I wrote this about 2 years ago. It still applies to me today. As I walked through the grocery store on this day which many find so holy, I heard a song come over the radio. It was Walking in Memphis. There's a verse in the song that goes like this Now Muriel plays piano Every Friday at the Hollywood And they brought me down to see her And they asked me if I would -- Do a little number And I sang with all my might And she said -- "Tell me are you a Christian, child?" And I said "Ma'am, I am tonight" This started me thinking, what am I tonight? Do I still believe in the 3 headed christian god or the unnamed one of the Hebrews? Maybe I'm more comfortable saying, "Allah abn aqbar". Perhaps there's even a buddhist sect which takes us meat eaters. Maybe since we came from Africa originally Mumbo Jumbo Great God of the Congo will laugh at us all in the end, All I know for certain is that most religions trade on a fear of death and what follows. Most religions say if you're good in this life you'll be rewarded in your next. Regretfully this is used as an excuse for bad behavior in this one. And some of the most vicious fighting is in-fighting between sects. The Shi'te vs the Sunni, Catholics vs Protestants and so on. Half the time religion is used as an excuse to move people into the next life as fast as possible. So "Tell me are you a Christian, child?". I believe that the ethical system developed by a Jewish carpenter 2000 years ago is a great starting place, but there needs to be more. I am a christain tonight, but tomorrow I may be Jewish. I may be a Buddhist and an Atheist the week after. I no longer subscibe to a creed but to the ethics behind the creed. Thou shalt not kill, treat thy neighbor as thou would be treated. Whoever who would tend me, he should tend the sick.These are not moral codes but moral lives. In the end it is our deeds and actions which will live on even when we move on to answer the question, "What's next". I believe that the world will remember Martin Luther King far longer than it will remember the Sheriff of Selma. So tonight I am a Christian, and if my world ends now I know that I will have tried to lead a life worth remembering.

I wondered, “Why are some liberals against going to a FairTax?” Then an acquaintance of mine hit me over the head with the obvious and the dawn came: It’s because the idea is being put forward by Neal Boortz, a right-wing conservative talk show radio guy. I can’t help that. I’ve never even heard Boortz talk show. Just the same, the FairTax is an excellent idea. Why don’t you liberals take the idea as your own? The Great and All Powerful Rush Limbaugh (whose radio show I’m not worthy to listen to) says Clinton took away ideas from conservatives and adopted them during his presidential campaigns. So why not you? The idea is bigger than the man. The FairTax is an excellent idea (so say I) which is worthy of exploration. Have any of you had to tussle with the IRS? This proposal would get the IRS entirely out of individual’s lives. No more 1040’s. No more federal income tax. No more social security tax. No more tax taken out of seniors’ social security checks. Please get a copy of the FairTax book and secretly (under the blankets with a flashlight) read it. You will be delighted. In the book are answers to questions such as “How does this benefit the poor?” The FairTax can easily become a Democrat sponsored idea. I don’t care; I just want it for our country.

One of the local news stations in Northwest Arkansas showed Vice-President Dick Cheney (R-Evil Puppetmaster) shopping for duck hunting supplies in Searcy, Arkansas. God help us all! But I have to wonder, who pissed off Cheney this time? After all, not even former governor Huckabee would hunt with him...

