Fantastic news! The liberal Republican in NY-23 has dropped out of the Special Election for Congress which sets up the likelihood of a great victory by Conservative Party candidate, Doug Hoffman.
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Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Missive from the Davidson County GOP listserv on the Matt Collins affair
By Kleinheider
Posted on October 29, 2009 at 6:46 pm, Nashville Post
On Tuesday night, the Davidson County GOP moved against one of its more controversial party officials. Wednesday, the story broke. On Thursday, Republican bloggers reacted to the story — but not on their blogs. (link)
Comment: Let this be a lesson. Don't post anything on a listserv that you do not want to see published in the newspaper. Actually there is nothing to be embarrassed about in these exchanges. Actually, I am surprised that the Post found these email exchanges newsworthy.
I do, however, feel that a trust was violated and that someone forwarded what we thought were private conversations to the press.
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Thoughts on the ousting of Matt Collins
I attended the Davidson County Republican Party Executive Committee meeting Tuesday night and was present for the unpleasantness of the Party beginning the process of ousting the Vice Chairman, Matt Collins . I am not a member of the Executive committee and am still not sure how I would have voted if had I been. I don't criticize those who voted for the motion to begin the ouster process. I have great respect for our Chair Kathleen Starnes and I am sure she felt she had no choice but to pursue this course of action. If I had of been on the Committee, I may have been so unhappy with Matt's conduct that I might have also voted with the majority. Not privilege to all that has gone on informally however, I see this as a premature action. The process should have been slowed down.
If I had of been a member of the Committee, I think I would have moved to recess until the next night or the next week in order to give time for people to reflect on their pending vote, or I would have moved to defer one meeting. Or, I would have moved to amend the motion on the table with a substitute motion that censured Mr. Collins and officially asked him to discontinue his offending actions and conform to the rules established for members of the Executive Committee. Had those motions failed however, I would have probably voted with the two members who voted to abstain.
It is not that I do not think that Matt Collins has been nit-picky, disruptive, uncooperative and acted in ways that are inappropriate. I tend to agree with the list of particulars. The party cannot have the Vice Chairman going out of his way to be rude to Republican candidates for governor and using his position with the party to attack our fine Senator. We need to be fighting Democrats, not our Republican office holders and candidates. Nevertheless, I think less drastic actions could have been taken.
I think Matt has every right to express his opinion, but when one serves in a position of leadership in the Party, I think one must conduct oneself in ways that do not reflect poorly on the Party. There are bylaws that govern what a member of the Executive Committee may and may not do. As far as I can determine, Matt violated those rules. Matt has positions of authority with other political organizations where his advocacy of his point of view is entirely appropriate. I do not think they are appropriate for the Vice Chairman of the Party. At a minimum, if he is going to attack other Republicans, he should not associate his opinion with his position of leadership in the Party. Rather than holding a position of leadership in the Party, Matt might better be suited to sitting at a computer and blogging out "anything he damn-well pleases."
What I wish would happen at this point is that Matt would agree to quietly resign without putting the Party in the embarrassing position of ousting him. Alternatively, I wish he would be contrite and agree to be more circumspect and cooperative in the future and the party would accept that and simply issue a statement that an internal dispute had been resolved in an amicable manner. I don't excuse Matt's conduct, but I was once young and somewhat dogmatic myself. I would like to give him one more chance.
I only got involved in the party this year. I have lived in Nashville most of my adult life and even served in public office for eleven year and actually never even knew there was a Davidson County Republican Party until recently. To say the least, the Party has had a very low profile. This year the party has attracted more members than in its history. There is even consideration of the Party holding a County primary for the first time in any one's memory. There is a new enthusiasm among party activist.
This development to oust the Vice Charmian is certainly bad PR. The press loves conflict. The press will do all they can to keep a good fight going. If it is a slow news day, the hearing may wind up on the 6 O'clock News. This will be the first time that many people have ever even heard of the Davidson County Party. We are a very small minority in this county and we are fighting among ourselves. Is that the image we want to project? That is not a good plan for growth. Maybe, it had to come to this; I don't know, but I hate it.
I know that many of those who are new to the party are Ron Paul supporters and many consider themselves libertarians. I am not in the Ron Paul camp but I think the party is big enough to accommodate that branch of the Party. We don't want to make that faction feel unwelcome. We should be a "big tent" party. If anyone agrees with us on most things, they should be welcome. We do not grow the Party by excluding people. Many will see the move to oust Matt Collins as an attempt to purge the party of Ron Paul Republicans. I don't see it that way, but fear many will.
I still wish there was some way to delay action and resolve this without a public hearing on the 6 o'clock news and splitting the Party.
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Thursday, October 29, 2009
Davidson County Repubs move to oust libertarian leader
Published on October 29, 2009 in Local and Politics, The Tennessean.Com
The Davidson County GOP said overnight that it has taken the first step toward removing First Vice Chairman Matt Collins, a leader within the party’s libertarian wing, from office.
Collins has been at odds with mainline Republicans. Over the summer he slammed two of the party’s candidates for governor, U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, and publicly feuded with Chairman Kathleen Starnes over a plan to hold a town hall debate with Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper on health care. (link)
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Davidson County Republican Party Moves to Oust Vice Chairman
At its monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 27, The Davidson County Republican Party (DCRP) Executive Committee passed a motion to remove Matt Collins from his position as First Vice Chairman of the DCRP and his membership on the DCRP Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee’s motion for removal was “for cause” as defined in the Tennessee State Party’s Bylaws and specified by the committee as “conduct unfit for a member of this body.” Of the 21 voting members in attendance, 14 voted yes for the motion to remove Collins; five voted no and two abstained.
Collins was cited for behaviors not supportive of the Republican platform including unprofessional actions and words and use of his DCRP title when expressing personal opinions that were often “derogatory to and disrespectful of Republican candidates or elected officials.” It was noted that his personal stances were undermining the credibility of the local and State parties. Although Collins often included disclaimers on his personal statements that his comments were his own, the use of his title created an impression that he was speaking for the Republican party.
The vote for a motion to remove Collins from his position does not constitute immediate removal. A separate vote for removal would take place following a hearing at a later date.
Collins was elected First Vice Chair on Saturday, April 4, 2009 during the Davidson County Republican Party Convention.
Comment: The above was posted on the DCRP official website.
Davidson County GOP Moves To Oust Ron Paul-Supporting Vice Chair
By Kleinheider Posted on October 28, 2009 at 8:42 pm, Nashville Post
[Excerpt] Collins has had a tumultuous relationship with the party stemming from his associations with small “L” libertarian groups and the Ron Paul for President campaign. Collins was elected First Vice Chair of the party on April 4 of this year after losing a bid to become chairman of the party in a process that included a deadlocked March 7 election and a subsequent revote. (link)
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Support wine sales in Tennessee retail food stores
Support wine sales in Tennessee retail food stores http://e2ma.net/go/2512120491/2289420/86296818/4560/goto:http://www.redwhiteandfood.com
The Tennessee General Assembly has created a special study committee to evaluate many of the state's liquor laws -- including selling wine in retail food stores. The 10-member committee will hold an organizational meeting and public hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 28. It's important the committee hear from as many of the 20,000 Red White and Food members as possible as they begin deliberating.
Please take a few minutes to contact each of the legislators below about your reasons for supporting wine in retail food stores. Your voice can influence this debate.
Senate
Chairman Bill Ketron Phone (615) 741-6853 http://us.mc565.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sen.bill.ketron@capitol.tn.gov&subject=
.
Sen. Mike FaulkPhone (615) 741-2061 http://us.mc565.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sen.mike.faulk@capitol.tn.gov&subject=
.
Sen. Joe HaynesPhone (615) 741-6679 http://us.mc565.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sen.joe.haynes@capitol.tn.gov&subject=
.
Sen. Mark NorrisPhone (615) 741-1967 http://us.mc565.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sen.mark.norris@capitol.tn.gov&subject=
.
Sen. Reginald TatePhone (615) 741-2509 http://us.mc565.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sen.reginald.tate@capitol.tn.gov&subject=
House
Chairman Curry Todd Phone (615) 741-1866 http://us.mc565.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?
.
Rep. Ulysses JonesPhone (615) 741-4575 http://us.mc565.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rep.ulysses.jones@capitol.tn.gov&subject=
.
