“The Constitution clearly states that a federal law trumps a state law when they come into direct conflict,” said Richard Reuben, a professor at the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia. “The core of Proposition C, which is the opt-out provision, appears to be in direct conflict with the new federal statute.” Source

I seem to remember America fighting some kind of big war about federal laws and state laws and some rednecks got their panties in a bunch and decided they wanted to keep their free labor or something…

In other news, Cynthia “Let them eat McDonalds” Davis lost her primary. The O’Fallon nutjob was up against incumbent Scott Rupp. In case you don’t remember who Davis is, she’s the worst person in the world, twice, and the genius who said that the free lunch program should be abolished and if kids are hungry they should get a job at McDonalds because, you know, they let you eat for free on your break. I guess she couldn’t wrangle all that publicity in for a win.

All in all, it was an election where everything pretty much turned out exactly as people thought it would. I can’t wait to see Prop C struck down.

You lost, get over it. Move on. If you don’t like the policies, draft new ones instead of just saying them bad, us good. They want to kill old people and he was born in Kenya and Heil Hitler. The new motto of the Republican Party should be, “If at first you don’t succeed, lie, lie again.”

A note to Democrats, take note of Barney Frank. This is how you should respond to these loonies.

Who’s buying dinner? Who is getting paid to serve the meal? Churches and other non-profits can do this at no cost to the taxpayer if it is warranted. [...] Bigger governmental programs take away our connectedness to the human family, our brotherhood and our need for one another. [...] Anyone under 18 can be eligible? Can’t they get a job during the summer by the time they are 16? Hunger can be a positive motivator. What is wrong with the idea of getting a job so you can get better meals? Tip: If you work for McDonald’s, they will feed you for free during your break. [...] It really is all about increasing government spending, which means an increase in taxes for us to buy more free lunches and breakfasts.

A report by Feeding America found that one in five Missouri children currently lives with hunger. Taking apart Davis’ other arguments, a St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial noted that most of the summer feeding program sites are actually hosted by churches and that the program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, fed 3.7 million meals at a total cost of less than $9.5 million last summer — “a pretty good use of federal money.”

Because of this, Keith Olbermann has named her the Worst Person in the World twice this week. Once for her asinine statement, then again for her clarifications, which proves even further that she is out of touch with reality. Watch below:

Republicans
Republicans need to grow up. I’m so sick of them publicly announcing that they want President Obama to fail. Seriously. How patriotic is that? That is disgusting. You may not agree with the guy’s policies, but he’s doing what he thinks is best for America and by wishing he fails you are wishing that America fails. Rush Limbaugh needs to shut the hell up (so does Ann Coulter) and the Republicans actually need to reach out to the other side. The Dems and Obama have reached out numerous times (even when I wish they hadn’t) but each and every time the hand comes across the aisle the Republicans slap it. It’s no wonder that the polls are showing that people have a more favorable opinion of the Dems than the Republicans.

Democrats
Grow up. You are also having problems. Pay your taxes. Don’t show up to the big dance with the hot date and then brag the entire time. Yeah, you have reached across the aisle, but you have done it with a bit of smugness that you don’t really need. I know, I know, the Republicans were like that when they were in power. But they aren’t anymore. There’s a reason for that. Don’t get to cocky.

President Obama
Mr. President, you’re making some great speeches and getting some things done, but I do have some issues with you. Stop being so eager to get support from Republicans. They are just going to burn you. You’ve gotten a little better lately with not caring what the Republicans think. You even reversed Bush’s policy on funding for stem cell research, which is a definite “F You” to most Republicans, and that’s good. Play hardball with them, especially when they aren’t doing anything to give you support and are publicly bashing everything you (and your wife) does. They aren’t the only ones you need to play hardball with though. Start playing hardball with Wall Street. It is time to say no more. Giving them more and more money isn’t going to help. They will keep asking for more and more. Instead, stop giving to Wall Street and give to the people. How about a stimulus check please? Hell, you give me $600-$800, I know I’m going to spend that a lot more wisely than Wall Street bankers. I’ll do something to stimulate the economy of real people. Not the economy of corporate jets and retirement packages.

That’s all I got. It’s a scary time right now and I’m sick of all the right-wing rhetoric being blasted my Limbaugh, Coulter, CNBC, and anyone else who wants to see the President fail. At least when Bush was in office we didn’t want to see him fail (we knew in the back of our minds that his policies would anyway).

