Give The Man Some Credit

""My interest is in making sure we've got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices," Obama said in an interview with The Palm Beach Post.

"If, in order to get that passed, we have to compromise in terms of a careful, well thought-out drilling strategy that was carefully circumscribed to avoid significant environmental damage - I don't want to be so rigid that we can't get something done," Obama said."

You can call it a flip-flop if you want to, but I think the man is just using common political sense. You cannot continue to ignore the will of the American people and expect to be elected; a fact that remains lost on Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

President Bush - call these dilatory representatives of the people back into session!

Perhaps now that their standard bearer has had a revelation, others may have a change of heart also. Give them about a week to get their asses chewed out back at home, then call them back to work. The American people deserve better than elected representatives with ideologies to rigid to adapt to the will and the needs of the people.

If, per chance, they refuse to compromise, I hear there are job openings in Alaska for surveyors, and I can think of a few Senators and Congressmen I'd love to see in this situation:

This poor guy doesn't realize that the bear was driven to this rage because the damn penguins have such a goofy sense of humor - not unlike yours truly.

The Ugly Season of Politics

I doubt if there are many people who haven't embellished an old story when trying to impress a crowd or a group of friends. Most of us have done it at one time or another, but most of us don't have the vultures representing the fourth estate to deal with. Nor do we have to deal with video footage of what actually transpired.

I'm pretty sure that most of us would remember quite vividly if we had been shot at. We'd also know the kind of man our pastor is after twenty-some years of regular church attendance.

I don't know too many people who call themselves conservatives/traditionalists who are ready to embrace a "League of Democracies" so we can make Europe love us again either.

The kowtowing, promises, butt-kissing and lies that these candidates are willing to endure are truly incredible, but certainly not unique in the history of American politics. What is unique is the state of communications and our seeming inability to focus on what is important.

I certainly find Hillary's lie to be just that, not a slip of the tongue. I don't believe that Senator Obama had no idea of the type of racism and lunacy his minister spouted, and I think Senator McCain is out of his cotton-picking-mind proposing a "League of Democracies". We have enough problems with our own judges without having some European court decide what we can or can't do. When you're the big dog, act like it - not just militarily, but in bringing aid and comfort anywhere in the world that it's needed. This is a great country, capable of doing a lot of good in the world, and it behooves us to meet the challenge.

In order for those who enjoy leaving a comment, which have never been edited to this point (thank you), here are the issues that most concern me - this should give you ample opportunity to tell me how whacked I am:

1.) SECURITY: For that segment that believes we are NOT at war, this should set you off immediately. However, if our borders are not secured and a program designed to help those here illegally find a path to citizenship, all of our other problems could easily disappear in the flash and electromagnetic discharge of a nuclear weapon. Lest you fear I'm "fear mongering", there are a lot of other catastrophes they can rain down upon us as well, the implications of which we can only guess at - especially with the current fragile state of the economy.

2.) ECONOMY: In a speech yesterday, Hillary told the crowd that those awful oil companies, insurance companies, drug companies, bankers and their ilk will be sadly disappointed when she's President, because she's going to represent the people. I wonder just who she thinks are the backbone of all these evil corporations? There will always be the Ken Lay's of the world, but I can attest from my years dealing with people all over this state that the vast majority of us always try to do what's right. Let's stop this class warfare garbage, stick the envy and jealousy aside, and start working towards Oil Independence! If we attacked our oil dependence as if it were a sworn enemy, maybe we keep Al Gore and his fantasy off of the world stage for a while.

3.) OUR CHILDREN: That covers a wide range of issues, but education is at the forefront of my thoughts. We have been graduating functional illiterates incapable of writing a lucid paragraph. We seem to want to stuff them full of useless information, instead of preparing them for the world that they have to face. As a product of the Baby Boom, education at that time did much the same as far as stuffing you full of facts, but you were expected to write legibly and coherently, and we weren't faced with the myriad of distractions that kids have now. As our math and science scores continue to drop compared to the rest of the world, maybe it's time to instill a little more discipline and direction - which should always start at home. Making a college education accessible and affordable for any citizen who wants it should be a priority.

The top three should offer sufficient fodder for all of you who would like to chime in - everyone is welcome.

It Comes As No Surprise

I listened to Senator Obama give his stump speech in Madison, WI - at least as much as it took to settle the issue: He would be a much bigger mistake than Hillary.

