Oh, yes:

In his first television interview since the election, Mr Obama told CBS he would pull troops out of Iraq, shore up Afghanistan, and close Guantanamo Bay.

“I’m going to make sure that we don’t torture,” he said of the prison camp.

Well, good. No one should torture. That concept has been fully established, so that isn’t exactly groundbreaking. McCain would have done the same thing with Gitmo, by the way. But to spy on your own citizenry through FISA is A-Okay, even though it violates the US Constitution. Clearly, he has no problems with THAT since he VOTED for it.

Anywho, I’m no authority on morality - oh, wait a minute - yes I am! Yep, majoring in Ethics (Philosophy) as well as five years of graduate work in Ethics and theology, an internship, a residency to become a minister, and actual work as a minister as well as an honest-to-goodness moral upbringing really comes in handy sometimes! This would be just such a time, I think.

So, for Obama to make this claim to restore our “moral stature” is just laughable. I mean, really - to claim one wants to “rebuild the country’s moral stature” implies one has a MORAL base from which to do that work. I have seen blessed little evidence of that from Obama in the past two years. Heck, even longer than that, if you include how he got into the IL Senate - by screwing over the very woman (Alice Palmer) who got him into politics in the FIRST place. Well, that just goes to prove the point - he has had a “morality” problem for a while, it would seem.

There is no way I can touch on everything he has done during this entire election season, but one has to begin somewhere:

Tainting President Bill and Senator Hillary Clinton as racists. I am pretty sure that’s a violation of one of the BIG TEN: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” And that is just the beginning of the the lies Obama spread against Hillary Clinton over the past two years, though that is not just career damaging, but psychologically damaging. No matter HOW much one might know a smear is false, something of that magnitude has an effect, especially when one has spent one’s entire adult life fighting against that very cause? Yes, it is laughable, but it also tarnished them both tremendously. Yeah, what a stand-up guy. That is just ONE of the areas in which he went far beyond standard election campaigning. This false, yet lingering, attack on both of their CHARACTERS, using such a profound issue in this country, was so, so far beyond the pale of decency. Yet, not only did he use it, but he used it time and time again, then extending it to ALL Americans who did not support him. That is not the least bit “moral.”

Nor is it MORAL to demean and belittle women. To treat them as less than, as less worthy, as not on the same level, is not exactly reflective of good character. And to diminish a woman’s accomplishments all the while stealing her work and claiming it for one’s own is not ethical in any way, shape, or form.

Then there is the vast amount of caucus fraud perpetrated by Obama’s minions from Washington State to Texas. Texas alone with its 2,000+ documented complaints of caucus fraud - from intimidation, bullying, and threats, to physically being blocked out of the process. There is absolutely no way that the level of caucus fraud seen this year was a fluke, that it was not organized by the Obama campaign itself (does the term, “Obama Youth Camp” mean anything to you?). The caucus fraud that occurred was the ONLY reason Obama was even close to Hillary Clinton, who won all of the big states besides Obama’s own.

Which leads me to this the whole delegate issue. Even with Obama’s cheating at the caucuses, he and Clinton would have been only four votes apart except for one thing: taking lawfully cast, certified votes from Clinton and giving them to Obama, which he seemed to think was “fair.”

Now, I realize knowing the law does not a lawful, ethical, or moral person make. But honestly, wouldn’t one HOPE that the president-elect had any ONE of those characteristics? Is that really too much to ask? Evidently…

Ahem. And then there is ACORN. Oh, holy cow - where to even START on ACORN? Their voter registration fraud was OFF THE CHARTS this year. It couldn’t POSSIBLY have had anything to do with Obama paying them over $800,000, could it? Or that Obama actually WORKED for ACORN? Suffice it to say, ACORN was a boon to Obama, especially if voter fraud didn’t cross his moral barometer. Clearly, since he did not speak out against them, it did not seem to prick his conscience at all. Not even ACORN being investigated in sixteen states stirred him to say something against his unofficial election arm.

