It appears that our next President will be Senator Barak Hussein Obama. I am not happy about this, but the people have spoken and on January 20 we will peacefully inaugurate a new President.
Senator McCain was his normal gracious self in conceding and I am heartened by the skill of a future candidate for the Presidency, Governor Sarah Palin.
The wonderful thing about our system is that we elect our officials for specific terms, not a lifetime. I am already starting to work toward the 2010 elections and I predict that a resurgence of sanity can occur if some of Obama's policies and responses to crises prove disappointing. It is NOT my wish that he or any leader fail, and I offer my prayers and good will that his moves toward the center are sincere. But Reagan's "trust and verify" applies to this most radical of candidates.
I am heartened by the victories for traditional marriage in spite of the palpably dishonest efforts of the California Attorney General and the ACLU national efforts.
How did this happen? Here are some insights on how our nation lurched to the left in this moment in time:
* The vacuum of leadership. In 1860, 1932, 1968, 1980 and 1992 the failure of the sitting President to lead well and communicate inspirationally swept the other party into the White House
* The economic crisis. I still believe some of our current situation was artificially manipulated; however, anxiety about family budgets propels change. The disturbing thing about this election is the willingness of so many to expect the government to bail them out of their own poor decisions. Even today we see the dictatorial powers of a Treasury Secretary beholden to financial and political interests.
* The stranglehold of the Left over most of the media. Even the Washington Post has reported the utter absence of objectivity. No one expects talk-show hosts to be unbiased; but CNN is no more than a shill for the Left and all sanity has departed from MSNBC and several other print and visual organs. By the way, watch out for the "Fairness Doctrine." It seem to only apply to radio. The fact that the Left cannot compete should not be a cause for a violation of the First Amendment. The most painful part of the next four years will be listening to the self-righteous inanities of Bill Moyers!
* The complete failure of the Republican Party to stay true to its basic principles and field candidates that inspire people. In California, the current party machinery is so broken that it needs complete reengineering.
* The effective campaign waged by Obama, including unprecedented amounts of cash (illegally) obtained from foreign sources, utter ruthlessness toward all opponents and a personal and political narrative that changes at a moment's notice. Obama is the first Information Age candidate and the combination of skillful manipulation and thirst for inspiration was compelling.
* The failure of religious communities to see that their dearest principles are violated by the Democratic Platform. I am stunned by the number of Evangelical Christians, Jews and Roman Catholics who voted for hope and change with no regard to Obama's radical positions of abortion, infanticide and forcible redistribution of resources.
* There is another, more subtle reason for the recent vote: The lack of a moral and spiritual "center" that anchors our public discourse. Just 50 years ago Democrats and Republicans argued vehemently offer certain policies. But they agreed on core issues: freedom, representative government, opportunity, patriotism and personal responsibility. For any sane change to occur, there must be an awakening from within, not a nanny-state imposed regime!
It is vital that values voters not despair - let's rest a few days and then hold the new Administration accountable from Day One!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Weekend Wisdom Before the Election
Journalist Tom Brokaw, appearing on the Charlie Rose Show recently, asserted that, "We do not really know the universe of Barak Obama...how he really sees the world."
How interesting. After fifteen years of self-promotion, two years of ceaseless campaigning and overwhelmingly favorable coverage from a worshipful media, how can anyone say, "We do not know Barak Obama"?
This confusion is by design. The entire image-making machinery of the last two decades has been deliberately crafted to prevent clear insight, critical thinking and anything resembling clarity.
In contrast, we have the public crucifixions of Governor Pailin and Joe the Plumber, with the bald-faced lies and subversive activities of Obama operatives glossed over.
There are real issues of substance that are being lost because of the Obama strategies of lying, minor retractions, intimidation and outright thuggery. Consider the following:
On Rev. Jeremiah Wright: In 1995 he was hailed as a mentor, pastor and surrogate father-figure. After 20 years under his tutelage, Obama claims that he never heard the racism and hatred of America in his pastor's messages.
