What about Bill?

I couldn’t resist sharing this headline with the photo because well, it made my morning.

Is It True About Obama?

When it Rains, it Pours

But some call it “pile on” and others just calling it bashing. I believe Clinton has brought the onslaught down upon herself but I still wish to give her the benefit of the doubt. Why? Because her downfall would hurt the entire party. Clinton imploding makes us all look bad and when RFK Jr. gave Clinton the benefit of the doubt, he didn’t do it for her, but for the sake of the party.

In a statement, Kennedy Jr. said: “It is clear from the context that Hillary was invoking a familiar political circumstance in order to support her decision to stay in the race through June. I have heard her make this reference before, also citing her husband’s 1992 race, both of which were hard fought through June. I understand how highly charged the atmosphere is, but I think it is a mistake for people to take offense.”

ABC News

And although this is the official statement from RFK Jr. , there are reports that the rest of the family are incensed by her lack of sensitivity to the subject. I think it’s appropriate outrage. But Obama gets the big picture and continuously beating on every misstep of the Clinton campaign will not only hurt her, it will hurt him. He again takes the high road proving again and again that he is worthy of our support. It’s why I support him, times have to change as well as our political tactics.

“I have learned that when you are campaigning for as many months as Senator Clinton and I have been campaigning, sometimes you get careless in terms of the statements that you make, and I think that is what happened here,” he said in an interview with Radio ISLA. “Senator Clinton says that she did not intend any offense by it, and I will take her at her word on that.”

Washington Post

And How is this Better than New Taxes?

Isn’t this just more “Borrow and spend” Republican short term fixes that our State and education system just can’t afford to gamble on?  How is this any different than taking out a loan that you know you can’t afford to pay off?  Where is the fiscal responsibility?

Legislature’s budget analyst on Monday called Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s lottery proposal “flawed” and warned lawmakers that money for public schools could fall short of current levels under the plan.

Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill issued a critical reaction to the governor’s proposal to obtain $15 billion from future lottery revenues over the next few years to help fill a widening budget gap, now at $15.2 billion.

Currently, lottery profits benefit public schools, from kindergarten to community colleges. Hill wrote that the Schwarzenegger administration made “overly optimistic” assumptions about the potential growth in lottery sales. She warned that public education funding “would fall well short of their current levels — perhaps by $5 billion over the next 12 years combined.”

Sacramento Bee

Chief Justice Ronald George talks about the historic Decision

The LA Times has an interesting article regarding George’s feelings on the historic decision the California Supreme Court handed down this Thursday.  He said it was the toughest decision of his life.

But as he read the legal arguments, the 68-year-old moderate Republican was drawn by memory to a long ago trip he made with his European immigrant parents through the American South. There, the signs warning “No Negro” or “No colored” left “quite an indelible impression on me,” he recalled in a wide-ranging interview Friday.

“I think,” he concluded, “there are times when doing the right thing means not playing it safe.”

Yet he described his thinking on the constitutional status of state marriage laws as more of an evolution than an epiphany, the result of his reading and long discussions with staff lawyers.

I think George Bush got Confused, it’s GULF, not GOLF

Yes, I’m sure you are aware that our commander and cheif has admitted that he’s given up golfing to show “Solidarity” with the families who have lost loved ones in his illegal war for oil.  I wonder if he knows what that means.  Do you think he meant to give up “gulfing”?

For the first time, Bush revealed a personal way in which he has tried to acknowledge the sacrifice of soldiers and their families.

“I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf,” he said. “I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.”

Bush said he made that decision after the August 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, which killed Sergio Vieira de Mello, the top U.N. official in Iraq and the organization’s high commissioner for human rights.

“I remember when de Mello, who was at the U.N., got killed in Baghdad as a result of these murderers taking this good man’s life,” he said. “I was playing golf — I think I was in central Texas — and they pulled me off the golf course and I said, ‘It’s just not worth it anymore to do.’”
Politico

I hate to see people on Strike!

Yes, you read that right.  When workers are striking that means that someone, somewhere is refusing to negotiate health care, a living wage or safe working conditions.  

And even worse, this strike is happening right outside my workplace.  I scanned the flier I received while walking to get my lunch.

John Edwards’ Endorsement Speech

I loved Edwards’ speech and he did the right thing by praising Clinton first.  I think Obama would not be a strong enough candidate if he did not have to fight for the nomination like he did.  Have faith, I do.

Part I

‘

Part II

I want to give my two cents about this endorsement.  I’ve been supporting Obama since just a couple of weeks after Edwards dropped out (and it has not been an easy path for me) but I also knew that I would respect Edwards’ choice no matter what way he went.

My admiration for his integrity and his ability to stick to the issues is imperative to the Democratic Party.  Edwards has been clear that Party unity is more important than an individual’s ego.  This endorsement is not a knock on Clinton, I sincerely believe that to be the case.  This endorsement is meant to be a knock on McCain.

John McCain must be stopped, he has to be questioned and forced to stand by the failed policies he wants to continue.  Elizabeth Edwards so far is the only Democrat to put such tremendous pressure on McCain regarding his health care plan.  I believe that this is the main reason for the endorsement now, uniting the party well before the primary.

Our Country cannot afford a third Bush term, none of us can afford this.  I just ask that you look at the big picture and that you give Edwards the benefit of the doubt, I think he’s earned that much from his supporters.

John Edwards to Endorse Obama tonight?

That’s the major buzz since the Obama Campaign announced a major endorsement to take place to night at a rally in Michigan.

And yes, I know how much Edwards supporters hate the speculation but it’s important, the endorsement, it’s a very important one to me and I do care.  But I won’t believe it until I see it.

Eric Reeves, Sudan Advocate, Receives Honorary Smith College Degree

Eric Reeves has been a passionate and vocal advocate to end the genocide in Sudan. He has been working tirelessly the past nine years doing research and humanitarian work for the people of the Sudan. He was also my English Professor while I was at Smith College.

I graduated over 10 years ago in 1997 and I can’t say I was crazy about Dr. Reeves class, it was memorable and my admiration grew for the man as I learned about the work he started to do for the Sudanese.

On May 6th, Smith College bestowed an honorary degree to Dr. Reeves. More details behind the cut…