Why the Obama/illegal alien half-aunt story is legitimate ...

There seems to be a lot of discussion out there on whether or not this is a legitimate story.

Here is why I think this is a legitimate story: You can't be a millionaire campaigning all around the nation lecturing everyone else about being your brother's keeper if your own family house isn't in order. If you are going to use that principle as a campaign tool, you need to live it. That means making sure that you don't have any half-aunts illegally living in the country, illegally donating to your campaign, and living in a public housing project, paid for by the taxpayers, which should be set aside for citizens who need the housing. You also shouldn't be letting your half-brother live in squalor in a shack somewhere, like we read about earlier this year.

The half-brother in the shack and the illegal alien half-aunt in American public housing are two family members of Obama's living in dire circumstances while he sits on millions from book sale royalties which featured at least one of them as subjects. He does nothing for them while lecturing the rest of the nation about what we do with our tax dollars, our neighborhoods and our families. The fact that it has taken so long to get the story and the fact that it was in a British newspaper and not an American one, is an embarrassment to our field [Oh, but it's all Murdoch's puppet-strings and since he loves Hillary, he wants Obama to lose ... oh yeah, what a stretch that is ... give me a break].

The fact that so many people seemed to be puzzled by this is surprising. Or you just don't understand the importance of living the Biblical principle if you are going to espouse it. I'm the son of a retired Reverend so I understand a little about these things. You're a hypocrite if you lecture from the podium while not living the principle. Liberals seem all too eager to attack conservative politicians and Christian pastors for being hypocrites but fail miserably at holding their own accountable for their actions. "Hey, they're pro-choice, it doesn't matter ..." Well, you know what? It does matter! [And this, coming from someone who considers himself a liberaltarian - i.e. a combination liberal and libertarian - on most issues]. Instead of attacking the press, Obama should have opened up his checkbook to help. "Gee, I didn't know my half-aunt lived in a project even though I saw her a couple of years ago ... she is no longer on the public dime, I'm assisting her with resettlement money, blah, blah, blah ..." That's being your brother's keeper.

If, however, Obama were not lecturing everyone about being their brother's keeper, then this would just be another embarrassing campaign story on top of other embarrassments that campaigns have had this cycle ... like McCain dumping his first wife and marrying up, like some of Palin's gaffes, etc. He isn't obligated to spend his money helping his family. No one is. But that is what being your brother's keeper is all about. You can't lecture others and not walk the walk. He's a hypocrite like most other politicians involved with the two major parties.

It is a legitimate story on the national level and should be thoroughly investigated on the local level. There are veterans and others walking the streets of Boston or in shelters. There are a ton of working folks who can barely make ends meet who could use those units. How the heck did she even get access to this unit in the first place? She's not a citizen! That's a scandal right there! Question: How many other illegal aliens are in public housing units while American citizens sleep on grates and work multiple jobs just to pay the rent and survive? Granted, the bigger story is on the local level. This has less to do with Obama and his campaign and everything to do with the BHA and the Menino Administration. Will there be a follow up? I sure hope so.

Obama said what?

A new "civilian national security force" that is "just as well-funded" as the military?

This sounds a lot like the brown shirts of Nazi Germany. And, who's going to pay for this? On top of the health care and tax credits for people who don't pay income taxes? Or maybe they will just be robots like in "Star Wars" ...

Is this the November surprise?

Obama's half-aunt - the one he talks about so fondly in his book - is an illegal alien who has been living in a Southie housing project [eh, those should be set aside for Americans] and she donated to his campaign [that's against the law]: ["Obama aunt leak raises questions, as does timing"].
Is this a November surprise? Or, finally, some digging by reporters? The British press actually got the story first. It wasn't the New York Times or Rush Limbaugh. How - or more appropriately, why - are the British press even looking into our presidential race? And what about that half-brother living in a shack somewhere? This, from the same guy lecturing the rest of us about being our brother's keeper?
This story, and the fact that Obama/Biden have been lying about their tax proposal, should be enough to make this a competitive race again. It is, however, probably too late for McCain/Palin.

Will it be Obama/McCain by a landslide?

Or, Funny sign, Part 2. Concord has been blanketed with these Obama/McCain for President signs:

At first, I thought it was a funny statement by some indie candidate or group, similar to the Billionaires for Bush/Gore signs from the 2000 campaign. But then, I called the numbers from the sign and the numbers actually go to the HQs of both Obama and McCain! The sign bears no contact information or disclaimer of responsibility. So what is this all about? Does anyone know?

