R-ISLANDER

NO DEMOCRAT WILL WIN SAYING THIS

No presidential candidate, in my humble opinion, will win the presidency espousing this:

"We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK," Obama said.

We like the idea of protecting the environment, but think about who this talks to, or demands action from...actions that will adversely effect the quality of life of all working Americans, both people of color and white.....no, this is not going to win us votes for the democrats...another reason why we need Hillary...

Hillary to Win Kentucky BIG...

Kentucky papers are making it clear that Hillary will win Kentucky and probably very big.  Obama will win Oregon and equally big. 

Unfortunately, Obama will again lose to Clinton among the democratic party's biggest constituency, working class white Americans with incomes less than $50K and with no college preparation.

Obama needs Hillary as VP and this Democrat will be incredibly disappointed if Obama is not strong enough to have Hillary as VP.

IT IS TIME RHODE ISLAND--SAME SEX MARRIAGE

The California courts said bans against same sex marriage is unconstitutional and permits California to join our sister state of Massachusetts in marrying same sex couples.  Here's a piece of the decision:

The California Supreme Court has overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage in a 4-3 decision. The opinion is lengthy, and I'm just getting through it, but here's an excerpt: "Furthermore, in contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual’s sexual orientation — like a person’s race or gender — does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights. We therefore conclude that in view of the substance and significance of the fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship, the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples."

Maybe this decision by one of the country's most prestigious courts will convince an otherwise disappointing Democratic legislature here in Rhode Island to give the "okay" to same sex marriage in Rhode Island.

RI's 2nd Congressional District Contested ....

RI's second district will see Rep. Jim Langevin opposed by Mark Zaccaria a Laffey and Carcieri backed Republican who opposes universal health-care for R-Islanders....I can't imagine anyone in his or her right mind voting for a Laffey/Carcieri Republican to replace the popular Langevin....Langevin is supporting Universal Health-Care big time...good for him...he understands how health care should be a right of citizenship as it is in most industrialized nations and that health care should not take people's entire pay check or their lifesavings.

Needless to say SMART working people in RI will be voting for the democratic candidate who supports health care for all.....not just the rich .....

WHERE IS JACK REED? ALL RI WANTS TO KNOW

All the other RI super delegates have made their choice.  RI went overwhelmingly for Hillary...NOT OBAMA...why isn't Jack Reed backing the citizens of RI and endorsing Hillary Clinton?  Come on Jack...Obama may get the nomination, but it is not over yet....ENDORSE HILLARY....

MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER FOR HILLARY

Wherever Hillary leads, like millions of other Americans, I will follow.  I will vote for Obama if he makes the nomination grade and if she indicates i should. 

A sure vote from me for Obama is if Hillary is VP on the Democratic ticket.  The Super Delegates must know that and should be moving the senator from Illinois in that direction.

If Hillary is not the VP choice and she wants it, and Obama doesn't give the "ok"...I'll need to rethink my support for whomever the Democratic nominee is...

It is time to wed Hillary's experience and Obama's call for change...if it doesn't happen, many democrats like me will not be happy and very disappointed that this woman who gets more of the popular vote is denied her rightful place as the vp candidate if not the candidate for my party.....

DEAR SUPER DELEGATES

Clearly, Obama can't win the election without the constituencies that Hillary has been able to attract in huge numbers.  North Carolina was a great win for Sen. Obama, but he still has not been able to attract the numbers of hispanics, women, the aged, catholics, working class Americans, etc, that democrats will need in November.  Clearly she will loose without the Democratically loyal African American electorate too.

The white population that has indicated in huge numbers that they will not support Obama and will go to McCain if Sen. Obama is the nominee, and they will.  They feel comfortable as Reagan Democrats and WILL VOTE for McCain.

African Americans are not as stupid as their white counterparts.  They know that a Clinton Presidency will be good for African Americans and that a vote for McCain instead of Hillary would be disaster for not only African Americans, but for all minorities. 

