I haven't been able to partake in all of the discussion of late as I have embarked upon a new career; teaching 6th grade! I have a few thoughts before I grade a mountain of papers:
1. Kerry will win as the polls are misleading. They don't include cell phone users and I'll wager that the bulk of college students, who will break heavily for Kerry, are only available by cell phone. And when Kerry does win, we should all hold him accountable for his decisions!
2. I had to laugh at Pat B's concern over government subsidized medicine. Geez, it's okay to subsidize the Iraq War to the tune of $ 200 Billion but assist some sick American citizen, where are your priorities? If we devoted the money spent in Iraq to healthcare, all Americans would have health care for for 4-5 years! I know, perish the thought Peter T.!!
3. And the new conservative to the board (sorry, your name escapes me), and his bitching about Clinton and NAFTA, and the fact that the poster created a small business after losing one during Bubba's tenure. Geez, I thought NAFTA and free trade were embraced more by Republicans than Democrats. And what of the hundreds of thousands of jobs that have disappeared over the last 4 years (as compared to the 20 million or so created under Clinton). And I couldn't stand Clinton!
4. It's nice to see that Kevin G. isn't in total lock-step with the Republicans as he did express some concerns over Bush's woeful environmental record.
I wish everyone well and I know I owed the lovely Kathryn an email!!A change is gonna come! Oh, one final thing. If you haven't seen Springsteen's heartfelt, articulate endorsement of Kerry, you can link to the video below.
And for those of you who doubt my prediction of a Kerry victory, I must tell you that I told Mrs. Peter T. and daughter of Peter T. that the Red Sox, when down 0-3 to the Evil Empire, would win the next 4 games in a row. I'm on a roll!
Regards to all!
Peter T.
IF THERE'S STUMPING YOU NEED...
Springsteen raised his hand and his voice at two John Kerry rallies yesterday, playing acoustic renditions of "The Promised Land" and "No Surrender" to stadium-sized crowds in Madison, WI (80,000 people) and Columbus, OH.
In Madison, Bruce was introduced by Governor Jim Doyle, in a speech bursting with Springsteen songs: "John Kerry has given us a reason to believe... we can restore America to its glory days!" (Such shameless title-dropping, it really crossed The Line.) Springtseen took the stage joking, "Well, I've heard it all now. I think that's gonna be the governor's last appearance as my opening act."
After "The Promised Land," Springsteen gave a speech in support of Kerry that built on his VFC tour P.S.A. and incorporated a sentiment from the late Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota:
"As a songwriter, I've written about America for 30 years. I've tried to write about who we are, what we stand for, what we fight for. I believe that these essential ideals of American identity are what's at stake on November 2nd. The human prinicples of economic justice, just healing the sick, health care, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, a living wage so folks don't have to break their backs and not make ends meet, the protection of our environment, a sane and responsible foreign policy, civil rights and the protection and safeguarding of our precious democracy here at home.
"I believe that Senator Kerry honors these ideals. He has lived our history over the past 50 years, has an informed adult view of America and its people. He's had a life experience, and I think he understands that we as humans are not infallible. As Senator Edwards said during the Democratic convention, 'struggle and heartbreak will always be with us,' and that's why we need each other. That's why 'United We Stand,' that's why 'One Nation Indivisible' aren't just slogans, but they need to remain guiding principles of our public policy.
"And he's shown us starting as a young man that by facing America's hard truths, both the good and the bad, that that's where we find a deeper patriotism, that's where we find a more complete view of who we are, that's where we find a more authentic experience as citizens, and that's where we find the power that is embedded only in truth to make our world a better and a safer place.
Paul Wellstone, the great Minnesota senator, he said 'the future is for the passionate, and those that are willing to fight and work hard for it.' Well, the future is now, and it's time to let your passions loose. So, let's roll up our sleeves... that's why I'm here today to stand alongside Senator Kerry and to tell you that the country we carry in our hearts is waiting. And together we can move America together towards her deepest ideals. And besides, we had a sax player in the White House... we need a guitar player in the White House!
Then leading into "No Surrender": "All right, this is for John. This is for you, John." Watch the video here.
Also in Madison, Springsteen and Patti Scialfa took a bunch of University of Wisconsin students by surprise, taking them up on their invitation for a beer and watching Kerry's speech from their balcony. Read the story in the L.A. Times; photos here.
Springsteen is scheduled to join Kerry again on Election Eve, in Cleveland. See the Plain Dealer for location and other details for that night's rally.
- October 29, 2004
