Bet On It
December 18th, 2008Bet On It
Global Warming
Evidence of global warming continues to present itself in December 2008 - This time via a rare winter storm that swept through Southern Nevada yesterday, dumping the most snow on the valley in nearly three decades.
Oh, wait… That would be global cooling.
Whatever it is, everyone panic! And all of you SUV and fullsize pickup drivers, this is your fault.
How Obama Got Elected
November 20th, 2008How Obama Got Elected
Now It Makes Sense
How did Obama supporters fare on a Zogby poll which surveyed their knowledge of their candidate? Um, not so well…
What They Got Right:
- 94% of Obama voters correctly identified Palin as the candidate with a pregnant teenage daughter.
- 86% correctly identified Palin as the candidate associated with a $150,000 wardrobe purchased by her political party.
- 81% chose McCain as the candidate who was unable to identify the number of houses he owned.
And Not So Right:
- 87% chose Palin when asked which candidate said they could “see Russia from their house” - although the quote actually is attributed to Saturday Night Live’s Tina Fey during her portrayal of Palin during the campaign.
- 83% failed to correctly answer that Obama had won his first election by getting all of his opponents removed from the ballot.
- 88% did not correctly associate Obama with his statement that his energy policies would likely bankrupt the coal industry.
- 56% were also not able to correctly answer that Obama started his political career at the home of two former members of the Weather Underground.
- 72% of Obama voters did not correctly identify Biden as the candidate who had to quit a previous campaign for President because he was found to have plagiarized a speech.
- 47% did not know that Biden was the one who predicted Obama would be tested by a generated international crisis during his first six months as President.
- 57% of Obama voters were unable to correctly answer that Democrats controlled both the House and the Senate.
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Fill It Up
November 14th, 2008Fill It Up
Early And Often
I never thought it would happen… But I’m actually enjoying the whole “fill it up” process at the gas station.
It seems that in my mind, the $2.00/gallon mark is the line between “Oh cool, let’s go drive some more” and “Man, I feel like I’m going to puke” when filling up.
$2.01? Way too much. I’m not going anywhere.
$1.99? I think I need a larger car.
If gas ever touches $.99/gallon again, I’m just going to buy a firetruck or something.
Careful What You Ask For
November 6th, 2008Careful What You Ask For
You Might Actually Get It
I wonder if the reality of the task ahead has hit President-Elect Obama yet. Personally, I think this would be right around the time where I’d have to go hide in a corner.
You know the feeling… We’ve probably all been through it before. “I want that”, “I want that”, “I want that”, “I want that”, “I want that”, “I want that”, “I want that”, “I want that”…
OK, here you go.
“Um… Actually, I’m not so sure I wanted that”.
Sure, being President of the greatest nation in the world must be the most incredible and surreal feeling. But, still, what a mess he’s got ahead of himself.
“Vote for me”, “Vote for me”, “Vote for me”, “Vote for me”, “Vote for me”, “Vote for me”, “Vote for me”…
“Woohoo! Everyone voted for me! Whoooo!”
“Holy shit. Everyone voted for me. I’ve ‘won’ leadership over an economy in the gutter, a negative world perception, national social decay, a plunging stock market, two active wars, unprecedented illegal immigration…”
OK, where’s that corner to hide in?
New Day
November 5th, 2008New Day
Start Changing
Well, thank _________ (insert your desired deity here) this election is over. Sure, I would have preferred a different outcome, but just as I predicted, the world is still turning.
Right now I’m just ready to move on, focus on my on work and interests, see fewer campaign signs and buttons, and get on with life. It will be a quick two years and then it will start all over again.
Good luck President-elect Obama. You’ve got a big job ahead of you.
Your Electricity Too Cheap?
November 3rd, 2008Your Electricity Too Cheap?
Not For Long - Obama Has The Solution
Or, do you work in the coal industry? Not for long…
“Regardless of the timing or method of the release of these remarks, the message from the Democratic candidate for President could not be clearer: the Obama-Biden ticket spells disaster for America’s coal industry and the tens of thousands of Americans who work in it.”
“Senator Obama has revealed himself to be nothing more than a short-sighted, inexperienced politician willing to say anything to get a vote. But today, the nation’s coal industry and those who support it have a better understanding of his true mission, to ‘bankrupt’ our industry, put tens of thousands out of work and cause unprecedented increases in electricity prices.”
