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.

Dancing With The Devil - 2

Money drives politics. Nothing new there. The average person really doesn't think too much about that fact except in the abstract. Occasionally, however, we get a glimpse of the murky side of the money equation.

The Democratic Party of Texas has struggled for several years now -- since Republicans took control of state government -- including both the House and Senate. In fact, they have steadily lost ground at the state level. There are some Democratic strongholds around the state, such as the Rio Grande Valley and parts of the larger cities, that continue to send Democrats to Austin and Washington to represent their interests.

One of the difficulties the party has faced in Texas is funding. With the majority of their support in low-income areas, they have struggled with the financial side of intrastate party politics. The national party has injected some funding, but when there are no hotly contested races, that funding is sparse -- until 2005, when Dallas lawyer, Fred Baron, teamed with Matt Angle, a long-time aid to Democratic Representative Martin Frost of Dallas to create the Texas Democratic Trust (TDT). The TDT has since become the primary source of funding for Democratic candidates in state contests.

Now comes the real twist. Baron has been implicated as being involved in John Edwards recent troubles with Rielle Hunter. According to The Austin American Statesman:

"After Edwards admitted last week that he had had an affair with Rielle Hunter when she was his campaign videographer, reports surfaced that Baron had helped Hunter financially. Baron told several media outlets that he had helped Hunter and former Edwards campaign aide Andrew Young, along with Young's family, move to California from North Carolina to escape tabloid reporters and paparazzi. Despite reports in the National Enquirer that Edwards is the father of Hunter's baby, Young has claimed to be the father.

Baron has said that he did not tell Edwards that he helped Hunter and Young, and he has not said how much money he gave them."

The Edwards scandal threatens to taint many of those connected with Baron because of his alleged involvement. One of the candidates who appears to have benefited greatly from the largess of the TDT is Diana Maldonado who is running for the House seat currently occupied by Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Williamson County.

I wonder how much influence $1.9 million can buy? In the same Statesman article:

"Other big donors were skeptical, Baron has said, so he paid for most of the effort himself.

He started the Texas Democratic Trust and gave it $1.9 million in 2005 and 2006, providing more than 80 percent of its funding.

In turn, the group gave about $855,000 to the Texas Democratic Party, $530,000 to the House Democratic Campaign Committee and $360,000 to the Texas Progress Council, an independent research and advocacy group.

Slightly more than half of the money raised by the state party's political action committee in 2005 and 2006 came from the Democratic Trust. Baron's recent donations are unmatched in Texas by anyone in his party."

It certainly makes you stop and think....

Texas Polls and the Senate Race

The Texas Senate race this year is a match up between the Republican incumbent, John Cornyn, and State Representative Rick Noriega, a Democrat. In many ways, it is easy for the people of the state to dismiss the race as a foregone conclusion. Such an attitude could be very dangerous for Senator Cornyn. That is why he is spending a lot of time campaigning this election season.

The latest poll, produced by the University of Texas, shows Cornyn with a lead of 13% with a split of 44% to 31%. That seems to be a strong lead until you consider that almost 25% of those surveyed expressed no preference. That large number could significantly sway the election either direction.

The large number of "no preference" voters may be a reflection of the general dissatisfaction with Congress and with government in general. In the same poll, respondents were asked to express whether they thought the country was heading in the right direction, or the wrong direction. Those who thought we were heading in the right direction accounted for 20% of the responses while those who thought we were heading in the wrong direction accounted for 67% of the responses.

Economic perceptions were also assessed in the polling questions. Respondents indicated they thought the country was in worse economic shape by 81% as compared to 2% believing the country was better off. I believe this response is largely shaped by media constantly barraging print and air with stories of how poorly the economy is doing. However, when asked about their personal economic situation, 51% thought their personal situation was the same or better.

The Presidential race is likely to have a strong impact on the Senate race vote. Many down ballot votes will follow the party of the voter's Presidential candidate choice. In the Presidential race, the votes track fairly closely with the Senate race with a 42% to 33% split -- slightly narrower, but strongly in favor of McCain. That leaves 25% who are either undecided are who prefer a minor party candidate.

The number that really stands out to me is the almost 25% who expressed no preference in the Senate and Presidential races. I believe that it is because they see Congress -- and government in general -- as not acting in their best interests. It reflects the growing segment of the population who feel powerless to affect the legislative process.

Consumer Price Increase Is Energy Surcharge

The rise in U.S. consumer prices being reported around the world is not unexpected. I find it interesting how most reports include statistics "stripped" of energy and food price increases. What they don't tell you is that nearly all of the increase is energy driven. Energy affects transportation prices for goods and services. It impacts input costs into goods and services. It affects direct operating costs of businesses. It is built into every item manufactured and every service offered.

