Criticize Obama and you and your family may receive death threats

[AlonzoMourning23]

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- The annual State of the Black Union forum boasted a number of famous attendees in New Orleans on Saturday, but this year's event received much more attention for who wasn't there.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, was the only major presidential candidate to accept an invitation to attend.

Her rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, declined, as did Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Clinton told the crowd Saturday evening the country stands at a historic moment.

"How many of our parents and our grandparents, and how many of us ever thought we would see the day when a woman or an African-American would be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States," she said.

But Clinton also acknowledged experiencing "painful moments" during the campaign, which she called very challenging and incredibly competitive.

"The high stakes and historic nature of Sen. Obama's candidacy and mine have invested this campaign with an intensity and an excitement seldom seen in the political arena," she said.

Meanwhile, Obama's absence at the forum has prompted both controversy and a backlash against Tavis Smiley, the organizer of the event who has openly criticized Obama's decision.

In a letter to Smiley earlier this month, Obama commended the forum for addressing important issues, but explained he needed to focus on his presidential run ahead of the critical March 4 primaries.

"In the final stretch, I will be on the campaign trail every day in states like Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin talking directly with voters about the causes that are at the heart of my campaign and the State of the Black Union forum," Obama wrote.

"That is why, with regret, I am not able to attend the forum." Video Watch the candidates stump in Texas »

Smiley has been vocal about his disapproval of Obama's decision.

"I think it's a missed opportunity on Mr. Obama's part," Smiley told CNN. "Now, I am not interested in demonizing him for his choice, but I do disagree with it." Video Watch a report on the controversy »

But Smiley's criticism has also prompted many people to come to Obama's defense. The talk show host told The Washington Post he has been inundated with angry e-mails and even death threats.

"I have family in Indianapolis. They are harassing my momma, harassing my brother. It's getting to be crazy," Smiley told the newspaper.

Several forum attendees seemed unfazed by Obama's absence Saturday.

"Personally, I don't think it's much of an issue," said Victor Reed. "I'm standing behind him 100 percent."

Clinton probably was at the event because "she needs it more than [Obama] right now," he added.

Another State of the Black Union attendee said many people at the forum wished Obama had come, but understood his reasons for declining the invitation.

"It's better for his campaign to be in Texas," said Tiffany Washington.

Some of the nation's top black activists and politicians attend the State of the Black Union.

Smiley said he picked New Orleans as the 2008 host city to highlight the continued plight of its residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"We owe it to them, those who survived, those who are still struggling to rebuild their lives," Smiley said. "We owe it to them to raise these issues louder than ever."

New Orleans continues to battle problems, including crime and lack of affordable housing. Entire communities still lack hospitals or emergency care.

Obama campaigned in the city before he easily won Louisiana's Democratic primary on February 9, taking 57 percent of the vote.

In a question-and-answer session with Smiley at the State of the Black Union, Clinton was asked about remarks her husband made while campaigning for his wife in South Carolina, including his reference to Jesse Jackson having won primaries in the state during the 1980s.

Critics complained the remarks suggested that Obama's success in that state would largely be based on his race.

In her answer, Clinton said many of the forum attendees knew her husband personally and knew his heart.

"If anyone was offended by anything that was said, whether it was meant or not, whether it was misinterpreted or not, then obviously I regret that. But I believe our task is to go forward with the agenda that all of us agree upon. That is what I have done my entire life, on behalf of civil rights and women's rights and human rights," Clinton said.

"I believe strongly that there is a shared and common purpose that we all hold very dear, regardless of who you are supporting at this time for the Democratic nominee as president," she added.

"It goes way beyond Barack and me. It goes way beyond politics. And I don't think there is any doubt that I and Bill have been part of that common purpose and that struggle our entire adult lives."

At least one Louisiana lawmaker praised Clinton for being there when the region needed help.


"I don't support people just because they are black," said Democratic state Rep. Juan LaFonta.

"I support people because they are qualified and committed to issues that affect my constituent base."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/23/obama.sobu/index.html

[micfranklin]

I posted this exact same article earlier today I think.

[Pookie]

Smiley probably got all of three emails or calls and blew it out of proportion. This happened before in the 2004 race between Kerry and Bush. Same accusations, different people. I can't remember who it was but he was a blogger and said Bush's supporters did the same to him. It was a lie, of course.
More election year stuff of which compost is made.
Purrs,
Pookie

[Amazed]

*GASP*!!! A blogger blowing something out of proportion?? Now I've seen everything!!

