- Calvin Hobbes: The blogger’s New Years Resolution
Thanks to the Calvin Hobbes cartoon for stating the obvious for all of us bloggers.
106 Thoughts to “Open Thread………………………………………….Thursday, December 29”
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Blogroll
- 9500Liberty
- Bacons' Rebellion Blogspot
- Bearing Drift
- Blue Virginia
- Citizen Tom
- Counts of Monte Cristo. The
- Derecho, The
- Dixie Pig, The
- My Side of the Fence
- My Star Journey
- NARAL Pro-Choice VA Blog
- New Dominion Project
- Nova Common Sense
- NovaTownHall Blog
- One Libertarians's Point of View by Al Alborn
- Pete Candland's Blog
- Potomac Local
- Prince William Muckraker
- PW Conservation Alliance
- PWC Moms
- PWCPolitics.com
- PWCPolitics.com
- Red NoVA
- Shad Plank, The
- She the People
- State of NoVA, the
- The Jeffersoniad
- Townhall
- VEA Daily Reports
- VivianPaige
- WDGolden.com
- You, Me and the Lamp Post
Calvin is my hero.
Moon, you keep asking me what smaller government looks like. Well, less of this:
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/12/it-figures-obama-stimulus-failed-to-create-jobs-but-allows-government-to-snoop-into-your-childs-personal-infomation/
The stimulus package was supposed to be about jobs. But, again, the Democrats hid big government structure and incentives in the bill and the states went after the money.
Homeschooling is going to rise again. If I had my druthers, we would elect representatives that would repeal any and every bill that was passed since 2008, ripping out any Pelosi/Reid scheme by their roots. Nothing passed by Pelosi/Reid can be trusted. Every representative that voted for this travesty needs to be kicked out of office. Oh…wait….they are…slowly and surely.
@Cargo, You know I don’t believe crap like that. I didn’t even believe that NCLB included language that allowed the military access to the records on your son or daughter which included name and address so that they would have access.
I didn’t even believe it when I was told that you could opt out. The problem was, the parents didn’t know that the information was even in there. It was never announced.
Does that bother you?
I never believe that gateway site for real. It’s too partisan. There is always a sleight of hand in their reporting.
The Obama-appointed activist federal judge down in Richmond refused Rick Perry’s plea to stop the State of Virginia from implementing Virginia state law.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-29/perry-bid-to-stop-virginia-ballots-rejected-by-federal-judge.html
@Moon-howler
Um…. The actual reporting is from the New York Post. Gateway is only publicizing THEIR report. So, what is it that you don’t believe and what is it that you’re asking bothers me?
I’m uncertain as to your meaning. I’m bothered by anything that affects my child, done by the government or anybody, that I’m not informed of.
Here’s the direct link to the Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/how_the_feds_are_tracking_your_kid_xC6wecT8ZidCAzfqegB6hL#ixzz1hvrEclmQ
@Cargo #6
I don’t like the NY Post either. Slanted writing. However, I don’t like kids being tracked by name for whatever reason, outside the local data base. Obviously kids are tracked in the local school system. That has to be. I don’t think information needs to leave the local school level unless it is with the student’s permission if he/she is 18 or headed to college.
I was appalled when I found out NCLB could get your kid’s name and home address, especially during war time and that the military had complete access.
Tell me, Cargo, does that bother you as much as what MIGHT happen under the stimulus package?
It bothers me a great deal and parents didn’t even know about it. Its still in effect. I don’t think Pelosi or Harry Reid had a darn thing to do with that one. Could it have been….John Boehner?
From wiki:
The senate was 50/50 then and the House was Republican. Let’s blame Kennedy. He was dead and can’t fight back.
@Morris Davis
Good. Now, if he can challenge any of the disqualifications…let him do so. Otherwise, he effed up. Time to play with the big boys.
What ever happened to:
– Secret Santa Shops in department stores? Looked for one for my grandchildren
to shop in for their parents but struck out.
– A Christmas Fund savings account in a bank or S&L?
– Guess if lay-a-way can come back, they might also.
@Moon-howler
“I was appalled when I found out NCLB could get your kid’s name and home address, especially during war time and that the military had complete access.”
Yes. I object to that. Remember, I want all of NCLB repealed. I want a smaller, less intrusive, government. I want to cut spending, especially by putting ALL of the spending, including military, on the table, and forcing the Congress to do their jobs. I’m not a fan of “compassionate conservatism” as that is an insulting concept and is a code phrase for “Lets use government to do “conservative” things that we like.” George Bush was not a conservative except in relation to Democrats. He was your typical establishment Republican.
What is wrong with being an establishment Republican? It seems to me that is who Republicans have been, historically.
Why don’t you start your own party instead of trying to do a make over of something others have kept afloat for decades?
Why is having compassion insulting? What kind of Republican do you want to be? A junkyard dog Republcan?
It could be argued that the Republican Party was founded on compassion.
Let’s get down to specifics. Who do you think should fund education? What do we do about the poor? How about protection of the environment? Who does that?
Until those issues are hammered out, the entire discussion is just blowing smoke.
@Big Dog
Schools used to have Secret Santa Shops for kids.
Remember when there was a Rohrs also?
KMart did have a lay away. I think Kohls might also.
The term “compassionate conservatism” is insulting as it implies that their version is compassionate, but “normal” conservatism is not.
