In a previous column on this blog, I expressed concern over some of the people and groups that were rooting for Barack Obama in the presidential election. I suggested that if brutal dictators, fanatical terrorist groups and rogue nations supported Obama that maybe he wasn’t our best choice. Now that I have seen the light, I’m feeling pretty foolish. Because all these nut-jobs like our future president, he will be able to effect some real change.
Congressperson Barney Frank, noted defense expert in rearguard operations, has been advocating a 25% reduction in defense spending. The esteemed Ms. Frank may get his way with a President Obama. During the campaign, Mr. Obama outlined his plan to generate real savings in defense spending. Some of the salient points:
“I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.”Since it takes billions in investments to actually develop a “proven”
missile defense system this should save a bunch.
“I will not weaponize space. I will slow our development of future
combat systems”Do we really need all these high tech and expensive systems? Maybe we
can develop our own low cost IED program under the guidance of demolition
expert Bill Ayers.
“I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. I will not
develop new nuclear weapons.”I see where the Russians recently tested a new class of ICBM’s. The
Iranians are hell bent on developing nuclear weapons and of course there
are the Chinese and those whacky North Koreans. Seems like the perfect
time for us to lead by example and shut our nuclear program down.
I realize that many people believe that now is not the time to slash defense spending. Because of the myriad threats we face, they think we need to maintain our military superiority. Might I suggest that these people are underestimating President Elect Obama.
Thanks to Neville Chamberlain and Jimmy Carter, peace through appeasement has gotten a bad rap. Maybe it just takes a special man to make appeasement work. Because of Barack Obama’s magnetic personality and unsurpassed oratory skills, we will be able to achieve “peace for our time” with a defense budget comparable to France’s. Who cares if the demographics of the Middle East change a little bit.
President Elect Obama has a plan for all the money we will be saving on defense. In a July 2008 speech, Mr. Obama announced his plan for a “Civilian National Security Force.” He stated: “We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.”
The numbers are a bit vague but let’s make some assumptions. The 2008 Department of Defense budget was approximately 480 billion. With the cuts President Elect Obama is proposing, I think it is reasonable to think that he could get this down to 300 billion. Using government math, this means he only needs to come up with an additional 120 billion for his “Civilian National Security Force.”
Some people might question the need for a massive new security force when we already have local and state police, the FBI, DHS, DEA and the NSA. According to his web site, he will establish a Classroom Corps, a Health Corps, a Clean Energy Corps, a Veterans Corps and a Homeland Security Corps. I think Mr. Obama is talking about a different kind of security. With his brilliant theory of “mandatory volunteerism,” Mr. Obama is proposing to “Require 100 hours of service in college.” He will grant a $4000 tax credit to those “volunteers” for an effective wage of $40 an hour.
I’ll admit that I’m not real clear on what all these “corps” will be doing but wouldn’t it be enlightening to be educated on the trans-fat content of your Big Mac meal by some bright eyed “Health Corps” volunteer the next time you are at McDonalds? And won’t you be filled with hope when the young “Clean Energy Corps” volunteer demands that you buy carbon credits as you are filling up your gas guzzling SUV?
Yes, change is coming!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
POST ELECTION CATHARSIS
The long fortnight of anger and despair is over. Thanks to Dr. Dan, psychiatrist to the myopic and disenfranchised conservative, I have emerged from the dark abyss into the light of hope and change. I have a new bounce in my step and I smile a lot now. His subtle yet effective therapy has enabled me to cast aside my preconceived notions and inherent distrust of Barack Obama. No longer will I view President Elect Obama through my personal right angle prism.
Noting that Obama captured 53% of the popular vote, Dr. Dan encouraged me to get off my high horse and to consider that this vast majority may be right. We live in a democracy, after all. Well, actually, we don’t but there I go with the negativity again. Once I was able to get over my hang-ups with the sanctity of life and the constitution, Obama’s brilliance and compassion became obvious. I am now able to understand and appreciate Obama’s positions on a host of important issues.
FREEDOM OF CHOICE ACT (FOCA)
The future president, speaking at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event in 2007, stated that: “The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom Of Choice Act.”