As a life long Democrat who donates hard earned money to Democratic candidates, please don't let this election slide away, and with Sen. Obama as the nominee it will.  The only way Obama MIGHT SURVIVE is if Hillary is on the ticket in some way. 

I will vote for Sen. Obama, he's a good man, but I want Hillary first, and then if he actually gets the numbers he needs for the nomination, I will go full force for Obama but only if Hillary is not discarded as a nothing.  She is a proud woman, an excellent campaigner, and she has earned a place on the ticket even if you make the huge mistake of going with Obama instead of her.

DON'T GIVE ME ANOTHER 4-8 YEARS OF A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT.  PLEASE. Recognize that Hillary is the winner here, and Sen. Obama will not win this election especially without Hillary.

AND LET ALL THE PEOPLE VOTE!!!!

HILLARY HAS CHANCE IN NORTH CAROLINA!

Lynn Sweet, an unabashed Obama supporter wrote this for the Chicago Sun-Times.  She's saying that Obama had a high double digit lead in North Carolina and that has shrunk considerably as we find out more about Obama and his ability to attract traditional Democratic constituencies, constituencies that the Democrats will need to win in November.  He can't win them and here's her view:

RALEIGH, N.C.-- With the polls moving in Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's direction in the Tar Heel State, following a string of problems for Sen. Barack Obama, Clinton's campaign is making a last-minute push here.

A good showing here -- and a win or close call in Indiana on Tuesday -- will make it harder for uncommitted superdelegates to come out for Obama. "If he can't win by more than 10, he'll face serious questions," said Clinton spokesman Doug Hattaway, setting the bar during a stop in Wake Forest where Clinton appeared at an outdoor rally with North Carolina Gov. Michael Easley.

"I know the difference between making speeches and implementing solutions," said Clinton, taking a shot at Obama. MORE>>>>>

NW INDIANA GOES FOR CLINTON; BARACK INEXPERIENCE CITED

Bucking conventional wisdom about Barack Obama's natural advantage in Northwest Indiana, a Times-sponsored poll of likely voters in Lake and Porter counties gives Hillary Clinton a commanding 13-point lead over Obama among region Democrats, according to Northwest Indiana newspapers.

The lead for Clinton is based on her experience and his inexperience as expressed in his Wright problems.  It was expressed by this Philadelphian very well and applies in Indiana:

"It raised the question of experience," said Jerome W. Mondesire, president of the Philadelphia NAACP and a pledged Clinton delegate. If Obama cannot handle a "whack-a-doodle like Wright, how is he going to handle a crazy head of a government with a nuclear weapon?" Mondesire asked. "That's far more dangerous than a Jeremiah Wright."

OBAMA BLOGGERS RESORTING TO CALLING HILLARY A "DOG"

A blog I usually respect and over the top on shilling for Barack has just demeaned himself.  AmericaBlog has resorted to really nasty portrayals of Hillary but this is disgusting:  Friday Carmela Blogging Carmela

Now if a Hillary supporter had done this, there would be hell to pay from this guy.Blogging

OBAMA THROWS REV. WRIGHT UNDER THE BUS!

Rev. Jeremiah Wright is being pilloried not only by the media, the liberal left, and some African Americans, but by his "friend" Barack Obama. Wright has presented his version of the history of the African American experience during slavery and after while suffering life here in racist

America

. Wright's version of the African American experience is one that sounds right on target to me. His statements saying that centuries of U.S. slavery, Jim Crow laws, lynchings of African Americans, decades of U.S. imperialism, that HIV/AIDS was developed to kill black people, and that because of white America's historic continued mistreatment of African Americans, God would damn the nation is exactly what many African Americans believe, and they are right.

Barack Obama, I suspect after 20 years in Wright's Church, as a friend who see Wright as his spiritual advisor, probably believes, if not believed most of what Wright is saying, too.

