From politics (moderates who lean to the right) to Pogo (drools during poker stare) to rants (Whatcha expect from savvy, sassy sexagenarians?) to raves (Have you had your kudo today?) -- we never take ourselves too seriously.
We do, however, reserve the right to slaughter an occasional sacred cow. And in case we fail to mention it -- we will never forget....
Palimony: Making payment to someone to whom you have no legal affiliation.
Example: Republican party leaders endorsing John McCain -- for whom there is no evidence that he IS a Republican.
Here's McCain: Biting the (free market) hand that feeds you .... flaunting "bipartisanship" as a means of achieving less-than-conservative goals .... a "slash-and-burn" mentality to confront those who dare to think differently or challenge him .... declaring his lack of support for Judge Alito ... resorting to "old Washington" political lies and attacks to "win" his point ....
For all that ails our nation, I see John McCain as part of the problem. IMO -- he will never rally the core-constituents needed to prevent Bill Clinton's 3rd and 4th terms. Never. No matter how many of the old guard rally around him. Never.
The GOP; the Grand Old Party; the Guardians of Palimony.
John McCain as a patriot? Pfffffth. The man is a survivor. Nothing more. Nothing less.
I have this eerie, sickening feeling that GOP party bosses have already decided that John McCain's longevity has somehow "earned" him the nominee mantle.
To think that the future of our party and the fate of this nation are to be represented by a cantankerous, mean-spirited old man whose cancer-bloated skin cannot hide the malice that eats from within ....
I will continue to support Mitt Romney. If my fellow-conservatives truly care about the future of this nation -- so will they.
I'll be away for awhile, but wanted to post an article endorsing the person I feel is capable of leading this nation forward. To the future. For the future.
THE next president of the United States will have to lead this country through some of the most tumultuous times in its history. Our currency is plunging; the economy is stumbling; the military is stretched in the face of a tenacious, lethal threat; and our character and resources are being drained through the tattered remnants of our sovereignty.
Our next president will have to shore up the economy using a weak dollar while navigating an enormous foreign debt. Our borrowing from the Saudis and Chinese to ensure that the latter can get oil from the former, has cost us lives, treasure and made oil more scarce.
The next president will have to address the threats in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. Finally, he'll have to effectively seal our borders, fighting off business and social lobbies at each step. And, he must do so while navigating the disruptive effects of removing a discount labor pool from companies.
For my money (and, yes, my money is a big part of this), the only hope we have lies in one former Gov. Mitt Romney. Romney is the man with the right answers right now. That's a bit scary. Three months ago Iraq was the only issue of the campaign. Now it's faded - time enough for three more cycles before Election Day.
Moreover, Mitt's somewhat, um, cyclical ... approach to position-taking over the years makes one wonder if his beliefs now will be his beliefs throughout those pre-election cycles.
But, all we can go on is the here and now. And for that, Romney wins hands down.
George W. Bush has been called the country's first MBA president, but he hardly fit that mold. Romney, however, is the mold. If he brings to bear the skills with which he built Bain Capital and his own fortune, the economy will have a chance.
True, MBAs are the ones who have sent so many jobs overseas - and they understand the value of cheap "in-sourced" labor. But, venture capitalists are the ones who turn small companies into the Staples, Brookstones and Domino's Pizzas of the world (all of which Romney had a hand in).
If Romney realizes America is his client - every voter in every heartland factory is his boss - then we will be hard-pressed to find a better man for the economics job.
The war question is the matter of which I am most certain on the governor. He gets it. It doesn't take buildings collapsing around your ears (which is really all Rudy Giuliani practically knows about the war) to understand that some bad dudes want us all dead.
Romney knows a thing or two about being on the receiving end of religious bigotry, experience which will be valuable in understanding the enemy. He also knows resources only go so far, and you get what you pay for. If he doesn't want to be the president who loses the war, he will invest in our forces and reverse not only the Clinton decade of neglect, but the effects of Rumsfeld's outsourced war on the cheap.
Finally, Romney is the strongest candidate on illegal immigration. While dismissing his gardener was a bit of political theater, the fact of the matter is the man is resolute in his statements. He understands the fundamental unfairness of forcing some folks from certain geographic regions to wait in a line, while others saunter in as though there is no line - many of whom (not surprisingly) take far more than they give. As the son, grandson and son-in-law of immigrants, this is key to my vision of the American character.
