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Romney's Little Richey Rich Comment

Mitt Romney said he doesn't care about the very poor in America.  He said we have plenty of safety nets in place for them already.  He said he cares about the middle class.  I have a question.  What the hell is he talking about?

I'm currently battling an upper respiratory something or other.  I went to the doctor, who charged me $125.  I took her prescription to the pharmacy which charged me $83 for just 7 generic anti-biotic pills but could have charged me $344 if I'd wanted 7 of the named brand.

Right down the road from me is a 50 year old guy I know who hasn't worked in over 20 years, but who is plenty fit from my perspective.  He eats a jug full of pills, including lots of narcotics, on a daily basis and he gets them all for free.

While the government takes care of all of this guys medical bils, I pay over $800 per month for health insurance which doesn't kick in with any coverage until I hit my $5,000 per person annual deductible. Not only am I expected to go out and earn enough money to pay all of my bills, but out of every dollar I earn, I am forced to pay the government thirty some odd percent so this guy can walk out to his mailbox and pick up his monthly pay.

Yes, I do think we need to take care of America's truly needy.  And yes we do need to pay more attention to the middle class upon whose backs the care and feeding of the so-called poor is being hefted.

But we don't need a president who is content with a system of "safety nets" which are relied upon far too much by those who are merely too lazy, too drunk or too pilled up to walk the tight rope the rest of us are on.  You see, what disturbs me more about Romney's comment isn't that he expressed little concern for America's poor (dumb political gaffe) but that he tried to explain himself by caving in to the notion of the "great society".

First of all he should be acutely aware of how each word he speaks will be examined and used against him.  If primaries don't "divide us" but "prepare us", as he said Tuesday night, then his recent gaffe strongly suggests he isn't prepared to be the nominee of the conservative party.

And second, if he is so much a "Massachusetts Moderate" as to think that perpetuating the welfare state is a smart way to get us out of the fiscal mess we are in, then he isn't prepared to be president of the 21st century United States of America.

Yes, we must as a nation treat the weakest among us with the utmost respect and to do all that we can to protect them.  But no, the safety nets which are now in place are not working toward that end.  They are being used more like hammocks by the lazy, and snares by the liberals and moderates in government to enslave good people so as to keep them restrained while they milk them for their votes.

I'm beginning to think that Romney's hair dye is toxic to his brain.

Romney-Paul: Strange Bedfellows

The following is an article cross posted here from my daily column at KyForward.com:

In the mid 1800’s before jet airplanes and the 24 hour news cycle, politicians traveled by horse or carriage to the far reaches of their contested districts, often to debate their opponents face to face.  In those days it was not uncommon for men to share a room for the night, sometimes even the same bed in places where lodging was scarce.  This often put those who opposed each other for office in very close proximity, thus the birth of Charles Dudley Warner’s phrase “politics makes for strange bedfellows”.

Today there is a new truth to this quote which was recently highlighted in a Washington Post article about the close relationship between Mitt Romney and Ron Paul.  As the WaPo tells it, the two men and their wives began a close and lasting relationship in 2008 when they were both running for president.  But, as the paper contends, the friendship is now more of a “strategic partnership: for Paul, an opportunity to gain a seat at the table if his long-shot bid for the presidency fails; for Romney, a chance to gain support from one of the most vibrant subgroups within the Republican Party.”

Strange bedfellows indeed.

The Paul camp is populated by die hard devotees who rail against anyone and anything that comes close to looking like the “establishment”.  Ron Paul piggybacking some of his hopes on Mitt Romney’s success would be like a splash of acid in the faces of Paul fans everywhere.  To them this would be a sellout to the world of “politics as usual”.

Paul supporters are quick to attack anyone who dares forge any sort of relationship with mainstream politicians, particularly for political gain.  They rail against anyone who so much as suggests that principled or not, the Paul message is carefully crafted toward what they see as the corrupting motivation of gaining votes.  Much of Paul’s support is built upon an idealistic view of his “movement” as divorced entirely from the dirty game of politics.  For a big part of the Paul camp, news that Paul and Romney might be using each other for political gain is like catching your mother in bed with your uncle.

But the Paul insiders are smart.  They have mapped out the long hunt.  They understand what many of their most zealous supporters don’t quite grasp and that is how staying in the game, gaining ground a little at a time and positioning yourself for the future is likely a much more successful plan than the “revolution now” crowd that wears their Tee-shirts and shouts down on the Internet anybody who urges a more methodical approach to influencing policy.

In fact, some Paul folks have openly spoken about how their group should not support the nominated republican if it is not “their guy”, preferring to elect the liberal democrat thus giving them the rest of his term to continue their rhetoric and their call for change.  This comes with the added advantage of  giving them a better shot in the near future of running one of their own against the liberal incumbent, rather than trying to unseat an incumbent republican.

So how could the Paul loyalists be persuaded to get behind Romney, if the WaPo article is right, thereby giving Mitt the advantage of the Paul voters in November?  One possible answer might surprise everybody.  Mitt could choose Rand Paul for his vice president.