FOCA was first introduced in 1989 when some in congress feared that Roe v. Wade would be overturned. FOCA’s main goals are to create a “fundamental right to abortion” and to eliminate any Federal, State or Local government action that would limit access to abortion. FOCA has never been made law but it has been reintroduced several times since 1989. The most recent version was introduced in 2007 following the Supreme Court decision upholding the Federal ban on partial birth-abortion. This new version includes language characterizing the ban on partial-birth abortion as a barrier that hindered “the ability of women to participate in the economic and social life of the Nation.” While I admit I don’t see the connection, President Elect Obama certainly does. FOCA will nullify all pro-life laws that the Supreme Court has ruled to be permissible under Roe v. Wade. No longer will Catholic hospitals be allowed to decline to provide or pay for abortions. Bans on government funding of abortions will go away. And FOCA hasn’t forgotten about the girls either! Parental consent or notification statutes that have been used by over zealous parents as a tool to deny access to abortion for their minor daughters will be a thing of the past. No longer will a young girl face the trauma of telling her parents that she is pregnant. She will be able to seek unbiased and professional counsel from a trained abortionist at the local Planned Parenthood clinic. Such a serious and potentially embarrassing situation in a young girl’s life cannot be left to the vagaries of over-bearing parents and scheming family members. And cost will not be an issue because the government will pay for everything!
Finally, we will have a President that understands the challenges faced by young girls in contemporary America. How is an awkward 15 year-old freshman supposed to get a date with the star quarterback if she has to worry about the consequences of “putting out” for the stud? Like President Elect Obama said, in reference to his daughters: “I don’t want them punished with a baby.”
Weaker Presidents have failed to sign FOCA into law but a new day is dawning in America! President Elect Obama has shown the strength to provide leadership on this seminal piece of legislation.
TO BE CONTINUED
Noting that Obama captured 53% of the popular vote, Dr. Dan encouraged me to get off my high horse and to consider that this vast majority may be right. We live in a democracy, after all. Well, actually, we don’t but there I go with the negativity again. Once I was able to get over my hang-ups with the sanctity of life and the constitution, Obama’s brilliance and compassion became obvious. I am now able to understand and appreciate Obama’s positions on a host of important issues.
FREEDOM OF CHOICE ACT (FOCA)
The future president, speaking at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event in 2007, stated that: “The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom Of Choice Act.”
FOCA was first introduced in 1989 when some in congress feared that Roe v. Wade would be overturned. FOCA’s main goals are to create a “fundamental right to abortion” and to eliminate any Federal, State or Local government action that would limit access to abortion. FOCA has never been made law but it has been reintroduced several times since 1989. The most recent version was introduced in 2007 following the Supreme Court decision upholding the Federal ban on partial birth-abortion. This new version includes language characterizing the ban on partial-birth abortion as a barrier that hindered “the ability of women to participate in the economic and social life of the Nation.” While I admit I don’t see the connection, President Elect Obama certainly does. FOCA will nullify all pro-life laws that the Supreme Court has ruled to be permissible under Roe v. Wade. No longer will Catholic hospitals be allowed to decline to provide or pay for abortions. Bans on government funding of abortions will go away. And FOCA hasn’t forgotten about the girls either! Parental consent or notification statutes that have been used by over zealous parents as a tool to deny access to abortion for their minor daughters will be a thing of the past. No longer will a young girl face the trauma of telling her parents that she is pregnant. She will be able to seek unbiased and professional counsel from a trained abortionist at the local Planned Parenthood clinic. Such a serious and potentially embarrassing situation in a young girl’s life cannot be left to the vagaries of over-bearing parents and scheming family members. And cost will not be an issue because the government will pay for everything!
Finally, we will have a President that understands the challenges faced by young girls in contemporary America. How is an awkward 15 year-old freshman supposed to get a date with the star quarterback if she has to worry about the consequences of “putting out” for the stud? Like President Elect Obama said, in reference to his daughters: “I don’t want them punished with a baby.”
Weaker Presidents have failed to sign FOCA into law but a new day is dawning in America! President Elect Obama has shown the strength to provide leadership on this seminal piece of legislation.
TO BE CONTINUED
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
THE FAMILY
The American family provides a good metaphor for the conservative and liberal conditions. I’m talking about the traditional family. Not one of those “Jimmy has two mommies” lifestyle arrangements. This family has a mom and a dad and a few kids.
