I have lived through major hurricanes with a generator and without a generator. With a generator is better.
Hurricane Ike is the worst storm we have lived through since Hurricane Andrew in the early 1990's when we lived in Lafayette, LA. After destroying Homestead, Florida and that area of Florida, Andrew picked up steam again as it went off into the Gulf of Mexico and traveled up the Vermilion Bay. It was bad and our electricity was out for 10 days. Our son was a toddler. We had no generator.
Lessons learned are important to put into play after any major event. We knew a generator was not an extravagance after those 10 days. We bite the financial bullet and purchased a refurbished one that we haven't had to use until Hurricane Ike blew into town last Friday night.
My husband plugged in three other households of neighbors to the generator so that they could run refrigerators or freezers and whatever it is that made them comfortable. For me it was a fan placed in front of my favorite chair and then by my side of the bed at night. Also, the television. We lost cable periodically but that didn't really matter as we were on non-stop viewing of local stations anyway. And the break for the rest of the world didn't hurt either.
When the power came on this evening, we were certainly ready for it. Now we can get back to some sense of normalcy. My husband followed the service truck - filled with workers from Louisiana, I might add - and watched as they worked. He showed them the fuses that needed replacing on the power poles. He's a hands-on kind of guy, that one. And, good leadership qualities. I'm just happy he was home to do what he does.
One neighbor sent down chicken fried steaks for our dinner. They were on our generator. And, they gave my husband a bottle of wine. Another neighbor, not on the generator but gave my husband their cell phone numbers to tell them when power came back on, brought over freshly baked lemon bars as a thank you. They have a toddler themselves and went to stay with relatives with power. The people sharing the generator took turns going out and filling up gas containers to keep the thing running.
Federal, state and local authorities are working very well together. Despite the best efforts of the media, there are no big squabbles or dilemmas to report. No two storms are alike but here in Houston - the nation's 4th largest city, the Chamber of Commerce would like you to know - we learned a lot of practical lessons after Hurricane Katrina and the logistics of accepting those coming here for New Orleans. Now there are SWAT members from New Orleans in the area to help and repay our hospitality.
First responders and power line workers are here from all over the country and from Canada. Texas has helped other states in emergencies and now it is our turn for help.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson said she's "never seen such a well-coordinated plan" as the one worked out by Mayor White and Harris County President Emmett. Emmett is a local judge and has a background in transportation logistics. That experience came in handy when he was needed to untie a knot of FEMA trucks carrying supplies that arrived at Reliant Stadium to be dispensed throughout the city and surrounding counties.
Senator Cornyn has been here several times. So has Secretary Chertoff. The President was here Tuesday. And, no, no one is mad he wasn't here sooner. All the officials who were responsible for requesting help did so in a timely fashion. No power struggles or inflated egos.
Galveston Island is a mess and it will survive. The mayor, Lyda Ann Thomas, is a trouper and doing a fine job. She said she "has no complaints" and is getting all that she asks for in help. Today the USS Nassau arrived bringing Marines, Sailors, earth movers and supplies. Galveston ship channel should be in operation by Wednesday next week.
TSA employees are volunteering their time when not working at the airports to distribute supplies at Points of Distributions (PODs). Houston is a city of volunteers. The Houston Rockets are pitching in. University students are everywhere helping. Faith based organizations are doing yeoman work.
My husband rescued a baby squirrel today. There are a lot of baby squirrels who were displaced by the storm. He put it in a tree in our front yard and the mama squirrel came for it. Then my husband found a bag of sunflower kernels in the pantry and placed them in a knot of the tree.
Habitat for Horses are rescuing horses on Galveston Island and the low lying areas along the coast. Cattle are being herded to dry ground and receiving donations of hay and feed. You may not realize that the coastal region of east Texas has cattle farms but it does.
And, those expecting immediate solutions to all their own personal problems are out there complaining. "Sheekesha" finally did it today - as we were just waiting for someone to blame President Bush for whatever problem they were having, Sheekesha pulled through. She wanted food stamps and didn't want to verify her income. She said Governor Perry should come to that center and resolve the problem. If not him, then "Bush" should do it. Maybe Sheekesha is related to Kenye West.
I'm again proud of my city. I'm happy to have electricity tonight. I'm sorry for those who suffered the loss of their homes or animals or a loved one. Hurricanes suck. But, so do tornadoes, earthquakes, ice storms and blizzards. It is hard to think of an area that doesn't have challenges with Mother Nature.
The good people of Houston far outnumber the Sheekeshas here.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Obama Spirals Into the Gutter
As Barack Obama continues to fall in all polling, he still doesn't get it. He is vowing to continue his spiral into the mud slinging gutter using personal attacks on John McCain further verfiying that he is an empty suit with nothing but a good speech to offer voters.
Barack Obama has now brought the teleprompter on the road with him so that he can sound as though he was educated in the Ivy Leagues, not just another affirmative action student. Without a written speech he flounders. Ah, ah, um, ... Then added to the gaffe machine that is windbag Joe Biden, it is no wonder the voters are stepping back and taking a hard, second look.
As Joe Biden tells an audience that the country should elect Obama for the fact alone that he is black - hey Joe, what about the white relatives? - I guess this is his stamp of approval for affirmative action in presidential candidates.
"On Monday's "Anderson Cooper 360," after CNN senior political analyst David Gergen said "what happened over the weekend with the economy and the bottom falling out of the financial markets...is the opportunity for Obama to seize the momentum back on his side," Crowley actually said "Just as foreclosures were showing up on B17, or n the real estate section, along comes this horrific headline out of Wall Street...I mean, this is what they wanted." That a quote from News Busters. The Chosen One wants Wall Street woes to continue on with his lies about the history of how Wall Street got there in the first place.
For someone who is bashing John McCain for being out of touch, Obama goes to Hollywood and sets records in fundraising with the celebrities desperate to support him. The fundraiser with Barbra Streisand alone was ticketed at $30,000 per guest. Just a man of the people.
He blames the Bush policies that have kept the economy moving, and slowly now as cycles go, on the Wall Street and financial crisis developing. He knows, if he is the financial genius he claims to be, that this is a lie. It is easily traced back to the Clinton financial team demanding easy loans to low income people for home mortgages. Clinton ramped up the Community Redevelopment Act that encourages minority homeownership. Though the program was developed under the failed presidency of Jimmy Carter, it was another well-intentioned program using government dollars as a social experiment. Clinton pals Franklin Raines who lead Fannie Mae and enriched himself to the tune of $100 million dollars by the time he left in 2005, and Jamie Gorelick who enjoyed $75 million in profits. You may remember Gorelick for her direct role in skewing the legal divisions between intelligence agencies which contributed heavily to the events of 9/11.
The ads circulating are at a new low. Who would have thought it possible. Deliberately mocking his physical disability when it comes to operating a keyboard is despicable. If he didn't know of the disability, and who would believe the Chosen One is ignorant of anything?, then it is just pure south side Chicago punk politics. He's a school yard bully when his thin skin is punctured with some truth telling.
Obama says McCain doesn't know how to use a computer yet in 2000 Forbes magazine hailed McCain as the most technologically savvy member among his fellow Senators. And, as the chair of the Commerce committee in the senate, the largest committee, he had oversight of all business matters in the country. He has been a strong proponent of technological research and development for years. His wife Cindy was the only member of a political campaign in 2000 to use her electronics as they are all commonly used today. And, for Obama's education - Presidents are not e-mailers. Clinton only produced 2 e-mails in office and when Bush came into office the policy was long established that a President doesn't use that form of communication - for legal purposes mostly. Can you imagine the escalated witch hunts that would produce?
McCain does read web sites, Barry. And, Cindy pitches in if necessary if computer communications are needed. Grow up, Barry.
The Obama team mocks Sarah Palin as though she is the top of the ticket. Her popularity grows. She's accused by team Obama and his cheering squad that is the media, for speaking in tongues, for banning books, for firing a State Trooper for personal reasons, all proven untruths. I thought a big promise of the Obama candidacy was that he is the one promising the change of tone in politics. He shows nothing but arrogant nastiness.
"The more the elite media wish to aid Obama, the more their bias and invective seem to turn off voters and help McCain -- and the more they in turn re-double their anger, as if more smears and furor, not fewer, are the answer. Strange to say, they don't seem to get it that they are, well, not liked or respected." That from Victor Davis Hanson's recent column at Pajamas Media.
As has been said before, Obama wears thin. His campaign is in complete chaos about the growing popularity of the McCain/Palin ticket and the cruder and shriller they get, the more the public cringes and turns away from Obama and company.
Go on and read that speech, Obama, while you try to convince the voters you have what it takes, you know, just like ordinary folks.
Barack Obama has now brought the teleprompter on the road with him so that he can sound as though he was educated in the Ivy Leagues, not just another affirmative action student. Without a written speech he flounders. Ah, ah, um, ... Then added to the gaffe machine that is windbag Joe Biden, it is no wonder the voters are stepping back and taking a hard, second look.
As Joe Biden tells an audience that the country should elect Obama for the fact alone that he is black - hey Joe, what about the white relatives? - I guess this is his stamp of approval for affirmative action in presidential candidates.
"On Monday's "Anderson Cooper 360," after CNN senior political analyst David Gergen said "what happened over the weekend with the economy and the bottom falling out of the financial markets...is the opportunity for Obama to seize the momentum back on his side," Crowley actually said "Just as foreclosures were showing up on B17, or n the real estate section, along comes this horrific headline out of Wall Street...I mean, this is what they wanted." That a quote from News Busters. The Chosen One wants Wall Street woes to continue on with his lies about the history of how Wall Street got there in the first place.
For someone who is bashing John McCain for being out of touch, Obama goes to Hollywood and sets records in fundraising with the celebrities desperate to support him. The fundraiser with Barbra Streisand alone was ticketed at $30,000 per guest. Just a man of the people.
He blames the Bush policies that have kept the economy moving, and slowly now as cycles go, on the Wall Street and financial crisis developing. He knows, if he is the financial genius he claims to be, that this is a lie. It is easily traced back to the Clinton financial team demanding easy loans to low income people for home mortgages. Clinton ramped up the Community Redevelopment Act that encourages minority homeownership. Though the program was developed under the failed presidency of Jimmy Carter, it was another well-intentioned program using government dollars as a social experiment. Clinton pals Franklin Raines who lead Fannie Mae and enriched himself to the tune of $100 million dollars by the time he left in 2005, and Jamie Gorelick who enjoyed $75 million in profits. You may remember Gorelick for her direct role in skewing the legal divisions between intelligence agencies which contributed heavily to the events of 9/11.
The ads circulating are at a new low. Who would have thought it possible. Deliberately mocking his physical disability when it comes to operating a keyboard is despicable. If he didn't know of the disability, and who would believe the Chosen One is ignorant of anything?, then it is just pure south side Chicago punk politics. He's a school yard bully when his thin skin is punctured with some truth telling.
Obama says McCain doesn't know how to use a computer yet in 2000 Forbes magazine hailed McCain as the most technologically savvy member among his fellow Senators. And, as the chair of the Commerce committee in the senate, the largest committee, he had oversight of all business matters in the country. He has been a strong proponent of technological research and development for years. His wife Cindy was the only member of a political campaign in 2000 to use her electronics as they are all commonly used today. And, for Obama's education - Presidents are not e-mailers. Clinton only produced 2 e-mails in office and when Bush came into office the policy was long established that a President doesn't use that form of communication - for legal purposes mostly. Can you imagine the escalated witch hunts that would produce?
McCain does read web sites, Barry. And, Cindy pitches in if necessary if computer communications are needed. Grow up, Barry.
The Obama team mocks Sarah Palin as though she is the top of the ticket. Her popularity grows. She's accused by team Obama and his cheering squad that is the media, for speaking in tongues, for banning books, for firing a State Trooper for personal reasons, all proven untruths. I thought a big promise of the Obama candidacy was that he is the one promising the change of tone in politics. He shows nothing but arrogant nastiness.
"The more the elite media wish to aid Obama, the more their bias and invective seem to turn off voters and help McCain -- and the more they in turn re-double their anger, as if more smears and furor, not fewer, are the answer. Strange to say, they don't seem to get it that they are, well, not liked or respected." That from Victor Davis Hanson's recent column at Pajamas Media.
As has been said before, Obama wears thin. His campaign is in complete chaos about the growing popularity of the McCain/Palin ticket and the cruder and shriller they get, the more the public cringes and turns away from Obama and company.
Go on and read that speech, Obama, while you try to convince the voters you have what it takes, you know, just like ordinary folks.
Noriega Missing In Action for Hurricane Recovery
As Hurricane Ike was finishing with his damage to our city, many politicians were holding press conferences and co-ordinating with local leaders about transitioning into recovery mode. The mayor and the county president held frequent press conferences with members of the congressional delegation present. Both Texas senators were visible and working on providing assistance and solutions to problems,too.
One member of the state congressional delegation missing in action was Rick Noriega, the state representative currently challenging Senator Cornyn for his Senate seat. Noriega likes to bring attention to his experience in response to Hurricane Katrina in our city - he served as Incident Commander - and even pointed out this position in a press release explaining why he wasn't in the city of Houston tending to the needs of his constituents.
Where was Noriega in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike? He was campaigning in Killeen. Noriega was at a forum hosted by a veterans advisory committee. Senator Cornyn, however, was not in attendance. Cornyn was in Austin with the Governor and he was surveying damage. Cornyn made his staff available to those in need, and doing what he could to be sure the response at the federal level was forthcoming.
Noriega likes to boost his credentials by pointing to his service in the Texas National Guard - he is a lt. colonel who was deployed to Afghanistan - yet when his experience was needed in his own district he was MIA, serving himself first. His wife, Melissa, parlayed Noriega's deployment into a political career advancement of her own. She stepped in when he deployed and filled his seat in Austin, then ran for Houston City Council as he returned. She now serves on the City Council.
One member of the state congressional delegation missing in action was Rick Noriega, the state representative currently challenging Senator Cornyn for his Senate seat. Noriega likes to bring attention to his experience in response to Hurricane Katrina in our city - he served as Incident Commander - and even pointed out this position in a press release explaining why he wasn't in the city of Houston tending to the needs of his constituents.
Where was Noriega in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike? He was campaigning in Killeen. Noriega was at a forum hosted by a veterans advisory committee. Senator Cornyn, however, was not in attendance. Cornyn was in Austin with the Governor and he was surveying damage. Cornyn made his staff available to those in need, and doing what he could to be sure the response at the federal level was forthcoming.
Noriega likes to boost his credentials by pointing to his service in the Texas National Guard - he is a lt. colonel who was deployed to Afghanistan - yet when his experience was needed in his own district he was MIA, serving himself first. His wife, Melissa, parlayed Noriega's deployment into a political career advancement of her own. She stepped in when he deployed and filled his seat in Austin, then ran for Houston City Council as he returned. She now serves on the City Council.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Surviving Hurricane Ike
The aftermath of Hurricane Ike brought power outages to over 2 million people in our area and the hardest hit were flooded. Galveston and the area south of Houston was hardest hit. Crystal Beach, on Bolivar Peninsula, for example is no more. Residents of Galveston are being told they may not be able to go home for a month.
Brennan's Restaurant was lost to fire during the storm. NASA has roof damage in the mission control. Reliant Stadium, built to the tune of 3/4 of a billion dollars and suppose to be able to sustain 130 mph winds, has damage to the retractable roof.
We lost power at 8:45 Friday night when our neighbor's tree limb hit the power line and caused a fire. Only our side of the block lost power. The other side lost power at 3:00 Saturday morning when the really bad stuff was happening here. The wind and rain was over by noon Saturday here. Our generator was on by 1:45 and three of our neighbors were connected to it, too.
Tropical storm winds, those that follow the storm impact, must subside before any kind of recovery work can be done. The press conferences were interesting yesterday as reporters were determined to ratchet up feelings of frustration that normally follow disasters. FEMA was the initial target and then the Governor's office. The facts are that FEMA trucks were pre-positioned as reported before the storm and arrived here in Houston as soon as they could - Reliant Stadium was receiving 18 wheeler trucks of supplies last night. The POD's (points of distribution) are established and are beginning to distribute the goods.
One local reporter in particular was intent on pursuing a line of questioning without any real merit. The FEMA trucks may have been able to get here a couple of hours earlier but it would not have made an impact on distribution. The state asked FEMA to distribute the supplies, unexpectedly on the part of FEMA, and it was handled well with the large volunteer base Houston is known to have.
Just 24 hours out of a major hurricane and search and rescue missions were underway in Galveston and surrounding areas. Supplies were being brought in and Blackhawk helicopters were patrolling the skies. Everything is going as well as can be expected.
The hardships of the aftermath bring out the good and bad in humans. We love to hear the neighbor helping neighbor stories. In our case, when we were running low on gas for the generator, our neighbor went out and found more. True, she wanted an excuse to enjoy her car's air-conditioning, but still it helped. Another neighbor hooked up to our generator will bring back some more as he gets out to see how everything is at his office.
The bad side of human nature is when those always taking advantage of a miserable situation, expecting instant government relief, are seen on camera complaining that they have run out of ice or water or diapers. People are told over and over to have 3 - 4 days of supplies on hand yet in today's instant gratification society, as soon as the winds die down, people are out there yelling about how they are suffering. Maybe they are waiting for FEMA cash cards to go to buy jewelry and designer clothes at the Galleria when the power comes back on. Not going to happen this time.
No two storms are alike. Hurricane Ike is different than Katrina yet just as devastating. No amount of pre-planning will allievate problems that will pop up specific to each event. The State of Texas was as prepared as it could be. The President moved "extremely rapidly" with a pre-landfall declaration because the governor asked. That according to Secretary of Homeland Defense Chertoff.