My point is this: It isn't inflation that we are seeing, it is a fuel surcharge. If we want to see inflation controlled, we must cut our energy costs.

Iraqi Reconstruction and Budgets

Even as I continue to support the efforts of our troops and the Bush administration in Iraq, I agree that a successful conclusion to the operation is desirable. Part of success is the ability to stand on one's own feet and to take charge of one's own future. Reports of significant budget surpluses for the Iraqi government are an indicator of the success of both our efforts to reconstruct their country and of their own efforts at establishing a sound economic basis for survival.

While it is desirable that we continue to have a significant role in how the Iraqi economy is shaped as it moves toward our disengagement, it is also desirable for the Iraqi people to take greater responsibility for their own success. It is time that they utilize the oil revenue that has been enabled due to our efforts, to invest in their own country. I agree with Senator Cornyn's call for the Defense Department to begin transitioning reconstruction of Iraq's infrastructure to the Iraqi government. Let them pay their own way now that the means are available.

Some Random Thoughts, Links and Observations

I see that Candidate Obama took a Hawaiian vacation -- probably to check in with Pelosi and Reid -- while McCain stepped up his attacks. Senator McCain on the other hand is working with his speech writers on what is expected to be a brief address to the RNC.

Not all of the Democrats are getting a vacation though, it seems that Senator Edwards is busy dodging bullets about his admitted affair.

The Republican Congressional Leadership on the other hand, is spending its vacation speaking to an empty House in Washington. Ah, well, at least CSPAN is listening -- I think -- I haven't checked. Other Republicans are pressing their war to lower gasoline prices in a more practical manner -- by taking it on the stump and to the people. Senator Cornyn (R-Tx) has not let up on his efforts on behalf of energy consumers for several months now. He also expressed his disappointment with the EPA's rejection of Governor Perry's request for relief on the RFS mandates.

The President is in China for the Olympics while the U.S. government is condemning Russia for attacking Georgia, a U.S. ally. This brings to mind thoughts of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in the not-so-distant past. How far will we go on behalf of our allies? Senator McCain seems ready to go a little farther than the President. Perhaps he just isn't encumbered by the trappings of diplomacy yet.

The President and Putin have been discussing the situation in Georgia while grazing the munchies in China. I wonder how their little chat went?

Meanwhile, Paris Hilton is gaining ground in her newly announced bid for the Presidency. She is receiving important endorsements for her Energy Plan. She will have a difficult time getting it through Congress if she's elected. They don't know what an Energy Plan is apparently.

That's the days political news -- at least as much of it as I want to mention.

Democrats Walk Out on the American Public

It has been awhile since I posted here. It seems that not much has changed in politics other than the Republicans speaking to an empty house and C-SPAM (slip intended) since the Democrats pulled their usual "don't give a rip what the American public thinks" act and went to Aspen or wherever for vacation. We need an energy bill. It won't happen on Pelosi and Reid's watch. Pelosi is so busy "trying to save the planet" that she may not save her job -- we can only hope.

Bio-fuels Impact on Food Pricing Depends on Location

The impact of bio-fuels on the price of food has been debated almost from the initiation of the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standards (RFS). Most U.S. studies place the impact at 25% or below. A recent EU study places it at 75%. I have seen figures that indicate the impact to be around 150% in Africa. In spite of the apparent inconsistency of these numbers, they reflect the reality of food in each of the areas mentioned.

In the U.S., the majority of food consumed is highly processed. It comes frequently in ready-to-eat packaging, or in heat-and-serve form. In that case, the raw food product makes up only a small percentage of the overall cost of the finished product. A significant increase in the raw commodity price has only minimal effect on the cost of the consumer-ready item.

In Europe, food preferences favor less processing. The items are impacted more by increases in the basic commodity price. In Africa, food items are frequently the raw commodity and all preparation occurs after purchase. In that case, the raw commodity price makes up an extremely high percentage of the cost of the item with the remainder going to transportation costs and profits through the production-to-retailer chain.

The bottom line is that bio-fuels do have a significant impact on worldwide food prices. The severity of that impact depends on the affluence of the society that we are examining. Those least able to afford the impact are the ones most greatly affected.

Energy Fuels Political Games

While Washington plays politics with our energy future, the U.S. consumers continue to pick up the check. The bill to curb energy speculation appears to be merely a political move designed to fool the electorate into believing that Democrats really care about our cost of fuel. It is really an attack on free enterprise which fails to address the true issue -- supply and demand. The price of fuel is set where the quantity supplied equals the quantity demanded. We either need a greater supply or a lower demand. The economic growth of China and India make it difficult to lower demand even though we are burning less fuel in the U.S. Therefore, we must work on the supply side of the equation. We must produce more oil.

From all appearances, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi do not care about the American people. They only care about their power and the narrow interest groups that keep them there. Until Republicans control both the Senate and the House, there is little chance of meaningful energy legislation. That control means more than a simple majority of seats. It must be at least 60% to be truly effective.

