Been busy with my daytime job...

I've been busy with work, but alas I will be blogging again today or tomorrow. So much material to talk about. Not sure where to start... I'm considering the "Ground Zero" Mosque, but not from the most direct angle. Stay tuned...

When you can't win on ideas, you resort to ad hominem and other absurd attacks, Part 2

Previously, the St. Louis Daily Conservative wrote a piece about ad hominem attacks and other ridiculous lines of attack being employed in lieu of actual winning ideas. It was noted, that two of most common strategies employed since the 2008 election were blaming Bush for all negative news and blaming criticism of Obama on racism.

When you can't win on ideas... (Part 1)

As a follow-piece, I am exploring the upcoming midterm elections. If you've noticed, the Democrats party has realized that people are not buying their solutions so much anymore. Obama's approval is averaging 44.8% with a net -5.2% approval.

On a number of issues they are and the losing side of public opinion. The "stimulus" package which was sold as keeping employment below 8.0%, has failed miserably in that regard with employment keeping near 10% for the last number of months.

In this environment, the incumbent party and their candidates have little to build themselves up on and instead must try to must rely on trying to personally discredit their opponents by any means possible to minimize their losses.

Rand Paul was accused of kidnapping a female student while he was in college and forcing her to smoke pot against her will. We later find out the story was about a silly college prank which they never appeared to contact the "victim" about before running with the story:

Desperate Democrats

...GQ magazine reported that Rand Paul, the Republican Senate candidate in Kentucky, had “kidnapped” a female student while he was in college, the story was widely disseminated by the media. Later, the “victim” came forward to explain there was no kidnapping, only a college prank that she went along with willingly. Despite its short life, the story distracted attention from bigger issues.

A NOTED CONSERVATIVE EXTREMIST?

The Democrats and the shills in the media are happy to bash Linda McMahon and wresting:

The National Anthem is a Demonstration?

In a story perhaps rivaling the idiocy of misguided zero tolerance enforcement, a group of students who spontaneously decided to sing the national anthem at the Lincoln Memorial, were ordered by a security guard to stop singing it.

Apparently, regulations are such that displays such as in the area by the memorial they were located are considered a demonstration. Great message to send to our students. Instead of encouraging love and reverence for country, a federal bureaucracy decided to make an issue out of it.

Apparently, the boy scouts weren't available to be ridiculed... ;-)

Students Told to Stop Singing National Anthem at Lincoln Memorial

A group of high school students attending a conservative leadership conference in Washington, D.C. said they were ordered by a security guard to stop singing the national anthem during a June 25 visit to the Lincoln Memorial.

“They told them to stop singing,” said Evan Gassman, a spokesman for the Young America’s Foundation. “I was taken aback. You wouldn’t expect a display of national patriotism to be censored."

U.S. Park Police confirmed that the students were in violation of federal law and their impromptu performance constituted a demonstration in an area that must remain “completely content neutral.”

“The area they were standing in and singing is an area that is restricted for this type of activity,” said Sgt. David Schlosser. “The United States Park Police is absolutely content-neutral when it comes to any sort of demonstrations in these areas.”

FOOLING ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME

Is the U.S. really bankrupt? What we all intuitively know.

How to solve the federal deficit/debt problem (poll).
Americans intuitively know that we are in a world of hurt with our national debt and annual deficits. We don't necessarily know exact numbers or how exactly our debt and deficits affect us on a micro level. However, anyone who has ever had to make a budget and/or taken out a line of credit or two understands these basic notions:

1) When you buy on credit you eventually have to pay it back. The longer you take to pay it back, the more it will cost.

2) Credit is a double edge sword: too much credit begets the need for more credit. Eventually, you will be working just to keep the debt current.

3) When you have too much debt, your future is at risk. Your ability to borrow is squeezed, your ability to keep what you have is at risk and your ability to provide for others is more limited.

In any case, few truly appreciate the concept of debt in the trillions. Whether it is 1 trillion or 10 trillion. However, they know it is an absurdly large number. When we break it down to the following, most people start to understand the gravity of the problem.

Per capita debt:

The national debt equates to $30,400 per person U.S. population, or $60,100 per member of the U.S. working population,[36] as of February 2008.

In any case, most people know without hearing exact figures, that between social security, Medicare and Medicaid our unfunded liability to seniors in in the next generation will be crushing and probably unsustainable. This begs the question: are we effectively bankrupt now?
I think Mr. Kotlikoff makes an excellent argument in favor of that hypothesis.

