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Dear Senator Clinton

Posted by spblat on July 26, 2005 05:44 PM

Heather Tahne Brown Irace
[address etc]
Moreno Valley, CA 92555

The Honorable Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
Via FAX: (202) 228-0282

July 27, 2005

Re: 2005 Critical National Issues Survey

Dear Senator Clinton,

I am pleased that you are asking democrats directly about their concerns, and I hope it is an indication that you are considering a run for President in 2008. I feel, however, that you overlooked an essential point. I am sure you already know that we need a candidate who will inspire the country to do great things like exploring space, ending disease and poverty, defending our constitutional rights, developing alternative energy technologies and taking bold strides into the future.

But what I am most concerned about is that our nation is so focused on protecting our corporations (and even the labor movement) that it will be left foundering as countries like China and India become more innovative and efficient. I worry that my children will need to compete for their survival with the brightest children of Bangalore, instead of being optimistic that they will have the opportunity to collaborate and innovate alongside them.

I believe that you have the charisma, ambition and intellect that could make you the first woman to be elected President of the United States, and I sincerely hope that happens. I hope that your ambition leads you to show the people of America how great we truly are and what great things we can accomplish if we only have the courage to rise to the occasion and meet the challenges the world is presenting head-on instead of hiding behind ever more strict laws, continuing erosions to our rights and ever more fearful rhetorical nonsense from our leaders.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that you will continue to have the courage to fight back against your political enemies rather than letting them shut you down, as so many in even your own party have done.

Most sincerely yours,

Heather Irace

(1 comments) | Category: Rants

Weather Considerations

Posted by spblat on July 25, 2005 07:18 PM

Obviously we have to move to Portland. It's too cloudy and rainy here in Moreno Valley.

Not to mention humid.

(0 comments) | Category: Family

Enzo's 7th

Posted by spblat on July 24, 2005 04:02 PM

Enzo's 7th birthday party turned into a fabulous bash. Click the pile for photos.

(0 comments) | Category: Family

A few current events

Posted by spblat on July 20, 2005 03:34 PM

A few news-related things I wanted to put together:

1. "The National Guard has been expended."

   —General Barry McCaffrey (U.S. Army-Ret.), infantry division commander in the first Gulf War, and currently adjunct professor at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, speaking on NPR, 7/19/05

2. An informal study (it's informal because, according to Gen. Tommy Franks, "we don't do body counts") places the number of civilians dead as a consequence of our Iraq invasion at around 25,000. This is of course distinct from the huge numbers of military personnel killed on both sides. Is this how we honor those killed on 9/11?
3. Finally, a related observation from Noam Chomsky:

   "What constitutes terrorism? How does it differ from aggression or resistance? The operative answers are revealing, but the questions never entered the arena of public discussion. A convenient definition was adopted: terrorism is what our leaders declare it to be. Period."

   —Noam Chomsky, Hegemony or Survival : America's Quest for Global Dominance, pp. 109-110

(0 comments) | Category: Rants

Bank of America STILL Sucks

Posted by spblat on July 17, 2005 07:48 PM

There's more to this post - click here!

I've blogged about this before, but I gotta get this off my chest.

I must admit up front: I am one of the least financially responsible people I know. This makes me an ideal Bank of America customer.

The latest pain: depositing Heather’s student loan check into a B of A ATM and expecting the money to be available to me in--I don't know--less than two weeks.

There's more to this post - click here! (5 comments) | Category: Rants

Karl Rove Must Go

Posted by spblat on July 14, 2005 02:16 PM

There's more to this post - click here!

KARL

ROVE

M U S T !

GO

Lots of links above. Click on for one of the good parts.

There's more to this post - click here! (1 comments) | Category: Rants

Photo Overload

Posted by spblat on July 5, 2005 09:18 PM

Here are 44 photos from the last few months. There's Heather and will's weekend trip to Portland, Morro Bay with Gaga, Greg and Nicole, and the San Diego Zoo with Tom and Virginia. (Click the pile for more.)

(0 comments) | Category: Family

Happy 4th of July

Posted by spblat on July 4, 2005 10:31 PM

These great shots were taken by Grandpa Tom from our front and back yard in Moreno Valley. Explosions everywhere! (Click the pile for more.)

(0 comments) | Category: Family