We are fortunate that our large, old oak trees in the front yard did not uproot or snap. Our very tall, old palm tree in the back yard survived well, too. No large branches on the roof or on the cars. No broken windows. The house held up. We are thankful.
The outdoor furniture was thrown into the swimming pool as we secured the back yard. It worked just fine, just like the hotels do it.
A silver lining has been the concentration of watching only local news stations or listening to them on the radio. We've only concerned ourselves with our part of the world. No cable tv news stations and political wars. I look forward to coming back full force on all that very soon.
We're waiting for electrical power to be restored. We're getting by and trying to be civil to each other when we're hot and tired and just want a hot shower and a cool room.
This, too, will pass.
Brennan's Restaurant was lost to fire during the storm. NASA has roof damage in the mission control. Reliant Stadium, built to the tune of 3/4 of a billion dollars and suppose to be able to sustain 130 mph winds, has damage to the retractable roof.
We lost power at 8:45 Friday night when our neighbor's tree limb hit the power line and caused a fire. Only our side of the block lost power. The other side lost power at 3:00 Saturday morning when the really bad stuff was happening here. The wind and rain was over by noon Saturday here. Our generator was on by 1:45 and three of our neighbors were connected to it, too.
Tropical storm winds, those that follow the storm impact, must subside before any kind of recovery work can be done. The press conferences were interesting yesterday as reporters were determined to ratchet up feelings of frustration that normally follow disasters. FEMA was the initial target and then the Governor's office. The facts are that FEMA trucks were pre-positioned as reported before the storm and arrived here in Houston as soon as they could - Reliant Stadium was receiving 18 wheeler trucks of supplies last night. The POD's (points of distribution) are established and are beginning to distribute the goods.
One local reporter in particular was intent on pursuing a line of questioning without any real merit. The FEMA trucks may have been able to get here a couple of hours earlier but it would not have made an impact on distribution. The state asked FEMA to distribute the supplies, unexpectedly on the part of FEMA, and it was handled well with the large volunteer base Houston is known to have.
Just 24 hours out of a major hurricane and search and rescue missions were underway in Galveston and surrounding areas. Supplies were being brought in and Blackhawk helicopters were patrolling the skies. Everything is going as well as can be expected.
The hardships of the aftermath bring out the good and bad in humans. We love to hear the neighbor helping neighbor stories. In our case, when we were running low on gas for the generator, our neighbor went out and found more. True, she wanted an excuse to enjoy her car's air-conditioning, but still it helped. Another neighbor hooked up to our generator will bring back some more as he gets out to see how everything is at his office.
The bad side of human nature is when those always taking advantage of a miserable situation, expecting instant government relief, are seen on camera complaining that they have run out of ice or water or diapers. People are told over and over to have 3 - 4 days of supplies on hand yet in today's instant gratification society, as soon as the winds die down, people are out there yelling about how they are suffering. Maybe they are waiting for FEMA cash cards to go to buy jewelry and designer clothes at the Galleria when the power comes back on. Not going to happen this time.
No two storms are alike. Hurricane Ike is different than Katrina yet just as devastating. No amount of pre-planning will allievate problems that will pop up specific to each event. The State of Texas was as prepared as it could be. The President moved "extremely rapidly" with a pre-landfall declaration because the governor asked. That according to Secretary of Homeland Defense Chertoff.
We are fortunate that our large, old oak trees in the front yard did not uproot or snap. Our very tall, old palm tree in the back yard survived well, too. No large branches on the roof or on the cars. No broken windows. The house held up. We are thankful.
The outdoor furniture was thrown into the swimming pool as we secured the back yard. It worked just fine, just like the hotels do it.
A silver lining has been the concentration of watching only local news stations or listening to them on the radio. We've only concerned ourselves with our part of the world. No cable tv news stations and political wars. I look forward to coming back full force on all that very soon.
We're waiting for electrical power to be restored. We're getting by and trying to be civil to each other when we're hot and tired and just want a hot shower and a cool room.
This, too, will pass.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Hurricane Ike Blasts Texas
You may have heard there is a hurricane named Ike in the Gulf of Mexico. Ike is almost to the coast of Texas. Ike is charted to slam into Galveston Island and move on up Galveston Bay into east Texas.
Casa Penguin is located on the west side of Houston. We do not welcome Ike but we are ready. Our abode is about 50 - 60 miles from the coast. We anticipate wind damage and power outages. The rain event is still uncertain.
We are well stocked with water, non-refrigerated food stuffs to nosh, personal items, pet food, and most importantly, we own a generator. We have several gasoline containers ready and will use the generator if power goes out for an extended length of time. My generous husband has volunteered to hook up neighbors who may be in need.
The coast has been evacuated. Low lying areas of the general area have been evacuated. We are doing what most of Houston is doing - sheltering in place. The storm's effects inland are expected to be evident by midnight tonight. Already the Galveston area is struggling to remain above water. The storm is very big in area and the storm surge will be the most devastating. Our thoughts are with the communities on the water.
FEMA, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Governor of Texas, and all the elected officials you can shake a stick at have been giving regular press conferences. Some up for re-election just can't seem to get enough face time on camera. They have no role in any of this, pre-storm, but they act as though they do. The Mayor and the Country President are in charge.
Rep. John Culberson, who represents my district and for whom I volunteer in his re-election campaign, is available via technology. You may have heard of him. He is one that the D.C. crowd point to as the most technologically savvy. I receive his Twitter updates and his is doing another live video feed at the Houston emergency response center.
Our Governor put the federal paperwork into play more than a day ago as preparations were being made to declare Texas a disaster area. We are fortunate on the Gulf Coast that all the Gulf states have Republican governors. They are all strong leaders that don't hesitate to respond. And, none sit around waiting for the federal government to save us from Mother Nature.
Everything in everyday life is touched by politics. That's a fact.
You can follow me on Twitter if you so choose. I'll be doing updates there as long as I'm able. It'll be a long night around here. The storm is moving quickly, and should have moved out of our area by around the mid morning hours Saturday. Unless it changes.
Hurricanes are like that.
Casa Penguin is located on the west side of Houston. We do not welcome Ike but we are ready. Our abode is about 50 - 60 miles from the coast. We anticipate wind damage and power outages. The rain event is still uncertain.
We are well stocked with water, non-refrigerated food stuffs to nosh, personal items, pet food, and most importantly, we own a generator. We have several gasoline containers ready and will use the generator if power goes out for an extended length of time. My generous husband has volunteered to hook up neighbors who may be in need.
The coast has been evacuated. Low lying areas of the general area have been evacuated. We are doing what most of Houston is doing - sheltering in place. The storm's effects inland are expected to be evident by midnight tonight. Already the Galveston area is struggling to remain above water. The storm is very big in area and the storm surge will be the most devastating. Our thoughts are with the communities on the water.
FEMA, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Governor of Texas, and all the elected officials you can shake a stick at have been giving regular press conferences. Some up for re-election just can't seem to get enough face time on camera. They have no role in any of this, pre-storm, but they act as though they do. The Mayor and the Country President are in charge.
Rep. John Culberson, who represents my district and for whom I volunteer in his re-election campaign, is available via technology. You may have heard of him. He is one that the D.C. crowd point to as the most technologically savvy. I receive his Twitter updates and his is doing another live video feed at the Houston emergency response center.
Our Governor put the federal paperwork into play more than a day ago as preparations were being made to declare Texas a disaster area. We are fortunate on the Gulf Coast that all the Gulf states have Republican governors. They are all strong leaders that don't hesitate to respond. And, none sit around waiting for the federal government to save us from Mother Nature.
Everything in everyday life is touched by politics. That's a fact.
You can follow me on Twitter if you so choose. I'll be doing updates there as long as I'm able. It'll be a long night around here. The storm is moving quickly, and should have moved out of our area by around the mid morning hours Saturday. Unless it changes.
Hurricanes are like that.
Words Do Matter
What is it, anyway, with some so troubled that they move beyond verbal jousting in a political season and slide right into sicko land?
What is it with the long time political insiders, Mr. and Mrs. Fowler? First, Don Fowler, former head of the DNC, jokes on the flight home from the Democrat convention that Hurricane Gustav is a hilarious reminder that God is on the side of the Democrats. Then, Carol Fowler, chairwoman of the South Carolina Democrat Party, says John McCain chose Gov. Palin "whose primary qualification seems to be that she hasn't had an abortion." Then, for a bit of racism, she adds, "Just anecdotally, I believe that those white women are Republican women anyway" when told of McCain's rise in the latest ABC/Washington Post poll among white women.
Both, at the time they were called on the carpet for such utterings, did the standard bit about how sorry they are if "anyone was offended." A non-apology apology.
Congressman Cohen, (D-TN) yesterday on the floor of the House of Representatives claimed Jesus was a community organizer, just like Obama was. More of the Obama as Messiah theme. Cohen went on to say Pontius Pilate was a governor. Wow. I don't think, however, that Jesus was working with ACORN on the south side of Chicago.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck, the token conservative voice on The View, spoke about a forbidden subject on the show recently. The CNN leftists went berserk. Hasselbeck dared to mention that as a condition of her appearance on The View, Michelle Obama provided a list of forbidden questions. Hasselbeck then added, "unlike the wife of a political candidate who shall remain nameless, she didn't come with a list of topics we weren't allowed to touch." Yes, Michelle Obama, "The Closer", the Harvard educated corporate lawyer, had a list of questions not to dare be asked to her. Then as CNN contributor Roland Martin got a hold of this tidbit about Hasselbeck, the teeth came out. Martin, unabashedly supporting Obama, stated Hasselbeck got her information directly from Sean Hannity, "Little Bowl of Hate Hannity" and drinks "hatorade." So witty, that guy. During a call in segment of Showbiz Tonight on the network, one caller begged that Hasselbeck be fired. Then Martin says "we're not surprised by it because their political views have come out in the open. It was no surprise she would take a shot like that." Howard Bragman, the PR guy guest said he's no fan of Hasselbeck (how objective) but said, no, she shouldn't be fired.
And, Joe Biden, when not stating to a political rally audience that Hillary would have been a better choice then himself (duh), had this bit of scientific wisdom to pass along : "I hear all this talk about how the Republicans are going to work in dealing with parents who have...the joy and the difficulty of raising a child who has a developmental disability," "Well guess what folks? If you care about it, why don't you support stem cell research?" (h/t Right Wing Nut House)
Amazing, huh? When did a candidate's baby born with Downs Syndrome become stump speech fodder to criticize the political philosophy of the candidate? And, when did stem cell research prove to be an alleviation of Downs Syndrome?
Is this what Michelle Obama was talking about when she said, in the room in North Carolina, that America is a mean place?
And, speaking of plagiarism, recently Senator Obama said, "Watch out, George Bush, except for economic policy, health-care policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy, and Karl Rove-style politics. We're really gonna shake things up in Washington." "That's not change. That's just calling some ---the same thing, something different. But you know, you can -- you know, you can put lipstick on a pig; it's still a pig." That first part - putting the guy who isn't running for President and his policies into his speech's point - was taken from a political cartoon by Toles. Same words. Check it out here.
What is it with the long time political insiders, Mr. and Mrs. Fowler? First, Don Fowler, former head of the DNC, jokes on the flight home from the Democrat convention that Hurricane Gustav is a hilarious reminder that God is on the side of the Democrats. Then, Carol Fowler, chairwoman of the South Carolina Democrat Party, says John McCain chose Gov. Palin "whose primary qualification seems to be that she hasn't had an abortion." Then, for a bit of racism, she adds, "Just anecdotally, I believe that those white women are Republican women anyway" when told of McCain's rise in the latest ABC/Washington Post poll among white women.
Both, at the time they were called on the carpet for such utterings, did the standard bit about how sorry they are if "anyone was offended." A non-apology apology.
Congressman Cohen, (D-TN) yesterday on the floor of the House of Representatives claimed Jesus was a community organizer, just like Obama was. More of the Obama as Messiah theme. Cohen went on to say Pontius Pilate was a governor. Wow. I don't think, however, that Jesus was working with ACORN on the south side of Chicago.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck, the token conservative voice on The View, spoke about a forbidden subject on the show recently. The CNN leftists went berserk. Hasselbeck dared to mention that as a condition of her appearance on The View, Michelle Obama provided a list of forbidden questions. Hasselbeck then added, "unlike the wife of a political candidate who shall remain nameless, she didn't come with a list of topics we weren't allowed to touch." Yes, Michelle Obama, "The Closer", the Harvard educated corporate lawyer, had a list of questions not to dare be asked to her. Then as CNN contributor Roland Martin got a hold of this tidbit about Hasselbeck, the teeth came out. Martin, unabashedly supporting Obama, stated Hasselbeck got her information directly from Sean Hannity, "Little Bowl of Hate Hannity" and drinks "hatorade." So witty, that guy. During a call in segment of Showbiz Tonight on the network, one caller begged that Hasselbeck be fired. Then Martin says "we're not surprised by it because their political views have come out in the open. It was no surprise she would take a shot like that." Howard Bragman, the PR guy guest said he's no fan of Hasselbeck (how objective) but said, no, she shouldn't be fired.
And, Joe Biden, when not stating to a political rally audience that Hillary would have been a better choice then himself (duh), had this bit of scientific wisdom to pass along : "I hear all this talk about how the Republicans are going to work in dealing with parents who have...the joy and the difficulty of raising a child who has a developmental disability," "Well guess what folks? If you care about it, why don't you support stem cell research?" (h/t Right Wing Nut House)
Amazing, huh? When did a candidate's baby born with Downs Syndrome become stump speech fodder to criticize the political philosophy of the candidate? And, when did stem cell research prove to be an alleviation of Downs Syndrome?
Is this what Michelle Obama was talking about when she said, in the room in North Carolina, that America is a mean place?
And, speaking of plagiarism, recently Senator Obama said, "Watch out, George Bush, except for economic policy, health-care policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy, and Karl Rove-style politics. We're really gonna shake things up in Washington." "That's not change. That's just calling some ---the same thing, something different. But you know, you can -- you know, you can put lipstick on a pig; it's still a pig." That first part - putting the guy who isn't running for President and his policies into his speech's point - was taken from a political cartoon by Toles. Same words. Check it out here.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Lessons of September 11
As the U.S. marks the 7th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country of 9/11/01, it is interesting how complacent the nation has become in the area of national security. It is not just the lack of a united people working with the best intentions of our country at heart, as we did during the immediate days after the attacks on NYC, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, the symbolic shows of patriotic spirit, the vision of sheer physical strength as the wreckage was cleared. All are images still in the minds of most.
Seven years of being kept safe by the current administration here in this country have brought about a false sense of security for many. The politically partisan divides soon reared ugly shouts of blame and attacks within the halls of congress. Many take the timeline of the attacks all the way back to the 1980's and the failed presidency of Jimmy Carter. He thought if we just understood the terrorists, if he just negotiated and talked with them then everything would be all right. The opposite proved to be true.
From an article written by then unknown Illinois State Senator Obama, in Chicago's Hyde Park Herald, published on Sept 19, 2001, Obama said that after securing airports and reforming intelligence networks, we "must also engage ... in the more difficult task of understanding the sources of such madness." Obama claimed the madness was born out of "a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair."
Remember, all of the terrorists who crashed the airplanes into buildings and the ground were middle to upper class, highly educated young Muslim men.
"In a speech before a joint session of Congress on Sept. 20, 2001, President Bush pointed out the real reasons islamofascists hate us: "They hate what they see right here in this chamber - a democratically elected government. Their leaders are self-appointed. They hate our freedoms: our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other."
"Knowing the nature of your enemy is the key to victory. On the seventh anniversary of 9/11, we should all thank President Bush for keeping America safe. Along the way, he brought freedom and democracy to the Middle East, draining the terrorist swamp."
"Bush gets it. So does John McCain. This is one thing we should want to change."
Barack Obama still doesn't get it. He spoke early into the election campaign process of meeting with leaders of terrorist nations without pre-conditions. He wants to go back to the Clintonian days of slashing and burning the military budget to make allowances for the implementation of huge governmental feel-good programs. It's all about the show.
Is it any wonder that a poll taken by the BBC would come to a conclusion that "US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama may be struggling to nudge ahead of his Republican rival in polls at home, but people across the world want him in the White House."?
We've seen the declines in European countries who have lacked the will and strength to fight off terrorist activities as Islamofascism marches on within its immigrant communities. We see the chaos and brutality of African dictators. We see rampant socialism on the march in Central and South American countries. Personal and political freedoms are not high up on the list.
And, finally, a survey of 16,063 people in 17 nations "found majorities in only nine countries believe al Qaeda was behind the attacks on New York and Washington that killed about 3,000 people in 2001." "On average 46 percent of those surveyed said al Qaeda was responsible, 15 percent said the U.S. government, 7 percent said Israel and 7 percent said some other perpetrator. One in four people said they did not know who was behind the attacks."
"The U.S. government was to blame, according to 23 percent of Germans and 15 percent of Italians. Respondents in the Middle East were especially likely to name a perpetrator other than al Qaeda, the poll found." "In Mexico, 30 percent cited the U.S. government and 33 percent named al Qaeda."
Reasonable Americans are not so concerned how Europe and the rest of the world perceives us. Someone has to be the grown-up. To whom does the rest of the world turn in times of need? There has always been a bit of jealous envy towards the U.S. all around the world. We are what they hope and strive to be, verbalized or not, by their ordinary citizens.
Talk all you want. The results are in.