Between the financial crash of 2008, the downturn that followed and between the endless bailouts and 'stimulus', people are pushing back against the runaway train of debt. It's pretty clear we will have to endure pain now to avoid it compounded more later...

U.S. Is Bankrupt and We Don't Even Know It: Laurence Kotlikoff

Let’s get real. The U.S. is bankrupt. Neither spending more nor taxing less will help the country pay its bills.

JetBlue Flight attendant Steven Slater: Hero or criminal?

JetBlue's Steven Slater loses it.

After being hit on the head by an allegedly rude passenger’s luggage, JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater blew off some verbal steam on the intercom system, grabbed some beverages and slid out the emergency exit. He is scheduled to appear in court today to face charges of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, and trespassing. He could face up to seven years in jail if he is convicted.

As a conservative I have mixed feelings on this. Obviously he broke the rules, the law and did not handle himself professionally. However, given the nature of the way he was treated, the cut throat nature of the business world and his having to deal with dying parents, I can't say I blame him.

I wouldn't say "hero", but to me he is an example of someone who was brave enough to finally stand up to dealing with stupid jerks. Companies still lean towards pleasing the customer as they look at their bottom line. Who is left to deal with the day to day grief from the public? You guessed it: the smucks who work the aisles.

Unless there was another reason to give him more, I'd have him plead guilty to the charges in return for probation and counseling and then wish him well. He's obviously already been tormented enough in life, including on the job.

A small part of me says give him his own reality show. Why not, there are plenty of non-deserving jerks who get their 15 minutes of fame. :^)

JETBLUE'S STEVEN SLATER: HERO OR NUT?

The "religion of peace", honor killings and new blog ideas

When Michael Savage says "Liberalism is a mental disorder", sometimes I think he is on to something. The modern liberal or leftist in their pursuit of fairness, tolerance and support of the underdog, sometimes is blind to obvious wrong.

How else do you get to a point where when discussing the CURRENT problems with Islam, the left then spouts about historical injustices of Christianity/Catholicism. This is equating a reformed religion with one that never has had a true reformation. Furthermore, how does something that "Christians" did in the name of Christianity back in the day, justify allowing Muslims of today to do horrible thing? Hitler killed millions of Jews, does that man Israel should nuke a few German cities?

Anyway, I was watching a show on Fox about honor killings and thought it's interesting how the left, esp. feminists, who are suppose to be the voice of the oppressed and voiceless, are quiet about it.

THE WEST AKA THE LEFT IS FAILING MUSLIM WOMEN

Gay marriage in CA: Judge decides his opinion is worth more than 7 million voters

Gay Marriage Amendment Struck Down

Reporting from San Francisco and Los Angeles — A federal judge declared California's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional Wednesday, saying that no legitimate state interest justified treating gay and lesbian couples differently from others and that "moral disapproval" was not enough to save the voter-passed Proposition 8.

I suppose the right of a community to have standards isn't their business? I suppose the right of a community to uphold the value and respect for an institution that has fostered the family and continuation of the human race for thousands of years isn't important?

Nowhere in the constitution does it proscribe any indication of rights based on the expression of sexual orientation. The constitution rightly was quiet on the issue as that is not an issue like race or gender, but an issue of standards. Most people, while not necessarily supporting the expression of homosexuality, believe that is an issue between individuals and "their creator". However, the line is drawn for most people about what type of relationships we will officially bless. The constitution left such a standard to the states. However, the federal judge decided today that he alone can pull a new right out of the constitution to cover what he believes is an acceptable practice.

As they say, elections have consequences. Think about activist judges who ignore the will of the people when you vote this in November and vote accordingly.

GAY LOBBY PUSH THEIR VIEWS DOWN THE THROATS OF THE PEOPLE

Vote yes on "Missouri Health Care Freedom" aka Proposition C

I urge anyone who is reading this and can vote on it, to vote YES on Prop C. To those who are not eligible, this is a perfect example of how states can fight back against an overbearing, power-hungry federal government.

Missouri Health Care Freedom

1.330. 1. No law or rule shall compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system.


2. A person or employer may pay directly for lawful health care services and shall not be required by law or rule to pay penalties or fines for paying directly for lawful health care services. A health care provider may accept direct payment for lawful health care services and shall not be required by law or rule to pay penalties or fines for accepting direct payment from a person or employer for lawful health care services.


