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11/7/08 - Senator - Congratulation on your impressive win. Like many others I found myself in tears following the announcement that you will become the 44th President of the United States. Not only do I congratulate you on the win, but also on the way in which you conducted your campaign.

Sadly, my joy was quickly crushed by your appointment of Rahm Emanuel as your Chief of Staff. By making this appointment, you have clearly shown that you have no intention of solving the Middle East Crisis! Many people, myself included, have been hoping and saying that much of your campaign rhetoric was simply a means to an end - the Presidency. We have hoped that you will quickly break some of your campaign promises. One of them being your strange stance on Israel. Congressman Emanuel has consistently demonstrated amongst his colleges that he is a bully, very much in the way of George Bush - my way or the highway. He has gained his positions by forcing others out of the way, by threatening to withhold needed campaign funds and other trickery. He openly supported and voted for the Iraq War and his undying support for Zionist ideals has put him in the forefront of the problem in there not being a path to peace in the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict.

Senator, there can be no peace in the Middle East unless and until Israel withdraws to the '67 borders, tears down the walls, and finally allows the Palestinian to claim their homeland. Polls in Israel and Palestine show that an overwhelming majority of their citizens desire peace. The hold up is not Palestinian aggression or "terrorism," but a relatively small group of Zionists similar in beliefs to the Bush Neocons. Your decision has been made, and I respect that, but please don't let Emanuel's Napoleon Complex come between you and real peace in the Middle East.

Thomas Daly, Retired California Publisher

11/09/08 - Senator - During your first press conference you unskillfully danced around the congratulatory message from Iran's President Ahmadinejad. The BBC put it this way, "On the American side, while Barack Obama responded gracefully and personally to messages of congratulation from other world leaders, he held back from doing so with Mr Ahmadinejad, mindful of the political implications of such a gesture." What are the implications? By not graciously accepting his message, you have said Change Will Not Happen! Please, please stop listening to backwards advisors and start listening to to your heart. To say thank you would be a big step in bringing about World Peace. To not say thank you indicates that you are not the symbol of peace that America voted for.

Thomas Daly, Retired California Newspaper Publisher

11/10/08 - Senator - The election is over and, thankfully, you will be our next President! Your campaign has been strongly based upon Change and now it is time for the rubber to hit the road. During the campaign I wrote 15 pages of emails to you and appreciate your responses. Now begins the process of healing, not only in America, but the entire World. Within those emails I detailed many of the items I believe you need to tackle head-on as our new President. Here I summarize some of the most pressing issues which, in my opinion, you must address as soon as possible. None of these issues can wait if real Change is to happen.

1. Negotiate a lasting Peace Agreement between Israel and Palestine which leads to a Palestinian State. End the Iraq War and rethink your commitment to enlarge the Afghanistan War. Peace and Democracy can NEVER be won with bullets and threats.

2. Rewrite or end the Patriot Act.

3. End the Military Commissions Act.

4. Restore Habeas Corpus.

5. Close Guantanamo.

6. Restore immediately normal relations with Cuba.

7. Give Guantanamo back to the Cubans.

8. Rewrite or end the FISA Act.

9. Immediately reach out to ALL World leaders to reestablish good and peaceful relations.

10. Sign the Land Mine Treaty and end the use of cluster bombs.

11. Sign the Kyoto Agreement.

12. Cancel numerous Executive Orders, especially those which give you dictatorial power.

13. Instigate real Election Reform.

14. Put control of America's money in the hands of the Treasury and end the Federal Reserve (Look at Executive Order 11110).

15. Close ALL private prisons and encourage Congress to rewrite America's Criminal Laws so that justice is truly equally applied. End punitive justice. End the War on Drugs by treating drug addiction the same as alcohol addiction. Legalize drugs and treat them and tax them the same as alcohol.

16. Eliminate "For Profit" medical care and establish a real Single Payer Health Care Plan for America with no control by Insurance companies.

17. Rewrite or end NAFTA.

18. End the Security and Prosperity Partnership.

19. End the War on Terrorism by sitting down with the Arab nations and solving the issues which lead to divisions. See number 1.

20. End America's dependency upon foreign oil and immediately establish an energy policy which includes and encourages the use of alternative fuels and energy sources. Food crops should not be used as fuel sources.

Thomas Daly Retired California Newspaper Publisher

11/12/08 - Senator - Joe Lieberman should be purged from the party! He lost his Democratic primary and was only elected because the Republicans completely abandoned their own Republican candidate. Even if he should somehow end up as the crucial 60th member, he cannot be trusted and he will continue to force backroom deals to obtain his vote.