On William Ayers: Obama started his political career in his living room, endorsed his book, served together on boards, and worked on educational and political initiatives (which after millions spent, have achieved nothing to improve Chicago). Today Ayers is "just a professor in the neighborhood."
Other examples of playing fast and loose with the truth can be enumerated, but these two are stark examples of Obama's inability to tell the truth. Perhaps he cannot bear telling himself the truth. How sad. He is so much a product of a post-modern media machine that he actually believes whatever he said five minutes ago, but disregards comments from five days ago!
Here is the propaganda process - introduced by Lenin, systemetized by Goerbbels for Hitler and perfected by megalomaniacs and narcissists everywhere:
Tell an outright lie.
When caught, issue a slight modification and attack your opponents for suggesting you are anything but truthful.
Never address an issue directly, but keep speaking hypnotically on vague themes like "hope" and "change."
Deflect all questions about your associations, but paint your opponent as a lapdog of the previous administration.
Make up your own data when convenient.
Appease the Leftists by emphasizing your radical mentors and being anti-war, while deceiving moderates with chuckles and shrugs about being young once and promising to be wise.
The scary thing about this election is the utter ignorance of most Obama supporters. They are so tired of Bush and so mesmerized by the staging that they will follow lemming-like right off the cliff.
The Bush Vacuum
An Obama presidency is only possible because of the poor leadership of both Bush presidents. The elder Bush's failure to prosecute Gulf War I fully and his flip=flop on taxes ushered in Clinton. Younger Bush made similar mistakes. The present surge should have happened right after the capture of the Iraqi dictator. The Republican failure to reign in spending and seal the borders increased the vacuum of leadership. Their inability to inspire us with their speeches further paved the way for Democratic leaders.
By the way, the same type of vacuum was created by President Jimmy Carter, ushering in Ronald Reagan. After four years of Carter's self-righteous malaise, we were ready for real hope and change!
Is there hope for Tuesday?
Yes! Turn off the TV, study the issues, prepare your ballots and encourage everyone to vote.
Do not believe the propaganda - this is a close race. The newest Obama tactics include intimidation and threats of violence if he loses! They are also acting as if the race is over.
CNN ran a tag line a few days ago, "McCain abandons Colorado." AT THE SAME TIME Palin was speaking to thousands in multiple events! CNN is no longer a news agency - it is a Stalinist arm of the Obama machine and anything they say should be taken with an entire bag of rock salt. Just last night, under "Breaking News" they aired a 30-minute Obama speech! Here is a man with unlimited money getting free air time while McCain keeps his promise on fund-raising as is rarely shown!
If all Values Voters go to the polls, we will have the biggest upset since Truman beat Dewey. In can happen - and will if we are unafraid.
How interesting. After fifteen years of self-promotion, two years of ceaseless campaigning and overwhelmingly favorable coverage from a worshipful media, how can anyone say, "We do not know Barak Obama"?
This confusion is by design. The entire image-making machinery of the last two decades has been deliberately crafted to prevent clear insight, critical thinking and anything resembling clarity.
In contrast, we have the public crucifixions of Governor Pailin and Joe the Plumber, with the bald-faced lies and subversive activities of Obama operatives glossed over.
There are real issues of substance that are being lost because of the Obama strategies of lying, minor retractions, intimidation and outright thuggery. Consider the following:
On Rev. Jeremiah Wright: In 1995 he was hailed as a mentor, pastor and surrogate father-figure. After 20 years under his tutelage, Obama claims that he never heard the racism and hatred of America in his pastor's messages.
On William Ayers: Obama started his political career in his living room, endorsed his book, served together on boards, and worked on educational and political initiatives (which after millions spent, have achieved nothing to improve Chicago). Today Ayers is "just a professor in the neighborhood."
Other examples of playing fast and loose with the truth can be enumerated, but these two are stark examples of Obama's inability to tell the truth. Perhaps he cannot bear telling himself the truth. How sad. He is so much a product of a post-modern media machine that he actually believes whatever he said five minutes ago, but disregards comments from five days ago!