And how about Obama’s lack of oversight on Afghanistan? Ho can anyone claim a moral high ground when he has held NOT ONE MEETING of the Committee that oversees Afghanistan, Europe, and NATO? Do you know that Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the entire world? That families in Afghanistan are selling their CHILDREN, both boys and girls (though the girls are often “sold” as BRIDES to pay off a debt) to be able to survive?? Where has Obama been? How he can he make ANY claims to “moral stature” when he has lifted NOT ONE FINGER for Afghanistan? Not one. In fact, he USED Afghanistan as a campaign issue, which makes his inaction even worse in terms of his own character. He used them, and did absolutely nothing FOR them. Not one damn thing.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Threatening, bullying, cheating, and lying have been the hallmarks of Obama’s campaign this year, and HE is going to be the one to restore our moral stature in the world? Uh, yeah, no. He does not have the moral fortitude himself to pull that off. Not even close. Looks like four more years of Bush after all (like I’ve been sayin’…).

Riffing off of the Newsweek editors’ quesiness over the cult of personality surrounding Barack, let me just add that I too think the worshipful descriptions of Barack as a new kind of Messiah is creepy. Guys feeling a tingle up their leg when he talks, swooning women, and fawning reporters is not a healthy situation in a democracy. I was watching the BBC earlier today with the sound off. They played a clip of the former Korean dictator, Kim Il Sung, walking among his people, who cheered and wept at his very appearance. Now, I’m not saying Barack is a Korean dictator, but the mindless praise is eerily similar.

I am amused by the innocent, naive belief by many “Progressives” that their messiah has come and the new era of progressive politics is upon us. One of my Progressive friends sent me the following analysis from Think Progress claiming it is a myth that America is Center-Right:

My friend, who lives in California, was earnest and sincere in sending this along. I sent back a respons–”You have got to be shitting me?” Why? The first piece of evidence is Proposition 8. California, the so-called land of moderate progressives, passed Proposition 8 last Tuesday banning homosexual marriage. Now if that happens in California, what do you think would happen in Kentucky, Kansas or Iowa? At least on the matter of personal sexual conduct when it comes to homosexuality America is very, very conservative.

Personally, I don’t understand why conservatives want to have government regulating conduct between consenting adults. I guess I am a libertarian conservative. I believe that sexual relations between consenting adults is not the business of any government. Worrying about erecting barriers to prevent homosexual men and women from getting married is a silly distraction in a world where we have real problems before us. I am betting that Barack Obama and his team are not going to get out in front of this issue. They will follow the popular will. Rather than try to use the bully pulpit of the White House to make the case that homosexual adults are entitled to the same rights as heterosexual adults, I am betting team Obama will be silent. I think there is some more disillusion coming for the Gay/Lesbian community on this issue.

Looking for a quick withdrawal from Iraq? I don’t think that is going to happen either. In fact, look for team Obama to start making the case that the situation has changed on the ground and that the Iraqi government wants us as a partner to help rebuild their society and infrastructure. Truth is the actual substance of U.S. policy in Iraq is not likely to change. At the same time look for the boost in U.S. combat forces going to Afghanistan and continued covert cross-border raids into Pakistan.

As I noted in an earlier piece, Rahm Emanuel is no pacifist. To the contrary. He was an uber-hawk on Iraq. We are witnesses to a fascinating split in the American Jewish community. The Jewish community is no different than the Christian community. It really is not a community and represents diametrically opposed points of view. Barack Obama and Emanuel have both been backed financially by very wealthy Chicago jewish families–the Crowns and the Pritzkers. They are not in sync with the more conservative neo-cons embodied by the likes of William Kristol. They are pro-Israel but anti-likud. Prospects of war with Iran are probably reduced with this crowd.

Last year I participated in a war game looking at the future of the Middle East. The assembled experts agreed at the end of the game that the one policy move that could put Iran on the defensive would be an agreement between Syria and Israel over the Golan Heights. Up to now the Bush Administration has opposed such a move. If the Obama team goes in that direction they might get a breakthrough in the Middle East that has seemed so elusive. That would be good news and might help Obama calm the fears of his Palestinian supporters who see him stacking his Administration with prominent Jewish Americans who carry pro-Israel credentials.

