CATHOLIC CHURCH IS SO YESTERDAY AND OUT OF TOUCH. - CARDINAL MARTINI.

Icheoku says you just heard it from the proverbial horse's mouth, a cardinal of the catholic church has just said that the catholic church is simply out of touch and out of date and needs to reform urgently. The catholic cardinal and former archbishop of the church in Milan, a former candidate for the papacy, CardinalCarlo Maria Martini, said in his last interview before his death that the Catholic Church was "200 years out of date."

Icheoku says may be this was a contrite heart speaking out or was it simply an after-thought; otherwise why did the 85year old not speak out earlier during his fraternal sojourn in the catholic church and rise through the ranks to a cardinal? May be he was a company-man cardinal who did not want his gravy train to be messed with and thus silently tagged along until it was almost his death time to speak out. Professor Wole Soyinka of Nigeria once wrote, the man dies in him who keep silent in the face of tyranny and this late archbishop and cardinal might as well pass for such a man who Soyinka spoke about since the ancient doctrines of the church could be interpreted as being tyrannical to modernity especially its rigid view on abortion and gay marriage as well as divorce; yet he kept mum all these years?

Cardinal Martini was of the opinion that the church is stuck in the past and centuries gone by as the world has literally moved on without it. In his words, "Our culture has aged, our churches are big and empty and the church bureaucracy rises up, our rituals and our cassocks are pompous. The Church must admit its mistakes and begin a radical change, starting from the pope and the bishops. The pedophilia scandals oblige us to take a journey of transformation. A woman is abandoned by her husband and finds a new companion to look after her and her children. A second love succeeds. If this family is discriminated against, not just the mother will be cut off but also her children. In this way the Church loses the future generation. The church is simply stated, 200 years out of date. Why don't we rouse ourselves? Are we afraid?" Icheoku says, yes the church is afraid of letting go of its past because it is equally afraid of what the articulated reforms might throw up. Needless to add that Republican Party's vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan is one such of a catholic fundamentalist who is stuck up on ancient doctrines and dogmas of the church, which are so antiquated it offends modern sensibilities as simply out of touch and are irreconcilable with today's societal evolutionary needs

TRUMP CONTINUES REPUBLICAN'S WAR ON WOMEN.

The blabber mouth birther-in-chief and a Mitt Romney surrogate extra-ordinarier, Donald Trump, has continued the Republican Party's war of rage against women of America. A foul-mouthed one per-center who have deployed very mean and uncomplimentary words against many women of America in the past have now added Ariana Huffington to his list of "his distasteful women." Donald Trump said of Ariana:- "she is unattractive both inside and out. I fully understand why her former husband left her for a man- he made a good decision."  

Icheoku says when Americans thought they have heard the last of Mitt Romney's people piling on on American women, the man who publicly endorsed him in a Las Vegas hotel comes out charging and like a basal street-person is again calling women names. It is unbecoming of any "gentleman" to trade words with women and publicly too; but hey this is the company Mitt Romney keeps and he wants to president of America. American women, time to rise up and tell Mitt Romney, enough is enough, is now. Tell him you cannot have him in the White House with friends like Donald Trump because he cannot protect your backs from people like him. This November, VOTE FOR WOMEN'S RIGHT AND DIGNITY, VOTE FOR OBAMA.

REPUBLICAN PARTY'S HATE AND BIGOTRY CONTINUES.

Icheoku says when one thought that the Republican Party's war on women and other disparate minorities are too inconsiderate already, here goes another attack on the people of Middle Eastern origin. This time the hateful speech was uttered by a minority group member of the Republican Party originally from Mexico, who called the entire people of Middle Eastern origin trouble-making bomb throwers?

Tea Party-backed Republican congressional candidate from Arizona, Gabriela Saucedo Mercer, a naturalized Mexican-American, said that the life-long goal of people of Middle Eastern descent is cause harm to the United States of America? In her own words, "And those (Middle Eastern) people, their only goal in life is to cause harm to the United States. So why do we want them here, either legally or illegally?"

Icheoku says this is what a typical kettle calling the pot black looks like. Here is a person from Mexico, a country from which illegal drugs smuggling into United States of America as well as its illegal aliens invasion has caused the United States tax payers great harm both in human and material losses. Yet she had the effrontery to paint an entire race with one broad brush of being trouble making bomb throwers? Icheoku says what a gift that keeps on giving as these Republicans are steadily revealing to America who they truly are - a bunch of hate-filled unhappy fellas who would rather every other person who does not look like them or share in their divisive politics left America for them and them alone for good. Please America tell the likes of Gabriela Saucedo that her hatred of an entire race has no place in today's America; except she wants people to believe that all Mexicans are drug and illegal aliens smugglers?

