalis targeted Urdu speaking refugee...

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"John Mccain: Morally, Mentally, and Emotionally Unfit"

Morally, mentally and emotionally unfit? The more 'unfit' the better for those who actually RUN the country. Morally? What about Bill Clinton & Dick Cheney, on different morals, though? Mentally? What about Gipper and Dubya, one diseased and the other the disease itself? Emotions? Emotions have no place in an Empire. Who is to blame? The people, of course. They are getting what they deserve.

by syed mahdi (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 49 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 2:56:41 PM

OK...I'm an independent childbirth educator, and I'm an advocate of independent midwifery, which currently is a felony in NYS because, as the judge who wrote the majority opinion in the challenge to the PMPA wrote (and I paraphrase): "it didn't matter that the scientific evidence is in favor of independent midwifery, because there was enough legal precedent for squashing it that the legislature might be justified in not knowing it was wrong; and it wasn't for the judge to set the record straigh...

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Jill HerendeenOK...I'm an independent childbirth educator, and I'm an advocate of independent midwifery, which currently is a felony in NYS because, as the judge who wrote the majority opinion in the challenge to the PMPA wrote (and I paraphrase): "it didn't matter that the scientific evidence is in favor of independent midwifery, because there was enough legal precedent for squashing it that the legislature might be justified in not knowing it was wrong; and it wasn't for the judge to set the record straigh...

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The people get what they deserve?

Well, perhaps the people who voted for them were...but the last two elections were STOLEN!!

by Jill Herendeen (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 141 comments) on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 4:57:53 PM