"Change our mindset": We shouldn't have gone to Iraq, we need to get out, we need to stop living in fear...Translation: Let's just play nice with the bullies and I just know we'll become the bestest of friends. I stopped living in fear within a few days after 9-11, and especially after my first flight after that date. If this man becomes President, I'd be ready to start fearing again - fearing what his election whould do to the morale of our Armed Forces, and fearing what his election would mean to our status as the world's sole super power. National health care at the cost of a strong military is slow suicide and application for entry into the ranks of has-been world leaders.

Health care is an issue that must be addressed, but not at the expense of a strong military.

"Bush's tax cuts for the rich": Apparently the fact that the economy could have easily tanked after 9-11, but didn't due in large part to those tax cuts, fails to register. Tax cuts equal more revenue - you don't have to have a doctorate in economics to comprehend that simple fact.

In addition to not listening to lobbyist from Exxon-Mobile and elsewhere, he's going to change things in Washington. When he's had all the bureaucrats rounded up and replaced with illegal aliens let me know - then I'll be convinced that change is on the way. I hate to disparage illegal aliens by saying they could do the job of a bureaucrat; they contribute more to our economy by just doing what they do.

So as the title indicated, no big surprise to anyone. My only hope is that John McCain's more liberal approach to immigration, national health care, and global warming will have appeal with the middle-of-the-roaders.

Valid Criticism

Since you claim to be a conservative, how about writing some posts on the great republican congressmen that are now serving. How about a comment on the great speech President Bush gave our nation last night. How about a post about the great conservative candidates running for President. How about trying to be less divisive and more positive by posting about conservative values. Your posts are the kind of partisan stuff that is tearing our country apart

This note was from anonymous in response to my Obama/Kennedy piece, and I thank this person for pointing out something that I will try to remember in the future. I'm not sure if the person was a conservative asking for representation, or a liberal who was being facetious, but in any case I find their criticism has some validity.

Having accepted and acknowledged this observation on my writings, let me say that I will probably never be able to completely stop poking fun at liberals. In addition to more sanguine observations, using humor to make a point is such an integral part of my personality that it just naturally flows over into my writing.

The Clinton/Obama piece was meant primarily as political observation, not humor. I have not decided who will get my vote in November, but I can assure you it will probably not be a Democrat. Just because I probably won't vote for a Democrat doesn't mean I can't make observations on their activities.

I honestly believe that Senator Kennedy's endorsement means next to nothing for Senator Obama, and was intended as a slap in the face to the Clintons. As Democratic strategist Bob Beckel has noted, Senator Kennedy's endorsement has served to split the Democrat Party in half. Loyal Democrat's need not fear however, because once the nominee is chosen, the party will again unite.

My prediction for the Dem slate: President Hillary Clinton / Vice President Barack Obama. Improbable? Jack Kennedy couldn't stand Lyndon Johnson, and vice versa, and Ronald Reagan was not very fond of George the first either. FDR thought so little of Harry Truman that Truman had no idea that an atomic bomb was under construction until he became President. I understand the need for security, but you'd think a President would let his Vice-President know what's going on wouldn't you?

On the Republican side, if you're like me, you're not at all thrilled with your choice of candidates and you don't really know who offers the best chance of success in November. It is between McCain and Romney, all the others are ancient history even if they don't know it yet.

So where does that leave us?

John McCain is an honest-to-God American hero, and if he were a true conservative there would be no doubt as to who would win the nomination. Mitt Romney has business acumen, he did a great job with the Olympics, but he got elected as the Governor of Massachusetts, and you don't get that job without pulling in a lot of Democrat votes. He got those votes because he has demonstrated an ability to be on both sides of an issue.

Both McCain and Romney have shown an ability to work with the opposition and deliver things such as campaign finance reform and health care in Massachusetts. My deepest concern: McCain's apparent willingness to concede key conservative points just to get a deal. I won't even get into how bad a piece of legislation campaign finance was, but its the kind of legislation you end up with when you're willing to abandon your principles.

So there you have it - an honest evaluation of both sides from the perspective of an upstate New York conservative. You may recall that I did a piece sometime ago after my son had asked me who I would vote for if I had to vote for a Democrat. My answer at that time was Hillary Clinton, and it still is for one very simple reason:

Hillary Clinton, as divisive as she is, will protect this country with an aggressiveness normally associated with a mother bear and her cubs. I trust very little else about her, but I would trust her to protect the country. I'm not being facetious - she disgusts me in many ways, but my primary concern is the safety of this country, and there I have no doubt that she would be a pit bull.