Rep. Richard MontgomeryPhone (615) 741-5981 http://us.mc565.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rep.richard.montgomery@capitol.tn.gov&subject=
.
Rep. Charles SargentPhone (615) 741-6808
.
Rep. Harry TindellPhone (615) 741-2031
http://us.mc565.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rep.harry.tindell@capitol.tn.gov&subject=
The hearing is open to the public if you are in Nashville and want to attend. Below is the time and location.
Joint Study Committee on Wine in Grocery Stores
The hearing is open to the public if you are in Nashville and want to attend. Below is the time and location.
Joint Study Committee on Wine in Grocery Stores
Oct. 28, 2009 10 a.m. - Noon
Legislative Plaza Room 16
You can also watch the meeting live online. Go to http://e2ma.net/go/2512120491/2289420/86296607/4560/goto:http://www.legislature.state.tn.us and select the Live Video link in the right column. As always, Red White and Food will tweet from the hearing. Follow us at http://e2ma.net/go/2512120491/2289420/86296608/4560/goto:http://www.twitter.com/redwhitefood for updates.
.
New Political Action Committee
The campaign launched the Red White and Food Voters Political Action Committee (RWFPAC) several weeks ago. Thanks to our members who have made contributions to date.You can find much more information about the RWFPAC on our website. Please consider giving today -- even as little as $5 helps -- and tell your friends about the PAC. Thanks to everyone for all your support.
A toast to success,
Red White and Food Team
Comment: Maybe next year is the year we finally come out of the dark ages and be allowed to buy wine in the grocery store like civilized people. Maybe, just maybe, we can also modernize some of our other archaic alcoholic beverage laws.
Up until the 70's, the coalition of bootleggers and Baptist kept much of our state "dry." Now the coalition of Baptist and liquor lobbyist keep wine out of grocery stores.
While I would not let how a legislator votes on this single issue be the only factor in whether or not I supported a particular candidate for office, it will be an important factor. I might support a good Democrat who votes for wine in the grocery stores over a Republican who votes against it. This issue is primarily however a rural/urban issue more than a Democrat/Republican issue, yet in the past some legislators have clearly voted contrary to the wishes of their constituents. I hope some investigative reporter will follow the money and tell me who gets how much money from the liquor industry. I wonder how the good Baptist who praise their legislators for keeping wine out of the grocery store whould feel it they knew their legislator was receiving large contributions from the liquor industry.
Up until the 70's, the coalition of bootleggers and Baptist kept much of our state "dry." Now the coalition of Baptist and liquor lobbyist keep wine out of grocery stores.
While I would not let how a legislator votes on this single issue be the only factor in whether or not I supported a particular candidate for office, it will be an important factor. I might support a good Democrat who votes for wine in the grocery stores over a Republican who votes against it. This issue is primarily however a rural/urban issue more than a Democrat/Republican issue, yet in the past some legislators have clearly voted contrary to the wishes of their constituents. I hope some investigative reporter will follow the money and tell me who gets how much money from the liquor industry. I wonder how the good Baptist who praise their legislators for keeping wine out of the grocery store whould feel it they knew their legislator was receiving large contributions from the liquor industry.
We can't match the cash cow of the liquor industry, but I will be sending a contribution to RWFPAC and will be following this issue closely.
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Sunday, October 25, 2009
Lamar Alexander to White House: Don't create an enemies list.
October 21st, 2009 - WASHINGTON - U.S Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) spoke on the Senate floor this morning regarding the White House’s “enemies list.” A transcript of his remarks follows:
In 1969 and during the first half of 1970, I was a wet-behind-the-ears, 29-year-old staff aide in the West Wing of the Nixon White House. I was working for the wisest man in that White House whose name was Bryce Harlow. He was a friend of President Johnson, as well as the favorite staff member of President Eisenhower and President Nixon's first appointee.
Based upon that experience and my 40 years since then in and out of public life, I want to make what I hope will be taken as a friendly suggestion to President Obama and his White House, and it is this: Don't create an enemies list.
As I was leaving the White House in 1970, Mr. Harlow was heading out on the campaign plane with Vice President Spiro Agnew, whose job was to vilify Democrats and to help elect Republicans. The Vice President had the help of talented young speechwriters, the late Bill Safire and Pat Buchanan. In Memphis, he called Albert Gore, Sr., the ``southern regional chairman of the eastern liberal establishment,'' and then the Vice President labeled the increasingly negative news media as ``nattering nabobs of negativism.''
These phrases have become part of our political lore. They began playfully enough, in the back and forth of political election combat. But after I had come home to Tennessee, they escalated into something more. They eventually emerged into the Nixon's enemies list.
In 1971, Chuck Colson, who was then a member of President Nixon's staff and today is admired for his decades of selfless work in prison reform, presented to John Dean, the White House Counsel, a list of what he called ``persons known to be active in their opposition to our administration.'' Mr. Dean said he thought the administration should ``maximize our incumbency ..... [or] to put it more bluntly''--and I am using his quotes--``use the available Federal machinery to screw our political enemies.''
On Colson's list of 20 people were CBS correspondent Dan Schorr, Washington Star columnist Mary McGrory, Leonard Woodcock, the head of the United Auto Workers, John Conyers, a Democratic Congressman from Michigan, Edwin Guthman, managing editor of the Los Angeles Times, and several prominent businessmen, such as Howard Stein of the Dreyfus Corporation, Arnold Picker, vice president of United Artists. The New York Times and the Washington Post were made out to be enemies of the Republic.
Make no mistake, politics was not such a gentlemanly affair in those days either. After Barry Goldwater won the Presidential nomination in 1964, Daniel Schorr had told CBS viewers that Goldwater had ``travel[led] to Germany to join up with the right wing there'' and ``visit[ed] Hitler's old stomping ground.'' Schorr later corrected that on the air. What was different about Colson and Dean's effort, though, was the open declaration of war upon anyone who seemed to disagree with administration policies. Colson later expanded his list to include hundreds of people, including Joe Namath, John Lennon, Carol Channing, Gregory Peck, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Congressional Black Caucus, Alabama Governor George Wallace. All this came out during the Watergate hearings. You could see an administration spiraling downwards, and, of course, we all know where that led.
The only reason I mention this is because I have an uneasy feeling only 10 months into this new administration that we are beginning to see the symptoms of this same kind of animus developing in the Obama administration.
According to Politico, the White House plans to ``neuter the United States Chamber of Commerce,'' an organization with members in almost every major community in America. The chamber had supported the President's stimulus package and defended some of his early appointments, but has problems with his health care and climate change proposals.
The Department of Health and Human Services imposed a gag order on a large health care company, Humana, that had warned its Medicare Advantage customers that their benefits might be reduced in Democratic health care proposals--a piece of information that is perfectly true. This gag order was lifted only after the Republican leader, Senator McConnell of Kentucky, said he would block any future nominees to the Department until the matter was righted.
The White House communications director recently announced that the administration would treat a major television network, FOX News, as ``part of the opposition.'' On Sunday, White House officials were all over talk shows urging other news organizations to boycott Fox and not pick up any of its stories. Those stories, for example, would include the video that two amateur filmmakers made of ACORN representatives explaining how to open a brothel. That is a story other media managed to ignore until almost a week after Congress decided to cut ACORN's funding.
The President himself has not stopped blaming banks and investment houses for the financial meltdown, even as it has become clear that Congress played a huge role, too, by encouraging Americans to borrow money for houses they could not afford. The President was ``taking names'' of bondholders who resisted the General Motors and Chrysler bailouts. Insurance companies, once allies of the Obama health care proposal, have suddenly become the source of all of its problems because they pointed out--again correctly--that if Congress taxes insurance premiums and restricts coverage to those who are sicker and older, the cost of premiums for millions of Americans is likely to go up instead of down. Because of that insubordination, the President and his allies have threatened to take away the insurance companies' antitrust exemption.
Even those in Congress have found ourselves in the crosshairs. The assistant Republican leader, Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, said to ABC's George Stephanopoulos that the stimulus plan wasn't working. The White House wrote the Governor of Arizona and said: If you don't want the money, we won't send it. Senator McCain said this could be perceived as a threat to the people of Arizona.