Below are 2 emails I recently sent to Senator Harry Reid. I hope you and the Democrats will take immediate steps to show turncoat Lieberman the door! Senator Reid - I strongly urge you to remove Senator Joe Lieberman from any Committee Chairmanships and further urge you to remove Lieberman from the Democratic Caucus. Joe Lieberman is clearly a turncoat who openly supports the Republican Party. Please, please let the Republicans have him. By his actions he demonstrates that national unity is not part of his agenda. Even if he somehow could become the important 60th vote, his character is forever tainted. He deserves to be drummed out of the Party!

11/09/08 - Senator Reid - I just watched your interview on CNN with John King. You are wrong about Joe Lieberman. He should NOT be allowed to chair any committees. He has clearly demonstrated that his heart is with the Republicans - let them have him! By failing to remove Lieberman from chair positions and the Caucus, you will clearly demonstrate that it will only be business as usual in Washington.Obama was elected because America and the entire World wants Change. Please do what is right and show Joe Lieberman the door!

Thomas Daly, Retired California Newspaper Publisher

11/12/08 - Senator - I urge you to not reappoint Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. America and the World wants Change and, most importantly, Peace. Neither will happen if members of the "old" regime are allowed to hold these critical positions. Make replacement of Gates a top priority.

Thomas Daly, Retired California Newspaper Publisher

11/13/08 - Mr. President Elect - I am so happy that you are planning to move quickly to close Guantanamo and to move the prisoners housed there to the U.S. I hope that your plan will totally close the entire facility and I also hope that you will consider returning the Guantanamo property back to Cuba. Additionally, I, once again, urge you to rescind the Military Commissions Act, restore Habeas Corpus, and either free or file legitimate charges against all of those who have been held at Guantanamo. Those charged should by able to see and question their accusers, should have civilian jury trials, and be treated with every human right we would want Americans to be given.

Thomas Daly, Retired California Newspaper Publisher

11/14/08 Mr. President-Elect - I am disturbed that you may be considering Hillary Clinton to be Secretary of State and I'm curious as to just who leaked this information. Your campaign was basically leak proof and suddenly Hillary pops up. Did she leak the information? I believe you should seriously consider Governor Bill Richardson for the position. He has tremendous experience and would present someone who all world leaders can work with. As unfortunate as it is, most Arab/Muslim nations are not amenable to working with female counterparts and this puts Senator Clinton or any other female pick at a distinct disadvantage.

Governor Richardson will bring another benefit which is his Latino roots and ability to speak Spanish. The Bush administration has woefully failed to work with America's Latin neighbors which has led to a distinctive turn to the hard left in most Latin countries. I believe that Richardson could easily and quickly smooth over the many rough edges left by Bush and his ilk. While I strongly believe in equal rights, my desire for World Peace trumps that desire when it comes to having the "right" person to negotiate with the many leaders who have been left with a bad taste after eight years of the Bush Doctrine. Governor Richardson is the perfect choice to assist you to reestablish good and meaningful relations with America's neighbors.

Thomas Daly, Retired California Newspaper Publisher

11/14/08 - Mr. President-Elect - America stands at a critical crossroads in the quest for World Peace. Several times I have talked about the need for immediate and meaningful negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. As I write this Israel is literally starving hundreds of Palestinians by refusing to let food and fuel be delivered to the Palestinians. This should not and must not be tolerated! Your choice of Rahm Emanuel is not seen as a good sign in many nations of the world. His father's comments, while he has attempted to distance himself from them, unfortunately ring true. The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is symptomatic of the huge gulf that exists between Western and Arab nations. The Arabs are extremely desirous of peace in their region. Their peace plan is a good one which should be brought to the table and America must act as an honest broker listening to, respecting, and negotiating with all parties. Sixty years of failed policy and one-sided support of Israel has led nowhere and it is time for an Obama Change! Most Muslim nations are tribal and have traditions which go back thousands of years before the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Because their day-to-day lives are so deeply rooted in the Koran, they cannot be dealt with in the same manner as secular nations.

I suggest that you read the interesting book, Ibn Battuta Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354 for some personal incite into Islamic thought. The ill conceived "War on Terror" can be easily set aside if America will only take the lead in solving the deep wounds which have led to the divisions between Israel and the Arab world. Israelis overwhelmingly want peace as do their Palestinian brethren. Please make Peace your top priority. Show Israel and the Arab nations that America can be evenhanded in meaningful negotiations. The entire World is waiting for Change!