What a mongrel this whoring daughter of Mexico is that would brand the entire swath of people of the Middle Eastern origin as trouble makers. The statement is both imbecilic and idiotic and its author should have no place on the table of America's representatives as the view is completely petulant. This is the type of people Mitt Romney will preside over America with and Icheoku wonders which rational American will let this happen by voting for such divisive party. It shows the fanatics Mitt Romney intends to work with as the congresswoman wanna-be is friends with Mitt Romney's running mate, medicare-killer Paul Ryan (pictured above with the bomb-throwing woman) The warning signs of where Romney and crew wants to take America are clearly there and they are solid red - a vote for Mitt Romney will drastically take America back from the progress of the many past years.VOTE THE FUTURE, VOTE BARACK OBAMA.

JESUS WOULD HAVE FED THEM - NEWT GINGRICH

On being asked what would Jesus Christ do with the millions of poor Americans on and receiving welfare, the disgraced and defeated Republican presidential candidate wanna-be, Newt Gingrich, retorted "Jesus would have in fact fed them." Icheoku asks Mr Gingrich, what then was the primary and continuing purpose of WELFARE (food stamps) or does he not understand that the welfare program is designed to feed these unfortunate members of our American society who are down on their luck? Maybe Mr Gingrich would rather the American government literally perform miracle of the "two fishes and five loafs of bread" each time there are poor American hungry needing to be fed?

The problem with these far right extremists of American politics is that sometimes it appears that their brain goes into sleeping mode whenever confronted with simple basic questions as the response oozing from their mouths are bereft of any logical and analytical component to it. Imagine a welfare critic in-chief admitting that our Lord and Master Jesus, whom he professes to love and serve, would have done the same thing the American government is doing which continues today under President Barack Obama; yet he finds it anti-American the help with feeding the hungry of our midst? Needless to say that the christian in this man enabled him to marry three times and divorced twice including serving divorce papers on a cancer-stricken wife on her hospital bed? Newt Gingrich, Icheoku asks, what brand of Christianity do you practice that does not adhere to the teachings of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ?

It simply does not make sense nor does it add up and one wonders if it is the same Jesus Christ who preached being one's brothers keeper that the likes of Newt Gingrich of the extreme far right wing of the Republican Party profess to also serve. They also love going to wars and this is contrary to the teaching of Jesus Christ who admonished Peter to sheath his sword. It is also important to note that none of their children is enlisted in the US military so it is somehow much easier to send other peoples sons and daughters to go die in senseless wars? America, Newt Gingrich is a surrogate of Mitt Romney and he speaks for The Mitt; so if you are really a true Christian and loves and obeys Jesus Christ, advise yourself properly on how you vote this November because Newt Gingrich's anti-welfare stance is not Christ-like and so goes Mitt. An angry Newt acting in concert with a mean Mitt spells disaster for the safety nets of the needy and hungry of our American society; so inoculate against this America, VOTE FOR OBAMA, he gets it and he will get your back; including "feeding the hungry" of our American society.

VOTING ROMNEY, AMERICA THINK TWICE.

Icheoku says a VOTE FOR ROMNEY is a vote AGAINST YOUR INTEREST except of course you are part of the 1% which is stifling and suffocating the majority 99%. This November election is about proving the majority right that they ain't gonna take it anymore. So prove your democratic majority, 99 per-centers, vote right and vote for he who will protect your interest while fighting mightily to institute a level playing field for every American to get ahead. Icheoku says VOTE FOR FORWARD LEANING AMERICA, VOTE FOR OBAMA.

His first term was used in pulling out the ditched economy from its deep abyss as well as scoring many international relations milestones - at least OSAMA IS NO MORE. Now that he has successfully and correctly repositioned America's enviable leadership role in the world and domestically placed it on the road to full economic recovery once again, let grateful Americans return the favor and show him our gratitude for saving a moribund America from the brink of an assured precipice. By reelecting him and allowing him drive us into the new prosperity during his second term, we would have shown him that all his tireless efforts were not in vain nor were they bereft of our notice.

Do not let the cunning mean Mitt and the medicare-killer Ryan hoodwink you into voting against your interest by wrongly voting for them. A vote for them is a vote you will forever live to regret and in retrospect curse that you ever did; so why do it. If you think that Bush/Cheney was a disaster, then wait for the apocalypse that Romney/Ryan will throw up in the event the accident of their presidency happens. OBAMA was born a 99 per-center and lived it fully until just very recently, hence he understands how it is been with you, the struggling American middle class and under. On the other side of the aisle is a natural silver spoon(er) who was born a 1 per-center, lived and still lives a 1 per-center life and is currently worth in excess of 250million dollars. So tell Icheoku how this Romney will understand your plight, average Joe and Jane American?

