I have not hidden the fact that I enthusiastically supported Barack Obama in his presidential campaign.  I have been very open with my absolute disdain for the direction the republican party has led this nation for the past 30 years.  And, I’ve been unable to hide my disappointment with our new president since before he was inaugurated.  Tonight, I’m not going to go over all of those frustrations – AGAIN – but, will probably touch on many of them in trying to make my point.  If you’ve been a frequent visitor to this site you know that Obama’s turning his back on all the wrongdoing of the (correctly labeled – in my view) “Bush crime family” was intolerable.  I suppose the underpinnings of why that was SO INTOLERABLE might come out in my vent this evening.  It is so clear in my mind, but so difficult for me to put accurately into just a few hundred words.  But, as I (along with the rest of America) watch the Gulf Coast TREASURES – which are irreplaceable – DESTROYED by the epitome of what has been wrong with America since the day Ronald Reagan took office I can’t help but think about all the situations “we the people” have simply accepted as “politics as usual” while “going about our business” of “surviving.”

The American public has been (very subtly) BRAINWASHED.  The republicans have been SHAMELESSLY pushing a lie for over 30 years – and, they’ve gotten so good at it – they often times come across as authentic – even to those who understand what they’ve been up to.  Thomas Frank puts it better than anyone else I’ve read in his great book “What’s the Matter with Kansas?”  He points out how the republicans have been exploiting the abortion issue (with no intention to prevail – it’s just a tool for them – my interpretation) to get good “blue collar” people to vote for the destruction of everything they hold dear.  These are the very people who were at the head of the line when the battle for America’s middle class was in full swing.  This is where the major labor unions were formed, the auto industry blossomed, and truly earned the right to be called America’s heartland.  Well, since the days of Reagan they’ve been voting “red” despite the fact the results are destroying everything they sacrificed so much to create in the first place.  It’s the corporate mentality which they overcame originally, which they have now succumbed to.  As Frank puts it regarding the anger that is “pent up” in places like Kansas, “Their grandstanding leaders never deliver, their fury mounts and mounts, and nevertheless they turn out every two years to return their right-wing heroes to a second, third, a twentieth try.  The trick never ages; the illusion never wears off.  Vote to stop abortion; receive a rollback in capital gains taxes.  Vote to make our country strong again; receive deindustrialization.  Vote to screw those politically correct college professors; receive electricity deregulation.  Vote to get government off our backs; receive conglomeration and monopoly everywhere from media to meatpacking.  Vote to stand tall against terrorists; receive Social Security privatization.  Vote to strike a blow against elitism; receive a social order in which wealth is more concentrated than ever before in our lifetimes, in which workers have been stripped of power and CEO’s are rewarded in a manner beyond imagining.”

One of the great ironies from Frank’s book is when one of the Kansan’s he interviewed said, “We’re tired of everything being wonderful on Wall Street and terrible on Main Street.”  Frank goes on by saying incredulously “Let me repeat that, they’re voting republican to get even with Wall Street!”  That, in a nutshell, points out how dramatic the BRAINWASHING of America has been.  And this will not be easily changed (which is the “change I can believe in”) and it WON’T be changed by anyone trying to be a “dealmaker” or someone trying to be “bipartisan.”  I can (and have, and probably will) guarantee you that the republicans won’t give up an “inch” of the ground they’ve managed to take over these thirty years without a guargantuan FIGHT.  This is a WAR for the soul of this nation – and, with the BP oil spill Obama has been given a golden opportunity to take the offensive and do what he should have been doing from day one.

I’m sure some of you have chuckled (I’m trying to be kind) as I’ve continually tried to give our sitting president advice.  Obviously, he’s not taking advice from people like me.  But, here I go again! :o)  Let’s just look at the situation in the gulf to see what a magnificent opportunity Obama has.  First off, I have to say that it grieves my heart that it had to get to a situation like this, but it’s there now and the worse thing Obama can do is continue his tepid approach to decision making and his reluctance to take on republicans – for WHATEVER reason.  That HAS TO STOP or Obama is a one term president and we’re all doomed for another Bush – or some facimilie in the White House.  And, picture another republican in the White House with “Citizen’s United” in full swing – if that’s not a scary thought to you – you’ve either drank the republican’s “coolaid” – or you’re just not paying attention.  BP is the prime example of what “Citizen’s United” is thrusting upon our political system – and, if you think they won’t be TOTALLY involved in the next U.S. election, well, I’ve got a bridge I’d like to sell…….

