This blog is dedicated to logical Reasoning, political consciousness, religious dialogue, intelligent thoughts, uncommon wisdom, current events, and humor.
By now, we all know about President Obama’s visit to Notre Dame. It was filled with controversy for Christians and especially for Catholics. Please! Get real! I have 2 quick observations:
First, I find it fascinating that the Republican party – the party that prides itself on less regulation and more personal responsibility – is so determined to pursue Constitutional Amendments against gay marriage and abortion. Whatever happened to leaving regulations to the States? Whatever happened to leaving personal matters to individuals’ decisions? Clearly, all that big talk apply only if they agree with your religious views and political agendas.
Second, let’s assume abortion is killing a living baby. I can truly accept and, in a way, believe that. Now, some one tell me how abortion can be viewed as a much worse act than killing a living person. Remember the 10 Commandments? Remember the sixth one: thou shalt not murder? No where does it say thou shalt not murder only the unborn.
I find it absolutely hypocritical that most Christians who are so against abortion are precisely the same individuals whose core ideology is the same as that of Rush Limbaugh’s and Dick Cheney’s. The same ideology that merits we (the U.S.) are the king of the world, we should govern the world and protect ourselves at any cost, and if some innocent lives are lost in the process, so be it. Every time we drop bombs and rockets to kill terrorists, we inevitably kill some innocent by-standards in the process. Some of those innocent souls are children, newborns and even unborn. Therefore, we are violating the sixth commandment. Where’s the outrage? Where are the protests?
In no way am I suggesting that we should not fiercely protect ourselves or avoid pre-emptive strikes. And I’m not so naive to think that we can do all that with no non-military casualties. But then I don’t have an existential crisis, and I’m not hypocritically against abortion while practically supporting the deaths of unborn and pregnant women in war. That is not for me to resolve. Those of you Christians who are against abortion and thought Obama’s visit to Notre Dame was an abomination must work this out between yourselves and your God. And be careful what conclusion you reach. If you believe that God agrees with your views and supports your plan, you have reached the wrong conclusion. It should be exactly the opposite!
Eternal damnation is not just for those who support or perform abortion. It is also for those who violate the sixth commandment. That could be you. Think about it.
So I was doing a little research the other day about the new administration when I came across this little nugget. The White House Counsel is Greg Craig. The name sounded familiar to me, so I looked him up. Here’s a little window into what he has done in the past. Wikipedia his name and you’ll see much more.
In 1977, Craig represented John Kearney, the first FBI agent ever to be indicted. Mr. Kearney was accused of illegal wiretapping, breaking and entering, and mail opening in connection with the FBI investigation of the Weatherman (organization).
In 1981, Craig represented John Hinckley, Jr., who tried to assassinate Ronald Reagan. Craig successfully led Hinckley’s insanity defense.
In 1991, Craig represented Senator Ted Kennedy during the rape trial of William Kennedy Smith. It is important to note that Senator Kennedy himself was facing no charges in this trial.
In 2000, Craig represented the Cuban father of Elian Gonzale during the child custody dispute.
In 2004, Craig represented United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan who was under investigation for scandals involving oil-for-food program.
Craig has been a longtime adviser to former president Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Watch this video. This is Sarah Palin’s policy statement on US budget.
For anyone who doesn’t know about genetics research, just google it and you’ll see a vast array of publications and discoveries about the topic. Fruit fly research is the standard by which many genetic and birth defects as well as molecular biology are studied today. In fact, fruit flies have been used for protein, cell and genetic research for around 100 years. It is precisely this type of research that brings hope to areas such as autism.
I concede that over 50% of US population is unaware of the importance of fruit fly research in the areas of genetics and molecular biology. As the mother of a Down Syndrome child, however, Sarah Palin sure doesn’t seem very educated about genetic defects and research. Doesn’t anyone fact-check her speeches? Anyone? It is clear that she’s been busy recently. She’s definitely sacrificing her family for her country – and I truly mean that in a positive and respectful way.