Like Senator John McCain who did not know how many homes he has, Governor Mitt Romney does not know what it means to not be assured of the next meal or how the due rent or mortgage will be met. So, your pain is alien to him and he would not give a hoot if his policies meant your having to forgo so much more than the already biting cuts in practically every services. So weigh your options intelligently and make a decision that will not turn around to bite you. Mitt Romney is simply out of touch and voting for such mean-spirited out of touch extra-terrestrial is gonna hurt you and so badly, so don't do it. The anecdote - VOTE OBAMA, VOTE FORWARD!

ICHEOKU SAYS, PUTIN SET PUSSY RIOT FREE!

RAPE DECRIMINALIZED IN REPUBLICAN AMERICA?

Sometimes Icheoku wonders why we are wasting a lot of time, energy and resources trying to bring civilization to the Taliban and other mullahs in other parts of the world when we could be spending such trying to wean our own American Taliban, many of whom enjoy membership of the Republican Party, of their own antiquated ideological moonshine-driven dogmas and believes? Call it whatever you like, but some of these men belong to the stone-age and share so much similitude with the orthodoxy of the ultra-conservative Mullahs of Afghanistan and needs to be re-orientated and revamped psychologically. Hear some of these Republicans mouthing off on some national issues particularly women-victims of rape going through yet another trauma of carrying to full gestation resulting fetuses and giving birth to rape babies:- 'Rape babies are okay?' 'Getting educated is snobbish?' "There is consensual rape' and now the mother of all anti-women's right to their body hogwash, - "there are legitimate rapes?"

If Icheoku had just landed from Mars or woken up from a coma, we would think that it was not in America that a serving Congressman and now Senator wanna-be made such a blatant statement, thus decriminalizing rape by necessary implication. Icheoku queries, if it is "legitimate" then it is no longer rape and by extension not illegal or criminal. Rape is a crime because the sexual assault is non consensual and a violation of the victims body. But Republican Congressman Todd Akin seems to disagree as he believes that some rapes are legitimate? The Republican member of Congress who sits on the House Science Committee and presently a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Missouri, said he does not support abortion for rape victims because "if it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down." And conversely where unable to do so, she should just have the rape baby, period. Icheoku asks this congressman to please expatiate and take us a step further by explaining to the millions of women rape-victims all over the world particularly in America which type of rape is legitimate? This way, they might truly begin to heal and get over their traumatic nightmare of being violated without their consent. Put in another way, it appears that Republican Congressman Todd Atkin has just removed the crime in the crime of rape, or at least some rapes - his so called "legitimate" rape!

This is atypical of America the beautiful with still many ugly underbelly that a Congressman should entertain such thoughts as rape being legitimate and you wonder if he has a woman for a wife or daughters and what would be his position were they unfortunately to fall victims of rape. This is the problem with these Republicans with their conservative viewpoints as they make no exception to certain circumstances where legislation could be tailored to accommodate certain situational peculiarities. Even the most heinous crime of homicide provides for certain circumstances where the taking of live of another does not amount to murder and also fully exonerates such a killer. But these Republicans would not make exception to their anti-abortion fanatical position and want a raped woman to give birth to a rape baby, whether or not the rapist baby-daddy is an ax-murderer, an arsonist, a bank robber, a child molester or even strangely unknown? It is unfathomable and one wonders what these men's wives tell them at the privacy of their homes or that it is okay to rape women and force them to give birth to such a permanent reminder of the ordeal they went through in the hands of a total stranger as is most often the case.

GANG OF DECEIT, ROMNEY CHOOSE WELL IN RYAN.

In a manner reminiscent of the 2008 Senator John McCain bared-faced lying denial that he never called himself a maverick, Wisconsin Congressman and Mitt Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan's castigation of the Stimulus Package has caught up with him. Here is congressman Paul Ryan, on the surface, vehemently opposed to the economic recovery program but behind the doors requested and collected millions of the stimulus dollars. 

