Polling Point Question and My Answer

Why do you think young people are increasingly engaging in “adult” behaviors like sex and drinking? How big of a problem is this?

It is a great problem. Our children do not know how to care for themselves. They are bored, unchallenged, lack ambition and integrity. Young people should have to work for a higher education not to be given grants and loans. Young people should have to work from the age of 13 at an afternoon job or chores around the house. They need to be taught values and how to earn their life. What is given is of little value, what is earned is of great value.

What is ACORN?

Who is ACORN?

I first heard of ACORN during audits of lending policies and practices between two merged banks. I learned that ACORN was similar to CRA, (Community Re-investment Act), a Congress mandated regulation between banks and communities to re-invest profits back into the communities where the banks operated. It was to help good customers, living in depressed areas, obtain favorable loans to rehabilitate their homes and small businesses.

ACORN is described as: ACORN Housing provides mortgage loan counseling, first-time home buyer classes, and helps clients obtain affordable mortgages through unique lending partnerships. They even set up their own lending institution as a non-profit mortgage brokerage with CitiMortgage, Bank of America, First American Title Insurance Company, and Fannie Mae to help low- and moderate-income families find safe, affordable mortgages.

So when I heard about ACORN and voter fraud, I was a bit confused. Why would a mortgage broker be involved with voter registration? Remember no good deed goes unpunished. Of course this early example of wealth re-distribution would have a liberal foundation and why not take advantage of your benevolent presence in the community by signing up voters to support the party that took all the credit for these low-income programs? Yes, the Dems. What other party does more to take so much from the middle class and give so little to the poor and lazy?

Yes, ACORN now receives large sums of money from the taxpayers, thanks to O'bama, Pelosi, Franks, Reid, Dodd, etc, to operate bipartisan (Ha Ha, you mean democrat) voter registration organizations. They even tried to include this bunch of crooks in the $700 billion bailout until John McCain stood up for the House Republicans. Lord help this country when O'bama, Pelosi and Reid are in charge. And just think of the liberal judges they will appoint to the Supreme Court in 8 long years, or longer if you listen closely to what O'bama says.

How did Palin do?

How did Palin do? She was great on presentation and she held her own on content. However, you cannot expect a first term Governor to be able to throw out the well-orchestrated misleading inaccuracies of a 35-year Congressman like Joe Biden. She sounded fresh, home spun and honest. But to special interests and all the pseudo elite intellectuals she will remain ‘White Trash’.

I cannot see how John McCain will be able to pull this election off; given the level that greed has permeated into our culture. We the people are gladly accepting the blame of the Bush Administration and the Republicans in lieu of all the documented proof that it should be attributed to the mortgage welfare programs of Fannie, Freddie and Acorn supported by the Democrats. Palin nailed it when she said that we the people own a bit of the blame with our ... “Buy now pay later with imaginary equity money”.

We are headed for very hard times. Prepare yourselves for high unemployment, high inflation, and no money to fund economic, educational, or health care welfare.

Check out this weeks Charles Krauthammer Washington Post article, "Hail Mary vs Cool Barry".

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/02/AR2008100203043.html

Rice to meet with Muammar Gaddafi

With so much history happening right before our eyes, please do not miss this historic event: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Libya to meet with Muammar Gaddafi. While our President Bush continues to take a beating on the Iraq military action, taken to protect US interests and free a suppressed people, we are now seeing unexpected results. Libya was once considered to one of the longest hostile relationships with the US, apart from Cuba and North Korea. This is an incredible turnaround.

I encourage you to visit the BBC News website and read the articles posted this morning.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Democracy

I never cease to be amazed by the rhetoric of a politician. They make so many promises that history has taught us that they either cannot or never intended to keep. But the masses still want to believe that they will deliver. Does anyone ever connect the dots to a road map on how the promises are to be accomplished, or what impact there will be if the promises are fulfilled?

Usually when you make a promise to one, it is at the cost of another. Such as, I am going to give you something you do not have, in hopes it will give you a better life and therefore make you a better person. However, I must take it from someone who worked hard for it, but then they are already a good person and I am sure they will just work a little harder. And when they do, I will have more resources for other under-achievers.

Does this sound like a plan that will get your vote?

Under-achievers: YES

Hard Workers: NO

The question is which group out numbers the other in a democracy.

The Audacity of Vanity

I linked an article, it is just too good not to share.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071701839.html

AmericaSpeaks

Last year I participated in an AmericaSpeaks Townhall meeting, with Arnold Schwarzenegger, regarding 'Healthcare'. Recently I received a request, from AmericaSpeaks, to complete a survey regarding my experience. They also requested comments and I thought I would share my thoughts with you and solicit your arguments or further comments.

'I believe corrupt politicians & special interest groups threaten democracy for us all. I believe that our government promotes welfare mentality to deprive our young of ambition & accomplishment. I believe that the phrase "politically correct" has eliminated our ability to speak out as individuals. I believe that diversity has been labeled as bigotry and discrimination.'

Diversity: the state or fact of being diverse; difference; unlikeness.
Bigotry: stubborn intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.
Discrimination: treatment of, or making a distinction in favor of or against a person.

Does this mean that there is no such thing as reverse-discrimination but only intended and/or unintended results? Let me know your thoughts.

Sharron

Prager Roast at Nixon Library

I'm not really sure how serious I would be about going to this - but if more people were interested in attending, it could be a fun night.

