"The Moment"

The 2008 Democratic convention has been an amazing display of so-called party unity. This past week of speeches, parties and receptions will only prove to be worth it if the party actually comes together to defeat Senator McCain in November. This so-called unity is critical, especially now that John McCain has announced his VP candidate.   This news may marginalize the proverbial bounce that usually comes after a party's convention.

The Democrats spent this week stressing the major similarities between John McCain and George Bush; whether America buys it is yet to be determined. This was expected, it is also expected that the Republicans will attempt to paint Senator Barack Obama as a lopsided liberal that will take away your guns and raise your taxes next week in Minneapolis. I personally hope the American people don't fall for the staged tricks, antics, and coordination of either party's conventions.

I hope they look at these two political parties and call them out for their vast waste of money (at the conventions and in government) and their attempts to dilute the real issues down to sound bites and rhetoric.

Don't get me wrong conventions are fun, exciting, and a great display of the party's strength and continuity, however they could stand to be a bit more substantive and less show.

All that being said there was a moment that really touched me. When the tribute to Martin Luther King's march on Washington and his historic "I have a Dream" speech began playing on the jumbo-tron of Mile High stadium (INVESCO Field) I felt the moment building. While watching the piece I began to think what God must be saying and thinking at this very moment. Is he disappointed at our inability to come together and compromise on the ways we can create better lives for his children or is he commanding his angels on high to summoned Martin Luther King to his side. Is God inviting Martin to sit and watch the fruits of his service and labor?  Maybe God is eager to use us to express the level of sacrifice it will take to move the mountains the plague our country and world.

When Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination, history was made and there was a moment. Just like there was a moment when John F. Kennedy gave his inaugural speech and when Ronald Reagan spoke to the Soviet Union in Germany. I know they were Presidents and Barack Obama isn't, but that does not minimize the magnitude of his moment.

I'm thankful I could share it with him, America, and the rest of the world. But when it was all over.......all I could say was....WOW!

Penny politics signing off from the Mile High state, on to the Twin Cities!

"Everybody has a penny, imagine if everybody gave a penny"
 

Penny Politics Back on BET

The historic Democratic Convention is finally upon us and Penny Politics is front and center to provide an unfiltered perspective.

On Wednesday, August 27th Brian E. Taylor, founder and CEO of The Penny Institute and PennyPAC will be featured on BET at 9:00 pm, EST. The show's titled "Obama's journey to the White House", which will count down the top ten moments in Obama's historic run to become our country's 44th President.

Please fill free to forward to others and visit the site to view previous postings.

"Enough pennies can change the world"

More Penny Politics coming soon!!

Patriotism

We live in a country with 300 million Americans and the majority of them are hard working honest people who love this country. The rest of them are criminals, cons, and home grown terrorists. Did I leave anybody out? Yes I did.  I left out the partisan political pundits (who are more concerned with the promotion of their next book than speaking the truth to the American people), partisan politicians, partisan bloggers, partisan columnists, and the pure capitalists that live and thrive among us and masquerade themselves as patriots.

But first, when did Republicans get a monopoly on patriotism? When networks hire these "so-called" experts and commentators to discuss important issues that affect so many lives you would think the "experts" would put the country first - not their partisan views that only represent half the country at best.

When are we going to wake up and demand that our leaders sit down and compromise on these issues? When are we going to look in the mirror and realize that our way isn't the only way? When are we going to understand that what is best for America is to put American interests first. Now that might mean we have to work a little harder or be inconvenienced a bit or that corporations will make 7 billion a quarter instead of 10 billion.
 
It will also mean Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, and Keith Olbermann would all be out of a job. Which may be good for America, because all of them spew half truths and incomplete facts about the other side to push their agenda.

Look at it like this, if we were overseas in a jam in a foreign country, I would be your best friend. Not because we look the same or have the same political ideology or not even because you like me, but because I am an American.

We are Americans! And until we understand that fact and stop putting money, power, and closed-minded principles ahead of that fact we will continue to wonder why we can't solve our problems. If Brazil can solve their energy crisis why the hell can't America.

A politician that can evolve on an issue after obtaining more facts or recognizing a shift in the urgency is not a flip flopper he\she is putting America first.

Feel free to forward and visit the site to post your comments.

A penny for your thoughts, a nickel for a kiss, and a dime if someone can bring back liberty.