(Note: I made the "check for yourself" into a link because there is, in fact, a Snopes article about this e-mail).
Subject: OBAMA'S BACKGROUND CHECK !!!!!!
If you do not ever forward anything else, please forward this to
all your contacts...this is very scarey to think of what lies ahead of
us here in our own United States...better heed this and pray about it
and share it.
We checked this out on "snopes.com". It is factual.
Check for yourself.
Who is Barack Obama?
Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein
Obama was born in Honolulu , Hawaii , to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr.,
a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel , Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white
ATHIEST from Wichita , Kansas .
Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii . When
Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned
to Kenya . His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from
Indonesia.? When Obama was! 6 years old, the famil y relocated to
Indonesia . Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta . He also
spent two years in a Catholic school.
Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a
Muslim. He is quick to point out that, "He was once a Muslim, but
that he also attended Catholic school."
Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that?
Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this
influence was temporary at best. In reality, th e senior Obama
returned to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any
direct influence over his son's education.
Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann
Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a
Wahabi school in Jakarta
Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the
Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western
world. Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking
major public office in the United States , Barack Hussein Obama has
joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim
background. ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he
DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran.
Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected
presidential candidacy.
The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US
from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest
level - through the President of the United States , one of their own!!!!
Please forward to everyone you know. Would you want this
man le ading our country?...... NOT ME!!!
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Monday, January 07, 2008
Here’s my two cents, so that makes $6,921.02
As I have previously mentioned on this blog, virtually all of my "keeping up with the news" these days takes place in the politics section of the New York Times, with the occasional trek over to technology if I feel like expanding my wish list (I maintain that this is one step above keeping my nose buried in entertainment news). I'm not really proud of this, because such practice can cause one to miss underplayed but potentially important stories like this one about the Islamic Revolutionary Guard taking aggressive actions against U.S. Naval vessels.
However, the fact remains that if I have a newsworthy expertise, it's politics, so I've decided to go ahead and throw in my thoughts regarding the current presidential race.
I'll start out by noting that I have been an Edwards supporter throughout this election. I mean, I like Kucinich, Gravel, Biden and possibly Richardson more, but as far as the front runners go Edwards is my man, mostly because of his focus on poverty and his commitment to nuclear disarmament - and it doesn't hurt that he polls better against leading Republicans than his rivals. That said, I have to say I'll just be happy to see a Democrat in the White House.
Edwards loyalties aside, I am very excited about Obama's momentum. His positions aren't anything special to a leftist like me, but I like the fire he brings to this campaign. Frankly, in my mind, the significance of experience and policy takes a back seat to the fact that Barack Obama isn't just running a campaign: he's leading a social movement. And he is bringing the sort of passion and hope to American politics that haven't been seen since Bobby Kennedy was shot.
Also, I'm a sucker for great speeches, and while he doesn't really stand out in debates, Obama is definitely the best orator out there on either side of the party line.
As far as the Republicans go, I could probably live with McCain or Giuliani. I used to be a big fan of McCain, back when he was a maverick senator and actually had a backbone, but I'm sick of the political games he's been playing these past few years trying to shore up party support. As for Giuliani, I think he's a shifty liar, but the fact that he's being a shifty liar while trying to secure a Republican nomination leaves me feeling like his White House politics will be more liberal than, say, Fred Thompson. I'm not going to shed any tears over the Republicans getting shafted here.
Who do I not want? That other star of Iowa, Mike Huckabee. The first time I saw him debate, I liked him. I thought he had a moderating tone and a sensible outlook. And that's what makes him so dangerous: he's silver tongued, but he's a more conservative, more religious George W. Bush. Also, he lists homosexuality with pedophilia and necrophilia, he thinks international terrorism is completely unrelated to our aggressive foreign policy, and he has Chuck Norris endorsing him.
Okay, so what's going to happen? Well, I'll tell you this: I saw Barack Obama giving his (amazing) victory speech in Iowa, and I said "That is the next president of the United States." He's shrugging off Clinton's challenges about electability by, well, winning. He's inspiring. As far as I can tell, he's honest. And I think that's what people are looking for right now after seven years of Dick Cheney being our Vice President.
I'm not calling this for Obama because 87,000 Iowans liked him. That's stupid. Iowa does not and should not represent the choice of the American people. But there's no denying that he's got a lot of momentum; with a clear Iowa victory under his belt, he's already pulling ahead in New Hampshire, where just two months ago he was trailing Clinton by twenty percent. And we haven't even gotten to the real liberal urbanites yet, who I'm thinking just might swing towards a Black guy from Chicago. Also, Obama is overwhelming popular among young people, which is pretty significant this time around because he actually got them to caucus. How much easier a time will he have getting them to punch a card and be on with their day?
