Where We Go from Here

As a Republican, it’s hard to confront the reality of where we stand in the realm of American politics. We have presided over two continuing wars, an economy in turmoil and corruption on all levels of government (state and federal). We let the power and prestige of those positions get in the way of what our true job should have been, and the American people rewarded us justly last week.


But all is not lost.


This defeat in a historic election is a time to regroup and reintroduce the American electorate to the GOP. There’s always an opportunity in every situation and we have that opportunity today.


We must get back to the roots of who we are. We must talk - more importantly, prove – that we are the party of smaller government, lower taxes and fiscal responsibility. We are the party of strong defense and limited government in every aspect of life. We must remove the stereotype of a party with old white men running things in a smoke filled room and show the true, inclusive nature of the GOP.


We have an opportunity and over the next four years, we must not let this opportunity pass us by.


ER

Election Day '08

It's hard to believe that a nearly two year run to the White House has reached it's end.

Today (if you haven't voted early), hopefully everyone who reads this blog will go to the polls and vote for our next President of the United States.

I've obviously been absent on posting a blog over the past three weeks because I wanted everyone to listen and think for yourself.

I hope that you look through the media hype and broad stroked words to see candidates for who they really are. In these uncertain international and economic times, there's no doubt we need experience at the helm. Not idealistic dreams. Yes, we need change, but we need the right change.

With this being the day America votes, this may seem like a last minute plea from a Republican blogger who's post, when read between the lines, is pro McCain. But with an election day message of hope (ironically), I want everyone to vote with their head, not the idealism of your heart. Yes, a message of change and hope can be a good thing for encouraging a better tomorrow, but in the realistic world, acting with experience can guide us through any storm.

In every American election, history is made every four years no matter who is running. With that being said, go stand in line and be involved in this distinct and unique American process. Go vote!

I'm voting for McCain and I hope you do as well.

ER



Politology by Paco

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

25 Days Away

It's been about a week since I last posted anything, but my, have things heated up in this presidential election.

Since the VP debate and the second presidential debate, the rhetoric and mud have started blocking the view of subjects at hand. The economy? Who cares. Iraq and Afghanistan? Who cares. According to the campaigns, let's talk about Obama's link to William Ayers or McCain's link to the '87 savings and loan scandal.

Point is, let's get back on point, people. I understand election year smoke needs to be blown, but what happened to the issues at hand?

I'm currently on a flight from Florida back to Texas for the extended weekend, so this finally gives me time to write a post. But, there's more to discuss with 25 days left till electing our new president. Let's get back on point.

ER



Politology by Paco

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Embedded Liberal

Yesterday, the news came out that Gwen Ifill, the liberal PBS correspondent, will be the moderator for the VP debate tonight at Washington University in St. Louis.


Now, how much influence a moderator can have in a debate, I'm not sure, but the fact that she's openly for the Obama camp concerns me. That, on top of her releasing a book on inauguration day titled, "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama" makes Ifill seem less objective. Couldn't the Commission on Presidential Debates have picked someone a bit less biased?


Ultimately, if Ifill acts like a journalist and only a journalist, I have no problem with her moderating. But, if there's even a hint of her throwing curve balls to Palin and soft lobs to Biden, this debate will be remembered as the biggest setup in history by the liberal media.


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McCain: Ifill wrong pick

Washington Times: Ifill Urged to Step Aside

The Blame Game

A lot of you Dems out there are blaming us Republicans for the financial mess we're currently in. All I hear is, "8 years of Republicans = economy sucks" or, "Bush is an f-----' idiot."


No matter how unconstructive those phrases are, let's take a walk down Pennsylvania Avenue circa 1999 when the Clinton Administration urged companies like Fannie Mae to ease credit restrictions on minorities and low-income families.


By Steven Holmes from the New York Times:

In a move that could help increase home ownership rates among minorities and low-income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans that it will purchase from banks and other lenders.

The action, which will begin as a pilot program involving 24 banks in 15 markets -- including the New York metropolitan region -- will encourage those banks to extend home mortgages to individuals whose credit is generally not good enough to qualify for conventional loans. Fannie Mae officials say they hope to make it a nationwide program by next spring.

Fannie Mae, the nation's biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people and felt pressure from stock holders to maintain its phenomenal growth in profits.

Now, while there's plenty of blame to go around, the above excerpt from 1999 proves to me that you Dems aren't completely innocent in all this. We ALL - both parties - have a responsibility to correct one hell of an economic mess.


With all this being said, the blame game needs to stop. I'm hopeful it stops tonight in the Senate when a new economic bailout deal is voted on.


