A Poets View

Photos courtesy of www.236.com

When I first heard this I thought it was a joke.  I actually thought it was the punchline.  However it is true.  Ms. You Betcha has reportedly been in contact with the literary agent to the politicians Robert Barnett.  She will be writing the book, via a ghostwriter and telling the story in her own words.  I had to take a pause there for a moment as my laughter stopped me from typing.  The book deal can land her an estimated seven million dollars.

Photos courtesy of www.236.com

The above is a sampling of what very well could be the table of contents within Ms. Palin’s book.  I can just picture her in her den, sitting at her window, shotgun in one hand waiting for a moose to stroll past, pen in the other, looking out at Russia in the distance and writing her memoirs.   Frankly I think a book containing her best loved quotes would make the bestseller list.  

Photo courtesy of www.prweb.com

As with anything else there are artists, companies and mass market enterprises out there who are ready at a moment’s notice to profit from big events.  Being in the collectibles and retail industry myself for a number of years I have seen it all.  While there are a number of factors that come into play when dubbing an item as “collectible” sheer popularity is low on that list.  In the collectibles field, supply and demand is what makes an item collectible.

Personally, I can see stamps, newspapers, coins and even plates as something to hold onto or give to your children and grandchildren for historic value, however I really do not see anything of value in the latest creation Barack - in - the - box.  I find it a bit irreverent and simply stupid.  Now, mind you I applaud anyone who has an idea and can create something but I just see no value in this product.

To be completely frank and I certainly do not want to offend anyone by this, it’s just my opinion, I think the same idea would have been better served by putting Bush in the box and calling it “jackass in the box.”  Again, just my opinion.

I don’t know if the President has seen this or is even aware of it but I would be curious to know what he thinks of this creation.  I also want to know what all of you think of this.  If you were going to buy a product to remember and celebrate our 44th president, would this be the item that you would choose, and why?

I am not promoting this garish work by any means but if any of you are interested in learning more about this you can visit the site at http://www.barack-in-the-box.com 

Photo courtesy of www.mediasacbee.com

One thing among many that struck me during the festivities in Washington for the inauguration is the fact that there was an estimated crowd of over one million people yet there was no violence, protests, drunkenness or arrests.  That not only amazed me but was very tell tale.  The entire country looked at this event as a moment of change and hope.  As a result it was a peaceful and joyous occasion.

President Obama brings out the civility in people.  His mannerisms and motivational words can change someone in a moment as was evident of the peaceful state of events while he took the oath of office.

He is a leader who will guide the USA in the right direction.  He will bring this country and other countries to a new found understanding and as a result bring peace maybe not tomorrow, or next month or even in a couple of years but, he will bring peace.

Photo courtesy of www.johnjudy.net

A new day has dawned and a new knowing has seeped through my heart.  It has been said that this country now has new hope.  However for me it is not hope.  It is a knowing -  A knowing that Barack Obama truly cares about the people of this nation and around the world.  A knowing that he has the confidence, wisdom and diplomatic strategies to take on the ills of this country and around the world.  

He is a man of service and as such has the unique abilities to know what it takes to get the job done.  As a man of service it is evident that he has within his heart a deep compassion for all people.

He is a motivator.  One, who by his words have me motivated to do something to help.  I finished watching his speech with a profound sense of duty.  Asking myself what can I do to help those less fortunate.  I must admit that I do not ask myself that question often enough.

At my age I’ve seen many a president take the oath of office.  I have to say that this is the first time I’ve felt that I absolutely without a doubt know that Barack Obama will take us in a new and positive direction.

On a more personal note Michelle Obama looked stunning today and the two girls were beautiful.  I am happy and excited for our new first family.

I, for the first time in a long time, today have again become proud to be an American.

It’s a pretty sad state of affairs when in a State like California taxpayers will have to accept IOU’s instead of their tax refund checks.   There have been no talks or agreements as yet on this budget crisis.  The Governor has the “It’s my way or the highway” attitude and as a result we are still in this mess.  The money will run out on February 1st and nothing is being done.

I actually have a solution to this crisis.  Rather than paychecks  how about they issue IOU’s to the Governor and all his cronies.  Let them bear the burden for their ego ridden decisions.  Maybe then we can see an end to this financial mess.

I was trying to avoid commenting on the situation in the Middle East.  However, after seeing photos and video slideshows of which I’m sure the media chooses to suit their own needs and biased opinions, I have to speak out.

