tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39908962703815108022024-03-13T03:04:22.443-07:00Truth: The Fourth ArchiveDedicated to truth, whether politically correct or not, right wing or left wing. Less spin than Bill O'Reilly, more politically incorrect than Bill Maher. The enemy are the demagogues, in both parties. Truth in politics, news, and entertainment.Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-13941994726726669272009-05-10T12:45:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.384-07:00Rock is Back<!-- google_ad_section_start --><span class="dropcaps">R</span><span style='line-height:1.6em'>ock it to me.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>Aside</h3>Life is a journey, and this is my next leg.<br /><br /><h3>Truth</h3>Tentatively, I’m going to start publishing my blog again, but I’ve learned quite a bit since I hung up my blogging tools and went back into private industry. The last time I posted was July 24, 2007. This was before our grand election and anointing of Barrack. As you know, I was aware at that time that Barrack could win. I had settled on the wimpy McCain and kept on defending George W. Bush, at least for his Iraq War policy.<br /><br />So much has happened since then. I went back to being a technical writer for a successful defense industry firm. I did so well I raised the company’s bottom line substantially and got promoted. However, my heart always remains with politics. By the way, I also got accepted into Mensa this year.<br /><br />My blog was hugely popular, and won awards, but next time I want monetize it. I am proud of this body of work.<br /><br />Let me give my first short observations of Barrack and of the Republican Party at present. Barrack gave a good impression at first. He was smooth, affable, poised. He did some things I’d have liked him to do. Like continue the surge in Iraq. On the other hand, he is pushing, as I believed he would, for his vision of cradle-to-grave government intervention in our lives, which I am opposed to. He is also spending us into the poorhouse. He could have effected the same things by introducing the flat tax, or any number of truly conservative ideas, that would have roared the economy. Instead, he has created a gigantic welfare state. He is also weak on defense in a general sense.<br /><br />The Republicans, though, are a sorry mess too. They not only have abandoned their conservative principles, they have lost sight that they need a drastic outreach program to Blacks, Latinos, the young, the poor, the media, Hollywood, the hipsters, and the Internet crowd. Religious conservatism is established, but the Repubs also need to broaden the base to include conservatives who concentrate mostly on the economy and defense.<br /><br />Don’t get me wrong. Schwarzenegger, in my opinion, is a disgrace. So is McCain. They are not conservatives.<br /><br />Basically, what I want, Ladies and Gentlemen, is John F. Kennedy. A cool, hip, sexy conservative who can inspire the country to his brand of conservatism. Yes, you heard me right, Kennedy was conservative. Kennedy was a conservative both on the economy and on defense. The Dems have strayed far from this now, into socialism, communism, and fascism. Where are you, the next John F. Kennedy, or Regan? We need you now.<br /><br />Another complaint I have about the Repubs is that they are wimps. The left is vicious, with James Carvell, Keith Olberman, and Chris Matthews, Arianna Huffington, and the Daily Kos, for starters, who all get thrills up and down their legs whenever they see Obama. And the Repubs? They are ever so nice. The sweet, wimpy George W. Bush, who never stood up for himself, turning the other cheek. The nice, wimpy Mitt Romney who is the cute little Mormon who never says an unkind word. Compare this with Carvell, Dean, Emmanuel, Pelosi, Huffington, and the rest of the vicious left. We need fighters and attack dogs, who aren’t intimidated by being called radicals, racists, sexists, and homophobes. Hannity, Limbaugh, Levin, Prager, and Elder are a good start. But we need counterparts too for the vicious Alex Baldwan, the stupid Sean Penn, the vapid Michael Moore, and the empty-headed Hollywood left.<br /><br />We need conservative Madonna’s and Barry Manilow’s.<br /><br />That’s my job. I’m going to flush them out of hiding, and deliver them to the world. You watch me.<br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/China" rel="tag" target="_blank">China</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chinese" rel="tag" target="_blank">Chinese</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chinese Capitalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">Chinese Capitalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Capitalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">Capitalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American Capitalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">American Capitalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chinese blogger" rel="tag" target="_blank">Chinese blogger</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/China executes businessman" rel="tag" target="_blank">China executes businessman</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/editorial" rel="tag" target="_blank">editorial</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/opinion" rel="tag" target="_blank">opinion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/news" rel="tag" target="_blank">news</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/current+affairs" rel="tag" target="_blank">current affairs</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/media" rel="tag" target="_blank">media</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hollywood" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/books" rel="tag" target="_blank">books</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/culture" rel="tag" target="_blank">culture</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/society" rel="tag" target="_blank">society</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/religion" rel="tag" target="_blank">religion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/God" rel="tag" target="_blank">God</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fundamentalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">fundamentalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christian" rel="tag" target="_blank">Christian</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Catholic" rel="tag" target="_blank">Catholic</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Muslim" rel="tag" target="_blank">Muslim</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jew" rel="tag" target="_blank">Jew</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Israel" rel="tag" target="_blank">Israel</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Palestine" rel="tag" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/blog" rel="tag" target="_blank">blog</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/truth" rel="tag" target="_blank">truth</a><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /></br>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-79295096031852329862007-07-24T17:40:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.398-07:00YouTube Wisdom and the American Stock Market<!-- google_ad_section_start --><br />The<br /><br /><span class="dropcaps">D</span><br />ropping<br />ow <br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>Riding the Tube</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>As I watched the Democrats battle it out in their <a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070724/24youtube.htm" target="_blank">YouTube debate</a> last night, <br /><br /><i>Look to your left and say one good thing and one criticism about your fellow running mate.</i><br /><br />"The good thing is, he is running so hard to the left that he is jeopardizing his chance in the election.<span class="pullquote"title=>The bad thing is, she will probably try to learn to play the saxophone next."</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I estimate that if anyone of them wins the presidency, the loser will be the American economy.<br /><br />For example, John Edwards, continuing the Democratic populist demagoguery, signaled that they are coming after "big oil, big insurance, and big drug companies." He forgot trial lawyers, I wonder why?</span><br /><br /><h3>The February "Crash"</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Anyway, the last time I spoke to you about the stock market was in February, right after the scare caused by the Chinese bubble. Well, our market, and the Chinese market, continued onward and upward from then.<br /><br />So, with China again being talked about as a bubble, and the U.S. stock market too, and after today's dramatic drop, I think it's appropriate once again to address the market.</span><br /><h4>Disclaimer</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I inform you that I am a former stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, Dean Witter and Charles Schwab. I also tell you, though, that I am presently <i>not</i> a professional in the financial field, and that <b>nothing I say here shall be construed as investment advice. You must do your own homework, and make up your own minds. I am not liable for your decisions.</b> In fact, I'll add, <i>do not follow any advice I give.</i> Need that be any clearer?</span><br /><h4>Bragging Rights</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Still, I want to gloat. In February, after that dramatic fall, I said the market would rise again, and it did.</span><br /><br /><h3>Tomorrow's Stock Market Today</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>What do I say this time, after a 226-point drop in the DJIA today?<br /><br />First. Tomorrow, Wednesday, July 25, 2007, the market will be up. Some segments may still be hurting, like the financials and the homebuilders, but other stock sectors will rise. Techs will climb tomorrow for sure. <br /><br />Predicting tomorrow is the easy part. What about the next three months, and the rest of the year?</span><br /><h4>Subprime and Mortgage Woes</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subprime_meltdown" target="_blank">subprime</a> fiasco and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_housing_bubble" target="_blank">mortgage problems</a> will weigh down some banks and much housing. This will hurt consumers, who will have to pay rising interest rates, and who will lose the cash benefit of refinancing their homes. People selling their homes will find the market soft. On the other side, buyers of homes will find bargains.</span><br /><h4>Globalization</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Contrary to this, though, is our favorite bugaboo, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization" target="_blank">globalization,</a> which will turn out to be the world's savior this time. For you see, the economy is no longer national; it is global. This is why <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon.com" target="_blank">Amazon</a> (a bellwether tech stock) can be up 14% at this very moment in after-hours trading, even on a day when the rest of the market was down, down, down. The reason? <a href="http://money.cnn.com/data/sectors/techstocks/index.html" target="_blank"> Tech </a> will not be hurt by subprime or mortgage woes, and tech is a global enterprise. Everyone buys from Amazon, even the "communist capitalists" in China. So? Tech will survive.<br /><br />Most sectors that are global in nature, such as energy, tech, infrastructure, and others like those restaurant chains that reach overseas, as McDonald's does, will be fine. The sectors, though, that depend on localized, American-only profits, especially those related to mortgages and homebuilding here, might face a headwind.<br /><br />Overall? <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/liquidity.asp" target="_blank">Global liquidity</a> (& see <a href="http://www.liquidityblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">liquidity info</a>) might just be enough to overcome any and all American subprime and mortgage woes, even within continental America. There's a lot of money out there looking for bargains, and the American stock market is still undervalued in several areas.<br /><br />I'd bet on a continued rise, but with some sectors hurting. Don't quote me on it. I'm just not as panicked as some.</span><br /><br /><h3>A Bush in Hand is Worth More Than Ten Communist Cuckoo Birds on a YouTube</h3><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I believe that Bush has helped us soar to a great economy, and that the Dems might destroy it. In fact, the only thing that can ruin my scenario of a continued rise in the market, will be President Edwards, Obama, or Clinton.