What a great choice.
Just shows McCain's independence streak and his wisdom.
I was hoping he'd choose Sen. Elizabeth Dole but I have to admit this is a wilder, braver choice.
It doesn't mean the election will be easy, though. This forces Obama to play the race card. It hasn't occurred to him that every person who votes for him because he's black is playing that card -- and there certainly are plenty of those!
The counter argument to that, of course, is that every woman voting for Palin is playing the feminist card EXCEPT for what she stands for and what she's done. Why, she's done more in two years as Governor than Obama has done in six years in a state senate and three years in Congress. That is one impressive lady.
And John McCain is one impressive gentleman to make such a great choice.
Hooray .... and, for good measure....HALLELUJAH.
Friday, August 29
Sunday, August 24
Dissing Olympic Dissenters
Today I am a HUGE Kobi Bryant/LeBron James fan. Not because they and The Team won the gold, although I think that's grand.
But because of what they said and did. In interviews and on the floor both stated and demonstrated their love and appreciation for their country and for their sport. They demonstrated superb sportsmanship and when they stood on the podium, they put their hands over their hearts while the national anthem was played. In doing so they won my heart, my loyalty and my fanship (if that's not a word it should be) for life. Thank you, Kobi and LeBron!
As for the athletes who went to Beijing to represent the USA and refused to place their hands over their hearts when the national anthem was played (you know who you are), I'll be watching for your endorsements. When I find them I will boycott those companies and write to their CEOs to tell them what I did and why.
It's one thing to express political dissent in America and it's quite acceptable -- but NOT while you are representing the country.
But because of what they said and did. In interviews and on the floor both stated and demonstrated their love and appreciation for their country and for their sport. They demonstrated superb sportsmanship and when they stood on the podium, they put their hands over their hearts while the national anthem was played. In doing so they won my heart, my loyalty and my fanship (if that's not a word it should be) for life. Thank you, Kobi and LeBron!
As for the athletes who went to Beijing to represent the USA and refused to place their hands over their hearts when the national anthem was played (you know who you are), I'll be watching for your endorsements. When I find them I will boycott those companies and write to their CEOs to tell them what I did and why.
It's one thing to express political dissent in America and it's quite acceptable -- but NOT while you are representing the country.
Pelosi, Catholicism and the Beginning of Life
This morning on Meet the Press Nancy Pelosi, defending Obama's waffling statement on abortion, said she's a born and bred Catholic and that the Catholic church in all its history has not been able to determine when life began. She seems to have missed something in her breeding:
The Roman Catholic Church says that deliberately causing an abortion is a grave moral wrong. It bases this doctrine on natural law and on the written word of God.
The Church says that human life begins when the woman's egg is fertilized by a male sperm.
From that moment a unique life begins, independent of the life of the mother and father. The features that distinguish us from our parents - the colour of our eyes, the shape of our face - are all laid down in the genetic code that comes into existence then.
Each new life that begins at this point is not a potential human being but a human being with potential.
Since the sixteenth century, causing or having an abortion led to automatic excommunication.
This is stated in the Code of Canon Law (1983): "A person who actually procures an abortion incurs automatic excommunication" (Canon 1398).
The Church condemned abortion as early as the 2nd century CE: the Didache, written in the 2nd century (some time after 100 CE), states: "You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish."
Early Christian doctrine is clear on the matter.
Saturday, August 23
What They Said Then
Pre-War Quotes from Democrats
Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003. source: http://www.reasons-for-war-with-iraq.info/john-kerry-1-23-2003.pdf
They all saw the same intelligence. Over a decade they all came to the same conclusions.
"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998. Source:http://www.cnn.com/US/9802/04/us.un.iraq/
"Together we must also confront the new hazards of chemical and biological weapons, and the outlaw states, terrorists and organized criminals seeking to acquire them. Saddam Hussein has spent the better part of this decade, and much of his nation's wealth, not on providing for the Iraqi people, but on developing nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the missiles to deliver them."