But, in order to become president of this country Obama had to deny these statements of Wright that clearly outlined the atrocities of the African American experience in

America

. In effect Obama threw Wright "under the bus" just as he did his Grandmother in order to give White America assurances that he was not an angry black man so that he could become the next President. Rev. Wright, and rightfully so in my book, took offense, and said, I'm not denying my experiences of horrific racism so that Barack can win the presidency. He stood up and said Barack is a politician who needs to lie to become president. Barack is willing to deny Wright's fully justified historical chronicle of racism in the

U.S.

to be President. Wright said I'm standing up for the Black Man first, then you Barack and if it means that some people see me as throwing YOU under the bus, so be it. 

Wright also made it clear that he wasn't about to throw Louis Farrakhan as Obama has done so that he can win White votes to become President.

Wright then went on to say that if Barack becomes President "I'm coming after you just as I would any other president of this country that grinds people, especially African Americans down." 

Wright is telling Obama he is ashamed of him for deny the horrors of the Black Diaspora just to become President of the country that Wright and others say is and will be hostile to African Americans. 

Right On! Reverend Wright.......m

RI STATE BUDGET: OTHER TRUTHS

Here are some truths about the budget we are not hearing in RI: (from URI economist R. McIntyre)

It is true that health care costs, pension costs, and education spending,
especially on special ed, have risen in RI (and nationally). But the attention
to these issues in the media is way out of line with their relative
importance. Consider the following, all taken from Tom Sgouras's wonderful
publication, "Rhode Island Policy reporter" (www.whatcheer.net):

Corporate taxes have declined from 14% of the general
revenue in 1990 to less than 7% today. In today's
dollars, this is around $200 million in lost revenue.

We've cut the capital gains tax twice at a cost of about $40 million.

The personal income tax was cut 9% between 1997
and 2002, costing us about $110 million this year.

The phaseout of the car tax is costing $140 million
this year.

We've cut taxes on the richest taxpayers to a degree
that will eventually cost us $100 million.

So as the governor, the supposedly democratic legislature, and the supposedly
independent media, tell their story as if it were the only truth, there are
certainly others.

PENSIONERS AND POOR CHILDREN ARE DESTROYING RHODE ISLAND

Yes, the problem with the RI budget problems and we do have those, are the pensioners and poor children.  That's what Sen. Stephen Alves, Senate finance chair, URI Professor Maureen Moakley, and RI rich kid and corp. executive John Hazen White, Jr. (wearing all his gold "bling" to make sure we know he's "cool" and he's rich) said this morning on PBS' "Lively Experiment".

Imagine.  These people all think it is a hard thing to do, that is cutting services and pensions of RI's neediest, but they are advocating, indeed proposed, that we do it.  Hazen White was beside himself praising Carcieri and the Democratic legislature coming together to finally screw children and pensioners and balancing the budget on their backs rather than raise taxes...on corporations.

Even Alves noted that there are HUNDREDS of RI corporations making profits of over $10M per year who pay the minimum tax of $500.00.  Yet these people pass laws (Alves) or support passing laws (Moakley, Layman, Hazen White of Tacky, Inc.) that will reduce pensions for pensioners and cut THOUSANDS of poor children from the RI Ritecare (health insurance) roles.

RI constituencies, voters, unions, Hispanics, academics (Hazen White flaunts his money by donating to places like URI), public workers, and firefighters and policemen ( whom this group of VERY UNREPRESENTATIVE Rhode Islanders attack unmercifully as underserving of pensions and health care they negotiated in good faith with the state and or cities and towns) should come out in force to make sure they are all "thanked" for their concern about our first defenders and Rhode Island's working classes and the poorest of our children.

What is wrong with these people?  Heartless ... what is government for anyway, if not to help those in need...and yet they support corporations and the state's wealthiest by cutting their taxes and adding to the burdens of our citizens...who actually work for a living.

I WANT TO VOTE FOR OBAMA, BUT.....

