My Take On The Elections

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Seems to me like some of the most intolerant candidates, both near and far, lost big-time last night. (Unfortunately, we’re still going to have to contend with that big-time freakazoid Rand Paul.) But overall, it’s great to know that American voters were repulsed by the idiocy and hate spewed by the likes of Sharon Angle and the astounding amount of hate and stupidity from Carl Paladino. Unfortunately, all signs now point to even worse gridlock in Washington.

Now Albany should be very interesting to watch. Let’s see how Andy delivers for the city. Let’s just pray he doesn’t have any surprises in store for us like Spitzer did.

But overall, I am left thinking this morning that the system is working as it should. American democracy is alive and kicking and doing what it should be doing. The American people are unsure how to get out of the mess we are in, and that is reflected in these schizophrenic elections we have been having.

One Take On The Economy

Image via Flickr

Here’s a chilling, but perhaps ultimately uplifting article from The Times on the current state of the economy—and where it might go from here. Unfortunately, you have to read through some rather depressing parts to get to what may be, and I stress may be, the good news 😦 Once again, all the more reason to vote next Tuesday. Read on and you’ll see what I mean…

World

U.S. Hears Echo of Japan’s Woes

By MARTIN FACKLER and STEVE LOHR

Published: October 29, 2010

The confidence U.S. policy makers had that the country could avoid the economic fate of Japan is now waning.

Why It’s So Important To Vote

It amazes me to hear that a lot of people have absolutely no interest in voting next Tuesday, as if for some reason it’s just a waste of time because whoever wins, things stay the same.

It’s just not true. For instance, would John McCain have made this awesome video? It is enlightened, inspiring, and may very well end up saving a lot of young people’s lives:

I Love a Good Debate…

… but last night’s was ridiculous! Am I the only one who thinks it is just begging to be parodied on the next Saturday Night Live? What a cast of characters!

 

Primary Day

Today is primary day.  I am away in Chicago for a couple of days (I already voted by absentee ballot, though!) and in my absence I am rerunning one very important Guest Post from a few weeks ago about why it is important that we support Lynn Nunes for State Senator over the truly awful Shirley Huntley, and another new Guest Post with an interesting take on our political culture. I hope you find them both informative and good reads. And don’t forget to vote! It’s one of the most important things we can do as citizens of this great country!

My Letter To My State Senator, Shirley Huntley

By Jeff Newman

The recent post about Shirley Huntley made me think of the letter I sent her on the day after the NY State Assembly made a ruling denying equal rights and protection to Gay New Yorkers:

December 3, 2009

Senator Huntley,

Your vote against equality was upsetting and disappointing. As an African-American woman, I would expect you to have better respect for what are clearly issues of Equal and Civil Rights for all human beings. I equate your vote to someone voting no on Loving Vs. Virginia.

State Senator Shirley Huntley

Your shameful vote keeps our state, which should be a beacon to the nation, as yet another example of failure to enter the 21st century. In 50 years, when students talk about the victory of the election of the first President of African Descent, it will be paired with the shame of denying full rights to all Americans.

Bottom line, I hope you can sleep at night with your vote for a modern day Jim Crow law.

Sincerely,

Jeff Newman

I am neither gay nor a person of a color but this upset me as a human being. I felt that based simply on whom she was, Sen. Huntley should have a better view of what is fundamentally right and wrong as opposed to just appealing to the current anti-Gay marriage sentiment in our district. It is a historic chance to right an inequality inherent in our society and she threw it away. Eventually, when this issue goes before the Supreme Court, the court case I cited (Loving vs. Va) will be what this is based upon.

Three years ago, Mrs. Loving made a public statement as regards Marriage of all types:

“

Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don’t think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the “wrong kind of person” for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people’s religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people’s civil rights.I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about. (from Wikipedia)

This says it better then I ever could. I felt that a re-print of this letter might be intriguing to people, so I passed it along to “Edge of the City”.

Regards,

Jeff

———————————————————————

Politics as Usual?

By Parker

Today is Primary Day.  Here’s what I consider when selecting a candidate.

Looks often matter more than brains something Sarah Palin can’t “refudiate”.  Mitt Romney and Scott Brown looks can take a candidate much farther than intellect and good intentions alone.  I choose the best looking candidate because I want attractive politicians on the news when they’re arrested for fraud, embezzlement, or having a “wide stance” in public rest rooms.

