Busily Looking Forward

It has been a while since my last post -- basically a month. It seems that my "real" job has occupied a huge amount of my time and practically 100% of my thoughts for the last month or so. Most people will see that statement and think that things are bad, that my company is struggling and we're in survival mode. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Right now we are experiencing growth and acquiring new customers on a daily basis. I have been busy dealing with that growth and with reaching out to prospective customers.

Isn't that interesting? The economy is "in the tank" according to everything that I hear and read and yet our business is experiencing a boom. I think there are a number of reasons why that is happening. 1) The economy is "bad" and my prospective customers are looking for ways to add value to their business. I offer them a service that typically will save expense and concurrently improve performance. 2) We have become more active in marketing our service. When times are tough you must work twice as hard to get in front of customers. You CANNOT cut marketing, advertising or sales expenses and expect to succeed. 3) We deliver what we promise. It's just good business. If you want repeat business, do what you say that you will do at a fair price. Give the customer value for their investment and they will be loyal.

The election was all about the economy. The consuming public was duped by the purveyors of socialism. It is going to get worse.

I hope that the President Elect is pragmatic enough to move slowly. It is a given that Pelosi and Reid will attempt to ram through their entire liberal agenda in the first 100 days. Be afraid -- be very afraid....

Concentration in the Media

Upon occasion I have referred to the "Elitist Media" in posts. There is an article concerning the concentration of media ownership that might be of interest to some readers. It is linked below.

Anup Shah, Media Conglomerates, Mergers, Concentration of Ownership, GlobalIssues.org, Last updated: Sunday, April 29, 2007

When we talk about "Freedom of the Press" we have in mind the idea that government should not control the news. What about control in other hands? Is the media truly free when a handful of large corporations control the bulk of the content -- either through "friendliness" toward advertising revenue or through their own corporate and institutional biases?

The Internet has changed the shape of media in regard to news stories, however, one must consider where most content is generated. Often, bloggers merely take stories generated by existing main line media sources and present commentary. Investigations by bloggers are often primarily Internet searches. Often, information, or worse, misinformation, is promulgated throughout the "blogosphere" by individuals with agendas. Where is the public to find unbiased information?

I would never advocate government control of the media, however, it may be time to examine who does control news content and consider breaking the monopolization of the news. Better yet, new entries into the media business that do not carry the existing biases that appear to be inherent in current media sources would potentially return some balance.

In the early days of our country, every small town had a newspaper and most larger ones had multiple newspapers. Often, those newspapers were aligned with political factions within a community. Over the years, media companies have consolidated until, as the article examines, only a few companies control the bulk of news sources. Perhaps the question is, "How can new venues, such as the Internet, be shaped in such a way as to prevent the consolidation of news sources and thus insure balance?"

The Carbon Straw That Broke the Camel's Back

Regulating/controlling/reducing pollutants into the environment is something with which most people agree. However, schemes for carbon-caps and carbon credits trading make very little sense.

Texas has long been dependent on the oil and gas industry for the strength of its economy. It is the U.S. leader in most areas of energy production -- including renewable sources such as wind energy. Its cities also are among the leaders in developing plans for reducing pollutants in the atmosphere.

Good science should be applied to pollution, not schemes designed to line the pockets of a small group of people who would create a "carbon credit" market. The individuals promoting such schemes are positioned to capitalize on the trading of such credits while placing an increasing burden on the consumers in this country. IT IS THE CONSUMER who will pay for it all -- not the so-called "bad" industries such as oil & gas production or chemical manufacture.

We are already facing a horrendous deficit in our country due to the profligate spending of the last few years. That deficit promises to grow dramatically under the current bailout schemes. The burden eventually will fall on the shoulders of the taxpayers -- of this generation and the next and the next. The debt of our nation is already held largely by foreign governments. We have sold our country to the highest bidder while sucking the life out of the people who made this country great.

Adding the burden of a carbon cap-and-trade scheme to our economy could very well be the last straw that breaks the camel's back. Perhaps that is what our national leadership desires. We've been hearing of a conspiracy to create a one-world government for years. I never really bought into that conspiracy theory but I'm beginning to wonder.

The article linked below discusses the potential burden to the Texas economy of carbon regulations being proposed. It's amazing isn't it? One of the few bright spots in the U.S. economy is now threatened by this lunacy.

Carbon regulation could "cripple" Texas: Perry

Another article below:

Perry concerned by plans to limit greenhouse gases

And another article:

Perry says emission rules would cripple Texas economy

Texas Economic Star is Shining

Texas has long had a pro-business attitude. It is a state full of entrepreneurs in a governmental climate that supports their initiatives in many ways. With no state income tax, a budget surplus and excellent infrastructure many businesses are looking to Texas for their new home. The article below points to some of the strengths of the Texas economy and why it is growing.

The Lone Star State is Flexing its Muscles

While much of the nation is currently struggling with high unemployment and loss of industry, it is good to know that there are some bright spots in the U.S. economic picture. I believe that much of the struggle nationally is the self-fulfilling fear of the people. When people lose confidence in the economy it will falter. Although there is added caution in the behavior of some, the Texas economy continues to churn ahead in large part because of the can-do attitude of the state's business community. I hear remarks daily that can be summed up in the following statement: "Yep, it's a little tough right now. That just means we need to do things better and smarter." If only the rest of the country would get that message.

Let the entrepreneurs invest in the economy. The result will be jobs and more revenue at lower tax rates. Redistributing income is the wrong way to fix our economy. Our government leaders are in the midst of the largest redistribution scheme since the Great Depression. We are taking money from our children and grandchildren and giving it to corrupt and inept industries. Some of them must be let to fail gently but others need to come crashing down. It is time to start the rebuilding process. Instead, we are on the course of prolonging the agony into future generations. Not right.

Is the Election Causing a Rise in Hate Crimes?

The headline and linked article below caught my attention this morning:

Election of Obama provokes rise in U.S. hate crimes

It caught my attention, not because I doubt the rise in hate crimes, but because I question the reason for the rise.

Interestingly, the specific incidents cited in the article are mostly in reference to crimes against Latinos. The incidents are also primarily in the inner cities. Only one of the incidents cited referred to an incident specifically committed against an Obama supporter.

I wonder if the economic situation and resulting tension could be a greater factor than the election results. I also wonder if that tension coupled with the desensitization against other human beings due to crowded conditions in our inner cities might be a greater factor than election results. I wonder if the reporter in the story questioned the report that was cited or if he/she just saw an opportunity to support their personal preconceptions of racial tension in the country.

I have no doubt that racial hatred exists in the U.S. I think that it exists between Blacks and Hispanics, between Asians and Whites, and between any other combination you care to examine. I think that the majority of people seek to overcome the differences between the races and look beyond their prejudices to developing relationships that transcend racial boundaries. That is evident in the genetic blending of the races that is common in the U.S. There are radical groups of all colors that foster hatred between the races. They will exploit opportunity to spread that hatred whenever possible -- such as with the election of a "blended" race President, or in the midst of the economic turmoil within the country.

The area in which I live has largely escaped the economic downturn. However, there are many parts of the country that are experiencing a surge in unemployment. Those are the areas in greatest danger of exploitation by the hate mongers.

Do I expect an increase in racial tension over the coming months? Yes. I believe that it will result from the opportunism of various groups to exploit the liberalism of the forming executive and legislative branches of government and the potential increase in liberalism in the judiciary. It will be due to the breakdown of a guiding moral basis for our country. It will be due to the agendas of various groups that would destroy our nation in their attempt to re-make it into a socialist state.

The coming years will see an increase in turmoil in our country. The riots of the 60's may pale in comparison to the coming firestorm that is building in the cities of our nation. I anticipate a rise in radicalism that may threaten the very survival of our society. I pray that will not be the case.

Is Texas Influence Waning?

There's an article in Politico today about how Texas is losing its clout in Washington. There is little doubt that in positions of leadership (in title at least), the country will suffer from the lack.

One thing that I find interesting about the article is how it links figures such as LBJ with the conservatives of recent years and the middle-ground figures such as both Presidents Bush. It discusses how being Texan in Washington automatically brings connotations of conservative Republican. Such views are revealing of the author's biases.

The article does mention U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn. While Hutchison is somewhat more moderate than Cornyn, both certainly fall toward the conservative side of the political spectrum.