Seven years of being kept safe by the current administration here in this country have brought about a false sense of security for many. The politically partisan divides soon reared ugly shouts of blame and attacks within the halls of congress. Many take the timeline of the attacks all the way back to the 1980's and the failed presidency of Jimmy Carter. He thought if we just understood the terrorists, if he just negotiated and talked with them then everything would be all right. The opposite proved to be true.
From an article written by then unknown Illinois State Senator Obama, in Chicago's Hyde Park Herald, published on Sept 19, 2001, Obama said that after securing airports and reforming intelligence networks, we "must also engage ... in the more difficult task of understanding the sources of such madness." Obama claimed the madness was born out of "a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair."
Remember, all of the terrorists who crashed the airplanes into buildings and the ground were middle to upper class, highly educated young Muslim men.
"In a speech before a joint session of Congress on Sept. 20, 2001, President Bush pointed out the real reasons islamofascists hate us: "They hate what they see right here in this chamber - a democratically elected government. Their leaders are self-appointed. They hate our freedoms: our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other."
"Knowing the nature of your enemy is the key to victory. On the seventh anniversary of 9/11, we should all thank President Bush for keeping America safe. Along the way, he brought freedom and democracy to the Middle East, draining the terrorist swamp."
"Bush gets it. So does John McCain. This is one thing we should want to change."
Barack Obama still doesn't get it. He spoke early into the election campaign process of meeting with leaders of terrorist nations without pre-conditions. He wants to go back to the Clintonian days of slashing and burning the military budget to make allowances for the implementation of huge governmental feel-good programs. It's all about the show.
Is it any wonder that a poll taken by the BBC would come to a conclusion that "US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama may be struggling to nudge ahead of his Republican rival in polls at home, but people across the world want him in the White House."?
We've seen the declines in European countries who have lacked the will and strength to fight off terrorist activities as Islamofascism marches on within its immigrant communities. We see the chaos and brutality of African dictators. We see rampant socialism on the march in Central and South American countries. Personal and political freedoms are not high up on the list.
And, finally, a survey of 16,063 people in 17 nations "found majorities in only nine countries believe al Qaeda was behind the attacks on New York and Washington that killed about 3,000 people in 2001." "On average 46 percent of those surveyed said al Qaeda was responsible, 15 percent said the U.S. government, 7 percent said Israel and 7 percent said some other perpetrator. One in four people said they did not know who was behind the attacks."
"The U.S. government was to blame, according to 23 percent of Germans and 15 percent of Italians. Respondents in the Middle East were especially likely to name a perpetrator other than al Qaeda, the poll found." "In Mexico, 30 percent cited the U.S. government and 33 percent named al Qaeda."
Reasonable Americans are not so concerned how Europe and the rest of the world perceives us. Someone has to be the grown-up. To whom does the rest of the world turn in times of need? There has always been a bit of jealous envy towards the U.S. all around the world. We are what they hope and strive to be, verbalized or not, by their ordinary citizens.
Talk all you want. The results are in.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Lipstick on a Pig
The crude remark circling the country today is that spoken by Senator Obama on the campaign trail. During a stump speech, the candidate said that the policies of Senator McCain were not the reform McCain claims, but just putting lipstick on a pig. A more tactful analogy could have been used, of course, but Obama used this one to hone in on the remarks of Gov. Palin during her VP acceptance speech. She ad libbed the joke with the punch line that the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom is lipstick. The Palin joke was a hit. The Obama remark? Not so much.
This again goes to the inexperience and bumbling way in which Senator Obama speaks when he is on the stump, not on teleprompter.
Senator Obama is sometimes compared to former President Kennedy, both young, attractive, articulate as they deliver speeches. Both Harvard-educated. Both with young children, attractive wives. The celebrity-like appeal is played up and with JFK, the aura of Camelot was brought in by the American press. With the Obama campaign, the aura that he is the Chosen One to save America - from what we are never really told - by the media. Most of that is the mindset of elitists believing that a bi-racial politician will heal the race issues in this country.
Senator Obama had to reach back and choose a VP running mate with years of foreign policy knowledge and experience. Obama has none and that is a prime concern to many voters, as we are a nation at war in more than one country. Rather than look to the future, as he claims he is the candidate of hope and change, Obama went to the past by picking Senator Biden - a Senator who has more years in the Senate than Senator McCain. Biden has been an elected official on Capitol Hill since the age of 29. Not many would look to Biden as an agent of change. He is firmly entrenched in the culture of D.C., his son a wealthy lobbyist thanks to his dad. That's not the change of which America is looking.
JFK had military experience, leading his crew to safety as a Navy lieutenant junior grade tasked with the responsibility of a PT boat. The boat was sunk by a Japanese destroyer int he Pacific during a nighttime mission. While recovering from back surgery, JFK and Ted Sorensen - Kennedy's speechwriter - wrote "Profiles in Courage".
At the time of JFK's Presidential run, he had served 6 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and 8 years in the U.S. Senate. Senator Obama had 143 days in session in the U.S. Senate before he formed an exploratory committee preceding his run for the candidacy for the office. Before arriving in the Senate, Obama was in the Illinois state legislature where his reputation was for voting 'present' on difficult votes.
JFK's first act as President was to create the Peace Corps, giving volunteers the opportunity to serve in developing nations. Three months after taking office, Kennedy ordered an invasion of Cuba using 1,400 exiles trained by the CIA. The President who provided an alternative to military service to American citizens wanting to serve their country, didn't provide air cover or Navy support to the exiles. As they landed on Cuba's beach, the exiles were unprotected. The Cuban Air Force killed, wounded or captured all 1,400 of the exiles and sank the supply ship. The invasion of the Bay of Pigs was a major failure.
JFK met with Khrushchev in Vienna only 6 weeks after the Bay of Pigs fiasco. This emboldened Khrushchev and the Berlin Wall was put up, separating Germany. Kennedy represented youth and inexperience to the Soviet Premier. He knew Kennedy could be intimidated. JFK stopped Soviet installment of nuclear missiles in Cuba by using a naval blockade of Cuba. Not known at the time,though is that JFK had to agree to remove our missiles from Turkey.
By contrast, President "Reagan didn't meet with a Soviet leader until his fifth year in office; Churchill, unlike his predecessor, never met with Hitler."
In 1962 the stock market made the sharpest corrections since the Depression. Yet, Kennedy had the common sense to lower taxes. Obama is only now, and very quietly, saying he realizes he will not be able to raise taxes in the beginning of his administration if the economy remains slow. And, no one in reality believes his claim that he will only raise taxes on the 'rich' and give tax breaks to 90% of Americans. This is especially true if you understand that the tax increases Obama plans to implement on businesses will move right on down to the consumer.
JFK brought the U.S. into the Vietnam war. He was anti-Communist, to his credit, not one raised in Marxist thought like Obama. JFK sent military advisers to implement programs such as the Hamlet Program, "which moved peasants into areas better controlled by the South Vietnamese government. The plan failed, however, when the peasants, angry at being transplanted farther from their farms, joined the enemy's growing ranks. Kennedy countered by sending 12,00 more advisers and 300 helicopters with U.S. pilots to Vietnam. When South Vietnam's president, Ngo Dinh Diem, proved ineffective, Kennedy finally agreed to withdraw support of him, and Diem was overthrown and assassinated by his generals." Three weeks later, Kennedy was assassinated.
"Kennedy's relative youth and inexperience led to a number of failures, particularly in foreign policy. Kennedy himself seemed to acknowledge this. When asked how he viewed his job as president, he replied that it was harder than he thought it would be."
The Bay of Pigs, meeting with Khrushchev, giving up missile installations in Turkey, the Vietnam Hamlet program were all mistakes due to lack of experience. For the first time in recent history, anyway, the foreign policy credentials are being questioned about the VP nominee on the McCain ticket. It is the President who as commander in chief makes policy decisions. Governor Palin is in charge of the Alaska National Guard. Those not supporting the McCain ticket pooh-pooh any experience in Alaska that Governor Palin brings to the ticket. It is still considerably more than Senator Obama, the top of his ticket, brings to the conversation.
Lipstick on a pig, indeed.
This again goes to the inexperience and bumbling way in which Senator Obama speaks when he is on the stump, not on teleprompter.
Senator Obama is sometimes compared to former President Kennedy, both young, attractive, articulate as they deliver speeches. Both Harvard-educated. Both with young children, attractive wives. The celebrity-like appeal is played up and with JFK, the aura of Camelot was brought in by the American press. With the Obama campaign, the aura that he is the Chosen One to save America - from what we are never really told - by the media. Most of that is the mindset of elitists believing that a bi-racial politician will heal the race issues in this country.
Senator Obama had to reach back and choose a VP running mate with years of foreign policy knowledge and experience. Obama has none and that is a prime concern to many voters, as we are a nation at war in more than one country. Rather than look to the future, as he claims he is the candidate of hope and change, Obama went to the past by picking Senator Biden - a Senator who has more years in the Senate than Senator McCain. Biden has been an elected official on Capitol Hill since the age of 29. Not many would look to Biden as an agent of change. He is firmly entrenched in the culture of D.C., his son a wealthy lobbyist thanks to his dad. That's not the change of which America is looking.
JFK had military experience, leading his crew to safety as a Navy lieutenant junior grade tasked with the responsibility of a PT boat. The boat was sunk by a Japanese destroyer int he Pacific during a nighttime mission. While recovering from back surgery, JFK and Ted Sorensen - Kennedy's speechwriter - wrote "Profiles in Courage".
At the time of JFK's Presidential run, he had served 6 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and 8 years in the U.S. Senate. Senator Obama had 143 days in session in the U.S. Senate before he formed an exploratory committee preceding his run for the candidacy for the office. Before arriving in the Senate, Obama was in the Illinois state legislature where his reputation was for voting 'present' on difficult votes.
JFK's first act as President was to create the Peace Corps, giving volunteers the opportunity to serve in developing nations. Three months after taking office, Kennedy ordered an invasion of Cuba using 1,400 exiles trained by the CIA. The President who provided an alternative to military service to American citizens wanting to serve their country, didn't provide air cover or Navy support to the exiles. As they landed on Cuba's beach, the exiles were unprotected. The Cuban Air Force killed, wounded or captured all 1,400 of the exiles and sank the supply ship. The invasion of the Bay of Pigs was a major failure.
JFK met with Khrushchev in Vienna only 6 weeks after the Bay of Pigs fiasco. This emboldened Khrushchev and the Berlin Wall was put up, separating Germany. Kennedy represented youth and inexperience to the Soviet Premier. He knew Kennedy could be intimidated. JFK stopped Soviet installment of nuclear missiles in Cuba by using a naval blockade of Cuba. Not known at the time,though is that JFK had to agree to remove our missiles from Turkey.
By contrast, President "Reagan didn't meet with a Soviet leader until his fifth year in office; Churchill, unlike his predecessor, never met with Hitler."
In 1962 the stock market made the sharpest corrections since the Depression. Yet, Kennedy had the common sense to lower taxes. Obama is only now, and very quietly, saying he realizes he will not be able to raise taxes in the beginning of his administration if the economy remains slow. And, no one in reality believes his claim that he will only raise taxes on the 'rich' and give tax breaks to 90% of Americans. This is especially true if you understand that the tax increases Obama plans to implement on businesses will move right on down to the consumer.
JFK brought the U.S. into the Vietnam war. He was anti-Communist, to his credit, not one raised in Marxist thought like Obama. JFK sent military advisers to implement programs such as the Hamlet Program, "which moved peasants into areas better controlled by the South Vietnamese government. The plan failed, however, when the peasants, angry at being transplanted farther from their farms, joined the enemy's growing ranks. Kennedy countered by sending 12,00 more advisers and 300 helicopters with U.S. pilots to Vietnam. When South Vietnam's president, Ngo Dinh Diem, proved ineffective, Kennedy finally agreed to withdraw support of him, and Diem was overthrown and assassinated by his generals." Three weeks later, Kennedy was assassinated.
"Kennedy's relative youth and inexperience led to a number of failures, particularly in foreign policy. Kennedy himself seemed to acknowledge this. When asked how he viewed his job as president, he replied that it was harder than he thought it would be."
The Bay of Pigs, meeting with Khrushchev, giving up missile installations in Turkey, the Vietnam Hamlet program were all mistakes due to lack of experience. For the first time in recent history, anyway, the foreign policy credentials are being questioned about the VP nominee on the McCain ticket. It is the President who as commander in chief makes policy decisions. Governor Palin is in charge of the Alaska National Guard. Those not supporting the McCain ticket pooh-pooh any experience in Alaska that Governor Palin brings to the ticket. It is still considerably more than Senator Obama, the top of his ticket, brings to the conversation.
Lipstick on a pig, indeed.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Cornyn Campaign Interns Assaulted
With an ear to the ground, as a blogger in support of the re-election of Senator John Cornyn, I have a disturbing story from eye witnesses to tell. Last Friday night, Rick Noriega was holding a campaign event in Laredo. The setting was the Casablanca Ballroom and two Cornyn campaign interns went to track the event, a standard campaign tactic in all campaigns today.
Keep in mind that Noriega has a reputation for possessing a quick temper and has previously shown this trait as he stormed the dais in a previous session and allegedly shoved a female legislator in the process. He is reported to have told his wife to hush when she was giving informed input to a conversation, more than once, and was given a friendly tip by that magazine that he may be in need of a refresher from candidate boot camp.
Noreiga's claim to legislative heft is the Dream Act passed in Texas in 2001, giving Texas born children of the undocumented residents in the state the right to in-state tuition rates and financial aid for college education.
As the event was warming up, many in the ballroom were taking photos and videos with digital cameras. The Cornyn interns did so, too. The Mayor of Laredo was speaking when they shot a video snippet as others present were doing. This is when the pace quickened for the interns.
A Noriega staffer walked up to them and told the interns to follow him. They went to a security guard who asked if they took video. The interns said yes. The security guard claimed that he had given entrants instructions of "no videotaping". Actually, what he said was "no video cameras" and the interns did, in fact, leave their video camera behind as they entered the ballroom. They brought in their still camera. Again, many of the attendees were taking pictures and videos of the event.
The two interns were asked to leave the building. They did. While in their car, the same Noriega staffer and guard approached the car and told them to get out. They asked one intern if the camera was his. No, was his response, it is property of the Cornyn campaign. Next they were told to delete the video and the staffer and guard said they needed to see the camera. One intern was asked for ID. He gave them his passport. The staffer and guard left at this point.
A Noriega staffer was making a phone call as he crossed the parking lot. A crowd of 10 people followed. One Noriega staffer was videotaping with his own camera. Another Noriega staffer began ranting and cursing at the interns in a threatening way. The staffer and guard told the interns they could be arrested for videotaping. Again stating that the guard told them "no video cameras" the Noriega staffer and guard denied it again. Again the interns were told to leave - as they were stopped from doing a short while before - or they would be arrested for trespassing. The staffers and guard took the camera saying it was 'stolen property' from the Cornyn campaign and insisted an official representative from the Cornyn campaign retrieve the camera as the only way to get it back.
Again the interns were told to leave or be arrested. The interns left.
When the camera was retrieved from the security company the next morning two things were apparent - 1. The Noriega campaign had seriously deliberated over whether to break the Cornyn campaign's camera and 2. The Noriega campaign had removed the camera's memory card and they still have this campaign property at the time of this posting.
This thugish behavior from the same campaign that sent a campaign aide posing as a blogger and using a false name to Cornyn staffers while seeking a copy of the senator's public schedule.
Hey, where's Rick Noreiga from anyway? Chicago?
Keep in mind that Noriega has a reputation for possessing a quick temper and has previously shown this trait as he stormed the dais in a previous session and allegedly shoved a female legislator in the process. He is reported to have told his wife to hush when she was giving informed input to a conversation, more than once, and was given a friendly tip by that magazine that he may be in need of a refresher from candidate boot camp.
Noreiga's claim to legislative heft is the Dream Act passed in Texas in 2001, giving Texas born children of the undocumented residents in the state the right to in-state tuition rates and financial aid for college education.
As the event was warming up, many in the ballroom were taking photos and videos with digital cameras. The Cornyn interns did so, too. The Mayor of Laredo was speaking when they shot a video snippet as others present were doing. This is when the pace quickened for the interns.
A Noriega staffer walked up to them and told the interns to follow him. They went to a security guard who asked if they took video. The interns said yes. The security guard claimed that he had given entrants instructions of "no videotaping". Actually, what he said was "no video cameras" and the interns did, in fact, leave their video camera behind as they entered the ballroom. They brought in their still camera. Again, many of the attendees were taking pictures and videos of the event.
The two interns were asked to leave the building. They did. While in their car, the same Noriega staffer and guard approached the car and told them to get out. They asked one intern if the camera was his. No, was his response, it is property of the Cornyn campaign. Next they were told to delete the video and the staffer and guard said they needed to see the camera. One intern was asked for ID. He gave them his passport. The staffer and guard left at this point.
A Noriega staffer was making a phone call as he crossed the parking lot. A crowd of 10 people followed. One Noriega staffer was videotaping with his own camera. Another Noriega staffer began ranting and cursing at the interns in a threatening way. The staffer and guard told the interns they could be arrested for videotaping. Again stating that the guard told them "no video cameras" the Noriega staffer and guard denied it again. Again the interns were told to leave - as they were stopped from doing a short while before - or they would be arrested for trespassing. The staffers and guard took the camera saying it was 'stolen property' from the Cornyn campaign and insisted an official representative from the Cornyn campaign retrieve the camera as the only way to get it back.
Again the interns were told to leave or be arrested. The interns left.
