I guess lynching is OK when the victim is a middle-class, white, evangelical woman running for VP. See the news item here.
[picture from Drudge]
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
A Prediction!
I want to go on record as predicting something. The media have not broken any serious scandal about John McCain / Sarah Palin recently. Yes, they have been beating on Sarah Palin mercilessly, but we've heard nothing about the "Keating Five," or McCain's first marriage, etc. Does that sound strange to anyone?
Here's what I think: the media are saving any serious scandal-type stories until just before the election. If McCain starts getting some momentum - and polls are beginning to indicate that he is indeed getting some traction, perhaps the beginnings of a comeback - watch out! The weekend before the election the media will launch an all-out assault on McCain/Palin. The media are so heavily invested in an Obama presidency that they will never, NEVER allow McCain/Palin to have a chance.
If they wait until the weekend before the election, there won't be enough time for a news cycle to sort out what is true and what is smear. The goal will be to influence the undecideds against McCain and to stop any momentum.
I remember something like this happening with George Bush, 41, against Bill Clinton. Just as Bush started getting some momentum, Dan Rather and Ted Kopple came out with the story that George Bush had secretly met with the Iranians to delay the release of the American hostages until Reagan was in office. This story seemed to destroy any come-back, and put the Bush campaign on the defensive.
I'm no prophet, but ... watch for this in 2008.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Told Ya!
The "Criminalization of Christianity" - read about it here. It is not far in the future, folks, that Christians will be imprisoned in this country because of theological convictions. This is how things started in Nazi-Germany: very slowly, using ridicule, then laws for "good things," then gradually increasing limitations.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Can Fascism Be Far Behind?
I've been listening on cd to Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism, a fascinating book that roots modern American liberalism/progressivism not in Jeffersonian classical liberalism but in Italian fascism, German Nazism, and Marxism/Leninism, progressive movements all. In each of these movements, suppression of dissent was paramount, even under the (very progressive) Wilson administration! Compare this tendency of progressive movements to some reports on the Drudge Report today: here, here, and here.
This is a disconcerting trend. I've thought for years that here in America my grandchildren would have to face persecution for Christian/conservative/traditional beliefs; now, I'm wondering if my CHILDREN will face this. In some ways, maybe I will face this persecution. Once these hounds of intolerance have been released, who will reign them in?
As Michael Barone predicts, we may be seeing the beginning of a liberal "thugocracy."
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Obama's Associations: Dangerous?
Charles Krauthammer's new column makes many of the same points I made in my previous post about Obama's character and associations. Read it here. Why do the MSM never ask these difficult questions?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Why I Cannot Vote for Barak H. Obama
WARNING: Long post!
I want to explain my reasoning behind why I think Barak Hussein Obama (henceforth, BHO) would not be good for this country. Of course, I speak as an individual, not as a representative of my church or the educational institution where I work. I have tried to watch and read as much as I can, and now that the election is nearing, I want to state some of my conclusions.
Let’s start with the positive. Cleary BHO is an energetic, good-looking, younger man with wide personal appeal. He is often articulate. He can be an inspiring speaker (when using a teleprompter). He is clearly a popular figure. He’s the first serious African-American candidate in American history, and I am genuinely excited about that. At first, he seemed to be a different kind of Af-Am candidate. He is appealing to the optimism and hope of young people. These are good things. I hold no personal animus toward BHO; in fact, between the two candidates, I’m much more irked by John McCain than BHO!
Speaking of John McCain, I need to say one more thing before I begin in earnest. One should not construe my strong criticism for BHO as strong support for a McCain presidency. I am very disappointed with the field of candidates the GOP put forward for this election. There were few strong leaders in the mix; I suspect most GOP heavyweights considered the election lost anyway, whether the candidate was Hillary or Obama, “So why,” they thought, “get a giant loss on my record? I’ll wait.” McCain, of course, does not have much time to wait. In any case, let me be clear: I’m not a huge McCain fan.
Back to BHO: there are several categories of reasons why I cannot support him.
Political Issues
The first is perhaps obvious: he’s a Democrat. Don’t laugh. I don’t associate with the Republican Party because I flipped a coin. I have reasons for voting the way I do, and when I look at issues, I usually side with the Republicans. Being a Democrat almost always sets a person at odds with what I believe. Look at what the Democratic Party stands for. I disagree with most of it. Why would I want to vote for a Democrat, no matter how popular, good looking or well-spoken s/he is? In general, I think Democrats are bad for the country, so why should I change my mind because of this particular candidate?