There is speculation that Senator Hutchison may choose to run for Governor in the next election. Such a run would again change the influence of the state. It is entirely possible, and I think likely, that current Texas Governor Rick Perry would run for Senator Hutchison's seat if she were to make that move. It would certainly put an interesting twist on the races.

Governor Perry has established himself as a national figure in many ways. He has received national attention over ethanol subsidies, immigration and trade with Mexico as well as providing leadership among the governors of the nation. It would be difficult to adjust to being a junior Senator, but, it might be a great springboard for a run at the Presidency in 2016. After all, how many Presidents have been both governor of a large state and had Senate experience?

All that aside, I think we will see Senator Cornyn moving into a strong position of leadership within the National GOP. He has the experience and the influence as well as the support of his home state. The Senator is strong on family values and has fought for legislation that is important to not only his state, but the nation -- in particular, energy related issues. I look to see Senator Cornyn rising quickly now that the election is past and his seat is secure for a few years.

Texas will still play a key role in shaping the national political scene. Which state's economy is strongest in the current economic turmoil? Texas without a doubt. Which state is leading the way in developing alternative energy solutions? Texas, with its vast wind resources and developing solar energy. Texas also has a couple of nuclear power plants in the works. Texas is also a player in the high-tech sector with the silicon corridor stretching along I-35. It continues to be a leader in agriculture and is well positioned in many other areas. After all, it is THE ECONOMY that elects Presidents. Someday folks will figure that out...maybe....

Likely Liberal Expansion in Judiciary

The left is salivating over the possibilities of gaining liberal appointments to the federal judiciary. In a Reuters article:

"He has an opportunity and a window to select judges who can restore balance on these circuits and extend protections to workers, women and people of color, constitutional protections, that the Bush judges have refused to do," said Nan Aron, president of the liberal Alliance for Justice.

I thought that our constitution handled such protections and that it is the judiciary's responsibility to weigh legal issues against those protections.

Of course, the Supreme Court is the ultimate arbiter for those issues and is likely to remain in roughly the same balance of liberal and conservative justices for the next four years, but the lower courts will present many opportunities for appointing extremist liberal judges. With the balance of power in the Senate being decidedly shifted toward the Democrats, at least the next two years promise to provide a significant shift leftward among the federal judiciary. We can only hope that the typical swing in favor of Republican candidates in the next election will stem the tide in time.

The U.N.'s Faith Forum Nonsense

Some things just don't make sense unless you are a fan of the Book of Revelation in the Christian Bible. Check out the article linked below:

Saudi Arabia to Lead U.N. Faith Forum

Some of my favorite excerpts from the article:

"The Saudi leader agreed for the first time to dine in the same room with the Israeli president at a private, pre-conference banquet Tuesday hosted by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. But Ban hinted that the two leaders -- whose governments do not have diplomatic relations -- were not seated at the same table."

"The values it aims to promote are common to all the world's religions and can help us fight extremism, prejudice and hatred."

"Saudi Arabia is not qualified to be a leader in this dialogue at the United Nations," said Ali Al-Ahmed, a Saudi national who serves as director of the Washington-based Institute for Gulf Affairs. "It is the world headquarters of religious oppression and xenophobia."

"General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto, a Roman Catholic priest from Nicaragua who is co-chairman of the conference, sought to play down the event's religious significance. "We're not here to talk about religion. . . . We're here to talk about tapping our innermost values and putting them at the service" of the world's neediest people."

But, who am I to understand....

FOCUS, Not Change, is the Key

Let me state up front that I'm not a fan of CNN. In fact, I've been known to refer to them as the Communist News Network because of their very obvious bias toward the left. I will say, though, that I appreciate their willingness to provide plenty of material about which I can blog. The article today by Gloria Borger, is missing some key points.

The problem with the GOP isn't a lack of new ideas, it is a lack of direction. In an effort to appeal to a broader base, the party has embraced, at least nominally, too many groups with widely diverse beliefs -- just like the Democrats have done. The difference in the election was not a significant mandate for Obama or the Democratic controlled Congress. The difference was the unpopularity of the sitting President coupled with the economic turmoil since September 11, 2001, which was capped by a collapse of the credit markets.

The U.S. public needs to embrace the principles of the conservative wing of the GOP. I believe they want to embrace those principles. The problem is, they can't see them being embraced by the GOP itself. Those principles, if embedded in the public psyche, would have prevented many of the problems that we are faced with today.

Those principles are fairly simple. 1) If you incur a debt, you should pay it. 2) Don't borrow more than you can afford. 3) Get a job. There is merit in providing for oneself and one's family. 4) Marriage is between one man and one woman and is intended to last for life. 5) Kids need both a father and a mother living together -- preferably their biological father and mother. 6) Life is precious -- even for the unborn. 7) Success is the result of hard work and personal initiative -- not race, gender, social status or so-called "class." 8) If you make a commitment you should do everything in your power to keep it. 9) Government is to facilitate commerce, protect the innocent and protect our borders -- NOT be "the great equalizer!" 10) There is nothing wrong with making money. However, there is something wrong with taking money away from those who made it to give to those unwilling to work for it. 11) Education is critical. It must start in the home. It requires discipline and self-initiative. It is a personal responsibility and should not be solely in the hands of the state. 12) We should be responsible for the wise management of our resources -- stewards, not caretakers. Those resources benefit no one if they are not utilized. 13) Charity is a personal choice and a responsibility. It should not be forced on individuals by the state. 14) Personal religious liberty is critical to the proper functioning of society. Personal beliefs inform behavior by individuals in whatever capacity they occupy -- whether in the schools, the workplace or the government. Individuals should be allowed to exercise that religious freedom as they choose as long as it doesn't interfere with the rights of others. 15) Individuals have the right to protect their property. Gun ownership is a right of all honest citizens. 16) The courts are to administer the law, not attempt to change it by their actions. 17) I'm sure I've missed a few points, but the above list covers most of the big ones.

The GOP has lost its direction in the desire to garner votes through embracing a wide-range of groups and ideas. We need to accept the fact that there will be people who will NEVER embrace our candidates. Forget them. Quit trying to reach out to them. Success comes through FOCUS -- not a drifting, wavering, nebulous, ephemeral -- I'm running out of descriptors here -- set of ideals. It's time to choose a course and proceed.

The Injustice of it All

President elect Obama will get the credit for "fixing" the economy -- at least that's what people think and what will likely be the response of the media when it turns around -- and it WILL turn around. (see the poll here)

There are many who have compared the current economic crisis to that of the Great Depression. There are admittedly many parallels, but there is one BIG difference. It took the federal government several years before they kicked in gear the spending stimulus necessary to re-start the economic engine of the country during the Great Depression. President Bush, on his watch, responded immediately with a huge stimulus package. The problem with any economic stimulus package is the delay between implementation and the harvest of results. I suspect that toward the end of 2009 we will begin to see a turnaround and by the end of 2010, we will be running at full steam again -- NOT because of the miraculous hand of Obama, but because of the quick action of the Bush administration.

I do have some concern about the timing of the turnaround. That is because policies enacted by Obama in his first months could easily delay the return of a healthy economy. It will depend largely on his approach to taxation and the willingness of Congress to follow him. I hope the GOP is prepared and willing to stand firmly against tax increases.

President Bush to Deliver Commencement Message

President Bush has certainly taken lots of knocks during his tenure. Much of the negativity comes from the extreme left because they don't understand his belief system. Some comes from the right because they have felt that he often gave into the left. In many ways, that put him at the center.

There are in this country, still many people who are proud to call him their President. The areas of the country that continue to hold conservative values still support him. I am one of those who is proud to say the he is still my President (at least for a few more weeks) and I am proud that he will deliver the Commencement Address at my alma mater.

President Bush to speak at A&M commencement

The Quiet Nature of Conservatism

It is the nature of most Conservatives to quietly go about their business wishing only that the government would leave them alone and quit trying to make their life so hard. Many of them are business owners or employees who have a strong desire to succeed in their chosen profession. They seek a safe community, low taxes and minimum interference. They generally have strong family values and some level of economic success although most would not be considered wealthy.

Conservatives come in all shapes and sizes and all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. They also cannot be categorized easily.

There are social conservatives who believe what are generally considered to be basic Judeo-Christian values such as pro-life and anti-homosexuality. They typically see private charity as having the responsibility of caring for the needy. Most have a good work ethic. They are not limited to deeply religious individuals but religious belief informs many of the social conservatives.