In traditional political thinking the party’s nominee picks a VP running mate for a couple of possible reasons.  The first, which is more macabre humor than political reality, is that you want to choose somebody who is so unpalatable to the public that it protects you from violent removal from office.

The second most often cited reason for the VP pick is the delivery of a reliable voting block to your ticket.  That voting block used to be calculated by geographic regions, such as adding a southerner to the ticket with a New Englander at the top.

But in today’s mobile world, and considering what Sarah Palin and her TEA party loyalists brought to the McCain campaign, looking at Rand Paul for VEEP actually makes some sense.

Most republicans want the party to be re-united.  Most republicans see Rand Paul as born out of the TEA party movement which is representative of hard core conservative principles.  Most republicans also see the establishment wing of the party as much more moderate. 

Romney is establishment, and as Newt Gingrich has pegged him, he is a “Massachusetts Moderate”.  Rand Paul on the other hand is very visible, very much the heir to his father’s kingdom and could very well deliver up a significant block of voters from within the GOP and from the growing number of Independents which everyone agrees that the GOP needs to get on board if the republicans hope to win in November.

Might it be that what Ron seeks, should he not get the nomination, is more than a voice in making policy, but rather, a spot on the ticket for Rand Paul?

It might not be to his follower’s liking, but maybe.

And if so, what lays ahead, could very well be a 21st century example of strange political bedfellows.

Florida GOP Primary Maybe Not "Winner Take All"

Before you jump on the Romney wagon, you might want to keep an eye on this:

In a December 21 letter to Lenny Curry, State Chairman of Florida's Republican Party, the RNC warned that per newly adopted Republican Party rules, Florida was not authorized to hold a winner-take-all primary before April 1.

Florida scheduled its primary for January 31 anyways, in violation of amended Rule No. 15(b) that permits Florida only to have a proportional division of its delegates (in a pre-April 1 primary or caucus).

According to a Fox News report, a Florida Gingrich campaign official will take up a dispute with the RNC seeking to have the rule enforced, and Florida's delegation distributed proportionately based on the vote. [New York]

Morning Funnies

Romney On His Unshakable Core Beliefs

Just A Walk In The Park?

I live in a much different world than what is depicted in this video and I suspect most of you do too.  Here is what the "occupy" movement looks like and how they behave.  Oh, and just in case you were wondering, a bunch of people think the use of the taser was just more evidence of the coming police state.

Oh, and by the way, you might recall that I warned you this could happen.

 

Newt's Off The Cuff Loss To Romney

Newt Gingrich didn't lose the Florida primary to Mitt Romney, he lost to the money behind Mitt Romney.  Yes, in the November contest money will be a HUGE factor, with Obama raking in $5 million per stop lately headed for a billion dollar campaign.  And in that context Romney may be the stronger candidate.

But like Obama Romney seems scripted.  His record is 180 degrees opposite on some issues from where he says he stands today.  His campaign in Florida was more about why it shouldn't be Newt than why it should be Mitt.  These things make me wonder who is the wind beneath his lust for office and power.

Newt vowed to fight on.  The pundits worried that his money will soon dry up.  But Newt addressed that problem in his admittedly "off the cuff" speech last night.  He made it clear, his campaign will rely upon "people power" rather than Wall Street money to put somebody in office who has a conservative record of getting things done in Washington DC.

I like Newt.  I like him better than Romney.  And though I think Newt is a pretty smart guy his off the cuff stuff troubles me.

Newt tends to think in the moment.  Those who served with him and now criticize him say that he was "an idea a minute" kind of guy with little follow through.  Newt responds by saying he is a bold thinker with big ideas.  I wonder though if he isn't a living example of attention deficit disorder, the kind of guy who would make snap decisions because they seemed logical to him at the time.

I'm not too worried about this considering how many ADD people have become great success stories.  And his "off the cuff" style is more refreshing than the teleprompter types like Obama and Romney.  So I guess the real question from here is how well Newt will work in gathering up the "people power" he needs to offset Romney's millions.

Newt can still pull this off and if so I would be happier with him than Romney, but from the looks of things the big money folks in this world will stop at nothing to get the candidate of their choice, whether it's Obama or Romney, the "people" be damned.

Morning Funnies

Tom Wurtz Files For 4th District Seat

Tom Wurtz has filed to run in the GOP primary for the 4th District seat being vacated by Geoff Davis.  Wurtz will face Thomas Massie, Gary Moore, Brian Oerther and Alecia Webb-Edgington in May and so far the winner of that contest will face democrat Greg Frank of Corinth Kentucky in the general election, according to the Secretary of State.