[preservanation]

Death threats would fit right into the messianic image of his campaign.

Barak Obama's already surrounded by fainting fans, which are miraculously brought back to life by him offering only a simple bottle of water.
This is sea-parting stuff.

Death and persecution always fit well into any mythological narrative.
I say run with it, baby.

[Elrathin]

Death threats would fit right into the messianic image of his campaign.

Barak Obama's already surrounded by fainting fans, which are miraculously brought back to life by him offering only a simple bottle of water.
This is sea-parting stuff.

Death and persecution always fit well into any mythological narrative.
I say run with it, baby.


It's sad really that the Republicans and Conservatives have noone to really rally behind. Instead they just spout off endless iditoic rhetoric about a Dem candidate and his supporters since their own candidate they can't get behind.

Yet again the conservative ideology has been shot down by the people in America. Conservatives and their hateful intolerance are dying out. People have finally awaken to the fact, the only thing conservatives offer is intolerance, war, and death.

[preservanation]

People have finally awaken to the fact, the only thing conservatives offer is intolerance, war, and death.
What do the Dems offer?
Intolerance, war, death and Socialism
No way, buddy.

[Elrathin]

What do the Dems offer?
Intolerance, war, death and Socialism
No way, buddy.


Nope, Dems aren't looking for a fight on every front like Conservatives are. As for intolerance, I don't see Dems trying to keep gay marriage illegal as well as a host of intolerance against Muslims like we see from the right.

Hell I can point to a bunch of intolerance against Muslims from the right, here on this board.

America has rejected the conservative ideology of hate and intolerance. Conservative ideology is finally dying out, hell they can't even get a conservative candidate for president. Sad.

[preservanation]

I don't see you railing against or refuting the "Socialist" part of my statement.

At least the left is finally being honest and accepting who they are.
This is good.
Seven out of eight therapists recommend "honesty and acceptance" to their patients who wish to maintain mental health.

[Elrathin]

I don't see you railing against or refuting the "Socialist" part of my statement.


Puhhhlease I have done that many times over and have shown how your side has supported Socialism as conservatives. Not one conservative nor Republican candidate has been elected on the platform they are going to get rid of Social Security and Welfare which are all socialist programs.

Your continued use of the term socialist to describe the left is intellectually dishonest since your side supports socialist programs as well. Sorry to burst your partisan bubble like that, but its the truth.

[preservanation]

Your continued use of the term socialist to describe the left is intellectually dishonest since your side supports socialist programs as well.Some Republicans might, Conservatives do not
Liberals do.
The lines of demarcation are clearly drawn.

[Elrathin]

Your continued use of the term socialist to describe the left is intellectually dishonest since your side supports socialist programs as well.Some Republicans might, Conservatives do not
Liberals do.
The lines of demarcation are clearly drawn.


Well then, so by your own admission there hasn't been a conservative candidate in decades then, since no Republican candidate has been for getting rid of Social Security or Welfare outright.

Wow, your side really sucks then and definitely doesn't represent anything lol.

[Osborn F. Enready]

You guys (elraithin and preserva) are kidding yourselves.

Both major parties are working toward COMMUNISM, not socialism, and its not primarily ONE PARTY, its BOTH MAJOR PARTIES and the forms of "compromise" they craft and pass into law that is TAKING US THERE.

Partisanship does nothing but cloud the issue, especially when BOTH parties are equally guilty.

[preservanation]

You guys (elraithin and preserva) are kidding yourselves.

Both major parties are working toward COMMUNISM, not socialism, and its not primarily ONE PARTY, its BOTH MAJOR PARTIES and the forms of "compromise" they craft and pass into law that is TAKING US THERE.

Partisanship does nothing but cloud the issue, especially when BOTH parties are equally guilty.
I'll accept that.
Our two major political parties are a mess.
They are both drifting to meet in the middle. If left to their devices they will merge as an oligarchy then heaven help us.
We are many years from this actually happening and it is impossible to see the future.
If this begins to happen, IMO you'll see members of each party jump ship so fast.
Neither side wants to be left out in the cold.