The Republicans are only being forced to live up to their own stated principles. Why should I start my own party when MY party (at times) is right here and should be living up to its own principles. Why shouldn’t we conservatives, the base, “make over” or improve the party. We are the base. We carry the damn party. Without conservatives, the GOP loses.
Who should fund education? No one higher than the states. I don’t mind public schools. Except, I would rather privatize the schools, and fund them through vouchers sent to the parents. What do we do about the poor? That’s been a question for thousands of years. First…we define what’s “poor.” Then we build a system to make them richer and provide opportunities. Protection of the environment is great! Very conservative idea. And if we decide to use government to do it, it must be based upon actual science and cost/benefit analysis. not political whim and fads. Carbon trading and regulating CO2 is NOT the responsibility of a pollution control organization.
What is wrong with being an Establishment Republican? They act too much like Establishment Democrats, accept the premise that more spending is always necessary, more laws are always necessary, and refuse to fight for conservative principles. Why have two parties if we have Democrats and Democrat-lite. We are 15+trillion in debt. The established parties got us into this mess. The Dems WILL NOT do anything about it. The GOP is the only ones that even pay lip service to controlling spending and the size of government. The Establishment GOP are part of the group that got us here.
Cargo said “The term “compassionate conservatism” is insulting as it implies that their version is compassionate, but “normal” conservatism is not.”
Perhaps some of it is not. I could certainly give you examples that I sure don’t think are so compassionate.
Additionally, it depends on what kind of conservative you are. Ronald Reagan would be drummed out of the R party now as would Barry Goldwater. You might not think people are conservative but that is just you standing in judgement of them.
As for thinking you carry the party, perhaps if your base didn’t carry the party, then some other base might carry the party.
You know that vouchers were once used in education. They supported the foundation schools and were called tuition grants. Basically the state helped students stay in segregated private schools until the practice was overturned by the courts. A standard state curriculum isn’t a bad thing. It creates continuity and continually must pass the educational test. Is it teaching kids what they need to know should be a critical question that undergoes continual scrutiny. Anything that takes money away from education is a bad thing.
Build what kind of system for the poor? That one left me hanging.
You are the one being political about the environment. You would have us all breathing in raw sewage and pig farm air if it was conservative and if Obama wanted to do away with it. Just who should be taking care of our environmental concerns? If private industry had its way, we would be sitting on top of toxic waste. If the military had its way, we would all have glow in the dark haz mat in our back yards. Its all checks and balances.
Actually the GOP wont pay lip service to the right amounts for national debt. We have always had national debt. Does it need to shrink? Sure. Is it as high proportionately as it was right after WWII and the Depression? No. Will life go on if we don’t start on it tomorrow? Yes. Hell My generation paid off WWI, the Depression and WWII. Life goes on. Its the price of freedom. I am tired of all the platitudes.
Truthfully, my problem with your brand of conservative is you are so damn sure you are right and you are smug and your politicians put us at risk. You cater to the wealthy and inflict damage on the middle class and don’t even realize it.
As opposed to how right and smug you sound? WE are the ones that are the problem? You paid off what debt? YOUR generation? So, there’s no one else paying down that debt?
The WWI and WWII debt? Really? So, we had a net surplus since then? Maybe that account got paid, but your group has added trillions….if you want to start talking about YOUR generation. The Great Society crap that started most of the recent debt growth. Then the “compassionate conservatives” added all the other spending. The established “moderate” parties have spent TRILLIONS in just the last two administrations, and this admin wants to add even more. At least the conservatives stopped Clinton from skyrocketing the debt with HIS socialized medicine scam. Even with the supposed, but actually nonexistent surplus, the debt grew.
Comparing THEN to NOW is comparing Apples to Oranges. Then, we had 10 million soldiers come back, join private industry, and we rebuilt the world and we cut gov’t spending by half.
Now…we don’t have a world to rebuild, we have ongoing entitlements, we have competition, and a gov’t that wants to increase spending with no intention of paying off a debt. You pay lip service to the idea that the debt and deficit needs the shrink. Ok…..when? You keep wanting more and more deficit spending. Even now, I bet you want an automatic debt ceiling increase for another 1.2 trillion dollars. Of course, the last increase was supposed to last until 2013, so I’m sure that THIS one will last until….May?
Wanting an EPA to be reformed, or another agency that actually uses science to control pollution is political? Wanting an agency that tackles real pollution is political on our part? I’ll take that. Wasting resources on “manmade” global warming and trying to control CO2 is a political scam. Your statements sound like all other liberal scaremongering extremism. “The conservatives want to kill us all. They want to breathe raw sewage. They want to glow in the dark.” So…we can’t reform it. It HAS to stay the way it is. Every program that needs reform is demagogued like that. Ryan’s plan was protested by showing him pushing granny over a cliff. But, God forbid the GOP shows Obama or any other Democrats in such light.
So…let me get this straight. Our spending is ok, because we did it during WWII and today’s spending, while its 100% of GDP, isn’t as bad as the 120% of GDP back then. TODAY’S spending will be fine, because, BACK THEN, we had the discipline to cut, we had a world to rebuild, and we did not have the spending programs in place.
Sounds kind of pollyanna’ish. But, fine…ok. My daughter already owes thousands of dollars in taxes to pay for this spending, but adding trillions every year from now on is just fine…..won’t hurt our credit rating at all or our ability to create jobs or our ability to keep a viable military.