When the camera was retrieved from the security company the next morning two things were apparent - 1. The Noriega campaign had seriously deliberated over whether to break the Cornyn campaign's camera and 2. The Noriega campaign had removed the camera's memory card and they still have this campaign property at the time of this posting.
This thugish behavior from the same campaign that sent a campaign aide posing as a blogger and using a false name to Cornyn staffers while seeking a copy of the senator's public schedule.
Hey, where's Rick Noreiga from anyway? Chicago?
The Sumo Wrestlers Inhaled
A couple of Russian sumo wrestlers were kicked out of the sport, for life, yesterday in Tokyo. Their crime? Not steroids, not banned performance enhancing substances. They smoke dope. Yes, they inhaled and it showed up on the drug test.
The two, brothers, were tested for marijuana use during the first drug testing since another Russian wrestler was arrested last month for marijuana possession.
Can you imagine what an attack of the munchies must look like with these guys?
What is being called a scandal now is shaking up the sumo wrestling world. With the sport's beginnings in a religious ritual, a high standard of moral conduct is expected of its participants. In Japan, marijuana possession is a serious crime. This has been front page news.
An emergency meeting was called Monday and the punishment - the lifetime ban from the sport - was announced.
The testing began after last month's arrest of the first Russian. Marijuana was found in his wallet, sending up a red flag. The sumo wrestling association conducted drug tests on all 69 of its top division wrestlers and that is when the two brothers tested positive. A second test was done and the results were announced Friday. It was said the two "consumed the drug in amounts far beyond what could be inhaled from secondhand smoke, sumo association spokesman Yuichi Ida said." So, no using the excuse they were just at a party.
Supporting the legalization of medical marijuana is a worthy cause. However, it doesn't appear even that would help these sumo wrestlers now.
The two, brothers, were tested for marijuana use during the first drug testing since another Russian wrestler was arrested last month for marijuana possession.
Can you imagine what an attack of the munchies must look like with these guys?
What is being called a scandal now is shaking up the sumo wrestling world. With the sport's beginnings in a religious ritual, a high standard of moral conduct is expected of its participants. In Japan, marijuana possession is a serious crime. This has been front page news.
An emergency meeting was called Monday and the punishment - the lifetime ban from the sport - was announced.
The testing began after last month's arrest of the first Russian. Marijuana was found in his wallet, sending up a red flag. The sumo wrestling association conducted drug tests on all 69 of its top division wrestlers and that is when the two brothers tested positive. A second test was done and the results were announced Friday. It was said the two "consumed the drug in amounts far beyond what could be inhaled from secondhand smoke, sumo association spokesman Yuichi Ida said." So, no using the excuse they were just at a party.
Supporting the legalization of medical marijuana is a worthy cause. However, it doesn't appear even that would help these sumo wrestlers now.
Monday, September 08, 2008
This Is Not A Popularity Contest
"Rather than fighting to get through a rare nominee the Democrats will accept, Republicans -- and John McCain -- might better spend their energy letting voters know the score." That is the final sentence in an article today in The Wall Street Journal. The article is the latest written by the publication about the dismal record the Democrat-controlled Congress has on confirming President Bush's judicial nominees.
The Senate has confirmed a whopping 4 nominees to the federal circuit courts since the beginning of the year. Back in June, Senate Majority Leader Reid sent a letter to the publication promising to do better. At least to show the same amount of urgency that the Senate gave to President Clinton's nominees. So far Reid has not lived up to his promise.
It is a tactic of this Democrat Senate to tie judicial confirmations into negotiating difficult legislation. The Democrat leadership promises to put nominees before the Senate Judicial Committee yet continues to break that promise. "In President Clinton's final two years of office, a Republican Senate confirmed 15 circuit court judges and 57 district court judges. Merely to match that record, Senate Democrats will need to confirm five more circuit court nominees and nine more district court nominees when they return for a session that will only last a few weeks."
Today was the monthly meeting of Memorial West Republican Womens PAC. The speakers this morning were the Dean of the Texas State Senate, John Whitmire, a Democrat and a member of the Texas House of Representatives, Dwayne Bohac, a Republican. Neither represent my own districts for voting purposes. Both presented compelling speeches.
Whitmire, the Democrat, has the most seniority in the Senate. That is why he has the title of Dean of the Senate. For 25 years he has served in the state senate. His passion is with his chairmanship of the Criminal Justice Committee. While presenting a fairly standard Democrat point of view - favoring the criminal more than the victim - he was affable and spoke of working on a bi-partisan basis with most subjects of legislation. He spoke of the necessity of experience and leadership in order to get goals accomplished. "Elections matter. Elections are not a popularity contest."
Unlike the current socialist wing of the Democrat party controlling the agenda of the Democrats in office and on the campaign trail, this man spoke as the old style of politician. He spoke as one I remembered from my childhood in the South. He was a Democrat who knew how to serve his people. And, best of all, he spoke with civility even of those who don't support his ideas.
Change, as a force of good, is in the eye of the beholder.
He spoke of the 10,000 undocumented prisoners in state prisons. It costs about $40,000 per prisoner per year to the taxpayers, yet about $8,000 per year is spent per student. He said the answer is not bigger government, it is smarter government. Yes, the sane branch of the Democrat party.
An engaging speaker, Whitmire was easy to listen to and didn't stoop to the cheap shots or personal attacks. Refreshing in today's election year.
Rep. Bohac spoke to his passion for cancer research, among other topics. The 80th Legislature, ratified by the voters, a huge research bill. The State of Texas will provide $3 billion for cancer prevention and research over the next 10 years. Now, with the world class medical facilities and universities of the state, Texas is the center of the fight to cure all forms of cancer. That is terrific news.
Just as John McCain is the candidate known for working in a bi-partisan way in the Senate, Obama can say he does until the cows come home. Doesn't make it so. He still has no record of truth in advertising when it comes to claiming to be the 'post racial, post partisan' candidate.
The voters are awake. The voters seem to agree. This is not a popularity contest.
The Senate has confirmed a whopping 4 nominees to the federal circuit courts since the beginning of the year. Back in June, Senate Majority Leader Reid sent a letter to the publication promising to do better. At least to show the same amount of urgency that the Senate gave to President Clinton's nominees. So far Reid has not lived up to his promise.
It is a tactic of this Democrat Senate to tie judicial confirmations into negotiating difficult legislation. The Democrat leadership promises to put nominees before the Senate Judicial Committee yet continues to break that promise. "In President Clinton's final two years of office, a Republican Senate confirmed 15 circuit court judges and 57 district court judges. Merely to match that record, Senate Democrats will need to confirm five more circuit court nominees and nine more district court nominees when they return for a session that will only last a few weeks."
Today was the monthly meeting of Memorial West Republican Womens PAC. The speakers this morning were the Dean of the Texas State Senate, John Whitmire, a Democrat and a member of the Texas House of Representatives, Dwayne Bohac, a Republican. Neither represent my own districts for voting purposes. Both presented compelling speeches.
Whitmire, the Democrat, has the most seniority in the Senate. That is why he has the title of Dean of the Senate. For 25 years he has served in the state senate. His passion is with his chairmanship of the Criminal Justice Committee. While presenting a fairly standard Democrat point of view - favoring the criminal more than the victim - he was affable and spoke of working on a bi-partisan basis with most subjects of legislation. He spoke of the necessity of experience and leadership in order to get goals accomplished. "Elections matter. Elections are not a popularity contest."
Unlike the current socialist wing of the Democrat party controlling the agenda of the Democrats in office and on the campaign trail, this man spoke as the old style of politician. He spoke as one I remembered from my childhood in the South. He was a Democrat who knew how to serve his people. And, best of all, he spoke with civility even of those who don't support his ideas.
Change, as a force of good, is in the eye of the beholder.
He spoke of the 10,000 undocumented prisoners in state prisons. It costs about $40,000 per prisoner per year to the taxpayers, yet about $8,000 per year is spent per student. He said the answer is not bigger government, it is smarter government. Yes, the sane branch of the Democrat party.
An engaging speaker, Whitmire was easy to listen to and didn't stoop to the cheap shots or personal attacks. Refreshing in today's election year.
Rep. Bohac spoke to his passion for cancer research, among other topics. The 80th Legislature, ratified by the voters, a huge research bill. The State of Texas will provide $3 billion for cancer prevention and research over the next 10 years. Now, with the world class medical facilities and universities of the state, Texas is the center of the fight to cure all forms of cancer. That is terrific news.
Just as John McCain is the candidate known for working in a bi-partisan way in the Senate, Obama can say he does until the cows come home. Doesn't make it so. He still has no record of truth in advertising when it comes to claiming to be the 'post racial, post partisan' candidate.
The voters are awake. The voters seem to agree. This is not a popularity contest.
Reviewing Media Coverage of the Campaign
These are the corresponding headlines from the Houston Chronicle for the Democrat and Republican conventions.
After the announcements of the VP selections:
8/24/08 - "Biden Adds Grit For Obama"
8/30/08 - "McCain Pulls Surprise With His Selection"
After the Presidential nominee speeches:
8/29/08 - "Obama Vows To Keep 'American Promise Alive' "
9/5/08 - "McCain Vows Change, End To Partisan Rancor"
The host of last night's VMA awards was a British comedian, the description used loosely, named Russell Brand. Following with the evolution of the award show now used as political commercial for the Democrat party, he is reported to have enjoyed bashing the Republicans with abandon. At one point he begged the audience - in the arena and in tv land, "Please elect Barack Obama on behalf of the world." He called himself a citizen of the world, the description Obama prefers to use for himself, especially as he speaks to Germans.
The New York Post has jumped out in front and endorsed John McCain for President. Earlier in the political season, the newspaper endorsed Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton.
Sunday morning, during an appearance on ABC's "This Week", Obama told George Stephanopoulos "Republicans are attempting to scare voters by suggesting he is not Christian, which McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said was 'cynical'." Obama said, "These guys love to throw a rock and hide their hand."
Obama was playing victim to the claims that he is a Muslim by some who say that since he was born to a Muslim man, his Kenyan father, that according to the Muslim religion, he is considered a Muslim whether he practices the religion or not. "The McCain campaign has never suggested you have Muslim connections, " said Mr. Stephanopoulos." "I don't think that when you look at what is being promulgated on Fox News, let's say, and Republican commentators who are closely allied to those folks," Mr. Obama responded, and Mr. Stephanopoulos interrupted: "But John McCain said that's wrong." "Let's not play games," he (Obama) said. "What I was suggesting -- you're absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith. And you're absolutely right that that has not come." Mr. Stephanopoulos interrupted with, "Christian fieth." "My Christian faith, " Mr. Obama said quickly." Another Obama gaffe, as the 'old' jokes about McCain continue for lack of other substance. Why, McCain must be daft.
Obama stated Gov. Palin "was forced" to bring her daughter's pregnancy to the forefront. Interesting use of words there. The blogs who support the Obama campaign financially and in print are the ones who began the smears of Gov. Palin as soon as her name was confirmed as the VP pick. The Obama supporting blogs have reached a new low in personal destruction of a political candidate.
US Weekly is suffering the backlash from its nasty cover with Gov. Palin and baby Trig photo with the title "Babies, Lies & Scandal" yet the Obama cover was "Why Barack Loves Her" with a smiling shot of Senator and Mrs. Obama. Thousands of subscribers have reportedly cancelled their subscription for the unfair attack on the governor and her family.
Gov. Palin has scheduled her first network interview since becoming the VP nominee. Charlie Gibson with ABC News will conduct the interview Thursday. On Friday morning, John and Cindy McCain will appear on The View. Both have been on the chat show before. Last week, Whoopi Goldberg felt the need to spread her own false rumor of Gov. Palin, the one about the governor's membership in an organization that promotes the seceding of Alaska from the United States. It is a false charge and if Goldberg had bothered to research it, she would know. Unless she thinks verification only works one way. One amusing note - Goldberg said "succeeding" instead of seceding. So, there's that.
After the announcements of the VP selections:
8/24/08 - "Biden Adds Grit For Obama"
8/30/08 - "McCain Pulls Surprise With His Selection"
After the Presidential nominee speeches:
8/29/08 - "Obama Vows To Keep 'American Promise Alive' "
9/5/08 - "McCain Vows Change, End To Partisan Rancor"
The host of last night's VMA awards was a British comedian, the description used loosely, named Russell Brand. Following with the evolution of the award show now used as political commercial for the Democrat party, he is reported to have enjoyed bashing the Republicans with abandon. At one point he begged the audience - in the arena and in tv land, "Please elect Barack Obama on behalf of the world." He called himself a citizen of the world, the description Obama prefers to use for himself, especially as he speaks to Germans.
The New York Post has jumped out in front and endorsed John McCain for President. Earlier in the political season, the newspaper endorsed Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton.
Sunday morning, during an appearance on ABC's "This Week", Obama told George Stephanopoulos "Republicans are attempting to scare voters by suggesting he is not Christian, which McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said was 'cynical'." Obama said, "These guys love to throw a rock and hide their hand."
Obama was playing victim to the claims that he is a Muslim by some who say that since he was born to a Muslim man, his Kenyan father, that according to the Muslim religion, he is considered a Muslim whether he practices the religion or not. "The McCain campaign has never suggested you have Muslim connections, " said Mr. Stephanopoulos." "I don't think that when you look at what is being promulgated on Fox News, let's say, and Republican commentators who are closely allied to those folks," Mr. Obama responded, and Mr. Stephanopoulos interrupted: "But John McCain said that's wrong." "Let's not play games," he (Obama) said. "What I was suggesting -- you're absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith. And you're absolutely right that that has not come." Mr. Stephanopoulos interrupted with, "Christian fieth." "My Christian faith, " Mr. Obama said quickly." Another Obama gaffe, as the 'old' jokes about McCain continue for lack of other substance. Why, McCain must be daft.
Obama stated Gov. Palin "was forced" to bring her daughter's pregnancy to the forefront. Interesting use of words there. The blogs who support the Obama campaign financially and in print are the ones who began the smears of Gov. Palin as soon as her name was confirmed as the VP pick. The Obama supporting blogs have reached a new low in personal destruction of a political candidate.
US Weekly is suffering the backlash from its nasty cover with Gov. Palin and baby Trig photo with the title "Babies, Lies & Scandal" yet the Obama cover was "Why Barack Loves Her" with a smiling shot of Senator and Mrs. Obama. Thousands of subscribers have reportedly cancelled their subscription for the unfair attack on the governor and her family.
Gov. Palin has scheduled her first network interview since becoming the VP nominee. Charlie Gibson with ABC News will conduct the interview Thursday. On Friday morning, John and Cindy McCain will appear on The View. Both have been on the chat show before. Last week, Whoopi Goldberg felt the need to spread her own false rumor of Gov. Palin, the one about the governor's membership in an organization that promotes the seceding of Alaska from the United States. It is a false charge and if Goldberg had bothered to research it, she would know. Unless she thinks verification only works one way. One amusing note - Goldberg said "succeeding" instead of seceding. So, there's that.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Will Obama Fire Howard Gutman?
Has Senator Obama fired Howard Gutman from his role in the campaign yet? Obama said if anyone connected with his campaign engaged in such ugly talk about Governor Palin as the sliming that occurred after she was named as the VP on the McCain ticket, he would fire that person. Gutman, in an interview with talk radio host Laura Ingraham, said Gov. Palin cannot be a good mom and make this historic run. He said that by bringing Bristol Palin's pregnancy onto the international stage, Gov. Palin is putting her career over her children, and that makes her a bad mother.
Wow.
I suppose this 'progressive' would prefer we go back to the old days when young women were sent off to an aunt somewhere or banished to parts unknown when they became pregnant before marriage.
Gutman is an Obama money man. He's a D.C. lawyer, a true insider with connections and the ability to raise lots of money. He's a 'financial adviser'. What a guy.
Saturday morning, as Obama was living in his own Barryworld, he produced a fine Freudian slip. While speaking to a rally in Terre Haute, Indiana, he uttered this, "People ask me, they say what are your impressions of America. What have you learned since being President? Er, since being a candidate for President?" Just as the phony 'presidential' seal and bogus claims that his family will not be used for political publicity, folks are watching. The Obama brand of arrogance and brash self-promotion wears thin quickly.
Senator Hillary Clinton learned the hard way that this election is not a coronation.
While the Obama campaign deploys female politicians to bash Governor Palin, from the womans point of view, you know, the flailing about from the far left is telling. They have come undone over the rising star that is Governor Palin. She is the true reformer, having proven even in her short time in the governor's office, that she takes on all parties, all interests for the betterment of her state and the Alaskan people. Obama doesn't stray from the party line and has been seen on C-SPAN leaving the floor of the Senate as difficult votes were taken, rather than make a decision and take a stand. And, Obama is never described as a person who crosses the aisle to bring about legislation in the Senate, unless he is speaking about himself during the campaign.
I just heard David Axelrod, campaign manager for the Obama campaign say that those around McCain are lobbyists and his campaign manager, Rick Davis, are lobbyists. That's rich. Axelrod has been a very successful lobbyist for years. He is a cog in the Chicago political machine. Why do you think he is Obama's campaign manager and the campaign moved its headquarters to Chicago? Change. Obama style.
From Pajamas Media : "There is much in the McCain-Palin ticket for Obama to worry about. The existential crisis for Democrats is that this campaign is no longer about Barack Obama. It really is about the vision that Americans have for the future, and Americans are now able to envision a future without "The One". Reality has set in on the Democratic Party and they realize they no longer have control of the public narrative or the political momentum. In a pair of authentic mavericks and challenge-the-system reformers, America is starting to see herself and her highest hopes again."
Wow.