</span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/stock market" rel="tag" target="_blank">stock market</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/stock market crash" rel="tag" target="_blank">stock market crash</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/YouTube Debates" rel="tag" target="_blank">YouTube Debates</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democratic candidates for president" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democratic candidates for president</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/communism" rel="tag" target="_blank">communism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/capitalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">capitalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/globalization" rel="tag" target="_blank">globalization</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liquidity" rel="tag" target="_blank">liquidity</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/editorial" rel="tag" target="_blank">editorial</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/opinion" rel="tag" target="_blank">opinion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/news" rel="tag" target="_blank">news</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/current+affairs" rel="tag" target="_blank">current affairs</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/media" rel="tag" target="_blank">media</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hollywood" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/books" rel="tag" target="_blank">books</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/culture" rel="tag" target="_blank">culture</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/society" rel="tag" target="_blank">society</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/religion" rel="tag" target="_blank">religion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/God" rel="tag" target="_blank">God</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fundamentalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">fundamentalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christian" rel="tag" target="_blank">Christian</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Catholic" rel="tag" target="_blank">Catholic</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Muslim" rel="tag" target="_blank">Muslim</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jew" rel="tag" target="_blank">Jew</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Israel" rel="tag" target="_blank">Israel</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Palestine" rel="tag" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/blog" rel="tag" target="_blank">blog</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/truth" rel="tag" target="_blank">truth</a><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /></br>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-89166250354934039592007-07-18T16:11:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.417-07:00Guns, Butter, Pollution, and Death<br/><!-- google_ad_section_start --><span class="dropcaps">C</span><span style='line-height:1.6em'>inese<br />apitalism</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>Aside</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>This was a difficult article for me to write. I don't know why.</span><br /><br /><h3>China's Smoking Capitalism</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>China's economy is exploding to the upside. It's ironic that this communist country is veering towards capitalism, that Germany and France are reducing taxes, but that the U.S. is getting ready to swerve left—which will destroy an economy that is humming along.<br /><br />The problem in China is, in fact, that it is growing too fast, if you can imagine this. <span class="pullquote">They are paying the price for this unbridled growth with pollution that chokes you with every breath, and a runaway stock market that worries Chinese officials, and the world, for that matter.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>The problem is a kind of 1920's scenario, where ordinary folks are making fortunes, and so they sell their homes and valuables to invest. It's a great big <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponzi_scheme" target="_blank">Ponzi scheme</a> that eventually will end. The only thing that might keep it from becoming a disaster is that China's real growth is astronomic, <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/07/16/afx3915525.html" target="_blank">about 20% a year or more.</a><br /><br />This means that the rise in the Chinese stock market is based on fundamental growth, and not just speculation. Still, if their market rises too much, it will overtake real value, and the last ones to buy in will be left holding the bag—minus their homes and valuables. This is just what happened in the 1920's in America when people could buy stocks on margin, only putting up 10% of the value of a stock to own it. When the market crashed, people couldn't pay their margin calls, and started jumping out of windows.<br /><br />Again, China is not an exact copy of 1920's America, as China's monstrous growth will cushion the eventual fall of the market. Still.</span><br /><br /><h3>Discipline, Chinese Style</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>So, China, aware of the danger, has tried to calm down its market by raising interest rates, increasing margin requirements, and so on. The next thing they are trying is to "eliminate" those who encourage speculation. They've just arrested a <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/7f2f68ac-309c-11dc-9a81-0000779fd2ac,dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-0000779e2340.html" target="_blank"> blogger who is the most read on the Chinese Internet,</a> because he gave stock tips that work! (See also: <a href="http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2007/200707/20070712/article_323051.htm" target="_blank">Chinese blogger</a>, and <a href="http://winchesterwhisperer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Chinese blogger arrested.</a><br /><br />You see, there are still differences between how their form of capitalism works and ours. We might want to jail unethical people too, but we have to go through a legitimate trial first. There's always the question of guilt and innocence. Was this Chinese blogger really doing a bad thing by giving good stock tips? I don't know the details—whether he was revealing insider information or something like this. The Chinese, though, don't know enough to charge him with anything specific either. They arrested him simply because they see him as part of the problem of the overly enthusiastic Chinese markets.<br /><br />Notice too, how they handled an unethical businessman recently. <a href="http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/07/11/news/nation/13_23_737_10_07.txt" target="_blank">They executed him,</a> within weeks of his being charged! <br /><br />Now that's a heavy penalty. Our Enron offenders are rotting in jail, but Chinese crooks get shot.</span><br /><br /><h3>Examples of American "Discipline"</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Witness, again, that some of our worst businessmen are rotting in jail, <i>after</i> long drawn-out trials and appeals. Enron, Martha Stewart, et al.<br /><br />Here is another example of how we handle our business renegades:<br /><br />See the <a href="http://www.pearlizumi.com/sitemap.php" target="_blank">Pearl Izumi advertisement,</a> (& <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/19789449" target="_blank">Pearl Izumi ad</a>) in the window at the top of today's post, which appeared in <a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/0,7118,,00.html" target="_blank">Runner's World.</a> There has been an outcry against, and for, the ad. People against the ad call it tasteless, and lurid. Those for it call it edgy. No one will arrest the authors, though, nor anyone at Pearl Izumi, nor their parent company <a href="http://www.nautilus.com/global/brand_homepage.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474395182085&bmUID=1184796993303" target="_blank">Nautilus.</a><br /><br />Some people might want to arrest them, but we don't do that sort of thing. The ad was either in bad taste, or was "edgy." You decide.</span><br /><br /><h3>So, Whose System Is Better?</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Dictatorships and totalitarian governments are always more efficient than democracies. They can arrest people without trials and stop stock speculation by banning it, to a certain extent. They can jail people fast, and shoot them too. Who's going to complain? <br /><br />But then what? They've lost this creative blogger, and they're going to lose a hundred thousand others like him with initiative, who now will be frightened to stand out. If the guy broke a law, the law should be public and known to all, before any arrest; and there should be a fair trial. <br /><br />While we'd like to execute Martha Stewart some days, it's better that she had a trial and was found guilty, and made muffins for the prisoners. (Yeah!)<br /><br />Our system is better, believe me.</span><br /><br /><h3>Unstoppable</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Like I said, though, things like China jailing a blogger and executing a businessman after a show trial, won't hurt China's growth all that much. After all, they have unleashed the tiger of capitalism in their country. This beast can be ridden, but it can't be stopped. Who would want to stop it? They will try to slow it down, at the point of a gun, but this behemoth has thick skin. It is mightier than bullets. It is not just a tiger. It is a flaming tiger. Its heat melts bullets, and defies firing squads.<br /><br />One day, it might even lead to—yes, you guessed it—democracy.</span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /> <br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/China" rel="tag" target="_blank">China</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chinese" rel="tag" target="_blank">Chinese</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chinese Capitalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">Chinese Capitalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Capitalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">Capitalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American Capitalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">American Capitalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chinese blogger" rel="tag" target="_blank">Chinese blogger</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/China executes businessman" rel="tag" target="_blank">China executes businessman</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/editorial" rel="tag" target="_blank">editorial</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/opinion" rel="tag" target="_blank">opinion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/news" rel="tag" target="_blank">news</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/current+affairs" rel="tag" target="_blank">current affairs</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/media" rel="tag" target="_blank">media</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hollywood" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/books" rel="tag" target="_blank">books</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/culture" rel="tag" target="_blank">culture</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/society" rel="tag" target="_blank">society</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/religion" rel="tag" target="_blank">religion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/God" rel="tag" target="_blank">God</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fundamentalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">fundamentalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christian" rel="tag" target="_blank">Christian</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Catholic" rel="tag" target="_blank">Catholic</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Muslim" rel="tag" target="_blank">Muslim</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jew" rel="tag" target="_blank">Jew</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Israel" rel="tag" target="_blank">Israel</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Palestine" rel="tag" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/blog" rel="tag" target="_blank">blog</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/truth" rel="tag" target="_blank">truth</a><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br></br>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-59850454838154981562007-07-09T17:21:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.430-07:00It's a Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood<br></br><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RpLR-AS4hdI/AAAAAAAAAJw/UZi4UcjR-N8/s1600-h/earth_full_hires+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RpLR-AS4hdI/AAAAAAAAAJw/UZi4UcjR-N8/s400/earth_full_hires+copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085357792416007634" /></a><!-- google_ad_section_start --><br></br>I admit it, this is a <br /><br /><span class="dropcaps">R</span><br /><br /><br />ant.