Conservatives are represented by the parents, liberals by the children. The parents are charged with keeping the family safe and also working so they can provide food and shelter and other essentials. Because of their hard work and the fact that they live in the greatest country on earth, the parents are often able to buy luxuries for the family. The kids are occasionally consulted on these purchases but the final decision rests with the parents. Kids are not good at making rational decisions and will too often act only in their narrow self interest. Besides, mom and dad are paying for it!
Because children cannot protect themselves, the parents make sure they are safe.
Kids often don’t recognize even obvious danger. They could be at the edge of a cliff,
picking daisies, not even aware that they are one step from disaster. The parents are there to pull them back from the precipice, saving them from their foolish wandering.
As kids grow up, they are expected to do some minor work (chores) around the house. In later years they are encouraged to get actual paying jobs outside the home. The parents do this because they know that children are not born with an innate appreciation of money. If kids continue to get money from their parents, their appreciation never develops while their reliance on it grows. Work also helps children learn responsibility
and develop skills. As their skills improve this fosters the development of genuine self esteem and pride in accomplishment. These are often trying times for both the kids and the parents. Kids will often complain about being under paid and will sometimes fail at things they try. This brings no joy to the parents but, as responsible adults, they know that telling their kids they are doing great at something when in reality they suck will only hurt them in the long run.
Childhood should be just a whacky phase where silly ideas are developed by those unfettered by the constraints of reality. Consistent guidance is required to ensure proper development. Kids will often lie to cover their ass or to hide their true intentions. Left to their own devices, kids can cause havoc and create messes that the parents have to clean up.
Ideally, all children would grow up and become responsible adults. Unfortunately, this is not the case. For some reason, way too many kids never fully mature either intellectually or morally and they become liberals with voting rights. Dangerous, indeed, but that is a topic for another day.
Conservatives are represented by the parents, liberals by the children. The parents are charged with keeping the family safe and also working so they can provide food and shelter and other essentials. Because of their hard work and the fact that they live in the greatest country on earth, the parents are often able to buy luxuries for the family. The kids are occasionally consulted on these purchases but the final decision rests with the parents. Kids are not good at making rational decisions and will too often act only in their narrow self interest. Besides, mom and dad are paying for it!
Because children cannot protect themselves, the parents make sure they are safe.
Kids often don’t recognize even obvious danger. They could be at the edge of a cliff,
picking daisies, not even aware that they are one step from disaster. The parents are there to pull them back from the precipice, saving them from their foolish wandering.
As kids grow up, they are expected to do some minor work (chores) around the house. In later years they are encouraged to get actual paying jobs outside the home. The parents do this because they know that children are not born with an innate appreciation of money. If kids continue to get money from their parents, their appreciation never develops while their reliance on it grows. Work also helps children learn responsibility
and develop skills. As their skills improve this fosters the development of genuine self esteem and pride in accomplishment. These are often trying times for both the kids and the parents. Kids will often complain about being under paid and will sometimes fail at things they try. This brings no joy to the parents but, as responsible adults, they know that telling their kids they are doing great at something when in reality they suck will only hurt them in the long run.
Childhood should be just a whacky phase where silly ideas are developed by those unfettered by the constraints of reality. Consistent guidance is required to ensure proper development. Kids will often lie to cover their ass or to hide their true intentions. Left to their own devices, kids can cause havoc and create messes that the parents have to clean up.
Ideally, all children would grow up and become responsible adults. Unfortunately, this is not the case. For some reason, way too many kids never fully mature either intellectually or morally and they become liberals with voting rights. Dangerous, indeed, but that is a topic for another day.
Monday, November 3, 2008
LITMUS TESTS
We often hear the term “litmus test” whenever a Republican president nominates someone for the Supreme Court. Liberals always whine that conservatives have a pro-life litmus test for judges. Well, yeah, we do. For conservatives, the right to life is not a subject for debate and there is no room for compromise. The conservative philosophy has as its foundation the right to life. Liberals decry the litmus test as a simple minded approach to complex issues. Liberals fancy themselves as deep thinkers who engage in thoughtful consideration of all the nuances of a particular issue. Yeah right. The fact that a Democratic president would never nominate a pro-life person to the Supreme Court is evidence that they have litmus tests also.
