[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAhb06Z8N1c&hl=en&fs=1]
Okay my German friends – I know you are out there; I have heard from several of you. Jon, Herbert: So what did you think of Obama’s speech in Berlin last night? Were you able to attend the rally? 200,000 people went to see Obama. And on the news you had the repubs bitching that it was not his place to be in Germany representing America. Who said he was representing America? He spoke not as a candidate but as a World Citizen. Furthermore it was stated that he shouldn’t be making speeches overseas; that he is being premature because he isn’t the president ‘yet’…Yeah, but it’s perfectly fine for McCain to make a speech in Canada.
Anyway, I digressed….back to the rally. So…can you believe that the US Embassy instructed State Department employees stationed there to NOT attend the public rally? This is true Berlin’ites. Did you hear about this? The State Department said that they always maintain that no US Government Foreign Service person overseas should be seen supporting one side or the other. Don’t they realize that preventing is advocating one side or the other? I guess they don’t want to. And furthermore, they just had to add this to CTA (cover their ass), “It has nothing to do with ‘who’ the candidate is.”
Hmm…funny. Of course, you know this would not have happened if McCain was rallying in Berlin. Patrick Kennedy who works for the State Department said,“I don’t believe we’ve ever had to interpret this before. None of us thinking about this could come up with a precedent”. Gee, and they say it has nothing to do with ‘who’ the candidate is. Yeah right.
The Manual states: ‘A U.S. citizen employee, spouse, or family member shall not engage in partisan political activities abroad”. However, the American Foreign Service Association complained calling the ruling an, ‘unnecessarily narrow interpretation’ of the Foreign Affairs Manual. ‘The fact that you are working for the U.S. government overseas should not preclude political activity that you could engage in in the United States,’ one retired senior Foreign Service officer said. Hmm..sounds fair to me. Unfortunately the complaint didn’t get very far. But c’mon, what could they have done in such a short period of time? They were only notified 18 hours before the speech.
We can’t ride the State department too hard…they did make one adjustment: Even though the manual includes spouses and family members, the State Department decided to let that part slide, making the ruling ONLY for the service officials. Now, wasn’t that nice of them.
So what’s the big beef? …like it’s not going to be shown on TV or discussed amongst everyone…especially now since the spouses and family members were allowed to attend. If anything, it is going to bring about even more discussions and more focus on the event because of this ridiculous ruling. Why not just let them hang with their families and friends at the rally. Why not? Because Kennedy says he wants to ensure that foreign service officials will remain untainted by a “partisan political act.” Hmm…Do you think the State Department would opine similar thoughts if it was McCain making an appearance?
I’ll tell you what the big beef is. The big beef is that I think the administration is afraid that the people stationed there are going to be exposed to the truth: The truth being that the Germans ‘worship’ Obama and ‘loathe’ Bush and god forbid if they express negative sentiments about McCain too. This ain’t new news folks, and stopping State Department employees from attending an Obama rally isn’t going to make them jump on the McCain train.
So do you think that with this low blow act the Bushmin are getting a tad bit worried that their man McCain isn’t gonna make it into the White House?
Readers: What do you think?
What about you Peeps from Germany: Tell us your thoughts. Blog me.
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Wow…when I leave you peeps alone to ‘finish it’, you’re all over it.
Hi Terri: Thanks for reading every day. Oh…some people have such little faith in women. Happy to hear that you are not one of them, but it does not surprise me. Why do you think that with women holding the majority of the vote, some women still won’t vote a woman into office? Like…Hillary could do any worse than what is going on right now…the bar is already set way low and wouldn’t take much to surpass. Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge Obama fan….it’s just that people would vote in a person such as a Bush or McCain before they would consider to vote in a woman. I’ve said my two on this way too many times. Moved forward…
Dark Hispanic man: I know you are so right on. A white man has nothing to bitch about. Did you watch the CNN special last night ‘Black in America’? Last night particularly held my interest. The struggles and challenges that I am aware of are so much more magnified than I could ever imagine. I felt so infuriated as I watched and listened to statistic after devastating statistic. A white man has absolutely no idea what it is like for a black man; for OTW”s. In case any of you missed it, it will be aired again this Saturday night.
Hi Anon: I remember that comment that Racime made. Not that Tal needs to be defended ’cause I’m not defending him. Racime was just the messenger. I just wanted to say that I am sorry for your loss too.
Hi John: Welcome and thanks to your friend for leading you to me. Thanks for your offer too. Reaching more people would be great, but even better if I could take on some advertising and have it not be too ‘in your face’. If I could make a good living writing my blog that would be simply divine. I put hours into research and writing. At some point I may need to get a job if something does not pan out for me here.
So that being said, I would love to talk to you. However, you are just like the majority of people who comment: with no contact email address. I’ve stated before that not only am I powerless to the block that is put on my blog, I am also powerless to the block that is on my email address connected to my blog. Basically I am telling you, if you really want to talk to me, YOU have to attach an email address to your comment. :) Lastly, as one of the ‘blog rules’, you can be rest assured your email address is safe with me. I hope to hear from you!
Hi Trudy: Happy that you made it in. Gosh, I feel like it is a contest of just who and how many can ‘slip in’ on a daily basis! Really, I am not sure what I could have said to help you or give you courage, but I am happy that something inspired you to leave a marriage that it seems you were not happy in. I wish you the best. :)
Hi ‘proud republican’ John: Look…I know you’re not talking to me but to another ‘white man’. I just wanted to set the record straight AGAIN….I do not sensor the comments. Never have and never will unless a spammer gets through. Then you may see a comment and then see it disappear. AND…once again, if you do not like what you read, don’t read. Real simple.
Hi ZL: I think they guy was definitely trying to impress you, but what do I know – Maybe he is correct or maaybee…he wants you to be a slave to ‘love’…now that I can relate to…uh huh! :)
Hello Navajo: Not sure if you are a woman but my gut tells me yes. I have been told many stories of the native American Indian; stories not unlike the ones you have shared. I do not know how many people actually know the truths or just believe what they have read in the history books or have seen in the movies. But I agree with you, it should make people uncomfortable. It certainly makes me. It is a part of life and hiding ones head in the sand or turning a blind eye is not a solution.
Okay, that is it for today – Go out and be kind. Sending love right back at ya…smack!
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle ?
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