3. Subject to reasonable and necessary rules that do not substantially limit a person's options, the purchase or sale of health insurance in private health care systems shall not be prohibited by law or rule.


4. This section does not:
     (1) Affect which health care services a health care provider or hospital is required to perform or provide;
     (2) Affect which health care services are permitted by law;
     (3) Prohibit care provided under workers' compensation as provided under state law;
     (4) Affect laws or regulations in effect as of January 1, 2010;
     (5) Affect the terms or conditions of any health care system to the extent that those terms and conditions do not have the effect of punishing a person or employer for paying directly for lawful health care services or a health care provider or hospital for accepting direct payment from a person or employer for lawful health care services.


5. As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:
     (1) "Compel", any penalties or fines;
     (2) "Direct payment or pay directly", payment for lawful health care services without a public or private third party, not including an employer, paying for any portion of the service;
     (3) "Health care system", any public or private entity whose function or purpose is the management of, processing of, enrollment of individuals for or payment for, in full or in part, health care services or health care data or health care information for its participants;
     (4) "Lawful health care services", any health-related service or treatment to the extent that the service or treatment is permitted or not prohibited by law or regulation that may be provided by persons or businesses otherwise permitted to offer such services; and
     (5) "Penalties or fines", any civil or criminal penalty or fine, tax, salary or wage withholding or surcharge or any named fee with a similar effect established by law or rule by a government established, created or controlled agency that is used to punish or discourage the exercise of rights protected under this section.

Officer injured in race-baiting case. Victimhood mentality on display.

This story takes the cake. Instead of pulling together and combating racism/discrimination together, the liberal black establishment--aided by the GWL (guilty white liberal) left continues to promote the victim mentality. Instead of working with conservatives to lift everyone up, the liberal black establishment continues to foster a victim mentality. They continue to foster the narrative that the "white conservative establishment" is inherently racist and most be exposed.

Rather than focusing on how to decrease the cycle of violence in the black community among young black males, they try to "expose" the ones who are charged with protecting/servicing as racists. What kind of message does that send to the youth? Instead of working on building trust it reinforces the self-deluding mentality that "(conservative) whitey" is not to be trusted.

No one is saying any side is clean in the area of race, but when you start with a racist mindset at the "activists" in this story did, nothing good can come of it.

Race baiting 101

Relations between the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and some members of the African-American community are still a sore spot in the weeks since the Brandon Johnson incident.
Case in point -- an altercation in which an officer was injured during a presentation to a youth symposium last weekend that officials said was staged, leading to the suspension of a parks manager and animosity among officers, 6News' Jack Rinehart reported.

WHITE POLICE OFFICERS ARE RACIST?

Sgt. Matthew Grimes was asked to give a presentation to a church audience on July 24 at Municipal Gardens, in the 1800 block of Lafayette Road.

Immigration reform you can't believe in...

Immigration reform by executive order?

National Review has obtained an internal U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service memo which discusses ways the federal agency could bring about “meaningful immigration reform absent legislative action,” in other words, without ever taking a vote in Congress.

The document reads: “This memorandum offers administrative relief options to . . . reduce the threat of removal for certain individuals present in the United States without authorization.”

“In the absence of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, USCIS can extend benefits and/or protections to many individuals and groups by issuing new guidance and regulations, exercising discretion with regard to parole-in-place, deferred action and the issuance of Notices to Appear (NTA), and adopting significant process improvements.”

The memo goes on to discuss using so-called “deferred action” to allow illegal aliens to stay in the country, legally, as well as extending the “grace period” for those whose visas have expired.

OBAMA'S IMMIGRATION REFORM

Top 10 (or more absurd) Obama administration whoppers or lies. Lies you can believe in?

Feel free to add to this list. It's fairly safe to say that while all Presidents promise a lot and often don't delivery, this one takes the cake for not even seriously trying in most cases. It appears his underlying modus operandi is by all means necessary.

1) "We shouldn't be campaigning all the time."

2) In its latest stimulus report released Wednesday, the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers said the Recovery Act has already saved or created about 3 million jobs.

3) Obama claims not to know who Snooki from Jersy Shores is. However, history shows he referenced her. Is he lying again?