My point is that liberalism runs toward communism while conservatism resists it.

Never mind Dem/Reps, who knows?...they're hopeless.

[Go Fish]

When Obama loses, you're going to to wish you owned a gun. Think "Rodney King" to the 7th power.
Okay, bring on the condemnations.........

[AlonzoMourning23]

People have finally awaken to the fact, the only thing conservatives offer is intolerance, war, and death.
What do the Dems offer?
Intolerance, war, death and Socialism
No way, buddy.


Intolerance? As in "Why don't you tolerate my intolerance? As in "Why can't a run a school that requires gay students to wear a pink triangle?" kind of intolerance?

Or war, protecting people from genocide is bad and attacking Iraq, Iran and Pakistan are good?

Death, as in ensuring the people get good medical care so they don't die in their 40's?

And socialism? Democrats don't practice socialism. They share some common policies, so do republicans (ever find a republican who wants to eliminate all taxes or spending?). And they share similarities with libertarians and conservatives as well.

Both major parties are working toward COMMUNISM, not socialism, and its not primarily ONE PARTY, its BOTH MAJOR PARTIES and the forms of "compromise" they craft and pass into law that is TAKING US THERE.

Partisanship does nothing but cloud the issue, especially when BOTH parties are equally guilty.

Revolution and opposition is only a virtue when it changes something for the better.

Your policies don't improve the conditions of the people as a whole.

[4Reaganomics]

When Obama loses, you're going to to wish you owned a gun. Think "Rodney King" to the 7th power.
Okay, bring on the condemnations.........


quite possibly a scene from Mad Max

[gemosological]

Death threats would fit right into the messianic image of his campaign.

Barak Obama's already surrounded by fainting fans, which are miraculously brought back to life by him offering only a simple bottle of water.
This is sea-parting stuff.

Death and persecution always fit well into any mythological narrative.
I say run with it, baby.

Something else that some folks are 'running with" is that mansion/garden space deal with Rezko and trying to discredit Obama with it.
Funny thing is it looks like McCain's pal Renzi, who is one of the co-chairs of McCain's Republican campaign committee, is facing these charges:


www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/washington/22cnd-Renzi.html

The prosecutors said a grand jury on Thursday returned a 35-count indictment accusing Mr. Renzi, 49, and two former associates of extortion, wire fraud, money-laundering and various conspiracies that could bring many years in prison and fines of hundreds of thousands of dollars upon conviction.

Doesn't look like this new incarnation of a Republican "Swift Boating" is going to fly- not with a record like that, lol!
In fact it looks like this "Swift Boat" attack is already sinking, lol! Doesn't look like Obama is facing any charges like that, even though Rezko is.
But you shameless Republican hussies just don't seem to have enough sense as to know when to quit, lol!

We'll just keep giving you guys and gals more rope to hang yourselves with! We got lots of rope- about eight years worth. It's not likely we'll run out anytime soon, lol!

P.S. What is it with this "R" and "Z" thing anyways?

Gemo...

:lmao:

[Elrathin]

When Obama loses, you're going to to wish you owned a gun. Think "Rodney King" to the 7th power.
Okay, bring on the condemnations.........


Yep because that's all black people do is riot right? Can you get any more of a stereotype against blacks in there. Wow what a racist stereotype. And conservatives wonder why they are going to lost this election.

[Osborn F. Enready]

Alonzo said:
And socialism? Democrats don't practice socialism. They share some common policies, so do republicans (ever find a republican who wants to eliminate all taxes or spending?). And they share similarities with libertarians and conservatives as well.


ROFLMAO...... is this improv night? Doing a comedy special?

:ecstatic: :lmao: :madlaugh:

[preservanation]

Alonzo said:
And socialism? Democrats don't practice socialism. They share some common policies, so do republicans (ever find a republican who wants to eliminate all taxes or spending?). And they share similarities with libertarians and conservatives as well.


ROFLMAO...... is this improv night? Doing a comedy special?


Dear Mr Osborn F. Enready,
You are a socialist, you are a socialist...ha, ha, ha!
...socialist

[Elrathin]

So preservanation I assume you aren't going to vote this year, because if you vote for a candidate that supports socialism as McCain does you are supportive of Socialism too.