Senator Cornyn: Fighting the Energy Fight

Senator Cornyn is continuing to fight for the American people on the subject of energy and high fuel prices. He pulls very few punches in his condemnation of Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi as well as other prominent Democrats over their political stonewalling on this critical issue. I applaud his continued efforts. Read what he is doing here and here.

We Can Do Better

We frequently see the debate between “environmentalists” and the rest of us as framed in an “us” vs. “them” manner. Business people feel that the environmental movement is nothing but a roadblock to progress. People in developing countries see environmental groups preventing them from experiencing the luxuries of the west because they hinder the utilization of the natural resources at hand.

Environmental groups often carry names like “Friends of the Earth” or “Save the Wildlife.” Those types of names carry with them a stigma that immediately sets on edge the typical businessman.

What if the debate became a completely economic one?

There is within the economic community the idea that when external costs are internalized into the price of a good or service, the decision to allocate resources to that good or service often changes. An example of internalizing these externalities would be the impact of a uranium mine on the Navajo Reservation. In order to avoid the potential complexities of the decision, let’s limit it to one possible issue – or, external cost -- the impact of the mining activity on the water supply of a community.

Suppose that the mine is located within the watershed of a Navajo community. To fully understand the cost to develop the mine, the potential pollution of the community’s water supply must be examined. Such examination would need to include preventative measures and possible remediation in the event of contamination. It also would need to look at long-term effects to wildlife residing in the watershed. Wildlife might provide hunting lease income to the reservation. It might also be of significant cultural value that would be difficult to price. It might affect tourist income from photography or viewing. It might impact local artisans who utilize specific clays located within the watershed.

With the exception of preventing and remediating potential contamination, none of the impacts mentioned are direct costs to the mine owner/operator. They are however, external costs to the community of locating the mine in their watershed.

How does one determine the value of natural resources? We can estimate the value of mineral deposits. We can value land based on the transactional market for similar properties. But, how do we value the less obvious things such as: filtering the water supply, tourism, hunting and fishing, recreation, moderating effects on climate, flood protection, erosion control and other items about which we don’t currently understand?

Hopefully in the near future, we will see attention paid to such values. Such things must be part of an overall land use plan before disruptive activities are begun. We need oil, natural gas, wind energy, solar energy, coal and we need minerals that can only be obtained through extractive activities. Surely we have learned enough of the complex interactions of the environment to begin to make sound evaluations of our activities in a broader sense. We must learn to utilize our resources without destroying our surroundings. Let’s drill – but let’s do so in an environmentally informed manner. Let’s build windmills for electrical generation – but let’s situate them in a manner that retains the benefits of our wild lands. Let’s learn from the unintended consequences of our past mistakes – such as ruined lakes and streams from coal mining or oil and gas extraction. We can do better.

Energy: All of the Above

Senator Cornyn once again weighs in on the issue of Energy. The present gains on energy legislation are a result of the Democrats caving slowly to the building pressure from the electorate. Watch out though, come this fall if they retain their control of the House and Senate and possibly add the Presidency, the consumers in this country don't stand a chance. Energy prices will go through the roof. Why? Because they (the Democrats, er, Socialist Elite) don't want us using it! They want to be the elite (as in the Politburo) controlling the masses -- subjugating us to be their servants. It is eliteism at its worst. It is reminiscent of the rebellion of the working classes that resulted in the Communist Dictatorships of Stalin and Lenin. Sigh. Why are people so blind?

Cornyn Comments on Supreme Court Nominees

History tells us that the next President will likely have the opportunity to make at least one and possibly two appointments to the Supreme Court. Senator John Cornyn has posted some very insightful thoughts on that on Governor Huckabee's blog. Head over there for a look!

Infrastructure as Economic Stimulus

Infrastructure is an issue that merits attention. We must re-vamp our electrical distribution infrastructure to accommodate wind and solar power generation. We must establish infrastructure for ethanol -- pipelines, rail cars and truck transport. With hydrogen fuel for automobiles on the horizon, we need to look at establishing an infrastructure to distribute and retail that fuel. Natural gas powered vehicles also need filling stations. Our highways are in need of attention -- especially many of our bridges which are aged. The extreme growth of metropolitan areas such as Austin, Texas, have left a gap in the road system of those cities. We need port terminals for LNG offloading and for receiving oil that hopefully will soon be pumped on the outer continental shelf. We need new rail and high-speed transit facilities. And the list goes on.

Texas currently has a budget surplus created by the growth in the economy and from high oil prices. It needs to go into some form of revolving fund for infrastructure. Now, even some Democrats are "getting it" as far as infrastructure goes. Construction requires workers. Workers spend money. That stimulates business. Business works more efficiently when infrastructure is in place to move energy to where it is needed. It all works together to fuel our economy which generates more taxes -- even at lower rates. Let's stimulate the economy by spending money on infrastructure.