I suppose this 'progressive' would prefer we go back to the old days when young women were sent off to an aunt somewhere or banished to parts unknown when they became pregnant before marriage.
Gutman is an Obama money man. He's a D.C. lawyer, a true insider with connections and the ability to raise lots of money. He's a 'financial adviser'. What a guy.
Saturday morning, as Obama was living in his own Barryworld, he produced a fine Freudian slip. While speaking to a rally in Terre Haute, Indiana, he uttered this, "People ask me, they say what are your impressions of America. What have you learned since being President? Er, since being a candidate for President?" Just as the phony 'presidential' seal and bogus claims that his family will not be used for political publicity, folks are watching. The Obama brand of arrogance and brash self-promotion wears thin quickly.
Senator Hillary Clinton learned the hard way that this election is not a coronation.
While the Obama campaign deploys female politicians to bash Governor Palin, from the womans point of view, you know, the flailing about from the far left is telling. They have come undone over the rising star that is Governor Palin. She is the true reformer, having proven even in her short time in the governor's office, that she takes on all parties, all interests for the betterment of her state and the Alaskan people. Obama doesn't stray from the party line and has been seen on C-SPAN leaving the floor of the Senate as difficult votes were taken, rather than make a decision and take a stand. And, Obama is never described as a person who crosses the aisle to bring about legislation in the Senate, unless he is speaking about himself during the campaign.
I just heard David Axelrod, campaign manager for the Obama campaign say that those around McCain are lobbyists and his campaign manager, Rick Davis, are lobbyists. That's rich. Axelrod has been a very successful lobbyist for years. He is a cog in the Chicago political machine. Why do you think he is Obama's campaign manager and the campaign moved its headquarters to Chicago? Change. Obama style.
From Pajamas Media : "There is much in the McCain-Palin ticket for Obama to worry about. The existential crisis for Democrats is that this campaign is no longer about Barack Obama. It really is about the vision that Americans have for the future, and Americans are now able to envision a future without "The One". Reality has set in on the Democratic Party and they realize they no longer have control of the public narrative or the political momentum. In a pair of authentic mavericks and challenge-the-system reformers, America is starting to see herself and her highest hopes again."
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Democrats Trash Thousands of Flags
This afternoon, Senator McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin spoke at a rally held in Colorado during a stopover en route to Indiana. The crowd waiting to get into the rally was lined up over a mile and a half. Thousands of American flags were distributed to the large crowd of the ticket's supporters. These flags were from an interesting story reported by the Denver Post.
According to the Denver Post, a worker at Invesco Field came upon 12,000 American flags unused by the Democratic National Convention . They were stuffed into large garbage bags and on the way to standard garbage disposal. This brought up issues of proper flag disposal.
Damon Jones, DNCC spokesperson, called the allocation of the flags to the crowd 'a political stunt'. He did not, however, explain why the bags of flags were being disposed of in such a manner.
Proper flag disposal is performed regularly by organizations like the Boy Scouts. My son was present for a few of the official service and ceremonies during his days with his troop. The VFW also performs the ceremony. Not to be sexist, Girl Scouts do it, too.
First, some history. President Truman officially established Flag Day at the suggestion of the Elks. President Truman was an Elk. So is my husband, though not active now. My father in law was a life long member, too.
Section 8k of the Flag Code states: "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." Part of the process is cutting the flag into small pieces before burning, so as not to burn a whole flag. Sometimes, when the flag is expensively, finely made and large, the stars are cut out separately and kept. The idea is to avoid the image of a whole burning flag.
Respect.
The symbols of our democracy, of our nation, are important. Pride in country demands dignified respect of her symbols.
According to the Denver Post, a worker at Invesco Field came upon 12,000 American flags unused by the Democratic National Convention . They were stuffed into large garbage bags and on the way to standard garbage disposal. This brought up issues of proper flag disposal.
Damon Jones, DNCC spokesperson, called the allocation of the flags to the crowd 'a political stunt'. He did not, however, explain why the bags of flags were being disposed of in such a manner.
Proper flag disposal is performed regularly by organizations like the Boy Scouts. My son was present for a few of the official service and ceremonies during his days with his troop. The VFW also performs the ceremony. Not to be sexist, Girl Scouts do it, too.
First, some history. President Truman officially established Flag Day at the suggestion of the Elks. President Truman was an Elk. So is my husband, though not active now. My father in law was a life long member, too.
Section 8k of the Flag Code states: "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." Part of the process is cutting the flag into small pieces before burning, so as not to burn a whole flag. Sometimes, when the flag is expensively, finely made and large, the stars are cut out separately and kept. The idea is to avoid the image of a whole burning flag.
Respect.
The symbols of our democracy, of our nation, are important. Pride in country demands dignified respect of her symbols.
Obama Drops Boycott of Fox News Channel
Senator Barack Obama broke his boycott of Fox News Channel and sat down for an interview with Bill O'Reilly. The interview just happened to take place on the final day of the Republican National Convention. In a play to capture a bit of attention from the wildly successful convention speech from Governor Sarah Palin the night before, the audience is told by the campaign that it was simply the only time the Senator had available.
The interview is being shown in segments over multiple nights. Some from Fox News who have watched the interview say Obama looks comfortable and at ease. Others say he stammers over answers and seems tentative. Sounds like a balanced review.
In the Washington Post, an article appeared by Howard Kurtz on September 3. Kurtz writes of a secret meeting between Obama and Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes and Rpert Murdock, the network's owner which happened three months ago. The meeting happened at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in Manhattan and Obama brought with him David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs.
"I just wanted to know if I'm going to get a fair shake from Fox News Channel, " Ailes recalled him saying. "Senator, you're the one who boycotted us," Ailes says he replied. We're not the ones who boycotted you. Nor did we retaliate for your boycott."
You may remember it was John Edwards who initially demanded all Democrat presidential candidates boycott Fox News, at the insistence of the far left blogs. Rather than show political courage and independence - some say change- the Democrat candidates fell into line and allowed themselves to be dictated to for fear of loss of support.
Ailes says, "he tried to clear the air with the Democratic senator by saying that his organization was determined to be fair but would not be 'in the tank' for Obama's campaign." This is a distinct difference between Fox News and the other media outlets. By doing honest evaluation of the Obama campaign and the candidate's personal story and family life, Obama "expressed concern about the way Fox was covering him."
"As Ailes recalls it, he responded to Obama's concerns about fairness by saying that "there are opinion shows and there are news shows." "Asked to assess the sit-down, Ailes said: "I wanted him to understand that we're a real journalism organization and we're going to cover what's there. We're not out to get him...Neither of us was overly aggressive but neither of us blinked."
"Ailes says he told the senator that there would be no "embarrassing or underhanded stuff" in the interview and that if he had any overall concerns about Fox's treatment in the future, he should call Ailes directly."
O'Reilly invited Obama to appear on his cable opinion show 9 months ago. At the time, Obama agreed to do so. What better time to finally have a free slot in his calendar than the final night of the Republican convention?
John McCain ran an ad on television congratulating Obama and his success on the final night of the Democrat convention. Obama does a personal interview for personal publicity.
Country First? Change?
The interview is being shown in segments over multiple nights. Some from Fox News who have watched the interview say Obama looks comfortable and at ease. Others say he stammers over answers and seems tentative. Sounds like a balanced review.
In the Washington Post, an article appeared by Howard Kurtz on September 3. Kurtz writes of a secret meeting between Obama and Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes and Rpert Murdock, the network's owner which happened three months ago. The meeting happened at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in Manhattan and Obama brought with him David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs.
"I just wanted to know if I'm going to get a fair shake from Fox News Channel, " Ailes recalled him saying. "Senator, you're the one who boycotted us," Ailes says he replied. We're not the ones who boycotted you. Nor did we retaliate for your boycott."
You may remember it was John Edwards who initially demanded all Democrat presidential candidates boycott Fox News, at the insistence of the far left blogs. Rather than show political courage and independence - some say change- the Democrat candidates fell into line and allowed themselves to be dictated to for fear of loss of support.
Ailes says, "he tried to clear the air with the Democratic senator by saying that his organization was determined to be fair but would not be 'in the tank' for Obama's campaign." This is a distinct difference between Fox News and the other media outlets. By doing honest evaluation of the Obama campaign and the candidate's personal story and family life, Obama "expressed concern about the way Fox was covering him."
"As Ailes recalls it, he responded to Obama's concerns about fairness by saying that "there are opinion shows and there are news shows." "Asked to assess the sit-down, Ailes said: "I wanted him to understand that we're a real journalism organization and we're going to cover what's there. We're not out to get him...Neither of us was overly aggressive but neither of us blinked."
"Ailes says he told the senator that there would be no "embarrassing or underhanded stuff" in the interview and that if he had any overall concerns about Fox's treatment in the future, he should call Ailes directly."
O'Reilly invited Obama to appear on his cable opinion show 9 months ago. At the time, Obama agreed to do so. What better time to finally have a free slot in his calendar than the final night of the Republican convention?
John McCain ran an ad on television congratulating Obama and his success on the final night of the Democrat convention. Obama does a personal interview for personal publicity.
Country First? Change?
Friday, September 05, 2008
John McCain's Night
"It's a great day to be a Republican. It's a great day to be a woman." Those were the sentences spoken by the head of the Alaskan delegation as the name of the state's governor, Sarah Palin's, name was placed onto the party's presidential ticket.
Last night brought the last night of convention business for the Republicans meeting in St. Paul. Senator John McCain formally accepted his party's nomination as its candidate for President. His speech was moving and made me very proud to be a supporter.
Leading up to McCain's speech were several speakers with strong speeches. Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, from the 7th district which includes Memphis, was energizing in her speech. She spoke of her pride in the nomination of Sarah Palin and honoring the 88th anniversary of womens right to vote. She spoke to Gov. Palin's strengths - all the attributes that have the opposition running scared with the media and party smears. It is a show of strength and character that Sen. McCain made such a choice. "It's about damn time", said Blackburn.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, a strong contender for the VP nod, spoke about McCain's grasp of everyday issues. Of McCain's strong leadership in the Senate, standing up to even his own political party to do the right thing for the American people. The nominees picked by the other party have no such record of putting American people over party loyalty. Pawlenty is credited with the term "Sam's Club Republicans" and it speaks to the ordinary working class voters for whom the Democrats have taken for granted for far too long. They are the Reagan Democrats and they are liking what they see in the McCain/Palin ticket.
The latest viewership numbers show that 40 million people tuned in to watch Gov. Palin's acceptance speech Wednesday night. The number of those watching Senator Biden the week before? 24 million. The voters already know what they get with the 6 term Senator from Delaware. No change there. No reform there. Same old liberal boilerplate. The last numbers show that 37 million tuned in for Obama's speech. While the setting was up to his self aggrandizing personality, the people piled into the sports stadium as grand events are what Obama is most comfortable with, the speech was mostly thought to be standard liberal fare. Big government programs, raising taxes, no real solutions.
Obama was criticized by pundits for not offering policy solutions to the big problems. That is now the charge of his campaign to the McCain campaign this week. The difference is that the Republicans were talking about policies - lowering taxes, school choice, strong national security, medical insurance choice with the help of the free market and tax credits, the continued need for public service of all of our citizens. Those are just not the solutions Obama wants to hear.
Former Tennessee Senator and Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist, introduced Cindy McCain. He has traveled with her on overseas trips promoting what he calls 'medical diplomacy'. This form of diplomacy is a long term investment in national security and promotes the best of America to the world. He acknowledged President Bush's administration for the largest ever commitment to African countries for medical assistance. "Health is a currency for peace."
A video biography was presented about the life of Cindy McCain. She has a remarkable story in her own right. The daughter of a WWII fighter pilot who was shot down in battle, she grew up in Arizona camping with her dad, enjoying the outdoors. She, like John McCain, are strong proponents for environmental conservation. Her father saved and put together the initial investment of $10,000 to bring in an Anheuser-Busch distributorship to Arizona and the business grew from there to what it is today. Cindy now is the CEO of the business and John McCain's son, Andy, is the Comptroller. Cindy has, from her college days on, traveled whenever possible to help others in parts of the world in dire straits. She walks the walk.
Cindy McCain brought on stage all 7 of the McCain children. John McCain adopted his first wife's two sons and together they had a daughter, Sidney. His son Doug is a commercial pilot, Andy works in Cindy's business, and Sidney is a successful music businesswoman in Canada. The four children from John and Cindy's marriage were there - Meghan, who travels with the campaign and blogs with video about it; Jack and Jimmy both in military service; and Bridget, the daughter Cindy brought home from Mother Theresa's orphanage in Bangladesh. A truly American family story all around.
Senator Lindsey Graham, (R-SC) gave a speech addressing the military directly. It was a strong and rousing speech summarizing John McCain's support of the military and the trips the two of them have taken to Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia and to other hot spots. Graham spoke of the courage of Sen. Joe Lieberman to stand firm against the Democrat party's demand of defeat in Iraq. Lieberman, too, puts country first. Graham is a Lt. Col in the National Guard Reserves and a JAG.
The video of John McCain's life story was shown. There is no match in politics today. And then McCain came out on stage.
The stage was changed from the standard type - a runway style addition was added for him to walk out into the crowd, as is his most comfortable style. He was right in the middle of the Ohio delegation. The contrast of this setting to the Hollywood version presented the week before by the other party's candidate was striking. John McCain is a humble man. It's not all about him. That much is clear.
The best line of the speech for me was, "Education is the civil rights issue of our time." I completely support this statement. The teachers union, who have Obama firmly in their pocket, have ruined our public educational system. McCain, the true reformer, is in support of school choice and charter schools - both ideas which are clearly showing positive results in the communities in which they have been implemented. These ideas are the hope of the future. Obama wants his children to have the benefit of private school education but no choice for families of lesser financial means. I'm hoping for a different kind of change.
McCain's speech ended with vigor and passion. "Fight for what's right for our country. Fight for the ideals and character of a free people. Fight for our children's future. Fight for justice and opportunity for all. Stand up to defend our country from its enemies. Stand up for each; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America. Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We're Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history."
A cause greater than our own self interests. It's a great day to be a Republican. It's a great day to be an American.
Last night brought the last night of convention business for the Republicans meeting in St. Paul. Senator John McCain formally accepted his party's nomination as its candidate for President. His speech was moving and made me very proud to be a supporter.
Leading up to McCain's speech were several speakers with strong speeches. Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, from the 7th district which includes Memphis, was energizing in her speech. She spoke of her pride in the nomination of Sarah Palin and honoring the 88th anniversary of womens right to vote. She spoke to Gov. Palin's strengths - all the attributes that have the opposition running scared with the media and party smears. It is a show of strength and character that Sen. McCain made such a choice. "It's about damn time", said Blackburn.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, a strong contender for the VP nod, spoke about McCain's grasp of everyday issues. Of McCain's strong leadership in the Senate, standing up to even his own political party to do the right thing for the American people. The nominees picked by the other party have no such record of putting American people over party loyalty. Pawlenty is credited with the term "Sam's Club Republicans" and it speaks to the ordinary working class voters for whom the Democrats have taken for granted for far too long. They are the Reagan Democrats and they are liking what they see in the McCain/Palin ticket.
The latest viewership numbers show that 40 million people tuned in to watch Gov. Palin's acceptance speech Wednesday night. The number of those watching Senator Biden the week before? 24 million. The voters already know what they get with the 6 term Senator from Delaware. No change there. No reform there. Same old liberal boilerplate. The last numbers show that 37 million tuned in for Obama's speech. While the setting was up to his self aggrandizing personality, the people piled into the sports stadium as grand events are what Obama is most comfortable with, the speech was mostly thought to be standard liberal fare. Big government programs, raising taxes, no real solutions.
Obama was criticized by pundits for not offering policy solutions to the big problems. That is now the charge of his campaign to the McCain campaign this week. The difference is that the Republicans were talking about policies - lowering taxes, school choice, strong national security, medical insurance choice with the help of the free market and tax credits, the continued need for public service of all of our citizens. Those are just not the solutions Obama wants to hear.
Former Tennessee Senator and Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist, introduced Cindy McCain. He has traveled with her on overseas trips promoting what he calls 'medical diplomacy'. This form of diplomacy is a long term investment in national security and promotes the best of America to the world. He acknowledged President Bush's administration for the largest ever commitment to African countries for medical assistance. "Health is a currency for peace."
A video biography was presented about the life of Cindy McCain. She has a remarkable story in her own right. The daughter of a WWII fighter pilot who was shot down in battle, she grew up in Arizona camping with her dad, enjoying the outdoors. She, like John McCain, are strong proponents for environmental conservation. Her father saved and put together the initial investment of $10,000 to bring in an Anheuser-Busch distributorship to Arizona and the business grew from there to what it is today. Cindy now is the CEO of the business and John McCain's son, Andy, is the Comptroller. Cindy has, from her college days on, traveled whenever possible to help others in parts of the world in dire straits. She walks the walk.
Cindy McCain brought on stage all 7 of the McCain children. John McCain adopted his first wife's two sons and together they had a daughter, Sidney. His son Doug is a commercial pilot, Andy works in Cindy's business, and Sidney is a successful music businesswoman in Canada. The four children from John and Cindy's marriage were there - Meghan, who travels with the campaign and blogs with video about it; Jack and Jimmy both in military service; and Bridget, the daughter Cindy brought home from Mother Theresa's orphanage in Bangladesh. A truly American family story all around.
Senator Lindsey Graham, (R-SC) gave a speech addressing the military directly. It was a strong and rousing speech summarizing John McCain's support of the military and the trips the two of them have taken to Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia and to other hot spots. Graham spoke of the courage of Sen. Joe Lieberman to stand firm against the Democrat party's demand of defeat in Iraq. Lieberman, too, puts country first. Graham is a Lt. Col in the National Guard Reserves and a JAG.