Click here for link to the site: Prager Roast

Another book recommendation

A memoir about a secular agnostic New Yorker who devotes himself to following the Bible to the letter (red and otherwise) for a year. What ensues is a deep quest for knowledge and understanding of the application of biblical law and tradition to secular life. This includes telling the truth, not coveting, multiplying, and even stoning adulterers (with hilarious results). The tone of the book is respectful, inquisitive, and follows the Dennis Prager law of "first tell the truth, and then give your opinion". I won't give away too much, but the rule of cognitive dissonance does hold sway. I got a Borders gift card from my grandmother for my birthday, and I finally got around to using it. After walking around aimlessly for a while I came across this book in the "recommended by staff" section, and haven't put it down.

Krauthammer article mentioned by Dennis 2/15/08

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/14/AR2008021403105.html?referrer=emailarticle

what is a " true conservative"?

I'm very much looking forward to discussing this. Also, I'm looking forward to others insights on the latest Republican controversy. What are peoples thoughts on what Ingraham, Hannity and Dobson said about McCain? I'm looking forward to some lively discourse on these themes.

Book Recommendation

I just finished an interesting book:
The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of al-Qaeda by Yaroslav Trofimov.

I recommend this book if you are interested in learning more about our enemy.

January Meeting

Our last listener’s meeting was a small group of 7 or so members in attendance. Although limited in numbers, we were not limited in spirited discussion. With the elections so close, one of the topics, of course, was the candidates. We discussed the ‘Change Agenda’ of Obama, the inevitability of a Clinon nomination. At the time of our meeting, we had a wide range of Republican candidates as well. I am sure we will all find the results of ‘Super Tuesday’ interesting.

The other major topic of discussion was, ‘Cheating: can it ever be moral?’ This was a recent Dennis Prager topic and I believe our discussion was lively as the one with Dennis and his callers.

The final topic we discussed was the meetings. With over 40 members listed, we have never had more than a 25% attendance. Considering that our members are from Grass Valley to Vacaville to Lodi having a meeting to include everyone may not be realistic. It has been suggested that we consider breaking out into smaller groups with meetings more strategically located. We have tried to have monthly meetings, but maybe every other month would be easier. I believe Bob is looking for suggestions to help make our listener meetings interesting for everyone. Please use this Blog to offer your ideas.

Thanks!

I learned from a recent WebMD newsletter that coming soon to a market near you, meat and milk from cloned animals and probably without disclosure labels. Labels will equal higher cost for products from cloned animals and even higher for products from non-cloned animals. What issues or concerns, if any, should be considered?

From the article:
FDA: Meat of Cloned Animals Safe to EatAgency Says Milk and Meat From Clones Pose No Risks to Humans
The FDA concluded last month that meat and milk from cloned animals is safe for human consumption, clearing the way for clones to enter the U.S. food supply.The much-anticipated decision was the culmination of years of review by the agency, which has been investigating whether cloning puts animals at risk of genetic changes that could be dangerous if consumed by humans.

Labeling Controversy

Joseph Mendelson, legal director of the consumer watchdog group Center for Food Safety, says his group and others would now shift part of their focus to requiring producers to label meat and milk from cloned parents. "Labeling is going to be a big fight," he says.
Karen Batra, the cattlemen's association spokeswoman, says her industry would oppose labels drawing a distinction between traditional meat and meat from cloned sources. "The science says there is no difference between the two, and it's perfectly safe, and it doesn't need to be labeled," she says.
Stephen Sundlof, the director of the FDA's Center of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, says the agency did not intend to label cloned products on grocery store shelves. "The FDA does not require labeling if there are no food safety issues."

No Dennis on Meet-up?

Hey, I'm totally confused! Other day I found some Prager groups on Meet-up, for sure one in San Francisco. Went looking for them this eve. and nothing came up... what did come up was groups for Underground Democrats, Dennis Kucinich, Impeach Bush...

Wuz' up?!!!

For Christmas, I gave my brother a book 'Sleeping with the Devil' by Robert Baer. He is former CIA and discusses our relationship with Saudi Arabia. My brother is not a President Bush fan, far from it. But he is, at last, willing to discuss our role in the Middle East. He sent me an old interview with Robert Baer and I found it to be interesting. This is my response after reading the article.

Robert Baer, Former CIA Case Officer and Author of "Sleeping with the Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude." -.

It gives insight as to why we are in Iraq. This article is old and a lot has happened since it was written. Considering we are actually fighting an influx of Saudis there it appears that we are confronting the Wahhabi terrorists in a region that has a low impact on our economy. We are truly dependent on the Saudi oil and we need to preserve the huge deposits of Saudi wealth that is deferring a recession. We are slowly following a strategy that has probably been established for longer than a few political administrations. Each allowed to tweak it a bit, but until President Bush there has been little change.

Bush has us waging the war on terrorism, while negotiating a land mind of countries hell bent on destruction. Is it for oil? YES! We the people, may say we do not want to fight for Oil, but where would we be without it? You know we could take an old testament biblical approach, go in and remove all the governments, ... just take over. But in doing so, we could set off the long avoided nucular event, at least three countries in the region have nucular weapons. [India, Pakistan and Israel, soon maybe Iran]. We would probably destroy the very oil fields we are trying to protect and an entire ethic people would be annihilated or very nearly.

This is what it means to be an American in today's world. Remember, they hate us because we are the richest, the strongest, and the most charitable. They hate our charity because it diminishes their view of themselves. But, how would we fare in a world dominated by the Islamic Fundamentalist, or the Russians, or the French, or the etc.? We owe it to the World, and ourselves, to stay strong. The alternative is not acceptable. Am I missing something? The real question is who will take the reigns for the next 4-8 years? Someone who will keep us strong or someone who will bury our heads in the sand and wait for the enemy to come to us?