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Full NYT Article: Fannie Mae Eases Credit To Aid Mortgage Lending

No Bailout

This afternoon, the House voted down a $700 billion bailout that would have pulled that much or more of bad mortgage loans and bonds out of the market.


Even though in an earlier blog I wrote in support of this bill, as a Republican, I understand why it failed.


For the case against it, the United States is a capitalistic society. Shouldn't the market correct itself, consequences be damned? If you look at history, capitalism has a cruel, but efficient way of correcting itself. Why should we now get involved in the best system yet to be devised and add a socialistic twist to it?


In the case for it (now failed), loan rates would be kept in check, your pay check wouldn't stagnate, job growth would continue and yes, Wall Street would have been saved. Whether any of this would have come true, we'll now never know.


In the scheme of things, this was a pretty historic vote. We'll see what happens the rest of this week, but I'm personally disgusted on the non-action and gridlock happening because of this bill. We need action. Maybe not from this particular bill, but from a bill that works for all.


Here's one interesting fact before I close: It's interesting to see Democrats blaming us Republicans for this bill not being passed when 95 from their own caucus voted against this bill.


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Draft: The Defeated Bill

Vote: 205 Yea; 228 Nay

Video: Pelosi Speech Riles GOP

RCP: Recent Congressional Approval

After One

In my opinion (and for the sake of being objective), I must admit that the first win of the three presidential debates needs to be given to Obama.


During the 90 minutes given for this debate, McCain was the dominate spokesman on foreign policy, but over all, Obama was much more articulate in his delivery and more descriptive in conveying his ideas.


Maybe McCain was simply off is game? Then again, maybe I was expecting too much from McCain in this first round. Either way, the weekend polls will show us what the rest of America thought.


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Temporary Hold

In what is now being described as a “once-in-a-century crisis”, John McCain suspended his presidential campaign today in order to focus on the economy.


We all shouldn’t be surprised by his actions. He’s a man who walks his own path. Suspending his campaign today shows that. However, in an election where he’s currently down in the polls, I'm not too sure if suspending his campaign is the right thing to do. Quite frankly, it's unprecedented, and I can't remember the last time a party's nominee has done something this drastic this close to November. In short, nobody suspends their campaign – nobody.


McCain and Obama are both active serving senators. If this truly is the worst economic crisis in a century, should Obama suspend his campaign as well and return to Washington?


Politics aside, we all know something needs to be done. McCain putting a temporary hold on his campaign shows this. Whether this is a good political move, we’ll find out in November, but this at least proves one thing to me about McCain: He’s not lying when his campaign uses the slogan, “Country First”.


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Victory, Relief at the Pump

In Washington, no action seems to be better than action.


The Dems have capitulated to GOP lawmakers in the fight for offshore drilling by allowing the current ban to expire. This will open up 18 billion barrels of oil to the American people and begin a steady flow of monies into our stagnating economy.


This is just the first step in getting energy independence. As I posted in an earlier blog, we need to drill now, implement gradual change and then, go green.


ER


Election: Latest Polling Data from Gallup

Yet Again, It’s the Economy

First it was Iraq. Then it was oil. Now, the economy is front and center this election year.


In summary, here’s what’s going on:


Unlike the investment market meltdown of the 20’s and 30’s, this current meltdown can essential affect every American, not just the rich. What started as a booming housing market in the early 2000’s has turned into bad mortgage loans and ill-advised debt investment in bonds by banks.


Because of lessons learned from the market crash early last century, Wall Street and the Securities and Exchange Commission have become a leader in free market investment regulation. But, unlike Wall Street, mortgage loan and other bank regulations have been slim to nonexistent.


This obviously needs to change, but first and foremost, we need to stop the bleeding.


Late last week and over the weekend, $700 billion was recommended by the White House, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Fed Chief Ben Bernanke to bail out not just Wall Street, but main street. Yes, this move will increase government involvement in an otherwise free market, but to quote Bernanke, “Action by the Congress is urgently required to stabilize the situation and avert what otherwise could be very serious consequences for our financial markets and for our economy.”


So, instead of individually bailing out companies like Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and AIG, we will systematically begin buying every bad loan to relieve the burden they weigh on our market.


This makes us, the US tax payer, an investor. In reality, we all may not invest in the markets or have a home, but we all have a vested interest in preventing a 1929 financial breakdown.


Granted, I don’t necessarily agree with growing our debut, making government larger and using tax payer money to bail out the private sector, but the lack of oversight in this area proves we – the people and Washington - are to blame for not being more proactive.


Now, Congress needs to act. I don’t want to hear any in-fighting or partisan bickering about “adding this” or “inserting that” into this vital piece of legislation. This is not a time to worry about helping individuals or companies in your district. It’s about helping the United States and it’s people move past this financial crisis.


