WhiteHorseMusings

A Political Coup in Pegram TN USA?

2009-04-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

On March 31, 2009, the duly elected mayor of Pegram TN, Terri Ray, was stripped of her duties as mayor after the Vice-Mayor Rick Roark declared her "unable to discharge (her) duties." The other alderman voted to endorse this illegitimate and illegal seizure of power. This was done after Mayor Ray "discharged her duties" by terminating the employment of the Town Recorder and a public works employee, in accordance with the town charter, state law, and after 6 months of attempting to get these employees to correctly perform their jobs.

Mayor Ray had been the Town Recorder under 3 previous mayors and elected alderman twice. She was elected mayor on a simple platform to bring fiscal accountability for the spending of taxpayer dollars, the town into adherence with applicable laws, and make town hall a pleasant place all citizens could come to for information and assistance. The terminated employees would not conform to these common-sense requirements.

What is strange is that Vice-Mayor Roark and Alderman Carol Crook were elected in the same election, on the same platform. Alderman Eugene Evans had been a voice for accountability, and Alderman Daniel DuBois was appointed to fulfill the same aims. Not only were these campaign promises; also they are the duty of the Mayor & Aldermen.

Mayor Ray had met with stiff resistance to bringing these common-sense changes to the town, much of this from the Town Recorder. "We've always done it this way" was the most often retort, followed closely by charges of "micromanaging." Some former and current town officials told her to trust the staff and not provide any oversight or control to how the taxpayer's money was spent. The other aldermen had proposed ordinances to take away the mayor's duty of oversight, in order to keep the spending of taxpayer money out of view. These aldermen, led by Vice-Mayor Roark, seem to have forgotten why they were elected and who they represent. It's evident they believe they represent the entrenched bureaucracy and the building of town hall - not the citizens. The lure of personal power appears to have been too great.

This move is a political coup, something we would expect to hear about on the news, happeing in a far-off country - not in the USA. These moves are not legal - the law regarding this is crystal clear, as is the will of the voters. For full disclosure, Mayor Ray is my wife. I am assisting her with this fight to restore good government to our small town and end this illegal coup. We have retained an attorney, not something we had budgeted. We have also been in contact with other legal and governmental entities to right this egregious wrong. By the research of our attorney and others, this has not happened in the USA in modern times. This type of political skullduggery can not and will not stand. I am including links to stories from the press regarding this situation.

Pegram Mayor Stripped of Duties
Pegram Mayor Voted Out
Pegram Mayor Ousted from Office

This is the copy of the town charter, clearly detailing the legality of her duties.

Kent Williams Turns

2009-01-13T20:03:00.000-08:00

With a 50-49 majority, all it takes is for one to turn. For the Tennessee Republicans, the turncoat was Kent Williams. Elected in 2006, he cut a deal with the Democrats in Nashville to install him as House Speaker. It's pretty obvious to me that he will be a figurehead leader, taking his orders from Naifeh & company. I'd imagine he thinks himself pretty slick, as he did vote for himself - though the other 49 votes were all Democrats. A quick search on his name shows that he is a Democrat at heart - as seen here & here.

A similar thing happened in the State Senate, with another Williams - Mike Williams, in 2005. My advice to the Republicans is to keep on pushing for what is right, & if one of the conservative Democrats sees the writing on the wall, welcome him or her to change parties.

Aaron Shock, Generation Y Conservative Republican Success Story

2008-12-09T20:55:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth Meinecke has a great piece in Human Events on Aaron Shock.

He’s from Illinois, young, smart and has a natural talent for relating to voters. And no, he’s not Barack Obama: he’s Aaron Schock, the newly elected U.S. representative for Illinois’ 18th district. Even Biden would like him -- he’s young, clean, and articulate, and at 27, will bring a Generation Y voice to Congress in January.

In four campaigns (school board, state legislature twice, and now U.S. representative), he’s never run a negative ad. Instead, he talks about what he wants to do. He has taken his message into an urban district, even to the pulpits of his constituents’ churches. And when the mud starts slinging in Shock’s direction, he always has a clean and clear response...

“She’s a Democrat in a Democrat district, and she’ll be there as long as she wants,” Schock said people told him. He ran against her anyway, and he won.

He’s done all this, unlike the Kennedys, without wealth or the backing of a political family.

“People look at me and my age and say, “Oh, you know, [he] must …come from this political family. Couldn’t be further from the truth,” Schock said. “Nobody had ever run for office. My parents never said, “Hey, you should run someday for office.” When I decided to run for the school board at 19, they thought I was crazy...”

He comes battle-tested from an Illinois environment where conservatives could claim protection only as an endangered species. As a state representative, the Republican Schock’s demographic was an urban district where 20,000 of the 40,000 voters were on food stamps. 25 percent of his constituents were African American. He had to overcome $980,000 worth of attack TV commercials against him in his first state house race (it was the most expensive house race in state history). His re-election race set a new record. When he got to the state legislature, the good old boy network advised him to keep quiet if he wanted re-election -- in fact, they told him he shouldn’t vote like a Republican.

“I said, you know what, I’m 23 years old, I ran because I wanted to do what I think is right…I don’t need to be here, and if I lose, so be it, ” Schock said, and ended up voting twice against increase in minimum wage. “I have one of the most conservative voting records in the state house. I’ve got a 100 percent pro-life, pro-family, 100 percent with the second amendment. “

Aaron Schock will vote his conscience, and that may be lucky for conservatives.

Aaron Shock shows that conservatism can win in districts once thought impregnable to Republicans. He shows the power of someone who walks the conservative Republican talk. I hope he is representative of many of the future leaders of our party, & we elect many more who will vote their conscience - conservative Republican conscience.

Crossposted at Rebuild The Party.

Conservatism Without "Cliques"

2008-12-03T21:41:00.000-08:00

Crossposted at Rebuild The Party.

We need to be conservative Republicans, not segregating ourselves into little High-School type cliques. We have the winning strategy for elections & governance:

Strong National Defense

Fiscal Responsibility

Limited Government

Conservative Social Values

Standing alone, these are winning issues. Together, they are almost invincible. We have the watershed victories of 1980 & 1994 as evidence of what happens when Republicans run as total conservatives, expousing all conservative principles in bold, unafraid colors. We also have the negative watershed elections of 2006 & 2008 which show that Republicans lose when the party does not hold fast to all planks in the conservative Republican platform. Far too many of our elected leaders abandoned fiscal responsibility - they spent money & acted exactly as the Democrats they replaced. They grew government outside of what was needed for national security. Because of that they lost control of congress & the White House.

IMHO, absolutely nothing in the conservative Republican platform needs to be watered down. This country is not Puritanical, however it's not left of center by any stretch. Economic & national security issues must be in the forefront, especially given they are the major concerns of the day. Conservative social values undergird everything else. We cannot legislate morality, however we can stand for what is right. Voters usually like those who stand for what is right.

Concluding, we must communicate respectfully, politely, but also firmly with our elected leaders the critical need to reclaim fiscal responsibility & limited government conservatism without watering down or fading the colors of any other part of the conservative Republican platform. We win as a party of all bold colors.

Michael Steele

2008-11-23T20:04:00.001-08:00

Michael Steele is "running" to be the Chairman of the Republican National Committee. To say we need new, bold, strong leadership is understating it. We have quite a fight ahead of us to keep as much of Obama's & the Democrat Congress' negative agenda from enactment, as well as position ourselves for the 2010 elections.

I have been an advocate for a strong reclamation of limited government & fiscally responsible conservatism, & from Martha Zoller's recent article in Human Events, Steele seems to get it.

Some Steele quotes from the article:

“We have over the course of the last seven or eight years ticked off a lot of people in this county. Not because we’re conservatives…but because we failed to speak to those issues -- because we failed to lead on these issues.”

He's speaking to the leaders of the Republicans in the Senate, House, & White House - & he's dead on correct.

“Over the past decade or so, conservatives seem to have lost their way. The disparity between our rhetoric and our actions has grown to the point that our credibility has snapped. People just don’t believe us.”

“We’ve become our own worst enemy,” said Steele. “We in fact as much as anyone else have become the party of big government. We lost our principles our credibility, we dishonored our nation. Frankly, we behaved like Democrats.”

Again, right on target. Republican leaders, far too many, abandoned limited government & fiscally responsible conservatism.

“Our best hope for a brighter future is in the empowerment of individuals and families; not in constraints imposed by a bloated bureaucracy. It is still morning in America because America is morning. My mother told me that. She knew that the freedoms may not reach her doorstep, but she had faith that it would reach mine…Don’t make excuses for what we believe in -- that time is over, let’s get busy.”

Very true, it's the time to get to work. Let our leaders & representatives know in polite but crystal clear terms that it's time to reclaim limited government & fiscally responsible conservatism. As I say, it not only wins elections but also allows positive policies to be put into action for OUR country.

Obama's Attack on Talk Radio - Localism

2008-11-23T19:49:00.000-08:00

Jim Boulet, Jr.'s article in the American Thinker discusses the concept of localism as a means for attacking & watering down talk radio. It's no secret that, especially since 1994, Democrats have wanted to silence voices like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, & Laura Ingraham. Instead of blaming their own policies for the Republican takeover of the congress in 1994, they blame Limbaugh. The Fairness Doctrine is getting most of the attention, however Boulet lays out a very cogent message regarding another avenue of attack on free speech via "Alinsky jujitsu."

Needless to say, for those of us who believe the 1st amendment still means something, this is a wrong idea & non-starter. We must fight any implementation of the Fairness Doctrine, Localism, or any attempt to shut down free speech in our country.

WaPo's Top 10 Republicans - & my additions

2008-11-21T13:30:00.000-08:00

The Washington Post came out with their top 10 Republicans to watch. They've got a pretty decent list - they, though, leave out Sarah Palin & Mike Huckabee. Here is their top 10 in ascending order:

Steve Poinzer, possible Republican candidate for California Governor
Haley Barbour, current GOP Governor of Mississippi
Jon Huntsman Jr., current congressman from Utah
Eric Cantor, current congressman from Virginia
Mark Sanford, current governor of South Carolina
Bob McDonnel, current Virginia Attorney General
Mitch Daniels, current Indiana Governor
Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts governor & presidential candidate
John Thune, current South Dakota Senator
Bobby Jindal, current governor of Louisiana

Call me a "homer," however I would add Marsha Blackburn to this list. She is a solid conservative congressman & on the policy committee. I would also add Bill Frist, who may choose to run for Governor of Tennessee.