The Republican media machine jumped into action by saying that she was only speaking of fruit fly research as it applies to agricultural, not genetics. Please, don’t insult my intelligence! Watch the video again and listen to her words. Her condemnation of fruit fly research came in the following context: ”. . . sometimes these dollars go to projects having little or nothing to do with the public good.“
Oh, I know. Perhaps she was only objecting to fruit fly research in Paris, France. She would have no objections if it was conducted in the US. We hate the French . . . don’t we? I forget what our official policy on the French is these days. Do we like them or not? It’s so hard to keep track.
I have also read (on various blogs) that Palin does not believe in genetic research due to her religious views and, hence, her objection to it. I don’t believe that. She’s much more intelligent than many on the left portray her. I assume her children receive vaccinations which, after all, is a direct result of genetic and protein research.
I love this bit from Rachel Maddow. Both she and Keith Olbermann are a little too far to the left for my taste, but I enjoy Rachel’s funny and sometimes sassy remarks.
Here’s a good link to learn more about fruit fly research:
As a registered independent, I’m an unwilling recipient of daily assault of calls from both Presidential campaigns. I have a message for both groups:
STOP CALLING ME OR I WILL VOTE FOR RON PAUL.
Democrats call to inform me about Obama’s clean coal technology plan, and that it will create thousands of jobs. BS. Obama stole this clean coal idea from McCain. The only good thing is that they only call me once a week.
Republicans call several times a week to tell me about Bill Ayers. Stop it already! That horse is not only dead, it’s rotting. You’ve milked it for all it was worth. It’s not effective anymore, and no one (other than your own Republican base) cares.
Hasn’t anyone told both of you? Those undecided voters you’re still so fiercely targeting . . . they’ve decided already. The only undecided voters are either in insane asylums or in jail, and they can’t vote.
In August of this year, a report surfaced about Joe Biden’s net worth. Many newspapers including The Boston Globe printed the story. According to the articles, Joe Biden’s net worth is . . . not much! OpenSecrets.orgestimates Biden’s average net worth is $-52,493, which ranks him as the second least wealthy Senator. Most Democrats have presented this in a positive light and as an achievement, implying that Biden is an average ordinary ‘joe’ like the rest of the middle class folks.
Please allow me to disagree. Joe Biden is a 35 year veteran of the Senate. Yes, I understand he’s endured tragedies in his life and that he has remained a down-to-earth person. I commend him for that. However, the point is that a senior Senator with access to a tremendous amount of information and resources (that the rest of us don’t) should have been able to successfully capitalize on it without violating ethics or insider trading regulations.
Think through the logic with me. I am not alone in the belief that balancing the US budget should adhere to many of the guidelines that responsible individuals and families follow. Increasing spending in one area should correspond with either a decrease in other spending or an increase in income. All of us responsible citizens must either balance our check books at the end of the month or carry reasonable debt that is likely to be paid off in a meaningful time frame. Carrying large amounts of liability without a corresponding steady (and potential) increase in assets is not only an unsustainable long term strategy, it is downright detrimental to the stability of our families. That’s precisely the reason so many American families are in financial trouble. Under a larger umbrella, the same is true in the case of our national security and stability. Carrying unreasonable deficit endangers our country’s economic future.
Further, we should demand from our elected officials in the executive and legislative branches to remain relentless in their pursuit of creating, discovering and employing every potential opportunity to advance prosperity, education and stability of all citizens of this country. No stone should remain unturned in this endeavor. No good ideas should be spared in seeking this goal.
Here’s my issue with Biden’s net worth and those who tout this as a positive phenomenon. In any job interview, one must prove that he/she has experience in a related area, and that he/she has achieved success in implementing similar projects. For an elected official to be trusted with the country’s economic matters, there must be proof that he/she has been able to achieve personal prosperity. Having reached middle class status is insufficient. Biden’s annual salary automatically places him in the middle class.