Energy -- Let It Flow

While Congress continues to do battle over the energy crisis, private industry is stepping up with projects that will help more than anything Congress can do. The best place to start is to get oil into our refineries and to turn it into gasoline. Canadian oil is a good potential source. Too bad the refineries are a long way south of there.

When will the Democrats learn that a free market is the best solution to our energy woes? Instead, they want to penalize investors who see energy as an opportunity. Go figure....

What we really need is a plan to get off of high center and become Energy Independent.

Subsidies, Trade, Agriculture and Security

Rising global food prices have created some interesting dynamics in recent trade discussions. In the past, agricultural subsidies and import/export tariffs have been a sticking point in any negotiations. One reason for this is that many countries wish to protect their agriculture industry due to security concerns. If world agricultural product prices are low, many industrialized countries cannot compete on the world market. Their producers are threatened with failure. So, the governments of those highly developed economies typically subsidize their farmers in some fashion so that they can remain in business and thus keep agriculture viable.

With high food prices, the subsidies are not as necessary to maintain viability for famers in advanced economies. They can compete with low-cost producers such as Brazil. This provides the opportunity for those governments to offer a cut in farm subsidies in exchange for things like reduced import tariffs for manufactured goods in countries that have erected barriers to protect their industry for reasons similar to industrialized countries protecting agriculture.

Ultimately, the most efficient way to allocate the world's resources is with a completely open, free market. This of course would necessitate that the world's governments all feel safe enough from their neighbors to believe that dropping protective barriers is prudent. Those barriers are like an economic stockade or fort. Just as a country seeks to protect itself militarily, it must protect itself economically.

In the last 30 years, the U.S. has exposed itself economically, yet has maintained its world preeminence in some respects, by its military power. Countries fear to take economic retaliation on the U.S. because of the potential for an overwhelming military response. Our dependence on foreign oil has weakened our position. We now are at extreme risk due to our high dependence on foreign sources of petroleum. Have we stretched our military capacity to the point that the military threat is less likely to offset that economic threat?

We must achieve energy self-sufficiency. We also must remain vigilant to maintain our food security. The greatest strength of our country is our economic system. It is also our greatest point of vulnerability. If we are hostage to foreign sources of energy -- or, through exposing our agricultural sector to extreme market vulnerability by eliminating a system of price subsidies -- we offer ourselves to the mercy of our enemies.

Interlude

Hello all. We have had a family reunion. It has been crazy. That's why no blog for the last few days. I hope to get back to speed tomorrow.

Speaking Before a Hostile Crowd: McCain

Senator McCain is demonstrating that he can handle foreign policy. Even with potentially hostile situations, he is able to reach out by finding common ground. Being able to deal with those who are openly opposed to you is difficult for many. I think that at times in his career it has been difficult for John McCain. He seems to be overcoming that difficulty.

It is sad that so many people vote for reasons that are not directly tied to the policies or positions of a candidate nor are they tied to their abilities to handle the office. They are often a matter of gender, of race, or of looks. Demonstrated leadership is important. Charisma is NOT the best criteria for selection. Look what that did for us under "what is the definition of is" Clinton. Senator McCain is showing us that he has what it takes to be President.

Water Resource Planning

Growing up in West Texas, one learns to appreciate water. The area in which I was raised is one of the prime agricultural areas of the state -- thanks to the Ogallala Acquifer. If it wasn't for that acquifer, it would be a dry place indeed.

The demands for good, clean drinking water are increasing as populations grow. Not only is that water needed for drinking, it is needed for agriculture. The world cannot feed itself without irrigation. Developing and maintaining our water resources is crucial to our survival.

There are water deficit areas and water surplus areas throughout the world. It would be great if we could pipe water from the surplus areas to the deficit areas. The problem is, water runs downhill but has to be pumped up hill. Most surplus areas are at lower elevations while deficit areas are at the higher ones.

It doesn't make a lot of sense to take water from deficit areas -- such as the Texas Panhandle -- and send it downhill to Dallas. Especially when it draws from an acquifer that is already being slowly depleted by its primary user -- agriculture.

Perhaps it is time for Texas to take a hard look at the state's overall water situation and develop a plan for the future. If we don't, we may severly handicap our children and grandchildren by our failure.

Inflation or Fuel Surcharge?

Inflation? We don't have inflation. What we have is a fuel cost surcharge rippling through our economy. It affects the price of everything.

What can be done about it? Produce more energy -- quickly. The law of supply and demand are immutable in spite of what the Democrats tell you. We can work on both sides of the equation -- for that's what it is. Price is set based on the equilibrium point of supply and demand. Taxes and regulations artificially raise that point. The most efficient mechanism for determining price is a free market.

