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Joe Biden Urges Dayton Democrats To Double Efforts These Next Four Days

Posted on October 31, 2008 by Mike Bock

It was a good rally

I attended the Joe Biden rally today in Kettering, only a few blocks from my home, at the local high school in the same arena that hosted John McCain just this last Monday. The rally was lightly attended — maybe 1500 people or so. But, by very enthusiastic people.

After he spoke, Biden waded into the crowd to shake hands.

John Sweeney, President of AFL-CIO

Biden started on a wrong note by mispronouncing “Kettering,” — saying “Kittering” But he launched into a rousing speech that hit on all the themes he and Barack Obama have been hammering. He emphasized that we can’t take four more years of the failed Bush economy and that McCain would continue Bush’s policies. Biden said that the current financial crisis, the Wallstreet bailout, was simply “the final verdict of the last eight years.”

A Sarah Palin look-alike fit appeared with shopping bags from high priced stores on her arm

A Sarah Palin look-alike appeared with shopping bags from high priced stores on her arm.

Biden said that even in this Halloween season it is unbelievable that McCain would think he could dress up and appear to be “an agent of change,” that such a costume just doesn’t fit. Biden said that Bush will be judged harshly by history for how he has squandered so many opportunities. He quoted Bob Carey who said that McCain has no credibility anymore as a “maverick,” that McCain has totally supported Bush in his wrong policies, that it makes no sense for McCain to call himself a maverick, when for the last eight years, to Bush, he has simply acted as a sidekick.

Prior to Biden’s arrival, John Sweeney urged his listeners to work hard these next four days to turn out the vote and to defeat McCain. He said that “no state in the union has suffered more than Ohio under George Bush,” and gave these statistics: under Bush, Ohio unemployment has gone up from 4.1% to 7.2%; the typical family’s income in Ohio has decreased by $2300; health care premiums have increased by 50%. He warned that under McCain and Palin there would be more of the same. Sweeney said that his union is working hard for the election of Obama.

Introducing Biden was his wife, who told of Biden’s loyalty to his family and his motivation to take the train to Washington and back every day. Mrs. Biden said she has been in education for over 27 years and still teaches at a community college. She said that when she earned her doctorate in education, her husband placed a sign in their yard that read, “Welcome to the Home of Doctor and Senator Biden.”

Biden concluded his speech by asking his audience to “Imagine an America.” He gave many examples and spoke of how America must live up to its promise. He brought the audience to its feet, challenging them to double their efforts these next four days. The crowd continued to cheer until Biden’s conclusion.

It was a good rally. I noticed a lot of people signing up to help Get Out The Vote.

Andi Eveslage, Democrat candidate for Ohio House District 37, shakes hands with her Dad. Dr. Eveslage is retired from the University of Dayton. Andi’s Mom is in the foreground. I’ve gotten to know these nice people from attending the South of Dayton Democrat Club. Andi claims that her parents, as active Democrats, have had the opportunity over the years to shake the hand of a lot of aspiring presidential candidates and that those whose hands they shake always win. She is hoping that that magic touch will work on Ohio House races as well.

Posted in Special Reports | 6 Comments

The DDN Misses The Big Picture, Its Reasons To Support Congressman Turner Are Nonsense

Posted on October 31, 2008 by Mike Bock

In its editorial today, The Dayton Daily News descends into a gibberish that is truly nonsense. The DDN opines that Republican Congressman Mike Turner should be reelected, because, “judged on non ideological, nonpartisan grounds, he has earned reelection.”

Earned reelection? Please. The premise of the DDN editorial is that while many voters choose a candidate on how the candidate will vote on the big issues, “Some voters are focused on: competence, energy, ethics, personality, impact, experience,” that is, “non ideological, nonpartisan grounds.”

The paper proclaims, “He (Turner) has done his job competently and energetically,” but, good grief, what was the job, really, that voters in the 3rd District asked Turner to do? The DDN seems mighty proud of the minimal accomplishments of Turner that its discussed in its initial endorsement a couple of weeks ago. The paper uses these minimal accomplishments to proclaim Turner “competent.” But any congressman, however mediocre, would have done the same. Turner did nothing special. We deserve and need a better definition of “competence,” when evaluating the work of our congressmen.

The point is, Turner failed miserably in the big job he should have been focused on: fairly and wisely making independent judgments that would best represent the interests of the 3rd District.