Dislike of America
Recently, in response to a question from a 7-year old girl, BHO said he’s running for president because American is not what it used to be, not what it once was. He has criticized his country in Germany. He often compares the United States negatively to other countries, even dictatorships! His association with Ayers and Dohrn (more on this below) again shows an alignment with people who hate this nation. Comments from BHO’s wife Michelle are also very disheartening. Is my country really all that bad? Are Americans bad people? BHO seems to think so. Despite his “hopeful” rhetoric, BHO spends much more time denigrating the United States than speaking positively of our accomplishments. I like my country; I don’t want as my president someone who doesn’t like it.
Foreign Support
BHO enjoys considerable support from abroad. Why should this matter? We are not electing a “king of the world.” Should we really think that non-Americans (e.g., Europeans, Asians, Africans) have the best interests of the United States in mind? Are they thinking of our security or of our economic prosperity? It might be one small factor to consider – the president is the face of the nation abroad – but that is a minor factor. In fact, when I consider what most non-Americans want from the US, I would be more likely to choose the candidate less popular overseas. Is an endorsement from Hamas really a good thing? Should we care what the French or the Germans think about our candidates? Are the endorsements of socialists and communist party leaders a good thing?
Lack of Experience
BHO has never run a business or been the executive officer of anything. A “community organizer” in the suburbs of Chicago is not significant experience for being the President of the United States. BHO said at the Saddleback Church Forum that he would not have nominated Justice Clarence Thomas for SCOTUS, based on his lack of experience. However, Justice Thomas had far, FAR, more experience than BHO has. As Hugh Hewitt said, “No corporation would make Obama CEO, and few states would elect him governor on his resume.” Some have criticized the McCain/Palin ticket for inexperience at the VP spot. Truth be told, Sarah Palin has more executive experience than BHO, and she’s running for VP, not President.
Not A Unifier
Despite all the rhetoric about being a unifier, BHO has never demonstrated bi-partisanship. Could a BHO supporter name ANY example of when he departed significantly from the stand of his own party? Has he sponsored ANY legislation that garnered broad bi-partisan appeal? McCain has demonstrated much more ability to cross the aisle and come together with members of the other party in order to achieve what he thinks is a greater good. BHO has never done this: never.
Judgment Issues
It bothers me that some BHO’s inner circle consists of people I would probably not even welcome into my home.
It began with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. I understand that BHO does not subscribe to everything his pastor believes; I could say the same with reference to my pastor. However, my pastor has never uttered the kind of vitriol and anti-Americanism that I’ve heard from Wright. Nor would he use the kind of language Wright uses. The church BHO attends is not about building bridges. BHO knew the kind of church he was attending, and he continued to do so for 20 years. This demonstrates to me BHO’s inability to assess accurately the effects of his associations; BHO lacks judgment.
[As an aside, I think the whole Jeremiah Wright affair has set race relations in this country back about 30 years. What became clear is that many African Americans, as exemplified by the thousands who attend Wright’s church, are comfortable with a Wright-style of rhetoric, complete with racially charged language and sexual innuendo. As a result, many white people, who were comfortable with BHO as a candidate, believing the media-hyped persona that he was a different kind of Af-Am candidate (not a Jesse Jackson white-hater), became deeply disillusioned by the whole Wright affair. Perhaps BHO is not so different after all. In fact, maybe the supposed relational progress between blacks and whites in general is just a charade. The trust that many white people have developed with their black fellow-Americans was threatened, because now, it is clear that some African Americans can be cordial to their face, but on Sunday morning, can imbibe with approval such racially charged rhetoric. Far from being a unifier, BHO, quite unintentionally, has ended up being a divider.]
But the troubling associations do not end there. What about BHO’s associations with William Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn? This husband/wife team was part of the radical leftist organization called Weather Underground, a group which endorsed violence and declared war on the US government during the Vietnam era of the 1960’s. As far as I know, this couple has never expressed remorse about or renounced their previous commitments and actions. The connection between BHO and Ayers/Dohrn is still becoming clearer and clearer. At the very least, we know that Ayers contributed to BHO’s reelection campaign in Illinois; they live near one another in the Hyde Park area of Chicago and served on some committees together. As I am writing this, however, evidence is emerging that perhaps the relationship between these two is closer than BHO is willing to discuss publically. The charge is not that BHO believes or endorses everything Ayers/Dohrn do. The charge, from my perspective, is that BHO is content to associate with, in any sense, people who endorse such a radical, leftist agenda. Let’s reverse it: suppose John McCain had some loose associations with some former Nazis, or KKK members. Let’s say they gave him a little money for his presidential campaign and they served on a few boards together. Would it be a good defense simply to say something like, “Well, he doesn’t subscribe to those views”? I don’t want my president anywhere near such groups, on the right or the left. I think it is safe to say that at least BHO enjoys a political friendship with Ayers/Dohrn, and perhaps more. To me, this is big a problem: either BHO lacks the ability to make accurate character judgments, or he comfortably associates with radicals who hate America.
