Should Obama Speak to Students?

The more things change….

Lessons for President Obama from FDR.

Senator Franken

This sums it up.

Robert Reich Explains Health Insurance Politics

Robert Reich is a former Secretary of Labor, a political economist,  and currently a professer at the University of California.    He is easy to understand and lays it on the line about the current situation about health insurance and federal legislation.

Citizen involvement in politics is necessary more than every four years.  This is a critical issue for all of us.  You may not agree with Reich, but his voice is one that needs to be heard.  Contact you senators and representative and let them know how you feel.

President Obama’s First 100 Days

“With the magnitude of the challenges we face right now, what we need in Washington are not more political tactics — we need more good ideas. We don’t need more point-scoring — we need more problem-solving.”    President Obama, press conference, Mar. 17, 2009

When I was very young, I always loved going to my Aunt’s house.  She had no daughters, so I was always the center of attention whenever I visited.  She also subscribed to Life Magazine.  How I loved looking at all of those wonderful photographs.  I learned so much about my nation and my world.   History and geography blended with pop culture in every issue.  I  also learned that  I wanted to be really rich when I grew up or,  at least, a movie star.

A little of that feeling showed up yesterday while flipping through Time Magazine’s behind the scene’s  photo essay on President Obama’s First 100 Days. Now I just want to be invited to ride on Air Force One.  Dinner at the White House wouldn’t be bad either.

A very balanced comparison of the Obama and Bush first hundred days appears in today’s  Christian Science Monitor’s Patchwork Nation Blog.  Worth a read.

Obama’s Economic Plan

The time before we vote is growing short.  If the crisis on Wall Street has your attention..
Obama’s economic speech

Obama’s detailed plans on the major issues.  

Besides the economy, take some time and look at all the issues.

Banned Books

“What traitors books can be! You think they’re backing you up, and they turn on you. Others can use them, too, and there you are, lost in the middle of the moor, in a great welter of nouns and verbs and adjectives.”
- Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

Banned Books Week is September 27-October 4.  Get involved. 

Here is the ABC investigative report about book banning and Wasilla, Alaska:

The Day After Labor Day

Happy Day after Labor Day to all of America’s workers. 

Hurricane Gustav has done his worst.  Having been in NOLA only six months after Katrina, I feared for the city and the people in the path of yet another storm. I remember so vividly the faces of the teenage kids.  Lots of  old eyes in those fresh faces.  It was reassuring to see that all of the governments cooperated this time. 

Lots of email from friends about the choice of Sarah Palin as McCain’s vice president.  Usually  I don’t get too worked up about vice presidential choices, but….Sarah Palin?  It boggles the mind.  I guess John is a fan of the Broadway show, Gypsy.  “You gotta have a gimmick if you wanna have a chance!”  I wonder if Palin knows how to play the trumpet?

   It’s September and school is in….                                                

http://www.evolvefish.com/fish/stickers.html

Martin Luther King’s Words for Us Today

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” — Dr. Martin Luther King jr, “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, April 1963 

I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land…Most of these people will never make the headlines and their names will not appear in Who’s Who. Yet when years have rolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvelous age in which we live — men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization — because these humble children of God were willing to suffer for righteousness’ sake. Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech (Dec 1964)

We must move past indecision to action. We must find new ways to speak for peace in Vietnam and for justice throughout the developing world, a world that borders on our doors. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight.“Conscience and the Vietnam War” in The Trumpet of Conscience (1968)

Yikes!

I was checking out the latest news online this morning and the first two faces I saw were those of Karl Rove and Larry Craig.  Is it Halloween already?  Talk about rushing the season! Pretty scary stuff.