There is not one Republican candidate trying for office this year that is trying to get rid of Social Security or Welfare. So I guess you're going to skip out on this election right?

[AlonzoMourning23]

Alonzo said:
And socialism? Democrats don't practice socialism. They share some common policies, so do republicans (ever find a republican who wants to eliminate all taxes or spending?). And they share similarities with libertarians and conservatives as well.


ROFLMAO...... is this improv night? Doing a comedy special?

:ecstatic: :lmao: :madlaugh:


So you want abortion illegal, same sex marriage illegal, you want to pass laws placing christianity in government, you want to continue fighting in Iraq, you want to bomb Iran, you want to continue no diplomatic ties with cuba etc. If you support those policies you still wouldn't prove your point though, since you'd no longer be a libertarian.

[gemosological]

When Obama loses, you're going to to wish you owned a gun. Think "Rodney King" to the 7th power.
Okay, bring on the condemnations.........


Yep because that's all black people do is riot right? Can you get any more of a stereotype against blacks in there. Wow what a racist stereotype. And conservatives wonder why they are going to lost this election.


Besides being a 'racist" comment it was also totally off-base. One, I'm a white guy, two, I own a gun, three, I'm a bona-fide riot fan and, four, I've got a wee bit of the Irish in me- and the temperament (:fight:) to match, lol!

Gem
:)

[preservanation]

So preservanation I assume you aren't going to vote this year, because if you vote for a candidate that supports socialism as McCain does you are supportive of Socialism too.

There is not one Republican candidate trying for office this year that is trying to get rid of Social Security or Welfare. So I guess you're going to skip out on this election right?
So Elrathin...
It's kinda like pissing out a freight-car door.
One doesn't want to make it any worse than it already is...

My ideology doesn't support socialism.
Your ideology doesn't support the troops in Iraq.
Neither of us are getting everything we want.

My wish is to get as much conservatism into America as possible, beat back socialism, and eat gyros.
That's it.

[Elrathin]

So Elrathin...
It's kinda like pissing out a freight-car door.
One doesn't want to make it any worse than it already is...

My ideology doesn't support socialism.
Your ideology doesn't support the troops in Iraq.
Neither of us are getting everything we want.

My wish is to get as much conservatism into America as possible, beat back socialism, and eat gyros.
That's it.


Nice dancing around the subject Pres, so what you're saying is that you will support a candidate that supports socialism? Or are you not going to vote?

Remember you are the one DEAD SET against socialism in ANY form according to you, and since there aren't any Republican candidates running that will get rid of Social Security or Welfare, you are supporting socialism yourself then.

[AlonzoMourning23]

My wish is to get as much conservatism into America as possible, beat back socialism, and eat gyros.

Eat gyros? You support multiculturalism?

[AnnEsthesia]

Multiculturalism is ok as long as they serve you with a smile and speak english to your face.

[preservanation]

So Elrathin...
It's kinda like pissing out a freight-car door.
One doesn't want to make it any worse than it already is...

My ideology doesn't support socialism.
Your ideology doesn't support the troops in Iraq.
Neither of us are getting everything we want.

My wish is to get as much conservatism into America as possible, beat back socialism, and eat gyros.
That's it.


Nice dancing around the subject Pres, so what you're saying is that you will support a candidate that supports socialism? Or are you not going to vote?

Remember you are the one DEAD SET against socialism in ANY form according to you, and since there aren't any Republican candidates running that will get rid of Social Security or Welfare, you are supporting socialism yourself then.
Applesauce.
You're just trying to get me to throw my vote away.
That, my friend is "voter suppression", and I will not stand for it.
You will hear from my attorney in the morning.[hr]
Multiculturalism is ok as long as they serve you with a smile and speak english to your face.
Exactly.
Ever occur to you jamokes that they WANT to sell me a freekin gyro?
If not, how could they afford those expensive weddings?
Jeeze, I'm doing them a favor, buying their greasy sandwich and helping them realize the American dream.
:fight:

[Elrathin]

Applesauce.
You're just trying to get me to throw my vote away.
That, my friend is "voter suppression", and I will not stand for it.
You will hear from my attorney in the morning.


LOL, it is ok Pres, at least now I know all that talk about you not supporting Socialism is not true. Thanks for coming around to the 21st Century though and finally admitting it. Admitting it is the first step to recovery of a conservative that is too far right. There is hope for you yet.

