GI John McCain
Will Not Be Our Next Prez! But... Is Barack HUSSEIN a " Natural Born Citizen"?

perhaps this homeless man is a disabled veteran, c...

2008-10-30T10:08:00.000-04:00

perhaps this homeless man is a disabled veteran, cast aside by the current administration? Would you still insist on him mowing your lawn?

Nice letter and yes well written with the only the...

2008-10-22T00:15:00.000-04:00

Nice letter and yes well written with the only the slightest and usual liberal sarcasm. BO is scary and does not love this country, he loves what this country can do for him. you will reply with "how" "prove it". I pray to God above that I will always look foolish and not have to say,"see, I told you so" in a year or two as I will if BO gets elected. Again, my broken record is, I "feel" God wants this GREAT country to stay ONE NATION UNDER HIM, GOD! And be led by a man that asks for the guidance to make good decisions from...... God. not his "white, america hating spouse. OOPS... i will stop. enough said!

So I thought about writing my own answer to Mr. Po...

2008-10-21T15:48:00.000-04:00

So I thought about writing my own answer to Mr. Porter, but then, who really has the time to address all the inaccuracies inherent in his 'letter'. So I did the next best thing...I lifted a great (although I probably could have written something better)response from someone's blog (you know how that goes, right?) Without further ado...
My Answer for Joe Porter of Champaign Illinois (The Change Obama Wants)
Dear Joe,

I read with interest your letter about the upcoming presidential election. (I reprinted it below; and I hope you don’t mind that I brushed up your grammar and punctuation a little.) Like you, I am in my mid-40’s – a born-again Christian, a husband, father, and homeowner. I am not a veteran; I wanted to join the military, but a medical problem kept me out. But I know the military well, since my father is a retired Army officer. And while I don’t actually own a small business, I do contract work in addition to my day job.

I don’t consider myself to be a liberal or a conservative, although for the last few years I have been involved in my county’s local Democratic Party. Party membership involves signing a pledge about how I’ll vote: I don’t have to vote for the Democrat, but I promised not to vote against the Democrat. The Republicans here do the same thing. I signed that pledge knowing that I could always simply quit the party if I needed to vote for the Republican; so far my conscious hasn’t made me do that – so, like you, I’ve been able to simply vote my conscience. I feel like we have a lot in common…

I understand why you don’t believe in two Americas. According to the Census Bureau, the 185,000 people who live in Champaign have a median household income of almost $40,000 a year. I live in Tazewell County, Va. (median household income about $30,500 a year) and I work in neighboring McDowell County, WV (median household income only about $19,500 a year). Where you live, 91% of country residents graduated high school and 38% graduate college. In the county where I work as an elementary school teacher (I work with children with disabilities), only about half the people graduated from high school and just 5% finished college.

Eleven percent of the population where you live in Champaign has some sort of disability, according to the Census Bureau. With coal mining being a leading occupation here, and with the environmental and nutritional issues that come with life in a poor, rural mining community, over 40% of the people in the county where I work have some kind of medical condition that results in disability, according to the Census Bureau. Champaign has such a high income and education level compared to here and such a healthy population, it’s easy to see why you don’t understand the idea that there are two Americas. You’ve lived a sheltered life. When it’s 20 miles to the nearest Wal-mart or McDonalds and your family is too poor to have its own car, it’s harder to believe that you can be whatever you want to be. It’s nice to know that you believe the government should help the legitimately downtrodden.

Like you, I’m concerned about the future of our great nation. Like you, most folks I know choose not to be involved in politics – unless you count attending school board meetings when the county decides to close their school, or going to public hearings about a project to get county water piped in to a new area.

You said that we were in the unique position in this country of electing out leaders. I’m not sure what you mean by that. If we could talk, I could give you a long list of other real democracies on earth where people elect their leaders. Great Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand come to mind right away. But I think there are at least a one or two dozen more. America is a great country. I got to live a few other places while my father was in the Army. And I spent some time overseas working for a Christian missions organization. So I’ve seen other places and I understand just HOW GREAT America is. But it’s not unique in being a democracy.

Like you, I don’t agree completely with any political candidate (or even with my wife) all the time. Like you, I look at the big picture and think about credentials and about character.

You began to lose me when you started to talk about change. There are two candidates in this election: John McCain and Barack Obama. Both of them say they want Change. I listened to both of their speeches on television when they accepted their party’s nominations, Barack Obama talked about change, and I thought he was pretty clear about what he meant by that. John McCain talked about change, too; but it wasn’t all that clear to me what HE meant by it. (I was especially disappointed that John McCain couldn’t even bring himself to mention the name of our Republican president, George W. Bush, who has brought our country to the point where both candidates today seem to think we need some change.)

