Untitled Blog

I'll tell you what I think...

2010-03-20T14:39:00.000-07:00

Katheryn Lopez tweeted, "even for an obama speech, this was a bit much. email your thoughts to klopez@nationalreview.com"

Here's my reply ( fugue warning!;) )

I'll tell you what I think...

All this week, Congressmembers have ignored and derided citizens' IN PERSON questions about "ObamaCare." In those rare instances Representatives are 'stuck' actually speaking to a constituent, they are unwilling or unable to answer serious questions about the legislation. Instead, they repeat threadbare talking points that have nothing to do with the question they've been asked.

Meanwhile, they are meeting back-to-back with Democrat party leaders, union reps and lobbyists, cutting secret deals ordinary citizens' would go to jail for if they offered or received them.

After who-knows-how-much *ahem* horsetrading, Congressional leaders announce a vote on a "process" Sen Harry Reid said was an unfounded rumor that "nobody is talking about" just a few dys ago. The "reconciliation" action is a scurrilous and cynical manipulation of the good-faith process of our Congress that millions of Americans are watching with disgust and dispair.

Obama & the Dems fail to recognize the genuine outrage of everyday Americans. Over 30,000 regular people rushed to Washington with less than 48 hrs' notice to rally to oppose "ObamaCare."

Congress has fallen. Americans have lost faith in the honest workings of the legislative branch of our government. They and the executive branch TO THIS VERY HOUR refuse to answer specific questions about this bill, instead choosing to hide behind locked doors, ducking the good people in the halls and talking only to each other.

And so we come to Obama's "pep talk." No answers, only more derision for those opposing the bill, and the process. No explanation, just more talking point ringing hollow.

It sickens me. It outrages me. And I'm waaay over here in California.

Happy Anniversary, Tea Party Movement! A Look Back...

2010-02-27T11:04:00.000-08:00

SO MUCH has happened has happened is the past year. SO MUCH is happening right now!!

Today marks the first anniversary of the day regular people stopped their regular lives to gather together in the sun, rain, and snow to say in one voice, "Enough!"

Here's the "PSA" we made to help get the word out about the Tea Party...

About 30,000 people in 51 cities and towns has since grown to 57,000,000 people across the country - and that number grows larger every day.

Here's a follow-up video made of some the pictures and videos people took February 27, 2009 at their Tea Party events from all across America ...

To see even more pictures and videos from that day, click here to go the the Photobucket albums...

AMAZING!

UPDATED: #HCR Swing Votes w/Extensive Contact Information

2010-02-24T00:05:00.000-08:00

This information is lifted directly off Dick Morris' blog, found here.

What I've done is take his list and add more and better contact information so that you can make sure your voice is heard.

When using this list, try the DC number first. If you can't get through or are unable to leave a message, try the local phone numbers. I can tell you from personal experience that I almost always have better luck using the local contact information.

One last thing: The best, most effective way to contact your elected officials is to send in a letter. So whenever you can, take the time to write your Representative a letter explaining your opinion - on paper - and mail it via USPS.

# # #

If you live in any of the states from which these swing Congressmen come, please call them. Let them know your opposition to health care changes. The phone for Congress is 202-224-3121.

UPDATE: Voters need to say, "You voted for Obamacare the first time. But your district opposes it by 2 to 1. Now it is coming up for a vote again. Listen to your constituents and vote no. We don’t want Medicare cuts or premium increases or rationing of medical care. Don’t monkey with our health care. Vote no this time.”

Vulnerable Democratic Congressmen
Who Voted FOR Obamacare The First Time Around

These are the folks we need to pressure to switch their votes!

Arizona:
Harry Mitchell
(Phoenix suburbs)
DC Voice: 202-225-2190
DC Fax: 202-225-3263
District Office
7201 East Camelback Road, Suite 335
Scottsdale, AZ 85253
Voice: 480-946-2411
FAX: 480-946-2446
TwitterID: @HarryEMitchell

Gabrielle Giffords
(Tucson)
DC Voice: 202-225-2542
DC Fax: 202-225-0378
District Offices

1661 North Swan, Suite 112
Tucson, AZ 85712
Voice: 520-881-3588
FAX: 520-322-9490

77 Calle Portal, Suite B-160
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Voice: 520-459-3115
FAX: 520-459-5419

TwitterID: @Rep_Giffords

Ann Kirkpatrick
(most of rural Arizona, NE part of state)
DC Voice: 202-225-2315
DC Fax: 202-226-9739
District Offices

240 South Montezuma Street, Suite 101
Prescott, AZ 86303
Voice: 928-445-3434
FAX: 928-445-4160

1515 East Cedar Avenue, A6
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Voice: 928-226-6914
FAX: 928-226-2876

211 North Florence Street, Suite 3
Casa Grande, AZ 85122
Voice: 520-836-3226
FAX: 520-836-8417

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

California:
Jerry McNerney
(Stockton and Pleasanton)
DC Voice: 202-225-1947
DC Fax: 202-225-4060
District Offices

2222 Grand Canal Boulevard, Suite 7
Stockton, CA 95207
Voice: 209-476-8552
FAX: 209-476-8587

5776 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 175
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Voice: 925-737-0727
FAX: 925-737-0734

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Colorado:
John Salazar
(Pueblo)
DC Voice: 202-225-4761
DC Fax: 202-226-9669
District Offices

609 Main Street, #6 Alamosa, CO 81101 Voice: 719-587-5105 FAX: 719-587-5137	813 Main Avenue, Suite 300 Durango, CO 81301 Voice: 970-259-1012 FAX: Not Currently Available
225 North 5th Street, Suite 702 Grand Junction, CO 81501 Voice: 970-245-7107 FAX: 970-245-2194	134 West B Street Pueblo, CO 81003 Voice: 719-543-8200 FAX: 719-543-8204

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Connecticut:
Jim Hines
(Fairfield County)
DC Voice: 202-225-5541
DC Fax: 202-225-9629
District Offices

211 State Street, 2nd Floor
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Voice: 866-453-0028
FAX: 203-333-6655

888 Washington Boulevard, 10th Floor
Stamford, CT 06901
Voice: 866-453-0028
FAX: 203-333-6655

TwitterID: @jahimes

Florida:
Alan Grayson
(Orlando)
DC Voice: 202-225-2176
DC Fax: 202-225-0999
District Office
455 North Garland Avenue, Suite 402
Orlando, FL 32801
Voice: 407-841-1757
FAX: 407-841-1754
TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Illinois:
Bill Foster
(Dixon, Batavia, and Geneseo)
DC Voice: 202-225-2976
DC Fax: 202-225-0697
District Offices

119 West First Street
Dixon, IL 61021
Voice: 815-288-0680
FAX: 815-288-0743

27 North River Street
Batavia, IL 60510-2666
Voice: 630-406-1114
FAX: 630-406-1808

100 West Main Street
Geneseo, IL 61254
Voice: 309-944-3558
FAX: Not Currently Available

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Indiana:
Baron Hill
(from Kentucky border up to Bloomington)
DC Voice: 202-225-5315
DC Fax: 202-226-6866
District Offices