Here is the propaganda process - introduced by Lenin, systemetized by Goerbbels for Hitler and perfected by megalomaniacs and narcissists everywhere:
Tell an outright lie.
When caught, issue a slight modification and attack your opponents for suggesting you are anything but truthful.
Never address an issue directly, but keep speaking hypnotically on vague themes like "hope" and "change."
Deflect all questions about your associations, but paint your opponent as a lapdog of the previous administration.
Make up your own data when convenient.
Appease the Leftists by emphasizing your radical mentors and being anti-war, while deceiving moderates with chuckles and shrugs about being young once and promising to be wise.
The scary thing about this election is the utter ignorance of most Obama supporters. They are so tired of Bush and so mesmerized by the staging that they will follow lemming-like right off the cliff.
The Bush Vacuum
An Obama presidency is only possible because of the poor leadership of both Bush presidents. The elder Bush's failure to prosecute Gulf War I fully and his flip=flop on taxes ushered in Clinton. Younger Bush made similar mistakes. The present surge should have happened right after the capture of the Iraqi dictator. The Republican failure to reign in spending and seal the borders increased the vacuum of leadership. Their inability to inspire us with their speeches further paved the way for Democratic leaders.
By the way, the same type of vacuum was created by President Jimmy Carter, ushering in Ronald Reagan. After four years of Carter's self-righteous malaise, we were ready for real hope and change!
Is there hope for Tuesday?
Yes! Turn off the TV, study the issues, prepare your ballots and encourage everyone to vote.
Do not believe the propaganda - this is a close race. The newest Obama tactics include intimidation and threats of violence if he loses! They are also acting as if the race is over.
CNN ran a tag line a few days ago, "McCain abandons Colorado." AT THE SAME TIME Palin was speaking to thousands in multiple events! CNN is no longer a news agency - it is a Stalinist arm of the Obama machine and anything they say should be taken with an entire bag of rock salt. Just last night, under "Breaking News" they aired a 30-minute Obama speech! Here is a man with unlimited money getting free air time while McCain keeps his promise on fund-raising as is rarely shown!
If all Values Voters go to the polls, we will have the biggest upset since Truman beat Dewey. In can happen - and will if we are unafraid.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Bedroom, Boardroom and Breakroom
The moral and religious rhetoric is heating up at we approach the election of a new President. McCain's faltering efforts have been reversed by the galvanizing choice of Governor Palin while the glow of Obama's Olympic acceptance speech has been replaced by sarcastic remarks about lipstick and swine.
Stepping back from the rhetoric, I notice that the ideological Left and Right have their visceral values and core concerns that animate the denunciation of enemies and the elucidation of policy. The ability of each side to eschew critical thinking and embrace caricatures is astounding and unfortunate for an electorate that deserves better.
I am committed to "thinking deeply and acting decisively." I think belief and behavior are inseparable and that moral and religious values are not intended to be "privately engaging but publicly irrelevant." (Os Guinness)
As your "Messenger to the Thoughtful" and a friend of all who want to get to the heart of issues, I offer the following critique of the extremists on both sides of the current debate.
There are profound issues to confront and they require examination of the fundamental way we see the world and adjust our moral compass.
The Right tends to take the ethical high horse when it comes to the morals of the bedroom. Conservatives are deeply concerned about the Left's attacks on the sanctity of marriage, the capitulation of public schools to amoral thinking and the collapse of the traditional family.
I agree with conservatives on many of their values; however, their vision is too narrow. The same folks who renounce premarital sex are often mute on CEO compensation of crumbling companies or how we serve the poor who are buffeted by an ineffective welfare system. Conservatives love to tout the "magic of the free market", citing Adam Smith and his "invisible hand" of economic freedom; however, most have not read the whole book. Writing in 1776, Adam Smith spend a large portion of his writings on the personal and social virtues necessary for a capitalist economy to flourish for all facets of society!
The Left loves to denounce the injustices of the Boardroom, excoriating capitalism and forever scheming on how to fulfill the Marxist dictum, "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need" without appearing to be Stalinists. The Left is suspicious of business owners, especially successful ones, but they have no problem with illiterate actors making millions manipulating images on a movie screen.
