Rocky Mountain (Contact) High

Whew! What a week! I know I'm a big softie, but I teared up so many times this week, and it was out of hope instead of the constant hopelessness I've felt for the last 8 years.

Here are my favorite moments, impressions, and quotes. Please, share yours...

1. Michelle Obama describing Barack driving her and their first daughter home from the hospital. Favorite quote - "(Barack) talked about the world as it is and the world as it should be. And he said that all too often we accept the distance between the two and settle for the world as it is, even when it doesn’t reflect our values and aspirations."

2. Dennis Kucinich - "Wake Up, America!" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVp9cWOcZ7g)

3. The parade of 'regular folks', talking about how this administration has let them down. Favorite quote - "I want a president who's more concerned with Barney Smith than with Smith-Barney!" And this, from a lifelong Republican, no less! ;-)

4. Hillary Rodham Clinton - this was the HRC that could have won the nomination. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, this Hillary didn't run - more's the pity. She had two jobs to do: Turn her supporters around and velcro John McCain to George Bush. Hillary's speech was a grand slam, when all we needed was a homer. This judge gives her a perfect 10! Favorite quote (how do I pick only one?) - "(Barack) built his campaign on a fundamental belief that change in this country must start from the ground up, not the top down. He knows government must be about “We the people” not “We the favored few.”

5. Bill Clinton must have been heartbroken, but he did the right thing, and gave a GREAT speech, as though we would expect any less from the Big Dog. Favorite Quote - "Most important, Barack Obama knows that America cannot be strong abroad unless we are strong at home. People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power."

6. Joe Biden brought all of his charm, and none of his gaffability. Seeing him with his family...but of course, the Republicans will tell you that Dems have no family values. And, who didn't fall in love with Mama Biden? Favorite Quote - "My mother’s creed is the American creed: No one is better than you. You are everyone’s equal, and everyone is equal to you."

7. Teddy Kennedy, brain cancer and kidney stones couldn't keep him away. Passing the torch, receiving the tribute that his lifetime of service has earned. I don't have a favorite quote here, he wins by showing up!

8. God willing, The Next President of the United States of America - BARACK OBAMA!!!!!! For a long, long time I thought he was a great orator, who really didn't say all that much. However, when he gave his speech on race in America, and spoke to us as adults, in plain language, and told the truth - he won me over. After last night, how do you honestly claim he is 'an empty suit'? He laid out his plan, how he would accomplish it, and why he is a better option for America than John McCain. Plus - I got my Energy Program!!! Without re-printing his whole speech, here are some Favorite Quotes - "These challenges are not all of government's making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush." AND "Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility - that's the essence of America's promise." AND "We are the party of Roosevelt. We are the party of Kennedy. So don't tell me that Democrats won't defend this country. Don't tell me that Democrats won't keep us safe."

And, finally: "...at defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington. Change happens because the American people demand it - because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time."



(Note: text of all the speeches - though I couldn't find Bill Richardson, WTF?!?! - can be found at http://www.demconvention.com/speeches/)

TV Fun Time

Conventions - rollicking good time, or waste of taxpayer money - either way, it is time to Par-Tay in the Rockies this week! There is so much about this year's convention that we can discuss: Will Hillary be able to tame the PUMAs? Will Mark Warner's keynote address be the showstopper that Barack Obama delivered in '04? Are you interested in the upcoming convention? Are you planning on watching it, and if so, how much? Are you looking forward to any speaker in particular? Any notable absences?

I'm looking forward to hearing Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, and of course, Barack Obama. He wasn't my original candidate - that was John Edwards. When he dropped out right before the CA primary, I felt that the similarities between Clinton & Obama were so close, the deciding factor for me was that her Health Care plan was mandatory, which I think is a requirement to making it work. However, since I wasn't 'in love', it was easy for me to go over to Obama's camp once the primaries were over. (Actually, in the interest of full disclosure - if the primary had been in March or June, I would have voted for Obama, since I was turned off by the tenor of the Clinton campaign by that point.) So, while he's WAY too moderate for me, I'm hoping for a more populist message from Obama, a la 2004. I'll probably have the tv on in prime time, and read the transcripts of speeches I miss. How about you guys?

BTW: As much as I adore you all, do you have any suggestions about how we might attract more attention to Brushfires? I'd really like to broaden the debate...