According to Wurtz's web site he lists the following as his history:

• (Former) President and Chief Operating Officer of the $70 Million Sheakley Group of Companies.
• 30 Years of Leadership & Profit Experience.
• Built 15 Divisions from $500,000 to $70 Million.
• Generated 25% - 50% Operating Profits.
• "Leadership & Profit Tip of the Week," Heard Monday – Friday on WLW 700AM Radio (Cincinnati) between 5:20 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Interviewed on WLW 700AM Radio with Jim Scott. (2008)
• Interviewed on WDJO 1160AM Radio with Dusty Rhodes. (2008)
• Featured throughout April 2008 on the Northern Kentucky Chamber’s "Leading Businesses…Leading Communities"
• Partner with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce - Chamber University. (2008)
• Featured in April/May 2006, June/July 2008 and August 2008 edition of Cincy Magazine.
• Keynote Speaker – Toyota, Kentucky Chamber Distinguish Speaker Series (2), Sibcy Cline Realtors (2), Kentucky Society of Human Resources Managers, National Association of State Associations.
• Author – "The Eagle Within – Success Principles from a Simple American" & "The Score’s Wrong – The Lunatic Rantings of a Volleyball Dad."
• Read 467 Business & Leadership Books.
• Absorbed 31,670 Minutes of Business & Leadership CDs.
• Earned a Business Degree from Northern Kentucky University in 1977 with a Solid GPA of 2.55.
• Married My Third-Grade Sweetheart in 1976.

Wurtz also publishes a blog type website called "POLI-TICKED" where he discusses a variety of topics including politics, current events and history.

Wurtz is currently the owner of Tom Wurtz consulting where his company offers on-site leadership and profit workshops plus one-on-one executive consulting.

The deadline for filing for the 4th Congressional seat was due to expire today, but both the Kentucky House and Senate voted to extend the deadline until February 7th. Governor Beshear signed the bill into law.

BluegrassBulletin Milestone

Shortly after ground hog day the Bluegrass Bulletin will hit a milestone.  It is hard to say exactly when, but sometime in the next few days I will post article number 6,500.  By any-body's standards, that's a lot of material.

Thanks for all of your support and the kind words I receive in private emails and text messages.

When you look around, there are few conservative blogs which have survived this long, and very few with 6,500 articles written by one guy.

It's all for you, every day.  Thank you.

These Times In Which We Live

An article appearing in "The Economist" has measured the history created by mankind as well as the output of goods, from the year 1 AD to the present.  So for 2011 years, guess how much of all the goods ever produced by man have been produced in the last decade alone?

Over 23% of all the goods and services made since 1AD were produced from 2001 to 2010, according to an updated version of Angus Maddison's figures.

Why Do Republicans Vote For Romney?

James Carville once quipped that the only game little republicans learned to play in school was follow the leader.  The near cult like following that George W. Bush engendered after 9-11 is testament to that.  Many republicans were loathe to question anything he did for fear of being called "un-patriotic".

Then when the GOP faced a presidential nomination process four years ago they found themselves on the wrong end of the nation's sentiment by defending W's decisions on the bailouts.  Romney tried to win the hearts and votes of the rank and file in 2008 but in a very weird twist of fate ended up losing to John McCain, a guy nobody really liked. 

McCain might have secured the nomination in order to become a sacrificial lamb.  The historic nature of electing America's first black president or first woman president played out in the democratic primary season and by the time the GOP settled on McCain, a win in November looked highly unlikely for any of the republicans running.

Primarily in reaction to TARP the TEA party movement grew in strength and took a liking to Sarah Palin.  That made swallowing the bitter pill of a McCain presidency a little sweeter and gave Romney a chance to get busy building a case for his election in 2012.

Gingrich took the opportunity presented by Obama's election to work the back channels of conservative politics with his grass roots connect up movement sponsored in every state.  He and Romney both spent the last four years seeking out their kind of voters, staying in touch and hoping to launch their campaigns off the backs of their off year organizations.

But as we watch the primary season play out, many in the GOP are getting the same feeling they had four years ago.  For all the reasons they can articulate why Obama should be defeated a large number of republicans will quietly confess that they expect him to win.

The combination of his billion dollar campaign, his built in constituencies and the back biting in the GOP primary seems to be setting Obama up pretty well.  And though this time around republicans are not interested in a sacrificial lamb, they do realize that winning will require more than better ideas, conservative principles and a promise to repeal Obamacare, for if that's all it took to become the nominee, Ron Paul would be doing better.

No, as Carville said, republicans tend to follow their leaders and in this climate, Romney fits the profile of a leader better than Gingrich.  He has risen to the top as an executive.  He is better looking, more poised, less bitter and exudes the kind of confidence born out of a life of privilege.  This year republicans are favoring Romney's image over that of Gingrich and ignoring principles, policies and promises.

A vote for Romney will certainly not guarantee a republican victory in November, but then again, neither will a vote for Gingrich, Santorum or Paul.  So the GOP is leaning more toward style than substance, ignoring Romney's flip flops and looking for the kind of guy who can attract votes because he "looks" presidential.

Oh of course there will be those who make a much more in depth analysis of why Romney is beating Gingrich and the others, but when you break it down to the lowest common denominator among the rank and file, little of that analysis will be on the minds of voters as they enter the polls.