The Left has a different kind of tunnel vision. There is no cohesion on sexual morality, only resignation to Epicurean impulses and vagueness about the fluidity of gender and social mores. The Left wants to affirm that gays are "wired this way" while at the same time allowing individuals complete liberty to choose their gender, regardless of the "gender assigned at birth." (this is an actual phrase in California educational policy!) Money is bad - unless you make it certain ways and give up large portions to government functionaries to distribute to passive recipients.
Both Right and Left claim Jesus of Nazareth as their inspiration. The Right cites the strict moral codes of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus renounces lustful thinking as well as adulterous behavior. The Left tries to transform "turning the other cheek" into anti-military policy.
Jesus transcends ideological categories and frustrates all who try to place him in a box. He will not be turned into a capitalist or a communist. He unites compassion and conviction, holiness and hope and his words and works are not those of either a CEO or a community organizer - though both can learn from him!
To my conservative friends I issue the challenge of holding business leaders accountable for the "compassionate use of accumulated wealth." To my liberal friends I challenge you to call for high moral standards, expecting more of people than mere impulse control.
The Bedroom and Boardroom matter - perhaps we need to learn to debate real issues in the Breakroom and find common cause as we battle ignorance, poverty, racism, sexism and the violence that dominates this planet.
Stepping back from the rhetoric, I notice that the ideological Left and Right have their visceral values and core concerns that animate the denunciation of enemies and the elucidation of policy. The ability of each side to eschew critical thinking and embrace caricatures is astounding and unfortunate for an electorate that deserves better.
I am committed to "thinking deeply and acting decisively." I think belief and behavior are inseparable and that moral and religious values are not intended to be "privately engaging but publicly irrelevant." (Os Guinness)
As your "Messenger to the Thoughtful" and a friend of all who want to get to the heart of issues, I offer the following critique of the extremists on both sides of the current debate.
There are profound issues to confront and they require examination of the fundamental way we see the world and adjust our moral compass.
The Right tends to take the ethical high horse when it comes to the morals of the bedroom. Conservatives are deeply concerned about the Left's attacks on the sanctity of marriage, the capitulation of public schools to amoral thinking and the collapse of the traditional family.
I agree with conservatives on many of their values; however, their vision is too narrow. The same folks who renounce premarital sex are often mute on CEO compensation of crumbling companies or how we serve the poor who are buffeted by an ineffective welfare system. Conservatives love to tout the "magic of the free market", citing Adam Smith and his "invisible hand" of economic freedom; however, most have not read the whole book. Writing in 1776, Adam Smith spend a large portion of his writings on the personal and social virtues necessary for a capitalist economy to flourish for all facets of society!
The Left loves to denounce the injustices of the Boardroom, excoriating capitalism and forever scheming on how to fulfill the Marxist dictum, "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need" without appearing to be Stalinists. The Left is suspicious of business owners, especially successful ones, but they have no problem with illiterate actors making millions manipulating images on a movie screen.
The Left has a different kind of tunnel vision. There is no cohesion on sexual morality, only resignation to Epicurean impulses and vagueness about the fluidity of gender and social mores. The Left wants to affirm that gays are "wired this way" while at the same time allowing individuals complete liberty to choose their gender, regardless of the "gender assigned at birth." (this is an actual phrase in California educational policy!) Money is bad - unless you make it certain ways and give up large portions to government functionaries to distribute to passive recipients.
Both Right and Left claim Jesus of Nazareth as their inspiration. The Right cites the strict moral codes of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus renounces lustful thinking as well as adulterous behavior. The Left tries to transform "turning the other cheek" into anti-military policy.
Jesus transcends ideological categories and frustrates all who try to place him in a box. He will not be turned into a capitalist or a communist. He unites compassion and conviction, holiness and hope and his words and works are not those of either a CEO or a community organizer - though both can learn from him!
To my conservative friends I issue the challenge of holding business leaders accountable for the "compassionate use of accumulated wealth." To my liberal friends I challenge you to call for high moral standards, expecting more of people than mere impulse control.
