So it is done. Or is it?
Well, if you listen to Nancy it is. "As big as Social Security and Medicare", as she put it. It's her version of nationalized medicine, but it is far from done.
All you really have to do is look at the vote. The dems control absolutely everything, and yet after all of Nancy's celebrating, her House got this done with a whopping 50.6% of the vote. And that's supposed to be the mandate that NancyHarryBarry want us to believe exists for this? What I saw was that she had to bribe, wrangle, beg and threaten just to get that much done. And that's why she's going to have to rethink this on many more long nights and weekends, and perhaps before then, she might have to finally listen to the voice of the people too. If not, 2010 Election Day is less than a year away. She'll hear it then.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
A Loser Without a Winner?
Tuesday's vote up in Maine which overturned same-sex marriage legislation has had some interesting press coverage.
Every article I've read starts out by describing it as a loss for gay marriage proponents. Some, but very few, might elude to it as a win for somebody far down in the text.
Now as I understand it, this was a referendum sponsored by opponents of the law, to overturn it. Seems to me that a fair and accurate reporting of it would have labeled the result as a victory, first and foremost.
Why does this keep happening with all of those unbiased news organizations out there?
Every article I've read starts out by describing it as a loss for gay marriage proponents. Some, but very few, might elude to it as a win for somebody far down in the text.
Now as I understand it, this was a referendum sponsored by opponents of the law, to overturn it. Seems to me that a fair and accurate reporting of it would have labeled the result as a victory, first and foremost.
Why does this keep happening with all of those unbiased news organizations out there?
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
One Year Later
It is often said that "a man is known by the company he keeps". That was evoked often, and appropriately, when our current president was only a candidate. Not so much anymore. All of those radical old friends that he "barely knew" didn't seem to matter to the voters anyway, and now Ayers and Wright and the like are pretty much off the radar.
But it might be even more appropriate now to examine who he consults with as president. The old adage still applies, even more importantly. We're talking about those outside of his immediate circle whom he decides to invite into the White House. Remember, you do need to be invited; walking up and ringing the doorbell without one is almost guaranteed to be instantly fatal.
This question really came to mind when it was revealed how little time he had spent since his inauguration in discussion with his commander on the ground in Afghanistan. To this day, General McCrystal has only been called to the White House twice.
So out of all the diplomats, ambassadors, advisers, royalty, celebrities, statesmen, dignitaries, businessmen and women, etc., etc., that have been invited in, who tops the visitors list? The answer: Andy Stern, President of the SEIU, the Service Employee's International Union. One of Obama's best buddies, his power base, and his chief fundraiser. 20 times to be exact.
General McCrystal, fighting a war on global terror and commanding 25,000 of our troops in the deadliest land in the world: 2 times.
Andy Stern, fighting in the streets of our cities to organize labor and spread social activism in a war on capitalism: 20 times.
Sort of defines this president's priorities doesn't it?
This president has never been a commander. He still isn't. He's always been a community organizer. He still is.
But it might be even more appropriate now to examine who he consults with as president. The old adage still applies, even more importantly. We're talking about those outside of his immediate circle whom he decides to invite into the White House. Remember, you do need to be invited; walking up and ringing the doorbell without one is almost guaranteed to be instantly fatal.
This question really came to mind when it was revealed how little time he had spent since his inauguration in discussion with his commander on the ground in Afghanistan. To this day, General McCrystal has only been called to the White House twice.
So out of all the diplomats, ambassadors, advisers, royalty, celebrities, statesmen, dignitaries, businessmen and women, etc., etc., that have been invited in, who tops the visitors list? The answer: Andy Stern, President of the SEIU, the Service Employee's International Union. One of Obama's best buddies, his power base, and his chief fundraiser. 20 times to be exact.
General McCrystal, fighting a war on global terror and commanding 25,000 of our troops in the deadliest land in the world: 2 times.
Andy Stern, fighting in the streets of our cities to organize labor and spread social activism in a war on capitalism: 20 times.
Sort of defines this president's priorities doesn't it?
This president has never been a commander. He still isn't. He's always been a community organizer. He still is.
The Pendulum Swings
The people have spoken. Yesterday's gubernatorial wins for the Republican party were very, very telling, and don't let the mainstream media tell you any different. It was amazing how the downplaying of these races began with about 1% of the voting counted!