In the hope of helping our homeland security department, I am starting a list of traitors to the United States, could also be considered enemy combatants, or terrorists. What makes these people especially scary is that they live among us openly often in important positions in our social life and government. I invite all you non readers to contribute with details. Only one rule, racism of any kind will not get tolerated. Expression of ideas is totally free. We have a democracy and this is our country as long as we have sworn allegiance to the flag. Unfortunately because we live in a democracy and more importantly a Capitalist Democracy, notice Capitalist comes before Democracy, it is intentional, but unfortunately also true. OK, so I will start with the most controversial subject on the list: My First nominee is for traitor to our democracy and the United States is: JOE LIBERMAN. Congratulations asshole, you will receive your price in your front door in a burning brown paper bag. Please stomp it out as vigorously as possible. I have to admit, between you and Ileana Ross, damn tough choice, but being that you have influence and she just has flatulence. I hope you understand. For those of you that do not know Joe, he is the clever man that tried to run for president with the JOEMOMENTON phrase. Wow, that just killed his marketing staff. How do you package a right wing jackass conservative Jew, with family dressed like Mormons, trying to pretend they are like you. ANTISEMETIC????? Fuck You. There is nothing anti Semitic about it. Religious freaks should be exposed and it does not matter what your religion is. Because you are Jewish does not put you off limits. Its OK to get on the Knights of Malta, Columbus, Evangelicals, Pentecostals,(oh shit they are really crazy), but you have to be respectful of every branch of the Jewish religion? People that wear fur hats in Miami Beach in 90 degree heat, believe that the Jews will never have a homeland until the Mesiacc comes so Israel cannot exist, but have special flights from Miami Beach and NY every election day so they can go vote for the Likud in Israel every election day, and I should respect you? Fuck you, you fucking hypocrites. And by the way, if you need to stay indoors on the Sabbath, stay indoors and take down that bullshit string hanging everywhere on the beach so you can pretend to be indoors when you are not, and ruining my titie pictures of girls on the beach. OK but that is a personal issue. Speaking of personal issues, let’s get back to my friend Joe. Above all there is one very important issue to Joe, and that is issue is Joe's relevancy. But do not remind him of it, he is working for the people of the great nutmeg state, he would never put his personal vanity above the interests of his constituency, or his political interests. I honestly never though picking crazy Joe was Al’s greatest mistake, but as bad as Bush has been I thank God Joe could not be president now. If you do not know what I think of the dimwitted fuck read other posts, but the idea that Joe scares me more, scares me even more. Joe does not have a moral compass, or maybe he does. The center is Joe. He has other interests, but they have nothing to do with you, citizen of the good old USA. He has three interests, JOE, how can JOE manipulate the system, and third how can Joe be a right wing tool in Israeli politics. Connecticut, our Constitution, what is that? Joe has a higher calling and lately it is very similar to that of a born again Christian. Another nut job group. It is amazing, I keep hearing stories about the born agains and their rapture theology and how the right wing in Israel is aligning with them, but yet I never hear stories about how many right wing Israelis think these people are total idiots but will use them to advance their agenda in our country. That is where Joe is. He has an agenda, his legacy and if possible the advancement of a policy that is of no benefit for the our country nor its people, nor the Israelis, nor their country, but their neocons and our necons have united and they have no borders nor allegiances. But somebody is making money, maybe Joe's uncle. Hey, if you like Iraq, Joe has a wonderful war ready for you in Iran, hey but cheer up Hillary thinks its grand.

Also: Next at MSNBC? -- Tired of the 'First in the Nation' Primary Madness? New Hampshire is a poorly-cut Wonder-bread-white wedge of a state, the narrow part facing north, with most of it's tiny population (about 1.3 million compared to 2.8 million in the city of Chicago alone) accumulated in the plump southern end. So what gives little NH the right to arrogate to its puny self 'first in the nation' primary status? And why does pork-fed Corn King Iowa (population 2.8 million) and their 'caucuses' have such inordinate influence on our electoral process? Iowa's largest city is Des Moines, with a mostly white population of about 173,000. Stacking this up next to large cities on the order of Chicago, Detroit (1 million), Indianapolis (774,000), Columbus, Ohio (654,000), Milwaukee (590,000), St. Louis (590,000), or Minneapolis/St. Paul (500,000), it shows they aren't even representative of most Midwestern states. (In fact, the combined population of the cities listed is greater than the combined state population of NH and Iowa.) Why not just make, say, the first Tuesday in March National Primary Day and every state votes on that same day? It's insane to have little Iowa and New Hampshire decide our presidential candidates; even with the 'moved-up' schedule this election, any candidate who doesn't place in the top three in one of the two states will be ignored by the media, effectively ending their campaign. -- The Irony She is As Thick As Gravy, Monsieur! The AP reported Nov. 23, 2007, that United Airlines workers became nauseous and vomited from a free Thanksgiving dinner provided by the airline to those working on the holiday. After years of friction between the union and UAL management, and continual wage and benefit concessions by the union while those at the top enriched themselves, the meal was seen as a conciliatory gesture from the execs, so of course people got sick. The best quote from the article came from Don Wolfel, president of Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association Local 4: "There were questions about whether the turkey smelled quite right. The popular opinion was that it didn't." (Don't these guys know enough not to eat airline food?) You can hear the CEO now, "You know all that turkey going bad in warehouse 11? Dole it out to the peasants for Thanksgiving dinner." -- More Rich, Thick Irony You Can't Make Up: The Bush PR Machine that keeps trying to make us think Junior is book-larnin' smart currently claims he's 'reading' John Kennedy Toole's 1980 novel, "A Confederacy of Dunces." (It wasn't reported if that was the Classics Illustrated edition or the Dover Color-It-Yourself! version.) Someone should ask him if he prefers it over "My Pet Goat." (That's right, the most incurious and ill-informed president we've ever had just loves to kick back with a Shakespeare play or Albert Camus' "The Stranger." Oh, really, you're voting for Giuliani?) Side Note to Bush: The headline on an NBC News story Dec. 5th says, "Bush: Iran Has to Explain Nuclear Intentions." This is not what you'd call intelligent international diplomacy: Iran doesn't work for you and doesn't have to explain anything to you, and your 'tough guy' act wore thin long ago; you no longer have the military muscle to intimidate them and the world is laughing at you, so step off and shut up. -- Everyone Who is Running for President But Isn't Ambitious, Raise Your Hand! Hillary Clinton's campaign has stepped into an enormous Corn Country cowpie by attacking Obama's ambitions to be president, especially using papers he wrote in grade school as 'proof' of his life-long lust for the White House. It's only a matter of time before someone unearths some similar tripe on Hillary but, more importantly, it makes her look petty and a little mean, even if meant as a joke. She really hasn't recovered yet from her 'Driver's Licenses for Immigrants' stumble in the debates a few weeks ago and, if she pursues this silly line of attack further, she's going to continue dropping in the polls. -- Finally, a note under the door says Air America Radio's Rachel Maddow will be offered the hour following Keith Olbermann on MSNBC, but only with a 'funny' co-host, as it appears increasingly unlikely that The Daily Show's Jon Stewart or Bill Maher and others will step in for the kind of unimpressive money and short-term contract that are on the table. Rumor is the cable channel's execs are impressed with Maddow, but she's not perceived as 'funny' enough by herself for the uptempo news/comedy format they're seeking. Paul F. Tompkins and Joel McHale, that guy Keith has on who hosts E!s "The Soup," have been mentioned as co-hosts, as well as Rachel's AAR colleague Randi Rhodes, although Randi is seen by some as too partisan and combative. If this goes through, the prime-time weekday line up for MSNBC would then be "Hardball"; "Countdown with Keith Olbermann"; the as-yet-unnamed Rachel Maddow show, and "Live with Dan Abrams." Expect a press release in January.

