I'm sorry, I don't watch television. I read.

While many parents worry about their children being influenced incorrectly by the types and content of television programs they view.
I worry about the types and content of television programs they view!
I know; I worry too much.

I watch less than 50 hrs of television a year. 13 hrs of that content is Ice Road Truckers. The rest is made up of various Discovery Channel type of programming with the exception of; at least, one episode of Jeopardy a year. I don’t really need to know how many children Tom Brady has fathered or whether Brett Favre is sleeping with Brittany Spears or which celebrity decided to reveal that she wasn’t wearing panties. By the way, is there some sort of Demi Moore – Ashton Kucher divorce pool or what? I get it all, whether I want to or not, through Yahoo news when I check my email.

I also don’t care if Sean Hannity is still talking on Friday about a piece of political minutia he decided to harp on, on Monday. I do not care what outrages Bill O’Reilly. (The ‘poor man’ is trapped in the vacuum of ‘all over the board’.) And “Oh by the way, you ain’t sticking up for me.” I’ve seen enough of PBS’s format to know they are running out of people to say nothing eloquently while on Prozac with their ‘inside voice’. Why do I know about Anderson Cooper’s personal life through his news stories? Does Rachel Maddow know that the ‘chip’ between her legs is showing through the lesbian angst revealed in her discussion of economics or anything else? Ed Schultz, I’m sorry, I still remember your conservative radio talk show. I really hope you are making more money now. Chris Matthews has come along way from Tip O’ Neil’s staff but he lost all credibility when tingles started running up his legs. Keith Oberman, good riddance, I don’t know how it is possible, and I really don’t care that you are stilling pulling down a multi-million dollar salary talking to less people than I do. But hey; that Dartmouth Agricultural College degree in PE sure did fool a lot of people into thinking you were intelligent. At least, it’s Al Gore’s Current TV that you are losing money for.  I do not mind his ill-gotten gains dissipating. He after all, is one of the few who can compete on your level of phoniness.

It was tough for him growing up in the home of a segregationist Senator, as a father.  He did struggle through 4 years of Yale, on the resources of family investments in Occidental Petroleum, before graduating with a GPA less than George Bush’s. He should have plenty of money still to support Oberman though. His winners and losers choices have been a mixed bag and probably a financial break even. He made a monetary killing being the shrill-in-chief ‘snake oil’ salesman for the anthropomorphic global-warming hoax; but lost big-time because the hoax was discovered long before his heavily leveraged companies could cash-in with cap & trade legislation. Don’t count his political connections out yet. He scored big again when the Obama administration loaned $529million of US Stimulus money to the Finnish car company where he had a equity position. Of course, they used that loan to immediately get an IPO and go public.  Gosh, I hope he cashed out before this week's news that their car is less efficient than the standard USA SUV. Or that news of another idiot type of Solyandra political loan is breaking.  You reported on this, right Keith? It is funny; I didn’t even hear this mentioned by the occupiers on Wall St.

By now, the smart ones should be asking: Hey Donnie, for someone who claims to not watch TV, it seems you have strong opinions about it? OK, you’re right, a little clarification is necessary here. First, my opinions are strong about everything. Second, my 50 hours are by choice, as opposed to when I eat at truck stop restaurants; surrounded by big screen televisions, showing various news channels.

The point is, I do not choose to follow the Drone Entertainment News (Right or Left). I also am a big fan of argument. This is accomplished by the thoughtful presentation of ideas and points of view without interruption and through the author’s chosen words and format. Whether by essay, book or article; there is time to digest, evaluate and seek divergent thought. The absence of attitude (shrillness, condescension or rudeness) is peaceable and grants perception leading to, at least, understanding the author’s point.  

I suggest you go to the Drudge Report; not for the headlines (which to me, at times, are entertaining) but because of his smartness to list links to so many divergent periodicals and news sources. In the center column below the headlines are links to pundits of all political stripes.
I read articles from:
Politico
Reason
The Economist
Salon
Slate
The Weekly Standard
The American Spectator
Business Daily Investor
Wall Street Journal
Forbes

I also read the essays of:
Charles Krauthammer
Jonah Goldberg
Thomas Sowell
Walter Williams
Mort Zuckerman
George Will
Mark Steyn

But without competition, my favorite reading is books. Anything regarding US History (good, bad and ugly) is a passion. The other
passion is theology. Either way, through the years, my passions vie for dominance. Usually, during an election cycle, politics/history becomes the majority of the 10-15 books I read a year.

No Thanks! I don't need a ruler.

