Gore Dreams Big

Al Gore issued a challenge to America last week - to replace 100% of sources of electricity with renewable and carbon-neutral sources: wind, solar, etc. Some may view this as overly ambitious, but I agree with Bob Hebert of the New York Times that we have to set our goals high on this one.

Nobody believed we could put a man on the moon by the end of the decade when J.F.K. issued his challenge in the early 1960's, but it was done. People thought F.D.R. was not serious when he set production goals for Americans to reach at the beginning of our involvement in World War II, but we not only met those goals, but surpassed them. That is why I believe Hebert is on track with his assessment:

"The naysayers will tell you that once again Al Gore is dreaming, that the costs of his visionary energy challenge are too high, the technological obstacles too tough, the timeline too short and the political lift much too heavy.

But that’s the thing about visionaries. They don’t imagine what’s easy. They imagine the benefits to be reaped once all the obstacles The naysayers will tell you that once again Al Gore is dreaming, that the costs of his visionary energy challenge are too high, the technological obstacles too tough, the timeline too short and the political lift much too heavy. But that’s the thing about visionaries. They don’t imagine what’s easy. They imagine the benefits to be reaped once all the obstacles are overcome.
are overcome."

You can read the rest here: Op-Ed Columnist - Yes We Can - Op-Ed - NYTimes.com

A Timeline for Withdrawal in Iraq?

The Bush Administration has long shunned the idea of establishing a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, however, they took a step in that direction yesterday.

It has been difficult for Bush to maintain opposition to a timeline, since Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki called for one a couple of weeks ago.

This represents a compromise, and I might add, a compromise in the right direction. Our government needs to remember that we owe the Iraqi people a lot of things, and one of them, is being polite enough to leave when they ask us to.

Bush, in a Shift, Accepts Concept of Iraq Timeline - NYTimes.com

A Tragedy in Seattle

A very interesting story goes along with this tragedy that resulted in a man being killed in Seattle recently. As I read the story of the crime, I was reminded of so many of the strengths and weaknesses of America.

It seems though, that in the end, the man accused of the crime has done the right thing and turned himself in, because family and community stepped in to help solve a problem that could have been much uglier.

Original Story: Fatal attack at traffic circle

From today's newspaper:
Community members help broker murder suspect's surrender at Seattle church Seattle Times Newspaper

Pot raid angers medical-marijuana supporter | Seattle Times Newspaper

When good intentions go wrong - a story about how a vauge law resulted in unfortunate consequences.

Pot raid angers medical-marijuana supporter Seattle Times Newspaper

Is McCain Conservative Enough for Republicans?

I think the question ought to be whether he is too conservative for America. (Answer: Yes.)

However, he reached back over a century in a recent interview with the New York Times. He chose Teddy Roosevelt as his model. This doesn't make sense to me since TR considered himself a progressive, and ran for president in 1912 as a member of the Progressive (Bull Moose) Party. But the part of the storythat bothered me the most was:

"he declined to take a specific position when asked whether only evolution should be taught in public schools."

He can't take a position because he is running in a party where a lot of the base simply rejects science. I don't understand these folks. They live in the 21st century, use the products of science and technology everyday, but don't like the idea of a president who accepts the best wisdom the scientific community has to give us.

Please vote Obama.

The story as well as a recording of the 45 minute interview can be found at:
McCain’s Conservative Model? Roosevelt (Theodore, That Is) - NYTimes.com

Obama's Plan for Iraq

In advance of a major speech on Iraq on Tuesday, Barack Obama had an op-ed piece published in the New York Times today, outlining his intentions to withdraw the majority of American troops in Iraq within 18 months or so of his taking office. I don't think that anyone following his campaign will find anything drastically new here; unlike a lot of folks in the media, I think that his policy toward Iraq has not changed much. Check it out in his own words:

Op-Ed Contributor - My Plan for Iraq - Op-Ed - NYTimes.com

Important Supreme Court Decisions, 2007-2008 - NYTimes.com

The New York Times published these a couple of weeks ago. I guess I missed them, but good resources.

Important Supreme Court Decisions, 2007-2008 - NYTimes.com

On Court That Defied Labeling, Kennedy Made the Boldest Mark

Fourth of July!

Here are a smattering of commentaries on America, the meaning of the Fourth, patriotism, citizenship, etc.

Where is the original copy of the Delaration of Independence? That question isn't so easy to answer as described by Ted Widmer, director of the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University in a column from today's New York Times - Looking for Liberty.

Negative campaigning is almost as old as the republic itself. Edward J. Larson - The Founding Mudslingers - washingtonpost.com

Love of country among African Americans may be complicated, but it is deep and strong and honest. A Special Brand Of Patriotism - Eugene Robinson.

What Patriotism Is, and Is Not - Thursday 03 July 2008
by: Michael Winship, t r u t h o u t Perspective

"A Decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind ..."
by: Wm. Scott Harrop and R.K. Ramazani, t r u t h o u t Perspective

The Call to Service

It seems to me that both Obama and McCain have been stressing the themes of citizens engaging in service to their communities and nation. Are we entering a new era of civic engagement and civic virture? Here is a recent item on Obama's call for service:

Obama: Can We Get a Little Service Here? - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog

Death initiative petitions filed

"Death with Dignity" laws have always raised constitutional controversy, but Oregon's law has been upheld so far. Now Washington State may have a similar law, if the voters approve it. To see what WA State will have on the ballot in November, click below.

Death initiative petitions filed Seattle Times Newspaper

From the article, the following information was presented:

Modeled on Oregon's current law

*Would allow mentally competent adult residents of Washington to request and receive a prescription for a lethal dose of medication, provided that they have been diagnosed with a condition that is expected to kill them within six months.

*The request must be confirmed by two independent witnesses, a second doctor must confirm the original diagnosis, and the patient must be determined to be free from any mental condition impairing his judgment. The patient must make two requests separated in time by at least 15 days.

*Would not allow patients to sign away the decision to anyone else in the event they were to become mentally incompetent, or to give permission to anyone else to administer the medication if they became unable to do so. In short, they must make the request and take the lethal medicine themselves. Any doctor or health-care organization can opt out of providing the services.

*Law would specifically say: "Actions taken in accordance with this act do not, for any purpose, constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing, or homicide, under the law."

There are two major groups on opposing sides of the issue:

Yes on 1000: http://www.yeson1000.org/
Coalition Against Assisted Suicide: noassistedsuicide.com

Obama Comes Out in Favor of Expanded Role for Faith-Based Groups

When George Bush proposed this in the first year of his presidency, it was very controversial. Now, Obama seeks to expand the role of faith groups in providing social services by providing them with more money and a higher profile within his administration. What about keeping church and state separate? Obama believes he can do this by drawing a sharper line between the services the groups provide and their ability to spread religious doctrine in this role. Is this a reasonable plan?

