Firefighter Blog

Very good article and observation of the unraveling events surrounding this "mystery man" obama and his mama.

Thanks
Michael Kocis
 

Excellent article. Sounds logical and will probably play out as you state.
 

Nice post. I was glued to FOX watching the story unravel.
 

Great and relevant article.
 

And then the Mexican invasion begins...
 

I don't agree, the pastor is a marine with letters of commendation from President Johnson. He lived through segregation, so if he has a chip on his shoulder, I'll give him some leeway.

Obama's speech was the way to deal with race, as a country we need to deal with our past and move on. Blacks and whites.

If Republicans try to use this, they will come across as race baiters, which will turn off many fair minded, decent Republicans. It will also likely turn off McCain.

Obama used his speech to address the single most sensitive issue in American history and he was fair about it. That shows a lot of political courage, sadly, though, the media appears to miss the vitriolic hate that comes from right wing pastors.

You *should* reconsider Obama, his ability to work with people on solutions is exactly what this country needs.

Montana Firefigher
 

I misread how the Democrats would forgive him for the intimate relationship he shares with his preacher.
That's a problem for the Dems and will stall their attempt to regain the White House.

McCain, war hero, American patriot will prevail against the one term upstart from Illinois with questionable personal affiliations and no experience in the international theater.

Done deal.
 

well, I am sure the Republicans will have a new found sense of the value of a war hero, 4 years ago they fell over themselves attacking Democrat war heroes. McCain is an honorable guy, but he has recently been changing his positions to appeal to his base. I like him, I wanted to vote for him in 2000, but Bush supporters ran a nasty campaign against him and Bush, with no experience in the international theatre, was the Republican choice. So, if that is what Republicans want to suddenly start valuing, that is fine. Maybe they'll become fiscally responsible too.

It is us independents though who really sway elections, so I am not convinced it is a done deal. I went to a Democratic event last night in Butte, Montana with Hillary and Obama and I think Democrats are doing a good job in broadening their appeal. I support Obama, and I think the Democrats this election year are the ones with the policies that Americans want and need this year after 7 years of poor management by Republicans. On the Republican side, I see a lot of personal attacks instead of new ideas.
 

I also ask that you reconsider Obama. I supported Senator McCain until recently when Obama won the Dem. nomination, and I decided to look further into what the two had in store for firefighters and first responders. I am providing two links that give a quick run down of the two goals, and I must say that Obama's is the only one that shows multiple acts and factual evidence of trying to imrpove our situation.

The only thing I could find on McCain that showed actual activity toward making things better was a bill that Obama voted to approve as well.

Please share your research with me in return if I've missed something, as I'm trying to look for actual plans and such to help decide who to vote for President. I understand that McCain lives in the southwest and "should" know what it's like for us and why he should help make things better, but I haven't found much in way of previous activity or actual plans for the future to do so.

the link to Obama's plan is http://www.minnesotansforobama.org/docs/natl_issue_flyer_first_respond.pdf

and the link to McCain's is
http://www.johnmccain.com/involving/petition.aspx?guid=490217d5-bd1b-4857-afe5-27731860055e
 

It's simple to me, Obama WILL tax us straight to hell beginning with business and capital gains. McCain at least understands how an economy is burdoned by excessive taxation.
His support for cap and trade is troublesome.
I am not big on gay marraige, I do not support abortion and I want to be able to choose my own doctors.
Obama and I are opposed on all three.
One more item. I don't care for Obama's wife. Don't want her near the White House.
Her comments concerning never being proud of her country are inconsistant with my vision of a First Lady.
 

McCaine will carry the water for Bush to just about kill off the middle class. Fox news and Rush will pound away with thier propaganda and many will march in lock step. McCaine will be " Bush lite " and the very stupid or very rich will vote for him.
 

Ah, one of the (anonymous) revolutionaries chiming in.
LOL, it's not a slam dunk for you Obamanites just yet.

BTW, he's not a "Savior", he's a community organizer from So. Side Chicago.

You youngsters are impressed anyway.
 

Obama is being endorsed by the IAFF, and for good reason. My husband is a firefighter and neither of us makes a million or more a year. Unless you do, I don't know how you can even dream of voting for McCain. As for Mike, is someone gay wanting to marry you? Does the right to have an abortion immediately affect you? Why don't you get your priorities straight, and actually vote on issues that actually affect the majority of this countries population! I am a Iraqi veteran. Do you think I would actually support an unpatriotic candidate. Get your heads out of your a@@es!
 

I edited the post down to the nub. I would start a political blog if I had the time because I have a lot to say.

As for the abortion question....ever since I saw my first born in a sonogram movie at 4 months gestation I have been against it.

He still has the same shaped nose 18 years later. Surely ending that pregnancy would have been murder.
 

I am a retired firefighter for McCain. I would never vote for a democrat anyway and certainly not for Barack Hussein Obama.

Of course the IAFF endorsed Barack Hussein Obama, but that is to be expected. They never look at the whole picture.

Brian Rueger
Capt. (Ret) Hampton Fire & Rescue
 

skypilot49 wrote: "Of course the IAFF endorsed Barack Hussein Obama, but that is to be expected. They never look at the whole picture."

Your comment is like many, many that I hear.
- When the NRA makes an endorsement, do they look at the big picture? No, they look at gun control legislation and how the candidates have voted or are likely to vote.
- When the National Right to Life makes an endorsement, do they look at the big picture? No, they look at abortion legislation and how the candidates have voted or are likely to vote.
- When the IAFF makes an endorsement, do they look at the big picture? No, they look at labor and firefighter health and safety legislation and how the candidates have voted or are likely to vote.