Senator Bennett of Utah, Senator Collins, Senator Hutchison and I, as well as Democratic Senators Byrd and Feingold, all have questioned the number and power of 18 new White House czars who are not confirmed by the Senate. We have suggested this is a threat to constitutional checks and balances. The White House refused to send anyone to testify at congressional hearings.
Senator Bennett and I found ourselves ``called out,'' as they say, on the White House blog by the President's communications director.
Even the President, in his address to Congress on health care, threatened to ``call out'' Members of Congress who disagree with him.
This behavior is typical of street brawls and political campaign consultants. It is a mistake for the President of the United States and for the White House staff. If the President and his top aides treat people with different views as enemies instead of listening to what they have to say, they are likely to end up with a narrow view and a feeling that the whole world is out to get them. And, as those of us who served in the Nixon administration know, that can get you into a lot of trouble.
This administration is only 10 months old. It is not too late to take a different approach, both at the White House and in Congress. And here is one opportunity: At the beginning of the year, shortly after the President's inauguration, the Republican leader, Senator McConnell, addressed the National Press Club. He proposed that he and the President work together to make Social Security solvent.
Senator McConnell said he would make sure the President got more support in that effort from Republicans than President George W. Bush got from Democrats when he tried to solve the same problem.
President Obama held a summit on the dangers of runaway costs of entitlements. I was invited and attended. Every expert there said making Social Security solvent is essential to our country's fiscal stability. There is still time to get that done.
Or on clean energy, Republicans have put forward four ideas--build 100 nuclear plants in 20 years, electrify half our cars and trucks in 20 years, explore offshore for low-carbon natural gas and for oil, and double energy research and development for alternative fuels. The administration agrees with this on electric cars and on research and development. We may not be so far apart on offshore exploration. At his town meeting in New Orleans last week, the President said the United States would be, in his words, ``stupid'' not to use nuclear power. He is right since nuclear power produces 70 percent of our carbon-free electricity.
So why don't we work together on this lower cost way to address clean energy and climate change instead of enacting a national energy tax?
On health care, the White House idea of bipartisanship has been akin to that of a marksman at a State fair shooting gallery: hit one target and you win the prize. With such big Democratic majorities, the White House figures all it needs to do is unify the Democrats and pick off one or two Republicans. That strategy may win the prize but lose the country.
Usually on complex issues, the President needs bipartisan support in Congress to reassure and achieve broad and lasting support in the country.
In 1968, I can remember when President Johnson, then with bigger majorities in Congress than President Obama has today, arranged for the civil rights bill to be written in open sessions over several weeks in the office of the Republican leader, Everett Dirksen. Dirksen got some of the credit; Johnson got the legislation he wanted; the country went along with it. Instead of comprehensive health care that raises premiums and increases the debt, why should the White House not work with Republicans step by step to reduce health care costs and then, as we can afford it, reduce the number of Americans who do not have access to health care?
The President and his Education Secretary Arne Duncan have been courageous--there is no better word for it--in advocating paying teachers more for teaching well and expanding the number of charter schools. These ideas are the Holy Grail for school reform. They are also ideas that are anathema to the labor unions who support the President. President Obama's advocacy of master teachers and charter schools could be the domestic equivalent of President Nixon going to China. I, among others, admire that advocacy and have been doing all I can to help him.
Having once been there, I can understand how those in the White House feel oppressed by those with whom they disagree; how they feel besieged by some of the media. I hope the current White House occupants will understand that this is nothing new in American politics--all the way back to the days when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson exchanged insults. The only thing new is today there are multiple media outlets reporting and encouraging the insults 24 hours a day.
As any veteran of the Nixon White House can attest, we have been down this road before, and it will not end well. An enemies list only denigrates the Presidency and the Republic itself.
Forty years ago, Bryce Harlow would say to me: Now, Lamar, remember that our job here is to push all the merely important issues out of the White House so the President can deal with a handful of issues that are truly Presidential. Then he would slip off for a private meeting in the Capitol with Democratic leaders who controlled the Congress and usually found a way to enact the President's proposals.
Most successful leaders have eventually seen the wisdom of Lord Palmerston, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who said: We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies.
The British writer Edward Dicey was once introduced to President Lincoln as ``one of his enemies.'' ``I did not know I had any enemies,'' Lincoln answered. And Dicey later wrote: ``I can still feel, as I write, the grip of that great bony hand held out to me in token of friendship.''
In conclusion, here is my point. These are unusually difficult times, with plenty of forces encouraging us to disagree. Let's not start calling people out and compiling an enemies list. Let's push the street brawling out of the White House and work together on the truly Presidential issues--creating jobs, reducing health care costs, reducing the debt, creating clean energy.
Top Stories
In 1969 and during the first half of 1970, I was a wet-behind-the-ears, 29-year-old staff aide in the West Wing of the Nixon White House. I was working for the wisest man in that White House whose name was Bryce Harlow. He was a friend of President Johnson, as well as the favorite staff member of President Eisenhower and President Nixon's first appointee.
Based upon that experience and my 40 years since then in and out of public life, I want to make what I hope will be taken as a friendly suggestion to President Obama and his White House, and it is this: Don't create an enemies list.
As I was leaving the White House in 1970, Mr. Harlow was heading out on the campaign plane with Vice President Spiro Agnew, whose job was to vilify Democrats and to help elect Republicans. The Vice President had the help of talented young speechwriters, the late Bill Safire and Pat Buchanan. In Memphis, he called Albert Gore, Sr., the ``southern regional chairman of the eastern liberal establishment,'' and then the Vice President labeled the increasingly negative news media as ``nattering nabobs of negativism.''
These phrases have become part of our political lore. They began playfully enough, in the back and forth of political election combat. But after I had come home to Tennessee, they escalated into something more. They eventually emerged into the Nixon's enemies list.
In 1971, Chuck Colson, who was then a member of President Nixon's staff and today is admired for his decades of selfless work in prison reform, presented to John Dean, the White House Counsel, a list of what he called ``persons known to be active in their opposition to our administration.'' Mr. Dean said he thought the administration should ``maximize our incumbency ..... [or] to put it more bluntly''--and I am using his quotes--``use the available Federal machinery to screw our political enemies.''
On Colson's list of 20 people were CBS correspondent Dan Schorr, Washington Star columnist Mary McGrory, Leonard Woodcock, the head of the United Auto Workers, John Conyers, a Democratic Congressman from Michigan, Edwin Guthman, managing editor of the Los Angeles Times, and several prominent businessmen, such as Howard Stein of the Dreyfus Corporation, Arnold Picker, vice president of United Artists. The New York Times and the Washington Post were made out to be enemies of the Republic.
Make no mistake, politics was not such a gentlemanly affair in those days either. After Barry Goldwater won the Presidential nomination in 1964, Daniel Schorr had told CBS viewers that Goldwater had ``travel[led] to Germany to join up with the right wing there'' and ``visit[ed] Hitler's old stomping ground.'' Schorr later corrected that on the air. What was different about Colson and Dean's effort, though, was the open declaration of war upon anyone who seemed to disagree with administration policies. Colson later expanded his list to include hundreds of people, including Joe Namath, John Lennon, Carol Channing, Gregory Peck, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Congressional Black Caucus, Alabama Governor George Wallace. All this came out during the Watergate hearings. You could see an administration spiraling downwards, and, of course, we all know where that led.
The only reason I mention this is because I have an uneasy feeling only 10 months into this new administration that we are beginning to see the symptoms of this same kind of animus developing in the Obama administration.
According to Politico, the White House plans to ``neuter the United States Chamber of Commerce,'' an organization with members in almost every major community in America. The chamber had supported the President's stimulus package and defended some of his early appointments, but has problems with his health care and climate change proposals.
The Department of Health and Human Services imposed a gag order on a large health care company, Humana, that had warned its Medicare Advantage customers that their benefits might be reduced in Democratic health care proposals--a piece of information that is perfectly true. This gag order was lifted only after the Republican leader, Senator McConnell of Kentucky, said he would block any future nominees to the Department until the matter was righted.
The White House communications director recently announced that the administration would treat a major television network, FOX News, as ``part of the opposition.'' On Sunday, White House officials were all over talk shows urging other news organizations to boycott Fox and not pick up any of its stories. Those stories, for example, would include the video that two amateur filmmakers made of ACORN representatives explaining how to open a brothel. That is a story other media managed to ignore until almost a week after Congress decided to cut ACORN's funding.