From the start of this disaster BP has been LYING (typical republican tactic) through their TEETH about what happened, about how much pollution is escaping the well head (they have to pay a fine for every barrell of oil that escapes – that fine should be in the BILLIONS by now), BP’s been bullying the fishermen who are desperate for income that has been destroyed by the oil slick – so they are trying to help contain the spill, but not allowed to wear respirators because of appearances (something like nine fishermen ended up in the hospital because of breathing the fumes of the oil and the dispersent material being dropped on the spill by BP – which is evidently only making the disaster worse), BP is creating a paperwork nightmare for impacted people along the coast who are trying to recoup lost income from the spill, they are doing everything they can to prevent news reporters and photographers from getting close to the scene, and the other day it was reported that they have “bought off” Google and Yahoo search engines to redirect searches to their website where they can – you guessed it – spew out MORE PROPAGANDA!

BP lied during the process of getting permits for this well, they had no plan WHATSOEVER of what to do if it went bad, and the people in the Minerals Management Service who signed the waiver were put there by who else? You guessed it – Dick Cheney!  So, we’re back to the “golden opportunity” President Obama has to “right the ship” as far as his leadership and his presidency.  It’s true that taking on the republican establishment will cause a major “uproar” (Obama stated he didn’t want the distraction when he orginally declined to investigate the “Bush Crime family” – maybe saving his own presidency will be enough to motivate him into action here).  You’ve heard, I’m sure, of the old saying that “all roads lead to Rome?”  Well, in today’s environment, all disasters lead to Bush/Cheney.  The problem is perception.  As long as Barack Obama continues to cower from a confrontation from the administration most people consider the worst in American history – his administration will be possibly taking their place by the time his first term is up.  I wish I could put it nicer – but, that’s the way I see it.  So, the advice?  It’s time for the advice (and if you know President Obama, why don’t you just ask him to read it once?  Maybe give Rahm Emanuel a day off)

First, admit to some mistakes.  Here’s a good one to admit to.  The Minerals Management Service should have been purged of all the Cheney cronies FROM DAY ONE!  That may have prevented the ridiculous waiver process which was clearly out of control as Obama took the oath of office.  Let’s be real here!  How many more wells are being drilled as I write this with other worthless, potentially disastrous waivers.  This is a PRIME example of what happens when the government convinces itself that these corporate CEO’s are smarter and more dedicated to the public good than the CAREER public servants who are true servants and not trying to skimp at every corner.  Then say something like: “There’s nothing more we can do about this disaster than work as hard as we can to get this well capped and clean up the mess – however long that takes.”  Next point out, “We have to find out how serious this problem is, so we’re going to investigate the process which led to this well, AND ALL OTHER WELLS, to uncover any other unsafe wells – so that relief wells can be started immediately, and we can uncover any illegal or immoral activity going on in the MMS.  Anyone found guilty of committing crimes will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law – and that includes the leadership of BP and/or any other entity wishing to drill for oil off the shores of the United States of America.”

Then bring up Google and Yahoo search engines.  Say something like, “I am authorizing Congress to subpoena the executives from both Google and Yahoo to question whether they have actually allowed themselves to be ‘bought off’ in regard to manipulation of material facts on their search engines.”  I personally don’t know if that’s illegal, but I believe the general public has a right to know how or why BP managed to get to the top of the search engines with a site showing how they’re “helping.”  President Obama, remember the transparency you were so “FOR” during the campaign?  Now’s the time to kick it into high gear.  And, take this opportunity to “hit a home run.”  Promise the American people the thorough investigation of what was going on during Bush/Cheney – or are you going to STUBBORNLY force all of America to find out all these disasters one at a time – like this oil spill – with you on your heels every step of the way?  “We the people” have been outraged by all of this crap for years.  We elected you thinking you would do something about it.  Honestly Mr. President, you didn’t come across to me as someone who was afraid of a good fight.  I still think it’s your advisors.  Take a moment to reflect on their advice – and, if it’s been them pushing you farther and farther toward the “right,” GET RID OF THEM!  And, sooner rather than later.  I’m out of school in two weeks, I’d be glad to VOLUNTEER to help for about two and a half months (you’d have to pay for my plane ticket and room and board – I am a school teacher after all).  There’s millions of other Americans who could probably give you better advice than me.  I would start by posing a question: President Obama, EVERYONE is asking the same question: “Where’s the outrage?”  And, not just toward this oil spill.  Toward the republican’s thirty years of ripping off the American taxpayer with one scam after another – as Thomas Frank puts it “blue collar workers voting republican to get back at Wall Street!”  The republicans have succeeded in that ridiculous propaganda scheme because the democrats don’t have the courage to stand up to them.  We’ve allowed illegal wiretapping without consequence, we’ve allowed torture without consequence, we’ve allowed an entire war built on lies WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE, I could go on and on – but will end by saying and now THIS!  The destruction of one of our most pristine treasures by one of the bulliest of corporations.  Mr. Obama, this crap won’t stop until you, or SOMEONE who’s in a position of influence, stands tall and says ENOUGH ALREADY!  And the outrage will be demonstrated by your actions, not your words!