What about ignoring FISA (i.e., the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act)? Now that this power is in the hands of Democrats will they relinquish it? I don’t think so. I would like to see a full restoration of FISA and a requirement that no serveillance is undertaken without having judicial review. Someone other than the Executive Branch needs to have a say in this matter.

Finally, there will be the economic policy front. Will Barack and company embark on a massive public employment program or seek to invest in the private sector and promote jobs thru some form of capitalism? If it is the former the Progressive will rejoice. But, if it is the later, Progressives will chalk up another example of a politician promising them one thing but delivering the opposite. It does look that Barack and his team recognize America is Center Right and are going to play to the element. For a guy who hung with Tony Rezko and dissed Hillary (bonehead moves in my book) Barack could establish himself as a very smart pol. We’ll see.

But as I reviewed the history of the primary and the current issues facing us, it seemed increasingly like the only ethical, pragmatic and appropriate choice.

Consider the caucus fraud, stripping of Clinton’s votes and denial of a fair and open roll call. The relentless sexism from the media and the silence from Democratic Party. Obama’s refusal to have town halls with her and then McCain. Obama’s waffling on important issues like FISA and campaign finance reform. The obscene amounts of money that Obama’s campaign has spent when people are losing their homes. Over 680 million dollars of which we know. Probably more. His lack of judgment in choosing close associates and friends. Like Jeremiah Wright. Tony Rezko. William Ayers. Khalidi.

It is clear that the Democratic Party as we knew it, the Democratic Party of my parents, no longer exists. Its leadership does not support the most basic principle of one person, one vote. And they do not support women, the majority of its membership.

Clearly, it is time to look somewhere else.

And then the economy tanked and the choice became very clear. I have never voted Republican in my life. As I began to study the issues more closely, I grew to really appreciate what John McCain has to say. He understands that you cannot tax small businesses at a high rate, as Obama is proposing. Small businesses are what drive the economy. We need and must create opportunities for Joe (and Josie!) the Plumber. What can Obama be thinking? And how does he possibly plan to pay for all of the programs he is proposing? More taxes in a struggling economy?

Nobody gets this more than the Cuban community in Miami.

Traveling much of the time in Miami with Dr. Lynette Long, the leading expert on the caucus fraud perpetuated against Hillary Clinton by Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee, we did a lot of canvassing and shaking of hands, otherwise known as retail politics. Almost everyone we met were proudly, even vehemently pro McCain. Even the seniors who didn’t speak English would shake their heads and wag their fingers when we asked them about Obama. They are suspicious of charisma and empty promises. Families who had made the treacherous journey to come to America, often leaving behind everything they knew or had owned compared Obama to Castro. “Fidel said change, too,” one young woman said whose family’s property had been seized and whose father had been imprisoned in Cuba for six years. “I don’t want socialism. I know how bad it can be. Our families want to work hard. We want opportunities, not hand outs. We love John Mccain. We trust him.” America is the land of immigrants and opportunities. In honor of these wonderful Cuban Americans who are the soul of Miami and part of the extended heart of this great country, let’s get out the vote.

Aren’t you glad I mentioned that song? Now you can have it stuck in your head all day long like I have! Ahem. Of course, I am talking about the ever-changing figure from Obama and his spokespeople on where he draws the line on being rich. First it was $250,000 (though the WSJ said it was really more like $164,500, though Obama never acknowledged that), then it was $200,000, then $150,000 (via Biden), and then yesterday Bill Richardson said $120,000 was rich. Huh - I wonder what it will really end up being should he steal the election? (And you know damn well with ACORN and Project Vote, there will be shenanigans going on because THERE ALREADY ARE!)

Here is Obama in 2003 claiming those who earn more than $70,000 are rich. The cap of the middle class just goes lower and lower. You cannot make this up. But Obama does as he goes along:

Now, I realize that to some people, $70,000 sounds like a lot of money. But if you live in a place like Boston, or NYC, or Chicago, or LA (or anywhere in CA, for that matter), it is not a lot of money. It’s all about context. And, in my neck of the woods, ALL of the businesses are small businesses, many family - owned ones. But hey - don’t take my word for it. Here’s a video for you:

Sigh - if only the DNC had not stolen the nomination from Hillary. But I digress…

It is impossible to give 95% of Americans a tax break when 40% of Americans do not pay taxes. There goes that Obama Logic again…

Here’s Joe Biden - i she once again making a gaffe by actually speaking the truth?