Perhaps most importantly, as an MBA - and a rich one at that - Romney knows that the only way to pay for that cheap labor pool is to take resources from elsewhere in the economy. Specifically, his and my pocket.
There is, of course, the danger that Romney may flip or flop off in another direction between now, Election Day and the last day of his final term. That's a risk I'm willing to take.
America needs a president who understands that we are a country facing grave challenges. Mitt Romney is the only candidate with the skills to conquer them. Editorial, LA Daily News 1-27-08
The party of hicks, hayseeds, rednecks and Thomas Sowell
Main stream media is becoming more overt in suggesting how and what they want conservatives voters to think .... Their message is either direct or by slant or by subtle undertone. It's as if they really believe that conservatives are either “hicks, hayseeds or rednecks.” Oh, yeah -- and religious fanatics.
The media alternately portrays the race for the Republican ticket as either a crusade -- a battle of the Christian right against the less-than-right Christians/non-Christians -- or as a subtle display of their own religious bigotry and hypocrisy.
They mock Mike Huckabee and his double-wide (pun), double-standards.
[But then, anyone to the left of Chuck Norris mocks the Huckster.]
They subliminally tell us that Romney's wealth and success as a governor and entrepreneur are directly related to his Mormonism. (Which, according to Mike Huckabee and other bigots, is a cult.)
They promote candidates who share their views and either ignore or ridicule those who don't. Examples: McCain on his Immigration policy, Hillary on her claims of experience, Obama on the meaning of the title of his book.
Hicks, hayseeds and rednecks. And religious fanatics.
Brings to mind Thomas Sowell's Random Thoughts:
I can't get as fiercely involved as some other people do in controversies about the origins of human life on earth. I wasn't there.
One of the painful signs of years of dumbed-down education is how many people are unable to make a coherent argument. They can vent their emotions, question other people's motives, make bold assertions, repeat slogans— anything except reason.
Barack Obama is the newest face on the political scene, expressing some of the oldest notions. Virtually everything he says is vintage 1960s rhetoric, as if he has learned nothing from the many disasters that 1960s notions have led to in the decades since then.
People who lament the small percentages of women in some high-end jobs seem unaware that top jobs often involve 70 or 80 hours of work per week. A mother may work that many hours at home taking care of a family, without adding the same number of hours at the office.
A recent study showed the median income of major corporate CEOs to be about $8 million a year. That's less than a third of what Alex Rodriguez earns and less than one-thirtieth of what Oprah Winfrey makes. But no one is denouncing them for "greed."
It is amazing how many people who want us to get out of Iraq want us to go into Darfur.
A joke says that a poll was taken in California, asking if people thought illegal immigration was a serious problem. The results showed that 29 percent said, "Yes, there is a serious problem." But 71 percent said, "No es una problema seriosa."
People who refuse to face the reality of hard choices are forever coming up with some clever "third way"— often leading to worse disasters than either of the hard choices.
Sometimes it looks as if the Democrats are out to win at all costs, while the Republicans are out to compromise at all costs.
Although I am ready to defend what I have said, many people expect me to defend what others have attributed to me.
A reader says that Connecticut's "Three Strikes" law is so weak that it is more like "30 strikes and we'll think about it while you strike again."
Wise people created civilization over the centuries and clever people are dismantling it today. You can see it happening just by channel surfing on TV or hear it in rap music or read it in the pompous nonsense of academics and judges.
Tennis star James Blake never seems to be relaxed during a match. Maybe he would be ranked even higher if he could relax. Most sports require some combination of concentration and relaxation— and too much of either is a big handicap.
Many on the political left are so entranced by the beauty of their vision that they cannot see the ugly reality they are creating in the real world.
With all the old movie favorites being shown again and again on television, it is remarkable that the old movie classic "Alfie" is seldom shown. Could it be fear that the scene where cold-blooded Alfie breaks down and cries at the sight of an aborted baby is something that would unleash the furies of the feminazis?
It is amazing how many people see no problem with having pay levels determined according to what third parties would like to see, instead of according to supply and demand.
