RTR Scandal: Kenyan Birth Certificate Revealed

Much to my shock and surprise, my Kenyan birth certificate was just revealed today (see below)! This whole time I thought I was born in Saginaw, Michigan, to U.S. citizens. I hope this type of revelation does not happen to you.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Will Obama Bring Change to U.S. Policy in Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan?

Two of the biggest issues waiting for President-elect Barack Obama are, first, the U.S. occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and, second, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.  On both counts, we don't know exactly how the new president will handle these hot policy issues.  Obama's political stump speeches and pronouncements -- in typical, non-offensive political fashion -- are too vague to get a clear picture of his intended policy implementation.  The truth won't be revealed until he sets foot in the Oval Office.

While we wait for Obama to take office, America has a clear national leadership vacuum, as both foreign and domestic policy drifts rudderlessly toward January 20th. George W. Bush has been a presidential empty suit for eight years and now the whole suit has disappeared.  In the Gaza Strip in Palestine, the Israeli government is taking full and final advantage of the Bush Administration's 8-year hands-off policy in Palestine.  Obviously, the Israeli government doesn't trust campaign pronouncements either.

I am predicting that once Obama is sworn into office, he is going to meet highly visible American opposition to Israel's outrageous and obviously illegal military actions and activities in Palestine.  His supporters will be less tolerant of -- and more vocal about -- Israel's violations of international law and crimes against humanity as exhibited in Gaza over that last 18 months and more.  His supporters are going to want "change" in American foreign policy toward Israel and Palestine.  "Change" ultimately may be an albatross draped on Obama by his own supporters.  That's my prediction.

At the recent United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) General Assembly in Chicago, Palestinian-American Ali Abunimah addressed the issue of American foreign policy in Palestine and whether Obama may or may not bring "change" to the Middle East arena.  Abunimah's speech is provided below.  Americans should take the time to listen to these words in light of the conflict in the Gaza Strip and as we wait for someone to occupy the Oval Office.    

-- Rico Thomas Rico

              

Ali Abunimuh Speaking in Chicago

at the UFPJ General Assembly

13 December 2008

Lansing Peace Community's 2008 Holiday Peace Message

Cold winds and wet snow flakes characterized the Greater Lansing's peace community's weekly peace vigil on Friday. When noontime rolls you take what you get weather-wise and hope that you have dressed appropriately. On cold winter days, you hope the number of people who show up exceeds the temperature on the Boji Tower clock.

Lansing's peace community has now held 380 straight vigils -- more than a year's worth of Fridays supporting our troops and supporting peace. We'll be back next Friday, too, and the Friday after that. We'll be in the front of the Michigan Capitol, if necessary, throughout Barack Obama's term if U.S. troops are still warring in Iraq or Afghanistan. We'll be there rain, sleet, sun or snow.

For any of you readers who live and work in Lansing, especially downtown Lansing, you are welcome to join the peace vigil on Fridays at noon. You can stand with us in support -- or grab one of the signs if you like. Everyone is welcome. If you want to break the ice, just say "Rico Thomas Rico invited me," and get a laugh when they say "Who?".

On the occasion of the 380th vigil, I shot the group's annual holiday peace photo (see above), though turnout was lower than usual because of the day's snow storm. The picture will be sent with a holiday card to U.S. Senators Levin and Stabenow, our House reps, and President-elect Obama. To see all the photos shot at the peace vigil on Friday click here.

This year, I recorded an additional video message from the Greater Lansing peace community. In the video, I asked people what suggestions or resolutions they would have for President-Elect Obama for next year. Watch the video below or click here.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Words of Wisdom for Barack Obama

GYWO: The Obama Bandwagon

Here is this week's Get Your War On episode from David Rees titled, "Obama Bandwagon."

-- RTR

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

Pix of the Week: Change Comes to America

The picture of the week captured the crowd reaction at Gone Wired Cafe when Barack Obama's election victory was announced. A sense of pride and community filled the cafe as people felt they were successful at taking back their country. You can see this sentiment in the faces of people on Tuesday night.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Change Comes to America

Music Video: History is Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Turn your sound up and hit play. This is the music video using the pictures from the Election Night Celebration at Gone Wired Cafe. It's a feel-good week all the way around, let's enjoy it now before we get down to business.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED!

Obamania: Gone Crazy @ Gone Wired Election Night

Here are photos of the crowd reaction at Gone Wired Cafe in Lansing, Michigan on the night of Barack Obama's presidential election win.

The Big Blue - Obamania Rises on Election Night

The evening is electric here at Gone Wired Cafe as the gathering crowd watches the election returns roll in. One by one, Republican Senate seats are falling and Obama is picking up steam as Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and more are going Obama Blue. CNN Live -- the Internet projected on the cafe's big screen (natch) -- is showing scenes from Chicago as our Midwest cousins are gathering by the thousands at the Obama Campaign HQ. But the feeling is coast-to-coast. It's the feeling of optimism and of community.

I walked the streets of south Lansing (Michigan) today, helping the Obama campaign get out the vote. Change was in the air. I was knocking on the door of one likely voter when he pulled into his driveway. He said he waited 90 minutes to vote and wasn't shy saying he cast his ballot in favor of Obama. He added one key observation: Another voter approached the line at the polls inquiring about the wait. Informed that it was 90 minutes, the guy said "It's not worth it" and started to walk. Before he got away, he was asked who he supported and admitted to being a John McCain supporter. "Buh-bye." The McCain guy didn't bother to vote.