You might argue that my comment gives far too little credit to the American voter, but looking back at 2008, what would make you think that superficiality isn't in play again this year?

Deal With This Damon!

Damon Thayer is in the cross hairs of the Lexington Herald Leader and a group of folks opposed to gambling legislation in Kentucky.  Damon, who runs a consulting business out of his home, acknowledges that his clients include various segments of the equine industry.  What he hasn't cleared up, is just who they are.

Now that gambling is on the front burner and Damon is running point, some have questioned whether he shouldn't be more transparent when it comes to revealing who his clients are.  In my opinion, he should definitely do that.

Damon is a pretty determined kind of fellow.  His consulting business has been built upon a long track record of working in the racing industry.  However, his role as a state senator should never be compromised by his personal interests.

Damon, get this cleared up right away.  Although some say that all publicity is good publicity, this is one instance where the odds are against you.  Deal with this ASAP.

Morning Funnies

TEA Party Needs To Build From Ground Up

Rand Paul's win in Kentucky, Sarah Palin's national prominence, Herman Cain's temporary popularity and a handful of other races around the nation gave those who like the TEA party plenty of excitement over the last year or so.  But looking across the nation now it is hard to see a growing TEA party influence this cycle.

Newt Gingrich might get more TEA party support than Romney but Newt is far from the kind of outsider candidate which the TEA party seemed to prefer just a few months ago.  Ron Paul has his followers within the TEA party but the group was not formed around him and many TEA partiers have noticed how he has faded in the polls.  What many are beginning to notice is how the money interests of the establishment gives it an advantage over the long haul.  In other words, though the TEA party flashed quickly onto the national stage, those with the most chips can stay in the game longer.

Perhaps what the TEA party needs to do is put aside its emphasis on national races and the ones that get all the attention and instead focus on party re-organization and the local races.  When the chance arrives to put one of their members on a party committee, the city council, the school board or in a county office, that is where they might find a better shot at building a movement from the ground up.

Government Finds Workaround To Enable Indefinite Detention

During the discussion of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) those who argued that the act permitted the government to seize and indefinitely detain American citizens on the mere allegation that they were "belligerent" to the interests of the USA were shot down by supporters of the act.

Those supporting it argued that the act specifically exempted US citizens (it doesn't) and that anyone who opposed the Act just didn't know what they were talking about.

On the off chance that the act didn't permit the seizure and detention of American citizens, another bill has been proposed as a work around to that problem such that seizure and detention won't be a problem.

Even people who believe that NDAA does not allow for the indefinite detention of citizens should be concerned about a proposed amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act that would give our government “the authority to strip a person of their American citizenship if that person is accused or suspected of supporting ‘hostilities’ against the U.S.

According to ‘Enemy Expatriation Act’ Could Compound NDAA Threat to Citizen Rights, an article written by Ashley Portero that was published in the International Business Times, EEA “would allow the government to revoke Americans of their U.S. citizenship if they are accused or suspected of ‘engaging in, or purposefully or materially supporting, hostilities.’ The sparse amendment, which defines ‘hostilities’ as ‘any conflict subject to the laws of war,’ does not say which government body — say a military tribunal or a congressional panel — has the power to brand suspected persons as hostiles.” If EEA becomes law, our government “could potentially revoke the citizenship of anyone deemed to be supporting hostilities against the U.S., thereby subjecting him or her to the indefinite military detention provision of the NDAA.” [Jonathan Turley]

So did you catch that?  Under this new bill the government could strip anyone of his/her citizenship upon the "accusation" or "suspicion" of supporting hostilities, thus providing a "work around" to any problem with indefinite detention under the NDAA.

Gotta stay alert folks.

Rick Santorum's Special Needs Child

You may have heard that Rick Santorum left the campaign trail this weekend.  You may also have heard that his daughter was admitted to the hospital.  What you might not know is that she is a special needs child who is reportedly suffering from a birth condition known as Trisomy 18.

Trisomy 18 is a genetic disorder where a child is born with three copies of material from chromosome 18 instead of the usual two.  Few children survive past the first week of life.  Those who do survive suffer from a number of very serious complications.

You can read more about this condition HERE.  We should pray for his family.

Morning Funnies

Marc's Movie Review: The Descendants

George Clooney and this film have been nominated for Oscars and no wonder.  It's the kind of film that appeals to Hollywood types.  If Seinfeld was a TV show about nothing but was funny, The Descendants is a film about nothing that is .....well, pretty much about giving Clooney various scenes in which to pose.

A dying wife who cheated on her husband is the center piece of the flick.  Add in a couple of dysfunctional kids, beautiful Hawaiian scenery, a mega wealthy family and you've pretty much got the background of the movie.  The only thing missing is a redeeming plot, or even one that excites, surprises, shocks, disgusts or tugs at your heart.  This one has none of the above.