So yes, I think Barack Obama is going to get the nomination, even though I'd like it to be Edwards, and I wouldn't cry about Clinton either. I'm not even going to make a guess about the Republicans. Huckabee got Iowa, but he's not getting New Hampshire. Romney is still popular in some parts too, though he's getting hit pretty hard by the other Republicans. McCain finished stronger than was really expected in Iowa, and he's got a good shot at winning New Hampshire. And even though he could make evangelicals leave the party, Giuliani can't be counted out either. I will say that Fred Thompson is going to prove too boring and Ron Paul too crazy. They'll drop out.
So let's say Obama makes it to the general election. Here's where it gets dangerous, because we all know no senator has gotten elected to president since JFK. They're often seen as not having the right experience, and the nature of Senate voting leaves them open to easy, if unfair, attacks. Clinton's already after him about his vote for the USA Patriot Act after he said he'd oppose it, and according to factcheck.org there's not a lot of deception in that accusation, except maybe that she did exactly the same thing. I can see it now: Romney (for example) will be running ads blasting Obama for something like voting $300,000 to studying the reproductive habits of fish off the coast of California or something, and very few people are going to realize he's probably talking about some budget that also gave $400 billion to the military and had the support of every Republican in the Senate. I am a bit worried about Governor Huckabee beating Senator Obama.
On the other hand, Obama is very good at shrugging off attacks, and I think his positive message is going to resonate with voters. So maybe he can do it. I'll believe it. That, after all, is the audacity of hope.
However, the fact remains that if I have a newsworthy expertise, it's politics, so I've decided to go ahead and throw in my thoughts regarding the current presidential race.
I'll start out by noting that I have been an Edwards supporter throughout this election. I mean, I like Kucinich, Gravel, Biden and possibly Richardson more, but as far as the front runners go Edwards is my man, mostly because of his focus on poverty and his commitment to nuclear disarmament - and it doesn't hurt that he polls better against leading Republicans than his rivals. That said, I have to say I'll just be happy to see a Democrat in the White House.
Edwards loyalties aside, I am very excited about Obama's momentum. His positions aren't anything special to a leftist like me, but I like the fire he brings to this campaign. Frankly, in my mind, the significance of experience and policy takes a back seat to the fact that Barack Obama isn't just running a campaign: he's leading a social movement. And he is bringing the sort of passion and hope to American politics that haven't been seen since Bobby Kennedy was shot.
Also, I'm a sucker for great speeches, and while he doesn't really stand out in debates, Obama is definitely the best orator out there on either side of the party line.
As far as the Republicans go, I could probably live with McCain or Giuliani. I used to be a big fan of McCain, back when he was a maverick senator and actually had a backbone, but I'm sick of the political games he's been playing these past few years trying to shore up party support. As for Giuliani, I think he's a shifty liar, but the fact that he's being a shifty liar while trying to secure a Republican nomination leaves me feeling like his White House politics will be more liberal than, say, Fred Thompson. I'm not going to shed any tears over the Republicans getting shafted here.
Who do I not want? That other star of Iowa, Mike Huckabee. The first time I saw him debate, I liked him. I thought he had a moderating tone and a sensible outlook. And that's what makes him so dangerous: he's silver tongued, but he's a more conservative, more religious George W. Bush. Also, he lists homosexuality with pedophilia and necrophilia, he thinks international terrorism is completely unrelated to our aggressive foreign policy, and he has Chuck Norris endorsing him.
Okay, so what's going to happen? Well, I'll tell you this: I saw Barack Obama giving his (amazing) victory speech in Iowa, and I said "That is the next president of the United States." He's shrugging off Clinton's challenges about electability by, well, winning. He's inspiring. As far as I can tell, he's honest. And I think that's what people are looking for right now after seven years of Dick Cheney being our Vice President.
I'm not calling this for Obama because 87,000 Iowans liked him. That's stupid. Iowa does not and should not represent the choice of the American people. But there's no denying that he's got a lot of momentum; with a clear Iowa victory under his belt, he's already pulling ahead in New Hampshire, where just two months ago he was trailing Clinton by twenty percent. And we haven't even gotten to the real liberal urbanites yet, who I'm thinking just might swing towards a Black guy from Chicago. Also, Obama is overwhelming popular among young people, which is pretty significant this time around because he actually got them to caucus. How much easier a time will he have getting them to punch a card and be on with their day?
So yes, I think Barack Obama is going to get the nomination, even though I'd like it to be Edwards, and I wouldn't cry about Clinton either. I'm not even going to make a guess about the Republicans. Huckabee got Iowa, but he's not getting New Hampshire. Romney is still popular in some parts too, though he's getting hit pretty hard by the other Republicans. McCain finished stronger than was really expected in Iowa, and he's got a good shot at winning New Hampshire. And even though he could make evangelicals leave the party, Giuliani can't be counted out either. I will say that Fred Thompson is going to prove too boring and Ron Paul too crazy. They'll drop out.