It looks as though the campaign for the democratic nomination is making some big changes...Hillary is looking better and better each and every day.  Obama seems to be self-destructing.  How can a presidential candidate say that he won't debate anymore...huh?  What are you afraid of?  It seems to me there shoud be more debates, not less, and I like the idea of no moderators which Clinton has offered Barack Obama. 

If Clinton does not win the nomination, I want to vote for Obama, he's a natural for my vote, but I'm becoming more and more skeptical as Obama moves away from debates, mixing with the issues, Hillary, and the public.  It makes me think he's got something to hide.  I hope not. 

He's a great speaker.  He must have a good handle on the issues, and he certainly isn't afraid of HIllary showing him up, so what is the problem?

Every Democrat, especially those of us who would like to vote for Obama if he wins the nomination, and the Super Delegates...we all should be very nervous.  This guy is looking more and more as though he can't handle the rough and tumble of a campaign.  He says he wants to change all that...sure, but first you've got to be in a position to do that...and without getting in there and mixing it up with Clinton and McCain, he'll never be able to change the system as he says we need to do. 

Come on Barack...Debate Hillary...Debate McCain...Geez, go anywhere to talk to anyone about how you will approach our many problems...that's what a campaign is all about.

OBAMA:  DEBATE CLINTON ...

DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE BACKS CARCIERI CUTS OF HUMAN SERVICES

The RI Legislature closed the budget deficit.  How did they do it?  As reported in the Projo, ..."cutting health-care and welfare benefits for thousands of children, and reducing retirement benefits for all state workers who retire after Sept. 30, not to mention cutting benefits in other human services programs. 

How cowardly is it for the Assembly to balance the budget on the backs of children and state workers?  CHILDREN...no health insurance for children.  A major cut in health insurance for the working class on a variety of fronts.

They cut needed benefits of poor children and save dollars...and then give it away with tax cuts for the rich and coporate entities.  I can understand the Republican Carcieri making such unconscionable choices, but a D_E_M_O_C_R_A_T_I_C legislature?  I thought Democrats supported those at the margins of our society.  What the hell happened?  When did they become Republican who gleefully cut programs for the poor and working classes?

SHAME, SHAME....time to check voting records and to "reward" those democrats who are so in name only!

Playing the Race Card and Drawing Attention from Wright

Bill Clinton is being slammed as a racist, by Barack Obama's campaign, as they said in published memos that they would.  And then they wonder why Bill Clinton is angry.  Clinton has done more for the Black community than any other president.  House Whip Clyburn is now saying that Clinton is a racist and that the Clintons are trying to destroy Obama.  Excuse me, Obama is destroying himself.

Clyburn is making his point again today, and in the NYTimes yesterday because tonight Obama's America-hating pastor is coming on PBS at 9 and in the interview with Bill Moyers, claims that Obama's race speech was nothing more than "politics."  Obama doesn't believe what he said according to his pastor.

So, the Obama campaign has to neutralize that, and they think we are all stupid and will be drawn away from Obama not explaining the pastor and anti-America situation that will be all over the news tonight tomorrow and on Sunday and beyond.

Shame on Obama, Shame on Nancy Pelosi, Shame on Rep. Clyburn.  Dragging Bill Clinton down with these false accusations that he is racist!  What he said in SC is NOT by any stretch of the imagination racist.  Imagine how Jesse Jackson feels (he said he had no problem with Clinton's remarks)  when Obama is insulted at being compared to him?  Come on...

If this race baiting on the part of Obama, his team and Rep. Clyburn doesn't STOP, I WILL IN NO WAY VOTE FOR OBAMA.  I won't vote for McCain, obviously, but I will not vote for Obama.  And when Hillary wins, and she will, Obama and his team are giving nasty lines to the Republicans to beat Hillary over the head with during the November general election.

STOP PLAYING THE RACE CARD, OBAMA, please....if you win the nomination, let me vote for you...if you continue this attack on Bill ...I'm sitting out the election...and I will do everything I can to persuade everyone I know to do the same. And that means having your surrogates stop too...you know, the one's like Clyburn that have your campaign's green light.