But get this - Obama is now claiming that people who do NOT want to be taxed more are selfish. No, I am not kidding:

Okay - it is selfish to not want more than half of your income to go to taxes. Now, let me just say right up front that I am not someone who is anti-tax. I know that we NEED taxes to pave our roads, employ our firefighters and police officers, educate our children, and care for those in need. BUT - I do not think that it one group of people should disproportionately carry another group of people. And it is absurd to even TALK about raising ANYONE’S taxes in the midst of economic difficulties. That is not new thinking - that has been accepted wisdom for decades now. How about actually collecting taxes from people and businesses who owe it? Or close loopholes for the freakin’ OIL companies?? If Exxon was having record breaking profits every single quarter for years, why should they have gotten an breaks? They sure weren’t giving US any! The point is - obviously we need tax revenue, but to burden an already burdened group of people is not the solution. There are other options available, including growing jobs, which also grows tax revenue, if you think about it.

Bottom line is that I know Obama got used to the line moving all of the time when he was running against Clinton. The media made damn sure of that. But he needs to stop moving the line, or having his surrogates do it for him. Even better, let’s make sure we don’t have to DEAL with Obama’s ever-changing tax ideas by not electing him president.

Or by allowing Obama and his minions to take the election through voter fraud. Once again, if you see any kind of fraudulent or suspicious behavior at your poling place, people wearing political buttons into the polling place, or machines flipping votes, or whatever, the McCain/Palin Team has set up a HOTLINE for suspicious voting activity. Here is the number: 866-976-VOTE. Take your cell phone with you, if you have one. Take photos if you can. Again, 866-976-VOTE. Because we don’t want to find out how low he will go with who is in the middle class (in terms of taxes - we already know how low Obama will go with sexism, promises made FISA, and broken, GLBT rights, etc., etc.)…

Car displaying McCain sticker vandalized

Saturday, October 18, 2008

CLEARWATER (Bay News 9) — A Clearwater man’s vehicle that displayed a bumper sticker supporting John McCain has been defaced in what appears to be a hate crime, authorities say.

According to authorities, 41-year-old Frank Armstrong’s 2006 Lexus LS 430 was parked on the 1400 block of Gulf Boulevard when someone or a group of people scratched the letters “KKK” into the paint and burned a U.S. Flag on the vehicle.

Authorities say those involved also used cigarettes to burn several areas of the car and apparently urinated on the car. …

Armstrong’s vehicle displayed a bumper sticker supporting the McCain campaign and another that was anti-Barack Obama leading investigators to believe the crime was racially or politically motivated.

No witnesses or surveillance video have been found.

Does everyone remember the outrage by Obama supporters, when Obama pulled a massive flip flop and voted for the FISA bill?

Well, he missed the first vote:

“Obama (conveniently?) missed the February vote on that FISA bill as he campaigned in the “Potomac Primaries,” but issued a statement that day declaring “I am proud to stand with Senator Dodd, Senator Feingold and a grassroots movement of Americans who are refusing to let President Bush put protections for special interests ahead of our security and our liberty.”

And then he promised to filibuster, but he didn’t:

“He broke faith,” said Matt Stoller, a political consultant and blogger at OpenLeft.com. “Obama pledged to filibuster, and he is part of that old politics, in this case, that he said he wasn’t. It will spur us to challenge him.”