We need to learn to conserve and we need to produce more energy. The quickest way to drive down energy prices is to glut the market with an abundant supply of energy. All forms of energy are affected but the one on every one's mind right now is the price of gasoline. We need more oil and we need it quickly.

Most of the oil rigs available are being used currently. We need more rigs and we need them working now -- on the Outer Continental Shelf, in ANWR and anywhere else where there are untapped reserves.

Let's wean ourselves from foreign oil. Let's establish our Energy Independence. Join Senator John Cornyn in his efforts.

Related: U.S. Senator John Cornyn has posted a guest post at RedState.

A RISKy Game

Have you ever played RISK? It is a strategic board game in which you assign armies to the countries which you hold. You then attack other countries or defend your own if being attacked. The object is to gain complete control of all of the countries represented on the board. The game is great for teaching basic strategic thinking.

Generally there are two basic types of players of the game. One is defensive -- always worried about holding onto what they have. They tend to play reactively. If attacked in a specific place, they quickly build up armies in that place in order to defend against the next attack. They are motivated by the fear of losing. The other type of player is offensive in nature. They are always on the attack. They look for and probe weaknesses in their opponents. They will often sacrifice some areas for the sake of an overall strategic plan. They usually win.

Mr. Obama seems to be the first type of player. Let's put 10 armies on Afghanistan. We don't need them in Iraq anymore because we haven't been attacked there lately. I don't like losing. Do you? Then why back a loser?

Polarizing America

One of the most polarizing figures of recent times tells us that we are becoming more polarized as a society. I'll bet that he has no clue what role he has played in defining that polarity.

We like to be around those who are like us. Astounding isn't it? Hasn't it always been that way? If you look around our country you will see that those of similar ethnic descent tend to live in the same neighborhood. Those of similar occupations live near each other. Those in similar positions within the hierarchy of business live near each other. Wait -- I'm saying that farmers and farm workers live near farms. Factory workers live near factories. The wealthy live where they have neighbors with big houses -- don't want to hurt property values with smaller houses moving in now do we?

The real polarity is that of ideas. It is the differences in how we look at the world. Do we fear our neighbor or do we cherish them? Are we out to conquer the world or do we feel like we are victims? Do we follow the crowd or do we strike out on our own? The older I get, the more I see patterns in how people behave and think based on an underlying philosophy that is either inward focused or outward focused. I'm not referring to big egos. I'm referring to whether one sees themself as a victim or as a conquerer -- whether the "world is out to get me" or, "bring it on, world."

Then again, there are the wolves and sharks. But, that's a whole 'nother post....

Spin City

Talk about Spin -- recent legislative victories on measures favored by the President are being accredited to a new willingness to compromise on his part. Supposedly his "lame duck" status doesn't sit well with the administration and they are wanting to go out with a solid string of accomplishments.

I think the recent legislative victories are instead the result of the politics of the 2008 Presidential race. The Dems are seeing the need to give-in to the President on several issues because their candidate is needing the approval of the American public. His recent moves to the center are signalling to his cohorts that there are issues about which the majority of Americans care and Congress needs to support him in that move. You add to that the extremely low approval ratings of Congress and you have additional pressure on lawmakers. There are a lot of them fearful for their jobs as they head toward the fall.

It is pure pragmatism that moves the vote. Further stonewalling of these important measures by a Democrat controlled House and Senate would be seen by the public for what it is -- pure partisan politics. They are merely trying to assuage the fears of the average voter that a Democrat in the Executive plus Democrat control of Congress would be pure disaster.

More on Energy Independence Days

Powerline Blog has a guest post from U.S. Senator John Cornyn in which the Senator blasts the leadership of Nancy Pelosi and her Democrat co-horts on the energy issues that we face. Head over there and read what he says and then drop by the Energy Independence Days posts on the Senator's blog. The next few days promise to be interesting with posts from former Speaker Newt Gingrich and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

A Good Man Takes His New Assignment

He was a good one.

Tony Snow, Former White House Press Secretary and FOX News Anchor, Dies at 53

Tony Snow, the former White House press secretary and conservative pundit who bedeviled the press corps and charmed millions as a FOX News television and radio host, has died after a long bout with cancer. He was 53. (see story here)

Photo source: Fox News

Energy Independence Days

U.S. Senator John Cornyn has declared war on our dependence on foreign oil. He has created a special emphasis on his website called “Energy Independence Days” in which there will be a series of posts including videos from Senator Cornyn on the subject of how we might achieve our Energy Independence.

I am thankful that the Senator has taken the best interests of the American people to heart and created this opportunity for the people of this state and nation to have input, as he helps through his leadership, to set our lawmakers on course to address this critical issue. I pray that solutions can be developed through the private and public initiatives that are a hallmark of this great nation. I am humbled to have the opportunity to provide a guest post on the Senator’s website. Thank you Senator Cornyn for all that you do for our state and our country.