President Clinton, Jan. 27, 1998. Source: http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/01/27/sotu/transcripts/clinton/index2.html
"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
Madeleine Albright, Feb 18, 1998. Source: http://www.reasons-for-war-with-iraq.info/albright_2-18-1998.pdf
"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998. Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/index/iraq/iraq172.htm
"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."
Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others Oct. 9, 1998. Source: http://www.reasons-for-war-with-iraq.info/senate_letter_10-09-98.pdf
"As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons is an issue of grave importance to all nations. Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998. Source: http://www.house.gov/pelosi/priraq1.htm
"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
Madeleine Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999. Source: http://www.columbiachronicle.com/back/1999_fall/99nov22/vp2.html
"This December will mark three years since United Nations inspectors last visited Iraq. There is no doubt that since that time, Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to refine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."
Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL,) and others, Dec, 5, 2001.
Source: http://www.reasons-for-war-with-iraq.info/ford_letter_to_bush_12-5-2001.pdf
"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them."
Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002. Source: http://www.senate.gov/~levin/newsroom/release.cfm?id=211370
"We know that he has stored away secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/transcripts/gore_text092302.html
Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.
"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power."
Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002. Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/transcripts/gore_text092302.html
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002. Source: http://www.reasons-for-war-with-iraq.info/ted-kennedy_9-27-2002.pdf
"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..."
Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002. 
"My position is very clear: The time has come for decisive action to eliminate the threat posed by Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. I'm a co-sponsor of the bipartisan resolution that's presently under consideration in the Senate. Saddam Hussein's regime is a grave threat to America and our allies..."
John Edwards (D, NC), Oct. 7, 2002 Source: http://www.cfr.org/publication/5441/
"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force — if necessary — to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002. Source: http://www.reasons-for-war-with-iraq.info/john-kerry-10-9-2002.pdf
"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years .... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002. (Rockefeller has removed this from the web)
"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do."
Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002. Source: http://www.house.gov/waxman/news_files/news_statements_res_iraq_10_10_02.htm
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members.... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct. 10, 2002. Source: http://clinton.senate.gov/speeches/iraq_101002.html
"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction.
Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002. Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/09/ftn/main532270.shtml
Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003. source: http://www.reasons-for-war-with-iraq.info/john-kerry-1-23-2003.pdf
They all saw the same intelligence. Over a decade they all came to the same conclusions.
Sunday, July 27
IT HAPPENED IN IRAQ
For those who are unaware, at a military theater the National Anthem is played before every movie.
From a Chaplain in Iraq:
I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3,' here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom back in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way
through The National Anthem the music stopped.
Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is if they had stood for the National
Anthem in the first place.
Here, the 1,000 soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again and the soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. And again, at the same point, the music stopped. Even here I would imagine laughter as everyone finally sat down and expected the movie to start, but here, you could have heard a pin drop.
Every soldier continued to stand at attention. Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers finishing where the recording left off:
“And the rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through
the night, That our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled
banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free, And the home of the brave.”
It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq.
I want you to know what kind of soldiers are serving you here. Remember them as they fight for you! Be always in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad, and for the many have already paid the ultimate price.
Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins
LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq, north of Baghdad.
From a Chaplain in Iraq:
I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3,' here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom back in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way
through The National Anthem the music stopped.
Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is if they had stood for the National
Anthem in the first place.
Here, the 1,000 soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again and the soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. And again, at the same point, the music stopped. Even here I would imagine laughter as everyone finally sat down and expected the movie to start, but here, you could have heard a pin drop.
Every soldier continued to stand at attention. Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers finishing where the recording left off:
“And the rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through
the night, That our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled
banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free, And the home of the brave.”
It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq.
I want you to know what kind of soldiers are serving you here. Remember them as they fight for you! Be always in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad, and for the many have already paid the ultimate price.
Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins
LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq, north of Baghdad.
