Decision Points

I am certain that the left-leaning of this country will believe that it is nothing but a lie -- propaganda -- but, George W. Bush's book, "Decision Points," is one that I would highly recommend to all.  It provides a great deal of insight into the events of the eight years of his presidency and in my opinion, distills them down to a comprehensible level.  Some might believe that the crucible of the Presidency shapes a man.  I think instead that it reveals the man.  It is undoubtedly true that the account is from the perspective of the former President, however, that in itself is the most telling of all.  His view of himself is one that is worthy of emulation.

The president Just Dosn't "Get" It On Jobs

Sustainable jobs are created by businesses, not by government.  There is a tipping point that will be reached in which there is not enough productivity by the private sector to support the public (government) sector.  Unless of course, the trend toward nationalization of businesses continues (bank bailout, automaker bailout, etc.) and we convert completely to the "dark side" -- er, I mean Communism/Socialism/State Ownership.

To create jobs, businesses need 1) adequate excess income to reinvest and 2) a stable regulatory environment in which risk is known.  The current Administration and Democrat controlled Congress has taken, or is taking away in the form of repealing the Bush tax cuts, both of these necessary ingredients.

In an AP article (Obama overtures to business fall flat ) out today, the president notes:

"This should be as American as apple pie," Obama told a Democratic fundraiser in Austin, Texas, on Monday. "And yet we can't get it moving through the Senate." He speculated that Republicans were blocking the bill because they didn't want to do anything to help him and were "thinking about the next election instead of the next generation."

The truth of the matter is better stated by Steve Forbes in the same article:

"The truth is that not even the Franklin Roosevelt administration was as hostile to and ignorant about free enterprise as this administration is," declared magazine publisher and one-time GOP presidential contender Steve Forbes.

So, is it all about politics, or is it about the economic policies of the Administration/Democratic Congress?  As a small-business owner/manager, I say it is about the economic policies of the Administration.  It appears that Mitch McConnell at least has a clue.

But Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky shot back in a statement, "For more than a year and a half, the president and his Democrat allies on Capitol Hill have pushed an antibusiness, anti-jobs agenda on the American people in the form of one massive government intrusion after another."

I wonder when the president will "get" the message?  After all, as noted in the same article, there isn't a single former CEO of a business in his entire cabinet or among his top economic advisers.  The outlook for an improving jobs situation given the shape of things in Washington is dismal.

A Snapshot of the Economy in a Bright Spot

Yesterday I spent the day in the Nashville, TN, and Bowling Green, KY, area. Their economy seems to be perking along nicely. I understand that there have been some layoffs and the Corvette plant in Bowling Green may reduce production for a period, but all-in-all, it seems to be hopping.

Jobless numbers being reported are ugly. It continues to signal some fundamental restructuring within our economy. Our carmakers are inefficient -- due in part to regulation and in part to Union imposed overhead. That's where a lot of the jobless claim numbers are being generated.

I think we may be "surprised" to see the media coverage of the economy turn much more positive after the Inauguration of the new President. They must exercise their power and annoint The One. After all, they believe they made him what he is. I can't argue that point.

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....

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 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!

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?

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?

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 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?

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.

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

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.

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.