[preservanation]

LOL, it is ok Pres, at least now I know all that talk about you not supporting Socialism is not true. Thanks for coming around to the 21st Century though and finally admitting it. Admitting it is the first step to recovery of a conservative that is too far right. There is hope for you yet.
I respect "hope", even though it is an ineffective human emotion.
I prefer removing the remnants of socialism through adherence to our Constitution by action, not "hope".
Once the citizens and our politicians catch on to this, you libs are going to be in a world of hurt..

[Elrathin]

I respect "hope", even though it is an ineffective human emotion.
I prefer removing the remnants of socialism through adherence to our Constitution through action, not "hope".
Once the citizens and our politicians catch on to this, you libs are going to be in a world of hurt..


Like I said Pres, it is ok, we now know you to be just like the other conservatives and other Republicans who are not against socialism completely. Thank you for returning to reality and showing us you are not on the extreme right.

Some Socialistic programs are actually good for society and you and the other Republicans that vote in Candidates that support not getting rid of them is a good thing. Thank you again Pres for your contribution to continuing Social Security and Welfare, it is great to see support from the right on this.

[preservanation]

Thank you again Pres for your contribution to continuing Social Security and Welfare, it is great to see support from the right on this. If I refuse, Janet Reno will come to my house and shoot my family.
*preserva* doesn't want to be this millennium's new Randy Weaver.

[Elrathin]

If I refuse, Janet Reno will come to my house and shoot my family.
*preserva* doesn't want to be this millennium's new Randy Weaver.


Whatever excuse you need to use, that's ok, I understand. I still thank you for your support of those socialistic programs.

[preservanation]

Use them in good health.

[Mark Hopkins]

What the Conservi-Liberals of the Demopublican party have offered, even as they continue to feign their kabuki dance (as all-too-well exemplified here) of a phony debate, is a half-century of uninterrupted deficits that have driven this nation's economy into the ground.

Every single year since the end of the Eisenhower administration (including the so-called "surplus years" disingeneuously labelled so by the Demopublicans) has seen the Debt rise higher and higher. These are by the actual numbers -- the ones that count (the Bureau of Public Debt).

The consequence is predictable and well nigh upon us: a dollar that's fallen through the floor, particularly in recent months.

It's time for the Perfect Storm of 2008 to take root and sweep out the Demopublican party and all its advocates and participants, along with both branches of the overbearing conserviliberal movement.

It's time for something new, in the spirit of Unity 08.

The precept of the Obama campaign is reconciliation to turn the page from the old 1960's debates, to transcend conservi-liberalism and redefine the entire political landscape in that respect. It's an advocacy that wants to extricate itself from old school partisanship entirely; and forge a new set of divides in a new landscape for a new century.

His speeches call on people to strive for their inner greatness, and bespeak an optimism about where the future is headed.

Yet, for all the talk, when the man actually leaves the building, it is like the spell of a charismatic wizard has sudden been lifted and there is a feeling of utter emptiness; and when the words are re-read in written form, they completely lack anything of substance!

Like a walking GQ model, Obama is all posture and no talk. All looks and no substance.

Do not confuse the as-of-yet absence of more than one prologue and denizen of the internet with the supposed singularity of the one who is present. The movement is, indeed, real. But it was around long before the man-who-would-be-shepherd came around to claim it as his own following.

It is we of the net, from whom this sentiment has long been welling. The notion of the partisanship of the undeclared Second Civil War red-blue divide being nothing than a Conservi-Liberal Kabuki dance, engaged in by those stuck in the 1960's, did not come from Obama.

It was not he that coined that term Conservi-Liberal.

The idea that a new time of reconciliation is upon us and that the pendulum was slated for a major swing back, starting in 2006, with a reshaping of the political landscape did not originate with Obama. He was not the one who spoke, as early as 2004, of what was about to happen in 2006 and, later, in 2008.

It was us in Cyberspace who spoke of the scourge of Conservi-Liberalism. We are the ones who coined the precept of the Radical Middle. We are the ones who foretold of the political tempest of 2006 and the coming tidal wave of 2008.

It is us in Cyberspace who laid the groundwork of this platform and these ideas that have now by hijacked and appropriated by one man who, but for the absence (so far) of any alternative, would garner no more attention than any other run-of-the-mill Chicago preacher.

