Mar

9

Lost In The Void

Category: Opinions, Politics | Leave a Comment | 649 words | Print

Just a couple quick thoughts tonight, as I am up to my ears in a few things that some people call “real” life. I don’t understand why people separate their activities into “online” and “real” life.

I have been working with computers, BBS’s, and the Internet for so long that my “online” life and “real” life seem to be one in the same. I met my wife online, we found a place to live online, we both have businesses online, and our kids have their own laptops and blog, online.

If someone you know separates the two then you know something about them. Either they are hiding what they do online from their “real” life friends, or they are hiding their “real” life friends from their activities online. Some people may have justification (ie: abusive ex-spouses, jobs, etc) for doing so, but it’s all still real isn’t it? Just because they spent six hours in WoW doesn’t mean their butt wasn’t physically in that chair the whole time.

So, I was sitting here today and I read that the Obama administration is working to ban recreational fishing.

Led by NOAA’s Jane Lubchenco, the task force has shown no overt dislike of recreational angling, but its indifference to the economic, social and biological value of the sport has been deafening.

Additionally, Lubchenco and others in the administration have close ties to environmental groups who would like nothing better than to ban recreational angling. And evidence suggests that these organizations have been the engine behind the task force since before Obama issued a memo creating it last June.

While the article may (or may not) be stretching things a bit, Barack Obama has proven that anything is possible when you consider all of the other asinine ideas he’s come up with.

Is President Obama working to ban recreational fishing? Good luck with that Barry.

After reading that previous article, and wondering what I am going to do with all my tackle supplies if they do ban recreational fishing, I read that Senate Democrats are trying to add an overhaul of federal student loans into the health care reform package.

It seems they have a slight problem with scheduling and if they don’t act fast, they may just have to wait to do one or the other and you know they aren’t waiting on health care.

I don’t think they’ll add it into the bill. They’re having enough trouble getting the votes they need on health care, let alone opening that big ol’ can of worms.

If the Obama administration hadn’t been trying to ban recreational fishing those worms would have come in handy if we went fishing for the next moronic statement from Democratic leadership. Thanks to Nancy Pelosi, we don’t have too.

You’ve heard about the controversies within the bill, the process about the bill, one or the other. But I don’t know if you have heard that it is legislation for the future, not just about health care for America, but about a healthier America, where preventive care is not something that you have to pay a deductible for or out of pocket. Prevention, prevention, prevention—it’s about diet, not diabetes. It’s going to be very, very exciting. But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.

Did you catch that? We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in the bill. Get real, Nancy!

Banning recreational fishing, adding budgetary items to a bill they want to reconcile, and blubbering about bills that can’t be read. It sounds like some strange twisted alternate reality to me.

Maybe there is some separation between “online” and “real” life. If so, then I must be lost in the void between them.

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Mar

7

Sunday Silence

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Mar

4

Enough Already, It’s Time To Listen!

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As you know, President Obama spoke to the American people on Wednesday. He spoke about health care. Again. During his speech he spoke about some changes in the current health care bill. You remember the current health care bill don’t you? Yeah, that’s right, it’s the one that 2/3 of the American people don’t want!

I think this was speech number 500 or something. Do I really need to see the President of the United States every day on my television? Do I need to hear his voice every day on the radio? If Barack Obama was as smart as he wants us all to think he is, he would shut up already, and he would do it now.

Let’s look at some of the things he had to say, shall we?

  1. He said, “The bottom line is: our proposal is paid for.”

    Don’t be so sure about that. The CBO (the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office) has said that it lacks sufficient details to evaluate the President’s plan. There’s no way for him to honestly claim that this “new” proposal is paid for.

  2. He said, “Now, it’s true that all of this will cost money – about $100 billion per year.”

    Over the course of 10 years, that $100 billion per year will add up to $1 trillion in costs. Costs he just claimed were “paid for”. If that cost is paid for, that means your taxes are going up and you haven’t even started paying for the new health care you’re going to be receiving yet!

  3. He said, “Finally, my proposal would bring down the cost of health care…”

    Wait. How can you bring down the cost of health care, when you’re paying $1 trillion for it before you even know what the actual costs are going be? Remember, he said it would cost $100 billion per year and the CBO hasn’t been able to verify anything about the proposal!

