Audacity of Hope Tour

OBAMA' 08
"I'm asking you to believe.
Not in just my ability to bring about real change in Washington......I'm asking you to believe in yours."

Volunteering in Washington, North Carolina till Primary Tuesday, May 6th.
Wish me luck.

Obama Rocks The Rally

From: DesertRatDan
Video & images of Barack Obama's rally from Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, PA. Music by Jesus Jones.

Drill, Drill, and Oh, I Don't Know, More Drill

Reuters UK: The Energy Information Administration's Analysis
Bush drilling plan wouldn't have eased pump prices.
Bush lies, fudges, and obfuscates.

Barack Shares All Our Values, Will Keep Us Safe And Support Our Troops

Ron Paul Regarding "Chickens Coming Home To Roost"

K.b. Rev. Jeremiah Wright says that our government's foreign policy is to blame for hatred towards our country and as part of the blame for September 11 and he is vilified. Ron Paul says the same thing in a national debate is is what? Labeled just a coot? What is really going on here?

Read more from Bob Cesca at Huffington Post

What Arrogance

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said "get over it" when asked about the court's decision giving the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush.

John Legend, A Big Dose Of Brotherly Love

I Think Jon Stewart Just About Sums It Up

k.b: Jon's very funny explanation of Hillary Clinton's changing of the democratic electoral rules.
Read more about Hillary Clinton's chicanery, "Clinton Supporter Challenges DNC Over Michigan Delegates" , at Talking Points Memo.

John McCain's Free Ride Stops Now

k.b.: What we have heard over and over from Hillary Clinton is "Pastor Jeremiah Wright would not be my Pastor" and now the Republican Party has taken up the same sound-bite of Pastor Wright's sermon and put it to their own drum beat. Hardly a peep has been said about the Rev. John Hagee endorsement that John McCain sought. This is what pandering to the radical conservative right will get you. As I was born and raised Catholic, I am deeply offended by this man's comments but I refuse to name-call. Watch and make your own decision.

Another Hillary Supporter

Tom, How About A Slice Of Pie

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman was attacked with a pie in the face by environmental activists during a speech about energy at Brown University yesterday.

k.b.: This isn't environmental activism, this is assault. I hope that these two cowardly children are just a small part of the generation that we're going to rely upon to save the planet.

Terry McAuliffe's Fox Love-Fest

Clinton Campaign Chairman falls all over himself to praise Fox News.

North Carolina's Church Lady

k.b.: "Well isn't that special" I love the dichotomy between the screaming, black, Pastor Jeremiah Wright versus the white, soft-spoken, North Carolinian, Republican representative.

UPDATE from TMP.com: Meanwhile, the national GOP is asking the state party to not run the ad, calling it "not appropriate" and "unhelpful."

Look Who's Electing The Next President Of The United States

Getty Images
CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider:
Seniors have consistently supported Clinton overwhelmingly and Pennsylvania is no different — she's winning 61 percent of voters 65 and over. Clinton did even better among Ohio seniors, winning 72 percent of their vote.
CNN Political Ticker

They Start Them Young In Pennsylvania

Getty Images
Four-year-old Cassandra Savukinas attends a campaign event in Philadelphia.

Clinton camp: 'There's still a long way to go'
k.b.: I bet she really drinks the Kool-Aid.

Pennsylvania Stars

Ignorant Southern Pastor Still Questions Barack Obama's Christianity

South Carolina
"Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places"

k.b.: This story just blows my mind. The American Civil War ended in 1865. For some people in the south 143 years ago must be like yesterday because they haven't moved forward in their thinking.
"Small Church's Obama Sign Causes Big Controversy", I guess there are some facts you learn from the history books and somethings that you just need to take to heart. You know there are ignorant people like this out there all over our country, not just in the south, but a lot of us don't run across them. This should not be ignored. I think these people need a visit or a phone call.

