Democratic Candidates "woo" Firefighters...

[BLSboy]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070511/...emocrats_labor

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama told unionized firefighters Friday that he would stand behind them and provide the wages and resources they deserve — and that others in Washington would not.

"They'll praise your work in speeches, they'll honor you as heroes in words, but when it comes to deeds, they make it harder for you to do your job," Obama said, speaking by phone to the International Association of Fire Fighters leadership convention. "Instead of making your job easier, they create other kinds of fires you have to put out."

The Illinois senator was the second of six 2008 Democratic hopefuls to address the powerful union's leaders during a two-day meeting in the state with the earliest primary. Obama said he wanted to attend, but was in Iowa, another early voting state.

Later Friday, Sen. Chris Dodd told the firefighters in person that increased union membership would narrow the wage gap and be a boon for the middle class.

"The middle class in this country didn't occur miraculously," Dodd said. "I happen to believe the disparity in income in our country has been created by the decline in union households."

Later Friday, union leaders were slated to hear in person from Sens. Joe Biden, Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards.

Obama's and Dodd's comments echoed those of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who told the group Thursday that, unlike some other contenders, he has a strong record of supporting unions.

"There are a lot of candidates who will come up and take a picture with you and make you promises, but when it's time to deliver, maybe they'll be with you. ... I'll always be with you," Richardson said.

Two months ago, 11 candidates spoke to more than 1,000 union members in Washington. The New Hampshire convention involved only a few dozen union leaders from around the country, a move they hope will allow them to evaluate the candidates more informally. The union will not endorse anyone until August, at the earliest.

An IAFF survey after the March gathering showed high marks for Clinton, Edwards, Dodd and Biden, along with Richardson. Delegates were decidedly unimpressed by Obama.

"It was a reflection of one performance on one day," said IAFF President Harold Schaitberger.

Obama said Friday his March remarks were somber, but shouldn't be construed as a lack of excitement to work with firefighters.

"If I need to fire folks up, I can do it," Obama said. "I've heard I can give a pretty good speech."

The union backed
John Kerry in 2003.

[DaSharkie]

How can you tell when a politician (regardless of party affiliation) is lying?

Their lips are moving.

They suck up to you for a vote, then really could not care less about you.

[scfire86]

They suck up to you for a vote, then really could not care less about you.

Heaven or Hell ...... You Choose

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically
hit by a truck and dies.His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St.
Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it
seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these
parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the senator.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do
is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose
where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the
senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes
down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the
middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing
in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked
with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him,
shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting
rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar
and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who
has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good
time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator
rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where
St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now it's time to visit heaven."
So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented
souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have
a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.
Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now
choose your eternity."

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would
never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think
I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down,
down to hell.Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle
of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and
putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.
The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.
"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and
there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar,
drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a
waste-land full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were
campaigning......

......... Today you voted

[callaway75]

How can you tell when a politician (regardless of party affiliation) is lying?

Their lips are moving.

They suck up to you for a vote, then really could not care less about you.

I could not agree more!! Anything for a vote, and then they all forget the people that helped them get where they are. I had the "pleasure" of having Chris Dudd and Joe "I got Mine" Lieberman visit my firehouse about a year ago, it was the only time I spent the day in my bunk. I asked the DC if I could go home on sick leave, denied.

[fireman4949]

Heaven or Hell ...... You Choose...
The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were
campaigning......

......... Today you voted

That my friend, is an excellent analogy!

There are far greater concerns and much more important issues to consider when choosing the leader of our country, than just the lip service they provide to the fire service as part of their their campaign.

[scfire86]

That my friend, is an excellent analogy!

There are far greater concerns and much more important issues to consider when choosing the leader of our country, than just the lip service they provide to the fire service as part of their their campaign.

Got that from a neighbor who sells insurance. I altered the punchline to its present form from "yesterday you were a prospect, today you're a client."

[doughesson]

For some reason,I am thinking of all the times Hillary was quoted as saying"WE are the President" and that she regularly spoke with the ghost of Eleanor Roosevelt while in the White House.
More recently,she's been affecting a stupid sounding attempt of a Southern accent despite her Chicago upbringing.She talked about living in the backwoods of Arkansas when she and Bill only lived in the Governor's Mansion or the White House since her marriage.
Like you said,the best way to tell if a politician is lying is to check for movement around the lip area.

[profire1]

I wouldnt vote for any of the "socailist" democrat candidates. They're all nuts. im REALLY supporting a Fred Thompson run..If he does he'll win. As of now..YEP, Im supporting Rudy. Unlike alot of media reports ALOT of FDNY guys are too. The modern day Democratic party is so liberal that it stinks.

[scfire86]

I wouldnt vote for any of the "socailist" democrat candidates. They're all nuts. im REALLY supporting a Fred Thompson run..If he does he'll win. As of now..YEP, Im supporting Rudy. Unlike alot of media reports ALOT of FDNY guys are too. The modern day Democratic party is so liberal that it stinks.

I couldn't vote for Giuliani for the simple reason that his campaign is fear based. Anyone who states that terrorists will attack if a democrat is elected president is a nutcase.

[DaSharkie]

I couldn't vote for Giuliani for the simple reason that his campaign is fear based. Anyone who states that terrorists will attack if a democrat is elected president is a nutcase.