<br /><br /><h3>Live Earth, Dead Air</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Like a lot of people on this globe, I experienced the music on Live Earth. I witnessed Al Gore's hologram and all the brainwashed children brainwashing other children. I found it boring and repulsive, like Mr. Roger's Neighborhood without the intelligence.<br /><br /><h3>Youthful Rebellions Have a Purpose, Sometimes</h3><br />When I was growing up, we rebelled, like all good teenagers, by absorbing Elvis, Bob Dylan, then the British invasion, headed by the Beatles, and culminating in Woodstock.<br /><br /><span class="pullquote">Our rebellion with Elvis was the slicked back hair, the swiveling hips, the curled lip, the sex of it all. Our upheaval with Bob Dylan was anti-war and pro-intellectualism.</span> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our insurgency with the Beatles was against anyone older than we were, the way these oldsters dressed, how they conducted their love lives, and their whole religious and sociological point of view. Woodstock was the ultimate breakdown of society. <br /><br />All four of these singers, groups and movements led to genuine revolutions. We weren't attempting to emulate Bobbysoxers that loved Frank Sinatra. We were not trying to be anything. We were exuberant youth and actually did believe in the Age of Aquarius.</span><br /><br /><h3>Heavy Metal and Hip-Hop</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>The kids of today have heavy metal and hip-hop. Complaining for the sake of complaining. Teenage angst looking for someone to blame, and without a cause.</span><br /><br /><h3>The Religion of Political Correctness</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>So, their cause becomes political correctness. They have no religion, so they believe in environmentalism; in the inclusion of all of mankind in their loving embrace, including terrorists; in unbridled hedonism coupled with a hatred of everything military, conservative, and traditional.</span><br /><br /><h3>Yearning for Woodstock</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>They've seen Woodstock, and think it was cool, so they emulate it. They lack the revolutionary fervor, though, that we had as kids. They want that fervor, and they think that it consists of chants and slogans and mantras.</span><br /><br /><h3>True Revolutionaries</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I am not totally proud of what we Baby Boomers have wrought on this earth. Yet, we were true revolutionaries. I renounce some of the fanciful ideas of my youth, having seen the value now of business and family and religion. I am happy that we have made advances in environmentalism.<span><br /><br /><h3>Wannabees</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I am not proud, though, of this crop of kids, and this gaggle of celebrities.</span><br /><br /><span class="pullquote">Little do they realize that <i>they</i> are the establishment. They are not the revolutionaries.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>They agree with all the major news channels and newspapers and PBS and on and on, in their maniacal attack on whatever is good in the world. Their robot-like pronouncements require no moral or political courage. They march in lockstep with everyone else.</span><br /><br /><h3>The Harm They Do</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>What's more, they hurt people and damage the world. They slaughter innocents by not supporting the Iraq War. They snatch food away from the poor with their socialism. They bloody the wounded with their socialized medicine. They will wind up mangling the environment too, by not embracing science, and instead praying to their green forest gods in the hysterical religion of irrational environmentalism.</span> <br /><br /><h3>Live Earth is Dangerous to Your Health</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>The death blow Live Earth strikes is to brainwash our children. There is no room for intelligent discussion on this kind of show. It's all goose stepping and saluting the gods of green and St. Al Gore. The celebrities spout their meaningless banter and proclaim to the world, "See what a good person I am! I am a liberal."</span><br /><br /><h3>Stop Patting Yourself on Your Backs</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Liberals, to me, are not the good people. The saints, the heroes of our society are in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the few back home who speak up for liberty and freedom.</span><br /><br /><h3>Real Revolution</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>A genuine revolutionary, with a message worth listening to, will not be serenading ethanol and electric cars. He or she will be belting out pro-American songs that encourage the country in its fight against terror. That person will be the next Bob Dylan. He or she is nowhere in sight. <br /><br />Let the brain-dead celebrities and vacuous youth show me some courage by speaking the truth, rather than their Marxist slogans, and I'll respect them. I'll worship them, in fact. Isn't that what they want? I'd even bow down to St. Al if he admitted that the sky is not falling.</span><br /><br /><h3>Common Sense</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Yes, let's clean up the environment. No, though, let's not make it a religion. Keep it in the realm of science, open to discussion. There is no room on our planet for Nazi-type propaganda machines, be they Al Gore's, or Michael Moore's, or Madonna's. <br /><br />Think for yourself people, that's all I ask.</span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /> <br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Al Gore" rel="tag" target="_blank">Al Gore</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Live Earth" rel="tag" target="_blank">Live Earth</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Environmentalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">Environmentalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Green" rel="tag" target="_blank">Green</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. 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I also continue to get whipsawed when I measure my approval rating of President Bush. Since I am like most Americans, on the side of the underdog, I can't help rooting for George W. Still, this blog is about truth, so here we go. I'll get to the nice guy issue in a minute.<br /><br />Bush is great so far on:<br />• The decision to invade Irag and depose Saddam<br />• His attempt to install democracy in Iraq<br />• Keeping taxes low and our economy humming<br />• A cluster of traits including persistence, conviction, loyalty, and integrity<br />• Personal charm, including but not only when he is one-on-one<br /><br />Bush, in my opinion, falls short on:<br />• Winning the war in Iraq<br />• His immigration policy<br />• Leadership in showing Americans and the world his vision of peace<br />• His communication skills in public</span><br /><br /><h3>Bush the Nice Guy</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I've said before that one of Bush's character traits is to want to be a nice guy.</span><span class="pullquote">He desires to be loved by everybody. As a result, his approval rating is one of the lowest for any president in history.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h4>When is it a good thing for Bush to be a nice guy?</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Today was one example. President Putin is visiting the Bush family residence in Kennebunkport, Maine. Putin is a bad guy. He is the one leader in our world that could bring back the Gulags if he chose to do that. He has already nationalized private industries and curbed freedom of the press, and may be responsible for outright murder. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RomTHQS4hcI/AAAAAAAAAJo/v7ipqUYUaLA/s1600-h/070702_Bush_Putin.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RomTHQS4hcI/AAAAAAAAAJo/v7ipqUYUaLA/s200/070702_Bush_Putin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082755407306851778" /></a>We could be hard and say we need to put Putin in his place. Yet, I don't see that we'd get much for this. I think Bush is right to coddle up to Putin and pour on the charm.<br /><br />Why? There is a time to be Reaganesque and say, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" and there is a time to be Bush-like, and say, "We congratulate President Putin on being the only one today to catch a fish." <br /><br />Russia is not a democracy like ours. It has returned to a sort of democratic autocracy because they didn't know how to run a democracy. The mob took over and there was chaos. Now the Russians have a strongman again, and 70% of them are happy with him. The people wanted it this way. Bush being harsh to Putin would only alienate a whole nation. Sometimes, diplomacy is the right thing.</span><br /><h4>When is being a nice guy not right?</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>When waging a war. If you want to be popular as president when you are waging a war, you must win, period. There is no room to be showing the world and your people, in that war, that you are the fairest guy in the battle. You must win.</span><br /><br /><h3>Nice Guys Finish Last?</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>So, is it true that nice guys finish last? No, not all the time. They finish first when diplomacy is needed. They finish last in war. Lincoln was a nice guy much of the time. He was vicious, though, in war. Then, when he won, he was the sweetest guy in the world to the losers. That's how it's done. <br /><br />Give Putin all the lobster he can eat. Give Al-Queda cocktails, Molotov that is, with a dash of bitters.</span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /> <br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George W. Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Vladimir Putin" rel="tag" target="_blank">Vladimir Putin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Mikhail Gorbachev" rel="tag" target="_blank">Mikhail Gorbachev</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Abraham Lincoln" rel="tag" target="_blank">Abraham Lincoln</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/editorial" rel="tag" target="_blank">editorial</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/opinion" rel="tag" target="_blank">opinion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/news" rel="tag" target="_blank">news</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/current+affairs" rel="tag" target="_blank">current affairs</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/media" rel="tag" target="_blank">media</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hollywood" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/books" rel="tag" target="_blank">books</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/culture" rel="tag" target="_blank">culture</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/society" rel="tag" target="_blank">society</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/religion" rel="tag" target="_blank">religion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/God" rel="tag" target="_blank">God</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fundamentalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">fundamentalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christian" rel="tag" target="_blank">Christian</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Catholic" rel="tag" target="_blank">Catholic</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Muslim" rel="tag" target="_blank">Muslim</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jew" rel="tag" target="_blank">Jew</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Israel" rel="tag" target="_blank">Israel</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Palestine" rel="tag" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/blog" rel="tag" target="_blank">blog</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/truth" rel="tag" target="_blank">truth</a><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br></br>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-11020169157801083152007-06-25T16:54:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.454-07:00Announcement and Third Party Musings<br/><!-- google_ad_section_start --><span class="dropcaps2">T</span>echnical <br /><br /><br /><span class="dropcaps2">W</span>riting<br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="dropcaps2">S</span>uper <br /><br /><br /><span class="dropcaps2">M</span>an<br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>Introducing</h3><h4>Technical Editing/Writing</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I wanted to take a moment to introduce my two agencies offering services. The first is, of course, my technical writing firm. I have not built the Website yet, but basically I am offering the service already. I have gathered a team of writers, and we will do any kind of editing or writing, technical and otherwise. You can contact me with projects via this blog, and in the near future I'll have a Website for the service.