SpaceCity

Politics. The process by which groups of people make decisions. ¹

Politician. An individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of politics or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ¹

To many, there is a negative connotation to the word “politics”. When you hear someone describe an idea or an event as being politicized, your assumption is that the idea or event is being hijacked in a way to benefit a person or group, usually politicians. Politicians, like lawyers, pretty much have a built-in negative aura about them. We tend to just accept that whatever is coming out of their mouths is either an exaggeration, a bending of the truth, or just a bold-faced lie. There is a reason why there is no shortage of lawyer and politician jokes.

Chances are, you have already heard some of these:

Q: How can you tell when a lawyer is lying?
A: His lips are moving.

Q: What do you call 5000 dead lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?
A: A good start!

Q: What do you have when a lawyer is buried up to his neck in sand?
A: Not enough sand.

“Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the
politicians as a joke.” —Will Rogers

Remember, you can’t fool all the people all the time—but you must fool them during the campaign.

Honest Politician: One who, once bought, will stay bought.

If con is the opposite of pro then what is the opposite of progress?

You get the point.

If we accept that politicians are self-serving liars who are easily bought, and we accept that congress has become an institution mired in back-room deals and political posturing, and we accept that our government no longer serves the people but rather the corporate elite, and we accept that the political system in the United States of America is just simply fucked, then what does that say about us, the people of this country who actually have the power to change it all?

It says a lot, actually.

It says that we approve of the actions of our current leaders. It says that we don’t have a problem with letting corporations buy laws that benefit them and hurt us regular folk. It says that we approve of the invasion and occupation of countries that aren’t really much of a threat to our country and our way of life.

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. - Rush, Freewill

It says that there are too many apathetic or jaded voters in this country. If you have become disgusted with the politics of this country, then the answer is not to give up and do nothing but to make a stand. If you are a jaded voter then you, possibly more than anyone, have to take action to make a change. If you simply don’t care to make a decision then shame on you! It’s not enought to say “If you don’t vote than you are not allowed to complain about anything for the next 4 years.” We can’t afford another 4 years with a bad choice of a leader. We can make a difference. We do make a difference and we will. It is our country, after all.

“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.” - V, from the movie “V for Vendetta”

I love that movie. I tell everyone that it is a glimpse into the not-so-distant future if we remain on the same path that we are currently on. Same with “Children of Men”. Check them out and see if that is the world where we want us, our children and grandchildren living in. Jr. has slowly set things up to realize the New World Order dream of his Dad. Let me rephrase that…. George W. Bush and his administration has laid the groundwork for Martial Law in America. ²

Scary, huh? Well, then let’s do something about it. Go vote. Vote your conscience. Vote for a better future. Vote to change the game in Washington. Vote to make a difference. Vote for change. Just vote! We have the power to make a difference. It can happen. I’ve seen it happen. I know it can happen.

Well here I am, about 700 words into this and I have yet to even mention Barack Obama.

I have come to the solid conclusion that Barack Obama is more in line with my feelings about our political climate and the need for change. It’s not even so much that he is most in line with my feelings but that he is the only candidate anywhere near in line with my feelings. Here is a man that is rational, informed, kind, and approachable. Here is a man that comes across as one who truly cares and wants to make a difference.

This is not to say that I feel that Hillary Clinton is an unapproachable, uncaring bitch. Far from it. It was only a few weeks ago that I realized that Barack Obama was the one that I had to go with.

Let’s get this clear…. I do not think Hillary is evil, nor do I think that she is unable to help lead this country out of the mess it is in right now. It’s bad enough that there is such a divide between the parties. We don’t need a divide within the parties. This is the very reason that I will be disappointed if either of the democratic candidates chooses not to offer the vice presidency to the other candidate. Yeah, yeah… I know Barack said it would never happen. Of course you oppose that offer during the campaign. It would be like conceding to the other side before the competition is even over.

I’m sure Hillary would make for a fine President if she were to be elected. It’s not even so much about the issues. Both Barack and Hillary have very similar views when it comes to the issues. The approaches may differ, but both desire similar results.

