Daily News Rush

Mark Todd - Candidate for WI Governor 2010 - Door to Door

Mark Todd, Republican Candidate for Wisconsin Governor in 2010 was just at my door!

Here he is with my adorable Golden Retriever, who just loved him up and got hair all over his overcoat (sorry). 

This is the 2nd time I've met Mark - he has some interesting entrepreneurial business ideas about creating jobs and earning income for the State - kind of like an emergent politician. 

I haven't made up my mind yet, but if my dog likes him.... Mark also has a golden retriever...well, that's saying something I think. 

What is a Liberal, Really?

  In the following article posted on Pajamas Media by David Jenkins, we learn that perhaps conservatives are 'liberals' in the true sense of the actual word, and that today's liberals are really 'statists'.  A statist is one who believes the state should run things.  Conservatives are those who hold to the principles of the founders of this country.  Perhaps it is time to start point this out.  I know many people who claim to be liberals, but they feel, think and act like conservatives in their own personal lives.  Sometimes I wonder if people are just blindly following the ideology because it sounds good, but haven't taken the time to consider the consequences of this ideology if it is permitted to become reality. 

Why Call Them ‘Liberal’ When They’re Anything But?

Do Words Matter?

• "The use of the word “conservative” to describe those who hold to the principles of the Founding Fathers of this nation. The founding of America was the most liberal act ever committed by mankind. And the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are the two most liberal documents ever to arise from the mind of man."     ....see more
  

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Let's Chill - Scientists and others Skeptical of Global Warming

Chill.

I'm very sorry that people feel the need to walk away from the global warming debate with the growing list of global warming skeptics.  Frankly I'm quite disappointed.  It's frustrating to realize that apparently it's OK for some people to express their opinions, but not others - especially if that opinion disagrees with theirs.  I'm sorry if half the country chooses not to walk in lockstep with a false consensus that is not supported by historical facts. 

When I discovered my religion and began to absorb its teachings, I felt liberated and free from the fundamentalism of institutionalized religion - I certainly don't want to put myself in another setting where I have to restrict myself to certain topics or cater to other people's opinions - that's what I was liberated from.  People say that 'everything is politics' - I think everything is spiritual on some level as well. 

Frankly, I get tired of hearing that everybody should believe in global warming by now.  Why?  Because Al Gore does?  Don't make me laugh.  Does anyone else deserve any credit for having done research that just might point them in another direction?  Global warming alarmists try to intimidate scientists and others who dare to speak out against global warming - but don't be intimidated - just let them know your research has led you to a different conclusion - then point them to this article or one of the important links listed below. 

I have done a fair amount of research on global warming, claims have been made by global warming theorists - yet there is no evidence to support their claims.  I have looked at the supposed evidence and it does not hold up under scrutiny.  There is no reason for me to deny true science, I would be happy to accept it, if only there was evidence to support it.   I and many others are still not convinced.

We have had many discussions about global warming in the past, apparently this is an important issue for many people, perhaps they have something invested in it - time, money, who knows.  I think the whole global warming thing is a strategic tactic on the part of liberal democrats.  Their strategy might be to clean up the environment - maybe their previous tactics didn't work, so they're trying FEAR tactics this time around. Maybe their strategy is to invigorate the economy while cleaning up the environment.  The global warming industry is set to become the next 'BIG OIL' - the new black, you know!  And people like us are standing in their way!  So what do they do?  They try to intimidate us and they get people like you who fall for this nonsense to help them!  Cleaning up the environment is noble and I will do whatever I can to support a clean environment, boosting the economy is fine too, if it's done with integrity and honesty. 

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Here are just a tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny fraction of what's available out there in terms of people and organizations who for many good reasons are skeptical of global warming: 

Al Gore vs John Coleman - Coleman is the founder of The Weather Channel:

• http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/06/john_coleman_vs_al_gore.html
  

From Heartland:  The world’s largest-ever gathering of global warming skeptics will assemble March 8-10, 2009  in New York City for The 2009 International Conference on Climate Change to confront the issue, “Global warming: Was it ever really a crisis?”

