Ryan: what am I missing?

First off, I'm no political scientist.  In fact, I'm becoming more and more disaffected as I age... or mature.  But, Romney's choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate is interesting.  Romney has run a generic campaign up until now.  Picking Ryan was a fiscal statement.  Obama's camp's excitement about the choice seems to say it all.

To me, it seems a repeat of the 2008 McCain campaign.  Sarah Palin is a woman, but she in no way encouraged moderate voters to move right.  Ryan seems to be a more savvy and intelligent politician, but he seems that he'll have the same effect on moderates: either none or negative.  It seems that Romney is putting all his eggs in the Wisconsin-recall basket.  He hopes that people will be for strong leadership willing to make tough decisions.  Don't get me wrong, I really like the Republican governor in Wisconsin and that style of leadership. I hate the tyranny of special interest groups. But, we shall see.

This is what I don't understand about politics: why is there a trend towards the fringe instead of a move to moderation?  Plenty of rhetoric exists to talk about the two parties working together, but it seems the reality is always to polarize.

showbiz for ugly people

Have you ever heard "Politics is showbiz for ugly people"? Apparently, Sonny Bono said that the actors looks were the only difference between Hollywood and DC. I think he was right, except for the exceptions. Romney, Pelosi and some others are nice looking. I'm wondering if there's a limitation to how ugly you can be in the age of TV: I think Newt Gingrich and Harry Reid are testing the boundaries out for us.

News is entertainment, and entertainment is diversion. It serves as validation of your world view whether you watch CNN or Fox news. I have to say I've gotten to the point Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are my favorites, and I like behavioral economics over straight economics. The psychology behind economics is far more interesting. American politics is a circus and should be treated as such.

Here's a clip from an interview with one of the Freakanomics authors, Stephen Dubner: The President Matters Much Less than We Think regarding the economy. I think it's worth the six minutes. He's basically saying that politics aren't rational or logical when it comes to economics-- and I believe that. Politics have little to do with logic. Politics runs deeper; it's as deep as how you see the world. I read a study that Americans are more passionate about politics than about religion, and that sounds about right.

As I am being bombarded with political mumbo-jumbo from all sides, I'm realize that politics really is entertainment... diversion. The economy is tough right now; international politics are rocky. Uncertainty wreaks havoc on the human psyche. And, I guess, aligning yourself with a side gives a sense of certainty. At least you know who the good guys and bad guys are.

The Veritas article arguing cogently that our bipartisan system is two sides of the same coin convinced me that our politics are silly. We presented two options: big government or big business. Clearly, the answer lies in neither choice. We need a new framework for questions in order to provide real answers. The useful answers will probably be small, local, common sense, low budget options that center on individuals caring about their neighbors and taking action.

All the shenanigans taking place in the races of elections that take 9 months from now are convincing me that I should get less caught up in the marketing campaigns of federal politicians and get more involved in local politics. Should one even vote when it feels like voting for the most popular movie star in Hollywood?

fodder

Last night I heard this quotation: "Conservatives believe in the freedom from coercion. Liberals believe in the freedom from want." I've been pondering it. Neither is possible; both are problematic. Regardless, the quotation as flawed as it is paints the difference at a fundamental and philosophical level. Conservatives aren't mean-spirited but philosophically opposed to Obama's stances on things. Statism is scary to a lot of us. It reminds me of the distopias I read about in high school: The Handmaid's Tale, Anthem, Animal Farm, etcetera.

p.s.

I hate the stimulus plan because I think it's stupid. Creating jobs for how long? A job could consist of one week or five years-- and the jobs are estimated to cost 100k a piece. It's a stab in the dark with a lot of pork (dead pig--i.e., it's already been stabbed) rolling around. Repeat after me, "Inflation." This is just another reason to move to Canada. At least with their hairbrain policies, I could laugh and not feel disappointed. I could say, "Silly, silly Canucks!" Unfortunately with the US, I have to use the first person plural (we) whenever I reference the evil, ridiculous shenanigans WE pull. Kyrios Elieson: FOCA. Supreme Court (judicial prudence). To me, foreign policy is secondary to state-subsidized infanticide. Call me a crazy Republican. I should clarify: when I said I hope Obama is successful, I meant I hope he doesn't run the US into the ground. I'm proud that there is a black man in office; unfortunately, it's a black man who's a politician versus a statesman. Perhaps, integrity went out of fashion with our infatuation with postmodernity. Clearly, there's a philosophical difference, differing world views, between the parties that few people are willing to admit or address. Orthodox Christianity is so tacky. Go, emerging church. Tell people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear.

prayer to stop FOCA

I hold a complex stance on abortion rights. Woman's Choice and ProLife are not polar-- I feel that they are at a ninety degree angle arguing separate issues that rest in one very concrete fact. I think abortion is a sin of our nation (and the people who profit from them) more so than the individuals who have them. I think the victims are the women, the girls and the babies... and the men who abdicate their role in generating life. But, anyway, the Bill, Freedom of Choice Act, is beyond the pale. It releases all restrictions. Here is an email I received from a Benedictine monk (please consider praying and fasting):


"If you are opposed to abortion then there is bad news on the horizon. For those of you who do not know, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is set to be signed if congress passes it on January 21-22 of 2009. The FOCA is the next sick chapter in the book of abortion. If made a law then all limitations on abortion will be lifted which will result in the following:

1) All hospitals, including Catholic hospitals, will be required to perform abortions upon request. If this happens Bishops vow to close down all Catholic hospitals, more then 30% of all hospitals in the United States.