    Many non-partisan experts, within the CBO and the Obama Administration itself have said the Senate bill will raise premium costs for families on the individual market by an average $2,100 and raise national health spending overall. So which part of those facts show his proposal “brings down the cost of health care”?

  4. He said, “I don’t believe we should give government bureaucrats … more control over health care in America.”

    His “new” proposal creates more than 160 new boards, commissions and programs. Billions and billions (probably $100 billion) in wasteful government bureaucracy firmly planted between you and available health care.

It’s no secret that I disapprove of President Obama, but just once I would like to believe something, anything, that comes out of his mouth once he starts to make a statement. Heck, even when he starts with the words “Good Afternoon”, it usually isn’t. Have you seen the economy lately?

If his speech was meant to “rally the American people” he needs to fire his speech writers and spokespeople, immediately. All he has done is rehash all of the same aspects of a health care bill that the American people have already said they don’t want. During the presidential campaign, he made a comment about “lipstick on a pig”. If this isn’t the biggest pig to be painting lipstick on, I don’t know what is.

In addition to the cosmetic surgery he performed on the horrible health care bill, President Obama has made it clear he intends to have it pushed through Congress using reconciliation which requires a simple majority in both the House and the Senate.

By doing so, every member of the Senate and every member of the House up for re-election, who vote to pass the bill this way, will face intense scrutiny from the voters in November. My bet is less than 25 percent of them will keep their jobs. That is, if the bill ever makes it way back to the House floor at all. Steny Hoyer says they don’t even have a bill yet.

Democratic leaders are contending with a host of undecided lawmakers who want to see the fine print before making a decision. Hoyer said final language and a cost estimate should come back from the Congressional Budget Office by the end of next week.

“At this point in time we don’t have a bill,” Hoyer said. “It’s a little difficult to count votes if you don’t have a bill.”

Once again, our Congressional leaders are pimping a bill no one has seen yet. It hasn’t even been written, yet the President has spoken to the American people encouraging them to support whatever it is that they may write in the future.

The President wants Congress to act before he leaves on his trip to Asia on March 18th. Both Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer say it’s “doable”. I don’t think so, neither does Howard Dean.

Passing the healthcare proposals before Congress will “hang out to dry” every Democratic incumbent running for reelection this fall, Howard Dean said Thursday.

Dean, a physician by training who’s a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), said that Democrats in Congress — and President Barack Obama — would do themselves more harm than good by passing the current healthcare bill.

How long can the Democrats ignore the will of the American people even when their own party members begin speaking out against the bill? It won’t be much longer, I can guarantee you that.

It’s time to start over. Toss out the current bill, sit down at the table to discuss the real issues, and put together a real health care proposal that makes sense.

If the Democrats don’t see this is the best way to move forward on health care, it’s time to vote them all out of office.

It’s time to get leaders in those seats who know how to listen to the American people.

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Mar

2

Another Day, Another Snow Job

Category: Life, Opinions, Politics | Leave a Comment | 587 words | Print

Yesterday some weather forecasters said we’d get snow while others said we wouldn’t. Of those calling for snow, one was correct. We got exactly as much as he said we would, and that’s why I pay attention to Glen Burns at WSB-TV. After 13 years of watching (and listening to) him, he’s right more often than anyone else.

 

I took the video fairly early in the day. We ended up with about 3 inches total here at our house, but at one point it was melting as quick as it was falling.

It was pretty to watch, but it was a heavy, wet snow and the kids didn’t find much interest in it. Amazing really, because we rarely get snow, so you would think they would want to be out there all day.

With all the snow falling outside, I couldn’t help but wonder if hell had frozen over. After reading the news today, I’m still not sure.

House Ways and Means Committee Charlie Rangel was on the verge of losing his gavel Tuesday night as a trickle of Democratic defections turned into a flood.

It wasn’t clear how Rangel would go – voluntarily, by force, temporarily or permanently – but the tide had clearly turned against him by the time he walked into a closed-door meeting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s staff Tuesday night.

“The dam broke today,” said a senior Democratic aide.

Charlie Rangel has been in the House of Representatives for 39 years. House members are elected every two years. That’s one election and 17 re-elections so far for those of you keeping track. By now, Mr. Rangel is pretty settled into his job as a career politician, but it looks like his days are finally numbered.