The video of John McCain's life story was shown. There is no match in politics today. And then McCain came out on stage.
The stage was changed from the standard type - a runway style addition was added for him to walk out into the crowd, as is his most comfortable style. He was right in the middle of the Ohio delegation. The contrast of this setting to the Hollywood version presented the week before by the other party's candidate was striking. John McCain is a humble man. It's not all about him. That much is clear.
The best line of the speech for me was, "Education is the civil rights issue of our time." I completely support this statement. The teachers union, who have Obama firmly in their pocket, have ruined our public educational system. McCain, the true reformer, is in support of school choice and charter schools - both ideas which are clearly showing positive results in the communities in which they have been implemented. These ideas are the hope of the future. Obama wants his children to have the benefit of private school education but no choice for families of lesser financial means. I'm hoping for a different kind of change.
McCain's speech ended with vigor and passion. "Fight for what's right for our country. Fight for the ideals and character of a free people. Fight for our children's future. Fight for justice and opportunity for all. Stand up to defend our country from its enemies. Stand up for each; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America. Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We're Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history."
A cause greater than our own self interests. It's a great day to be a Republican. It's a great day to be an American.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Sarah's Speech Shines
It is ironic that a weekly 'news' magazine, Newsweek, just a matter of months ago was singing their praises of Alaska's Governor Sarah Palin. In 2007, the publication printed an article about two successful women governors - Arizona's Gov. Napoleano and Alaska's Gov. Palin. A rare bit of bi-partisan reporting was conducted by the magazine. Now that Governor Palin is the choice for the VP nominee of the Republican party, suddenly all that's out the window.
The feeding frenzy surrounding Governor Palin and her family has been a new low in what is today passed off as journalism. Between the written words printed and the spoken words uttered by the television people, a person would think that this choice was completely unprecedented. The first frenzy focused on the fact that she could not have been properly vetted. The fact that her husband (a union member, a commercial fisherman, a production mgr on the North Slope of Alaska, and a world champion snow machine racer) is not a registered Republican and neither is her oldest child, the 19 year old son named Track. He joined the military on Sept. 11, 2007 and will soon deploy to Iraq. His name comes from a sport his mother participated in during her high school years.
Then the news that her husband, Todd, to whom she refers to as "First Dude", had a DUI 22 years ago. And, she is under investigation for an alleged scandal named Troopergate. More on that another time. She is fully cooperating and says she didn't do anything inappropriate.
The most disturbing stories, though, have been generated on the far left web sites and the mainstream media followed their lead. The far left runs the Obama campaign and the Democrats in the Congress - the party leaders have a morning briefing with sites like the George Soros controlled MoveOn people and others - so they are clearly coordinating an effort to destroy Gov. Palin. She is seen as that big of a threat to their candidate.
First, it was that the precious 4 month old infant son of the Palins is not really the Governor's child but her oldest daughter's child. Bristol Palin is 17 years old and we learn she is 5 months pregnant. This was disclosed by her parents to clear the air of the stench caused by the 'progressives' on the left. Bristol and her fiance, Levi, will be married soon. He has now been brought to the convention to be a part of the public face of the family.
There is more coming and the American public has caught on to the methods and motives of the Democrats. It is backfiring and that is a heartening thing.
Was she properly vetted? Of course she was. She has been in contention for several months now. I wrote about her in July and said that her name was frequently mentioned as a possible VP choice. I recommended, as a matter of fact. She was vetted by the man tasked with leading the search, Arthur Culvahouse. He is a high powered D.C. lawyer and back in May an Alaskan blogger was providing a tip that Culvahouse was spotted in Juneau. He met with her then and her family. She provided all the reams of paperwork needed for the vetting process. She secretly went to meet with Senator McCain and Culvahouse not long after that. Since then, she has been in weekly contact with the campaign and Culvahouse. McCain was told by her of her daughter's pregnancy and her husband's long ago DUI. They knew about the investigation into the alleged Troopergate.
The interesting thing is that none of this matters. She has a remarkable record in public office. She has 13 years in elected public service. She has been a lightening rod for reform and, yes, change in Alaska. Within the Republican party in Alaska, too. She is a bi-partisan Governor when it comes to weeding out corruption. She has Democrats and Independents that she appointed to serve with her. Most importantly, she has what none of the three men running have - executive experience.
There is a reason that traditionally it is very difficult for a U.S. Senator to become President. In the recent past, the job has gone to state Governors. The reason is the difference in governing and legislating is the difference in apples and oranges.
The mainstream media, embarrassing themselves on a daily basis for being so far into the tank for Obama, was only too happy to make the story all about a 17 year old and her pregnancy. It is as though a teenager has never been pregnant before. She's been called trailer trash by those who certainly would know of which they speak. The main sticking point for them, I think, is that her parents are stongly together in their support of her. No abortion. No adoption. She is marrying the father and they will go on from there. Her fiance is called, on one web site, a high school drop out that plays hockey. If it was true, what business is that to the writer? It's not true, though. He's homeschooled. And, I think the verdict was long ago in that the people that are home schooled are usually far better educated than those in traditional schools.
And, as Rudy Giuliani so eloquently said during his speech before the convention tonight - how dare they treat Gov. Palin like this. How dare they.
Governor Palin was accused of 'causing' her infants son's Down Syndrome. True, older mothers take that risk, but the ultrasound revealed this as a distinct possibility and she and Todd chose to continue the pregnancy. She told the convention that the parents of special needs children would have an advocate in the White House. Did you know Cindy McCain has a masters degree in Special Ed teaching?
Soledad O'Brien, completely in the tank for Obama along with her co-workers at CNN, asked if the fact that reports are that Palin didn't have a passport before 2007 when she took her trips to Kuwait and Germany are true, did that matter? Did it matter if she wasn't "well traveled"?
NBC's David Gregory referred to Hillary's attacks on McCain as 'rousing' and 'playful' yet called Fred Thompson's speech last night a 'hard-edged attack on Senator Obama." CBS's Maggie Rodriguez stated "I think they're fair questions" when Giuliani challenged her on asking if a vice president can be in office and a mom at the same time. All of these are clearly biased reporters. None of this would happen with a man. Do reporters ask if the two Obama girls will be properly taken care of by their parents - both of whom work outside the home? Joe Biden loves to tell the stories of the time in his life after his first wife and a child died in an auto crash, that he would go back and forth on the train to Washington and home to Delaware to raise his son. Did anyone ask him if that was the job he should have?
The double standard between Democrats and Republicans, men and women, has been played out in this very long and drawn out campaign season. When reporters first learned of the Edwards extra martial affair and the baby involved, it was kept quiet for months, even as he ran for the highest office in the land. Not a peep until a supermarket tabloid was about to break the story.
So, it's ok to not report on a story concerning adult politicians but run like fools on a story that is completely fabricated slime about the 17 year old daughter of the potential future VP. Then that forces a completely private family matter out into the open and we go on from there.
The treatment of Britol Palin is the most heinous. The Houston Chronicle today has a large picture of Bristol on the front of the lifestyle section along with Jamie Lynn Spears and a scene from the movie "Juno". The motive is clear. The exploitation of the girl in this article is what spurred on this post. Not a single worthwhile sentence was printed in the whole article. It was written under the pretext that this pregnancy is a 'teachable moment'. No new suggestions to parents or teens were provided. That part of the article was reduced to a few sentences.
I didn't intend to do this post until that page was in front of my face this morning. I would challenge anyone who thinks they are so much above this kind of issue arising in their own family or someone in their close social circle, to think long and hard about that assumption. The facts are otherwise.
Tonight Governor Sarah Palin was a huge hit. She has energized the Republican party as it has not been in a very long time. All the negative hits in the press? It has served to solidify her support. And the support of non-Republicans, which is crucial for a win in November.
So, I suppose every cloud has a silver lining.
The feeding frenzy surrounding Governor Palin and her family has been a new low in what is today passed off as journalism. Between the written words printed and the spoken words uttered by the television people, a person would think that this choice was completely unprecedented. The first frenzy focused on the fact that she could not have been properly vetted. The fact that her husband (a union member, a commercial fisherman, a production mgr on the North Slope of Alaska, and a world champion snow machine racer) is not a registered Republican and neither is her oldest child, the 19 year old son named Track. He joined the military on Sept. 11, 2007 and will soon deploy to Iraq. His name comes from a sport his mother participated in during her high school years.
Then the news that her husband, Todd, to whom she refers to as "First Dude", had a DUI 22 years ago. And, she is under investigation for an alleged scandal named Troopergate. More on that another time. She is fully cooperating and says she didn't do anything inappropriate.
The most disturbing stories, though, have been generated on the far left web sites and the mainstream media followed their lead. The far left runs the Obama campaign and the Democrats in the Congress - the party leaders have a morning briefing with sites like the George Soros controlled MoveOn people and others - so they are clearly coordinating an effort to destroy Gov. Palin. She is seen as that big of a threat to their candidate.
First, it was that the precious 4 month old infant son of the Palins is not really the Governor's child but her oldest daughter's child. Bristol Palin is 17 years old and we learn she is 5 months pregnant. This was disclosed by her parents to clear the air of the stench caused by the 'progressives' on the left. Bristol and her fiance, Levi, will be married soon. He has now been brought to the convention to be a part of the public face of the family.
There is more coming and the American public has caught on to the methods and motives of the Democrats. It is backfiring and that is a heartening thing.
Was she properly vetted? Of course she was. She has been in contention for several months now. I wrote about her in July and said that her name was frequently mentioned as a possible VP choice. I recommended, as a matter of fact. She was vetted by the man tasked with leading the search, Arthur Culvahouse. He is a high powered D.C. lawyer and back in May an Alaskan blogger was providing a tip that Culvahouse was spotted in Juneau. He met with her then and her family. She provided all the reams of paperwork needed for the vetting process. She secretly went to meet with Senator McCain and Culvahouse not long after that. Since then, she has been in weekly contact with the campaign and Culvahouse. McCain was told by her of her daughter's pregnancy and her husband's long ago DUI. They knew about the investigation into the alleged Troopergate.
The interesting thing is that none of this matters. She has a remarkable record in public office. She has 13 years in elected public service. She has been a lightening rod for reform and, yes, change in Alaska. Within the Republican party in Alaska, too. She is a bi-partisan Governor when it comes to weeding out corruption. She has Democrats and Independents that she appointed to serve with her. Most importantly, she has what none of the three men running have - executive experience.
There is a reason that traditionally it is very difficult for a U.S. Senator to become President. In the recent past, the job has gone to state Governors. The reason is the difference in governing and legislating is the difference in apples and oranges.
The mainstream media, embarrassing themselves on a daily basis for being so far into the tank for Obama, was only too happy to make the story all about a 17 year old and her pregnancy. It is as though a teenager has never been pregnant before. She's been called trailer trash by those who certainly would know of which they speak. The main sticking point for them, I think, is that her parents are stongly together in their support of her. No abortion. No adoption. She is marrying the father and they will go on from there. Her fiance is called, on one web site, a high school drop out that plays hockey. If it was true, what business is that to the writer? It's not true, though. He's homeschooled. And, I think the verdict was long ago in that the people that are home schooled are usually far better educated than those in traditional schools.
And, as Rudy Giuliani so eloquently said during his speech before the convention tonight - how dare they treat Gov. Palin like this. How dare they.
Governor Palin was accused of 'causing' her infants son's Down Syndrome. True, older mothers take that risk, but the ultrasound revealed this as a distinct possibility and she and Todd chose to continue the pregnancy. She told the convention that the parents of special needs children would have an advocate in the White House. Did you know Cindy McCain has a masters degree in Special Ed teaching?
Soledad O'Brien, completely in the tank for Obama along with her co-workers at CNN, asked if the fact that reports are that Palin didn't have a passport before 2007 when she took her trips to Kuwait and Germany are true, did that matter? Did it matter if she wasn't "well traveled"?
NBC's David Gregory referred to Hillary's attacks on McCain as 'rousing' and 'playful' yet called Fred Thompson's speech last night a 'hard-edged attack on Senator Obama." CBS's Maggie Rodriguez stated "I think they're fair questions" when Giuliani challenged her on asking if a vice president can be in office and a mom at the same time. All of these are clearly biased reporters. None of this would happen with a man. Do reporters ask if the two Obama girls will be properly taken care of by their parents - both of whom work outside the home? Joe Biden loves to tell the stories of the time in his life after his first wife and a child died in an auto crash, that he would go back and forth on the train to Washington and home to Delaware to raise his son. Did anyone ask him if that was the job he should have?
The double standard between Democrats and Republicans, men and women, has been played out in this very long and drawn out campaign season. When reporters first learned of the Edwards extra martial affair and the baby involved, it was kept quiet for months, even as he ran for the highest office in the land. Not a peep until a supermarket tabloid was about to break the story.
So, it's ok to not report on a story concerning adult politicians but run like fools on a story that is completely fabricated slime about the 17 year old daughter of the potential future VP. Then that forces a completely private family matter out into the open and we go on from there.
The treatment of Britol Palin is the most heinous. The Houston Chronicle today has a large picture of Bristol on the front of the lifestyle section along with Jamie Lynn Spears and a scene from the movie "Juno". The motive is clear. The exploitation of the girl in this article is what spurred on this post. Not a single worthwhile sentence was printed in the whole article. It was written under the pretext that this pregnancy is a 'teachable moment'. No new suggestions to parents or teens were provided. That part of the article was reduced to a few sentences.
I didn't intend to do this post until that page was in front of my face this morning. I would challenge anyone who thinks they are so much above this kind of issue arising in their own family or someone in their close social circle, to think long and hard about that assumption. The facts are otherwise.
Tonight Governor Sarah Palin was a huge hit. She has energized the Republican party as it has not been in a very long time. All the negative hits in the press? It has served to solidify her support. And the support of non-Republicans, which is crucial for a win in November.
So, I suppose every cloud has a silver lining.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Log Cabin Republicans Endorse McCain/Palin
Tonight is Sarah Palin's night. The convention goers will be witness to a bit of history, as we at home will. For the first time, some 20 years after the other party, the Republican party will nominate a woman in the VP slot on the Presidential ticket. And, a terrific choice Governor Palin is for the ticket, too.
A terrific celebration of the 88th anniversary of women's right to vote this week.
Just look at the Democrats all foaming at the mouth, lowering themselves to a new low even for them, and not learning from the lessons of the Hillary candidacy. Blatant sexism and stereotyping is alive and well in American politics. The media advocacy for the junior senator from Illinois and the coordinated effort of the scummy wing of the Democrat party working in conjunction with the Obama campaign are in full destroy Palin mode.
There are two really despicable stories being promoted by the Obama campaign and the national media about Governor Palin and they will be extinguished as time goes on. The first involves Governor Palin and the issue of gay marriage.
According to the web site Little Green Footballs, an interesting post appeared mentioned a web site titled: Sarah Palin Supports Gay Rights. The post was as follows: "Quote: "Gov. Sarah Palin vetoed a bill Thursday that sought to block the state from giving public employee benefits such as health insurance to same-sex couples." "Quote: "It is the Governor's intention to work with the legislature and to give the people of Alaska an opportunity to express their wishes and intentions whether these benefits should continue," the statement from Palin's administration said.""Coghill said he's interested in a new plan that would allow state employees to designate one person --maybe a same-sex partner, but also possibly a family member of roommate --who would be eligible for state-paid benefits. But the employee would have to pay to add that person to his or her benefits."
Then the poster said "Sarah Palin's veto gave gays the same rights as married couples in Alaska." "A vote for McCain/Palin is a vote for gay marriage."
Gay marriage? Hardly. Allowing a gay partner to have family benefits? Yes. Seems admirable to me. Did she ink in gay marriage in her state? No.
So, where did this little bit of lie come from? The Little Green Footballs guy tracked it down, using Linux console. The tracking went from "sarahpalingayrights.com" to "obamadefense.com" to "FightTheSmears.com" (the official Obama site which defends 'smears' against him), to "ObamaTaxCut.com".
The coordinated effort to pummel Gov. Palin, with the "progressives" thinking that Republicans will be so turned off about gay family issues that they would go running into the streets has backfired again. Just as it did when John Kerry felt the need to tell America, during a debate, that Mary Cheney is a lesbian.
Who are the small-minded people after all?
The Log Cabin Republicans have endorsed the McCain/Palin ticket. You may remember they did not endorse President Bush for re-election in 2004. According to their statement:
"Those of us gathered here this week for the Republican National Convention are honored for this opportunity--an opportunity to participate in the political process, to share our stories with our fellow Republicans, and, to do everything we can to ENSURE John McCain BECOMES THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES."
"On the most important issue that LGBT Americans faced int he last decade - the federal marriage amendment - Sen. John McCain stood with us. Now we stand with him."
"He is an inclusive Republican who is focusing the GOP on unifying our party around the core principles that bring our nation together. In recent years, too many Republicans have used divisive social issues in an effort to win elections. Sen. McCain is a different kind of Republican."
"He understands that we lost our majority in Congress in 2006 because we lost sight of core conservative issues and instead focused on divisive social issues."
I say, keep those attacks coming, scumbags. Change is in the eye of the beholder.
A terrific celebration of the 88th anniversary of women's right to vote this week.
Just look at the Democrats all foaming at the mouth, lowering themselves to a new low even for them, and not learning from the lessons of the Hillary candidacy. Blatant sexism and stereotyping is alive and well in American politics. The media advocacy for the junior senator from Illinois and the coordinated effort of the scummy wing of the Democrat party working in conjunction with the Obama campaign are in full destroy Palin mode.