Sunday, July 20
PLENTY OF OIL IN USA
It seems the US Government and Congress are keeping something from us.
The US Geological Survey recently reported new oil discoveries in the United States. They've found 3.65 BILLION barrels of oil in N. Dakota and Montana -- a field that stretches into Canada. Those billions of barrels of oil are not included in the present U.S. oil count.
That's a 25-fold increase in the amount of recoverable US oil compared to the Survey's last estimate, published in 1995.
It's called the Bakken Oil Formation. Google it and see what you find.
If oil companies would begin, using modern horizontal drilling techniques they could easily retrieve the oil and drive the price of oil down to $16 a barrel.
Of course that would cut into the oil company's high profits so it's pretty unlikely they'll do it without being forced by Congress. And Congress is solidly in the pocket of oil lobbyists UNLESS we kick them all out and replace them. See more here: "The Bakken Formation estimate is larger than all other current USGS oil assessments of the lower 48 states and is the largest "continuous" oil accumulation ever assessed by the USGS. A "continuous" oil accumulation means that the oil resource is dispersed throughout a geologic formation rather than existing as discrete, localized occurrences. The next largest "continuous" oil accumulation in the U.S. is in the Austin Chalk of Texas and Louisiana, with an undiscovered estimate of 1.0 billions of barrels of technically recoverable oil.
"It is clear that the Bakken formation contains a significant amount of oil - the question is how much of that oil is recoverable using today's technology?" said Senator Byron Dorgan, of North Dakota. "To get an answer to this important question, I requested that the U.S. Geological Survey complete this study, which will provide an up-to-date estimate on the amount of technically recoverable oil resources in the Bakken Shale formation."
The USGS estimate of 3.0 to 4.3 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil has a mean value of 3.65 billion barrels. Scientists conducted detailed studies in stratigraphy and structural geology and the modeling of petroleum geochemistry. They also combined their findings with historical exploration and production analyses to determine the undiscovered, technically recoverable oil estimates."
Check out these resources:
http://www.energyandcapital.com/articles/bakken-oil-trade/658
http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/next-energy-news2.13s.html
http://www.wealthdaily.com/articles/peak-oil-bakken+formation/1313
The US Geological Survey recently reported new oil discoveries in the United States. They've found 3.65 BILLION barrels of oil in N. Dakota and Montana -- a field that stretches into Canada. Those billions of barrels of oil are not included in the present U.S. oil count.
That's a 25-fold increase in the amount of recoverable US oil compared to the Survey's last estimate, published in 1995.
It's called the Bakken Oil Formation. Google it and see what you find.
If oil companies would begin, using modern horizontal drilling techniques they could easily retrieve the oil and drive the price of oil down to $16 a barrel.
Of course that would cut into the oil company's high profits so it's pretty unlikely they'll do it without being forced by Congress. And Congress is solidly in the pocket of oil lobbyists UNLESS we kick them all out and replace them. See more here: "The Bakken Formation estimate is larger than all other current USGS oil assessments of the lower 48 states and is the largest "continuous" oil accumulation ever assessed by the USGS. A "continuous" oil accumulation means that the oil resource is dispersed throughout a geologic formation rather than existing as discrete, localized occurrences. The next largest "continuous" oil accumulation in the U.S. is in the Austin Chalk of Texas and Louisiana, with an undiscovered estimate of 1.0 billions of barrels of technically recoverable oil.
"It is clear that the Bakken formation contains a significant amount of oil - the question is how much of that oil is recoverable using today's technology?" said Senator Byron Dorgan, of North Dakota. "To get an answer to this important question, I requested that the U.S. Geological Survey complete this study, which will provide an up-to-date estimate on the amount of technically recoverable oil resources in the Bakken Shale formation."
The USGS estimate of 3.0 to 4.3 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil has a mean value of 3.65 billion barrels. Scientists conducted detailed studies in stratigraphy and structural geology and the modeling of petroleum geochemistry. They also combined their findings with historical exploration and production analyses to determine the undiscovered, technically recoverable oil estimates."