279 Quartermaster Court
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
Voice: 812-288-3999
FAX: 812-288-3873

320 West 8th Street, Suite 114
Bloomington, IN 47404
Voice: 812-336-3000
FAX: 812-336-3355

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Michigan:
Mark Schauer
(Branch, Calhoun, Eaton, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee & Washtenaw counties)
DC Voice: 202-225-6276
DC Fax: 202-225-6281
District Office
800 West Ganson
Jackson, MI 49202
Voice: 517-780-9075
FAX: 517-780-9081
TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Gary Peters
(Oakland County)
DC Voice: 202-225-5802
DC Fax: 202-226-2356
District Office
560 Kirts Boulevard, Suite 105
Troy, MI 48084
Voice: 248-273-4227
DC Fax: 248-273-4704
TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Nevada:
Dina Titus
(Las Vegas)
DC Voice: 202-225-3252
DC Fax: 202-225-2185
District Office
8215 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 205
Las Vegas, NV 89123
Voice: 702-387-4941
FAX: 702-837-0728
TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

New Hampshire:
Carol Shea-Porter
(Portsmouth, Manchester, Lakes Region)
DC Voice: 202-225-5456
DC Fax: 202-225-5822
District Office

33 Lowell Street
Manchester, NH 03101
Voice: 603-641-9536
FAX: 603-641-9561

104 Washington Street
Dover, NH 03820
Voice: 603-743-4813
FAX: 603-743-5956

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

New York:
Tim Bishop
(Suffolk County)
DC Voice: 202-225-3826
DC Fax: 202-225-3143
District Office

137 Hampton Road
Southampton, NY 11968
Voice: 631-259-8450
FAX: 631-259-8451

3680 Route 112, Suite C
Coram, NY 11727
Voice: 631-696-6500
FAX: 631-696-4520

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

John Hall
(Northern Westchester)
DC Voice: 202-225-5441
DC Fax: 202-225-3289

Putnam County Ofice Building,
3rd Floor
40 Gleneida Avenue
Carmel, NY 10512
Voice: 845-225-3641
FAX: 845-228-1480

Orange County Government Center,
Room 3232G
255 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
Voice: 845-291-4100
FAX: 845-291-4164

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Bill Owens
(Plattsburgh up along Vermont border to Canada)
DC Voice: 202-225-4611
DC Fax: 202-226-0621
District Offices

Madison County Center for Economic Development 3215 Seneca Turnpike Canastota, NY 13032 Voice: 315-875-5115 FAX: 315-875-5048	14 Durkee Street, Suite 320 Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Voice: 518-563-1406 FAX: 518-561-9723
120 Washington Street, Suite 200 Watertown, NY 13601-3370 Voice: 315-782-3150 FAX: 315-782-1291	28 North School Street, PO Box 800 Mayfield, NY 12117-0800 Voice: 518-661-6486 FAX: 518-661-5704

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Mike Arcuri
(Utica and south central NY)
DC Voice: 202-225-3665
DC Fax: 202-225-1891
District Offices

17 East Genesee Street
Auburn, NY 13021
Voice: 315-252-2777
FAX: 315-252-2779

10 Broad Street,
Room 200
Utica, NY 13501
Voice: 315-793-8146
FAX: 715-798-4099

16 Church Street,
Carriage House Right
Cortland, NY 13045
Voice: 607-756-2470
FAX: 607-756-2472

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Dan Maffei
(Syracuse)
DC Voice: 202-225-3701
DC Fax: 202-225-4042
District Offices

1340 Federal Building,
PO Box 7306
100 South Clinton Street
Syracuse, NY 13261
Voice: 315-423-5657
FAX: 315-423-5669

1280 Titus Avenue
Rochester, NY 14617
Voice: 585-336-7291
FAX: 585-336-7274

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

North Dakota:
Earl Pomneroy
(at large)
DC Voice: 202-225-2611
DC Fax: 202-226-0893
District Offices

3003 32nd Avenue South,
Suite 6
Fargo, ND 58103
Voice: 701-235-9760
FAX: 701-235-9767

Federal Building,
Room 328
220 East Rosser Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501
Voice: 701-224-0355
FAX: 701-224-0431

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Ohio:
Steven Driehaus
(Cincinnati west to Indiana border)
DC Voice: 202-225-2216
DC Fax: 202-225-3012
District Office
441 Vine Street, Suite 3003
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Voice: 513-684-2723
FAX: 513-421-8722
TwitterID: @SteveDriehaus1

Mary Jo Kilroy
(Columbus and west to Indiana border)
DC Voice 202-225-2015
DC Fax: 202-225-3529
District Office
1299 Olentangy River Road,
Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43212
Voice: 614-294-2196
FAX: 614-294-2384
TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Zach Space
(Dover, Zanesville, Chillicothe)
DC Voice: 202-225-6265
DC Fax: 202-225-3394
District Offices

14 South Paint Street,
Suite 6
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Voice: 740-779-1636
FAX: 740-779-2352

137 East Iron Avenue
Dover, OH 44622
Voice: 866-910-7577
FAX: 330-364-4330

17 North Fourth Street, Suite A
Zanesville, OH 43701
Voice: 740-452-6338
FAX: 740-452-6354

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Pennsylvania:
Kathy Dahlkemper
(Erie)
DC Voice: 202-225-5406
DC Fax: 202-225-3103
District Office
208 East Bayfront Parkway,
Suite 102
Erie, PA 16507
Voice: 814-456-2038
FAX: 814-454-0163
TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Patrick Murphy
(Bucks County)
DC Voice: 202-225-4276
DC Fax: 202-225-9511
District Offices

72 North Main Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Voice: 215-348-1194
FAX: 215-348-1449

414 Mill Street
Bristol, PA 19007
Voice: 215-826-1963
FAX: 215-826-1997

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Christopher Carney
(NE Penn)
DC Voice: 202-225-3731
DC Fax: 202-225-9594
District Offices

521 Franklin Street
Shamokin, PA 17872
Voice: 570-644-1682
FAX: 570-644-1684

233 Northern Boulevard, Suite 4
Clarks Summit, PA 18411
Voice: 570-585-9988
FAX: 570-585-9977

175 Pine Street, Suite 103
Williamsport, PA 17701
Voice: 570-327-1902
FAX: 570-327-1904

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Paul Kanjorski
(Scranton, Wilkes-Barre)
DC Voice: 202-225-6511
DC Fax: 202-225-0764
District Office

546 Spruce Street
Scranton, PA 18503
Voice: 570-496-1011
FAX: 570-496-6439

The Stegmaier Building,
Suite 400M
7 North Wilkes-Barre Boulevard
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702-5283
Voice: 570-825-2200
FAX: 570-825-8685