Does the candidate and their family have a strong bond and work well together?  It takes a cohesive family unit to hide, misrepresent & cover up misappropriated funds for the phantom “charity”, “school” or “community group” their relative “runs”.

Is the candidate a loving & devoted husband and father like Vito Fossella and John Edwards?  Does he give equal time to both his wife and his mistress and the children he has with both?

Does the candidate believe that what’s good for the goose is good for the gander?  Mayor Bloomberg defended the constitutional rights for the “Ground Zero Mosque” to be built without government interference.  He ignored opponents’ reasonable questions about why THIS location was so important, and if Constitutional rights trump consideration for the feelings and emotions of others.  The Mayor’s position implied that our Constitution and laws are absolute.  But, in September 2008, Bloomberg thought only he could guide us through an economic crisis, so he planned to overturn voter-sanctioned term limits without voter input.  Despite public outcry, and potential political fallout for those supporting this change, his backroom deals were successful.  With Bloomberg running again, viable candidates left the race and his wealth became an obstacle for anyone remaining.  What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander, unless the gander is a billionaire.

Does the candidate believe that changing the definition of marriage will destroy the traditional family and be the catalyst for America’s collapse?  I believe having an affair, announcing your separation on TV, a nasty public divorce battle, and hurting your children to the point where they won’t speak with you, is probably more damaging to the traditional family – the Giuliani one.  I think incompetent politicians, greedy Wall Street executives, and the dishonest mortgage lenders who drove the economy off a cliff will do the greater harm.

I’m jaded with politics – the endless campaigning, the attack ads, and feel-good, empty rhetoric, style over substance speeches.  Politicians talk out of both sides of their mouth and promise the sun, the moon & the stars to every Tom, Dick & Harriet.  Most politicians want to effect positive change and have the best intentions.  But a broken system where the fox guards the hen house leads to rampant dishonesty and corruption.

During campaigns candidates flood my inbox with solicitations for donations and, to offer my support, I forward these e-mails to my Nigerian friends who have an abundance of funds.  I figure hooking up those seeking favors for money with those seeking money for favors is a win-win situation for everyone.

My Letter To My State Senator, Shirley Huntley

By Jeff Newman

The recent post about Shirley Huntley made me think of the letter I sent her on the day after the NY State Assembly made a ruling denying equal rights and protection to Gay New Yorkers:


December 3, 2009

Senator Huntley,

Your vote against equality was upsetting and disappointing. As an African-American woman, I would expect you to have better respect for what are clearly issues of Equal and Civil Rights for all human beings. I equate your vote to someone voting no on Loving Vs. Virginia.

State Senator Shirley Huntley

Your shameful vote keeps our state, which should be a beacon to the nation, as yet another example of failure to enter the 21st century. In 50 years, when students talk about the victory of the election of the first President of African Descent, it will be paired with the shame of denying full rights to all Americans.

Bottom line, I hope you can sleep at night with your vote for a modern day Jim Crow law.

Sincerely,

Jeff Newman

I am neither gay nor a person of a color but this upset me as a human being. I felt that based simply on whom she was, Sen. Huntley should have a better view of what is fundamentally right and wrong as opposed to just appealing to the current anti-Gay marriage sentiment in our district. It is a historic chance to right an inequality inherent in our society and she threw it away. Eventually, when this issue goes before the Supreme Court, the court case I cited (Loving vs. Va) will be what this is based upon.

Three years ago, Mrs. Loving made a public statement as regards Marriage of all types:

“

Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don’t think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the “wrong kind of person” for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people’s religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people’s civil rights. I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about. (from Wikipedia)

This says it better then I ever could. I felt that a re-print of this letter might be intriguing to people, so I passed it along to “Edge of the City”.

Regards,

Jeff

Defeat Her on September 14th

I love it when people who strive to deny rights to others then turn around and claim that they are the victim. It’s a commonly used tactic of the most intolerant in our society. Turn the most powerless and persecuted of our society, the victims, into the one’s we all should fear. Such gross distortions of reality have led people to commit some of the most despicable acts in history.

This woman seems to devote an inordinate amount of her time trying to deny the right of our fellow gay and lesbian citizens to marry. And she goes even further, distorting and hijacking religion to support such bigotry. She should be defeated. Such intolerance is disgraceful, especially in a Democrat.

This blog supports the election of this woman’s opponent, Lynn Nunes, as our State Senator.

NY State Senatorial candidate Lynn Nunes.