Check out these resources:
http://www.energyandcapital.com/articles/bakken-oil-trade/658
http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/next-energy-news2.13s.html
http://www.wealthdaily.com/articles/peak-oil-bakken+formation/1313
Wednesday, July 16
MY ENERGY PLAN
1st I would ration gasoline. To each according to need. Just the very threat of such action would serve notice to oil speculators and foreign suppliers that we are serious and will stand for this hijacking no longer.
2nd I would initiate a Federal 60-mile-per-hour speed limit. (Since I restricted my own driving to 55 MPH during my 20 mile commute to work a month ago I've seen a significant saving on my gas bill. It works.)
3rd I would begin the process to re-open the FFTF advanced nuclear research reactor in the US that was shut down two years ago. Its primary capability is the production of fast neutrons -- is a key to nuclear development and the best hope this country has to solve its energy problem. It also had the capability to re-process nuclear waste.
4th I would ask Congress to provide incentive money to every homeowner who used solar, wind or anything else to cut their energy consumption by 75%.
5th I would impose a $1,000 fine on real estate brokers and sales people for EACH deal they made over the past ten years that the buyer clearly was not qualified to handle financially. As a former realtor I know better than most that the real estate profession has gotten away with murder in this mortgage crisis.
6th I would ask the private sector to set up a company to explore geothermal energy. They could begin by studying Iceland's research and develop from there.
7th I would insist the media report BOTH sides of the global warming debate rather than just the politically correct side. We can't afford to waste money, time and --yes--energy cutting back on emissions that won't make any difference. If we need to learn how to control sunspots and volcanos then it's high time we faced scientific fact and got on with it.
That's a beginning.
The most important thing is to do something NOW while doing the things that will make a difference in the future. Rationing gasoline and conserving what we're using would be a crucial step toward bringing down oil prices right away.
2nd I would initiate a Federal 60-mile-per-hour speed limit. (Since I restricted my own driving to 55 MPH during my 20 mile commute to work a month ago I've seen a significant saving on my gas bill. It works.)
3rd I would begin the process to re-open the FFTF advanced nuclear research reactor in the US that was shut down two years ago. Its primary capability is the production of fast neutrons -- is a key to nuclear development and the best hope this country has to solve its energy problem. It also had the capability to re-process nuclear waste.
4th I would ask Congress to provide incentive money to every homeowner who used solar, wind or anything else to cut their energy consumption by 75%.
5th I would impose a $1,000 fine on real estate brokers and sales people for EACH deal they made over the past ten years that the buyer clearly was not qualified to handle financially. As a former realtor I know better than most that the real estate profession has gotten away with murder in this mortgage crisis.
6th I would ask the private sector to set up a company to explore geothermal energy. They could begin by studying Iceland's research and develop from there.
7th I would insist the media report BOTH sides of the global warming debate rather than just the politically correct side. We can't afford to waste money, time and --yes--energy cutting back on emissions that won't make any difference. If we need to learn how to control sunspots and volcanos then it's high time we faced scientific fact and got on with it.
That's a beginning.
The most important thing is to do something NOW while doing the things that will make a difference in the future. Rationing gasoline and conserving what we're using would be a crucial step toward bringing down oil prices right away.
OBAMA DOESN'T FLIP-FLOP
Okay. That does it.
There's no way I'll ever support Obama now.
Frankly, I can't imagine how anyone who takes the time to listen to him and who cares about what happens to the future of America could.
The man is just dishonest. And his only interest is (and looks like has been for many years) simply to get his hands on the power of the Presidency.
He originally promised that he would take only public funding for his campaign until it turned out that would cost him money. So he reneged on his promise.
When he was campaigning in the primary he dissed NAFTA -- but when Canadians got upset one of his campaign spokespersons said that was just campaign talk.
He has supported gun control for his entire (if short) career and now he supports the right to bear arms.