The DDN misses the big picture. Turner has voted over 90% of the time to support the policies of George Bush, and these policies have been disastrous. For six years, Turner has empowered the gross incompetence of congress. He has shown no independence, no interest in supporting oversight. He has simply played the political game. Bush’s approval rating is at 22%. How can we have such a low opinion of the President and still favor those, like Turner, who empowered Bush’s every bad decision and every incompetent act? My Lord. How can this seem so obvious to me, and evidently, so unobvious to the editorial writers at the DDN? In my view, they miss the big picture.

I’m sputtering to find an analogy. Suppose your personal business manager has run your company into the ground and you are facing bankruptcy and disgrace because of this manager’s incompetence. The manager’s argument in defense — look, here I made some money, look how energetic I am, look at my good appearance, my pleasant personality, look at my resume — would fall flat. You would fire the manager, because you would see the impact of his incompetence. You would look at the big picture.

Turner looks good, only if the big picture is ignored. I took a crack at the whole topic a couple of weeks ago when I wrote, Mike Turner Is A Bum, For Our Democracy’s Sake, Let’s Throw The Bum Out. Such strong language. I said to a friend that I hoped that one of Turner’s children wouldn’t ask him, “Daddy, are you a Bum?”

In that article I wrote, “The crux of DDN’s endorsement of Turner is: ‘Turner kept a sharp eye on matters of local interest, and he has made a difference.’ Wow. The DDN’s definition of ‘local interest’ is mighty narrow. There is an enormous local interest in economic stability. Turner’s votes caused the national debt to explode; Turner’s utter loyalty to Republican mismanagement and Republican deregulation imperiled us all. These are matters of enormous ’local interest.’ How can the DDN be so obtuse?

“Turner was derelict in his duty. The fact is, Turner did what most politicians sent to Washington do. He played along, he got in line, he kept his mouth shut. Turner, and every political worm he identifies with, is the problem. And, if our democracy has any reality, in this election, an aroused and awakened electorate will vote Turner out.”

It does not help our democracy to have our local newspaper confuse its readers about the big picture and instead spread misinformation via faulty logic.

Posted in M Bock, Opinion | Leave a comment

McCain, In 2003, Praised Coming War With Iraq As Adding To Our “Glorious History”

Posted on October 30, 2008 by Mike Bock

While Barack Obama was opposing the coming Iraq War, John McCain was praising the coming war as adding to the “glorious history of the United States” of liberating oppressed people.

Thanks to the wonders of You-tube, history is preserved for anyone who wants to see it. On You-tube are two clips taped in the US Senate on March 19, 2003. One clip shows Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia giving his solemn assessment of the coming Iraq War and another clip shows Senator John McCain making his reply to Senator Byrd.

McCain, in his Senate speech, barely mentions WMDs, but emphasizes that one key purpose of the war will be to liberate Iraqi citizens from oppression. McCain says, “Contrary to the assertion of the Senator from West Virginia, when the Iraqi people are liberated, we will again have written another chapter in the glorious history of the United States of America. … We will again assert the most glorious phrase ever written in the English language, that we hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal with certain inalienable rights…. People of Iraq for the first time will be able to realize those inalienable rights. I am proud of the United States, I am proud of the leadership of the President of the United States.”

McCain continued, “To somehow assert, as some do, that the people of Iraq and Middle East are not entitled to the same God given rights as Americans, that they do not have the same hopes, dreams and aspiration as our own citizens, is an act of condescension. … In many ways I am Wilsonian, again, America this great nation of ours, will contribute to the freedom and liberty of an oppressed people, who otherwise might never enjoy those freedoms. … History shows us that this nation has stood for freedom and democracy even at the risk and loss of American lives so that all might enjoy the same privilege or have the opportunity to some day enjoy the same privilege as we do, in this noble experiment called the United States of America.”

Senator Robert Byrd in his Senate speech denounced the rush to war. Byrd said, “What is happening to our country? When did we become a nation that ignores and berates our friends and calls them irrelevant? When did we decide to risk undermining international order by adopting a radical and doctrinary approach to using our awesome military might? How can we abandon diplomatic efforts when the turmoil in the world cries out for diplomacy? Why can this president not seem to see that this country’s true power lies not in its will to intimidate but in our ability to inspire?”

Byrd said he prayed for “the innocent civilians, women, children, babies, old and young, the crippled and deformed, and sick in Iraq,” who would soon face war.

Byrd said, “I’ve watched events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No longer is the image of America as a strong and benevolent peacekeeper. We flaunt our superpower status with arrogance … We cannot convince the world for the necessity of this war for one reason, for one simple reason, this is not a war of necessity but it is a war of choice.”

Senator Robert Byrd’s Senate Speech, March 19, 2003 (Part 2)