Finally, I draw attention to BHO’s associations with real estate developer Tony Rezko. This man was convicted of fraud and bribery in 2008. He is clearly a political operative in Chicago, and he has raised money for all sorts of politicians, including Republicans, even George Bush! My complaint is not that, because Rezko raised money for BHO and was subsequently convicted of fraud/bribery, therefore BHO is guilty of shady activities. Rather, my complaint is that BHO is comfortable in his dealings with men like Rezko. The Obamas and the Rezkos bought some adjoining real estate together and, from what I have been able to gather, clearly enjoyed a cozy political/financial relationship. Again, the issue is judgment.
Economic Policies
The American government spends too much money. Obama wants to spend more. He has gone on record stating that he intends to raise taxes. He claims to intend to raise taxes only on the “wealthiest” Americans, but we know from other politicians (and Obama is just another politician) that this kind of promise quickly melts away. Taxes destroy the earning power of individuals, ruin incentives to be successful, and slow the economy. Our economy is too fragile right now to jeopardize it with increased taxes. He also wants to raise the estate tax, which means the government can take more from people’s estate when they die, which means their descendents get less and less of the estate. Under an Obama presidency, taxes will increase, at a variety of levels, and spending will balloon out of control. This is what led to the horrible economic conditions of the Carter years. We can’t afford Obama; he’s simply too expensive.
Foreign Policy Issues
BHO exhibits laughable naiveté, or worse, in his policy on Iraq. His ad with the mantra “We can stop a war,” complete with glazed-eyed young people, is insulting. There are huge international issues at stake here, and yes, oil is one of them, but it is not the only one. American presence in the Middle East is almost a necessity. He has only begrudgingly admitted that the surge has brought about significant security improvement. He has refused to admit that the Maliki government has reached about 12 of the 18 political benchmarks that his party demanded. He has continued to cater to the radical fringe of his party. McCain’s statement that “Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign” rings true for me. BHO does not support a strong American; rather, he wants a weak, apologetic America. I agree that our nation has made errors and mistakes in our dealings with other nations, but it is not a sign of strength and confidence to duck and run, to apologize everywhere, and to act guilty. Our country does far more good than evil.
Moral Issues
Abortion: BHO has an extremely anti-life voting record from both his time as a state senator and his brief time in the US Senate. I realize that many people accuse “pro-lifers” (or “anti-abortionists”) of single-issue voting, but the fact remains that the consistent destruction of our future is a human rights issue, and BHO fails to demonstrate any ability to rethink the radical policies of his party. Forget abortion on demand; forget partial-birth abortion; BHO has even voted to support the intentional killing of humans who have survived attempted abortions, which is essentially a form of infanticide. I cannot, in good conscience, vote for a candidate who defends these practices. The Democratic Party platform of making abortion “safe, legal, and rare” is a lie (this year they have even taken out the word “rare”). The only part they actually support is the middle one. Democrats have opposed every attempt to regulate the safety and health standards of the abortion industry as well as any attempt to limit its destructive effects, even parental notification laws. BHO shows no sign whatsoever of being a new kind of candidate on this issue.
He has pledged to sign the “Freedom of Choice Act” as one of his first acts as president. This would wipe away all state restrictions on abortion funding. He will force all taxpayers to pay for abortions. He advocates no restrictions on late-term abortions or any kind of abortions.
Homosexuality: This is a complex moral issue currently facing our body politic, but, true to the radical policies of the Democratic Party, BHO supports the complete legalization of gay marriage, equating lesbian and gay relationships with heterosexual marriage. There is room, in my opinion, for talking about various proposals for recognizing the legality of domestic partnerships, and the like, but to redefine – legally – an institution as fundamental as marriage is not something to be done lightly. I’ve not even begun to talk about the Biblical aspects here. Whenever a culture seeks to endorse and approve, let alone recognize and permit, something that Scripture clearly proscribes, that culture, at one point or another, sooner or later, will reap negative effects. I oppose the legalization of gay marriage; BHO supports it; ergo, I oppose the candidacy of BHO.
