http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/02/28/hussein/

Here is an excerpt:

Christian, Western heroes have often been bequeathed Middle Eastern names. Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, the medieval Spanish hero, carried the name El Cid, from the Arabic al-Sayyid, “the Lord.”

Barack and Hussein are Semitic words. Americans have been named with Semitic names since the founding of the republic. Fourteen of our 43 presidents have had Semitic names (see below). And American English contains many Arabic-derived words that we use every day and without which we would be much impoverished. America is a world civilization with a world heritage, something Cunningham will never understand.

Barack is a Semitic word meaning “to bless” as a verb or “blessing” as a noun. In its Hebrew form, barak, it is found all through the Bible. It first occurs in Genesis 1:22 — “And God blessed (ḇāreḵə) them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.”

Now let us take the name “Hussein.” It is from the Semitic word hasan, meaning “good” or “handsome.” Husayn is the diminutive, affectionate form.

Barack Obama’s middle name is in honor of his grandfather, Hussein, a secular resident of Nairobi, Kenya. Americans may think of Saddam Hussein when they hear the name, but that is like thinking of Stalin when you hear the name Joseph.”

So please do not degrade the American people by trying to force upon us this simple similarity of names. We are not sheep. We are not stupid. WE ARE AMERICANS.

I’m shocked that Palin would allow herself to be used this way, target Hillary supporter’s and think that just because she is a “woman,” she can gain their support, when they don’t even agree on issues these women are extremely passionate about. Hillary, she’s NOT!!! The secret mystere’ has been announced and I think there are a lot of GOP voter’s that are more than disappointed. Hope is fading fast for the republicans, who were waiting with anticipation for a more intelligent choice. I doubt McCain’s convention will be as energizing as Obama’s was. Obama definitely made an impact on me and it’s time to cross the party divide, unite and become one America. I’m on board with Barack! Without Romney, McCain made my choice easier!

There may be SOME disenchanted Hillary fans, but Palin is opposed to the issues that matter most to these women —and they are smarter than that! I would have liked to see Hillary on the ticket, but life goes on and women especially can move past this and see that we need change and that McCain’s record proves he will go on forever with the same OLD and we can’t afford that! I think the Obama party is energized, will unite and will also bring over many Independents and Republicans and even Libertarians. It really IS “time for a change!” Braock outlined his plan, yes, he actually has one that makes sense. He’s not just talking the talk, he is willing to walk the walk.

Marriage is about Love…not gender. I believe that gay lover’s should not have to wait outside their loved ones hospital rooms, while their loved one is dying and not be able to make informed decisions on their behalf.
I believe choice is an individual freedom and not the governments business.
Race is a rainbow of cultures that make America beautiful.
Hitler couldn’t grasp that concept and his hate and racism was horrific!
Most of us were born or trace back to Immigrants, refugees and other’s who bravely found their way to America, from all over the world, for a chance at the American dream. They fought in wars for this country and I can’t imagine a place without diversity. It is what makes America beautiful!

If we bankrupt our children’s trust funds and inheritance, for medical bills or burden our children with sick parents, who could have otherwise been healed and self sufficient, then we are not helping our children, we are using them! Right now, I’m afraid to even go to the doctor, because if they discover something serious, it will bankrupt my family, be considered a pre-existing condition and I will end up uninsurable. Maybe I will pay higher taxes; to help people in need, REFORM health care, the economy, develop other sources of energy, improve education, issues McCain clearly showed his lack of compassion for. He didn’t even show up to vote on a recent bill that millions of seniors, needed. It was Ted Kennedy’s impact on the senate floor that changed 9 other republican’s to vote in favor of it. Bush tried to veto it and McCain where was he… taking a nap? He’s like an old outdated computer with new software. About our current health care system that McCain thinks is working so well. I personally know it’s not when my children don’t go to the doctor, because they can’t afford to and they want to put caps on the elderly, just because they are old. This is how we treat those who have paid into a system all their lives and tried to save for their childrens future? My children and grandchildren should have access to quality medical care and McCain thinks everything is just fine the way it is! Obama will give those of us who are uninsured, the same quality of care that member’s of congress get!

They call it “socialized” medicine…which I agree, sux in some countries, but this is America and something needs to be done for health care reform. We need more preventative measures, early screenings and detection, hyperbaric chambers available, more research and patients need options and sometimes they don’t even know they have any choices! We need to get more patients home, instead of in nursing homes and make it easier for patients to come home…these things would actually lower health care costs! Something needs to be done about the rising cost of malpractice insurance for physicians, ambulance chaser’s need to find another avenue, because they are driving the cost of health care to outrageous levels, insurance companies should not be making medical decisions; they are not doctors and pharmaceutical companies should not be perking up one medication over another. The great, the brilliant, physicians and other medical professionals are becoming a rare commodity. We are taking the passion and compassion right out of their hands! Affordable insurance (100% ) should be made available to every individual in America, pre- existing conditions should not be excluded and companies should not be allowed to kick you out (or find some loophole), because you are too sick and costing them too much! No one should have to chose between going to the doctor or bankrupting their families. And caps should not be placed on individuals who are progressing. Everyone deserves a chance for a quality of life. Miracles do happen and those stories change lives for the better.

As parents who care about our children’s future, it is us who should be saving and investing for the futures of the next generation. We should advocate for quality education for all Americans, not just a select few. This is how we will lift the next generation up, by giving them knowledge to think and do for themselves.
With Obama, I might pay higher taxes; to help people in need, REFORM health care, improve the economy, develop other sources of energy, have first class education, issues McCain clearly shows a lack of compassion for. No surprise, he lost MY vote!

Add me to the list of Republicans for change! I’m voting Obama!

PS: I’m on the bandwagon here…
I owe Ted Kennedy a personal thank you note and encourage you to vote Obama and write congress and advocate for health care reform!

Let’s elect a President who will use reason as his only absolute, not do things impulsively (a problem that does affect the elderly and their ability to make rational decisions) on a whim, like picking his VP after only meeting her once for 15-minutes! I vet out a horse for a pre purchase better than he did this! Let’s elect a president who cares about every individual, not just a select few. Who will use diplomacy first, before using anger and impulsively going to war and then further increasing the national debt by staying there forever! We need to enhance our international alliances and not be a joke to them. We’re American’s! We can be strong, but diplomacy should come first and we should enhance our foreign alliances instead of alienating them.

Like I said in the beginning…we have two choices. Well, I guess you can go with some underdog, write in yourself for that matter, but really, you’re just wasting a vote. You can just not vote at all! That’s patriotism! Ann Coulter was on if Romney was on the ticket, but maybe she’ll switch parties too, like many other conservatives are doing, including myself!

The conservative base elected GW twice, perhaps you cannot imagine how the other half thinks, but I can.

This woman is a political minefield literally, the base does not validate on Ivy League ideology, its all about likeability.

The experience issue is a double edge sword, one could say experience at change of what type theoretical, inconsequential or unsubstantiated legislative. She actually has instigated some very aggressive changes.

That’s the part that should scare people, they liked Bush and what did we get? Fast track into a geopolitcal nightmare.

They are kind of like the same personality types, except she has less education, I am laughing.

Hey if Obama is brilliant he can field this, was he counting on any republican votes?

He will not step on any mines, he is nice person.

Half of the population secretly think they could run the country and some will vote vicariously for Palin and many of them are woman, it takes a man to understand that. LOL