As for the GOP’s base…another base? Really? Who? Your moderates? The “independents”? Who? We could have the Democrats and Democrat-li…oh..wait. we already do. Shouldn’t we have a….. choice? We desperately need one because the policies of the existing parties is taking us off the cliff. We haven’t tried a conservative approach since Coolidge. Reagan was conservative only in relation to existing Republicans and Democrats. Remember our first discussions? Where you are on that conservative/liberal line is relative. Reagan grew government. He grew the debt with the help of Congress’s deception. Those “future cuts” promised by Congress never materialize. Rebuilding the military in 6 years is expensive.
But…those days are gone. The Cold War is over. We won. Now we have different problems. Some of those are caused by yesterday’s “solutions.” We need to stop what we are doing and take a hard look at ALL of our existing programs.
Do you want more NCLB? Do you want the TSA to expand? Do you want more Solyndras? Do you want more and more trillion dollar deficit spending? Where is all this money going? What are YOUR solutions? Are you REALLY happy with the way things are going with the economy and the world? I can’t believe that you’re willing to just let the government continue on the way it has. Don’t you want a government that is more accountable?
I really don’t understand your knee jerk response when I mention ANY reform. Breathe sewage? The corporations are going to kill us? Even though I stated that we did need the government as a protector, not a crony for corporations? WE need to be in control of the government. And we can only get that if its smaller.
I didn’t say my generation totally paid off any debt. Try verbs “has been paying off”.
Inheriting the debts of another generation is really no all that unusual.
Cargo, your politics don’t belong in a modern age. I have lost track of how many cabinet posts you want to undo.
Did I remember to mention that WWII isn’t paid off yet? My point mentioning it is that future generations always inherit the debts of the past. My mother inherited the Civil War debts, for good ness sakes, not to mention WWI debts.
Don’t pin the Great Society on me. I was a kid still. Speaking of which, its all well and good to bitch about all these things but you have offered no solutions. What are you going to do with all the poor people that were supposedly helped by the Great Society that is legal? I am sure most of us don’;t want to be paying for air Jordans on our tax dollars. What do you do about it, especially during a time of high unemployment where many people have been added to the rolls of unemployment, food stamps and medicaid. We aren’t just talking about generational poverty but also new poverty that comes from divorce and unemployment. What do you do? Do you let people starve or lie dying in front of hospitals?
You cannot say stop spending without solutions or even partial solutions.
The complexities that surround EPA, Dept of Energy, Commerce, Transportation involve things most of us don’t even know about. Solutions. Crickets chirping.
I don’t like labels. I like common sense and solutions. I have been very clear on NCLB. Expand TSA? If that’s what is needed to keep terrorists off planes, yes. We aren’t Israel. I don’t have solutions for anything but NCLB. I am not the one bitching and whining and chest thumping to do away with things so why should I come up with solutions. I would probably have every department reduce its spending by 10% to start with. That’s really where it starts…with the paper clips and pencils. There’s my solution as a starting point.
I can[‘t change what is going on in the world. Why get myself all worked up over it. I can’t even change what goes on in PWC but its a starting place. There is enough influence peddling and wink wink nudge nudge going on here to sink a battle ship. Did you miss out 100k going to pave a parking lot serving 60 kids or less? I fight the fights I stand a chance of winning.
ps Clinton got things pared down pretty well. He is a Democrat though so I expect it doesn’t count.
“Truthfully, my problem with your brand of conservative is you are so damn sure you are right and you are smug and your politicians put us at risk. You cater to the wealthy and inflict damage on the middle class and don’t even realize it.”
Let’s examine this:
I’m so damn sure that I’m right… Well, no. But I do know, through evidence, that what is currently going on, is NOT working. I know that my principles are right. I should argue from a position that I’m not sure? Do you not think that YOU are so damn right on your issues, ie, abortion?
Smug? No. Angry? Yes. The smug are the ones that keep denigrating the conservatives. “Oh…look…the rabble are demanding we actually do our jobs.”
My politicians put us at risk? Its not my politicians that built this current mess. Our politicians, against the wishes of the establishment, want to fix it. Of course, you don’t think that any reforms are good. Just keep on spending.
Cater to the wealthy? Its not my group that conducts crony capitalism. Its the current crop of politicians that conduct insider trading, appoint corrupt political officers, hand out kickbacks as green loans to donors, cut sweet heart deals with corporations. Oh…you mean not taxing millionaires….. Of course, THAT would bring in about 6 billion dollars extra. THAT would go so far. Instead of gimmicks, we want real tax reform.
Hurt the middle class: So trying to rebuild a wealth building society hurts the middle class? Trying to simplify the tax code and stop crony capitalism hurts the middle class? Trying to cut spending and prevent the collapse of our economic structure hurts the middle class? Trying to simplify regulations so that businesses can be built hurts the middle class? The founder of Home Depot stated that it would be impossible to start such a business now. The founder of FED EX said the same. But I guess you’re right… the current politicians that closed down our Gulf drilling, stopped 20,000 jobs on a pipeline, threatened to close 20% of Texan refineries, continued out of control spending that threatens our credit rating….
But its our guys that are hurting the middle class. Ok, then.
I see where Donna Wadowski is Candland’s new “chief of staff’. Wasn’t she a Leitiecq “girl” during the ship em back to Mexico (or anywhere but here) fiasco a few years ago?
That sounds familiar. @Wendy. Wendy has a long memory.
Is that like a Letiecq-ette?
Push em back Push em out, harder harder.
“I would probably have every department reduce its spending by 10% to start with. That’s really where it starts…with the paper clips and pencils. There’s my solution as a starting point.”