There also are fiscal conservatives. Many fiscal conservatives are NOT social conservatives. Fiscal conservatives typically believe in a minimalist government. They see government's primary role as one of facilitation and common defense. They reject government interference, social spending and economic stimulus. They believe that individuals have the best sense of how to spend their resources -- NOT the government.

Sometimes social and fiscal conservatives find themselves at odds in the marketplace of ideas. They generally are not vocal about their differences but find themselves voting differently. Both groups typically will adjust to changes and then quietly go about their way. However, some members of the social conservatives are sometimes vocal. The vocal ones typically are NOT fiscal conservatives as well. They have a cause and often don't mind the government throwing money at their cause.

The tendency to adjust to "the way things are" and quietly go about their way is in large part, the reason Conservatism is dying in the United States. Conservatives usually don't challenge the educational system or the political system, they just go on doing the best they can at whatever they do. They may complain to their neighbor or family, but rarely do they actively seek to counter the changes that are forced upon them.

How can one motivate such a group to combat the radical agenda of the liberal left? Will it require subjugation into a relatively outcast class of citizenship before they resist? Can they be organized into a cohesive movement to resist the liberal agenda? Can they be motivated to fight for their rights? Those are questions in desperate need of answers. It is time for Conservative leadership to move to the front. Hopefully it is not too late to counteract the changes that are creeping through society.

Elitist Media and the Denigration of Conservative Thought

Don't you love it when someone tells you that you are stupid -- or, better yet, tells the President and his subordinates that they are stupid? Elitist attitudes are those which express the idea that you are stupid if you don't agree with them. That is exactly what we hear in articles such as the one linked below:

Brains Are Back!
After eight years of proud incuriosity and anti-intellectualism, we now have a leader who values nuance and careful thought.

One of the more interesting things in the article is that it begins to apologize for his "chosen one." He apologizes for his inexperience and for his expected submission to foreign influence. He apologizes for the expected inclusion of failed leadership in the new administration. Yet he hails him as the "savior" of the U.S. I can't decide whether to be angry or embarrassed. I would be amused if it wasn't such a serious issue. The Left's self-proclaimed intellectual superiority will destroy our nation if unchecked. Where is the William F. Buckley, Jr. of our generation? We need him desperately.

The Left's Fear of Sarah Palin

The level of attacks which continue to dog Sarah Palin are indicative of the fear the left has for her. She is seen as the strength of the Republican Party and was definitely the motivating factor behind a large portion of the political base. Her refreshing appearance within the party leadership has sent fear through the liberal elite and they are already campaigning against her in an effort to head off her expected run for the Presidency in 2012. The campaign is one of lies and distortions from "anonymous" sources that makes one suspect of the reports. Stay tuned to see what the Governor does. I hope to see her preparing for a run by strengthening her foreign policy resume. If you think about it, her state is faced with Russia on one side and Canada on the other -- with no border touching another of the 49 U.S. states. That in itself places her in a unique position relative to foreign relations. The next couple of years she will be closely watched by both political parties. Run, Sarah, run!

Brace for the Opportunism of the Left

How the election of Obama to the White House can be seen as a mandate for an extremist climate change agenda is beyond me, but that's just what is being said by the folks at World Watch Institute.

"Environmental leaders in the United States and abroad quickly suggested that the election reflected the American people's desire to reverse President Bush's damaging climate change policies. "Today's landslide election of Barack Obama and pro-environment candidates across the country signals a strong rejection of the failed energy policies of the last eight years and a historic mandate for large-scale, transformational change," said Brent Blackwelder, president of Friends of the Earth - U.S." (complete article here)

The election was seen as complete victory by leaders of virtually every environmental organization. (See what they have to say here.)

I guess I can understand their exuberance, however, the election wasn't about the environment. It was about the economy. It was about high gasoline prices and a tanking stock market. It was about a couple of wars that the left-leaning media has vilified. It was about dissatisfaction with government that, although largely due to the extreme political partisanship in Congress, was blamed on the President and his administration. It was also about misplaced guilt among a portion of the population in supporting a candidate that embodied their vision of long-past injustices perpetrated by those long dead. Finally, it embodied perceived opportunity by those in the populace who have embraced a culture of victimization to elect one they thought to be "one-of-their-own" who in fact is nothing like them, but is fully a member of the self-proclaimed elitist class.

Opportunism by the left will characterize the coming months. We must brace ourselves for the onslaught and we must prepare to engage in the battle of ideas. We must seek to educate in order to overcome the misperceptions of reality embraced by many. We must prepare to defend our country from those who would make it into something else -- something akin to the weak-kneed Europeans who have bowed to the vision of the few. We must face the cultural war that has gained ascendancy and threatens to destroy the values that we hold dear. We must engage.

Impact of Racial Bias on 2008 Presidential Election

If you think that race didn't play an important role in the 2008 Presidential race, think again. According the the NY Times exit polling data, white voters were nearly evenly split between the two candidates. However, black voters voted overwhelmingly (95%) for the candidate they identified with their race. Who is it that has a racist attitude?

A Call to Engage

Now is a critical point in our nation's history. The forces that would swing our nation in a direction of socialization and liberalization feel euphoric at their perceived victory in the elections yesterday. However, there are still bastions of conservative power in which forces of common sense, family values and free enterprise are strong. It is time for that base to come together in the common cause of standing against the forces arrayed against us. It is time to take the battle to a higher level.

Over the last few decades, the currently ascendant forces have gradually eroded the moral fiber of our nation, have infiltrated the educational institutions and used all forms of media to "re-educate" the people of our nation through the constant bombardment of the liberal message. Their battle has been waged as one of gradual attrition as they sought to pick off key issues bit-by-bit. We Conservatives now find ourselves in the position of second-class citizens. Our values are pooh-pooed by the media as "out-of-touch" or irrelevant. They view us as anachronisms of a by-gone era. We must change our image.

How will we do that? -- change our image? We must develop a comprehensive strategy for utilizing the power of capitalism to take control of the media and our educational institutions. We must raise up leaders and thinkers who will identify the weak points in our society from which the leftist liberalism springs forth. We must take the battle to them utilizing some of the same tactics which they have so effectively used against us for years. We must engage and we must become active participants at all levels of influence in the educational, political, judicial, legislative and executive processes. We must step out of our businesses and into the marketplace of ideas where we can engage the youth of this nation in a corrective action to offset the liberal abuses imposed upon them through the educational institutions. We must act and the time is now.

Three Important Races and My Endorsements

Today is the BIG DAY! If you haven't done so already, you need to go VOTE! In this election cycle there are three races in which I am especially interested in seeing the results.

President: John McCain and Sarah Palin. Anyone who has read my blog in the past will know that I believe the McCain Team to be by far the best for the U.S. His opponent will do all in his power to move our country toward socialism. He must be stopped. John McCain has spent his life in service to his country. That is the kind of leadership we need.

U.S. Senate (Texas): John Cornyn. Senator Cornyn has been a consistently conservative voice for Texas. His votes have reflected thoughtful attention to the traditional family-oriented values of our state. He supports our troops and seeks to protect our borders. We need to return him to Washington.

Texas Railroad Commission: Michael Williams. Commissioner Williams has been endorsed by about every newspaper in the state. The growth in the energy sector in our state has been in good hands under his leadership of the commission. We need to return him to office.

The above individuals are the kind of representatives that we need. They are not power-hungry, self-aggrandizing politicians, but are committed to serving the people of this country. That is what we need.

The New Conservative Political Activism

Political activism is something with which most conservatives are unfamiliar. In this year, when the conservative arm of the GOP has been less than enthusiastic about their Presidential candidate, it has been even more difficult to be active. That will have to change in order to combat the leftist extremism that has become so abundantly pervasive throughout the media -- including the "blogosphere." It is time for conservatives to utilize the tools before us to meet the onslaught head-on. Blogging is one piece of the puzzle. Dr. Donald Douglas has posted an interesting piece on his American Power blog related to that very issue. You can view it here. How will you respond?

Fiscal Issues Week Focus of Senator Cornyn

With the current economic turmoil faced by our nation being prominent in the news, U.S. Senator John Cornyn has focused his website on fiscal issues for our nation. I am privileged to have a guest post on the Senator's site which can be viewed here. I appreciate the Senator's efforts to bring these vital issues to the public's attention during this election season. He has been a strong advocate for fiscal conservatism and I believe will continue to bring that message to the Senate as we send him back for a second term. Thank you Senator for your efforts!