Icheoku says the congressman forgot that records are kept for a reason and now faced with hard evidence as to his complicity,  the congressman Paul Ryan, made a u-turn and now says he requested and received stimulus money for his state of Wisconsin as well as other businesses that lobbied him? Icheoku says is congressman Paul Ryan another hypocrite or what? Another hypocrite in a ticket already parading a hypocrite-in-chief Mitt Romney, and you wonder if this band of hypocrites is what America wants in the White House? icheoku admonishes that America can do better than have a bunch of such phonies in the White House? Only November 4th can tell but Icheoku sure won't be voting for these liars and deceivers of biblical proportion who tell their Tea Party heads to do what they say but never what they do. As for Mitt and Paul, it would seem that different ethics applies to them than the rest of us who were taught that candor means something. Here is a congressman who was castigating President Obama for the stimulus package turning around and grabbing millions of dollars from the same stimulus money for his constituents and you tell Icheoku which manner of man is this Paul Ryan of Wisconsin? 

After repeatedly denying ever taking stimulus money for his constituency, Mitt Romney's "smart pick" for vice presidential running mate, Paul Ryan, has now swallowed his vomit and admitted he requested and received stimulus stash running into millions of dollars. This man who has maintained a vociferous criticism of the economic recovery program and even denied dipping his hands in the stimulus pie as recently as just few days ago, now "recalls" that he facilitated his constituency helping themselves with the stimulus money. Hear him, I'm not one [of those] people who votes for (against) something then writes to the government to ask them to send us money. I did not request any stimulus money." 

Icheoku says what a Monica Lewinsky moment come to live with Paul Ryan? It will be recalled that former President Bill Clinton was wagging his finger at the nation while denying that oral sex was not a sexual relationship because their was no penetration, except that he forgot in that moment that the mouth is also a hole. Here is Congressman Paul Ryan emphatically pulling a Bill Clintonisque finger-wagging and denying that he "did not request any stimulus money" when evidence of his complicity abound that he requested and received stimulus money in excess of 20 million dollars for his constituency. It would be recalled that in 2009, Congressman Paul Ryan wrote to Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis asking for stimulus money to cover costs on two energy conservation projects in his home state of Wisconsin. In the letter, Ryan said the funds would help create jobs and reduce "energy consumption" in the state. 

This is the man Mitt Romney choose for his running mate, Paul Ryan, in his own words, admitting that the stimulus helped create jobs; yet he uses his forked tongue to harangue the program whenever addressing his dumb and dumber Tea Party anti-government expenditure faithfuls. So Icheoku asks, is Paul Ryan purposely misleading the Republican Party's unthinking base or is he just another unmasked hypocrite within the Republican Party establishment? Finally Icheoku says to Paul Ryan that if the "stimulus money did nothing to stimulate the economy," he should refund the millions of dollars he obtained "under false pretense" that it would help create jobs in Wisconsin back to the government. But icheoku knows these people and they are one heck of shrivelling hypocrites whom our Lord and Master Jesus railed against. Mitt the Mormon and Paul the Liar, what a team of deceitful hypocrites who want to smuggle themselves into the White House without a clear vision as to where this country should be taken to; admitted they loath the poor and minorities of America so much it hurts. What a shame.

TAX RECORDS, ROMNEY FINALLY READY TO RELEASE THEM?

Yes, it is called flying the kite or feeling and tasting the waters. Yep, you heard Icheoku right that Mitt Romney is finally ready to dump his tax records on America and pretty very soon. The latest admission that he paid thirteen percent in taxes these past ten years is a prelude to finally releasing his long awaited tax records. Mitt Romney understands fully well that his tax records is a big albatross standing between him and any dreams he has or might have for the White House. His every move is currently being checkmated by his clever by half obstinate refusal to let Americans know the type of person who wants to be their president. Americans want to know whether Mitt Romney is a tax cheat? Voting Americans want to know if Mitt Romney is a tax fraud? Americans are curiously asking did Mitt Romney game the system? Americans are anxiously waiting an answer to the question, did Mitt Romney pay taxes on his income at all and at what rate? And finally, Americans would like to know if Mitt Romney paid his FAIR SHARE of taxation. All these are fair inquiry and The Mitt would be better served if he becomes more forthcoming with the answers and sooner than later too. Mitt Romney cannot run rings around the subject and the more he tries to skirt through them the more they come charging back at him and in Jimmy Cliff's own words - HARDER THEY COME.

So Icheoku would like to know what The Mitt is hiding from the American people whom he wants to be their president by refusing to let them see his tax records? American people demands FULL COMPLETE DISCLOSURE from anyone who wants to lead them; that is the tradition and Mitt should and would not be an exception. The rule is clear - if you want to be our president, we need to know who you are otherwise stay clear and no one will bother whether or not you laundered money or gamed the system unreasonably. Listen to this son of a gun respond to his tax question, "I just have to say, given the challenges that America faces — 23 million people out of work, Iran about to become nuclear, one out of six Americans in poverty — the fascination with taxes I've paid I find to be very small-minded compared to the broad issues that we face." Icheoku says this is the man who wants to be president, saying a country is "about to become nuclear" and you wonder if former President GW will not be a professor of the spoken English Language compared to this disaster waiting to happen called Mitt Romney, should accident happen and America is cursed with his presidency? Icheoku queries, how can a country become nuclear or is the Mitt expecting us to complete his phrase by adding the word "power?"