You said (and I’m quoting you here) “Quite frankly, I don't believe that vague proclamations of change hold any promise for me.” I agree. And I guess that’s my biggest concern – that John McCain hasn’t told us yet what changes he wants to make. He talks in the broadest possible generalizations about putting America first, about energy, about being a prisoner of war, and about how mean the media is to him. In contrast to that, Barack Obama has put forth some pretty specific policy ideas that I guess you’ve missed.

Before we go much further, I wanted to thank you for your willingness in your letter to overlook Senator Obama’s genealogy, upbringing, and religious background. Even though his mother is white, I know there are lots of people who can’t get past the fact that he looks Black; I’m glad you're not one of them. He’s denied being a Muslim (would that be so horrible?) and I have pictures of him eating a hotdog and drinking a beer (real Muslims don’t do either of those things); but I know there are a few ignorant people out there who still think he’s a Muslim because his father was. My father was a Mason, but I don’t even really know what that means. I’m glad you’re willing to set that aside and not remind us of it. Between having a Black father from another country, growing up with a single Mom, and being exposed as a child to Islam, the bigots out there will have a field day with America’s more stupid voters. I appreciate you not bringing any of that up.

Let me tell you about the change that, as I understand it, Senator Obama wants.

1. He wants people to have health insurance that they can afford (even if they are only 23 and haven’t graduated college yet – like my oldest daughter) and can take with them if they change jobs. These days many people don’t have that.

2. Senator Obama wants to cut taxes for people who make less than $250,000 a year. Under the Republicans we have moved back to having a huge difference between what the richest Americans make and what the average American makes. President Bush cut taxes for the richest Americas in the hopes that those people would be nice to you and me and create jobs for us. After eight years I think it’s safe to say that THAT hasn’t worked. Senator Obama wants the rich to pay more of their fair share in taxes. John McCain thinks that idea sounds reckless and that it will be bad for America, but the Wall Street Journal disagreed in an editorial on August 14. The WSJ said “The Obama plan would dramatically simplify taxes by consolidating existing credits, eliminating the need for millions of senior citizens to file tax forms, and enabling as many as 40 million middle-class filers to do their own taxes in less than five minutes and not have to hire an accountant.” What did they think of McCain’s plan? This is what they said: “The McCain plan would lead to deficits the like of which we have never seen in this country. It would take money from the middle class and from future generations so that the wealthy can live better today.” Remember, this is the Wall Street Journal, not some group of liberal hacks at the NY Times.

3. Senator Obama wants to get us out of the expensive political mess in Iraq. American soldiers are dying and it’s not clear why anymore. The Iraqis don’t seem to want to solve their own problems. They have a budget surplus while we’re paying their security bills. But John McCain doesn’t seem to want to change the way we deal with Iraq.

4. Barack Obama wants to make a bigger commitment to education – especially when it comes to our youngest children – and to fix the problems of No Child Left Behind. John McCain doesn’t.

5. Barack Obama wants to work to stop global warming. John McCain picked a vice-presidential candidate who doesn’t believe in global warming.

Of course, there are other issues. But those are some of the major ones. They are areas were we need change, areas where Obama has detailed policy statements about how we should bring about change and where McCain doesn’t.

But the real issue for you seems to be more simple. You seem to think that John McCain is more qualified to be president because he is, well, older (for starters) and he’s had a harder life. I know McCain is a war hero and I respect that. But I don’t think being beaten by people who speak a different language than yours somehow gives you the qualifications to be president. We’ve had lots of presidents who were Commander-in-Chief even though they’d never been in the military before being elected. That’s what makes us different from places like Thailand and Venezuela, where the military gets involved in government on a pretty regular basis.

I don’t think anyone (including McCain) is ever really qualified to be president. The job is too important and our country too great. It’s not like there’s a course you can take – Presidential Readiness 101. Barack Obama has been serving people through his involvement in politics for a couple of decades now. John McCain has been at it a little longer because, well, he’s older. Both want change. I’ve heard them both say it. McCain hasn’t really told us what that change would look like and how our country would be different from the mess that eight years of government by his political party has left us with. Obama has told us what that difference would be like.

Your friend,

Greg Cruey

PS Thanks again for not bringing up the stuff about race and religion and just looking honestly at the issues involved. I really appreciated that.

I'm still waiting....

2008-10-21T09:48:00.000-04:00

I'm still waiting....

See, what is nice about about setting up this blog...