Nor is he the only one with the spirit of Chicago or the good looks of a man blessed with youth beyond his time.

Oh no. Not my any stretch of the imagination!

The Ents on the Net have begun to awake, and we are finding that we are, indeed, strong. One man, the center of a cult following, is but the vanguard of what more shall come forth. A new March of the Net is about to proceed, and it will overtake the man who claims the youth of the Net as his following.

There are others in the wait who can talk him into the ground and, unlike the wannabe preacher, will actually have something of substance to say! Do not be surprised to see the resurrection of Unity 08 under the sudden rise of a new dark horse.

As McLaughlin said: 2008 is showing all the signs for the perfect storm. On the left, on the right; be it Democrat or Republican, they will all be seen to utter the same lament inspired by Tolkien, "I see a great wave, climbing over the green lands and above the hills. I stand on the brink as I witness a new tide surging forth like a wall of doom. A new beacon shines before me, but I cannot turn. I can only stand there waiting for it to overtake me."

(1) A Complete Overhaul of the Appropriations Process
Obama wants to (somehow) merely reform the way things are done in Congress? Well, he's part of Congress. How's that working out for him?

Any leadership by example here? (Cricket sounds heard in the otherwise silent background).

Well, even then, even if he had made some movement in that direction: that can be outdone -- a complete overhaul of the appropriations process.

That is: you will take active part in the process. The responsiblity and vote shall be placed directly back on your shoulders.

Let the budgetary items be placed up for regular public review. For instance, while filing tax returns (or separately at any other time), an individual may declare a priority order for programs; example: top 10, top 100, however many they decide to rank. Similar declarations may be made over the web or in public venues (libraries, etc.)

A budget submitted to Congress by the executive branch will be the compilation of these collective ranks issued by the general population. This is the Popular Mandate budget.

The very notion runs deeply central to the spirit of Unity 08.

The budget will comprise the top-ranking items in the priority order compiled from the people up to the spending limit. A 10% "wild card" factor will be left open for Congress-initiated appropriations.

If this, or something equally drastic, is not done soon, then the issue will be forced. At present, over 30 states have already ratified the call for the Second Constitutional Convention. It takes 34 for it to become initiated.

The second constitutional convention in 200 years is only a few states away from taking place. The measure was initiated in the 1970's and is still-pending; it was initiated for this very reason -- to fix the appropriations process.

(2) The X-Prize Olympiad.
Obama wants to (somehow) get the country moving forward on alternative energy, climate warming, etc.?

Sh'yeah! All talk. No ideas.

Well, here's substance: a perennial olympics, under the auspices of the federal government, for an entire roster of X-prize competitions, will be initiated for innovation in (a) new energy technology, (b) new vehicular technology, (c) water purification and desalinization, (d) space travel, (e) greenspace reclamation and other similar ventures.

We have one such competition already: the Knight Rider competition (the annual robot automobile competition). Look at how fast the technology has advanced. Year #3 and the cars are already driving themselves in traffic!

(3) Civilian Space Corp and Education Credit
Obama speaks a pretty word, aplenty, like he's some kind of Kennedy, about paying your dues. "You'll get a free education up to $4000" (or whatever) ... audience cheers ... "but you'll have to do something for your country" (audience cheers even louder, because they're apparently too dazed to think through the consequences for themselves of what he actually said).

Nice try. There can only be one Kennedy. And you ain't it.

We can do this one better. Free education, like Obama's platform, may be granted in exchange for participation either in public service OR in the newly formed Civilian Space Corp.

Any participant in the X-Prize Olympiad shall be automatically deemed a Space Corp member. The corp shall, for the most part, be one and the same as the roster for the X-prize Olympiad. Membership shall be open to all.

Its mission will not just be outer space. It will be here on home. In the long term the way will be paved for the large-scale project of terraforming Mars. But before this can even get off the ground, the Earth has already presented us with plenty of opportunity for us as a dress rehearsal. That is, let's first clean up the Earth.

The technologies used to this end will serve as the embryonic form of the same to be ultimately used elsewhere off-world. And so, the primary mission of the domestic arm of the Space Corp shall be to simply make the Earth more habitable. FEMA will be grandfathered into an emergency response arm of the Space Corp, whose scope will ultaimtely be expanded to off-world venues over the decades to follow.