Obama Seeks Bigger Role for Religious Groups - NYTimes.com

Landmark Ruling Enshrines Right to Own Guns - NYTimes.com

UPDATE - July 2nd: D.C. is considering a new law to replace the one the court struck down. They are trying to conform with the Court's ruling. D.C. Council Hears Gun Law Proposal

UPDATE: Jerry Large of the Seattle times has a well-written commentary in today's paper that criticizes the Court's decsion on practical, policy decisions, and a belief that the Constitution was meant to be interpreted in light of changing times and conditions. Check it out here.

Original Post: Not to my suprise, the U.S. Supreme Court, by a narrow majority, declared that the 2nd Amendment protects the right of individuals to own guns for self-defense and recreation. This came about in striking down a Washington D.C. ban on handguns.

The majority opinion in the case, written by Antonin Scalia, does leave a lot of room for "reasonable" restrictions on weapons however, and there is certain to be a lot of litigation in this area in the months and years to come.

Landmark Ruling Enshrines Right to Own Guns - NYTimes.com

UPDATE: Jerry Large of the Seattle times has a well-written commentary in today's paper that criticizes the Court's decsion on practical, policy decisions, and a belief that the Constitution was meant to be interpreted in light of changing times and conditions. Check it out here.

How Lies Live and Grow in the Brain - Op-Ed - NYTimes.com

Why do so many people believe misinformation? There are still people out there that think Saddam Hussein had something to do with the 9/11 attacks (he didn't). Others believe that Obama is a Muslim (he isn't). Back when Mitt Romney was in the race we saw evidence of people believing that the Mormon Church endorses polygamy (it doesn't).

Why do people believe this mis-information. Are they just stupid? A couple of psychologists offer an alternative explanation in a column that has attracted a lot of attention. Check it out.

Op-Ed Contributor - How Lies Live and Grow in the Brain - Op-Ed - NYTimes.com

Gay Marriages in California and other Constitutional News

Same-Sex Marriages Begin in CaliforniaThe Washington PostJune 17, 2008
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., June 16 -- She said, "I do," and she said, "Absolutely." More...

Groups Push to Restore Voting Rights of Virginia FelonsThe Washington PostJune 17, 2008
RICHMOND -- Civic and social organizations are teaming with Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to try to add thousands of nonviolent offenders to the voting rolls in time for the November election, a move that has angered Republicans who say the effort is designed to help Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign. More...

Suit Claims Maryland State Police Surveilled Peace ActivistsThe Baltimore Sun, MarylandJune 13, 2008
Jun. 13--The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland is suing the Maryland State Police to get records it believes may show local authorities aided the federal government in spying on peace activists during several annual protests outside the National Security Agency. More...

Bush Administration to Propose Greater Access for DisabledThe Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, Norfolk, VAJune 16, 2008
By Robert Pear More...

Noose-Hanging Teen Gets Rare PunishmentUnited Press InternationalJune 6, 2008
OVIEDO, Fla., Jun 5, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A Florida teen found guilty of putting a noose on a black family's property received an unusual sentence requiring him to attend class and study history. More...

NRA's political clout is waning - Los Angeles Times

Interesting article about 2nd Amendment rights in today's Los Angeles Times. Could it be true? The National Rifle Association has been a powerhouse in terms of lobbying and influence in Congress for years. As the Supreme Court is set to announce its decision on the Washington, D.C. gun control case, this article suggests that the NRA is not as powerful as it used to be. While I hope it is true - they have blocked so many sensible gun control measures over the years, the article maintains a big reason they have so much clout is because they have won most of the fights on the issues surrounding 2nd Amerndment rights.

Read on and see what you think:
NRA's political clout is waning - Los Angeles Times

Bush Administration P'wned by Supreme Court

In my classes, we discussed and read about this case when it went to trial back in December. If you don't remember, the case arose from a challenge to the Military Commissions Act, which basically said that inmates detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have no right to challenge their detention in U.S. Courts (only in secretive military tribunals). The act denied them the right to file habeas corpus decisions to challenge their detentions in U.S. Courts.

Bush tried to do this through an executive order earlier in his presidency, but the Court smacked down his plan. Republicans in Congress figured that if the action was sanctioned by an act of Congress, the Court would not see it as giving too much power to the executive branch.

Except for one really important thing.

It still violates the bedrock principles of due process enshrined in our Constitution and that we profess to believe in as a nation. If someone is guilty, we have to have enough faith in our justice system that the truth will prevail. Why not let them make a habeas corpus petition to U.S. Courts? It doesn't mean they are going to be set free. It just means there must be charges and enough evidence to warrant holding a prisoner.

A quote from the majority opinion of the Court written by Justice Anthony Kennedy: "Security depends upon a sophisticated intelligence apparatus and the ability of our Armed Forces to act and to interdict....Security subsists, too, in fidelity to freedom's first principles."

Read more about it:

Guantánamo detainees win right to court review csmonitor.com

Justices Rule Terror Suspects Can Appeal in Civilian Courts

The Republic on a Knife's Edge

Update - 6/14/08
Lots more commentary on the case, known as Boumediene v. Bush, has been appearing all over. Here is some:
A Blow Against Tyranny
Guantanamo detainees have constitutional rights, Supreme Court says
Early Reaction to Boumediene. by legal scholar Marty Lederman
A Victory for the Rule of the Law by Eugene Robinson
Why This Court Keeps Rebuking This President - New York Times

Hillary Endorses Barack

Below is a clip from her speech on Saturday, June 8:

Will her supporters get behind Obama? Should he choose her as his candidate for V.P.? Would they be a "dream ticket" or is there too much bad blood and "drama" that would go along with an Obama-Clinton (and Bill Clinton) ticket? Does he need a new, fresh face to go along with his theme of change? All of the political junkies out there are asking these questions.

Local News | Hundreds of new laws take effect in Washington state | Seattle Times Newspaper

The WA State Legislature adjourned a couple of months ago, but their work will be felt starting this week. Check out: Hundreds of new laws take effect in Washington state.

"Same-sex couples gain dozens of new rights, cougar hunts with dogs are expanded, and authorities will work to track gang activity statewide."

Zimbabwe Leader Has Become Petty Dictator

It is a shame that Robert Mugabe, the man who decades ago led Zimbabwe to independence from European colonialism has become a petty dictator that is jailing political opponents, stealing an election, and violating the rights of untold numbers of people. Here are a few articles on what is going on there:

Zimbabwe halts opposition rallies BBC News - The order came after police briefly detained opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai ahead of a rally in the second largest city of Bulawayo.

Death of an Activist: Zimbabwe opposition campaigner pays with his life for his beliefs

Zimbabwean opposition leader detained again International Herald Tribune

Zimbabwe: Mugabe Attempts to Woo Young Voters AllAfrica.com

Comment on the Presidential Race

Now that Hillary Rodham Clinton has withdrawn from the race, there is all kinds of talk about whether or not she will be Obama's running mate, and discussions of how voters will view the battle between McCain and Obama. There is no doubt that this has been one of the most exciting primary elections in history because, we as a people have stared down some of the most frightening ghosts from our past.

