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.