102 Pocono Boulevard
Mount Pocono, PA 18344-1412
Voice: 570-895-4176
FAX: Not Currently Available

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

South Carolina:
John Spratt
(rural SC between Columbia and Charlotte)
DC Voice: 202-225-5501
DC Fax: 202-225-0464
District Offices

201 East Main Street,
Suite 305
Rock Hill, SC 29730
Voice: 803-327-1114
FAX: 803-327-4330

88 Public Square
Darlington, SC 29532
Voice: 843-393-3998
FAX: 843-393-8060

707 Bultman Drive
Sumter, SC 29150
Voice: 803-773-3362
FAX: 803-773-7662

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Virginia:
Tom Perriello
(Charlottesville, Bedford, Timberlake, Martinsville & Danville)
DC Voice: 202-225-4711
DC Fax: 202-225-5681
District Offices

313 2nd Street SE, Suite 112 Charlottesville, VA 22902 Voice: 434-293-9631 FAX: 434-293-9632	10 East Church Street, Suite K Martinsville, VA 24112 Voice: 276-656-2291 FAX: 276-656-2293
308 Craghead Street, Suite 102 Danville, VA 24541 Voice: 434-791-2596 FAX: 434-791-2598	515 South Main Street Farmville, VA 23901 Voice: 434-392-1997 FAX: 434-392-3254

TwitterID: @tomperriello

West Virginia:
Alan Mollohan
(Wheeling, Morgantown)
DC Voice: 202-225-4172!
DC Fax: 202-225-7564
District Offices

Federal Building 1125 Chapline Street Wheeling, WV 26003 Voice: 304-232-5390 FAX: 304-232-5722	Federal Building, Room 2040 425 Juliana Street Parkersburg, WV 26101 Voice: 304-428-0493 FAX: 304-428-5980
Post Office Building, Room 209 PO Box 1400 Clarksburg, WV 26302-1400 Voice: 304-623-4422 FAX: 304-623-0571	Marina Tower, Suite 504 48 Donley Street Morgantown, WV 26507-0720 Voice: 304-292-3019 FAX: 304-292-3027

TwitterID: No Known Twitter Acct

Nick Rahall
(Huntington)
DC Voice: 202-225-3452
DC Fax: 202-225-9061
District Offices

301 Prince Street Beckley, WV 25801 Voice: 304-252-5000 FAX: Not Currently Available	845 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 Voice: 304-522-6425 FAX: Not Currently Available
601 Federal Street, Room 1005 Bluefield, WV 24701 Voice: 304-325-6222 FAX: Not Currently Available	220 Dingess Street Logan, WV 25601 Voice: 304-752-4934 FAX: Not Currently Available

TwitterID: No Known Account

Wisconsin:
Steve Kagen
(Green Bay)
DC Voice: 202-225-5665
DC Fax: 202-225-5729
District Offices

700 East Walnut Street
Green Bay, WI 54301
Voice: 920-437-1954
FAX: 920-437-1978

333 West College Avenue,
Radisson Paper Valley
Appleton, WI 54911
Voice: 920-380-0061
FAX: 920-380-0051

All this contact information can be found at the best source for Representive data, CongressMerge.com.

CPAC 2010 Essentials

2010-02-22T10:38:00.000-08:00

I was not one of the lucky 10,000 people to make it to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this year, so I thought I'd gather the best-of-the-best speeches and post them here.

I give you, CPAC 2010 Essentials!

Enjoy...

George Will	Glenn Beck
Ann Coulter	Allen West
Andrew Breitbart	Marco Rubio
Newt Gingrich	Rick Santorum
John Bolton	EXTRA: Breitbart v Blumenthal

Lost, solved ... sorta spoilers possible

2010-02-18T19:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, so Hubz and I were watching the most recent episode of Lost (one of my favorite shows -- SO FAR) when we, along with the rest of the world, probably, figured out what was going on.

In my caffeinated fugue, I thought I'd go ahead and jot down my latest theory.

WHAT'S GOING ON...

Jacob: He's not quite and angel; maybe he's a space alien (remember Babylon5?). In any event, he is a basically ambivalent force on the island with regards to the people there.

Man in Black/Smoke Monster/Fake John Locke: Maybe he's a demon; maybe he's a space alien (again with the B5). He's the bad guy.

John Locke: He dead. Dead & gone.

All the other dead people: They're dead.

All the people wandering around not 'claimed' by MiB/SM: They are pawns used to help Jacob.

Smoke Monster & Jacob are enemies. It is Jacob's job to keep the Smoke Monster on the island. The Smoke Monster wants to leave the island to wreak havoc across the world.

That being said, the two entities made a deal, an agreement. The agreement is essentially that if the Smoke Monster can convince one person to help him leave, he gets to leave. And the Smoke Monster gets to pick who those people are.

Jacob, ever faithful in the goodness of Man, has won. So far...

I'll be adding more to this post along and along.

Thoughts?

BREAKING: Urgent action needed by INDIANA VOTERS! (Updated)

2010-02-15T18:44:00.000-08:00

OK. In case you're just tuning in, here's what's going on...

Democrat Senator Evan Bayh made a surprise announcement this morning that he will NOT run for re-election in the fall. This bombshell has shocked us all, especially the Indiana Democrats.

Because they were caught flat-footed, only one, lone, little, rookie politician named Tamyra d'Ippolito has been working on getting the required signatures needed to appear on Indiana's primary ballot as a Democrat candidate for the US Senate. Tamyra has been working diligently and, it turns out, is only a few hundred signatures from that requirement.

The rest of the story...

If she makes the requirement, SHE WILL BE THE ONLY DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT. Even more delicious, since the Democrat establishment guys have not done anything about this, they will be forced to run a write-in campaign against Tamyra.

HA!

So if you're in Indiana and you want to force the DNC to have to pour millions of extra dollars into a WRITE-IN campaign against this fine, albeit inexperienced candidate, CLICK HERE to print and sign the petition for Tamyra d'Ippolito to be included on the IN primary ballot.

Here is Tamyra d'Ippolito's contact info:
On the web at: tamyraforsenate.com
Email: tamyrad2004@yahoo.com
Follow Tamyra on Twitter @Tamyra

Official address:
Tamyra For Senate c/o Linda Napier
1108 S. Madison St.
Bloomington, Indiana 47403-4738
ph: 812-323-9005
cell: 812-650-2072

UPDATE...

Well, it was fun while it lasted. Alas, the latest reports say Tamyra d'Ippolito missed her goal by ... well, really a lot.

Tamyra made statements earlier today that she DID get the number of signatures she needed to be added to the Indiana ballot as the sole Democrat candidate for US Senator in that state's primary election in May.

Sadly, the truth doesn't quite seem to match that claim.