Racism and sexism have been some of the ugliest parts of our shared history, and having a woman and an African-American come this close to the highest office in the land (and probably the most powerful position in the world) is astonishing. The Constitution written by the founding generation would not have allowed Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama to even vote, much less run so successfully for public office.

As someone who has devoted a good part of my life to trying to understand our history and its meaning, it was all too clear, to paraphrase Galileo, that these two candidates were standing on the shoulders of giants. The spirits of Abigail Adams, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Abraham Lincoln, Booker T. Washington, Susan B. Anthony, W.E.B. DuBois, Alice Paul, Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Bobby Kennedy and so many others are smiling down on our nation right now. So many Americans have been a part of the struggle to fulfill the belief, penned by Jefferson in 1776, that we are all created equal. Our nation was founded upon this ideal over 230 years ago, and for so long, we have struggled to live up to it. So much has happened so quickly in this presidential race that I don't think we have really absorbed the significance of the events that have come to pass in the last year and a half.

There has been a lot of commentary out there about where this campaign will go from here, but not nearly enough time taken to really meditate on how we have gotten here.

Of course, there have been some very thoughtful comments, discussions, and analyses of what we have seen come to pass - have you read or heard any? Have you had conversations or insights from friends, parents, or relatives? Perhaps some original thoughts of your own?

Please share them with us.

Right now I'm going to read Seeing Bobby Kennedy in Barack Obama.

Hung Jury in Jewish Federation Trial

A hung jury is unusual. It only happens when the jury is deadlocked and connot reach a verdict. What happens next is that a mistrial is declared and there is a new trial. In this case the defendent, Naveed Haq, was pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. He was facing 15 criminal charges including aggravated murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, burglary, unlawful imprisonment and hate-crime charges. Due process, justice, etc. are all involved here. Read about it and let me know what you think.

Reports here and here.

World welcomes Obama win

I and many others think that a President Barack Obama is the best equipped individual to repair America's reputation around the world. A president is not only the Commander-in-Chief, but with his powers under Article II of the Constitution to negotiate treaties with other nations, is what political scientists call our "Chief Diplomat". And I think he would be the most effective Chief Diplomat we've had in a long time. Just read the reactions the world is having to his winning the nomination in this article in the Seattle Times, reprinted from the Washington Post - it begins:

"For much of the world, Sen. Barack Obama's victory in the Democratic primaries was a moment to admire the United States, at a time when the nation's image abroad is in tatters."

Read on at : Nation & World World welcomes Obama win Seattle Times Newspaper:

Bill to Cut Carbon Emissions Debated in the Senate

Will this proposal to limit carbon emissions pass the Senate? The odds aren't looking good right now. Bush has threatened a veto, and some Senate Republicans are threatening a filibuster claiming the proposal will cost too much. The Seattle Times had an editorial in favor of the new bill you may want to read.

It's Obama!

Mathematically, it is all over. Obama has all the delegates, plus (as of this writing) about 20 more than he needed to clinch the nomination. Both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama gave speeches to their supporters tonight, and I was moved by the history of all of it.

As I was watching, Hillary and then Barack speak, there were many thoughts and words that I wanted to write; about this being a milestone in American democracy. I was really proud of our country, that centuries of gender and race bias were overcome to allow both of these amazing people reach new hights of leadership. But, alas, now after dinner, discussion, and watching a lot more CNN than I really needed to, I'm too exhausted to write profoundly. Maybe I'll add to this post tomorrow when I've got more energy. (Of course, I'll be in staff meetings most of the day, and those things usually have the effect of crushing my will to live.)

In the meanwhile, you can read the NY Times coverage here: Obama Claims Nomination; First Black Candidate to Lead a Major Party Ticket - NYTimes.com

OH YEAH - I missed McCain's speech tonight. Did any of you see it? I got the impression that he may have taken some shots at Obama that the presumtive Democratic nominee that didn't go over so well with Obama supporters. Let me know if you have heard what that was all about.

I'm so psyched that Obama will be the nominee - and, if young people stay involved, the next president of the United States.

Education | The resegregation of Seattle's schools | Seattle Times Newspaper

Education The resegregation of Seattle's schools Seattle Times Newspaper

A big U.S. Supreme Court decision announced this term struck down a desegregation plan the Seattle Public School District had been using. This report in the Seattle Times discusses how Seattle's schools are much less racially balanced than they were decades ago. (It seems to me the Supreme Court ruling is a minor factor right now - it will probably have more impact next school year.) There is some interesting stuff in this article - including how many parents which there was more racial balance in their kids schools.

WA State GOP: No automatic citizenship for kids born in U.S. to illegal immigrants | Seattle Times Newspaper

Politics State GOP: No automatic citizenship for kids born in U.S. to illegal immigrants Seattle Times Newspaper

This was an interesting development over the weekend at the WA State Republican Convention. It looks like they are going to make a big issue of illegal immigration. I don't think most Washingtonians will like the idea of kids being caught up in the middle of the immigration debate - it could make the Republicans look mean-spirited. However, many people may see it the way the Republicans do. Read the article and see what you think.

Outlook for Clinton - It's almost over

Despite a big victory in Puerto Rico, Hillary Clinton is on the verge of watching her hopes for the Democratic nomination disappear as Obama seems poised to collect the majority of Democratic delegates to the National Convention. The last primaries are Tuesday in Montana and South Dakota. Bloomberg.com: Worldwide

Court Upholds the "Protect Act"

In a notable decision, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that an online child pornography law was constitutional. An earlier law was struck down in 2002 as being too vague. Read in the New York Times or the Christian Science Monitor for an understanding of how the Court balanced freedom of expression vs. the government's role in protecting children.

CA Supreme Court Okays Gay Marriage

Massachusetts and California are the only two states that currently allow gay marriages. (As opposed to civil unions, which some other states allow.) As you can see in the photo there was a lot of celebration among the California proponents of gay marriage. This story is far from over however, as those opposed to the ruling can use California's constitution to try to undo the Court's ruling. Read the following for details. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004415750_apgaymarriage.html

Does Obama Have the Nomination Locked Up?

After winning decisively in the North Carolina primary, and finishing a close second in Indiana, it looks almost impossible for Hillary Clinton to catch up to Obama. The race isn't over yet, but things continue to go Obama's way. Here is the latest:

Obama hauls in 9 superdelegates - The latest numbers are included in this article as of 3:00 pm on Friday

Cyclone Disaster in Burma/Myanmar

This is a tragedy that may get worse because the paranoid dictatorship of the nation is making it very difficult for aid agencies to get into the country. According to MSNBC:

Six days after the disaster, relief aid has been delivered to only 220,000 of an
estimated 1.9 million people in need, the Red Cross says.