Altruism and Belief

I came across an article on FoxNews that references a new study concerning the motivations for altruistic behavior. The title of the piece, "Guilt, Not Religion, Makes People Do Good," indicates the secular orientation of both the researchers and the writer of the article. In my opinion, neither of them has "experienced" the altruistic feelings that come with a maturing faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior that is the ultimate hallmark of His followers.

The article points to guilt, or fear of a "watching" authority, as the real motivators for altruism. I can see that such motivations might arise out of many religions or out of secular perceptions of religion. Catholicism comes to mind -- especially with the emphasis on penitence and repentance. It stresses doing good as a path of atonement for sinful behavior. It is not the only "christian" religious organization that promotes such behavior -- either overtly, or through the subtleties of its teaching. In fact, many evangelical churches are guilty as well because of inadvertent messages in their teachings.

I would contend however, that true followers of Jesus, those who live by the power of the indwelling of His Spirit, experience a life-changing process that creates in them a changed nature that includes a true desire to serve others -- not out of guilt, not out of a desire to emulate Jesus -- but, a true desire to do good for others. I know, because I have experienced it.

There is only one way to change this world for the better. That way is through the life-changing belief in Jesus as Savior and the desire to have Him enter into your life and change you so that you might live according to His will. It is the rejection of a self-serving lifestyle for the gain of new life that is everlasting.

John 3:16 -- "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life."

Fred Thompson's Thoughts on the Election

Fred Thompson shares some thoughts on the election in the link below:

http://www.fredpac.com/index.aspx

Contrasting the Presidential Candidates

I find it difficult to write about things political lately. The Presidential election is dominating the landscape in spite of the "financial crisis" that the world is facing. The charges flying back-and-forth between the competing candidates are full of distortions if not outright lies in some cases. It is difficult if not impossible for the average voter to truly understand the positions of each of the candidates.

I have solved that problem for you. I will tell you what I see as the differences.

McCain is pro-American. Obama is "savior" of the world. (By-the-way -- I think God already addressed this issue a little over 2000 years ago.)

McCain primarily believes that we ought to work for a living and be able to enjoy what we earn (although the bailout seems to fly in the face of that). Obama believes that we should take from the wealthy and redistribute it to those who don't work or have no ambition beyond a paycheck followed by beer and t.v.

McCain believes that American sovereignty is inviolate and we should defend our borders vigorously. Obama believes we must be careful of others feelings and let them run over us if they feel like it. After all, we're just a big bully and it's better to cave in to the tantrums of the brats. (If you give a child everything that he wants he will be useless as an adult.)

McCain has a lot of experience. Obama isn't even doing his job in the Senate where he was elected to serve.

McCain believes we have the right to defend our property. Obama wants to take away personal protection and make it easier for criminals to redistribute the wealth (you can see this as a reference to firearms or to taxes -- whichever fits.)

McCain believes marriage should be between one man and one woman. Obama seems to prefer same gender marriages.

McCain believes that babies deserve a chance at life. Obama would prefer that no babies be born except to his liberal elite cohorts. He wants abortion on every corner.

McCain is not the best at delivering his message. He gets angry occasionally and is not brilliantly articulate. So what. It's values that count. Substance -- not fluff. Obama on the other hand is a wonderfully articulate speaker. It's too bad that it's all smoke and mirrors. He seems to be a most artful liar.

McCain fought to defend our country. Obama has aligned himself with anarchists that would tear our country apart.

I cannot understand how anyone could vote for Obama unless they hate this country.

Jerri Thompson; Future in Politics?

Here's a thought for you -- Jerri Thompson (wife of Senator Fred Thompson) for President in 2016. She's a sharp lady. I just saw her on Hannity and uh, whatever that other guy's name is....

Yard Signs and Newspaper Endorsements

I've been doing a lot of traveling lately. Some has been in Texas and some elsewhere. Last week I was in Florida and Georgia. I saw a lot of McCain-Palin yard signs and very few of the other. It might be because I was mostly in rural areas. While in Georgia I heard very strong support for Senator McCain and saw only one T-shirt that was pro-that-other-guy.

Tonight I'm in Victoria, Texas. As I drove from Amarillo to Victoria I saw almost exclusively McCain-Palin yard signs until I arrived in the Austin area. The same with U.S. Senator John Cornyn. Austin seemed to have a good mix with possibly a slight edge to the more liberal candidate in both the Presidential and the U.S. Senate race.

After I left Austin this morning and headed south to Victoria I saw a few signs promoting the liberal Democrats and a few supporting McCain and Cornyn. It was much more mixed than the western parts of the state.

So, what does that portend for the races? I don't really know except that based on my trip and a rough count of political signs I would call the races (in Texas) 52% McCain and 46% to the Democrat with the remainder going to Ron Paul. In the Senate race I would give 62% to John Cornyn and 35% to the guy that sounds like a Central American dictator and a couple of percent to the fringe parties.

If you look at newspaper endorsements it looks like a sweep by U.S. Senator John Cornyn. I believe that he has 14 endorsements to date while his opponent has ZERO. I don't know about endorsements for McCain/Palin but I suspect that it is in his favor across the state.

The media keep talking about how bad the economy is but I don't see it. The traffic is heavy, trucks are hauling equipment, fields are being harvested or plowed, houses are being built, highways are under construction and restaurants are full. Maybe Texas is unique to the country but I don't think so. I saw the same when I was in southern Georgia and northern Florida last week.

Everywhere I look I see abundance. Our country is amazingly blessed. I think that we need pro-business, pro-growth, pro-family, pro-morality, pro-tax relief, pro-spending control government. I know Senator Cornyn fits that profile and I believe that Senator McCain does as well. If we want to regain control of our country we need to get the Nancy Pelosi's, Harry Reid's and B.O.'s out of Washington.

Random Thoughts From Jacksonville Florida

It has been awhile since I have posted anything. My travel schedule has been crazy and will continue to be that way until almost Christmas.

I am writing this from Jacksonville, Florida, while waiting until time to board my flight west.

It has been a good week working in the Southeast. The people are friendly and the weather was great. Attitudes are good.

Every newspaper that I pick up has gloom-and-doom headlines about the economy and yet as I look around, I don't see it. Business is happening and people are spending money. There is certainly an underlying current of anxiety because people don't know what may really be happening in the economy. That anxiety is fed by the newspaper headlines. Yet, there lifestyles really haven't changed.

In agriculture, things really look pretty good. There is certainly some market turmoil -- but that's the way it always is. The markets go up, the markets go down. You do the best that you can.

The only negative that I've heard is a rumor that one very large outfit that is an industry leader is financed by one of the BIG 5 banks. The word is that their credit line has been squeezed.

So, why is our government bailing the big banks out? I know that it's because it would devastate our economy if they fail because it would create a cascading effect that would start with the big boys and work its way down until everyone was affected.

My thought though, is that they need to seriously consider breaking the big banks up into multiple smaller institutions. Kind of a Ma Bell breakup. Let's spread our risk instead of allowing it to concentrate into a few hands.

What bothers me is that the very banks that the Fed is propping up are the ones buying other financial institutions. If I had a bent toward conspiracy theories, I think we could certainly build a case that this whole financial meltdown smacks of a conspiracy to gain financial control of the world. But, being the rational individual that I am, maybe it's just a function of human stupidity instead.

Maybe I should run for President. Is there anybody out there that would vote for me?

Random Thoughts on Markets and Elections

It has been difficult to feel like posting anything the last few days. All we hear from the national media is how the economy is falling apart and the Presidential candidates are calling each other names.

It is virtually impossible to pick out the tidbits of truth in the various political advertisements (which includes "debates") because they are hidden in a fog of nothingness. We hear vague statements with little substance.

It is sad that the political process has devolved to mudslinging, but it's been that way since George Washington left the job to his successor. We don't have true debates, just positioning and one-liners designed to get media coverage. Let's talk about the merits of the plans that each candidate offers. Give us some substance instead of smoke for a change. We're big kids now, we can handle it.

Senator McCain is somewhat left of where I'd like him to be on many issues. If it wasn't for Governor Palin's presence on the ticket, he would really be struggling with the conservative voters. The trouble is, there really isn't an alternative. Obama is so far left-of-left (in spite of what he says) that he makes McCain look conservative.

As to the economy, I'm optimistic. Where there is turmoil, there is opportunity. I feel fortunate to live in Texas. We have a little different view of the world here than the folks on either coast. In fact, I expect any day for California and Massachusetts to be asking the State of Texas for a loan. The U.S. government is bound to be running pretty low -- they've given so much away lately. But, hey, what's a few hundred billion here or there anyway? Oh, wait! That's our money! I wish they'd stop doing that!!