FLASHBACK: Obama: Making a Career Out of Serial Puffery

2010-02-15T15:10:00.000-08:00

Original posted Thursday, September 25, 2008, 1:12pm

When I came across this a couple of days ago, I thought, "Oh, this will be interesting."
I expected to read about how Barack Obama really worked at XYZ for "2 years," instead of the "3 and a half years" he said -- you know, garden variety puffery we hear about in our everyday lives.

I was shocked to read the extent of Obama's exaggerations.
If I was interviewing some guy for a job and I found out the extent of his, well, fibs, I would give the guy a "thanks-but-no-thanks."

These distortions are bold, outrageous, and unnecessary. That this is what the guy leads with makes him untrustworthy.

If this is the level of distortion he will go to in order to get the job, what will he do to keep it?

Here's a snippet from this middle...

"Here’s Barack’s account:
"Eventually a consulting house to multinational corporations agreed to hire me as a research assistant. Like a spy behind enemy lines, I arrived every day at my mid-Manhattan office and sat at my computer terminal, checking the Reuters machine that blinked bright emerald messages from across the globe. As far as I could tell I was the only black man in the company, a source of shame for me but a source of considerable pride for the company’s secretarial pool.

Dan Armstrong's Correction:
"First, it wasn’t a consulting house; it was a small company that published newsletters on international business. Like most newsletter publishers, it was a bit of a sweatshop. I’m sure we all wished that we were high-priced consultants to multinational corporations. But we also enjoyed coming in at ten, wearing jeans to work, flirting with our co-workers, partying when we stayed late, and bonding over the low salaries and heavy workload."

Read the whole thing...
It's no wonder Obama punted the financial crisis. He's got nothing.

Breitbart: "It's not your business model that sucks. It's YOU that sucks."

2010-02-07T12:10:00.000-08:00

Andrew Breitbart, you sweet-talker, you...

You just gotta love the guy.

h/t @LizBlaine

The Girl, the Tea Party, & the Twitterz: an interview

2010-02-06T20:05:00.000-08:00

I gave an interview yesterday to Chad Everson of GrizzlyGroundswell fame. I had a fantastic time!
Chad wants to interview Tea Party activists, organizers, leaders and enthusiasts. If you're interested, please contact him directly via Twitter by sending him at "@reply" to @ChadTEverson.

12:20pm: Chad: So this is our first attempt to interview the Conservative Grassroots here on Wave then to post the archive on our blog and out to Twitter! Can you start with telling us a little bit about who you are and what has drawn you away from family, friends and the pursuit of Happiness to become a Conservative Grassroots Activist?

12:32pm ChristinaKB: LOL! I first heard about Twitter from a writer-friend of mine named Phil. I guess you could say we worked together. I was a pr (hack) & he was an editor for a mag. His story was my first cover back in the olden days of the early ’90’s. Anyway, he told me about Twitter in August of ‘08. I checked it out and was immediately smitten.
The idea of microblogging in real time – sort like chatting, but not exactly, was intriguing. The election was in full swing & was apoplectic at the sorry state of affairs of the GOP, it paltry messaging, and the frankly, silly slate of candidates (sorry to be so harsh, but there you go). Here we have these ridiculous candidates Hillary? Biden? “U-bam-uh?” Edwards??? Really??? The GOP was, in a lot of ways, even weaker. Hmmmm… this is turning into a screed…
The point is that I very quickly found some of the smartest, kindest people through this cool, online Twitter-thing.

Read the rest at GrizzlyGoundswell.com Thanks to Chad and all the fine people at GizzlyGroundswell for all the amazing work they do to support the Conservative movement!

It's Too Late to Apologize

2010-02-04T11:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Congress,

Sincerely,
We the People

Funniest. Commercial. Ever.

2010-01-25T13:34:00.000-08:00

Walmart + Clown + Unicorn + Pain = Best Commercial Ever

Just one more reason to lurve WalMart...

What a Co-inky-dink, Obama! John Kerry Never Introduced Himself, Either

2010-01-25T10:12:00.000-08:00

Way back in the olden days of 2004, I wrote a short bit reflecting on the caterwauling over John Kerry's borderline-humiliating loss to George W. Bush...

* * *

November 04, 2004

"Kerry never communicated is person..."

I have heard again and again that the reason Kerry lost is because he did not effectively communicate who he is as a person. That he never introduced himself to Americans.

I reject this as supremely absurd and beyond riduculous.

The reality is that he did effectively communicate his personhood. He effectively broadcast his policies, ideals, personality, etc. Americans saw, understood, and decided who shall be President of the United States based on the full disclosure of Kerry on Kerry.

The decision was: No, thank you. Period.

No amount of revelations or communications would have changed the outcome (untruths and malicious manipulations notwithstanding). Kerry came, was seen, and was rejected precisely because he is who he is and what he believes. There's nothing underhanded or mean about that rejection. It is a reality of a presidential election. One (or more) guy loses - and there's nothing wrong with that.

* * *

Seems like Obama is taking a page from the Kerry playbook here. After all, look how well it worked out for good 'ole Lurch Dukakis.

Deja-vu is boring.

But hey, maybe things will start looking up for the wind-sailing lawmaker now that he's the Senior Senator from Massachusetts.

Windows 7 --- Worth the Inconvenience?

2010-01-24T12:22:00.000-08:00

So... I finally broke down & bought Windows 7. I was reading all about when I stumbled across the fact that after installing the new o/s, I have to reinstall allllll my software apps. Ugh.

Yeah, yeah, yeah ... tell all about it. "A completely new operating system requires the reinstallation of the users' applications because of the registrations and blah, blah, blah..."

While I was contemplating the enormity of reconsituting my computing experience, a Windows 7 commercial came on...

Which made me think, did Microsoft also listen to that dastardly villianess, The Inconveniencer?

The Taxed Man

2010-01-22T09:33:00.000-08:00

This is a re-working I did of a poem written anomynously about 100 years ago. If anyone would like to repost or use for your Tea Party, feel free.

The Taxed Man

They taxed my land, they taxed my wage,
They taxed my bed in which I lay.

They taxed my plow, they taxed my mule,
They taught me taxes were the rule.

They taxed my cow, and taxed my goat,
They taxed my pants and then my coat.

They taxed my ties, socks, shoes and shirt,
They taxed my work, they taxed my dirt.

They taxed my smoking, taxed my drink,
They taxed me when I tried to think.

They taxed my booze then taxed my beers.
And when I cried, they taxed my tears.

They taxed my children, taxed my dog,
Taxed my sun, wind, rain, and fog.

They taxed my horse, but not my cat.
They taxed this chair, here, where I'm sat.

They taxed my truck, they taxed my gas,
They taxed my notes, they taxed my cash.

They taxed my tax to let me see
That bought or made, there is a fee.

They taxed me high when I did well,
They taxed me more when I fell ill.

They taxed my coffin, my headstone,
They taxed the sod I now call home.