The Bedroom and Boardroom matter - perhaps we need to learn to debate real issues in the Breakroom and find common cause as we battle ignorance, poverty, racism, sexism and the violence that dominates this planet.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
McCandidate Meets Megalomania
As I observe the current presidential race, I am appalled at the dearth of discourse and surplus of superficiality that pervade the public square. We have serious issues to confront - ecology and economics, immigration and international policies, and a growing nanny state that wants to control our lives from prenatal care to permissive euthanasia.
None of the serious economic or political issues seem to matter as our first post-American candidate runs for benevolent despot of the planet and his opponent is paralyzed because he is not able to play the maverick against his conservative base. We have a McCandidate in McCain who seems to love our country, but have no visceral convictions that will propel him to oppose the messianic aspirations of the least-experienced and least-qualified person to run for office since General Harrison in 1840.
The press seems more concerned with Obama's antiperspirant than his weather-vane statements of foreign policy and conviction that he will be dealing with the leaders he is meeting for "the next eight to ten years." I guess Barak Hussein Obama is planning on becoming El Presidente for Life by the end of his second term. After all, shouldn't we all be learning Spanish?
Meanwhile Senator McCain, who at least has a real voting record and reasonable abilities, cannot seem to find the guts to defend America from a man who will accelerate our national descent into dependency.
It is time to drill for oil AND develop new energy sources. It is time to balance a budget, thus strengthening the dollar AND prosecute the war on terror more intelligently. It is time to seal our borders AND welcome all legal immigrants with open arms. It is time to make English the national language AND teach other languages in elementary schools (and perhaps graduate students able to read and write). It is time to call for personal responsibility AND regulate the mortgage industry more thoroughly. By the way, even the most negative statistics have 99.5% of homeowners still in their homes.
Barak Obama is dangerous to the future of our nation. He can not even recite the facts of his own upbringing clearly and his outright lies about his own on-the-record policy statements are cause for deep concern. He does not love America for what is best about her. Obama loves his vision of America - a semi-socialist, world-accountable, Leviathan where enlightened Harvard graduates guide the masses (especially the gun-toting religious ones) into a New World Order just like the EU. Obama the person and Obama the political product are indistinguishable.
John McCain must find the fire again, the courage to confront and and the decisiveness to declare that the USA has been held hostage long enough and it is time to reclaim our first principles of life and liberty. Obama calls for sacrifice for the world's poor - McCain must call the dictators of developing nations to account. Obama tells us that we must step out of our cars and into mass transit - McCain can invite a new era of American ingenuity. Obama promises trillions in government programs - McCain must promise to cut trillions of waste from future budgets.
The Boomer generation has seen our national debt increase ninefold in 40 years. Our savings are nil and our economic engines are lubricated with investors who care nothing for our values. We have, in the ancient prophet's words, "sown to the wind and reaped the whirlwind." Our material and sexual indulgence emboldens radical Islam even as it dulls our spiritual and political senses. We must not be the victims of Al Gore's paganism or the materialism of rapacious multinational corporations.
There is still time to see our nation go "back to the future" by recovering our values and vision. We can have economic growth that is environmentally sensitive. We can make cars more efficient without creating a nation of mass transit drones. We can be generous to a needy world while making sure our own poor are cared for. We can call for personal responsibility by urban dads while ending redlining and stimulating local economies. We can recover moral responsibility without theocratic intolerance.
How to vote in the fall? I will vote by default for the least dangerous candidate while putting all my efforts toward moral and spiritual renewal of people and communities who care about our future. I ask you to join me in recovering our best history and hope. There are more Trumans and Eisenhowers yet to be discovered. Truman fought Communism; Eisenhower warned about the "military-industrial complex." Both presidents pushed Civil Rights forward while affirming traditional moral values. These men teach us how to argue about our differences while building on our common interests.
Join me in the opportunity of our lifetime...