And why haven't Jack Reed and David Cicilline and Patrick Kennedy and all those other RI super delegates who haven't come out yet or who are supporting Obama COME OUT NOW FOR HILLARY CLINTON like the overwhelming number of Rhode Island voters did in the primary?

AND, MSNBC and Chris Matthews are slamming the Clintons as usual tonight with Clyburn's remarks.  Think old Chris will give the same coverage to the Obama Pastor interview tomorrow or on Monday?  LOL...yeah, right...

Oh, BTW, we all still LOVE Willie Geist in Rhode Island!  All of us being good post-modernists, we love his pieces on popular culture.  Keep them up Willie.  My students love it!

GOING GREEN IN RHODE ISLAND! It's Radical and It's Good.

Greenwash Guerrillas Pie Thomas Friedman on Earth Day is how the students at Brown are taking the fight against the capitalist, negative approach to global warming to those who espouse such.  There is a post at Rising Tide North America with lots of links and further reading on why the Brown students acted in the theatrical way they did. 

Rising Tide is a grassroots network of groups and individuals who take direct action to confront the roots causes of climate change and promote local, community-based solutions to the climate crisis. Rising Tide was formed in the Netherlands in 2000 to bring a more radical voice to the COP6 (UN Conference of the Parties) climate talks that attempted (unsuccessfully, largely due to the efforts of the US delegation) to salvage what of substance was left of the Kyoto Protocol. Employing popular education and direct action to address the root causes of climate change with a focus on climate justice, Rising Tide now spans three continents. Rising Tide North America’s strategy is based on a no-compromise approach of stopping the extraction of more fossil fuels and preventing the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure.

DEM Legislature Joins Carcieri in his attack on Working Class

RI Governor and RI Democratic Legislature are pushing many RIslanders into a forced retirement.  Young people who want to work are forced leave state government.  They will then go back into the private sector creating more competition for jobs in RI and the vicious circle for the working class will continue.  Nice job, boys...how to destroy RI...

“I actually love my job. I love the people I work with. It’s to the point where I got people saying, ‘You can’t leave,’ ” said DiPietro, who has spent the last 34 years working for state government. “But when I do the numbers, I have to leave. That’s not a good way to feel.” MORE>>>>

Queer Month at Rhode Island College Plagued by Vandals.

Queer Month at Rhode Island College plagued by vandals.

According to the student newspaper, The Anchor, The series of attacks on RIC Rainbow Alliance's advertising campaigns has continued since two weeks ago. The banner hanging in Donovan Dining Center that advertises the second half of Queer Month disappeared for the fourth time. Besides the banner, hateful language has appeared in several places on the campus.…

I'd like to hear the Governor, the local Catholic bishop, and other politicians and religious figures speak out against this.  They won't .  Maybe those who are running for Governor will.

AGAIN HILLARY WINS, AND OBAMA CAN'T CLOSE

Women and working class Pennsylvanians voted for Hillary Clinton tonight, even though Hillary is broke and she was outspent by 3-1 or as some are saying 4-1.  She has all these negatives, he has the great speeches and all the crowds, and the young (who registered but didn't vote) not to mention 92% of the black vote. 

But all Democrats should be worried.  This guy cannot win the constituencies that any Democrat will need to beat McCain.

Barack Obama can't do it.

I'm sticking with women and working class Americans and will continue to support Hillary.  Right through June....and the final vote is called for....in Denver.

The only thing that would move me to Obama now is if Hillary is also on the ticket.

And, as Rhode Islanders, who voted overwhelmingly for Hillary, we should vote against any RI senator or congressman who does not follow us in our support for Hillary.  The RI super delegates are with us or against us.

In fact, I'd like to hear them all, especially Jack Reed and Patrick Kennedy and David Cicilline and Patrick Lynch, they should all support Hillary TOMORROW.