When I was gone, just newly dead,
They came to my old house and said,

"We've come to claim the tax that’s due.
Though cash is best, we take checks, too."

They taxed it all and wanted more.
My children and wife were left poor.

So, back to work to pay the bill,
And pay they do with interest, still.

Throughout our lives we live this fact:
That death is sure; but more so, tax.

# # #

Here is a list of Taxes Americans pay each day... is it complete? Who knows?!

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel permit tax r />Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax Interest expense (tax on the money)
Inventory
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS enalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road usage taxes (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone federal excise tax
Telephone federal universal service fee tax
Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes

Please Note: I want to make a video of this poem, but I don't have the right voice. If you're interested, I'm looking or a man to read the couplets. Either drop me a line here, email me at cosmoxworld@gmail.com, or on twitter. The video will be posted here via YouTube and available for Tea Party and other patriots to use as they wish. Thanks!

Obama Goes to Boston

2010-01-17T12:54:00.000-08:00

Here we see some rare behind-the-scenes footage of Obama moments before he's to go onstage to campaign for Democrat candidate for Massachusetts Senator, Martha Coakley...

What passion! What energy!

FLASHBACK: Change

2010-01-16T10:03:00.000-08:00

This was originally a posted in August of 2008. Looking back, so much has uh, changed. But so much more hasn't...

* * *

I think the Dems' urgent message of "Change" needs to be called out.

"down" is a change from "up"

"loss" is a change from "profit"

"jobless" is a change from "employed"

As a business owner, the only "Change" I see with a President Obama is bad, bad, bad for the guys who make this country great and who create, like, 80% of the jobs in America: small business owners.

We're getting creamed by the federal minimum wage increases -- the big one's coming next year... For those who don't know, it's a 40% increase over three years.

We're getting creamed by increased requirements to provide health insurance, and the crazy-stupid cost of it.

We're getting creamed by the weak dollar, high energy prices, and high commodity prices (special thx to the ethanol canard).

We're getting way-creamed by credit-card processing fees.

If you're wondering why everything from milk and meat to gas and movie tix have skyrocketed, see above.

If you're wondering why unemployment is going up, see above.

If you're wondering what's the deal with inflation, see above.

So many people seem to think that the everyday business owner (the Quiznos store owner, the Shell gas station owner, the neighborhood 7/11 guy) can reach into some magical unending pot of money to cover these rising costs. Obama certainly seems to think so.

Let me set the record straight: we can't. We're bruised and hurting - but not down-and-out. We get up each morning to make a go of it - to make the best of it. We love what we do and we love the people we work with. But in order to stay in business and pay our leases, our mortgages, our SBA loans, etc, and feed our families, we're having to not hire that extra shift worker. It's not because we don't want to. It's because we literally can't afford the up-front costs/overhead that worker represents. We also have to raise prices. Again, we don't really want to - we have to (see above).

From what I can see so far, the policies Obama has outlined will make things way worse.

Yes, things have not been perfect, but with all candor, we're due for a dip in the economy. How deep of a dip we will have goes directly to how much government tries to "redistribute" us out of this.

The best-case scenario for right now, I think, is unleashing our best minds and producers to solve our domestic energy deficit. LOTS of other things fall into place once we do that.

FLASHBACK: Careful What You Wish For

2010-01-10T08:13:00.000-08:00

Originally posted Oct 8, 2008

There was a story I read once called "Lathe of Heaven." It its about a man who's dreams alter reality. In short, his dreams come true.

But in that peculiar way that minds work, his dream come true in ways that are unexpectedly... direct. It turns out his ability is like that of a genie: sure, you get what you want, but in the end, do you want what you get?

* * *

During the Carter Administration, there was an idea that it would be a good thing to make homeownership a right. After all, shouldn't everyone own a home?? As a means to that end, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) was created and signed into law. It basically made it a little easier for those people "on the bubble" to afford to buy a home.

In 1995, President Clinton signed into law a major expansion of the CRA that strong-armed banks into lending to uncreditworthy people. And it worked - people were able to buy a home with "no money down."

But what this action by the Democrats did was to effectively guarantee that home prices would rise. Everybody's homes became instantly more valuable because that pesky 20% down payment was no longer required.

Nobody really noticed until the tech bubble popped.

When 1999 changed to 2000 and a Yahoo stock dropped from $300 to $30, a lot of the money that wasn't lost found it's way into the real estate market. Why wouldn't it? A lot of very smart people realized that there was a ton of money on the table. They were right.

As the real estate sector rallied, competition for those mortgage dollars increased, the guidelines were loosened. More and more and more people could qualify for no-doc loans.

It was a win-win: Banks were investing in the value of the property, not the borrower. As annual appreciation rates broke through the double-digit barrier, the banks were happy. So what if a borrower failed? They'd just sell the property for 15-20% more than they paid for it last year. The bank's debt is cured, and the borrower can take that money, buy another home, and try again.

Even though President Bush sounded the alarm in 2000, and McCain sounded the alarm again in 2003-4, Democrats consistently shouted them down. They said, in effect, "Move along, move along... there's nothing to see here..."

In the fall of 2005, the first whiff of trouble rippled through the real estate market. By 2006, the slowdown was palpable. In 2007, real estate professionals knew the jig was up. The ones who didn't sell in '06, sold their homes, rented, and waited.

Now, in 2008, we are in full-frontal crash mode. We could have done something to stop this crash, but the Democrats blocked every attempt. Their zeal to give away homes to a minority of people who couldn't pay trumped their oath to serve and protect all their constituents.

So, wish number one was "gee, I wish it was easier to buy a home" Granted! But now home prices have risen to crazy-high levels because money's so cheap.

Wish number two was "man, home prices are so high; I wish they would come down!" Granted! The real estate bubble has burst, and home prices have fallen as much as 60% in some areas.

* * *

Meanwhile, people said, "boy, I wish the minimum wage was higher... that would be sweet."

At the same time, people thought that one of the things contributing to the American trade deficit was an expensive dollar. I wished the dollar would come down in price so that American goods would be more competitve in the world market. We'd sell more and better products to the world market and that would be a good thing.

Granted! But the combination of many things, including falling dollar and higher labor costs contributed to higher oil prices (oil is priced in dollars), an overall CPI increase of, like, 6% in one year, and an unemployment rate of 6.1% (up from 4.8% last year). Ask a small business owner why this matters.

* * *

Then people thought, "You know, these gas prices are crazy - I wish they would come down. There's no way oil should be at $130 a barrel; it should be at, like, $80. $40 would be better!"

Granted! The price of oil started to fall... a lot! Yesterday, it traded in the $80-90-per-barrel range. Oops, the price of oil dropped so drastically because of (well-founded) fears of worldwide recession.

* * *

So here we are, 20-something days from the 2008 elections. I hear a lot of people saying, "Gosh, I wish things would change. I want change so much. Change, change, change, change, change..."