Folks panicked this afternoon on the stock market. Maybe after they sleep on it they'll decide it's time to buy back. I'll bet the market opens up in the morning.

Locally our banks are strong and our economy is chugging along steadily. We've been in a bit of a boom -- and still are -- it does appear to be slowing a little bit but not much. We're building windmills and ethanol plants, digging new oil and gas wells, and the traffic on the highways is getting worse all the time. The farmers are harvesting their crops and the cattlemen are turning cattle out for fall grazing. It seems pretty normal around here -- except the old guys in the coffee shop have a little something extra to talk about.

I hate that I missed it, but Senator Cornyn was debating his opponent for his Senate seat tonight in Houston. I'm sure he was attacked over the economic mess but I think if the voters will look around and take stock of what's going on in this state they will recognize that the Senator has done a pretty good job representing their interests. The Senator's opponent -- I keep forgetting his name, but I know it's the same as some Central American Dictator from a few years back -- is clueless. He keeps preaching the same old socialistic theme as the Clintons and Obama/Biden. I guess it has a certain appeal to the deadbeats, but people around here are mostly hard-working, clean-living folks with strong family values. That's the kind of values Senator Cornyn represents. If the people are thinking come election day, instead of listening to the liberal media, the Senator will be going back to Washington to represent us again. Hopefully he will be in a position to start cleaning up the mess they have up there. He can't do it alone though. We need a few more like him. It's too bad some of the other states won't wake up and follow Texas' example on how they are represented in Washington. That's the kind of change we need. I wonder if Senator Cornyn would consider running for President in the future?

FreedomWorks Voter Guide

FreedomWorks has issued a new voter guide. You can view it HERE.

Making Tough Decision

I almost titled this post "The Bitter Pill" but thought better.

The Senate has voted in favor of a $700 Billion bailout of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. Wow. $700 Billion is a lot of money no matter how you view it. What do the taxpayers get in exchange? We get to be in the mortgage investment business corporately (as in we're all in this thing together). We will own $700 Billion worth of mortgages which are secured by about $560 Billion worth of real estate (assuming a 125% of value mortgage).

Once we own those mortgages what will we do with them? The first hope is that we could re-sell them on the open market. That could be a problem. The one's the government will own are the one's no one else wanted in the first place. Will we foreclose on the properties for those mortgages that are non-performing? Hmm -- I have a hard time seeing that happening although it does in small doses already. FHA has been foreclosing on real estate for a long time.

Let's say that we eventually will recover about half of the $700 Billion by either selling the mortgages or the foreclosed properties. That means about $350 Billion will be non-recoverable debt -- that will be made up from taxes. That's what makes this such a bitter pill to swallow.

But, let's look at the other side of this. What happens without a bailout?

First, we have a bankrupt Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Their assets are liquidated by the court and the net result to the economy will still be a loss of about $350 Billion. But we also have all of the $5.3 Trillion in mortgages that were guaranteed by Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac whose guarantees are now worthless. Any of the mortgage based securities sold to various financial institutions and individuals that are non-performing are now worth considerably less than their previously guaranteed value.

In the case of securities held by individuals, it is a matter of writing down their value, taking the loss and moving on. In the case of those held by financial institutions there is suddenly a huge problem. When the securities are written down, the financial institutions must then "classify" those assets as non-performing. Those classified assets offset the capital of the financial institution and cause many to drop below the minimum threshold required by the FDIC or other regulatory bodies. It also drops the available funds for lending to borrowers even though they may be well-qualified borrowers. In other words, the credit market dries up and many banks fail.

What happens when the credit market dries up? Business comes to a halt. Grocery stores can no longer stock their shelves. Auto dealers can no longer extend credit because somewhere behind that dealership is a bank or other financial institution underwriting the loan. In fact, many businesses will fail if credit becomes tight. When businesses fail, people lose their jobs. When people lose their jobs in an economy which is contracting due to unavailability of credit, there is little hope of finding a new job. We enter into a Depression.

This financial disaster is NOT a Wall Street problem alone. It is a Main Street problem. It affects the stock market because corporations must have credit to operate. The real problem though is the impact on the credit markets. Without credit, our economy comes to a halt. The taxpayers are going to be hit whether a "fix" is passed or not. The hit will be much harder and much more severe without a fix. No fix means Depression and huge loss of equity in retirement plans and many other assets. A fix means buying time to come up with a longer-term solution.

I applaud those Senators, like John Cornyn, who voted in favor of the fix. They knew that it was not the popular thing on Main Street. But, they also know that it is sometimes necessary to make tough decisions. I mention Senator Cornyn because he is up for reelection this year. His opponent can make political hay of this vote and if he's smart, will do his best to make the Senator appear to favor Wall Street over his constituents. In fact, it's the other way around. By making the tough call, Senator Cornyn is siding with the people of Texas. I pray that he will have opportunity to present legislation that will begin the process of fixing the underlying problems that created the financial meltdown in the first place. We need to send him back to Washington for another term.

Get Out the Military Vote

U.S. Senator John Cornyn has developed a new website to help our military to be able to vote in the upcoming Presidential election. It is a portal to important information and critical dates to ensure that their vote will count. Please get the word out to any military personnel that may have questions about their voting rights. It can be accessed at www.texasmilitaryvote.com.

The Common Sense Fix

Dave Ramsey has a proposed solution to the current financial crisis that I believe merits the attention of our Congressional leaders. It is called The Common Sense Fix. Read it by clicking on the link and then go to this page to see how you can take action. This is critically important to our future.

A Failure of Socialist Measures in the U.S.

Many are touting the current financial crisis in the U.S. as a failure of capitalism. That is wrong. It is a failure of socialism. The crisis is a result of socialist tending policies implemented by our legislators.

The current $700 Billion “bailout” of the financial industry is a case in point. In 1977 the Community Reinvestment Act became law. It was intended to “encourage” financial institutions to provide credit to moderate and low-income individuals. It was meant to stop the practice of “red-lining” which is not making loans into neighborhoods that were considered poor credit risks.

The Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) was started in 1938 as part of FDR’s New Deal. It was a government sponsored enterprise until 1968 when it was converted to a private corporation. It was designed to purchase mortgages from private financial institutions and then to re-sell them in “packages” as mortgage-backed securities. It became the vehicle for lenders to meet the requirements of the Community Reinvestment Act. As of 2008, Fannie Mae owned or guaranteed about half of the U.S.’s $12 Trillion mortgage market. The loans held by Fannie Mae as of August, 2008, amounted to approximately $700 Billion – the estimated cost of the bailout.

The size of Fannie Mae backed mortgages has increased through the years to the point that a loan for a single-family dwelling in excess of $400,000 can qualify. It is not just the need for low-income housing that was being met by their guarantees. It was part of the reason for highly inflated housing markets across the country. When that bubble burst due to high oil prices which sent a ripple through our economy, the worthless nature of their guarantees became apparent.

The public belief that Fannie Mae backed loans are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury is incorrect. Fannie Mae was a private corporation with traded stock. Investors who purchased Fannie Mae backed mortgage securities did so in the belief that the government backed the guarantees of principal and interest on those securities. It does not – or, it didn’t until the current bailout package.

Credit-worthiness should be the primary criteria for loans -- not pseudo-guarantees. The idea that everyone should be able to purchase their home is worthy, the method for accomplishing that through government intervention in the marketplace is not. People need to learn self-reliance, not government reliance. It is time to get the government out of the marketplace.

Hutchison for Governor?

The rumors are flying and seem to have credibility that Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison will run for Governor in the 2012 election. That may seem like a long time away but it will be here before you know it. I applaud her move.

Texas Governor Rick Perry has done an admirable job but it is time for someone else to step into that position. We might even see Governor Perry run for her Senate seat. I suspect that his ambitions run in that direction. Senator Hutchison's announcement that she would resign her Senate Policy Committee Chairmanship was met with a political riposte by a Perry spokesman that indicated she should be focused on helping Texans recover from hurricane Ike rather than on politics.

We will see what Hutchison's move does for Senator John Cornyn, currently the junior Senator from Texas. It could mean that he will move into her Chairmanship post. It may place him in a stronger position within the Texas Republican political hierarchy as well. He is challenged this year for his Senate seat by Rick Noriega. Noriega has conducted a bumbling campaign so far and with only a few weeks until the election is expected to fall well behind Senator Cornyn in the voting. It is in Texas' best interest to return Senator Cornyn to Washington. He has become a strong and very influential player in the Senate.