Thomas Daly, Retired California Newspaper Publisher

PS - I just read the account of Alan Dershowitz comments about Jimmy Carter and the DNC Convention. From JTA - "In an interview with Shalom TV, the Harvard Law School professor says he "pushed" Barack Obama "very hard to make that decision." Dershowitz said, "Barack Obama had to make a choice between his Jewish supporters and his anti-Israel supporters like Jimmy Carter, and he did not choose Jimmy Carter. If true, this statement has the hand of Rahm Emanuel all over it and that is ashame! The World needs people like Carter to bring about World Peace!

12/19/08 - Several times you have asked me to complete the survey on this page:http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/pesurvpage1
I would love to, but strongly object to the third question on the survey:
How often do you attend religious services?:

This question does NOT belong on any survey! Whatever happened to separation of church and state?
Like the selection of Pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at the Inaugural, this survey question is a giant step in the wrong direction for what the entire World hopes will be CHANGE. Please consider removing this question from the survey.
Thomas Daly
Retired California Newspaper Publisher

12/28/08 - Mr. President-Elect - The U.S. support of Israel's current slaughter of innocent Palestinians is shameful! 270 dead and 600 severely wounded. The Israelis by withholding vital food and fuel supplies have driven the Palestinians into a corner and now they are using U.S. supplied arms to murder them! This is yet another reason why Arab countries hate America.
I know you have been forced to espouse support for Israel during your campaign, but I hope one of your first actions after taking office will be to bring about a lasting peace in the Middle East. America's one-sided support in this terrible conflict MUST stop. By allowing Israel to slaughter innocent Palestinians, America is supporting mass terrorism which borders on genocide! Enough is enough! Do something - Bring about real CHANGE!
Thomas Daly
Retired California Newspaper Publisher

1/03/09 - Mr. President-Elect - How can you stand by and say nothing to condemn Israel for the wanton slaughter in Gaza? If you feel you can't say anything as President-Elect, how about as Mr. Private Citizen? On the current round of Questions being posted there are thousands of comments and votes against the Israeli aggression. You cannot remain silent! You must not remain silent! Peace will never happen as long as the U.S. continues to look the other way while Israel violates every International Law in existence.
Where is the CHANGE you promised? Do Something!!!
Thomas Daly
Retired California Newspaper Publisher

Below is today's comment from Richard A. Falk is United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories:
Israel Violates International Humanitarian Law
By Prof. Richard Falk, 03 January, 2009, Countercurrents.org
The Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip represent severe and massive violations of international humanitarian law as defined in the Geneva Conventions, both in regard to the obligations of an Occupying Power and in the requirements of the laws of war.

Those violations include:
Collective punishment - the entire 1.5 million people who live in the crowded Gaza Strip are being punished for the actions of a few militants.
Targeting civilians - the airstrikes were aimed at civilian areas in one of the most crowded stretches of land in the world, certainly the most densely populated area of the Middle East.
Disproportionate military response - the airstrikes have not only destroyed every police and security office of Gaza's elected government, but have killed and injured hundreds of civilians; at least one strike reportedly hit groups of students attempting to find transportation home from the university.
Earlier Israeli actions, specifically the complete sealing off of entry and exit to and from the Gaza Strip, have led to severe shortages of medicine and fuel (as well as food), resulting in the inability of ambulances to respond to the injured, the inability of hospitals to adequately provide medicine or necessary equipment for the injured, and the inability of Gaza's besieged doctors and other medical workers to sufficiently treat the victims.
Certainly the rocket attacks against civilian targets in Israel are unlawful. But that illegality does not give rise to any Israeli right, neither as the Occupying Power nor as a sovereign state, to violate international humanitarian law and commit war crimes or crimes against humanity in its response. I note that Israel's escalating military assaults have not made Israeli civilians safer; to the contrary, the one Israeli killed today after the upsurge of Israeli violence is the first in over a year.
Israel has also ignored recent Hamas' diplomatic initiatives to reestablish the truce or ceasefire since its expiration on 26 December.
The Israeli airstrikes today, and the catastrophic human toll that they caused, challenge those countries that have been and remain complicit, either directly or indirectly, in Israel's violations of international law. That complicity includes those countries knowingly providing the military equipment including warplanes and missiles used in these illegal attacks, as well as those countries who have supported and participated in the siege of Gaza that itself has caused a humanitarian catastrophe.
I remind all member states of the United Nations that the UN continues to be bound to an independent obligation to protect any civilian population facing massive violations of international humanitarian law - regardless of what country may be responsible for those violations. I call on all Member States, as well as officials and every relevant organ of the United Nations system, to move on an emergency basis not only to condemn Israel's serious violations, but to develop new approaches to providing real protection for the Palestinian people.

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