I believe the WaPo & the rest of the media hope Sarah Palin will just go back to Alaska & not be heard from again. I don't think they'll get their wish. Huckabee is a conundrum for me, he's a great social conservative however I think he's more of a "big government" guy. He may find success on his Fox News show too much to leave.

Fred is Right - Time to Look Ahead

2008-11-17T21:10:00.000-08:00

Fred Thompson has a great piece on Townhall.com, focusing on the future. The time for licking wounds among conservatives & Republicans is over, it's time to get back to work for the next 2 years & beyond.

...But our gratitude for life and liberty should also serve as a reminder that what we were working so hard to achieve these past few years still very much hangs in the balance. And it is up to each of us to continue that fight. Our participation as citizens of the United States does not end once we’ve pulled the lever in the voting booth. That ballot is just the beginning...

But if the time I spent traveling around America the past 18 months has given me anything, it is hope. And it if has confirmed anything for me, it is this: America remains the greatest country in the history of the world, and our citizens who care about our nation’s founding values—freedom, free markets, respect for life and the rule of law—will not stop defending these values as much as some of our fellow citizens and leaders might wish they would...

We are going to have to use every tool we have—grassroots organizations, think tanks, magazines, talk radio, the Internet—while building new institutions to blunt the efforts of a left-wing establishment that appears willing to use uncertainty to impose an agenda that would never see the light of day in normal times...

We have the formula—a conservative formula—that has worked before and will surely work again. It is grounded in our first principles. It’s time we moved past the recriminations and seven stages of grief. It’s time to look ahead, to stay united and to defend the values that we know must endure if our nation is to do the same...

Fred is right, we do have the winning formula that even the Democrats recognize - that's why so many Democrats have ran to the right of their Republican opponents, many successfully. Now that the Democrats will have all the responsiblity & blame to go along with credit, these Democrats who ran right can be held accountable. We simply have to get to work & use the tools available, especially the internet. Information can be worldwide in a matter of seconds, & a call to action can be as well. It's time to go on the offensive positively with something to be for, not just against.

Bill Kristol Gets It!

2008-11-17T21:03:00.000-08:00

Bill Kristol's recent editorial in the NYT is very good. I'll post the most salient excerpt here:

Republicans and conservatives today face a similar challenge to that of 1976. A hawkish foreign policy, social conservatism and middle-American populism aren’t the problems. Those elements, as embodied on the Republican ticket by John McCain and Sarah Palin, produced a respectable 46 percent of the national vote — in the midst of an economic meltdown, with the Bush administration flailing and House Republicans rebelling and the Republican ticket lacking any coherent economic message.

The lack of economic message is a direct result of too many of the Republican leaders eschewing limited government fiscally responsible conservatism. They went "Washington" & paid for it by losing the majority in 2006 & further losses to a feckless Democrat-led congress in 2008. Reclaiming the mantle of limited government fiscally responsible conservatism will be key to not only reclaiming power but also putting in place good policy for our country.

On Abortion & Restoring the Conservative Republican Party - Bold Colors, not Pale Pastels

2008-11-15T21:00:00.000-08:00

Far too many of the pale pastel crowd want Republicans & conservatives to shut up about abortion. As I believe abortion is wrong, I believe "shutting up" about it to be wrong also.

Many people say they're pro-choice just so that the pro-abortion crowd will not shout them down. I believe that the right to life plank should always remain in the Republican platform. People want strong leaders with strong morals, & this plank has served the conservatives & Republicans well.

Going back to my soapbox, what the Republican party needs are conservative leaders who can reclaim the mantle of limited government fiscally responsible conservatism. THIS is what has been missing, & has cost the Republicans in 06 & 08. It is horrible that Obama won the tax cut argument in this election - though he will not make good on his promise. We need leadership to emerge that will fix the stool & have all three legs - strong conservative moral & social views, strong national defense, & limited government fiscally responsible conservatism. This is the way we will not only win elections, but make a positive impact on our country for ourselves & future generations.

Work for what you believe in

2008-11-06T19:34:00.000-08:00

More lessons from the election.

First, and absolutely foremost, we can not allow anyone like John McCain to ever be our candidate ever again. Republicans win when they act like Republicans, not when they do some 'reaching across the aisle' nonsense. Oh, John McCain was popular with Democrats? How wonderful for him. When Democrats got a choice between voting for a Democrat and voting for their favorite Republican who sometimes acted like a Democrat, they chose the Democrat...

Senator McCain is a true American Hero & was a better choice than Obama. However, he was not the right candidate. He did not differentiate himself enough from Obama on key issues, with the financial crisis & bailout bill being the big "surprise" of the election. We needed a candidate who would have stood up against the bailout, the global warming cap & trade garbage, & illegal immigration - that candidate would have won.

Second, the world is not ending. It's also not magically better. Liberals are dumb, let them believe that Obama is going to bring some mythical change and hope to their lives. Good on them, they fall for this kind of thing often, it's more than a little sad...

In Biden's infamous "Obama will be tested" speech, he said Obama would make "unpopular decisions. I take this to mean that his supporters won't have their mortgages paid & they may be unhappy that he doesn't do everything all at once.

This leads me to number three: don't be like them. You know what I mean. Liberals acted like animals for the past 8 years and there's this feeling among Republicans that we must make the Obama presidency hellish on a day-to-day basis...

Good advice. We must oppose the bad things, things which will hurt our country. We can oppose them in a rational manner & not be like the coarse thugs on the left. That differentiates us positively, we can discuss & debate, disagree in a civil manner.

Finally, Republicans as a party have a lot of work to do for the next four years...The next four years have to be about focus and honing our message...

We have the winning message, we simply need to get back to it. Core conservatism, individual freedom and economic opportunity for all.

However many years of the Obama presidency there are, we will have much work to do. We must not shirk from the struggle. Too much is at stake for us, our children, & those generations to come.

Time to Stop Digging

2008-11-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

Marsha Blackburn has an excellent article at RealClearPolitics. Following are some excerpts:

The core lyric of my favorite country song is "When you're in a hole, stop diggin'." That also sums up the message voters have given Republicans.

Tuesday night, our party suffered a resounding electoral defeat. President-elect Obama and his congressional partners deserve our sincere congratulations on their victory. As the country catches its breath, the conservative movement must regroup and set upon a course to prevent November 4th from repeating itself in two years.

Traveling around the country in the closing days of this campaign I heard the same frustration from voters over and over. We in Washington are long on talk and promises, but short on action...

The time has come to return to our foundation; to the party of Lincoln that President-elect Obama rightly said was founded on the principles of self reliance, freedom, and national unity. Conservatives and Republicans must admit that our focus, message, and methods have erred. We grew content and reliant with Ronald Reagan's words, yet failed to exercise the energy required to preserve the freedom his revolution earned from one generation to the next.

Committed Republican leaders must reassert the relevance of our party to a generation of voters born after 1988. Rather than focus on "branding" our cause, let us simply pursue it. In that pursuit, we will rebuild trust and regain purpose...

Marsha eloquently puts it into focus. The "we" of whom she speaks is the Republican leadership in Congress & in the White House. It is high time that conservatives reassert control of the Republican party.

The most accurate polls of 2008

2008-11-06T19:24:00.000-08:00

Thought it would be a good idea to save this for future reference. Here's the list:

1T. Rasmussen (11/1-3)**
1T. Pew (10/29-11/1)**
3. YouGov/Polimetrix (10/18-11/1)
4. Harris Interactive (10/20-27)
5. GWU (Lake/Tarrance) (11/2-3)*

6T. Diageo/Hotline (10/31-11/2)*
6T. ARG (10/25-27)*
8T. CNN (10/30-11/1)
8T. Ipsos/McClatchy (10/30-11/1)
10. DailyKos.com (D)/Research 2000 (11/1-3)

11. AP/Yahoo/KN (10/17-27)
12. Democracy Corps (D) (10/30-11/2)
13. FOX (11/1-2)
14. Economist/YouGov (10/25-27)
15. IBD/TIPP (11/1-3)

16. NBC/WSJ (11/1-2)
17. ABC/Post (10/30-11/2)
18. Marist College (11/3)
19. CBS (10/31-11/2)
20. Gallup (10/31-11/2)

21. Reuters/ C-SPAN/ Zogby (10/31-11/3)
22. CBS/Times (10/25-29)
23. Newsweek (10/22-23)

Thoughts on the election of 2008

2008-11-05T18:33:00.000-08:00

Obama won, the Republicans took over the Tennessee state house as well as the senate. Congressional Democrats added members.

Republicans now control the TN state legislature because they ran as conservatives.

McCain made a mistake that probably cost him the election when he voted for the bailout bill. If he had taken a very conservative stance against it, he very well may have pulled this out.

Another mistake was relying on public financing. He should have gotten out of that as soon as Obama did. The money allowed Obama to drown out McCain.

The Republican party as a whole will need to change the way we play the game with early voting. The majority of votes cast will likely from here on out be early. The timing of the financial crisis shows that the elections will be won & lost in September & October - waiting for a final election day push will not cut it any more. I heard where those who made up their minds in the last days before 4 Nov. went for McCain by 6%. It was, however, too late to make up for early voting. The deal will need to be sealed in September & October, before early voting.

We conservative Republicans have work to do. We would have work to do if McCan was elected, however the game has changed with Obama. IMHO, I believe the Democrats in Congress will succumb to the temptation for over-reaching. We need to lay the groundwork now for the elections of 2010 & then, in 2012, nominate a strong, articulate, unabashed conservative. They are out there.

Palin Hating?

2008-10-21T18:54:00.000-07:00

Below is a partial response to a post on the Tennessean's political forum & my response to it. The original post is from a fellow I've conversed with regarding political issues for some time now &, while we don't agree on everything he's pretty level headed. For some reason, however, he displays a visceral dislike of Sarah Palin & what he believe she represents.

...But then something went horribly wrong and Powell, last Sunday, put his finger right on it. The party that had a guy at the front who appeared to have all the right moves, lurched hard to the right. Whitehorse, in another post, glowed that Palin is the new face of the Republican party. For the sake of the Grand Old Party I certainly hope not. Suddenly uneducation has become fashionable (in fact to be educated is to be derided as "elitest"). The conservative base denies all things science, particularly if they see an apparent contradiction to their bible. Rather than adopt the traditionally conservative position of live and let live, they now want government intrusion in personal areas such as casual drug use, abortion, sex, and marriage. (Except for the topics they sound like old style Democrats who wanted the govn't involved in everything) ...