Sure, it’s only a leadership role, but a very influential one at that, so if hell is freezing over, I’m hoping his days as a Congressman could be coming to an end as well.

Another interesting development today was the sudden “switch” by Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY).

For days now he has blocked a bill extending unemployment benefits, highway funding, and other government programs because the bill was unfunded.

Tonight, however, he switched his position because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) promised him a vote on his amendment forcing the $10 billion bill to be offset by closing a tax loophole, as well as a chance to offer amendments on the next Senate jobs bill which will cost $150 billion.

Just moments after he agreed to Scary Harry’s terms, the extension bill passed 78 – 19 and his amendment failed with only 43 Senators voting for it.

So what did Bunning gain out of this? Nothing. Nothing at all. He folded under the pressure when he should have stood his ground. How much longer can we write checks with nothing to pay them with? Here’s Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) speaking on the Senate floor today before Sen. Bunning caved.

 

The one bright side was seeing which 19 GOP members voted against the measure. Senators Alexander, Barrasso, Bennett (UT), Bunning, Burr, Coburn, Corker, Cornyn, Crapo, DeMint, Ensign, Enzi, Gregg, Hatch, Johanns, McConnell, Risch, Sessions, and Thune all voted against a bill that will cost $10 billion with no money allocated to pay for it.

Even though he voted against the bill itself, by dropping his opposition to the bill Jim Bunning helped increase our national debt by $10 billion in just a matter of minutes. Thanks, Jim!

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Mar

1

It’s Time To Send The Painted Lady Packing

Category: Opinions, Our Nation, Politics | Leave a Comment | 637 words | Print

Do you remember a couple of years ago when House Republicans were asking Nancy Pelosi to come back to Washington so something could be done about rising energy costs in America? If you’ve been following me for any length of time, I’m sure you remember, but just in case…

 

I remember it well because I posted videos every day, sometimes more than one per day to help get the word out. Republicans simply wanted the chance to debate the matter. Funny thing. Barack Obama was not President at that time, but people seem to forget that Nanny State Nancy and Scary Harry have controlled the House and the Senate for several years now. They have been stifling debate from day one.

The Democrats accuse the Republicans of “stalling tactics” when it comes to health-care, but the Republicans are simply standing up for the American people. They did it with immigration, they did it with the energy bill, and they are doing it again now. They’re not perfect, and many of them have their own faults, but the Republicans are simply speaking (and acting) for their constituents.

The American people do not like the current bills that have been introduced by the White House, the House, or the Senate. Nancy Pelosi avoids the fact that House Republicans have introduced 70 different bills and amendments, 66 of which haven’t even seen the light of day in committee or on the House floor. Instead, President Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi claim the Republicans don’t have a solution. You can only sweep so much under the rug before you trip on it!

Now, even though the bill is unpopular with the majority of the American people, President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid are planning to shove the bill through with ‘reconciliation’ which only requires a simple majority vote.

The White House called for a “simple up-or-down” vote on health care legislation Sunday as Speaker Nancy Pelosi appealed to House Democrats to get behind President Barack Obama’s chief domestic priority even it if threatens their political careers.

In voicing support for a simple majority vote, White House health reform director Nancy-Ann DeParle signaled Obama’s intention to push the Democratic-crafted bill under Senate rules that would overcome GOP stalling tactics.

A simple majority vote wasn’t good enough in the House when the Republicans wanted to introduce their own energy bill. What makes it good enough now?

Hasn’t America been led in the wrong direction long enough? The American people want a health-care solution that works. The American people have made it clear they do not like the health-care plan Democrats have proposed, and we can’t develop a new one if Democrats won’t discuss it.

Just yesterday, Nancy Pelosi said, ” A bill can be bipartisan without bipartisan votes“. She’s so out of touch with reality she can’t even speak coherently.

She is even urging her colleagues to back the current health-care plan even if it threatens their political careers because she feels the American people are not educated enough to know when they see, hear and smell the bullshit contained in the current bills being bandied about on the Hill.

What happened to the Democrat plan to lead from 2006? What about their plan to govern? Locking down the House and Senate, intimidating and bribing members into voting for their proposals, and stifling the other side of the debate is not leading or governing.