1. http://www.heartland.org/events/NewYork09/newyork09.html
2. http://www.heartland.org/full/24814/Former_Astronaut_Says_Earth_Not_in_Peril_from_Global_Warming.html
3. http://www.heartland.org/events/NewYork09/PDFs/NationalReviewAd.pdf
4. http://www.heartland.org/NewYork08/newyork2008-ppt.html
5. http://www.globalwarmingheartland.org/news.html

ABC News Reporter John Stossel expresses skepticism about global warming:

• http://www.publicintegrity.org/blog/entry/458/?gclid=CMvoobTVlJkCFQEpGgodk3qlaQ

SENATOR JAMES INHOFE CHAIRMAN, SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

For years, Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma has been the global warming skeptic's voice in the senate:

• http://epw.senate.gov/speechitem.cfm?party=rep&id=263759

The American Policy Roundtable: The Great Global Warm Up - "8 Arguments against Global Warming"

• http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/globalwarmup.html
  

Politico.com - "Scientists urge caution on global warming"

• http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15938.html

Armed with statistics from the Goddard Institute for Space Studies and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climate Data Center, D’Aleo reported in the 2009 Old Farmer’s Almanac that the U.S. annual mean temperature has fluctuated for decades and has only risen 0.21 degrees since 1930 — which he says is caused by fluctuating solar activity levels and ocean temperatures, not carbon emissions.
....At the Cato Institute, senior fellow Patrick Michaels, a contributing author of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said most of Washington is already too deeply entrenched in the global warming mantra to turn back.
....Despite the growing science, the world’s leading crusader on climate change, Al Gore, is unconcerned.

“Climate deniers fall into the same camp as people who still don’t believe we landed on the moon,” said the former vice president’s spokeswoman, Kalee Kreider. “We don’t think this should distract us from the reality.”

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People can hold different opinions for very good reasons, and that is is quite unfair for global warming alarmists to voice their opinions without allowing others to freely voice their dissenting opinions without fear of intimidation.  It doesn't really matter what I think in the long run, it only matters whether they are persuasive enough to change my mind.  Intimidation is a poor substitute for facts.

It is my sincere hope that people will consider and accept that others are free to hold differing opinions, and that we can even be happy about this.  Debates are fun - let's debate and get to the bottom of this whole thing! 

Let's chill (no pun intended) and refocus our efforts on finding the truth about global warming - without fear of intimidation.  Surely we can all agree that there's too much pollution in the world - getting rid of pollution will make the world a better place to live and will surely assuage the fears of those who sincerely believe in global warming. 

Obama reaches out to Muslims, following in Bush's footsteps

Following in former President George W Bush's footsteps, President Barack Obama reached out to Muslims this past week, (1/27/2009) saying:

“Now, my job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world, that the language we use has to be a language of respect,”

and...

“We cannot paint with a broad brush a faith as a consequence of the violence that is done in that faith’s name. I cannot respect terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians and we will hunt them down. But to the broader Muslim world what we are going to be offering is a hand of friendship.”

Former President George W Bush first reached out to Muslims shortly after 9/11/2001  during his speech to a joint session of Congress on 9/20/2001.  Bush continued to reach out to people of ALL faiths throughout his Presidency.  Here's what he said on 9/20/2001: 

"I also want to speak tonight directly to Muslims throughout the world. We respect your faith. It’s practiced freely by many millions of Americans and by millions more in countries that America counts as friends. Its teachings are good and peaceful, and those who commit evil in the name of Allah blaspheme the name of Allah. The terrorists are traitors to their own faith, trying, in effect, to hijack Islam itself. The enemy of America is not our many Muslim friends. It is not our many Arab friends. Our enemy is a radical network of terrorists and every government that supports them."

...hmmmm. 
Apparently the current President, #44, has a few things in common with the former President, #43.  I wonder if the mainstream media and/or his supporters have realized this.

Coincidental? Economic Collapse coincides with Obama Presidency

Is it just a coincidence or did the realization back in July and August of 2008 that Barack Obama would become the next President trigger the economic collapse?

All of a sudden like, the economy is in dire straits.  One day it's fine, the next day it's not.  It seems to me that this could have been forestalled to January or February of 2009, but perhaps those in power realized the only way to save the economy was to announce its imminent decline ahead of time so they could actually do something about it before they became outnumbered. 