The President himself has not stopped blaming banks and investment houses for the financial meltdown, even as it has become clear that Congress played a huge role, too, by encouraging Americans to borrow money for houses they could not afford. The President was ``taking names'' of bondholders who resisted the General Motors and Chrysler bailouts. Insurance companies, once allies of the Obama health care proposal, have suddenly become the source of all of its problems because they pointed out--again correctly--that if Congress taxes insurance premiums and restricts coverage to those who are sicker and older, the cost of premiums for millions of Americans is likely to go up instead of down. Because of that insubordination, the President and his allies have threatened to take away the insurance companies' antitrust exemption.
Even those in Congress have found ourselves in the crosshairs. The assistant Republican leader, Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, said to ABC's George Stephanopoulos that the stimulus plan wasn't working. The White House wrote the Governor of Arizona and said: If you don't want the money, we won't send it. Senator McCain said this could be perceived as a threat to the people of Arizona.
Senator Bennett of Utah, Senator Collins, Senator Hutchison and I, as well as Democratic Senators Byrd and Feingold, all have questioned the number and power of 18 new White House czars who are not confirmed by the Senate. We have suggested this is a threat to constitutional checks and balances. The White House refused to send anyone to testify at congressional hearings.
Senator Bennett and I found ourselves ``called out,'' as they say, on the White House blog by the President's communications director.
Even the President, in his address to Congress on health care, threatened to ``call out'' Members of Congress who disagree with him.
This behavior is typical of street brawls and political campaign consultants. It is a mistake for the President of the United States and for the White House staff. If the President and his top aides treat people with different views as enemies instead of listening to what they have to say, they are likely to end up with a narrow view and a feeling that the whole world is out to get them. And, as those of us who served in the Nixon administration know, that can get you into a lot of trouble.
This administration is only 10 months old. It is not too late to take a different approach, both at the White House and in Congress. And here is one opportunity: At the beginning of the year, shortly after the President's inauguration, the Republican leader, Senator McConnell, addressed the National Press Club. He proposed that he and the President work together to make Social Security solvent.
Senator McConnell said he would make sure the President got more support in that effort from Republicans than President George W. Bush got from Democrats when he tried to solve the same problem.
President Obama held a summit on the dangers of runaway costs of entitlements. I was invited and attended. Every expert there said making Social Security solvent is essential to our country's fiscal stability. There is still time to get that done.
Or on clean energy, Republicans have put forward four ideas--build 100 nuclear plants in 20 years, electrify half our cars and trucks in 20 years, explore offshore for low-carbon natural gas and for oil, and double energy research and development for alternative fuels. The administration agrees with this on electric cars and on research and development. We may not be so far apart on offshore exploration. At his town meeting in New Orleans last week, the President said the United States would be, in his words, ``stupid'' not to use nuclear power. He is right since nuclear power produces 70 percent of our carbon-free electricity.
So why don't we work together on this lower cost way to address clean energy and climate change instead of enacting a national energy tax?
On health care, the White House idea of bipartisanship has been akin to that of a marksman at a State fair shooting gallery: hit one target and you win the prize. With such big Democratic majorities, the White House figures all it needs to do is unify the Democrats and pick off one or two Republicans. That strategy may win the prize but lose the country.
Usually on complex issues, the President needs bipartisan support in Congress to reassure and achieve broad and lasting support in the country.
In 1968, I can remember when President Johnson, then with bigger majorities in Congress than President Obama has today, arranged for the civil rights bill to be written in open sessions over several weeks in the office of the Republican leader, Everett Dirksen. Dirksen got some of the credit; Johnson got the legislation he wanted; the country went along with it. Instead of comprehensive health care that raises premiums and increases the debt, why should the White House not work with Republicans step by step to reduce health care costs and then, as we can afford it, reduce the number of Americans who do not have access to health care?
The President and his Education Secretary Arne Duncan have been courageous--there is no better word for it--in advocating paying teachers more for teaching well and expanding the number of charter schools. These ideas are the Holy Grail for school reform. They are also ideas that are anathema to the labor unions who support the President. President Obama's advocacy of master teachers and charter schools could be the domestic equivalent of President Nixon going to China. I, among others, admire that advocacy and have been doing all I can to help him.
Having once been there, I can understand how those in the White House feel oppressed by those with whom they disagree; how they feel besieged by some of the media. I hope the current White House occupants will understand that this is nothing new in American politics--all the way back to the days when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson exchanged insults. The only thing new is today there are multiple media outlets reporting and encouraging the insults 24 hours a day.
As any veteran of the Nixon White House can attest, we have been down this road before, and it will not end well. An enemies list only denigrates the Presidency and the Republic itself.
Forty years ago, Bryce Harlow would say to me: Now, Lamar, remember that our job here is to push all the merely important issues out of the White House so the President can deal with a handful of issues that are truly Presidential. Then he would slip off for a private meeting in the Capitol with Democratic leaders who controlled the Congress and usually found a way to enact the President's proposals.
Most successful leaders have eventually seen the wisdom of Lord Palmerston, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who said: We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies.
The British writer Edward Dicey was once introduced to President Lincoln as ``one of his enemies.'' ``I did not know I had any enemies,'' Lincoln answered. And Dicey later wrote: ``I can still feel, as I write, the grip of that great bony hand held out to me in token of friendship.''
In conclusion, here is my point. These are unusually difficult times, with plenty of forces encouraging us to disagree. Let's not start calling people out and compiling an enemies list. Let's push the street brawling out of the White House and work together on the truly Presidential issues--creating jobs, reducing health care costs, reducing the debt, creating clean energy.
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Saturday, October 24, 2009
Does Obama's communications czar know the bloody truth about Chairman Mao?
By: Mark Tapscott, Editorial Page Editor. The Washington Examiner, 10/17/09
[Excerpt] ...the murderous truth about Dunn's hero. First, Johnson describes Mao's actions in the weeks immediately after winning the civil war: "Mao's first act was to extend his 'land reform,' already begun in the North, to the entire country, It was aimed at 'local bullies and evil gentry' and he urged peasants to kill 'not one or two but a goodly number of each.' At least two million people perished, half of them the tyrannical owners of less than 30 acres."
[Excerpt] During the years between 1951 and 1953, for example, Mao conducted these campaigns with what Johnson describes as "great savagery." Millions died after being convicted as "counter-revolutionaries," an all-purpose criminal classification used to make short work of anybody who came under suspicion. (link)
Comment: There are those on the fringe of the right who believe that President Obama desires to turn America into a totalitarian Communist dictatorship. They see his power grabs, nationalizations, and enemies list as warning signs. I am not yet among those who think President Obama has these grand designs. However, when President Obama appoints an admirer of Mao as his Communications Czar he is feeding the paranoia and the concern of his critics.
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Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
a real life story from a person who spent half of his life in a socialist paradise
Forward to the Past
October 20, 2008
I was born in the Soviet Union, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, majestic St Petersburg. I knew it was majestic because all the history and guide books were telling the same thing – that St Petersburg is a jewel of the world, it is beautiful beyond imagination and has no comparison anywhere.
My grandfather was telling me about the city as well. How beautiful it was when he came into it in after graduation from the law school in 1916 to practice law. I believed him more than all the history books combined.
In fact, St Petersburg of my youth was a gray, quite boring and enormously dirty city. Al it’s palaces, sculptures and other wonders were covered by a thick layers of dust and corrosion. We lived in a historical center of the city and my grandfather (in Russian you call your grandfather for short “Deda”) often took me around and told me about buildings with marble walls, sculptures on the roofs and grandiose stores that once dominated the area. I loved his narrative about the closest shopping district situated on a street called in my time “Pestelija”. The name was of an aristocrat revolutionary, who took part in the 1825 failed military coup attempt against Tsar. I do not believe the street had the same name under Tsar’s rule.
Deda would take me, a 6-year old boy, by hand and we would walk the street and he would tell: “Here was a great food store where dozens of different kinds of sausages were sold, some from Ukraine, others from Germany and Austria, birth place of the very best sausages in the world. And near them in a cheese department there were at least thirty different types of cheeses, not including cottage cheeses from around Russia, Estonia and Finland. The entrance” – he would reminisce: “… was majestic, at the door I recall there was a huge man in a uniform who would help older clients to climb two stairs up to the store and handed to passing by children small bits of baked goods. In the store were great chandeliers, a lot of light, it was clean, with great smell of bakery and hot chocolate, and there always was someone who would come to you and offer to help to find anything you need or carry goods to your home.” It sounded like a fairy tale, and what child doesn’t like fairy tales?