Well, here are the choices: one guy who has done a lot over a long time versus another guy who has done very, very little over a very small amount of time. Both guys talk about 'change.'

Considering the realities of this election, there will certainly be change.

What we need to consider, however, that we choose the right change.

What Would You Do?

2008-12-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

We've all heard to story and seen the video...

A 29yr-old reporter reporting in Iraq for ab Arab satellite channel interrupted a press conference and threw his shoes at President Bush. Called him a dog, too.

We here in America may not recognize that these two things are indeed grave insults to our President. We see this goofy guy throwing shoes and Bush deftly ducks the assault.

In an extraordinary move (extraordinary for leaders in that part of the world, certainly) Bush calls off his security detail and makes a joke. The Iraquis take the man into custody. This act is against the law in Iraq and carries with it a seven year prison sentence. Whether or not the Iraqis choose to prosecute this foreigner is up to them.

I can only imagine what would have happened if it was Barack Obama in Bush's place that afternoon... So I asked my Twitter-friends, "Even though it's kinda old news, I wonder how would Obama have handled a shoe being thrown at him??"

Here's what some of them had to say...

Mortimas "he would have bobbed when he should have weaved"
BreakTheirBones "he would have stopped the shoe midflight with a Jedi mind trick."
DecidedlyRight "Well, Obama is severely lacking in machismo, so my guess is that he'd be taken to a hospital for observation. :)"
TracyCarol "Obama can walk on water, so a shoe shouldn't be a problem. Think how tragic would be for his followers to see him as mortal."

What do you say?

Join conversation here or at twitter.com.

FL State Student Council Pays For Ayers Speech

2008-12-05T10:50:00.000-08:00

Florida State University invites unrepentant domestic terrorist William Ayers to speak. (h/t Michelle Malkin)

Today, we are all SEMINOLES. Let's take a few short moments to stand up for America.

Email your opinion about Ayers' speechmaking to our kids to the student council who approved it: http://sga.fsu.edu/

Be nice. No cussing. Remember, they're just kids (idiot kids, but still...)

We're All in Cosmo's World...

2008-12-03T19:44:00.000-08:00

I'm sad to report that Cosmo, for whom this blog is named, has passed away.

He was a beloved member of our family for more than 13 years.

We were lucky enough for Cosmo to pick us when he was a wee one at 12 weeks old.

He was always a sport. The neighborhood kids nicknamed him "Wonderdog" for his abilities with frisbees.

He was our buddy, our 'Mo. We will miss him terribly until that day we see him again.

Perhaps now more than ever, we are all in Cosmo's World...

Overheard: What I'll Miss About Bush

2008-11-24T21:41:00.000-08:00

I was watching the FOX News show Red Eye the other night. One of the guests was S.E. Cupp, author of the book "Why You're Wrong About The Right".

As luck would have it, it appears as though she will be a guest tonight, Nov 24, 3am -- set your TiVo's!

Here's what she had to say about the (alleged) indescretion of the Obama camp, spilling the beans regrading the private meeting he had with President Bush.

What is the deal with all that fancy-talk with Obama? Talking about, "Quid-Pro-Quo"... You know, that's what I'll miss about George Bush. With him, you know he's strictly a "tit-for-tat" guy.

You know, that is one of the many, many things I'll miss about Goerge Bush too.

Brave Girl Conducts 'Tolerance Test'

2008-11-15T19:48:00.000-08:00

The Chicago Tribune's John Kass wrote this facinating article (excerpt below). The piece follows the pre-election experiment conducted by Chicago teen Catherine Vogt. Her story is a lesson to us all...

"Tolerance Fails T-Shirt Test" by: John Kass, The Chicago Tribune

As the media keeps gushing on about how America has finally adopted tolerance as the great virtue, and that we're all united now, let's consider the Brave Catherine Vogt Experiment. Catherine Vogt, 14, is an Illinois 8th grader, the daughter of a liberal mom and a conservative dad. She wanted to conduct an experiment in political tolerance and diversity of opinion at her school in the liberal suburb of Oak Park. She noticed that fellow students at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School overwhelmingly supported Barack Obama for president. His campaign kept preaching "inclusion," and she decided to see how included she could be. So just before the election, Catherine consulted with her history teacher, then bravely wore a unique T-shirt to school and recorded the comments of teachers and students in her journal. The T-shirt bore the simple yet quite subversive words drawn with a red marker: "McCain Girl" "I was just really curious how they'd react to something that different, because a lot of people at my school wore Obama shirts and they are big Obama supporters," Catherine told us. "I just really wanted to see what their reaction would be."

Read the whole thing...

A Necessary Rule-Breaker: Something Wicked This Way Comes

2008-11-14T18:14:00.000-08:00

In every introductory debate class, students are issued the following warning, "Whomever brings up Hitler first, loses."

This is one of those instances where what is taught in school is absolutely true, relevant, and a helpful rule to recall whenever anybody is engaged in an exchange of ideas, be it a conversation, debate, or argument.

However, we also learn, "it is the exception that makes the rule."

I came across the essay below. It was published with the invitation to re-post. I decided to take them up on the offer, even though it breaks the first rule of debate by way of exception.

I spotted this at The Bitten Word. I have re-posted it here in its entirety.

# # #

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES

From a comment on a post at Pat Dollard (H/T to Atlas Shrugs):

- + - + - + - + - + -

Will you please take the time to read this, and if you think it worthwhile, pass it along to your email list, and ask them to read it? Even if they voted, with all good intentions, for Mr. Obama?

I am a student of history. Professionally. I have written 15 books in six languages, and have studied it all my life. I think there is something monumentally large afoot, and I do not believe it is just a banking crisis, or a mortgage crisis, or a credit crisis. Yes these exist, but they are merely single facets on a very large gemstone that is only now coming into a sharper focus.

Something of historic proportions is happening. I can sense it because I know how it feels, smells, what it looks like, and how people react to it. Yes, a perfect storm may be brewing, but there is something happening within our country that has been evolving for about ten - fifteen years. The pace has dramatically quickened in the past two.

We demand and then codify into law the requirement that our banks make massive loans to people we know they can never pay back? Why?

We learn just days ago that the Federal Reserve, which has little or no real oversight by anyone, has “loaned” two trillion dollars (that is $2,000,000,000,000) over the past few months, but will not tell us to whom or why or disclose the terms. That is our money. Yours and mine. And that is three times the 700B we all argued about so strenuously just this past September. Who has this money? Why do they have it? Why are the terms unavailable to us? Who asked for it? Who authorized it? I thought this was a government of “we the people,” who loaned our powers to our elected leaders. Apparently not.

We have spent two or more decades intentionally de-industrializing our economy. Why?

We have intentionally dumbed down our schools, ignored our history, and no longer teach our founding documents, why we are exceptional, and why we are worth preserving. Students by and large cannot write, think critically, read, or articulate. Parents are not revolting, teachers are not picketing, school boards continue to back mediocrity. Why?