Many Obama supporters, those who weren’t pissed at him, suddenly jumped on the FISA bandwagon:
“What had been a vicious assault on our Constitution, and corrupt complicity to conceal Bush lawbreaking, magically and instantaneously transformed into a perfectly understandable position, even a shrewd and commendable decision, that we should not only accept, but be grateful for as undertaken by Obama for our Own Good. … it’s our duty to refrain from voicing any criticism of him, because the Only Thing That Matters is that Barack Obama be put in the Oval Office, and we must do anything and everything — including remain silent when he embraces a full-scale assault on the Fourth Amendment and the rule of law — because every goal is now subordinate to electing Barack Obama our new Leader.

snip

The bill legalizes many of the warrantless eavesdropping activities George Bush secretly and illegally ordered in 2001. Those warrantless eavesdropping powers violate core Fourth Amendment protections. And Barack Obama now supports all of it, and will vote it into law. Those are just facts.

snip

Sen. Russ Feingold condemned the bill on the ground that it “fails to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans at home…”

snip

Obama’s statement warns us that we face what he calls “grave threats,” and that therefore, we must accept that our Leader needs more unlimited power, and the best we can do is trust that he will use it for our Good.”

Commenter Hume’s Ghost wrote:

What really rubbed me the wrong way was how Obama in his statement says essentially trust me with these powers, I’ll use them responsibly. Nope.

So, what does this have to do with Joe the plumber and FISA?

Amendment IV
(Privacy of the Person and Possessions)
     The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Digging dirt on Joe is a bad idea, Lee Cary:

This afternoon ABC’s Charlie Gibson reported on his hourly radio news report the results of his network diggin’ dirt on Joe the Plumber. Gibson reported that Joe has a “lien” for failing to “pay his property tax.” The lead-in, stated by a co-reporter, was “Oh, by the way, Joe…”

This is just a taste of the “Thugocracy” that Michael Barone wrote about. Criticize Obama and the old big media will work hard to ruin you. This is extremely dangerous for this democracy.

Operation Destroy Joe the Plumber- Michelle Malkin:

My syndicated column today reports on Team Obama and the Obamedia’s mission to tear down Joe the Plumber. Yes, we are in the midst of a new contagion: Joe The Plumber Derangement Syndrome. JTPDS.

Now, pay close attention to how the MSM rushes to uncover every last bit of gossip and dirt about Joe Wurzelbacher’s life. Some of it is relevant to the public policy questions he posed to Obama. Much of it is not. More here.

L.A. Times: Joe the Plumber Has Liens!!!!

The Los Angeles Times reports:

So, you know. Critical in that sense.

Democratic Underground launches a full on assault, exposing all of his personal information, rummaging through his divorce papers, and financial records, and more.

Now, I am sure you are wondering how I can blame Obama and Biden for the actions of their supporters? Well, for starters, the same way the Obama camp can blame McCain and Palin for their supporters yelling out *kill him* wrt Obama, at their rallies, even when it never even happened.

And also because Biden and Obama have gone on TV and repeatedly mocked, and insulted, and misconstrued what Joe said.

Joe: “I’m looking at buying a business” So, he doesn’t own a business now, he doesn’t make $250K now, and he won’t make $250K if he buys it, his business will earn $250K.

And here, Obama MOCKS the plumber, and then he MOCKS that McCain is *fighting for the plumber*. And then he scoffs that a plumber doesn’t make $250K a year. So, is Obama mocking the fact that McCain is fighting for the small business owner, who make less then $250K a year? Or is he mocking plumbers, in general, and that it is impossible that a plumber can make $250K a year, because they didn’t go to Harvard? I am confused on what point Obama is making…

So, back to my point. Obama has *enflamed the hatred* on Joe the Plumber. He has mocked him, humiliated him, and not spoken out to stop the insanity that has been launched by his supporters on Joe the Plumber.

Which, now thinking about how Obama voted to support FISA, a bill that “fails to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans at home…” it doesn’t surprise me.

Obama has allowed, and enflamed a full on violation and assault onto a private citizen, who just happened to be in his own home, when Obama ascended on his neighborhood. Joe the Plumber dared to ask a question of *The One*.

Barack Obama Mocks Joe The Plumber and Joe Loses His Job!

And Obama has failed to protect, or speak out for, the privacy of a law abiding American at home, by mocking him, and not speaking out.

Watch out… you know what’s next.

Amendment I
(Privacy of Beliefs)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Martin Luther King said he dreamed of a day when a person would be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. That day has obviously not arrived for Obama, his campaign and those in the DNC, who think making an issue of race and using it to try and intimidate weak minded people is the way to win the election.