The Mental Politics of Recessionary Thinking

One of my former Senators who now advises Presidential candidate John McCain has the Dems stirred up about the economy today. What is most interesting is that he is right. The American public is unduly influenced by the doom-and-gloomers of the media as to the condition of our economy. The media is playing into the hands of the Dems because that is who most of them support. The frenzy is self-feeding because the more it is hyped, the greater the impact of that hype on both the actual economy and the attitude of the people toward the economy.

Those who have a positive outlook are reaping the rewards. Those who fear to move forward are creating losses for themselves because of retrenching actions. It is the difference between being proactive and being reactive. Face forward, move forward and move on. The U.S. still has far and away the best economic system on the planet. It works.

A President's Roots

I usually avoid reading articles that target our President. It seems obvious that the press think him to be "less-than-polished" as a speaker and often disagree vehemently with his views. It's probably because they are clueless about the type of individual that I believe him to be.

The President grew up in the rough-and-tumble of the oil patch of West Texas. Yes, I know that his roots lie in the well-worn soil of New England's elite, but his formative years were in an environment that is known for action, not talk; overcoming adversity, not giving in to fears; domination of the elements, not hand-wringing over what nature throws at you. I believe that there is an element in his character that is much closer to the common, everyday, hardworking people of this nation than it is to the self-styled elite of the Washington and international jet-setting crowd. He is caught between the two worlds.

Perhaps that is why the mainstream media, the "old-world superiority complex" of Europe and the "snobbery" of New England and California hate him. It is because they don't see him as one of the elite. He doesn't fit their expectations. He hasn't bowed to the requisite "polish" that is expected by them. He has retained that element of the average citizen that ties him to their values.

When the music fades and his tenure in the Presidency is only a memory, I believe that history will treat him kindly. Time has a way of changing perspective. No longer will minor idiosyncrasies get in the way of thoughtful, honest evaluations of effectiveness and character. He will be remembered well. Thank you, Mr. President, for holding on to the values of Middle America -- the "flyover" country that our East and West Coast brethren demean as the land of the uncouth, unwashed servants of their elitist agenda.

Pelosi's "Strategic" Solution to Fuel Prices

Maybe I'm confused in my understanding of the word "strategic," but it seems to me that if there was ever a time to have the strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) full it is now. When we look at the turmoil in the Middle East, the surging demand for petroleum by China and the potential for supply disruptions throughout the world by terrorists -- not to mention the roadblocks to increased production that are being erected by the Democrats in Congress, this is the time to be certain we have a supply of oil to meet critical needs in the event of a major catastrophe. Yet Nancy Pelosi in all her wisdom wants to draw down the SPR to alleviate gasoline prices but is unwilling to support increased production domestically. Whose side is she on anyway?

Of Course He Hasn't Shifted Positions

I don't know about you, but I believe Obama when he says that he hasn't shifted his positions on key issues in order to appeal to the political center. Of course he hasn't shifted his positions. He may be saying things that make it sound like he has, but that is something altogether entirely different.

Opportunities for Doing the Right Thing Abound

In a post earlier today, I referred to the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) as a possible reason for Mr. Pickens' need for a $10 million media blitz on his new energy plan. Upon further research, I find that he has the opportunity to do something that could have the potential for aiding the Lesser Prairie Chicken while furthering his plans for wind energy development and heading off potential future challenges if the LPC were to eventually be declared endangered.

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department offers a program called the "Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA)" which can provide protection for both the Lesser Prairie Chicken and Mr. Pickens in the event of a change in status for the LPC. The CCAA is an agreement whereby the landowner can enter into a voluntary program for developing and maintaining habitat for the LPC through a wildlife management plan developed in coordination with a Parks & Wildlife biologist. The agreement provides assurances that the landowner will not be subject to further use restrictions or conditions should the LPC be declared endangered. This could truly be a benefit to Boone and to the LPC.

The issue of Wildlife and Wind Development is something that is critically important as we move forward with alternative energy development. An conference regarding those issues will be held August 8 - 9 in Amarillo, Texas. The Panhandle Wind and Wildlife Conference will be an opportunity for education as well as a venue for discussing the various issues regarding wind energy development and wildlife interactions. Information about the conference can be found here.

Pipelines for Alaskans

Alaska is a resource treasure trove. It is difficult to access and develop that treasure. The environmental extremists will fight tooth-and-nail for every last inch of the state to remain undeveloped.

Governor Palin is doing what is in the best interest of the people of her state and of this nation by working to develop the necessary infrastructure to gain access to those hard-to-reach resources. I applaud her willingness to face the pressure of the anti-development crowd. I hope that she ensures that the development will be done in a manner that is sensitive to some of the critical habitats that could be affected. It's all about balance.

