My daughter had never watched a caucus in action before. I told her that, theoretically, it's similar to the national conventions, except they don't always pare the slate of candidates to only one victorious soul in each party. With a beverage at one hand, snacks at the other, and a remote at the ready, we commenced with her education thanks to CNN and the agrarian, Bible belt state of Iowa.
She soon became intrigued with the idea that neighbors could actually assemble, intelligently and respectfully discuss issues, and make decisions for something as important as the U.S. Presidency. However, she also learned how meaningless results can pour from the political arena when competing non-profit organizations are allowed to dictate incongruous rules for decision making.
In the end two front runners did emerge, but no absolute victors were crowned by anyone but the media, the camp followers, and the spin masters. Being such a small, unrepresentative sampling of the American populace the Iowa caucuses were not significant enough to warrant an "all-nighter" by the national news media. Iowans did prove, though, that objective and morally well-founded people concerned for the well-being of the whole can not be bought. Nor will they succumb to superficial prejudices.
1/03/2008
9/26/2007
Obama Unpatriotic?
Barrack Obama raised more than a few eyebrows when he did not cross his heart at the singing of the national anthem recently in Iowa. Most times he does lay his right hand over his heart. In fact, he has frequently been observed singing, or at least reciting, the anthem along with the principal singers at events.
Is this really a major concern? As noted by Anne Garside, the Maryland Historical Society's Director of Communication, "Modern custom does not require a hand over the heart. I think the bottom line is that you show respect with your demeanor. Whether you put your hand over your heart, hold your hat at shoulder level or waist level, is really in this day and age irrelevant."
If he was being unpatriotic then he was being no more so than many other Americans. Scan the crowd at most sporting events during the playing of our national anthem. You will see hundreds, and even thousands at larger events, that forget to face the flag and place their hands over their hearts. Quite a few men don't even remove their hats, which is also required by the U.S. Flag Code.
Is this really a major concern? As noted by Anne Garside, the Maryland Historical Society's Director of Communication, "Modern custom does not require a hand over the heart. I think the bottom line is that you show respect with your demeanor. Whether you put your hand over your heart, hold your hat at shoulder level or waist level, is really in this day and age irrelevant."
If he was being unpatriotic then he was being no more so than many other Americans. Scan the crowd at most sporting events during the playing of our national anthem. You will see hundreds, and even thousands at larger events, that forget to face the flag and place their hands over their hearts. Quite a few men don't even remove their hats, which is also required by the U.S. Flag Code.
8/09/2007
Anti-Gun Laws Support Criminals
One year ago Australians were required by a new law to forfeit their personal guns. The Australian government spent more than $500 million on this so-called "crime stopping" program.
Over the previous 25 years there had been a steady decrease in armed robberies. Armed robberies have drastically increased over the past 12 months. In addition, other first year results of Australia's new anti-gun program are now revealed, as follows:
Let this be a warning to all the flaming, a - - liberals out there. Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and protect property, and gun-control laws only benefit criminals.
Over the previous 25 years there had been a steady decrease in armed robberies. Armed robberies have drastically increased over the past 12 months. In addition, other first year results of Australia's new anti-gun program are now revealed, as follows:
- homicides have increased 3.2 percent
- armed assaults have increased 44 percent
- Just in the state of Victoria, homicides have increased 300 percent!
- There have also been dramatic increases in break-ins and assaults on the elderly
Let this be a warning to all the flaming, a - - liberals out there. Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and protect property, and gun-control laws only benefit criminals.
5/26/2007
10-Point Plan To Deal With Illegals
Dear Congressmen,
My comments to you regarding illegal immigration are presented in outline format to make them more easily understood. I offer a firm but fair and objective 10-point proposal to counter our nation's illegal immigration situation.
1. Close our borders to further immigration by Arabs and Mexicans, as well as anyone immigrating from "unfriendly" nations until we have the "illegal" situation under control.
2. Increase surveillance and security at air and shipping ports.
3. Make it a federal felony with stiff punishment and severe fines to hire anyone without a valid social security number, as determined by the IRS. If illegals can't find work there's no reason for them to come to or remain in the U.S. Exponentially increase the fines and sentences for recurring violations by the same person or business.
4. Double ALL penalties for anyone not already a native or naturalized U.S. citizen for any crime they commit in the U.S.
5. Triple ALL penalties for anyone illegally in the U.S. for any crime they commit in the U.S.
6. Bill the country of origin for all costs and penalties adjudged against those in items 4 and 5 above that those individuals cannot feasibly bear themselves. This should prod those countries, primarily Mexico and China, to be more careful as to who they permit to come to the U.S. Affect payment of such costs by reducing the foreign aid and/or trade allowances with those countries.
7. Treat those described in items 4 and 5 above as they would be treated in the prisons of the country of origin, not including, or course, torture or starvation.
8. Children should be considered citizens of their parents' country of origin.
9. Absolutely NO social services afforded to any person or their family members who are in the U.S. without legal status. Let such services be allowed only by nongovernmental social service organizations established to provide such services. Those organizations should be given the legal right to refuse any services to illegal immigrants if they so choose.
10. Repeal the current "chain immigration" regulation that allows individuals who are legally in the U.S. to sponsor an unlimited number of relatives, regardless of how distant their relationship, into the U.S. Such sponsorship should only be permitted for immediate relatives. That would only included parents, spouse, and children, and even they should be required to successfully complete our naturalization process. Those relationships must be proven by official documents from their country of origin.
Congress has had more than ample time to solve this problem. It's past time to stop playing politics with our security and our future, and instead start listening to the American people - your employers.