What is uneducation? Palin is a college educated person & quite intelligent. Todd Palin is highly skilled in his profession. I am one of these Republicans, & see no one deriding education or calling educated people elitist because of their education. The elitists are those who do not use their education – they are the highly educated incompetents such as Obama. Tek, I suggest to see if there are scales on your eyes &/or to see where this information is coming from. Conservatives/Republicans like me value education immensely & want everyone who wants education to have the equal opportunity to work for it. The difference, I guess, is that with patricians like Powell, only education from certain places is acceptable & the person must adhere to certain orthodoxy to be accepted. These snobbish people look down on those in the skilled trades as uneducated rubes, whereas we conservative Republicans understand these people are not only educated, but they are able to utilize what they’ve learned to actually do something.

“The conservative base denies all things science.” Baloney is not a strong enough word. This is BS, completely. I think of sound wildlife management - the Obamas of the world likely do not know where the egg comes out of the chicken, much less what the relationship is between the whitetail deer & the bobwhite quail. Yet, we have Obama supporters who will fight like lobotomized howler monkey against sound wildlife management done by highly trained biologists. We deny manmade global warming because it has not been proved, & the evidence shows recent cooling. We agree on nuclear. The lie of scientific consensus & the attacks on scientists who disagree with scientific orthodoxy has been happening since there has been science. MMGW has become a cultish religion – something I thought you would eschew. Damn the heretics who do not bow down to the consensus – just like the heretics who would not bow down to the flat earth consensus were damned.

Live & let live – that’s fine, if it were practiced by both sides. There is very little in “drug use” (even casual) that does not affect far more than just the user. You seem to have forgotten that Palin indulged in legal pot in her younger days. I have seen no laws proposed from “mainstream Christian conservatives” which would draconically punish someone for the occasional toke. We’re not going to legalize all drugs for “casual” drug use & who in their right mind on any side can or would try to support that position? Abortion – what happened to live & let live? Abortion is an issue, like marriage, that is not a federal issue. A constitutional amendment should not be needed – neither should some activist legi-court create a law for either. As far as sexual activity, we are live & let live. Don’t, however, expect us to endorse & teach our kids it’s right if we don’t agree.

You’re getting some incredible misinformation on Sarah Palin – I don’t care if you like her or not, just get some unbiased information that is not from self-loathing Democrat chattel-women or misogynistic Democrat partisans.

For the Working Poor - Expand the Economic Pie

2008-10-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

What I'd want for the working poor is policy that makes it possible to rise above being the working poor. To do that, the economy must expand. Businesses across the spectrum must expand, & punishing them through increased confiscation of profits as the profits increase will contract the economy. If every penny over $250K is taxed at an increasingly higher rate, there is less & less incentive to expand & create more jobs & opportunity.

Taking someone else's money, having the government bureaucracy take a big cut & doling out the rest will not expand the economic pie.

The old Marx saying of "to each according to need from each according to ability" is a recipe for disaster because it punishes ability and success. When that is put into play, more & more become needy because needy is positively incentivized. That does not mean letting people starve or suffer; that means that needs are taken care of (doesn't have to be the pittance from the government) however economic expansion & job creation are incentivized for the long run.

Obama's economic policy would shrink the economy, incentivizing "being needy" & punishing economic expansion, business & job creation. McCains policy focused on expanding the economic pie for everyone is a much better fit for the Greatest Country on Earth.

They Don't Get It

2008-10-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

Thuggish Ignorance is on full display with the attacks on "Joe the Plumber. Instead of skillfully trying to change the subject, the Obama team is trying to destroy this man.

Joe did not go to Obama - Obama went to Joe. Obama went to Joe's house, doing a little door to door. Obama, I guess, forgot to get his handlers to visit these homes first.

Joe is a real person, much like most of us. He is a blue-collar guy who breaks a sweat & gets his hands dirty working. Continuing the attack on him, trying to destroy his life, is paramountly ignorant. This is not the 1990's, & Barack Obama is no Bill Clinton. Voters see this real person being attacked by the Obama campaign & lackeys in the Media, & know it could be them if they actually got to speak to Obama & exposed his scheme to redistribute EARNED wealth. Joe is definitely the everyday guy underdog, being attacked by a sleazy & greasy machine. What effect is has on the election, most people side with the underdog who finds himself attacked by sleaze.

Obama to Iraq - "Wait on Troop Withdrawal"

2008-09-16T18:18:00.000-07:00

Barak Obama, we now know, tried to get the Iraqis to hold off on any strategic agreement regarding troop reductions, possible now that the surge has worked. He said they should wait until the new administration is in place. This was an attempt - perhaps unwitting - to undermine the negotiations with the current administration. McCain's campaign came out with a hard hitting response.

This is another blunder by Obama & his campaign. There is not a good answer for it. If he didn't realize what he was doing was wrong, how can he claim to be qualified in any way for the presidency? If he knew he was undermining the administration, so much the worse.

Sarah Palin

2008-09-16T18:02:00.000-07:00

What else is there left unsaid about the Republican VP nominee? I cannot remember such a concerted attack from the opposition for a VP candidate, so she must really give the Democrats cause for concern. I post frequently on the Tennessean's political forum, & the sheer number of Palin-hating posts is educational. It looks like PDS (Palin Derangement Syndrome) has exploded to even eclipse BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome) in simple animus & vitriol.

The Wannabe Elitists "Snark" TCPR

2008-09-16T17:51:00.000-07:00

Most of us in Middle Tennessee are familiar with the Nashville Scene, a weekly free publication. Politically, it's on the snobbish side of the left. Jeff Woods wrote a hit piece on Drew Johnson with the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, done in the condescending way the Scene's staff generally looks at those who do not share their elitist world-view. One may read it at the above link - if you want to. The TCPR has done a wonderful job exposing financial gaffes in the Bredesen administration, & it's funny to me that those at the Nashville Scene enjoy being the attack/lap dogs for the Democrat machine here in Tennessee.

Obama CHOSE to Not Visit the Wounded Soldiers

2008-07-25T20:07:00.000-07:00

Presumptive Democrat nominee Barak Obama had an opportunity to visit wounded US troops at Landstuhl in Germany, but chose not to do so.

He first said the visiting the troops would be disrespectful. That did not fly.

His campaign then said that the pentagon would not allow him to visit. That did not fly, because pentagon officials advised that Obama was welcome to visit - but he could not take his campaign staff & media entourage in with him. Obama could have visited the troops in his official capacity as a US Senator, but he (or someone not very bright on his campaign staff) made a choice to not visit.

Being somewhat versed in political campaigns, I know the details of things like this are usually handled by staff. Regardless of who made the blunders, Obama is the candidate. Not only did the campaign first make a dumb remark that the visit would not be respectful, after that the campaign told an untruth, trying to pass the blame onto the military officials at the pentagon. Thankfully, the pentagon officials set the record straight. Obama, his campaign, made a huge blunder by not visiting and made it worse by erroneously foisting blame on pentagon officals.

Think about what might have been. Obama could have visited the wounded troops as a Senator. The fawning media who are with him would have made sure that story came out & out big. Obama could have said something along the lines that "while it's a rule to not have media on such visits, it's also the right thing to do to show respect to our brave, wounded fighting men & women." Obama desparately needs blue collar & military affiliated voters, & this could have helped him immensely with these voters. However, his campaign really screwed up big-time.

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Firearms Clubs on College Campuses

2008-06-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

Dwight Springthorpe learned how to shoot out of necessity. Growing up in rural North Carolina, his parents’ farm was plagued with coyotes. Springthorpe learned gun safety and marksmanship from his father. And, he says, he was pretty effective in keeping the coyotes off his family’s land.

Now a senior at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Springthorpe continues to shoot for sport as president of the Tar Heel Rifle and Pistol Club (THRPC). For college students to participate in a gun club – or even work on their own to start one – seems almost an anachronism, antithetical to the political correctness of the academic world.

But, as HUMAN EVENTS found, it’s a lot more common than most of the academic world would have us believe for one reason: students value their Second Amendment rights and are willing to work to protect them...

I think this is a great idea.

Checking for Moles?

2008-06-10T20:14:00.000-07:00

What’s going on inside the McCain campaign? Maybe I’ve read too much Conan Doyle and Le Carre. Maybe too much of my young professional life was spent in the company of people who built satellites to detect faint electronic signals in enemy lands. Nevertheless, there are too many faint signals coming out of McCain’s inner circle to ignore. And they do not bode well for the candidate.

McCain’s June 3 speech -- designed to rob Obama of some media attention -- might have been a good idea and it might not. But it was poorly-written, badly staged and obviously a text McCain wasn’t comfortable with. McCain’s themes were good, but the speech made him sound petty, almost as if he were a challenger competing against an incumbent Obama.

So some in McCain’s camp convinced him to grasp for media attention on Obama’s night, and then pushed him to make a speech that wasn’t right for him. And then?

These supposed “advisers” and “strategists” immediately leaked to the McCain-hostile press that the only problem was McCain, not the speech or how it was managed as a media event. All you need to know about these problem “insiders” is in the Politico piece by Jonathan Martin entitled, “McCain Bumbles Delivery.”

Martin refers to people among McCain’s “inner circle” who believe that the, “…the visual and stylistic contrast with Obama on Tuesday night was both plain to see and painful in the extreme.” He quotes one McCain adviser saying the contrast between McCain’s speaking skills and Obama’s was, “Not good,” and “It’s never going to be his strong suit, and it will always be Obama’s.” So McCain’s “inner circle” believes that a guy who’s spent decades in politics doesn’t know how to make a decent speech?

If that’s not bad enough Martin writes, “What most everybody inside and out of McCain’s campaign agreed upon was that the address was well-written,” and goes on to quote another (?) McCain aide saying, “It just wasn’t delivered the best…He has to get sharper on delivery.”

How much do you want to bet that the guys who wrote the speech or convinced McCain to give it (or both) are the same ones badmouthing him to Politico?

It’s depressingly familiar. This is the same sort of problem that hurt Fred Thompson’s campaign badly, when purported “aides” and “advisers” were -- on the day of the Iowa caucus -- leaking the falsehood that Thompson would drop out and endorse McCain if Thompson didn’t win Iowa.

It might even be the same guy. At this point, the best addition to McCain’s team might be a cloned version of CIA mole-hunter James Jesus Angleton.

I've often wondered about these "insiders" and "advisors" who leak harmful information to the press or make harmful claims.

Kudlow on Obama's Economics

2008-04-19T14:23:00.000-07:00

Why Not Blame Obama?