It’s criminal and it’s time for them to go.

The Democrats in Washington, D.C. have made one thing clear. Whether the issue is immigration, energy, or health-care, they have no idea what the American people want and it’s high time we, the American people, sent them a message and send them packing.

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Feb

24

Seventy Bills And Counting. Who’s Obstructing Now?

Category: Opinions, Our Nation, Politics | 1 Comment | 915 words | Print

Democrats on Capitol Hill have been pushing a health care bill that the majority of the American people do not like and do not want. President Obama has repeated over and over that he would welcome a discussion of ideas from those on the other side of the aisle (aka the Republicans).

I read through the first version of the bill (as introduced in the House of Representatives) and wrote about it over the course of several days right here on this blog. I read through the second version (as introduced in the Senate) and wrote about that one too.

At the time, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi refused to allow amendments from the other side of the aisle (aka the Republicans). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tried to push the bill through the Senate with almost no debate and no amendments from the other side of the aisle (aka the Republicans).

The American people have made one thing clear since the initial bill was introduced. They do not like the bill. They do not agree with many provisions in the bill. They do not want that bill. Many politicians from both sides of the aisle have said it would be better to just start over and do it right from the beginning.

Instead of starting over, President Obama has made it clear that he intends to help shove this poor idea of a health-care bill down the throats of the American people. This week, President Obama introduced a re-hashed version of the Senate bill, or was it the House bill? Does it matter? It’s a re-hash of the same old thing that even moderate Democrats do not feel comfortable debating let alone voting for. President Obama is holding a health-care summit at the White House tomorrow, but he will only consider ideas that address the goals contained in the Democratic plans already passed by the House and the Senate. In other words, he welcomes ideas that are the same as his.

What’s the point of welcoming ideas if you are going to restrict them so that they accomplish the exact same thing your current ideas already accomplish? That doesn’t make sense at all. That would be like asking me to provide two web designs that look completely different on the front end but are exactly the same and accomplish the same goal on the back end. The substance would be the same, but you’d get different eye candy when making it all work.

Websites are all about eye-candy, but health-care isnt. We’re talking about health-care here, not eye candy. WHO CARES what it looks like if it does the same thing NO ONE likes in the first place?

For months now, President Obama, his administration, Nanny State Nancy, Scary Harry Reid, and others, have claimed that the Republicans on Capitol Hill are acting as obstructionists who have no real plan(s) of their own. That, my friends, is another big fat lie from The Failed One%reg; and his henchmen.

Did you know that the Republicans have introduced 70 health care related bills during the 111th Congress alone? Republicans have been introducing health care bills as early as January of 2009. Do you have any idea how many of those bills have been considered in committee, let alone made it to the House floor?

The answer would be four. Yes, four. Just four.

One was voted on and passed. One was attached to H.R. 3200 in committee. Two others failed by a large margin on the House floor. The other 66 haven’t even been considered by Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic majority. Nothing. Nada. Read them for yourself (PDF). Those bills don’t even take into account H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

The definition of an obstructionist is ‘one who systematically blocks or interrupts a process’. If the Democrats want to claim Republicans are acting like obstructionists as they attempt to kill this bill that a majority of Americans do not want in the first place, then the Democrats too, by the very definition of the word itself, are acting like obstructionists by not even considering alternatives or amendments from the other side of the aisle.

For months I have heard Nancy Pelosi say that it’s time for Republicans to act in a bipartisan manner to get a health-care bill passed on the Hill. The fact remains that Republicans have been trying for more than a year now, but Pelosi herself keeps slamming the door on them.

Some of you may be chomping at the bit to say “well, Republicans did this when they controlled Congress too, so what’s the difference?”. If Republicans did it in the past, does that make it all right for the Democrats to do the same thing right now? Does keeping an attitude like that accomplish anything?

It’s high time for Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to stop their petty political games and sit down at the table with Republicans so they can all work together and get something done. It’s time for everyone to stop focusing on themselves and their political careers and start focusing on what’s right for the people of our country. You know, the people back home who are actually affected by their childish behavior taking place on Capitol Hill.

