Just callin' 'em as I see 'em tstorm. Thank you nonetheless. I hope this guy runs against anyone I wish to remain in office.

Hello BigJ
Cool down a bit
1)I never said you were naïve... talking about myself.
2)Scroll down a little bit,and you will see where Bigfoot has already corrected me...I knew that, but my brain, fingers and keyboard were not synced.
3)If it were not for Chuck Schumer the Dems would not have that Senate majority...He worked really hard as the chairman of the Senatorial campaign committee.

Get it right, the Democrats are against a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage as a whole.They vary when it comes denying civil liberties ,some favor Civil Unions.

I didn't say you didn't know the chronological order of events that led to the divide...You placed your emphasis on a few reasons and all I am saying,it goes deeper than that.

John
I agree with many of your points,but I think we are a stagnant nation, stagnant wages, stagnant innovation, stagnant energy policy,and a stagnant Congress.... If you are going to bring us together, we must sacrifice together... We should have had a War Bond,War Tax, and we should have reimplemented the draft, that way, more people have a stake in the decisions our country makes, when it comes to war.

Right now our country is broke, and no special interest group can demand government service without hurting another segment of our society.

OK John, I assumed you were talking about running for local office, it has always been my contention that race, Republican ,Democrat, conservative or liberal did not matter in the local elections.

Fix the potholes and take care of the taxpayers money by staying on budget,and not entering into brother-in- law type contracts....

At the state and national level you will deal with more social and partisan issues.....I was not offended just surprised.

Thanks Bighorn,that this three year with the emphasis on year.My goof.

But you aked" answer the question, how does Obama beat McCain?"... It would be inappropriate to list his negatives... I took full advantage...LOL

Sorry Bighorn, I don't sit at the computer 24/7;so I could not reply as soon as you would like. I thought I answered you question. And my answers are no more smart assed than many of yours. You are very testy these days.
Try some medication, it works wonders.

John--you are correct--we do need the help of others. It took me awhile to figure that out. But it is good to try to be self-reliant as possible. The probelem is--it isn't always possible, for all people.

Obama has been on the job in the senate 140 days.....most of his time as an elected U.S. Senator has been spent on the campaign trail. He has NO EXPERIENCE!!!!

He certainly knows nothing about war, defense, the military and would most likely have trouble telling you which was the pistol and which was the rifle if he had to pick.

Yes, Mike. I noticed you left out the negatives related to Obama...I'm sure others will jump on board soon and point them out.

Three Term Senator? I thought this was his first term. Are you referring to the IL Legislature?

I just accepted your challenge,answered to the best of my knowledge using, personal critique,polls,GOP leadership telling their people to vote with the Democrats if it will get them back to Washington, and biased pundits from both sides.

Unlike BigJ I realize Barack Obama is just a three term senator, and he has a lot of convincing to do...BTW I conveniently left out Obama's negatives...LOL

Wait and see if what we agree on.

Thanks for the answer, Mike. I agree your items are highly favorable for Mr. Obama. Most any Dem should be able to take the Oval Office given Mr. Bush's legacy.

But will they? We'll to watch and see....

Tstorm5, I enjoyed your post and agree with the majority of it.
Now to take up Bighorn’s challenge…Why Obama will beat McCain.
1)The GOP label has been tarnished
2)The country wants to go in a different direction
3)MCain is self-destructing.
4)Bob Barr (Libertarian) might put Georgia and Arizona in play for the Democrats
5) Obama will ride in on the current tide of the Democratic Party.
6)Obama will destroy McCain in the debates
7)Obama is for withdrawing troops from Iraq (60% agree with that) and McCain is for a longer presence.
8) Referendum against George W. Bush.
9) Wedge issues will not be a big part of this election… it's the economy
10)The electoral map has changed

Self-reliance is not voting as a ethnic or racial group ...To say white, Hispanics, African-Americans vote as a group in a local election should be offensive....It's about fixing a pothole, contracts, and budgets.