From Monarchy to Monarchy 1776 - 2011

Independence from King George III to the Tyranny of the Ivy League Ruling Class

By 1776 America’s founding generation had witnessed enough tyrannical oppression in their lives, learned enough political and philosophical thought, understood enough of their combined economic viability to consider favorably that independence was worth the risk. That risk included their lives, their livelihoods, their property and their money. Through their correspondence, pamphleteering, newspaper debates, and tavern meetings they were able to realize that about 40% of the populace agreed. 25% would remain, both in thought and obligation, loyal to the crown. While 35% were undecided, uninvolved, and otherwise motivated with the hard tasks of living. Having formed a Continental Congress of representatives from each of the 13 colonies they set about to reconcile their grievances through a unified voice to the Parliament representing the king. The royal response was rejection and the pursued threat of suppression by the armed forces of His Majesty. It was only then, that an army was formed, a general was chosen and the Declaration of Independence was signed.

After 8 yrs, the battles were over and an independent nation emerged. Beginning with the articles of confederation and each state having its own constitution, the united states (13 former colonies) began to move forward, with much trepidation, towards a carefully defined, strongly debated constitutional form of limited government. The strongest principles and tremendous recognition of the individual are contained within its preamble and the original 10 amendments known as the Bill of Rights. In others words, these freedoms/rights preexist the government and cannot be repressed by the government. The constitution in clear, basic and common language set in place the 18 enumerated powers the states were willing to allow for the general welfare of the nation as a whole; primarily, the defense of the entire country and the promotion of commerce between the states. A system of checks and balances against tyranny were understood to be written in place through three equal branches of
government: executive, legislative and judicial offices. Finally, as never before experienced in the history of mankind; a republican form of self government.

           

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, Provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, Do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Monarchy was ended and individuals were now free to pursue their own chosen happiness, their education, morality and religion was per their choice, their prosperity was by their own industry. Their property and possessions were deeded in their names and under very strict legal protection. The “Blessings of Liberty” were secure. There was no class system. Your relation to nobility did not matter, you were free; GO!

BOOM!!! An economic explosion took place; America quickly rose to the greatest prosperity the world had ever witnessed. A land of bountiful natural resources, within its first 100yrs became the envy of the world; attracting immigrants by the tens of thousands from every land; first, for prosperity, second, for their new understanding of freedom. Many of these immigrants assimilated into a new culture, keeping the fondness of their heritage, but promoting and defending with vigor the cosmopolitanism; they were proudly American with strong accents as they made very strong efforts to speak a unified language. Unfortunately, the freedom, prosperity and seeming endlessness of it all, led to a laxity that provided footholds for every sort of contrary thought.

Karl Marx’s 1848 Communist Manifesto with its distracted view of economic understanding based on a European still feudal/mercantilism system of economics. He became the accepted promoter of a utopian system that never had a chance of pragmatic success (due to complete lack of understanding of the basics of human nature), nor did he ever plan to be subject to it.  He was, after all married to an heir of Barons and drew financial support from Fredrick Engels and later in life, his wife’s inheritances.

By the early 1900’s many of Marx’s thoughts were finding acceptance in worldwide academics. Where you had such a contrast between European

Despotism, corrupt economies and ancient serfdoms still in place, his ideals had a resonance. However, the growing acceptance in American universities was due to laxity in thought and understanding; professors were teaching something new and different not because there was validity or virtue, but because it was new and different. This inanity was deemed advanced. Then like now, was a spirit of change, abandoning the old for new. By the teens and twenties of the 20th century these new graduates were entering the American political system as members of the progressive movement, at least in thought, as actual political association was non-electable.

Woodrow Wilson embodied this thinking. After his tenure as President of Princeton, he was elected to two terms as President of the United States, 1912-1920. He engaged America in the most repressive administration this country has ever known before or since. Through his justice department there were nearly 200,000 people incarcerated over political issues. He not only entered WWI contrary to his campaign promises, he did so that the country would allow the expansion of governmental control over the economy and resources, as well the raising of new tax rates under the newly approved income tax. Of course, in spite of the creation, in 1913 of the Federal Reserve, to prevent such things, a recession was tossed into the 1920 election. Wilson was defeated, a republican, Warren G. Harding was elected. He died shortly thereafter and Vice-President Calvin Coolidge became the President. Known as a ‘do nothing’ President, Coolidge stayed out of the economy, which recovered and prospered within 18 months, and we had an unparalleled growth known as , ‘the roaring 20’s’.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1932, returned us to the controlled economy of the ‘new’ thinking and we remained in a government caused depression for the next 12 yrs. The good news, of course, was now as an American, all of your personal information was known to the government. Through the Internal Revenue Service, your income, your charitable contributions, your business ventures, your real estate purchases, your bank balance,

Your phone bill and grocery expenses were all in the knowledge of the government. The tax laws were now so expansive that 23% was owed on an income of $500.