4) "If you come to me with a serious set of proposals, I will be there to listen. My door is always open." (regarding health care reform ideas by the GOP)

AN OBAMA SHOVEL READY JOB

5) "Reducing the waste and inefficiency in Medicare and Medicaid will pay for most of this plan." (CBO estimated this would amount to 100 billion between 2010 and 2019)

The CBO and the coming debt crisis. Why we need policy changes.

The Coming Debt Crisis

Over the past few years, U.S. government debt held by the public has grown rapidly—to the point that, compared with the total output of the economy, it is now higher than it has ever been except during the period around World War II. The recent increase in debt hasbeen the result of three sets of factors: an imbalance between federal revenues and spending that predates the recession and the recent turmoil in financial markets, sharply lower revenues and elevated spending that derive directly from those economic conditions, and the costs of various federal policies implemented in response to the conditions.

Further increases in federal debt relative to the nation’s output (gross domestic product, or GDP) almost certainly lie ahead if current policies remain in place. The aging of the population

WHO WILL REALLY SERVICE THE DEBT

and rising costs for health care will push federal spending, measured as a percentage of GDP, well above the levels experienced in recent decades. Unless policymakers restrain the growth of spending, increase revenues significantly as a share of GDP, or adopt some combination of those two approaches, growing budget deficits will cause debt to rise to unsupportable
levels.

Obama gets rid of the politics of old, Gulf coast style... Umm, yeah okay.

Obama: 'Old Politics Just Won't Do'

"We can be a party that tries to beat the other side by practicing the same do-anything, say-anything, divisive politics that has stood in the way of progress, or we can be a party that puts an end to it," he said.

That's the way to go Mr. Obama. Let's work towards a uniting this country, not some cynical political end...

President Obama in his continued focus on getting rid of the politics of old, the politics of division, the politics of party has seemingly found a focal point to assist the gulf states. In a move probably even cynical for his administration, he sent a "recovery team" to the Gulf region. However, this recovery team isn't focused on saving incomes and livelihoods of Gulf residents, but rather his own livelihood after 2012. It's becoming quite clear how Obama views the South. Give lip service and don't lift much of a finger unless he has something to gain. Bobby Jindahl? Why offer him help, after all, Louisiana didn't support Obama. Besides, why would he want to assist a possible 2012 opponent?

White House sends 2012 rescue team to Florida

Conservatism for Children and a Fun Page too.

I am looking to branch out my daily political blogs by adding a page geared towards children as well as a fun page. I'm still fleshing out ideas for each.

Among the ideas I've considered for The Conservative Child include how kids can get involved with politics at an early age, children's stories, and simple games for children.

The idea behind The Lighthearted Conservative is to provide a humor and activity page for people who like politics, but need a break from the serious politics for a bit.

Top 10 Democrat Strategies for Keeping the House

With midterms coming up soon, I thought it might be a good idea to understand the Democrat's strategy for keeping the House and minimizing their losses in the Senate as well as state races. So, here are the top 10 strategies they will employ:



1) Blame it on Bush


2) Blame it on Bush


3) Blame it on Bush


4) Label Tea Party as Racist


5) Label Tea Party as Racist


6) Label Tea Party as Racist


7) Keep Obama away.


8) Keep Obama away.


9) Keep Obama away.


10) Pretend to be outsider

DEMOCRAT "ENERGY BOOST"

What we all knew, Part 2: The coordinated campaign against Palin

In just about successful political campaign there are two angles which you try to hit simultaneously to present yourself the best option. Namely, drive up negatives/doubts about your opponent while selling yourself positively. In the first "What we all knew" blog, I dealt how much of the MSM actively conspired to ignore/minimize/deflect the Rev. Wright story, which in normal circumstances would have been fatal to a candidate.

Media Plotted to kill Rev. Wright stories.

Others went further. According to records obtained by The Daily Caller, at several points during the 2008 presidential campaign a group of liberal journalists took radical steps to protect

THE PALINS MEET THE MSM

their favored candidate. Employees of news organizations including Time, Politico, the Huffington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Guardian, Salon and the New Republic participated in outpourings of anger over how Obama had been treated in the media, and in some cases plotted to fix the damage.

Politics: the art of the possible

Politics has often been referred to as the art of the possible. Conservatives, like their other ideological brethren, have an idealistic side as well as a practical side. In that vein, I have another blog called The Political Conservative which deals with the strategy side of Conservatism. I will give a commonsense take on which battles to pick, what tact to take when arguing, and my take on miscellaneous issues such as how did we get Obama.

I'd love to hear strategies, tactics, tacts that you think are successful as well as ideas for future blog entries.