Funny sign, Part 1

This sign was in the window of a truck in the parking lot outside my office Friday afternoon:

Note the Obama/Biden sticker on the lower lefthand side of the bumper.

Still undecided? Well, there are still more debates!

I just received an email saying that there are actually two more debates scheduled:

Chuck Baldwin, Bob Barr, and Ralph Nader will appear at a debate tomorrow at the City Club of Cleveland from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. John McCain, Cynthia McKinney, and Barack Obama have also been invited to participate but no word as to whether or not they will appear.

On Sunday, Nov. 2, at 9 p.m. Eastern time, the VP candidates running with Baldwin, Barr, and Nader, will debate in Las Vegas. Free & Equal are sponsoring the debate: http://www.freeandequal.org/.

Lastly, here is the YouTube video of the Baldwin/Nader debate:

Update: On Thursday afternoon, I received this email about the VP debate:

Christina M. Tobin, president of Free and Equal Elections, announced this afternoon that a vice-presidential debate will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada this Sunday Nov. 2. The debate will begin at 6 PM Pacific, 9 PM Eastern.
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Alumni Association has agreed to host the debate at the Marietta Tiberti Grand Hall, located at 4505 Maryland Parkway in Las Vegas.
Libertarian Party vice-presidential candidate Wayne Allyn Root, Constitution Party vice-presidential candidate Darrell Castle, and Independent Ralph Nader running mate Matt Gonzalez, have formally agreed to a participate in the debate.
In addition to the confirmed participants, an open invitation is extended to the remaining three presidential tickets that appear on enough ballots to acquire 270 Electoral votes.

Political Equivalence

Guest Perspective by Ralph Nader

I wish to declare the principle of political equivalence as grounds for the moral authority to govern through shared benefits and sacrifices between these in Washington, D.C. who rule and the citizens who are ruled.

Two simple, short bills in Congress will illustrate this major way to improve the quality of public deliberation, enhance the well-being of the populace and provide equity, now sorely lacking as the gap between Congress, the White House and the people widens recklessly.

The first legislation would state that anytime the Congress and the White House plunge our country, either constitutionally or unconstitutionally, into a war or significant armed conflict beyond our borders, all age-qualified and able-bodied children and grandchildren of all members of Congress and the President and Vice President will be conscripted immediately into the armed forces.

President George W. Bush, who took our country into an illegal, continuing war of aggression against Iraq in 2003 on a platform of lies, deceptions and cover-ups, has caused the loss of 4,200 American lives, 100,000 injuries and more than one million civilian Iraqi lives.

At $14 million per hour, plus the long term expenses, this war will cost taxpayers three trillion dollars according to Nobel Laureate economist, Joseph Stieglitz. Imagine how many public facilities throughout America such a sum could repair, expand and modernize. Imagine the well-paying jobs in every community.

Mr. Bush has stated often that the Iraq war and occupation has been “worth the sacrifice.” By whom? Certainly not the Bush and Cheney families. Their children, starting with Jenna and Barbara, are enjoying their comfortable lives far from the horrors inflicted on that distant country and its people.

The clear anticipation that the politician’s offspring be at risk or, at the least, be very inconvenienced by commencing their military career, would induce much more careful public deliberations on Capitol Hill and in the White House.

As long as the political rulers, with the savoring corporate profiteers by their side, can send other young Americans to die and kill – mostly poor whites, African Americans and Latinos—they will be more susceptible to be swept by emotions of giving over their constitutional responsibilities to presidential warmongers who bully and stampede them toward funding violent follies.

Equivalence would provide members of Congress with incentives to avoid the triad of being gutless, spineless, and deliberately clueless so as to acquire deniability.

The second bill would stipulate that no member of Congress, and no President, Vice President or Cabinet member would have any health insurance, pension or other benefits until all Americans are provided these long overdue essential benefits of a giant, modern economy.

With such equivalence, members of Congress would not be so cavalier about indexing their salaries to inflation but denying such to the federal minimum wage now wallowing at $6.55 per hour. Inflation-adjusted since 1968, when labor productivity was half of what it is today, the minimum wage would now be $10 per hour. Even at that level, it would still be far less than the $100 per hour, including benefits that Senators and Representatives now receive.

