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

ER

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?


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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 . . .






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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.

ER

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":




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Political Comedy Round-up

SNL on the Democratic Debate in Austin last month:





Hillary's SNL Intro:






Clinton on The Daily Show last night:






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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