Jonesville Church of God
623 Forest St
Jonesville, SC 29353-1513
Phone: (864) 674-0883

Primary Day In PA, Lots Of People Voting And Blogging

Go to HuffingtonPost.com to read all about today's primary and results.

Bill Clinton: Obama Played The Race Card On Me But You Didn't Hear Me Say That

Bill: 'I'M NOT GOING TO PLAY YOUR GAMES' Clinton

k.b.: Who does this guy think he is, other than a former President with a wagging pointy finger!! Maybe it's the "they (Obama's campaign staff) and not he" (Obama) as in "sexual relations" (oral vs well you know).

Bush's Department Of Veteran's Horror

CBS: VA Conceals Vet Suicide Figures

k.b.: When it comes to human lives I think the action of CYA on the part of Bush Administration employees is despicable. Thank God the vets have people like Paul Rieckhoff founder and director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Of America and John Soltz Co-Founder and Chairman of VoteVets.org on their side.

Souls In The Wind

The helmets, weapons, dogtags and boots of two fallen US Marines stand at the end of a ceremony in their honour at Camp Bastion, in southern Afghanistan.
BBC

Celebrate Earth Day

k.b.: Do something for the Earth today. Turn off a light, blog in the dark, stay home and save the gas.

Hillary Clinton's Smarmy Attack Dog

WARNING - EXPLICIT LANGUAGE AND RACIAL HUMOR ..PLEASE DO NOT WATCH IF YOU GET OFFENDED


According to Lanny Davis, "There is no such thing as context if someone says n----r. There is no context. If my Rabbi from the pulpit said they are all n----rs, would you ask me to understand the context, or would you say there is no context".

k.b.: Mr. Davis I don't ever expect to hear the word nigger from a white Rabbi and I also don't think you're very in touch with black culture. I'm going to just bet that you never heard the comedian Kat Williams. Regardless of if your black or white or your feelings on who should or shouldn't use the word nigger. Kat Williams is hilarious.

Read more from Stan Stein at Huffington Post

A Katie Cookie

A Katie Cookie
Originally uploaded by kb-monkeywrench

I just attached flickr to my monkeywrench blog. Now I can blog others beautiful photographs (with their permission of course). So many talented folks out there.

Katie loves her bones and just like with Choo Choo we call them cookies. This is Katie using flick's free photo enhancer, Picnic. Now I have to put in an upgrade for that.

You Know You're Getting Old When...

You Know You're Getting Old When...
Originally uploaded by justinlphillips

Star Wars the movie was released over thirty years ago, May 25, 1977

Oh The Hypocrisy

Ed Rendell, Clinton Surrogate, Passionately Praised Farrakhan In 1997.

At last Tuesday's Democratic debate, Sen. Hillary Clinton drew out her objections to Sen. Barack Obama's relationship with his former pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wright, saying that what troubled her was not just Wright's incendiary language, but his past praise for Louis Farrakhan, the controversial head of the Nation of Islam.

Read more of Sam Stein's story with video at Huffingington Post.

President Bill Clinton, Big Bad Whining Bully In Chief

k.b.: The video above is Bill on the trail defending Hillary. Talk about a big baby. He must have forgot about all the whining and Ken Starr bashing he's done? Below is an interview with the late Peter Jennings of ABC News at the opening of Bill Clinton's Presidential Library. Let the beginning refresh everyones memory.

Swift Boating, More Like Swift Air Craft Carrier

Senator Barack Obama, Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Hillary Clinton and Ruth Harkin stand during the national anthem.

Yes, Title 36 or the U.S. Code,does state the following:
During a rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed (A) all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart; (B) men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart;

k.b.: I did not know this. On the other hand, the Code refers specifically to "Patriotic and National Observances." I'm not sure that a steak fry where there are flags flying all over the place including the one they weren't facing, behind them, qualifies. Regardless, why can't the media get this stupid issue right about it being the National Anthem and not the Pledge Of Allegiance? Or they don't want to.
The original story and photo was featured in Time Magazine and a fact check was done by
WashingtonPost.com.

