It wasn't that long ago that I was leaning toward Sen. Barack Obama. He seemed different from the others and radiated change. It was getting late in 2007 and my preferred candidate for `08 gave me the impression he was not running, General Wesley Clark. (USA, Ret.) I had been a Clark supporter since the DraftClark days of 2003, and hoped 2008 would be the year. Then he declared himself a supporter for Hillary Clinton. I thought, Hillary? What's up with that?
Let's just say I was not crazy about her 2002 vote (to say the least) authorizing force in Iraq, Although as with Kerry, I could wrap my head around the fact that she - among many others - had been deceived by the WH to invade Iraq. And I was proud that both of my senators voted nay, but I had read Pat Lang's seminal "Drinking the Koolaid" and knew that the deception by this administration was far-reaching, complicated and stunning in it's duplicity. She, like many others was duped.
What of the Kyle-Lieberman amendment? How could Wes Clark support her when he and VoteVets had started StopIranWar? After all, Clark had testified and debated Perle in the 2002 HSAC hearing against going to war. I asked questions, did a little research and found out that her vote, as my senators, Levin and Stabenow, was among others who voted yea on Kyl-Lieberman. This didn't make sense. There had to be more to this.
I surmised (to the best of my knowledge) in the end that it was a political tactic by Dems, to prevent war with Iran, and in the end, the amendment was stripped of the use of force. (See pgs 8 and 9) While the Republicans were able to use bellicose language and thump their chests. A fellow Clarkie explained to me she had asked Wes and that he said it was the right vote and it accomplished it's task. I'm fairly positive Clark has no love for Lieberman and the feeling, I'm pretty sure is mutual. And I had no qualms about the IRG being labeled as a terrorist group.
Especially if doing so prevented another war.
However I digress. Whatever leanings I had toward Barack ended with Rezko, when I found out his constituents were freezing and without heat during a brutal Chicago winter. He either turned a blind eye or didn't care enough to fight for them. And a song kept playing in my head. It was from 1967, written and performed by Lou Rawls - the classic "Dead End Street." During the narrative intro before the tune Lou, originally a native Chicagoan describes the Hawk. The icy wind of Chicago which blasts off of Lake Michigan. Partcularly the part about he and his family having no heat during a brutal Chicago winter.
Here is an excerpt.
Dead End Street:
Written by Lou Rawls
-----------------
(Intro)
I was born in a city they call the Windy City
And they call it the Windy City because of the Hawk. All mighty Hawk
Talking about Mr. Wind. Kind of mean around winter time
I happened to live on a street that was a dead-end street
There was nothing to block or buffer the wind, the elements -
(To) Keep them from knocking my pad down, Jim I mean really socking it to me
And the boiler would bust and the heat was gone
I would have to get fully dressed before I could go the bed
Put everything on but my goulashes cause they had buckles on them
And my folks didnt play that. (They)said, 'Don't you be getting up in there with
Buckles on them goulashes and tear up my bed clothes" - but I was fortunate
As soon as I was big enough to get a job, save me enough money to buy me a ticket I split
I got myself together now so Im going back there to see about it see if its still the same
I just wanted to tell you about it, you know its all right..
Sen. Obama's lack of compassion toward his constituents when they needed him the most was a deal breaker for me. I could no longer support him in the primary and the more I learned about Sen. Clinton, the more I realized she spoke for me.
http://www.mepc.org/journal_vol11/0406_l ang.asp
http://www.votevets.org/index_html
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/ky l-lieberman-amendment/?resultpage=1&
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Rawls
http://www.soul-patrol.com/soul/lourawls .htm
|
|
|
Permalink :: 43 Comments :: Post a Comment
|
In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.
If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.