(Question: If you have sex in Denver, does that make you a member of the Mile Hile Club?)

Just Biden my time...

In case there's some sort of Blog Law, I'm going to cover my behind with a VP post. So what do you think about Sen. Joe Biden as the running mate of Barack Obama? (Watch this spot for a post about something that I find more personally interesting - probably later today.)

Mommy, what's a Conservative?

I think I'll pick up where the comments left off...I found it interesting that when DSG asked if there were any true conservatives left, gina responded that she was pro-life, and did that count. Barry Goldwater was used (by DSG?) as an example, which is a great starting point. In fact, if you haven't already, you really should see "Mr. Conservative" which is a documentary about Barry Goldwater by his granddaughter CC Goldwater. I always thought that he was some whack-a-doodle extremist, and while there were definitely elements of that about him, he would be considered a moderate Republican nowadays. When I speak of Republicans, true Republicans, I'm talking small government/fiscally conservative folks. The GOP has been hijacked by neo-cons, who bear as much resemblance to Republicans as Communists do to Democrats (take my word for it, they're worlds apart). It is my opinion that, since Ronald Reagan's presidency, the main item on the neo-con agenda has been the systematic dismantling of Government. They tell us Government doesn't work, staff it with inept or ineffectual employees, thereby ensuring it fails - and, voila! - Government doesn't work! They do not want to Protect, Defend, and Preserve the Constitution, they want to re-write it, taking the power away from We The People, and giving it to a select few, creating an aristocracy the likes of which we revolted against over 230 years ago.

Now, how does gina's response regarding being pro-life fit into this discussion? There are very many issues facing us in our personal and political lives. Some parties are supposedly stronger in some aspects than others - national security, education, health care, foreign relations, the economy, etc. For those of us in California, we can see this dichotomy in our own Gov. Schwarzenegger - he is a fiscal conservative and a social liberal, which is how he has come to anger and please both parties, in turn. Now, I feel I can have a reasoned discussion with a true Republican, but the neo-cons have the major shortcoming of most true believers - there are no facts, only doctrine and dogma. That's not to say that neo-cons aren't welcome here, but they have to abide by the same rules as the rest of us - polite, courteous, and perhaps 40% less snark than post #1.

What do you think are the major challenges facing our nation today? Where do you think common ground can be found between the two parties on those issues? Should we start healing the rift where we're presently closest, or should we try to force the other around to our way of thinking? Or, should we just give up, thereby ensuring the failure of the great experiment - The United States of America?

Preaching to...?

Well, I've been thinking about this for a while, and received just enough encouragement to convince myself this is a good idea. Who knows? Maybe someone will stumble upon this, looking for the blog of the same name that is in German, and hasn't had a post since 2005... Hopefully, they'll be fooled long enough to read something that keeps their interest.

The title of this blog comes from a quote by Samuel Adams. I came across it while reading Thom Hartmann's "Screwed: The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class - and What We Can Do About It"(www.thomhartmann.com). It stuck with me, and made me realize that perhaps I might be able to share the ideas - and ideals - that used to be held dear by so many Americans. Not Democrats, not Republicans, but AMERICANS. Remember those? Your neighbors, co-workers, teachers, the faces you see every day. I am constantly struck by the deep divisions in our country, the seeming impassable chasm between left and right. Now, I realize that those of us who frequent the political blogs come loaded with opinions, and ready to do battle with our adversaries. What saddens me is the inability to have a reasoned debate without resorting to insults, namecalling, and ad hominen attacks. (Case in point, until I ventured into the blogosphere, I'd never heard the phrase 'ad hominen attack'.) It is my hope that this blog will provide an opportunity for courteous discussion - passionate, courteous discussion.

That said - PLEASE, feel free to disagree with me. If I'm lucky enough to get anyone to read this, and comment on what I've written, I'd like it to not only be my friends or people who feel asI do. I like to think I am still able to learn things, and how can I be sure of my principles if I'm never challenged to defend them. However, don't just disagree, but tell me why.

First topic: Obama vs. McCain - who do you support and why? Now, let's stick to three main points, and they MUST be in support of your candidate, not against the other. (My blog, my rules!) Let the games begin!

I support Obama because he is a Democrat, I believe that he will appoint pro-choice justices to the Supreme Court, and because I fear that our Republic is in desperate straits and we need someone who will rein in the power of the corporations and return it to We The People.