Over the past month, I have had the opportunity to connect with some old friends whom I haven't talked to in years. These people were my closest friends in days gone by.  I loved them (and still do) because they are kind, generous, decent, hard-working, salt-of-the-earth kind of people.  But they were/are politically naive and believe many of the lies told by the right-wing.

As we all know, the political landscape has changed drastically over the last 10 years.  What you probably don't know is how much I have changed over that same amount of time.  You see, in my life before Bush, I was a Republican.  In fact, I was a Religious-Right Republican in my not-so-glory days.  And these friends I have been talking to are my friends from those long-ago days.  I have no reason to believe that they have come over from the dark side to our side.  I do know they have suffered from many of the disastrous economic policies of the politicians they have voted for--and they may be ready to change direction.  

I believe we can use Universal Health Coverage as a hook to find common ground and build an alliance--which may some day be the true wedge between the many people like my friends and the Republican Party.  To find out how...please follow me below the fold!

I have to confess that Obama is not my first choice for 2008.  That said, I have been reading the most amazing posts over the last couple of days.  I comment on a blog that consists of both liberals and right-wing conservatives.  The right-wingers pretty much think we liberals are crazy and wrong about most everything!

So, consider my amazement as I have been reading the following postings from the RW crowd...

Reinstating the draft for United States citizens has proved to be a non-starter.  Democrats appear to be too divided on the issue.  Republicans would only support such an extreme measure if there was clear and explicit language to exempt any Republican who "had different priorities".    

Americans have been slow to volunteer for the military, knowing that there is more than a remote chance that they will find their sorry selves at the business end of an IED in Iraq. President Bush would like to increase the number of troops in Iraq, but is limited in his choices due to this inconvenient lack of resources.  What to do? What to do? I propose a "Draft the Dogs" campaign.  I think this idea has legs (and a tail)!

It's time to beef up the Military Canine Corps. Dogs have been used since World War II for use in the military.  They have served with distinction.  Indeed, trained dogs are used in Iraq today.  I propose extending this program by instituting the "Dogs for Defense" recruitment program.  What Republican would not be thrilled to have their pet serve honorably in this great war of their making?  I envision President Bush would set the tone by enlisting Barney. Think of the photo opportunities!  Picture it with me...

I was listening to a story today about a teacher.  That got me thinking.  If I had to pick one favorite teacher, who would that be?  And, more importantly, why?  What are the characteristics of a "favorite" teacher?  Is it the subject they teach?  Is it the teacher's knowledge and/or love of the subject? The time in one's own life? Did that teacher motivate me to aspire to do something I never would have done otherwise?  Did that teacher motivate me to be someone more than the person I thought myself to be?

As I thought about the question in my own mind, I realized I could not pick out just one teacher.  I was fortunate to have had many great teachers during my school years.  However, my favorite teachers always had two traits in common:  They cared for their students AND they made me feel special in some way.

Please follow me below the fold!

The central point of the story was that even though the FBI was sending more terrorist cases to Federal prosecuters, the percentage and number of cases being pursued has gone down (from 50% down to 10%).  --But the number of cases for obsenity and pornography has gone up.

If someone has the time to pursue and get the whole story (or a link to it), I think many campaigns can use this as more proof that this administration is doing nothing to keep us safer!

I've been thinking a lot about you lately.  Just this week your brother died.  He was your best friend.  You were his protector from the day he was born.  I have watched through the years as you have been the pillar of strength to your family.  From the time you were a boy to now and until the last one dies, you will be there for them.  You've told me how very hard it has been for you to see them leave, one-by-one and year-by-year.  For all you have done to protect them, you have not been able to protect them from death.  And I know how that weighs on you.

And I've been thinking a lot about your service to country in World War II.  You were called. You went. You served with dignity.  And you told me that you learned from your experience that no country should ever send their young men and women to war except as the last resort. The. Last. Resort.

real-life fiction below the fold...

The life of a baby begins long before he or she is born. A new individual human being begins at fertilization, when the sperm and ovum meet to form a single cell. If the baby's life is not interrupted, he or she will someday become an adult man or woman.

So, I had to ask the question, how does this explain identical twins?   --work with me here!--  

A week ago, we all watched in amazement as Stephen Colbert, without flinching, spoke truth to power.  Our conversations here, at home, and at work were peppered with talk about the courageous performance of Stephen Colbert.

Earlier this week, Minnesotans had the privilege of meeting Markos at the "Crashing The Gate" events scheduled in the Twin Cities.  Markos was everything I hoped he would be.  Bright. Articulate. Passionate. Persuasive.  And really, really nice!

To clarify, I am willing to meet Republicans half-way. And I am ready to write it into law.  In fact, I will go the extra mile. I am willing to give it an up or down vote and have it written into the United States Constitution if that's what Republicans want!  I am ready to "let go and let God", so to speak.

Before you write me off as a nut case or just another liberal wimp, let me explain! Follow, please--below the fold...

What is up with that?  Something is very wrong with this picture.  Why is it left up to non-Union members to defend the Unions from their own members?

Below the fold is a sampling of the anti-union postings from current or former union members... (And, yes, I understand that they may only say they have been union members.  That said, I do tend to believe they are telling the truth about their membership.)

The previous year, Martin Markowitz, a tenured professor at Hamline, had also been criticized by two students.  It became so rancorous that Markowitz refused to teach the course again the next year.

I haven't come up with the perfect-sounding acronym yet, but I'm going to start by throwing out the ideas I have so far.  Then it's up to you dailyKosters to define and refine.

--more below the fold--

Yet I don't know if I have the guts to lose my job/career.  I do believe that our jobs are on the line if we really do what is needed to take our country back.  I don't think we are at a point in time where we need to fear losing our lives to protect our democracy, but we are in peril of losing our jobs.  And that is the elepant in the room.

Does anyone else struggle with this or am I the only one?

Perhaps GOP is only practicing up...for the swiftboating of all Fighting Dems in 2006. Time to innoculate each one against the inevitable smear campaigns.

We need to go on the offensive and let the duck-and-run Republican "leadership" begin trying to defend their unpatriotic actions.  Let's not wait for them to smear us--let's get the truth out there first!  I put together a list of 10 ways that the "Republican elite" dishonor our soldiers.  Please add to the list. And let's go on the offensive NOW!

Jimmy Massey is one of the members of Iraq Veterans Against the War.  Several months ago, there was an article that called into question Jimmy Massey's honesty in relating his experiences in Iraq.  It was written by Ron Harris.  This "clarification" article was printed not only in the corporate media, but (if I remember correctly) was also posted on buzzFlash.com and/or rawstory.com.  Without contacting Jimmy Massey for a chance to defend himself, the article only printed Ron Harris' version of events.  In essense, Jimmy Massey was swift boated--and we liberals helped it happen by not questioning this article.

How proud we were of brand America.  The brand name on any product we produced set it apart from all others.  We were proud of brand America and all that it stood for.  Our products were not perfect, but they were always improving.  When a product was defective, we owned up to it and vowed to do better!  Never satisfied with the status quo, we always demanded better of ourselves and everything brand America produced.  Most of all, we took pride in the fact that our most cherished and sought after brand America products such as liberty, freedom of speech, voting rights, and protection of civil liberties, were available and affordable to all.

Five years ago, brand America was hi-jacked by a band of counterfeiters.  They have robbed the company coffers, gutted the warehouse, and sold the contents on the black market.  These interlopers refuse to provide the resources to produce brand America products, exploit the employees, and treat its customers with disdain.