Anonymous: I will try to focus more on conservative values and principles - it's sometimes hard to remember that you can't change someones mind by denigrating their point of view (regardless of how much fun you have doing it), you need to provide the information and let them reach their own conclusions. Thanks for your insight.

One final note regarding the media. The photo showing Obama looking away as Clinton reaches to shake Kennedy's hand is being used to try and create a story where none exists. Leave it to our stalwart journalists to focus on the inane - and that includes Fox News.

Teddy - Thanks, But No Thanks

I know that most Hillary supporters are disappointed by Senator Kennedy's endorsement of Senator Obama, but I think you should take heart in the fact that he didn't endorse the world's smartest woman.

What's even more entertaining is the absolute slap in the face that the Massachusetts Methuselah gave to President Clinton. It had everything to do with politics, but it had nothing to do with Senator Obama.

The grandfather of the Kennedy political dynasty is taking great delight in giving his last drop of energy to make sure there is never a Clinton political dynasty - at least not any more than what we've already seen.

President Kennedy was of a mold of Democrat that now appears to be banished to sit at the back table with Joe Liberman. Even if his brother fell prey to the moveon.org's of the world, he'll still protect the family name and his brother's place in history.

His endorsement meant something once upon a time, even after Chappaquidick.

But it has been so long since Ted Kennedy has been anything other than a parody of a senator, I think the Clinton camp should acknowledge the endorsement with the briefest of statements and not allow the press to make anything more of it than what it is - the closing chapters in a life that once held so much promise.

Perhaps a lot in life shared by many younger brothers who have to try and walk in the shadow of their famous siblings.

The Candidate of The Month Club?

You've got to hand it Barack Obama when it comes to a celebrity endorsement.

Over the past weekend Hillary got an endorsement from the Mayor of San Francisco. If I'd been a member of Hillary's staff I would have told Gavin thanks, but lets not make a big deal out of it. Sodom on the Sea is not exactly heartland America, and his endorsement is as likely to turn off as many people as it turns on - an appropriate phrasing I suppose as far as San Francisco is concerned.

John Edwards got a couple of big celebrity endorsements as well: Harry Belafonte and Sean Penn. That means he's got the calypso vote and most of the folks at S.A.G. (That used to stand for Screen Actors Guild, but has been changed to Silly-Ass-Goofballs to reflect their relevance to American society.)

Senator Obama simply crushed the competition. I'll grant you that fannies in the seats to see Oprah doesn't necessarily translate into Obama votes, but considering the fact that names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and donations of time and/or money were required to get tickets to the event, this was pure genius on the part of those responsible.

I'm not sure if this is democracy at work or just the Mickey Mouse Club redux, but whatever it is, it can do nothing but help Senator Obama. Now before you libs start passing frozen chickens, my reference to the Mickey Mouse Club is complimentary, not negative. It is true that when I "Mickey Mouse" some repair around the house (duct tape required), the phrase does not induce confidence in the trustworthiness of the repairs. In this case however, I'm referring to the marketing brilliance of Disney, a brilliance that's still blinding even today.

Consider the voting population in terms of a swimming pool. There is a shallow end and a deeper end in most pools, and in our voting pool there is quite a bit of shallow water. Not everyone is as afflicted as we are my friends. Regardless of political persuasion, what other conclusion are we to reach when we have such a dismal turn out for elections?

In the shallow end of the pool, it doesn't take as much to roil the waters as it does at the deep end, and right now Oprah is just starting to get her feet wet. The cult of celebrity has always been a player in politics, but I think Oprah brings a dimension to the situation that is above and beyond what anyone else in this country can bring. Don't ask me to explain it, because I've never forgiven her for introducing Dr. Phil to us, but I have the feeling that she will soon be playing a much larger roll in this election cycle.

It's not just the celebrity aspect, because you have to have some substance to go with the smoke and the mirrors. Though I'm in total disagreement with his position on Iraq and abortion, I must admit that Barack Obama has brought something to this election that I had hoped Fred Thompson could bring - excitement and hope.

In the summer of 1968, after Dr. King was murdered, I was one of millions of teenagers who saw in Bobby Kennedy the hope for a better future, even though I was a member of the Young Republicans Club. Once he was killed, I began to question everything about my government and wonder what would cause our nation to writhe in such agony. I became a liberal and voted for George McGovern in 1972. I was so disgusted by our government that by the time we got around to Carter and Reagan that I voted for John Anderson. After four years of Reagan I was changed forever - a thought that horrifies some and makes others nod in agreement.