The last movie I saw with Angelina Jolie, The Tourist, seemed to have shared a similar motivation with The Descendants, having been written for the exclusive purpose of showcasing closeups of an attractive star.

No doubt Clooney can act.  I've seen him do it.  But he didn't do much of it in this slog.  In fact, on the few occasions when he had to be convincing, he employed very familiar head ticks, eye pops and fleeting smiles that were recycled without much in the way of original study.

The movie came and went without much being accomplished.  And the only thing worth mentioning at all is the over use of leaf litter in nearly every scene.

I can't really give it very high marks because it wasn't very entertaining, and in my book, that's what a movie is supposed to be.

"Take Out The CIA, That's What We Need To Do"

What percentage of the people believe that the CIA has accomplished a coup, that they are a government unto themselves, that they run the military, are the ones lobbing missiles and bombs on foreign countries,  that they are in drug businesses and take out dictators? 

Best Steak Dinner

In the past few years a number of high end steak houses have cropped up around the region. In Northern Kentucky Jeff Ruby has made a name for himself with broiled beef.  Of course Ruth's Chris, Morton's of Chicago and a few others have developed a national reputation.  But in my book, the best steak I've had in 30 years can only be found in Dayton Ohio, at the Pine Club.

Yes, some of the rising stars boast a devoted clientele, but at the Pine Club they've been making some of the best meals in America for over 65 years.  And with practice comes perfection.

Their Bone In Rib-eye literally could not be cooked any better. It is finished with just the right char on the outside to keep all that great moist flavor circulating around inside until you release it with your knife and fork.

Their baked potatoes are great but their loaded baked potato is topped with the kind of smoked bacon that makes you think it was cooked outside over an open fire by culinary experts in cowboy hats.

The selection of cuts of meat puts other steak houses to shame as does the Pine Club's low light atmosphere that draws you closer to those with whom you are sharing your dining experience.  Dark wood lit by little more than electric candles gives The Pine Club just the kind of antique manliness that tells you as soon as you walk in that these guys understand steaks.

Don't ask for desert, they don't serve it, and don't whip out a credit card, they won't take it.  You can pay cash, or, if you need to they will happily open a house account for you on the spot if you only have plastic money on you.

Be sure to leave enough room to eat a full meal when you arrive because there's nothing skimpy about portions and the basket of salted rye crescents which arrive first simply can't be avoided.

If you are looking for a reason to make a short drive (45 minutes from Cincinnati) to Dayton Ohio to attend a play at the new and exquisite Shuster Center to see top named talent when they come to town (funny lady Kathleen Madigan will be there February 3d) then be sure to set aside some time and treat yourself to the best steak dinner in the midwest at the historic Pine Club.

You can't afford to miss that treat.

Familiar Rhetoric, Failed Record

***THE ARMED CITIZEN*** An Every Friday Feature

Shirley Bennett ‘s boyfriend taught her to shoot following an attempted break-in at her home three years ago. She purchased a .38-cal. revolver, obtained a permit to carry and no longer felt vulnerable to criminals—criminals such as Joe Covington, a registered sex offender who approached Bennett’s SUV in a bank parking lot. “He was hitting me from behind, trying to force me into my vehicle,” explained Bennett. “I said, ‘I got a gun, don’t make me use it.’ I think my heart was going 90 mph.” Covington allegedly continued wrestling with her, so she drew her gun and fired a shot, causing him to run. Police found Covington several blocks away. “I honestly believe I would not be here today if I didn’t have a gun,” Bennett said. (Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, 11/11/11)

Reprinted with the encouragement of the NRA

Afternoon Funnies

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Elite Ignorace Residing In A Suburb Near You?

Thanks to Professor Volokh for bringing this to our attention:

In his new book, Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960–2010, Charles Murray argues that a new elite class has emerged that is much more ignorant about the lives of ordinary Americans than were the elites of earlier generations:

As the new upper class increasingly consists of people who were born into upper-middle-class families and have never lived outside the upper-middle-class bubble, the danger increases that the people who have so much influence on the course of the nation have little direct experience with the lives of ordinary Americans, and make their judgments about what’s good for other people based on their own highly atypical lives...

Many of the members of the new upper class are balkanized. Furthermore, their ignorance about other Americans is more problematic than the ignorance of other Americans about them. It is not a problem if truck drivers cannot empathize with the priorities of Yale professors. It is a problem if Yale professors, or producers of network news programs, or CEOs of great corporations, or presidential advisers cannot empathize with the priorities of truck drivers. It is inevitable that people have large areas of ignorance about how others live, but that makes it all the more important that the members of the new upper class be aware of the breadth and depth of their ignorance.

As this year's elections approach might it be a good idea to examine how much in tune, or out of touch, the candidates are with the everyday lives of the people they seek to represent? 

It is my belief that informed voters make better decisions.  By the same token, informed elected officials make better representatives.  What do those who seek to represent us, really know about the lives we lead, the struggles we face and the things we need?

Those would be good questions for them all.