None of us wants to live in an average America. We all want to live in an exceptional and prosperous America – a country where poverty strikes only those who are unwilling to work and strive for a better life. Who can lead the country in that direction? Only a person who has proven that he/she has achieved the same on a smaller personal scale. Biden has not proven that he can take advantage of the vast opportunities available to him as a Congressman to advance his net worth beyond the level of an average middle class individual. I am in no way implying that he should engage in shady and questionable transactions. My point is that working 35 years in one of the most powerful offices in the world naturally brings with it many opportunities: speaking engagements, books deals (which he has done), investment opportunities, etc.
I reject any argument that perhaps Biden does not have aspirations of getting wealthy. That is not the point. If you seek a job opportunity to teach others how to stay organized, you must provide proof that you are in fact an organized person yourself. If you interview for a personal trainer position, you must be a fit person yourself. If you plan to manage people’s money as a financial advisor, you must prove that you are not using food stamps for your own family.
Therefore, I conclude that Joe Biden lacks the necessary vision, drive or expertise to positively advance the country economically. I don’t believe I’m unreasonable in my expectation. If you disagree, leave me a comment.
I will begin this post just as I did my previous one about the Presidential debate last week.
I am not a Republican. I am not a Democrat. I side with Democrats on many issues. I side with Republicans on many others. I still don’t know who I’m going to vote for in November.
I am not going to evaluate any specific topics, points or responses. I’ll let others do the analysis and mudslinging. Here’s what I saw.
Sarah Palin’s game plan was to defend Palin. She had a horrible week leading to the debate. She had no choice but to make up for it. She did not disappoint. She performed spectacularly. If you read my previous post on the first Presidential debate, you know that I was impressed by Obama’s ability to address the moderator as well as McCain by looking at both of them. Palin executed the same ability perfectly by addressing the moderator and her opponent. She looked comfortable, had a smile on her face most of the time, and did not hesitate as she has in previous interviews. Biden looked as bad as McCain did – old, stiff, angry. The coaching she received in the past few days was clearly very effective. Good for her.
Joe Biden didn’t seem to have a game plan. Either he was not prepared for this debate or Palin performed so well that made Biden look bad. I have no doubt that if the format of the debate was different in a way to allow for detailed back and forth exchanges, Palin would not have performed as well. But Biden knew the format. It was his debate to lose. And he did.
Experience v.s. new blood stood out as the theme of this debate. Experience did not benefit Biden. He relied on his record in Congress, and he bet his VP nomination on the idea that the average American viewer might actually give a darn about the past or about meaningless statistics. Wrong move, Biden! Palin may not have presented many details on anything, but that was actually the right plan. We all know that VPs are virtual no-bodies. They are merely there to help the real Presidential nominee. The average American wants to hear specifics from and learn the record of Presidential nominees, not from VP nominees. I was watching CNN’s reaction meter of undecided men and women voters. Almost every time Biden talked about his record in Congress, he flat-lined the graph. No one cares. Palin achieved the same reaction when she talked about her experience as mayor and governor.
At the end, I know that VP debates are not decisive or consequential. Not much is gained or lost by them.
I am not a Republican. I am not a Democrat. I am not an independent – I don’t even know what that means. I side with Democrats on many issues. I side with Republicans on many others. I still don’t know who I’m going to vote for in November.
I watched the first Presidential debate with a clarity and a sense of objectiveness that most people are unable to exert. Most Americans are already committed to their own political party’s candidate. I am not! I don’t belong to one particular party.
I am not going to evaluate any specific topics, points or responses. I’ll let others do the analysis and mudslinging. Here’s what I saw.