Read the full article: 'Nightmare' in Myanmar aid relief

Also, for background on the military junta that runs Myanmar you can check this out: Fact file: Myanmar's junta.

Burma: Perfect example of why there is more to democracy than just holding elections

This reminds me a lot of what they used to do in the Soviet Union. Or Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Or any number of other autocratic regimes trying to masquerade as democracies.

The military government in Myanmar (also known as Burma) is holding a referendum on a new constitution in about a month. Only is won't be a fair election. Read here to find out why.

In the meanwhile, it is good that Congress is giving support to Aung San Sui Kyi.

Why Are So Many Americans in Jail?

From today's New York Times came this news:

"The United States has less than 5 percent of the world’s population. But it has almost a quarter of the world’s prisoners."

Now, I knew that the incarceration rate in this country is bad, especially for the poor and racial and ethnic minorities, but these statistics did take me by surprise.

Read more and think about due process. Inmate Count in U.S. Dwarfs Other Nations’ Tell me your thoughts.

Hillary Wins Pennsylvania

Hillary Clinton won a convincing victory in the Pennsylvania primary tonight. The 10% margin of victory will energize her supporters and campaign donors. It will also ensure that the campaign between she and Obama will continue for at least a few more weeks.

Some Democrats are getting pretty nervous that this thing hasn't been settled yet and it may make it more difficult for the Democrats in the general election in November.

What do you think?

World Food Crisis on the Horizon?

Like too many other Americans, I ate more calories worth of food than I needed today. In fact, the extra plate of pasta I had at dinner was probably bad for my long term health.

Yet, as many of us in the developed world overeat, hunger still exists in our world, and it might get a lot worse if we don't act soon. As if this world doesn't have enough problems, the World Food Program is now warning the world of a 'silent tsunami' of hunger.

Like the problem of carbon emissions and global warming, this problem shows that with over 6 billion people on the planet, we have to be smarter and more fair in how we use our resources. Read the article, and think about whether or not basic nutrition is a fundamental human right. Frankin Roosevelt gave a famous speech just prior to WWII in which he said that the "Four Freedoms" worth fighting for were freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from fear, and freedom from want. In today's news, Prime Minister Gordon Wood of Great Britain said that, "Tackling hunger is a moral challenge to each of us."

What responsibilities does the world have to make sure that all on our planet have enough to eat, and what does the article suggest can be done about it?

Death Penalty Issues at the Supreme Court

One case was decided and one case was argued on Wednesday. The Court let stand as constitutional the method of lethal injection used in Kentucky. The Court opinions were varied in the case however, not necessarily providing a lot of clarity in this area.

They also heard a case that goes to perhaps an even more controversial question: should the death penalty be applied to people convicted of crimes other than murder? Only murderers have received the death sentence in the last several decades, but the case before the court involves a particularly heinous rape of a child that did not result in death.

These involve 8th Amendment and due process issues. Read about them and let me know what you think.

ABC Newscasters: Pandering yellow journalists?

The political world has been buzzing today over the types of questions that were asked at last night's debate. For more on the criticism, see this: ABC criticized for handling of Democratic debate

If you saw the debate, or just highlights on the news or in the paper, let me know what you thought. I think you can guess my reaction.

Spring Break News

Spring Break!

It has been so nice to have time off! Sadly it comes to an end Monday morning, but I guess we wouldn't appreciate free time without work/school.

I've had computer problems and haven't posted yet this week, so I'll kind of list a few stories you might be interested in commenting on:

The Olympic Torch has drawn lots of protesters in cities around the globe. Tibetans and others concerned about human rights abuses by the Chinese government have been out in force. As a result, a lot of focus has been on Tibet's ruler-in-exile, the Dalai Lama. It is an interesting coincidence that he is here in Seattle this week at a huge event dubbed "Seeds of Compassion".

General David Patraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker testified before Congress on the state of the military operations in Iraq and the results of the surge. Bottom line - no quick end to the Iraq war.

The infamous "torture memo" of 2003 was finally released to the public in this past week. The 80-something page report by the White House legal office encouraged and endorsed as appropriate the use of many techniques of rough interrogation that are widely considered torture by human rights groups, international law, and U.S. law. The argument basically said that it was all legit in a time of war under the President's authority as commander-in-chief. That is quite a lot of reading between the lines of Article II, Section II of the Constitution. Sadly, little was done to protest the recommendations by the President's closest advisors.

The political battle for President goes on. The most interesting rumor I heard over the past week is that some are urging John McCain to choose Condoleeza Rice as his running mate. It would make for an interesting race....

Lots more has been happening, but that's all from me for now!

Enjoy the rest of Spring Break! The sun is shining this morning, and if it's not when you read this, it will be back soon. Until then, maybe this video will cheer you up!

Update: Sunday Morning -
Here are some links to stories mentioned above -

PBS Newshour News for Students
Memo Reveals Bush Administration Legal Theory on Interrogation

Coverage in the New York Times:
’03 U.S. Memo Approved Harsh Interrogations
Petraeus Urges Halt in Weighing New Cut in Force

Coverage from the Christian Science Monitor:
Amid human rights protests, a look at China's record - - Freedoms have improved tremendously in the past 25 years, but Chinese people today face plenty of red lines.
Olympic torch rallying China's critics
Petraeus to Congress: reassess Iraq before further troop cuts

Listening and Reading at NPR:
Continued Protests Plague Beijing Olympics

From the Seattle Times:
China Outraged by US-Tibet Resolution
Politics follows Dalai Lama to Seattle
Dalai Lama kicks off Seattle visit with 3 events
Compassion — and action? - Coverage of Day 2 of Dalai Lama's visit
Rossi, Gregoire raising money for governor's race at record clip

AND I really should have included something on the government's raid on the religious compound in El Dorado, Texas. The government raided the temple and arrested many in the polygamist sect that has been accused of sexual abuse of minors. Lots of constitutional issues involved here. Summary article of events here.

ALSO - Should governments help out professional sports franchises by using public money to build new stadiums and arenas? The on-going conflict with the Seattle Supersonics led to evidence this week that the team's owners have not been negotiating in good faith. Governor says we've all "been lied to" on Sonics.

McCain's Foreign Policy Speech

John McCain, not having to worry about a primary battle anymore, traveled to Iraq and other locations in the Middle East last week, and got to look very Presidential in the press coverage - a big advantage of having the nomination sewn up.

He returned and made a major policy speech on foreign policy. You can read about it in The Seattle Times. Now, I take campaign promises with a grain of salt, and I'm not sure about how McCain will specifically do these things - I didn't hear details in the report on the speech. However, foreign policy is supposed to be his strong suit and I was happy to hear him say two things:

1. He believes the U.S. needs to work to restore it's image around the world and adopt less of a "go it alone" attitude that we have seen from the Bush Administration.

"Today we are not alone," McCain said. "Our great power does not mean we
can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the
wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed."