This is a non-partisan issue, Congress – get it done.


ER


The Basics in Mortgage Loans and Bond Investment

State of the Left

While flying over Hurricane Ike this past Friday (and holding on for dear life), I was catching up on some blog reading on my Blackberry. I came across a post by Dean Barnett from The Weekly Standard that I think accurately (thus the title of the entry) describes the state of the left.


The Weekly Standard Blog - The State of the Left: Angry and Desperate


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More from the Left:

• Obama: "I want you to argue with them and get in their face."
• Biden: Paying higher taxes patriotic act
• Hackers break into Sarah Palin's e-mail account

From the CBC:

• Heather Mallick: "She [Palin] added nothing to the ticket that the Republicans didn't already have sewn up, the white trash vote, . . ."

Remembering 9/11

It’s hard to believe that seven years have passed since that fateful morning.


Just as many of you, it’s hard for me to forget exactly where I was or what I was doing that day. That, along with the confusion, remorse and anger that accompanied those images will truly live with our generation forever.


Today, the will and strength of every American will shine as we remember the lives of the lost.


Remember this day along with the resolve and vigilance we must pay in order to keep and live in our American society.


Always remember this day seven years ago today, September 11th, 2001.


ER


Fox News: Real American Stories

RNC Round-up

I’ve had a lot on my plate lately, so I haven’t been able to post my opinion from last week or this week. But, thanks to Drudge, here are some articles from around the web.


RNC Reaction:

• Palin: The Speech
• AP: Palin Delivers Star-turning Performance at RNC
• AP: Conservatives Hyped over Palin
• The Sun: Palin Strikes Back
• Politico: Convention Video

From the Dems:

• The Guarian: Biden says Obama Might Pursue Criminal Charges Against Bush Administration

Opinion & Polls:

• Politico: Why the Media Should Apologize
• WSJ: Why Obama Can’t Close the Deal
• RCP: Daily Average

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Denver and the Dems

Well, here we go, folks! The Democratic ticket is set and the spotlight will be on them and Denver all week long.


Wait . . . hasn’t it been on them all year already (7 TIME Covers for Obama)?


Either way, I'm personally interested to see if Hillary’s speech on Tuesday will mention anything about the 27% of her wayward flock jumping ship.


ER


Politico: Convention Schedule

Politico: 5 Things Biden Pick Says About Obama

McCain Ad: Joe Biden on Barak Obama

Gallup: All Tied Up

GOP Still on the Hill

A week after Speaker Nancy Pelosi adjourned the House for summer recess, GOP lawmakers are still on the Hill protesting for the American people.


Every GOP leader has signed a petition asking the speaker to reconvene the House for a special session to debate and vote on a comprehensive energy plan. While this act probably won’t amount to much, I’m proud to say that my party is still on the Hill fighting for the average American.


If the Democrats care so much for the middle and lower class of America, why aren’t they debating this very important issue?


ER


Gallup: Daily Tracking Poll

Fixing America’s Energy Crisis

If there was ever a need for an energy solution, now is that time.


Over the past several years, we have seen a dramatic rise in America’s energy needs. That demand has translated into a near debilitating blow to the most powerful economy, and in turn, country on earth.


Enhanced by a presidential election year, this crisis along with the economy has become the top two issues on most American’s minds. Iraq, terrorism and illegal immigration have all taken back seats to this hot-button topic.


So, how do we get out of this mess?


How do we move away from dependence of foreign oil? How do we lower gas prices for the average consumer? How do we responsibly enter the green age of energy without bankrupting the middle and lower class of America?


If you listen to Obama and the Democrats, higher taxes on “Big Oil” and rebate checks from their “windfall profits” are the key. (For the sake of keeping this blog on point, I won’t even get into the broader implications of socialism this line of thinking brings up, let alone the sense of entitlement and dependence of government this encourages.)


If you listen to the GOP, T. Boone Pickens and others, you get a more realistic answer with a chance to fix this in a viable way that’s economically sound for America.


Here’s what needs to happen:


Drill in America Now


Thanks to Newt Gingrich, the Drill Here, Drill Now Campaign and other Republican lawmakers, a push to drill in America again is under way.


Gaining speed in every corner of America, more and more American’s feel that drilling is the quickest and best short-term solution we have to lower gas prices and relieve our reliance on foreign oil.


I happen to agree with the forementioned majority.


Reflecting on this need for action, President Bush lifted an almost two decade old executive order that banned drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf. This was mostly a symbolic response due to the 1982 drilling moratorium imposed by the 97th Congress, but the president’s action alone has translated into dramatic changes already. As if a leak was plugged in a sinking ship, oil futures soon stalled at an all time high of $147 a barrel and has been in a free-fall ever since, closing at $118 yesterday.