Conclusion
BHO’s candidacy is certainly historic. I think Americans should be happy that an Af-Am candidate has been put forward by a major party as its nominee. But I don’t think we should vote on the basis of race, or gender; we should vote policy. No matter how much we may like BHO, his policies are not good for this country.
Many of my readers are probably thinking of John McCain’s many faults as they read my words here. I am not saying John McCain is the ideal candidate. I have several problems with him, and I would probably not have chosen him to be the candidate for the GOP. But, despite his negatives, and despite the mistakes I think John McCain will make, I still believe he will make a far, far better president than the junior senator from Illinois.
I want to explain my reasoning behind why I think Barak Hussein Obama (henceforth, BHO) would not be good for this country. Of course, I speak as an individual, not as a representative of my church or the educational institution where I work. I have tried to watch and read as much as I can, and now that the election is nearing, I want to state some of my conclusions.
Let’s start with the positive. Cleary BHO is an energetic, good-looking, younger man with wide personal appeal. He is often articulate. He can be an inspiring speaker (when using a teleprompter). He is clearly a popular figure. He’s the first serious African-American candidate in American history, and I am genuinely excited about that. At first, he seemed to be a different kind of Af-Am candidate. He is appealing to the optimism and hope of young people. These are good things. I hold no personal animus toward BHO; in fact, between the two candidates, I’m much more irked by John McCain than BHO!
Speaking of John McCain, I need to say one more thing before I begin in earnest. One should not construe my strong criticism for BHO as strong support for a McCain presidency. I am very disappointed with the field of candidates the GOP put forward for this election. There were few strong leaders in the mix; I suspect most GOP heavyweights considered the election lost anyway, whether the candidate was Hillary or Obama, “So why,” they thought, “get a giant loss on my record? I’ll wait.” McCain, of course, does not have much time to wait. In any case, let me be clear: I’m not a huge McCain fan.
Back to BHO: there are several categories of reasons why I cannot support him.
Political Issues
The first is perhaps obvious: he’s a Democrat. Don’t laugh. I don’t associate with the Republican Party because I flipped a coin. I have reasons for voting the way I do, and when I look at issues, I usually side with the Republicans. Being a Democrat almost always sets a person at odds with what I believe. Look at what the Democratic Party stands for. I disagree with most of it. Why would I want to vote for a Democrat, no matter how popular, good looking or well-spoken s/he is? In general, I think Democrats are bad for the country, so why should I change my mind because of this particular candidate?
Dislike of America
Recently, in response to a question from a 7-year old girl, BHO said he’s running for president because American is not what it used to be, not what it once was. He has criticized his country in Germany. He often compares the United States negatively to other countries, even dictatorships! His association with Ayers and Dohrn (more on this below) again shows an alignment with people who hate this nation. Comments from BHO’s wife Michelle are also very disheartening. Is my country really all that bad? Are Americans bad people? BHO seems to think so. Despite his “hopeful” rhetoric, BHO spends much more time denigrating the United States than speaking positively of our accomplishments. I like my country; I don’t want as my president someone who doesn’t like it.
Foreign Support
BHO enjoys considerable support from abroad. Why should this matter? We are not electing a “king of the world.” Should we really think that non-Americans (e.g., Europeans, Asians, Africans) have the best interests of the United States in mind? Are they thinking of our security or of our economic prosperity? It might be one small factor to consider – the president is the face of the nation abroad – but that is a minor factor. In fact, when I consider what most non-Americans want from the US, I would be more likely to choose the candidate less popular overseas. Is an endorsement from Hamas really a good thing? Should we care what the French or the Germans think about our candidates? Are the endorsements of socialists and communist party leaders a good thing?
Lack of Experience
BHO has never run a business or been the executive officer of anything. A “community organizer” in the suburbs of Chicago is not significant experience for being the President of the United States. BHO said at the Saddleback Church Forum that he would not have nominated Justice Clarence Thomas for SCOTUS, based on his lack of experience. However, Justice Thomas had far, FAR, more experience than BHO has. As Hugh Hewitt said, “No corporation would make Obama CEO, and few states would elect him governor on his resume.” Some have criticized the McCain/Palin ticket for inexperience at the VP spot. Truth be told, Sarah Palin has more executive experience than BHO, and she’s running for VP, not President.
Not A Unifier
Despite all the rhetoric about being a unifier, BHO has never demonstrated bi-partisanship. Could a BHO supporter name ANY example of when he departed significantly from the stand of his own party? Has he sponsored ANY legislation that garnered broad bi-partisan appeal? McCain has demonstrated much more ability to cross the aisle and come together with members of the other party in order to achieve what he thinks is a greater good. BHO has never done this: never.