Michael Shaw of BagnewsNotes writes an article at HuffPost about a feature that Newsweek is running on a comparison of Barack Obama to John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential campaign.

Michael Moore You're SICK(O)

Michael Moore endorses Barack Obama on his website this morning and calls Hillary Clinton's campaign tactics "disgusting".

Canvassing

IMG_7920, originally uploaded by Barack Obama.

Barack Obama going door to door in North Philly

This Is What The Clintons Destroyed Among Other Things.

Notes reveal a hidden world where the two leading political protagonists in America were willing to put aside their partisan differences in a genuine effort to achieve meaningful Social Security reform. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and President Bill Clinton, the story of their unlikely alliance, and its tragic unraveling, has never been told. Until now.

"Monica changed everything"

Read this fascinating article by Steven M. Gillon at Huffington Post

Snotty Nosed White Boy And Just What Is Playing In Barack Obama's iPod?

James you're a douche but... if you're an old white blue collar worker that reads my blog you would be the shit*.
*slang provided by Urban Dictionary


Obama really is a Jay-Z fan, too. When asked which hip hop artists he likes in a recent interview, he said, "lately I've been listening to a lot of Jay-Z -- this new American Gangster album." But he also stressed his opposition to the degrading and materialistic themes that run through too many hip hop albums:

I love the art of hip hop. I don't always love the message of hip hop. There are times when even ... with the artists I named -- the artists I love, you know -- there's a message that is not only sometimes degrading to women; not only uses the n-word a little too frequently; but also something I'm really concerned about, it's always talking about material things. Always talking about how I can get something. How I've got more money...
Read more of Ari Melber atHuffington Post



Jay-Z - "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" - The Black Album 2003

Wedding Countdown - 182 Days

Ann and Mike's Wedding October 18, 2008


k.b.: This Mio Heart Rate Monitor is strapless and works with the pulse in your index (pointer finger) and middle finger. Place them on the two silver ovals and you get a reading. I'm also starting week three of a twelve week walking program. I incline my treadmill to 6% (not flat) and start with a speed of 2.6 mph.

By Nicole Wilson
Best Syndication News Writer
Bob Greene, Oprah Winfrey's long time trainer said that you have to exercise to lose weight. Shorter bouts of a more challenging workout can cut duration of the exercise time. If you go up on the incline on the treadmill at the same speed you can increase your workout intensity. Bob Greene said that it could be different if you have high blood pressure or medical problems, so you should always check with your doctor before changing or beginning any workouts.

k.b.: The Walking Site is a great web site to try out. It gives you tips on shoes, nutrition, motivation and a beginners walking schedule.
Zero to 60 in Twelve Weeks - 12 Week Beginner Schedule
Safe walking and don't forget to Stretch.

Generals Of Pentagon Propaganda

To the public, these men are members of a familiar fraternity, presented tens of thousands of times on television and radio as “military analysts” whose long service has equipped them to give authoritative and unfettered judgments about the most pressing issues of the post-Sept. 11 world.

Hidden behind that appearance of objectivity, though, is a Pentagon information apparatus that has used those analysts in a campaign to generate favorable news coverage of the administration’s wartime performance, an examination by The New York Times has found. DAVID BARSTOW
Read more at The New York Times


Iva Ikuko Toguri(July 4, 1916 – September 26, 2006), a first generation Japanese-American ("Nisei") was forced to broadcast propaganda for Japan during World War II, after her native U.S. abandoned her there mere days before the Pearl Harbor attack, and despite her continual efforts throughout the war to return home. “Tokyo Rose” is a name that American GIs invented during WWII to refer to a handful Japanese female voices broadcasting on Japanese radio.
Read more about the real Tokyo Rose at EarthStation1

k.b.: The Iraq War in my own words: lies, blood for oil, profiteering, political-military propaganda, economic collapse, destruction, injury and death, death, death. I think that about covers it. Except for shame.