The fighting and devastation with thousands of innocent people and children being massacred is outrageous.  What infuriates me is the fact the our Secretary of State Rice is trying to negotiate a cease fire which in theory is fine but negotiate means just that, negotiate.  It does not mean telling people what they should not be doing.  It is the policy of the Bush Administration as we all know not to talk with what they consider terrorist organizations.  Does anyone notice here the “pot calling the kettle black?”  In my opinion what the Bush administration has been doing for the last eight years is no different than what they consider to be terrorist acts.

The problem is that self righteous it’s my way or the highway attitude.  There need to be talks and negotiations between the Israeli’s and Hamas.   There needs to be someone who can lead in a diplomatic non biased way in order to build non violent relationships between the two parties.  Without diplomatic negotiations peace will never reside in that part of the world.  Someone needs to take charge sooner rather than later.

If that means negotiating with terrorists then let’s do just that.  Both parties need to sit down and talk with a non biased mediator.  This is the only route to understanding.  Once there is understanding peace is the next step.

Photo courtesy of www.health-news.org

Have we come to a new low here?  For years the United States has used various incentives in gaining information about the Taliban from Afghan warlords.  Offering money for information will only bring attention to the fact that the warlords were bribed and either result in them being imprisoned or killed.  Offering service such as medical attention, food etc.. has worked in the past however the warlords have become greedy.  As a result, our government has decided that offering the little “blue pill” would entice these 70 year old bearded drones to supply all the information our officers would need to find the Taliban.

Now mind you these warlords who are typically in their senior years and have four to five wives ranging in age from 16 to about 20 something are being bribed by the United States with Viagra.  Am I the only one that sees something very wrong here?  I don’t care whether these 16 year old girls are wives or not.  It’s child abuse and by giving these men Viagra we are condoning that behavior.

I would think that the CIA would be better trained than having to bribe warlords and chiefs for information.  Granted this bribery is working because once the pill is given, when the officer returns a couple of days later he is treated like a King and given all the information he wants. Yet, we still have not located Bin Laden. So, how long will this so called strategy work?

No wonder we’re still in a war.  No wonder we cannot locate Bin Laden.  If we are that pathetic to have to resort to bribery than we are in a sad state of affairs.  What’s next?  Bringing them young girls to become wives number 6 and 7?

This brings a whole new meaning to the phrase ” Make love not war.”  Viagra for peace - or is it piece?

We have been experiencing frigid temperatures here in San Francisco and around the bay area.  It is not uncommon for temperatures to dive into the 20’s and 30’s in the evening and 40’s during the day.  While this is uncommon for this time of year it seems that each year brings lower temperatures.

I was watching the local news the other evening when it was reported that a school in Richmond did not have any heat.   The children in one chemistry class actually boiled water in their beakers in order to keep warm.  The heat had been off for weeks.  They were told that someone would look into the matter but nothing was ever done.

I was appalled by this situation.  These are children we are talking about here.  It’s bad enough that teachers are without the supplies that they need and have to spend their own money to buy the basics because the school districts cannot afford what classrooms need.  But to be without heat and no one is doing anything about it?

The  Governor, and I’m only using that word to describe him because I won’t use vulgarity on my blog post, over and over again cuts the schools budgets in order to balance the state budget.  When he was campaigning for and elected Governor he said that the schools were his top priority.  Is this his definition of priority?  And where is all that lottery money?  The lottery was supposed to benefit our schools.  It’s certainly not paying for the basics is it?

I just think it horrible that children have to suffer because of the idiocy of our government. 

It has recently been reported by ABC’s Day Noyes I-team investigation that the Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom used his $58,000 dollar hybrid SUV which is supposedly to be used only for city business to be driven by an SF inspector  to Montana for Newsom’s wedding while Newsom himself flew there supposedly on a private plane with another officer.  It was also reported that the expense for this trip to include paying for the inspector and officers total $15,000 which again supposedly comes from taxpayers dollars.

Police Chief Heather Fong was interviewed by Dan Noyes and when asked why the vehicle was used to drive to Montana basically said there may have been threats though she would not comment.

Mayor Newsom also uses police escorts when traveling which Mr. Noyes sees as wasteful.  Given the Mayor’s popularity and stance on Prop 8 and gay marriage I think it appropriate he have police escorts.  He needs protection.  Do Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk ring a bell?  They didn’t have any protection.  The I-team investigator also interviewed Art Agnos, an ex mayor of the city who stated he never used police escorts etc… who really cares about what Art Agnos did?  Why didn’t Mr. Noyes interview Willie Brown?  Maybe because he spent more tax dollars than any other Mayor of San Francisco?  Dan Noyes is on a witch hunt - period.

First Mr. Noyes, I don’t care that the mayor spent $15,000 for this trip to Montana for his wedding.  $15,000 between all the taxpayers living in San Francisco does not amount to much money per person at all.  I consider it a wedding present.

