Oh Really?

I've made my decision in regard to who I'll vote for this November. I'm a pretty moderate person. I work, I pay my taxes, I abide by the laws in my community (well, occasionally, I've been accused of having a lead foot). I've listened to both sides speak, but the republican party just doesn't speak to me. Theirs is indeed the party of the intolerant far right wing. I know that the religious right does not represent the majority of Americans, but I'm completely perplexed why this is the card that is always played. One either agrees with them or is unpatriotic and Godless.

I get about 10 right wing, intolerant and questionably factual emails per day from various people (mostly my delusional brother) who try to sway my opinion. To them I say, please go back to the top and reread my first sentence. These missives are full of divisive hatred the likes of which I thought were gone, but aren't. I'm quite certain this type of shameful politics won't go until we see the backside of Karl Rove. Will this hateful mans legacy ever go away? Can our country take another four years of Bush's Brain Karl?

Here are some samples of my recent emails:

• O'bama is shamefully unpatriotic. Really? I don't perceive this in him. This was in response to the fact that he had a plane detailed with his slogan for change instead of an American flag (this was only partly true-they detailed the plane to get rid of the previous company's logo). So? I don't know about anyone else here, but I am all over the idea of change. These past 8 years have been brutal from both a national/international aspect and a personal one. Remember, I live in Detroit where we have taken the brunt of the economic downturn. My home has lost close to $100,000 in value and our income has suffered as well. I've gone from part time to full time in an effort to make up what just one of us earned 8 years ago. As a nurse, I routinely care for people who can't afford their rent, their health care and medications. They delay care until it can't be ignored and many times by then, it's too late (it's also by then a medicaid case and your problem too). Am I bitter? You bet your ass I am.

• O'bama, again, is unpatriotic for not putting his hand on his heart during The Pledge of Allegiance.   Really?  Oh, this one is so not true, it was the National Anthem during which he did not have his hand on his heart-nor was he required to. What is the purpose of a lie like this? Who exactly does it appeal to? Statements like this only cement for me the belief that the republican party is the party of intolerance and hate. Abraham Lincoln must be rolling in his grave. To my brother, specifically, have you looked up the definition of fascism recently?

• Oh, I love the emails regarding Sarah Barracuda's creds. Ones that like to say she was in government while Barack was a community organizer. Really? Or was she a sports reporter at that time?  I'm sure, whichever, she took time to reapply her lipstick. To the men in my family who have blinders on and can't get past this woman's shapely ass, I ask you, where is her law degree? What is her understanding of constitutional law? What has she done to people who have pissed her off? It's a google search away. Lastly, when will the republicans finish with her tutoring so we can hear what she has to say? Never in my life did I think a campaign would resort to tits and ass to woo the masses. Never say never.

Where exactly are the discussions of issues? I don't care about Sarah's lipstick and sound bites. I want to hear solutions to the problems I see as pressing: education, health care, the mortgage debacle, an end to these wars and the energy problems facing this country.

By the way, to the senders of these emails, I just love my delete button.  Your political missives go the same way as the ones asking about the length a certain body part, counterfeit Viagra, what stocks I should buy, how someone should be pleasured, Brad and Jen gossip and MSNBC breaking news reports: the spam box.