Erasing The Lessons Of History

It has been said many times that those who do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.  Put another way, though human error is a consequence of our flawed nature, repeating errors is a consequence of our inattention to unmistakable evidence of our flawed nature.  Unless of course we repeat errors by design.

This morning I received an email.  It purported to be a forwarded copy of something written by a "21 year old female who gets it."  What is attributed to this unnamed 21 year old female is her solution to the "social welfare, big government state she is forced to live in".  Here is her message:

PUT ME IN CHARGE . . .

Put me in charge of food stamps. I'd get rid of Lone Star cards; no cash for Ding Dongs or Ho Ho's, just money for 50-pound bags of rice and beans, blocks of cheese and all the powdered milk you can haul away. If you want steak and frozen pizza, then get a job.

Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing I'd do is to get women Norplant birth control implants or tubal legations. Then, we'll test recipients for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine. If you want to reproduce or use drugs, alcohol, or smoke, then get a job.

Put me in charge of government housing. Ever live in a military barracks?  You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair.  Your home" will be subject to inspections anytime and possessions will be inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360, then get a job and your own place.

In addition, you will either present a check stub from a job each week or you will report to a "government" job. It may be cleaning the roadways of trash, painting and repairing public housing, whatever we find for you. We will sell your 22 inch rims and low profile tires and your blasting stereo and speakers and put that money toward the "common good."

Before you write that I've violated someone's rights, realize that all of the above is voluntary. If you want our money, accept our rules. Before you say that this would be "demeaning" and ruin their "self esteem," consider that it wasn't that long ago that taking someone else's money for doing absolutely nothing was demeaning and lowered self esteem.

If we are expected to pay for other people's mistakes we should at least attempt to make them learn from their bad choices. The current system rewards them for continuing to make bad choices.

AND While you are on Gov't subsistence, you no longer can VOTE! Yes, that is correct. For you to vote would be a conflict of interest. You will voluntarily remove yourself from voting while you are receiving a Gov't welfare check. If you want to vote, then get a job.

The sender then concluded the email with this: "We need to find this woman and put HER on the ballot this fall".

I rarely respond to these things, but since the sender had apparently distributed this pretty widely, I took the opportunity to click "reply to all" with this response:

Thanks for sending this.  I consider myself a conservative, and you a friend, so I’d like to take something in this email purportedly from a young woman, and challenge everyone who reads it to think about something.

In it she says this:

“Put me in charge of government housing. Ever live in a military barracks?  You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair.  Your home" will be subject to inspections anytime and possessions will be inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360, then get a job and your own place.

In addition, you will either present a check stub from a job each week or you will report to a "government" job. It may be cleaning the roadways of trash, painting and repairing public housing, whatever we find for you. We will sell your 22 inch rims and low profile tires and your blasting stereo and speakers and put that money toward the "common good."

In tough economic times when people are teetering on the verge of panic, tough talk like this can be attractive.  But please look closely at what she says and tell me what images come to mind.

First of all, one person is in charge of the rest of us.  We live in barracks, our homes are subject to inspection at any time, our possessions subject to being inventoried.

If we cannot find work, we will be required to report to a “government” job, chosen for us by the government which will sell our possessions and take our money for the “common good”.

Oh, I know, I didn’t point out that in her email the young lady wasn’t talking about you and me, but rather “those people” on welfare.

Hardship delivered on the winds of crisis are sometimes not of our own making, and avoiding it beyond our control.  “Those people” could just as easily be you and me or someone we love, in an instant. And even if not, I do not accept her premise that people be treated differently based upon their economic circumstances.

I would encourage anyone who receives this email to think carefully about the kind of world this young person thinks will be our salvation.

 I disagree with her vision, I am frightened that we could allow the next generation of Americans to get by with thinking these things and I feel compelled to speak out.

 I’m sorry if you think I’m picking on you, I’m not.  I just wanted to use this opportunity to ask people to stop and think about where we could be headed.

I learned a very hard lesson at a very young age:  We are not only responsible for our own actions, but we are also responsible for each other.  I write this because I care what you think.

Thank you.

Why did I choose to respond to all of these folks?  In part because I am concerned that if in fact some 21 year olds who have probably almost concluded their formal educations think this way, then we have utterly failed them.

And though it is no comfort to realize it, we are not alone:

One in five young Germans has no idea that Auschwitz was a Nazi death camp, a poll released Wednesday showed, two days ahead of Holocaust memorial day. [HurriyetDailyNews]

If those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, then the avoidance of making repetitive mistakes is tied directly to what one learns, which flows from what one it taught.

You might think that avoiding mistakes would be everybody's goal.  But it is not.  Some who would like to repeat history have positioned their kind as teachers who can erase history from the minds of a whole generation merely by not teaching it.

It is our responsibility to correct this error before it is too late.

Tough At The Top

As I watched the state of the union address the other night, I couldn't help but sympathize with Obama.  Not because I agree with his agenda, but thinking about what it must be like, day in, day out, with no real relief, to have every one of your ideas questioned, your personal integrity attacked and to have such dangerous friends.