Anyway that aside, Mitt Romney is saying that the country's fascination with his tax records is "very small minded", right? Icheoku says that is not the case as a presidential candidate personal finances is a fair game since it throws light on the honesty and lack thereof as well as fidelity to country of such a candidate. If as it is becoming apparently clear that Mitt Romney is a tax-cheat, then the country has no place for such a fraud in its presidency, period. Assuming every American games the system as Mitt apparently did, where did Mitt Romney expect the money used to sustain the many things America does and stands for to come from. Nope, Icheoku says to Mitt Romney that the country's curiosity for his tax records is not small minded but the big elephant in the room and until he does right by Americans with the release of all his tax records, the issue would continue to bog his campaign as it suggests strongly that he is hiding something from the voting American public that will torpedo his campaign if disclosed.

Furthermore, Icheoku admonishes Mitt Romney that the one in six Americans that lives in poverty according to his voodoo estimation is courtesy of his ilks who have hijacked all the money in America and stashed it up for only their nuclear family selfish use. This is the man who would not pay his fair share of taxes to sustain programs for the needy of our society, yet he cries foul that poverty is taking over America? Possibly when our Lord and Master Jesus Christ delivered his sermon about the Pharisees, he had this Mitt Romney in mind? Anyway let us hope that his latest admission that he paid a paltry thirteen percent when other Americans with far less financial chest were being taxed at more than thirty something percent, is a first step towards letting Americans have a glimpse on the taxes he paid or failed to pay to Uncle Sam. Until he develops the courage to release his tax returns, Icheoku will continue to align itself with the very popular demand that Mitt Romney should release his tax records. In the words of Adam Jentleson, spokesman for Senate Democratic Leader Reid, who responded to the current Mitt Romney's admission that he paid far less in taxes than the average Joe and Jane working class American, "We'll believe it when we see it. Until Mitt Romney releases his tax returns, Americans will continue to wonder what he's hiding."

THE RYAN PICK, MITT ROMNEY'S BUNGLE?

Icheoku wonders what Mitt Romney wanted to achieve politically and on his general appeal by picking a vice presidential candidate from the core of the far right wing of the Republican Party; aside of proving that he is an "acute conservative" who have no soul? Unlike the pretentious GW who once dubbed himself a "compassionate conservative" but never showed any compassion whatsoever, Mitt Romney has gone full throttle in mounting his flag of extremism by choosing yet another extremist as his running mate. The far right lunatics wouldn't have gone anywhere else but to vote for Mitt Romney, at least in protest of the "NIGGER" occupying "their" White House which they want back at all cost. So a more adept political tactician would have seen that voting bloc as already bagged and used the vice presidential pick to woo another voting bloc.

A Marc Rubio pick would have automatically enticed the Hispanic voting bloc or at least help burrow into it, to such extent that President Obama would no longer be their only best hope since one of their own is going to be a vice president? Florida as a state would also have become more competitive with its large Hispanic population turning out for one of their own. But Mitt Romney's disdain and dislike for all and every non-white American, took better part of his judgment and he would rather ride the tiger and end up in its belly than to have a non-Caucasian in his ticket. Here is a man whose Mormon cult never admitted any non white person in their congregation until very recently and within a very limited role. So Icheoku asks, which Latino or Latina would throw away his or her vote with such a Romney/Ryan ticket that would make their living in the United States hellish if not deportable? Icheoku queries where is Dick Cheney on this Ryan's choice now or would he also wait for long after the election in November to tell the world that Mitt Romney made a mistake in picking a Tea Party extremist as his running mate as he did with John McCain's Sarah Palin? Even Governor Christ Christie of New Jersey would have certainly been a smarter pick since the cantankerous governor is not as far right winged as this Paul Ryan and has no national guffaw or baggage that would follow him such as the medicare/medicaid elephant in the room which would certainly cost the ticket this 2012 election for crying out loud. What a gift that keeps on giving; as God has certainly blinded Mitt Romney from making a winnable choice of a vice president just like John McCain did in 2008 with Sarah Palin.