He threatened to filibuster a bill to protect telephone companies from liability for their cooperation with national security wiretaps at one time, now he has voted for that very legislation.
He once told the Israelis that he was for an undivided Jerusalem. Now he has changed his mind.
He calls the Bush Administration incompetent, yet now he promotes using faith-based institutions to deliver services to the poor.
His stand on Iraq is on quicksand. First he says he'll get troops out on a 16-month timetable no matter what. Then he says he'll go to Iraq and talk see what the situation is and talk to the commanders before he makes any such decision. Then he turns around again and says, in effect, to heck with the commanders, he'll get them out in 16 months. (All he wants is to get elected. To hell with the security of our country, troops and the Middle East -- he just wants to get elected NO MATTER WHAT.)
His campaign is beginning to have a touch of hysteria about it -- his "calm" is more and more studied.
He has the backbone of an amoeba -- he promised to support merit pay for teachers until he had to face the union. Then he did an about face.
First he disagreed with Sen. Clinton’s proposal to impose Social Security taxes on income over $200,000 and wanted to tax all income, he has now adopted the Clinton position. (Either way, taxes go up for us all.)
Obama's lack of concern about rising energy prices and his lack of interest in trying to do anything about it because we won't see immediate results is just downright dumb -- and potentially lethal. He is afraid he'll lose the votes of environmentalists if he advocates using our own oil reserves. If he has done his homework (which I'm sure he hasn't -- he's in too much of a hurry), he knows we need to begin now to secure the future.
He's charming. He looks and sounds smart and empathetic. But charisma doesn't guarantee competence.
I wouldn't have any trouble at all with his changing positions on issues when he learns new facts. For example, if he had shown any interest in learning what is really happening (and has been happening the past two years when he was in the Senate) in Iraq, changing his views would have some credence with me. But he hasn't learned anything new -- he is changing with the wind in a frantic attempt to get elected.
There is nothing in his past that demonstrates a willingness to sacrifice for his country. He has done nothing to demonstrate that he is a man of honor and integrity. He asks college students not to pursue money when they graduate but to serve selflessly when he has not done that himself. (At least John Kennedy had served in the Navy when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
Obama has served only his own ambition -- even when he did "community service" there was nothing selfless in the way he did it or in the result he enjoyed from it.
Obama is a sham. He doesn't flip-flop. He flounders.
There's no way I'll ever support Obama now.
Frankly, I can't imagine how anyone who takes the time to listen to him and who cares about what happens to the future of America could.
The man is just dishonest. And his only interest is (and looks like has been for many years) simply to get his hands on the power of the Presidency.
He originally promised that he would take only public funding for his campaign until it turned out that would cost him money. So he reneged on his promise.
When he was campaigning in the primary he dissed NAFTA -- but when Canadians got upset one of his campaign spokespersons said that was just campaign talk.
He has supported gun control for his entire (if short) career and now he supports the right to bear arms.
He threatened to filibuster a bill to protect telephone companies from liability for their cooperation with national security wiretaps at one time, now he has voted for that very legislation.
He once told the Israelis that he was for an undivided Jerusalem. Now he has changed his mind.
He calls the Bush Administration incompetent, yet now he promotes using faith-based institutions to deliver services to the poor.
His stand on Iraq is on quicksand. First he says he'll get troops out on a 16-month timetable no matter what. Then he says he'll go to Iraq and talk see what the situation is and talk to the commanders before he makes any such decision. Then he turns around again and says, in effect, to heck with the commanders, he'll get them out in 16 months. (All he wants is to get elected. To hell with the security of our country, troops and the Middle East -- he just wants to get elected NO MATTER WHAT.)
His campaign is beginning to have a touch of hysteria about it -- his "calm" is more and more studied.
He has the backbone of an amoeba -- he promised to support merit pay for teachers until he had to face the union. Then he did an about face.