BigJ
I did read the Freedom Democratic Caucus platform you pointed out.
It's a libertarian platform using the Democratic Party as a carrier.

A little bit of history BigJ
1)Lyndon Johnson knew the Democratic Party would be split when he signed the civil rights bill. Many Southern Democrats became Republicans.
2)The new Democrat became aligned with Roe v Wade, affirmative action,and welfare. Along came Ronald Reagan and the Reagan Democrats(Republicans) were created.
3)The Democratic Party ruled for 40 years. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. They were booted out in 1994.
4)Along came Newt Gingrich with “The Contract with America”…Newt then set up a power structure with rules like no intermingling with the opposition party, and insisted that Republican legislators go home on their time off to keep them from commingling with the Democrats.. Newt discouraged bipartisanship.Tom Delay kept everyone in line(the Hammer) and drew up and got passed creative GOP districts.
5)Watergate, Bill Clinton impeachment, and the Vietnam War are the other reasons.

That old guard like Ron Emanuel, Chuck Schumer and many others are now in the camp of Barack Obama… The Democrats have a little work to do to bring in the Hillary's supporters, which they will need.

BigJ ,I am a Obama supporter, but I am not that naive to think that he didn’t use old guard Chicago politics, to beat out the likes of Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John Edwards, and Bill Richardson.

And this guy keeps threatening to run for office. Just what office do you think you would have a chance of winning? Incumbents all around the world are shuttering at the thought of BJ getting on the ticket!
What a joke!

BigJ: Why would I read a "New Society" blog from a buffoon with crappy writing skills and the amazing inability to make even a simple point in the english language?
Archie Bunker? Died before you were born.
 26 years old and ready to judge and rule the world?
POed at the world because things haven't gone your way? Your obscure ideas have merit, but your inability to rationalize them does you no justice. I suggest a GED and a few years of junior college.

As predicted....no answers from Rags...only smartass remarks.....nice. Real nice.

No wonder your candidates keep losing.

Hey Ragbird: You still didn't answer the question. One more time for the B-Team: How is your boy, Obama going to beat old geezer McCain?

YYYOUUUU SSSSTTTTOOOOLLLLEEEE TTTHHHEEE IIITTTTT BBBBUUUSSSSHHHH!!

Try another line/lie Raggedy Man

Weaker than a Bush supporter at the NAACP convention.

bighorn wrote;How did a weak knee maroon like Bush......

I knew he was an aggie!! You know how Bush beat Gore. And Kerry was swift boated by a group of liars, that included that sorry excuse for humanity T Bone Steak, I mean Pickens.

I feel better, but I am a boomer.  I don't believe anyone group is responsible for the division in this country.  There is plenty of blame to go around. But that's just me.  It's the right wing generation X crowd probably.  Or was it Y? Anyway...........Where is my flying car--damnit?

Our government does not operate as a democracy. In a true democracy, majority would always rule. We have a Constitution that sets guidelines, regardless of majority opinion. Please educate yourself before you write another 2 page post that does nothing but make you feel good.

Ok, political swamis: How did a weak knee maroon like Bush beat the Algore and Kerry in the last two elections?

BTW: Bush won: Gore went home, grew a beard, shaved his beard, and made a scifi movie. Drop the sore loser line, and I'll send you a blue dress.

Answer THAT question, and answer the question "How does Obama beat McClain"?

Any takers?

Mike: Sorry that I used the quick draw on you and used your "unholy trinity" before you got a chance to. My bad.

BJ:I suppose Mike was added to your "Most Hated List". Welcome aboard, Swami! I wish I could make sense of BJ's posts. I might agree with them if I could understand them.

They used English back in 1800 something or the other.....Back to the Future...