We have now established the precedent of protesting every close election (now violently in California over a proposition that is so controversial that it wants marriage to remain between one man and one woman. Did you ever think such a thing possible just a decade ago?). We have corrupted our sacred political process by allowing unelected judges to write laws that radically change our way of life, and then mainstream Marxist groups like ACORN and others to turn our voting system into a banana republic. To what purpose?

Now our mortgage industry is collapsing, housing prices are in free fall, major industries are failing, our banking system is on the verge of collapse, social security is nearly bankrupt, as is medicare and our entire government, our education system is worse than a joke (I teach college and know precisely what I am talking about)–the list is staggering in its length, breadth, and depth. It is potentially 1929 x ten. And we are at war with an enemy we cannot name for fear of offending people of the same religion, who cannot wait to slit the throats of your children if they have the opportunity to do so.

And now we have elected a man no one knows anything about, who has never run so much as a Dairy Queen, let alone a town as big as Wasilla, Alaska. All of his associations and alliances are with real radicals in their chosen fields of employment, and everything we learn about him, drip by drip, is unsettling if not downright scary (Surely you have heard him speak about his idea to create and fund a mandatory civilian defense force stronger than our military for use inside our borders? No? Oh of course. The media would never play that for you over and over and then demand he answer it. Sarah Palin’s pregnant daughter and $150,000 wardrobe is more imporant.)

Mr. Obama’s winning platform can be boiled down to one word: change.

Why?

I have never been so afraid for my country and for my children as I am now.

This man campaigned on bringing people together, something he has never, ever done in his professional life. In my assessment, Obama will divide us along philosophical lines, push us apart, and then try to realign the pieces into a new and different power structure. Change is indeed coming. And when it comes, you will never see the same nation again.

And that is only the beginning.

And I thought I would never be able to experience what the ordinary, moral German felt in the mid-1930s. In those times, the savior was a former smooth-talking rabble-rouser from the streets, about whom the average German knew next to nothing. What they did know was that he was associated with groups that shouted, shoved, and pushed around people with whom they disagreed; he edged his way onto the political stage through great oratory and promises. Economic times were tough, people were losing jobs, and he was a great speaker. And he smiled and waved a lot. And people, even newspapers, were afraid to speak out for fear that his “brown shirts” would bully them into submission. And then, he was duly elected to office, a full-throttled economic crisis at hand [the Great Depression]. Slowly but surely he seized the controls of government power, department by department, person by person, bureaucracy by bureaucracy. The kids joined a Youth Movement in his name, where they were taught what to think. How did he get the people on his side?He did it promising jobs to the jobless, money to the moneyless, and goodies for the military-industrial complex. He did it by indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country, across Europe, and across the world.

He did it with a compliant media–did you know that? And he did this all in the name of justice and . . . change. And the people surely got what they voted for.

(Look it up if you think I am exaggerating.)

Read your history books. Many people objected in 1933 and were shouted down, called names, laughed at, and made fun of. When Winston Churchill pointed out the obvious in the late 1930s while seated in the House of Lords in England (he was not yet Prime Minister), he was booed into his seat and called a crazy troublemaker. He was right, though.

Don’t forget that Germany was the most educated, cultured country in Europe. It was full of music, art, museums, hospitals, laboratories, and universities. And in less than six years–a shorter time span than just two terms of the U. S. presidency–it was rounding up its own citizens, killing others, abrogating its laws, turning children against parents, and neighbors against neighbors. All with the best of intentions, of course. The road to Hell is paved with them.

As a practical thinker, one not overly prone to emotional decisions, I have a choice: I can either believe what the objective pieces of evidence tell me (even if they make me cringe with disgust); I can believe what history is shouting to me from across the chasm of seven decades; or I can hope I am wrong by closing my eyes, having another latte, and ignoring what is transpiring around me.

Some people scoff at me, others laugh, or think I am foolish, naive, or both. Perhaps I am. But I have never been afraid to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what I believe–and why I believe it.

I pray I am wrong. I do not think I am.

- + - + - + - + - + -

It doesn't have to be this way for us, for America. We are not doomed to repeat history, because we are aware. Click over to the original post at Pat Dollard, read and listen [to Obama talk about a civil security force].

LEARN BE AWARE SPEAK OUT SHARE THE WEALTH OF INFORMATION

All the information is out there! Just because the nightly news is not informing you does not mean that you cannot be informed. If you don't know where to look, leave me a message in the comments or email me and I will gladly share my reader list with you. If we do not stop this tide now, it will quickly drown us. Obama did not just "burst onto the scene" or any such nonsense. This was and is a planned attack, and we are complacently allowing it under a veil of "change". Six years is all it took for Germany to be taken over from within. How long do you think it will take America with a leader like Barack Obama?

In six years, my oldest child will be 17. What do you think Mr. Obama will have planned for him?

Six years ...

# # #

Beware the Axis of Taxes

2008-10-31T11:30:00.000-07:00

So much has been written about Barack Obama's slippery-slope of his so called "middle class tax cut." The very latest has Bill Richardson on the radio earlier today setting the bar at $120,000 (this is down from $250, $200, and $150k).

Aside for the 'all kinds of wrong' I see with the principals and reasoning behind Obama's "plan," I want to take a moment to point something out.

Barack Obama has tax and budget ideas. We've all heard about them. Many of us scoff at them; others of us praise them. But we would all be wise to remember how things REALLY work.

Presidents don't write laws (including bugets, taxes, etc). They have to ask Congress for these things.

Should Obama be elected to serve as our next President - God forbid - he will have to forward his ideas to Congress.

Whether or not we elect a (gulp) filibuster-proof Democrat majority, leaders Pelosi and Reid will take Obama's plan and use it as a STARTING POINT.

By the time the final package gets to a Prez Obama's desk, you can be sure that the spending will be higher, the tax thresholds will be lower (as evidenced by the already lowering thresholds).

If you think Obama's budget schemes are oppresive now, hang on to your wallets, guys. It's just the beginning.

The fallout from these ill-advised policies would be catastrophic to our economy.

By the time the Axis of Taxes gets through with us, we will long for the breezy fun days of President Carter. (those of us who will there will shiver appropriately)

Don't let it happen. Say no to the Axis of Taxes. Vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin.

UPDATE:Today, Nov 1, an Obama surrogate and former campaign manager for Dick Gephardt (remember him??) was interviewed on FOX News and refused to give any amount as the threshold for Obama tax cuts.

Be Careful What You Wish For...

2008-10-07T15:45:00.000-07:00

There was a story I read once called "Lathe of Heaven." It its about a man who's dreams alter reality. In short, his dreams come true.

* * *

Nobody really noticed until the tech bubble popped.

As the real estate sector rallied, competition for those mortgage dollars increased, the guidelines were loosened. More and more and more people could qualify for no-doc loans.