That’s a $29 drop in less than a month on speculation alone, and it’s already showing as a price drop at the pump. That should show people the possible results of drilling in America now.


Increasing Supply to Meet Demand


When you boil everything down to why our energy prices are so high, it’s simple economics: supply and demand.


As a country, we have an insatiable appetite for everything from the mundane to the exotic. It’s part of living in America.


Our need for energy is no different.


When the Democratically controlled House passed the drilling moratorium of 1982, America became its own worst enemy. We didn’t foresee the eventual reliance on countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela to power America into the 21st century. We didn’t see the eventual chokehold that OPEC would have on the world’s leading economic engine.


In short, we didn’t think, but we now have a chance to rectify our mistake and increase oil supply here at home.


Along with the president's decisive actions, Congress needs to step up and do the same. The GOP certainly are trying even after the House adjourned for the summer, but Nancy Pelosi and her cohorts are doing everything they can to prevent what’s best for America.


The Democrats feel that taking oil from our strategic petroleum reserves would fix our problem, but that fix would be temporary and very short lived (we have 700 million barrels in the petroleum reserve and America uses 21 million barrels a day – you do the math). They also say that drilling now and putting American oil into our refining system would take a minimum of 10 years.


Oil companies are singing a different tune.


Major drilling and oil exploration companies like Diamond Offshore say it could take any where from four to five years for new supply from the Gulf of Mexico to enter the refining system. Imagine what effect that would have on our price at the pump? When it comes to these production numbers (four years vs. ten years), I’m more inclined to believe a company whose bottom line is to produce oil and not an idealistic Democrat from California who wants to save the world.


Madam Speaker, knowing that American oil could be in American refineries within four years and knowing that the American people want to drill, why won't you allow an up or down vote? The American people want results and you're preventing that from happening.


Enter the Green Age with a Realistic Transition


With all this talk of drilling out of the way, let me make this clear: I am for green energy.


Working for an eco-restoration company last year, I understand the need to live in a cleaner world so we can leave behind a better tomorrow. But what I don’t understand is running over the lower and middle class of America to get there. We can invest in alternative and renewable energy without compromising the wallets of Americans, but Democrats don't seem to understand that.


Since we live in a world that relies on oil, change cannot happen overnight. If it were, the economic consequences would be greater than anyone could imagine. Democrats and environmentalists must learn to understand this. It’s a transition that can be accomplished, but only in a realistic manner.


Take T. Boone Pickens and his plan for example. Using his plan to implement wind and other forms of alternative energy would help create a "green boom" in America. Couple that with drilling in the short-term, America’s economy and energy needs would be set for years to come.


Cap the Wells of the Past


Hopefully in the next 25 to 30 years, America will be well on its way to becoming an alternative fuel nation. Once we’ve established and begin producing a majority of our energy from alternative green sources, we can then move away from oil and coal as our main source of energy.


Let’s introduce energy solutions for America through realistic change and not through idealistic rhetoric. Let’s have a solution that makes sense for the American consumer, our economy and the environment. Let’s cap the wells of the past, but only when we’re ready to fully move into the green age of energy.


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Bob Hope on Democrats

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The Same Old Media

As if you needed more proof of how liberally bias the media can be, NewsBusters is reporting that out of the three major news networks, only ABC gave meaningful time to a report that the month of July saw the least amount of casualties since the war in Iraq began.


This is good news to report, right? So, why did CBS and NBC let this fall through the cracks?


ER


Update - Latest Gallup Poll: Obama 44%, McCain 44%

Obama, Center Stage

Using Victory Column as his backdrop, Obama’s campaign continued its world tour today in Berlin where tens of thousands gathered to listen.


While I don’t necessarily approve of a U.S. presidential candidate giving a major campaign speech overseas (e.g., McCain in South America earlier this month), Obama definitely didn’t hurt himself today. At center stage in front of a crowd of thousands waving American flags, Obama probably did more to heal any negative views of America in Europe today than No. 43 could have ever done. As a matter of fact, if I were Mark Halperin over at TIME’s The Page, I would definitely give this week (and probably the reset of the month) to Obama and the Dems in the weekly Campaign Scorecard no matter what happens in favor for us Republicans the rest of the month.


But, let’s be honest. Other than the picturesque setting of Berlin, the speech he gave in front of that crowd was the same rainbows and butterflies speech we’ve heard thousands of times. It was his "big picture" speech edited for a world audience that gives great sound bites to the media, but as always, was thin on specifics. How is he going to accomplish this vision of “change” when he doesn’t even share the logistics?