So let's say Obama makes it to the general election. Here's where it gets dangerous, because we all know no senator has gotten elected to president since JFK. They're often seen as not having the right experience, and the nature of Senate voting leaves them open to easy, if unfair, attacks. Clinton's already after him about his vote for the USA Patriot Act after he said he'd oppose it, and according to factcheck.org there's not a lot of deception in that accusation, except maybe that she did exactly the same thing. I can see it now: Romney (for example) will be running ads blasting Obama for something like voting $300,000 to studying the reproductive habits of fish off the coast of California or something, and very few people are going to realize he's probably talking about some budget that also gave $400 billion to the military and had the support of every Republican in the Senate. I am a bit worried about Governor Huckabee beating Senator Obama.
On the other hand, Obama is very good at shrugging off attacks, and I think his positive message is going to resonate with voters. So maybe he can do it. I'll believe it. That, after all, is the audacity of hope.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Undercover operations
After a moderately successful 19-day period under the radar, I can now inform you that I am sitting on a not so comfy futon in Pirate House, North Manchester, Indiana. That's right, I'm not actually in Mexico. I had to keep you all in the dark as part of my elaborate operation to surprise my friends here on campus.
Some of them caught on, but my primary goal of making my ex-roommate Aaron flip out succeeded. So, please call, e-mail or comment if you are in North Manchester and want to hang out! If you don't get in touch with me I take no responsibility for us not spending quality time together because left to my own devices with so much to do, I'm likely to just sit on this futon and keep internetting away.
Or, if I'm really motivated, I might go to the Oaks and internet away while drinking a mocha.
So far my break has been mostly uneventful. I spent a little time with some of my friends in Goshen, but passed most of my time at home just staying in the house with my computer, my guitar, my brother, and our X-Box. The shocking life of a college student on break has now been exposed to you.
Since my blog theoretically has something to do with Mexico, I do have a couple more study-abroad related thoughts to share... I speak English. I speak a lot of English. I speak English with my American friends and my Canadian friends and, occasionally, with my Mexican friends. So any jokes about forgetting English are really not at all associated with the truth. I am, however, in social Spanish mode. By this I mean any day-to-day interactions beyond my friends are, I assume, to be conducted in Spanish. This first became apparent when I would have a thought that interested me academically and I'd imagine bringing it up in a class back at Manchester. "How would I express that in Spanish?" I find myself thinking, before realizing I don't have to. This phenomenon became all the more obvious as I traveled back to the States. If I had anything to ask of a flight attendant, a cashier, or a random person in the airport, I'd find the question forming in Spanish rather than in English. This worked in Mexico City, obviously, but it was less useful for the Dallas-Fort Wayne leg of the trip.
I could share plenty more about my travels (the stories are quite exciting and include, among other things, blinding snowstorms!) but I just secured a date for hot tea over at Elizabeth's. Hasta luego!
Some of them caught on, but my primary goal of making my ex-roommate Aaron flip out succeeded. So, please call, e-mail or comment if you are in North Manchester and want to hang out! If you don't get in touch with me I take no responsibility for us not spending quality time together because left to my own devices with so much to do, I'm likely to just sit on this futon and keep internetting away.
Or, if I'm really motivated, I might go to the Oaks and internet away while drinking a mocha.
So far my break has been mostly uneventful. I spent a little time with some of my friends in Goshen, but passed most of my time at home just staying in the house with my computer, my guitar, my brother, and our X-Box. The shocking life of a college student on break has now been exposed to you.
Since my blog theoretically has something to do with Mexico, I do have a couple more study-abroad related thoughts to share... I speak English. I speak a lot of English. I speak English with my American friends and my Canadian friends and, occasionally, with my Mexican friends. So any jokes about forgetting English are really not at all associated with the truth. I am, however, in social Spanish mode. By this I mean any day-to-day interactions beyond my friends are, I assume, to be conducted in Spanish. This first became apparent when I would have a thought that interested me academically and I'd imagine bringing it up in a class back at Manchester. "How would I express that in Spanish?" I find myself thinking, before realizing I don't have to. This phenomenon became all the more obvious as I traveled back to the States. If I had anything to ask of a flight attendant, a cashier, or a random person in the airport, I'd find the question forming in Spanish rather than in English. This worked in Mexico City, obviously, but it was less useful for the Dallas-Fort Wayne leg of the trip.
I could share plenty more about my travels (the stories are quite exciting and include, among other things, blinding snowstorms!) but I just secured a date for hot tea over at Elizabeth's. Hasta luego!
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