God, Country, and the Inauguration

Photo Courtesy Senator Barack Obama Press Kit

I do not think it will surprise many for me to say I am not a fan of President–elect Barack Hussein Obama. That being said, I love this country. I am a patriot through-and-through. I love that we are a melting pot country and I love our constitution. Did you know that our Declaration of Independence is a model for other countries that seek freedoms and democracy?

As a patriot, I can say that regardless of our initial impression of the man, I cannot think of a single president in history who has been perfect. I cannot name one who has not made a decision that turned out badly (despite his best efforts) or who has not at some point in his term of office acted on some human frailty – the way all of us do in our daily lives. By that same token, I cannot think of a single president who has not also shown, at some point, tremendous wisdom, courage, or leadership for this country. Every incoming president is bound not only to disappoint, but also to inspire.

Soon Barack Hussein Obama will be our 44th President. Those who wish ill upon him are unthinkingly wishing ill upon us all. His blunders will affect this country in ways that could do serious damage. His triumphs will change lives for the better, possibly in profound ways.

In loving this country and her people, I pray for Barack Hussein Obama. I pray he will be blessed with the wisdom to clearly see what is best for the people of this country as a whole, and with the courage and strength to act on that wisdom even when it is difficult or unpopular.

I pray for his family. I pray they will be able to endure the sacrifice and challenges that come with being the family of the President of the United States of America. We do not need family challenges or stressors to be adding more pressure and workload upon our president. We need him to be at his best and able to focus, with a clear mind and heart, upon the needs of this country. We also need him to be able to be there for his family and to have that source of comfort and peace in his life. Those moments will help him to better endure all he must as our president.

I will be watching the inauguration as he is sworn into office. I care not for the Hollywood elite and the hoopla, but I am very much interested in the swearing in ceremony of our new president. Every swearing in ceremony is an historic event, and while some cling to that label because he is black, I use it because it is the hallmark of the democracy in this country that I so treasure. Each swearing in ceremony means ‘we the people’ have a voice and a choice in our own leadership and government. I hope to never take that for granted.

As an American, you can protest and boycott the inauguration or you can attend and cheer with tear-filled eyes. You can watch in the hopes he will commit a major blunder, or you can watch for the history-making aspect. You can do something that has nothing to do with the inauguration, or you can even change the channel and watch something else. Those, too, are other great parts of this country – you have the freedom to choose how to respond to this event, and it won’t be broadcast on every channel.

God Bless America!

PS. Those who wish to watch do not need a television to do so. Hulu is one of multiple online sites that will be broadcasting the event live.

The United States No More – Russian Prediction

An interesting article in the Wall Street Journal caught my attention last night. In it, a Russian professor predicts the division of the United States, with each part joining up with or being ruled by a foreign entity. While I do not believe it would ever come to that, I can see some states wanting to separate. However, again, I do not really think it will come to that.

With the article is a map illustrating how Prof. Igor Panarin believes the U.S. will be divided. First question: If this came to pass, would you stay where you are or would you move to a specific region in order to be affiliated with a different country? In this illustration, there is no longer a U.S. section – all are under or affiliated with other countries.

I would have to move, and my move would be in an eastern direction – though I am not sure how far east I would move.

Second question: What do you think the likelihood is of the U.S. becoming a divided nation?

Source:
As if Things Weren’t Bad Enough, Russian Professor Predicts End of U.S.
In Moscow, Igor Panarin’s Forecasts Are All the Rage; America ‘Disintegrates’ in 2010
Andrew Osborn. Wall Street Journal (online). December 29, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123051100709638419.html

Political Parties and the U.S. Government – Democracy Requires More than One Voice

Image via WikipediaI have never believed that our government should be controlled by one party. In a democratic society, there is more than one school of thought that needs to be addressed, and many voices that need to be heard.

While I lean more centrist to conservative, I recognize the value of having a healthy mix of liberal ideas and plans in the rule of the country, side-by-side with a healthy mix of conservative ideas and plans. I believe having a good mix of both protects the people and ensures more is done for the ‘common good’ of the people as a whole than for party lines.

I have watched as the parties have changed over the years, primarily the Republican Party. There was a time when each of the two major parties had clear doctrines and clear stances. Now both have become a mish-mash of extremism and centralism, overlapping each other in some areas.

When it becomes more about getting votes than standing for something, the people suffer. When it becomes more about poll numbers than doing what is right for the people as a whole, the country suffers.

I am aware of a movement to return one party to its roots and get back on track. Though I do not agree with every statement made (especially when the other party is attacked), I do believe the overall concept is a good one. The movement is one to rebuild the Republican Party, and the link leads to the Facebook portal for it.

If you know of any other grassroots movements to rebuild, restructure, or otherwise change any of the U.S. political parties, please let me know and I will review and add them here.

Post Election - Can We Truly Be 'United' States?

Image courtesy Senator Obama Press Kit.
The election is over and Senator Barack Hussein Obama has been declared the 44th President of the United States. His term will begin in January of 2009 and run for four years.

There are strong emotions on this day after the election on both sides of the political fence. What happens from here on out is not just up to our leaders, but to 'we, the people', as well.

One friend who was strongly pulling for Senator McCain very graciously posted a statement to the effect that as people who love this country, we should now pray for President-Elect Obama and his family, and show our support to our president. That we should not behave as some have toward President Bush, but we should honor the office of President and treat our leader with the respect he deserves as our leader, regardless of our differences in philosophy or values.