I thought about how much pressure George W. Bush was under and all presidents before him.  Can you imagine what it must be like to have your closest advisers made up of people who owe their loyalty to you, but who just a few years ago were complete strangers?  And all the while they are in your midst, you know they could turn on you in an instant.

As the camera panned the house chamber during the speech I saw the oddest assortment of people.  In fact it looked more like the annual convention of side show freaks than an assemblage of men and women we should admire and trust with our future.

Today Drudge has a number of headlines all screaming missiles aimed a Newt Gingrich.  His honesty, his conservative credentials and his morality are all under attack because he is now leading in the polls.  If he continues to lead it will only get worse.

What kind of people survive this kind of gauntlet?  What kind of characteristics does one need to possess before entering that brutal battering?  And what kind of personality emerges on the other end?  In trying to answer these questions on my own I realized why the joint session of congress looked like the biggest collection of weirdos in history.

Newt had it exactly right in South Carolina.  Our tolerance for this kind of selection process is what keeps the kind of people we would prefer as leaders, from ever entering the fray.

Think about that the next time you feel like giving in to the temptation to shred a candidates character.  We get what we deserve.

Morning Funnies

Part II Of My Speech To The Kenton County Republican Women

My good friend, and lawyer, Bob Sanders suggested that I record my speech to the Kenton County Republican Women's Club Monday.  I forgot.  So I have been putting it in writing.

Part two is now online at KyForward.com

Click here to read it.

Thomas Massie Interview: Not So Good

I had a private conversation with a candidate the other day.  It was someone I've known a long time and consider a friend.  The candidate said "Thanks for some of the things you've said about me."  My reply was  "I hope you understand, I'm going to tell the truth as I see it, and it might not always please you."

I've just watched the interview with Lewis County Judge Executive and 4th District Congressional candidate Thomas Massie conducted by Ryan Alessi at Pure Politics.  Let me be clear, I like Thomas, I think he is driven to seek this office by his political principles, but I will also admit that I am more than slightly amused by the odd combination of his financial success, his "off the grid" lifestyle and his desire to work in the cesspool of Washington DC.

But at least two responses he gives during the interview make it very clear that he articulates a point of view which is out of touch with the district.  It was also clear that his "principles" are perhaps a little more flexible than he might himself realize.

First with regard to his fuzzy view of the world wherein he thinks he is firmly grounded in principle, but when pressed seems more interested in "appearing" to be principled when in fact he gives the impression that he is unsure of how his "principles"  would work in a real world setting.

For example, in the video interview below Thomas tries to define himself as opposed to government interference in industry, but when pressed by Ryan Alessi about the role of government in protecting the environment from power plant pollution, Massie says that litigation could be used instead of government regulation and talks about requiring power plants to put up a bond to pay damages.

Uh, Thomas, environmental litigation involves the enforcement of laws and regulations and the pursuit of damages is controlled by laws and regulations.  The last time I checked, laws and regulations are those things passed by government.

And his suggestion that a bond be required doesn't square very well with his fuzzy view of a world without government.  Who would "require" the bond if not the government?  With whom would it be posted how would it be enforced?

It sounds like Thomas is all for the kind of world where no government is required and we all prance around in the daisies with the kind of freedom and liberty known only to Adam and Eve but to the kind of people who grew up in Northern Kentucky, that kind of thinking might be perceived as a serious disconnect from the realities of the world in which we live.

Massie is also of the opinion that we are getting more pollution in the United States from factories in China than factories in the United States.  His solution?  Lower the regulations on factories in the United States.  Say what?

He thinks that pollution from Chinese power plants is making its way into the United States and causing more harm than pollution from our own factories and so we ought to get off the backs of American factories so they can then what, pollute more at home?  Come on Thomas, think this stuff through man.  You are coming dangerously close to pandering to that small fringe group of borderline anarchists who are trying to co-opt the TEA party and wiggle their way into republican politics.

But let's move on.  When confronted with the fact that Kentucky is one of the top five states in the nation with drug related deaths Massie was asked if he felt there was a role for the federal government to create a national prescription pill monitoring system and whether he'd push for something like this in Congress.  Once again, the disconnect between his "theories" and reality was apparent.

"No, I think the federal government should stay out of this.  I believe it is a state issue," Massie replied.  Alessi pressed further reminding him that pills have been flowing into Kentucky from Florida where it is easier to get them and asked Massie if this wouldn't then be an "Interstate Commerce" issue.

Massie replied, "I think the Interstate Commerce Clause is abused, you know they kind of use that as a free path through our Constitution, and no, I don't believe that's a federal issue....I mean, we deal with it in our county in the jail...We need more counseling centers....If there's more economic opportunity there are going to be fewer people resorting to drugs...as an abuse to get away from the reality of life." (Tape beginning at 5:45)

Alessi didn't let up, "Who should pay for those counseling centers?"  Watch Massie's response for yourself when he says "That's a good question,  I think they could be private, we'll have to look into that". 