BigJ your history is all wrong,but I will wait until tomorrow when I have more time....
1)You are correct we are divided,but it was much more reasons than the baby boomer's
2)Hillary got 18 million votes ,so it's not like she got blown out.
3)Freedom Democrat is no better than Republican,Democrat or Libertarian ,no one size fits all.
4)No poster that I am aware of speaks in official capacity for a political party.
5) I am just as guilty as anyone for posting on political subjects.... My avatar is my signature... So be it.

This is a public forum. and I am not personally attacking anyone, name-calling, using bad language,or stating unsubstantiated information as fact... you are free to attack me and my opinions ,but I'm not a doormat.

Am I getting lectured?

Freedom fries...

I wouldn't worry too much about it John..It's an old-fashioned" You say potato, I say potato." ....Semantics....Trivia

Wow ,John sometimes being concise is better...LOL

The the Internet can be a useful tool or it can be used to convince 16% of Americans that Barack Obama is a Muslim.

You may have seen where I quoted from "The world is flat" by Tom Friedman several times. He says the same thing you are saying, but China,India,Europe and Japan are using the same technology to remain competitive, so we cannot rest on our laurels.

Self-reliance is good in theory, and we should practice it,but at the same time,we should not forget that we are only as strong as our weakest link. John Kennedy also said" a rising tide,lifts all the boats."

A might touchy today Bighorn.
A reply, and offering my own opinion is having an attitude?
I have said many times "I live and let live." ....Bill Clinton lied under oath in a civil disposition... He was impeached by the House, acquitted by the Senate (by the slimmest of margins), paid a hefty fine, and surrendered his law license...He paid for his sins, unlike some.

Gore actually won the popular vote by 600,000 votes and Kerry lost the popular vote by plenty,lost the state of Ohio by hundred thousand votes.... Those elections had a lot more to do than attitude.

I have a cause?

I have been a die-hard Democrat since 1992,but I have chastised my own party for lacking a backbone to carry out their congressional oversight duties on several occasions.

Selective anger is not denial....It's funny I directed my post to you ,and you came back with "feel free to use all the don't agree with you of being mindless minions of Hannity ,O'Reilly and Rush.".... It's 1:30 p.m. and I have am not used Fox or any of the above in my posts...A might defensive.

John, not to steal the thunder from your little nostalgic speech there, but we do not have a democratic form of government. We have a Constitutional Republic. There is a major difference.

Every President in the last 50 years has violated the Constitution.
And Clinton traded pardons for cash donations.
Interesting how selective some people are in their scrutiny.

Ok, ok, yellow dog. Keep pretending that somehow Democrats are above the lies and their own personal agendas.

That attitude is exactly what got Kerry and Gore defeated. And will defeat Obama despite his weak opponent.

Blinded by your own party loyalties. Go ahead, deny and deny....Feel free to accuse all that don't agree with you of being mindless minions of O'Reily, Hannity, and Rush.

You do your cause no good. Have a nice day

Ok, but I do not hold the president of the United States to be some sort of moral representive.... I know how to conduct myself.... Indiscretions in the White House,go way back, back in those days,the press was more discreet. I did not believe Bill Clinton on "60 minutes" ,because I knew of his womanizing,but when I heard him speak in Houston, Texas ,I knew his vision for America at that time was a lot better than Papa Bush had.....Today, we have evidence of the President of the United States committed a crime and circumvented the United States Constitution. Speaker of the House Polosi will not take up articles of impeachment. The Democrats caved when they had a chance to stop the immunity given to the telecoms for Trampling on the fourth amendment... I have seen with my own eyes,an attorney general lie to both houses,Karl Rove turned up his nose to a congressional subpoena with no repercussions...

Mike, your "they" are across all political aisles and walks. We have become a nation of low self value. Our leaders pander to your "lowest demoninator theory" to drive home their own purposes and goals. It makes me ill.
Whether it's the President getting a BJ in the Oval Office, or a gay-bashing Senator soliciting the same in an airport bathroom. Turns my stomach.
Obama or McCain=more of the same.
Perhaps we will fall so low that a true leader will emerge. Bush had his chance with 9/11, stepped up, then promptly fell to his own arrogance and "moral agenda" with Iraq. Truthfully, I'm not surprised due to his experience level and genetics.
Any more than I was surprised at the "blue dress".
Damn, I need a drink...

