Mourning Granny's House

Don't shed too many tears
After all it's just a shell
People are to a home, what a soul is to a person
The family has been long gone
The house just sits on the corner
like an old person alone in a nursing home
neglected
empty of memories
waiting to go home
ashes to ashes
and dust to dust
the building has been caving in on itself
wishing a storm would flatten it
waiting either
for the family to come back home and live in it again
or to go home at last

Great Quote

"Anyone who is different today faces harassment, whether it is in the way he dresses, or in the position he takes on important issues. And when the price of being different is a cold fear, with good reason, then freedom as we peddle it in our international publicity releases is gone. If and when it disappears, it won't be stolen by big government, the tax collector, or the Supreme Court. Fascism will be the people's choice. It usually is. We've managed to avoid it so far only because nobody nutty enough to give the people what they want has come along. Yet. "

~Mike Royko

Great Quote

"I believe that ignorance is the root of all evil.
And that no one knows the truth."

~Molly Ivins

Great Quote

“Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they've stolen.”

~Mort Sahl

Progressives for Obama

Progressives for Obama

California state legislator Tom Hayden, long time progressive and anti-war activist responded to an article on TruthDig.com by sharing this website. http://progressivesforobama.blogspot.com

The article suggested that Democrats had lost their way, and Hayden holds (as does Air America Radio host Thom Hartman) that progressives have to stand up and take our party back, the way that conservatives did with the Republican party.

Bully

Been talking to 4th, 5th, and 7th graders about complimentary colors and made this oil pastel painting

Worrying about the future is a thing of the past

This has been tense election year, there’s a volatile atmosphere. America is involved in a long war, over which opinion is sharply divided. Hawks are critical of how it’s been handled, Doves are skeptical that it should have ever been fought at all. We are experiencing unrest and cynicism. There is racial tension. Our nation is in turmoil, and people cry out for hope and change. One man answered the call.

The year was 1968. The man is Pat Paulsen. On this day, April 24 1997, Paulson died of complications from colon and brain cancer and pneumonia in Tijuana, Mexico. But never one to let life keep him down, Paulsen is running for President again this year.

Much has been said in this campaign about experience (especially by Hillary Clinton and John McCain). Pat Paulson is the one candidate with even more experience running for President than Ralph Nader, having run for President in 1968, 1972, 1980, 1988, 1992, and 1996, and now again in 2008. Of course, he lost each of the six previous campaigns, but lets face it, we learn more from our failures than from our successes.

Last week, the publisher of this publication published a column in which he discussed how the other candidates were distant relatives and/or descendants of famous politicians and celebrities. Well Paulson knew several celebrities too, mostly because he was a frequent (weekly) guest of the now defunct ‘Smothers Brothers’ variety show on CBS (he once was asked to interview Daffy Duck for the show).

But as it turns out, he the North Cove, WA Genealogy Society (NCWGS) revealed recently that Pat Paulsen is a direct descendant of Leif Ericson, who you all know discovered America nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus laid his claim. They also found that Pat is related to Chief Sitting Bull.

These ancestral connections may have influenced Paulsen’s position on illegal immigration; “All the problems we face in the United States today,” said Paulsen, “can be traced to an unenlightened immigration policy on the part of the American Indian.

The NCWGS also uncovered that the Rev. Jesse Jackson is Paulsen’s 5th cousin, twice removed. Turns out that the family changed the spelling of their name from Jacksen to Jackson three generations ago. Most excitingly, Pat and Elvis were 3rd cousins.

Paulsen managed to garner more votes than Democratic candidate Kucinich in several precincts of Michigan’s January 15th primary. Unfortunately, he still came in third behind Hillary Clinton and “Undecided.”

“I’m not sure whether it was nostalgia or just a malaise with the useless primary,” said Lincoln Park, Michigan Mayor Frankie Vaslo, “but the Paulsen campaign ran a hard race in Lincoln Park precincts. His strong showing, I am sure, convinced Chris Dodd and Mike Gravel to gracefully exit the race.”

Like Ralph Nader, Paulsen has a way of evoking the ire and resentment of his opponents. Hubert Humphrey angrily accused of causing his loss in the 1968 election. In the same year (before his own untimely death) Bobby Kennedy called Paulsen “ruthless.”

Paulsen decided to run again after watching how divisively polarized the electorate had become. “Assuming either the Left Wing or the Right Wing gained control of the country,” explained Paulsen “ it would probably fly around in circles.” Paulsen says he considers himself “middle-of-the-bird.”

Paulson doesn’t understand all the fuss about the middle class. “What middle class? There’s only seven people left in the middle class - who cares about them?” Paulson is less concerned about poverty than the other two Democrats, “This is the richest nation in the world, and we'd be richer if it weren't for the poor people. There are people without clothes and shoes and socks and ties and handkerchiefs and hats and underwear...some of these are nudists...but, most of them are poor people.”