So, wish number one was "gee, I wish it was easier to buy a home" Granted! But now home prices have risen to crazy-high levels because money's so cheap.

Wish number two was "man, home prices are so high; I wish they would come down!" Granted! The real estate bubble has burst, and home prices have fallen as much as 60% in some areas.

* * *

Meanwhile, people said, "boy, I wish the minimum wage was higher... that would be sweet."

* * *

Then people thought, "You know, these gas prices are crazy - I wish they would come down. There's no way oil should be at $130 a barrel; it should be at, like, $80"

* * *

So here we are, 20-something days from the 2008 elections. I hear a lot of people saying, "Gosh, I wish things would change. I want change so much. Change, change, change, change, change..."

Well, here are the choices: one guy who has done a lot over a long time versus another guy who has done very, very little over a very small amount of time. Both guys talk about 'change.'

Considering the realities of this election, there will certainly be change.

What we need to consider, however, that we choose the right change.

Gwen Ifill, Step Down!

2008-10-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

So, the moderator of the Vice-Presidential debate Thursday night has a vested, commercial interest in the success of an Obama win. It's been announced, with only a couple of days before the debate, that her book, Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.

"Oh, but she's fair, she's experienced, she's done this before..." Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before. Even if she is as fair as Solomon and as balanced as Lady Justice herself, she still has a vested, commercial interest in the election of a running candidate.

I've heard some chatter about how the McCain campaign didn't know about the book - like somehow that matters. My question is, how incompetent is the The Commission on Presidential Debates? Did they not know about Ifill's book? Or did they just not care? Did they not think the fact that the moderator of the debate - the one who is responsible for framing the debate by the questions asked - who has a direct, personal, business interest in the outcome of the election - would be an issue? For goodness sakes, the woman's publisher is releasing the book on Inauguration Day!

Imagine for a moment if Brit Hume were set to moderate the vp debate, and he announced a book called, The Hero in Office: The Life of John McCain. My ears are already ringing at the caterwauling we would hear on the Left. And you know what? The Right wouldn't like it either. And you know what else? They would both be right!

Some would say that any complaining about this clearly bogus (or incompetent - you pick) decision by the Commission to allow Gwen Ifill to take the stage for tomorrow's debate is a sign of weakness or low confidence. To use a phrase I've heard a little bit this election cycle: Spare me.

I am so sick and tired of the Right being given a hot, steamy pile of dung and then getting chastised for saying, "Hey, this is a hot pile of crap!" Well, it is!

Look, nobody said life was fair - but Americans should absolutely expect - demand! - that certain things in their life be fair. These things include:

Media Presentations called "News Reports"
Debates
Elections
Judges
Job & Housing Opportunities
There's more, I know but you get my gist

The Commission on Presidential Debates should work swiftly to replace Gwen Ifill. Actually, Ms Ifill should step down citing a conflict of interest - but I wouldn't expect her to do such a magnanimous thing.

If you go to the website, you'll find it's kinda tricky to find out who is on the Commission. Well, here's a the list of people who are currently serving on their Board... (I've included links to explain who they are)
Howard Buffett
John C Danforth
Antonia Hernandez
Caroline Kennedy
Michael D. McCurry
Newton N. Minow
Dorothy Ridings
Alan K. Simpson
H. Patrick Swygert

The person running this whole thing, apparantly is the elusive Janet H Brown - Executive Director. Her email address is: jb@debates.org; her Phone# is (202) 872-1020 . Why don't we take a quick moment to let Ms. Brown that giving the moderator job for a vice-presidential debate to somesone with a person money interest in the outcome of the election is a (a-hem) BAD IDEA.

Of course, after reviewing the Board, it's no great surprise that things are working out this way...

Here's a short piece Ms Ifill did recently to promote her book...

The Breakthrough: Gwen Ifill - The most amazing videos are a click away

Who might be a good replacement? Well, how about Brit Hume? Hugh Hewitt? Fred Barnes and Mort Kondrake? Chris Wallace? Ben Stein? Joe Lieberman?

If you have a suggestion, let me know!

Ms. Executive Director, if you're too busy, email me directly at cosmoxgram@gmail.com, leave your direct phone number so I can get the pertenant details, and I'll set the new moderator up myself. Heck, I'll even pay for the plane tickets! (if anybody else would be willing to chip in, let me know...)

As the Democrat nominee likes to say a lot: Enough is enough. And I, for one, have had enough.

Puffery & Our Would-Be President

2008-09-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

When I came across this a couple of days ago, I thought, "Oh, this will be interesting."

I expected to read about how Barack Obama really worked at XYZ for "2 years," instead of the "3 and a half years" he said -- you know, garden variety puffery we hear about in our everyday lives.

I was shocked to read the extent of Obama's exaggerations.

If some guy was interviewing me for a job and I found out the extent of his, well, fibs, I would give the guy a "thanks-but-no-thanks."

See, these distortions are bold, outrageous, and unnecessary. That this is what the guy leads with makes him untrustworthy.

If this is the level of distortion he will go to in order to get the job, what standard - or lack thereof - will he hold to keep it?

Here's a snippet from this middle...

"Here’s Barack’s account:

"Eventually a consulting house to multinational corporations agreed to hire me as a research assistant. Like a spy behind enemy lines, I arrived every day at my mid-Manhattan office and sat at my computer terminal, checking the Reuters machine that blinked bright emerald messages from across the globe. As far as I could tell I was the only black man in the company, a source of shame for me but a source of considerable pride for the company’s secretarial pool.

"First, it wasn’t a consulting house; it was a small company that published newsletters on international business. Like most newsletter publishers, it was a bit of a sweatshop. I’m sure we all wished that we were high-priced consultants to multinational corporations. But we also enjoyed coming in at ten, wearing jeans to work, flirting with our co-workers, partying when we stayed late, and bonding over the low salaries and heavy workload."

Read the whole thing...

It's no wonder Obama punted the financial crisis. He's got nothing.

New Feature: Tips and Career Advice from Onthefringe, a Silicon Valley CEO

2004-11-25T12:48:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to introduce to everyone Onthefringe from Silicon Valley, CA who is a VC-backed, start-up CEO, sharing day-to-day insights in the day-to-day life of a start-up.

Onthefringe has agreed to share his funny, uncannily insightful, and always interesting tips and career advice for everyone from those who aspire to VC-backed Silican Valley Glory to the Guy-Who-Wants-NOT-To-Get-Layed-Off.

Take it away, Onthefringe...

Interview tip: I'm much more interested in hearing about what you've done & your thought process & way less about your graduate degree.

Mr. VC: Um, there are no 'secret revenue models' that I know of. If there were, I would have already done it. Then it wouldn't be a secret.

CEO & Board tip: It's definitely more fun to be on the Board of Directors than to answer to the Board of Directors.

Watch this space for more keen insight - coming at you with brevity and verve - courtesy of Onthefringe. You can follow Onthefringe at twitter.com

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