One of the great non sequiturs of the left is that, if the free market doesn't work perfectly, then it doesn't work at all— and the government should step in.
Despite people who speak glibly of "earlier and simpler times," all that makes earlier times seem simpler is our ignorance of their complexities.
We all believe that people are innocent until proven guilty. Some on the left believe that they are innocent even after being proven guilty.
Chutzpah department: When disbarred former D.A. Michael Nifong mailed his Bar card back to his state Bar Association, he included a note decrying "the fundamental unfairness" with which the Bar had treated him. This from a man who was ready to ruin three lives and polarize a community, in order to win an election.
"Fundamental fairness?" Nifong was a democrat, wasn't he? And defended by the main stream media, as I recall ....
Bob Parks hits on a theme that's been circulating the blogosphere for a few days -- how MSNBC's Chrissie Matthews has hard-balled (pun intended) himself from his liberal fan-base.
... he apparently crossed the line when appearing on January 9th's "Morning Joe", he said this about Hillary….
"The reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around" and that "she didn't win there (New York) on her merits."
He's also called her, "she devil", a "strip-teaser", "witchy", a "Madame Defarge", and "Nurse Ratched". Men who support her, according to Matthews are "castratos in the eunuch chorus". He's said Clinton is not "a convincing mom" and "modern women" like Hillary won't cut it with Midwest guys."
Wow. Why not just say what you think, Chrissie?
While moi and mega-others agree with the shrilly-voiced one -- we're more accustomed to Chrissy delivering complex one-sentence discourses in lieu of straight questions to conservatives.
Sexist? Yep.
Biased? Of course.
But don't take my word for it. Read Bob's article for an up-close and personal view of Chrissie's butt in a liberal buzz saw.
If you're a regular reader, you know who I'm pulling for to win the gold in Michigan. Even without Mitt Romney's working knowledge of economics -- he deserves to win on the basis of other credible criteria.
OKOKOK -- for the unconvinced, I'll list them:
his experience in reducing taxes his stand on life-values his organizational skills his faith in the American process his executive experiences his program to control illegal immigration his stance on fiscal responsibility his plans for state-based healthcare plans his positions on conservative social issues his knowledge of Muslim extremism his focus on a strong military his ideas on tax credits for middle Americans and -- in incomparable awareness of economics.
Tonight I'll spend a couple of hours "live blogging" the Michigan election returns. I'll focus primarily on CNN (gag) because they appear to be more "fair and balanced" in election coverage. Not that FoxNews doesn't wear the moniker, but too many of their reports/comments are slanted for Rudy or Fred ....
More later -- polls will close in approximately 35 minutes.
8:08 -- Listening to CNN folks discuss why Romney should win .... Personally -- I think the MSM is setting itself up to downplay a Mitt win in Michigan .... yawn.
Let's see .... he's from Michigan .... his dad was a 3-term governor. According to the MSM, that's about it.
Wrong. Probably less than half of voters today knew Mitt Romney as a former Michigan kid or knew his dad. They have, however, heard him speak over the last few months. I have the distinct feeling that if Mitt does win in Michigan --- it's because of his message: promoting R&D in the auto industry, tax cuts and reining in spending.
What role will independents play in the Michigan outcome? This will be interesting ....
On McCain's economic message .... he admitted he didn't know much about economics and deferred at least one question to the former HP leader ... Not a good sign. An even less-good sign for McCain is that he's becoming a one-issue (military/national security) candidate. National security is important, but Americans are also concerned about fiscal security, savings and rising taxes, unemployment, rising costs of food and fuel.
Immigration: I've not heard much talk about it from McCain .... neither McC nor MSM nor democrats want the issue of illegal immigration a headline topic. Who among us would not try our hand at picking lettuce for $50 an hour? McCain should NOT have offered that salary as an "incentive" to support his amnesty policy.
Early returns (according to FoxNews -- and yes, I'm flip-flopping between channels now), indicate Romney's lead after 1% returns will hold .... Romney seems to be scoring significantly among Republicans (according to Fox) .... Rationale: it's the economy, stupid.