Judgment Issues
It bothers me that some BHO’s inner circle consists of people I would probably not even welcome into my home.
It began with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. I understand that BHO does not subscribe to everything his pastor believes; I could say the same with reference to my pastor. However, my pastor has never uttered the kind of vitriol and anti-Americanism that I’ve heard from Wright. Nor would he use the kind of language Wright uses. The church BHO attends is not about building bridges. BHO knew the kind of church he was attending, and he continued to do so for 20 years. This demonstrates to me BHO’s inability to assess accurately the effects of his associations; BHO lacks judgment.
[As an aside, I think the whole Jeremiah Wright affair has set race relations in this country back about 30 years. What became clear is that many African Americans, as exemplified by the thousands who attend Wright’s church, are comfortable with a Wright-style of rhetoric, complete with racially charged language and sexual innuendo. As a result, many white people, who were comfortable with BHO as a candidate, believing the media-hyped persona that he was a different kind of Af-Am candidate (not a Jesse Jackson white-hater), became deeply disillusioned by the whole Wright affair. Perhaps BHO is not so different after all. In fact, maybe the supposed relational progress between blacks and whites in general is just a charade. The trust that many white people have developed with their black fellow-Americans was threatened, because now, it is clear that some African Americans can be cordial to their face, but on Sunday morning, can imbibe with approval such racially charged rhetoric. Far from being a unifier, BHO, quite unintentionally, has ended up being a divider.]
But the troubling associations do not end there. What about BHO’s associations with William Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn? This husband/wife team was part of the radical leftist organization called Weather Underground, a group which endorsed violence and declared war on the US government during the Vietnam era of the 1960’s. As far as I know, this couple has never expressed remorse about or renounced their previous commitments and actions. The connection between BHO and Ayers/Dohrn is still becoming clearer and clearer. At the very least, we know that Ayers contributed to BHO’s reelection campaign in Illinois; they live near one another in the Hyde Park area of Chicago and served on some committees together. As I am writing this, however, evidence is emerging that perhaps the relationship between these two is closer than BHO is willing to discuss publically. The charge is not that BHO believes or endorses everything Ayers/Dohrn do. The charge, from my perspective, is that BHO is content to associate with, in any sense, people who endorse such a radical, leftist agenda. Let’s reverse it: suppose John McCain had some loose associations with some former Nazis, or KKK members. Let’s say they gave him a little money for his presidential campaign and they served on a few boards together. Would it be a good defense simply to say something like, “Well, he doesn’t subscribe to those views”? I don’t want my president anywhere near such groups, on the right or the left. I think it is safe to say that at least BHO enjoys a political friendship with Ayers/Dohrn, and perhaps more. To me, this is big a problem: either BHO lacks the ability to make accurate character judgments, or he comfortably associates with radicals who hate America.
Finally, I draw attention to BHO’s associations with real estate developer Tony Rezko. This man was convicted of fraud and bribery in 2008. He is clearly a political operative in Chicago, and he has raised money for all sorts of politicians, including Republicans, even George Bush! My complaint is not that, because Rezko raised money for BHO and was subsequently convicted of fraud/bribery, therefore BHO is guilty of shady activities. Rather, my complaint is that BHO is comfortable in his dealings with men like Rezko. The Obamas and the Rezkos bought some adjoining real estate together and, from what I have been able to gather, clearly enjoyed a cozy political/financial relationship. Again, the issue is judgment.
Economic Policies
The American government spends too much money. Obama wants to spend more. He has gone on record stating that he intends to raise taxes. He claims to intend to raise taxes only on the “wealthiest” Americans, but we know from other politicians (and Obama is just another politician) that this kind of promise quickly melts away. Taxes destroy the earning power of individuals, ruin incentives to be successful, and slow the economy. Our economy is too fragile right now to jeopardize it with increased taxes. He also wants to raise the estate tax, which means the government can take more from people’s estate when they die, which means their descendents get less and less of the estate. Under an Obama presidency, taxes will increase, at a variety of levels, and spending will balloon out of control. This is what led to the horrible economic conditions of the Carter years. We can’t afford Obama; he’s simply too expensive.