I have several litmus tests that come into play at election time. With the presidential race getting near the end, I would like to demonstrate how these tests have helped me decide who to vote for.
LITMUS TEST NO. 1
Pro-life or pro-abortion?
This test supersedes all others. If the candidate is not pro-life than I will never vote for him. I’ve done a lot of crappy things in my life and I don’t need to add “supporter of killing babies” to the list.
OBAMA’S GRADE: FAIL MCCAIN’S GRADE: PASS
LITMUS TEST NO. 2
Enemy endorsements
Call me a right wing extremist but being endorsed by murderous thugs, maniacal dictators and terrorists does not help a guy get my vote. It is frightening to me who is saying nice things about Obama and in many cases offering their outright endorsement.
The following groups and individuals are apparently also looking for “change”.
HAMAS (Palestinian terrorist group)
“We don’t mind-actually we like Mr. Obama. We hope he will win the election…” I would prefer that these bastards not like our president. In fact, I believe it would be a good thing if these evil men were scared shitless of our president.
IRAN
Iran’s leadership has expressed “great pleasure” at the prospect of a Barack Obama presidency. One of those compassionate and reasonable imam’s over there said “If Obama will enter the White House, then Islam will conquer the heart of the American nation.” Well, isn’t that just marvelous. By the way, can someone tell me why a country that has a zillion barrels of oil feels the need to develop nuclear sources for energy? Our next president is going to have to deal with these guys.
AL-QAEDA
Just last week Al-Qaeda expressed hope that Bush and the Republicans would be humiliated in the upcoming elections. Who’s writing their press releases? The DNC?
I have a little rule of thumb-If it makes Al-Qaeda happy, I’m against it.
FIDEL CASTRO
Castro has called Obama “the most advanced candidate” in the race. Yeah, that Fidel is an expert at advancement. Just look how far Cuba has come since he took over 50 years ago.
MOAMMAR QADDAFI (de-facto leader of Libya)
President Reagan kicked his ass into obscurity but Obama seems to have brought him back. Referring to Obama, Qaddafi said “We tell him to be proud of himself as a black and feel that all of Africa is behind him…” Whatever.
OBAMA’S GRADE: FAIL MCCAIN’S GRADE: PASS
LITMUS TEST NO. 3
Teacher union endorsement
The Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) is the largest teacher’s union in Wisconsin. I could be in a coma for six months and wake up on election day not knowing anything about the candidates or issues. If I had only 5 minutes to decide who to vote for, I would go to WEAC’s web site and find out who they endorse and then vote for the other guy. This is a rock solid test for me. I have never agreed with any significant position WEAC has taken. I’m sure you’ve heard their slogan “Every kid deserves a great school.” What a bunch of crap. The policies they support and the legislation they lobby for seem more directed at “Every teacher deserves a great job with no performance standards and parents should just shut the hell up.”
OBAMA’S GRADE: FAIL MCCAINS GRADE: PASS
LITMUS TEST NO. 4
Socialists, commies and assorted assholes
If these people want it, I don’t.
LOUIS FARRAKHAN – leader of the Nation of Islam
BLACK PANTHERS – Marxist/Maoist African-American organization
JODI EVANS – Co-founder of the anti-war group Code Pink
JANE FONDA – The bitch is back
SEAN PENN, et al – Hollywood stars that confuse fame with intelligence.
COMMUNIST PARTY USA – Worked so well in Russia, why don’t we try it?
PLANNED PARENTHOOD – Abortion, Inc.
BILL AYERS – Domestic terrorist, socialist and friend of Obama.
ARAB AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK – No thanks.
All of these individuals or groups support Barack Obama.
OBAMA’S GRADE: FAIL MCCAIN’S GRADE: PASS
There you have it. Four reasons among many why I will be voting for John McCain.
I have several litmus tests that come into play at election time. With the presidential race getting near the end, I would like to demonstrate how these tests have helped me decide who to vote for.
LITMUS TEST NO. 1
Pro-life or pro-abortion?