One of several things is going to happen:

1. In a few months the economy will be fine and new millionaires/billionaires will have been created through a strategic shift in wealth - from banking and oil to green and labor. 
2. New Government spending is going to bankrupt the country when people realize they can get everything they need from this new government without working for it.
3. It's going to get a lot worse before it gets better, provided the collapse is real. 
4. People have gotten used to spending and getting what they want, they will not be able to manifest the discipline necessary to live within their means, credit card debt will soar and personal bankruptcies will follow.  This holds true for the US and other parts of the world.

There is nothing wrong with the economic forecast.  Think population economics.  You probably think there are 6 billion people on the planet, right?  The number is fast approaching 7 billion, we're close to 6.8 billion right now.  The US economy alone grew by 1.3 percent last year.  We can't even keep up with the demands placed on us by 6 billion people, imagine another 1 billion on top of that.  A billion is a very big number.  Do you know how many hamburgers or how much Mac 'n Cheese it takes to feed an additional 1 billion people?  Do you know how many workers and businesses it takes to keep people housed, clothed, fed, educated, and so forth?  Or how many of that extra billion will want to buy an iPod? 

It only appears that the world is suffering through an economic collapse at the moment because people are scared, they're not buying anything because of fear.  The fear is causing their present reality, which is in turn causing real problems in the economy.  Take away the fear, and the economy will rebound.  I thought an Obama administration promised not to lead by fear? 

Does fighting a war in Iraq and Afghanistan cause fear?  No.  Does the idea of an Obama Presidency and investors losing money on Wall Street cause fear?  Apparently.  But for different reasons.

Obama to close Gitmo and 'dispose of detainees'

1/22/2009 In a media address and signing process this morning, President Obama issued an executive order that will close Gitmo, the Guatanamo Bay, Cuba prison for terrorist detainees, within one year.  During the signing process, Obama asked one of his staff members if there was a separate executive order that explains how they would 'dispose of the detainees'. 

There was indeed a separate executive order that deals with 'Detainee disposition'.  Is there a difference between saying 'detainee disposition' and 'dispose of detainees'? 

There was also an executive order stating that interrogation will now be based on the current Army Field Manual.

Obama also said we were going to win this war on terror on our terms.  

The Day After - 44 Changes I'm looking Forward to from #44

Congratulations #44.  

Here it is, the day after the euphoric inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America.  President Barack Hussein Obama strangely, is a likable guy, today, I am happy, hopeful and looking forward to a few positive changes. Time will tell whether America made a good choice in this new kind of politician. I can only hope that the vitriol coming from certain people has come to a screeching halt now that the chosen one has been installed.  Maybe once people realize how tough the President's job really is, they will have greater respect for #43.  The noise has been deafening, the treatment of President George Walker Bush by some has been utterly disgraceful.

44 things we can look forward to in the next 4 years:

1. peace
   
2. quiet
3. love
   
4. harmony
5. a fantabulous economy
6. a balanced budget
7. lower taxes
8. the preservation of social security
9. the creation of millions of new jobs
10. eliminate age discrimation
11. ensure equal pay for equal work
12. keeping more jobs from going overseas
13. affordable health insurance
14. better healthcare 
15. fewer abortions
16. lower drug costs
17. mortgage assistance
18. better education for our children
19. hold educators accountable (improve NCLB)
20. cut education programs that don't work
21. college tax credits
22. a national infrastructure overhaul
23. freedom of religion
24. free broadband internet service
25. fresh air
26. clean water
27. revitalization of rural areas
28. reversal of climate change
29. no lobbying or cronyism
30. penalization of vote fraud - retroactively
31. transparency
32. put prisoners to work
33. safeguard all nuclear materials
34. prevent axis of evil from going nuclear
35. open American libraries in Islamic countries
36. expansion of US military forces
37. will consult of military commanders
38. no more wars
39. an end to terrorism
40. independence from foreign energy
41. an end to genocide in Darfur
42. secure borders
43. your wife still loves you when you leave office
44. and a world that thinks we're just peachy now

That's my list of 44 things I'm looking forward to from #44. 

Those were just a few of Obama's campaign promises that sounded good to me, I'm looking forward to their materialization. If he keeps his promises, he will have earned my confidence.