Foreign Policy Issues
BHO exhibits laughable naiveté, or worse, in his policy on Iraq. His ad with the mantra “We can stop a war,” complete with glazed-eyed young people, is insulting. There are huge international issues at stake here, and yes, oil is one of them, but it is not the only one. American presence in the Middle East is almost a necessity. He has only begrudgingly admitted that the surge has brought about significant security improvement. He has refused to admit that the Maliki government has reached about 12 of the 18 political benchmarks that his party demanded. He has continued to cater to the radical fringe of his party. McCain’s statement that “Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign” rings true for me. BHO does not support a strong American; rather, he wants a weak, apologetic America. I agree that our nation has made errors and mistakes in our dealings with other nations, but it is not a sign of strength and confidence to duck and run, to apologize everywhere, and to act guilty. Our country does far more good than evil.
Moral Issues
Abortion: BHO has an extremely anti-life voting record from both his time as a state senator and his brief time in the US Senate. I realize that many people accuse “pro-lifers” (or “anti-abortionists”) of single-issue voting, but the fact remains that the consistent destruction of our future is a human rights issue, and BHO fails to demonstrate any ability to rethink the radical policies of his party. Forget abortion on demand; forget partial-birth abortion; BHO has even voted to support the intentional killing of humans who have survived attempted abortions, which is essentially a form of infanticide. I cannot, in good conscience, vote for a candidate who defends these practices. The Democratic Party platform of making abortion “safe, legal, and rare” is a lie (this year they have even taken out the word “rare”). The only part they actually support is the middle one. Democrats have opposed every attempt to regulate the safety and health standards of the abortion industry as well as any attempt to limit its destructive effects, even parental notification laws. BHO shows no sign whatsoever of being a new kind of candidate on this issue.
He has pledged to sign the “Freedom of Choice Act” as one of his first acts as president. This would wipe away all state restrictions on abortion funding. He will force all taxpayers to pay for abortions. He advocates no restrictions on late-term abortions or any kind of abortions.
Homosexuality: This is a complex moral issue currently facing our body politic, but, true to the radical policies of the Democratic Party, BHO supports the complete legalization of gay marriage, equating lesbian and gay relationships with heterosexual marriage. There is room, in my opinion, for talking about various proposals for recognizing the legality of domestic partnerships, and the like, but to redefine – legally – an institution as fundamental as marriage is not something to be done lightly. I’ve not even begun to talk about the Biblical aspects here. Whenever a culture seeks to endorse and approve, let alone recognize and permit, something that Scripture clearly proscribes, that culture, at one point or another, sooner or later, will reap negative effects. I oppose the legalization of gay marriage; BHO supports it; ergo, I oppose the candidacy of BHO.
Conclusion
BHO’s candidacy is certainly historic. I think Americans should be happy that an Af-Am candidate has been put forward by a major party as its nominee. But I don’t think we should vote on the basis of race, or gender; we should vote policy. No matter how much we may like BHO, his policies are not good for this country.
Many of my readers are probably thinking of John McCain’s many faults as they read my words here. I am not saying John McCain is the ideal candidate. I have several problems with him, and I would probably not have chosen him to be the candidate for the GOP. But, despite his negatives, and despite the mistakes I think John McCain will make, I still believe he will make a far, far better president than the junior senator from Illinois.
Friday, September 26, 2008
A Simple Question!
Obama and the Media
I couldn't agree more with this op-ed piece in the Washington Times. Our media have never been very objective, but this year, it seems ridiculous.
[image]
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Heavy Handed Redacting!
The edits out of the interview between Charlie Gibson and Governor Palin are laughable. ABC did its best to portray Governor Palin as a Bambi-like ignoramus. Look at what was edited out here at Mark Levin's website. Amazing. This much is clear: they don't know how to handle this woman, but it is clear what they want to do with her. [picture] Perhaps the McCain/Palin team should have agreed to the interview only if ABC played it in its entirety. The McCain/Palin team should have also demanded to have a copy of their own.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Pretty Sad When A "Truth Squad" is Necessary
McCain-Palin has had to assemble a "Truth Squad" to counter the dis-information of the Obama-Biden smear campaign. Read about it here, and see who the members are.
Free advice to Obama-Biden: "Don't go there!" I would not want to get on the wrong side of that list of women.
Free advice to Obama-Biden: "Don't go there!" I would not want to get on the wrong side of that list of women.
Palin News
Here's a realistic appraisal of Palin's background, written by a Brit who's lived in Alaska.
Here's a response to many of the rumors flying around about Palin, at Newsweek, of all places!
I was happy with the choice, but I'm surprised at two things:
1) how much the left hates her guts;
2) how effective she has been at re-energizing the Republican party.
I'm amazed. GO SARAH!
UPDATE: Ohio campaign sign:
America Respects John McCain;
America Loves Sarah Palin
Friday, August 29, 2008
Absolutely Brilliant! The Election is Over
Here is a list of some important blog posts about Governor Palin. Here's an article by Fred Barnes about Gov Palin's reform work in Alaska.