Doesn't make him a nutcase. He is just paying lip service to what he thinks the Republican party wants to hear. It does make him a buffoon though.

These "Peace loving" scumbag, dedicated Muslims will blow everyone up regardless what initial is after the President's name.

[profire1]

Doesn't make him a nutcase. He is just paying lip service to what he thinks the Republican party wants to hear. It does make him a buffoon though.

These "Peace loving" scumbag, dedicated Muslims will blow everyone up regardless what initial is after the President's name.

I agree with that 100%..I will add though..A Republican president WILL and HAS done more to try to prevent more attacks HERE.
The democrats are in denial that 9/11 even happened.

[GodSendRain]

I couldn't vote for Giuliani for the simple reason that his campaign is fear based. Anyone who states that terrorists will attack if a democrat is elected president is a nutcase.

I wouldn't agree with Giuliani on that point. I think the terrorists are more likely to strike again if another Republican is elected, simply because the Republicans are the ones viewed by terrorists as a serious threat to islamic fanaticism.

[HotTrotter]

You give the terrorist too much credit. They could care less who is president. With the exception of Obama, they would love to have a muslim in the White House.

[Jasper 45]

simply because the Republicans are the ones viewed by terrorists as a serious threat to islamic fanaticism.

It doesn't matter who is elected president, we will be hated by muslims regardless. This country represents everything they're against. There once was a choice for their hatred, back before the downfall of the USSR. Now there is just us, and our way of life.

What I do want is someone who will take national security very serious, including the securing of our borders. It is absolutely imperative that we know who it is entering our country. I don't see anyone taking any serious action on this issue.

[labador]

Bush has made us the most hated country in the world. We shouldn't be going over to other countries and telling them they have to do it are way and be a democratic country. There way has worked for thousands of years and how they run there country or elections is there business. One of these days they are going to get smart and all get together and say F the US lets take over there country. These idiots in office are playing with fire and we are gonna get burned one of these days. And by the way who says are way of a democratic system is the best way anyways alot of crap goes on in this country headed by the politicians who bleed this country anyways. And you want to see deversity really take charge vote for oboma and his vice president will probably be al sarpton see what happens then.

[scfire86]

I agree with that 100%..I will add though..A Republican president WILL and HAS done more to try to prevent more attacks HERE.
The democrats are in denial that 9/11 even happened.

Refresh my memory. Until last January, which group controlled Congress and the Presidency for most of the last six years and refused to enact any of the 9/11 Commission recommendations?

Give you a hint. Their symbol is an elephant.

[profire1]

Refresh my memory. Until last January, which group controlled Congress and the Presidency for most of the last six years and refused to enact any of the 9/11 Commission recommendations?

Give you a hint. Their symbol is an elephant.

Ah, It was Clinton the REFUSED to react militarily to ALL the attacks while he was president. If you look at the 9/11 report there was MANY times congress and the military pleaded with him to use military force ....but he did not.

[profire1]

Bush has made us the most hated country in the world. We shouldn't be going over to other countries and telling them they have to do it are way and be a democratic country. There way has worked for thousands of years and how they run there country or elections is there business. One of these days they are going to get smart and all get together and say F the US lets take over there country. These idiots in office are playing with fire and we are gonna get burned one of these days. And by the way who says are way of a democratic system is the best way anyways alot of crap goes on in this country headed by the politicians who bleed this country anyways. And you want to see deversity really take charge vote for oboma and his vice president will probably be al sarpton see what happens then.

Total idiotic statement. LONG before G.W. Bush came along..The terrorists blew up the parking structure of the wtc in 93, USS COLE attacked, There were 13 other attacks on U.S. interests worldwide....Bush wasnt president then...Also, 9/11 had ALREADY been planned 2 years prior. So, i guess our enemies LOVED us prior to Bush.

[scfire86]

Ah, It was Clinton the REFUSED to react militarily to ALL the attacks while he was president. If you look at the 9/11 report there was MANY times congress and the military pleaded with him to use military force ....but he did not.

Hate to burst your bubble. Clinton wasn't President when the 9/11 Commission made its recommendations.

We've already run through President Clinton's actions against terrorists while in office. At least he had the sense to attack the people who attacked us. Same thing can't be said for Bush.

Where specifically in the 9/11 Commission does it detail this so called pleading?

Same can be said for the missed opportunities by Bush. Who thought it more worthwhile to sit and read to second graders while the country was under attack and people were jumping from the WTC.

[profire1]

Hate to burst your bubble. Clinton wasn't President when the 9/11 Commission made its recommendations.

We've already run through President Clinton's actions against terrorists while in office. At least he had the sense to attack the people who attacked us. Same thing can't be said for Bush.

Where specifically in the 9/11 Commission does it detail this so called pleading?

Same can be said for the missed opportunities by Bush. Who thought it more worthwhile to sit and read to second graders while the country was under attack and people were jumping from the WTC.

Dumbass, The 9/11 report has info all the way to 92..Thats what i was refeering to. There WAS NO actions by the Clinton Adm. It IS common knowledge that He DID NOT take the shot he had to kill UBL. That is proven and non disputable. Even during the 06 campaign the Dems didnt want to touch the Clinton "terror" history of a do nothing pres. Thats EXACTLY why a Dem. WILL NOT win in 08.