Senator Obama When Did You Stop Beating Your Wife?

Clinton's McCarthyism (and my Brother Bill Ayers)
by Rick Ayers
Obama needed to call this tactic for what it is: McCarthyism. This is the most base version of McCarthyism: Did you know this communist? When were you last with this communist? Did you denounce this communist? When did you stop beating your wife?

This desperate strategy marks the kind of Republican tactics of the Clinton camp. We always knew Bill Clinton was the architect of the Democratic Party move into a Republican stance on policy. Now these so-called centrist Democrats are imitating the take-no-prisoners tactics of the Karl Roves of the far right.
Read more at The Huffington Post

The Frank Factor

Brought to you by the Internets and YouTube, of course.

No More Whining, Complaining Or Colored Wrist Bands

k.b.: When Lance Armstrong starting using the Live Strong wrist band to raise awareness and money for cancer I thought that was a super idea. I bought several and still wear one today. When the olive green one came out to support the troops I said "even though they copied Armstrong's idea it is a good cause and we should all show our support." Pink breast cancer well.....Blue The Humane Society....Red.....etc. etc. Now it's getting outrageous.

Visit a complaint free world

Watch George Lewis of NBC's Today Show go through 21 days of no complaints.

What $3.43 A Gallon, It's All In Your Head

k.b.: John McCain is delusional and that's insulting to all the loonies out there. He scares me! His economic policy, if he even has one, scares me and his foreign policy scares me, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb - Bomb, Bomb, Iran.

Who Is Rick Sloan And The IAM?

Clinton Backer Distributes Essay On How GOP Would Link Obama To '70s Radicals
Thomas B. Edsall
A high-ranking labor supporter of Hillary Clinton is distributing
to union leaders and to Democratic strategists a document detailing the
radical activities of Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn, two former members of
the '70s group the Weather Underground, who decades later, in Chicago,
crossed paths with Barack Obama.

"We endorsed Sen. Clinton in August. We also endorsed Gov. Mike Huckabee in August. We have been supporting both campaigns and both candidacies for the last six months," said Rick Sloan of the International Association of Machinists.

Meet the staff of the Communications Department of the IAM directed by Richard Sloan.

Read More at Huffington Post

It's 1967 All Over Again

k.b.: It's 1967, I'm ten years old and my Mom is in the kitchen preparing dinner first by draining the white beans she had soaking in the sink then she'll add bacon and ketchup. Mom, where's that recipe?

By Heather Havrilesky April 18, 2008
Lately I've been buying beans. Not canned beans, mind you: Dry beans. Bags of dry beans that only cost 65 cents, beans that have to be soaked overnight, beans that you have to sort very carefully to make sure there aren't any chunks of gravel in there. This is my response to an impending recession, my move to scale back and batten down the hatches for the coming economic storm.
Read more at Salon

Fair Is Fair

This image provided by Warner Bros. shows a copy of an ad that appeared in local language newspapers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) promoting a new theme park.(AP Photo/Warner Bros)

By RYAN NAKASHIMA, AP Business Writer
Politically sensitive characters such as Captain America could be left at home. Prayer rooms will join the list of accommodations, and menus will likely feature falafel and humus alongside pizza and hot dogs.
"On the one hand, they hate America. On the other hand they love America to the bone," said Michael Izady, an expert on Middle East culture who reaches history at Pace University in New York.

kb.: The Middle East holds us over a barrel, literally, so we in turn export them this crap.
Read more at Yahoo News

Let Us Not Forget

Sandra Combs pauses at the chair dedicated to bombing victim Baylee Allmon in the Field of Chairs at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, prior to the 13th anniversary ceremony of the Oklahoma City bombing, in Oklahoma City, Saturday, April 19, 2008.(AP Photo)

By MURRAY EVANS, Associated Press Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahomans paused Saturday morning at the Oklahoma City National Memorial to remember the 168 people who died 13 years ago in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
The attack on April 19, 1995, remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history.

k.b.: As we look to others not like us, to bring their evil to our shores, let this country not forget those that died at the hands of one of our own.