Today's issue for my other blog is the "Birther" issue and how to handle it.

Thanks,
Rich

When you can't win on ideas, you resort to ad hominem and other absurd attacks

As I might not get to a column tomorrow, I am doubling up today.

In a way, it's frustrating, but in a way it could be instructive. What I am talking about is this: criticism of the ineffective presidency of Obama is generally not rebutted intelligently. Two arguments are utilized again and again to defend Obama's term/policies.

1) George Bush. This takes the form of Bush did it too or you can't expect us to clean up the mess that was left overnight.
     a. Even a little kid knows better than to use a "Bush did it too" defense. I would ask my daughter if one of the kids at daycare acts naughty, should you act naughty too? She says, "Nooo". Beyond that if the Bush presidency was such a disaster, how exactly is taking his mistakes and doubling down on them going to make it better? Exactly how does doubling or more the budget deficit Bush left office with make financial success?
     b. Would any business in their right mind keep a CEO employed for that long if they were hired during a downturn, doubled the yearly losses and reduced productivity? In those circumstances, how well would a argument that the old CEO left a huge mess go over? Were they hired to see the situation get substantially worse? Were they hired to make excuses?

2) Racism. Criticism of Obama's policies is often not rebutted as much as the credibility of the critic is questions. i.e., the NAACP with little supporting evidence declared that the tea party--as if it is a political party--is tolerant of racism.

NAACP attack the tea party

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Leaders of the country's largest civil rights organization accused tea party activists on Tuesday of tolerating bigotry and approved a resolution condemning racism within the political movement.

Normally a person/group with any amount of shame would have retracted charges they leveled when the evidence indicates otherwise. However, after foolishly claiming racist epithets were thrown at them in a well covered tea party rally opposing "health care reform", they--the leftist black establishment--refused to retract it when evidence indicated otherwise. Widespread MSM coverage and availability of recording devices would have caught evidence of their claims. Instead of backing down, they've turned it up a notch by furthering the narrative that the tea party is the home of those racist elements and those who tolerate them.

I suppose it's hard for a tiger to change his stripes. Whether it is delusion, insecurity or justifying their raison d'être, many members of the old guard in the liberal black establishment have resorted to ad hominem cries of racism to anyone that opposes Obama or their ideas. If it weren't our country, it would almost be comical. Instead these mostly unsupported claims poison the well. People who aren't engaged couldn't be completely faulted for thinking there is some truth to the claims, despite little evidence of it. After all, the NAACP has rightly been hailed as a pioneer in the fight for equality. However, when the now former President of a formerly esteemed organization

...attacked the [Bush] administration for selecting Cabinet secretaries "from the Taliban wing of American politics"...

NAACP Tabliban wing story.

back not too many years ago, you have to say their credibility is highly suspect.

Government Motors: Views and a personal story (Paradise by the Dashboard Light)

I wasn't happy with the way the GM (and Chrysler) bankruptcy were handled.

To be sure, management of both companies made foolish strategic decisions over the years and caused some of the problem. However, each company is at a competitive disadvantage when competing with foreign auto manufactures.

Like Social Security, it was a system that "worked" at the front end. But, would prove to be costly and structurally unsustainable over time.

Social Security--created in 1935--seemed to work at first because:
1) Life expectancy in the U.S. 1935 was 61.7 years. By 2005, it was 77.8 years. In short, when it was first created, many fewer people lived long enough to take advantage of it. Now, it is more the exception rather than the rule to reach retirement age.
Average lifespan chart.

2) The country was younger then. In 1930, the median age was 26.5 years. By 2009, it was 36.7 years. i.e., more younger people supporting fewer older people at that time. The trend is going in the opposite direction now.
1930 median age
2009 median age

Similarly, generous labor contracts were given to the unions when the U.S. automakers dominated the U.S. and the world. Generous retirements, work banks or paying people when they were out of work, and top notch health insurance.

But, just like Social Security, that model was workable as long as circumstances were favorable. Fast forward to 2008/2009. The financial crunch of late 2008 was the final straw in Chysler/GMs ability to stay afloat. (Turning a profit had been difficult enough).