OUTSTANDING! So, we have agreement. A 10% cut across the board. Simple.
A real cut, right? Not a 10% cut in the increase of spending? I think that I even mentioned a 10% cut in some earlier thread.
So…that means that we don’t need to increase the debt ceiling. We can cut 10% from the budget and spend less. We can actually reduce the debt if we keep that up.
As to the departments: That would be the ATF, Education, Energy. For starters. And reduction or reform of others. Yes…there are complications. It would take time to phase them out. But they are not necessary.
The TSA is planning to expand to roads, buses, trains, etc. Do we want an agency that can search you at will and prevent free movement? The TSA has not caught ONE bad guy, has allowed THOUSANDS of weapons to pass through, caused hundreds of problems with citizens, and abuses its power. Either the 4th amendment means something or it does not. We either are a free people, or we are not. I strive to increase liberty. That is my political goal. We have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
@Cargo, but you don’t have a right to ride on a plane. You don’t know that TSA hasn’t ‘caught’ one bad guy. You don’t know what kind of deterrant they provide. They are far better than what used to be there. If you don’t like what goes on with TSA, find a different means of transportation. I am glad they are there. I hope TSA also expands to ferries.
Raising the debt ceiling is for money already spent so I expect there will be a need to keep on raising it for a whille. A 10% cut in spending is on future spending, having nothing to do with money already spent.
Clinton got things pared down pretty well. He is a Democrat though so I expect it doesn’t count.
Yep. Between his realization that it was to his political benefit and the efforts of a Republican house, spending was put under control. The debt still went up, but it was almost flatlined. I do give him credit.
Bush restarted the insane spending with his “compassionate conservatism” and Obama has added a supercharger to the spending machine.
Ultimately, I blame Americans. We keep putting into office politicians that offer free ice cream, lie to us, and offer “painless” solutions. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Oh I forgot, it wasn’t really Clinton. It was really the Newt, Yea, that’s the ticket. [sarcasm key depressed firmly]
Apparently Newt has contracted JBD … John Boehner’s Disease … as he broke down crying at a campaign event. For a group that is so fond of war, torture, guns, and executions and cheers at the thought of letting a poor man die rather than giving him health care they sure are a weepy bunch.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57350250-503544/newt-gingrich-cries-when-asked-about-his-mom/
@Moon-howler
Hey! Thanks for acknowledging that. Without Newt, there WOULDN’T have been any cuts.
😉
10% for paper clips??? Take a serious look at the budgets– the savings is not to be found in paper clips Office supplies probably make up 0.005% of most business or government agency budgets. Savings are to found in outdated systems that cost $45 to issue a check to pay an invoice, or archaic practices that require two payment to one vendor, or inadequate systems that require more manual effort than they are worth, its found in bidding regulations that jack up the cost because government has deep pocket and it’s to be found in salaries so plan on cutting a few people – but get some infrastructure first.
Cut budgets, cut out things like Booz Allen that feed off the government making millions….improve infratstructure and publicly shame companies like Motorola, Erricsson, KPMG who take advantage of goverment and provide them near end life cycle techology requiring immediate upgrades or customization – because it takes five years to buy it due to regulations…..
Paper clips is an easy sound bite and haven’t we had enough of that!!!
That Wendy takes no prisoners! Serously Wendy, the people who work at a department should be the first line of defense. They know where the waste is more than some bureaucrat sitting miles away in some accounting office. They know if Richard is stealing the toilet paper because he owes his bookie. They know if Horace is walking out with all the pens and sending them off to school with his son. They know if they are paying $45 to bill someone using an antequated system. I saw it all starts with pencils and paper clips because if you start looking there, other things will become more apparent.
You have started some real discussion here about what goes on and you sound like that knowledge comes from first hand experience. If there were conversations like these across all lines of govt work in this country, starting today, we could save billions. These are actual solutions based on real life experiences, not just political sound bites and mantras.
And thank you, now I will go back to my paper clips.
Speaking of bloated government spending, how does the PWC county executive rate more pay than the Secretary of Defense or a Supreme Court justice? Is managing our county as hard as managing an agency with a $600B+ budget that’s fighting 2 wars at once? Is the PWC government more like Wall Street or I-66?
That is an excellent question @Moe. Have you noticed how much the Superintendant makes? He also came with health care for life. These top execs can sure name their price.
Cuccinelli is getting involved in the Perry/Gingrich on the ballot controversy. He is writing legislation to send through the GA.
Seems like he is infusing himself into the legislative branch for sure. He thinks the Virginia system is broken.
So let me get this right…if the rules don’t work out for your guy, then you simply change the rules mid-stream so you get your way. I get it. Newt needs instant gratification. Cuccinelli needs instant gratification. Rules were meant to be altered if they interfer with what you want to do.
]
‘Rule of law only applies to illegal immigrants.
This article made me giddy.
http://www.salon.com/2011/12/31/progressives_and_the_ron_paul_fallacies/singleton/
“Whatever else one wants to say, it is indisputably true that Ron Paul is the only political figure with any sort of a national platform — certainly the only major presidential candidate in either party — who advocates policy views on issues that liberals and progressives have long flamboyantly claimed are both compelling and crucial. The converse is equally true: the candidate supported by liberals and progressives and for whom most will vote — Barack Obama — advocates views on these issues (indeed, has taken action on these issues) that liberals and progressives have long claimed to find repellent, even evil.”