— Marc Rubin, co-founder, The Denver Group

When I interviewed Marc Rubin recently, his comment opened a door to a truth many media blowhards would rather remain closed: that the media playing the race card now is just as baseless as their rapt musings about Obama were then, when ‘Obamania’ began at the start of this most bizarre and outrageously corrupt election year.

It is heartbreaking that ‘pols’ like Kansas Governor Sebelius would imply that people are not voting for Obama because they are racist. Senator Obama’s own running mate, Joe Biden, can’t quite seem to get on the bandwagon, grasping at straws to promote Obama, telling southern voters they need to vote for him because he is black.

What about voting for someone based on whether they are qualified to do the job? Isn’t that what the great Reverend King was asking for? Isn’t that what he lived and died for?

Senator Clinton just said she wanted to be judged on the merits: character, record, actions, behavior.

Well, how is Senator Obama stacking up on the ‘character’ front that Rev. King found so important? Frankly, character seems sorely lacking in Obama’s instruction to his supporters to ‘get in people’s faces’ and the mounting evidence that his campaign is behind the viral hatred directed at Governor Palin.

Biden let slip that even he thought Obama’s ‘email ad’ re McCain was hitting below the belt — then he got taken to the woodshed and Biden’s talking points have once again been ‘adjusted.’ Biden, surely not the most silver-tongued devil, has to run around making the most of a candidate it is evident even he does not know what to do with.

And now, in the midst of a horrible financial crisis, Obama’s response was, “Congress will call me if they need me.” I forgot – he is the ‘delegater’. So as the standard bearer for the Democratic Party, he wants no part of assisting in a bi-partisan solution to an incredibly serious problem. When exactly is he going to start showing off his consensus building skills on the Senate floor?

He criticized McCain for wanting to postpone the debate a few days – meanwhile McCain has been after Obama for MONTHS to have joint town hall meetings to debate the issues and Obama couldn’t be bothered. Now suddenly when he’d have to roll up his sleeves and do some work, he’d rather debate. What happened? Had he already memorized all his answers to foreign policy questions he thought he was going to be asked? Meanwhile the debate went forward as planned. What was all the fuss? A lot of posturing from Senator Obama, and little problem solving.

McCain, by actually showing he cared enough about the American people to suspend his campaign and get back to Congress and work across the aisle, as he has done many times in the past, made it clear that Obama, in contrast, is just about “me, me, me.”

Rev. King said:

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

There’s that pesky character question again.

The DNC was so sure that Senator Obama’s deep pockets and romantic rhetoric would sweep into the White House and usher in all the down ticket Dems with him. The media, along with the cowardly and corrupt DNC party leadership, got to exorcise their Clinton Derangement Syndrome as a perk, so they were more than happy to play along.

Despite the polling sample manipulations and gyrations, it is very clear that this race is too close for comfort. Historically, we know that Senator Obama over polls and he has a bad habit of not being able to close the deal.

So the media, and Obama’s campaign have fabricated a great cover story: race bias is keeping his numbers from breaking 50%, despite all his money and a fawning press. Senator McCain, who used to be a press favorite, is now, along with Gov. Palin, enjoying some of the disgusting one-sided treatment that Senator Clinton was ‘privileged’ to receive. Wait. I take that back. NOTHING could be as bad as the daily flogging Hillary had to put up with. But it’s close.

While I don’t doubt that there are people influenced by race bias in this country, clearly, we have discovered there are far more misogynists out there. The difference is, racism is not acceptable in polite society. Sexism is — the sky’s the limit! Obama used that to his advantage.

And how would Rev. King judge Senator Obama’s statement that he’s not the kind of candidate you are used to seeing on the face of a dollar bill? Obama has been playing the race card to his advantage, too. What is the content of Obama’s character that he would turn his ethnic background into a political parlor trick?

Just as is trying to avoid dealing with the current economic crisis, back in February Senator Obama was all talk, too, promising that he would filibuster on FISA if necessary. But on July 9th, it was Hillary who voted to protect the fourth amendment. She voted to stop telecom companies from having retroactive immunity on their warrantless wiretapping. Obama rolled over. So much for his filibuster on FISA.