There are two really despicable stories being promoted by the Obama campaign and the national media about Governor Palin and they will be extinguished as time goes on. The first involves Governor Palin and the issue of gay marriage.
According to the web site Little Green Footballs, an interesting post appeared mentioned a web site titled: Sarah Palin Supports Gay Rights. The post was as follows: "Quote: "Gov. Sarah Palin vetoed a bill Thursday that sought to block the state from giving public employee benefits such as health insurance to same-sex couples." "Quote: "It is the Governor's intention to work with the legislature and to give the people of Alaska an opportunity to express their wishes and intentions whether these benefits should continue," the statement from Palin's administration said.""Coghill said he's interested in a new plan that would allow state employees to designate one person --maybe a same-sex partner, but also possibly a family member of roommate --who would be eligible for state-paid benefits. But the employee would have to pay to add that person to his or her benefits."
Then the poster said "Sarah Palin's veto gave gays the same rights as married couples in Alaska." "A vote for McCain/Palin is a vote for gay marriage."
Gay marriage? Hardly. Allowing a gay partner to have family benefits? Yes. Seems admirable to me. Did she ink in gay marriage in her state? No.
So, where did this little bit of lie come from? The Little Green Footballs guy tracked it down, using Linux console. The tracking went from "sarahpalingayrights.com" to "obamadefense.com" to "FightTheSmears.com" (the official Obama site which defends 'smears' against him), to "ObamaTaxCut.com".
The coordinated effort to pummel Gov. Palin, with the "progressives" thinking that Republicans will be so turned off about gay family issues that they would go running into the streets has backfired again. Just as it did when John Kerry felt the need to tell America, during a debate, that Mary Cheney is a lesbian.
Who are the small-minded people after all?
The Log Cabin Republicans have endorsed the McCain/Palin ticket. You may remember they did not endorse President Bush for re-election in 2004. According to their statement:
"Those of us gathered here this week for the Republican National Convention are honored for this opportunity--an opportunity to participate in the political process, to share our stories with our fellow Republicans, and, to do everything we can to ENSURE John McCain BECOMES THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES."
"On the most important issue that LGBT Americans faced int he last decade - the federal marriage amendment - Sen. John McCain stood with us. Now we stand with him."
"He is an inclusive Republican who is focusing the GOP on unifying our party around the core principles that bring our nation together. In recent years, too many Republicans have used divisive social issues in an effort to win elections. Sen. McCain is a different kind of Republican."
"He understands that we lost our majority in Congress in 2006 because we lost sight of core conservative issues and instead focused on divisive social issues."
I say, keep those attacks coming, scumbags. Change is in the eye of the beholder.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
GOP Favorites Begin Speeches
I watched the Republican National Convention via C-SPAN because I like the non-stop flow and the absence of pundits yammering on and on.
The evening opened with many moving stories, mostly military related and the theme of the night was "Country First" and the emphasis on service. Just as the convention led the way yesterday with fundraising for the victims of Hurricane Gustave, tonight was more reminders from all the speakers that much work will need to be done. We are all Americans and, as Senator Joe Lieberman said, "country matters more than party."
The tribute to Michael Monsoor brought me to tears. Again. Cindy McCain was sitting next to his sister and brother and cousin. The audience gave them an extended standing ovation. Former President Bush, sitting a few seats over, walked to her and hugged her. I was a mess.
Laura Bush proved once again why she is such an extremely popular First Lady. She gave a strong, proud, terrific speech. She was there to set the record straight about the accomplishments of her husband's tenure and did an excellent job. As usual. Then she introduced the President, who spoke from the White House.
"If the Hanoi Hilton could not break John McCain's resolve, you can be sure the angry left never will." That was his best line.
A very good video tribute was run of former President George H.W. Bush. He is such a humble man that you can almost see him squirm as all the attention focuses on him. His life is one accomplishment after another. Country first.
Next up was Fred Thompson. He told the story of John McCain's life. He gave a rousing speech about McCain's qualifications versus Obama "one of the least experienced ever" to run for the Presidency. And he spoke of the Democrat controlled Congress - "the most do-nothing, most unpopular Congress in history." He finished with, "Our country has called. We have been called to step up and stand up with John McCain."
And, the keynote address was delivered by Senator Joe Lieberman. "I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party." "Only one leader has shown the courage and the capability to rise above the smallness of our politics to get big things done for our country and our people. And that leader is John McCain." "My Democratic friends know all about John's record of independence and accomplishment. Maybe that's why some of them are spending so much time and so much money trying to convince voters that John McCain is someone else. I'm here, as a Democrat myself, to tell you: Don't be fooled."
"Senator Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who can do great things for our country in the years ahead. But eloquence is no substitute for a record--not in these tough times. In the Senate he has not reached across party lines to get anything significant done, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups int he Democratic Party."
"Contrast that to John McCain's record, or the record of the last Democratic President, Bill Clinton, who stood up to some of those same Democratic interest groups and worked with Republicans to get important things done like welfare reform, free trade agreements, and a balanced budget. Governor Sarah Palin, like John McCain, is a reformer who has taken on the special interests and reached across party lines. She is a leader we can count on to help John shake up Washington. That's why the McCain -Palin ticket is the real ticket for change this year."
"When others were silent, John McCain had the judgment to sound the alarm about the mistakes we were making in Iraq. When others wanted to retreat in defeat form the field of battle, when Barack Obama was voting to cut off funding for our troops on the ground, John McCain had the courage to stand against the tide of public opinion and support the surge, and because of that, today, our troops are at last beginning to come home, not in failure, but in honor!"
Tomorrow night will bring Rudy Guiliani and Governor Sarah Palin.
The evening opened with many moving stories, mostly military related and the theme of the night was "Country First" and the emphasis on service. Just as the convention led the way yesterday with fundraising for the victims of Hurricane Gustave, tonight was more reminders from all the speakers that much work will need to be done. We are all Americans and, as Senator Joe Lieberman said, "country matters more than party."
The tribute to Michael Monsoor brought me to tears. Again. Cindy McCain was sitting next to his sister and brother and cousin. The audience gave them an extended standing ovation. Former President Bush, sitting a few seats over, walked to her and hugged her. I was a mess.
Laura Bush proved once again why she is such an extremely popular First Lady. She gave a strong, proud, terrific speech. She was there to set the record straight about the accomplishments of her husband's tenure and did an excellent job. As usual. Then she introduced the President, who spoke from the White House.
"If the Hanoi Hilton could not break John McCain's resolve, you can be sure the angry left never will." That was his best line.
A very good video tribute was run of former President George H.W. Bush. He is such a humble man that you can almost see him squirm as all the attention focuses on him. His life is one accomplishment after another. Country first.
Next up was Fred Thompson. He told the story of John McCain's life. He gave a rousing speech about McCain's qualifications versus Obama "one of the least experienced ever" to run for the Presidency. And he spoke of the Democrat controlled Congress - "the most do-nothing, most unpopular Congress in history." He finished with, "Our country has called. We have been called to step up and stand up with John McCain."
And, the keynote address was delivered by Senator Joe Lieberman. "I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party." "Only one leader has shown the courage and the capability to rise above the smallness of our politics to get big things done for our country and our people. And that leader is John McCain." "My Democratic friends know all about John's record of independence and accomplishment. Maybe that's why some of them are spending so much time and so much money trying to convince voters that John McCain is someone else. I'm here, as a Democrat myself, to tell you: Don't be fooled."
"Senator Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who can do great things for our country in the years ahead. But eloquence is no substitute for a record--not in these tough times. In the Senate he has not reached across party lines to get anything significant done, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups int he Democratic Party."
"Contrast that to John McCain's record, or the record of the last Democratic President, Bill Clinton, who stood up to some of those same Democratic interest groups and worked with Republicans to get important things done like welfare reform, free trade agreements, and a balanced budget. Governor Sarah Palin, like John McCain, is a reformer who has taken on the special interests and reached across party lines. She is a leader we can count on to help John shake up Washington. That's why the McCain -Palin ticket is the real ticket for change this year."
"When others were silent, John McCain had the judgment to sound the alarm about the mistakes we were making in Iraq. When others wanted to retreat in defeat form the field of battle, when Barack Obama was voting to cut off funding for our troops on the ground, John McCain had the courage to stand against the tide of public opinion and support the surge, and because of that, today, our troops are at last beginning to come home, not in failure, but in honor!"
Tomorrow night will bring Rudy Guiliani and Governor Sarah Palin.
GOP Platform Tailored For McCain
The Republican National Convention opened Monday afternoon as a hurricane pummeled the Gulf coast. It was a bit of an unusual event of politics and nature coming together as symbols of current events in our country.
I watched Republicans last week, on C-SPAN, meet and finalize the party platform for the convention. I watched some interesting exchanges between some of the most conservative voices in the party and some of a more moderate voice on the platform committee as they voted. In the end, the rewarding result is a party platform that coincides with the candidate's views.
The Republicans did not include drilling in ANWR as part of the energy plank. John McCain, while adjusting his stance on increased offshore and land drilling as he keeps current with the country's needs, still opposes drilling in ANWR.
The amendment to include denying citizenship to children born in this country to illegal immigrants was struck down. It will not be included in the platform. I was pleased by that. Granted, there are serious constitutional challenges to going down that path, but still. It was the right thing to do. We cannot condone punishing a child for the bad decisions made by parents.
"I want to give him a platform he can run on," said Haley Barbour, Governor of Mississippi.
The Republican National Committee will hold firm on its penalties against South Carolina, New Hampshire, Florida, and Michigan for going forward with early primaries against party rules. The credentials committee firmly expressed agreement that these states have all lost half of their delegates. When compared to the Democrats who caved in and allowed all of their delegates to vote despite being told otherwise originally, South Carolina state Rep. Alan Clemmons said, "I think Republicans are more accustomed to following the rules."
It was noted that South Carolina delegates don't seem to mind losing delegates. The state GOP Chairman, Katon Dawson, said, "We understand the penalties here, we're used to sitting in the cheap seats. We've got binoculars."
And, I applaud Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson as the reaction to Governor Sarah Palin's spot on the ticket was announced. "This reinforces that Senator McCain wants to be the independent reformer change ticket - he's not ceding that to Sen. Obama."
For those who fall for the line of criticism that Gov. Palin is not experienced enough for the role, Senator Hutchinson, the only woman in Senate Republican leadership, said the pick of Palin is "a bold and exciting opportunity." She spoke of women relating to Gov. Palin as a working woman and the challenges of raising children as she continues on in her career.
It is well known in the state of Texas that Senator Hutchinson has her eyes on the Governor's race coming up soon. She has acknowledged she doesn't plan to run for re-election for her Senate seat. She seriously considered running for Governor the last election cycle. Her mind is firmly now focusing on the governor's race in 2010. She doesn't "want to spend four more years in Washington." "My hopes and dreams are here in Texas."
Senator Hutchinson and her husband adopted two children, both as infants and now in pre-school years, a little while ago and she is determined to do what is best for her family. And her state. I will look forward to supporting her in her quest for the job she truly wants.
I watched Republicans last week, on C-SPAN, meet and finalize the party platform for the convention. I watched some interesting exchanges between some of the most conservative voices in the party and some of a more moderate voice on the platform committee as they voted. In the end, the rewarding result is a party platform that coincides with the candidate's views.
The Republicans did not include drilling in ANWR as part of the energy plank. John McCain, while adjusting his stance on increased offshore and land drilling as he keeps current with the country's needs, still opposes drilling in ANWR.
The amendment to include denying citizenship to children born in this country to illegal immigrants was struck down. It will not be included in the platform. I was pleased by that. Granted, there are serious constitutional challenges to going down that path, but still. It was the right thing to do. We cannot condone punishing a child for the bad decisions made by parents.
"I want to give him a platform he can run on," said Haley Barbour, Governor of Mississippi.
The Republican National Committee will hold firm on its penalties against South Carolina, New Hampshire, Florida, and Michigan for going forward with early primaries against party rules. The credentials committee firmly expressed agreement that these states have all lost half of their delegates. When compared to the Democrats who caved in and allowed all of their delegates to vote despite being told otherwise originally, South Carolina state Rep. Alan Clemmons said, "I think Republicans are more accustomed to following the rules."
It was noted that South Carolina delegates don't seem to mind losing delegates. The state GOP Chairman, Katon Dawson, said, "We understand the penalties here, we're used to sitting in the cheap seats. We've got binoculars."
And, I applaud Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson as the reaction to Governor Sarah Palin's spot on the ticket was announced. "This reinforces that Senator McCain wants to be the independent reformer change ticket - he's not ceding that to Sen. Obama."
For those who fall for the line of criticism that Gov. Palin is not experienced enough for the role, Senator Hutchinson, the only woman in Senate Republican leadership, said the pick of Palin is "a bold and exciting opportunity." She spoke of women relating to Gov. Palin as a working woman and the challenges of raising children as she continues on in her career.
It is well known in the state of Texas that Senator Hutchinson has her eyes on the Governor's race coming up soon. She has acknowledged she doesn't plan to run for re-election for her Senate seat. She seriously considered running for Governor the last election cycle. Her mind is firmly now focusing on the governor's race in 2010. She doesn't "want to spend four more years in Washington." "My hopes and dreams are here in Texas."
Senator Hutchinson and her husband adopted two children, both as infants and now in pre-school years, a little while ago and she is determined to do what is best for her family. And her state. I will look forward to supporting her in her quest for the job she truly wants.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Country First
CNN cut away from the opening statements of Laura Bush as she played the videos made by the Gulf state governors. They did hurricane coverage until Cindy McCain came out on stage to make her statements.
"As John has been saying for the last several days, now is the time for us to take off our
Republican hats and put on our American hats. Please go to www.causegreater.com."
No flowery speech from Mrs. Bush reminiscing on her White House years. No "look, I'm just one of you" speeches from Mrs. McCain. Simply a large screen with web sites from different Gulf states which would appreciate donations to help the victims of Hurricane Gustav.
Country First.
You can also go to the McCain web site. When it comes up you will see the plea to help others. I know it is a boring, non-artistic and cool site, but, that's life. It's the right thing to do.
Senator John Cornyn, R-TX, also is helping the cause. I support his re-election. You can go to his web site, too, and contribute.
A story that will, no doubt, be overlooked today as the storm hits; as the Republican convention opens; and as the news of the pregnancy of 17 year old Bristol Palin, not yet married to her boyfriend, Levi is this one: Anbar Province was returned to Iraqi control today. From the statement released by the White House: "Today in Iraq, responsibility for security in Anbar Province was transferred to Iraqi civilian authorities. Iraqi forces will now take the lead in security operations in Anbar, with American troops moving into an overwatch role. Not long ago, Anbar was one of the most dangerous provinces in Iraq. Al Qaeda was in control of almost every major population center, and its leaders intended to turn Anbar province into a safe haven from which to plan and launch further attacks against Iraqis and others in the region, as well as here at home."
"Today, Anbar is no longer lost to al Qaeda - it is al Qaeda that lost Anbar. Iraqis - like countless other Muslims across the world- witnessed al-Qaeda's brutality first-hand and rejected it. As a result, Anbar has been transformed and reclaimed by the Iraqi people. This achievement is a credit to the courage of our troops, the Iraqi Security Forces, and the brave tribes and other civilians from Anbar who worked alongside them."
I haven't noticed a peep out of all those politicians and media types, who support the troops but not the mission, so they say, acknowledge the success of the supported troops. Joe Biden? Harry Reid? John Murtha? Jim Webb? Chuckie Schumer? Russ Feingold? Nope. Not one word. How about Barack Obama? He was a part of the disgraceful General Betrayus display.
"Twin Cities is a good place for those two." Obama on the continued lie that McCain will be the third term of Bush. Biden, the designated attack dog, belittled the economy. Odd, since while it is still a slow economy, we are still not at the dreaded 'recession' word and there has been a slight uptick in consumer confidence and productivity. Gas prices are down. The economy is slow but far from 'the worst economy in history', as the Democrats like to say. If it's not doom and gloom, (or ridicule), they aren't saying it.
Obama, while saying they would suspend political attacks today due to the events in the Gulf, again went back on his word. Common practice for him. He's been starting off his rallies by singing "Chain of Fools", because he is a rock star, you know. And not about petty politics as usual. I would have a whole different interpretation of that song he sings, and why.
Jon Voight, movie star (a real one) and former Hollywood liberal, gave an interesting interview about what turned him off the liberal Democrat party of the 1960's that he had so wholly embraced at the time. He said it was what happened as the American troops pulled out of Vietnam and 2 1/2 million people were slaughtered in Cambodia and Vietnam. He quoted Ho Chi Minh on how Marxism would spread to the U.S. He said it would spread through the school system and then politicians.
The Chicago political machine is a good example of this. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were enthralled with the writings of Saul Alinsky. Hillary wrote a paper on him in her Wellesley days and Obama studied his writings, too and has utilized his strategies in this campaign. It was his model during his brief tenure in 'community organizing'. Also, Obama's mother was devoted to Marxist political thought and raised Obama with these values.
Jon Voight mentioned the strong connections between Bill Ayers and Obama and what will be exposed as the Annenberg papers come out. It is interesting to see all of that mystery play out, especially since the campaign has worked so diligently to claim Ayers is just a neighbor in Hyde Park and to have the papers sealed.
Chain of Fools, indeed. There's your hope and change.
"As John has been saying for the last several days, now is the time for us to take off our
Republican hats and put on our American hats. Please go to www.causegreater.com."