Secondly, I am so sick and tired of your witch hunt tactics against Mayor Newsom.  I could count on one hand the investigations you’ve reported that do not deal with the Mayor.  Your investigations, or so you call them come off as simply harassment.  You report with an egotistical and condescending attitude and an accusatory manner.  The Mayor won’t even speak to you anymore.  Why would he?  I wouldn’t either.  You are just out to get him for some unknown reason.  Report after report you design to dig dirt on the Mayor and I know San Franciscans are sick and tired of it.  I am baffled as to why ABC7 keeps you.  You were terrible as an anchor and even worse as an investigative reporter and I use the term loosely.My suggestion to Channel 7 is that they get rid of you entirely and let Micheal Finney handle the investigative reporting or for that matter anyone else.

Lastly, as far as Mayor Gavin Newsom is concerned I suggest that you, Mr. Noyes get professional help to deal with the fixation you have with the Mayor.

I-Team Investigation link to the story at  http://iteamblog.abc7news.com/2008/11/we-erased-it.html#comment-140096734 &

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/iteam&id=6516943&status=ok

Think About It!

Source:
By 365gay Newscenter Staff
11.10.
2008 9:40am EST
(San Francisco, California) As gays and lesbians demonstrated against the banning of same-sex marriage in California for a fifth day Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he hoped the California Supreme Court would overturn the measure.

Speaking on CNN Sunday, the governor called passage of the constitutional amendment “unfortunate … but it’s not the end.
”

“I think that we will again maybe undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and then move forward from there and again lead in that area,” Schwarzenegger said.

The governor spoke out against the amendment during the campaign. In April, at the national convention of the Log Cabin Republicans, the nation’s largest gay Republican group, in San Diego, he said for the first time he opposed the measure, but predicted it would not get voter approval.

The measure succeeded, however, with a slim margin. LGBT rights groups immediately petitioned the California Supreme Court to overturn it on the grounds the measure is invalid, because the initiative process was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution’s core commitment to equality for everyone, by eliminating a fundamental right from just one group – lesbian and gay Californians.

The petition also says that Proposition 8 improperly attempts to prevent the courts from exercising their essential constitutional role of protecting the equal protection rights of minorities.

Appearing on CNN, Schwarzenegger urged gays not to give up in the fight for marriage equality.

“They should never give up. They should be on it and on it until they get it done,” he said.

That is a marked change from his earlier positions on gay marriage. Legislation to legalize same-sex marriage passed the California legislature twice and each time Schwarzenegger vetoed the bills, saying that the courts, or the people through a plebiscite, should decide the issue.

The California Supreme Court ruled in May that it was unconstitutional to ban gays and lesbians from marrying. Opponents immediately began work on Prop 8.

Supporters of same-sex marriage demonstrated Sunday at a number of churches across the state. Evangelical Christians, the Roman Catholic Church and the Mormon Church actively supported passage of Prop 8.

Carrying signs that read “You Cannot Vote Away Civil Rights,” hundreds protested in front of the Saddleback Church, an Orange County mega-church.

In Oakland, demonstrators crowded onto a roadway in front of a Mormon temple, prompting the California Highway Patrol to close off an exit ramp, because they feared some demonstrators could be hit by traffic.

Thousands of others demonstrated against the amendment in front of the state Capitol in Sacramento.

On Saturday, 10,000 supporters of gay marriage took to the streets in Los Angeles. Another 10,000 demonstrated in San Diego.

On Friday, tensions flared at a vigil at Palm Springs City Hall, when a supporter of the gay marriage ban carrying a plastic foam cross clashed with protesters, according to The Desert Sun. The crowd ripped the cross from her hands and stomped on it. Police made no arrests.

About 2,000 people gathered in Long Beach Friday night and there were three arrests. A thousand people also marched Friday in San Francisco.

http://www.365gay.com/news/schwarzenegger-hopes-calif-supreme-court-overturns-anti-gay-amendment/

I cannot believe during a recession as we are experiencing now that the governor of California would propose a sales tax increase of l.5% which would result in a 10% sales tax in California.  In addition he will be raising fees and taxes on alcohol, veterinary businesses, auto repair shops and golfing fees.  The plan also calls for cuts in education, prisons,  public safety and Medi Cal.  Is he completely nuts? With so many losing their jobs, their homes and not being able to afford the basics he decides to raise taxes?  Why doesn’t he give up some of his salary, he certainly doesn’t need nor deserve all he makes - he doesn’t do anything.  I am appalled at this tax increase and all I can say is it better not pass.  We are ridding ourselves of Bush in January now it’s time for the “Governator” to go!