My comments to you regarding illegal immigration are presented in outline format to make them more easily understood. I offer a firm but fair and objective 10-point proposal to counter our nation's illegal immigration situation.
1. Close our borders to further immigration by Arabs and Mexicans, as well as anyone immigrating from "unfriendly" nations until we have the "illegal" situation under control.
2. Increase surveillance and security at air and shipping ports.
3. Make it a federal felony with stiff punishment and severe fines to hire anyone without a valid social security number, as determined by the IRS. If illegals can't find work there's no reason for them to come to or remain in the U.S. Exponentially increase the fines and sentences for recurring violations by the same person or business.
4. Double ALL penalties for anyone not already a native or naturalized U.S. citizen for any crime they commit in the U.S.
5. Triple ALL penalties for anyone illegally in the U.S. for any crime they commit in the U.S.
6. Bill the country of origin for all costs and penalties adjudged against those in items 4 and 5 above that those individuals cannot feasibly bear themselves. This should prod those countries, primarily Mexico and China, to be more careful as to who they permit to come to the U.S. Affect payment of such costs by reducing the foreign aid and/or trade allowances with those countries.
7. Treat those described in items 4 and 5 above as they would be treated in the prisons of the country of origin, not including, or course, torture or starvation.
8. Children should be considered citizens of their parents' country of origin.
9. Absolutely NO social services afforded to any person or their family members who are in the U.S. without legal status. Let such services be allowed only by nongovernmental social service organizations established to provide such services. Those organizations should be given the legal right to refuse any services to illegal immigrants if they so choose.
10. Repeal the current "chain immigration" regulation that allows individuals who are legally in the U.S. to sponsor an unlimited number of relatives, regardless of how distant their relationship, into the U.S. Such sponsorship should only be permitted for immediate relatives. That would only included parents, spouse, and children, and even they should be required to successfully complete our naturalization process. Those relationships must be proven by official documents from their country of origin.
Congress has had more than ample time to solve this problem. It's past time to stop playing politics with our security and our future, and instead start listening to the American people - your employers.
5/16/2007
Bush Attempts To Cover Up
I don't care how much corruption there was in previous Congresses or White House administrations. There comes a time when we must say, "Enough is more than enough!" Maybe that time should have been decades ago. Just because no such stance was taken in the past does not free us from taking a stand today. That was the past and other generations. Do we really want to be equalled to them in our allowance of political corruption and deceit?
The dismissal of up to nine US Attorneys involved in critical public corruption investigations centered around elected and public officials reeks of political maneuvering at a time when scandals at the highest levels of government have rocked America's faith in its institutions of power.
From Jack Abramoff's influence-peddling to Duke Cunningham's "bribery menu," investigations have brought the truth to light and have served as an invaluable purpose to the American public: ensuring that our laws apply to everyone, regardless of station or elected office. To disrupt public corruption investigations derails this process of accountability.
Corruption investigations are no place to play politics. Insulate our US Attorneys from partisan political interference so that they can do their jobs and get to the root of the corruption infecting our government.
The dismissal of up to nine US Attorneys involved in critical public corruption investigations centered around elected and public officials reeks of political maneuvering at a time when scandals at the highest levels of government have rocked America's faith in its institutions of power.
From Jack Abramoff's influence-peddling to Duke Cunningham's "bribery menu," investigations have brought the truth to light and have served as an invaluable purpose to the American public: ensuring that our laws apply to everyone, regardless of station or elected office. To disrupt public corruption investigations derails this process of accountability.
Corruption investigations are no place to play politics. Insulate our US Attorneys from partisan political interference so that they can do their jobs and get to the root of the corruption infecting our government.
5/24/2006
More Welfare For The Wealthy!
On an almost party line vote, the House Republicans today voted to grant oil companies $500 million of your tax dollars for exploration of new oil.
Oil company executives in a Senate committee hearing late last month told Congressmen that, though they would gladly accept the money, they do not need such an incentive to explore for more oil sources. According to them the current price of oil, expected to remain high or higher for quite a while, is enough incentive. Even Bush in a press conference urged Congress not to offer the funds.
That's just another moment of evidence that, though Bush has been a problem to the prosperity of average Americans, it's the Republicans in Congress that are the real problems for anyone but the wealthy.
Oil company executives in a Senate committee hearing late last month told Congressmen that, though they would gladly accept the money, they do not need such an incentive to explore for more oil sources. According to them the current price of oil, expected to remain high or higher for quite a while, is enough incentive. Even Bush in a press conference urged Congress not to offer the funds.
That's just another moment of evidence that, though Bush has been a problem to the prosperity of average Americans, it's the Republicans in Congress that are the real problems for anyone but the wealthy.
4/25/2006
Prove Your Non-Support!
Okay, so the illegals want to teach us how valuable they are to our economy by boycotting all businesses and schools on May 1.
Well, folks, we have the right to reciprocate. Do some research in your area on May 1. Determine all businesses and organizations that supported their boycott. Then boycott them in return for at least 1 month. We can prove to them what little importance they actually have to our economy.
Don't forget the politicians. Any that support the boycott, or support guest worker programs or amnesty for the illegals should be ousted from office for not putting the American workers' needs first and foremost.
Well, folks, we have the right to reciprocate. Do some research in your area on May 1. Determine all businesses and organizations that supported their boycott. Then boycott them in return for at least 1 month. We can prove to them what little importance they actually have to our economy.
Don't forget the politicians. Any that support the boycott, or support guest worker programs or amnesty for the illegals should be ousted from office for not putting the American workers' needs first and foremost.
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