BLOGAHOMA

:Going off Half-Blocked

I am going to come right out and say it. People are going off half-blocked in the frenzy of the election. There is NO excuse for this as there are so many balanced sources from which you can get your information on the Internet. What I am seeing a lot of this election are intelligent people who are not bothering to explore, novices to the internet who are haven’t learned the ins and outs of the net or intolerant people adding more to filler to the blanket of intolerance they wrap themselves in. The last group cannot be helped or guided by any form of logic but there is hope for the others.

I have gotten forwarded…forwarded…forwarded email with extremist views disguised as real deals. Usually the people who forward them have not checked out the voracity of the contents. I say, it’s not that hard to research.  Giving the source it is the only responsible thing to do. Didn’t everyone learn that in high school English class when they wrote their term papers? When I get forwarded emails I will research it and reply back citing legitimate links to the sender so they can be a little more informed. Debating the information has not gotten me anywhere however finding sources seems to occasionally work. I could obviously delete all forwarded email but occasionally one might hit that is intriguing or has the ring of truth that I will do a Google search and I, in process, become more informed myself.

Far right and the far left blogs I just avoid altogether. I read news feeds but never exclusively just one. I might stop CNN, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and NPR while throwing in a little Daily Show and Colbert Report just for laughs. Yes, and I know the last two lean left but they make digs on the Democratic side as well. I’m not opposed to checking out FOX for news (but not the commentary).

Twitter is another story. Currently it is featuring Hot Political Topics. I like to check it out to see what the buzz is about. If someone is off the mark and I can steer him or her to a solid source I will. It could be as simple as the twitter that claimed that Obama couldn’t be speaking in Denver because he was speaking in Ft. Collins that day. In few seconds that person could have checked to see he was doing both. So I posted a link. On Twitter you will also find twits from Aryan Nations that spew bile. It is not worth my while to even reply to that sort of junk. Because if your that extreme there is no logic.

I function from a logic base but also from a diversity and tolerance base. I vote Democrat generally but never a straight ticket. And that goes for this election as well. If you want my vote don’t send me scare propaganda, fear does not motivate my vote.

So in a election year that promises to be the biggest year in percentage of voter participation since 1908 according to Michael McDonald, an associate professor of politics and government at George Mason. University, get your facts straight and enjoy the amazing American political process.
politico.com
Here my top six biparitson websites I keep on my Bookmark Menu bar…

• Real Clear Politics…..Averages Polls, Presidential, Senatorial, Congressional etc.
• Pollster…. Similar to RCP but with very good daily commentary on election trends
• Early Voting…. Keep up with the early voting breaks down Rep/Dem , Black/White, Male/Female percentages
• Fair.org….Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. Offers well-documented criticism of media bias and censorship.
• Twitter Election…..Fast moving hot political topics…What is happening in real time
• Snopes….Helps to debunk the “Urban Legends” of the Internet

It’s a brave new Oklahoma. Inhofe is being challenge for US Senate seat by a smart young man, Andrew Rice. I first met him at a Comanche County Democratic Meeting. So young and yet so aware, so ready and honest. He doesn’t look past anyone. He looks at whomever is speaking and is sincerely listening to how he might help you. So I went to hear him again and ended up standing behind him as WOMEN WHO SUPPORT ANDREW RICE. I realized that I literally had his back. His wife Apple (don’t you just love that name) Dr. Apple Rice spoke to Andrew’s strengths and goals. Frankly I would have voted for a lesser person who would go up against Inhofe but luckily for us Andrew Rice is a man to watch, someone who in the business world you would keep your eye on as an up and comer. But his ambition is not just for him it is for the everyday folks of Oklahoma. As Apple related, he has a particular interest in helping small businesses. As a citizen and frankly a fan of Medicine Park I am a supporter of small businesses here. Medicine Park has some of the smallest businesses with the biggest dreams.

So I thought what can I do. I already voted by absentee ballot but if I could influence more people to vote for Andrew Rice I would. So this blog post is about Andrew Rice.

Andrew Rice knows there is global warming and will do what it is his power to save Oklahoma for our kids and grandkids. Andrew Rice knows there is a health crisis in Oklahoma. Andrew Rice doesn’t want to see Inhofe take our social security and put it in risky stocks like Inhofe would have us do.

I said to Apple Rice that being in this group was the most political thing I’ve ever done. She replied to me that it is the biggest political thing she had ever done as well.

So be a part of the solution stop by Andrew Rice’s website.

And make sure you vote.

I admit this is a pretty trivial endorsement but no less significant than a quarterback from the Cleveland Browns backing McCain. Strawberry Shortcake’s first choice was Hillary but then after Hillary was not successful, she got behind Obama and persuaded the rest of Strawberryland to do the same. (The exceptions being the Peculiar Purple Pieman who is backing Nader and Sour Grapes who isn’t for anyone but herself.) Strawberry’s backing is not because of some oft repeated slogan, Change, Yes We Can, etc., but because things need fixing. Not with just duck tape like some broken toy but real fixing and if that doesn’t work possibly replacement.

The Strawberry Shortcake backing was just to get your attention. I could have as easily said (as the concept artist behind the Care Bears) that Care Bears back Barrack. Or maybe it is just Tender Heart Bear that backs Obama (although Tender Heart may prefer Biden).  There are so many Care Bears they could actually fill some cabinet positions. Picture if you will Cheer Bear as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Good Luck Bear as Secretary of the Treasury or Fun Shine Bear as Secretary of Energy (solar of course).

Now if this is painting me as kooky liberal so be it. It’s who I am. I am sympathetic character who creates warm and sympathetic characters. When it comes to Obama and Biden having the needed diplomacy to reach across aisle to form alliances, the Get-Along-Gang could definitely throw their support behind them. Or maybe Obama/ Biden might want to tap into the Get-Along-Gang for some advice on how to make it all work.

After much campaigning I tried to get lil’ iffi to commit but then as her name implies is not at all sure enough to back anyone. Sometimes I draw what I want out of my characters but something they take on a life of their own.

Note: All characters named where and are ones that I graphically created in my career as illustrator/ designer.