Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Denying the Undeniable

Did you catch the new out of Washington D.C. today? The Obama administration had an anniversary of sorts. Under the circumstances, I’m not sure I would have even brought it up. But they did. It was a year ago today that Mr. Obama signed the nearly a billion dollar Stimulus Bill. Fox News reported it this way:

“The White House stood its ground Wednesday on the impact of the economic stimulus package, arguing that the bill signed a year ago has given an ‘undeniable’ boost to the economy and that Republican critics are just playing politics.

“On the one-year anniversary of the bill's signing, President Obama said the $787 billion package saved 2 million jobs and helped prevent a ‘second depression.’ White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that while many Americans have soured to the program, the bill is working and taxpayers will ‘absolutely’ have a different outlook once it has had its full effect.”

Golly, I’m sure glad we dodged that “second depression”! Of course, on earlier similar claims Mr. Obama and his staff have made, no one had any idea where they got their numbers. We’ll probably hear similar reports about these claims too. But not to worry, Roberts Gibbs assures us that it’s all “undeniable.”

Hmmm. That sounds familiar. Wasn’t that word once used to describe the science behind global warming and climate change… even by this administration? Makes one wonder doesn’t it.

Aw, what the heck. I’m going out on a limb. I’m denying the undeniable in this case. Getting to be quite a habit too.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Do you feel like a sing along with Andy Williams? I do. And there’s one song in particular that I’d love to belt out about now. Let it Snow. Why? Because if Washington DC is socked in with record snow levels, maybe Congress can’t do any more damage to the country. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Tea Anyone?

Now, I’m not a tea drinker… never have been. Actually, some forms of it is against my religion. However, there is one particular tea I’m very partial to. It both tastes good and feels right. It’s something that anyone can taste or feel at your local tea party. What am I talking about?

Well, there have been “tea parties” sweeping the nation for at least a year now and they keep coming. The name was borrowed from our early revolutionists who opposed British taxation on local tea and ended with a major tea party in Boston harbor. The movement today is a national stand of regular people against big government and irresponsible spending. In essence it’s a citizen’s revolt against the policies of intrusion by the Obama White house and the wasteful and out of control spending of Congress. And to me, it’s the only tea that both tastes and feels good going down.

I’ve watched it with a great deal of interest and feel swells of patriotism for my country. A glimmer of hope fills me knowing that I’m no longer alone in a world that once appeared to be slipping into political and economic insanity. But of course, if we’re not careful, all of this hope can be dashed upon rocks of reality. I see worries on the horizon.

Tea Partiers beware! Political forces see you as a prime source to exploit, are at your doors. Don’t get sucked into their web. Many are conspiring for their own gain. The GOP would love to “catch” your wave and claim you as its own. Now, I’m a republican, a say this carefully. I may be a Republican, but I’m a conservative first. Republicans like Democrats use movements to gain power. Republicans “used” conservatism for this purpose and once in control ended up wielding their new-found power to simply maintain job security on the people’s dime. Conservatives felt betrayed when those entrusted with the reins of power defaulted to party politics. The same thing will happen to the Tea Party movement if you are not careful.

Another warning I can see is the temptation to establish a third party. Political parties tend to exist less for movements, and more for those who seize control of them. Power invested in the few has a debilitating affect on mere mortals. They tend to think its all about them instead of an opportunity to use talents for the greater good… servants of the people. With this in mind, I was glad to see Mark Skoda (a Tea Party organizer in Memphis, TN) says:

“This movement is beginning to mature… not as a third party but a force to be reckoned with in the traditional party structure.”

Now that makes the most sense to a basicguy like me. The Tea Party needs to remain as a movement. There may a star around which the movement takes voice such as a Sarah Palin or a Mit Romney. But as soon as any one person sees it as a chance to seize some power and wealth, and Tea Partiers allow it to happen, then the movement dies. So, let’s keep our fingers crossed… no, let’s stay ever vigilant and not allow for any one person or entity to rest it from the hands of the people.

Finally, a tea the tastes and feels good going down… and that isn’t against my religion. Tea anyone?