“As Matt Stoller argued in a genuinely brilliant essay on the history of progressivism and the Democratic Party which I cannot recommend highly enough: “the anger [Paul] inspires comes not from his positions, but from the tensions that modern American liberals bear within their own worldview.” Ron Paul’s candidacy is a mirror held up in front of the face of America’s Democratic Party and its progressive wing, and the image that is reflected is an ugly one; more to the point, it’s one they do not want to see because it so violently conflicts with their desired self-perception.”
and the kill shot
“Yes, I’m willing to continue to have Muslim children slaughtered by covert drones and cluster bombs, and America’s minorities imprisoned by the hundreds of thousands for no good reason, and the CIA able to run rampant with no checks or transparency, and privacy eroded further by the unchecked Surveillance State, and American citizens targeted by the President for assassination with no due process, and whistleblowers threatened with life imprisonment for “espionage,” and the Fed able to dole out trillions to bankers in secret, and a substantially higher risk of war with Iran (fought by the U.S. or by Israel with U.S. support) in exchange for less severe cuts to Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs, the preservation of the Education and Energy Departments, more stringent environmental regulations, broader health care coverage, defense of reproductive rights for women, stronger enforcement of civil rights for America’s minorities, a President with no associations with racist views in a newsletter, and a more progressive Supreme Court.”
Speaking of the 50th, Jackson Miller has a good discussion going on over on bvbl regarding getting on the Virginia ballot. I agree with him.
@Moon-howler
They are also expanding to buses, roads, public places, etc. How much security theater do you need to feel safer? NO TSA agent has been credited with ANY stoppage of a terrorist. And don’t you believe that anything of that sort would make the news? We have a right to free travel. The STATE does not have the right to search you without just cause. The State does not have the right to restrict free travel. We do have a right to fly as long as it is a legal mode of transportation, unless one is breaking the law or causing danger to other passengers. Otherwise, unless we want to walk everywhere, the gov’t gets to control where we go.
You might have a right to free travel but you don’t have a right to fly. The mode of transportation isn’t built into that right. Try riding a donkey down 66 and see where that lands you. The state doesn’t have the right to search you…unless of course you are getting on an airplane. Don’t want to be searched? Don’t fly.
Show me anywhere that states you have the right to fly. I can promise you it isn’t in the Constitution. You also don’t have the right to drive a car.
We didn’t have an actually attack on US territory for the many years between WWII and 9-11. Shall we disband the army? do you think perhaps knowing we have an army or knowing that we have TSA agents at airports serves as a deterrant? I am guessing yes.
Do you think perhaps DHS might have access to information that you might not have? While I might not like some of the tactics used by TSA, I think there is a good reason to have them there. Remember the untrained low-lifes that were there under contract before 9-11? Many of them didn’t speak a word of English. That doesn’t make them bad people, just perhaps not fit for determining risk on planes.
It looks like the Repubs want to make it easier for candidates to get on the ballot and harder for voters to cast ballots.
After the “let them die” comments and booing a gay soldier – I lost all respect for anyone that remained on that “stage” that night. And I was hoping for a good Republican to vote for -maybe Daniel will change his mind. Ron Paul and Sarah Palin say all the things out loud most of us would love to. Practically nothing they say cold be implemented – you can’t get elected simply by venting.
A leader knows how to get things done there is an art to that and it does require a some negotiation skill – so far no one except maybe Hunstman or Romney appear to posess that talent. Christie might. At least he didn’t chop Cantor’s head off when NJ needed federal support after their floods……
It’s very important to remember that Jackson and Bill Bolling are both Romney’s Virginia Campaign Chairs. Therefore, neither one of them has the least bit of interest in a more open primary. They want their guy to win the primary in the Commonwealth. Knowing of Jackson’s “chair” position for Romney, it gives less merit to what he’s saying. imho….
Mitt Romney’s Virginia Campaign Chairs:
State Chairman Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling
State Co-Chair Delegate Chris Peace
State Co-Chair Delegate Barbara Comstock
State Co-Chair Delegate Tag Greason
State Co-Chair Delegate Dave Albo
State Co-Chair Delegate Jackson Miller
State Co-Chair Delegate John Cosgrove
State Co-Chair Delegate-elect Mark Dudenhefer
@Laf
The fact that I agree with what he says gives him more merit with me.
There are 2 issues at stake. Issue 1 is getting on the ballot in the first place. The rules seem clear. Why should the laws change mid-stream for the convenience of the 2 who couldn’t go by the rules. I am aware he is part of Team Romney. So his guy played by the existing rules.
As for the primary being open….I am not sure how Jackson feels on that one.
http://www.denverpost.com/littwin/ci_19642238?source=rss
Agree with Littwin, it is more a Bull Run (over-confident, ill-prepared) experience
for Newt than a Pearl Harbor(surprise attack) one.
“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Let us hope in the coming year that the coming crises do not cause free people to continue to give up freedoms for illusory security.
@Cargo
Sez who? Actually, I would far rather have TSA and all their inherent faults out there than a bunch of self proclaimed 2nd amendment advocates guarding me on a plane. The difference in me and them is that I don’t see myself as the answer to every crime and I don’t think I am a weapons expert. Furthermore, the thing I fear the most is judgement or the lack thereof.
Most Americans want there to be some security on airlines. My next door neighbor packing heat just doesn’t cut it.
