My father, who is approaching 90 years of age, often shares stories with me of his childhood.  My grandfather (his dad), worked for the Italian government as an interpreter.    His job and passion in life was to provide a channel in which the needs of business owners, citizens, tourists, men, women and children can have an outlet to be heard and understood.  As my father tells it, my grandfather executed his duties with a deep resounding energy and commitment.   From where I sit it’s a natural evolution for me to have the same motivation and passion in life and so I’ve spent the past 20 years advocating for people by being their voice.

Last night Governor Sarah Palin presented to the nation, and to the world, her resounding energy and commitment to be an interpreter and to be the voice for the people.   I relate very well to the notion of being “of service” to the people and I feel safe, confident and pleased when I hear the future VP of the United States talk to me in my own language.  The irony is that we’ve become a country where, despite our use of the same words in a language that is our mother tongue, we do not understand what is being said.  The smiles on our faces has been replaced by the same quizzical look that we get when we ask for a coffee shop or ATM in a country where we do not speak their native language.

In today’s news reports and review of Palin’s speech some have alluded that her suggestion that we turn to our own oil reserves is a continued perspective of being oil reliant, which would in turn cause us to also continue to pander to big oil companies.  Allow me to interpret.  What the Governor expressed was the idea that using our natural oil reserves is one of many options that we have to consider as we turn away from foreign oil dependency.  Palin also mentioned alternative energy resources such as gas and nuclear energy, but somehow that was lost in translation.

There has also been mention today that the references being made by some of the delegates about how attractive she is a nod towards how The Party is not taking the Governor seriously.  The idea that the thoughts and ideas of a few people are reflected or held in high esteem by the masses is as ridiculous as suggesting that we all believe that raising taxes is going to be better for our economy.

Language is key to our ability to evolve as a community and culture.  Sometimes our communication does not have to be verbal and our actions and our deeds can speak volumes about our belief systems.  Last night we saw a woman standing at the pulpit expressing her view and sharing her dreams about how she will work to improve the quality of our life.  She expressed her sentiments about what she felt was wrong with our political system and what she was prepared to do to put our country first.  And no greater expression of how far we’ve come as a society is needed than to seen her husband Todd holding their 6-month-old boy Trig.  What a wonderful interpretation and expression of desire and commitment.

My grandfather passed away when my father was young and he and my uncles and aunt had to learn to interpret the world on their own.   They worked tirelessly to provide for the family by selling books and produce on street corners.  They learned to not only speak the language of all the people, but they learned compassion by being open minded to the needs and wants of the people.  That is what made them all successful.  These are the same qualities that we need in our political leaders.  Leaders that have stood on street corners working on behalf of the people and putting into action deeds that yield results.  We’ve seen this out of Palin as she served as Governor of Alaska.

Ultimately, my father became a professional photographer and was appointed to cover King Hussein of Jordan where he spent 25 years serving The Royal Family.  He subsequently spent the rest of his professional years taking pictures of school children, weddings, proms, Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s, Confirmations, and Baptisms. He learned to express, articulate and interpret a feeling through a picture versus that of the spoken word.  He has passed that gift to my brothers and me and we’ve all become great listeners who pride ourselves on understanding what someone is trying to say when they are speaking to us.

We must learn to listen, and accurately interpret, what is being said to us by the people.  And the people have clearly said that we must create new partnerships in America and to use those partnerships to raise the tide of humanity to new levels.  We can no longer allow sentences to be broken and to allow chance to fill in what we think might fit in between the words that we do understand.

What I heard last night from Governor Palin is that she fully understands our language and that she will work tirelessly to deliver our request.  A safer, independent, prosperous America.

* FLUTIE *

We now know what direction we are heading with the Democratic Party.   They want us to start over.   Senator Obama wants us to wipe clean the slate of history by sweeping pixie dust over the problems that our country is facing.  And that, my friends, is supposed to magically make it all better.

It strikes me as being absurd that the Democrats and their leadership have not publically acknowledged what the Republicans are doing openly and outwardly.  The American people do not care about party affiliation, or politics.  The American people want their leader to put the United States of America and it’s great citizens first and foremost - ahead of special interest and lobby groups.

As  Senator Obama’s said in his speech on the last night of the DNC, we heard him espouse the need for change.  We heard him talk about how there isn’t anyone in Washington DC that will make a difference in how the future of America will be chartered.  And the person for that job is a man who not only lacks the experience and tenure of public office, but who has released the broad strokes of an agenda that will worsen the problems that we are dealing with today.

Senator Obama wants to change the tax law on profits from the sale of your home.  He wants a 28% tax on profit from ALL home sales.   If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.  McCain wants to leave the tax law just as it is - 0% on profits up to $500,000.00

Senator Obama wants a dividend tax of 39.6% - If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict that ‘Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.  McCain wants ZERO change on this tax and will keep it at 15%.

