Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Voted tonight.

Filled out my mail-in ballot tonight. Hate to admit that it was not a very satisfying experience. Once again, I was holding my nose, filling in a block – not in support of a candidate I truly believed in, but voting instead against someone who’s worse; someone who I’m convinced if elected will cause my country irreparable harm. I’m deeply afraid that if Obama is elected, he’ll be the worst disaster to hit this nation since Jimmy Carter. His presidency will drive this nation so far left, it will take decades to repair the damage.

As a fellow former Navy pilot, I stand in awe of John McCain’s military record, especially while captive in North Vietnam. But sadly, on a political basis, he just doesn’t speak to me or for me. Ann Coulter considers him the worst possible choice as a GOP candidate and I’m not that far behind her. Surely, the Republican Party could have done better?

If McCain does manage to win next week, it won’t be because of his wit, charisma, leadership or magnetism. It will be because enough voters realized at the last minute that what Obama has in store for America in terms of “change” isn’t what they envisioned

I’ll be glad when this enervating election cycle is finally over. It’s gone on far too long and become too irritating. It’s now so polarized, that I don’t even want to discuss politics anymore with certain members of the extended family. Everybody just gets angry. Some of them consider Obama to be the “second coming”, while McCain is looked upon as the anti-christ.

C’mon Tuesday! Let’s just get this mess over with!

Obama: Elligible to be President?

If you’ve been following the brewing controversy over Barack Obama’s questionable citizenship based on whether he was born in Kenya or Hawaii, the legal case to confirm his status (and his eligibility to be President) took a bizarre turn on Monday. Federal judge R. Barclay Surrick decided that former Pennsylvania Deputy Attorney General Philip Berg did not have the “standing” to raise such an issue before a federal court. As a private citizen – like you and me – he lacks what…. importance? gravitas? connections?

Initially, the Obama camp was given a time frame to provide adequate proof to answer the charge. Obama’s lawyers never complied. Instead, they simply filed motions to dismiss. Yet on Monday, after the deadline had expired, the judge decided to simply drop the case, hanging his hat on the concept that an ordinary citizen does not have the legal clout to challenge the validity of Obama’s citizenship in federal court. Sure feels like a cop-out, doesn't it?

If such is the case, then who does have sufficient standing to satisfy Judge Surrick? His contention is that Congress must be the entity to make such a challenge. Since when? Is that written somewhere? If so, where?

Seems like a huge course change in a very short time span. What happened over the weekend to make this judge execute such an about-face? Did someone lean on him? Who? Six additional lawsuits have been filed in other states. What will become of them? Will they also all be cast off in similar fashion?

Moreover, what was the real reason behind Obama’s sudden trip to Hawaii - only days before the election? Was it really to visit an ailing grandmother, or was it to put out a fire?

Will questions about the validity of Obama’s citizenship be the "October Surprise" that becomes the constitutional crisis of the century? Why is no major media outlet (including Fox) giving this story the exposure it warrants?

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Barney Frank: "Pinhead or Patriot?"

Barney Frank has a new political ad now airing in his quest for re-election to Congress. The ad touts his quest to increase regulation of financial institutions such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Isn't this a bit like closing the door after the horse has left the barn? His chutzpah is limitless: in a recent fiery exchange with Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, he had the temerity to act as if he had no responsibility in the collapse of the above mentioned firms. As chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, as the housing bubble swelled to the point of explosion, he continuted to claim "everything is fine". Not so. A couple months later, financial chaos.

What he won't tell you about in his ad is his propensity to consider both institutions as arms of his preferred political policy - using them to extend mortgage credit to folks simply not qualified for home ownership. This political agenda was shared by other Democrats in the House and Senate. These same folks were at the center of resistance to any measures to reign in bad lending practises.

Yet now they pass themselves off as crusaders for increased scrutiny of the very same markets they helped destroy.

Amazing...

"Installation Art" or Obscenity?

Watching this story unfold tonight made my blood boil: First there was “performance art”. Now, there’s “installation art!” It’s what’s being passed off as artistic expression in a Los Angeles community – an effigy of VP candidate Sarah Palin, hung by a noose from the side of a house.

City officials, afraid to make a move, claim that since it appears “gender related” not “race related”, they are powerless to act, since it apparently doesn’t qualify as a “hate crime”. Why would hanging an effigy of Obama be considered a “hate crime”, while hanging one of Palin not share the same status? Does that make any sense? In the 1800s, blacks were hung in Georgia; in the 1600s, women were hung in Massachusetts! Remember the Salem witch trials? As one outraged neighbor put it: “If it were an effigy of Barack Obama, you’d have Jesse Jackson and everyone else down here demanding it be removed!” So, what’s the difference?

Neighbors defending the display must think the nation is populated with morons. Observe the video footage of the “artist and friend” sniveling about “the season”, etc. in a convoluted excuse and the message is abundantly clear. Sarah Palin has every right to sue to have this insult removed. If I were the target, I certainly would. And the city fathers are powerless to take it down? Only in L.A….

This race is getting uglier by the day. And predictably, it's the far left getting more emotional and out of hand. I'll be glad when this election cycle is finally over...

Friday, October 3, 2008

A Done Deal!

It's official. The "rescue (pork barrel) package" has passed in the House, by about a 100-vote margin. Too bad. I was hoping that lawmakers would resist the urge to stampede. Apparently, the lure of pork was too seductive, as the dollar figure being discussed has now swelled to the $800 billion level.

I know, I know; we were facing a complete freeze-up of the financial markets. Nevertheless, while this rescue was being debated and voted down, it would have been nice to have taken a peek at the Republican plan. It might have provided some helpful alternatives. Moreover, given more time, how many "vulture" funds would have swooped in to clean up some of this mess, thereby lightening the load we taxpayers would have to carry?

We'll be paying this "thing" off for a long time...