S O U N D   O F F

July 17, 2008

Back to back I had a dear friend and my daughter inform me, “I’m voting for Barack.”
When asked, “Why?” Both said, “Because I like him.”
Further probing was met with some defensiveness; “I just like him. I don’t want to talk about politics.”
Reviewing Huffington Post coupled with those two’s comments, swept me with overwhelming sadness and wondering will we ever get beyond name calling and arrogant denigrations, and into meaningful discussions?
Then I stumbled on to Greta’s blog. What a difference, Huffington's dark subterranean and Greta's open blue sky. It’s as though folks like my friend and daughter are hiring a mechanic to do major work on their cars, based solely on “liking as a person,” as opposed to “ability to fix the car.”
Sure Barack’s a cute kid. But how does that translate to qualifications to “fix this country?”
Help me folks. How does one get past the defensiveness to explain the danger in hiring Barack?
Also, been doing a lot of homework trying to discern if Barack is a Democrat, socialist, or communist. Thus far, he appears more a socialist than Democrat.
This Independent has very little problem with Democrats, liberals, conservatives or Republicans; but dislike socialists... and absolutely abhor communists.
What exactly is this “change,” Obama has in store for us? Seriously. Does anyone...including Barack...really know?
Obama's refusal to appear on Gretta Van Susteren's show with McCain reminds me of Al Gore's refusal to defend his global warming product.
Generally, when one has a great product they're proud of, they use every means possible to sing its glories!
What are your thoughts?
Just wondering,
Roni

Good News and Bad News!!

As you might imagine, the “women vote” is going to be very important this November…especially since many had aligned themselves with Senator Clinton and now she is out of the race for President. Where are Senator Clinton’s women backers going? to Senator Obama? Senator McCain? and what issues are particularly important to women that the questions should be put to the candidates?

Because of the importance of the “women vote,” and because I don’t think we can really judge candidates from slick ads or attack ads but rather as we see them both get hard questions side by side at the same forum, we (ON THE RECORD) invited both candidates to a special Audience Show ON THE RECORD focusing on issues that might be particularly or uniquely important to women. I also hoped to have mostly women in the audience….and let them put the questions to the two candidates. Frankly I want to minimize role and let the audience / the voters speak to the candidates.

The good news? Senator McCain’s campaign said Senator McCain will do this.

The bad news? Senator Obama’s campaign declined.

Of course I would like to see both Senators do this Special Audience show with us at ON THE RECORD…but the truth is that if Senator Obama will not with us, I would like to see him do it with Senator McCain with someone! It is hugely important that we - the American voters - see these two candidates together answering questions so that we can compare and contrast their different ideas for the future of our country.

As an aside, I wish Senator Obama would re-consider. He would have the same opportunities during the show that Senator McCain will have. Likewise, both men would be treated with respect.

So now what? I am planning to move forward with an audience show - meaning audience questions - addressing issues that women think important to them with only Senator McCain. Now we just need to figure out scheduling….

RESPONSES

My thoughts are the Jesse Jackson would be disappointed in attempting to castrate Hussein as there is nothing there to castrate, ergo the reason he won't appear.............as for the other question, those that elect someone because "they like him/her" without being able to provide solid reasoning as to the candidate's ability to fix things indicates they are dead from the neck up much like so many liberal leaning lemmings in this country that will be the ones promoting our country to the trash heap of socialism - short answer: They are incapable of forming an opinion based on merit!!! R F (NV)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

RONI, WHAT I TRYING TO DO IS PRESENT A LOT OF INFORMATION ON OBAMA AND OTHER ISSUES THAT I FEEL ARE IMPORTANT.

MAYBE YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING HERE THAT WILL ASSIT YOU.