Barack Obama taking the Oath of Office

I guess I should say something about the inauguration. The thing is, I do not have much to say on the topic. I’m speechless. It’s almost like a dream. Whether or not you voted for him or agree with his policies, it was a momentous occasion. The country is forever changed, for the better, from this day forward. I will never forget this election. I will never forget this day. I wish I could have been there. Heck, I wish I could have watched it live on TV instead of listening to it on NPR. At least I experienced it. His speech I think was perfect for the occasion and I think he handled expectations well. He warned America that the road to prosperity will be a difficult one but if we take responsibility for ourselves and work hard, we will get there. The whole day was just amazing. Again, it’s almost like a dream.

I have a confession to make.

I did not vote for Barack Obama today.

I’ve openly supported Obama since March.  But I didn’t vote for him today.

I wanted to vote for Ronald Woods. He was my algebra teacher at Clark Junior High in East St. Louis, IL.  He died 15 years ago when his truck skidded head-first into a utility pole.  He spent many a day teaching us many things besides the Pythagorean Theorem.  He taught us about Medgar Evers, Ralph Abernathy, John Lewis and many other civil rights figures who get lost in the shadow cast by Martin Luther King, Jr.

But I didn’t vote for Mr. Woods.

I wanted to vote for Willie Mae Cross. She owned and operated Crossroads Preparatory Academy for almost 30 years, educating and empowering thousands of kids before her death in 2003.  I was her first student.  She gave me my first job, teaching chess and math concepts to kids in grades K-4 in her summer program.  She was always there for advice, cheer and consolation.  Ms. Cross, in her own way, taught me more about walking in faith than anyone else I ever knew.

But I didn’t vote for Ms. Cross.

I wanted to vote for Arthur Mells Jackson, Sr. and Jr. Jackson Senior was a Latin professor.  He has a gifted school named for him in my hometown.  Jackson Junior was the pre-eminent physician in my hometown for over 30 years.  He has a heliport named for him at a hospital in my hometown.  They were my great-grandfather and great-uncle, respectively.

But I didn’t vote for Prof. Jackson or Dr. Jackson.

I wanted to vote for A.B. Palmer. She was a leading civil rights figure in Shreveport, Louisiana, where my mother grew up and where I still have dozens of family members.  She was a strong-willed woman who earned the grudging respect of the town’s leaders because she never, ever backed down from anyone and always gave better than she got.  She lived to the ripe old age of 99, and has a community center named for her in Shreveport.

But I didn’t vote for Mrs. Palmer.

I wanted to vote for these people, who did not live to see a day where a Black man would appear on their ballots on a crisp November morning.

In the end, though, I realized that I could not vote for them any more than I could vote for Obama himself.

So who did I vote for?

No one.

I didn’t vote.  Not for President, anyway.

Oh, I went to the voting booth.  I signed, was given my stub, and was walked over to a voting machine.  I cast votes for statewide races and a state referendum on water and sewer improvements.

I stood there, and I thought about all of these people, who influenced my life so greatly.  But I didn’t vote for who would be the 44th President of the United States.

When my ballot was complete, except for the top line, I finally decided who I was going to vote for – and then decided to let him vote for me.  I reached down, picked him up, and told him to find Obama’s name on the screen and touch it.

And so it came to pass that Alexander Reed, age 5, read the voting screen, found the right candidate, touched his name, and actually cast a vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Oh, the vote will be recorded as mine.  But I didn’t cast it.

Then again, the person who actually pressed the Obama box and the red “vote” button was the person I was really voting for all along.

It made the months of donating, phonebanking, canvassing, door hanger distributing, sign posting, blogging, arguing and persuading so much sweeter.

So, no, I didn’t vote for Barack Obama.  I voted for a boy who now has every reason to believe he, too, can grow up to be anything he wants…even President.

“History shows us where unlimited amounts of money are in political campaigns, it leads to scandal.”

And that, Senator Disgrace McCain, is why I just donated another $50 to the Obama Campaign. I’m sure he thanks you. Please, if you can, donate now.

When looking at the above image there are many things that awe me. The size of the crowd is the most obvious. I’ve never seen that many people gather in St. Louis. The thing that awes me the most, that I feel a deep down sense of pride and amazement, is the building in the background. That white building with the greenish dome is The Old Court House. It was in that building that over 150 years ago a black man named Dred Scott fought for his right to be a free man. He won his initial freedom, but that was later overturned. Now, 150 years later, the U.S. is seeing its first African-American major party candidate for president. Hopefully this is just the beginning and we will see President Barack Obama. Today was truly a historic day.

It’s amazing how much blatant racism the Republicans can get away with. I’m not talking about McCain calling Obama “that one.” I honestly don’t think McCain is dumb enough to make a racist remark like that on a live debate (though I do think John McCain is a racist). A group of Republicans in California have made their racism blatant.