Didn’t his thoughtless capitulation anger his supporters? To the contrary, they are furious with us for not falling in line and supporting him, no matter how skewed we think this contest was or how cowardly his behavior. I have been waiting for a real leader, with character, to emerge. Thus far, I have not seen one in Obama.

Looking back, what if Senator Obama had staged a filibuster on the floor of the Senate the morning FISA was to come to a vote?

Can you picture it? The great orator would stand and speak on behalf of the American people and fight for a righteous cause. He would look every Senator in the eye and make his case. Some of them might look at the clock, seeing lunchtime tick by as he spoke without a break. Late into the afternoon, he would not yield the floor. He’d talk himself hoarse.

And then, a woman would stand up – Joan of Arc in a pantsuit. “Have some water, Senator, yield the floor to me. I’ll keep going.” And he’d nod, and take a drink and she would continue the fight while he took a break.

If any of you have any doubt that this lady, no matter their differences, would have stood side by side with Barack to do this – you don’t know Hillary. You don’t know who she is or what she has stood for her entire life. She’d speak effectively and passionately until her voice caved. Maybe Senator Feingold would pick up the baton. How about Senator Patty Murray, perhaps Senator Shumer or any one of the 28 Senators who actually voted to protect our rights…

It wouldn’t matter. What would matter is the spectacle of Barack Obama – not necessarily leading the parade, but being one of a hard working team, willing to go down fighting for a principle.

Character.

Can you imagine it? Can you imagine the publicity? What if it went on for a couple of days? The Senate session heard around the world. A romantic notion perhaps: a good old fashioned filibuster. A bunch of well paid, well-heeled Senators willing to put something on the line and talk till they had no more spit and stand there and sweat for the American people. And then when Barack got his wind back – he would continue.

Would it even matter if he or they convinced enough Senators to vote their way?

Rev. King also said:

All labour that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.

Obama would have shown the American people and the world something much more important than making a fancy speech at the Siegessaule in Berlin or standing in front of 75,000 and some faux Greek columns at Invesco Field. He wouldn’t be playing President. He would be exhibiting real leadership.

And character.

That’s a ‘uniter.’ Someone who does more than pay lip service to a cause on a teleprompter, but a person who is actually willing to risk something for an ideal. For us. Despite his inexperience and every other reason I have not to vote for him, if I had just once seen THAT guy, I might have taken a second look. But we see on the economic crisis, he once again tried to avoid making a commitment.

A teacher of mine once said “character is as character does.” Obama’s character told him, ‘If I can’t win, I won’t fight.’ Remember how he took a powder on the voters of West Virginia and Kentucky, for example? That tells me he does not have what it takes to be the leader of the free world. It is precisely his go-along-to-get-along-pandering-throw-anyone-under-the-bus attitude that makes it clear he hasn’t the backbone to take care of me or this country.

In our interview, Marc Rubin also said that Obama’s race baiting:

[Was] a sign of desperation and reinforces the truth that Senator Obama has nothing to say and nothing to offer. We have many, many African Americans who have been elected to public office — mayors, governors, members of Congress, members of state legislatures, and none of them had to use race as a tactic to get elected. All were elected on their merits and won re-election or were defeated based on their performances. In the end the more Obama uses race the more he is telling people he has no game.

I think, Reverend King might have found this statement from African American candidate for Congress LTC Allan West appropriate:

My advice to Senator Obama is to run as a Man and Leader, and the American people will evaluate you as such, not as a victim. This is a Presidential race, based solely on a capacity to lead the United States of America. It is not about skin tone…however, perhaps we should come to expect these immature statements.

It also seems rather humorous that the Presidential candidate who was supposed to be such a “uniter” and transcend race is the one talking about it the most. If Senator Obama was confident in his abilities and character, he would not need to create a crutch for failure. Senator Obama has just tipped his hand, any criticism of him and his policies will be directly attributed to racism. I congratulate Senator Obama for taking race relations in America back some 30 years.

