I just saw this blurb about John Boehner calling for Obama's economic team to resign.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2424344720100824
Really? Seriously? If the President were to do that what confidence do you have that he would replace it with people markedly differently than those who are currently there? What a stupid thing to say in front of cameras and/or reporters. It ain't gonna happen and the results would likely be worse than what we've got already. This is an idiotic comment that does nothing to advance the Republican Agenda (if such a thing exists) and only makes you look like a fool. How much time do you think Jon Stewart is going to spend mocking this comment and clip?
If you really want to taken seriously and become Speaker of the House, be a leader. Stop spouting this trite, political, soundbite nonsense, gather the best minds at your disposal, put together a group of proposals that address the current issues we're facing (a la Contract With America), run on it, win with it and pass it. Make the President sign it or veto it (a la Bill Clinton and The Contract With America, Welfare Reform, etc.) You've got 10 weeks until election day and the last time I checked, spending bills, etc. originate in the House of Representatives - not the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
You have an unprecedented opportunity to run, get elected on and implement real change (not this statist, Marxist horse crap they've been repackaging and shoving down our throats for the last 18+ months.) Real dinner table issues that you can run on with common sense solutions (Immigration, Healthcare, Social Security, Government Waste, Corruption and Fraud, etc.) but the only thing in the echo chamber (i.e. "sock puppet mainstream media") that Republican's are getting traction on are the Ground Zero Mosque (and you've framed that situation so completely wrong and over played your hand to the point of sounding exactly like the closet Islamaphobe bigots that the sock puppet media and Democrats accuse you of being) and being obstructionist.
Bottom line - get serious, get real. The Democrat leadership (notice I differentiate between the leadership and all Democrats) are not your friends. They don't want to be your friends. They would sucker punch you with roll of quarters in their fist if they thought it would help them get re-elected and further their agenda. The sock puppets in the mainstream media aren't your friends (and don't want to be.) At this point Middle America doesn't trust any of you (for good reason) - but I believe they will get behind principled leadership and common sense solutions. Start there and see where that can take you.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
A few thoughts on some hot and not so hot topics
The Ground Zero Mosque
I really believe that this being politicized to the extent that it has is shameful.
First, from a principled perspective, these folks proposing to/building this mosque where they are is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution - The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion or impeding the free exercise thereof. The key part of that is the impeding the free exercise thereof - meaning the government is restrained by the Constitution from interfering with the free exercise of religion - any religion. Bottom line - these folks have the right to build this mosque here as long as they receive all of the necessary permits, etc. to do so and to deny them the ability to do so based solely on their religious beliefs is wrong. I do wonder however, if this is too close, how far away from Ground Zero is OK for them to build a mosque?
Let me be clear - I am not saying that I think this is a good idea or that it is not insensitive. I think it is a provocative stick in the eye and monument to the bloody nose that was given to the great satan on 9/11 and completely understand why people are hurt and upset over the plans. This is an issue that needs to be handled and addressed at a local level using existing laws and ordinances - not on a national level. I believe that the balance of the distinction between the rights of the builders and wisdom of doing so have been completely lost.
What bothers me the most though is the fact that so many national "political leaders" have seen fit to weigh in on this and exploit this emotional issue as a stick to beat on their opponents. Yes Republicans, I am talking primarily to you. It's fine for you to have an opinion and to express it but you guys are so overplaying your hand and trying to make political hay out of this that it makes me want to puke. Everywhere I turn (talk radio, television) there's some politician or talking head blathering about what a travesty this mosque is. I have yet to hear a single Republican or conservative make and express a distinction between the principled reason as to why the mosque should be allowed to be built versus the emotional and practical reason as to why it shouldn't. Is it because you think the electorate is too stupid to understand the difference? All I know is that the rhetoric around this whole issue has devolved to the lowest common denominator and is incredibly sad. The least surprising part of it is the fact that Nancy Pelosi showed her true colors by calling for an investigation into who is funding the opposition to this mosque.
I really believe that this being politicized to the extent that it has is shameful.
First, from a principled perspective, these folks proposing to/building this mosque where they are is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution - The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion or impeding the free exercise thereof. The key part of that is the impeding the free exercise thereof - meaning the government is restrained by the Constitution from interfering with the free exercise of religion - any religion. Bottom line - these folks have the right to build this mosque here as long as they receive all of the necessary permits, etc. to do so and to deny them the ability to do so based solely on their religious beliefs is wrong. I do wonder however, if this is too close, how far away from Ground Zero is OK for them to build a mosque?
Let me be clear - I am not saying that I think this is a good idea or that it is not insensitive. I think it is a provocative stick in the eye and monument to the bloody nose that was given to the great satan on 9/11 and completely understand why people are hurt and upset over the plans. This is an issue that needs to be handled and addressed at a local level using existing laws and ordinances - not on a national level. I believe that the balance of the distinction between the rights of the builders and wisdom of doing so have been completely lost.
What bothers me the most though is the fact that so many national "political leaders" have seen fit to weigh in on this and exploit this emotional issue as a stick to beat on their opponents. Yes Republicans, I am talking primarily to you. It's fine for you to have an opinion and to express it but you guys are so overplaying your hand and trying to make political hay out of this that it makes me want to puke. Everywhere I turn (talk radio, television) there's some politician or talking head blathering about what a travesty this mosque is. I have yet to hear a single Republican or conservative make and express a distinction between the principled reason as to why the mosque should be allowed to be built versus the emotional and practical reason as to why it shouldn't. Is it because you think the electorate is too stupid to understand the difference? All I know is that the rhetoric around this whole issue has devolved to the lowest common denominator and is incredibly sad. The least surprising part of it is the fact that Nancy Pelosi showed her true colors by calling for an investigation into who is funding the opposition to this mosque.
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