TURNING "BIRTHERS" INTO "TRUTHERS"

When I went to London back in 2004, I needed my birth certificate in order to get a passport. Apparently, as I embarrassingly discovered, the cute little diploma looking one issued by the hospital that had real info on it doesn't qualify as an official document. But the process was pretty simple. I went to the local library, paid a fee and had the county issue me a copy of my actual birth certificate. Soon after, passport acquired.

So what I'm wondering is why is it so damn difficult for the President of the United States of America to provide a copy of his birth certificate? I'm no "birther" by any stretch, but what just kills me is why the guy just can't say look, here it is, now shut the hell up. Even though this is one controversy that I'm sick of hearing about, could you imagine the implications if it turned out he wasn't born in Hawaii? There are a lot of people out there, the so-called "birthers" who whole-heartedly believe that President Obama was born in Kenya. There are many websites dedicated to these beliefs. Check out these freaks:

 http://obamacrimes.com/?page_id=7

Now on the other hand you've got the freaks on the left, who call these so-called "birhters" nutjobs, wingnuts and so on, yet aside from name calling, can offer up no proof that he actually is an American citizen. They feel that this is just partisan politics trying anything they can do to undermine a black president etc etc...

http://mediamatters.org/blog/200907240043

So is it just a game? One side says "prove you were born here!" and the other side says "we don't have to, so deal with it, racists!" That's fine and all, but wouldn't it just be so much simpler to produce the document? If there's no question that he's a citizen, then just show the document so we can begin enduring six months' worth of nose rubbing by the media. 

The issue has come front and center, again... thanks to Hawaii governor Neil Abercrombie and his short lived pledge to produce the document once and for all. First he said he had it...

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_618560.html

...then allegedly told a reporter friend of his that he had no proof...

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=255769

...then retracted the whole thing!

http://www.mediaite.com/online/mike-evans-says-that-oops-he-never-actually-spoke-to-hawaiis-governor-about-barack-obamas-birth-certificate/

And now the State of Hawaii is actually looking to pass legislation that would allow them to profit from the controversy!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110127/ap_on_re_us/us_obama_birth_certificate_1

Nobody seems to be making this connection, but there is a relation to the drama involving the Chicago mayoral race. The subject of this drama is the question if former Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanual is legally allowed to run for mayor of Chicago. The issue is his residency. Since he was in Washington, D.C. working for the administration since January 2009, he was not technically a resident of Chicago for the past 12 months, which is a requirement to run for mayor.

(UPDATE: after a ruling that his name was to be taken off the ballot, the Illinois Supreme Court ordered his name be reinstated)

But if someone who wants to be mayor of Chicago has to prove that he has been a legal resident of the city for a year, why is it a stretch that someone who wants to be President of the United States - we're talking leader of the free world - should have to prove that he is in fact a natural born citizen as required by the Constitution?

Arizona is actually proposing a law that would require Presidential candidates to do exactly that:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01/26/arizona-lawmaker-revives-requiring-presidential-candidates-birth-certificate/

Allegedly several other states are doing the same, including Montana, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Texas.

Then again, there is this...

But some say this is a forgery:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertificate.asp

Despite those little nagging bouts of curious uncertainty, I honestly think he really is a citizen. But would it hurt to prove it once and for all? One, to shut up the so-called birthers and two, to shut up the so-called journalists who love to taunt the birthers. Ah... sweet civility.

Now, about those so-called "truthers"... 

COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION

First of all, I concede that beginning this blog in early December was a bad idea considering that I manage a high volume retail store. I had so much going on, and although I had many templates in my mind for postings, when I got home I had very little energy (neither physical or mental) to dedicate myself to completing anything.

I did begin and abort several postings:

One on the Bush Tax Cut Extensions, the art of the political compromise and how we've seen this movie before. Just look back at the demise of Bush 41. Three words: Read my lips. Though I doubt the media would turn on a fellow liberal as they did on George H.W. Bush, it's an interesting comparison.

One on the Tucson shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the disgusting politicizing of it. When I first heard about this shooting I immediately predicted that by the end of the day Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck would be blamed. It is absolutely disheartening how right I was. Using this shooting for political gain is one of the most reprehensible things I've ever seen in my life.

One on the unceremonious departure of Keith Olbermann. So many thoughts I have about this, I may still have a comment or two to make regarding that one.

So I'm going to be updating within the next 24 hours. I have so much on my mind, but my typing fingers just can't keep up. Maybe I need to invest in one of those voice recognition things...

Also, if anyone reads this, feel free to request an elaboration on one of these topics.

I'm also going to start working on my next edition in my "Upon Further Review" series. It's going to be a good one. Man I love music. Until next time...

And don't bother to point out that there was no "second of all." Does anyone really use a second of all?