This test supersedes all others. If the candidate is not pro-life than I will never vote for him. I’ve done a lot of crappy things in my life and I don’t need to add “supporter of killing babies” to the list.
OBAMA’S GRADE: FAIL MCCAIN’S GRADE: PASS
LITMUS TEST NO. 2
Enemy endorsements
Call me a right wing extremist but being endorsed by murderous thugs, maniacal dictators and terrorists does not help a guy get my vote. It is frightening to me who is saying nice things about Obama and in many cases offering their outright endorsement.
The following groups and individuals are apparently also looking for “change”.
HAMAS (Palestinian terrorist group)
“We don’t mind-actually we like Mr. Obama. We hope he will win the election…” I would prefer that these bastards not like our president. In fact, I believe it would be a good thing if these evil men were scared shitless of our president.
IRAN
Iran’s leadership has expressed “great pleasure” at the prospect of a Barack Obama presidency. One of those compassionate and reasonable imam’s over there said “If Obama will enter the White House, then Islam will conquer the heart of the American nation.” Well, isn’t that just marvelous. By the way, can someone tell me why a country that has a zillion barrels of oil feels the need to develop nuclear sources for energy? Our next president is going to have to deal with these guys.
AL-QAEDA
Just last week Al-Qaeda expressed hope that Bush and the Republicans would be humiliated in the upcoming elections. Who’s writing their press releases? The DNC?
I have a little rule of thumb-If it makes Al-Qaeda happy, I’m against it.
FIDEL CASTRO
Castro has called Obama “the most advanced candidate” in the race. Yeah, that Fidel is an expert at advancement. Just look how far Cuba has come since he took over 50 years ago.
MOAMMAR QADDAFI (de-facto leader of Libya)
President Reagan kicked his ass into obscurity but Obama seems to have brought him back. Referring to Obama, Qaddafi said “We tell him to be proud of himself as a black and feel that all of Africa is behind him…” Whatever.
OBAMA’S GRADE: FAIL MCCAIN’S GRADE: PASS
LITMUS TEST NO. 3
Teacher union endorsement
The Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) is the largest teacher’s union in Wisconsin. I could be in a coma for six months and wake up on election day not knowing anything about the candidates or issues. If I had only 5 minutes to decide who to vote for, I would go to WEAC’s web site and find out who they endorse and then vote for the other guy. This is a rock solid test for me. I have never agreed with any significant position WEAC has taken. I’m sure you’ve heard their slogan “Every kid deserves a great school.” What a bunch of crap. The policies they support and the legislation they lobby for seem more directed at “Every teacher deserves a great job with no performance standards and parents should just shut the hell up.”
OBAMA’S GRADE: FAIL MCCAINS GRADE: PASS
LITMUS TEST NO. 4
Socialists, commies and assorted assholes
If these people want it, I don’t.
LOUIS FARRAKHAN – leader of the Nation of Islam
BLACK PANTHERS – Marxist/Maoist African-American organization
JODI EVANS – Co-founder of the anti-war group Code Pink
JANE FONDA – The bitch is back
SEAN PENN, et al – Hollywood stars that confuse fame with intelligence.
COMMUNIST PARTY USA – Worked so well in Russia, why don’t we try it?
PLANNED PARENTHOOD – Abortion, Inc.
BILL AYERS – Domestic terrorist, socialist and friend of Obama.
ARAB AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK – No thanks.
All of these individuals or groups support Barack Obama.
OBAMA’S GRADE: FAIL MCCAIN’S GRADE: PASS
There you have it. Four reasons among many why I will be voting for John McCain.
MSLIB - BREAKING NEWS
Dan Blather, lead political correspondent for mslib is reporting today that he has uncovered original photocopies of letters sent by John McCain to his father during the time he was allegedly a POW in Vietnam. Shockingly, the letters were written on stationary from the Hanoi Holiday Inn. This contradicts previous reports from FOX news that McCain was “staying” at the infamous Hanoi Hilton. This is a bombshell because the Vietcong Ministry of Tourism has given the Holiday Inn it’s highest rating at 5 stars while the Hilton checked in at a pedestrian 3 stars. The intrepid Mr. Rather did not have time to check his sources but he is willing to stake his reputation on the report’s veracity. Since the election is tomorrow, there will be no follow up to this
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