McCain Demonstrating Leadership in Financial Crisis

Below, I have posted in its entirety, a news release from the McCain Campaign regarding the Economic Crisis. I believe that he shows the kind of leadership that we need to address the situation. At the bottom is a link that tells about Obama's response.

John McCain's Remarks on the Economic Crisis

New York, NY
Wednesday, September 24, 2008

America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, every corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen.

Last Friday, I laid out my proposal and I have since discussed my priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward. Senator Obama has expressed his priorities and concerns. This morning, I met with a group of economic advisers to talk about the proposal on the table and the steps that we should take going forward. I have also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective.

It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administration's proposal. I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.

Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me.

I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.

We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved. I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night's debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.

I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so.

Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism now. Americans across our country lament the fact that partisan divisions in Washington have prevented us from addressing our national challenges. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.

For Obama's response, read the story linked below:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26872907

Witness the Beginning of a World Changer

The world and the Democrats underestimate Governor Sarah Palin, VP running mate of John McCain. The lady has class and poise that cover a solid intellect and a heart for her country and the citizens who dwell in it. With John McCain's experience and heart for service to lead the way, she will become a formidable force within a McCain administration.

Her charm will cross many barriers that might be denied to others. With proper coaching and mentoring, she could potentially play a significant role on the world stage in a manner that is beyond the typical role of a Vice President. Her perceptive mind and graceful presence are a combination that could place her in the forefront of forging strong relationships with leaders throughout the world. She could become a coalition builder unsurpassed in recent U.S. history.

She has a unique opportunity. Through a mentoring/educational process, she can sit down with world leaders and ask them one-on-one, in a manner not usual for diplomatic efforts, what is important to each of them. She can seek to understand the issues that are critical to them by asking questions. Diplomats are "assumed" to have an understanding of the countries with which they deal. She is not bound by those assumptions. She is a fresh slate where new ideas and perceptions can be shaped.

Foreign policy experience? Give her time and she could become a world-changer.

A Transfusion to Buy Time: The Bleeding Financial Markets

How is the average person to understand the mess in the elite community of Financial Powerhouses that has prompted a complete shakeup on Wall Street, an $85 Billion loan to shore up a huge insurance company and a potentially $700 Billion bailout of two mortgage lenders? Even the gurus of Wall Street are struggling with making sense of the markets today. Congress, quite frankly, probably lacks the expertise to deal with the problems. Our legislators must rely on their staff for the expert advice on how to proceed. The influence peddlers will certainly be out in force attempting to shape the outcome.

To even begin to analyze what created the mess we are facing would require several volumes. We must examine the history of the financial markets, insurance markets and banking industry. We must dive into the history of legislative initiatives that have blurred the lines between the various kinds of financial institutions. We must look at the evolving attitude in business schools toward profit at any cost. We must examine the methodologies taught to MBA's and Financial Analysts. We must look at Federal Monetary Policy and interest rate markets. We would have to delve into the myriad financial instruments and types of financing arrangements that are the specialty of a minute few. We would need to discuss policies related to housing for low-income families and the necessary guarantees to enable availability of financing for individuals who have accumulated insufficient capital to merit loans without those guarantees. We would need to look at retirement packages and policies that regulate 401 K's and IRA's. We would need to look at the basic money management skills which should be taught to every individual passing through our school systems. We would need to investigate the investigators -- those regulatory agencies responsible for overseeing the various and complex behemoths that control the billions and trillions of dollars that pass through them. The list goes on....

The crisis is of a complexity that few fathom and none can fix quickly and easily. It is the result of the cumulative effects of decades of policies, legislation and regulation. However, we must stop the bleeding quickly. The wound may or may not be fatal. It will take much more than a Band aid to fix. It will require major surgery and years of therapy.

Hopefully, Congress will buy us some time with the bailout in order for the surgeons to begin their work. The transfusions have been started but the surgery will be long. I pray that our leaders, such as Senator Cornyn (his thoughts here), will have the wisdom to steer us through the surgery and onto the path of recovery.

Palin's Style

Governor Palin's "style" is the subject of an article in the Washington Post. The title implies that the Governor is more attuned to the Public's will than to the machinations of government. Interestingly, the article attempts to subtly paint that attitude as a bad thing. It strikes me more as an "executive" thing. That's the way many executives work. They know where they need to go and they get there. They don't worry about "turf" or stepping on a few toes if those things are standing in the way of accomplishing what needs to happen. The article, which seems to paint Palin as someone who railroads her views, seems to me to bring out her executive qualifications -- one of those talking points that has many wagging their heads over her qualifications. But what do I know........I thought being attuned to the will of the people was a good thing.

Financial deja vu

Having come through the S&L crisis of the 80's and 90's, I find the current financial crisis to be extremely frustrating. One would have thought that we would learn from past mistakes but that doesn't seem to be the case.

The last crisis was closely correlated to oil prices -- as is this one. One of the differences is that last time interest rates were too high, this time they are too low. Last time, flexible rate loans caused borrowers to find themselves with payments beyond their ability to pay. This time, low interest rates allowed unqualified borrowers to get into homes they couldn't afford. The effect was the same. A glitch in the general economy suddenly meant that borrowers couldn't make their payments.

The biggest culprit in the mess is the government. By guaranteeing loans for borrowers with inadequate capital of their own to invest in real property, they set up a system for failure. The borrowers must share risk proportionately with lenders. When housing markets were soaring, the system worked. Housing markets always go through periodic deflation. It's part of the cyclical nature of markets. Cash-strapped borrowers defaulted. Lenders were burned.

Government interference in markets always inflates the cyclicity inherent to capitalism. If supply and demand were allowed to work, so would the market. Lenders would evaluate loans based on risk and reward. We would have fewer homeowners but we would have more savers.

We have pulled all available cash into the marketplace and created an economic bubble that must deflate. What we see today is a lot of air going out of that bubble. The big question is whether it will deflate slowly or pop suddenly. I fear that additional government interference in an effort to "salvage" the economy will only set us up for a greater fall. Let's take the hit, get the government out of the "guarantee" business and move on. It will hurt but will make our economy stronger in the long run.

One thing the government should do is to criminally prosecute Executives who receive "golden parachute" bonuses within a year of the failure of any publicly traded corporation. Those executives should be liable for double the value of any such bonuses or the liquidated value of all of their personal assets -- including homes and personal property. They should not be allowed to seek the shelter of bankruptcy. Any IRA or 401K assets should be included in the liquidation. They should have no protection whatsoever. Leave them penniless.

Are Grizzlies Germain to the Reporter's Point?

It seems that no matter what type of article is being written, the reporter often tries to include his or her political views. The article linked here is ostensibly about the recovery of Grizzly Bears in Montana. However, the article attacks John McCain for a floor speech condemning "pork barrel" spending in which the study is mentioned as an example of poor use of taxpayer money. The expenditure of $4.8 million dollars for DNA testing hair samples collected from barbed-wire traps seems on the surface to be a prime example of pork-barrel spending. Without adequate explanation for why the study should be conducted, that would certainly seem to be the case.

When multiple items are rolled into -- or added on -- to a bill, it becomes difficult to truly debate the merits of each item. If the scope of bills could be narrowed to core issues, perhaps this problem could be resolved. There are rules concerning "germainness" of provisions that are supposed to keep the scope of a bill within the realm of its original purpose. It seems that such rules no longer work or are often ignored when it comes to what has come to be known as "pork-barrel" projects. The other issue is that if each item were considered singly, the number of bills before our legislative bodies would increase exponentially. These issues are part of what makes reform of the legislative process so difficult.

I guess this entry seems to be wandering around a bit. It is a circuitous path to this point: The reporter attacks McCain over an issue that is not the problem. It is reform of the legislative process that should have been attacked, not a Presidential candidate who the reporter obviously would like to see defeated.

Personally, I'm happy to know that the Grizzlies of Montana are recovering. I'm sure there is concern among the ranchers about detrimental impacts on their livestock. It is good to know that a higher number of bears may ease restrictions on oil and gas exploration. It is a multi-edged result from an apparent pork-barrel project that was poorly explained because of a legislative process in need of reform.

(The original news release from USGS can be found here.)