While Deda was talking to me we were standing in front of the entrance of a crummy and bad smelling food store. On its dirty and broken steps where usually a couple of drunks begging for small change to buy a drink. In the smelly dairy department there were no cheeses from Finland and in the meat department with even stronger smell were no sausages from Germany.
The store was never renovated or repaired since the communist revolution, and was known for its personnel cheating with weights while selling products and chronically under-giving the change. When you would say something about it, the employees of the store would gang up on you, start yelling and practically run you out of the store. To call the police was useless, since they used to give the policeman small presents and the peace officers were always on their side.
Another great Deda’s story was about a famous (during his youth) barbershop with the “best in the whole city” men’s hair stylists. At his time the place had a small private bar (free to the clients), newspapers from around the world can be found there, cigars and a host who would entertain clients while they were waiting in deep leather armchairs smoking cigars, reading newspapers and talking about news and politics.
I knew the place pretty well - I used to go there to get haircuts, but my recollection of the place was somehow different. The barbershop in my time had a smell of a gym; there were four half-broken chairs where you would get a haircut, but no cigars, no leather, no host, no free newspapers and above all no talk about politics. God (& Stalin) forbid! The place was cheap, fast, bad haircuts, no complains, no pleasure. We were told during my childhood that haircuts are not for pleasure; it is a necessity like water. And real Socialists shouldn’t think about such things as personal beauty. Real socialists for example love each other not because of the looks, but because of their mutual interests in social issues, their love to the country & willingness to sacrifice everything to the Greater Good of the fatherland. As a matter of fact, we didn’t have hot water during my childhood for about 3-4 months every year. Every time it happened the government called it “prophylactic works”. Probably hot water wasn’t a necessity, but a luxury and as such the citizens of the greatest Socialistic country in the world didn’t need it all the time.
My Deda died when I was seven. He had a heart attack when he was taken (for the third time) to the KGB headquarters. He was told that he would be proclaimed an “Enemy of the State” and as such will be shot, unless he signs a paper that two of his attorney colleagues approached him and asked to kill a whole bunch of leaders of the communist party of the Soviet Union. Deda didn’t sign the paper – he died instead. The KGB people called my mom and said that her dad (my grandfather) is lying there in the corridor and if she wants she can come inside and pick him up. She did.
Many years past since that time. In 1973 the United States senate voted to attach a little provision to the bill regarding sales of wheat to the Soviet Union. The Jackson-Vanik provision required the USSR to allow free immigration. The Soviets made a deal with the US and allowed about fifty thousand citizens to leave. My family was one of the lucky ones. We remembered words my dear Deda said – if the in the fence surrounding the USSR will open even with a smallest crack, run your heads off. We did. Just before I left, I visited the Pestelija Street. Nothing changed from the days of my childhood. Same dirt, same nauseating smell, same drunks (or may be they were the children of those drunks I knew during my childhood).
Then came Ronald Reagan, destruction of the Berlin wall, end of the Soviet Union. I visited place of my birth and was on Pestelja in 1989, then in 1995. Same dirt, a bit less smell, and a bit more products on the shelves. I was told that the stores, apartments and buildings are being now privatized. People who lived there were afraid that they wouldn’t be able to buy anything on the street. “Those new Russian, those capitalists thinking about themselves and themselves only. We will die without food and goods, they wouldn’t care”, that what I was told by my ex-neighbors. All my words that capitalism is good in producing wealth for everyone were taken with healthy skepticism.
In 2003 I visited the street again. Where are you, my beloved Deda! May be I was dreaming? The walls of almost all the buildings on the street were decorated with marble. The whole block of my childhood was filled with stores, some of which were selling food, some designer clothes, some antiques or electronic gadgets and video games. On the second floors of the buildings were law offices and physical therapy cabinets, offices of travel companies and evening classes for adults. The street was clean, smelled with perfume and filled with families shopping their heads off. On many stores I saw a sign “7x24”. The shopping district worked 7 days a week, 24 hours a day!
At the entrance of the main food store, in front of two perfectly repaired steps was standing a huge Black man in a uniform (where did they found an African in Russia?), smiling to passers buy, helping older people to get in, and handing pieces of baked goods to children. WOW! On top of the building was written in golden letters “Proudly owned by Rybakoff family for 150 years”. And quite suddenly I remembered – I was in the same class with Anatoly Rybakoff who once, we think as a joke, said that his grandfather owned this store. He got it back and now brought it to its past glory. Something that when it was owned by the state no managers and employees were able (or wanted) to do.
I rushed to see the barbershop. Six deep leather armchairs were standing in a beautifully designed waiting room. I didn’t notice cigars, but drinks, newspapers and talk about politics was on and heated as ever. Why is everything that state touches (even when attempting to do good to people) is getting sour, and when a person attempts to make his leaving, when his motivation is a pure greed, it is turning for the good of all?
That got me thinking. For seventy years Russia’s socialist government was saying that it was trying to achieve this Greater Good for all the people. The books and TV programs, lecturers at work and teachers at schools were educating citizens of Russia to help each other, to share, to think about their neighbors and participate in the variety of Common Good programs. They took all the surplus produced by the state and gave it back to the people. They nationalized all the factories, universities, banks, communications and natural resources and distributed profits between the people. And the results were devastating. Actually in all the countries that attempted this experiment of taking property and wealth-producing enterprises from private hands in order to re-distribute among the whole population, was a huge economic and social failure.
When capitalism came back, in less then a decade the world the Soviets lived in for seventy years was magically changed, and all of the society (not only newly rich) benefited from it.
Do not misunderstand what I am saying - I am not happy with what is going on in the new Russia. Many things still didn’t change from the Soviet era. But when I see that one way of doing things produces great results, and another doesn’t, I vote for the way that brings results. And what about you? Which direction you will choose for the United States in November 2008?
When I am asked to change our system of life in order to… change our system of life, I am puzzled. When I am told, “Because this system works badly”, I am looking around. Is there a system that works better?
The system we are offered now by Barack Obama called socialism. It is not new, actually it is quite old and quite proven time after time to be bad to us the people. So I am hoping for the best while repeating an old Chinese proverb “God forbid to be born at the time of major changes!”
How did ancient Chinese know about Obama?
Leon A. Weinstein
http://thecapitalistguidebook.com/
http://us.mc565.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=leon@wam-art.net
Leon Weinstein is an author of "Looking for Hugh: The Capitalist Guidebook." He is available for interviews, comments or speaking arrangements.
Please contact him at (818) 716 7064 or at his email address above.
Please feel free to post/print/publish this story.
Comment: Excellent writing; a good story. I do not necessarily think that the US is on a path to Russian-style totalitarian Socialism. I feel we are on a path however to European-style nanny-state socialism which in my view is a path leading in the wrong direction.
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Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Behind Closed Doors
Conspiring behind closed doors: We need transparency, not negotiating behind closed doors. "Enlist the American people in the process."
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Sunday, October 18, 2009
Gov. Bredesen Opposes ObamaCare
Breaking ranks with Democratic Party, he says costly plan hurts states
By Chas Sisk,THE TENNESSEAN, October 18, 2009
[excerpt] Responding to a request from Republican U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, the state's Democratic governor made a plea to consider the cost to states of the latest health-care proposal.
[excerpt] Bredesen estimates that the Senate Finance Committee bill that passed last week would cost Tennessee $735 million over five years once the plan is in place — and possibly more than $1 billion. Covering that cost would mean taking money from the budgets for education, the state pension and other aspects of state government that have been battered by the recession, Bredesen says. (read more)
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Saturday, October 17, 2009
The Liberal Love Affair with Communist
Anita Loves Mao
It is beyond my comprehension to understand why it is acceptable for respectable people to profess their admiration for Mao Zedong. If you have watched the news recently, you are probably aware that Anita Dunn, the White House communications director, gave a high school commencement speech in June in which she identified Mao as one of her two favorite political philosophers.