2008-10-21T08:46:00.000-04:00

See, what is nice about about setting up this blog is I do not have to take direction from "anonymous"! see I will post some interesting tidbits about my man and woman when I feel like it. Unfortunately you can rant, but where is your facts or discussion about either what has been posted in a smart and informative way or psot your facts about how Obama does not plan to take our money and spread the welath or explain his "moral" character from young adult until now. And yes, it is OK to discuss the candidate's wives, just not crucify them. Michelle has some interesting views as far as racial entitlements? So, have fun, do not be so serious but feel free to plead specifics as to what BO will do for this GREAT country, I know what he won't do,,,,,help.

I'm still waiting to hear anything about what John...

2008-10-21T08:15:00.000-04:00

I'm still waiting to hear anything about what John McCain plans to do for our country that is anything different from what we've seen the last eight years

It is working GREAT! Thanks for asking! It makes s...

2008-10-20T21:14:00.000-04:00

It is working GREAT! Thanks for asking! It makes sense that the average, stereotypical left wing "give it all away and be a hippie" liberal would be afraid to address the issue. What no comment on BO's lack of PRIDE? Why would ANYONE cancel the National Anthem? There is NO, I repeat NO Patriotic and honest reason that at ANY time you would "not" have room for our National Anthem. Again, only a crying, scraping and "sad" liberal would not see the ULTIMATE importance in that. Oh!!!! you are probably why this Nation's kids are not allowed to PRAY in school anymore. Our kids do not even know how to say the "Pledge of Allegiance" anymore. How is the smear campaign going? Not ANYWHERE near as good as if we had BO's 200 million dollars for ads.

I saw that guy yesterday. He is an average, not re...

2008-10-20T21:08:00.000-04:00

I saw that guy yesterday. He is an average, not real handsome guy, but he has a great personality.

I love the idea for halloween. It definately is sc...

2008-10-20T21:07:00.000-04:00

I love the idea for halloween. It definately is scary to see a man as smart and supposedly world skilled as Powell vote for Obama. My feeling is he will vote for the REAL choice, McCain, but publicly back BO. Bottom line, Obama does NOT love his country or his people, in my opinion. Where and when has he publicly professed that and shown that? Now as for his religious beliefs..... In my opinion, ANY man/woman who does NOT include God as the MAIN source for his guidance and decision making is a ..... wash. I, personnally may not make the right decisions, but I am NOT running for President. BO loses!

So, I was thinking...as part of my Halloween decor...

2008-10-20T15:56:00.000-04:00

So, I was thinking...as part of my Halloween decorations this year...I'll have a coffin...with a McCain/Palin Campaign sign on top...and standing next to it, a spooky, hooded ghoul with Colin Powell's face attached...wielding a hammer, driving the last nail into it. What do you think?

Funny...all I read about from the right is Obama s...

2008-10-20T15:42:00.000-04:00

Funny...all I read about from the right is Obama said this, his wife said that, his step-father's-best-friend's-mother-in-law's-neice's-good-friend's-teacher's-mailman's-great-uncle's-trusty-four-legged-companion, Buddy, said blah, blah, blah. Tell me how McCain's plan is any different from what's been implemented these past eight years, and maybe we can have an intelligent discussion.

Wow...you McCain supporters are really grasping at...

2008-10-20T15:35:00.000-04:00

Wow...you McCain supporters are really grasping at the straws!

How's the ol' smear campaign working for him anyway?

let me know when they decide to release this "reco...

2008-10-20T15:16:00.000-04:00

let me know when they decide to release this "recording." Apparently they were supposed to do so yesterday....hmmmm....funny...I don't see it on their blog today...maybe because it's completely...um, what's the word I'm looking for....bogus.

Factcheck.org says “this allegation was quickly sh...

2008-10-20T15:07:00.000-04:00

Factcheck.org says “this allegation was quickly shown to be false.” And “news stories in The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times and The Chicago Tribune found no merit in the madrassa claim.” Newsweek says “Barack Obama has never been Muslim and never practiced Islam. But rumors about his religion intended to frighten some voters persist, and they mostly return to one point of fact: his name. “Barack” is the candidate’s Kenyan father’s name; Obama’s middle name, “Hussein,” is his grandfather’s name. Obama has described his father as atheist or agnostic. His Kansan mom, whose grandparents were devout Protestants, lived a secular life. Obama’s only personal contact with Islam came as a boy when he moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, with a stepfather who mixed his Islam with Hindu and Animist traditions. In five years there, Obama attended a Roman Catholic school, then a public elementary school, where he sat through a class each week of religious studies. As an adult, Obama turned to Christianity in the late ’80s in Chicago, at Trinity United Church of Christ, where he was baptized, married‹and baptized his kids. As a new U.S. senator, Obama took his oath on the family Bible.”

PLEASE!! Someone, yes my favorite "Dem Dame" has h...