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Feb

23

Education, Exploitation, & Examination

Category: Opinions, Our Nation, Politics | Leave a Comment | 845 words | Print

It’s been fifty-four days since I had a Coca-Cola. I used to drink 4 to 6 (or more) of them per day, and I quit, cold turkey. I also stopped eating or drinking anything with high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils.

Since the first of the year I have lost seven pounds, bringing me to a loss of 16 pounds since November 1st of last year. I still have about 14 pounds to lose, but I am pretty sure I can accomplish that goal before spring comes to an end.

The only side effect of my new eating habits, is the re-occurrence of headaches, which usually hit later in the day and sometimes last until the following morning. Once I figure out what’s causing the headaches I should be golden with this whole “eating right” thing.

I have quite a few articles piled up here in my browser, so I thought I would pass them on to you this evening. It’s been about a month since I did a “thoughts” post, so it’s time.

Thought #1

I’m all for improving our current education system, but I hardly think increasing the “assessments” will solve any of the current problems plaguing the system.

Obama’s 2011 budget will call for the reauthorization of the 1994 version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which would require states to meet six tough standards to help high school graduates prepare for college or careers. The administration said schools need to focus on better teacher preparation, improved teaching and tougher student assessments.

It’s no secret that we homeschool our children. There are several reasons we choose to keep them out of the public school system, and one of those reasons is the current “teaching for the test” mentality. Too much pressure is on too many teachers and when time gets away from them they end up focusing only on the specific subjects and problems that will be covered in “the test”.

We have seen neighborhood kids stressing about “the test”, and we have spoken to teachers who wish they could take time to cover some subjects more in-depth but they are so constrained by “the test” they don’t dare take a even a moment out of their already tight schedule.

I wish I knew the solution to improving our educational system, but I am quite sure it isn’t making the assessments tougher or telling teachers they need to prepare more. Have you spoken to a teacher lately? Do you realize how much time (and personal money) they devote to their jobs as it is?

Thought #2

When was the last time you bought an article of clothing that was made in the United States of America? I feel for the people of Haiti, but I do not think this is the answer to their problem, and it only exacerbates ours.

In the quest to rebuild Haiti, the international community and business leaders are dusting off a pre-quake plan to expand its low-wage garment assembly industry as a linchpin of recovery. President Barack Obama’s administration is on board, encouraging U.S. retailers to obtain from Haiti at least 1 percent of the clothes they sell.

The garment industry in America is dying as it is. One percent doesn’t sound like a lot, but when there is little to nothing being manufactured here in the United States as it is, one percent will actually have quite an impact.

I find it ironic that this plan is endorsed by the current administration. If it had been proposed by a Republican administration (or endorsed by it), there would be cries of exploitation and we would be seen as taking advantage of the Haitian people.

Does it really make a difference if your clothes are made in China, Thailand, Indonesia, or Haiti? No matter which one you pick, the workers are exploited and taken advantage of. I guess it’s okay this time, because they’re calling for it in the name of “hope” for the people of Haiti.

Thought #3

The Washington Post has a pretty good explanation of President Obama’s latest health-care “modification”. Rather than starting over because the majority of the American people are unhappy with the current proposal, he slapped some lipstick on the pig and pushed it out the door.

Mr. Obama, following the advice of nearly every economist who has examined the issue, identified a tax on high-cost insurance plans as a key mechanism for curbing the growth of health-care costs. He was right. Unfortunately, in the legislative process the tax already was whittled down several times. Now the president proposes delaying it until 2018 — long after he leaves office — and raising the threshold at which it applies. Meanwhile, to recoup the $120 billion lost by the delay, Mr. Obama would apply the Medicare payroll tax to unearned income for the wealthiest taxpayers — money that should be used to shore up Medicare’s shaky finances rather than subsidizing cushy insurance.

Go read the rest of the article, it summarizes the President’s health-care changes quite succinctly.

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Feb

20

The Disgraceful Treatment Of The Dalai Lama

Category: Opinions, Our Nation | Leave a Comment | 778 words | Print

Do you remember the news back in April of last year, when President Obama met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, not once but twice, at the meeting of the Union of South American Nations?

You probably don’t, so I will remind you.

