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?

The State of the Union or Mr. Obama?

Well, it’s Mr. Obama’s moment to shine. He seems to crave moments that allow him to be in control and to look his best. All of that is usually accomplished through the membrane of a tele-prompter.

Pundits words fill the blogoshpere with predictions of those things that Mr. Obama will focus on and why. Some of the predictions are sure to be more informed than others. One blogger, Andrew Golis (editor of Yahoo!’s News blogs), listed five questions he thought needed answered by Mr. Obama considering the state of things in the Union since the Massachusetts’s Shocker.

1. Can he reclaim the role of "changer in chief"?
2. Will there be another "You lie!" moment?
3. What will he say about health care?
4. Does he have a sound bite that sticks?
5. Can he offer a hopeful economic vision?

That’s nice. But I thought there was only one question that needed to be answered. How many things will Mr. Obama either lie about or spin to put him in the best light and ease the concerns of a growing discontented populace?

I know, I seem to be a serious skeptic here. Well, what do you expect? Try this experiment. On a sheet of paper, list as many things as you can that shows how Mr. Obama actually did what he said he would do. Here’s mine:

• Ahhh
• Hmmm

OK, so I can’t think of any. Your turn.

Anyway, if you choose to tune in tonight and catch the President’s State of the Union address, it might be just as important to try and determine what the State of Mr. Obama is. In my opinion this president has difficulty being genuine. He tends to say things for looks. He also tends to say things to spin a message. If he can say the right things and gain even a tiny degree of trust among his fellow Americans, he can then go on and do what he really wants while America looks the other way.

The times in this country are just too dangerous to be caught looking the other way. Watch this guy like a hawk and take nothing for granted. Only in this way can we hope to keep the state of this Union in the safe harbor of the Constitution of the United States.

A New Dawn for America?

The morning the New Year dawned I woke up feeling positive about the future. That hadn’t happened in some time. For much of the previous two years a depressing pall hung over my life. I noticed that a similar pall hung over the country. But 2010 opened with a glimmer of hope… a lighter feeling… a bit of excitement. I related these feelings to some friends and when they asked why I thought I felt differently, I really couldn’t explain it.

Who would have known that any news out of Massachusetts would have provided a glimpse into my glimmer of hope… a tentative glimmer to be sure… but there is no doubting the hopeful feeling inside. Scott Brown… Chevy truck… healthcare reform is dead… Democrats getting frantic… Kennedy’s seat… wake-up call… Is it Martha or Marcia Coakley? Each of these words and phrases fueled the hope within until I heard the news… Brown Wins! Then in his acceptance, Brown declared: “This isn’t Kennedy’s seat, or my seat, but your seat!”

That is like music to my ears. I detest the growing political aristocracy in America. Political offices are a right of passage to some. To others the seat is bought off. And still to others, once they get the office, it becomes their job… their profession. Brown has the right idea… the seat belongs to the people and those that the people put in the seat serves them. Where has this idea gone?

Well, I’m happy for Scott Brown and the Republican Party. I’m happy that there is a chance to turn the tide of big fat government controlling every aspect of our country. There is a chance that the free enterprise system can be saved from government take-over. Maybe some sanity will set in and we’ll learn to live within our means, strengthen the dollar, and re-establish the hope of America.

However, I have a warning for Scott Brown and other Republicans like him. First, don’t get caught up in the thought that the Massachusetts shocker is a repudiation of the Democratic Party and a mandate for the Republicans. It has little to do with party, but everything to do with ideals… conservative ideals.

I’m a registered Republican, but I’m a conservative American first. I believe in a lean central government that fulfills the mandate written in the Constitution. I think the Founding Father’s stand head and shoulders above their peers and see hardly anyone today who can even be considered their peer. I believe in America’s Christian heritage that opens the door to other religions and non-religions to exist in a free society. I believe in our imperfect but free enterprise system that fuels the greatest nation on earth. When these things are tempered in the hands of a moral people… a people who accept personal responsibility… then truly there is such a thing as an American dream.

So, is it a New Dawn for traditional American ideals? I truly hope so. As for now, my hope index is up… may yours be too.

Who's Really in the Main Stream?

We’ve heard a lot over the past several months about the shortcomings of the MSM (Main Stream Media). They seem oblivious to the pulse of their audience. A recent poll shows that an increasing majority of MSA (Main Stream America) believes the country is woefully going in the wrong direction (see http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/59934). And yet the MSM has chosen not to pick up the story and report it.

Now, I could talk about the definition of “Main Stream” and wonder who is really in it: the media or the American people. But that really isn’t the story to me. What’s really interesting is how the MSM has failed to capture the minds of the MSA… this time. They have functioned now for months as Mr. Obama’s spin machine… trying to manipulate what the MSA hears and believes. But despite the MSM’s one-sided and heavy-handed progressive political agenda, the MSA still believes that Mr. Obama’s country is seriously going in the wrong direction.

That’s really good news to me… a basicguy in the main stream of America. I’ve had to search far and wide for media that represents what most American’s believe in and bring some sanity back into the argument in this great land. As the MSA continues to search as I have and abandons the MSM, maybe they’ll come to their senses… it’s not likely… but one can hope.