Affiliation of the Space Corp with NASA will be enacted (including training by NASA). Licensing for civilian space-flight (which has been underway in Congress for the past decade) will be systematized -- in conjunction with international bodies.

These are just a few items to whet the appetites of those who have started this Unity 08 movement but are now looking for a new spark to light the fire of Enterprise beneath.

Pun intended.

(4) Social Security
The present-day system is a Ponzi scam. To put it less politely, the pay-as-you-go premise is the hallmark of a pyramid scheme. And it will come home to roost on the backs of the most virulent Obamamaniacs.

Heard any peeps from Obama on this?

There is a way to fix this. In fact, we've already seen the faintest shadow of the general solution 2 times in the past decade: a negative income tax -- or NIT.

Let Social Security be grandfathered into and replaced by an age-graded negative income tax. The implementation will be simply: a starting age-graded credit on the 1040's.

This amounts to a de facto lifting of the so-called cap on the social security tax -- which, itself, is nothing more than a severely regressive tax on your grocery money.

That, more than anything, will lighten the burden of the ordinary person.

In times past, Milton Friedman in the center-right (Buckley's favorite economist); Kennedy on the center-left; Johnson, Nixon have all advocated the NIT. It is partly what lies behind the EIC.

But, here, we're talking about taking down an entire bureaucracy and -- once and for all -- eliminating the social security number, itself. We're talking about gutting and consolidating entire sections of the government.

(5) Health Care
While all the talk has been on getting everybody (or, if you're an Obaman, everybody under 18) hooked up into the glorified protection racket called the insurance system, apparently somebody has forgotten to ask: is this such a good thing?

Where does the US rate in comparison with other nations of the world in Life Expectancy? Barely above Libya and Cuba! Now, I don't know about you, but the definition of a fool is someone who keeps trying to do the same thing over and over expecting different results each time.

Michael Moore had a point.

To get everyone hooked into an insurance system: if ever there was a situation that fit the expression of jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, this is it.

The problem is not that 30-40 million Americans are uninsured. The problem is that 250-260 million are insured -- with no effective leveraging counterway, and no effective way out of the so-called free market; and no assurance that the money they actually pay will give them any coverage at all, in the first place!

And let's not get started on Hillary's round-them-all-up into the a universal government-mandated racketeering protection network.

A market can never be free when the only exit is to place your life at stake! It needs a leveraging counterweight.

What the situation calls for is a means to provide for the best of both worlds: a hybrid private-public system.

The public sector of the system will be siimultaneously single payer and multiple payer. What that means is that coverage is universal through the government, but that there are 100+ options available for you to mix and match and set up for yourselves.

There is automatic enrollment for everyone starters, anyone can declare, at any subsequent time, which options to take. Programs compete annually to fill the available slots and are retained based on the peoples' choices.

The mixing and matching even includes doing part of it in the public sector and part in the private sector for yourselves.

In the same Unity 08 spirit that the rebuilt appropriations-by-the-people process would operate under, this is an appropriations-by-peoples'-choice. Whoever gets the most choices wins over to the next year. Private sector competes to win the government slots.

The money comes out of the income tax. However, a deduction can be made by anyone who 'opts out" into the private sector. It's not 100% (or else the rich could cut and run).

The result will be a competition between the private sector industries and public sector.

The public sector of the overall system provides for collective leveraging power for the people against the private sector; and the competitive forces of the private sector hone down the excesses of the public sector.

(6) A Foreign Policy of World Federalism and Reconciliation
While the prologues of the American Empire sought to solidify the One Superpower model of the world, they completely forgot an important lesson of history. Does anybody remember the outcome of Athens vs. Sparta? What Athens did at the end? The haunting parallel that darkens the land like a shadow, even as we look out of the Parthenon-inspired architecture of the buildings in Washington?

All powers, no matter how great, must come to an end. In the long litanny of #1's that have come and gone, the United States has finally taken its turn. After the US, then what? How does playing out the tragedy of the final stages of Athens' preeminence in Classical Greece help secure a better tomorrow; or secure anything other than the punitive end met by Athens at the hands of everyone else?