The latest newsletter by an Inland Republican women’s group depicts Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama surrounded by a watermelon, ribs and a bucket of fried chicken, prompting outrage in political circles.

The October newsletter by the Chaffey Community Republican Women, Federated says if Obama is elected his image will appear on food stamps — instead of dollar bills like other presidents. The statement is followed by an illustration of “Obama Bucks” — a phony $10 bill featuring Obama’s face on a donkey’s body, labeled “United States Food Stamps.”

The GOP newsletter, which was sent to about 200 members and associates of the group by e-mail and regular mail last week, is drawing harsh criticism from members of the political group, elected leaders, party officials and others as racist. Continue reading.

Here is the image:

I would also like to ask you all to donate to the Obama campaign. If you really want real change, you need to fight back against the smears and lies put out by the campaign. Unfortunately, the most successful way to do this is via TV ads, which costs a lot of money. So, whatever you can give to the campaign, $5, $10, $100, whatever you can, please donate. Be a part of history.

Would you vote for John McCain?
On a boat or in a plane?

I would not, could not, vote McCain.
Not in a boat. Not on a plane.

Could you vote if he were blue?
Could he get your dog’s vote too?

My dog would not vote for him,
nor would my cat.
I would not vote for John McCain.
I would not do it and that is that.

How about in the pouring rain,
under an umbrella held by John McCain?

I would not vote for John McCain.
I would not do it in the rain.

Would you, could you, in Outer Space?
If he beat Ms. Rodham in the ‘08 race?

I would not in a boat or plane
Under an umbrella, out in the rain.
Not with my dog and not with my cat.
I would not vote for John McCain,
I would not do it and that is that!

How about with green eggs and ham?
Liberally smeared with socialist jam?

Not in a boat, not in a plane,
Not in space and not in the rain.
Not with my dog and not with my cat
with eggs or ham or tit for tat.
I will not vote for John McCain.
I just won’t do it and that is that!

How about for a pat on the back?
How about if he promised you that?

Not in a boat and not in a plane,
nor outer space nor under the rain.
Not with my dog and not with my cat,
not even for promises of a pat on the back.
I will not vote for John McCain.
I will not vote for what’s-his-name!

And if he waterboards bad guys?
Will that change – maybe – the way he looks in your eyes?

It will not change however he looks,
he’s just another of the beltway crooks.
Not in a boat or plane
or dog or cat or in the rain.
not in space and not with jam,
that’s just not the kind of guy that I am.
I will not vote for John McCain.
I said it once and I’ll say it again!

Won’t you just listen
and give him a try?
He’s not as bad
as the other bad guys.

*Sigh* I will listen.
I’ll give you that much.
I’ll sit down and listen
to that old such and such.

Did you? Have you? Listened to John?
Did you hear the kind of a roll that he’s on?

I did listen! I did!
And he told me his plans.
How he’ll fix the broke berkas with his very own hands.
He spoke of tax-turbos and great medicare.
He told me to listen if only I’d dare!
He whirled his woo-wonka
and blew his own horn.
He fought against torture and terror and scorn!~
He promised to mend all the broken doo-dundants, the winky wank toogas and pundy pun-pundits.
He’d tell all those know-it-alls we’ll have no bad feelings,
or waterboard action or pincushion needlings.
We’d show the whole world that he really does care,
from his two swollen arches to his Santa-Claus hair.
He’ll reach across aisles and glad shake glad hands
and fix all our troubles with big rubber bands
and stern anxious warnings and strong finger wagging
and tough talk and pleading and sometimes just nagging.
He’d talk about torture while wearing a berka
and get Ted to wear one and maybe John Murtha
(though he doesn’t do much, ol’ Murtha these days, Nancy and Harry have adopted his ways!)
And when he was done I sat down for awhile
and thunkity-thunk till my think-thunker stunk.
then I realized a decision had come
with a klunk.

You decided? You decided?
And what you think?

I made up my mind.
THAT DUMB OLD GUY STINKS!
NOT IN A BOAT! NOT IN A PLANE!
NOT WITH CATS AND JAM AND DOGS IN THE RAIN!
NOT IN SPACE FOR THE PRESIDENT’S RACE!
I WILL NOT VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN!
NO IS NO AND DON’T ASK ME AGAIN!

I’ve also been posting a lot to Political Jackass this weekend, so if you’re interested in politics, hop on over. I’m trying to update several times a day. There is even a twitter account setup, you can follow Political Jackass at twitter.com/polijackass and read the political shorts at shorts.politicaljackass.com.