</span><br /><br /><h4>Super Man</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>My second agency has a blog already. This is my Super Man Agency. See the link at the top right of this blog now. I ran this business twice before, once in California and once in Israel, and it was a runaway success both times. This time, though, I want to follow through and make it big.<br /><br />This is a service whereby <span class="pullquote">I will do anything for you, at your home or office, that is legal.</span><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br />It is designed to offer unusual or creative solutions to needs and problems, but we'll also do mundane things. I or a member of my staff will go anywhere and do anything that you need.</span><br /><h4>Examples</h4><h5>The Unusual</h5><span style='line-height:1.6em'>We went into a cult and retrieved a boy for his family.<br />We hired actors to eat at a restaurant the day a buyer was visiting.<br />We researched a business's competitor onsite to help our client improve his business.</span><br /><h5>The Ordinary</h5><span style='line-height:1.6em'>We arranged to pick up a doggie's poop on a daily basis.<br />We mowed the lawn of a lady who was afraid of getting robbed by the local help.<br />We ran errands for an executive.</span><br /><h4>There You Go</h4>Editing and writing on the one hand, and a service to help you with your special needs.</span><br /><br /><h3>My Political Comments for the Day</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I've watched several political shows this week, including a memorable one on CNBC, where the Republican Party has been written off as dead. Indeed the polls are quite bleak. It looks like it will be the year of the Third Party. One poll shows that folks want a 3rd party more than they want the ones in power now.<br /><br />I wouldn't mind forming a third party myself. Of course, I wouldn't be the presidential candidate for it. Rather, I'd be a stand-in, until we chose someone to represent us—much like Ross Perot did some years back. If we couldn't settle on a candidate we'd like who'd run, we'd call our party None of the Above, giving Americans a chance to vote for a non-candidate. Who knows? Given the atmosphere lately, None of the Above might win.<br /><br />Don't worry, I'm just kidding with all this. Well, I'm half-serious, let's say. I still am a conservative and favor the Republican Party. I'm just joining in on the fun, and giving a tongue-in-cheek warning to Republicans that they'd better start representing conservatives, or people like me <i>will</i> form a third, a fourth, and a fifth party.<br /><br />Anyway, it's an idea.<br /><br />Peace.<br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /> <br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/editorial" rel="tag" target="_blank">editorial</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/opinion" rel="tag" target="_blank">opinion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/news" rel="tag" target="_blank">news</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/current+affairs" rel="tag" target="_blank">current affairs</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/media" rel="tag" target="_blank">media</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hollywood" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/books" rel="tag" target="_blank">books</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/culture" rel="tag" target="_blank">culture</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/society" rel="tag" target="_blank">society</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/religion" rel="tag" target="_blank">religion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/God" rel="tag" target="_blank">God</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fundamentalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">fundamentalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christian" rel="tag" target="_blank">Christian</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Catholic" rel="tag" target="_blank">Catholic</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Muslim" rel="tag" target="_blank">Muslim</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jew" rel="tag" target="_blank">Jew</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Israel" rel="tag" target="_blank">Israel</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Palestine" rel="tag" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/blog" rel="tag" target="_blank">blog</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/truth" rel="tag" target="_blank">truth</a><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br></br>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-24576889754073505402007-06-18T12:41:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.493-07:00Whom Do You Love?<!-- google_ad_section_start --><h2>The Recent Polls and What They Suggest</h2><br /><span class="dropcaps">P</span><br />olls and <br /><br />erceptions<br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>The '08 Presidential Election</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>In the most recent <a href="http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08gen.htm" target="_blank">NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll,</a></span><span class="pullquote">54% of Americans are inclined to vote for a Democrat for president in the next election; while 31% say they favor a Republican.</span> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Still, in the most recent <a href="http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08gen.htm" target="_blank">Quinnipiac University Poll,</a> when the specific candidates are pitted against each other, the story changes.<br /><br />Rudy Giuliani 44%, Hillary Clinton 45%<br />John McCain 42%, Hillary Clinton 44%<br />Fred Thompson 39%, Hillary Clinton 46%<br /><br />A similar picture manifests with Barack Obama.<br /><br />Rudy Giuliani 42%, Barack Obama 42%<br />John McCain 41%, Barack Obama 43%<br />Fred Thompson 34%, Barack Obama 46%</span><br /><br /><h3>Presidential Approval Rating</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>In the most recent <a href="http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm" target="_blank">NBC/Wall Street Journal poll</a>, 29% of the American people approve of the overall job President Bush is doing in office, while 66% disapprove. This is a drop of six points since April, and it represents his lowest mark ever on this question in the NBC/Journal poll.</span><br /><blockquote>Democratic pollster Jay Campbell, attributes this decline to Republicans. Back in April, 75 percent of Republicans approved of Bush’s job performance, compared with 21 percent who disapproved. Now, only 62 percent of Republicans approve, versus 32 percent who disapprove.</blockquote><br /><h3>Congress</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>In the most recent <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18612770/" target="_blank"> AP-Ipsos poll,</a></span><br /><blockquote>WASHINGTON - People think the Democratic-led Congress is doing just as dreary a job as President Bush, following four months of bitter political standoffs that have seen little progress on Iraq and a host of domestic issues.<br /><br />The survey found only 35 percent approve of how Congress is handling its job, down 5 percentage points in a month. That gives lawmakers the same bleak approval rating as Bush, who has been mired at about that level since last fall, including his dip to a record low for the AP-Ipsos poll of 32 percent last January.<br /><br />In another measure of popular discontent, the survey found that 71 percent say the country is on the wrong track - about even with the 73 percent who said so last May, the worst level since the AP-Ipsos poll began in December 2003.</blockquote><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>What about Nancy Pelosi? The same AP-Ispsos poll found that:</span><br /><blockquote>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a more popular figure than the president and her colleagues on Capitol Hill, though she faces a gender gap in which significantly more women than men support her.<br /><br />Pelosi's overall approval of 45 percent stood 10 points higher than Bush's and Congress'.<br /><br />She was seen favorably by 52 percent of women, but only 39 percent of men. While whites are closely split about her, minorities approve of her job by a 15-point margin.</blockquote><br /><h3>The War in Iraq</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>In the most recent <a href="http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm" target="_blank">NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll,</a> 28 % of the American people approve of the way Bush is handling the war in Iraq, while 68% disapprove.</span><br /><br /><h3>Illegal Immigration</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>A new <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/03/AR2007060301446.html" target="_blank">Washington Post-ABC poll</a> and follow-up interviews found that:</span><br /><br /><a aiotitle="Polls" href="javascript:togglecomments('Polls')">click to show/hide the rest of the post</a><div class="commenthidden" id="Polls"><br /><blockquote>Americans remain divided and uncertain about how best to deal with the estimated 12 million people living illegally in the United States.<br /><br />More than half of those surveyed said illegal immigrants hurt the country more than help it, an opinion voiced by seven in 10 Republicans and about half of Democrats.<br /><br />A slim majority believe in creating a pathway to citizenship, with younger people and Democrats far more open to the idea than Republicans and those over 55.</blockquote><br /><h3>State of the Republican Party</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Since I favor Republicans at this time in history, this all represents a big mess for me. Everything seems to be going wrong for conservatives at the same time, and at warp speed and with irreversible momentum.<br /><br />I know some of my readers think highly of Bush, and that 62% of Republicans still approve of the job he is doing. I am not one of these. I continue to admire his doggedness in the War in Iraq, and for the highly effective War on Terror he has waged. For these, I believe President Bush deserves our everlasting thanks. <br /><br />I am also happy with him over the economy. He has kept our taxes low, and enabled an expansion to continue in the middle of a major war.<br /><br />On the other hand, I continue to fault him for the politically correct way he is waging the War in Iraq, with his restrictive rules of engagement. I also don't think he has been expert in his handling of other cultures in the Middle East. Mostly, I believe, he continues to try to be a "nice guy," not realizing that what is needed is firmness and ruthlessness, much as we mustered in World War II. I am also unhappy with his amnesty plan for illegals. <br /><br />Most of all, I am dissatisfied with him over his inability to lead our country to see what he sees concerning the necessity for the Iraq War, and for his vision for the Middle East. He is content to continue to "do the right things" as he perceives them, without understanding that he must also become a great communicator and salesman, despite his shortcomings in this area.</span></div><br /><a aiotitle="Polls" href="javascript:togglecomments('Polls')">click to hide most of this post</a><div class="commenthidden" id="Polls"></div><br /><br /><h3>What Lies Ahead?</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>If things continue as they are now, Republicans will lose some of their base. They can't afford this. It is still possible for one of the attractive Republican candidates to defeat Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, but even if this happens, Congress will slide even more left than it is now, barring a major shift. <br /><br />What this means is, look out for your pocketbooks; short the stock market; be ready to join the religion of environmental extremism; expect to lose the War on Terror, for now; and forget about a peaceful Middle East. <br /><br />Ideally, we'd have some candidate with a world vision that can help shape a more peaceful world. I don't see that candidate yet. Hopefully, someone will be imbued with wisdom and start thinking about the future of the world rather than the next election. I will vote for that person. My suggestion for him or her is, fine—win your primary. Then, however, get serious and start acting presidential. If you can get away with acting presidential even now, do it. Should you still win your primary, you'll have an edge on gravitas over the rest of the candidates in the final election.</span><br /><br /><h3>Who Has the Potential to be a Great Leader?</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Which candidates do have it in them to grow into this presidential persona? I believe they are Clinton, Obama, McCain, Giuliani, and Thompson. Clinton and Obama, of course, have the biggest challenge with this—as they are true liberals, and the world does not need liberal solutions at this time. Yet, Clinton <i>could</i> do it, if she allows herself to grow. Obama <i>could</i> do it if he listens to his innate intelligence, ignoring his poll numbers to an extent. <br /><br />What about Romney? I doubt he'd have the flexibility to see the world as it really is, but I may be wrong. We'll see. He is, after all, a presidential candidate who would present a pretty face to the world, backed by a high level of intelligence and communication skills.