It’s a sad day when a State as open minded and diverse as California can go ahead and pass a proposition led by religious fanatics which strips equal rights from its’ citizens.  I am really saddened by the bigotry and hate spewing from the people who voted for this ridiculous ban.  By doing so, they have judged everyone who does not submit to their way of thinking and as a result their self righteous egos have prevailed in a hateful display of fear.  That’s exactly the problem with these people.  It is fear because they do not understand nor are they willing to try and understand a different point of view. 

They call marriage between a man and woman sacred yet 50% or more of marriages end up in divorce due to infidelity, abuse etc… Yet they call it sacred.  They believe two men or two women marrying is worse than infidelity and abuse which is exactly what they said when they voted for the ban on same sex marriage.  

All I can do really is just feel sorry for them that they are so ignorant and have such hate in their hearts.

It would be an understatement to say that I am thoroughly ecstatic that Barack Obama will be our 44th president.  I was confident he would win yet at 8:00 pm pacific time when the polls closed here in California and they projected him the winner it was true elation.  For the past eight years I’ve not been proud to be an American, disgusted by our Government’s actions and policies but tonight when Barack was elected in that same moment I became proud of this country and proud to be an American for the first time in a long time because I know he will bring positive change not only in the USA but around the world.   I simply cannot wait for him and his family to take up residence in the white house.  Congratulations Mr. President elect and - Yes We Can!

It is an exciting day for America.  No matter who wins history will be made today.  There is also a record number of people getting out and voting and some for the first time because they know how important this election is to the welfare of our country.  Those measures and propositions are just as important so make wise decisions. 

I also wanted to mention that it I’m sure this will be a bittersweet win for Obama since his Grandmother passed.  His emotional state is probably that of a roller-coaster right now and I want to offer my thoughts and prayers to Obama and his family for their loss and also to let him know that he has made her proud and that is what’s important.

If you haven’t already, get out and vote!

First I have to say that I am not a fan of Sarah Palin.  However I think that she’s been taking alot of criticism and jeering from many people, including myself.  This latest incident with the prank call from the Quebec radio team posing as the French President I think was just downright mean.  I think it was inappropriate and plain stupid.  This radio team I think should stick to more important issues in their own country rather than having nothing better to do with their time than bash our politicians and celebrities.  Believe me, I love a good joke but this was in bad taste.  It’s been reported that Palin found it to be mildly amusing.  I have to say that I do respect her for being able to shrug off this latest prank.  If it were me, they’d be paying for it now.  So, Ms. Palin I have to say that I have a new found respect for you - though not in our White House.

Okay I have to comment on this because it is being misrepresented by the Yes on Prop 8 people.  There is a tv commercial running which shows a lesbian couple who have been married and are walking down the steps of City Hall here in San Francisco with children outside cheering and throwing rice.  The yes on prop 8 supporters are saying that it has already begun that school children are being taught about gay marriage.  That is NOT the case in this commercial.  One of the women getting married is a teacher and the children are her school children who went out to support their teacher being married.  They’re not being taught anything.

I’m so sick of the lies in all of these commercials surrounding prop 8.  My question goes out directly to the yes on prop 8 people.  Why are you so afraid?  It’s a valid question.  There was a prayer vigil held here in the bay area by these same people.  They took to a stadium and decided to pray that God would do what’s right.  I actually laughed it was so ridiculous.  Is taking away someones’ rights the right thing to do? C’Mon people answer me.  Why are you so afraid?

I’m sorry http://www.cnnbcvideo.com/index.html?nid=bE9xYWmR6E.y9AexcC7l1Tg3MTA5MDU-&id=

With only three days left I have to admit that I’m excited over the fact that Obama will be taking up residency in the white house and bringing change to this country at a time when we need more than ever someone who understands our problems, has policies in place to fix those problems and genuinely cares about America.  I am also afraid that if McSame and Failin pull off an upset that we will all be paying the price for a very long time.  We don’t need another Bush and I’m afraid that McCain is just as bad if not worse.  I’ve yet to really understand any of his policies because he’s been too busy attacking Obama and his policies.  This is a man who in the 21st century doesn’t even know how to send an email.  This is also someone who wants to freeze spending except for the military and defense.  What does that tell you?  The reason we’re in this financial crisis, among others is the fact that we’re spending trillions of dollars in Iraq - and for what?  Haven’t enough lives been shed?  Believe me when I say a vote for McCain is a vote for the same.  The same old Bush policies and failures.  Do you really want four more years of Bush?  Think about it!

Just thought this was too funny and had to share it with you.