The IAFF is a special interest group... no different than any other.

JK
 

Yea, and I can't believe I paid dues that organization (IAFF) for 18 years in a "right-to-work" state. If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't!
 

I'm not supporting either of these candidates. I don't think we should be looking to the federal govt to support local fire departments. It can be handled far better on a local level. Besides the constitution doesn't say anything about the US govt providing for public safety. The less power the feds have the better. I would vote for someone who talks about our federal reserve and stopping the increase in the money supply, corporate bailouts, etc. the dollar's going to crash!! Retired people on fixed incomes are going to be hit especially hard. Freedom and free markets!!!
 

I always enjoy reading discussions surrounding the IAFF endorsements of candidates and the reactions of some members (and non members) to those endorsements. In each case where a member disagrees with the endorsement, the objection appears to be based on issues that have absolutely nothing to do with emergency services. Abortion, guns, gay marriage, and the like have no place in the debate for who the IAFF endorses, as the members of the IAFF cross the entire political spectrum with their ethical beliefs. Some members may think that if gays are allowed to marry, then Nazis riding dinosaurs will take over the world, whereas some IAFF members may actually be gay and have some vested interest in receiving benefits from their partners. The point is, the membership of the IAFF is so diverse that no possible consensus could ever be reached if all of the social issues where considered in making political endorsements. As such, the candidates are measured based on their performance on issues of importance to the wages, benefits, and working conditions of firefighters as a profession, rather than the individual and quite personal beliefs of individuals comprising the profession.

With this in mind, a clear choice becomes very evident. All candidates have a documented history on how they have, or have not supported firefighters. If you do your homework, you can easily find the candidate who will be the best for firefighters, despite the fact that they may not mirror your individual beliefs.

Individuals are then left with a personal decision to make; vote for a candidate who claims to share similar values to your own, or vote for a candidate who will make a positive impact on your profession (often times, they are not the same candidate).

Most politically savvy firefighters would never endorse a candidate for city council who shares their views on abortion, but plans to shut down stations and lay off firefighters throughout their city, yet they ignore this simple logic when an election is elevated to a governor's mansion, congressional seat, or the white house.

Is it more important to keep your pension or have another potential vote against Roe v. Wade? Do you want labor laws enforced in your city and OSHA protection for your crews, or do you feel Haliburton shares need a six point bounce?

This is what it comes down to and where the endorsements originate. Take a look at McCain's actions against California Firefighter pensions, look at his votes on our issues during his career (I personally lobied him on a number of these issues), look at his position on labor in general during the last twenty years.

McCain's votes have not been with us -- and all of the documentation is there to prove that point. He is not going to magically convert to a supporter of firefighters if elected. I live in Arizona, I've been to his ranch, I honor him for his service to our country, but I am not going to vote for him as our president.

Obama does not have as lengthy a history as McCain, but he also does not have a documented history of opposing firefighter issues. I'm not foolish enough to believe that Obama is the next John Kennedy, but I do believe that firefighters, as a profession, will be better served with Obama as president. Our wages, benefits, and working conditions will be safer in an Obama administration than they would be in a McCain administration -- and that is the IAFF's primary mission to accomplish.

Would you trade away your pension for the possibility of gathering some steam against Roe vs. Wade? If you are not asking yourselves these questions as you evaluate your choice for November, you should be!
 

WOW! Great points raised. My point of view is this (I'm also a FF for 21yrs).
For firefighters or against firefighters? Easy choice. However, for the U.S.A OR for a guy who is buddies with Jeramiah Wright, association with a Saudi supporter (to pay & get into Harvard), association Bill Ayers (blows up USA buildings), wants to talk/pal around with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (who wants the USA to die), & best of all, the ONLY "former" Muslim whose head has not be demanded by Radical Muslim groups. I am a firefighter & care deeply about my Brothers but I cannot hand the US over to ANYONE who deals with folks like that. COUNTRY FIRST !
 

Aaron, your ignorance proceeds you!
 

There is an epidemic of stupidity right now is the USA.

"Voting for Obama? You're stuck on stupid."
 

Guess now we know where the old retired guys go to rant when their poorly informed, irrelevant, and lame comments fall on deaf ears at the firehouse coffee table.

Good luck with that . . .
 

"poorly informed, irrelevant, and lame comments."

Well, I can only wonder where you get your info and political educations? From your IAFF?

I am 60 years old. I served my country for 21 years and my city for 19.

I have been around the world twice, visited nearly 20 countries and lived overseas for three years.

In my time, I have lived through 11 presidents and voted in 11 elections.

All I can say is that if you get your wish and Barrack Hussein Obama wins, the USA will be in dire straits.

(Paid union dues for 17 years - for what? I got to see a lawyer once for 5 minutes. What a deal.)
 

I just stumbled upon this thread and although not too timely, felt the need to comment. I am not a robot and don't vote as the IAFF tells me. I do see who shakes out to be the party designees and compare them. I also weigh the balance between providing for me family and social concerns. Family first!! And with that I thank you for your service to the country and your city, but it doesn't make your opinion any more valuabel than mine. I don't recall any check boxes like veteran, firefighter, retired, over 60 on the ballot to make your vote count more than mine. McCain would have taken us further into a war that was based on lies deciept and greed.
 

............And by the way. Consider yourself normal to have little to do with lawyers. We put out fires and help people. The majority of firefighters never deal with a lawyer, unless the mayor is trying to screw them. Your 17 years of dues will help me keep and improve my working conditions. You are an ignorant ingrate. You benefitted from your union dues and now denigrate them. I'm glad your retired. Good riddance!!!