What's the Difference Between Hillary, Obama or George??

I'm watching as Americans continue to allow the political hacks of both parties to play their electoral games of spend and dodge and can't help but wonder why we allow it and when we'll stop it.
Can anybody say Obama or Hillary will get us out of Iraq anytime soon if elected? Can anybody say if the budget for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will stop draining the life out of the needs of impoverished Americans or impoverished Iraqis? Can anybody say schools will get better, jobs will pay living wages, healthcare will be available for all, housing will improve for the homeless or the average pay check to pay check worker or racism, sexism or ageism will lessen?
Can anybody reveal how much money from AIPAC and other Zionists (for the politically correct please understand Zionist doesn't mean Jewish or all Israelis) goes into the campaign funds of Hillary and Obama either directly or indirectly? When we learn the large sums that are given both these candidates by Zionists and AIPAC, can we seriously think Palestinians will ever have a chance for justice?
While it seems easy to revile George W, Dick and Condi for the criminals they are don’t we have to do the same for those who have been complicit with them in the funding and continuation of their crimes? Doesn’t that group include the spineless Democratic leadership?
It seems every election year there’s a “new” candidate who has charisma and captures a large audience with promises of “change”. As we look back, what happened to those candidates that gave their audience so much hope?
Here in Colorado, Ken Salazar was going to be the new hope for many. One of his first acts was to endorse Alberto Gonzales, the henchman for the Bush torture team.
My good friend praises Hillary Clinton. She believes Hillary will make a “great” President. I agree she would make a “great” President but not in the context my friend thinks of being great. Hillary would be “great” in keeping the status quo just as husband, Bill, was. Can we expect a former board member of Wal-Mart and a Senator beholding to AIPAC to be anything but a figure head for more of the same?
When I hear the enthusiasm for Barrack Obama I think about JFK’s charm and the enthusiasm we had for him. He was articulate and charismatic. He promised great changes but instead gave us Vietnam. Obama plays on his opposition to entering Iraq but where’s his political courage when funding the war comes around? Obama promises change but the question needs to be asked if he can change the incarceration rates for black and brown males aged 25-35? He may want to see all people equal but can he see that it becomes a reality?
In truth, it would be easy to focus our contempt on Bush’s visit to Denver this week but just as appropriate to picket the visits of Obama and Bill Clinton. All of them are part of the oligarchy that poses as democracy. All of them are part of the military- industrial complex responsible for immoral wars and worldwide injustices.
So why do we continue to allow these candidates to avoid the hard questions of how they intend on changing our nation? Why do we allow them to spend billions on their campaigns and think they will have integrity? How in good conscience can men and women claiming to want the best for this nation and our world spend such obscene amounts of money to obtain office?
All across the world we are judged by the men and women we allow to govern our nation. As the world becomes smaller in our ability to communicate with one another can the people of the U.S. truthfully say we are good citizens of our world?

Wm. Terry Leichner, RN
Denver VVAW member
Vietnam combat vet