The "A" Team

OK. I know The Sun isn't known as a mainstream political authority, but after seeing this article linked on The Drudge Report, I had to post a link to it. The GOP's rock star VP candidate will reach across a lot more lines than people (especially the Dem's) anticipate. I think the futbol crowd wafting a draft in an English/Irish/Scottish/German, etc. pub will appreciate her as much as some of the folks in rural America. Senator McCain also should score well with the baseball crowd on this pick, it was certainly a home run.

There is even talk about a "coattail" effect from the McCain/Palin ticket on a number of House and Senate races. The only thing that surprises me is that no one has started calling them the "A" team. After all, one hails from Arizona and the other from Alaska. Hmm...sounds like a good title for this post.

Lipstick on a Pig

Was the Obama comment intentionally aimed at VP nominee Sarah Palin? That is the hot question of the day. I've given it some thought and come up with what I believe to be a likely scenario of how it came about.

Picture Obama on the plane with his advisors somewhere over the U.S. The candidate is somewhat downbeat because the latest polls show him losing ground. Why? they ask. The answer on everyone's lips -- Sarah Palin. Senator McCain's choice of runningmate totally blew away the Obama "play-it-safe-with-Joe Biden" strategy. What to do....

Advisor A: We've got to attack. We've got to discredit Palin.

Advisor B: We've got to be careful. If we're too harsh, we will alienate the women voters. Besides, you can't go after Palin, it would look bad. You have to focus on McCain -- he's the nominee, she's just his running mate. We can't even bring up her name or it will hurt you. Leave that to Joe.

Obama: We need to use humor -- be subtle -- that's how she attacked me! I don't like it. I want to go after her, she's the real threat.

Advisor A: What about that "lipstick on a pig" thing you've done before?

(Obama chuckles.)

Advisor B: It's too risky -- that thing could backfire on you if it isn't delivered just right -- I don't think you should go there. Use the fish thing we wrote on McCain but stay away from Palin.

Obama: I think I can do it. Hey, the people love me. They'll just laugh. Humor is a good thing -- look what it did for her speech. It wasn't even scripted.

Advisor B: I really don't think you need to use it. If it comes off wrong they'll crucify you.

Advisor A: I agree. You could probably do it if anybody could, but there's a lot of risk.

Obama: OK. I think you're wrong but that's why I hired you.

In the heat of the speech, with the crowd hanging on his every word, the "thinks-he's-great" communicator becomes overconfident. He thinks, "she went off the script -- I can do it too -- they love me!"

He hesitates, he grins, he says, "You know, you can put lipstick on a pig...."

You know the rest of the story.

Presidential qualities? I don't think so.

Small Towns and Alaskan Governors

Our local newspaper had an interesting article this week about Sarah Palin. You can view it here. It just happens that a member of the staff once worked at a newspaper in Juneau, Alaska, and had the opportunity to interview then Governor Palin.

Education and Immigration Issues in Texas Senate Race

The Texas Senate race pitting incumbent John Cornyn against Rick Noriega has had a number of interesting chapters. Most of them emphasize the fact that Noriega is a little confused in his offered solutions. The newest proposal by Noriega concerning education reform is full of contradictory statements and vague plans -- especially in regard to education for the children of undocumented immigrants. According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, Noriega believes the state should pick up the tab for educating those children which are a result of federal border policy, yet has no idea what that cost would be. He also calls for ending unfunded mandates from Washington, presumably because of the cost to Texas taxpayers, and yet those unfunded mandates are what cause the state to be required to pick up the tab on undocumented immigrant children in the first place. Senator Cornyn on the other hand, would like to see the federal government pick up the tab for their mandate.

The real issue though, is the irresponsible way Noriega proposes sweeping changes without an estimate at least, of the cost to Texas taxpayers. You would think that a current state legislator would have a better grasp on what it takes to educate our children. How can he possibly expect to gain the trust of the voters of Texas when he seems clueless on one of the most basic issues of concern to Texans?

Presidential Polling Shifts

Are the polls correct? It is sometimes difficult to trust polling results because the questions always reflect the bias of the poll creator. However, in the last few days we have seen multiple articles concerning significant shifts in poll results from Obama to McCain -- especially among women and independents. I doubt that all of the polls are wrong...

Random Thoughts on the Election

As time goes by, we will learn more and more about the amazing story of GOP Vice Presidential nominee, Sarah Palin. The story of the Palin's son Trig is itself a tribute to their beliefs, their ethics and their values.

I have not posted directly on Senator McCain's speech last Thursday evening to the RNC. I thought it was an excellent speech. It was a little slow taking off -- even appeared to be formulaic and safe -- until near the end. I think we saw the man's heart. I believe that we saw a man who is focused on service. It is easy to be cynical and think that every candidate for the highest office in the land is only looking at the power. I don't believe that's the case with John McCain. I am certain that he can be tough, driven and difficult, but I think that deep down it is fueled by a desire to serve his country.

It is time for change in Washington. It is time to get away from politics as usual and tackle the challenges that we are facing. We must tame the energy beast and wean ourselves from economic control of our energy by foreign powers that are not working in our best interests. It is time to trim the federal budget and focus on what government was designed to do rather than making it bigger in an attempt to do all things for all people -- either through misplaced idealism or through the desire to "repay" favors from special interest groups or voter groups. We don't need the bigger government that the Dem's are promising. We need to re-focus our government leaders and bureaucrats on serving the people and not themselves. I believe the McCain/Palin ticket will at least make a valiant attempt to do so. Whether they can overcome the Washington Establishment is a different prospect altogether. At least, they are unlikely to contribute to the explosive growth that is the likely outcome if Obama/Biden should win.

God and Country/Maverick and Barracuda

The last few days I've thought a good bit about Sarah Palin as the VP running mate of Senator John McCain. The choice by Senator McCain was brilliant. It countered the age issue. It showed that the GOP's believes women can do any job. It brought Executive experience. It focused on energy. It highlights marriage and family. It is pro-life. It is about doing the right thing. It says, "we're coming after the good-ol-boy, get-nothing-accomplished, power politics as usual crowd."

On a side note: The media has blasted Governor Palin for not "staying home" with her children. It crossed my mind that they are saying her husband Todd can't handle things at home. That's about as sexist as it can get. The Democrats are saying that men can't be good parents.

I hope the Dem's have met their match. God and country, The Maverick and The Barracuda. Great ticket.

Sarah "Barracuda" Palin

OK, the title to this post might be a little extreme but it's meant as a compliment. I just watched her speech. She did a superb job. My take-home points:

"To the media -- I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion, I'm going to serve the American people."

"...integrity, good will, convictions and a servant's heart..."

"...put the government on the side of the people...put the jet on E-bay..."

"The American Presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery."

Impressive.

McCain's Wise Choice

This is one that I called back on July 2. I think she is a stellar addition to the McCain team and will complement him well as a running mate.

"McCain picks Palin as running mate

Popular Alaska governor to be first female Republican VP nominee"

Pro-family, pro-life, conservative, pro-business, Christian. This choice shows to me that McCain will exercise some wisdom in his leadership -- surround yourself with people that offset the areas that are not your strengths. Strong leaders surround themselves with strong people.

Thank you, John McCain! The GOP now has its own "Rock Star" but ours has substance!

Abortion, Climate Change and the GOP

It is critically important that the GOP maintain its stance on the sanctity of life vis a vis the platform regarding abortion. It is hoped that progress in the fight to stop the destruction of future generations by the killing of unborn children will continue under the next administration. I believe that most people that seriously think about the issue agree with the view that life begins long before birth.

The platform concerning Climate Change is another issue altogether. The U.S. has one of the best records in the world of addressing issues affecting our environment. A healthy environment is achievable without sacrificing our economy or our standard of living.

The biggest threats to the global environment are in state-controlled countries and in extremely poor countries. In state controlled economies, where there are virtually no individual property rights, there are no personal incentives for taking care of the environment. There is instead, the natural human tendency to do the least possible for the meager living that is allowed by the state. Personal property rights on the other hand, give the owner of those rights incentive to protect that property. If he wants his land to be productive he is not going to destroy it by piling toxic chemicals on it (subject of course to education on the negative impact of those chemicals).

In poor countries, the issue is that the people are just focused on survival. How can they devote resources to "saving the planet" when they just want to know from where their next meal is coming.

If we really want to fight "climate change" we need to focus on raising the living standard of the world to ours. This involves better forms of government and abundant energy resources.