And let’s not even bring up his recent shift to the middle on various issues. To me, those shifts alone should show everyone that Obama really is a pragmatist and a politician after all and not the messiah every liberal would have you believe.


Listen, the biggest problem I’ve always had with Obama is not that he’s a Democrat, but his broad stroke speeches. He fills the naive and gullible with noble dreams of “change”, which is admirable, but useless without specifics. It’s hard to attack someone when they don’t take a stand on something, but on the flip side, it’s easy to attack someone when they openly voice their opinion and give specifics on how to accomplish real change.


Grand images of “change” are not what we need right now in America, but action with realistic solutions. Don’t get me wrong, optimism and hope should definitely be preached on every corner, but fill that sermon with sustenance so we, the people can vote with our head and not with our heart.


McCain can hopefully give us that action, which in turn, will lead to a better tomorrow. He’s a presidential candidate that has a plan with specifics for issues like energy, the economy and Iraq. He’s a candidate that has the potential to accomplish and usher in real change under a Republican platform of lower taxes, smaller government and strong state rights.


Over all, the larger question is this: If elected, will McCain be able to follow through with the agenda he’s laid out to the American people?


That remains to be seen . . . that is, if he can win.


ER

Time for Some Campaignin'

Courtesy of JibJab . . .

ER

Hosed by OPEC

I had to post this . . .






ER

A Blog from a Liberal

Ahh, those liberal bloggers. You never know what to think when they write about politics or life. It's scarry to read sometimes! To be fair however, I'm sure they have the same thought when reading what we conservative bloggers have to say.


So, imagine my slap-in-the-face surprise when I read a blog entry written by a friend from the Rave days.


Nikki (who most of you know) wrote a very objective blog last week that I found refreshing and encouraging. What she wrote is the same kind of open-minded ideology that I try to push in every blog post I publish.


Yes, she's a Democrat and yes, she's a liberal, but that didn't seem to matter in this post. It's not everyday that both sides of the aisle see eye to eye, but when they do, a sense of understanding and unity prevail. Overall, I thought her entry was one of those times.


Posted below is a short excerpt of what she wrote.


From Nikki:

"One phrase you'll hear me say a lot is "to each his own." I don't always agree with the opinions, views and/or beliefs of others. However, tis our human right (in my opinion) to believe what we damn well please. I do my best not to push my ideas off on friends, family members or strangers. But I'm always open to discussion. (Now having said that, my football team is totally better than yours :-) ).


Case in point, two of my really good friends (one of them being one of my best friends) are Republicans. I am about as opposite as it gets in my political views. But they're still my friends and I love them dearly and respect them...at the end of the day, we're all red-blooded Americans with fully functioning hearts and minds. And as oh so fortunate Americans, we're a big hot mess these days, with the most important election in U.S. history upon us. Therefore, every schmuck has a political opinion all of the sudden...and it's disturbing. But still, it's his/her right to believe whatever, however misinformed he/she may be. . . ."

Thanks for letting me post this, Nikki!


If you want to read the rest, visit her blog by going here.


ER

June 6th, 1944

Sixty-four years ago today, the hopes of every Allied nation was in suspense. Under questionable conditions, Eisenhower ordered the Allied Expeditionary Force to commence Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious assault in history. The invasion of Hitler’s Europe was under way.



I still read in awe at the mass of humanity we delivered across the English Channel, but more importantly, I’m humbled when thinking about the men who died at the beginning of Hitler’s end. They paved the way for Europe’s freedom and are immortalized on that beach we know so well.



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The New York Times - June 6th, 1944

From the History Channel: This Day in History

Why Genetic Manipulation Scares Me

Dr. Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park said it best by saying, “I'll tell you the problem with the scientific power that you're using here: it didn't require any discipline to attain it. . . . You didn't earn the knowledge for yourselves, so you don't take any responsibility for it.”

Granted, Ian Malcolm was a fictional character, but I think what Michael Crichton was trying to convey in his best selling novel is the inherent dangers of genetic manipulation.

Apply that to humans instead of animals and you have a whole new can of worms.

Back in 1990 when the Human Genome Project started, most people understood the enormous benefits of mapping our DNA. From the possibility of genetically eliminating cancer to the superficial like changing our eyes to a preferred color – the possibilities were and are endless.

But now, the greater question is, where does this all stop? What are the challenges and consequences we will and are already running into? And the big questions: What about cloning?

To that end, manipulation and experimentation of human DNA scares the hell out of me. To think that we can and ARE injecting human DNA into cow embryos is frightening. I understand the medical implications to a point, but I personally don’t condone the experimentation. The questions of ethics should be enough to sway any person or government from such actions, let alone the broader religious implications.