First he disagreed with Sen. Clinton’s proposal to impose Social Security taxes on income over $200,000 and wanted to tax all income, he has now adopted the Clinton position. (Either way, taxes go up for us all.)
Obama's lack of concern about rising energy prices and his lack of interest in trying to do anything about it because we won't see immediate results is just downright dumb -- and potentially lethal. He is afraid he'll lose the votes of environmentalists if he advocates using our own oil reserves. If he has done his homework (which I'm sure he hasn't -- he's in too much of a hurry), he knows we need to begin now to secure the future.
He's charming. He looks and sounds smart and empathetic. But charisma doesn't guarantee competence.
I wouldn't have any trouble at all with his changing positions on issues when he learns new facts. For example, if he had shown any interest in learning what is really happening (and has been happening the past two years when he was in the Senate) in Iraq, changing his views would have some credence with me. But he hasn't learned anything new -- he is changing with the wind in a frantic attempt to get elected.
There is nothing in his past that demonstrates a willingness to sacrifice for his country. He has done nothing to demonstrate that he is a man of honor and integrity. He asks college students not to pursue money when they graduate but to serve selflessly when he has not done that himself. (At least John Kennedy had served in the Navy when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
Obama has served only his own ambition -- even when he did "community service" there was nothing selfless in the way he did it or in the result he enjoyed from it.
Obama is a sham. He doesn't flip-flop. He flounders.
Tuesday, July 15
OBAMA SHAMELESSLY HANGS THE TRUTH
Obama says, “Here is the truth: fighting a war without end will not force the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future. And fighting in a war without end will not make the American people safer.
So when I am Commander-in-Chief, I will set a new goal on day one: I will end this war.”
Let’s look at what he’s saying here: “I will set a new goal…” And just what does he think the goal of our troops has been all along? They’ve been fighting to end this war. The planning all along has been to end it . . .that’s where they believed we were when President Bush stood in front of that banner. That’s NOT a new goal. It has been one of the goals since the beginning.
He is right about fighting endless wars but no one has ever planned for this to be an unending war. It may be a long one because Iraq and Afghanistan are just a small part of the problem. But it is irresponsible and self-serving (because he has to twist the facts to get elected) to claim that he is the only one who wants to end this war.
He implies in that statement, however, that a purpose of the war is to “force the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future.” That never has been a purpose. They don’t have to be forced. They need to be helped. Our troops have been clearing out the insurgents and terrorists, cleaning up their homes, and helping them to set up businesses. They don’t have to force them to take responsibility for their lives and their country (their voting numbers are higher per capita than ours!)
Obama sounds ignorant but he’s simply twisting the facts to make them come out the way he wants.
Truth be hanged, eh, Obama?
Shame on you. You are just like every other politician to come down the pike – except many if not most of those have found some way to serve their country before being elected to office.
So when I am Commander-in-Chief, I will set a new goal on day one: I will end this war.”
Let’s look at what he’s saying here: “I will set a new goal…” And just what does he think the goal of our troops has been all along? They’ve been fighting to end this war. The planning all along has been to end it . . .that’s where they believed we were when President Bush stood in front of that banner. That’s NOT a new goal. It has been one of the goals since the beginning.
He is right about fighting endless wars but no one has ever planned for this to be an unending war. It may be a long one because Iraq and Afghanistan are just a small part of the problem. But it is irresponsible and self-serving (because he has to twist the facts to get elected) to claim that he is the only one who wants to end this war.
He implies in that statement, however, that a purpose of the war is to “force the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future.” That never has been a purpose. They don’t have to be forced. They need to be helped. Our troops have been clearing out the insurgents and terrorists, cleaning up their homes, and helping them to set up businesses. They don’t have to force them to take responsibility for their lives and their country (their voting numbers are higher per capita than ours!)
Obama sounds ignorant but he’s simply twisting the facts to make them come out the way he wants.
Truth be hanged, eh, Obama?
