An open letter to all elected officials

Dear officials elected to represent the American people (your station is much more important than your name),

I would like to make my personal feelings clear so that you can better represent me. I pray it is indeed your intention to do so.

I would like to see all military aggression by the United States in all areas of planet Earth cease immediately. I do not wish to have my hard-earned taxes used to take even a single life, regardless of whose life it may be. Furthermore, I would like all monies spent on aggression to be pulled immediately. No more assault rifles. No more tanks. No more fighter jets. No more bombers, and indeed no more bombs.

All life on this planet is connected. We cannot harm another without harming all, including ourselves. The time for these misguided actions has long since ended. It is time for you as our elected representative to behave accordingly and do what is right for all, not what is expedient to get you re-elected or what makes "defense" contrators happy.

Very sincerely,

Tim Bravo

A Disappointment by Any Name

So you remember how last month I decided I would start writing Barack Obama "Biraq" Obama?

I've got a new alteration for ya: Biraq OILbama.  44 days into this BP disaster and NOW our president wants to sluff off the criticism that he hasn't done enough by being "out in front"?  Too late, man.  Far too late.  It's all spit shine on a turd at this point, brother. 

Now that I think of it, maybe BP should stand for Barack's Petroleum, considering they gave his campaign so much grease in 2008.  Whattaya think?

Hmmm.  Biraq Oilbama.  Next stop, Biraq Oilbomba?

**cough**falseflagdistractionfromtheBPdisaster**cough**

Let's hope not.

Biraq Obama, One-Term President

I'm pretty sure Barack Obama has just ensured that he'll be a one-termer. Apparently he's forgotten that the groundswell of popular support that put him in office was largely because he promised a withdrawal from Iraq. Now, not only is the slow withdrawal he's actually undertaken a far cry from what The Candidate promised - but he's going to slow or halt that withdrawal.

I find myself eagerly awaiting 2011. It will be interesting to see the Democratic Party primary process. Will someone, a REAL progressive, a REAL peace candidate, stand up? Or will they bank it all on Barry?

Doesn't matter. Pretty sure I'll end up supporting as loudly as possible the candidate for the Green Party or any Independent who has the balls to stand up for peace and an end to corporatism.

Bye, bye, Barack.

I was a huge supporter of Barack Obama once upon a time. I remember a February snow storm where we thousands crammed into schools and churches across Kansas to stand up and caucus for Hope and Change. I remember the rock concerts that were the acceptance speech and inauguration. Oprah wasn't the only one who cried tears of relief and joy. I was right there with her.

Then came the expansion of the war in Afghanistan - and by extension the expansion of the lie that is the War on Terror.

And then came Obama's practically nonexistent leadership on healthcare reform. Maybe he thought he was "leading" by allowing Congress to figure it out. The process got drawn out. Concession after capitulation was made to Republicans because for whatever reason Barack wanted this thing to be bipartisan, which it never would be. And even after all the gimme's, every last Republican said NO. So now we've got what we're getting, which isn't what the people wanted. Sure isn't even in the ballpark regarding what I personally want for this country's healthcare system. First big test: FAILED.

And ultimately, last week came the announcement from the Obama Administration that we'll be expanding oil drilling in coastal areas.

What. The. Fuck.

Can you say regression? George W. Obama? There is NOTHING more important than fighting climate change. For any country. We are all on one planet. We all breath the same atmosphere. America is the worst polluter by far, and it behooves us to turn back the dial yesterday on this thing...not perpetuate the system that brought us to the brink!

So, Barack Obama - I will support you insofar as you are President of the United States. I will support you insofar as you stand for anything I stand for. And when the next election comes around, I will vote for someone else. Someone who stands no chance of winning. But someone who reflects my ideals better than you, sir.

Furthermore, I cannot drive around with your name on my car. It clung on stubbornly, but yesterday I scratched and scraped the Obama bumper sticker with the peace sign for an 'O' right the fuck off my car! And replaced it with a fantastical campaign sticker for a team that will never happen except in my idealistic dreams.

Because that's the message I want to send people. My ideals. And the name of Barack Obama no longer reflects them.

BEFORE


AFTER