UPDATE:
Read this article. I laughed my head off!
Here's an excerpt:
It's as though Karl Rove sat down with pen and paper and sketched out the perfect conservative nominee....
A hunter with a lifetime membership in the NRA.
Regularly attends church.
Fought corruption even within her own party.
Knew her son would have Down Syndrome and still chose life.
Has a son who is headed to Iraq, but still supports the war.
Has more executive experience than Obama and Biden combined.
Sold the governor's state plane because it's a waste of tax dollars.
Her husband is a union laborer.
Wants to drill in ANWR.
Oh yeah, she's a woman!
A hunter with a lifetime membership in the NRA.
Regularly attends church.
Fought corruption even within her own party.
Knew her son would have Down Syndrome and still chose life.
Has a son who is headed to Iraq, but still supports the war.
Has more executive experience than Obama and Biden combined.
Sold the governor's state plane because it's a waste of tax dollars.
Her husband is a union laborer.
Wants to drill in ANWR.
Oh yeah, she's a woman!
For a collection of more discussion of the McCain/Palin ticket, follow Hugh Hewitt's links here.
UPDATE:
Here's the link to a story in the British TimesOnline. Pretty fair, though there were a few potshots. I really loved the comments. They are about 5-1 in favor of Palin. I think McCain succeeded in energizing not only his ticket, and the convention, but the whole Republican party!
More praise - it keeps pouring in. Here (Fred Barnes), here (Bill Kristol), and look at all the blog postings at BeldarBlog! And here's a often humorous comparison between Palin and Obama.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Still Trouble in Georgia
In my opinion, this is a flag we should all become familiar with. It is the Georgian flag. Recent reports are that the Russian army has pulled out significantly but not to pre-invasion marks. They also have not left the port of Poti, the main deep water, commercial port along Georgia's west coast.What is Russia gaining here? It seems Moscow is intent on flexing its muscle in its previous, Soviet-era, sphere of influence. With most of the West busy with other issues, like Iraq and Iran, and with most of Europe dependent on Russian oil, Moscow thinks the time is right for a re-assertion of influence. The West has no desire to go to war with Russia, so what have they got to lose?
This picture, of a Russian soldier on the road between Tbilisi and Gori, pretty well sums it up.
Very Interesting Article
I found an excellent article about Rick Warren in the Wall Street Journal (thanks to Justin Taylor at "Between Two Worlds"). The gist of the article is that the huge "lurch to the political left" that evangelicals are supposedly doing is a farce. The MSM have interpreted an interest among evangelicals in environmental issues, poverty, and disease as an embracing of a leftist agenda. This interpretation, though, only reveals the bias of the interpreters. Why assume that government is the only solution? Rick Warren makes clear that a person can both be passionate about such "liberal" issues AND be someone who strongly believes in limited government. Why is this so hard to understand?
Here's a key quote:
Over the years, [Warren] has repeated the idea that he became a pastor instead of a politician because he does not have a lot of confidence in the ability of government to get things done. In addition to social issues and foreign policy, this is where evangelicals often part ways with more secular types.
The media assume that when religious people express interest in the problems of poverty and disease, they must have taken a left turn politically. But one can be interested in solving such problems without believing that government is the solution. "Our government has spent trillions of dollars in Africa," says Mr. Warren, "and the standard of living is worse now than it was 50 years ago." He knows whereof he speaks, having launched a massive effort to help the country of Rwanda rebuild itself. "There is only one way to get people out of poverty and it's not charity. It's jobs."
The media assume that when religious people express interest in the problems of poverty and disease, they must have taken a left turn politically. But one can be interested in solving such problems without believing that government is the solution. "Our government has spent trillions of dollars in Africa," says Mr. Warren, "and the standard of living is worse now than it was 50 years ago." He knows whereof he speaks, having launched a massive effort to help the country of Rwanda rebuild itself. "There is only one way to get people out of poverty and it's not charity. It's jobs."
Friday, August 8, 2008
The Most Heroic Moments in British History
Here's the results from a TimesOnline survey:
Battle of Britain - 55%
Declaration of War on Nazi Germany in 1939 - 20.8%
Defeat of the Spanish Armada - 8.9%
Slave Trade Act - 5.9%
Napoleonic Wars - 5.4%
Oliver Cromwell - 3.3%
King Alfred's Danish Wars (huh?) - 2.8%
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Thursday, August 7, 2008
Charles Williams Quote
On my way to Sri Lanka, I read a book by one of the "inklings," Charles Williams, called The Place of the Lion. It didn't do much for me - I probably didn't understand most of it - but I did find an interesting quote, on the first page no less. I should've have stopped reading then.{image}
Mightn't it be a good thing if everyone had to draw a map of his own mind - say, once every five years? With the chief towns marked, and the arterial roads he was constructing from one idea to another, and all the lovely and abandoned by-lanes that he never went down, because the farms they led to were all empty?