Those Closed Door Fundraisers Will Get You Every Time

Hillary Clinton's closing remarks during MoveOn.org Political Action's unprecedented Virtual Town Hall meeting on Iraq -- where seven presidential candidates answered questions from MoveOn's 3.2 million members.

OOPsy, now interspersed with how she really feels in a speech given at a small closed-door fundraiser after Super Tuesday. Now that MoveOn.org has endorsed Barack Obama and she don't need your stinkin organization or your left wing loon activists no more!

More on the story by Celeste Fremon at Huffington Post
More video is available at www.MoveOn.org.

America's Chickens Coming Home To Roost

k.b.: Would I have wanted to hear this sermon the Sunday after September 11th? Maybe not, but I'm not a black woman living in Chicago day after day who's seen more violence and its aftermath then she should have to. I'm not one to blindly follow the "taken out of context" line but in this instance I think it's fair to say that's true. Will the full message change anyones mind? Who knows but it should be aired in its entirety. I would encourage people to go to Trinity United Church Of Christ's site at YouTube and listen to all of Rev. Wright controversial sermons in their entirety before you make any judgement. I would also read Sam Stein's article at Huffington Post on Ambassador Edward Peck who was mentioned in Rev. Wright's sermon.

They Call Themselves White Racial Patriots, I Call It Pure Evil

I'm proud to be a Polish American and I have never in my life come across such a vile web site as this one. How dare they desecrate the mighty Polish Eagle in such a way.


Look at these beautiful girls. I would hope that children like them are never sucked up into this groups racist slime.

On Barack Obama:
A “Golem,” according to the Jews of the Kabala is a literal man made from mud, conjured up by a rabbi to destroy any and all enemies of the Jews.
This mud-colored mongrel is purely a Jewish-created Golem. Without the Jews support, Obama would collapse into a mass of misceginated protoplasm he truly is. It is a Jew, David Axelrod, who is his “chief political strategist.”


Their hatred is almost palpable and leaves a taste of crap in my mouth. To say that I would even be cut from the same ethnic cloth as these people makes me want to vomit.

Polish Americans should rise up and denounce this despicable site and the idealogy that goes along with it. Our President tells us to fear Islamo-fascism yet these people (and I use that term loosely) go under the radar spewing their evil on everyone. Patriots my ass. They hide behind patriotism.

Any one with courage e-mail them at:
info@tworca.org
www.tworca.org

When Will It All End

k.b.: I wonder if the Democratic voters will come out of this debacle looking any better than the candidates. We may also be too roughed up to come together in August after the convention. Too busy with wound licking and intensive care to go out and campaign for the winner. Talk about bitter.

The Many Faces Of Hillary Clinton

kb: Which one will she throw at Barack Obama next. I firmly believe Bill and Hillary will take this campaign to the gates of hell for her to be the President. The Clintons both believe that she has been waiting,it is her turn and she is certainly more entitled to be President then this upstart young Senator who should logically wait until he has more experience. They want to be the King and Queen of history in the making.

Recession or The Whole Country's Mental Depression

Gas hit $3.43 today at the station near our house in Chesterfield. My son lost his two month old job with Verizon and AT&T is cutting about 4,600 jobs. Yet this stupid son of a bitch still has 8 and 1/2 months left on his goodbye tour.

Finding Refuge In Fox's Bosom

kb: Why does Hillary Clinton always run to Fox News when she wants to complain? They will always listen because it makes for good Dem vs Dem television.

Trinity United Church Of Christ

We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.

k.b.: Why are people afraid of a strong black church. Isn't that what the African-American community needs. Aren't white people saying more black churches need to be involved in the community to shape their young people, fight crime and help those in need. I just disturbs me that as a people how we seem to give with the one hand and then take away with the other. That's what we are doing with our attitude toward Rev. Wright and Trinity United.