<br /><br />There, the gauntlet is laid. Who will pick it up?</span> <br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /> <br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Barack Obama" rel="tag" target="_blank">Barack Obama</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hillary Clinton" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hillary Clinton</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Rudy Giuliani" rel="tag" target="_blank">Rudy Giuliani</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/John McCain" rel="tag" target="_blank">John McCain</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Fred Thompson" rel="tag" target="_blank">Fred Thompson</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Mitt Romney" rel="tag" target="_blank">Mitt Romney</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democratic" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democratic</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Polls" rel="tag" target="_blank">Polls</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/2008 Election" rel="tag" target="_blank">2008 Election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">Conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">Liberal</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/editorial" rel="tag" target="_blank">editorial</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/opinion" rel="tag" target="_blank">opinion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/news" rel="tag" target="_blank">news</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/current+affairs" rel="tag" target="_blank">current affairs</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/media" rel="tag" target="_blank">media</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hollywood" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/books" rel="tag" target="_blank">books</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/culture" rel="tag" target="_blank">culture</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/society" rel="tag" target="_blank">society</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/religion" rel="tag" target="_blank">religion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/God" rel="tag" target="_blank">God</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fundamentalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">fundamentalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christian" rel="tag" target="_blank">Christian</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Catholic" rel="tag" target="_blank">Catholic</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Muslim" rel="tag" target="_blank">Muslim</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jew" rel="tag" target="_blank">Jew</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Israel" rel="tag" target="_blank">Israel</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Palestine" rel="tag" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/blog" rel="tag" target="_blank">blog</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/truth" rel="tag" target="_blank">truth</a><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br></br>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-24561308896898609172007-06-11T16:45:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.506-07:00The Sopranos<br></br><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RnVL8vhH8AI/AAAAAAAAAIA/1LqpipjrKLY/s1600-h/250px-Sopranosposters2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RnVL8vhH8AI/AAAAAAAAAIA/1LqpipjrKLY/s400/250px-Sopranosposters2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077047661849735170" /></a>Since I still don't have my computer (I should get it back in time for my next post), and not much computer time, I'll spend this post in a bit of levity, which is always good.<br /><br /><br /><br />I was very disappointed in the Sopranos finale. It's funny that a lot of people, I hear, were disappointed with the Seinfeld finale some years ago--but I loved it. It had the selfish characters in jail, getting their just deserts. It was perfect.<br /><br />I hated the Sopranos finale though. I thought it was, forgive the expression, a "copout". I hear that most people are disappointed like me, but you can always get some in the the intellectual crowd who say things like "it ended ambiguously", which is, they say, appropriate. They explain that Tony always lived in Purgatory, and so it is good that he ended the show in Purgatory--not in heaven, and not in hell.<br /><br />I can understand why they didn't want Tony to get whacked. This way, they can do a sequel or a movie, and so on. But something big should have happened to the principles. Yes, Tony is likely to be indicted, as we learned. He could be killed any day. He could even have been killed at that last dinner out.<br /><br />The old Hollywood formula, though, is that crime doesn't pay. This principle holds true in great literature, too. I think something major should have happened to Tony, or his family. Or, they should have had a narrow escape that made them regret the life they have invited on themselves.<br /><br />I'm not just talking about a "moral," "just" ending tied up in ribbons and bows. I'm also speaking about drama. The drama in the piece was unbearable, which was good--but it ended with a whimper. Nothing happened. It sucked.<br /><br />What do you think?<br /><br /><i>Rock</I>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-55544735336475718902007-06-05T18:32:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.517-07:00Obama Passes Clinton, Thompson to RunWhile my computer is in shop being repaired, let me at least say this today--Barack has passed Hillary for the time being in the opinion polls. Secondly, Thompson is already at 13% before he has officially declared.<br /><br />So, guess what? We've got two socialists on the Democratic side, with socialized medicine and a weakening of the military--versus a staunch conservative, who supports the War in Iraq.<br /><br />One thing is for sure, we're going to get a real choice.<br /><br />I wonder if our dear country realizes what they are getting themselves into?Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-86235201433494411642007-05-28T13:10:00.001-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.540-07:00Memorial Day</br><br /><span class="dropcaps">H</span>eroes<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>God bless all you people in the armed forces, present and past, living and dead, wounded and whole. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your service and sacrifices.<br /><br /><i>A Grateful Nation</i></span><br /><br /></br>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-59846311212334092032007-05-28T13:10:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.530-07:00Four Posts Today<h2>Memorial Day</h2><br /><h2>Plea for a Job</h2><br /><h2>Chavez I Told You So</h2><br /><h2>Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee</h2><br /></br>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-65213147556876076392007-05-28T13:09:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.549-07:00Plea for a Job</br><br /><span class="dropcaps">H</span>elp<br /><br /><br /><span class="pullquote">I am desperately looking for a job now.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I of course am most qualified for a writing, editing, proofreading, technical writing, filmmaking or a professional blogging situation, but am willing to consider anything at this point. <br /><br />I have an B.A. in English, an M.S. in psychology, a diploma in computer programming, and have held positions from registered stock broker to social worker to technical writer. <br /><br />I prefer a job in the Los Angeles area or one on the Internet, but at this point I'm willing to relocate.</span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-24566782197777304812007-05-28T13:08:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.563-07:00About Chavez, I Told You So<h3>Free Speech</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>All of you Democratic and liberal apologists for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_chavez" target="_blank">Hugo Chavez</a> and Fidel Castro, are you happy now? Are you beginning to see what a thug Chavez is? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cindy_sheehan" target="_blank">Cindy?</a> Do you have eyes and half a brain?<br /><br />Chavez passed the recent law allowing him to have dictatorial powers. Since then, he has been nationalizing oil, telephone, and other industries and there was nary a peep. He's also been playing games with the gold mining companies, refusing, for example, to give a permit to the Canadian <a href="http://www.crystallex.com/" target="_blank">Las Christinas</a> gold mine for years. Is he getting ready to do his dictator thing again, stealing assets? Of course, all of this is for the people, right? <br /><br />Now, he has gone too far, it seems, closing down a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/26/AR2007052600798.html" target="_blank">TV station.</a><br /><br />This finally gives a clue to his people about what he is really doing. <span class="pullquote">Bravo to the demonstrators!</span> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Not only is he leading his country to financial ruin, he is taking away their freedom. Wake up, Venezuela! Wake up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Redford" target="_blank">Redford,</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_fonda" target="_blank">Fonda,</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cindy_sheehan" target="_blank">Sheehan!</a></span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-40802443580502226912007-05-28T12:57:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.581-07:00Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee<br/><br/><span class="dropcaps">H</span>istory and <br /><br /><br /><span class="dropcaps">H</span>ealing<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h4>Note</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>In this article, I'm not necessarily taking sides. I'm just exploring the forces in play. Still, lessons can be learned.</span><br /><br /><h2>Coming to Grips with a Flawed Legacy</h2> <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RmCxrZrVV6I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/5NoGeqwYkvs/s1600-h/250px-Bury_my.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RmCxrZrVV6I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/5NoGeqwYkvs/s320/250px-Bury_my.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071248539604309922" /></a><br /><h3>Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bury_My_Heart_at_Wounded_Knee" target="_blank">book,</a> published in 1970, written by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dee_Brown_%28novelist%29" target="_blank"> Dee Brown,</a> detailing the violent relationship between <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States" target="_blank">Native Americans</a> and American expansionism.<br /><br />I just saw the HBO miniseries based on the book, also entitled <a href="http://www.hbo.com/films/burymyheart/" target="_blank">Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.</a><br /><br />There has been the usual criticism of such an enormous undertaking, which attempted to boil down this history of two cultures in conflict into a few moments and characters. <br /><br />However, I give high marks to the miniseries. It's ridiculous to criticize it as an oversimplification, when it had to be made simple in order to be watchable. The same can be said of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roots:_The_Saga_of_an_American_Family" target="_blank">Roots,</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Harbor_movie" target="_blank">Pearl Harbor,</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_our_fathers" target="_blank"> Flags of Our Fathers.</a> Besides, I did not find this HBO special to be overly simplified. In fact, it attempts to present the complexity of the situation and the conflicts.</span><br /><br /><h4>The Usual Liberal Interpretation of History</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>is: <span class="pullquote">white Europeans are the evil monsters of the universe and the cause of all ills in the world.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h4>Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>did not take this easy path, as it very well could have. The Indians were not presented as saints, nor their culture as the pristine ideal. Whites were not depicted as uncomplicated evil. There were men and women on both sides who were sincerely interested in the welfare of the Indians, and working, if naively, towards this goal.