It’s not about who won the debate. It seems as though every news and program anchor asks the same question: who won the debate? who won the debate? That’s a childish view of the intent of these debates. It’s not about who won the debate. It’s about 2 entirely different ideas. First, it’s about better understanding each candidate’s position and plans. This mostly applies to undecided voters like me. If you’re an already committed voter, watching these debates are a complete waste of time for you. You’re not changing your mind. Fox News conducted a poll that gave McCain the winning edge by over 80% on the debate. MSNBC gave a smilier edge to Obama. Do you see what I mean? Second, it’s about how each candidate can perform under pressure. They were both well-rehearsed. They both had strong points and they both bended the truth to their side. Neither candidate committed any major blunders, although both missed great opportunities.
Body Language and demeanor of both candidates was very telling. I was impressed by Obama’s cool-under-pressure appearance and performance. He demonstrated substantial presence by looking at McCain, addressing him directly and calling him by name. I was disappointed that McCain did not do the same. He’s been around a long time and has much deeper debate expertise than Obama does. I want my next President to look members of Congress, United Nations and foreign leaders in the eyes and address them – especially in adversarial situations. McCain appeared incapable of thinking on his feet, addressing an audience and debating his opponent at the same time. He only looked at the moderator while sporting smiles of disapproval at Obama. It looked uncomfortable.
Speaking of Obama addressing McCain directly by his first name, many Republicans mounted objections that doing so was an indication of disrespect. Seriously? Since when did you Republicans become so sensitive? Have you ever listened to Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, Liddy or Savage? Stop your adolescent whining. No one likes to see grown people cry and nag.
Giving Credit where it’s due was performed masterfully by Obama. Half a dozen or so times, Obama mentioned that McCain is correct or that he agrees with McCain. Obama would then proceed to outline the areas where they did not agree. I view that as an uncommon ability among politicians to give credit where credit is due. Republicans quickly produced a video of Obama saying to McCain that he’s right. They’re using it as proof that even Obama thinks McCain’s policies and plans are on the right path. Please! Republicans may be able to fool members of their own party, but don’t insult my intelligence. I saw the debate and I know the context in which Obama gave credit to McCain. For undecided voters, this Republican tactic is backfiring.
Experience v.s. opinion stood out as the theme of this debate. I view McCain as the tough guy who brings a lot of detail to the table and negotiates from a point of strength. I view Obama as a consensus-builder whose approach is the big picture philosophy. While watching the debate, it occurred to me that Obama really doesn’t have any specific mentionable experience in anything. He has opinions, objectives and plans. McCain, on the other hand, has been around a long time. He’s lived through it all. He can draw on experience. Again, I was profoundly disappointed that McCain did not draw more attention to his life experiences.
Obama may be the consensus-building negotiator, but McCain’s reach across the isle over the years is undeniable. He hasn’t always voted with his party. It’s unfortunate that he did not capitalize more on this strength. He lost a great opportunity.
After the debate, I flipped through Fox News, MSNBC and CNN. Rudy Giuliani analyzed the debate on Fox News. He was spot on. It is fairly clear to me that the Republican party nominated the wrong person. Rudy should have been their man. Is it too late to switch?
The new revelation that Bristol Palin, Sarah Palin’s daughter, is pregnant has rekindled an old debate: should families of nominees be off-limits? I have always maintained that families, beliefs and secrets of all policy makers are fair game. Shocked? Don’t be. The alternative would be silly.
We elect policy makers who set the course of our civic lives. In return, we should expect them to propagate initiatives that they, themselves, adhere to and respect. We should not, under any circumstances, accept the idea of do as I say and not as I do.
Bill Clinton’s difficulty in comprehending what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is notwithstanding, his sexual conduct while President was absolutely fair game. Democrats attempted to diffuse the situation by saying that the President’s sexual conduct had nothing to do with (and did not affect) conducting the business of the people. Wrong! Being the leader of the free world, the trust it requires and the responsibilities it carries have EVERYTHING to do with conducting the business of the people. He had sex with someone other than his wife at the Oval Office. I don’t particularly care about the infidelity part. I do, however, care that it happened while he was President, and that he lied about it.
