Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Dear Amy

I cannot guarantee that this post will make any sense. As stated in the title of this blog, I am more of a ranter. Please read with that understanding.

You said something last night that really kind of disturbed me. You stated that this current administration (Bush) was doing a fine job and everything was great until the democrats took over two years ago. This statement is not true. Its a gross generalization and I don't think one can blame anything on one party or another anymore.
Most of the the people who are now serving this country politically, voted for the war in Iraq.
This is a list of who did not: http://usliberals.about.com/od/liberalleadership/a/IraqNayVote.htm

UNITED STATES SENATE

In the Senate, the 21 Democrats, one Republican and one Independent who courageously voted their consciences in 2002 against the War in Iraq were:

* Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii)
* Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico)
* Barbara Boxer (D-California)
* Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia)
* Lincoln Chaffee (R-Rhode Island)
* Kent Conrad (D-North Dakota)
* Jon Corzine (D-New Jersey)
* Mark Dayton (D-Minnesota)
* Dick Durbin (D-Illinois)
* Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin)
* Bob Graham (D-Florida)
* Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)
* Jim Jeffords (I-Vermont)
* Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts)
* Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont)
* Carl Levin (D-Michigan)
* Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland)
* Patty Murray (D-Washington)
* Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island)
* Paul Sarbanes (D-Maryland)
* Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan)
* The late Paul Wellstone (D-Minnesota)
* Ron Wyden (D-Oregon)

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Six House Republicans and one independent joined 126 Democratic members of the House of Representatives in voting NAY, on October 11, 2002, to the unprovoked use of force against Iraq:

    Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) Tom Allen (D-Maine) Joe Baca (D-California) Brian Baird (D-Washington) John Baldacci (D-Maine, now governor of Maine) Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) Gresham Barrett (R-South Carolina) Xavier Becerra (D-California) Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) David Bonior (D-Michigan, retired from office) Robert Brady (D-Pennsylvania) Corinne Brown (D-Florida) Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)

    Lois Capps (D-California) Michael Capuano (D-Massachusetts) Benjamin Cardin (D-Maryland) Julia Carson (D-Indiana) William Clay, Jr. (D-Missouri) Eva Clayton (D-North Carolina, retired from office) James Clyburn (D-South Carolina) Gary Condit (D-California, retired from office) John Conyers, Jr. (D-Michigan) Jerry Costello (D-Illinois) William Coyne (D-Pennsylvania, retired from office) Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland)

    Susan Davis (D-California) Danny Davis (D-Illinois) Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) Diana DeGette (D-Colorado) Bill Delahunt (D-Massachusetts) Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) John Dingell (D-Michigan) Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) Mike Doyle (D-Pennsylvania) John Duncan, Jr. (R-Tennessee)

    Anna Eshoo (D-California) Lane Evans (D-Illinois) Sam Farr (D-California) Chaka Fattah (D-Pennsylvania) Bob Filner (D-California) Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) Charles Gonzalez (D-Texas) Luis Gutierrez (D-Illinois)
Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Illinois) Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) Dale Kildee (D-Michigan) Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Michigan) Jerry Kleczka (D-Wisconsin, retired from office) Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio)

This war is costing us and estimated $720 million dollars a day http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/21/AR2007092102074.html
This astronomical sum has helped to bankrupt this country.

Then of course there is the mortgage crisis There is really no one to blame but the American people themselves for this and also anyone in congress who voted to deregulate that particular industry but really, its the American people who should be blamed. Just because you qualify for a bunch of money doesn't mean you should take it.

When did we sell our brains and give up on being responsible? Why does it seem that we can't stand our government to be in charge but want to be taken care of? Why when something goes wrong is it everyone else's fault but our own? Stop blaming the other party.

As Americans, we have given up our rights in a search for security. We have let fear enter and run our lives. Amy you said you are afraid of Obama. Why? I really want to know. A majority in this country thinks that this man can bring about change. Some of that majority thinks he will just waive a magic wand and make their lives better. Ridiculous. This country is screwed up. We have lost our way in the journey to find life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and are now paying an incredible price. Do I think Obama can fix this? I don't think he can do it alone.

I listened to McCain's concession speech last night. It gave me respect for the man. I hope he will live up to what he said about working with the president elect. I hope that our elected leaders will take this time now, today to rethink a few things. I hope that the American people, all of the American people will be put forward as a priority and that we the people understand that freedom is not free.

Dear Amy, I love you sis. Your opinion matters to me and also the fact that we can obviously disagree and still like each other. You are one of my heroes!

And just for fun, here is a link to a WONDERFUL article sent to me by a friend. (thanks Jill) It sums things up pretty well.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/11/05/notes110508.DTL

5 comments:

karibates said...

Lisa - the link doesn't work. Will you please re-post it? I am interested.

goat said...

working on it. thanks for letting me know

goat said...

should work now

The Nisbets said...

What I said was that things REALLY went bad when we had a democratic congress...I didn't say that Bush was doing a good job until then, I just said that he wasn't the only reason that the country went to pot...sorry for upsetting you but I too am glad we can agree to disagree. Honestly, I don't think Obama will be able to fix all the nations ills, anymore than I think that he will only cause more problems. Anyway...glad you expressed yourself. Love you too.

goat said...

i think your point about obama is valid. i have a wait and see attitude there also.