2. He called for a reduction in nuclear arms. McCain called for U.S.-led worldwide reduction in nuclear weapons:

"We do not need all the weapons currently in our arsenal." He offered no
specifics.

3. He said that America should not torture prisoners and should close Guantanamo Bay.

Unfortunately, McCain is going to have a hard time (in my opinion) convincing the rest of the world that he is a different sort of President than Bush unless he begins to indicate that we will do things much differently in Iraq and begin to withdraw our troops from that country. Much of the world, rightly or wrongly, sees our presence there as a manifestation of American arrogance, and that won't go away until we take some meaningful action. Closing Guantanamo Bay will not be enough - we must also reduce our military presence in Iraq as soon as possible.

Violent Clashes in Iraq the Week

The overall level of violence in Iraq has been down the last few months. However, this week, new violence has emerged both in Baghdad and especially in the southern city of Basra where there have been clashes between the Iraqi security forces and militas that are loyal to a Shiite religious leader named Moqtada al-Sadr.

Sadr's forces have been observing a cease-fire for the past 7 months, but there are fears that the cease-fire may be coming apart. The militias feel they are being unfairly targeted by the Iraqi government headed by Nouri al-Maliki, who has giving the militias until the end of the week to lay down their arms. There is coverage all over the news, but a good place to start might be with the BBC, "Milita Battles Threaten Fragile Iraq", and thy have links to background reports as well to help you understand what is going on.

The Christian Science Monitor's coverage also helps you understand what is going on between the rival factions in Iraq: Basra fight widens rift among Shiite factions

Should China Be Hosting the Olympics?

I think it is a tough question. The Chinese government is steadfast in it's refusal to acknowledge or improve the human rights situation in their country. They have obstructed efforts to bring the government of Sudan to account for the atrocities in Sudan, and are blaming the Dalai Lama for what is going on in Tibet.

The fact is, though, that the Olympic Torch is making its way toward Beijing and most people would argue that it isn't fair to the athletes to pull out of the Olympics.

However, a high profile event like the Olympics does give protesters a chance to bring to the world's attention the misdeeds of the Chinese government. Exhibit A is the protest that occured this week in Greece.

How Many Have Died in Iraq?

It isn't an easy question to answer. As the official toll of U.S. military deaths creeps closer to 4,000, it is still very difficult to assess how many Iraqis have died as a result of the conflict. The British newspaper the Guardian explains in this article.

5 years of war in Iraq

I heard in the car on my way home from MRHS that at the beginning of the war on March 19, 2003, 70% of the American public was in favor of the war. I wasn't. I still have my "NO IRAQ WAR" sign in the trunk of my 1985 Honda Accord (that no longer runs).

Today, over 53% of Americans believe it was a mistake to invade Iraq. (Also, I would add that it was a clear violation of international law - look it up and decide for yourself.)

President Bush gave a speech today saying the war was the right thing to do. He claims the "troop surge" has been a success as violence is down from one year ago. Still, Iraq is a mess, and Bush says we need to stay longer to "finish the job". His poll ratings are at an all time low. (So are those of Congress.)

What are your thoughts on the war and where we go from here?

Click here for lots of good coverage, including multi-media.

Obama Gave a Very Important Speech

UPDATED POST - 6:00 pm.
If you read Kimberly's post from last week, or followed the campaign news over the weekend, you know that there has been an uproar over parts of sermons that the pastor of Barack Obama's church gave in the past.

Reverend Jeremiah Wright, the now-retired pastor, had used some very strong language critical of the United States and U.S. foreign policy. (BTW - most of these sermons were given a few years ago, before Obama became a senator. But what some people are asking is how could he attend a church with a pastor that would say such things.)

Obama gave a speech yesterday, that not only addressed his relationship with Rev. Wright, but really laid out some important issues that we are dealing with in this country. At least I thought it was a great speech. What did you think?

You can listen to it here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hisownwords/ ; read a trancript of the speech here, or read the coverage in any of the major news outlets.

I am so curious to see how America receives this speech. But I am fearful that people will not look at the complexity of the issue Obama tried to address. The intellecutally lazy will be tempted to simply retreat back into old stereotypes of what "blacks are like" and what "whites are like". Obama was calling on blacks, whites, and also Asians, Latinos, and others to try to understand each others attitudes and to reach out to one another to bridge the differences that we have inherited from a divided an ugly history of race in the U.S. It is so important for all of us to understand that history, and to understand how to use our constitutional system to make "a more perfect union".

I loved this speech not only because I support Barack's candidacy, but the message he was trying to get across is one of the goals upon which I have built my teaching career - trying to get diverse Americans to empathize with, and understand one another. Only Barack can deliver the message much more effectively and reach a lot more people than I ever will.

Tibetans Rise Up Against Chinese Rule

Peaceful protests by monks led to a violence after Chinese police harshly cracked down on them late this week.

Some video from the Associated Press has been uploaded to youtube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nAsIpm_Wvw&eurl=http://news.google.com/nwshp?hl=en&tab=wn

UPDATE:

The violence has continued, with the Chinese police cracking down hard on Buddhist monks and others who have demonstrated against the Chinese government. They are accusing the Dalai Lama of orchestrating the protests.

The Communist Party that controls China is not only cruel, but foolish, and an embarassment to itself. Denying basic political freedoms to 1/6 of the world's population will never make them great leaders.

The question for us, is how do we stand in solidarity with Chinese dissidents and hold the government accountable?

Here are some links to coverage of this important story:

Tourist video shows riot, flames in Tibetan capital (from CNN with Video)

Police keep tight lid on Tibet after protests
The region sees its biggest demonstrations in 20 years.

China blocks YouTube, reporters over Tibet news
Broad Internet controls have blocked YouTube and most chat rooms.

Why Tibetan monks are protesting now
The Olympics in China offer Tibetans a chance to draw world attention to human rights issues.

For Beijing, Tibet threat is 'life and death'
Officials say exiled leaders seek independence to break up China.

Q&A: China and Tibet

Profile: The Dalai Lama

more on obama

(CNN) — Barack Obama's Chicago minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, is under fresh scrutiny, after an ABC News report Thursday shed light on some of his controversial sermons.
In one delivered last December, Wright argues Hillary Clinton's road to the White House is considerably easier than Barack Obama's because of his skin color.
"Hillary was not a black boy raised in a single parent home. Barack was," Wright says in a video of the sermon posted on YouTube.
"Barack knows what it means to be a black man living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich white people. Hillary! Hillary ain't never been called a 'nigger!' Hillary has never had her people defined as a non-person," a fiery Wright also says.
Wright, who retired from his post earlier this year, also is seen saying in the video, "Who cares about what a poor black man has to face every day in a country and in a culture controlled by rich white people?"
Wright's sermon shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorism attacks is also under scrutiny, during which he said America had brought on the attacks with its own practice of terrorism.
"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," he says. "We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant. Because the stuff we have done overseas has now brought right back into our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost."
Obama and Wright have long been close. Obama has been a member of Wright's church since his days in law school, and Obama's bestselling book, The Audacity of Hope, takes its title from one of Wright's sermons. Wright also married the Obamas and baptized their two children.
But Obama has long maintained he is at odds with some of Wright's sermons, and has likened him to an "old uncle" who sometimes will say things he doesn't agree with. He has also specifically denounced Wright's 9/11 comments.
An Obama campaign spokesman also said Thursday the Illinois senator "deplores divisive statements whether they come from his supporters, the supporters of his opponent, talk radio, or anywhere else."
UPDATE: Speaking with the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Obama said, "I profoundly disagree with some of these statements."
"Here is what happens when you just cherry-pick statements from a guy who had a 40-year career as a pastor. There are times when people say things that are just wrong. But I think it's important to judge me on what I've said in the past and what I believe," he also said.