A writer for whom I have tremendous respect wrote a beautiful article calling for unity and expressing some of the same sentiments: "A Call for Unity - Bridging the Political Divide for a Stronger America".

In a day and age of disrespect and ignorance, can we live up to the call for 'Change' that was such a huge part of our new President's campaign?

The True Power of the Office of President of The United States of America

Image via Wikipedia What is the true scope of power and the responsibilities of the President of the United States of America? Before electing anyone to the office, it is important to understand just what they have the power to do, and just what their responsibilities are.

The Department of State lists the official and constitutional criteria, powers, and responsibilities of the president.

Over at Britannica.com, a more historical look at the development of the role and powers is covered.

A brief but technical description is available from Cornell University's Law School website.

And finally, a less technical description created for children is available from the government at Ben's Guide. This version may make the technical descriptions a little easier to comprehend and digest.

Who Can Say One Positive True Thing About Senator John McCain?

Image via Wikipedia In a forum of which I am a member, a challenge was issued: Who could say one positive true thing about Senator John McCain? Though several attempts were made, the issuer of the challenge shot them all down until one forum member shared the following:

Senator John McCain Heroically Grants a Dying Mother Her Final Wish

As stated in the article, it is not about politics, but it does say something very powerful about the man behind the office and the campaign.

Want further true insight into the men behind the campaigns? Check out this interesting article by Nancy Benac, By Their Offices Ye Shall Know Them.

There are many things to consider before electing a president. Getting to see the man behind the campaign is one way to ascertain his character. There are other ways to get to the truth behind all the hype.

Truth and Pants on Fire Detector. Want to know how much truth or fallacy is behind the claims made in email, in speeches, and in ads? Check out the non-partisan truth detector at PolitiFact.com. A new feature is the "Flip O-Meter" that reveals true flip flopping by the candidates.

Want to know the actual voting record of the candidates? Such things are a matter of public record and accessible through the government's U.S. Senate website.

Partying with American Political Parties

Image via Wikipedia Today's post is dedicated to the political parties of the United States of America, and voting.

The Directory of American Political Parties offers a listing of the political parties in the USA along with a brief description of each.

The Political Philosophy Quiz is by far the most accurate I have seen lately at revealing where a person stands in political philosophy. The quiz assesses responses to determine leanings in the conservative/liberal, pacifist/militarist, libertarian/authoritarian and capitalist/socialist spectrums. With the results comes a recommendation for political party based upon the results.

Now that you know about the various parties and which most closely fits your beliefs, it is time to register to vote.

Not sure how to register to vote? The Rock the Vote website can guide you through the process. Also, the Register to Vote site offers information related to registering to vote and how to make an informed decision before you vote.

Government 101: Types of Government Rule - Democracy, Republic, and more

Image via WikipediaDue to this year being an election year as well as the year the Olympics are in China, many aspects of government, freedom, and laws have been on my mind.

Like many, I have mistakenly referred to our government as a 'democracy', when in fact we are a 'republic'. I have also observed that many Americans do not understand the basics of our governmental structure - or what the President really does (i.e. his role, responsibilities, and limits in power).

Over the course of several posts, I will be covering these basic concepts for your benefit as well as my own. Educated and informed citizens are responsible citizens who know not only how to elect the best people, but know how to 'demand' the best from those in office.

Types of Government by Alverno College (Wisconsin)

Types of Government by Country

If there is any particular aspect of how our government is set up or how our electoral process works that you would like me to cover, please contact me.

Outrageous Behavior in the Senate

Image via WikipediaSummer is here, and the time came for the Senate to take a summer break. The nation is in crisis with high fuel prices crippling the country. So what did the public servants we elected and we pay with our tax dollars do?

Shut down the senate and went on a five-week vacation - starting at 2:49 in the afternoon. Guess they wanted an early start for the weekend on their trips - while many Americans struggle to afford to go to work and eat.

According to a Fox News article, the Democrats left but the Republicans had a pizza party with those walking by on the street. Republicans urged the senate to continue in session until something is done to give Americans fuel cost relief NOW. The Democrats apparently think we can afford to not have enough money to buy food, pay the mortgage, and get to work.

I find it outrageous that with the current state of affairs in this country and given the fact that they work FOR us - were elected BY us - and are paid BY us, any member of congress would feel they have the right to take a vacation while we suffer rather than put in the time to get us the help we need right now.

Working into the summer break would be incentive to reach an agreement on immediate relief so they could enjoy a break before they start the next session - in which they could address the long term fuel relief issue.

Read more about it HERE

Want to know who voted to break for summer and who voted to stay (and who didn't vote at all)?

46 Democratic yes to vacation votes, 1 Republican, and 1 Independent. Who voted no - stay and work? 40 Republicans. Who didn't vote (not present or didn't have the backbone)? 8 Republicans and 4 Democrats. But, don't take my word for it, read the votes HERE.

Had those non-voters voted against the break, it would have kept the Senate in session, hopefully long enough to get immediate relief for us. As it is, the vacationers won and we get to endure at least 5 more weeks of high prices and mounting financial stresses.

Want to see how many days the senate was actually in session this last time? View the calendar HERE.

Want to know what they did during this last session? Read a summary HERE.


UPDATE (8/4/08): One of my favorite writers offers his perspective on the situation.
Nancy Pelosi's Innovative Solution to Save Energy and Find New Oil