Senator Obama’s Muslim outreach adviser resigned from the campaign after less than a week on the job. Mazen Asbahi “stepped down” from the campaign on Monday because he briefly served on the board of Allied Assets Advisors Fund alongside Jamal Said, an imam of a fundamentalist mosque with ties to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. Said was also labeled an “unindicted co-conspirator” by the Justice Department in the racketeering trial of suspected Hamas fundraisers.

I am not surprised after this news was announced ignorant American people and Obama bashers began to line up so they could get in their two cents of uneducated opinion. If I hear one more citizen announce in an authoritative, all knowing tone that Barack Obama is, or was, a Muslim I will scream! He’s not Muslim! Read a fucking book for Christ’s sake! If you’re going to give your opinion about something or someone, at least take the time to educate yourself on the subject instead of spewing out facts that make you seem not only unintelligent but also racist and biased towards the Muslim religion.

The 2008 presidential election is turning into a circus.  You’d think it was a movie premiere- Sorry McCain, no celebrities here!

It’s that time again!  Dirty attacks on an individual’s integrity, masses of people divided over two individuals- attacking one while vehemently defending the other- No, it’s not the latest sex scandal, it’s the 2008 presidential election.

As we find ourselves in the midst of the 2008 presidential election, there is one issue that is brought up time and time again.  It could, and most likely will, be the deciding factor for many American citizens’ vote come November 4^th- Iraq.  Should we be there?  Should we not?  When should we withdrawal?  These questions have divided our nation and our presidential candidates as everyone seems to take a different, but passionate stance.

Like Senator Obama, I opposed the war from the very beginning.  Many individuals believe we should leave Iraq as soon as possible, and I agree.  Unfortunately we can not successfully withdrawal all troops immediately.  It would be hazardous as Iraq is still an unstable nation.  Senator Obama proposes a phased withdrawal- removing 1 to 2 brigades a month that will remove our troops in 16 months.  Senator McCain is not in favor of withdrawing our troops although he has stated he would have most of our troops home by 2013.  I completely support Senator Obama’s phased withdrawal, as long as it transpires.   

While the topic of Iraq and troop withdrawal is a major issue for me when deciding on whom I should vote for it is not the only issue I care about passionately.  Other issues that I rank of highest importance to me are energy, health care and immigration.  Today Senator Obama delivered a speech on energy, unveiling an energy plan.  The three step process (build fuel-efficient cars and have one million on the road within 6 years, require 10% of our country’s energy to come from renewable sources and involve the American people to meet the goal of reducing the demand for electricity by 15% by 2020) sounds amazing- but is it too ambitious?  Having readily available fuel efficient cars seems great in theory but in reality how does Senator Obama propose American citizens to obtain these cars?  Struggling middle and working class families can barely provide for themselves and their children on a daily basis- how are they expected to purchase a brand new hybrid vehicle?  I sincerely hope that we can reduce electricity usage by 15% by 2020- hell, I hope we can reduce it that much within the next few years, but is it likely?  For years Americans have known their energy usage has been irreparably damaging our environment.  It seems that only a small handful has taken it upon themselves to make a difference.  I too am guilty of this.  While I always turn off lights when I exit a room I often leave my AC on all day long- even when I am not at home.  I’m usually very conscious of my energy using habits but I’m not sure it’s a priority for everyone in our country.  Good luck getting people on the bandwagon, Senator Obama.  If anyone can motivate a group of people to change their actions for the hope of a better life, you can.

1968 was a year of turmoil.  Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in April and then Robert F. Kennedy, a U.S. senator from New York who was campaigning for the Democratic nomination was assassinated in June after winning the California primary.  This all occurred after President Lyndon B. Johnson announced on March 31, 1968 that he would not seek re-election.  The Democratic Party was split over these assassinations and the Vietnam War. 

When Democrats lobbied for the convention to be moved to Miami because they felt unruly protests would occur in Chicago, Mayor Richard J. Daley threatened to withdraw support for Humphrey.  When the convention finally began Chicago had over 10,000 police, Army troops, National Guardsmen, and Secret Service agents crammed into the city with the protestors. 

Violence broke out during the week as police forced protestors out of places they did not have permits to be at and as protesters clashed with police at they tried to march to the convention site.  The Wednesday of the convention is said to b the worst day of protesting and is referred to as the “Battle of Michigan Avenue”.  The police stopped protestors and violence ensued as innocent bystanders, reporters, and doctors offering help were severely beaten by police officers. 

The 2008 Democratic National Convention is almost upon us and I cannot help thinking back to the 1968 riots.  And I have to ask myself, will 2008 become a replica of the 1968 events that shook our nation?  Once again our country is torn over a war that many believe should have never begun.  The Democratic Party itself is split over Senator Obama and Senator Clinton.  Protest groups began to get permits for the convention as early as one year ago.  Many anti-war protestors plan to be in attendance and some groups that are considered radical have already devised plans for setting up barricades to the convention itself.  This, on top of Denver securing $50 million in federal funds for security.