Stephanie Tubbs Jones: Meeting Adjourned

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Today the nation adjourned the final meeting with Stephanie Tubbs Jones, 58, who died earlier this month of a massive brain aneurysm. Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, the first black woman to represent Ohio in Congress and a strong critic of the Iraq war, was a friend to all she met and moreover she was a leader with a passion who kept company with the likes of the Clintons.

Today the nation said good-bye during a public memorial service in Ohio and thanks to C-Span, the nation got to know Stephanie just a little better. A funny, passionate, and loving mother, sister, and leader to all, she will be a missing link during this historical time as her fellow Democrats continue working towards the CHANGE she always wanted to see in Washington.

Yes, the Clintons and Senator Barack Obama had many mentions and it was obvious of their presence but Stephanie would have wanted nothing less. She loved the Clintons and after it was obvious that Senator Clinton would have to step aside, she supported the ideal of electing Barack as our next President. Her services were just the way she would have wanted, except for the fact she would have said “this is lasting too long,” as President Clinton noted.

We’ll miss you Stephanie and those you continued to fight for will always be indebted to your service you gave us all! Read more about this vibrant leader, woman, and American by going to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26303502.

-Michelle Bart, Helping Heroes

Sarah Palin, a Shocker Decision

Sarah Palin, 44, Governor of Alaska (since December 2006), proud member and supporter of the National Riffle Association and someone putting herself in the same league of Hillary Clinton was the announcement of the day as Senator John McCain placed Palin on the ticket for the GOP's next Vice-President of the United State of America; I'm thinking McCain and his team need a reality check.

Don't get me wrong, I would be as excited as my fellow female sisters across the nation to have the first woman Vice-President or as President of our country, but Palin isn't the one to hold that office for the first time in our country's history. I applaud Palin as a woman who can lead a community, can help support the initiatives of Alaska's needs, can juggle being a mother of five with the tireless hours of political leadership and service, and a woman who has without a doubt began building an impressive resume, however, I disagree whole heartily on the comparison that Hillary Clinton paved the way for her, because that is not a compliment but rather an insult to Senator Clinton and her 35+ years of political service. Placing her name in the same category, only one characteristic is similar, they both are female.

Let me remind my readers and those thinking that Hillary gave up on her supporters, she gave it all she had and then some. In the end the choice was clear not because of the voices of the people but the voices of the delegates. If we want the people to decide then we should have left all candidates in place and went for the vote on November 4th, but because of a screwed up system, it is what it is and we must do what it take to make sure the CHANGE comes through loud and clear.

If you want a country with more fire arms, more taxes for the middle class, if you expect our men and women to continue fighting a war with no positive conclusion, and you want a life like the past eight years of unemployment, loss of homes, and loss of hope then they may be the choice you take, but if you want the opposite and you want CHANGE then on November 4th make your vote count and have a voice that will clearly bring American's back on their feet!

McCain-Palin not the ticket in 2008. If you want more information from a neutral standpoint go to www.cnn.com.

- Michelle A. Bart, Helping Heroes

*photo by Kiichiro Sato, AP