The point of that brief journey through part of my voting history is this: A President needs to be a leader. Your politics become secondary to the voting population when you can inject and infuse the people with confidence, energy, and most importantly of all, hope. The life long bureaucrats pretty much control the basic operations of government, and our balance of government assures that very little gets done by anyone without a true mandate from the people, so we should never make the mistake of underestimating the importance of "persona" in a leader.

George Bush had it atop the rubble with the bullhorn in his hand, but he lost it almost immediately and has failed to find it again.

Hillary has a "persona", but when half the population would cast you as the witch in the latest stage production of "Hansel & Gretel", that's not the persona needed to lead the country.

There is no other candidate, Republican or Democrat, that is currently capable of creating this feeling. Mike Huckabee may have a shot, but it may be nothing other than a flash in the pan - too soon to tell.

At least at this stage of the game, Senator Obama is getting the best out of a celebrity endorsement that a candidate can expect: plenty of airtime, plenty of print, and plenty of names to add to their database.

Like I said, you've got to hand it Senator Obama, and Oprah may well do that with the nomination.

Memorial Day - Then and Now

As protests erupt in Venezuela, and as we meet with the Iranians for the first time in thirty years, I find myself distracted on Memorial Day. The usual movies are available; picnics and parades abound, and the President's remarks for those who gave their all were covered, but the truth is, not many people heard him, or cared. A sad commentary not only on many Americans, but on the President as well.

As I reflect on those uncounted lives given for this country since our founding, I have come to the conclusion that George Bush has failed us. I still firmly believe that going into Iraq, eliminating Saddam, and offering the people of Iraq their first opportunity to participate in an election are, and should always be remembered, as valid, noble endeavors. Knowing that millions of purple fingers were held aloft because of the sacrifices of our Armed Forces should give every American a sense of accomplishment.

Therein lies the problem - most Americans don't feel that we've accomplished anything.

The President's failure is in leadership; his inability to articulate the nature of our enemy; his failure to unify and demand sacrifice from everyone, but most of all, he's just not Hollywood enough.

As callous as that may seem, it is a facet of the presidency that cannot be ignored.

Lincoln was disparaged in his own time, but history has been kind to him because there was no CNN to nitpick every action and parse every word. He also had the benefit of a well defined enemy, especially geographically. Without a standing army, without a government to negotiate with or topple, the President has failed to define too many whys and wherefores - at least to the satisfaction of the vast majority of the population.

He may well be remembered by history for taking the right course of action, but failing to arouse the nation to arms. In the history books of 2107, when we are in the midst of the ongoing "Terror Wars of Islam", George Bush may not fare as well as Lincoln did in time, but he will certainly be better remembered than those who claim there is no "War on Terror".

The sad fact of the matter is, without the sales skills of a P.T. Barnum, and the media power of a Horace Greely, a President isn't going to accomplish much these days.

I wonder if Lincoln felt that way too?

Did St. Paul Ever Meet A Socialist?

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NRSV)

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

It would be difficult for anyone to say so much in 276 words, but St. Paul does quite a job when writing to the folks in Corinth. When I find that my frustration with socialists and liberals reaches migraine proportions, I have to try and remember to read these words.

Just look at the first paragraph. When I listen to those whose separation fixation leads them to ban the Ten Commandments from a courthouse lobby, or anyone from the ACLU on any topic, I have to try and remember that without love, even if I believe I am right, then how can I be anything other than a "noisy gong". So that means for the sake of my eternal soul, I have to love the whack-jobs in the freakin' ACLU!

This being a Christian stuff just keeps getting harder.

As long as I keep love in my heart, I can even stomach the French. I've decided to capitalize the "F" again since Sarkozy was elected. Conservative leaders now in Canada, Australia, Germany, France - soon in Britain after my Uncle Tony steps down ... damn that George Bush for setting such a poor example and making our allies hate us. I wonder who it was that Mr. Heinz-Kerry was speaking to about how they didn't want George elected? Probably good old Jack Sherack, the back-stabbin', no good, ... I'm sorry Jacques, I forgive you. Why, in a purely Christian sense, I love you old bean.

Now the second paragraph, I'm having a real difficult time seeing Al Franken in their anywhere, or Bill Mahr. They would not aspire to this concept because to them, religion is the "opiate of the masses". So now I have to be patient, kind, never boastful, arrogant or rude.