Let us strive for liberty in the coming year, either in the elections, or in personal matters. While I don’t necessarily agree with all of the below comments, this is very illustrative of the thinking in the Libertarian/GunBlogger community.
From the comments at The View From the Porch http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2012/01/like-any-organism-it-has-will-to.html
The Bill of Rights is dead. The First Amendment is dead, killed by political correctness.
The Second is dead, killed by the NFA and GCA ’68, and all that followed.
The Third is dead, killed by the Patriot Act. After all, who needs to quarter troops in your home, when a wiretap will suffice?
The Fourth died with the TSA and the Patriot Act.
The Fifth is dead now that the military can detain or kill you without trial, merely by claiming that you are a terrorist.
The Sixth is a prisoner at Gitmo.
The Eighth is being waterboarded.
The ninth and tenth have been ignored for decades.
and from another commenter:
“Seventh is dead, too. Try getting a jury trial for that red light camera ticket.
Everything TSA is doing, especially the VIPR Teams, is designed to condition the public that they are subject to inspection at any time, anywhere.”
@Cargo,
Where did you get that? It sounds like the paranoid club sent in a list of grievances. No rights are absolute.
I find it strange that many of the same people wh squawk about the first amendment and the political correctness are also the people who want a creche on the lawn of the courthouse, the 10 commandments posted in every classroom and want to outlaw flag burning. There seem to be many inconsistencies.
The people that frequent the above blog aren’t those that worry about creches. They tend to be libertarian gunnies.
And I listed the link where I got it. Its the comments from a reader and another blogger, DiveMedic.
Why do you find it strange, though? Political correctness is what is driving an objection to a creche on the lawn during Christmas. Christmas is an American holiday and tradition. If Jews want to put out a Menorah or Muslims wish to display something, more power to them. And Atheists can always post up something …….or well…nothing…. 😉 Posting the 10 commandments in a public place is not bad either, though posting it in every classroom is unnecessary. It IS a a major component of Western Judeo-Christian thought. And I’m against outlawing flag burning. My goal is to encounter someone doing that, and then putting out that dangerous fire by wrapping it around the igniter and getting him to “drop and roll! Drop and roll!” Or just spraying everything with CO2…. I’m getting a small car extinguisher to carry during any counterprotest…… 😈
But let’s explore it…. IN my opinion:
1st Amendment: Political correctness has endangered it, but its not dead. And certain bills being pushed to strain it on the web. Or, if you have opinions that are unpopular you can lose the use of two rights: http://borepatch.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-am-tjic.html
2nd Amendment: Almost killed, still wounded, recovering slowly.
3rd: the Patriot Act does hurt it alot.
4th: Yep. And the War on Some Drugs and the increased militarization of the police and increased use of no-knock raids
5th: Well, the Congress did just pass a bill stat said that the gov’t can detain you indefinitely and that they can assassinate citizens. And they do have that “no-fly” list.
6th: Gitmo does not apply. These are POWs and are considered irregular combatants. But there are other cases.
7th: Well…have you ever had a trial by jury for a ticket? Or ANY moving violation?
8th: Yep. But, I still don’t have a problem with it as it has been publicized as being used. If that makes me a hypocrite, oh well….. terrorists in my eyes barely rate being human. Sorry, I’m not perfect. Sheikh Mohammed survived it no worse for wear, as have thousands of SERE students.
9th: Right to free travel, perhaps?
10th: Yep….that little thing during the 1860’s weakened that. But it’s coming back.
THIS is the type of people that feel our freedoms are under attack.
http://blog.robballen.com/2011/10/31/p5209-youre-not-voting-your-way-out-of-this-people.post
They’re not too worried about creches. Read the comments too.
Did everyone remember to eat their blackeyed peas for good luck?
@Cargosquid
The fact that there are a bunch of people out there worrying about 10 rights tells me they might have a tendency to feel someone is after them.
I don’t think political correctness is driving the objections to some of the religious displays. There are just people out there who are tired of having someone else’s religion shoved down their throats. Dominant and majority religions lorded their brand over others repeatedly in this country. The first examples are found in the Plymouth Colony.
I can certainly remember the ladies coming in to the schools to brainwash me when I was a kid. I don’t think my parents gave their permission. It was part of the ‘curriculum’ by some decree. My husband had to bleat out the protestant Lord’s Prayer even though he wasn’t protestant, because he attended public school in Baltimore County. I don’t believe the Jews were excused from the exercise of morning devotions which were usually new testament closing off with the Lord’s Prayer.
Its a long memory of that sort of thing that makes me not want to have someone else’s brand including my own in the public square.
Perhaps its a different kind of right that I see being eroded away daily. As long as there are those out there like just about all the Republican presidential candidates who would do anything to deny women’s reproductive rights, I feel the threat is real, very real. Frankly, when half the population of the United States is threatened by losing reproductive rights, I can’t spend too much time worrying about Gitmo. The rights I am concerned about are the most deeply personal of all rights, yet too many people don’t care.
On “60 Minutes” tonight, Leslie Stahl had a long interview with Eric Cantor.
After seeing this, I dislike the guy even more.
Is there anyone who can unseat him next year?
There certainly seems to be nothing endearing about Cantor. I will try to find the video on the internet since I missed it. @punchak.
I liked his wife.
@Morris
His wife Diana is the chairman of the Board of Directors for VRS. She holds many people’s fortunes in her hands.