What Icheoku is saying is that Paul Ryan brings nothing new to the moribund Mitt Romney's campaign. Put more succinctly, Paul Ryan's addition would not attract any new voting bloc other than the already secured far right Tea Party lunatics which is yoked to death with the Republican Party. So where is the smarts in Mitt Romney's choice of Paul Ryan? His first decision, bungled; needless to add his also bungled overseas foreign trip. A wiser Mitt Romney would have used his vice presidential pick to chip away at President Obama's existing political advantages; by for example picking a woman as his vice presidential running mate or even an Asian. That way he would have reassured women of America that he would not institutionalize a Taliban-styled government in America which would curtail their existing rights? That they would be part of his government. That they would be be heard and protected under a Mitt Romney's government and that their rights would be fully guaranteed. But hell no, the Mormon bishop, whose cult regard women as lower class citizens and who should rather be seen than heard was not ready even to entertain that thought. So Mitt Romney where is your joker?

Even a Portsman choice would have come with less baggage than the Ryan Medicare/Medicaid elephant in a China shop debacle. What about Governor Bob Jindal of Louisiana and his Asian bloc as well as other less controversial choices that abound in the Republican Party? But it is the Mitt, a Mormon bishop, and he could care less about other Americans whose skins are not pale enough; afterall his campaign in London, bandied their "Anglo heritage" as a fundamental reason why their candidate should become the next American president. Icheoku says Mitt Romney is inexplicably oblivious of the mosaic which America has long ago become and his decision to go all white in his ticket and in a country as diverse as America, in which minorities are fast becoming the majority was a real mistake. His problem was compounded more by the presence of a choice-ticket of President Barack Obama/Joe Biden which is more reflective of the hybrid/multi-brid America of today; but regrettably Mitt Romney thinks it is in 1950 America that he is running for president?

Icheoku makes bold to state that the days of whites-only in America, including in presidential tickets, is since over except where there is no choice as where both parties gang up to produce an all white tickets. Mitt Romney will realize this foolish mistake on November 4, 2012 when Americans would reject his ticket as simply too extreme for America and not reflective or representative of today's America polity. Once again, it has been shown that there is hand of God in President Barack Obama's presidency; otherwise why should Mitt Romney bungle it with his choice of Paul Ryan as his vice presidential pick; thus giving Obama a coast-clear second term. Luckily, the shell of the tortoise as well as the snail follows them anywhere they go, and so would the heavily anti-peoples credentials of Romney and Ryan follow them all the way to the presidential election and the majority would decide it. On his first decision picking a vice presidential candidate, Mitt Romney was not tactical nor wise enough!

WITH RYAN ITS '64 AND GOLDWATER AGAIN - ED KOCH

Mitt Romney has done this country a great service by selecting Paul Ryan as his running mate. He has changed the nature of the election from one that is about who is the best candidate to lead us out of the aftermath of the Great Recession to one that concerns fundamental party policies and philosophy.

He has turned the election into what we had in 1964. President Lyndon B. Johnson was finishing the term of our martyred President Jack Kennedy and running for his own first term against Sen. Barry Goldwater, Republican from Arizona. Goldwater was the leader of the conservative wing of the Republican Party and ultimately the leader of the entire party in that election.

The 1964 race became a referendum on whether the United States should jettison the principles of the party of hope — the Democratic party — created by FDR that united the aspirations of the middle class and addressed the needs of the poor and the concerns of women, blacks, Jews, other minorities, and farmers.

FDR, a wealthy man, was denounced by many of his peers as a traitor to his class.

What FDR gave to our country was the promise of greater fairness for all of its people. One of his greatest contributions, many would say, was the Social Security program that was intended to assist these who had worked all their lives to retire at 65 with dignity. That concept was extended by President Johnson in 1965 with the creation of both Medicare and Medicaid. The former is basically for the elderly and the latter is for the impoverished of all ages.

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are the very programs that the Republicans and conservatives beginning with Goldwater have been seeking to chip away at and ultimately eliminate. For example, President George W. Bush rightly recognized that Social Security needs to be changed to make it solvent. However, his proposal to privatize the program, making payments dependent on stock market performance, makes no sense, particularly in view of the effects of the Great Recession on the stock market.

A better approach would have been and still would be to gradually increase the eligibility age (we fortunately live much longer today than we did in 1935), and apply the current Social Security tax to our entire personal income — it stops now at $110,100 — with such additional fiscal measures as are necessary to bring in more revenue. The program eligibility could also be made subject to a needs basis. Those who are wealthy don't need the employer subsidies which could be added to and used for those who do.

There are changes of a fiscal nature short of privatization that could similarly protect Medicare from going bankrupt. Unfortunately, privatizing Medicare is the signature proposal of Paul Ryan and his budget adopted by the Republican House of Representatives. Ryan would give those 55 or younger vouchers to buy health insurance policies to replace the current Medicare entitlement program.