Monday, July 28, 2008
Movie Reviews
It's movie month at my house! We signed up for Blockbuster's movie pass for one month. We can check out two movies at a time, as many times as we want, all for the low, low price of about $30. Here's a partial review...hopefully, more to come.
10,000 B.C.
Vantage Point
Rails and Ties
There Will Be Blood
Jumper
Yeah, not much to say here. Nice premise, but the movie did not deliver.
10,000 B.C.
I watched this movie with the family, and we all liked it. It was a good escape, including elements such as adventure, tension, romance, etc. I especially liked its ancient setting. I felt like I was watching an episode of "Age of Empires." In the West, we forget that for most of human existence, life has been very fragile and violent, might making right, ubiquitous evil and cruelty. Although that exists in much of the world, we generally don't fear a clan of mauraders sweeping down from, say, Canada, or up from Mexico, killing, burning, raping and pillaging anything in their way. In this movie, that is exactly what the characters face. I liked it.
Again, a hit. I love the intrigue of an assassination, international violence, conspiracy, plots, etc. We were all on the edge of our seats for most of the movie. I liked how the various perspectives of the movie were gradually assembled to create the full story. Well done.
Rails and TiesA nice, warm fuzzy, feel good movie starring Kevin Bacon and Marcia Gay Harden. A train engineer's wife has terminal cancer and after some tragic events, the engineer and his wife have to care for a little boy who starts to live with them. Again, I liked it, though it was a bit syrup-y at points. It showed how people deal with pain and death and tragedy. In one particular scene, a social worker has to choose between doing what is technically legal and what is morally right. She chooses the right (which I think is unusual for social workers). Sometimes rules have to be broken to achieve a greater good.
There Will Be BloodThis movie got a lot of hype from the industry and the media, probably because it demonizes capitalism, oil companies, and Christianity. Putting all that bias aside, I still did not care for the movie. Daniel Day-Lewis is good, but the story itself did not grip me. I was repulsed by the religious hypocrisy and I was disgusted at the callous heart of Daniel Plainview, the oilman. There were points I got bored. I couldn't keep my daughter interested either. It tries to be an epic, but I don't think it succeeds.
JumperYeah, not much to say here. Nice premise, but the movie did not deliver.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
The Death of Protestant America
Please read this essay: "The Death of Protestant America: A Political Theory of the Protestant Mainline." It is available at _First Things_: Here's the link. I especially hope you young people read it. The author, Joseph Bottum, offers a great survey of religion (Christianity) and its influence in American, and in doing so, describes an American that few of you young people have ever seen, let alone remember.
His conclusion is worth thinking about: the only voices left in America that can provide a "national conscience" are Catholicism and Evangelicalism, both of which, in his opinion, have too many problems. Please read the essay.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Obama's Narcissism Knows No Ends
Another devestaing critique of Barak Hussein Obama by the ever sharp Charles Krauthammer. When Obama wants to speak at the Brandenburg Gate, Krauthammer observes:
What Obama does not seem to understand is that the Brandenburg Gate is something you earn. President Ronal Reagan earned the right to speak there because his relentless pressure had brought the Soviet empire to its knees and he was demanding its final "tear down this wall" liquidation. When President John F. Kennedy visited the Brandenburg Gate on the day of his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech, he was representing a country that was prepared to go to the brink of nuclear war to defend West Berlin.
Who is Obama representing? And what exactly has he done in his lifetime to merit appropriating the Brandenburg Gate as a campaign prop? What was his role in the fight against communism, the liberation of Eastern Europe, the creation of what George Bush the elder -- who presided over the fall of the Berlin Wall but modestly declined to go there for a victory lap -- called "a Europe whole and free"?
Who is Obama representing? And what exactly has he done in his lifetime to merit appropriating the Brandenburg Gate as a campaign prop? What was his role in the fight against communism, the liberation of Eastern Europe, the creation of what George Bush the elder -- who presided over the fall of the Berlin Wall but modestly declined to go there for a victory lap -- called "a Europe whole and free"?
IMHO, self-absorption is a serious disqualification for the highest office in the land.
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