Barack wants to raise income tax as follows:

Single making 30K - tax $8,400
Single making 50K - tax $14,000
Single making 75K - tax $23,250
Married making 60K - tax $16,800
Married making 75K - tax $21,000
Married making 125K - tax $38,750

While McCain wants to absolutely no change in the income tax rates:

Single making 30K - tax $4,500
Single making 50K - tax $12,500
Single making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 60K- tax $9,000
Married making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 125K - tax $31,250

On Inheritance Tax, the Senator from Illinois wants to restore the inheritance tax.  Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes. McCain?  0%.  This tax was repealed by the current administration.

A Democratic leadership in the White House wants the American people to dig further into their pockets to finance government spending.  New government taxes will be proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet.  New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren’t high enough already), new taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity), new taxes on retirement accounts.  Where will it end?
The Left Wing proposals contemplate that if all of these new tax revenue were to somehow solve our problems, our economy will recover.  This is not only flawed thinking, but also dangerous thinking.

We have to make a change, and that change must come in the form of a partnership between the President, The Congress and The People.  The only person that we’ve heard talk in these terms is John McCain.

* FLUTIE *

The country is on the decline.  I heard it tonight in clear, distinct and understandable terms.  Bill Clinton said it, and then Bidden said it.  And boy did they say it. Over and over and over again we’ve heard about the abysmal state of energy, the demise of education, the degrading health care system, and the declining economy and weakening dollar.   In an odd way I connected and related to the message that the Democrats were putting out there to the public.

Then I heard the needle scratch the record as I heard Obama talk about how Day 4 is going to be held at Mile High Stadium.  A venue whose capacity is 76,000 plus people.  A conclusion to a historically moving DNC that is reported to rival Greco-Roman games.  A capping off to Barack’s acceptance of his party’s nomination in a way that is a modern day version of our own 40 Billion Dollar Olympic celebration, but instead of China it’s Denver.  At least the money is going into the American Economy, right?  OK then, I feel better and can sleep tonight knowing that the patent on hypocrisy isn’t held by any one political party.

A dear friend of mine and I engage in some very intelligent and thought provoking debates on the candidates and the issues.   My friend is a steady force of reason and reality.  I am the buzz kill of Liberal propaganda.    We respect and admire each other and I would never trade my friendship with him to win a point in a verbal sparring session.  I believe that our relationship serves as a perfect metaphor for what is going on in our country today.  Namely, we are a community that is not only effected by the issues that are feverishly being argued, but we care.  None of us want to think or believe that our best years are behind us.

The reality, however, is that the prospect of a prosperous future does not come out of an agreement that we need change.  It comes from a well-founded and solid plan that attacks the problems at the core and principal level of the issue.  Improvement can only come from a plan that is based on fact and statistic based answers and solutions.   Progress comes from being able to look back in the rearview mirror of life to see where you’ve come from, to help guide you to where you want to go.  Prosperity grows out of the conviction that the sacrifice that you are making will lead you to a brighter and better future.  Unity is a key ingredient that moves mountains and mobilizes people to pursue a cause, but it is also must exist among the people who are instrumental and relied upon to effect the change that is being sought.  It takes a leader with deep roots and an impenetrable foundation to aggregate these elements.

As we continue to travel down the path of political promise the voter has to educate and familiarize him / herself on the fundamentals.   Tonight I want to invite you to explore and investigate the core issues and the solutions that the candidates are proposing.  It’s important to be educated on these points as we move forward.

For an outline on what Barack proposes: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

For an outline on what McCain proposes: http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/

* FLUTIE *

I was saddened by what I saw tonight as Hillary gave her key keynote speech at the DNC in Denver.   It was like watching Tom Brady talk about how it’s OK for the Patriots to have lost the Super Bowl.  The problem isn’t that they lost, it’s that we all know (deep in our heart of hearts), that Tom Brady does not believe one word of what he is saying.  We would have to be deaf and blind to the sentiment pouring out of Senator Clinton to think that she, like Tom Brady, believes what she is saying.

What struck me tonight about Hilary’s speech is not what she said about Obama, but what she didn’t say about the highly touted Democratic Presidential hopeful.  Senator Clinton did not once talk about how qualified she feels Barack is to be President.  She spoke of how the party must unite, how the delegates and the people need to get behind  Barack, she spoke about why she ran for office, and how wonderful Senator Bidden will make a great VP.  She spoke about how great a country we have and how we, as a people, endured through some of the most difficult challenges including women’s rights.