While Hitler is nearly universally reviled as the epitome of evil, Hitler’s 13 million civilian dead pall in comparison to Mao’s victims. Massive annihilation of segments of the population, the Chinese Gulag, strategic planned starvation, failed economic blunders like the “Great Leap Forward,” and the madness that was the Cultural Revolution total to more than 70 million peace-time victims. Since Mao was not as good of a record keeper as Hitler, the Mao numbers could be even higher. Seventy million is a conservative estimate.
Can one imagine the outcry if a White House appointee had praised Hitler as an example of a man with a vision who rose to power by perseverance and overcoming incredible odds? Can one imagine the outcry if a high-level White House appointee at a High School commencement address had listed Hitler as one of their two favorite philosophers? It is unthinkable, yet one can similarly praise the world most murderous tyrant and the White House, the mainstream press, Hollywood, and everyday Democrats never bat an eye.
Liberals have always had a soft spot in their heart for Communist. Following the Russian Revolution, American liberals flocked to Russian to praise the new Communist regime of Lenin. Following Lenin’s death they loved, praised and excused Stalin up until Stalin fell out of favor when he formed a pact with Hitler. Many Americans liberals loved and respected Ho Chi Minh and carried his picture in anti-war demonstrations and chanted “Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh.” They not only wanted America out of the war, they wanted a Communist victory. Liberals thought we were wrong to support the freedom fighters in Nicaragua. They sided with the Communist. Liberals still love Communist. You often hear expressions of admiration for Cuba’s Castro and you can count on the liberal establishment to side with the Communist in any Latin American conflict. About the only Communist that American liberals have not accepted and loved is Pol Pot. I don’t know why Pol Pot never got shown any American Liberal Love.
The current administration apparently doesn’t think being a Communist should disqualify one from serving in the administration. Van Jones was a self-avowed Communist and was made a “czar.” The administration is comfortable with those who admire murderous tyrants as long as they are Communist murderous tyrants.
To see more about the current controversy involving Anita Dunn and see excerpts of her commencement address in context, follow this link: The New York Times.
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Friday, October 16, 2009
Meghan McCain has Breast!
I have always liked breast. I appreciate nice cleavage. What I mean is, I have an aesthetic appreciate of the female form. I don't think I have ever complained that a women showed too much cleavage. I say, if you got 'em, flaunt 'em! However, if you don't want people to look, don't flaunt 'em. I admit that when a women is showing a lot of cleavage I have a hard time looking her in the eye.
Megan, your poor baby, I don't think that you are a slut just because you show a little tit. However, don't show and then complain if people notice.
(link)
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Frank has been into the wine again.
Frank Sutherland is a former newspaper reporter who began his career as a reporter at the Tennessean in 1963. Sutherland was editor of the paper from 1989 to 2004. He is now retired but writes a weekly wine review column for the paper called, “Wine in Nashville.” Everyone needs to find something to do when they retire. I always read and enjoy his column.
This week Frank reviewed Riojas wines. He had this to say about the aroma of the 2002 Camp Viejo Gran Reserve: “The bouquet included scent of ripe pear juice, sugar cane, prunes, artist clay and hits of ash.”
OK. I am buying the “scent of ripe pear juice,” the “sugar care,” and “prunes.” But, “artist clay?” Artist clay! I bet the only people who can identify the aroma of artist clay or clay artist. What does “artist clay” smell like?
Also, I am not so sure about the “hint of ash.” Is that coal ash or hickory ash, maple ash or oak ash? If it is oak ash, is that French oak or American oak? Help me Frank.
In the same article, after reviewing four different Riojas, he then reviews some other wines in the “Surfing the Wine Shelves” segment of his column. He had this to say about the 2008 Deep Sea Sauvignon Blanc: “This Monterey County wine had quite aromas of stone and herbs followed by clean flavors of pineapple, butter and lime.”
Now, what do we mean by “quite” aromas? Does that mean very subdued, hardly noticeable? I assume. Stone? What is the aroma of stone? I simply don’t know. I think I know what is meant by “minerally” on the palate, but aroma of stone? Which stone? And, “herbs?” Wow! Let me think about that. There are a lot of differnt herbs. Basil is an herb, but so is Annis, and Cilantro and so is Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. That is a lot of different aromas to choose from. So, what does it mean that the wine has aromas of herbs?
Anyway, Frank Sutherland is entertaining. I will keep reading.
This week Frank reviewed Riojas wines. He had this to say about the aroma of the 2002 Camp Viejo Gran Reserve: “The bouquet included scent of ripe pear juice, sugar cane, prunes, artist clay and hits of ash.”
OK. I am buying the “scent of ripe pear juice,” the “sugar care,” and “prunes.” But, “artist clay?” Artist clay! I bet the only people who can identify the aroma of artist clay or clay artist. What does “artist clay” smell like?
Also, I am not so sure about the “hint of ash.” Is that coal ash or hickory ash, maple ash or oak ash? If it is oak ash, is that French oak or American oak? Help me Frank.
In the same article, after reviewing four different Riojas, he then reviews some other wines in the “Surfing the Wine Shelves” segment of his column. He had this to say about the 2008 Deep Sea Sauvignon Blanc: “This Monterey County wine had quite aromas of stone and herbs followed by clean flavors of pineapple, butter and lime.”
Now, what do we mean by “quite” aromas? Does that mean very subdued, hardly noticeable? I assume. Stone? What is the aroma of stone? I simply don’t know. I think I know what is meant by “minerally” on the palate, but aroma of stone? Which stone? And, “herbs?” Wow! Let me think about that. There are a lot of differnt herbs. Basil is an herb, but so is Annis, and Cilantro and so is Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. That is a lot of different aromas to choose from. So, what does it mean that the wine has aromas of herbs?
Anyway, Frank Sutherland is entertaining. I will keep reading.
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Top Ten Classic Country & Western Songs:
10. I Hate Every Bone in Her Body but Mine
9. I Ain't Never Gone to Bed With an Ugly Woman but I've Woke Up With a Few
8. If The Phone Don't Ring, You'll Know It's Me
7. I've Missed You, But My Aim's Improvin'
6. I Wouldn't Take Her to a Dogfight Even if I Thought She Could Win
5. I'm so Miserable Without You It's Like You're Still Here
4. My Wife Ran Off with My Best Friend and I Miss Him
3. She Took My Ring and Gave Me the Finger
2. She Gets Better Lookin' with Every Beer
And the Number One Classic Country & Western song is...
1. It's Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night That Chewed Your Ass Out All Day Long
Comment: I love country music.
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Monday, October 12, 2009
Sen. Henry needs to avoid getting Kurita-ed
By A.C. Kleinheider, The City Paper, Sunday, October 11, 2009 
[Excerpt] The Democratic primary electorate has changed since Henry was first elected. Not only have old Yellow Dog Dems died off leaving young progressives in their place, some Democrats who might have voted for him in past elections may not be there for him in 2009. Not because they don't want him as their senator but because they are no longer Democrats. If a "Democrat" votes for John McCain, Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander long enough, they cease thinking of themselves as a Democrats — and they stop voting in primaries. (link)
Comment:
Dear Senator Henry,
You are one of my favorite Democrats and I have voted for you time and time again. This year however, if you have a liberal challenger in the Democratic primary, I may not be able to help you. I keep hearing rumors that this year the Republican Party may actually have a primary. If they do, I will be voting in the Republican primary. Since we do not have party registration in Tennessee, I often vote in the Democratic primary as do many Republicans. Since we have forever been a one-party town, if one wants to vote for Sheriff or Juvenile Court Clerk or County Court Clerk, they vote in the Democratic primary, because in essence that is the election. That is changing. The Republican Party is starting to emerge at the local level, so you may no longer be able to count on your Republican friends to keep getting you elected.
Many young progressives find you an embarrassment. I remember a few years ago, when the State Senate was debating a bill to make spousal rape a crime, you said something to the effect, "I thought rape was when an unscrupulous man took advantage of a virtuous women." That may not be exactly what was said, but it was something like that. When I type it, it doesn't have the same impact as when hearing you say it in your patrician southern draw. You took some heat for that; I found it charming.
I know some will say you are out of touch. They will say you are as old as dirt. They will say you are a throwback to the "old south." They will say you are a dinosaur or an old fossil. I don't care. I like you. I like your respect for tradition, your fiscal conservatism and your integrity and your courtly manner. I even like your rumbled seersucker white suits. You are still sharp as a tack. You know state government inside and out and I would like to see you elected one more time.