2008-10-13T21:22:00.000-04:00

PLEASE!! Someone, yes my favorite "Dem Dame" has her chance. I am not attempting to sound smug or arroagant, but this is one of the BEST commentaries I heave read as of late. My friend and neighbor speaks well and is VERY knowledgeable, but I have not heard even her explain this. Ms. ?????, now is your chance to "win" me over! ANYONE who can answer the questions and explain BO's credentials.... please comment.

Remember we are,"One nation, under God". Our money...

2008-10-08T15:24:00.000-04:00

Remember we are,"One nation, under God". Our money says,"In God we trust". God has a special blessing for this country. This country is the 1st to send money, troops and supplies when there is a need in the world. NO other country, NO other country has supplied, nurtured, developed, trained, spawned, supported and been blessed with more Missionaries, preachers and teachers that will spread the word of God than the USA!!!! John McCain is a Believer in the word of God and a Christian! Obama is ..? What does he believe? Oh yeah, he says that is private? God says to profess.... maybe he has a different god? You decide!

Do you REALLY need an answer? MCCAIN/PALIN '08ALL ...

2008-09-24T08:52:00.000-04:00

Do you REALLY need an answer? MCCAIN/PALIN '08
ALL THE WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE!!

Hey Cool! A link to one of my photos! Thanks!

2008-09-24T08:49:00.000-04:00

Hey Cool! A link to one of my photos! Thanks!

Looks good! I really like your layout -- nice and ...

2008-09-23T13:05:00.000-04:00

Looks good! I really like your layout -- nice and clean. I need to change mine up on my personal blog. Very nicely done and well written.

It's funny you say that...the last time I can reme...

2008-09-18T15:27:00.000-04:00

It's funny you say that...the last time I can remember feeling "prosperous" Clinton was president. Actually, if I'm correct the worst two years in recent history for our economy were this year (under Bush) and 1987 (under Reagan).

Now you have to admit your statement about "taxing the heck out of anyone who is trying to get ahead and especially the small startups" is just plain silly. Especially when you are refering to a man who has devoted his life to helping the underpriveleged and middle-class get ahead in this country, where the income gap just keeps getting wider and wider.

I see what you are saying and I have heard the sam...

2008-09-18T11:20:00.000-04:00

I see what you are saying and I have heard the same comments from his camp before. However, no offense, I do not believe him. I feel that he and Biden and his "pushers" will tax the heck out of anyone who is trying to get ahead and especially the small startups. Historically that is what his party has done and historically the other party has spread prosperity. Just my humble opinion. Rebuttal???

Hey! I think you have a great sight and I look fo...

2008-09-10T21:30:00.000-04:00

Hey! I think you have a great sight and I look forward to the many "debates" we will have over the next few weeks! But just to set the record straight...you'll be "double-taxed" if your business grows more successful and you decide to become a "C Corportation" whether McCain or Obama becomes president. But since you are currently not a "C Corp" and would be foolish to switch entities...considering "C Corps" are sooooo 1980! But with Obama as president, he will work to pass the "Making Work Pay" tax credit for working individuals = $500 (married $1000) to offset the "double taxation" of the self employed, who currently are burdened with having to pay both the employee and employer portions of self-employment taxes (i.e. payroll taxes). Obama will also work toward eliminating capital gains taxes on small businesses as well as providing a health tax credit refundable up to 50% of the premiums paid by a small business on behalf of its employees.

GI John McCain Will Not Be Our Next Prez! But... Is Barack HUSSEIN a " Natural Born Citizen"?

perhaps this homeless man is a disabled veteran, c...

Nice letter and yes well written with the only the...

So I thought about writing my own answer to Mr. Po...

I'm still waiting....

See, what is nice about about setting up this blog...

I'm still waiting to hear anything about what John...

It is working GREAT! Thanks for asking! It makes s...

I saw that guy yesterday. He is an average, not re...

I love the idea for halloween. It definately is sc...

So, I was thinking...as part of my Halloween decor...

Funny...all I read about from the right is Obama s...

Wow...you McCain supporters are really grasping at...

let me know when they decide to release this "reco...

Factcheck.org says “this allegation was quickly sh...

PLEASE!! Someone, yes my favorite "Dem Dame" has h...

Remember we are,"One nation, under God". Our money...

Do you REALLY need an answer? MCCAIN/PALIN '08ALL ...

Hey Cool! A link to one of my photos! Thanks!

Looks good! I really like your layout -- nice and ...

It's funny you say that...the last time I can reme...

I see what you are saying and I have heard the sam...

Hey! I think you have a great sight and I look fo...

GI John McCain
Will Not Be Our Next Prez! But... Is Barack HUSSEIN a " Natural Born Citizen"?