In the 1930s, John Maynard Keynes thought it would not be long before high-productivity economies would solve what he called “the economic problem.”

After World War II, Western European peoples, rising from the ruins of that conflagration, secured for themselves universal health insurance, decent wages, decent pensions, four-week paid vacation, paid maternity and family sick leave. Most of these nations abolished the chronic poverty such as that which exists and is growing in our country.

Who will introduce these two legislative bills? Rep. Dennis Kucinich? Sen. Russ Feingold? Will readers of this column communicate with their members of Congress about the wondrous effects of political equivalence on a much needed sense of community between the rulers and the ruled?

Is that snow that's coming?

It looks like it! Yikes!!

Wow, how did this get by the ABC gatekeepers?

["Media's Presidential Bias and Decline"].

Gas in Mass. ...

lower than New Hampshire? Impossible? Nope. I bought gas at the Concord, Mass., rotary this morning: $2.65 a gallon! So, even though the Mass. gas tax is about 15 cents higher than N.H., the gas is somewhat cheaper these days.

Talker ... busted

Former WRKO talker Reece Hopkins was arrested earlier today on a child rape rap: ["Ex-WRKO host facing child rape charge"].
Last week, when it was announced that Hopkins was let go from WRKO in order to save money [one of eight cuts at Entercom's Boston operations], I wrote on Dan Kennedy's MediaNation that while I thought Reece was mildly entertaining the few times I listened to him, I've always wondered why they hired a conservative black New Yorker for that time slot in the first place. Especially when there are so many out of work - or out of radio work - New Englanders, some of them minorities too, who could have built a base of advertisers to support a local host in that time slot. What was the point if you were just going to lay the guy off after a year? Why was no progressive host hired to even try to see if that might work in between a felon [former Mass. House Speaker Tom Finneran] who is unlistenable most mornings and the pill-popping, drug dealing Limboob [aka Rush Limbaugh]?
As a WRKO listener for more than two decades [granted, off and on in recent years] and even a listener to the station as a boy when it was Top 40, I really have to wonder what the strategy is over there. This move leaves WRKO with two - yup, two - local hosts on weekdays. Every single host on the station is to the right of Attila the Hun! At the same time, over at WEEI, WRKO's sister station, they are hiring sports writers away from newspapers ... to blog!
Gee. If you can't afford more than three local hosts on one of the top stations in the number 10 market, what does that say about your business model? What does that say to a WRKO listener who cares about local topical issues in the cradle of Liberty? I know what it tells me as an on and off WRKO listener. It tells me that they don't give a shit about the listeners at all ... or at least seem to not give a shit.
I don't know if Reece is guilty of this crime or not and I won't comment on that either way.

Norelli seeks second term as speaker

From the inbox:
Speaker Terie Norelli (D-Portsmouth) announced today she is seeking a second term as speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.
“When the 161st session of the New Hampshire General Court convenes in,” she said at a press conference in the lobby of the Legislative Office Building, “I will be ready to continue to lead members through the next two years. We have a lot of work to do for the good citizens of the State of New Hampshire.”
Norelli, who is serving her sixth term as a state representative, outlined some of the successes of the past two years, when Democrats came into the majority in the legislature and corner office for the first time since the Civil War.
She was joined by more than 50 state representatives, including Deputy Speaker Linda Foster, Majority Leader Mary Jane Wallner, House Floor Leader Daniel Eaton and a number of committee chairs and vice chairs.
“Those of us in the House have worked closely with the Senate and the governor to accomplish much for the citizens of our state,” she said, pointing to the passage of a number of pieces of legislation that addressed education issues, environmental policy and the economy.
“We worked to improve education by defining an adequate education and determining its cost,” she said. The legislature also made it possible to bring public kindergarten to all New Hampshire students, and to increase high school graduation rates by raising the dropout age to 18.
“We protected our environment and our quality of life. We took steps to protect our open spaces and special places by supporting sustainable funding for the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program, passed the Regional Greenhouse Initiative, and we made the first statewide investment in our state park system in 45 years,” she said.
“We increased the minimum wage for the first time in 10 years ... we reinstituted a job training program that has already benefitted over 2000 New Hampshire workers and the companies that employ them,” she continued.
First elected to the legislature in 1996, Speaker Norelli formerly served as chair of the Portsmouth legislative delegation and as the ranking Democrat on the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee, where she was the chair of the Clean Air Subcommittee and was intimately involved in the restructuring of the electric industry and reducing harmful air emissions. She has also served on the House Finance Committee. Speaker Norelli has been a member of House Democratic leadership for eight years and co-chaired the Reproductive Rights Caucus for 10 years.
A former mathematics teacher at Winnacunnnet High School, Speaker Norelli received several awards for her work in the legislature, including the Champion of Choice Award from NARAL-NH. She was named Legislator of the Year by the Women’s Lobby and the National Association of Social Workers, received the Public Service Award from the Bi-State Primary Care Association, the Friend of Education Award from NEA-NH and the Legislator of the Year Award from the New England Police Benevolent Association. She was also presented with the Porch Light Award, given by A Safe Place and SASS (Sexual Assault Support Services).
She lives in Portsmouth with her husband, Allen, daughter, Gina, and son, Daniel.

