Split: A Divided America!

Produce by Jeff Beard, Peter Hutchison and Kelly Nyks (Also Director).

This documentary looks for the factors that divide Americans in regard to politics. It intends to go beyond the simplistic explanations that focus only on the theories of Blue and Red States, Conservatives and Liberals, Democrats and Republicans. It employs six questions to answer the underlining premise of what divides America.

Watch Documentary: 

The following are the questions and answers given on the subject:

How are we divided?

We are obsessed with the issues. The Rural vs. Urban ideas: Morality (Abortion issues, Family values), Race (Republican Whites against cultural interests or giveaways for blacks), Economy (Rich/Poor) can’t be discussed without animosity. Therefore, the political map changes with time. This creates an animosity between Liberals and Conservatives that is constant in nature. We are a liberal and conservative nation with few centralists in between.

Note: The fight between Agriculture and Industry occupies an important role in politics. How to combine them could help an economy and our political environment. The Oxford American Dictionary defines obsession as a noun, which means a state of being obsessed with someone or something or an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person’s mind.

Can we Talk about Politics?

There are no real issues being discussed, but only dirty secrets or sticking points. People are disconnected from the real issues, and thus, rely too much on television to base their decisions. Politics have become unreasonable (Negative issues take front page). Therefore, we can’t discuss the real issues in a real and sensible way.

What role does faith play in our politics?

Religious issues challenge political agendas and create animosities. Since last decade, religion has played a greater role. People are cherishing religion more. It could be for the growing spectrum of Secularism and evolution. Therefore, it is taking a greater role.

Important Note: For the first time in America, we have tax cuts during a war. Christians don’t start wars: Part of the US constitution.

Question Asked to President Bush in 2004: What political philosopher or thinker do you most identify with and why?

President Bush: “Christ. Because he changed my heart.”

Does the Media divide us?

Fox and CNN (Conservatives and liberals). America relies too much on the media. The media is not objective anymore. The media is not reporting anymore. It is taking sides and looking for profits. Therefore, it can divide us at times.

Note: The Telecommunication Act harmed the media.
Clinton ran nationwide ads: Obama next.

Do campaign divide us?

It is believed that undecided have low level of knowledge. Negative Campaigning helped republicans until last election. There has been only two choices. You either vote Republican or Democrat. Therefore, it can’t divide us. We are already divided.

What is the answer?

America should start talking about the unifying factors that America has to offer. A voice that speaks to commonality rather than to our differences. Therefore, Obama won the presidency. He talked about unity and spoke about the issues that mattered to Americans.

Nixon/Kennedy Debate Overview:

What is your overall opinion?

Clyde Jackson Browne: It Ain’t Over Until Is Over Mr. McCain

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to Wikipedia, Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is a German-born American rock singer-songwriter and musician. His introspective lyrics made him the poster boy for the Southern California confessional singer-songwriter movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 2004, Browne was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by fellow American musical artist and good friend, Bruce Springsteen.

However, Browne is still engaged in a battle with the GOP and ex-presidential candidate John McCain over the use of his titled song “Running on Empty.” McCain is accused of using above song in his campaign without authorization and in direct violation of copyrights laws. According to Wired, Browne filed a lawsuit against McCain last august. The lawsuit accuses McCain and the GOP of infringing on Browne’s copyright and creating the false impression that Browne had endorsed John McCain.

As per E-online.com, John McCain has filed a pair of new motions to challenge above charges. The new motions make the following assertion for allowing the use of the song:

“Given the political, non-commercial, public interest and transformative nature of the use of a long-ago published song, the minuscule amount used and the lack of any effect on the market for the song (other than perhaps to increase sales of the song), these claims are barred by the fair use doctrine.”

In conclusion, this fight will last until the end because Browne is known for not allowing his songs to be used in advertisements of any kind. Furthermore, McCain might not be willing to lose another battle after recently losing the presidential campaign.

Quote of the Day!

Joseph Lieberman, Junior United States Senator from Connecticut.

“In the heat of the campaign, I said some things about President-elect Obama I could have said more clearly … and I said a couple things I wish I hadn’t said at all.”

[Source]

OBAMA’S CAMPAIGN LATEST AD: ELECTION DAY VOICES!