The expansion of this thinking and the laws enacted to support them  have brought our country nearly 240 yrs later to ask, where is security of our “Blessing of Liberty”? The current Occupy Wall Street protestors are asking for free education and an end to greed.  Give me a break! I want an end to a ruling class supposedly endorsed and encouraged by their Ivy League educations to oppress Americans. You are expressly forbidden by the Constitution to supersede my God given inalienable rights as an individual free man!

Sometimes I wonder

Is the Christian Right Wrong?

Let me first say, I agree with many of the core values and platforms certain groups want supported by their endorsed candidates. They are admirable, inspirational ideals that would be beneficial to our national culture. It is the means of accomplishment that is problematic. The variety of groups represented at the Value Voters Conference granted both the strength of a coalition and the unsettling circumstance of being considered a unified voice. Therein lies the dilemma; counterpoints of seeking recognition as a force which must be addressed in order to motivate voters and garner support, in the hope of gaining contributions and the energy of volunteers. Versus any misbehavior or inappropriate statements that disparage the whole. Deniability of a firebrand is futile; any endorsed candidate is now seen as in the pocket of a bunch of loons. Crying “double-standard” or pointing out the media’s bias is useless; equivalent to banging one’s head against a wall. The damage to the influence with the general electorate is done.  This is magnified when the point of contention is about an individual faith among a group of diverse faiths within the party. The reality is; only the democrats are able to speak with impunity. The irony, of course, is hoping offended and disillusioned voters are able to see beyond and rise above the offensiveness of those seeking their vote.

My choice has been to separate Christian from conservative by a comma when asked. Yes to both, but I will not belong to any organization combining the two as “Christian Conservative”.  I began discovering an insight, as a young man, that has served me well - If most people believe it; I don’t. It has carried me beyond the many errant populist buzz  philosophies: Darwinian evolution, anthropomorphic global warming, Ayn Rand’s Objectivism (angst libertarianism). I also find myself at odds with mainstream Christian thinking in both doctrine and philosophy. I attempt to hold to the thinking of the founding generation; to think beyond the immediate and to seek principle truths which may be found and supported by morality and religion.

I found the words and ungracious attitude of Robert Jeffress to be offensive and self defeating for his cause and his candidate. I do not know this man personally or much about him and his standing in the Christian community, therefore, I will only speak as to where I find him representative of a larger audience. Mr. Jeffress is God not sovereign? Does any event take place, in our world, which comes to God as a surprise? What has happened beyond His allowing? Who will interrupt His will and His purpose?  Is not Solomon included in the genealogy of Jesus?  Did not the unjust crucifixion of the innocent Jesus accomplish the opportunity of salvation for all?  When Peter offered to prevent Jesus from harm he was rebuked “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Matt: 16:23 (NASV)

It is very bold of any man to declare his ways as God’s way or his understanding to be God’s. Can you say May 21, Westboro Baptist, or I am burning the Koran to glorify me (oops I mean God). Well join the 2011 crowd Mr. Jeffress you have qualified as another fool with, “If we nominate Romney, Obama wins.”

New Obvious

Fall with Captain O.B. Obvious
(Maybe, I mean falling, fallen, or fell. I’m not sure; I might have let my participle dangle again)


Bob Dylan sang… ‘You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows’. That famous 2009 trio Barry, Harry & Nancy sang… ‘You need a ‘weatherman’ to decide where the $787 billion goes’!



Sex and Money are the same in that; the less you have, the more about them, you think. The amount you have is never satisfactory and the perceived lack creates a greater need for more.

We’re all incompetent; just about different things

A friend was asked: How are you enjoying autumn?
I’m not, he replied, I’m still in Texas; we’re going to have another year of summer!



They say a camera adds 10lbs to your image. I say a cell phone takes 10mph from your driving!



It scares me that republican voters are looking for a perfect candidate. Tom, the local grocery bag boy, will do better than Obama by just realizing; it is not the government’s job to ‘fix’ the economy. The Captain Obvious economic solution: Pay the next president and all 435 members of congress $1 million per year to take the next 4yrs off. It will cost only $2.1 billion (Less than the IRS wastes in a year). By the time they get back GDP will be growing at a rate above 4% and unemployment will be about 5.3%. They will be overwhelming re-elected to do it again!



The only thing more frustrating than waiting for Obama to do the right thing is waiting for Joe Biden to get smarter. In contrast, grass will actually grow if watched long enough.



When you’re at your wit’s end can you still be witty or are you now a dim wit?