It's rather amusing watching the liberal media launch a full-scale attack on George Stephanopoulos and Charles Gibson, with General Tom Shales of the Washington Post leading the charge. ABC's Stephanopoulos and Gibson had the audacity to ask Obama some tough questions during the Democratic debate Tuesday night. Challenge Obama with well-informed questions on tax policy and politics? Wound the media favorite? How dare they?

The fallout is fascinating. With members of the mainstream liberal media lunging at each others throats, it's kind of like watching Hillary and Obama go at it.

But here's the deal: During the debate, Obama bungled his answers on tax policy, big time. Period. End of sentence. End of story. To my liberal friends in the media, all I can say is: Get over it. Your guy has a very poor grasp of basic economic principles.

First off, you don't raise taxes during a recession. That's a no-brainer. Second, doubling the capital-gains tax rate will affect Americans up and down the income ladder, not just rich hedge-fund managers. In addition, capital-gains tax cuts are self-financing, and they stimulate jobs and the economy. You want to raise budget revenues and spark economic growth? Cut the cap-gains tax rate. That's what history shows.

The Wall Street Journal's Steve Moore points out that in 2005, almost half of all tax returns reporting capital gains came from households with incomes under $50,000, while more than three-quarters came from households earning less than $100,000.

Obama also proposed uncapping the payroll tax, another blunder that will hit people up and down the income ladder. While Obama pledges tax hikes only for folks earning more that $200,000 a year, his tax hike on payrolls would actually slam middle-income earners. The cap on wages subject to the payroll tax is presently $102,000. By eliminating that cap Obama will be soaking veteran firemen, cops, teachers, and health-service workers, along with a variety of other occupations.

In fact, in America's largest cities, a firefighter married to a school teacher can earn close to $200,000 filing jointly. So not only will each spouse separately pay more for Social Security and health care under Obama's plan, together they'll also be slammed by Obama's cap-gains tax increase.

This is more than just a failure to understand the Laffer curve. It's another cultural misstep by Obama. I can't help but wonder if the senator knows any cops or firemen. His appeal is to well-educated latte liberals. That remark about middle-income folks having turned to God, faith, and guns because of economic setbacks? Not only was it ill-advised, it illustrates the wide cultural chasm that exists between the candidate and the rest of America.

In effect, Obama's economics are bad and his social circle is very limited. This is one of the many reasons why a quarter of the Hillary Democrats are telling pollsters they'll likely move to John McCain in the general election.

Obama's real agenda is far-liberal left. It's an ideology that places income redistribution above economic growth. That's his real message. And it's the same one that sunk Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, Gore, and Kerry. Bill Clinton? He was a growth Democrat. So he won twice. But Obama is aligning himself with the Democratic losers. And that will make him a loser as well.

The Gallup poll taken after the Democratic debate reveals that Hillary's pit-bull routine may have worked. We'll learn more on that front come Tuesday when Pennsylvanians head to the voting booths. But that's a different issue. What I'm saying is that liberals need to quit blaming Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos for Obama's shortcomings. Instead, they need to blame Obama for failing to grasp how tax penalties on upward mobility will hurt the very people he thinks he's going to help.

Jack Kemp has effectively made the point that African American communities desperately need capital in order to create new businesses and jobs. Yet as Obama takes the capital out of capitalism, all those who are not rich will be hurt when the rich folks with capital have less of it -- after tax -- to invest in those new businesses and new jobs.

That's exactly why wealth-redistribution plans always backfire. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is a surefire economic loser. So is putting government in charge of the economy, which is what Mr. Obama is proselytizing.

This marks the third mistake for the Illinois senator. Not only does he not understand economics; not only is he set apart from middle-class values and beliefs; he apparently hasn't read much history either.

Did someone say inexperience?

Not Like Skynard Did It

2008-03-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

The Leningrad Cowboys sing Sweet Home Alabama. The backup singers are the Russian Red Army Choir.

Donner Party Democrats

2008-03-22T13:34:00.000-07:00

This comes from a source unabashedly pro-democrat party, from the democrat perspective. It is a wonderful read, however, once one gets past the pro-dem bias. I love the first line...

When they set out, it all looked so bright — away to the West, to the Denver convention, nothing but blue skies ahead. They had a continent to cross, a nation to convince, and they vowed to do it in a way that had never been done before. They moved briskly across the plains of the Bush presidency. There was the scarecrow president who didn’t know the price of fuel or the ways of war. Flapping in the wind, he pointed one way, while 70 percent of the country wanted to go the other.
On to the arid side of the prairie, they passed one sunbaked skeleton after another — Larry Craig and his wide stance, Scooter Libby and his breach of trust, and a man from the Arabian Horse Association, Brownie. Each had the stench of yesterday on them.
Along the way, they moved by Mitt the Muddler, who couldn’t decide which way to go, and Rudy the Robo, muttering, “9/11, 9/11, 9/11.” Dining on squirrel was a guitar-plucking Huckabee, who at least knew how to keep folks entertained around the campfire.
These refugees from the other party had their nutty preacher, Pat Robertson, who blamed fellow Americans for the big attack. It was their fault, he said: the civil libertarians, the gays, the feminists brought this mass murder upon themselves. Uphill now, through the high plains, and still the Dems held together. They would not be like that tragic Donner Party of 1846, feuding and scrapping. It would all be over before the snows were gone. They shared their rations and steeled their will, convinced that one way or the other they would make history: a black man or a woman would lead them. They were Democrats doing the impossible: moving in one line, together.
Deep in the treeless expanse of the West, they came upon one of the stragglers from the other party: John McCain. Once, he had been a maverick. Now he looked old and worn and lost. His own party had left him for dead, he explained. Called him amnesty man. He seemed harmless enough, saying he knew nothing about the economy, confused about who was fighting whom in a distant part of the world. They didn’t give him a second thought.
And then, as the snow piled high deep into March, the Dems turned on each other. One of their leaders had been hanging around the camp of another preacher man, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. — a nutball like Robertson, blaming America for bringing on the horrid attack. What is it with these men of God? Should have left them home.
The Dems grew raggedy, worn, desperate. Whereas the first Donner Party was bogged down in the snow of the high Sierra, these Dems could not get out of the Rockies. One faction wanted to declare it over, based on greater popular support. The other one wanted simply to stick around long enough, waiting for the rival to self-destruct.
Their former leader, Clinton the Elder, was kept on a leash — nothing but cards at night. He said he’d seen far worse in his time. “Will there be more animosity as this
thing goes on? Yes.” That didn’t help.
Looking for leadership, they turned to a quiet man in the rear, a doctor from Vermont: Howard Dean. Do something, Doc! Scream! But he cowered, mumbling about do-overs and going back to Michigan or Florida.
At their lowest ebb, they looked back and again saw the straggler, McCain. He was stronger, walking with renewed vigor despite his age. He was joined by a grizzled old cuss named Cheney. One strange hombre, Cheney had shot a man in the face. He’d forgotten that his country was a democracy. When he was told that two-thirds of the nation wanted to heed the founders’ advice and avoid prolonged foreign conflicts, he spit on the ground, and said, “So?”
His party was united. What had been hatred for McCain was now hatred for the other party’s preacher. They could direct all their historic resentments, their bound-up frustrations, against this preacher, the Rev. Wright. So long as they hissed and booed at his picture every night, they stayed together, saying the nastiest of things. The original Donner Party made history for one reason: by eating their dead. Cannibalism — it was all they could do to stay alive.
These modern Dems press on, tearing into each other, crawling to get to the summit, still five months away, in the mile-high city. They are now ravenous with hunger, and it is starting to show.

What are they hungering for? Power. Not service, nothing as altruistic as that. Hillary & Obama want the power, & want to make sure the other doesn't get it. How does this guy say Dean is quiet???

A Compilation of Random Musings

2008-03-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

Needless to say, there's a lot going on in our world today. The war in Iraq to keep it out of islamist hands is going well, so it's out of the news. Economic worries are heightening with the falling dollar & the price of oil & gasoline. We're not hearing much from the presidential candidates on the economic issues, especially what can be done with oil & gasoline prices.

Regarding the presidential race, all the focus in on Clinton v. Obama. This has not been a good last couple of weeks for the Obama campaign. Clinton leads in Pennsylvania. Obama's "former" pastor Jeremiah Wright's comments that have come to light are giving him heartburn. The "super delegates" are getting a little ancy.

NY Governor Elliot Spencer's dalliance with a high-priced call girl have been in the news this week.

In Tennessee there is a push in the legislature for more openness in records, we'll see how far that goes. I've posted some issues on the Tennessean's forums which have received copious response. One is regarding Obama's record on the 2nd Amendment, Obama, No Gun Shops Within Five Miles of Schools; Porn Shops OK. Obama's words on the 2nd amendment extrapolated to all individual rights troubles me - he seems quite flippant on the importance of individual rights in regard to legislating how these rights may be enjoyed. It is fun, however, to read the back & forth between Clinton & Obama supporters. Getting back to the national race on the democrat side, it's getting nasty down in the grassroots.

I'll have more as time goes on & events play out in our world.

Possibly a Shrewd Move?

2008-03-08T20:37:00.000-08:00

This is piggybacked from a Redstate Diary "A Sure Sign Hillary is in Trouble." The diarist does have a great point - it's easy to see that Clinton is behind in the delegate count. Both Hillary & Bill have made remarks that would lead to the thought that they see Obama as a possible VP candidate. There may be a different reason for this, however:

No one (democrat) sees her as being satisfied with anything less than the presidency. Democrats don't want the "bloodshed" of a tight campaign to go on through the convention. Obama is new on the scene. CW says that someone like him would be honored to be chosen as VP. If Clinton can get democrats to see him as VP - an alternative to the continued nasty campaign (or really nasty floor-brawl at the convention) - these democrats may lose some fire to push his presidency.

The Clintons are nothing if not shrewd & calculating political animals.

Another Bad Idea from Tennessee Democrats

2008-03-03T20:59:00.000-08:00

Detailed in the article entitled Bill would let candidates feed poll workers.

Tennessee lawmakers are getting ready to cross a line — the invisible 100-foot boundary that's supposed to separate candidates from the inside of a polling place on Election Day.

Nashville Democrats Sen. Joe Haynes of Goodlettsville and Rep. Gary Moore of Joelton, propose letting candidates for public office enter polling places, bearing gifts of doughnuts, pizzas, beverages and other goodies to feed poll workers.

Supporters call it a gesture of good will and kindness for the poll workers, many of whom are elderly volunteers working grueling 12-hour shifts. Opponents point out that the dividing line between the candidates and the voting booth is there for a reason.