PRESIDENT BUSH PARDONS AND COMMUTATIONS

According to the Department of Justice, President George W. Bush granted pardons to the following 14 individuals and commutation of sentence to the following two individuals:

 PARDONS: 

·      Leslie Owen Collier - Charleston, Mo.

Offense: Unauthorized use of a registered pesticide, 7 U.S.C. §§ 136j(a)(2)(F) and 136l(b); violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, 16 U.S.C.       § 668(a).

Sentence: Feb. 2, 1996; Eastern District of Missouri; two years’ probation and $10,000 in restitution.

 ·      Milton Kirk Cordes - Rapid City, S.D.

Offense: Conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act; 18 U.S.C. § 371, 16 U.S.C. §§ 3372(a)(2)(A), 3373(d)(1)(B ).

Sentence: Dec. 14, 1998; District of South Dakota; 18 months’ probation conditioned on loss of hunting privileges for one year, performance of 100 hours of community service and payment of a $2,000 fine.

 ·      Richard Micheal Culpepper       - Mahomet, Ill.

Offense: False statements to the United States; 18 U.S.C. § 287.

Sentence: Jan. 15, 1988; Central District of Illinois; five years’ probation conditioned on payment of a $1,000 fine and $4,351.90 in restitution.

 ·      Brenda Jean Dolenz-Helmer - Fort Worth, Texas

Offense: Misprision of a felony; 18 U.S.C. § 4.

Sentence: Dec. 31, 1998; Northern District of Texas; four years’ probation, with the special condition of 600 hours of community service and a $10,000 fine.

 ·      Andrew Foster Harley - Falls Church, Va.

Offense: Wrongful use and distribution of marijuana and cocaine; Article 112a, Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Sentence: April 17, 1985, as approved June 13, 1985; U.S. Air Force general court martial convened at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 90 days’ confinement, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and dismissal from the Air Force.

 ·      Obie Gene Helton- Rossville , Ga.

Offense: Unauthorized acquisition of food stamps; 7 U.S.C. § 2024(b), 18 U.S.C. § 2.

Sentence: April 1, 1983; Eastern District of Tennessee; two years’ probation, $500 fine and $875 in restitution.

 ·      Carey C. Hice Sr.- Travelers Rest, S.C.

Offense:  Income tax evasion; 26 U.S.C. § 7201 and 18 U.S.C. § 2.

Sentence: March 5, 1996; District of South Carolina; three years’ probation condition on 180 days’ home confinement and a $13,000 fine. 

·      Geneva Yvonne Hogg - Chamblee, Ga.                          

Offense: Bank embezzlement; 18 U.S.C. § 657.

Sentence: June 19, 1980; District of South Carolina; five years’ probation and a $500 fine.

 ·      William Hoyle McCright Jr.- Midland, Texas                           

Offense: Making false entries, books, reports or statements of bank; 18 U.S.C. § 1005.

Sentence: Oct. 20, 1986, as amended September 23, 1987; Western District of Texas; two years’ imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

 ·      Paul Julian McCurdy - Sulphur, Okla.

Offense: Misapplication of bank funds by a bank officer; 18 U.S.C. § 656.

Sentence: Feb. 12, 1988; Eastern District of Oklahoma; five years’ probation and $5,000 in restitution.

 ·      Robert Earl Mohon Jr.- Grant, Ala.

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute marijuana; 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846.

Sentence: Oct. 22, 1987; Northern District of Alabama; three years in prison.

 ·      Ronald Alan Mohrhoff - Los Angeles

Offense: Unlawful use of a telephone in furtherance of a narcotics felony, 21 U.S.C. § 843(b); possession of cocaine, 21 U.S.C. § 844(a).

Sentence: Oct. 9, 1984; Central District of California; one year of in prison followed by five years’ probation with the special condition of 2,500 hours of community service.

 ·      Daniel Figh Pue III - Conroe, Texas

Offense: Illegal treatment, storage and disposal of a hazardous waste without a permit, 42 U.S.C. § 6928(d)(2)(A); illegal transportation of a hazardous waste to an unpermitted facility for storage or disposal, 42 U.S.C. § 6928(d)(1).

Sentence: Oct. 25, 1996; Southern District of Texas; three years’ probation conditioned on six months’ home confinement and a $1,000 fine. 