CD Review: Melt - A Stitch in Time EP

I haven't done a lot of music reviews of late even though I have been listening to a lot of music. [some of the newer band indie bands are actually quite good these days]. I even went to see some live music the other night [Brother Kite, Springhouse]. I will have a review, pictures, and video up in the future. I did, however, do a CD review this month for The Noise, a local Boston music magazine. The word count was too big so I edited it down. However, here is the full review for shits and giggles.

Melt - "A Stitch in Time" EP [no label]
Local quartet Melt combine pop sensibilities with the better elements of the hard, dark underbelly of lighter goth and cool prog bands on its new EP, “A Stitch in Time.”
This six song collection opens with the Middle Eastern-flavored “Through the Doors” which riffs along at the beginning like a snake charmer, with starts and stops, and cool pre-chorus cooing that send shivers up the listener’s spine.
Some regular Boston club goers may recognize the EP’s second song, “Grind,” written by bassist Paul Pipitone, with strong chanting vocal parts [you can almost see large audiences thrusting their hands into the air along with the song]. However, the addition of Nils Freiberger’s guitar bits that both simulate moody synthesizers and distorted thrash, as well as Rachel Drucker’s doubled vocal octaves in the verses, are welcomed improvements over previous incarnations of the set staple.
The big hooks and riffs jaunt through “Home,” a pretty love song perfectly placed in the middle of the CD. Drucker is often compared to some of the 1970s more powerful female classic rockers. But reviewers are selling her talent short, as noted on this tune. The vocals are spot on and the acoustic guitar parts add a nice touch.
I really liked “Comfortable,” another lovely little number that shows the band’s versatility: Great lyrics, harmonies, and a really catchy hook, reminiscent of “Every Breath You Take” by the Police. However, I would have liked to have heard a bit cooler guitar part created along the base of the song. That though is meant to be a very minor criticism on an otherwise nearly perfect pop song.
On “No Fear,” the band continues to explore some untraditional rhythms with success. Again, very cool guitar synthesizer parts, great lead and background vocals [what are those odd sounds in the background?], and solid drums.
“Want” closes out the set with some serious strumming.
All and all, an excellent second effort by Melt.
www.melttheband.com.

Also, here is the latest Top 30 chart:

Noise chart
Reporting: WAAF, WBCN, WFNX, WMBR, WMFO, WTCC, WZBC

1. Amanda Palmer – Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
2. Apollo Sunshine – Shall Noise Upon
3. Peter Moore – One Ride
4. Midatlantic – The Longest Silence
5. Juliana Hatfield – How To Walk Away
6. Aloud – Fan the Fury
7. Ho-Ag – doctor cowboy
8. The Vital Might – Red Planet
9. Guns Girls Glory – Inverted Valentine
10. The Lights Out – Heist!
11. The Milling Grows – Diving Bell Shadows
12. Anthems MA – Time Starts Now
13. Loverless – Nothing Under the Sun
14. Passion Pit – Chunk of Change
15. Robbie Roadsteamer – New England Weathered Friends
16. Jonathan Richman – Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild
17. Thalia Zedek Band – Liars and Prayers
18. Pray for Polanski – The Ghost and Bones
19. Big Dipper: Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology
20. The Rationales – The Going and The Gone
21. Muck & The Mires – Doreen EP
22. Scarce – Tattoos and Parades and Yesterdays
23. The Weisstronauts – Instrotainment
24. Astro Al – Psychedelic Drive-in Music
25. Nate Mott – Like We Mean It
26. Tunnelvision – Original EP
27. Yeasayer – All Hour Cymbals
28. New Radiant Storm King – The Steady Hand
29. East Coast Avengers – “Kill Bill O’Reilly”
30. Destruct-a-thon – This is Trashachusetts