-Mike Carey, president of the Ohio Coal Association
Change I Can Believe In
November 3rd, 2008Change I Can Believe In
End Of Rhetoric
In one of my several recent posts asking Obama supporters to clearly identify some of the “changes” that Barack Obama promises, I was asked “exactly WHAT are the changes that McCain is going to make for the greater good of our country?”.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t answer my question. And for the past 6 months or so, this is exactly the type of response I’ve seen when any Obama supporter is asked to explain which “changes” Obama will bring to our country. Similar answers are given when people are asked to name one single accomplishment Senator Obama has achieved during his career.
John McCain isn’t the one running on the campaign of “change”.
Change for the sake of change isn’t a good thing. Higher taxes? Bigger government? Being “tested” by foreign countries?
Sure, these are changes. But not positive ones.
In recent days, sensing victory, Obama has already begun backing off from many of his campaign promises. So I hope his supporters aren’t holding their breath for any immediate “change”.
What I don’t understand is why so many Obama supporters become so defensive when asked to expound the reasons for supporting their candidate.
In a recent interview, Governor Sarah Palin said something that really struck me when asked about the political division in our country. She said: “Well, you start by not discrediting or invalidating someone because of a position that maybe they take that you are in disagreement with. You learn from them, and you do — you’re able to find middle ground on so many of these issues, like global warming, the causes of it, but more importantly, what do we do about it to clean up our planet? There is always a way to work with another person.”
Think about it. I did, and having been guilty of this myself in the past, I learned something from my favorite governor.
So, I’m not trying to discredit anyone when I ask why they support Obama. But I do expect an answer beyond “Because he’s not George Bush”, or “Because he’s for change”.
It’s impossible to learn from people, and to work with them, if you don’t even understand what their position is. Or worse, when they don’t even understand what their position is, and might just happen to be supporting a candidate because he’s a very charismatic public speaker, or because he’s young, or old, or because of of his race or wealth.
I have absolutely no problem sharing exactly why I’m voting for McCain…
- His Senate record. Contrary to what the Obama campaign would have you believe, Senator McCain has broken ranks with the Republicans more than any other Senator. This same quality is evident in Governor Palin. While I generally support the Republican platform, there most certainly are times that I completely disagree with it. McCain has been a thorn in the side of Senate Republicans on many occasions, and has the voting record to prove it. Has Obama ever voted against party lines? No.
- His Service. Watch John McCain’s biography on A&E sometime. This is a pretty good summary of what a true hero is about. McCain’s military record speaks for itself. What has Obama every risked for his country?
- Taxes. This one is easy. Do you want to pay more taxes, or less? If you really believe Obama will lower your taxes, you either haven’t actually read his tax plan, or you don’t invest any money, or have a retirement plan.
- Economy. The current economic problems are GLOBAL, not national. Take a look at Europe and Asia. Neither candidate can bring an immediate change to this economy. However, lower taxes have proven time and time again to lead to a more robust economy. I believe John McCain will set the economic sails in a better direction than Barack Obama will.
- Experience. John McCain has far more experience than the 1-term Senator Obama has. Obama supporters like to challenge the experience of Sarah Palin, but they fail to realize that Obama is running against McCain, not Palin. And there is no comparison when it comes to experience between these two candidates.
- Integrity. I don’t trust Barack Obama. This is one that can’t be qualified since its just opinion.
Compare the campaigns:
Taxes
McCain : John McCain believes we must keep taxes low to reward hard work and create jobs for all Americans.
Obama : Barack Obama wants to “spread the wealth around” and is more interested in controlling who gets your piece of the pie than he is in growing the pie.
Economic Plan
McCain : John McCain has a comprehensive economic plan that will create millions of good American jobs, ensure our nation’s energy security, get the government’s budget and spending practices in order, and bring relief to American consumers.
Obama : The Obama tax increase would come at the worst possible time for America, and especially for small businesses like the one Joe the Plumber dreams of owning. The small businesses Senator Obama would tax provide 16 million jobs in America. And a sudden tax hike for those businesses will kill jobs at a time when we need to be creating more jobs.
Energy
McCain : John McCain will break from the past to lead a great national campaign to put us on a course for energy independence. No problem is more urgent today than our dependence on foreign oil.