·      Orion Lynn Vick - White Hall, Ark.

Offense: Aiding and abetting the theft of government property; 18 U.S.C. §§ 641 and 2.

Sentence: June 17, 1975; District of Arizona; payment of a $250 fine within 90 days.

COMMUTATIONS:

 ·      John Edward Forte - North Brunswick, N.J.

Offense: Aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A)(ii), 18 U.S.C. § 2.

Sentence: Nov. 20, 2001; Southern District of Texas; 168 months in prison, five years’ supervised release and a $5,000 fine.

Terms of commutation: Sentence of imprisonment to expire on Dec. 22, 2008, leaving intact and in effect the five year term of supervised release with all its conditions.

 ·     James Russell Harris - Detroit, Mich.

Offense: Conspiracy to aid and abet the distribution of cocaine, 21 U.S.C. § 846; attempted money laundering, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(3) and 2; aiding and abetting the attempted distribution of cocaine, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); conspiracy to affect interstate commerce by obtaining property under color of official right, 18 U.S.C. § 1951; attempt to affect interstate commerce by obtaining property under color of official right, 18 U.S.C. § 1951.

Sentence:   May 10, 1993; Eastern District of Michigan; 360 months in prison, five years’ supervised release and a $50,000 fine.

Terms of clemency grant: Unpaid balance of fine remitted; sentence of imprisonment commuted to expire on Dec. 22, 2008, leaving intact and in effect the five year term of supervised release with all its conditions save the obligation to satisfy the unpaid balance of the fine.

 [Source]

DAVID PLOUFFE ASKS SUPPORTERS TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Plouffe is Obama’s campaign manager. He played a very important role in electing Obama. His ads counter attacking McCain’s negative ads were straight forward and to the point.

Now, he is asking Obama’s supporters to take a survey and share their experience and thoughts on the best way to keep supporting Obama’s campaign agenda. He writes, ” your hard work built this movement.” “Now it’s up to you to decide how we move forward.”

You can click on this link to fill out the survey. The survey is mainly compromised of questions about people’s experience volunteering in the Obama campaign. It also asks us to rate the issues of most importance to us. It is a four section survey with straight forward questions. The survey concludes by asking us to make a donation of $5 or more to support the urgent mission of Obama’s transition team.

Bill O’reilly would like to meet Jesus [Video]

In his weekly Youtube conversation, Bill O’reilly responds to a question from one of his viewers. The question is from a person named Brad from Kansas, Missouri. He asks O’reilly that if he could meet any historical figure, who it would be? O’reilly responds that he would like to meet Jesus. He jokingly answers that his reason is that he would like to know what his status is. Nevertheless, we can all speculate what his status is and would be. In regard to American figures, he would like to meet Lincoln and Washington.

OBAMA: “WE ARE AT RISK OF A DEFLATIONARY SPIRAL”

In his latest Youtube address, President-elect Obama states that we are facing an economic crisis of historic proportions. The main reasons are the turmoil in the financial markets, the decrease in home purchases and the job losses. Furthermore, he states that we now risk falling in a deflationary spiral that could increase our massive debt even further.

President-elect Obama calls for a new economic recovery plan. He emphasizes his desire to work along with republicans and democrats in order to fix the current economic crisis. However, he makes clear that the need for immediate action is not negotiable. The goal of his new economic recovery plan is to create or save 2.5 million jobs by January of 2011. He utters, “it is time to act.”

Dissection of his demeanor: Obama looks pale and tire and for the first time looks like he is actually reading from his Tele-promtor.

Stats: 540,000 thousand jobless claims last week, 1.2 million jobs lost this year.  

TURKEY GETS WACKED UNDER PALIN WATCH: IMAGES

Governor Sarah Palin holds a press conference to celebrate the pardoning of a turkey and to talk about Alaska’s economic standing. Nevertheless, the background she chose was not conducing for the pardoning of a turkey. Pictures talk better than words. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watch Press Conference here:

RON PAUL BLAST THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

In the following video, Ron Paul states that the Republican party lost credibility. He believes that if republicans want to regain their capacity, they will have to do a better job while in power. He states that the republican party needs to re-state its principles. The principles that he advocates are personal liberties and foreign policy.