To me, all this talk about Hillary’s experience has everything to do with how things have always been done in Washington. After losing 12 states in a row to Obama, Clinton goes old-school in trying to lure away pledged delegates³, something that she had already stated that she would never do. While this is not illegal or technically against the rules, it wreaks of desperation in my eyes. She has also changed her stance concerning Florida and Michigan. When it was assumed that she would be the democratic candidate for President, she had no problem with those 2 states being disqualified from participating in the primaries. Now that she is trailing in just about every category, she is fighting for those states to have their votes counted. Also, when it became apparent that she was going to lose the majority of Texas delegates due to the big Obama caucus turnout, she tried to delay the reporting on the delegate counts in Texas.⁴

What did it for me was the promise of change. What I have seen over the past few weeks has shown me that Barack wants to change the system. I want the system changed. Sounds like a good match.

I just love the way that he has been able to carry himself. He has, so far, refused to get in the mud and start slinging. He has not catered to the idiots who will believe any sound bite that is fed to them by the mainstream media. This is not man who would accuse John McCain of fathering a bastard black baby like George Bush did in 2000. Barack Obama is not a “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” type of guy. he would condemn and disassociate himself from such a ridiculous He openly talks about his faults and mistakes and how he has learned from them and how he will avoid them in the future. Remember, we are human. We have faults. We make mistakes. But we also have brains and are supposed to be able to learn from faults and mistakes. No person is perfect. That includes politicians.

The final straw and the deal-breaker for me was watching Hillary mock idealism. To see her openly mock Barack because of his vision of a better country and a better political system really disturbed me. Seems to me that we are in dire need of a President who has ideas and the brains to figure out how to implement them. Why would she even mock his ability to speak with eloquence and with the ability to motivate people and give them hope.⁵ Why did no one else notice the irony of her saying, in a speech, that we need a candidate of action, not words. Ok, maybe only I saw irony in that. I just find it funny that she uses words to attack someone who uses words. Maybe silent debates campaigns would be interesting!

So, to sum things up, I am going to vote for Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States of America. I am buying into a campaign based on change and hope. The system is a mess and the American people are too divided. We unity. We someone we can all be proud of. We need someone with new ideas and a new approach. We need someone to show the world that the American people are a good and caring people and that we are smarter than we are being portrayed. We need change. And most of all, we need hope that there are better days ahead.

We need to vote for Barack Obama.

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¹ - as stated in Wikipedia.

² Martial Law Threat is Real

² Former Congressman Warns Of Martial Law Camps In America

³ Clinton targets pledged delegates

⁴ Clinton: Delay the Delegate Count (Because I’ll Lose)

⁵ Hillary Clinton Mocks Barack Obama During Campaign Rally

Let me start off by saying that if you are a superstitious person, you may want to stop reading now. I am going to be daring and look ahead a few games and speculate on the chances of making an already-historic run into a run that breaks a 37 year old record.

First of all, the all-time record for the longest winning streak in the NBA belongs to the 71-72 Los Angeles Lakers. This was a team featuring Wilt Chamberlaine and Jerry West. I don’t expect the Rockets, or any team for that matter, to challenge that record any time soon. That record is probably one of the safest records in sports. A run like that in this day and age of the NBA would be quite an amazing feat.

No, I want to speculate on the possibilities of capturing that number two spot. I want to talk about the chances of the Houston Rockets winning 20 games in a row.

The Rockets, as of March 7 2008, are on a 17 game winning streak. They are on a streak that only 12 other teams in the history of the NBA have experienced. In fact, 2 of those teams were from last year. Both the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks went on a 17 game winning streak last season.

Now here is where it starts to get fun. If the Rockets win 18 in a row, then they will join 6 other teams. Only 6 teams in the history of the NBA have ever won 18 or more games in a row. Every single one of those teams won the NBA championship the year that they made those runs. All of them. The Rockets will be facing a strong New Orleans team on Saturday in an attempt to reach that plateau of greatness.