All summer, the discontent with the administration's nationalist/socialist policies were being protested and rejected in the form of negative polls and tea parties everywhere, yet these were summarily dismissed by the dems and press, as meaningless actions by a few "angry mobs".
But now, those protests have materialized into something real; maybe not in a big way, but in a small, yet very significant first step. And those first steps are always the hardest. The pendulum, which is never motionless in U.S. politics, is starting to swing the other way. What Obama, and the democrats in Congress must now realize, and they will, is that with every vote they cast which moves us in such dramatic fashion away from our historical "centrist" government, is a nail in their political coffins. Our liberty is being hijacked and the great majority are now realizing it. Shame on them though, that they couldn't see it in the candidate Obama, but it's not too late.
Like in most elections, most registered voters went to the polls last year having put no more thought into who they were choosing, than they do when they decide what movie to see next. That's the way it is when we live in a country so comfortable, so stable and so predictable. We take so much for granted. We think to ourselves that democrats and republicans are really only inches apart on the spectrum of politics that's a mile wide, and that's probably accurate 98% of the time. And heck, "...that Obama guy looks pretty good. At least he's not another Bush!"
But by now, we can all see that this president is far from center. Way too far. And the signs were there, but only in little bites, thanks to his entire career being only months long, and no mainstream press willing to examine it.
Now Americans are going to have to use the only tool they have to erase and correct a mistake. And yesterday they began the proven process. I'm tempted to say that for the first time, I'm really proud of my country, but that would be a cheap shot wouldn't it? More than that, it would be absolutely untrue.
All summer, the discontent with the administration's nationalist/socialist policies were being protested and rejected in the form of negative polls and tea parties everywhere, yet these were summarily dismissed by the dems and press, as meaningless actions by a few "angry mobs".
But now, those protests have materialized into something real; maybe not in a big way, but in a small, yet very significant first step. And those first steps are always the hardest. The pendulum, which is never motionless in U.S. politics, is starting to swing the other way. What Obama, and the democrats in Congress must now realize, and they will, is that with every vote they cast which moves us in such dramatic fashion away from our historical "centrist" government, is a nail in their political coffins. Our liberty is being hijacked and the great majority are now realizing it. Shame on them though, that they couldn't see it in the candidate Obama, but it's not too late.
Like in most elections, most registered voters went to the polls last year having put no more thought into who they were choosing, than they do when they decide what movie to see next. That's the way it is when we live in a country so comfortable, so stable and so predictable. We take so much for granted. We think to ourselves that democrats and republicans are really only inches apart on the spectrum of politics that's a mile wide, and that's probably accurate 98% of the time. And heck, "...that Obama guy looks pretty good. At least he's not another Bush!"
But by now, we can all see that this president is far from center. Way too far. And the signs were there, but only in little bites, thanks to his entire career being only months long, and no mainstream press willing to examine it.
Now Americans are going to have to use the only tool they have to erase and correct a mistake. And yesterday they began the proven process. I'm tempted to say that for the first time, I'm really proud of my country, but that would be a cheap shot wouldn't it? More than that, it would be absolutely untrue.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Play or Pay
The Obama White House decided last week that they were going to freeze out Fox News. This is the very first presidency ever to pick out a specific news source and decide that they were not worthy. Obama's timing comes right on the heels of Fox's airing of the ACORN scandal; an event that during the last administration, would have been lauded by Time and Newsweek as great, hard-core investigative journalism. But not now.
God knows, had George Bush decided to take the same action against news sources that were challenging his actions at every turn, he would have locked the doors on MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS and probably a couple of others. But I know, these media outlets NEVER showed any bias. Right.
There is a new emphasis over at the Politico this morning on so many more examples of the disparity in the media's treatment of the two administrations. (Oh...except on Fox). Check it out:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20091027/pl_politico/28764
I don't know if the Politico has any kind of access to the White House currently, but if they do, they can probably kiss it goodbye after this post. That's just the way it with this president who promised a new era of transparency, cooperation and conciliation.
God knows, had George Bush decided to take the same action against news sources that were challenging his actions at every turn, he would have locked the doors on MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS and probably a couple of others. But I know, these media outlets NEVER showed any bias. Right.