2) Partial birth abortions would be legal and have no limitations.

3) All U.S. tax payers would be funding abortions.

4) Parental notification will no longer be required.

5) The number of abortions will increase by a minimum of 100,000 annually. This is an estimation.

Needless to say this information is disturbing, but sadlytrue. As Catholics, as Christians, as anyone who is against the needless killing of innocent children, we must stand as one. We must stop this horrific act before it becomes a law.

The Plan :

To say a novena (9 days of prayer) along with fasting starting on Sunday, January 11th. For Catholics, the prayer of choice will be the rosary with intentions to stop the FOCA. For all other Christians, we I encourage you to pray your strongest prayers with the same intentions, also for nine consecutive days. The hope is that this will branch and blossom as to become a global effort with maximum impact. We have very little time so we all must act fast. Just do three things:

1) Invite all your friends to this group. (at least those that you know are Christian)

2) Do it in three days or less

3) Start the novena on January 11th and pray for nine consecutive days.

(please also fast for at least two days during the novena)

Remember that with God all things are possible and thepower of prayer is undeniable. If you are against the senseless killing of defenseless children then the time is now to do something about it!

--
"Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the freedom to do what we ought." JP II

"God has created a world big enough for all the lives He wishes to be born. It is only our hearts that are not big enough to want them and accept them. If all the money that is being spent on finding ways to kill people was used instead to feed them and house them and educate them - how beautiful that would be. We are too often afraid of the sacrifices we might have to make. But where there is love, there is always sacrifice. And when we love until it hurts, there is joy and peace." Mother Theresa

"While it is obvious that an ignorant man can be virtuous, it is equally obvious that ignorance is not a virtue." -Frank Sheed"

pinkled

I went to my writing group. I haven't been since September. We talked and typed in a kitchen. It was good. I wrote about Christmas memories while one girl edited a piece on elephant dung and Mt. Kenya and the other worked on her novel. Granted, I drove over an hour round trip to write 486 words, but that's a really prosaic way to assess the genius that transpired, right? Sitting with the girls felt like an unproctored study hall as we all typed at the same dining table-- and there was somebody across the table to make eye contact with. It brought back memories of tenth grade and Michelle.

After writing I bought two books: L'engle's Irrational Season and Three Cups of Tea at the Mean Cat Used Book Store on Plaza. I showed some restraint by putting to the side until I finish at least one of the four books I'm now reading. And, I listened to a brilliant sermon on Exodus 19 and seeing God. And, I read in my books, listened to Ruth, skyped with a friend in Germany, complained about how Africa has become a fad (thanks Brad, Angie, Madonna, Bono, et al), ate a Cajun Filet Biscuit, drank legendary iced tea, planned my classes, walked while listening to Ex. 1-14. (Exodus is my favorite to listen to so far-- of course, it is straight up narrative.) I hope remain this enamored with the chatty Bible. Now, I sip red wine and get ready to read before I go to bed. 5:30 can be abrasive when one stays up too late, but otherwise it's not too bad.

Sorry for the political mumbo jumbo yesterday-- I didn't delete it although I should. I just get miffed with people who have a macro vision that they fail to live out on the micro level. Systemic evil is ultimately brought about by individuals. Regulation and taxation is dealing with symptoms not the ailment.

obama's and biden's spread the wealth strategies

This frustrates me. I give over 10 percent of my income away. Thinking about this, brings back memories of American History on the second story of Schoolhouse. In the Federalist Papers, Jay, Madison or Hamilton penned, "If all men were angels, no government would be necessary." I'm all for noblesse oblige AND checks and balances. The problem with electing socialists is that we have relinquished our discernment and choices of how to spend our money. Obama averages less than 1% charitable giving (and he's a multi-millionare). Average American giving is around 3% with smaller incomes. Biden gave .3%. McCain has given over 25% of his income. It seems that Obama words are far prettier than his life. But, who needs integrity when somebody's promoting change? I'm a simpleton who expects a person's words to align with his deeds. That makes me a critical Republican. Apparently, working in politics absolves you of personal giving. Here's an article I found that states it cogently:

Thinking about Barack Obama’s impromptu lecture to Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher about his plans to “spread the wealth,” I wondered whether Obama was a practitioner of his own “spread the wealth” principles when he had the opportunity to do so, or whether he was the cheap political opportunist and redistributor of the wealth of others that he appeared to be.

Looking at Obama’s charitable giving in since 2000 based on his tax returns, we find that Obama consistently refused to follow his own advice to “spread the wealth” when he had the opportunity to do so. This is especially true in years when he made nearly $250,000 or more. Their contributions didn’t increase until Barack Obama’s extraordinary book deal helped make him a millionaire and Michelle Obama received nearly $200,000 raise in May 2005 when she assumed a new position with her employer as vice president of “community and external affairs” – coincidentally, just months after he husband joined the US Senate.