No flowery speech from Mrs. Bush reminiscing on her White House years. No "look, I'm just one of you" speeches from Mrs. McCain. Simply a large screen with web sites from different Gulf states which would appreciate donations to help the victims of Hurricane Gustav.
Country First.
You can also go to the McCain web site. When it comes up you will see the plea to help others. I know it is a boring, non-artistic and cool site, but, that's life. It's the right thing to do.
Senator John Cornyn, R-TX, also is helping the cause. I support his re-election. You can go to his web site, too, and contribute.
A story that will, no doubt, be overlooked today as the storm hits; as the Republican convention opens; and as the news of the pregnancy of 17 year old Bristol Palin, not yet married to her boyfriend, Levi is this one: Anbar Province was returned to Iraqi control today. From the statement released by the White House: "Today in Iraq, responsibility for security in Anbar Province was transferred to Iraqi civilian authorities. Iraqi forces will now take the lead in security operations in Anbar, with American troops moving into an overwatch role. Not long ago, Anbar was one of the most dangerous provinces in Iraq. Al Qaeda was in control of almost every major population center, and its leaders intended to turn Anbar province into a safe haven from which to plan and launch further attacks against Iraqis and others in the region, as well as here at home."
"Today, Anbar is no longer lost to al Qaeda - it is al Qaeda that lost Anbar. Iraqis - like countless other Muslims across the world- witnessed al-Qaeda's brutality first-hand and rejected it. As a result, Anbar has been transformed and reclaimed by the Iraqi people. This achievement is a credit to the courage of our troops, the Iraqi Security Forces, and the brave tribes and other civilians from Anbar who worked alongside them."
I haven't noticed a peep out of all those politicians and media types, who support the troops but not the mission, so they say, acknowledge the success of the supported troops. Joe Biden? Harry Reid? John Murtha? Jim Webb? Chuckie Schumer? Russ Feingold? Nope. Not one word. How about Barack Obama? He was a part of the disgraceful General Betrayus display.
"Twin Cities is a good place for those two." Obama on the continued lie that McCain will be the third term of Bush. Biden, the designated attack dog, belittled the economy. Odd, since while it is still a slow economy, we are still not at the dreaded 'recession' word and there has been a slight uptick in consumer confidence and productivity. Gas prices are down. The economy is slow but far from 'the worst economy in history', as the Democrats like to say. If it's not doom and gloom, (or ridicule), they aren't saying it.
Obama, while saying they would suspend political attacks today due to the events in the Gulf, again went back on his word. Common practice for him. He's been starting off his rallies by singing "Chain of Fools", because he is a rock star, you know. And not about petty politics as usual. I would have a whole different interpretation of that song he sings, and why.
Jon Voight, movie star (a real one) and former Hollywood liberal, gave an interesting interview about what turned him off the liberal Democrat party of the 1960's that he had so wholly embraced at the time. He said it was what happened as the American troops pulled out of Vietnam and 2 1/2 million people were slaughtered in Cambodia and Vietnam. He quoted Ho Chi Minh on how Marxism would spread to the U.S. He said it would spread through the school system and then politicians.
The Chicago political machine is a good example of this. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were enthralled with the writings of Saul Alinsky. Hillary wrote a paper on him in her Wellesley days and Obama studied his writings, too and has utilized his strategies in this campaign. It was his model during his brief tenure in 'community organizing'. Also, Obama's mother was devoted to Marxist political thought and raised Obama with these values.
Jon Voight mentioned the strong connections between Bill Ayers and Obama and what will be exposed as the Annenberg papers come out. It is interesting to see all of that mystery play out, especially since the campaign has worked so diligently to claim Ayers is just a neighbor in Hyde Park and to have the papers sealed.
Chain of Fools, indeed. There's your hope and change.
Bill Bennett Shines
Today brought yet another example of why I respect Bill Bennett. I listen to his talk radio show in the mornings and he is a refreshing, calm voice in a sea of overly dramatic and shrill voices. He is not into the standard 'gotcha' politics and refrains from knee-jerk remarks.
This afternoon, Bennett was on a panel during Wolf Blitzer's show from the Republican Party Convention. He is a regular, token conservative commentator for CNN. Today's show featured a report from Kyra Phillips in Anchorage. Phillips, not exactly a beacon of professional behavior, was slobbering to slam Governor Sarah Palin by way of the announcement of her daughter's pregnancy. Remarking, "there were a number of things that we were sent here to investigate," including "trooper-gate", but before that, she stressed "here's what's interesting," that Palin "has gone on the record and said that she is in full support of abstinence, and that she doesn't believe in contraception on school grounds and sex education." "Phillips then highlighted:
"The Alliance for Reproductive Justice...says abstinence doesn't work, we've got to have better sex education in schools and this is just one example, this just underscores --the pregnancy of the Governor's daughter -- to why we need sex education in schools."
Nice bitch slap, Kyra. The Alliance of Reproductive Justice is a pro-choice organization. OK. She was using both sides of an argument. I'm pro-choice. Bill Bennett is not, but he is pro-sex education in the schools. He is a former Secretary of Education. His wife founded and runs a very successful non-profit in D.C. that encourages pre-teen and teenage girls to practice abstinence.
However, Dr. Bennett called Phillips on the carpet for bringing Bristol Palin into the argument with Palin on her pro-life stance. It was a really cheap talking point. It was CNN.
"But that first piece of attack of journalism, Wolf, I got to speak to. We all praised Barack Obama, myself included, for saying, do no use the case of this child to start to beat up Sarah Palin and to use this as an opportunity to make points for the Center for Reproductive Pregnancy. That was really out and out outrageous. That should not happen on CNN". Blitzer did the usual stammering as he does when he is caught pulling stunts.
And, Kyra Phillips was enjoying the aspect that she had been sent to Alaska to dig up all the dirt she could about Governor Palin. Hey, why didn't she work in the Obama quote that unplanned pregnancies were "punishment" he didn't want his daughters to have to deal with?
Debate the abstinence programs all you want as public policy. Barack Obama was mistaken (I'll give him the benefit of the doubt) when he stated confidently that since the Bush administration and its support of abstinence programs that abortions have risen. He said it as a part of the discussion at Saddleback Church. It's not true though. He knows that.
The point is, leave a 17 year old young woman out of making your point. Do not hold her up as an example, in your mind anyway, of the failures of her mother's public policy.
Well done, Dr. Bennett.
This afternoon, Bennett was on a panel during Wolf Blitzer's show from the Republican Party Convention. He is a regular, token conservative commentator for CNN. Today's show featured a report from Kyra Phillips in Anchorage. Phillips, not exactly a beacon of professional behavior, was slobbering to slam Governor Sarah Palin by way of the announcement of her daughter's pregnancy. Remarking, "there were a number of things that we were sent here to investigate," including "trooper-gate", but before that, she stressed "here's what's interesting," that Palin "has gone on the record and said that she is in full support of abstinence, and that she doesn't believe in contraception on school grounds and sex education." "Phillips then highlighted:
"The Alliance for Reproductive Justice...says abstinence doesn't work, we've got to have better sex education in schools and this is just one example, this just underscores --the pregnancy of the Governor's daughter -- to why we need sex education in schools."
Nice bitch slap, Kyra. The Alliance of Reproductive Justice is a pro-choice organization. OK. She was using both sides of an argument. I'm pro-choice. Bill Bennett is not, but he is pro-sex education in the schools. He is a former Secretary of Education. His wife founded and runs a very successful non-profit in D.C. that encourages pre-teen and teenage girls to practice abstinence.
However, Dr. Bennett called Phillips on the carpet for bringing Bristol Palin into the argument with Palin on her pro-life stance. It was a really cheap talking point. It was CNN.
"But that first piece of attack of journalism, Wolf, I got to speak to. We all praised Barack Obama, myself included, for saying, do no use the case of this child to start to beat up Sarah Palin and to use this as an opportunity to make points for the Center for Reproductive Pregnancy. That was really out and out outrageous. That should not happen on CNN". Blitzer did the usual stammering as he does when he is caught pulling stunts.
And, Kyra Phillips was enjoying the aspect that she had been sent to Alaska to dig up all the dirt she could about Governor Palin. Hey, why didn't she work in the Obama quote that unplanned pregnancies were "punishment" he didn't want his daughters to have to deal with?
Debate the abstinence programs all you want as public policy. Barack Obama was mistaken (I'll give him the benefit of the doubt) when he stated confidently that since the Bush administration and its support of abstinence programs that abortions have risen. He said it as a part of the discussion at Saddleback Church. It's not true though. He knows that.
The point is, leave a 17 year old young woman out of making your point. Do not hold her up as an example, in your mind anyway, of the failures of her mother's public policy.
Well done, Dr. Bennett.
Media Pundits Bash Governor Palin
I'm watching a cable news reporter who is reporting from Lafayette, LA, where the husband and I lived for about a dozen or so years before moving here. Our son was born there. Looks like the approaching Hurricane Gustav may hit the area harder than originally thought. That's what happens with hurricanes.
Some of the Sunday morning chat shows provided interesting commentary of the pick of Governor Sarah Palin as the VP on the McCain ticket. Suddenly the issue of experience has entered into the thought process of the Obama cheerleaders within the media. On CNN, anchors like Campbell Brown, who hasn't shown concern that Senator Obama is in possession of a tissue thin resume, is now voicing concern that Governor Palin doesn't have enough experience.
There was an appearance on the McLaughlin Group, according to NewsBusters,of Eleanor Clift on the panel and she stated the following: "This is not a serious choice. It makes it look like a made for TV movie. If the media reaction is anything, it's been literally laughter in many places." When asked by the host where? Clift replied, "In very, very many newsrooms."
And, from Andrea Mitchell on Meet the Press, "Well, they think now that they have a story. They have a story of a working mom, she is a colorful character, an Annie Oakley...you know, Annie get your gun. They love her story, but when she tried to talk about Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, in Western Pennsylvania, yesterday at a rally with conservative Republican voters, Hilary Clinton was booed. So, she can use the Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro analogy if she wants to in interviews, she cannot use that at Republican rallies. She is not appealing to the same women who were really voting or supporting Hillary Clinton on ideological issues but they think that they can peel off some of these working class women, not college educated, who the blue collar women who were voting for Hillary Clinton and may be more conservative on social causes."
And, in an article on YAHOO! News, four 'Presidential scholars' are asked about the choice of Governor Sarah Palin. Examples: "So unconventional was McCain's choice that it left students of the presidency literally "stunned," in the words of Joel Goldstein, a St. Louis University law professor and scholar of the vice presidency. "Being governor of a small state for less than two years is not consistent with the normal criteria for determining who's of presidential caliber," said Joel Goldstein. "I think she is the most inexperienced person on a major-party ticket in modern history," said presidential historian Matthen Dallek." "If she had been around for two terms as governor - or been a senator- it would have been an incredible choice," said historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. "The first thing that hits me," said Stephen Hess of the Brookings Institution, "is that it suggest that John McCain is a gambler. This is a high-roller decision."
The 'historians' say if you are from the largest state in the union but less populated than Illinois; if you have been a mayor of a small city for 10 years and the governor of the State of Alaska for 2 years, you have less experience than a Senator with 3 years into his first Senate term who has been running for President for 2 years of that term; and John McCain is a gambler.
We have three Senators running in this race. Did we need a fourth? Isn't the whole point of reform and change the willingness to stick your neck out for what you believe in and 'gamble' on success? Joe Biden has been in the Senate longer than John McCain with no record of anything other than politics as usual, including setting up his son as a highly compensated lobbyist.
The McCain campaign issued the following statement, "The authors quote four scholars attacking Gov. Palin's fitness for the office of vice president. Among them, David Kennedy is a maxed-out Obama donor, Joel Goldstein is also an Obama donor, and Doris Kearns Goodwin has donated exclusively to Democrats this cycle. Finally, Matthew Dallek is a former speech writer for Dick Gephardt. This is not a story about scholars questioning Gov. Palin's credentials so much as partisan Democrats who would find a reason to disqualify or discount any nominee put forward by Sen. McCain."
And, to further belittle the pick of Governor Palin, Senator Joe Biden said, "There's a gigantic difference between John McCain and Barack Obama and between me and I suspect my vice presidential opponent," Biden said at an outdoor rally Sunday, getting ready to hit the GOP ticket for their economic policies. "She's good-looking," he quipped." That from CNN's Political Ticker.
How much time in the U.S. Senate did John Edwards have before he began running for President and then picked as Kerry's VP, when his resume was that of a trial lawyer? Hillary Clinton had no elected or executive experience of her own before running for the U.S. Senate as a scorned woman, cherry picking the state in which to run. The only 'executive' task on her resume was a failed national health care reform initiative. Governor Palin is more qualified using those benchmarks. And, as Governor, she has been commander-in-chief of the Alaskan National Guard.
In the minds of inside the Beltway media pundits and partisan Democrats, Governor Palin is a nobody. She is from a small town; a huge state with a low population number; 'only' 2 years as the state's governor; she knows how to use a gun; and she's good looking. Why, she's never even made an appearance on "Meet the Press."
Who are they to set the agenda? Who are they to say the 'inexperience' claim is off the table now? And since when do they dictate what is and isn't said at a Republican political rally?
They are the nobodies in this debate. They are the cheerleaders for the ticket of arrogance and inexperience as well as business as usual.
Some of the Sunday morning chat shows provided interesting commentary of the pick of Governor Sarah Palin as the VP on the McCain ticket. Suddenly the issue of experience has entered into the thought process of the Obama cheerleaders within the media. On CNN, anchors like Campbell Brown, who hasn't shown concern that Senator Obama is in possession of a tissue thin resume, is now voicing concern that Governor Palin doesn't have enough experience.
There was an appearance on the McLaughlin Group, according to NewsBusters,of Eleanor Clift on the panel and she stated the following: "This is not a serious choice. It makes it look like a made for TV movie. If the media reaction is anything, it's been literally laughter in many places." When asked by the host where? Clift replied, "In very, very many newsrooms."
And, from Andrea Mitchell on Meet the Press, "Well, they think now that they have a story. They have a story of a working mom, she is a colorful character, an Annie Oakley...you know, Annie get your gun. They love her story, but when she tried to talk about Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, in Western Pennsylvania, yesterday at a rally with conservative Republican voters, Hilary Clinton was booed. So, she can use the Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro analogy if she wants to in interviews, she cannot use that at Republican rallies. She is not appealing to the same women who were really voting or supporting Hillary Clinton on ideological issues but they think that they can peel off some of these working class women, not college educated, who the blue collar women who were voting for Hillary Clinton and may be more conservative on social causes."
And, in an article on YAHOO! News, four 'Presidential scholars' are asked about the choice of Governor Sarah Palin. Examples: "So unconventional was McCain's choice that it left students of the presidency literally "stunned," in the words of Joel Goldstein, a St. Louis University law professor and scholar of the vice presidency. "Being governor of a small state for less than two years is not consistent with the normal criteria for determining who's of presidential caliber," said Joel Goldstein. "I think she is the most inexperienced person on a major-party ticket in modern history," said presidential historian Matthen Dallek." "If she had been around for two terms as governor - or been a senator- it would have been an incredible choice," said historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. "The first thing that hits me," said Stephen Hess of the Brookings Institution, "is that it suggest that John McCain is a gambler. This is a high-roller decision."
The 'historians' say if you are from the largest state in the union but less populated than Illinois; if you have been a mayor of a small city for 10 years and the governor of the State of Alaska for 2 years, you have less experience than a Senator with 3 years into his first Senate term who has been running for President for 2 years of that term; and John McCain is a gambler.
We have three Senators running in this race. Did we need a fourth? Isn't the whole point of reform and change the willingness to stick your neck out for what you believe in and 'gamble' on success? Joe Biden has been in the Senate longer than John McCain with no record of anything other than politics as usual, including setting up his son as a highly compensated lobbyist.
The McCain campaign issued the following statement, "The authors quote four scholars attacking Gov. Palin's fitness for the office of vice president. Among them, David Kennedy is a maxed-out Obama donor, Joel Goldstein is also an Obama donor, and Doris Kearns Goodwin has donated exclusively to Democrats this cycle. Finally, Matthew Dallek is a former speech writer for Dick Gephardt. This is not a story about scholars questioning Gov. Palin's credentials so much as partisan Democrats who would find a reason to disqualify or discount any nominee put forward by Sen. McCain."
And, to further belittle the pick of Governor Palin, Senator Joe Biden said, "There's a gigantic difference between John McCain and Barack Obama and between me and I suspect my vice presidential opponent," Biden said at an outdoor rally Sunday, getting ready to hit the GOP ticket for their economic policies. "She's good-looking," he quipped." That from CNN's Political Ticker.
How much time in the U.S. Senate did John Edwards have before he began running for President and then picked as Kerry's VP, when his resume was that of a trial lawyer? Hillary Clinton had no elected or executive experience of her own before running for the U.S. Senate as a scorned woman, cherry picking the state in which to run. The only 'executive' task on her resume was a failed national health care reform initiative. Governor Palin is more qualified using those benchmarks. And, as Governor, she has been commander-in-chief of the Alaskan National Guard.
In the minds of inside the Beltway media pundits and partisan Democrats, Governor Palin is a nobody. She is from a small town; a huge state with a low population number; 'only' 2 years as the state's governor; she knows how to use a gun; and she's good looking. Why, she's never even made an appearance on "Meet the Press."
Who are they to set the agenda? Who are they to say the 'inexperience' claim is off the table now? And since when do they dictate what is and isn't said at a Republican political rally?
They are the nobodies in this debate. They are the cheerleaders for the ticket of arrogance and inexperience as well as business as usual.
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