The premise of the United States' approach to the world, since the end of World War II has been that after the US should come nobody. The US should be the last superpower in the history of the world. After US the litanny of #1's should come to an end, with the end resulting in world unification.

And so, we paved the way. At the behest of the US, Europe was steadily forged into the union that now spans the continent. The United Nations was born in and out of the Second World War; even as we fought against the Communist Alliance in the Third World War that we sometimes call the Cold War.

The idea is, and was, that it is in our best interest to lay forth the foundation of something that will secure against the future of this long line of #1's continuing on, with ourselves under the boot of the next one to be. Instead, we should all come together and put an end to this history, once and for all.

The grievances against North Korea and Cuba were predicated on the Third World War, or Cold War, which is now 20 years past. There is no reason for diplomatic relations not to be reinstalled.

So, we start with the little things: fix these.

The sole preconditions are (a) for Cuba to grant unlimited amnesty to exiles so that they can come back and help the island get back on its feet; (b) for North Korea to sign on to a nuclear-free-zone pact with neighboring states. The reconciliation with North Korea includes a formal peace treaty to end the 58-year-old Korean War that we are still technically engaged in.

Part of this reconciliation involves returning Guantanamo Bay to Cuba. Its putative function as a surveillance outpost against the Soviet Alliance in the Cold War is, at this point, a little obsolete.

An offer for formal diplomatic relations with Iran should also be tendered; if, for nothing else, than to place the ball in their court.

Now, these are just a few examples of what one ought to see in a talk that is both inspiring AND has substance. Yet, all we've heard from Obama to date is talk. No substance.

Now that you've seen it, you'll perhaps be more keenly aware of it's absence, as well. And, perhaps, you'll come to see that there are other alternatives -- equally viable, if not more -- to serve as a shepherd of a movement long forseen (and prepared for) by those of us in Cyberspace.

Yes, the Ents of the Net have awaken and have begun to find themselves to, indeed, be strong.

Step aside Republicans. Step aside Democrats; Hillary prologues and Obamamaniacs, alike. A new tide is about to overtake you all. A new dark horse is on the horizon.

Finally, here's the beauty of the system, taken as a whole: you're involved too. Don't like all the ideas just raised. Well, all the programs suggested would, themselves, be subject to the revamped appropriations process. You have to rank them in high enough priority to make the cut. At the same time, whoever's pushing them has to convince you that you want them! Part of the job of the leader is persuading you to buy into them.

This is the true spirit of democracy. Competition in the larger arena of collaboration.

[preservanation]

It's time for the Perfect Storm of 2008 to take root and sweep out the Demopublican party and all its advocates and participants, along with both branches of the overbearing conserviliberal movement.

It's time for something new, in the spirit of Unity 08.Unity through elimination.
Good plan.[hr]As for the rest of your post...What?
Are these your plans, a refutation of Obama's or an amalgamation there of?Let the budgetary items be placed up for regular public review. For instance, while filing tax returns (or separately at any other time), an individual may declare a priority order for programs; example: top 10, top 100, however many they decide to rank. Similar declarations may be made over the web or in public venues (libraries, etc.)Its mission will not just be outer space. It will be here on home. In the long term the way will be paved for the large-scale project of terraforming Mars. But before this can even get off the ground, the Earth has already presented us with plenty of opportunity for us as a dress rehearsal. That is, let's first clean up the Earth.The public sector of the system will be siimultaneously single payer and multiple payer. What that means is that coverage is universal through the government, but that there are 100+ options available for you to mix and match and set up for yourselves.

There is automatic enrollment for everyone starters, anyone can declare, at any subsequent time, which options to take. Programs compete annually to fill the available slots and are retained based on the peoples' choices.
The sole preconditions are (a) for Cuba to grant unlimited amnesty to exiles so that they can come back and help the island get back on its feet; (b) for North Korea to sign on to a nuclear-free-zone pact with neighboring states. The reconciliation with North Korea includes a formal peace treaty to end the 58-year-old Korean War that we are still technically engaged in.How, force of personality?Finally, here's the beauty of the system, taken as a whole: you're involved too. Don't like all the ideas just raised. Well, all the programs suggested would, themselves, be subject to the revamped appropriations process. You have to rank them in high enough priority to make the cut. At the same time, whoever's pushing them has to convince you that you want them! Part of the job of the leader is persuading you to buy into them.