As the chart below shows (HT: TaxProf Blog, who has PDF links to all returns listed), from 2000-2004, Obama’s charitable giving averaged less than 1 percent:



In fact, during that 2000-2004 period Obama gave substantially less than the average family making more than $150,000, which averages giving of 2.2 percent of total income according to University of George Professor Russell James. And a study published in January by the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy found that nationwide in 2004 more than two-thirds of American households – the vast majority of which made significantly less than the $207,647 Obama made that year – still gave an average of over $2,000, or 3 percent of their income.

Obama’s running mate, Joe Biden, was even stingier about spreading his wealth. When his tax records were released in September, they revealed that over the past decade he had only donated an average of $369 each year. In 2007, his charitable giving was only $995, or 0.3 percent of income in a year when his tax returns reported $319,853 in income.

By comparison, John McCain gave more than one-quarter of his income in 2006 and 2007 (28.6 and 27.3 percent respectively). And according to the New York Observer, since 1998, he has donated royalties on his books totaling more than $1.8 million.

When Barack Obama and Joe Biden could voluntarily give more of their own income and had the means well beyond most Americans to do so, they refused. In the event that Barack Obama is elected President, however, he and his Democrat allies in Congress intend to force others with the full might of the US government to do what he refused to do on his own.

bizzyblog article.


And, whatever happened to his promise of post-partisan politics? Look at the cabinet he's building. Yikes.

Who Am I?

I am under 45 years old,
I love the outdoors,
I hunt,
I am a Republican reformer,
I have taken on the Republican Party establishment,
I have many children,
I have a spot on the national ticket as vice president with less
than two years in the governor's office.
Did you guess?







I am Teddy Roosevelt in 1900

the flag

I pledged allegiance (sp?) to the American flag tonight. It's been a very long time since I've said it. I've put my hand on my heart at ball games but never said the full pledge. Saying the words felt good. I thought about the ideals of our country and all the people who have said it before me. It was like the feeling of transcendance that comes from liturgy: I get to say (and participate in) words that are far bigger than I am.

campaign o' cheer

Running helps cheer me.

Rain poured down while I ran tonight. I'm about to reveal why I evade the question: what do you think about while you run? My ideas about the rain progressed something like this:
something wet hit me.
It's way humid and hot for 9:30pm.
several wet somethings touched me.
The Beach Boys make happy music.
the sky is gray, but I don't detect "rain clouds" per se, but it is dark.
i think it's rain. it's definitely raining.
Cross Country flashbacks of rain runs.
feels good.
oh, goody, i remembered to be positive.
but not an annoying positive.

The most bizarre conversations I've had have been on long runs. It's an inhibition free zone-- must be all those endorphins and the rhythm. It's a weird, strong bond to have run over 2 hours in a go with someone. I digress.

"News" makes me happy.
Speaking of North Carolinians evading questions, I admit The National Enquirer breaking a story about John Edwards' alleged affair and love child amuses me. So does the counter-story of Hillary Clinton concocting this story to make Obama's VP short list shorter. This story explains the expensive hair cuts. Once an ambulance chaser... Oh, our idea of news and journalism is so skewed. And, this kind of story proves the total irrationality of politics.

Productivity makes me chipper.
I did a lot of stuff today. I problem-solved and worked efficiently. I was even pleasant on my random telephone conversations.

Phone calls and inboxes are harbingers of cheer too. At least tonight they were.

Even this post's lameness entertains me. La ti da. Ha ha. I'm cheery.

political musings

Over breakfast this morning, six of us discussed politics candidly. I agreed with much that was said, including my sister's admission she wasn't following the election. She's not following the election because there is nothing that Obama could say that would convince her to vote for him. I agree. It's not possible to be up-in-the-air this election year. People who claim to be undecided are either disingenious or stupid.

I read somewhere (I can't remember where) that people's political views are more deeply imbedded than their religious views. Politics aren't related to reason but to a deeply ingrained world view that shapes our reason.

Here are quotations from a Sowell article I enjoyed:

"... Senator John McCain could never convince me to vote for him. Only Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama can cause me to vote for McCain.

"What is more scary than any particular candidate or policy is the gullibility of the public and their willingness to be satisfied with talking points, rather than serious arguments....

"Whenever I see one of Barack Obama's smooth performances, it reminds me of a saying from my old neighborhood in Harlem: "An eel is like sandpaper compared to you."...

"There is no question that Barack Obama is a clever and glib fellow. There is also no question that some of the most foolish, dangerous and horrific things done around the world in the past hundred years have been done by clever and glib fellows."

Jesse Helms died on Independence Day

North Carolina lost much clout on Capitol Hill when Jesse Helms retired in 2003 after five terms. He started out as a Democrat.
Wiki article on Jesse Helms

2001 NYT article written as a tribute.

Jesse Helms' quotations. He was a colorful, quotable guy. I couldn't find my favorite quote about UNC. In response to a request for funding for the NC zoo, he suggested putting a fence around Chapel Hill.

"I'm the biggest bigot here". More quotations