I know at your age, it will be hard to abandon the Democratic Party and become a Republican, but Senator Henry, you are ideologically more Republican than Democrat. You would not be leaving the Party; the Party left you a long time ago. If you will switch parties, I will campaign within the party to help you gain party support. I know you have never had to raise much money to get elected. If you switch parties I will donate $100 to your campaign and put a "Reelect Henry" yard sign in my yard. I might even take a day off from work and work the polls for you.
Senator Henry, there are many people like me who really like you and want to continue to support you. Come on over. Change labels. I think you will be welcome.
Sincerely,
Rod Williams
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Nashville named 'friendliest city'
Friday, October 9, 2009, Nashville Business Journal
Nashville has once again been named America’s Friendliest City from Travel + Leisure magazine after getting the honors in 2004 and 2005.
The publication asks readers to rate 30 U.S. cities based on culture, shopping, restaurants, nightlife and more. The survey is conducted each summer.
This year, Nashville also ranked second in the nation for live music and concerts and fourth for an affordable getaway. (link)
Comment: Nashville is a GREAT city. I love this town! I am pleased to see others recognize what a great city this is.
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Paying for Health Care Reform: Bankrupting the States
Tenn. Gov Bredesen: Medicaid expansion could cost state millions
By Tony Romm, The Hill, 10/06/09 05:02 PM ET
The Senate Finance Committee's proposed Medicaid expansion could cost Tennessee up to $735 million over the next five years, Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) projected on Tuesday. (link)
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Paying for Health Care Reform: premiums would be $4,000 higher for a family plan.
Insurers' warning shot has Democrats scrambling
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Writer,On 5:52 pm EDT, Monday October 12, 2009
[excerpt] The study projects that the legislation would add $1,700 a year to the cost of family coverage in 2013, when most of the major provisions of the Baucus bill would be in effect.
Premiums for a single person would go up by $600 more than would be the case without the legislation, it estimated.
In 10 years' time, premiums would be $4,000 higher for a family plan, and $1,500 more for individual coverage. (link)
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Saturday, October 10, 2009
Meet the People Who Were Passed Over for Obama
Sima Samar, women's rights activist in Afghanistan: "With dogged persistence and at great personal risk, she kept her schools and clinics open in Afghanistan even during the most repressive days of the Taliban regime, whose laws prohibited the education of girls past the age of eight. When the Taliban fell, Samar returned to Kabul and accepted the post of Minister for Women's Affairs."
Ingrid Betancourt: French-Colombian ex-hostage held for six years.
"Dr. Denis Mukwege: Doctor, founder and head of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. He has dedicated his life to helping Congolese women and girls who are victims of gang rape and brutal sexual violence."
Handicap International and Cluster Munition Coalition: "These organizations are recognized for their consistently serious efforts to clean up cluster bombs, also known as land mines. Innocent civilians are regularly killed worldwide because the unseen bombs explode when stepped upon."
"Hu Jia, a human rights activist and an outspoken critic of the Chinese government, who was sentenced last year to a three-and-a-half-year prison term for 'inciting subversion of state power.'"
"Wei Jingsheng, who spent 17 years in Chinese prisons for urging reforms of China's communist system. He now lives in the United States."
Posted by Mary Katharine Ham on October 9, 2009 10:05 AM Permalink
Email the article "Meet the People Who Were Passed Over for Obama" to a friend.
Comment: Does anyone really think President Obama deserved this award?
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Obama Awarded Nobel Peace Prize. WHAT?
When I heard this I could not believe it. I thought it was a joke. What has he done to deserve it? We are still in Iraq, we have escalated Afghanistan. Iran has not stopped building nukes, nor has North Korea. The Palestinian-Israel conflict continues, and Black kids are still killing Black kids in Chicago. The world is no safer or peaceful after nine months of Obama's time in office than it was before. Was this an affirmative action award? The only reason I can figure out why they awarded President Obama the Peace Price is because he is not George W. Bush.
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Wednesday, October 7, 2009
White House's botched 'op'
Updated: Tue., Oct. 6, 2009, 12:27 PM, By CHARLES HURT, New York Post
.
WASHINGTON -- President Obama yesterday rolled out the red carpet -- and handed out doctors' white coats as well, just so nobody missed his hard-sell health-care message.
In a heavy-handed attempt at reviving support for health-care reform, the White House orchestrated a massive photo op to buttress its claim that front-line physicians support Obama. (link)
In a heavy-handed attempt at reviving support for health-care reform, the White House orchestrated a massive photo op to buttress its claim that front-line physicians support Obama. (link)
Comment: What a Joker! I guess if he is addressing union members he will hand out hard hats and if he is talking to farmers he will hand out pitchforks and straw hats. Will teachers get red apples and little chalk boards? Firemen: red fireman's hats and Dalmatians?
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Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Black Leaders Ignore Black-on-Black Crime
By E.W. Jackson Sr., American Thinker, Oct. 5, 2009
[Excerpt] Treating poor black people as victims to be "organized" has been an abject failure. They are human beings to be educated, inspired and required to take responsibility for their own lives. The tragedy here is that Derrion was doing just that and it was working, but the malignant pathology of the ghetto spread to him on that unfortunate day and ended his promising life.
[Excerpt] ...there is a deafening silence from some of the biggest mouths in America. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Julian Bond, Louis Farrakhan and the Congressional Black Caucus see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. When Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. was arrested by a white police officer, President Barack Obama -- without any facts -- found it necessary to put in his two cents. Here in Chicago, the salient facts are abundantly clear and a heinous murder has been committed in his home town, but the president is silent. (link)
Comment: This is an excellent essay and expresses my views exactly. In addition to the tragedy of the murder of this promising young man, there is also the tragedy of code of silence within the black community that says Blacks will not "snitch" on Blacks who murder other Blacks and the tragedy of the code of silence among Black and liberal leaders who will not address the problems of the Black community unless those problems can be blamed on white racism.
Having said this however, I know that below the level of the national Black and liberal leaders there are many Black leaders and good liberals who do give of themselves to improve the life of those in the Black community. They genuinely care. I may disagree with their politics, but I never doubt their sincere concern for those they serve. They have a passion for what they do. I have known many of these people in my own community of Nashville. They tirelessly raise money, recruit clients, advocate for and provide job training programs, after school tutoring programs, money management classes and home ownership opportunities in the Black community. They operate the Boys and Girls clubs and sponsor Boy Scout Troops and little league softball teams and summer camp programs.
There are those who live in the Black Community who organize local Neighborhood Watch programs and work to improve police-community relations. They view the criminal element as the enemy not the police. They care about the problems of drug abuse and school drop-outs and crime and gangs in their neighborhood. There are many local Black ministers in my city and across America that work tireless ministering to their flock and inspiring them to be the best they can be. Unfortunately, they do not get the support they deserve and too often the recognized national leaders ignore those in the field who are working against incredible odds to change lives. I am sure that in Chicago, just like here in Nashville, there are many local Black leaders who are appalled at what they see happening in their community. It is too bad that the establishment will not support their efforts and prefers to remain silent unless it benefits their political agenda.
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Which insurance company denies the most claims?
An argument for a government health insurance company:
Those evil insurance companies make money by denying people services and there is a lot of red tape in getting claims processed.
Fact:
The government health care company known as Medicare denies claims at almost twice the rate of private insurance companies and the red tape is worse.
Those evil insurance companies make money by denying people services and there is a lot of red tape in getting claims processed.
Fact:
The government health care company known as Medicare denies claims at almost twice the rate of private insurance companies and the red tape is worse.
Are you Living in Denial
By Robert Anthony, Physician Practice
[excerpt] Did you know Medicare denies up to 22 percent of medical services, depending on the specialty? If you're in dermatology (the lowest denial rate, at 5.5 percent) or pediatric medicine (a mere 6.22 percent), then you're one of the lucky ones. But if you're an anesthesiology practice (with a daunting 18.55 percent denial rate) or an obstetrics and gynecology practice (the highest, with a whopping 22.42 percent), then Medicare denials can easily become daily occurrences.
