John McCain vs. Barack Obama

Once again, The United States, in the spirit of democracy, presents us with 1 more choice for leader than the constituents in China, North Korea or Cuba have to choose from.

The 2008 general elections will be reminiscent of past elections. We are faced with an important choice:

Let’s weigh it out

Barack Obama (D): Pretty good choice for democrats. In the spirit of socialism and wealth distribution he brings to the table single payer health care, mortgage bail outs and tax increases.
Special interest love: Lawyers/Law firms have donated $17 million to Obama, the largest special interest total of any candidate. He also leads in donations from Big Pharma with $700,000 and insurance companies $940,000.
Special interests seem to be fond of Barack Obama.
Easiest way to piss off supporters: Use his full name, Barack Hussein Obama
What turns people off: His pastor.
Buzzwords: "Change" "Hope"

John McCain (R): One of the most liberal republicans in the Senate he brings us gun control, amnesty bill and a strong conviction to rid the country of pork barrel spending.
Special interest love: Oil and gas $723,000 Lobbyist 655,000
Surprisingly John McCain has little support from special interest compared to Barack Obama.
Easiest way to piss off supporters: Mention 100 years in Iraq.
What turns people off: Fear of perpetual war, Bush's third term and the R besides his name.
Buzzwords: "the surge is working" "my friends"

Lets us not forget it will be a prime year for:
3^rd party candidates: Bob Barr, Cynthia McKinney, Chuck Baldwin, Ralph Nader ect... will have their own article coming soon but feel free to comment on them also and inform me of any candidates I may have missed.

Sources: opensecrets.org

The Free Thinker blog aims to bring fair coverage of all candidates running for president. This bog is also a realist and knows that the majority of United States citizens will not vote for anyone unless they have a D or R besides their name.

I am encouraging everyone to comment on this blog below. Please tell me why you support your respected candidates. I don't want to hear why you don't like the other guy; I want to hear what's so great about your guy.

Habeas corpus = Terrorists Win

Not really! But in light of a new Supreme Court decision that calls for allowing detainees at Guantanamo bay due process as I have something to say.

The constitution of the United States of America says all people are entitled to habeas corpus or due process except in time of war.
The founders worded it this way because wording it to apply to United States citizens only would encourage isolationism and a "we art holier than thou" attitude to foreigners.
The war on terror is thought of as a war that will continue on almost indefinitely because terrorism is a tactic used by many extremist groups and it is widely accepted that no matter how hard anyone tries there is no way to wipe out the threat of terrorism completely.

Therefore, since a perpetual war on terrorism is what we are all expected to come to terms with than wouldn’t that imply the detainees could be forever imprisoned without evidence or due process? This would be inhumane, especially when the prisoners do not even have to be told what they are in for and could very well be innocent. It would be naive to think this kind of governmental power would not be abused.

The opponents of habeas corpus say that it doesn't matter because habeas corpus only applies to citizens of the United States but as we have clearly shown this is not and should not be the case. Especially if we are trying to spread democracy it would be contradictory to practice undemocratic methods to achieve our ends.
Denying due process, it is argued, is imperative to make sure potential terrorists are not set free do to lack of evidence. I say that if evidence is lacking than you have no reason to lock someone up indefinitely just because you have a hunch or heard a rumor.
Another argument is that these people would do it to us, cut off heads ect... This is a very broad generalization when you do not even know who these people being lock up are. When no evidence has been given to the detainees or the public that they did anything wrong to begin with then what are we condemning them on? The America way is to look at it is per individual, try them and convict based on evidence. I say we treat others how we want to be treated and practice the United States innocent until proven guilty doctrine. How can we expect anyone to embrace democracy if we do not practice democratic principles?

During war time, of course, there is a need to hold prisoners and there is no way to allow them all to have due process right away but when the war has no clear objective and could potentially last forever I think it is only fair that evidence eventually be brought forward for the sake of evidence. To lock someone up, strip them of all rights, and deny them due process without even having to explain to them what they did wrong is un-American and sentimental of a communist dictatorship, certainly not of the values of United States of America. It is also a sure fire way to ensure others DO NOT embrace our way of life.

Feel free to chime in.

Michael Reagan calls for the murder of a political activist...it's not the first time.

Michael Reagan, a radio talk show host, who is best known as the adopted son of Ronald Reagan, went on air June 10th to say some pretty controversial things regarding political activist Mark Dice and his "9/11 truth" campaign. Dice and company have been sending 9/11 truth materials, including videos, to the troops fighting in the Middle East.

Reagan’s comments on Dice and Co.:

"Excuse me folks, I’m going to say this. We ought to find the people who are doing this, take them out and shoot them. Really. You take them out, they are traitors to this country, and shoot them. You have a problem with that? Deal with it. You shoot them. You call them traitors, that’s what they are, and you shoot them dead. I’ll pay for the bullets.”

Reagan continues, “How about you take Mark Dice out and put him in the middle of a firing range. Tie him to a post, don’t blindfold him, let it rip and have some fun with Mark Dice.”

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdJO-kUINMs

Mark Dice's responds to the death threat:

“Calling for the murder of someone because you disagree with their political stance is absolutely unacceptable, un American, and possibly illegal,” says Dice.

This is not the first time Michael Reagan called for the murder or arrest of someone he disagreed with either.
On December 5th 2005 he had some pretty colorful things to say about the left wing and Howard Dean:

"Howard Dean should be arrested for treason. He should be put into a hole somewhere and left there until the war in Iraq is over for what he is doing."

"We have people in this country from the left who probably jump up and down every time an American loses his life"

"And Howard Dean should be arrested for treason. And if not hung, put in a hole."

Source: Listen to the audio here: http://clips.mediamatters.org/static/audio/reagan-20051205.mp3

And Reagan doesn't want to stop at using these methods on United States citizens, he advocates that a great way to prevent future terror in the mid-east would be to (excuse me, this makes me queasy) insert grenades up the anuses of 1 year old infant Muslims. When questioned about this he is anything BUT apologetic.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntz7SWm-xWo

Michael Reagan and his communistic views on free speech and cruel and unusual punishment are reminiscent of the governments of Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein and the Taliban. One would have to assume if Michael Reagan was president we would be digging up mass graves of political activists in America that would dwarf the grave findings in Iraq.

I am not defending Dice because what he is doing is right or wrong (I am staying neutral) but because what he is doing is the embodiment of a concerned American citizen exercising his right of free speech. To say Dice and others who agree with him should be murdered is anti-American, communistic and just plain sick minded.

Blind unquestioning faith in government is only patriotism if you live in a communist dictatorship and is certainly not a sentiment of a free country.

This is not about left or right wing - this is about common sense, respect for healthy debate, respect for the constitution and respect for all human life; Ideas which Michael Reagan does not seem to be embracing.

About The Free Thinker

The free thinker is an independent minded political blog that aims to provide non-biased fact based support for all opinions expressed. The idea for this blog was thought of after the author found that most blogs and news sites did a poor job of backing up opinion with fact. The author also is disgusted in America's blind political party loyalty and willingness to let others think for them in regards to issues that effect them most. Although opinion will be expressed here ignorant misleading statements will be avoided at all costs and never will a fact be ignored because of the authors blind faith in government or political affiliation. The author will also admit being wrong and highly encourages reader participation in the form of leaving comments or emailing the author directly thefreethinker.contact@gmail.com.