Kim Deal of the Breeders has announced the return of the band with a new album and€ some scattered shows coming in 2008. Deal, bassist for legendary Boston band the Pixies, along with her sister Kelley, Jose Mendeles and Mando Lopez are in the studio cranking up some new tunes. The band began as a side project for Kim Deal and blossomed into its own popularity with its 90's hit “Cannonball.” Deal says the new album Mountain Battles will be released on April 8, 2008. The album is their first since 2002 and Kim Deal's participation in the enormously successful Pixies reunion that followed shortly after. A recent press release announced that "The Breeders will be playing live all over the world in 2008. Their schedule includes performances at Canadian Music Week and SxSW and Coachella, plus full tours in the USA and in Europe." If you have never seen the band they are a cool sonic treat with sweet vocals from Kim and Kelley. Check them out if you get a chance.

So I've read through Mitt Romney's religion speech. I'm outraged and if you aren't too then you need history and civics lessons. To insist that "freedom requires religion" is an outrage. Our nation was founded on the premise that we are all free and that as a people we come together as a nation. Not that some God from a bunch of ancient texts gave us freedom and this country. Our founders are rolling in their graves. Mitt says that "When I place my hand on the bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God.” NO you freaking idiot - that becomes your highest promise to the People, not to some mythical, supernatural being. Oh, and I love his desire to have it both ways. “There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church’s distinctive doctrines,” he said. “To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes President he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths.” So there should be no religious test yet I'm here telling you that I am religious enough in the right way "Christian" so you can vote for me and, by the way, any non-believers don't count. Hypocrite! If there is no test why did you give the speech? "Freedom requires religion, just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone" he said. There are several problems with this statement. First, I believe he intentionally used male-gender references "...so that man can discover his..." This will play well with the base fundamentalists who would have women subjugated to chattel again. Enslaved, obedient, house cleaners, and baby-makers with no say in their lives. The phrase could easily have been written "..so that one can discover their most..." but it wasn't. Second, why do one's most profound beliefs have to include one or more supernatural beings? I don't believe in "God" but I do have profound beliefs. I believe that we should all respect one another and that we should treat each other equitably. I believe that we are all equal as human beings whether we are brown, black, yellow, white or purple for that matter. It didn't take communing with a non-existent being to develop these beliefs. Just simple common sense and human kindness. Neither of which seems to be part of organized religion these days. Lastly, I take the greatest issue with the last sentence. Contrary to his statement I believe that freedom will only endure if religion perishes. We are marching backward in time to the drums of religious fanatics and hacks of all kinds these days. Pick your favorite. You can have the Christo-facists here in the US that blow up federal buildings, picket soldiers funerals, shoot doctors, pass laws to limit the rights of women and homosexuals. You can have the Catholic mafia that permitted and hid the abuse of children around the world for years. You can have the Ted Haggards and the Larry Craigs who are so afraid of what they are they lash out against people who are like them but do not live in fear of their identity. You can take the Falwells and the Robertsons and their mega-bucks mega-churches. You can have the Islamo-facists that fly planes into buildings, blow themselves up, lash raped women, prevent women from leaving a burning building because they aren't properly covered, and stone homosexuals. Yes, you can have them all and keep them away from me. I can't live with their brand of freedom. I do not need any of your religions, beliefs or faith to know how to live a moral life. I treat others with respect, honesty and humility. It's simple - just try it. Powered by ScribeFire.