Later the same day:

Well, well, what do you know? As I watched ABC’s World News, what did Diane Sawyer report on? The very poll I mentioned above. Now that was unexpected. Is this a course change… or a crumb to keep MSA interested? As always, time will tell.

The Audacity of Dopes

I’ve been somewhat intrigued by the political machinations going on in Washington… all swirling around the Senate Healthcare Bill. Maybe it would be more accurate to say that I’ve been discouraged. My hope (and the hopes of the majority of American’s) has been dashed. There has been months of Republican efforts to stop Mr. Obama’s train to Pottersville, but even more heartening has been the loud voices of Main Street America. I figure that the reason Republican’s are putting up such a fight, and some Democrats are more prone to stick their fingers in the wind, is because of the massive movement of the American masses. They clearly do not like the direction Mr. Obama and Congress is going.

So, Mr. Obama once wrote about “The Audacity of Hope.” America bought into his silver tongue and deceptions and voted him into office… even against their better judgment. They foolishly rode the wave of history. And now what do we have? A country in economic collapse, a dollar worth a peso, a debt that can’t be paid, and politicians living high on the hog despite it all. Someone needs to write a book that characterizes Washington as it truly is these days and call it: “The Audacity of Dopes.”

Why? Well, let’s just cite two examples.

Mary Landrieu, Democratic Senator from Louisiana, finally caved to party pressure and cast a vote to support the Senate Healthcare Bill. If you visit her website, she claims to “fight for Louisiana.” So, how is voting for a bill that the majority of America opposes “fighting” for her constituency? Guess what her answer was. She claims that she did vote with the majority of America. How’s that? Well, the majority voted Mr. Obama into office for his policies and she needed to give him what he wanted. Talk about a dope.

The majority voted into office a Mr. Obama who said he would be transparent, work with both sides of the isle, and bring new hope and a new day to America. Well, things have changed… abruptly… since then. The current voice of the people is not with Mr. Obama. He has proven to be just as much of a dope as Congress. Finally, let’s be truthful. Landrieu was paid-off. Guess what? Wall Street ways lambasted by the President and Congress have been embraced by our politicians.

Ben Nelson, the only Democrat in the Nebraska delegation, also cast his vote in favor of the Senate Healthcare Bill. Why? Well, because the language surrounding government funding of abortions was softened. Nelson, a one issue politician (albeit an important issue), posed himself as unwavering on this point. After watching Harry Reid’s shenanigans and apparent willingness to do anything to pass the bill, why would Nelson trust his party’s leadership on this critical issue? Well, it turns out to be a very simple answer. Remember Mary Landrieu? Well, meet her twin, Bill Nelson. Harry paid him off… giving Bill promises that Nebraska will be treated differently than all the other states. They’ll be off the hook for Medicaid payments to the tune of millions of dollars. Once again, it’s the Wall Street hustle.

Such audacity. These Dopes in Washington have bankrupted this country. We’re on the brink of a dangerous precipice. How can we survive the audacity of dopes?

A Season of Firsts

This political season has been filled with firsts. Firsts are often considered striking events... things never to be forgotten. The capturing of the presidency by the first African-American (well, sort of... his mother was white) was one of those events that made history. Mr. Obama's seizure of the American state was just the beginning. Soon thereafter, he seized elements of Wall Street and GM too. The government taking ownership of private business, if not technically a first, is certainly extremely rare and unusual. It's something you'd expect in Venezuela, but the United State of America.

If that were all, it would be enough... at least for me. When was the last time the Democrat's ignored the polls? During the presidential campaign they followed the polls religiously. But what do we find now? Congressional and presidential approval ratings are the lowest in decades. American's have clearly spoken and the direction the country is heading is not what is wanted. And yet, the once religious poll watching Democrats act as if there are no polls. A political poll? What's that?

Just today, the Senate voted (just barely) to impose floor debate on a very unpopular Health Care bill. Most Americans have expressed a desire for health care reform, but not a public or government run option. Well, the Congress ignored the polls and voted in a public option health care bill and sent it on to the Senate. And now the Senate has chosen the same path. Both houses of congress are dominated by Democrats. Personally I oppose both of these measures. I hope that, when given the chance, their constituency stomps loudly as they give these hard of hearing Democrats the boot.

I'm a Republican, but I'm a conservative American first. I believe in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. I believe in free enterprise... that it is the engine that allows this country to run and provide an opportunity for the American dream. I believe in a strong central government... but a lean one. I believe that government must live within its means like every entity in this country. Government should have a balanced budget and should stay out of way of states and the private sector. So everything that I'm seeing now is very troubling. The Democrats seem hell-bent on pushing this country into a very large government that controls every sector of the economy.

If the Democratic agenda is forced upon this country, regardless of the loud voices from every state in this nation, then I'll hope for yet another "first." What would that be? Throughout our political history there have been some weak moments when Democrats have succeeded in ramming a government option through the system. One example is the Social Security administration. Once these "government options" get their foot in the door, they never leave. They become government entitlement programs that become a serious drain on the American people... who pay for these entitlements whether they work effectively or not. Well, if insanity succeeds and we see a national health care plan rammed through the system against the will of the majority, then I hope for the first time, that it becomes the first entitlement to get the axe.

A season of firsts? I hope so.