so i'll post alot about obama usually because he is definitely who i want to be pres =D . anyway i hate how people are judging him on what his pastor said not what he believes. its not fair to him. why should it even matter in the first place. anyway let me know your thoughts =D

No Random Student Drug Testing in Our State!

Article in this morning's Seattle Times. I gotta go get ready for work, and can't comment in depth, but as someone who prizes civil liberties, I'm happy to see our WA State Supreme Court make this ruling. A great example of individual liberties vs. promoting the general welfare, with regard to search and seizure.

Woo-Hoo!

I found my glasses!

PS - this post doesn't count for current events.

The other thing about Spitzer

The question many people are asking is "What was he thinking?" Eliot Spitzer comes from a family of tremendous personal wealth, he has a wife and three daughters, and a dazzlingly successful political career. (Well, he had one.) What drove him to seek out high-priced prostitutes knowing full well the consequences he would face if it ever became public?

There are a lot of possible psychological explanations (see Blame It on the Primal Brain of Homo Politicus), but I'd like you to think about a political phenomenon known as the "arrogance of power". It basically refers to people in power (and this was something Clinton admitted was a part of why he had a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky) thinking that they are above the law, or at least above getting caught.

Is there something about having power that makes people lose respect for the rule of law? It is such a basic, fundamental principle of our system of government, yet so many have disregarded it: from historical figures like Richard Nixon, to contemporary examples such as ex-House majority leader Tom DeLay, Senator Larry Craig, and N.J. Governor Corzine. (I would also argue that an arrogance of power led many in the Bush Administration to believe they could disregard fundamental liberties and international law in fighting the "war on terror". I think it has been proven by now that our government thought it could be excused from following national and international laws, treaties, etc., against torture, mistreatment of prisoners, denying due process, and waging offensive, unprovoked war.)

Okay, no one is perfect, and that includes the people who serve in public office. Have you read/heard/seen any interesting commentary or analysis on these questions in the media? Share with us! If you can't find any, you can start with this from CNN: Experts analyze Spitzer's thinking

Eliot Spitzer

Wow. I was shocked by this, and apparently so was everyone else. The popular Governor of New York resigned today after it was uncovered that the man who made his career as a tough crime fighting district attorney had been involved in soliciting a high priced prostitution ring. (Story here and just about everywhere else in the media.)

It is unclear whether or not he will be prosecuted for a crime, but the public shame and humiliation were too much for him to continue, which brings up a number of questions:

Americans have become very used to politicians "shading the truth" and "spinning news stories" for their benefit, but Americans have little patience for politicians who claim to be just, moral, and dedicated to upholding the law, only to have a shadowy dark side that they hide from everyone else.

What have you read/heard/seen about this case that makes you think about the bond of trust between citizens and the government officials they elect to represent them? Should Spitzer have resigned? What does this case say about the line between public and private morality? In the case of President Bill Clinton, people were outraged at his immoral (though not illegal) relationship with Monica Lewinsky, but ultimately didn't support his being tossed out of office.

(It should be noted that the crime Clinton was guilty of was lying about the relationship with Lewinsky under oath in a deposition for a civil case being brought against him by another woman, Paula Jones, for alleged sexual harassment. Clinton was suspended from practicing law for five years, but he wasn't going to be getting back into the field of law anyway.)

I think Spitzer did the right thing by resigning - there was no way he was going to be an effective governor for N.Y State with this controversy and legal investigation swirling about him. He disappointed a lot of people who saw him as a true "law and order" guy that wanted to clean up corruption in government.

The guy who will be replacing him is someone I've only read a little about in the last day or two, but is an interesting person, David Paterson. You can read or listen to a story about him here and here.

Modern Day Slavery in our World

Read or listen to this story on NPR about the slave trade that exists in many places around our world. I knew about this, but not some of the details and the amount of slaves around the country. The modern practice of slavery is often referred to as "human trafficking". Here is a brief description from Amnesty International:

Trafficking is modern day slave trading. It involves transporting people away from the communities they live in by the threat or use of violence, deception or coercion so they can be exploited as forced or enslaved workers. When children are trafficked, no violence, deception or coercion needs to be involved: simply transporting them into exploitative conditions constitutes trafficking.

Trafficking is a worldwide phenomenon. Victims are trafficked into a range of hazardous labor including farm work, sweatshops, domestic servants, forced prostitution and subjected to sexual abuse and other forms of violence. Each year, an estimated 600,000-800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across international borders according to the US Department of State.

Keep in mind that slavery is not only illegal in the United States, but is in violation of Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

I found this story very sad and disturbing. We need to do more to defend the human rights of the defenseless. If you want to do something about it, you can start taking action at Amnesty International's pages that deal with "human trafficking".

Good Idea vs Bad Idea

So lets have a bit of good idea vs. bad idea.
Good idea: Runing for president in 2008 as a Democrat following one of the most dissapointing and disapproved Republican Presidents.
Bad idea: Running for president in 2008 as a Republican and having your number one tag line be "Experience" when the last 8 years have far from a good experience.
Good idea: Having strong endorsements in said race in order to pick up as many on the fence votes as possible.
Bad idea: Having one of the nations most disliked president's "approval" and endorsement.
Good idea: Bringing inspriration and hope to millions of citizens in the U.S. with personal stories and speeches that bring new life to American politics such as the ones from Barack Obama and even Hillary Clinton.
Bad idea: Running as a Rublican and having almost no conservative views and values.

The bad ideas are some of Sen. John McCain's stats if you will. While many people are cuaght up in the Democratic race for nomination which is one of the closest races in years. The Senator from Arizona picked up an endorsement from the White House. That's right President George W. Bush endorsed McCain yesterday, Wednesday March 5th. Although having this endorsement gives McCain many bonuses, such as money and the aura and name of the presidnecy, it may have drawbacks that are not so visible. For one McCain has talked a lot about experience and has made it apparant that he has more than enough to lead the country. But with all the experience he has he has also spoken about learning from the past and not making those same mistakes. With the American peoples experiences from the last 8 years being not so good, will the name of the president who led our country through all that be an endorsement or just add to the weight that McCain has to carry in order to gain the presidency. With Barack and Hilary gathering so much attention, and the public perspective that we need change, this race doesn't look so good as is for McCain as well as the Republican party. Whether this endorsement helps or hurts we won't know quite yet, one thing is certain though, John McCain is going to have a tough trip in order to be the one being sworn in next January.