We are a wasteful nation, but we are so divided ,because of ideology.... We don't have that great leader with the "Morning in America" or "We can go to the moon in 10 years" to motivate us to cross that divide like you mentioned.... You would think high fuel prices would bring us together,but no they immediately went for an option that will divide us....Right or wrong that's my take.

Mike: Perhaps your view is reality, and others are that of some fantasy. That shared by our forefathers and authors of our Constitution.
Argue as we might over freedoms guaranteed and clearly stated, I can not help but think that our founders never  invisioned such a wasteful and helpless society. Maybe their, and our ideals have been corrupted beyond repair.
I hope not.

Mike, do you have anything to say about this topic, or are you unable to discuss anything other than your liberal vs. conservative argument? Libs always side with poor, and rich always side with corps? Talk about home spun theories!

Self-reliance and handouts are interchangeable... Lobbyist for the military-industrial complexes always have their hand out and our rate of return is not that great... We have created a country of dependency in Iraq, they want to get out from under our thumb ,but we create reasons for staying
there...John,it's the same old beating on the lowest common denominator, to divert our attention from the big boys. Liberals line up with the poor, conservatives with the corporations, and the middle class ends up with the invoice.

This is just another example of a culture that wants, but doesn't want to do. These people need to do what everyone else does. Either move to a town, install a private septic system, form a MUD, or incorporate as a town and levy taxes to build a water and sewer system.
This concept of self-reliance is nearly impossible to spread when we have a society that consistently wits around for the gov to do something, whether it is the responsibility of the gov, or not.

And I don't think the Astros are going anywhere this year either...except home at the end of September.

Ok, let me know about your "attack". Should I wait for the "Unholy Trinity" comments and assume those are attacks?
I enjoyed the letter and the authors comments. Refreshing in especially in our times of irresponsiblity for one's actions and fate.
And yes, across all lines and parties, Mike. BTW: I don't think you're a radical left winger.....

Never said I was an expert.
Losing your cool for nothing...I remembered in previous posts you mentioned working and living in an area,hence I said "I am pretty sure,you are aware of the conditions of this area.."..I was really saying ,you know more about that area than I do.....Sticking to area in question meant I was not commenting about the concept,rather how our values do not mean much when it comes to that area...I didn't say you strayed off topic.

I was not in attack mode.

Mike: I didn't realize you were the expert of the "colonias" of deep south Texas.

As a native of the region, I witnessed the cheapest and lowest land being offered on terms to purchasers with zero promise of the seller to provide water, drainage, sewer or septic, roads or power. My family attempted to "talk" families we knew out of buying those lands (mainly because of flooding), but were told repeatedly that the "county was going to help them out".

That mentality led to the develpment of colonias. "We" should help them out.

Sorry that my previous comment was off subject. I know you have never done such a thing (did Fox News lead me to this conclusion?).

Bighorn
Sticking to the area in question...I am pretty sure,you are aware of the conditions of this area...If the Colonia Sewage Problems were 200 miles north,that area would be condemned for health reasons... That is a case where lectures,concepts,and ideas fall on deaf ears....It is understandable that taxpayers don't want to use government money to help out this area,(it's been that way forever) ,but we should continue to just ignore it, not put out an illusion that a new concept will help.

It's like saying, Randy Wolf will bring the Astros a division crown...LOL

Well said!

A novel, archaic idea....the concept of self reliance and responsibilty.
I really enjoy those who preach that the Government is the solution!!!!", and bitch and moan that "Big Brother" is taking their rights and freedoms away
.For those of you paying attention....government is the problem, not the solution.
But then I'm a dinosauer.......

Pay for your own needs with your own money.
An interesting concept, but it has no place in this backward society of ours.