As a matter of fact, throw religion and morality out the window and ask yourself what the broader repercussions are for screwing with human DNA? As a species, that should be our number one concern. Don’t get me wrong, I admire the scientists and read in awe of the scientific breakthroughs we achieve every day for the betterment of humanity, but when those breakthroughs infringe on the identity of humanity itself, that’s where the line must be drawn.

Plain and simple, our uniqueness and individuality are at risk. We may not see these changes today or 10 years from now, but definitely in our lifetime if we continue down a path of playing God.

To quote Ian Malcolm again at the conclusion of the conversation above, “Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.”

Amen to that, Doctor.

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Clinton / Obama Ad

Just in case you missed it, this was a pretty good spoof by SNL on the NBA "Where Amazing Happens" commercials.





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Florida, Round 2

It’s funny where life takes you and the people you meet through those experiences.

As I stated before in my previous post, many of you know that I took a project management job here in Fort Lauderdale. But unlike last year, it’s a permanent move this time.

When I packed up all my belongings and started my trek halfway across the country, reality started to sink in the farther away from home I got. I started to get a more secluded and detached feeling with the knowledge that friends and family would no longer be around the corner. I began to realize that I couldn’t easily ring a family member for dinner, or have a drink with a friend without the purchase of a plane ticket.

These feelings are only natural I suppose when leaving behind the ones you care about.

On the other hand, these thoughts may have solely revolved around the sight of a big-ass U-Haul barreling down the highway that carried my life as its cargo to a destination 1300 miles away. Talk about being out of your comfort zone, huh?

Needless to say, it’s going to be an adjustment. Thankfully, this new job will keep me very busy most days, and on the weekends, the allure and distractions of a golf course will be just what I need.

All in all, I’m hopeful that this is the end of a rough two years, but if I learned anything during that time, it’s this: Life is never what you expect. Then again, life is about the experiences and what you do with them rather than the grand expectations.

Either way, until that next experience, I think it’s time for a Cuban sandwich!

ER

Back from Hiatus

My, how time flies.

My last entry was back in early April, but it doesn’t seem as though it’s been that long. Either way, it feels good to be back and do I have a lot to post.

The reason for my absence has been because of a relocation to southern Florida due to a job opportunity. A lot of you know this already, but the short version is this: I’m living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida now, working for a marine technology company as a project manager of various projects. It’s been interesting so far, but should get even more so within the next couple of months.

But, just because I’m here in Florida doesn’t mean I’ll be [completely] distracted by the draw of a Florida beach (although, I may have a few things to say about what I see).

Until then, remember the fallen on this Memorial Day and be safe!

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The Problem with History

I’ve always been an advocate of history. It’s something that we should remember and learn from in every way. That old adage states it best: “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

On the other hand, the problem with history is that we tend to take what happened in the past and relive it in the present.

What prompted this post is an excerpt I heard on a local radio show here in Dallas. On this show, the question was asked, ‘What is America’s true pastime?'

This question seemed straight forward, coinciding with opening day of America’s self proclaimed pastime, baseball. What made it interesting this time was what a particular caller brought up as his answer.

When asked the question above, the caller replied, ‘Baseball and lynching.'

What?!? Did I hear that right? Lynching?

When the host asked why lynching was even brought up, it was obvious that the man had a completely different agenda than answering the simple question of America’s true pastime. The caller promptly answered by saying lynching was America’s pastime before baseball because every white man owned a slave. Before baseball, a white man had nothing else to hit.

Are you kidding me? Was this really brought up on a sports program?

After hearing his answer and his explanation, it was clear to me that this man was truly deranged. To put this picture even more into focus, yes this man was African-American, and yes, he has every right to be upset at the atrocities of our past. But, to blindly bring this up on a format such as a sports show conveys a message of hate that does no good in a society that has truly embraced the idea of inclusion.

I would hope that a majority of the listeners that day realized how absurd those comments really were, but to put them in a greater context, this hate in relation to remembrance of history is playing out today all over the world. It’s playing out in the Balkans. It’s playing out in the impoverished tribal regions of Darfur and greater Africa. And on the forefront of everyone’s mind, it’s playing out and has been playing out in the Middle East for thousands of years all because the three branches of religion that derive from Abraham himself can’t seen to get along.

The only fix for any of this is time, an open mind and the realization that the past belongs in the past. All that history asks of us is that we remember and not to use it as a tool of one’s agenda.

In other words, what’s done is done and just move on.

ER

The Review from Last Tuesday

So, I didn’t post any of my thoughts from last Tuesday’s primary results for two reasons: 1) Last week was extremely busy for me, and 2) It’s hard to find something to write about when the record is broken.


Before the results started to roll in, I told a friend of mine that Hillary was going to win Ohio and Texas, and sure enough she did. We can all call Hillary The Comeback Kid now, right?


