Monday, September 15, 2008

To The Editor And Beyond!

A few days ago I wote a letter to the editor of the small town paper we have here in Kingman, Arizona. Kingman isn't the most intellectual of places, but what they lack in mental effort the more than make up for with judgemental attitudes and archaic idealism.
I don't know whether my letter got published, the paper can't seem to figure that out and I have no need to waste money on the (Ahem) publication. So I wanted to share it with you.
Tell me what you think. If you are of a like mind, perhaps you can help come up with a way to make it irrefutable that Palin as VP is insane, and McCain in general would represent another Executive Nightmare for all of us. Even those conned into believing they should vote Republican this time too! I agree 100% with Matt Damon! And no, it's not because I'm jealous of Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel...

(As submitted to The Kingman Daily Miner 9-5-08)

Dear Editor;
25 Years of Broadcast Journalism has taught me vital lessons. I know how to listen in ways most folks don't. I can discern slight prevarication in a speaker’s eye, or twitch of the lip. My intuition is a valuable barometer that assists me in everyday life, and has also made me an effective and consistently accurate reporter.
This is how I know that we have one chance to take ourselves out of the downward spiral we've been in for a number of years, and place common sense and true human compassion back in the White House. That can't happen with John McCain and Sarah Palin.
The true and accurate information is readily available. All you have to do to find the truth is listen to your own intuition.
Sarah Palin gave her much acclaimed speech at the GOP convention as any reporter would. It was written for her, by George Bush's speechwriter to be specific, and she read it off a teleprompter, as she did when she was an on camera sports reporter at a small market television station in Alaska. I saw no more personal attachment in her as she read her speech than I have in any other reporter just delivering the weather.
Additionally, She made it clear who she is. She would have you either believing in her brand of extreme conservatism and evangelistic fanaticism, or she'll try to force you by pushing laws through that are designed to limit your personal freedoms.
Pro Life is one thing, but making even contraception a target is the control of your sexuality by the government. Be clear on that and then imagine what other of your personal rights and freedoms could be affected by an over active morality guru.
There is nothing more un-American than living in a society that doesn't respect the views of people who think and believe differently than those in charge.
The end target, the Presidency, is so much the bottom line to the McCain campaign that they have done every spin, in and out of the book, to have people believe anything, everything that would get them elected, no matter what the tactic, even if it means saying things about their opponents that just aren’t true. Who does that sound like? Even if it means manufacturing this new dynamic running mate. Sarah Palin is the product of some very talented and savvy media people.
As has been reported by every reputable media source, here are the talking points-
*Palin recently said that the war in Iraq is "God's task."
*Palin has actively sought the support of the fringe Alaska Independence Party.
(She supports Alaska seceding from the lower 48!)
*Palin wants to teach creationism in public schools.
*Palin doesn't believe that humans contribute to global warming.
*Palin has close ties to Big Oil. (Her inauguration was even sponsored by BP.)
*Palin is extremely anti-choice. She doesn't even support abortion in the case of rape or incest. Incestuous conceptions are an extreme health issue.
*Palin opposes comprehensive sex-ed in public schools. Fact: The majority of kids get their first information about sex from friends, not their parents. Schools are sometimes the only source of accurate information on this subject available to many children.
*As mayor, Palin tried to ban books from the library. Try this one on for size!! You are aware of the book burnings of Nazi Germany aren't you? This is a frightening and serious thing. This is America. We do not limit a persons desire to learn. Period!
*She DID support the Bridge to Nowhere (before she opposed it). Which gets back to the spin. She has to say what's most popular at the time for her to say if she and McCain are going to realize their "bottom line"
And here is one last observation. Upon the announcement of Palin's daughter's pregnancy, and who is half responsible for her little girl being in that condition, the McCain campaign took down the 18-year-old boyfriend's "Face Book". The reason? He made reference in it of his propensity for partying and his slightly more than salacious tendencies. He also stated clearly that he did not want to marry any time in the near future. Boy, did HE walk into a pickle because he has been notified that in fact he WILL be getting married soon. I wasn't in the room when Bristol's Mom and Dad had that conversation with the boyfriend, but again, my "News Nose" tells me that the kid is not at this time in control of his immediate future. Talk about Bambi in the headlights!
Let's think this through very carefully this time. See through the spin. They are counting on what they think is a sub-educated, basically lazy citizenry to buy what they tell us. If we do, we give life to ineptitude and dishonesty for the next however many years he manages to stay in office.
I want to live with you in the America that made all of us feel proud and appreciated. This is the most wonderful country on Earth, I've been elsewhere, I know! We keep it that way by electing people who care about things larger than themselves. Not the one's who want themselves to be the largest thing about the election.
Vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Jim Boxley
Former News Director KAAA/KZZZ

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