Wanna keep going? Ok, check this out. Only 3 teams in the history of the NBA have ever won 19 or more games in a row. In the 99-00 season, the Los Angeles Lakers ran off 19 in a row on their way to the first of 3 Championships in a row. That is also the year that they acquired Shaquille O’Neal.

Now we have come to the mark that is both historic and attainable. The second best consecutive winning streak in the NBA’s history belongs to the Milwaukee Bucks. In the 1970-1971 season, on a team featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Bucks won 20 games in a row. At the time this was an all-time record, one that would not be broken until….. the very next year!

The following season, the Los Angeles ran off an incredible 33 games in a row.

It’s an exciting run that the Rockets are on right now. They have already busted their previous franchise record of 15 consecutive wins. They are currently on a streak of 11 road wins which is also a franchise record. In addition to that, the Rockets have also set a new franchise record by winning 8 games in a row by double digits. Of course, both of these streaks are still ongoing.

Being an avid Rockets fan for 23 years now, I am really enjoying what is going with this team right now. Considering all of the changes from last season and our rough start of the season, it’s pretty incredible watching this team dominate the way it has been. Crushing Dallas was a wonderful feeling. Beating New Orleans next will be a challenge. But if we get that 18th win, then the next 3 games will be against the weaker New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks, and Charlotte Bobcats.

Even if the Rockets somehow manage to take this streak to 21, things get real difficult on the schedule. Beginning on March 16, the Rockets will begin a run of games against some of the best in the league. This stretch will include games against The Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, and the defending Champion San Antonio Spurs.

Here’s hoping that Houston can at least win 3 more games. 20 is my magic number. It will be a proud day for the Rockets and Houston if they manage to do something that has not been done in over 37 years. Great work guys. Keep it up!

** Update #1:
03/08/08 - The Rocket beat the New Orleans Hornets to extend their winning streak to 18. As mentioned above, only six other teams in NBA history have every won 18 or more games consecutively. Next up for the Rockets will be the New Jersey Nets, the Atlanta Hawks, then the Charlotte Bobcats. Let’s just say that the odds of surpassing the 20 game winning streak set by the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks just got a lot better!

**Update #2:
03/10/08 - 19 in a row! The Rockets defeated the New Jersey Nets by 18 points to extend their streak to 19 and also to tie an NBA record for most consecutive wins by double-digits. That streak is at 10. By winning 19 in a row, the Rockets become 1 of 4 teams to ever win 19 or more games in a row. Next up is Atlanta.

**Update #3:
03/12/08 - 20!! The Rockets defeated the Atlanta Hawks to tie the 1970-1971 Milwaukee Bucks team for the second best winning streak in the history of the NBA. The Rockets won by 8 points, which ended the run of 10 games in a row won by 10 or more points. We tied the record. However, the franchise consecutive road wins streak is still alive and well. This win may have been the best of the streak. The Rockets played horribly. They couldn’t hit a basket to save their lives, at least for most of the game. Defense won this one. The Rockets face the Charlotte Bobcats at home on Friday. If we get that win then the streak will be 21 and counting.

**Update #4:
03/14/08 - 21 and counting…. The Rockets had another horrible shooting game and yet again managed to find the a way to keep the streak alive. Next up…. the Lakers!

**Update #5:
03/16/08 - 22 baby! The Rockets took care of business against the Los Angeles Lakers. With this win the Rockets not only keep the streak alive at 22 wins in a row, they now exclusively own the #1 spot in the Western Conference. Now having beaten the top team in the West, the Rockets get ready to take on the best team from the East, the Boston Celtics. Boston also owns the best record in the NBA. We have a tough week ahead of us. Getting a win against Boston would be huge. Put it this way, if they beat Boston then there is no reason to think that extending this streak to 33 or beyond is out of reach. I’m not saying it would be easy, I’m just saying that suddenly it would actually seem possible. I’m just saying……

**Update #6:
03/18/08 - The Streak is dead. Boston came to town and stopped the streak at 22. No shame in losing to the best team in the NBA. They really worked us over! Now with the burden of The Streak over it’s back to positioning ourselves for the playoffs.