An attempt to pass the House bill Thursday was derailed when supporters weren't able to kill an amendment by Rep. Donna Rowland, R-Murfreesboro, that would block the candidates from delivering the food in person.

"We need to make sure we're above reproach," Rowland said.

Lawmaker sees problem

The motion to set her amendment aside was defeated by a vote of 46-45. Opponents characterized the amendment as "heartless."

State Rep. Frank Buck, D-Smithville, warned that letting candidates deliver gifts of any sort to poll workers "will open the door for fraud."

"If your opponent brings a meal in, that means you've got to bring a meal in," Buck said. "People will try to fudge. Historically, that's what happens."

Moore, the House sponsor, bristled at the implication.

"I'm not trying to buy anybody's vote," he said. "To think that anybody's going to buy a vote for a sandwich is ludicrous."

State Election Coordinator Brook Thompson took no official position but noted that some counties have provisions for feeding poll workers.

Frank Buck is a true conservative democrat who is not liked by the democrat machine in Tennessee.

I don't think we really need to lay out all the potential issues with this? Especially with the more local elections - I know that some democrats in counties like mine are seeing the dramatic increase in conservatives elected to local offices, & they want to "stem the tide" as much as possible. I guess it's easier to try & get around the rules than to get better candidates with better ideas?

More Freedom, More Guns; More Guns, More Freedom

2008-02-28T20:28:00.000-08:00

Another H/T to Bill Hobbs for bringing this to our attention.

A comparative study of 59 countries finds that "the nations with the highest rates of gun ownerhsip tend to have greater political and civil freedom, greater economic freedom and prosperity, and much less corruption than other nations."

Now do you understand why liberals hate guns?

I would change "liberals" to "statists" to be more correct - otherwise, spot-on!

Guns Save Lives

2008-02-28T20:25:00.000-08:00

It's all too predictable. A day after a gunman killed six people and wounded 18 others at Northern Illinois University, The New York Times criticized the U.S. Interior Department for preparing to rethink its ban on guns in national parks.
The editorial board wants "the 51 senators who like the thought of guns in the parks -- and everywhere else, it seems -- to realize that the innocence of Americans is better protected by carefully controlling guns than it is by arming everyone to the teeth."
As usual, the Times editors seem unaware of how silly their argument is. To them, the choice is between "carefully controlling guns" and "arming everyone to the teeth." But no one favors "arming everyone to the teeth" (whatever that means). Instead, gun advocates favor freedom, choice and self-responsibility. If someone wishes to be prepared to defend himself, he should be free to do so. No one has the right to deprive others of the means of effective self-defense, like a handgun.
As for the first option, "carefully controlling guns," how many shootings at schools or malls will it take before we understand that people who intend to kill are not deterred by gun laws? Last I checked, murder is against the law everywhere. No one intent on murder will be stopped by the prospect of committing a lesser crime like illegal possession of a firearm. The intellectuals and politicians who make pious declarations about controlling guns should explain how their gunless utopia is to be realized.
While they search for -- excuse me -- their magic bullet, innocent people are dying defenseless.
That's because laws that make it difficult or impossible to carry a concealed handgun do deter one group of people: law-abiding citizens who might have used a gun to stop crime. Gun laws are laws against self-defense.
Criminals have the initiative. They choose the time, place and manner of their crimes, and they tend to make choices that maximize their own, not their victims', success. So criminals don't attack people they know are armed, and anyone thinking of committing mass murder is likely to be attracted to a gun-free zone, such as schools and malls.
Government may promise to protect us from criminals, but it cannot deliver on that promise. This was neatly summed up in book title a few years ago: "Dial 911 and Die." If you are the target of a crime, only one other person besides the criminal is sure to be on the scene: you. There is no good substitute for self-responsibility.
How, then, does it make sense to create mandatory gun-free zones, which in reality are free-crime zones?
The usual suspects keep calling for more gun control laws. But this idea that gun control is crime control is just a myth. The National Academy of Sciences reviewed dozens of studies and could not find a single gun regulation that clearly led to reduced violent crime or murder. When Washington, D.C., passed its tough handgun ban years ago, gun violence rose.
The press ignores the fact that often guns save lives.
It's what happened in 2002 at the Appalachian School of Law. Hearing shots, two students went to their cars, got their guns and restrained the shooter until police arrested him.
Likewise, law professor Glenn Reynolds writes, "Pearl, Miss., school shooter Luke Woodham was stopped when the school's vice principal took a .45 from his truck and ran to the scene. In (last) February's Utah mall shooting, it was an off-duty police officer who happened to be on the scene and carrying a gun".
It's impossible to know exactly how often guns stop criminals. Would-be victims don't usually report crimes that don't happen. But people use guns in self-defense every day. The Cato Institute's Tom Palmer says just showing his gun to muggers once saved his life.
"It equalizes unequals," Palmer told "20/20". "If someone gets into your house, which would you rather have, a handgun or a telephone? You can call the police if you want, and they'll get there, and they'll take a picture of your dead body. But they can't get there in time to save your life. The first line of defense is you."

Not much to add, he's right.

Emma Beck's Post Abortion Suicide

2008-02-28T20:22:00.000-08:00

Crossposted at the Tennessean's Political Forum.

An artist killed herself after aborting her twins when she was eight weeks pregnant, leaving a note saying: "I should never have had an abortion. I see now I would have been a good mum."Emma Beck was found hanging at her home in Helston, Cornwall, on Feb 1 2007. She was declared dead early the following day - her 31st birthday.

Her suicide note read: "I told everyone I didn't want to do it, even at the hospital. I was frightened, now it is too late. I died when my babies died. I want to be with my babies: they need me, no-one else does."

The inquest at Truro City Hall heard that Miss Beck had split up with her boyfriend, referred to as "Ben" after he "reacted badly" to the pregnancy...

Much more at the link. This is not a post about making abortion illegal or making it more difficult to get an abortion. This is about the reality of what an abortion does & the effect that the realization of the reality of abortion can have on a woman.

What is wrong with making sure a woman or couple has all the information regarding alternatives to abortion? What is wrong with couseling a woman or couple before an abortion to the possible negative mental effects?

Though He Hit the Jackpot, Sergeant Plans to Return to Iraq for a 3rd Tour

2008-02-28T20:18:00.000-08:00

Crossposted at the Tennessean's Political Forum.

After completing two tours in Iraq, Sgt. Wayne Leyde won $1 million from a scratch-and-win lotto ticket on Tuesday.

Now that he's won, Leyde, a 26-year-old member of the Washington National Guard, says he's still going to volunteer to go back to Iraq for a third tour and won't spend any of the money in the meantime.

Leyde was driving near his home in Mead, Washington when he stopped at a store on the side of the road and bought a ticket.

"I decided to walk into a local Zip Trip. I got a Coke and beef jerky and walked up to the counter and thought I'd pick up a few scratch tickets and try my luck. I was on my way out when the lady said, 'Do you have a lucky scratch coin?'

"I said 'no, you gave me a dime and nickel back.'"

"She said 'no, try this,'" handing Leyde a penny. "On my way home I started scratching tickets. They were losers. I'm thinking, boy, that lady didn't know what she was talking about."

Leyde couldn't believe it when he scratched a winning ticket, but he still plans to return to Iraq.

"It was a commitment I made about three months ago. I'm going to stick to it," Leyde said about his decision...

Very cool, definitely representative of the high quality of our military members.

William F. Buckley, Jr., R.I.P.

2008-02-28T20:07:00.000-08:00

Crossposted at the Tennessean's Political forum.

Our revered founder, William F. Buckley Jr., died in his study this morning.

If ever an institution were the lengthened shadow of one man, this publication is his. So we hope it will not be thought immodest for us to say that Buckley has had more of an impact on the political life of this country — and a better one — than some of our presidents. He created modern conservatism as an intellectual and then a political movement. He kept it from drifting into the fever swamps. And he gave it a wit, style, and intelligence that earned the respect and friendship even of his adversaries. (To know Buckley was to be reminded that certain people have a talent for friendship.)

He inspired and incited three generations of conservatives, and counting. He retained his intellectual and literary vitality to the end; even in his final years he was capable of the arresting formulation, the unpredictable insight. He presided over NR even in his “retirement,” which was more active than most people’s careers. It has been said that great men are rarely good men. Even more rarely are they sweet and merry, as Buckley was.

When Buckley started National Review — in 1955, at the age of 29 — it was not at all obvious that anti-Communists, traditionalists, constitutionalists, and enthusiasts for free markets would all be able to take shelter under the same tent. Nor was it obvious that all of these groups, even gathered together, would be able to prevail over what seemed at the time to be an inexorable collectivist tide. When Buckley wrote that the magazine would “stand athwart history yelling, ‘Stop!’” his point was to challenge the idea that history pointed left. Mounting that challenge was the first step toward changing history’s direction. Which would come in due course.

Before he was a conservative, Buckley was devoted to his family and his Church. He is survived by his son Christopher and brothers Reid and James and sisters Priscilla, Carol, and Patricia. Our sadness for them, and for us, at his passing is leavened by the hope that he is now with his beloved wife, Patricia, who died last year.

Whether one considers one's self a conservative, liberal or whatever - if one is politically astute one will know of Buckley. Incredible intellect who championed conservative libertarianism, individual liberty & economic freedom, & the expansion of nanny-state socialism/statism. Famous for his debates with Gore Vidal & Noam Chomsky, during which he systematically fileted their arguments with charm & wit.

Interview with Arthur Laffer

2008-02-17T18:38:00.000-08:00

We've been "treated" to condemnations & vitriol regarding supply side or "trickle down" economics for almost 30 years. The Tennessean has an interview with recent Nashville transplant Arthur Laffer, a giant in conservative supply side economics. A very interesting interview, especially from a political perspective - if one looks at the presidential candidates he's voted for over the years. I'll pull out a few quotes, but take the time to read the entire interview.

But I love bashing Republicans more than anyone, cause they can be just as dumb as stumps. I voted for Clinton twice. I voted for Jimmy Carter, not when he ran against Reagan, but when he ran against Ford I voted for him. I did Jerry Brown's flat tax. I've worked with Democrats as much as … with Republicans. I mean Reagan was my favorite, as you might imagine. But it's not a partisan issue.

If you look at the top 1 percent of income earners in 1981 (Reagan's first year in office) … those people paid 17.5 percent of all the income taxes in the United States. As the years, have gone on that number has climbed up. Today, that group pays 39.6 percent of all income taxes. The percentage has more than doubled.