Obama, Chavez Meet; Chavez Gives Obama a Book

 

Obama has come face to face with leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, one of Washington’s fiercest critics, twice so far at the Summit of the Americas. According to a senior official, when the two men were lining up for the ceremonial entrance last night, Obama strode over to Chavez and introduced himself. Chavez reportedly told Obama he hoped for a new start to relations between the two countries, an account the U.S. official did not dispute. According to the official, Obama smiled and returned to his place in the line. Later that night Obama joked to reporters that he’d said “Como estas?”

This morning, at the beginning of a meeting of the Union of South American Nations, Chavez gave Obama a book: “Las Venas Abietas de America Latina” or “The Open Veins of Latin America”, a scholarly text that analyzes Latin America’s dependence on the north. The media friendly Chavez waited until the press had been allowed into the room for a photo opportunity before gifting the book, which Obama accepted.

Do you remember the photo op that went with that second meeting?

 

So why am I reminding you of something that occurred ten months ago? It’s simple, really.

I think it’s important to remember who our President chooses to surround himself with, and more importantly, who he chooses to be seen with.

The two photos of President Obama greeting Hugo Chavez are unscripted. They are candid shots taken by photographers at the event who captured that historic moment in time when the leader of the free world met one of the world’s most vicious dictators and smiled while doing so.

Now, fast forward to this week.

Obama meets Dalai Lama; Only one photo allowed

The only photograph of President Obama meeting with the Dalai Lama was taken by a White House photographer. Independent media was not allowed to cover the event. The President of the United States was so worried about offending China that he met privately with the Dalai Lama and released an “official” photo which depicts President Obama with a stern face and the Dalai Lama looking a bit shocked, or something.

 

It’s clear that the Obama administration staged this photo opportunity so they could whitewash the meeting with the Dalai Lama and save face with China. Articles from the media reveal the real reason that independent photographers were not allowed to record the meeting.

The sensitivity comes for fear of offending China which, as the Associated Press notes, now holds nearly $800 billion in U.S. federal debt. And for fear of reprisals in other areas by the rising Asian superpower. (Gee, what if China used lead in its paints?)

China sees the Dalai Lama as a separatist seeking to overthrow the sovereignty that China imposed militarily in 1950. Well, no one said it had to make sense. The Dalai Lama fled in 1959 after a failed revolt and lives in India now.

If meeting with the Dalai Lama in private without independent media covering the event wasn’t bad enough, just wait til you see what happened next. You see, when President Obama met with Hugo Chavez at the meeting of the Union of South American Nations, they were both allowed to use the front door while entering and exiting. The same cannot be said about the Dalai Lama.

 

I thought President Obama promised us hope and change. I thought this was the 21st Century. Since when do we, the American people, usher guests in and out of the back door at America’s House?

Didn’t Rosa Parks refuse to give up her seat on a bus so this type of thing wouldn’t happen again? Wasn’t Medgar Evers sacrifice enough? He believed that everyone was indeed created equal.

No one should be ushered out through the back door of the White House, for any reason, let alone to save face with a country that wouldn’t know civil rights if it came crashing through their window tied to a brick.

February is Black History Month here in the United States, which is good timing, because it’s clear to me that our own President needs a bit of a refresher course. If anyone in the White House should understand the significance of ushering people out the back door, it’s our current President.

It’s time to change, Mr. President. This is no time to be yellow.

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Feb

19

Tea Parties & Mount Vernon

Category: Opinions, Politics | Leave a Comment | 782 words | Print

This has been a busy, and hectic, week. My sister is in town for the weekend, so posting will be a bit light. I did, however, want to mention a couple things.

Did you see what Glenn Reynolds had to say about the Tea Party Convention? Here are some excerpts.

The political elites have failed, and citizens are stepping in to pick up the slack.

He sure got that right. For years we have depended on our elected officials to get the job done, and they have failed. It’s time to make sure things get done and sometimes, especially this time, the only way to get something done is to do it ourselves.

While writing about Sarah Palin’s appearance at the convention, Reynolds went on to add,

Right now, the tea party isn’t looking for leaders so much as leaders are looking to align themselves with the tea party.

The Tea Party movement does not need leaders. The heart of the Tea Party movement is the collective voice of the citizens involved within it. It wouldn’t make sense to silence so many people just so their “leader” could speak would it? That’s the problem that started the Tea Party movement in the first place. Our political leaders failed us and refused to listen.

Never again. It’s time for real change.