The glaring omission is how she did not express any sentiments about how Barack Obama is ready, prepared and experienced enough to become the 44th President of the United States.  So where does that leave us?  Well, pretty much in the same place we were  last night at the conclusion of the DNC’s first night - at the corner of Hope Street and Promise Avenue, but with no idea about which way to turn.  And thus, we stand idle with the red street light flashing like a beacon of warning that if we were to proceed we just might encounter trouble ahead.

The Democrats can only sell the 10,000-foot vision and dream. It’s suicide for them to make any proclamation about how this possible Democratic President will stop the downward trajectory of the economy, education, health care and energy.  We are still not hearing a plan, we are still not hearing specifics and we are still not hearing any true party solidarity that can lead us to believe that, if elected, Barack can count on a Congress to support even the most benign public policy.

The Democratic Party is splintered and understandably so.  They political leaders of the party have been part and parcel to the stripping away of America’s richness and resources.

If the United States were a publicaly traded company, the executives and officers of the corporation would be lined up for prosecution for engaging in criminal activity and for bilking millions and millions of people out of billions of dollars.  American taxpayers and corporations paid a mind numbing two and half trillion dollars in income tax, yet we are a nation that is struggling.

What we heard tonight was not rocket science and many would argue that if there is one thing that the Democrats and Republicans do agree on is that our country is in need of help.  The question continues to remain.  Do we want to take our chances and put the future of our country into the hands of Barack Obama who clearly lacks the experience, track record, knowledge, know how and resources?

* FLUTIE *

The past several weeks we’ve been entertained with Michael Phelps, Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin and other great American athletes ( http://teamusa.org/ ), showing us their mettle.  As a country we stand proud of the outstanding achievements of these great American’s and thank them for providing to us a bright light in an otherwise dark tunnel.  It would be impossible to find any one person who can, or would, provide negative commentary on what impact the American’s in Beijing had on us this month.

But alas, all good things must come to an end and so it was a great disappointment to have the highs of the 29th Olympiad lead us into the Democratic National Convention and into the rhetoric and clichés of the Democratic Party.

I turned to CNN tonight thinking that we would hear some clear ideas on what the Democrats where going to suggest to the American people on issues like the economy, health care, energy, education and foreign policy.

Instead I was subjected to hearing about how Barack and Michelle Obama ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_obama ) overcame  difficulty (that millions of  American’s faces in their daily life),  to become hugely politicized public figures.   With all due respect Senator and Mrs. Obama, what you and your family have accomplished is fantastic however it is no great success story.  There are scores of people in the American populous that have battled against more difficult odds and circumstances to become wonderful husbands, wives, moms, dads, engineers, doctors, bus drivers, CEO’s and community leaders.

What we need Senator Obama is not a constant reminder of how your personal plight and journey creates a dramatic contrast to your junket towards the American Presidency.  What we need are real answers and solutions to existing challenges in our society.   Challenges that are causing the American people to put substantially all of their time, energy and effort into survival on a basic needs level of humanity.  Challenges that were cushioned for you as your parents worked to provide  you a future filled with promise and hope.

And, dare I say, that the promise and hope that each of you were afforded came at the hands and expense of people like Senator McCain  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain ) who made the highest level of sacrifice to his country and to each of us.   Promise and hope that, over the course of the past 26 years paved the way for you to have the opportunity to stand in the pulpit at the  DNC and to espouse rhetoric that offers absolutely no answers or ideas on  how you and your party plan to make right all that you claim is wrong with our country.

We’ve heard enough talk and conjecture.  The American people are screaming for solutions and they not only want them, they deserve them.  Senator McCain has openly expressed his vision for a solid, industrious and prosperous America  ( http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/issues/ ).  He has dug deep into his years of experience and tenure in Washington politics and has unearthed  advice, direction and outline for a profitable, efficient and productive America.  Where then, may I ask, are your solid, concrete, measurable suggestions for our country?

Today marks Day 1 of the DNC and we’ve heard nothing that stirred the hope, belief and imagination of the people.  The opportunity for change is upon us and we can only hope that the American people will hear beyond the poetry of an idea to find the substance of reality.

* FLUTIE ‘08 *

Welcome to the Flutie08 blog!

This blog comes with an open invitation for you to share your thoughts and ideas on the current state of public issues, as well as the issues that are permeating our political process.

In less than 90 days we will go to the polls to elect the 44th President of the United States of America.  This is the time for us to speak up and to talk out loud about the events taking place on these National Campaign’s.

I’d also like to hear from other citizens who have ideas, views and concerns about the direction and status of our Nation.  We have an opportunity now to aggregate our efforts and to make a difference.

THE DIFFERENCE IS IN YOU!

* FLUITE08 *