WASL Insanity

It is that the time of year again when I start to feel really depressed about what the WASL and the No Child Left Behind Act has done to our public schools.

Next week, our school's schedule will be all out of whack to accomodate the WASL. Lots of classes will have a lot less instruction going on because many students will be missing from class because of the WASL. All this will happen for another week in April. Students only have 180 days in the school year to learn all they are supposed to learn, and a lot of instructional time is lost to these tests.

The Washington State Constitution guarantees all students the right to an education. But I really believe the WASL exams are doing more harm than good.

Even the State Legislature is having to face some of the reality about the cost of the system. According to an article in today's Seattle Times, more changes may be made to the elementary and middle school level tests because they cost so much to grade. They already caved in on the math WASL because so many students failed it. Is all of this money and time really improving instruction?

I don't have a problem with the idea of finding out if students can read, write, and do math before we give them a diploma. I do have a problem with the way the tests are administered, and how so much of a student's educational career rides on this one test. There are a lot of students that get incredibly stressed out during these exams.

I would propose that the state put MORE money into the tests, and give the tests outside of the school day. Have testing locations and test dates on weekends like they do for SAT exams. We have testing locations for driver's exams.

Let our 180 school days be a time for learning, not turning everything upside down to meet governmental testing requirements. A lot of teachers are going to be spending a lot of their time proctoring tests, and baby-sitting bored students who can't do much of anything when they finish the test, because students aren't allowed to leave the room, have certain types of school work out, or listen to music with headphones.

Our first and second periods are going to be well over an hour long, but the others will be shorter than normal. Most classes will waste part of those long classes because the students aren't used to focusing on one subject for that length of time. Other classes will have less time to keep up the the 1st and 2nd period classes. Teaching young people is a challenge. It is much more challenging when we have unusual schedules. Students have been trained to believe that days like these are ones where we "shouldn't have to do anything". Most teachers fall for it. I know there have been times when I have.

Read about it and share your thoughts.

Doh!

Tuesday night was not a happy result for Obama supporters. I think Hillary is great and all, but I was really hoping the Democratic Party would be on its way to unifying behind Obama. Instead we are facing many more weeks of our two top candidates going after one another while John McCain gets to hang out at the White House and look Presidential.

I'll leave it to you to find some links to political coverage, do you think these developments will hurt the Democrat's chances of winning the Presidency in the fall? There are some that think it isn't a bad thing for the eventual winner of the Democratic nominee.

Meanwhile, if you were wondering, here is the lowdown and the upcoming contests:

Countdown to Wyoming: 2 days

Countdown to Mississippi: 5 days

Countdown to Pennsylvania: 47 days

Countdown to Election Day 2008: 243 days

Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 320 days

It's Sorta Super Tuesday

Primaries and caucuses in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont today. Election results should be coming in any time now. We know that McCain may clinch it all in the Republican race. As for what is at stake on the Democratic side and a breakdown of the numbers, this is what the Washington Post had to say:

"Obama began the day with a total of 1,386 pledged delegates and unpledged superdelegates, compared with Clinton's total of 1,276, according to an Associated Press tally.

At stake today are 370 Democratic delegates.

Texas is the crown jewel of the day -- doling out 193 delegates in a hybrid primary-caucus process. The primary vote, which concludes when polls close in West Texas at 9 p.m. Eastern time, apportions 126 delegates based on the percentages of the vote Obama and Clinton carry in the state's 31 state Senate districts. The other 67 delegates will be awarded in a caucus process that starts tonight and ends at the state convention on June 6. Ohio will award 141 delegates, Rhode Island 21 and Vermont 17."

More interestingly, Bill Clinton put it this way in a speech in Texas a few weeks ago:

"If she wins Texas and Ohio I think she will be the nominee. If you don't deliver for her, I don't think she can be. It's all on you."

Clinton did have a big lead in Texas and Ohio, but Obama has closed the gap to a dead heat in Texas. Ohio polls still have Hillary ahead by a bit. But those are just polls - we will start getting real results soon.

A Whole Lot of Americans are in Jail

This headline is grabbing lots of attention: U.S. Imprisons One in 100 Adults, Report Finds

What does this say about our nation. Read some of the details involving the ratios of minorities and drug offenders being incarcerated, and think about the costs of building and running prisons. Are we going about something the wrong way here?

I've got some opinions on this, but I'll leave it to you for now.

Around our World

Around our world it has been a week of many ups and downs. (How's that for a totally original introductory sentence?)

Good news came out of Kenya today. There hasn't been much good news out of Kenya in the past few months. A contested election for President split Kenyan society along ethnic lines and riots, killings, and all manner of violence ensued. The two main rivals, President Mwai Kibaki (who won the allegedly rigged election) and Raila Odinga finally agreed to allow former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan broker a negotiation to help heal the nation. Today, they announced a breakthrough. I sincerely hope that Kenya, which has been a leading African nation, will not see any more of this violence, but it is asking alot of these politicians to put aside their egos and ambitions for the good of their country.

Not many nations are lucky enough to have a George Washington (or a Thomas Jefferson, or John Adams for that matter) that put the good of the country ahead of their own desire for power.

Read about Kenya here:
Kenya Rivals Reach Peace Agreement
NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s rival leaders broke their tense standoff on Thursday, agreeing to share power in a deal that may end the violence that has engulfed this nation but could be the beginning of a long and difficult political relationship. (more)

In a development that creates problems for everyone except the government of Turkey and it's supporters, the Turkish military sent forces into northern Iraq, allegedly to root out members of the PKK, a Kurdish rebel movement that wants the Kurds in northern Iraq and eastern Turkey to unite into an independent nation called Kurdistan. Read a good background article about this conflict from the BBC. To read about how this action has put the U.S. government in an uncomfortable position, read this from the New York Times.

Kosovo declared independence last week. These aren't exact quotes, but basically, the U.S. said, "Congratulations!", the British government said "Hurray for you guys!", but the government of Serbia said "Tell it to the hand, cuz the face ain't listenin!" Read about it: Kosovo's independence weathers its first week. According to the article, "Serbia said it was hunting down rioters who torched the US Embassy in Belgrade Thursday as 120,000 protested the province's newly declared statehood." There are some amazing pictures of the anti-U.S. riots in Serbia, where many are still angry at the U.S. for leading a NATO military intervention in the late 1990's to protect ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo.