The highest taxpayers paid a lot more when Kennedy cut those tax rates, dramatically; and the lowest groups paid a lot less. In the lowest groups, if you cut tax rates, you will collect less money.

Laffer has some "interesting" choices in the presidential arena, especially given his economic bent. He is, however, 100% correct on how economics work and the effect of tax rates on those of varying income levels.

Almost 3 Months

2008-01-27T00:03:00.000-08:00

Since I last posted here. I've posted "muchly" at tndeer, Redstate, & the Tennessean. Loads of "stuff" has gone on since my last post. Fred's out of the race, & I'm as bummed as any Fred Thompson supporter; however, I didn't go to the ledge. It looks like it's going to be between Mitt Romney & , with Huckabee & Guliani losing steam. On the democratic side, there's a race war brewing between Obama & Hillary, with Bill Clinton as the rabid attack dog. One my simply use Drudge to keep up with it. This has the potential to really split the democratic coalition.

Personally, we had a great loss at out church. Evette Allison, our pastor's wife, passed away unexpectedly. Talk about bad things happening to good - no, great - people. Anyone who reads this, please pass along prayers for the family.

Bill Hobbs, the "godfather" of Tenessee political blogging, recently lost his mother. Please keep that family in your prayers also.

My uncle Guy "Doc" Anglin is in the hospital, blood clot on the brain caused a stroke.

The grandson is getting bigger - almost 6 months old now. He was a little sick last weekend, with constipation, & you'll never guess who got suppository duty! He's better now & a joy to watch grow & develop.

Deer season was a bust for me; didn't get out much & was sick when I went. Actually, it wasn't a bust because hunting is not about the kill - it's the experience. It does look like we're losing the great lease we've had. I've been fortunate to have the time there & will cherish those memories & experiences.

Work is good. Staying busy is the watchword, & it's not hard to do!

I'll try to post for my reader(s) more often - with everything going on time is precious. Perhaps I'll post some of my better blogs & posts from my travels around the 'net?

Moving On Up in the World

2007-11-09T21:16:00.000-08:00

I know, another 2 months have passed since I've updated my faithful reader...

Frank J @ IMAO featured me in his Ronin Profiles! If you've not gone to his site, it's wonderful satire & great postings. The Fred Thompson Facts, John Edwards Fabulous Facts, & Hiliary Clinton Terrible Truths are worth visiting by themselves, not to mention all the wonderful stuff he has on his site.

Deer hunting is reaching full swing. I didn't get out during muzzleloader this week as mine is still disassembled. We've been busy with the new wonderful grandson, & stuff has been moved around & out! We're still working on removing clutter, which is like a snowball rolling down the hill - hard to get started, but easier as you go. Regular gun season starts next Saturday, & I'm getting ready to bring some venison home!

All the political junk is still going on; we'll see how things shake out as the primaries actually start happening. Hiliary now has chinks in the armor, though I don't know how much difference that will make. The MSM has already written the obituary for Fred's campaign, though Fred has come out with some interesting things on the illegal alien issue & today with Social Security. I still think it's way too early for anyone to be "buying drapes" for the white house - still a lot of campaign to go. Overall, it looks like the illegal alien/border security issue may get its due as the main issue in this presidential campaign, & I hope as well for the congressional & senate races.

All for now, be safe & happy hunting!

Over Two Months

2007-09-17T23:37:00.000-07:00

Yep, over 2 months since my last post. Been busy @ work & will quite likely be changing positions soon. Spent the last 2 weeks out of town training some great people in Morganfield KY. On August 28th I & my wife joined the select group called Grandparents!!! Healthy boy born after a quick & quite smooth labor, 7lb 7oz & 21 in. long. My lovely wife will also begin a new position with her employer, so we are blessed as always!

Deer season is about to get underway here in TN. I don't bowhunt, so it'll be November before I am a threat to the venison polulation in Stewart County. The recent cooler evenings have got my blood pumping, though my hunting "stuff" is in total disarray.

On the political front: Fred's in, the "Surge" is showing progress, many on the left are exorcised that it's working. The illegal alien issues are still there, though in smaller chunks - some good, some bad.

God has blessed me much more than I could ever deserve!

Michael Yon - Arrowhead Ripper: 2 weeks later

2007-07-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

This guy is on the ground in Iraq, & better able to tell how things are going than I am & most others...

Take the time to actually read this. Baqubah Update: 05 July 2007. Good info.

The big news on the streets today is that the people of Baqubah are generally ecstatic, although many hold in reserve a serious concern that we will abandon them again. For many Iraqis, we have morphed from being invaders to occupiers to members of a tribe. I call it the “al Ameriki tribe,” or “tribe America.” I’ve seen this kind of progression in Mosul, out in Anbar and other places, and when I ask our military leaders if they have sensed any shift, many have said, yes, they too sense that Iraqis view us differently. In the context of sectarian and tribal strife, we are the tribe that people can—more or less and with giant caveats—rely on.

There's a whole heck of a lot more, but the above quote from the beginning is very telling to me...

Random Musings

2007-06-24T23:02:00.000-07:00

I've promised my legions of readers (or reader!) random musings, & here are some:

Senate Immigration - don't call it amnesty, though it is - bill is trying to be revived. I received - along with many others - an email from Lamar Alexander's office that he will vote NO on cloture, which means he's listening to those who support him. That is a good thing.

In Iraq Operation Arrowhead Ripper is in progress, Michael Yon is there telling the story. Now that the full troop strength is there for the surge & they are focusing on eradicating the Islamist insurgency cells, I pray they are successful & can turn the day to day security over to the Iraqis very soon.

The lovely Michelle Malkin has a great story on her website detailing the horrors of the Iranian cultural thug police. I join her in calling on the so-called human rights organizations to decry this outright evil repression. I hope that soon a blockade of Iran is put in place so that the people of Iran will overthrow the mad mullahs & their stooge Ahmadinejad.

Recently a very ugly incident happened in Nashville that did not involve Adam "Pacman" Jones. A deer was mortally injured & a police officer refused to shoot the animal to put it out of its misery. The story is found at this Tennessean article. From the article, the officer didn't want to deal with the paperwork involved with discharging his firearm, so a road crew tried to kill the deer with a shovel, then someone thought to use a sledgehammer. Being a deer hunter & student of deer, this makes me cringe. When I hunt, I will not take a shot unless it's certain the deer will die quickly & yes, humanely.

Personally, I've been very busy @ work helping train new representatives - little time off however I'm not complaining! Training & teaching are things I love to do; helping others succeed is what I'm here for! We're also getting ready for our first grandchild - little early for this @ 40, but God has decided it's time.

"Immigration" Bill Pulled, Now What?

2007-06-09T23:25:00.000-07:00

The "grand compromise" immigration reform bill that would have granted amensty to millions of illegal aliens was pulled Thursday night. Sen. Majority Leader Reid said they would move on to more matters if there were not enough votes for cloture - there was not even a majority.

Now what? If one thinks that enforcing our laws & not rewarding illegality is a good thing, this was a win for the good guys. Will the bill be brought up again? There are many very intricate forces & situations at work. The republican party "bigwigs" have to know now that this is poison for them. The reaction from the base, of which I am part, supposedly "stunned" some. It's hard for me to comprehend how out of touch one would have to be to be truly "stunned." I believe it's mostly spin.

As of today there are still border patrol agents in prison, put there for doing their jobs. They were put there at the behest of the Mexican government. This is a terrible injustice all the way around, & these men should be pardoned & their convictions removed. The influence of the Mexican government should be investigated; this is something tangible that congress can look into regarding the Bush Administration.

Will we be forced again to beat back the amnesty bill? I am not sure. While many democrats want this bill in the hopes of new, malleable voters, I'm not sure their animus against Bush will allow them to give him a victory in anything - in this case it would be good for the country.

Can those of us who simply want our immigration, border security, & employment laws enforced make any headway while Bush is president? Sadly, I don't believe so; however, it is still the right thing to do to press for this & can set the stage for 2009 & beyond.

I'm an unabashed & up-front Fred supporter. He is right on this issue. Even Fred has been silent on the true apex of this problem, which is those who knowingly employ illegal aliens. It's fraught with political "danger," as many politicians fear losing the big money from those who knowingly employ illegal aliens. I believe that we can make a difference in letting our elected representatives know that the money they "may" lose from those knowingly employing illegals will in no way make up for the lost votes & on-the-ground support they would lose from their true constituents.

In all this, the operative word is "ILLEGAL." We have made a great difference in banishing the spin & obfuscation of this issue, & it is my hope we continue.

Talk About "Sicko"

2007-06-03T19:34:00.000-07:00

Great piece from Rafael Salinas in today's New York Daily News. Do take the time to read this, though a great quote from this is:

As usual, Moore's logic needs a checkup. The man stretches his argument
into caricature and discredits himself by cherrypicking facts. To assume that
Cuban citizens are getting the medical attention they need because a party of
foreigners got treated decently is akin to praising prison food because you got
offered a nice spread of cold cuts after the warden took you on a
tour.

The Eyes of Our Soldiers

2007-05-28T21:58:00.000-07:00

One has to click on this to experience it.

Million Word Picture

2007-05-28T20:05:00.000-07:00

Words do not exist that do this picture justice. The story from the Tennessean is very touching.

Please note that you may donate to this young man's future, as well as to the children of other fallen heroes.

To donate to a memorial fund benefiting Christian Golczynski, go to any Pinnacle bank branch office or send a check to: Pinnacle National Bank, 114 W. College St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Checks should be made out to the Christian Golczynski Trust Fund.

Instead of a donation to the Golczynski Trust Fund, Heather Golczynski has asked those wanting to help to make a donation in Marc Golczynski's name to the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund. If you would like to contribute by mail, please make your checks payable to: Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund and mail your check to: CFSRF, P.O. Box 3968, Gaithersburg, MD 20885-3968.

One may also go to Hannity's Freedom Concert site to donate so that the children of slain soldiers will have their education paid in full.

Remembering

2007-05-28T17:10:00.000-07:00

Great commentary from Fred D. Thompson. Of all the failings of our education system, the teaching of history is one of the more egregious.

One can read the entire commentary by clicking above or listen to it here.

I excerpt these tidbits as teasers, though great points abound!

I remember when I was a kid; one thing was clear to me. The more I learned about the rest of the world, the luckier I felt just having been born in America. The more I learned about America, the more I appreciated what those who came before us built; and how exceptional they were.