@Moon-howler
“The fact that there are a bunch of people out there worrying about 10 rights tells me they might have a tendency to feel someone is after them. ”
So… you bring up your ONE concern about “reproductive” rights….no matter how controversial they are, but discount the concerns of others about the enumerated rights that all Americans have…..
So…. you’re fine with the new bill that, like all bills lately, depends upon the interpretation of it, to determine its clarity, that may allow the government to imprison American citizens if they are declared terrorists? Or encroachments on any other rights…as long as their reproductive rights are ok….. Too many people don’t care? Really? Apparently they do because abortion is legal. But just because its legal doesn’t mean that everyone has to agree that abortion SHOULD be legal. Or that a baby does NOT have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. You’ve won. But don’t expect everyone to suddenly agree with you. It is legal to abort unborn babies. I seriously doubt that is going to change anytime soon, if ever.
Are you trying to start an argument again about it?
Because (and this is not to get into it ONCE again, but you keep bringing it up lately for some reason) there is controversy, still, over your and many others definitions of “reproductive rights”, penumbras and all that. Of course, there hasn’t been any challenge to said rights mentioned. Its even been called “settled law” by no less than a Supreme Court Justice. I didn’t bring it up, even to criticize it. But, let’s go along with your stance….because many of these people that you seem to be discounting are also pro-choice. Many libertarians are. Many aren’t. So, please, include your right to an abortion in the rights that may be under attack. I’m sue that the 9th Amendment would be fitting for that.
You also moved the goal posts on what I’ve said. First you mentioned public displays and now you bring up forced prayers in public schools. Personally, I’m fine with the idea that public schools don’t have organized prayers. But I do think that those that wish to organize as groups to worship together as a club, etc should be allowed to do so.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”
Not all religion takes place in a house of worship. Religion is a public AND private matter.
The only power on this earth that can actually harm Americans and take away their liberty is the American government. Should you not ALWAYS be concerned about that? NO matter WHOM is president?
I objected to the DHS and the Patriot Act when Bush was President. I’m no happier with the situation now.
My reaction like this is I’m very surprised at your reaction. To me, it seems as if you are thinking that they are paranoid. Or your phrase “worrying about 10 rights” as if these enumerated rights are not the descriptions of our basic principles of freedoms and are just minor matters.
Other than the right to have a legal abortion, what other rights do you think they’re missing, if these 10 are not enough?
MIchele Bachmann is on Morning Joe as we speak. She is a spunky one for sure. I dislike her politics intensely and could never vote for her but I sure have to hand it to her for her tenacity. She gets knocked down and she gets right back up.
@Cargo,
First off, reproductive rights are not always about abortion. But lets get the A word out of the way. Killing babies? Sorry, I don’t consider disruption of implantation ‘killing babies.’ Many of anti-choice bills out there, including Bill #1 in the General Assembly this year want to define life as beginning at fertilization which would make most forms of modern contraception illegal if Roe vs Wade were over-turned. Roe is certainly not on terra firma and anyone who thinks otherwise simply doesn’t know what they are talking about. Still on the A word, the governor just signed a bill in to law that makes all clinics that provide abortion in the state of Virginia have to have hospital status. This hospital status applies to building structure as well as personnel. Oddly enough, other outpatient facitilites that also involve surgical procedures do not have to uphold the same standard, so yes, abortion was very much singled out.
What is it that you were saying about abortion not being jeopardized?
On to other reproductive rights…there is an on-going attack on the funding of the Title X Family planning program that has been around since Richard Nixon from all angles. The most obvious attack is coming in the form of defunding Planned Parenthood which is the agency that does the most for providing contraception to teens and poor women.
Now, anyone who doesn’t see the wisdom of keeping poor women and teens from pregnancy while still babbling their religious doctrine or whatever is motivating pure blind stupidity, we live in the 21st century. People are free to practice whatever religion they want, including multiple wives, not getting shots, or having endless children. However, these people should not expect to make their personal beliefs part of US policy.
Most Americans don’t define zygotes and embryos as babies. Some do. Those people should not consider abortion. Quality of life issues also cannot be dismissed. Most, admittedly not all, terminations of later 2nd trimester pregancies usually involve fetal anomoly. This should also be considered an individual choice with the necessary medical and genetic data in place. Once again, there are those who would attempt to interfere.
Ah, religion…I moved the goal posts? I wish I could. Let’s see…
All too often people have the tendency to want to force their religion on to others for whatever reason. I expect they are so happy with it they just want to share. Plus, points are given for pew packing. Now I don’t mind if people do this to their friends. I do mind if it is done to captive audiences like kids in school. That’s where the problem lies. There is pressure applied, subtle or otherwise, to those who don’t chose to go along with the problem. That’s the reason religion needs to not be infused into public life, especially schools and government.
Anyone is free to practice their religion, just not at school or at work. I do believe there are after school programs kids can participate in. I often have wondered why churches don’t have these classes. Then they could do what they wanted.
All laws are a matter of interpretation. BTW, TSA just stopped a man smuggling explosives on a plane yesterday. I guess that doesn’t count.
I suppose I am as dismissive of perceived rights violations as you, Cargo are of reproductive rights. There is always the ACLU to keep government off your back. But you don’t like them either.
I have a daughter, daughters in law, and granddaughters. I haven’t given rise to anyone accused of terrorism so I will concern myself with where I see the real threats. I know those are out there.
@Morris Davis
Why?
Hey Moon,
With your interest in education, you might find this interesting.