There is a new emphasis over at the Politico this morning on so many more examples of the disparity in the media's treatment of the two administrations. (Oh...except on Fox). Check it out:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20091027/pl_politico/28764
I don't know if the Politico has any kind of access to the White House currently, but if they do, they can probably kiss it goodbye after this post. That's just the way it with this president who promised a new era of transparency, cooperation and conciliation.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
R.I.P. Soupy Sales
My gosh, it's been a tough year on our iconic names from the 60's. And now Soupy at age 83.
Pies....big bow ties.....and more pies. Goofy slapstick that has not stood the test of time, but so what? That's today's problem. I enjoyed him.
R.I.P. Soupy.
Pies....big bow ties.....and more pies. Goofy slapstick that has not stood the test of time, but so what? That's today's problem. I enjoyed him.
R.I.P. Soupy.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Benedict's Bold Move
So what does it mean, this move by the Pope to cast a lifeline to conservative Anglican's? Well, I'm no authority on all of the idiosyncrasies of the Roman Catholic doctrine to be applied here, just one man trying to fathom Christ's plan for it all. Just one middle-aged (yes, middle!) Episcopalian who asks questions and often wonders, like many Episcopalians these days, if I'm where God wants me to be in His Church. So with that, and with a day's reflection on the announcement, I'll offer these modest opinions:
1. It was a very timely move by the Pope to cast his net. Was it in his mind, and within the Vatican's finest theological minds, more prayerful or more pragmatic to move now? I would judge it to be the latter. A sense that this was the perfect time for a not-so-new idea, for there are restless souls out there.
2. A blow to the Anglican Church for sure. 90% of the Church's growth in the last decade is coming from the conservative side of it's communion. A side that has been most displeased with the "progressive" ideas from the more liberal branches of the communion, and an Archbishop who has spent the last decade doing nothing but waffling on the most divisive issues.
3. Another hit to the issue of harmony within the many Roman Catholic clergy who may look with much envy upon the "benefits" that Anglican clergy get to keep when they join. Harmony is hard to maintain when the rules aren't applied equally.
4. At some level, it was a bit of an insult to the Anglican Church. Almost as if the Pope is saying that after 450 years, it's still not a legitimate Church until it's comes back to the fold.
5. It definitely leapfrogs some of the ecumenical groundwork that both Churches were laying over the last several years, and certainly will make some aspects tougher and some moot.
Lastly, I've concluded fairly easily that this does nothing for me personally. I'm an ex-Roman and have no interest in returning. It may yet mean something to me, depending on it's long term effects on TEC. So therefore, despite all of the excitement, I am still left wondering what will happen to the orthodox Episcopalians like myself, who are beginning to feel marginalized. There are many of us wondering, and some wandering. More to pray on...always.
1. It was a very timely move by the Pope to cast his net. Was it in his mind, and within the Vatican's finest theological minds, more prayerful or more pragmatic to move now? I would judge it to be the latter. A sense that this was the perfect time for a not-so-new idea, for there are restless souls out there.
2. A blow to the Anglican Church for sure. 90% of the Church's growth in the last decade is coming from the conservative side of it's communion. A side that has been most displeased with the "progressive" ideas from the more liberal branches of the communion, and an Archbishop who has spent the last decade doing nothing but waffling on the most divisive issues.
3. Another hit to the issue of harmony within the many Roman Catholic clergy who may look with much envy upon the "benefits" that Anglican clergy get to keep when they join. Harmony is hard to maintain when the rules aren't applied equally.
4. At some level, it was a bit of an insult to the Anglican Church. Almost as if the Pope is saying that after 450 years, it's still not a legitimate Church until it's comes back to the fold.
5. It definitely leapfrogs some of the ecumenical groundwork that both Churches were laying over the last several years, and certainly will make some aspects tougher and some moot.
Lastly, I've concluded fairly easily that this does nothing for me personally. I'm an ex-Roman and have no interest in returning. It may yet mean something to me, depending on it's long term effects on TEC. So therefore, despite all of the excitement, I am still left wondering what will happen to the orthodox Episcopalians like myself, who are beginning to feel marginalized. There are many of us wondering, and some wandering. More to pray on...always.
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