Feel free to not mention to me that President Bush possibly also lied. This post is about family matters. The premise of the Iraq war is irrelevant here.
Vice President Cheney’s lesbian daughter is absolutely fair game. He should not support a constitutional amendment banning gay/lesbian marriage if his own family includes a lesbian.
Accordingly, Sarah Palin’s pregnant daughter is absolutely fair game. Many in her own Republican party would consider this a failure of parenthood, strong family or religion. All efforts by the Palins and the campaign to positively spin this unfortunate occurrence by saying that they are very proud of Bristol’s decision to keep the baby and to marry the young man are meaningless. They have no choice in the matter. Aborting the baby would be considered sinful. Not marrying the father of the baby would make Bristol an unwed, underage, single Mom. Either way, Palin would not have earned a spot on the Republican ticket.
And now for the kicker. Remember when Britney Spears’ younger sister, Jamie Lynn, became pregnant at 16? I remember how Conservative media personalities such as Limbaugh and O’Reilly had a field day with that. O’Reilly said about Jamie Lynn “. . . the blame falls primarily on the parents of the girl, who obviously have little control over her . . .”
Well, that was then, and it was about a God-less liberal entertainer brat. Sarah Palin’s situation is completely different. Right? Reacting to a Cynthia Tucker column in Atlanta Journal-Constitution, O’Reilly explained why Sarah Palin is not to blame:
Now, the latest thing is that people like me don’t condemn Palin’s family but we condemn other people who, uh, gave birth out of wedlock. I’ve never condemned anybody who gave birth out of wedlock. Ever in my life. I don’t make those kinds of determinations. What I do say and, this nut Cynthia Tucker in the Atlanta Journal Constitution makes a deal out of this, I said that Britney Spears and what’s her sister’s name who’s pregnant, their parents were irresponsible – Jamie Lee – because they were running around unsupervised. Yeah, I said that and I believe it. It has nothing to do with the Palin situation, okay? So, I mean, it just, it really, it makes me angry. → source
Oh, but it has everything to do with the Sarah Palin situation, Mr. O’Reilly. On the one hand, Jamie Lynn’s out of wedlock pregnancy at 16 was a strong indication of failed or absent parenthood. On the other hand, Bristol Palin’s out of wedlock pregnancy at 17 is a private family matter for the Palins only. It doesn’t make sense, does it?
I only have one thing to say about that: WE’LL DO IT LIVE!
Watch this video if you don’t know that reference.
And here’s a video of Bill Clinton’s difficulty with the word ‘is’.
Just as the GOP convention is about to take place, it was revealed that Bristol Palin, Sarah Palin’s 17 year-old daughter is 5 months pregnant. McCain’s advisors confirmed knowledge of it.
Downside
It will be interesting to see how this new revelation will play out with die-hard Conservatives and Evangelicals. My prediction is that it will have no effect on those two groups. Let’s face it, they have no other choice at this point. Palin, for better or for worse, is the GOP VP nominee. Just as Vice President Cheney’s lesbian daughter is a family secret that is kept very quiet and low-key, Palin’s unmarried, underage pregnant daughter will also be swept under the rug.
I find it fabulously fascinating though that dark family secrets of Conservatives and Evangelicals are presented as private family affairs that should not be anyone’s business. Juicy family secrets of Liberals, however, is fair game for the likes of Limbaugh, O’Reilly and Hannity – mostly under the premise of Godless lefties with no moral or family values.
Upside
It is possible that some independents as well as disgruntled Hillary supporters could gravitate even more toward Sarah Palin. She’s a woman. She’s acknowledged the struggles of Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton. She has a big family and a special-needs child. And she is now a mother who is very familiar with the shame of a dark family secret – an unwed, underage pregnant daughter.