See more of Obama's promises here: http://www.nationaljournal.com/campaigns/2008/wh08/promises_obama.htm

Obama is an intelligent man and if nothing else, he fulfills what I believe about our future, that we are leading toward a government where people are elected based on intellect rather than emotion, leading to a more perfect union. Certainly, Obama meets the intellect requirement, but he was still elected based on the emotions of those who feel the civil rights movement would not be a success until a minority held the land's highest office. I'm happy for them and I'm even more happy for minorities. My parents were born in Norway - they came to the USA many years ago as immigrants, and although we are certainly proud to be of Norwegian descent, we do not go around calling ourselves Norwegian Americans - we're just Americans - white people don't run around calling themselves white Americans, they're just Americans; hopefully, this victory solidifies for African Americans and Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans and all other Americans, that they are 'just' Americans too. The separation of people into groups (blacks, gays, women, guns and God, left, right) has proved non-progressive.  This should end all divisiveness on the part of the dividers now that we have a new decider-in-chief, no more groups, we are one - celebrate oneness. United we stand, divided we fall. 

"Mankind's struggle to perfect government on Urantia (Earth) has to do with perfecting channels of administration, with adapting them to ever-changing current needs, with improving power distribution within government, and then with selecting such administrative leaders as are truly wise. While there is a divine and ideal form of government, such cannot be revealed but must be slowly and laboriously discovered by the men and women of each planet throughout the universes of time and space."

Urantia Paper 70

Inauguration Eve 2009: Why Republicans lost the Presidency to the Democrats

Prejudice.

It's January 19, 2009, Inauguration Eve, and I've had 2 months to think about why the Republicans lost the Presidency to the Democrats and so I'll publish a letter I wrote 24 hours after Mitt Romney suspended his campaign for President back in February of 2008:  Disclaimer:  I am not, nor have I ever been, nor am I thinking of becoming a Mormon.   Note:  The gray highlights are notes I added today.

Dear Me,                     Friday, Feb 8, 2008
(Actually I sent this to my radio boss who read it over the air for me that day.)

Yesterday, one of the most decent candidates ever to run for President dropped out of the race.  Needless to say, I felt devastated and somewhat depressed.  As I listened to his speech at CPAC on Thursday I wished more than ever that he would not drop out, but he did.

I am extremely disappointed with the Christian Conservatives (even though I was one), along with James Dobson and Pat Robertson.  They will get what they deserve now.  Their prejudice against Mormons prevented them from voting for the candidate that best represents their views.  Shame on them!  As Christians, the church has taught us our entire lives that Mormons are bad and they've even taught us how to argue with them when they come to the door.  What has a Mormon ever done to any of them - Mormons are just the nicest most decent people - living the Christian faith more fully than most Christians.  Shame.

Back to Romney - Dealing with the possibility that Romney might not make it - as early as last week - Hillary started to look good compared to what I knew about McCain.  I started to think I could be optimistic about the first female President and how she'd be held to a much higher standard because of her gender, and that maybe she'd have to be the best President ever because every woman in America would be counting on her.  

So now what do I do?  Shortly after Romney, McCain gave his speech at CPAC, which I also listened to - fully expecting to confirm my suspicions that he was the wrong candidate and that I could never vote for him, now I'd vote for Hillary (somehow Obama never crosses my mind).

Well, doggone it, McCain actually sounded pretty good, he came across quite strong actually.  He stands by his convictions and I admire him for that.

I'm wondering whether my dislike of McCain is due to my like of Romney and whether it's all just politics - just business.

I was at Barnes & Noble book store yesterday and sat down and read a bit from one of McCain's biographies - I must say, I was never fully aware of his strong character - and his lifelong service to this country.  I was aware to a degree, but I'd never given him a chance because of his personality problem.

Later in the day I happened to catch Hillary on the tube and thought - I still don't want her to be President.

So, I went from "I'd rather vote for Hillary than McCain" to
"I'm going to give McCain another look, and a chance to earn my vote" - all in the span of 24 hours.

He'll be sure to get my vote if he chooses Romney as his VP.  That would make sense since Romney came in second, is good with conservative and economic issues.