Over the years, a lot of people have tried to talk us out of feeling about America the way we do. Instead of pride in what America has done, they want us to feel guilty — generally because we have so much more than rest of the world. Of course, it wouldn’t help the rest of the world one whit if we had less — either of freedom or of prosperity. On the contrary, it’s our liberties that have made us prosperous and there’s no reason the rest of the world couldn’t be just as well-off — if they embraced freedom as well.

This is our quandary. Memorial Day is about remembering. It’s about remembering those who died for our country; but it’s also about remembering why they believed it was worth dying for. Too many Americans, though, have never been taught our own history and heritage. How can you remember something that you’ve never learned?

Cindy Sheehan's Goodbye Letter

2007-05-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

Found on her kos diary entitled "Good Riddance Attention Whore."

Excerpted in part:

The first conclusion is that I was the darling of the so-called left as long as I limited my protests to George Bush and the Republican Party. Of course, I was slandered and libeled by the right as a "tool" of the Democratic Party. This label was to marginalize me and my message. How could a woman have an original thought, or be working outside of our "two-party" system?

However, when I started to hold the Democratic Party to the same standards that I held the Republican Party, support for my cause started to erode and the "left" started labeling me with the same slurs that the right used. I guess no one paid attention to me when I said that the issue of peace and people dying for no reason is not a matter of "right or left", but "right and wrong."

I think this excerpt pretty much tells the story. I hope she finds true peace & is finally able to work through the death of her son. Unfortunately, she also has so much after his death, being a willing foil for the anti-US crowd, that she would need to confront & atone.

AMNESTY DETAILS START TO EMERGE

2007-05-27T16:30:00.000-07:00

From our little buddy Steve Gill on Southern Ledger, we get this great article:

The details of the secret “deal” constructed by the Bush Administration, Ted Kennedy and John McCain that will grant amnesty and immediate legal status to millions of illegals currently are slowly starting to emerge. And as usual, the details are proving devilish.
We have been told that there are 12 million illegal aliens in the country. Some estimates put the number much, much higher, closer to 20 million. The new Z-visa that is at the center of the amnesty plan does not put a cap on the number of illegals who will be eligible for the “probationary” path to citizenship. Why not? If there are really “only” 12 million of them why not put a maximum number of those who will be eligible for the visa at that precise number?
The plan also restricts those who can get “amnesty” to those who were here before January 1, 2007. Really? If we don’t know how many are here, how will we know when they got here? Does anybody seriously think this provision will be enforced?
Tamper-proof identification cards are supposedly a key component to insure that employers only hire those who are here legally. But how will the suddenly less-illegal illegals get these cards? Will they provide proof of who they are in the form of bogus drivers’ licenses that they have purchased on the black market here in the U.S.? Or maybe they can use the matricular consular cards that Mexico hands out like Halloween candy? Or perhaps they can use the voter registration cards that they have illegally obtained while illegally in the country?
Last year, one of the critical elements of the non-amnesty amnesty plan that was blocked in the House was a requirement that the illegals pay two out of the last five years of taxes in order to qualify for the non-amnesty amnesty. This time that burden has been completely eliminated. The illegals will apparently have no obligation to pay any back taxes or fines in order to qualify for their amnesty. They also get tax amnesty as part of the citizenship amnesty package. What a deal!
I am sure millions of American citizens would love to pay a $5000 one time fine and get the taxes they paid to the federal government over the past five to seven years returned to them. Count me in!
And do you remember the border fence that got so much attention last year during the fall elections when politicians were clamoring for our votes? They voted to build a 700 mile long fence to secure a 2100 mile border. The new amnesty deal trims that border fence to just 370 miles. So far, we have actually constructed just two miles of fencing. At this rate we will have secured about 20% of our southern border 200 years from now. As part of this “deal” perhaps President Bush can remove 80% of the fencing around the White House to prove his commitment to share in the same level of security he proposes for us.
The more we learn about the details of this “deal” the more clear it becomes that THEY have to pass it quickly and in secret, before WE figure out what is really happening. As more details emerge from this amnesty “deal” there will certainly be even more questions about it. Including: If this amnesty “deal” is really such good PUBLIC policy, then why have they crafted it PRIVATELY?

Steve weilds a bipartisan sword quite expertly! We need to continue to call our representatives & especially Sen. Alexander to let him know that we want a no vote on this!

The Lynchpin for the Illegal Alien issue

2007-05-27T00:16:00.000-07:00

This is the illegal employment of aliens who are here in the US illegally. Enforcing our employment laws so that employers only hire those who can legally work in the US is the "head of the snake" for this issue. Doing this, imho, would have the single greatest effect on solving the issue of illegal alien entry into the US & the myriad problems it is causing. It is also the most politically charged & "dangerous" part of this equation for politicians. Companies like Tyson & others who hire massive amounts of illegals also give massive dollars to politicians of both parties. This is why so many politicians seem to have a disconnect, because they don't want to lose these dollars or see them go to an opponent. What is the answer to this? I believe part of the answer is to expose these companies & let them know your feelings on the illegal alien issue. Affect to their bottom line would get their attention. Another part is to continue to contact your senators & let them know that these campaign donations will not keep them safe @ the ballot box.

Amnesty for Illegal Aliens

2007-05-26T23:19:00.000-07:00

Most of this past week has been taken up by the new amnesty bill to fix everything, which is just like the old amnesty bill of 1986 that was to have fixed everything. I have to laugh when I hear that senators are surprised by the visceral disgust they've heard from their constituents. Are they that out of touch or just trying to spin?

The pro-amnesty forces seem miffed that they are being questioned. Most of these have resorted to the old, worn-out tactics of name calling & condescensio because there truly is no reasonable argument to make the illegal legal. The reasons for opposing amnesty are solid & irrefutable. There is no reason on earth to believe that the enforcement provisions would be enforced. As I've posted many times, the executive branch & legislative branch have shown that they will not enforce the laws we have now; why should anyone expect that new enforcement language will have any effect? All the wonderful enforcement provisions & penalties for illegal employers mean nothing if not enforced. I urge everyone who cares about this issue to continue contacting their senators & representatives - they are feeling the heat & need to feel more heat. Let your senators & representatives know that you are against rewarding illegal behavior - the laws we have on the books should be enforced & that is what we demand!

Securing the borders so that illegals will not cross is important. What I feel is more important & will have an even greater effect is to remove the attractants for illegal aliens. This starts with the employers who knowingly hire illegals, who are charged with making sure that the workers hired are done so legally. Stern punishment for these employers will take away the reward for hiring illegal aliens. Couple this with removing the public assistance the illegals take, & that would remove the reward for coming here illegally. After that, the borders would be much more easily secured. Most of the illegals will go back from whence they came & those who want can come through legally, if they meet the requirements.

Immigrants come here legally; I'm all for them coming in legally. It's the illegal entrants that I do not want here because they are coming in illegally.

Keep calling your senators! There is a great number that can be used, toll-free 800-882-2005. From Tree of Liberty @ the Tennessean's forums:

Press 1 when you hear a Spanish message, then Press 1 again to be transferred to
your senior senator's office OR Press 2 when you hear a Spanish message, then 1
and you'll be transferred to your junior senator's office.

This is a direct number, based on area code & prefix for routing. It works great!

A Potpourri of stuff

2007-05-20T00:10:00.000-07:00

Been a busy week... just about everywhere. The Compromise Immigration Reform bill is being crafted as we go about, & I for one have no trust in the congressional leadership or, sadly, with Pres. Bush regarding the enforcement provisions. We were fooled in 1986, & should not be fooled again!

In my job I work with many people from different countries who are here legally. They are wonderful people. Like most, I'm not against immigration - I just want it done legally. I don't think that is too much to ask or require.

Fred Thompson has a good commentary on this bill @ Townhall.com. I will quote the last paragraph, it puts it rather succintly to my mind:

We should scrap this “comprehensive” immigration bill and the whole debate
until the government can show the American people that we have secured the
borders -- or at least made great headway. That would give proponents of the
bill a chance to explain why putting illegals in a more favorable position than
those who play by the rules is not really amnesty.

I've opined that we may hear more dubious claims from "soldiers" coming out against the war & proclaiming the horrors wrought by our troops on innocents. A recent Seattle Times article exposes one of these, one Jesse Adam Macbeth. What he & others like him have done & will do is a travesty to our military, who I believe are the greatest fighting force ever to have been on this earth & among the best & brightest this country has.

Some justice in this world, A U.S. Navy lawyer convicted of divulging information about Guantanamo Bay detainees was sentenced to six months in prison Friday. Lt. Cmdr. Matthew M. Diaz has received 6 months in prison & will be booted from the navy. This is good, the GITMO detainees live better there than in the hellholes from which they came, & this has been demagogued to death.

No WMD in Iraq? Read this.

Former UN ambassador John Bolton really did us all proud in an interview with a sniveling BBC jackal. I would hope he finds a high level position in the Fred Thompson administration!

Keep calling, faxing, writing, & emailing your senators & representatives about this amensty bill for illegal aliens. Phil Valentine has sources that tell him they are feeling the heat, & need to feel more!

Nudist Groups Seeking Younger Members - Thank God!

2007-05-13T23:14:00.000-07:00

I'm a guy who doesn't look better in less. The more clothes I have on, the better for everyone. I know this. What I've noticed about many of those who like to parade around nude is that they also would look better with more clothes on! I read the story & thought... Finally! One can look to the wonderful site Zombietime & see many instances of people nude who should be clothed! Even if one "looks good" nude, I still would not recommend parading around in public - but gosh, if you don't, it's even worse!

Not Posted Anything In a While Here

2007-05-10T21:06:00.000-07:00

Of course, this is not one of the "hot blogs," & I've been busy letting my thoughts be known @ the Tennessean's website & on TNdeer.com.

Iraq has been the hot topic. We've seen the democrat leadership's non-binding votes, the votes for a pork laden spending bill with a timetable for non-victorious withdrawal, & now another worthless vote from the house that even the democratically controlled senate says is dead. We've had the leader of the senate, Harry Reid, say the war is lost. This while out troops are still fighting an enemy more evil than we comprehend.

I've been more confrontational in my postings, simply because I'm truly fed up with those who want the US to fail. Those who want to defeat George W. Bush so badly that they will do what they can to demoralize & defeat our own troops who are currently fighting the islamist enemy. They want to see Pres. Bush defeated so badly that they have put all their eggs for political power in the basket of US defeat in Iraq, with NO regard for the myriad horrible consequences that would follow such a defeat. Our troops are NOT being defeated - when they encounter the enemy they defeat the enemy. There are signs that the change in strategy is having the desired effect of removing the islamist cells from areas & keeping them out. This is allowing the Iraqi people to begin to live their lives, which will engender success in the economic component of success in Iraq. These steps forward will put more pressure on the political component to get their acts together & will hasten the time that the Iraqis can take over the defense & security of their country.