Have you ever noticed that the highest birth rates are in the poorest countries? Lower birth rates are closely correlated to economic well-being and education. That's where we need to focus our efforts and our money -- better governments around the world, abundant energy for developing economies and a general improvement of the economic well-being of the people of this world. When those things happen, "climate change" will be mitigated by the very people that today are contributing the most dangerous pollutants to our atmosphere, water and land resources.

Opium Wars in Afghanistan

When the economy of a country is in shambles, the people will turn to whatever means necessary to survive. This often includes raising crops destined for production of illicit drugs. Those illicit crops typically finance criminal and rebellious organizations that add to the political turmoil in a region. That turmoil keeps the economy in shambles and makes it more difficult for a conversion to legitimate crops. This is the problem in Afghanistan. Although progress has been made, the lawless areas of the Southwest part of the country are still the world's largest producer of opium. Drug users in the U.S. and EU are financing terrorists that are keeping the multi-national forces busy in Afghanistan. Are we our own worst enemy?

It is in some ways the old problem of the chicken or the egg. Can you fix the illicit drug manufacturer without first removing the rebel elements and restoring law and order -- or must you restore law and order first so that the drug trade can be eliminated. In reality, both must happen almost simultaneously to be effective. If we could rid the world of the drug users it would cut off the funding for the rebels.

What Kind of Handgun Are You?

I ran across this quiz on CZ the Day and couldn't resist.

I am a: Heckler and Koch, Model P7 in 9mm

What kind of handgun are YOU?

The Cost of Protecting Protesters

I respect the rights of various groups to protest at the national party conventions but I think they're wasting their time and the taxpayer's money. It will cost us over $100 million for special security arrangements in the two convention cities this year. The number of protesters could exceed 50,000 at each of the conventions.

We will be fortunate if they don't turn violent at some level. I don't think violence is planned by the protesting groups, however, it would be easy for a handful of individuals to incite the crowds into mob violence. Terror activity doesn't necessarily mean a suicide bomber. It could be a well-placed individual inciting the crowd -- it happened in the 60's.

I know that the convention host cities are excited about the money the media circuses will bring. I fear that they may regret the ultimate cost of the conventions if worst fears are realized. Most insurance policies don't cover civil unrest. Will the cities have to cough up the repair bill for their downtown if things turn ugly?

I pray that all will be peaceful.

Business Bootcamp for Disabled Vets

Texas A&M University has a long military heritage. It supplies more officers to the U.S. military than any other college or university in the U.S. other than the military colleges. I am proud of my university and that heritage. The article linked below is one more example of A&M's commitment to those who serve our country.


Disabled vets muster at business boot camp

When our soldiers return from active duty, adjustment to civilian life can be difficult. I applaud all those who seek to make that transition a little easier. Our country did a poor job of assimilating Vietnam Veterans. We must do a better job with our Iraq and Afghanistan Vets as well as those who served in other parts of the globe. After all, they have given themselves -- even their very lives -- that we might enjoy the freedom that we have.

Colleges and Alcoholic Consumption

There is a discussion sweeping college campuses across the nation concerning lowering the legal age for alcoholic consumption to 18 from the present 21. Some university presidents are endorsing it, others oppose it, but most are as yet undecided. I can best identify with the undecided category.

College kids are consuming alcohol anyway. Would decriminalizing their behavior make it more controllable? It might bring it out in the open a little more which would place it under the light of public scrutiny. I don't know.

There are plenty of other problems on our college campuses. Is alcohol a contributing factor to them? In many cases I suspect it is. I refer to a previous post.

If you are so inclined, weigh in on the debate. What are your thoughts?

New Study About College Students and Suicide

A new study indicates that a high percentage of college students have considered suicide. It is a sad commentary on our society. I'm no sociologists or psychologist or whatever "gist" you might think would properly analyze this, but a little common sense speaks to the reasons.

1) Pressure -- for grades, to fit in, for dates, over beliefs -- all adds up to "life is no longer easy and no one is really taking care of me anymore."
2) Lack of preparation -- oh, they may be ready academically, but too many of them have no preparation for facing real life with all of its challenges.
3) Socialization -- the process certainly starts in Kindergarten and continues through High School, but it is tempered by, hopefully, some influence at home that counter balances at least some of the socializing process. Some kids just don't fit in. They're told what, who and how they're supposed to be. If you don't fit -- you don't fit! However, it can be a difficult blow to those who don't understand that being "exceptional" is actually a good thing.
4) Just plain growing up. Most kids are still a bit immature when they hit college. Growing up and taking on the mantle of adulthood is not easy in Western society. We have no rites-of-passage. Maybe we need some.

The problem at least partially lies with the colleges and universities but it mostly lies within the home of the growing child. Too many are from broken homes. What a wonderful prospect to look forward to when evaluating potential mates. Many come from dysfunctional schools. If your High School doesn't prepare you for what to expect in college it only adds to the shock.

I think I'll quit now -- this is depressing. I have a senior in High School at home who is shopping for colleges. I'm thankful that he seems to have his head-on-straight. I pray that he will stay centered on Christ as he makes the leap to college. It is the BEST way to overcome what he will face.

Decisiveness in Leadership

When you consider the characteristics of a leader (I'm referring to the Presidency), decisiveness is one thing that seems to be high on the list of desirable qualities. We hear from the media how the people are ready for "change" and tired of the Washington insiders. What's interesting is how the one who positions himself as the candidate of change comes across as the smooth, political insider and the one who has been in Washington for years comes across as a bit rough around the edges and something of a "maverick." That "maverick" is showing that he can be decisive. The other one shows that he is a politician -- waffling over every potentially sticky issue.

The result is beginning to show in the polls. Let's hope that Senator McCain can keep the momentum.

Teachers and Firearms

Should teachers be allowed to carry firearms in a public school? The fact that we must consider such a question is a sad commentary on our country.

School violence has been in the news on a regular basis for a number of years now. The more media attention it receives, the worse it seems to get.

My first reaction is that in some of the inner city schools (stereotyping here), violence is more common than in smaller rural schools. I wouldn't want my daughter teaching in such schools. I would worry about her every day. However, school violence isn't confined to those schools. It happens in schools of all sizes and locations.

One would hope that the training and licensing process would weed out those individuals who should not carry a weapon. I doubt that it would. Proficiency, knowledge of safety procedures and such will not insure that the person carrying the firearm won't react in a way that jeopardizes the innocent kids in the event of an incident.

I think the best solution might be to hire or train a safety officer. Such an individual would preferably have police training and experience. In the event that they do not, they should go through training similar to what law enforcement officers do. There should only be one or two per campus. An administrator might be the preferred individual in the event that an outside safety officer is not hired. Our own school system utilizes the local police department and has an officer on campus when classes are in session.

I wonder what might be the liability issues for the school district?

Nominating Conventions and Boredom

I recall that as a youngster many years ago, the party nominating conventions for President were a big deal in our house. I loved to watch the speeches -- although at the time I probably was clueless about the implications of all that was said -- and I waited with anticipation the vote by state delegations for their choice of Presidential nominee. There was always an air of "the possible" and some doubt as to how the vote would turn out. That no longer is the case.

Today, the party conventions are a media circus with a foregone conclusion. The only possible question this year is in the Democratic Convention where there is an element of potential surprise by Hillary Clinton. This could be a good thing for Obama. It may create enough interest by the voting public to actually watch the convention to see just what she and her supporters will do. The Republicans don't have that type of question in front of them.

The Republican Convention promises to be boring. Many of the party faithful are less than enamored with their candidate. The vote is expected to be without event. The speeches will likely follow tried-and-true formulas. There is nothing that promises excitement with the possible exception of the expected nominee himself, John McCain. There may be some expectation that his performance will provide news fodder for a few days if his speech is less-than-satisfactory to the political-talking-heads.

Wouldn't it be more fun if it was more of a political brawl with backroom bargaining and ringing floor speeches attempting to sway the delegates? Instead, it will be canned speeches, foregone conclusions and endless analyses by analysts whose primary qualification is that they lost a political race at one time or another. Will there be an audience?

It seems to me that the candidates have more to lose than they have to gain. McCain will have difficulty overcoming the "boring-us-to-death" potential in Minneapolis. Obama will have to come across as Presidential -- not just a rock star. How the Hillary question is played will also affect voter views of him as a leader. I fear the American public will be the big loser as we are subjected to carefully orchestrated television performances -- if we watch at all.