"The problem with Medicare is that you can talk to four different people and get four different answers," says Darlene Helmer, CPC, ANP-C, billing manager for Physician Anesthesia Associates of Towson, Md., and co-chair of the Third Party & Reimbursement committee of the Maryland Medical Group Management Association. "They don't always know their own regulations, so you have to be the expert on [them]." (link)
This article shed light on the red tape problems with Medicare and examines the denial claim problem. Given the high claim denial rate of Medicare and the red tape, why does one think a new government "public option" would perform any better than the current public option known as Medicare? I don't understand it.
For more evidence of the claim denial rate of the government compared to private insurance companies, see the chart below. Notice that the Medicare denial rate is 6.85%, compared to a range of 2.68 to 6.80 for other listed insurance companies. For a more detailed discussion of the numbers in the chart below follow this link: HSA Benefits Consulting.
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Monday, October 5, 2009
BookTV presents Hugh Hewitt
Last night, long after I should have been getting some shut-eye, I found myself watching C-Span's BookTV. BookTV is one of my favorite TV programs. Each weekend, BookTV features 48 hours of nonfiction books from Saturday 8am (ET) to Monday 8am (ET). The interviewer explores the views, opinions, body of work, biography, and writing style of the guest author in a relaxed, unhurried, non-confrontational setting and takes calls from viewers. An interview may last two to three hours. None of us can read all of the books that are published. Book TV allows the viewer to get an in depth exposure to an author and his views. Last nights guest was Hugh Hewitt. I was very impressed and will seek out his books or editorials.
Mr. Hewitt is a constitutional law professor, a blogger, an author and a conservative talk show host, but I had never heard of him. Apparently his talk show is not available in our market. Unlike the Beck's or Limbaugh's that dominate conservative talk radio, Mr. Hewitt seems much more analytical and much less bombastic. Having never heard him on the air, I don't know if that is the same persona he presents on the radio, but I would assume it is. I was impressed.
I was very impressed when a fellow Tennessean called in and lambasted our Senators Alexander and Corker as people who have been co-opted by the liberal establishment. Hewlett said, on the contrary, that he thought they were fine principled conservative Senators. He especially had kind things to say about Senator Corker, touting his leadership on Cap and Trade and the auto bailouts. Here is the three hours broadcast of Hugh on BookTV.
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1st Tuesday Meetup: Mayor Karl Dean
Meetup Reminder: 1st TuesdayGuest Speaker: Mayor Karl Dean
When: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 11:30 AM
Where: Waller Lansden, 511 Union St. Floor 27 , Nashville TN 37201
Do you love Karl Dean? Hate Karl Dean? Want to hear what he has to say?
Nashville faces a number of important issues these days. The proposed new Nashville Convention Center will cost $600,000,000 - [and that doesn't even include a hotel] -- but will certainly change the look of our city for generations to come. Our school system continues to make news -- a new Director -- and failing test scores. And like many communities, Nashville has a variety of concerns and opportunities facing our civic leaders. On Tuesday, OCTOBER 6th come hear and these and MANY other important topics first hand from the Nashville's Mayor Karl Dean. Our Q&A session ought to be one of the BEST ever. As usual, we will meet at the Law Offices of Waller/Lansden - 511 Union Street -27th floor. Lunch from Alexander's Catering will be available at 11:30AM and is $15 for members and $20 for guests. I think this lunch to sell out, so please RSVP. 1st Tuesday Meetup.
Do you love Karl Dean? Hate Karl Dean? Want to hear what he has to say?
Nashville faces a number of important issues these days. The proposed new Nashville Convention Center will cost $600,000,000 - [and that doesn't even include a hotel] -- but will certainly change the look of our city for generations to come. Our school system continues to make news -- a new Director -- and failing test scores. And like many communities, Nashville has a variety of concerns and opportunities facing our civic leaders. On Tuesday, OCTOBER 6th come hear and these and MANY other important topics first hand from the Nashville's Mayor Karl Dean. Our Q&A session ought to be one of the BEST ever. As usual, we will meet at the Law Offices of Waller/Lansden - 511 Union Street -27th floor. Lunch from Alexander's Catering will be available at 11:30AM and is $15 for members and $20 for guests. I think this lunch to sell out, so please RSVP. 1st Tuesday Meetup.
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Saturday, October 3, 2009
Investigating the Murder of a Black Student in Chicago: Don't tattletale, the number one ruley.
Don't Snitch
by Mac Dre
Man... I'm through fuckin' around
You niggaz keep on ya gon' be duckin' some rounds
I'm rushin' the mound, bitch done hit me with a pitch
He a snitch and he walk with a switch
He in a band that sing for the cops
Him and his mans, they cleanin' up shop
Undercover concert promotor
Ricky Schroder tryin' to turn somebody over
Put that E.T. finger up, you stooley
Don't tattletale, the number one ruley
You the jumpest, the boys, them people
Slipped in the game, sellin' toys to people
I avoid them people, don't ask me shit
The only law I break is in public, grip
My mouth zipped, I plead the 5th
And niggaz like you get pushed off a cliff
[Chorus] - X 2
(Don't ask me shit)
I don't tell mayne
(I don't tell)
You can send me to jail mayne
(Don't ask me shit)
I won't tell mayne
(I won't tell)
Send me to jail mayne
You can line 'em up and put twelve in a box
and find out your boy is workin' with the cops
Doin' flip-flops, the Rover rollin' over
The Tootsie Roller, scared to do a quarter
It's October and he can't be gone 'til November
So he's givin' up the gang, every damn member
Everything he remember - he's tellin'
He get out of jail free, ain't no bailin'
He's no felon, he's no misdemeanor
He got a target melon and a E.T. finger
Nigga you the cleaners tryin' to wash me
Quit peepin' at my Beamer, tryin' to watch me
[Chorus] - X 2
(Don't ask me shit)
I don't tell mayne
(I don't tell)
You can send me to jail mayne
(Don't ask me shit)
I won't tell mayne
(I won't tell)
Send me to jail mayne
Police Chief Decries 'Code of Silence'
Chicago Breaking News Center, September 30, 2009 (link)
On Tuesday, Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis said authorities believe at least three other teens also punched or kicked the boy.
Weis called on the community to step up and tell police what they know. "Few have come forward," he told a news conference. "We must do better."
Weis decried the "code of silence" that he said was keeping police from making more arrests. Without more cooperation, he said, there will be "more violence...and unfortunately more funerals."
He also criticized teens who witnessed the beating last Thursday and did not call police. Weis said the 911 center did not get a call about Albert until after he was brought into a nearby community center.
"You got kids with cell phones but no one called," Weis said. "It's sad more people didn't call earlier."
Commentary:
A good kid, a young Black man, is brutally beaten to death in front of a large group of other Black kids in daylight on a public street and the public will not cooperate with the police in solving the murder. There is an epidemic of Black on Black youth crime in this country. Here in Nashville, we have had 18 young people killed year-to-date, all but a couple of them African American. This is happening across the country and the Black community will not cooperate in solving the crimes. Instead, rap lyrics celebrate not snitching and you can get the "Don't snitch" ringtone for your cell phone and your "Stop snitching" tee shirts in the local clothing store.
Where is the Black leadership in decrying this "code of silence" and senseless murders? One Black Harvard professor gets arrested by a white cop and it dominates the news for days and the President intervenes with some Beer Diplomacy. Last year in Louisiana at Jena High School, six black students were arrested charged with attempted murder after a school fight in which a white student was severely beaten and suffered a concussion. Celebrities and Black leaders rallied around to defend the "Jena Six." To defend the Jena six was a cause worth getting involved in, yet we have unsolved murders of Black kids by other Black kids coast to coast and no one seems to care.
If a Black kid had been killed by a gang of white kids in a similar manner to the Chicago murder, you can bet we would be hearing from Hollywood celebrities and Oprah Winfrey and Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson and probably the President.
What are we to take from this? As long as Black kids are killing other Black kids is it OK? Are we to assume that the Black communities of America care more about showing solidarity against the police rather than cooperating with the police in stopping these senseless killings? Is life in the hood worth so little, that not being a snitch is a higher value than catching a killer. Will no one rise up and say enough is enough and that "Black Culture" has become the culture of the jungle and the thug and must be reformed? Will no one suggest that it is time to stop blaming the problems of the Black community on the oppression of the white man and see the self-destructive behaviour? Does anyone give a damn?
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