When asked about same sex marriages, Paulsen was resolute,“I’m for them. They will cut down on overcrowding in the schools.”

When asked if he believed that the 2nd Amendment garunteed the Right to bear arms: "No, I believe in the right to arm bears."

A recent study has revealed incredible coincidences linking Pat Paulsen to Abraham Lincoln...
* The names Paulsen and Lincoln both contain 7 letters.
* Lincoln was killed in Ford's Theatre. Paulsen once owned a Ford (Maverick).
* Lincoln was slain in the presence of his wife. Paulsen's wife nearly killed him one night (in their Lincoln).
* John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln at the theatre and hid in a warehouse. Paulsen once lived in a warehouse.
COINCIDENCE? YOU DECIDE.

Consider Hubler

http://www.hublercongress.com/about_rob.htm

Who is Rob Hubler?

1960's- A Veteran who opposes war

Served in the Navy on nuclear subs during Vietnam, 1962-69
Good Conduct Medal winner
Editor of college newspaper Parson's college in Fairfield, IA
Graduated with honors
Co-chaired Fairfield Citizens for Peace
Fairfield Chamber of Commerce "Man of the Year 1971"

1970's & 80's- Someone who knows Iowa politics

Western Iowa campaign coordinator for Dick Clark and Tom Harkin
Legislative assistant for transportation and military issues
Campaigned for John Cavanaugh (NE), Gary Hart (CO), and Paul Simon (Ill)
Entered the University of Dubuqe's Theological Seminary, 1989

1990's- Someone who lives his faith, instead of just using it to sell an agenda or to scare people with wedge issues

Presbyterian Pastor in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska
Teacher for severely disabled children in Pasadena, CA
Returned to Iowa in 2005

Hubler brings extensive experience. He believes that Iowa's 5th District deserves a Congressman who is informed, educated, thoughtful, and who will be a positive voice toward creating a more perfect union.

Please pass this email on so that voters in our district can learn more about Hubler and see that we have a real alternative to Steve King.

Visit Hubler's website to learn more for yourself:
http://www.hublercongress.com/about_rob.htm

STEVE KING GIVES NO EXPLANATION FOR NOT SUPPORTING IOWA GUARD...

http://www.hublercongress.com
Press Release: Monday, April 21 2008

Rob Hubler, Democratic candidate for Iowa's Fifth Congressional District, says the incumbent, Steve King, is obligated to elaborate on why he refused to sign a letter asking Congress' Armed Services Committees that the head of the National Guard Bureau become part of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. King is the only Iowa lawmaker in Washington whose name is not on the request.

"Now we in the Fifth District can lay claim to having the only member of the state's delegation refuse to support the brave men and women who chose to serve in Iowa's National Guard not to mention overseas in Iraq, Hubler said.

The only statement the incumbent gave for not signing on to the request is his belief that Democrats do not support U.S. troops.

"He has got to do better than just use an extreme talking point that is untrue and worn out," Hubler said." " you want to really represent the people of western Iowa, including those who wear the uniform of our armed forces, you must give a more detailed reason for such an irresponsible decision. And by the way, where is his criticism of fellow Republican lawmakers Tom Latham and Chuck Grassley who understand this is an issue that transcends party lines?"

Furthermore, this is not even an issue over the war in Iraq, it is a policy issue over the inner workings of a government office and making it more efficient," Hubler added. "This is to ensure that Iowa's guardsmen and women have a voice with the other military branches and that they receive the benefits promised to them for enlisting. As the next Representative of Iowa's Fifth District, I will bring Real Representation to those who served or are actively serving our great nation."

Hubler is a Vietnam-era veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Don't be afraid of "Elitists"

“If you think the Democrats are going to take away your bible, you’re an idiot. If you think they’re going to take away your gun, you’re an armed idiot. And if you think they’re going to take away your gun and give it to a Mexican to kill your god, you’re Bill O’Reilly.” ~ Bill Mahr

I'm not a big Bill Mahr fan, but he's got a point here.

Republicans and Democrats both 'Dead Wrong' says late entry into campaign

Associated Press - April 1, 2008 12:15 PM ET

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) - A comedian who's run for president eight times since 1968 has joined the 2008 campaign.

The punchline? Pat Paulsen died in April 1997.

To mark April's status as National Humor Month, Paulsen's hat has been thrown into the presidential ring again.

His widow and campaign manager, Noma Paulsen, has just announced the winners of the Pat Paulsen for President 2008 Campaign Slogan Contest. Among the winners was Joel Goodman of Saratoga Springs with the slogan "Pat Paulsen '08: Never Say Die!"

Goodman, director of The Humor Project Inc., has also agreed to become Paulsen's New York campaign manager.

Paulsen first launched his satiric campaign for the presidency on the stage of the "Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" in 1968.

On the Web: http://www.paulsen.com