More on the Second Amendment and Guns

I know I blogged on this topic just a couple of weeks ago, but there was an excellent front page story on the debate over guns and the second amendment in the USA Today. It is only one sentence, but we have had a really hard time agreeing on what it really means:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Read the story and tell me if it changes your interpretation of what the Second Amendment means.

the democratic debate

hey everyone so i was watching the damocratic debate tonight and well it was definitely intense to say the least. as most already know, i am a barack obama supporter so i was already biased twoards him but the debate made me love him that much more. hillary just seems like too much of a politician to me. she never really made a direct answer to anything. The subject of NAFTA expecially. obama seemed straight forward the whole time. hillary seems to be getting scared because obama is doing so well. also on the healthcare issue which has been a hot one for a while now, obamas seemed to make a whole lot more sense. hilliary was trying to argue that obama is going to force parents to insure there children but what is so wrong in that? shes going to force everyone to have insurance lol. oh but THE ABSOLUTLY MOST IMPORNTANT thing that i noticed was that......... BARACK OBAMA IS LEFT HANDED! just like me =D that won my vote lol

Debate Tonight!

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are debating on CNN tonight at 5:00 our time (PST).

It should be very interesting, because the last time they debated Hillary was the front-runner and ahead in the delegate count.

Now, the situation is reversed. Obama has a lead in both the number of states he has won and the number of delegates pledged to him. Texas and Ohio are two states with lots of delegates that are having primaries/caucuses on March 4th.

Most of the political commentators will say that while Obama is a much more inspiring orator, Clinton outshines him in the debate format, showing the depth of her knowledge on the issues. So, if you are watching, who do you think won, and why? Who was more convincing? Whose position on the issues did you agree with the most?

Another thing to think about - since time is running out on Clinton to gain ground on Obama, will she choose to go on the offensive and attack Obama with negative comments? If she does, how intense will the fireworks get?

Time to get real about guns, 2nd Amendment

Updated Feb. 20th @ 3:00 pm.

Well, it has happened again - another college campus shooting. This time in Illinois with 15 victims according to a breaking news story. (More recent news has reported 6 deaths after campus rampage. You can watch a quick clip summarizing the tragedy here.)

It is time for this country to start talking sensibly about gun violence and gun control. The Brady Bill, which used to mandate a five day waiting period (so a background check could be done on purchasers) to buy a gun was allowed to expire. The gun debate in this country is moving us backward. In 2004, the assault weapons ban was allowed to expire, and the National Rifle Association and other gun enthusiasts continually work to block sensible gun control proposals by arguing that they are a violation of their constitutional rights.

It is time for a discussion about gun rights in this country in which both sides are willing to admit that gun violence is seriously out of control in many parts of the country. I believe that hunters and gun collectors can still enjoy their recreation and hobbies, while we make it harder for dangerous or unstable people to get guns.

The Second Amendment should not be seen as banning common sense gun control laws. The rights of free expression protected by the First Amendment are not absolute rights, and there are restrictions on what we can say or publish if the expression would cause a "clear and present danger". Our free expression can also be limited by reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions.

So why should the NRA oppose laws that could greatly benefit law enforcement and do more to keep guns out of the hands of people who are dangerous or unstable? Might it inconvenience some hunter that wants to go on a last minute hunting trip. Yup, but that is life. We all have to deal with certain restrictions. I don't hunt, but I do play the guitar. I can't turn my amplifier all the way up and practice with some buddies at two o'clock in the morning. We all have to deal with inconveniences, so why won't more politicians insist that gun owners understand that they live in a society in which we all have to give up a little freedom for the common good.

They mayor of Chicago is trying to do that, but few people think he will get much passed - and he lives in the state that just witnessed these shootings!

Not every tragedy can be prevented, and the shooter at the Northern Illinois University purchased his guns legally, but the incident is still a reminder that we can do a lot more to prevent gun violence.

People who love guns and people who want to stop senseless murders ought to be able to agree that some restrictions are entirely appropriate. (To watch a short news segment on the gun control, click here.)

Following Election Returns in Primaries & Caucuses

So who do YOU think should be the next president?

If you are still undecided (or even if you have decided), check out the websites of McCain, Huckabee, Clinton, Obama, or Ron Paul.

There are a few good sites out there for those of you interested in looking at the numbers of primary and caucus elections. National Public Radio has a nice interactive map you can find here. The New York Times has an election guide you can check out here.

The Washington Post has a Political Toolbox that can give you lots of info on the candidates and the races.

Finally, youtube has some coverage of the visits the candidates made to Seattle:
McCain - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDv0-bBbdSw
Clinton - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7TB2NreFaw
Obama - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0J8b-Q3tJY

Check out some of these or other good political sites and let me know what you think.

Why I am supporting Barack Obama

Several months ago, I started feeling that Obama might be the one. I liked a lot of the Democratic candidates, but ultimately, I feel that those of us who are Democrats should nominate Barack.

I think Hillary Clinton would be a good president. I have been wishing for decades that this nation would break through the mother of all glass ceilings and elect a woman President. So, if Hillary wins the nomination, I will campaign for her and enthusiastically vote for her.

However, while Hillary might be good, I think Barack Obama has the potential for greatness. I think he has qualities and a background that are unique and make him especially qualified to undue a lot of the damage done to this country in the last several years, and move us forward in a new direction.

Barack is intelligent, and a skilled and inspiring communicator. Ever since Simon and Garfunkel sang "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?/A nation turns it's lonely eyes to you" in the late 1960's, we have longed for a leader that would inspire the younger generation to believe that together we can make a great nation and world together.

(And no, Ronald Reagan did NOT inspire the young generations in the 1980's - he reached out to older Democrats that thought the Democratic party had lost it's way.)

Barack is the only candidate who can step into the mess we have made of the world and convincingly say to other nations, "We Americans made a mistake by invading Iraq. We got carried away with fear after 9/11, and were looking for enemies under every rock. Our vision was clouded, but we are now seeing with new eyes and will be a more responsible leader of nations in the future." Hillary cannot make that argument effectively. She did support the war for too long. Bill Clinton's foreign policy got it wrong in a number of places as well. The world might be impressed that we elected a woman, (and one who wants to end the war in Iraq), but they will still look at America as many around the world do: as a bumbling, arrogant, and selfish super-power.

Barack Obama is uniquely positioned to speak to many of the things that divide us; especially race and income disparity. America is yearning to get over the legacy of racism and discrimination. We are tired of living in a nation that is so wealthy but is willing to let so many go without proper health care. The rates of homelessness and poverty are a disgrace to all of us. I think that Barack is one of the few politicians that can convincingly reach out to blacks, whites, Latinos, Asians, rich, poor, and middle class and bring them together to work on our common goals of solving these problems.

Barack has had enough experience in the political arena to handle the presidency. If you don't believe me, look at the backgrounds of other presidents in our history. Decades of experience in politics does not guarantee a successul president. Just start with Lincoln's resume.

In 2008, America is looking for a new path, a new direction, and yes, someone to inspire the youth of this nation the way John F. Kennedy did in the early 1960's. I believe Barack Obama has the necessary qualities to become that great leader, and I encourage you to support him.