Conclusion
Once again, this entire saga makes me wonder what skeletons were hidden in the closets of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Sen. Olympia Snowe – the 2 women who, at the surface, seem more qualified than Palin. The GOP is nothing if not thorough in its investigations. I still stand by my original premise that McCain had no choice but to select a black or a woman for his running-mate. And it’s becoming fairly clear that Sarah Palin, even with her family secrets and apparent inexperience, was the best GOP could do.
In an earlier post, I gave 5 reasons why the Republican party had no choice but to pick Sarah Palin for VP. In this post, I’m going to explore the good, the bad and the ugly of that decision.
Palin embodies many of the values Republicans hold dear:
Family values: She’s a devoted wife and a mother of 5 children.
Patriotism: Her son, Track, is deployed in Iraq.
Pro-life: enough said!
Executive experience: Technically, out of the 4 Presidential and VP nominees, Palin is the only one with executive experience as the Governor of Alaska. Everyone else has legislative experience only – albeit years of it and in much more comprehensive matter. An article on Sensico explores this idea much more in-depth. McCain, however, can argue that he has military command experience.
Drilling: Alaska . . . you get the picture.
She embodies some of the values Democrats hold dear:
Pregnant daughter: Yes, you read right. Bristol Palin is 5 months pregnant at 17. This news may actually, in a very strange way, benefit some undecided women in the sense that Sarah Palin is familiar and can identify with tough family issues.
Change: Yes, change. McCain is poised to steal Obama’s thunder on the concept of change. What bigger change is there for Republicans to select a woman for VP?
Fighting corruption: Remember when McCain was portrayed as a maverick during the primaries? There has been no mention of that in the past months even by Republicans. Palin can energize that idea once again. She has fought corruption by protesting (and finally resigning) as head of the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission over alleged ethical violations by the state Republican chairman
Acknowledgement of women’s struggles: In her acceptance speech, she referred to Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton, both Democratic names. Palin further referred to 18 million cracks in the proverbial glass ceiling, thanks to Hillary’s efforts.
Palin has many strengths:
Youth: The McCain ticket is suddenly young again.
Diversity: She will appeal to soccer and hockey moms as well as undecided women voters.
Palin has many liabilities:
She’s under investigation by the Alaska State legislature for abuse of power.
Other qualified VP choices: Mitt Romney, for instance, would have sealed the deal with conservatives and evangelicals with his instant name recognition.
Other qualified women for VP: At first glance, at least 2 other women appear to be more qualified than Palin: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Sen. Olympia Snowe. I have no doubt that Republican thinkers considered them. My guess is that each woman came with a baggage that was more of a liability than Palin’s obscure presence in politics.
The Biden factor: Palin will have to debate Biden several times. Biden is a seasoned politician who’s had years to ponder issues and form opinions. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and Olympia Snowe would have been much tougher adversaries for Biden. Palin requires a tremendous amount of grooming and coaching.
The gimmick factor: Palin’s nomination has the appearance of Republicans chasing the achievements of Democrats: Obama as the first black Presidential nominee and Clinton as the woman who came very close to shattering the glass ceiling.
Pregnant daughter: Yes, you read right – again. Bristol Palin is 5 months pregnant at 17. I truly wonder what skeletons Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Olympia Snowe had in their closets that the McCain camp had to resort to Sarah Palin.
Finally according to an NPR story, 24 hours prior to her nomination, someone made substantial changes to Sarah Palin’s Wikipedia page. She was called “a politician of eye-popping integrity” and sections on her participation in a beauty pageant and her alleged use of influence to get her former brother-in-law fired were diminished.
Posted by jmjorat 
So I was doing a little research the other day about the new administration when I came across this little nugget. The White House Counsel is Greg Craig. The name sounded familiar to me, so I looked him up. Here’s a little window into what he has done in the past. Wikipedia his name and you’ll see much more.
Posted by jmjorat 
Posted by jmjorat 
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