“Employers could run afoul of the ADA if their requirement of a high school diploma ” ‘screens out’ an individual who is unable to graduate because of a learning disability that meets the ADA’s definition of ‘disability,’ ” the EEOC explained. ”
http://mostlycajun.com/wordpress/?p=16483
I see bad things ahead if this continues. I mean…if you can’t require a high school diploma because of a learning disability…how can you require a BA or BS, etc?
@Cargo, I read it. 🙄 Here’s my problem with it. In the first place, the article was laced with bias. Starting with the snickering over ‘progressive education’ and working its way on to the end, there was no objectivity about the supposed new rule.
I had to force myself to tinish the article. How can I take it seriously when the article is designed to give someone’s impression of how awful modern education is. If articles like that are your only exploration of modern education, no wonder you come away with an unrealistic, distorted view.
Now I am going to try to read between the lines and sift through some of that distortion. I think the EEOC probably has a memo asking to have a filter off when hiring if the job doesn’t require skills compensurate with a hgih school diploma. For instance, does one need a high school diploma to chop lettuce in the kitchen or to walk around a motel comp lex replacing light bulbs? Does someone need a GED to ride the back of the trash truck? Probably not. In the interest of hiring people unable to attain a diploma because of learning disabilities (which the article also made fun of) there are just some jobs where there is no reason not to hire. Turn off the filters for those kinds of job.
And for the record, some kids and people have very serious learning disabilities. These people have perfectly normal intelligence or even above. They just don’t learn through normal channels and therefore find conventional schools almost impossible to get through. Thomas Edison is often cited as one of those people.
From Dilbert: http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2012-01-02/
and then customized to “honor your Congresstool”
http://dilbert.com/mashups/comic/148064/
Apparently YOU can be the artist in the mashup.
Downton Abby returns in six days!
AbbEy….
Got a big caucus tomorrow in Iowa.
‘Life is good’ in Iowa’s Washington, but the candidates keep raising alarms
‘Life is good’
When Iowa holds its first-in-the-nation caucuses Tuesday, a major campaign moment will unfold here, in one of the most robust towns in one of the country’s most robust states. It is an ironic way for the 2012 election to begin: Politicians come here to talk about the problems of someplace else. Lazar and his friends in Washington can render a crucial verdict on issues from which they often feel disconnected.
“This is a nation in crisis,” Rick Perry said at a campaign stop at the local coffee shop last week.
“The Washington machine is strangling our economy,” said a local TV ad for Ron Paul.
“We’re seeing a war on our values,” Rick Santorum said on the evening news.
“Life is good,” Lazar says again, still at the bank, four days before the caucuses. He is a lifelong Republican who likes Mitt Romney best, although he doesn’t like any of them enough to participate in the caucuses. He has no problems in his life that require an election to fix, and he believes politicians rarely fix problems anyway. The economy is stable in some early-voting states such as Iowa and New Hampshire, so for some voters like Lazar the calculus is different. The population around the town square in Washington is growing, along with small businesses and the middle class.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/life-is-good-in-iowas-washington-but-the-candidates-keep-raising-alarms/2012/01/01/gIQAjgluUP_story.html?hpid=z1
Hey Moon, this reminds me of your other thread about Virginians liking their politicians. I think it will come as a surprise to most that a lot of Americans are pretty happy with the status quo which will be good news for Obama.
Why have you let Cargo hijack your blog?
“Open Thread”…..That’s a lot of words, isn’t it? What could they all mean?
@Juturna
Thanks for reminding us, Juturna. I am so glad. That is one of my favorite shows!!
@George S. Harris
And good morning to you, George.
I have not hijacked the blog. I just happen to have more free time than many of the readers and I tend to be……. wordy. So, on the open thread, you’ve seen a lot of me. Notice, the REST of the blog actually has very little of my comments currently. I think that I have about 6 comments in the previous 12 posts. I know I haven’t been commenting on much since the Christmas Open Thread.
Moon and I were having a nice political discussion.
Of course, nothing prevents you from joining in and speaking your mind. My last post was about the possible consequences of the EEOC looking at employment requirements. I wanted to get her opinion. I don’t necessarily disagree with her opinion. How about you? What do you think about the situation at #56? Everything I write is fair game by anyone. I welcome all discussion. Sometimes I defend it. Sometimes I’m asking for opinions because I don’t have one. Sometimes I’m bringing something to the attention of the blog readers because I think they should know about it.
See….. wordy.
@Cargo
Are they accusing you of being the blog ‘pet?’
You tell them its Slowpoke! Or blame Starry. Usually it is Starry who is accused of being the blog pet. 😈
@Moon-howler
Nah…not yet. We all know that it IS Starry. I bring down WAY too much…well, not abuse…but….well….let’s just say that IF I was the blog pet, there’s a lot of, “What did YOU DO? Bad dog!” That leads to a thought experiment. What type of animal would the readers be if they were pets?
I think that I’d be a Bulldog/Chihuahua mix. I sit around all day, barking….and don’t let anything go.
Starry…..a squ…ok, ok….I know…bad dog! Besides…its too easy. 🙂
Well, off to a doctor’s appointment. Darling daughter has to see a therapist about a sore knee. “Kneedless to say”, she’s happy about not going to school until later.
@Cargo, If she kneedlessly gets one of those big horse kneedles stuck in her knee she will wish she were in school doing long division.
Bulldog/Chihuahua mix? hmmmmmmm…..let me think on that one.
So who catches it worse being a blog pet, you or Pokie or do you switch off inheriting the naughty chair?