Yes we need the black church but don't let it be too black and all that support of Africa stuff is un-American and why can't the white folks attend services there. We, as white, people cannot even fathom what the black community has experienced since they were torn from their native land hundreds of years ago. For us to presume and negate and dictate what that black church should be all about is nothing but another form of slavery.

Was Rev. Wright angry in his sermons and should he be? Hell yes. Was it race baiting? I'm not sure. Did the Rev. want to change his parishioners behavior towards whites? Or was he simply telling the truth using inflammatory words. Some people need to get down off their high horse and stop whining that every time someone says something derogatory about a part of American life that it means they no longer want to be an American. I hope we as a culture work this out soon and without violence because as a white woman I know I am soon becoming a minority in America. All colors and all creeds that's what this country is all about.

Thank You Hillary Clinton

McCain's "Respectful Campaign" Ends: Fundraising Letter Ties Obama To Hamas
McCain's deputy campaign manager, Christian Ferry, sent an email to donors today with the subject line: "Hamas Weighs In On U.S. Presidential Election."
Ahmed Yousef, chief political adviser to the Hamas Prime Minister said, "We like Mr. Obama and we hope he will win the election. He has a vision to change America."
Will Thomas -
The Huffington Post

k.b. And why do we care what Hamas thinks at this point in the campaign.

If You Lie Down With Dogs You Get Up With Fleas

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
-- Martin Luther King Jr.



Now I like some old proverbs, they have a lot of truth to them. But should we believe in guilt by association or do as Jesus did with prostitutes, sinners and tax collectors. Do we admonish someone yet still love them?


Does is really speak to someones character to have a working relationship with someone who was a criminal and still is not repentant. Or do we take that person on his word that he can work with someone who may be wrong in thought or idea and not have it influence his judgement.

What are we speaking to when we hold these issues up to scrutiny? Color of skin or content of character?

The Burning Issues That Voters NEED AND WANT To Know

Everyone who follows politics knows that when Barack Obama took off his lapel flag pin he was taking a dig at Republicans and the Bush Administration for hastily slapping them on their suits after September 11th and Katrina and yet leaving the American people hanging out to dry. No serious funding for the rebuilding of New Orleans and no funding for the health care of first responders at Ground Zero yet it's patriotic to invade Iraq and wear the pin. What hypocrisy.

I'm disgusted that this is even an issue and even more so that it's pushed by my fellow Democrats. This isn't about flag pins and patriotism this is about class. Inner city class, country rural class, working class, the elite class and I could go on and on.

I'm a transplanted New Yorker in Virginia, a Yankee. I have met and am friends with some of the kindest most generous southern people you could imagine. Yet if someone from my old New York associations came down to visit they may view my new friends with the old stereotype of "redneck". My new friends who laugh and say they are proud to be rednecks but I find class prejudice offensive.

Yet we have a historical moment with woman and a black man running for President from our party and it's an all out gender, class, and race civil war within our own Democratic Party. As Hillary Clinton said, "Shame on you". Shame on all of us.

Nash McCabe You're Now A Star

McClatchy: Obama questioner explains why she finds him annoying. "I want to know if you believe in the American flag." Oh yea, it's the flag pin alright.
Mrs. McCabe looks like she would find the slow pimple faced kid bagging groceries at the Piggely Wiggly annoying.

She's only a year older than I am. I think living in rural PA is taking it's toll. The article did state she and her husband are going through some pretty bad times.
Something tells me if I ran into her on the street I wouldn't peg her for an Obama supporter.

Hillary's Commander In Chief Litmus Test - Slime Daughter

McCain made the joke at a 1998 Republican Senate fundraiser. "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?" he asked. "Because her father is Janet Reno."
The Huffington Post

"I think it's imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold," Clinton said yesterday. "I believe that I've done that. Certainly, Sen. McCain has done that and you'll have to ask Sen. Obama with respect to his candidacy." I'm Hillary Clinton and I gave this stupid statement.
The Nation