I THINK HE IS A SOCIALIST BUT WHAT I FEAR MOST IS HE IS SO ISLAMIC BASED THAT HE WILL IN FACT HAVE SUCCESS WITH THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO GROW AND BUILD THEIR BASE. HIS FAMILY TIES ARE WELL JUST READ SOME OF MY POSTINGS... HIS ROLE AS PRESIDENT WILL DO MORE DAMAGE TO OUR COUNTRY THAN WE MAY BE ABLE TO RECOVER FROM.

WE MUST EDUCATED AND INFORM.

I DO NOT KNOW YOU OR HOW THIS NOTE GOT TO ME BUT THERE IS A NETWORK OF CONCERNED AMERICANS OUT THERE. I WISH YOU SUCCESS WITH YOUR FAMILY.. I AM LUCKY THAT BOTH MY KIDS ARE ON TRACK WITH THIS. WHAT FIRST WE HAVE TO EDUCATE IS THE ISLAMIC ISSUE THEN THE BUSH WAR ISSUE GOES AWAY. IRAQ WAS JUST THE PLACE TO PUT THE ENEMA AND ALL THE OTHER IS JUST RETERIC... WE SHOULD HAVE STUCK IT IN IRAN BUT AT THAT TIME IT JUST WOULD NOT WORK.. WHAT WE NEED IS FOR ISRAEL TO HIT THEM AND THEN I THINK THE WHOLE THING WILL COME TOGETHER. RIGHT NOW THE ISLAMIC RADICALS ACTUALLY FEEL THEY ARE WINNING AND IN SOME ASPECTS THEY MAY BE.

GOOD LUCK AND SHARE THE INFO.

hjj (CO)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

I'm wondering too... don't have any clear thoughts... other than perhaps he feels he's way above, and can afford to discount any suggestions that might cut into his agenda time, anything too trite or he feels is just not important or significant... ?? Or is he really intimidated... you remember during the debates with Hillary and the others, especially with Hillary... I couldn't determine if it was out of respect because she was a woman that he didn't fare well in those debates against her, fearful that if he actually treated her as she should have been, just another candidate, not a woman that it would not bare well for him, or was he simply intimidated in a public forum like that where he wasn't the ONLY one speaking? Who knows... and I guess we won't know for sure. I hope and pray he isn't the next prez! Leslie (FL)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

So glad that you are wondering about this Obama dude.

He reminds me of a really slick faith healer who plants cripple in his revival congregation. In the midst of his moving sermons he deludes the faithful by promising
that he can change anything with just his words. His cripple rises up and walks. A miracle!
Many voters are buying into this magical thinking.
M Sue (TX)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Roni:

With regard to your statement: "Sure Barack's a cute kid. But how does that translate to qualifications to 'fix this country?'"

The hard truth is, only WE THE PEOPLE can fix this country. President's can't and Congress can't. It's not because they don't have the "power" to fix it. They don't have the will. Only WE THE PEOPLE can give them the "will".

How I wish it were otherwise.
Take care,
Ron (WA)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

That is exactly what the Mousketeers replied in the Mickey Mouse song.
Now I know where I saw those ears before !!!!!!

Had that logic worked in 1932 Clark Gable would have overseen the depression ; Charlie Chaplin would have overseen WW11; John Wayne the Cold War; Peter Sellers Viet Nam; John Travolta the Iranian hostage crisis ; Robin Williams the Gulf War and Sean Penn 9/11. Robert T Fanning (MT)

The Musketeer's Theme Song March & Sign-off
Mic-key Mouse Club, Mic-key Mouse Club
Mic-key Mouse Club, Mic-key Mouse Club

Who's the leader of the club
That's made for you and me?
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!

Hey, there! Hi, there! Ho, there!
You're as welcome as can be!
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Mickey Mouse! Donald Duck!
Mickey Mouse! Donald Duck!
Forever let us hold our banners high
High! High! High!

Come along and sing a song
And join the jamboree
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

The program closing...

(Sung softly and slowly)

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E
Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mouse
Forever let us hold our banner high
Now's its time to say goodbye
To all our company
M-I-C - See you real soon!
K-E-Y - Why? Because we like you!
M--O--U--S--E