McCain's military plug .... I'm still not impressed. If he's so inclined to remind us of his military service --- why has he not been a proponent of military healthcare? I've blogged my reservations about McCain's military "status" before .... I don't believe the hype. He was not subjected to the treatment other POW's received ... he was considered "American royalty" because of his father's status as an admiral ... he left 20 pounds heavier than when he was captured ... his military record prior to capture was nothing to write home about. Instead -- had he not been an admiral's son, he would have likely been discharged.
Romney's case -- leader for the future .... the economy, the healthcare, revitalizing education, fighting radical jhidism .... (per Kevin Madden) ... Romney to SC to make his case across all issues ....
Romney and the Mo-jo from Michigan .... moving forward.
Not sure I believe this: a senior Romney official told someone at Fox that a Romney loss in Michigan would be a death-blow to his campaign .... I'd call it a major set-back, but not a death-blow .... but what do I know.
FoxNews is reporting that there is an email criticizing McCain's military record being circulated in SC .... based on what I observed above -- it is not surprising. There were thousands of heroes in Vietnam who have lead productive lives without wearing their military experiences on their sleeves ...
Break time ---- waiting for Huckabee to speak.
Back at 8:55 ET -- Still waiting for the Huckster ....
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Supporters of Republican John McCain on Tuesday assailed a mailer sent to state newspaper editors claiming he sold out fellow POWs to get better treatment while held prisoner in Vietnam.
"Nothing could be further from the truth. I know because I was there," Orson Swindle, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel and former prisoner of war, said in a statement about the mailing from Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain.
The group's organizer, Jerry Kiley, who said he also is a Vietnam veteran, said in a telephone phone interview that he has been trying for years to spread what he said is the truth about McCain's record.
"John McCain has created this myth that he is a hero and he is not," Kiley said from his home in Garnerville, N.Y.
Kiley's group cites as evidence a May 1973 U.S. News & World Report article by McCain in which he said he realized, on his third or fourth day of captivity after his plane was shot down in 1967, that his knee was so swollen the blood might pool in it and kill him. So he offered to give military information to his captors in exchange for medical treatment.
In the article, McCain said he told the story to make the point that the North Vietnamese only gave medical treatment to POWs if they thought they were going to get something in return. He did not say that he went through with his end of the deal.
Kiley claims information McCain gave to the North Vietnamese led to an increase in U.S. planes being shot down.
McCain's spokesman, B.J. Boling, said McCain never passed military information to the North Vietnamese. He said the campaign was publicizing the mailer "to serve as an example of how we can bring these shadowy groups out into the open."
Kiley said his group sent the mailing to 80 newspaper editors. He said he is considering sending the information to editors in states with later primaries. South Carolina's Republican primary is Saturday.
McCain's state supporters have created what they call a "Truth Squad" to counter the kind of negative attacks that derailed his candidacy here in 2000.
Four years ago in the Democratic presidential race, a group calling itself Swift Boat Veterans For Truth ran television ads that challenged Democratic nominee John Kerry's service record in Vietnam.
Will it separate McCain from his hero banner? I don't know -- but we should all expect John Kerry to come to his rescue. After all -- it was McCain who "defended" Kerry against the Swift Boaters .... Interesting fireworks should be expected .... This may be the shot that turns McGruff into a raging Deaniac.
FoxNews declares Romney winner at 9:02 pm. This should bring the wolves outta their dens.
Fox's "Campaign Cameron" is softening his Romney-speak right now .... Wonder why? Surely he's not fishing for an interview? An invite to the Mitt-Mobile? A bag of Ann's cookies? A ride on the family flight to SC?
Still waiting on Huckabee .... here he is ..... Chuck is near .... He congratulates Mitt ... in the same breath, he declares he will win SC ... SC best listen to the man annointed by God ... maybe God will burn a bush for the Huckster as he works throughout the night to re-write the Constitution .... Huckabee suggests that if folks aren't going to vote for him, supporters should let the air out of their tires. I can suggest who needs to let the air out. And it has nothing to do with tires.
John McCain now speaking .... this oughta be good ....
"We don't mind a fight" .... cut-away to Mitt ....
"A victory for optimism over Washington pessimism" .... Washington is broken and we're going to do something about it ... America understands --- Washington told us they'd do blah blah blah ..... but they haven't.