</span><br /><br /><h3>Reality</h3><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Both sides bear some blame for what happened to Native Americans; and both sides are innocent. <br /><br />The Indians themselves were warlike and expansionist, killing and conquering each other for land and bounty. The Europeans, though, just did this better than anyone. They developed the art of war to its highest form, and backed it up with a religious belief in the superiority of their God and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifest_destiny" target="_blank">Manifest Destiny.</a><br /><br /><a aiotitle="manifest" href="javascript:togglecomments('manifest')">click to show/hide the rest of the post</a><div class="commenthidden" id="manifest"><br /><br />The liberal ideal now would be for the Europeans to have resisted building a country in America. The Europeans just should have left America in its pristine condition, without railroads and industry, and without the principles of land ownership and capitalism.<br /><br />No matter how wonderful Indian culture was, and is, this could never have happened. There are forces bigger than any culture. The human race was meant to explore, expand, grow, and develop. This can't be stopped.</span> <br /><br /><h4>Manifest Destiny</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>If it isn't Manifest Destiny, it is what led <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii#Overthrow_of_the_Hawaiian_Monarchy" target="_blank">natives from Tahiti</a> to paddle to Hawaii 1000 years ago and impose their rule on the natives. <br /><h4>Liberal Mindset</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Because they weren't white Europeans, though, these Tahitians are not called evil.</span><br /><br /><h3>Property Rights</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I realize that there are legal questions that do involve broken promises and the theft of lands, and so on. Yet, according to Indian history, they themselves did not have the concept of property rights. How do you reconcile a culture with no property rights and one that has property rights, when speaking about a specific plot of land? <br /><br />Our <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_treaties#U.S._Native_American_treaties" target="_blank">courts have spoken,</a> granting Indians the return of some lands, and compensation for other lands "taken." Plus, there is the casino thing.</span><br /><br /><h3>The First Welfare State</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>One of the tragedies, though, for America and for its Native Americans, was the creation of the first welfare state. Well-meaning liberals of the time designed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_reservation" target="_blank">reservation system,</a> in order to be "good" to the Indians and give them their food, clothing, and lodging. It was the first paternalistic government program, and it included all the liberal philosophies. The government knew best what was good for the Indians. They should have Christian names, worship the Christian God, study Christian history and so on.</span> <br /><br /><h3>Gambling on the Future</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>The only turnaround for Indians in their post 19th century history has been the granting of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_casinos" target="_blank">unregulated casinos</a> on their lands. This was not welfare. It is capitalism, and it is working for several tribes.</span><br /><br /><h3>The Natural Forces</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Whatever happens now, we must realize that solutions must be founded on the natural tides of history. We cannot turn back the clock. Even if we could, would the world be better off today if America was left in its former pristine state? No railroads, no industry, no property rights? What if the Europeans had been saints, and, while still creating a European system in America, had resisted the urge to "steal" lands? Well, and this must be emphasized again, then America could not have developed as it has.<br /><br />It's not the "evil" Europeans that moved the human race forward. It's the nature of man himself/herself. The industrialization of America was going to happen.</span> <br /><br /><h3>Our Legacy</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Though perhaps unjust and unfair, the Indian ideal remains with us in the thousands of acres of land in America granted to no one, owned by no one, earmarked as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness#National_parks" target="_blank">natural preserves.</a> These lands are open to all. So, industrialization has occurred, and the preservation of pristine land has occurred. <br /><br />The specific plots of land, though, that the Indians claimed as their natural homelands—were taken earlier from other Indians, by Indians. In the end, the game of musical chairs ended, and the Europeans landed on these lands, and crystallized the endgame into law. <br /><br />Now, militaristic expansionism is no longer tolerated. Indians will no longer be invading new territories and claiming them for themselves. And Europeans have given up their imperialistic empire.</span> <br /><br /><h3>The Next Natural Tide</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>What is the next "tide of nature"? I suspect it's immigration, the burgeoning birth rate of Hispanics, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_of_America" target="_blank">browning of America.</a> Now that the rule of law is in place, genocides won't work anymore. What is Nature telling us now? Expansionism is happening under the aegis of democracy. One force of Nature is the large Hispanic family, buttressed by Catholicism, supported by Hispanic culture. One political force is American liberalism, which wants all the Hispanics alive to immigrate to the United States, and for them to be fruitful and multiply. An opposing force is some on the conservative side, who want to preserve America as a diverse country, but with one language and culture.</span><br /><h4>Disappearing Diversity</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Oddly, since America will one day be predominantly Hispanic, our diversity is disappearing.</span></div><br /><a aiotitle="manifest" href="javascript:togglecomments('manifest')">click to hide most of this post</a><div class="commenthidden" id="manifest"></div><br /><h3>The Lessons of the Indian Conflict</h3><h4>No one can't get in the way of the nature of mankind.</h4><h4>Expansionism will occur, one way or another.</h4><h4>Solutions to the human misery caused by dislocations must be in sync with natural forces.</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>The welfare state doesn't work. Capitalism does.</span> <h4>The law is mankind's best attempt to be fair.</h4> <h4>Violence will occur, and sometimes unfairly.</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Part of this is because there are forces of nature bigger than the individuals or cultures involved. Then, though, after the violence, men and women must try to make sense of it all, and bring some fairness and compassion into the equation. The human race must do the best it can to balance the forces of nature with its natural inner yearning for fairness and compassion.</span><br /><br /><h3>Relavance to Our Present Dilemma</h3><span style='line-height:1.6em'><i>Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee</i> shows the complexities of these issues. We must revisit these conundrums now in our handling of illegal immigration matters.</span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /> <br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Wounded Knee" rel="tag" target="_blank">Wounded Knee</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Indian Treaties" rel="tag" target="_blank">Indian Treaties</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/illegal immigration" rel="tag" target="_blank">illegal immigration</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Indians" rel="tag" target="_blank">Indians</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Native Americans" rel="tag" target="_blank">Native Americans</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Manifest Destiny" rel="tag" target="_blank">Manifest Destiny</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Indian reservations" rel="tag" target="_blank">Indian reservations</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/welfare state" rel="tag" target="_blank">welfare state</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/property rights" rel="tag" target="_blank">property rights</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Indian casinos" rel="tag" target="_blank">Indian casinos</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/national parks" rel="tag" target="_blank">national parks</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/browning of America" rel="tag" target="_blank">browning of America</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/editorial" rel="tag" target="_blank">editorial</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/opinion" rel="tag" target="_blank">opinion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/news" rel="tag" target="_blank">news</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/current+affairs" rel="tag" target="_blank">current affairs</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/media" rel="tag" target="_blank">media</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hollywood" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/books" rel="tag" target="_blank">books</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/culture" rel="tag" target="_blank">culture</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/society" rel="tag" target="_blank">society</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/religion" rel="tag" target="_blank">religion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/God" rel="tag" target="_blank">God</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fundamentalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">fundamentalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christian" rel="tag" target="_blank">Christian</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Catholic" rel="tag" target="_blank">Catholic</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Muslim" rel="tag" target="_blank">Muslim</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jew" rel="tag" target="_blank">Jew</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Israel" rel="tag" target="_blank">Israel</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Palestine" rel="tag" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/blog" rel="tag" target="_blank">blog</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/truth" rel="tag" target="_blank">truth</a><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br></br>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-76133303278204651332007-05-21T16:14:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.664-07:00Handicapping the Candidates<h2>To My Dear Readers</h2><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I apologize for missing posts lately. The reasons have been computer and personal problems. For the moment, I have "adequately" fixed the computer problems. As for my personal problems, I am living through a dramatic crisis in my life. I will try to post as usual, but part of this is in the hands of God. I appreciate your prayers and concern. Still, we've got our contribution to the world to take care of as bloggers, so here finally is my next post. I'll get it posted barebones now, and be adding the links in it as soon as possible.</span><br /><br /><br /><span class="dropcaps">H</span><span style='line-height:1.6em'>ope</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>That Presidential Glow</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Nothing is so important for the future of our country than whom we choose as our next president. The reason is that it is likely that both houses of Congress will likely remain in Democratic hands for some time. If the nation chooses a Democrat for president, we will have the danger of unchecked leftism. If the country chooses a Republican for president, we will have the same situation we have now—a sort of lame duck president, but who has at least veto power to stop Democratic excess. In either case, whoever occupies the Oval Office will partially determine the directions we take.<br /><br />I've already reported on the first Democratic and Republican debates. I've now seen the second Republican debate.<br /><br />Plus, I've watched the individual interviews of a few of the candidates on the Sunday talk shows. These appearances offer me the chance to amend my impression of a few of the contenders.</span> <br /><br /><h3>Barack O Mania</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I'll start with Barack Obama, whom I saw on a few programs. <span class="pullquote">I have to admit that he came across as quite bright. Plus, he is smart enough to stop sounding so exclusively liberal.