Wrong.


Her win was in popular vote only. Because of the Democrat’s Texas two-step (primary and caucus in the same night), Obama actually won a majority of the delegates. To make a long, drawn out story short, Obama and Hillary ended the night almost exactly where they left off in the delegate count differential.


Even with Obama winning Wyoming (which only has 18 delegates to begin with) on Saturday, the Democratic race will continue. I think we now all know how Bill Murray felt in Groundhog Day!


McCain on the other hand can gear up for the general election with his nomination in the bag. Because of that, he now has the full support of the RNC along with their purse strings, which he desperately needs.


ER

Political Comedy Round-up (03.10.09)

Courtesy of Bill Maher and this week's New Rules:





And SNL's take on the "3 a.m. Phone Call":




ER

Political Comedy Round-up

SNL on the Democratic Debate in Austin last month:





Hillary's SNL Intro:






Clinton on The Daily Show last night:






ER

Super Tuesday, Round 2

Here we go again. It’s another make or break Tuesday for the Democrats as the Republicans gear up and look ahead to the general election.

I’ll be doing my normal election night routine by watching results roll in with sandwich and Dr. Pepper in hand. For those who won’t be able to watch INdecision 2008 (thanks, Jon Stewart), come back tomorrow to get the full review.

ER

Gov. Huckabee on SNL

I'm a little late on posting this, but funny none the less.






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Rove on O'Reilly

This was pretty good analysis by Karl Rove, and he also reinforces what I've been saying all along about the state of our party:




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Romney Bows Out

Mitt Romney suspended (practically withdrawing from the race) his campaign for the Republican nomination today.

In a charismatic delivery to the Conservative Political Action Conference, I was impressed with his selflessness and gracious nature of the speech he gave. Highlighting conservative values before making his announcement, he all but endorsed John McCain by saying more is a stake in this election then a political ideology.

Commenting on the alternative of a Democrat winning the White House, Romney said that, “In this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.”

Obviously directed toward Hillary and Obama, Romney continued by saying, “If this were only about me, I'd go on. But it's never been only about me. I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, in this time of war I feel I have to now stand aside for our party and for our country.”

Those comments alone underline the need for unity within our party and sends a message to conservatives: Get behind McCain so we can win in November.

Ultimately, Romney was quite animated in his speech and noble in his actions. Nobility and having the ability to rise above one’s self interests is something you don’t see out of many politicians in Washington, and it’s something that bodes well for him in his political future.

ER

TFA: Lift-off!

Since the space shuttle Atlantis will be launching today (barring technical difficulties and weather), I thought it might be a good time to blog about my live experience of a shuttle launch.

Anyone who knows me understands how much of a dork I am about NASA and the exploration of space. It’s something that’s obviously a risky enterprise, but to me has romantic appeal, analogous to venturing westward in 19^th century America.

Once I found myself in Florida, taking a trip to Cape Canaveral to watch a shuttle launch was at the top of my list. On August 8^th, 2007, I got to mark it off.

A group of us decided to make the trip from Ft. Lauderdale to the coastal town of Titusville, Florida where we would watch the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour. The drive was anything but glamorous, but when we got closer to our destination, we started to see a spattering of cars parked on the side of Highway 1. The closer we got, the more these groups grew and the more I became amazed at how many people actually watched a shuttle launch.

By the time we arrived in Titusville, the number of spectators had grown into a mass of humanity that stood on a packed shoreline waiting to catch a glimpse of Endeavour.

Pushing through the crowds, we finally found our own spot to patiently await the launch. With binoculars in hand, I gazed through and began to skim the horizon. It was a fairly hazy day and the binoculars had a hard time focusing in on Merritt Island over the bay, but I knew exactly what I was looking for – Launch Pad 39A.

From my vantage point, I knew the launch pad was to the left, or north of NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building (a huge, rectangular building that preps and houses the shuttle). After locating the exact position of the pad, I stood patiently, waiting for the final countdown.

With personal radios and car stereos blaring the NASA audio feed, the time had finally arrived. With bated breath and child-like anticipation, I watched and listened as the final seconds arrived: 3, 2, 1 . . . Lift-off!

While taking pictures with my camera and describing the launch to a friend over the phone, I gazed across the bay in amazement. Plumes of smoke shot out from the launch pad and an orange glow from the rockets illuminated and pierced through the haze. A few seconds later, the shuttle was clear of the tower and miasma she had created. While captivated by the view, the sounds and vibrations of the launch hadn’t reached us yet. The silence the shuttle ascended in seemed unnatural, but like rolling thunder from a spring storm, Endeavour eventually let us know that she was there.