Need to Know

A note of caution for this particular blog: These are my opinions. The links to Wikipedia are only for ease of use. The general history of the people involved is well documented: by their own writings and admissions, as well as, authoritive chronicles. The link concerning the Apollo Alliance is well done and verifiable. I consider it a Must Read.

However, it is long and very disturbing for freedom loving people concerned with the direction President Obama has taken our country.

First written to share with friends in 2010,

I hope I don’t bore you. These are things that just pass through my mind.

The impetus for this came when Nancy Pelosi thanked a group of people in February of 09’, for their hard work ‘For over a year’, in the creation of the Stimulus Bill aka American Recovery Act of 2009. Please, bear in mind, that Obama became president Jan. 20, 2009. She thanked many members and one name in particular for bringing the many varied components together in one comprehensive bill. The name was Jeff Jones.

I will give just a brief prelude: Jeff Jones, Bernadine Dohrn and Bill Ayers were, with others, key players in the Weather Underground; an organization which declared war on the United States in the 70’s. Dohrn and Ayers are husband and wife. (The only couple, in history, who can check off their ‘bucket list’: conspiring to bomb the pentagon and

visiting the White House, as personal friends of the President) She and Michelle Obama worked at the same law firm. Ayers sat, as a member, with Obama on the Annenberg Foundation board, giving charitable money to Chicago Area alternative schools. Bernadine Dohrn’s and Michelle’s influence led to Mr. Obama’s hiring at the firm. He also launched his political career at a fund raising gathering held in the Ayer’s home.

When pressed about his relationship with Ayers during the presidential campaign...”We’re just acquaintances from the neighborhood, our kids go to school together.” When asked if he knew about Ayers’ past, he replied; “that was so long ago...I am not concerned about what happened when I was 10yrs. old.”

For the left leaning media that was a satisfactory answer. McCain did not press him during the debates; saying, “It is not my style.”

I am not a conspiracy theorist, but statements like Pelosi made are troublesome and stick with me! I do not understand, how it is: elected US Representatives of the republican party are barred from law making meetings while dubious credentialed citizens like Jones, are given, not only access, but influence.

There is no doubt in my mind that our current president is a radical. I, unequivocally, am not a racist.“If the character of a man is unclear to you; look at his friends.” Japanese Proverb

The people are not informed by the media either by omission or duplicity.

IT WAS SO LONG AGO!   

See the links for, what even a lazy investigative reporter, would have been able to glean, without much effort, in less than 10 minutes:

Revision August 2011:

Harry Reid and other members of the Democratic Party had the unmitigated gall and brazen audacity to call members of the Tea Party “Terrorists”, for demanding fiscal responsibility. This is the same US Senator Reid, who praised the Apollo Alliance, which includes an actual terrorist (Jeff Jones), who was allowed to create the Stimulus Bill. American Recovery Act of 2009 MY ASS!  $787 Billion: The largest single redistribution of wealth in World History; borrowed money to be paid for by, at least, the next six generations! It has nearly destroyed our economy and in fact, did absolutely nothing for jobs.  It went straight into the coffers of every leftist organization in the country. As best as I can tell, the only jobs the democrats can claim are two openings in congress. No perverts need apply!

Elections Matter

An except from a speech delivered June 11, 2011 at Hotel Adlon

Berlin, Germany by Vaclav Klaus-President, Czech Republic

Sponsored by Hillsdale College as part of their Baltic Sea Cruise

“In Europe, we have witnessed a gradual shift away from liberalizing and removing barriers and towards a massive introduction of regulation from above, an ever-expanding welfare system, new and more sophisticated forms of protectionism, and continuously growing legal and regulatory burdens on business. All of these weaken and restrain freedom, democracy and democratic accountability, not to mention economic efficiency, entrepreneurship and competitiveness.

Europeans today prefer leisure to performance, security to risk-taking, paternalism to free markets, collectivism and group entitlements to individualism. They have always been more risk-adverse than Americans, but the difference continues to grow. Economic freedom has a very low priority here. It seems that Europeans are not interested in capitalism and free markets and do not understand that their current behavior undermines the very institutions that made their past success possible. They are eager to defend their non-economic freedoms−the easiness, looseness, laxity and permissiveness of modern or post-modern European society−but when it comes to their economic freedoms, they are quite indifferent.

The critical situation in Europe today is visible to everybody. It is not possible to hide it. I had believed that this spectacle would be a help to the cause of political and economic freedom in Europe, but this is not proving to be the case. Of course, with the way your American government has been going, you might be able to catch up with us−in terms of our problems−very soon. But you are not as far along yet. So maybe seeing Europe’s crisis today will at least help you in America turn back toward freedom.”