In any normal business model they are allowed to go bankrupt, the secured creditors get first dibbs and some other positioned interest buys them and streamlines if not merges them. Typically, that means the employees get hurt. Imagine the surprise to many Americans who don't have the luxury of Uncle Sam as a sugar daddy, when the unions got taken care of on our dime. Furthermore, contract law was turned on it's head when the gov't strong-armed secure shareholders to accept pennies on the dollar. What message does that send to those who consider in investing in an industry that could be the subject of government interference? Why would you invest your money in a company knowing that if the U.S. government could effectively trample on your rights?

GM bond holders prepare for war.

On the day that Chrysler LLC filed for bankruptcy in New York courts President Obama blamed ‘speculators, hedge funds, and others’ for what he called ‘holding out for an undue profit’.

Why this was ridiculous is that bankruptcy contract law states that bond holders are first in the food chain to receive compensation for the notes they own. That is why companies sell bonds in the first place, to build capital and the investor, under contract law, has first claims on reimbursement should the company end up in bankruptcy.

When Chrysler filed for bankruptcy President Obama attempted to capitalize on the ignorance of the American people who don’t understand what bond holders are, or even what the law says. Instead the President attempted to paint an image of these bond holders as greedy hedge funds who were out to make a killing and only thinking of themselves. An insult to the bond holders and an insult to anyone who really knows what should happen in bankruptcy filings.

It is at this point, I decided not to subsidize union payoffs/government ownership of a vital sector of the economy.

In the meantime, I have a 2006 Chevy Cobalt which ran fine for the first couple years. It started exhibiting funny behavior in 2009 JUST AFTER the 3/36 warranty completed. That's about what you expect with those types of warranties. LOL. Anyway, a heard a chime, the dashboard lit and the power steering light among others stay on. This was followed by losing power steering, the dashboard needles all going to an "off" state (including the speedometer). So, I was driving blind in a way. The AC didn't work either. Okay, fine, I will see if this is a one off situation. Doesn't happen again for a while. It happened again and then not for a while. Eventually late 2009, it exhibited this behavior and I had a hard time starting it up. I got it going, but I was POed. After reading some horror stories on the internet, I kept thinking this will be a fix that will require time and effort to get at what needs fixing. In other words, $$. Thinking my car isn't that old and it works like this, I was like there is no way I will pay some pricey bill to fix a problem that shouldn't happen this early in it's life. I looked for a recall.

After much stubbornness-having to deal with this problem and having to sometimes spend 10+ minutes trying to start up my car. I eventually got wind of a recall on similar issues with this model car. Then I got a letter saying I'd get a notice, followed by the actual recall notice.

In the meantime, as late spring and then summer approached, the problem seemed to evidence itself less and I thought that I'd wait it out.

All is hunky dory and I haven't had any problem for weeks. Out of nowhere is starts up again this time it takes longer to start the car up. I took my recall notice and got the first appointment I could get. In the meantime, this Fine Piece of Detroit Machinery with no offense to Ford, is playing russian roulette with me. So, it is another week of fighting this beast and then hoping they don't say, well this isn't covered under our recall notice. I'm preparing to go "postal" on them if I hear that.

Moral of the story, if I had been open to buying a Government Motors car, this pretty well ended that that notion.

What we all knew re: Media handling Obama with kid gloves

Call them racist and change the subject!

Honestly, is anyone really surprised. The Edwards story was all but ignored until Obama had the nomination in the bag. Hmmm, can you say, split the anti-Obama vote with Hillary?

On my other blog A Concerned American, I will explore further how Obama was 'installed" as POTUS by a series of events and mentors. Reason I say installed is this: A normal politician with the background he had wouldn't have been in a position to even seriously run for POTUS, more-less win.

Ah and the NY Times unilaterally deciding that Obama had denounced Wright appropriately and it was time to get past that. As if Obama's absurd denunciation was actually believable. You know: "That's not the Rev. Wright I know". Yep sit in his church for twenty years get Married and baptized by him and have no clue of his divisiveness. ** rolling eyes **
New York Times declares Rev. Wright off-limits

But anyone with an ounce of sense and who was not sucked in by the Obama fairytale already knew what this story seems to confirm.

CHRIS MATTHEW'S TINGLE UP HIS LEG

Missed yesterday's blog so I will do two today... Mosque at ground zero is in bad taste

Astonished but not surprised about mosque plans at ground zero

When you think about it, it is quite absurd. Most people understand that all Muslims aren't terrorists and a lot are totally unsympathetic and opposed to it. However, there is a thing called good taste which isn't being followed.

Sure, Muslims have a right to free speech, if it isn't used to promote or incite violence. But, the right to free speech doesn't mean they have a right to use any land/forum of their choosing to promote their faith.

