Day: March 9, 2012

The Immolation Of Marco Rubio And Bob McDonnell For Vice President!

Two so called “front runners” for the Vice Presidential nomination on the Republican ticket with Mitt Romney have proceeded to immolate themselves in the past two weeks.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio became the co-sponsor of the Blunt Amendment, which would have allowed any employer on ethical or religious grounds to refuse to cover any medical procedure that he did not agree with on a health insurance plan. It was defeated by the Democratic majority, joined by outgoing Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine, who saw this legislation as the “last straw”, and decided to retire from the Senate in frustration at the total stalemate and gridlock that the Senate has become. By Rubio being so active in promotion of this outrageous amendment, it effectively kills him off as a potential GOP running mate, unless Mitt Romney proves to be totally crazy!

Meanwhile, Governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia finally backed off on proposed legislation in his state that would have required any woman who wanted to undergo an abortion to have an invasive ultrasound vaginal probe exam, with the bill changed only to take away the invasive aspect of the legislation. This crazy idea makes Virginia look as if it is back in the Dark Ages, and destroys any semblance of McDonnell being a good running mate for Romney, unless again Romney goes totally insane!

It could be that both Rubio and McDonnell perceive that Romney cannot win the election, and that therefore, they would not want to associate themselves with his campaign, but if that is really believed, it gives both of them much more credit for their intelligence and foresight than they deserve!

If Only Rick Santorum Was A Progressive! What Good He Could Have Done To Advance Unity And Reform!

As one observes the Presidential campaIgn of 2012, and watches the Republican candidates, it is hard not to like Rick Santorum on a personal level.

The man comes across as personable, genuine, sincere, warm, friendly, interested in people, passionate in his own beliefs, and able to resonate with the average blue collar, non college educated American, which is, after all, a majority of the American people!

But his message is the problem, with his right wing, prejudiced, biased, judgmental view, dominated by his overtly moralistic and religious views of all issues being black and white, not grey!

His name is now headed in a Google search by a nasty sexual description given to him by Dan Savage, a gay activist, due to Santorum’s hateful attitude toward the LGBT community, and his obsession with sex generally in his public utterances and statements.

It is tragic that Rick Santorum, with his obvious gift of connection to his audiences, did not utilize his talents for the advancement of unity and understanding of differences, rather than promoting a massive divide in America, and working to make America a theocracy, which is precisely what the Founding Fathers did NOT wish to promote.

If he had been the opposite of what he is and has become, Rick Santorum might well have been a progressive and a future occupant of the White House, promoting an expansion of the New Deal and Great Society! Oh well!

The Greatest Danger Of All: Right Wing “Patriot” Groups Which Are Encouraged By Republican And Conservative Anti Obama Propaganda

The Southern Poverty Law Center does an annual report on the status of hate groups on the right, which represent a dire threat to American freedom and liberty.

In 2008, there were 149 groups, increasing in 2009 to 512, increasing again in 2010 to 824, and jumping to 1,274 in 2011. That is 755 percent growth in three years!

These “Patriot” groups emerged during the 1990s with the rise of domestic terrorism, including the attack in Oklahoma City in 1995. But the economic collapse of 2008, along with the growing minority groups in America, and the election of Barack Obama, further accelerated this right wing surge.

While we must be concerned about terrorism from abroad, in many respects our domestic terrorist threat is far greater, and these are not Arabs or Middle Easterners, but rather traditional white Americans who promote conspiracy theories about government taking away private guns, and planning concentration camps formed by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency!

Militia groups also believe that Mexico is going to take back the American Southwest, and that the government will be unable to stop them on this matter, as crazy as that sounds!

With many Republicans and conservatives still spreading rumors and gossip about Barack Obama being from Kenya, and being a secret Muslim, they are actually abetting the instability of our nation in political, economic and social terms. Their recklessness is mind boggling!