Shame on you. You are just like every other politician to come down the pike – except many if not most of those have found some way to serve their country before being elected to office.
Tuesday, July 8
The McCain Boys
John McCain's Sons
"Talk about putting your most valuable where your mouth is!
Apparently this was not 'newsworthy'enough for the media to comment
about. Can either of the other presidential candidates truthfully come
close to this? ... Just a question for each of us to seek an answer,
and not a statement.
"You see...character is what's shown when the public is not looking.
There were no cameras or press invited to what you are about to read
about, and the story comes from one person in New Hampshire
"One evening last July, Senator John McCain of Arizona arrived at the
New Hampshire home of Erin Flanagan for sandwiches, chocolate-chip
cookies and a heartfelt talk about Iraq . They had met at a
presidential debate, when she asked the candidates what they would do
to bring home American soldiers - - soldiers like her brother, who had
been killed in action a few months earlier.
"Mr. McCain did not bring cameras or press. Instead, he brought his
youngest son, James McCain, 19, then a private first class in the
Marine Corps about to leave for Iraq . Father and son sat down to hear
more about Ms. Flanagan's brother Michael Cleary, a 24-year-old Army
First Lieutenant killed by an ambush ... a roadside bomb.
"No one mentioned the obvious:
In just days, Jimmy McCain could face similar perils.. 'I can't
imagine what it must have been like for them as they were coming to
meet with a family that .....' Ms.
Flanagan recalled, choking up. 'We lost a dear one,' she finished.
"Sen.. McCain, now the presumptive Republican nominee, has staked his
candidacy on the promise that American troops can bring stability to
Iraq . What he almost never says is that one of them is his own son,
who spent seven months patrolling Anbar Province and learned of his
father's New Hampshire victory in January while he was digging a stuck
military vehicle out of the mud.
"Two of Jimmy's three older brothers went into the military. Doug
McCain, 48, was a Navy pilot. Jack McCain, 21, is to graduate from the
Naval Academy next year, raising the chances that his father, if
elected, could become the first president since Dwight D. Eisenhower
with a son at war."
"Talk about putting your most valuable where your mouth is!
Apparently this was not 'newsworthy'enough for the media to comment
about. Can either of the other presidential candidates truthfully come
close to this? ... Just a question for each of us to seek an answer,
and not a statement.
"You see...character is what's shown when the public is not looking.
There were no cameras or press invited to what you are about to read
about, and the story comes from one person in New Hampshire
"One evening last July, Senator John McCain of Arizona arrived at the
New Hampshire home of Erin Flanagan for sandwiches, chocolate-chip
cookies and a heartfelt talk about Iraq . They had met at a
presidential debate, when she asked the candidates what they would do
to bring home American soldiers - - soldiers like her brother, who had
been killed in action a few months earlier.
"Mr. McCain did not bring cameras or press. Instead, he brought his
youngest son, James McCain, 19, then a private first class in the
Marine Corps about to leave for Iraq . Father and son sat down to hear
more about Ms. Flanagan's brother Michael Cleary, a 24-year-old Army
First Lieutenant killed by an ambush ... a roadside bomb.
"No one mentioned the obvious:
In just days, Jimmy McCain could face similar perils.. 'I can't
imagine what it must have been like for them as they were coming to
meet with a family that .....' Ms.
Flanagan recalled, choking up. 'We lost a dear one,' she finished.
"Sen.. McCain, now the presumptive Republican nominee, has staked his
candidacy on the promise that American troops can bring stability to
Iraq . What he almost never says is that one of them is his own son,
who spent seven months patrolling Anbar Province and learned of his
father's New Hampshire victory in January while he was digging a stuck
military vehicle out of the mud.
"Two of Jimmy's three older brothers went into the military. Doug
McCain, 48, was a Navy pilot. Jack McCain, 21, is to graduate from the
Naval Academy next year, raising the chances that his father, if
elected, could become the first president since Dwight D. Eisenhower
with a son at war."
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