</span> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />He even stated that he is conservative on some issues. <br /><br />I'm not listening so much to the crafted positions of the candidates, which can be changed depending on the weather. Rather, I am looking for reasonableness, insight, and candor.<br /><br />One thing I admire about Barack is that he does not use his ethnicity—neither for advantage, nor as an excuse. For example, he states that if he loses the run for the presidency, it won't be because of his race. It will be, and I am paraphrasing Senator Obama, because "I didn't articulate my position clearly and passionately enough for people to vote for me." Bravo! <br /><br />In addition, Barack is sounding and looking presidential. Nothing he said on the War in Iraq, nor on the economy, sounded unreasonable. <br /><br />Yes, he remains a liberal, but he's not a liberal I fear. I can start to relax with this guy.<br /><br />I probably won't vote for him, but at least I'm beginning to feel that he won't ruin the country, as I believe Hillary would.</span><br /><br /><h3>The Second Republican Debate</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I was pleased to see that several of the Republican candidates did better than in the first debate. Of course, they say that Rudy Giuliani won this round, especially with his justified anger at Senator Paul, who implied that the United States brought on the 9/11 attack on itself. Rudy showed his commanding self. He did not, however, win over the conservatives of the party. For example, Bay Bucanan was on the talk shows dissing Rudy as a candidate not suitable for the Republican Party.<br /><br />John McCain was commanding in this second debate also. He too, though, is not a conservative favorite.<br /><br />Mitt Romney was pretty good too, and is a conservative favorite, although I guess that his Mormon religion is hurting him with some. He remains the most photogenic candidate, as is his wife; and very articulate.<br /><br />Hard corps conservatives are waiting for Newt and Senator Thompson to enter the fray.</span><br /><br /><h3>Handicapping the Race</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>If this were a horse race, I'd give the following payoffs. <br /><br />For the Democrats:<br />Hillary 2 to 1 <br />Barack 4 to 1<br />Edwards 12 to 1<br /><br />For the Repulbicans:<br />Rudy 2 to 1<br />Mitt 3 to 1<br />McCain 4 to 1<br />Fred Thompson 8 to 1<br />Newt 20 to 1</span><br /><br /><h3>Just a Guess</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Hillary/Barack beats Giuliani/McCain in the general election.<br /><br />However, Thompson/Mitt beats Hillary/Barack.<br /><br />What do you think?</span>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-16913845756192313102007-05-14T16:23:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.681-07:00Post Coming TomorrowLotta stuff going on. I will get the article out tomorrow. Thanks for checking in.<br /><br />Plus, I promise to visit this week my favorite blogs.<br /><br /><i>Rock</i>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-53911925184012888442007-05-07T17:59:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.694-07:00Left and Right Turns<br/><!-- google_ad_section_start --><h2>The Political Pendulum</h2><br /><br />The<br /><br /><span class="dropcaps">R</span>ight Stuff<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>Veering Left</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>The country veering most left at this time in history is Venezuela, with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Chavez" target="_blank">Hugo Chavez</a> going forward with his goal of a "classless society." All the Marxists are cheering him as he nationalizes oil companies and banks, and forces other companies into agreements that will guarantee social benefits. On the one hand, his goals are quite noble. He seems like he is truly trying to help the people (as much as any dictator can and still fill his own pockets). On the other hand, he is outright stealing from companies that came in with agreements and contracts which he has now nullified. The question is, who in the future will invest in Venezuela? If you owned a private company, would you gamble your hard won assets on whether Hugo will honor any agreement you sign with him?<br /><br />Just as with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_castro" target="_blank">Castro,</a> Mr. Chavez will find that stealing from companies now will make him a hero short term, but will deprive the people of millions of dollars in the long run. The growth of his country will suffer due to his bad relations with the world.<br /><br />Marxism has been tried, Mr. Chavez, and it doesn't work.</span><br /><br /><h3>Veering Right</h3><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/Rj_LIxwAJcI/AAAAAAAAAGY/EJ5LXtRLBOM/s1600-h/story.vert.sarkozy.win.gi.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/Rj_LIxwAJcI/AAAAAAAAAGY/EJ5LXtRLBOM/s320/story.vert.sarkozy.win.gi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061987857841792450" /></a><span style='line-height:1.6em'>One of the countries that is veering right at this time is, surprise, surprise—France! I can't believe it. The French have elected a conservative over a socialist, <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKL065995420070507" target="_blank">Nikolas Sarkozy.</a> He is going to get tough on immigration, be kind to business, and try to lower taxes. Let's move to France! In addition, he wants to improve relations with the United States.<br /><br />Don't be surprised, also, if another country known for leftism veers right in the coming years. Fidel Castro is rumored to be in his last days on earth. His brother, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raúl_Castro" target="_blank">Raul,</a> appears to be much more friendly to Western nations, and to capitalism. What will Hugo say? Cuba will explode with growth if this shift happens.</span><br /><br /><span class="pullquote">France and Cuba veering right? Are we living in a dream?</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>Veering Left</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Sadly, while France and Cuba might be heading in a positive direction, we, the United States of America, are one of the countries veering left. On the rise are the Marxists of the Democratic Party.</span> <br /><h2>The Debates</h2><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I watched both the <a href="http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/04/democratic_presidential_debate.html" target="_blank">Democratic</a> and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18479599/" target="_blank">Republican</a> debates. The Democrats all admitted they will raise taxes, increase regulations, force the color green on the world, and decrease world security by marginalizing the war on terror. I could barely force myself to watch. Yet, the country seems dead set on electing one of them.<br /><br />No wonder. The Republicans were pro-business, but lacked vigor. They were not as passionate as they should have been either about Iraq or the war on terror, with the possible exception of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_mccain" target="_blank">McCain.</a> They appeared meek and back to cowering in Panderland. All of them paid homage to Ronald Reagan, but there wasn't a Ronald among them. The only thing they appeared passionate about was religion. Pardon me, but I don't think faith is the issue. I don't want a president who is pastor-in-chief. I want someone passionate about winning the war on terror, and helping capitalism live and thrive. Let's keep church and state separate.</span><br /><h2>The Sad State of the Right</h2><h3>Fire in the Belly</h3> <br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I'm not even impressed with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newt_Gingrich" target="_blank">Newt</a> anymore. He is "waiting," before he decides whether to run, and on the talk shows he sounds so green he could be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_gore" target="_blank">Al Gore's</a> brother. I'm not happy with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Thompson" target="_blank">Fred Thompson</a> either, the great conservative hero. He's not in the fight yet either. Like Newt, he's "waiting."<br /><br />A president needs fire in the belly. If you're not absolutely sure you're the man, or woman, then don't bother running. The U.S. will never elect Newt now. He's demonstrated he doesn't want it badly enough. I doubt they'll choose Thompson either. He's too late, cancer or no cancer.</span> <br /><br /><h3>Weak</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Especially weak on the dais was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_Guliani" target="_blank">Rudy Giuliani.</a> He still is the frontrunner, but he'd better turn in better performances than this debate if he wants to win. He must come across as a giant, not as a meek defender of his pro-choice views. He's got to get back to the lion he was post 9/11.</span> <br /><br /><h3>A Fair Performance</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>McCain gave the best account of himself among the Republicans. He had some fire and he distinguished himself with his zeal on the War in Iraq.</span><br /><br /><h2>Presidential Aura</h2><h3>Looking for the Glow</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I try to look for the presidential aura in candidates, and I'm not sure I see it yet in anyone. I cringe when I imagine <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Clinton" target="_blank">Hillary</a> back in the White House. I don't see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama" target="_blank">Obama</a> ready yet to make sophisticated decisions. My stomach turns when I think of demagogue <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_edwards" target="_blank">Edwards</a> as president. <br /><br />Yet, I don't see the presidential aura surrounding any Republicans either. I pray they start connecting to their personal power and the supremacy of truth. It can still happen.</span><br /><br /><h3>Seeking a Leader</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>It's still early, but I'm looking for a leader that can stop this country's disastrous lurch to the left. <br /><br />Thank God for France. Vive la France!</span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /> <br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right-wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right-wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hugo Chavez" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hugo Chavez</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Fidel Castro" rel="tag" target="_blank">Fidel Castro</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Raul Castro" rel="tag" target="_blank">Raul Castro</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Marxism" rel="tag" target="_blank">Marxism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Socialism" rel="tag" target="_blank">Socialism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican Debate" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican Debate</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democratic Debate" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democratic Debate</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/John McCain" rel="tag" target="_blank">John McCain</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Rudy Giuliani" rel="tag" target="_blank">Rudy Giuliani</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Fred Thompson" rel="tag" target="_blank">Fred Thompson</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Newt Gingrich" rel="tag" target="_blank">Newt Gingrich</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hillary Clinton" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hillary Clinton</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/John Edwards" rel="tag" target="_blank">John Edwards</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Barack Obama" rel="tag" target="_blank">Barack Obama</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Nikolas Sarkozy" rel="tag" target="_blank">Nikolas Sarkozy</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/editorial" rel="tag" target="_blank">editorial</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/opinion" rel="tag" target="_blank">opinion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/news" rel="tag" target="_blank">news</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/current+affairs" rel="tag" target="_blank">current affairs</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/media" rel="tag" target="_blank">media</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hollywood" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/books" rel="tag" target="_blank">books</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/culture" rel="tag" target="_blank">culture</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/society" rel="tag" target="_blank">society</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/religion" rel="tag" target="_blank">religion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/God" rel="tag" target="_blank">God</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fundamentalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">fundamentalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christian" rel="tag" target="_blank">Christian</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Catholic" rel="tag" target="_blank">Catholic</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Muslim" rel="tag" target="_blank">Muslim</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jew" rel="tag" target="_blank">Jew</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Israel" rel="tag" target="_blank">Israel</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Palestine" rel="tag" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/blog" rel="tag" target="_blank">blog</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/truth" rel="tag" target="_blank">truth</a><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br></br>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-37115579640286291732007-05-02T15:29:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.711-07:00Some Things Just Burn My Ass(Contributed by Sarge Charlie, at the preceding link.