You can stop laughing now.

Let's just get to paragraph three. "Love never ends." I'm certainly okay with that one. With those that you truly love: mother, father, husband, wife, child, sibling, the love can be tested, even broken, but it never ends.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.

I'm sorry, some things are just too easy and too obvious, so I'll let that one pass without further comment.

"And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."

I have faith that the American people will make the right choices when presented with the truth; I have hope that we can find a way to work more closely together towards common goals, and I love this country and what it stands for.

Those sentiments are, of course, secondary to God and Family.

Harry Reid - A Man for all Treasons

Senator Harry Reid is a wonderful example of what the liberals in this country would have us all become. Please note, I did not say "Democrats", because I sincerely believe that there are Democrats out there who still have a backbone; but the Joe Libermans' are few and far between in the party.

Just for a moment, let's go back to WWII. Can you imagine a Senate Majority Leader saying the war is lost; trying to cut funding for the troops and offering our enemies a time line for when we plan to tuck our tail between our legs and run? I guess Webster's is going to have to rethink their definition of the word "treason". Personally, I think the definition should stay the same and we should place Senator Reid's name right alongside another great American's: Benedict Arnold.

Those who say that the Democrats want to see us defeated in Iraq are way off the mark. We are all Americans and no one wants to see us defeated. Don't misunderstand - they don't want to see us defeated - they want to see George Bush defeated and the Democrats back in total control. If it means that we desert people struggling to form a democratic government; if that means that terrorists around the world can count on the fact that the United States will not stand by it's friends and allies; if the cause of freedom is relegated to the dreams of the few; if Iraq becomes Iran's private terrorist training camp; that's a small price to pay for Democrats to be in power. The party comes before the country - a sad commentary on the party that once had men like Harry Truman and Jack Kennedy leading it. They were men, not the spineless dish rags like Harry Reid and Dick Durbin.

What are the Democrats for? You pretty much know what they're against: free speech (unless you're spouting their party line), freedom of ideas (unless it meets their criteria that the United States is the root of evil in the world), the right to bear arms (they can control us with less effort if we can't fight back), protecting the lives of the unborn (it's just a clump of cells, it doesn't have a soul because their is no God) - I could go on, but the point is quite simple: They don't stand for much of anything - they just stand against whatever the President is for.

The two young men from Lewis County who gave their lives have been disgraced and diminished by the words of Senator Reid, and that is the greatest crime of all. I try to force myself to always consider the opposing point of view and remember that the person who holds that view is, first and foremost, a child of God; secondly, they are Americans who love their country (for the most part), and they are entitled to their point of view and the freedom to express it. Senator Reid has gone way beyond that.

It gives one pause when you consider that Don Imus was fired for cracking a tasteless joke using language that you can hear everyday on any rap/hip-hop radio station, yet the Senate Majority leader preaches defeatism and treason and the party lemmings are ready to eagerly follow him right off the cliff.

There are positive aspects to all of this liberal lunacy, you just have to look for that silver lining:

1.) The French will love us again and Jerry Lewis will be elected President of France.

2.) Alec Baldwin will become Secretary of State and leave screaming phone messages for world leaders instead of his 11 year old daughter.

3.) Rosie O'Donnell will become Secretary of Stupidity and get her own TV show on CNN - Streisand is ready to step in when Rosie eventually goes to rehab for her Twinkie addiction.

4.) Charlie Sheen and Sean Penn will be Co-Secretary's of Paranoia and Conspiracy, and they will eventually prove that 9-11 was a gigantic hoax created by Charlton Heston and the NRA.

5.) Cindy Sheehan and the Rev. Al Sharpton, posing as Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee, will become Ambassadors to Venezuela and Russia respectively. Cindy gets Venezuela because she already thinks Hugo Chavez is the person inside the Barney costume, and the Rev. Al gets Russia because they shoot people over their who run their mouths off and even the Democrats don't much care what happens to Al as long as he's out of the country.

6.) Al-Gore will become Secretary for the Environment, creating a "carbon-credits" program that will rival any previous attempts at boondooggling (I'm not sure if that's a word, but it should be). Based upon Al-Gore's philosophy of "do as I say, not as I do", lights will go out around the world sometime around 2012. As all governments fail and anarchy reigns, the law of the jungle will prevail and all liberals will be shot on sight or sentenced as indentured servants for Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove.

See, I told you there was a silver lining.