Obama : Barack Obama voted for the same policies that created the problem. He voted for the energy bill promoted by President Bush and Vice President Cheney, which gave even more breaks to the oil industry.
Health Care
McCain : John McCain will make health care more available, affordable and responsive to patients and he will give families more choices over their care.
Obama : Barack Obama’s plan will harm employer coverage, continues the push toward government-run health care and will damage private coverage.
Reforming Washington
McCain : John McCain has a record of working to end Washington’s stagnant, unproductive partisanship. He will end wasteful government spending and put the government back on the side of the American people.
Obama : The American people have not seen Barack Obama forsake partisanship for progress. In his short time in the Senate, Congressional Quarterly shows he voted with the Democrat Party 97 percent of the time.
Government Spending
McCain : John McCain is committed to and has long fought for restoring fiscal discipline by eliminating wasteful government spending. Out of control spending has resulted in a weaker dollar, raising the cost of groceries and gas and killing jobs. John McCain will rein in federal spending to help our families in tough economic times.
Obama : Barack Obama plans to increase spending by nearly a trillion dollars. Already in three short years in the Senate, he has requested nearly a billion dollars in pork projects for his state and has been an eager participant in this corrupt system.
Education
McCain : John McCain will shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice, remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good teachers.
Obama : Barack Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureaucracies.
Iraq
McCain : John McCain had the judgment to understand that America’s strategy in Iraq was failing and the courage to call for a dramatic change. That strategy is now working, and America is succeeding in Iraq
Obama : Barack Obama opposed the new strategy and predicted wrongly that it would fail. He voted to deny critical funds to our men and women fighting in Iraq.
While I’m certainly hoping for an upset, I fully expect Obama to win this election. Like I’ve said before, the world will keep turning and I don’t think the United States will cease to exist under our new president.
And when he is elected, I won’t be rioting in the streets, nor claiming he stole the election, nor that the election was fixed - as we would likely see from the other side.
In fact, I will support our new president, whether he’s the one I voted for or not.
This post is my sharing of facts as I know them, as well as opinion. I have no intention of debating anyone about it since I have already selected my candidate, and you - the reader - have probably already selected yours. I thought about turning off comments on this post, but have decided otherwise. I’m just answering some questions that I’ve been asked. If anyone has a burning desire to post a comment, go ahead. I will not be replying to any of them however.
Taxing Questions
November 2nd, 2008Taxing Questions
Soon To Be Reality
I’ve been asking on this blog for months if someone could point out any “change” that soon-to-be president Obama will bring to us…Finally, two days before the election, I’ve found one.
Now, I don’t think we can credit Obama with 100% of this idea, as it seems to be as much from Pelosi as it is the Chosen One, but nonetheless, with total control of the House, Senate, and White House, there won’t be much resistance.
Just remember, when they start taxing your 401(K) contributions next year, you have nobody to blame but yourselves.
O-Socialism
October 27th, 2008O-Socialism
2001 Obama: Tragedy That ‘Redistribution Of Wealth’ Not Pursued By Supreme Court
Our country is about to take a very dangerous direction. “Change”, indeed…
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A few years from now when you find that a great portion of your income is being “redistributed” to those with less desire to work for their dreams - you know, as Obama said to “Joe the Plumber”… spreading the wealth around - just remember who you voted for in 2008.
Election Burn Out
October 25th, 2008Election Burn Out
Sick. Tired. All of the Above
I’m not sure if I’ve ever had election burn out like I have right now
(Um, that’s eLection burn out…)
Sure, I’ve got a vested interest in a certain candidate, and I very much dislike the other. Yet, I know that no matter who wins, the world will keep on turning. Honestly, I have more fears of the Pelosi gang than either presidential candidate. I don’t foresee either McCain or Obama destroying this country in the next 4 years, but Congress is another story.
Anyhow… I’m just ready for the end. This campaign has been going on for over 2 years now. On November 4th I’ll stand in line like everyone else, make neat little patterns on the touch-screen voting machine, then go home and relax.
Oh, yeah, and if one particular candidate wins, I’ll also pull all of my money out of the stock market and tuck it safely under my mattress, because I already know what his policies will do to the business and investment world.
But like I said, the world will keep on turning. And at least there wont be any more campaigning. You know, at least for 24 months, when it starts all over again.
Joe the Plumber in 2012.