The entire experience of being at a live launch lasted no longer then two minutes. To some, the build-up may have over hyped the actual event, but I personally got to witness a childhood dream come true that I will never be able to adequately describe.

Either way, a space shuttle launch is something that everyone should definitely see.

ER

The Future of the Republican Party

The party of Lincoln, Eisenhower and Reagan is in trouble.

At least that’s what every hard right-winger would have you believe.

Over the past couple of months, talking heads from Limbaugh to no-name political pundits have said that our party is a house divided and crumbling. It’s a house that no longer reflects the ideals of Reagan and true conservative values.

I have a different take on the other hand.

I feel that it’s a house of progressive change that is starting to show the beliefs of moderate, mainstream America by burying the tradition of preserving the status quo.

The future of our party is moderates like Giuliani and McCain who can embrace the other side of the aisle. It’s a future that will hold on to core Republican ideas such as lower taxes, smaller government and strong defense, but opens it’s mind to true freedoms that government shouldn’t give a damn about like the right for a gay couple to pursue marriage and a woman’s right to choose.

I would even argue that Reagan himself would be happy of the path our party is going today (minus a couple of domestic issues here and there). It was he who showed a strong arm to Iran, the USSR and communism world wide. It was he who signed the largest tax cut in American history in 1981. And after all, it was he who gave millions of illegal immigrants citizenship status by granting amnesty in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

It’s a “compassionate conservative” message that carries though to today with George W. Bush, and it’s why I still support him in his waning days in office.

Rush Limbaugh and others who invoke the name of Reagan and say he would never approve of McCain or Giuliani obviously never paid attention to Reagan’s politics. Limbaugh and others are only citing the name and image of Reagan to pursue a political philosophy over a party platform by trying to mold the GOP into something it’s not.

Do I believe our Grand Old Party has the ability to embrace moderates and conservatives?

If the talking heads have their way and hard, right-wing conservatives run the GOP by playing on your emotions, then no and I would worry about the direction of the party.

But, if our party is to be led by moderate (i.e. open-minded) leadership like the three former presidents mentioned at the beginning of this blog, then with out a doubt, the GOP will remain strong.

ER

RCP: Will the Reagan Era End Today?

Washington Post: Limbaugh on McCain

The Denver Post: Conservatives vs. McCain

The Money Race

Have you ever wondered if a friend really is a Republican or Democrat? How about a celebrity and who they gave their hard earned money to?

You can check that info out (and waste tons of time) at the Federal Election Commission’s website or at FundRace 2008.

Federal Election Commission

FundRace 2008

ER

RE: Mac is Back

After watching the final Republican debate before Super Tuesday last night, I was impressed with every candidate except Senator McCain.

I may agree with a majority of his views, but he carried himself poorly in my opinion. Throughout most of the evening, he had a look of contempt when jibes were thrown his way as if he were above the insults. Because of that, you can tell that the senator has a short fuse with little patients (which scares me a bit), and ultimately responded to his cohorts average at best.

On Romney, I do think that he would make an exceptional nominee, but I’m not confident in his ability to compete with Clinton or Obama.

None the less, McCain’s straight talk (minus the cheap shot at Romney about an Iraq timetable) carried though in this debate.

ER

CNN: Debate Transcript

Mac is Back

Of the Republican candidates left in the field, none were considered a front runner.

Last night changed that.

McCain used his momentum from South Carolina to capture a state that just two weeks ago belonged to McCain’s close friend, Rudy Giuliani. Consequently, Giuliani will be dropping out of the race and endorsing McCain as early as today (my prediction in an October ’07 post turned out to be a bit off).

But even with victory, the senator has a long road ahead.

McCain will have to convince the conservatives of the party (Romney and Huckabee followers) to join his cause. He’ll need to silence critics within the party (Limbaugh and others) and show that he can be the uniter of all Republicans, moderate and conservatives alike.

I was a Giuliani supporter, so it won’t be difficult for me to back another moderate candidate. The hard right on the other hand needs to realize that a moderate Republican is our best chance to win in November.

On CNN’s post primary coverage, Wolf Blitzer interviewed Mrs. Clinton and asked her what she would do on day one in the Oval Office if elected. Her response, which included immediate withdraw from Iraq and the expansion of socialized medicine, should scare every Republican into action.

On the other hand, if we don’t move into action, a Clinton or Obama in the White House is exactly what we’ll get.

McCain leads in most Super Tuesday states and will probably win a majority of the delegates come February 5th. Because of his inevitable victory, it’s time we put our support behind a decorated war hero, a proven senator and a candidate who can embrace the full diversity of our party.

It’s time we get aboard the Straight Talk Express.

ER

Florida Results

CNN: Clinton Transcript