Pickens Energy Plan and Media Blitz

Why would Boone Pickens spend $10 million on an ad campaign to boost his energy plans? His newest "big" project is the development of a mega wind-generation field in the Texas Panhandle. I wonder if it could be that his site is located in one of the last remaining habitats for the Lesser Prairie Chicken? I don't know, but based on the map and my knowlege of the area, it could be a factor.

The Lesser Prairie Chicken is on the list to be considered for Endangered Status. It is far enough down the list that it hasn't yet received much attention but it could. There hasn't been a public outcry yet, so why is Boone spending so much on his media blitz? I wonder....

Character: Measuring the Course

One of the marks of a great person is the willingness to stand by a higher ideal or measure than the average man. One of the things that I believe sets President George W. Bush above the crowd is his willingness to stand by his commitments and beliefs -- even in the face of opposition and attack. To some, this can be seen as a weakness.

I think it is a matter of personal integrity when you view such character as to whether it is strength or weakness. To me, a true friend is one who will stand by you no matter what. An honorable man is one who after giving his word will keep it -- even to his own detriment. Those who would change their mind at every whim or according to the most recent poll are less than a man.

It seems to be the vogue to focus on one's self-interest. It is what is taught us by television, movies, popular personalities and political candidates. It requires true character to define oneself in the realm of right and wrong. Right and wrong don't change. Circumstances can change, courses sometimes must be adjusted, but once committed one needs to stay the course even when it hurts to do so -- if it is the right thing to do.

The young Senator from Illinois has not learned that lesson. It is clear that his mindset is "all about me." It reminds me of a recent President who defined words based on whether they were in his own self interest. How could we even consider going back to that?

Tomato Industry Bust Now Lets Tank the Jalapeno Growers

Losses to the tomato industry mount and we still don't know the cause of the salmonella outbreak. Why? Because it's extremely difficult to track down is why.

People panic. The media hypes the danger. We all lose.

It will be a long time before the tomato industry recovers the $100 million plus that it has lost during this debacle. Now the jalapeno growers are facing a similar situation.

The Democrats are using the issue to push for more controls. "Let's have farm of origin labelling," the say. They don't stop to think of the cost. Add the cost of implementation to the $100 million already lost and the tomato industry may never recover. So, let's throw government money at the problem. Either way, the consumer will pay for it. We will face much higher prices for tomatoes for some time now because of shortages.

Dear consumer: WASH YOUR FOOD WHEN PREPARING IT! It won't cure all ills but it will help. Be thankful for such an abundant supply and assortment.

When In The Course of Human Events....

More Climate Change Hype

The big news out of the G8 Summit is that the U.S. is doing the least of any industrialized nation to combat climate change. Huh?! We're talking seriously biased headlines designed to disseminate disinformation in order to further someone's agenda.

First, consider who commissioned the study -- the World Wildlife Fund. Do we sense a possible bias developing here?

Second, consider the current state of pollution/emissions technology and its level of implementation within each of the countries in the "study." Oh, wait, that wasn't considered so, we don't have a good starting point for comparison.

Third, was the export of aid and technology to other countries considered? U.S. companies are leading the way in developing and providing technology to other countries to reduce their emissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere -- and I'm not talking about CO2, I'm talking about particulates and poisonous gases such as SO2, CO, etc.

Fourth, what about private initiative? Our form of government (although sometimes heavy-handed) is such that it encourages private initiative rather than government mandates. Were those measured in the "study?"

The alarmist, agenda-driven headlines are designed to create a public outrage. I'm thankful that the American public is learning to see beyond the rhetoric (I think -- er, hope).

Senator Cornyn Pushes Gas Price Reduction Act of 2008

As our nation struggles with the impact of high fuel prices we see little concrete action from our elected officials. It is frustrating that the wheels of government do not seem to be moving on this critical issue.

One exception to this inertia is the continued push by Senator John Cornyn for comprehensive legislation that would not only provide near-term relief for consumers but would pave the way for future energy independence. I pray that he will continue to take the fight to the Democrat controlled Senate on behalf of the U.S. consumer.

Sarah Palin for Vice President

Sarah Palin for Vice President. I'll be honest, a short time ago I had never heard of her. The more I dig into the available information about her the more I am impressed.

Governor Palin has a solid record as a politician that demonstrates the highest levels of personal integrity and a willingness to take on the establishment on behalf of the people of her state. She is pro-life, pro-business, independent, self-reliant and willing to stand up for what she believes.

She has been mentioned as a possible running mate for Senator McCain in his race for the Presidency. She could draw the evangelical vote, the womens vote and the NRA vote. The only problem that I see for McCain is that she might outshine him.