Would Israel allow a German history museum to be prominently placed by the Wailing Wall? After all, not all Germans supported Hitler during WWII and there is plenty of good history in Germany. Would the U.S. allow a Japanese tourist attraction to be placed next to the U.S. Arizona in Pearl Harbor. Once again, Japanese aren't bad people. The whole idea is a sacred spot like either should be shielded from insensitive use. Furthermore, Muslims should realize that nothing good can come of reminding N.Y. of the 9/11 attacks by brothers of their faith.

It's so over the top, it's almost maliciously intentional. It would be interpreted as defeat for America. i.e., as in a conquest. It may not seem like any big deal to many. But, to many it is sacred ground that should be free of promoting the faith which was behind the 9/11 attacks. Furthermore, we should avoid any appearance of the terrorists of 9/11 and their extremist kin getting the last laugh.

Redefining lacking faith in the people aka Projection

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/07/19/obama_gop_lacks_faith_in_american_people-comments.html

A few things struck me by his speech.

* Why does he insist on calling people workers? I'm not a worker in Obama's America. I'm an employee who works for an employer.

* He is mis-characterizing opposition to a degree. Conservatives see that voting against unemployment isn't popular, but voting for continuation of unemployment benefits without finding a legitimate offset to spending given our massive debt structure is nothing short of irresponsible. When do we stop thinking about our generation and what we can do for us and start thinking about what kind of country are we leaving for our children and grandchildren?

* Ironic that Obama indicated the GOP has a lack of faith in Americans. He has pushed unpopular and expensive legislation over the objections of a majority of Americans. It's as if he doesn't think the American people don't have the sense to know what's good for them. Ironically, it's becoming clearer that much of the voting public are losing faith in him.

The Plantation of the Mind

When, as a group, you vote for the same party time after time, despite being taken for granted by "your" party and efforts by the opposing party to reach out, you risk being marginalized.

The "so-called" leaders of the group cast their lots with one party for a seat at the table. For a continued seat at the table they use their influence in the group to keep the group voting the right way. The "leaders" use fear and resentment to keep their members voting the right way. They remind their members what the old days were like and claim the opposition party would take them back to the old days of injustice no matter how absurd those claims are. All this to keep their members in line. Whatever it takes to keep their seat at the table, they will do. Including, without any supporting evidence, claim racism on the part of the opposition with little supporting evidence -- in this case, the tea party.

All the while, the real "masters" are the union bosses and the Soros of the world. In a sense, they let the "leaders" have a seat at the back of table as long as they can 'guarantee the vote'. The "leaders" are willing to let the group suffer with inferior schools, lesser opportunity, lowered expectations, dependency (on gov't handouts) and resentment.

* The NEA will get in the way of school choice to secure their union jobs, at the expense of kids trapped in inferior inner city schools.

* The Democrat establishment will turn a blind eye towards illegal immigration and even encourages it. Meanwhile illegal immigrants will undercut the working class (including minorities) to take away opportunities. The pay scale of the opportunities that remain will necessarily undercut.

* They tolerate and excuse bad behavior as they don't want to admit there is a problem. They are more concerned with saving face to the man than dealing with the problems at hand.

* Instead of pushing for higher scores, they push for more relaxed standard.

* Government benefits are treated as a right.

How exactly does that make people free?

In short, as long as they can keep their group in line, they will get a seat in the house. The group will then get nothing but a few peanuts and be left outside. The leadership "teaches" from the top down "how to vote". This extends to the pew, the neighborhood, the family and the friends. If you don't vote the right way or speak out against the approved choice, you get ostracized. Vote the right way or speak the right way and you get approval. In some regards, they even manage to convince themselves that what they 'preach' is righteous. But, who really benefits??

In short, they have built a structure in place that such that their group will vote in obscenely lopsided numbers Democrat. They have conditioned/pressured them to vote that way. The Democrat party may no longer officially support slavery or segregation as they once did, but instead support the Black leadership keeping their people stuck on "The Plantation of the Mind". They no longer toil on the fields to benefit the Democrat establishment, but instead have them conditioned to give unquestioning support to the Democrat establishment no matter how much Conservative reach out or how little regard the establishment treats them with.

It's ironic, the party of Lincoln is now thought of as being "hostile" to the interests of Black America, yet the party of slavery and segregation is now thought to be their friend.