I still predict we all will wake up tomorrow to a new challenge and a responsibility to turn this country around. Bring it on.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Si, Se Puede

We all, as a nation, have a date with destiny tomorrow. November 4, 2008. History. Me. You. Together.

It will be the dawn of a new era in the history of our long-suffering democracy in America. Regardless of the outcome, new challenges will greet us all when we awake on Wednesday morning.

A Facebook friend shared the video below with me tonight. Thanks, Patrick!

-- Rico Thomas Rico

For Whom the Bellweather Tolls

I have 'em - you have 'em.

They are "Bellweather" Friends. They are friends who are a fair measure of which way the casual political observer is going to vote this election year. These are the people who are not hardcore politicos who read 5 newspapers a day like some of us. They are the above average undecided voter who generally catch the drift of political messages and images and actually can be swayed by the messages.

I've been avoiding one such friend because of my experience in 2004. During that presidential election -- the Bush vs. John Kerry election -- my friend was clearly sauced on Swift Boat advertising and would say "John Kerry scares me; I don't know why but he just scares me."

I'd respond to my friend by saying "If Kerry scares you, Bush must be a heart attack." Still, in spite of his best interests, my Bellweather Friend voted for Bush.

So this year I didn't know which way my Bellweather Friend was leaning until he sent me the image shown below via email. It told me a lot. Soon after receiving this image, McCain-Palin cut-and-ran out of Michigan. Their polling must have been telling them for whom the bellweather was tolling.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

If the Candidates

Were Phones:

Some Serious Business

Desperation politics. That's what we are seeing now in these last days of our Presidential campaign. McCain-Palin are getting nastier each day as they roll out more nonsensical assertions against Barack Obama. The Republicans lack the issues -- not to mention a strong ticket -- so they sling the crud. That's all they got. In this new political era, this type of ugly politics is starkly distasteful.

Meanwhile, Obama continues to talk issues, ideas, and solutions.

Tonight I had to meet some serious friends to discuss some serious issues, so I missed Obama's 30-minute telecast. The initial responses posted on Facebook are giving it rave reviews. If you missed it too, you can watch it here with me when you get a chance. It is posted below.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Barack Obama's Telecast

Catlike Conventional Wisdom in the Late Election Season

With the election just over a week away, I probably should not have rented the HBO movie, Recount, for my Sunday night viewing. Terri B. recommended it when I bumped into her at the Haslett holiday craft show last weekend. I went ahead with the rental tonight just to remind myself that presidential elections aren't over 'til they're over, especially with Republican dirty election-year tricks always lurking in the shadows. Let's face it, they stole two presidential elections already, manipulating Florida results in 2000 and Ohio results in 2004. With that kind of experience, who says the Rovian tactics won't be tried a third time?

My catlike instincts have been on high alert over the last week. I just don't trust the polling with most of it showing Barack Obama running strong, a few showing McCain gaining back some strength, and some showing a number of swing states as toss-ups. With the economy in a shambles and the popularity of the Republican standard bearer, George W. Bush, at an all time low, the conventional wisdom is that Obama will win.

But have you noticed that we live in a topsy-turvy world? Wall Street bankers are wards of the state. Gas prices are at handsomely low prices again. The Michigan State football team whomped the University of Michigan Wolverines in the "Big House." And, to top it all off, an African-American Democrat is leading the polls for the presidency. Someone please pinch me.

I know this presidential race is not over. Already I am starting to notice the corporate press, in Newsweek as one example, prominently displaying stories about a topsy-turvy scenario in that the Republicans win the White House. And John "I-am-in-Striking-Distance" McCain has been smuggly dismissing polling results -- a la George W. Bush -- as if he has some electoral insider information.

I'm worried about this country. Over the last eight years under George Bush's Republican leadership we have a government that endorses the use of torture and kidnapping, spies on its citizens, illegally invades other countries, lets Wall Street and capitalists ruin our economy...and the litany of transgressions goes on.

So many myths of American exceptionalism have been exposed, died, or been killed under George W. Bush. The last notion of free and fair elections -- having been seriously damaged in 2000 and 2004 -- may not survive one more body blow if the votes are not accurately counted and the people's will honored come November 4th.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Obama Tickets Go Fast at Gone Wired Cafe

I am making this quick post between breaks at the JazzFest, as the Peace Education Center and GLNAWI are sponsoring a peace tent. Word spread quickly last night at the JazzFest about the Obama ticket giveaway at Gone Wired Cafe this morning at 9 a.m. I drove by the cafe last night at about 11:50 p.m. to see if anyone was lining up. The cafe doors were open and I saw a couple sitting in the chairs outside. It turns out, those people were the first in line for tickets.

I got up early this morning and got to the cafe at approximately 7:30 a.m. and already there was a line of people about 5 blocks long winding through the neighborhood behind the cafe. It was quite a scene. I snapped a number of photos and conducted some video interviews. You can see all the photos posted here. I will probably begin posting my video interviews tomorrow morning. So please stop back to check it out.

Ok, I gotta get back to the JazzFest. If you come out to Lansing's Old Town tonight please stop by the peace tent and say "hi"!

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Again the photos can be viewed here:

http://www.flickr.com/gp/9000299@N07/08z87G

Obama Supporters Having Fun Waiting in Line