Monday, June 16, 2008
Common Sense 2008
"These are the times that try men's souls..." Thomas Paine penned these words in his famous tract. Common Sense. This broadside was published in the bitter winter of 1776 as the American Revolution appeared to be over before it had really begun. Victories in battle were not forthcoming, and volunteer solders were nearing the end of their enlistments.
Paine's stirring words to the general populace and to the fighting units rallied enough folks to keep the Revolution alive and the cause of liberty moving forward. Paine excoriated the "sunshine soldier" and the civilians whose patriotism adjusted itself to the tides of battle. He called for commitment. He called for courage. He called Americans to realize the epoch-making moment they were creating.
I do not have the eloquence of Thomas Paine, but I am just as passionate about the historical crossroads faced by our society. If the (apparently) moral majority of California do not rise up in November and pass the Marriage Amendment, we may find ourselves ruled by a small cabal of people who despise the values we stand for and who ultimately want to destroy the liberties our Founders and forefathers labored to endow to us.
The Marriage Amendment is not about intolerance toward gays and lesbians - it is about defining the most important unit of social cohesion known to humankind.
The Marriage Amendment is not about creating a theocracy - it is about democracy rooted in a virtuous citizenry committed to family.
The Marriage Amendment is not about Civil Rights - you can not give rights to a chosen lifestyle.
The Marriage Amendment IS about recovering personal responsibility - a commitment sorely lacking for past five decades.
The Marriage Amendment IS about our future. For the past 40 years we have been told that we must limit family size and that the world will not hold up under the strain of overpopulation. Our materialism, narcissism and misplaced idealism are bequeathing a tragic destiny - we are not replacing ourselves! As economic conditions have improved, populations stabilize. This is good. There are, however, unforeseen consequences to the erosion of traditional values and the increases in abortion rates. Our current Boomer generation has not produced enough offspring to support them in their old age.
The Marriage Amendment is not a single-issue statement, but a doorway for us to reconsider what values will build our future. With much of the world in need of basic necessities, why are we consumed with consuming, with shopping as a recreational sport? We give our children iPods, but they do not know our Constitution. We drive $40K cars, but will not help our school teachers with supplies. We expect the government to bail out our poor financial decisions, but we are not giving our children a good breakfast so they go to class ready to learn.
It is time for some 2008 Common Sense.
Less self-regulation means more government regulation.
We may defend the concept of marriage, but if lust and pride divide husbands and wives, our efforts are only symbolic and self-defeating.
Conservatives are compassionate and generous with their own money, while liberal policies seek governmental redistribution. Why not transcend this difference with personal sacrifice and sound fiscal policy?
We can not have all the "guns and butter" we want. Fighting terrorism requires lean, mobile forces ready to strike. We will not, however, win the hearts of non-Western nations if we are perceived as a colonizing force. This "off-book" war is a trillion-dollar bill for future generations. The answer is NOT "cut and run" but careful strategic steps to prepare us for the long-term.
Common sense. We can drill for oil selectively AND explore alternatives, with generous tax incentives. We can build a new nuclear plant while hastening the day when no uranium will be needed. We can balance a budget with caps on spending and eliminating waste - if we have the courage.
Common sense. We can defend traditional marriage without oppressing adults who choose different arrangements.
We can support Israel while searching for real leaders who want peace. As soon as a radical leader (like Sadat in 1978) will acknowledge Israel's right to exist in peace, there will be hope.
We will not always be popular with the global elitists who want to put America in her place and force us to submit to "world opinion" (actually the opinion of a few arrogant, wealthy folks who think they know better than the rest of us).
We can seal our borders and construct "Ellis Island"-style Welcome Centers in California, Arizona and Texas to welcome LEGAL immigrants.
We can improve our local public schools by holding BOTH parents and school administrators responsible for student improvement.
We can reduce teen drug use, pregnancy and other social challenges for young people by introducing a simple notion back into the public square: a moral conscience. We are so afraid of any shame we have forgotten that some sense of responsibility is a moral necessity. When an unmarried teen is pregnant, she and her companion must be called to account - AND helped with compassion and financial support. Young men in particular must be held accountable for their actions.
Common sense. Will we find it is time?
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