The Mount Vernon Statement
 
Constitutional Conservatism: A Statement for the 21st Century

We recommit ourselves to the ideas of the American Founding.  Through the Constitution, the Founders created an enduring framework of limited government based on the rule of law. They sought to secure national independence, provide for economic opportunity, establish true religious liberty and maintain a flourishing society of republican self-government.

These principles define us as a country and inspire us as a people. They are responsible for a prosperous, just nation unlike any other in the world. They are our highest achievements, serving not only as powerful beacons to all who strive for freedom and seek self-government, but as warnings to tyrants and despots everywhere.

Each one of these founding ideas is presently under sustained attack. In recent decades, America’s principles have been undermined and redefined in our culture, our universities and our politics. The self evident truths of 1776 have been supplanted by the notion that no such truths exist. The federal government today ignores the limits of the Constitution, which is increasingly dismissed as obsolete and irrelevant.

Some insist that America must change, cast off the old and put on the new. But where would this lead — forward or backward, up or down? Isn’t this idea of change an empty promise or even a dangerous deception?

The change we urgently need, a change consistent with the American ideal, is not movement away from but toward our founding principles. At this important time, we need a restatement of Constitutional conservatism grounded in the priceless principle of ordered liberty articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

The conservatism of the Declaration asserts self-evident truths based on the laws of nature and nature’s God. It defends life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It traces authority to the consent of the governed. It recognizes man’s self-interest but also his capacity for virtue.

The conservatism of the Constitution limits government’s powers but ensures that government performs its proper job effectively. It refines popular will through the filter of representation. It provides checks and balances through the several branches of government and a federal republic.

A Constitutional conservatism unites all conservatives through the natural fusion provided by American principles. It reminds economic conservatives that morality is essential to limited government, social conservatives that unlimited government is a threat to moral self-government, and national security conservatives that energetic but responsible government is the key to America’s safety and leadership role in the world.

A Constitutional conservatism based on first principles provides the framework for a consistent and meaningful policy agenda.

  • It applies the principle of limited government based on the?rule of law to every proposal.
  • It honors the central place of individual liberty in American?politics and life.
  • It encourages free enterprise, the individual entrepreneur, and?economic reforms grounded in market solutions.
  • It supports America’s national interest in advancing freedom?and opposing tyranny in the world and prudently considers what we can and should do to that?end.
  • It informs conservatism’s firm defense of family, neighborhood,?community, and faith.

If we are to succeed in the critical political and policy battles ahead, we must be certain of our purpose.

We must begin by retaking and resolutely defending the high ground of America’s founding principles.

February 17, 2010

If you agree with the Mount Vernon Statement, head over to the Mount Vernon Statement website and sign the petition. As of right now, there are more than 24,000 signatures.

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Feb

18

Some People Will Say Anything

Category: Opinions, Politics | Leave a Comment | 338 words | Print

So, after everything you’ve read in the past week, do you still support John Oxendine for governor of Georgia? You might want to know what he said back in 2003.

During a conference for auto-insurance managers, he said,

“We are a pain in the butt. We are very high-maintenance…. I am not a professional regulator, I am a politician…. I’m going to do what I think is going to get me reelected.”

The, he went on to say,

“you need to realize that you have to find a way to always make me look good in front of the voters.”

People of Georgia, is this really someone you want running your state? Is this the type of person who should be living in the Governor’s Mansion? Can you imagine the other interests and industries he will pressure if he is actually elected to the highest office in the state? Still not convinced?

When speaking about campaign contributions, He insisted he was not allowed to take contributions from insurance companies but he was allowed to collect them from individuals. So he added,

“I’m the incumbent. You all are going to give me money because you’re afraid not to.”

In an attempt to take a step back, he put his foot in it further by responding,

“The article didn’t tell the whole story. I was commenting on the benefits of having an Insurance Commissioner who is elected, not appointed, and that incumbent officials receive contributions from people who have an interest in that office.”

Hello. He was the incumbent, who received contributions from people who had an interest in the office. What a dork.

If you want a governor who will say and do anything to coerce people to make him look good in front of the voters you should vote Oxendine, but if you want a governor who will actually work for the best interests of the state of Georgia, you may want to re-think your choice before you step into the voting booth.

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