So, I guess I owe you lunch Jerry - I lost the bet - it doesn't look like Romney's gonna make it this time, but I look forward to seeing more of him in government.  

--end Dear Me---

TODAY:  Well, McCain upset me again by not choosing Romney for his VP, but then he shook the world by choosing Sarah Palin!  I liked that, and Tina Fey was hilarious, but it still wasn't enough to win.  Had it been Romney/Palin, they might have pulled it off.  Of course this is partly Huckabee's fault as well for staying in the race so long to begin with.  Now I like Huckabee just fine, but it was not very Christian of him to stay in the race when he was only playing prevent defense.  Honesty is always the best policy, wouldn't you agree Rev Huckabee? 

So, here we are on Inauguration Eve 2009, about to inaugurate the 44th President of the United States and it ain't Mitt Romney.  I like Obama just fine, don't get me wrong, he's got a nice smile and a motown swagger, but he may not have the confidence to lead the greatest nation on earth into the next four years.  What's he gonna do with all those Gitmo detainees, let 'em loose in D.C.?  Obama is my President too, like he said in his victory speech, but he'll have to show me.  I'm glad he picked Rick Warren to give the invocation and I hope Rev Warren doesn't deliver a kiss-face message.  I hope all of Obama's good, independent policies are a resounding success, because then we all win. 

So, it was prejudice that caused the Republicans to lose the Presidency to the Democrats in November.  Religious prejudice.  Kinda fitting, isn't it? 

I don't believe in hell any longer, and although I'm sure I'll be my typical happy self throughout the next four years; I can't help but wonder about all the Huckabee Republicans.  Smile, you're on Candid Camera!

The moral of the story:  Never give up!

2009 Inauguration Eve: So Long, Farewell, Cheers Mr. President

Dear President George W Bush,

Thank you for doing your job to the best of your abilities.  Thank you for standing on principle and not bowing to the caricature created of you by the mainstream media. 

During your Presidency you have accomplished a few things and we would like to give a tip of the hat to you for these accomplishments: 

1. Keeping America safe
2. Combating Terrorism
3. Keeping your faith
4. Promoting Freedom & Democracy around the world
5. Standing strong
6. Continuing the policies of a generous America
7. Strengthening NATO Alliances and other foreign allies (like Iraq and Afghanistan)
8. Lowering taxes
9. Rescuing the economy from total collapse - you could have left it for the next guy - you didn't
10. Reducing spending where possible
11. Bringing transparency to Pork Barrel projects
12. Holding teachers accountable - now it's up to students and parents
13. Medicare prescription drug benefit
14. Establishing health savings accounts
15. Trying to improve the health insurance system
16. Trying to improve the Social Security system
17. Faith based initiatives
18. Improving veterans benefits
19. Providing our military with the finest tools known to man
20. Inspiring a generation that freedom is still worth fighting for
21. Increasing the free trade platform and US exports
22. Improving US global competitiveness
23. Upholding small business breaks and opportunities
24. Keeping us in outer space
25. Landing rovers on Mars
26. Plan to send us to the moon (wait, is that a good thing? :)
27. Protecting and improving the environment
28. Got gas back down under 2 bucks a gallon!
29. Laid groundwork for creation of alternative sources of energy
30. Reduction in crime and teen drug use
31. Reduction in chronic homelessness
32. Rooted out corporate fraud and corruption
33. Showed that we are all equal, making it easier for the first black President to become elected
34. Air and highway traffic congestion relief measures put in place
35. Enacted the DO NOT CALL LIST!!!  Hallelujah for that one!
36. 145 million Americans are on it - so don't call us telemarketers!
37. Advanced a culture of life, from the unborn to the unwanted
38. Promoted ethical practices of stem cell research
39. Appointed qualified Judges to the Supreme Court
40. Tried to implement a sound immigration policy
41. Unprecedented efforts toward a smooth Presidential transition
42. Your wife still loves you (dat's a biggie!)
43. You can still look in the mirror #43

Thank you George W Bush,
43rd President of the United States of America. 

There are more accomplishments to be sure, but we wouldn't want it to go to your head. 

Happy Trails Mr. President. 

Cheers.  Skål for fisken!  So long, farewell......

Osri

Daily News Rush
(a body out of the mainstream of the media)