One of the first things that I learned in business is that you try to hire the best and the brightest for your company. If they are smarter than you, that is good. If they bring talents, abilities and strengths that offset your weaknesses, that is better. Sarah Palin's strengths cover the gaps for Senator McCain. I believe she would be a tremendous asset to his team.

Aging Infrastructure and Energy Needs

The strength of the U.S. economy is derived from many factors. One of the underlying strengths is our infrastructure. Our system of rails, roads, waterways, municipal services, electrical grids, fuel service stations, markets, irrigation canals and ports is unparalleled in the world. It allows our economy to function smoothly and efficiently.

That infrastructure is showing signs of aging. Part of the problems stemming from Hurricane Katrina and the recent flooding along the Mississippi River are a result of that aging infrastructure. It is something to which we as a country must attend in the coming decades or we will see a gradual decline of our strength.

As we examine that underpinning of our economy, we must consider our wise use of the energy resources at our disposal currently and the development of new energy technologies. If we truly desire to gain energy independence as a country we must lay a forward-thinking plan that will efficiently incorporate new technologies into our vision for revitalizing that infrastructure.

One area of infrastructure that needs close examination is that of energy conservation. By that I mean that roads and rails have profound influence on patterns of housing and business location. Growth of suburban areas create demands for new water, sewer and waste disposal as well as new power distribution systems. As our urban areas sprawl, we create demands on those services that require greater use of energy than if the development was more compact. That sprawl also adds to commute times and distances and thus the need for more roadways. The increased paving of roadways adds to the urban heat pockets which exacerbate the need for cooling during summer months.

Wide-area planning and zoning is a subject that creates difficulty for us true believers in free enterprise. After all, I have no desire for a government authority to come to me and say that I cannot sell my land to a housing developer -- it must remain in agriculture. However, it is something that we must consider as we look to the future and our ability to sustain strong economic growth and yet efficiently use our resources as a country.

The issue of energy independence is closely entangled with our infrastructure issues. It will take great wisdom to see the way to the future -- a future where my grandchildren will, I hope, enjoy the same opportunities that I enjoy today.

A Statistical Dead Heat for the Presidency

The latest CNN poll shows McCain and Obama in a statistical dead heat. The real test will be in the electoral college. The distribution of their support is more important than the overall popular vote numbers. A majority of the popular vote does not mean the candidate will be elected.

Obama's Embrace of Faith-based Initiative?

Obama is bombarding the MSM with press opportunities regarding his faith. His aggressive campaign to offset the many remarks about his faith is a political necessity. However, on two key issues to the evangelical vote he is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Those issues are gay/lesbian rights/marriage and abortion. The evangelical vote will be a moral vote. It is also typically a high-percentage conservative vote. There are evangelical Christians who place social issues in the Democratic camp -- that is pour money into them. The majority however, are more likely to see most social issues as needing shoe leather -- not more government programs. Issues such as poverty, crime, the disintegration of the family, etc. require Christian foot soldiers reaching into needy communities. Evangelicals often see government programs as detrimental to their efforts. Mr. Obama may be disappointed in his effect on the evangelical community.

Free Trade and Relationships

Like it or not, free trade is the cornerstone of our economic system. Each community, each region, each country has a competitive advantage in the production of a particular good or service. In order to have the most efficient utilization of labor, capital and materials, we must allow those competitive advantages to develop within the marketplace.

When obstructionist policies are erected by governments in the form of trade barriers, we create inefficiencies. Occasionally they are necessary due to national security issues. Usually they are erected to protect special interest groups.

Recently, the Democrats in the Senate and House saw fit to kill a Free Trade Agreement with Colombia. The result is higher prices on some goods and services to Americans and less profit for some U.S. businesses who would have a competitive advantage for selling products to Colombia. It is a case where the greater benefits of the agreement would have gone to the U.S. because of import taxes and restrictions on the Colombian end of the agreement.

Colombia has become one of the few good relationships that the U.S. has developed in Latin America in recent years. We have poured many dollars into aiding them in their war against the drug cartels. We need to strengthen that relationship.

We also need to strengthen our relationship with our nearest neighbor to the south. President Bush has attempted to strengthen those ties but it has been difficult. Much of that difficulty lies in the economic unrest within Mexico which drives their citizens to seek employment north of the border (usually illegally). Strengthening the Mexican economy is in our best interest.

I applaud Senator McCain for reaching out to both the Colombian and Mexican governments. As we approach the fall elections we must keep in mind that relationships with our friends to the south are critical to our own future economic and political stability. On the other hand, Obama would like to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement as punitive action against Mexico on immigration. So, McCain would "reach out" while Obama would seek to punish. It is clear to me that Senator McCain is working in our best interests while Obama's actions would only further damage our relationship and rather than aiding the immigration problem, would exacerbate it by the damage to the Mexican economy.