'Work' one reason for absentee ballot

From House Information Officer Cissy Taylor:
State Rep. Sharon Nordgren (D-Hanover) wants to remind voters there are four reasons why they would be able to vote by absentee ballot. In the past, absentee ballots were allowed for those who were sick or disabled, going to be out of town, or for those observing a religious holiday.
But, in 2006, Nordgren sponsored legislation that added “work” to the language, allowing workers who might be at the office or on the work site throughout polling times to vote by absentee ballot. The law, RSA 657:1, includes a worker’s travel time to the office or work site
“A lot of voters in New Hampshire work miles away from where they live and vote,” Nordgren said. “This will help them tremendously.”
Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained from the town or city clerk up until Nov. 3, the day before the elections.

Third party debate happening after all?

Yup, looks like it, from the Nader campaign:

Third Party Presidential Debate to Take Place on Thursday, October 23rd - Nader to participate

Independent Presidential candidate Ralph Nader announced today that he will participate in the only third party debate being held this election cycle to take place on Thursday evening at 9:00pm EST on October 23 in Washington DC at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel.

The debate will last for 90 minutes and be conducted according to the following format:

-No opening statements
-There will be six of the following question and answer series: The moderator will pose a question. Each candidate will be permitted 90 seconds to respond. The candidates’ preliminary answers will be followed by a 5-minute "discussion" period, during which the moderator will be permitted unlimited follow-up questions and the candidates would be encouraged to engage one another in actual debate. This will last about 60 minutes.
-After the above six question-and-answer series, each candidate will be permitted to ask a single question of one or more of the other candidates, with each candidate permitted 90 seconds to respond. This will last about 10 minutes.
-After this, submitted questions from the audience will be selected and presented by the moderator. This will last for about 10 minutes.
-Each candidate will be permitted a 2-minute closing statement.

In addition, Nader will be barnstorming through Massachusetts on Saturday:

* Stop One 8:10-8:30: Vila Donuts 93 Main Rd, Westfield
* Stop Two: 9:00-9:15 AM: Public Library 449 Front Street, Chicopee.
* Stop Three: 10:45-11:05: Federal Reserve- 600 Atlantic Ave, Boston.
* Stop Four 11:15-11:45: The Middle East 472 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. Lunch Fundraiser: $50 Minimum Contribution
* Stop Five: 11:55-12:20: Tufts University, Student Center, Bottom Floor, Somerville.
* Stop Six: 12:25-12:45: Danish Pastry Shop 330 Boston Ave, Medford.
* Stop Seven 1:00-1:20: Energy Awareness Fair Meet and Greet. 251 Waltham St., Lexington.
* Stop Eight: 1:35-2:00: Old North Bridge 174 Liberty St. Concord.
* Stop Nine: 2:25-2:45: Waltham Location TBA.
* Stop Ten: 3:00-3:20: Water Town Public Library 123 Main Street Watertown.
* Stop Eleven: 3:35-4:00: Lasell College Newton 1844 Commonwealth Avenue room TBA, Newton.
* Stop Twelve 4:20-4:40: Ben’s Deli: 5 Turnpike Rd Southborough.
* Stop Thirteen 5:10 to 5:30: Clark University 950 Main St., Worcester.
* Stop Fourteen 5:40-6:00: The Coffee Mug 286 SouthBridge St. Auburn.
* Stop Fifteen 6:55-7:15 West Springfield Location TBA.
* Stop Sixteen 7:30-8:00: Nadines Cafe Lebanon 1390 Main St Springfield.
* Stop Seventeen 8:05-8:25: Holyoke, MA Location TBA.
* Stop Eighteen 8:45-9:15 Smith College, Northampton Location TBA.
* Stop Nineteen 10:10-10:30: The Lions Den 30 Main St. Stockbridge.
* Stop Twenty: 10:50-11:10 Sheffield, MA, Location TBA