Opposing Views

Several of my mom friends have mentioned that they need to start learning more about what the "other side" thinks about the issues, rather than continuing to read and listen to those who we agree with; some have chosen the Fox News Channel route while others haven't come up with a better alternative. I think I may have found that alternative and am sharing it with you.

Opposingviews.com is a debate site where experts go head-to-head on a variety of topics. With Election Day approaching, some of you might want to learn more about what the other side thinks and it may strengthen your own views on a particular topic, be it the war in Iraq, a national heath care system, reproductive rights, etc. or you may change your mind - who knows.
But I believe it is my duty to help you, my reader(s), to learn more about issues that you are interested or passionate about and hopefully strengthen your beliefs and ideals.

Yeah, I've got a question.

Realpolitik Mama had a few hours to herself yesterday morning. Not enough to finish all of my coffee or the Sunday paper but enough time to get through some of the paper as well as watch a few minutes of my favorite Sunday morning talk show. Now we've been listening to a lot or rhetoric from the McCain camp about shutting down the pork barrel spending that happens in the Congress and how dare Senator Obama look out for his own constituents and approve a bill that allowed the Adler Planetarium to purchase a new projector. Which by the way was incorrect, read the real story here.

Earmarks or pork barrel projects are where lawmakers insert money for special projects into congressional appropriations bills. These special projects are for the most part designed to happen and benefit the congressional district or state that said representative is from. I remember when I was in college there was a big to do over several federally funded projects that Loyola University of Chicago received because of former Congressman and Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, Dan Rostenkowski's influence.

Now before I pose my question, don't get me wrong I am not saying that earmarks are a good thing. There are plenty of special projects out there that are unnecessary and probably shouldn't be funded and there is a way to weed those out.

So my question. Are we supposed to believe that John McCain has NEVER voted for a bill or asked to push an appropriations bill through to help his great state of Arizona? In his 24 + years as a Senator his has done NOTHING to help bring jobs and money to his constituents and his state?

I think I found my answer or answers.

Bitter State?

The political talk circuit has been a buzz with Former Secretary of State/Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell's endorsement of Senator Obama. When I first heard about the announcement I don't think I was as surprised as many others are about the endorsement. What else would a man who was thrown under the bus by the Bush Administration and then hung out to dry do?!

Ok, so he isn't making it personal and I am glad that General Powell kept to the issues. I am happy he raised the same concern as many of us have about the Sarah Palin; she isn't ready or qualified to be Vice President or for that matter President. For a man who has been so well respected in the Republican Party to come out and say what he says is huge, don't get me wrong, and I am glad that someone from "the other side" has come out and said it.

The pundits are right, this is a big nail in the coffin for the McCain campaign. A well respected conservative veteran, and former Secretary of State comes out and endorses the guy that people criticize for not having any foreign policy experience and crazy ideas on diplomacy. The General got it right. Very right.

Oh yeah, one more thing. The McCain camp's reaction? Well, that is great but we are still endorsed by over 300 retired generals and admirals + many other former Secretary of States. Alexander Haig is on that list! A man who didn't know the order of secession when President Regan was shot!

Vote Early

and here in Chicago, they say "Vote Often". While I don't condone voting often, for those who have to go to work early or leave work late, always seem to forget about election day, or just want to beat the rush. GO VOTE. Many states are offering early voting, please find out if your state and county offer these options.

Realpolitik Toddler will be wearing this shirt for the next 21 days to do his civic duty to get everyone else out to vote. I call it TGOTV - Toddler Get Out The Vote! For your own shirt go to www.babypolitico.com

When the going gets tough, the tough get U.G.L.Y.

I am a little confused. As a friend of mine said a while ago, I thought this election was going to be different and we are going to stick to the issues without getting personal. But yet again, it's gotten U.G.L.Y. Between the McCain - Palin campaign's desperate smears against Barack Obama, to the Elizabeth Hasselback taking up the McCain cause and pushing Obama's "radical connections"on of all places The View. This election has gotten U.G.L.Y. Ugly I say.

To me a lot of what is out there right now is reminiscent of what the Clinton campaign pulled in the spring when they were grasping for anything to bring down the Obama campaign. We know how that worked. These personal attacks and not sticking to the issues of this campaign, especially when we are in the BIGGEST economic crisis of our time, only shows the lack of substance the McCain campaign has on the issues. While it is easy to go the route of the McCain campaign and smear the opponents, I am happy to see the tie in with the Keating Five with current events rather than just naming names that are associated with a candidate.

Here is the thing

Many of you might be wondering why I didn't comment on the VP debate on Thursday night. So, here is the thing. I am not sure I could add any additional commentary on what has already been said. I am not loosing my touch, I just don't want to belabor the point. All I will say is SNL did it right when Joe Biden said "I am better than that" pointing at Palin.

Vote

Facebook

I would like to think I have my finger directly on the pulse of new technology, music, restaurants in my fair city, etc - which means that I've known about Facebook and MySpace for several years. The boom of social networking sites has been huge, and lately more and more people have been talking about these sites to me and all the people they have reconnected with after joining.


Ultimately, I am not a person who likes to be "found". The people I am friends with from high school and college, have been my friends for a very long time and I've chosen to keep them in my life. Others, not so much. I am the person you see at the mall when you go home for the holidays who will actually turn around and go in the opposite direction if spotted. I am not sure why people feel a need to bond with you because you've gone to the same high school/college. Yes, I am as curious as the next person when it comes to "where are they now" but I think that is where it ends. I don't have much of a burning desire to connect or reconnect with individuals in my past. I'll be the first to readily admit that I have issues and this would probably be the main reason why I haven't yet signed up for Facebook or My Space, until today and I am still not convinced.

Some, not all ,of my friends have Facebook pages. In fact I got a call from my cousin in Greece who asked me if I Facebook. The deal closer for me and Facebook was one of my favorite artists sent an email that he is now of Facebook. So I thought I would give it a try. Filled in all my information, registered for Facebook and away I went. It took me a while to get the information inputed and actually couldn't find a decent picture of myself to put on my page, so I skipped all that and went to "Find people" I started with my high school. Of those from my graduating class, only one person I cared enough about to see what they were up to, but not enough to make them my "friend". College. The same thing. I didn't get any farther than that, because Realpolitik toddler woke up from his nap. So the jury is still out if Facebook will be in, or "ouft".