Already the Romney-Ryan team is screaming it is unfair to attack Ryan on this his signature proposal. But he cannot run away from it and his philosophy. Listening to the talking heads, I hear a little buyers' remorse setting in.

The Republicans, at the urging of Paul Ryan, want to change Medicaid into a limited block grant to be provided to each state to take the place of the existing entitlement program which provides benefits to an unlimited number of eligible beneficiaries.

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and so many other programs are in great danger if the philosophy of the Romney-Ryan team prevails at the polls.

The lack of Romney-Ryan compassion is also highlighted by their support for the Republican House-adopted budget, which slashes food stamps that are provided to poor children and others. And then there is the matter of a woman's right to choose. The Republicans are trying in every state to deprive women of all their rights under Roe v. Wade, seeking to make it more and more difficult for a woman to exercise her right in consultation with her doctor to obtain a legally permissible abortion.

The Republicans in many states are seeking to depress the black vote, requiring unneeded identification papers for voting. The effort to roll back citizen rights goes on.

The Times this morning summed up the philosophy of Paul Ryan, reporting, "though best known as an architect of conservative fiscal policy, Rep. Paul D. Ryan has also been an ardent, unwavering foe of abortion rights, has tried to cut off federal money for family planning, has opposed same-sex marriage and has championed the rights of gun owners."

The Democrats have made their share of mistakes over the years. However, they have recognized them, made needed changes and are willing to make more changes for the good of the country. We Democrats led by President Obama support the "grand bargain" entailing revenue increases and expense reductions. The Republican leadership, on the other hand, is largely interested in cutting spending for social programs, while rejecting revenue increases, particularly if such increases include higher taxes on the rich.

I am a proud Democrat but not an ideologue. I have identified myself through the years when I served as a member of Congress and mayor of New York City, as a liberal with sanity. When I thought it appropriate and in the best interest of my country, state and city, I have crossed party lines; for me, the people always come first.

I look around and see millionaires and billionaires thriving and while most of us don't resent their wealth, we do object to their not paying their fair share of taxes. We are supposed to have a progressive tax system and instead the Congress bought by their wealthy supporters has provided loopholes that permit the wealthiest corporations and individuals to pay in some cases nothing at all.

People who get their income from stock trading, unlike those of us who receive salaries, pay at a rate of 15 percent when a salaried employee receiving the same income could be paying at a 35 percent rate. This is simply not fair.

Thank you Mitt Romney for selecting Paul Ryan as your running mate and thereby unwittingly turning this election into a crusade by all Americans who put country first and are willing to join hands across party lines to fight for fairness for all of our fellow citizens.

Facilitator's note: article was published by Newsmax. 

MOVE OVER KIM KARDASHIAN, ENTER LOZADA.

Icheoku says when the nation and the world had thought that Kim Kardasian's 72 day old marriage had set the record on the shortest lasting marriage, here comes an NFL wife, Evelyn Lozada, who now holds the shattering record of being in the shortest ever lasting marriage. Her marriage to now axed Miami Dolphins Chad Johnson of just 41-days is now ending? 

Lozada filed for divorce after being head-butted and bloodied by her irate husband following an argument over condom receipts! Yep, you heard it right; the husband was getting some outside hers and she won't stand it. Icheoku asks, why does some men marry or is it a curse of monogamous marriage? Welcome to Splitsville Lozada and Chad.

IT IS PAUL RYAN, STUPID.

If anyone is still in doubt about the dislike and aversion for the poor candidate Mitt Romney has, his choice of anti-peoples budget proposer, Paul Ryan, as his vice presidential candidate, now soundly puts that to rest. A man who once described himself as an "ACUTE CONSERVATIVE" and who would go to any length to prove his credentials as such, has now gone over the cliff to assure the Rush Limbaugh's ultra-right wing of the Republican party that he is indeed a merciless rightist.

Of all the candidates available for Mitt Romney to pick, he instead settled for a man whose proposed budget plans would see the middle class, the poor and the needy of America reeling in pain of survival under additional tax burden. Such a man who does not care about the vulnerable of America is Mitt Romney's veepee pick; and please let somebody tell Icheoku Mitt Romney is not making an emphatic statement with Ryan's choice of the direction his government would take in the unfortunate event his ticket gets into the White House.

