Povertybarn

Change is Good

(SourKraut posting while Catherine is hunting big game in Africa... with a camera, of course)

(click to enlarge)

As Martha would say, "It's a good thing"  

(Source: patrickmoberg.com; hat tip to Airbag)

One Word...

Off to Africa

As many of you may know, I'm off to Africa today for a three-week safari!  I'm my absence, Sourkraut will be posting from time-to-time, but I'll be back before you know it!

(I promise to post pictures as they become available)

No on 8

I was delighted to read this morning that retired 49er and Mormon, Steve Young and his wife have No on 8 signs in their yard. They also donated approximately 50k to the No campaign. I always liked him!

On the other hand, Jeff "Asshat" Kent has donated to the Yes campaign. How can he be a graduate of Cal? Another good reason to boo his ass whenever I see him play!

An Ode to Mad Men

I Voted

A Message from Prop. L

A Message from Opie

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

I am Angry

I am angry because I live in a City which supposedly makes me Unamerican.

I am angry because another woman wants to inflict her religious beliefs onto me, not to mention that she does not know what her potential job entails.

I am angry because we have too many racist asshats in our Country.

I am angry because I am not tolerated for my views.

I am angry because way too much money is being wasted on this election by everyone.

I am angry because my friends' rights may be taken away.

I am angry because the Constitution doesn't seem to mean much to some people.

I am angry because we need to solve real, every day problems.

I am angry because we have given a huge bailout to more rich, white men.

Rove Almost under Citizen's Arrest

A Sign of Palin

NO on California Prop. 8

This is an email from a friend that I have posted here because it says a lot about why and so many others oppose Prop 8. I have already donated to the campaign and if you feel so inclined, please do so.

Hi everyone – last night, I watched my friends Richard and Dave get married, after 11 years together. To see them dancing cheek to cheek to their chosen first song – Allison Moyet’s version of “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?” – was pure joy. (Insert happy sniffles, teary eyes and very full hearts here.)

I just got back from two weeks out of the country and ended a self-imposed news blackout, so I was shocked to hear that the California “No on Prop 8” effort is foundering, with supporters of the proposed ban on same-sex marriage gaining steam. WTF, I asked??? (I got a good explanation here and here.)

From what the DailyKos site says, all is not lost – an infusion of new contributions will help bring “No on Prop 8” TV ads to more viewers over the next few weeks. And donations through Sunday night at midnight are going to be matched by philanthropist Steven Bing.

I don’t like to bug friends and family all that often for charitable causes – but I think this one is worth the bother, even if you are straight, or don’t live in California. This is a fundamental civil rights issue that transcends personal and religious beliefs about gay marriage.

When I was the executor of my mother’s estate three years ago, the legal power of a marriage contract was really driven home for me. My parents had been separated for decades, yet the law deferred to the surviving spouse – impacting everything from who could visit a patient in the ICU, who could make decisions about cremation, to inheritance of property, and beneficiaries of pensions and Social Security payments. Since states have created a legal framework that supports marriage, they should not be able to discriminate against people who want to take part in these civil benefits, and enter into a binding legal contract with each other.

Think it Over

What if things were switched around? Would the
country's collective point of view be different? 


What if the Obamas had paraded five children across the stage, following the debate, including a three month-old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter?

What if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law Review?

What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his college graduating class?

What if McCain had only married once, and Obama was a divorcee?

What if Obama had met his second wife in a bar and had a long affair while he was still married?

What if Michelle Obama was the wife who not only became addicted to pain killers but also acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?

What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?

What if Obama had been a member of the Keating Five? (The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s.)

What if Obama couldn't read from a teleprompter?

What if Obama was the one who had military experience that include discipline problems and a record of crashing seven planes?

What if Obama was the one who was known to publicly display  a serious anger management problem?

What if Michelle Obama's family had made their money from beer distribution?

You could easily add to this list. If these questions reflected a reality, if the tables were turned, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as  they are?

This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative characteristics in another when there is a color difference.

And, think of this - the candidates' educational backgrounds:

Barack Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in
International Relations.
Harvard - Juris Doc tor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Joseph Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)


John McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899

Sarah Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism

Palin's Oval Office Explained

This is hilarious, point and click on things in the room. Be sure to open and close the door more than once. I do not know who did this, but hilarious!

Click here, come on -- do it! You'll get a good laugh.

Political News You Can Use

Obama admits that he made a mistake. Thanks for letting us know, it is appreciated.

Palin may not be the energy princess that she claims to be. It is sad when CA's First Lady calls you out.

Some students are not afraid of gays, these kids should be used as role models of tolerance.

Remember that Fact Check.org is your friend!