Voter breakdowns for Romney:
Republicans 41% Conservatives 45% Independents 39% Evangelicals 34% Men 36% Women 39%
More info later .... Until then, enjoy the victory, Romney supporters -- and let the pundits and MSM prep us for Saturday's battle in South Carolina!
The Detroit News is likely priming its readers for a McCain endorsement, if the story line it ran today is any indictor ....
John McCain made innumerable false and misleading statements about Mitt Romney's positions and credentials on several issues, including national security. Granted, McCain's criticisms were made in a campaign speech, but I'm wondering if he will be asked to defend these claims in a debate?
And on that thought --
What specific experience has McCain had in national security? He crashed planes; he broke under VC pressure; he commanded a state-side Navy squad; he crooned his solution to Iran by altering the Beach Boys' "bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" lyrics; he's been in the Senate 20+ years.
Impressive.
Sitting in on briefings is hardly "experience" or evidence of decision-making.
Mitt speaks fluently on issues that McCain only blabbers about. IMO -- securing the 2002 Olympics would be more "experience" than any briefing McCain may have ever attended.
If there's a remake of "On Golden Pond," John McCain should audition. He'd be perfect as Norman Thayer.
Senator McCain has also been quick to charge Romney with flip-flops, but the Arizona maverick went from a Thursday night debate lecture on how Michigan jobs were gone and not coming back to extolling his optimism about the ability of Detroit to get those jobs back.
I was wondering today if Her Thighness would be attending memorial services for her namesake, Sir Edmund. Maybe send flowers? Lay a wreath on the slopes of Everest?
You remember how Hillary and Bill claimed that she was named after Sir Edmund, don't you? Neither Hill, Bill nor the MSM have ever corrected that false claim: Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay, became known to the world in 1953, after becoming the first men to reach Everest's summit. Sen. Clinton was born in 1947.
My wish is that she and Bill personally climb the slopes and lay that wreath. Somewhere between swings between Nevada and South Carolina.
.......
Mitt in Michigan .... It's going to be difficult. But I'm optimistic. Supporters must remember that tallies in both Iowa and NH were foiled by a liberal base. Neither Huckabee nor McCain have faced a truly conservative voter-base.
I want Mitt to continue to hit hard on the problems in Washington. I want him to remind voters that (fine man that he is yadayadayada) McCain has been part of the problem in Washington .... McCain has been no friend to conservatism; no friend to the issues of immigration, free speech, ethics, low taxes.
I want Mitt to demonstrate his expertise in economics. He must set his own agenda and refuse to be distracted. He must remain optimistic about the revival of the auto industry market. He must remind voters that, while education and retraining are critical to industry revival, McCain's trillion-dollar educational reform package is not going to relieve the state's economy. And no one has yet asked McCain how he's going to pay for it .... ASK!
As for Kos suggesting that dems cross over and vote for Mitt, come on over, kidlets! You crossed-over in NH -- what's new? The "newness" will be in getting it right this time!
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I'm sick of FoxNews. No matter what is said, there's always a Rudy undertone .... This may become the chink in their "fair and balanced" armor. Even CNN "out-viewed" them during the last debate coverage. Not a good sign. Especially when their concept of an "all star" panel to discuss the Republican debate consists of democrats.
Disclaimer: I have and will continue to contribute to Mitt Romney's campaign. Sean Hannity needs to declare his fundraising support for Rudy. Everyone else has to .... why not Sean?
And get those damn democrat "all stars" out of a "fair and balanced" discussion of Republican candidates.
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Luntz focus groups and approval ratings: Are we surprised that quips and snippy one-liners rank high? One problem (for me, at least): I don't want to be entertained by a President. I want a POTUS who responds with sound decisions -- not sound bytes.
.........
Reckon John Kerry would accept the V-P slot with Obama? Nahhh. He just wants to be on-stage again. He probably wanted to upstage Al Gore's Obama endorsement .... That'll leave a bruise on Hill's ego. Not.
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Excuse me while I continue my second z-pack to knock out this "walking pneumonia." The more I hack and cough and wheeze, the more convinced I am that the best cure-all remains a hunk of cornbread crumbled in a bowl of pintos, smothered with raw onions with a sprinkle of garlic. Might not cure every ill, mind you -- but it will keep others at a safe distance ....