Who is leading this insurgency in Iraq? The answer is islamist groups, with Al Queda in the lead. The same Al Queda led by Osama Bin Laden. The same Al Queda who perpetrated the 9-11 terror attacks. That Al Queda. By what the democrat leadership is saying & doing, they are emboldening these groups - they are emboldening Al Queda! The Old Mainstream Media is also doing their part by ignoring success in Iraq & trumpeting the loss of life from the islamists & any loss of US troops. Any one of our troops killed is a hero & one too many; they are heroes because the willingly put themselves in the line of freedom's defense. Some here support them. Some here are doing & saying anything they can to demoralize our troops while they are fighting Al Queda led islamists. I would hope that they "know not what they do..." However, for some, they know what they're doing & the English language (even the curse words) do not do justice for the disgusting reality of that.

Our troops can do their jobs & be victorious in the military component of Iraq. They need the funding, the support (real support), the tools, & the unconventional tactics needed to defeat this unconventional enemy. They also must be free of micromanagement from ignorant politicians, & also free of media micromanagement & reporting, because the media has shown itself to be biased toward the Al Queda led islamists.

I am in contact with my elected representatives. I've had a good exchange with Jim Cooper, & commended him for still using the word victory in relation to us. Senators Alexander & Corker are going well on this.

I want the troops home ASAP. I want them home victorious. They aren't losing, aren't being defeated by the enemy, & can get their jobs done if they're given what they need to do it & the hindrances taken away. My phrase for this is "Won & Done." I trust that most of the American people want our troops to succeed. I have consternation & pity for those who do not...

"Left on Left" Cannibalism

2007-03-10T23:30:00.000-08:00

From The Hill we get this recent article that shows the problems between many on the far left & their congressional representatives. It seems that many on the far left are not happy with the lack of progress stopping the war in Iraq (heavens forbid the new strategy is given a chance to suceed) made by their democratic representatives, while on the other hand the left's representatives are unhappy with their leftist constituency not allowing them to work the process of Washington. One may read the entire article @ the link; following are a few interesting quotes from that article:

“We’re trying to use the supplemental to end the war,” Obey said. “You can’t end the war if you’re going against the supplemental. It’s time these idiot liberals understood that.”

“The liberal groups are jumping around without knowing what the hell is in the bill,” he bellowed. “You don’t have to cut off funds for an activity that doesn’t exist.” “The language we have in the resolution ends the authority for the war,” he added. “It makes it illegal to proceed with the war. You don’t have to de-fund something if the war doesn’t exist.”

Obey stressed the need for liberal groups to understand that cutting off military funding means de-funding important military programs, such as hospitals for veterans. “I’m not going to deny body armor. I’m not going to deny funding for veterans’ hospitals and for defense hospitals so you can help people that have health problems. That’s what you do if you go against that bill,” he added.

Asked about passing a resolution to end the war, Obey screamed that they did not have the votes.

“How, if you don’t have the votes?” Obey roared in response. “That bill ends the war! If that isn’t good enough for you, you’re smoking something illegal. You’ve got your facts screwed up.”

“Once in a while that frustration boils over, I wish it hadn’t but you cannot continue conversations forever,” he said.

He also continued to skewer “liberal groups” for failing to inform the members and the public that the war supplemental spending bill contains language aimed at ending the war.

So, we now have the democratic congressional representatives still working as hard as they can, through the machinations of congress, to ensure defeat, while their constituencies on the far left are upset that their representatives aren't moving fast enough or doing it perfectly.

Meanwhile, an IDB/Tipp poll shows that the American people think victory in Iraq is important & possible. Who seems to be more out of touch with the American people?

Random Stuff

2007-03-09T23:51:00.000-08:00

By now most have heard the uproar over the "do as I say, not as I do" controversy with former Vice President Al Gore. This was brought to light by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, a libertarian leaning think tank. I am of the mind that there are reasons for true energy independence & moving to fuel sources other than oil, good & sound reasons, that do not require the doomsday cult mentality of the "global warming" crowd. The cult recently lost a supporter.

I have found a great site for news from Iraq, news that we may not see on the nightly news. Some actual good news. It seems that the new strategy is already seeing positive results, even without the bulk of the new troops.

Will the early & accelerated race for the presidency cause the nominees to be known far in advance, or will it allow for front-runners to be trashed? This week we've been treated to stories regarding Guliani's & Gingrich's maritial & familial issues. There's been a dust-up between Hiliary & Obama. Bill Hobbs had had some great pieces on the possiblity of Fred Thompson entering the race. Thompson would be an interesting & formidable candidate. He does not have the executive experience of a governor; he does, however, have a commanding presence & ability to appeal to the grassroots.

Support the Troops & the "Slow Bleed"

2007-02-16T22:18:00.000-08:00

Well, today the US House passed the "non binding" (read worthless) resolution opposing President Bush's troop surge. The focus has been on simply the number of new troops being sent, not the change in strategy to secure & hold areas by eradicating the terrorist elements that are perpetrating the violence against the Iraqi people.

As this debate went on, a new strategy was unveiled. It's called the slow bleed strategy, authored by John Murtha. It's simply a way to slowly cut off funds instead of doing it all at once. It would keep the troops from receiving reinforcements and the material support they need to do their jobs. I fail to see how this can be construed as supporting the troops.

Another tidbit that came to my attention shows how many on the left really feel about the men and women serving in our military. It's by a professor named June Scorza Terpstra. It can be found at this link entitled "Can we really support these troops?" In this post, Prof. Terpstra excoriates our troops as thuggish mercenaries who delight in killing innocents. Needless to say, I believe she is completely wrong; however, I do think it's good to get the truth of how the anti-war movement leadership really feels about our troops when they say they support them.

Tested

2007-02-04T22:58:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything here & thought I may want to do so! Lots going on in the news. Ron Ramsey became Speaker of the Senate in Tennessee, & our own State Senator Rosalind Kurita crossed party lines to vote for him, which made Sen. Williams vote a moot point. The troop surge is happening; lost in the reporting on pure numbers is the shift in focus which I think will have more impact. I believe that we have the best military force ever on this planet, & I hope this shift in focus will allow them to do their jobs better. It's not all up to them, & the Iraqi government has to get its act together, however the surge & shift in focus are good. I also think the "non-binding" resolution fever in the congress is ludicrous. Looking around left & right, I don't see that many if any are really happy with such a flaccid response from our legislators. I hope Tennessee's senators come out & stay strongly against such hogwash.

I've opined, as have many others, about the reasons that the republicans lost their congressional majorities. I think it's because they did not stand up for the core conservative principles we in the base have. I write this now because, in my own life, core principles have been tested. I don't brag when I say I & my family have passed the test, because the test truly isn't over. I can say that it can be easy to become frustrated & whelmed when one's core beliefs are tested, & takes strength & endurance to face these tests. I don't want to get into the specifics right now, but will do so at a later date. If anyone who reads this will do so, prayers will be appreciated!

Random Musings

2006-12-20T21:30:00.000-08:00

Lots going on around here! I've been pretty busy with work, & even busier with the trials & tribulations the are part & parcel with raising a family. I've not posted for a while on here, so I thought this was the time for some random musings.

Recently those of us who hunt in Tennessee have the news that a limited elk season in on the way. This has generated some discussion via the Tennessean newspaper. In this discussion we see that many have a fundamental misunderstanding or ignorance of the predator-prey relationship, as well as man's role as a part of nature. Many seem to think that man isn't part of nature - I mindset with which I fervently disagree.

The big political story in Tennessee is the Lieutenant Governor's post. It has been held for 36 years by John Wilder. Because Sen. Wilder is a boyhood friend of my late father, I do have somewhat of a soft spot in my heart for him; I do not, however, have a soft spot in my head! Conventional wisdom around here has been that State Sen. Mike Williams will again vote for him instead of Sen. Ron Ramsey, who is the leader of the Republicans. With the State Senate at 16 Democrats & 17 Republicans, Williams would again give leadership to the aging Wilder. Perhaps sensing the damage that continued leadership by Wilder could cause, Sen. Joe Haynes is challenging Wilder for the Democrat leadership. This is an interesting situation that could have some serious reprocussions as we head into the 2008 election cycle.

The National political scene has been dominated by the Iraq Study Group's report. After reading it & the commentary involved, I think of the old chestnut about a camel being a horse created by committee.

That's all for now, Lord willing I will return for more random musings & insightful (maybe) commentary.

What If We Would Have...???

2006-12-03T18:52:00.000-08:00

"What if we would have..." questions are so easy to ask, because no one has learned how to turn back time or create that alternate reality to see what really would have happened. Sometimes they can come in handy. I have one of these....

What if, in 1936, the US & England had removed Mussolini from power in Italy? This question came to me as we experience the continuing cacaphony of calls for something less than victory in Iraq, which in my view would be a self imposed unnecessary defeat. I chose Mussolini as Italy was the weakest member of the Axis in WW2, & Iraq has been described as the "soft underbelly" of the Axis of Evil in the war on Islamic Fascism & Global Terrorism. I chose the year 1936 for the sheer heck of it! It could have been 1935 or 1937, but I wanted 1936.

Because we can, let's suppose that the situation in Italy in 1940 would mirror that of Iraq in 2006. There is an insurgency there against the democratically elected government, fomented by German Nazi forces. No good news is forthcoming from Italy, at least none that the antique media of that day deem worthy of presentation.

What should the US & England do in that situation???

I am Blogger, Hear Me Roar

2006-11-26T17:12:00.000-08:00

Or, whatever sounds a horse makes when it makes horse droppings. I have joined the world of blogging. What the world needed was another 40 year old balding dude, conservative republican blogging - & I am here. I'll blog on this & that. I'll blog on Tennessee & national politics, hunting, outdoors, social issues, & simply life in general.

As written earlier, I'm a 40 year old guy who has been blessed by God to live in Middle Tennessee. I am married, & have been married to the same woman for almost 19 years. We have a son, who has just turned 18. I work in the wireless telecommunications industry in Nashville, & graduated from MTSU after going there off/on for 17 years. I came from lower-middle class working family roots, & am very grateful for that.

I'm nothing really special - however, I'm not what many would think of as being a "typical" christian conservative republican. I look forward to talking with you all as progress progresses!