Anyway America, Mitt Romney has made his choice and in unmistakable terms, told Americans that his government would not take care of American poor and middle class. Now is your turn to tell Mitt and Ryan, NOT SO FAST. On November 4, reject this heartless duo as not what America wants or needs at this time. Vote to reject Mitt and Ryan ticket as not good for America's 99% because they would increase the tax burden on the poor and middle class while protecting their fellow 1 per-centers. America can do better than having a Mitt and a Ryan in the White House; therefore VOTE 4 OBAMA, vote for a forward looking government that has compassion and which will carry every America along. Icheoku says that Paul Ryan's choice is a smack in the face of independents, the middle class, the poor as well as many reasonable and rational rich Americans voting blocs and Mitt Romney should not go unpunished for this effrontery.

SIKH TEMPLE SHOOTING, NO PLACE IS SAFE IN AMERICA?

The other time it was inside an university classroom in Oakland California that a deranged South Korean man opened fire and sent seven students out of this world, wounding three others in the process. The other day it was in a movie theater in Aurora Colorado that another mentally challenged man dispatched twelve innocent people watching a movie to meet with their maker without asking if they consented. And just today, it was inside a holy temple of the Punjabi India people Sikh religion that another lunatic shot and killed six worshipers and you ask yourself are these gunmen not aware that certain grounds are sanctified and spilling blood thereon a no no? Icheoku asks, where else is safe in America for someone to be and not be so afraid of the closeness of death that can claim his life at any time without more?  

Something is terribly wrong with this morbid state of fear living in America has become, that classrooms, churches, temples, grocery stores, streets, hospitals and movie theaters have become a place where harbingers of death operate without remorse. What do we do America but to prepare ourselves that as we take a step outside of our various habitations, we might as well be taking our last step alive on this planet earth. Admitted even our places of abode are to certain degree, not even safe anymore either since many people have been killed by streaming bullets while sleeping on their own beds and in their own bedrooms in their abodes. The solution - we just have to live our lives as honestly as we can every day as if it is our last since no one knows where the next gun-ho killer would emerge to cause further mayhem. Otherwise what else can anyone do in such gun-infested environment where many people who should not have guns end up having an armory? To the Sikh community in Oak Creek Wisconsin, Icheoku sends our condolences and pray that you find solace that you are not alone at this trying times. America is praying for your healing and by faith, your loved ones are now in a better place.

THE BOLT, BOLTED AWAY YET AGAIN!

Unstoppably the best 100meters runner the world has know thus far. Jamaican Usain Bolt once again proved he is the man to beat in the 100 meters dash at the London Olympics. This time, he ate up the distance in a flash - a mere 9.63seconds. Icheoku says there is something in a name and The Bolt bolts, really fast that is. Congratulations Usain and may the Reggae and Rub-a-dub rent the air in the streets of Kingston; Yah Man!

MIKE PHELPS GOES OUT, STILL WEARING HIS CROWN.

American Mike Phelps is now the indisputable swimming champion of the world as he has won the gold in his final Olympics appearance in the 100 meters butterfly. He has now done it for consecutively four times. Boy, look at that shoulders, what a human muscle pushing against the waters. Icheoku says congratulation Mike.

OBAMA HAS EARNED A SECOND TERM, HE GETS IT.

"Barack Obama deserves to be re-elected president of the United States because he has clear objectives for the country and is meeting them."Mitt Romney on the other hand, "basically wants to do what they did before, but this time, on steroids; which will get you the same consequences you got before, but this time also on steroids." - President Bill Clinton.

Icheoku says it is simply psychotic doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results. All the boys from hell, who helped GW run this country aground not too long ago, are now back on board the Mitt Romney's train to their wishful Lalaland's White House; banking on their delusion that Americans have suffered amnesia yet again and have since forgotten the hole they were dug into by President George Walker Bush and Dick Cheney's administration. Icheoku says it will be deja vu the failed economic and foreign relations disastrous polices of the Dubya being carried on by the Mitt should the unexpected happen come November.

Anyway America, be an informed voter and vote your interest:- Mitt is not good for you, Obama is as he gets your back and protects you from the corporate sharks of Wall Street, one of which is now itching for the White House, waiting to finish off from where they were stopped in 2008. Also remember this election is a battle between we and them - the 99 per centers against the 1 per centers and please tell Icheoku who has the numbers required in a democracy. President Barack Hussein Obama is fighting for you and all you can do for him is to show appreciation and help support his effort to complete the ongoing reformation and transformation of a system that literally came to a screeching halt but for the providence which swept him into office in 2008 to clean house. Now is not the time to change horses midstream and he has kept us safe so far; having successfully taken the fight to the terrorists instead of waiting to fight them on our soil. BO deserves a second term, he has earned it; and you can make that possible America!