J.M. Bell

Presidential

Obama vs. McCain

Aside from the whole “historical transcendence of a black man” blather that does, in my opinion, little more than showcase how startled Americans are at their apparent lack of racism (yeah, right), this race (presidential, not ethnic) is has historical implications of the F.D.R. flavor.

The only people still pissed off at how well the New Deal worked at reversing the overwhelming poverty of our entire nation are Republicans. They hate it. While they’ll happily wrap themselves in the flag draped imagery of WWII, they refuse to see how lower and middle class programs that basically reinvented the middle class, as part of the New Deal, made the American victory in WWII possible.

This could easily be one of those hard turning points for us as well. America isn’t quite at the level where a New Deal is needed, but, unless some serious changes are made, we will be.

Aside from the economic woes that are just beginning, America is involved in three seperate wars with a tired and over stretched military. Say what you will about McCain’s Vietnam, and I certainly find no quibble with his personal fortitude and honor as a POW; McCain was a bad sailor. Aside from coming in near the end of his class at Annapolis, he had discipline problems, indifferent efficiency reports and he was very good at crashing airplanes (5 of ‘em). Judgment, like behavior, is at the discretion of the individual and McCain just doesn’t have it.

General Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander – Europe, four star general, valedictorian of his class at West Point and a soldier often refered to in efficiency reports as “one of the Army’s best and brightest,” was right on target, in my opinion, when he stated that McCain was unfit for command based on decades of observation and experience as a natural leader of men.

Lastly, and almost the most important thing here, McCain, former POW and torture victim, voted to approve American policy to allow torture, under peer pressure from the President and other draft dodging members, and that was the final step that stripped all respect I had for John McCain out of my heart.

This could go on and on, but I’ll finish by saying that Obama’s choice of Joe Biden vs. McCain’s choice of a campaign stunt should have nailed down the “who has the better judgement” question once and for all. Instead, it pushed the McCain campaign into hateful, race-baiting attacks that have spurred up racist behavior we haven’t seen in decades.

Endorsement – Obama

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Vote 2008 – JM Bell Endorsements – Gubernatorial

VOTE 2008 – JMBell Endorsement – Utah Congressional District One

VOTE 2008 – JMBell Endorsement – Utah Congressional District Two

VOTE 2008 – JMBell Endorsement – Utah Congressional District Three

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Tracy Aviary

Help Save Tracy Aviary
Vote YES on Proposition 1

You can help save Tracy Aviary by voting YES on Proposition 1 this November. Proposition 1 authorizes Salt Lake County to issue $19.6 million in bonds to make desperately needed repairs and improvements at the Aviary. As one of only two public aviaries in the country, Tracy Aviary is a unique gem that provides amazing educational opportunities for Salt Lake County kids. So please join Mayors Peter Corroon and Ralph Becker in supporting Tracy Aviary by voting YES on Proposition 1 on November 4.

If you would like a lawn sign, help volunteer, or receive more information, please visit http://savetheaviary.com or call Janneke House at 801-870-5363

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Renew the Zoo

This one is a no-brainer. If anything, the zoo needs more money to build better, more natural enclosures to house the animals. Vote to renew the zoo. Do it for you, do it for your kids, do it for Utah.