We see very clearly Obama’s unwillingness to go to the mat for anything. Not even the economy he promises to change. The Democratic Party is neck deep in this – doesn’t he want to clean up the corruption there, too?

Perhaps Senator Obama was terrified of returning to Washington because he would have to commit to a plan and take a stand. He cannot vote “present” as he did in the state legislature. No more lofty rhetoric. But a plan of action – NOW. And if he is wrong, he will finally be cornered, as he has avoided being cornered thus far in his political career, by avoiding tough votes and decisions. President Bush called Obama back to Congress. Harry Reid’s protestations were not enough to protect Obama from having to do his job.

On FISA, if Senator Obama had thought enough about the American people to risk taking a few days off from campaigning in order to roll up his sleeves and work, and fight, how much do you want to bet he’d have taken a giant step towards pulling in some of the 42% of Hillary supporters who refuse to vote for him?

As to the current crisis, perhaps it is once again easier to hide out and deflect blame. But playing the race card won’t help him this time.

Character is as character does.

Doesn’t quite match up to Reverend King’s standards, does it?

How are the markets doing? Where are you at on the bailout deal?

OPEN THREAD.

Up first, we have this lovely button:

For the family that prays for Obama, stays together, or something like that. Well, if what the NY Post had about Obama potentially violating the Logan Act* by attempting to delay troop withdrawal from Iraq to suit HIS political purposes is true, risking lives as a result, he’s gonna need a lot of those prayers. See, it’s illegal - some might even say TREASONOUS - for a civilian to work against a presidential administration in a foreign country. Oopsy daisy!!

Then there is this nice little bumper sticker for all you Catholics out there! You can put this right next to the sticker for your parochial school!

Oh, great! Now I know what to get my good friend, Divine Democrat! Ahem.

And finally, last but not least, there is this:

All hail, the Obama Faithful!! Oh, wait - am I misreading that? Nope, I don’t think I am. That may not be exactly what they WANTED to convey, at least consciously, but that’s about what they seem to expect from their followers - complete and utter devotion. Praise Obama - he has come to liberate us from our pesky morals, our integrity, our sense of decency and fair play! That must be the “Change” Obama promised to bring us!! Hallelujah!!

And just in case you think I am making this up, here is the letter from the Obama Camp:

Dear friends,
Great news! We now have faith merchandise available for you to show your support for Barack Obama as a person of faith.

Check out the Believers for Barack, Pro-Family Pro-Obama, and Catholics for Obama buttons, bumper stickers and signs….

Believers for Barack rally signs and bumper stickers, along with all Pro-Family Pro-Obama merchandise, are appropriate for people of all faith backgrounds. We’ll soon be rolling out merchandise for other religious groups and denominations, but I wanted to get this out to you without delay.

Take good care,

Paul Monteiro
Deputy Director of Religous (sic) Affairs
Obama for America

Oh, YAY! And God-O-Meter said there will be more to come, like “Clergy for Change.” Oh, I cannot WAIT to get one of those! Actually, yes, yes I can. Many of you will like THIS one: “Pro-Israel Pro-Obama.” I wonder how HAMAS and The Nation of Islam will feel about that one…I guess Obama can ask his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, about that.

Now some of you heathens out there might be just a bit sceptical about Obama’s reaching out to the religious among us. Some of you might just be bitterly clinging to his comments about religious folk bitterly clinging to their guns and religion. Oh, ye of little faith!! He cares about you, he really does. Didn’t you see the BUTTON?? Or the STICKER?? C’mon! Don’t play hard to get! Obama loves you, this I know! For his minions have bludgeoned me with that claim for weeks now! I mean - because he shows us in so many ways: FISA, public campaign funds, off-shore drilling, NAFTA, gun control…Oh, I could go on and on with all the ways Obama’s Words have touched our lives. Praise the One who can stop the waters rising, and slow their very movement! Now the Faithful may proudly display the object of their veneration right on their cars and their lapels! Will wonders never cease?!

But wait! There is one more left to see. This courtesy of my talented partner who wanted to make sure we were all represented. Here it is:

Step right up! Order yours today!!

* Text of the Logan Act: Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.