Okay Thomas, you're new at this, you don't have to know everything, but your answer opens up a whole new line of questioning.  Who is "we" you are talking about that needs to look into creating and funding counseling centers?  Is it Congress who should be looking into setting up private counseling centers?  I thought you were opposed to government intervention in the private sector.  Hell, man, when there is an oil spill you contain it, you don't let it continue to flow while committees are formed to "think tank" how to deal with the next spill.

This interview was like watching a bunch of college kids in knit hats at Starbucks pondering stream of consciousness theories while stroking their wispy chin whiskers.

Real live moms and dads in places like Ludlow, Owenton, Wilder and Petersburg don't live in that dreamy kind of theoretical world.  They are fighting to save the lives of their teenage kids who are becoming addicted to heroin because it is cheaper than the synthetic opiate they first became addicted to  snorting Oxy-Contin.  In fact, I'm calling BULLSHIT on this whole discussion in Thomas Massie's response.

Yes, I know his idol Ron Paul has a long track record of suggesting that drug laws should be state not federal issues.  But this is no longer a local problem.  It is an epidemic. 

If there was a dread disease being spread by people traveling from state to state or carried on the wind, would Massie favor letting each state fend for itself?

I like Thomas.  I think dreamers are to be encouraged.  But until they get their heads out of the clouds,  their feet on the ground and meet and understand the real issues and concerns of the people they seek to represent, they ought to avoid taped interviews and watch what they say in public. 

Disqualification comes quickly and is not easily undone.

 

Morning Funnies

KyForward

If you haven't found your way over to KyForward.com yet, I invite you to come today.

Judy Clabes has invited me to write a daily column for her new online publication.  I was humbled and honored to be asked.  Today's column is one I think you might like.

You can find it here at KyForward.com.

Will Ron Paul Run Third Party?

Politico ran a story about the potential electoral train wreck which we could be facing this year.

The bottom line is that if no candidate receives a majority — 270 — of the 538 electoral votes, then the next president will be chosen by the House of Representatives, with each state having one vote.

But given Congress’s current low repute — 9 percent approval rating in one poll — all hell would break loose if the House wound up selecting the next president.

This scenario can happen only if there is a viable third-party candidate who wins at least some electoral votes.

Potential third-party candidates with a national following could include Ron Paul (running as a Libertarian)

Ron Paul has repeatedly said he is not planning a third party run.  As one interview posted below today suggests, Paul could be in a good position to influence the ticket at a brokered convention in September, probably too late to make a viable third party run.

But reports from some gatherings where Ron Paul "insiders" have been in attendance reveal that a third party run is "very likely" if Paul does not receive the GOP nomination.

Will Ron Paul Run as a third party candidate?  Only time will tell, but people have been giving Paul a lot of credit for playing the long game.  Might he be playing for 2016 where running for an open seat in the White House might be an easier task than running against a sitting republican president?

Keep your eyes open folks.  The Gingrich surge isn't the only story in town.

George Soros Agrees With ME?

After writing and speaking about this very topic for quite some time now I have to admit, had it not been for a mouth full of coffee this morning, my jaw would have dropped when I read this, from an interview with George Soros:

“At times like these, survival is the most important thing,” he says, peering through his owlish glasses and brushing wisps of gray hair off his forehead. He doesn’t just mean it’s time to protect your assets. He means it’s time to stave off disaster. As he sees it, the world faces one of the most dangerous periods of modern history—a period of “evil.” Europe is confronting a descent into chaos and conflict. In America he predicts riots on the streets that will lead to a brutal clampdown that will dramatically curtail civil liberties. [The Daily Beast]

Drats!  Now if I could only figure out a way to make a billion dollars in one day like he did.

Who Did Geoff Davis Slap In His Speech?

Ryan Alessi at CN2 Pure Politics posted an excerpt from a speech given by Congressman Geoff Davis over the weekend.  In the snippet Davis gives the three Congressional cadidates in attendance some very good advice.  He tells them that the job requires a 7 day per week committment which makes for poor parenting.

Davis recounted how he didn't know his own father and that he was chose not to seek re-election because he didn't want his children to share that experience.  I applaud Geoff for these words of advice and for his dedication to his family.

But then Geoff, after describing the level of involvement a seat in Congress requires, seemed to take a slap at some unnamed persons when he said this:

"I have a disdain for the glib members who spend time on TV, and enjoy the accolades and the others who enjoy being feted but don't take the time to actually read the legislation."

Who do you think was he talking about?  You tell me.

Rand Paul For VEEP?

Judge Andrew Napolitano on Fox Business News conducted an interview with a South Carolina political analyst who took a hard look at Ron Paul's long term strategy and offered one interesting observation.  If Ron Paul gets enough delegates between caucus states and others, he could broker a spot for Rand Paul on the GOP presidential ticket. (click here if video doesn't load)

 

Morning Funnies