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What and old soldier thinks...</span></span>.<br /><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bbj8J3yipeQ/RjifBIlRi7I/AAAAAAAAFz0/tDe8DoM10Qg/s1600-h/20030501-15_d050103-2-664v.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bbj8J3yipeQ/RjifBIlRi7I/AAAAAAAAFz0/tDe8DoM10Qg/s400/20030501-15_d050103-2-664v.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059969023183260594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Four years ago yesterday, the headlines were “Commander in Chief lands on USS Lincoln”, since that time the media and the political opponents of the President have besmirched this action as phoney, and grandstanding. Maybe so, but I saw it differently. I saw a president willing to meet the returning warriors and just say thank you. If that is political grandstanding then it is good grandstanding. This old soldier swelled with pride when that jet landed on the deck of the Lincoln, tears swelled in my eyes when I saw a man as important as the President of the United States willing to take the time to say thanks. A small thing, hell no, the effect this had on moral of the military forces of this country was overwhelming. Anyone who cannot understand that needs to stand the post, walk in harms way, suck it up when someone is trying to kill you, then you will understand.<br /><br />Fast forward four years, the Congress passed an Emergency Funding Bill, a surrender bill, last Friday, April 27, 2007. Purely for political gain, the Congress sat on this most important piece of Legislation that they have produced in today’s Congress for four days so they could further besmirch our President. It was a truly shameful attempt to destroy the moral of Americas fighting force. What the hell is wrong with these people, are they cowards, or worse, traitors, we have men and women in harms way and while Senator Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. smirks while uttering the words “we will shove this down the presidents throat.” I consider the source and try to ignore what he said, but he is a candidate, trying to be President of the United States. I will not say what I would like to shove down his throat.<br /><br />This crap is not funny folks, it is serious and deadly, soldiers are in harms way, they need what they need, and we should give it to them, no strings attached. What is happening is shameful, truly shameful.<br /><br />And that is what I have to say about that.</p>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-27772753021965814962007-05-01T16:28:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.736-07:00The MonsterMy article this week got "eaten" by my computer. When it rains, it pours. Everything went wrong. I was up all night repairing the drives and software. Anyway, I'll have the article re-written, or a new article, sometime this week--at least by Sunday I assume. In the meantime, I'll try to visit some of my favorite blogs.<br /><br />This is a momentous time.<br /><br />Take care.<br /><br /><i>Rock</i>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-39795552305233391512007-04-23T18:09:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.748-07:00Sometimes I Stand Alone<!-- google_ad_section_start --><h2>Happy Un-Earth Day</h2><br /><span class="dropcaps">G</span>od is<br />reen<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>The Madness</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I usually write some kind of a researched piece. Today, though, there is no need. Those of you who are convinced, are convinced. On the other hand, those of you who get the truth, get it. I've tried to present the logic and background of my position on this issue, but it doesn't seem to work. <span class="pullquote">The globe is in the grips of a mass hysteria.</span> <br /><br /><br />The reasons for it are that many liberals have no religion, so this has become their religion. Plus, many religious people are joining the hysteria too, because the arguments for the mythology seem reasonable. <br /><br />I'm speaking, of course, of the green madness. The Inconvenient Truth illness. Arrogant Hollywood stars fly in their jet planes, ride in their limos, and live in their air-conditioned mansions while advising the rest of us to ride the bus and use one-ply toilet paper. It's disgusting.</span><br /><br /><h3>Yes, Let's Go Green</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Again, I don't mind that we go green. I do care, though, that we be reasonable. I know many of you don't hear this on the media, who are co-conspirators in the myths, but hundreds of scientists do not believe that global warming is caused by mankind's actions—but rather by the natural cycles of the Earth. Tell that to the masses.</span><br /><br /><h3>To Sheryl Crow: Do Some Reading</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>To Sheryl Crow, stop ruining the environment with your obsessions. To the people who want to get things right on this issue, it is your responsibility to get educated. Go back to school or do some relevant reading, and learn the scientific method, which requires <i>evidence</i>, not mantras. Do the world the favor, too, of exploring the opposing arguments. Believe me, Al Gore and you, Sheryl, are not experts on what is or is not happening to the world's climate.</span><br /><br /><h3>Global Warming?</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>For the last time, yes, there might be global warming. But, Kyoto will not help. Read how little Kyoto will do to offset the warming. You'll be shocked.</span><br /><br /><h3>The Best Ways to Save the Environment</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>For the last time, yes, go green, but don't ruin the world doing it.<br /><br />You want the two best ways to save the environment? Control population growth, and develop technology. The more people—the more cars, the more air-conditioners, the more ... you get it—the more CO2. Plus, technology is not the enemy. Industry is not the enemy. Just the opposite. <br /><br />Fewer people. Better technology. Simple.</span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /> <br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Environmentalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">Environmentalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Green" rel="tag" target="_blank">Green</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Al Gore" rel="tag" target="_blank">Al Gore</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Sheryl Crow" rel="tag" target="_blank">Sheryl Crow</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/editorial" rel="tag" target="_blank">editorial</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/opinion" rel="tag" target="_blank">opinion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/news" rel="tag" target="_blank">news</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/current+affairs" rel="tag" target="_blank">current affairs</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/media" rel="tag" target="_blank">media</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hollywood" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/books" rel="tag" target="_blank">books</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/culture" rel="tag" target="_blank">culture</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/society" rel="tag" target="_blank">society</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/religion" rel="tag" target="_blank">religion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/God" rel="tag" target="_blank">God</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fundamentalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">fundamentalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christian" rel="tag" target="_blank">Christian</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Catholic" rel="tag" target="_blank">Catholic</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Muslim" rel="tag" target="_blank">Muslim</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jew" rel="tag" target="_blank">Jew</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Israel" rel="tag" target="_blank">Israel</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Palestine" rel="tag" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/blog" rel="tag" target="_blank">blog</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/truth" rel="tag" target="_blank">truth</a><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br></br>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-29395832853938402622007-04-16T18:22:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.774-07:00The African-American Experience and Imus<br/><!-- google_ad_section_start --><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RibTsySW67I/AAAAAAAAAGA/J21WRMaysyE/s1600-h/T025950A.jsm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RibTsySW67I/AAAAAAAAAGA/J21WRMaysyE/s320/T025950A.jsm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054960398136437682" /></a><div style="text-align:center">Alex Haley</div><br /><br /><span class="dropcaps">R</span><span class="dropcaps2">oots</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>Our American Cultural Reality</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>The country has been talking non-stop about the Imus event (see last post <a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/2007/04/old-ignorimus.html" target="_blank">An Old IgnorImus</a>). It is such a pivotal phenomenon in America at this time that it deserves more contemplation. I just saw <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roots_%28TV_miniseries%29" target="_blank"> Roots</a>, the 1977 American television award-winning miniseries. Juxtaposing the <a href="http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/news/celebrity/chi-070409imus-protest,0,3121823.story?coll=mmx-home_bottom_hedsh2o" target="_blank">Imus story</a> and <i>Roots</i> gives much food for thought. <br /><br />The question is, what has happened to Black culture over time—from its African roots, to the horrible time of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery" target="_blank">slavery</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction" target="_blank">Reconstruction,</a> to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_movement" target="_blank">Civil Rights movement,</a> and on up to the Imus story? <br /><br />I don't propose to write a detailed thesis here. I just want to express a few thoughts on the hopes and dreams of the good Black people in this country, as I understand from being an outsider looking in.</span> <br /><br /><h3>Roots</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I'm sure most of you have already seen the record-breaking mini-series, <i>Roots.</i> I was out of the country when the series showed in the U.S. originally, and so for all my life I've never seen it. I finally got to view this great television series on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directv" target="_blank">DirectTV</a> the last few nights. I watched the whole thing. I was richly rewarded. <br /><br />I went into it skeptical, since it had such great hype. I was afraid it would be politically correct and another liberal propaganda piece. It wasn't. <span class="pullquote">It is a beautiful work of art and history that brings wonderful and noble characters to life.</span> <br /><br /><br /><br />It humanizes slavery, and fleshes out the slave traders, owners, and the slaves.</span><br /><br /><h3>Some Critiques of <i>Roots</i></h3><br /><a aiotitle="roots" href="javascript:togglecomments('roots')">click to show/hide the rest of the post</a><div class="commenthidden" id="roots"><br /><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'><i>Roots</i> does idealize the slaves, but you know what—I have entered the homes of African-American foster parents for some years (when I was a social worker), and I can definitely say that I experienced the same kind of quiet dignity that <i>Roots</i> portrays. Nothing in <i>Roots</i> reads untrue for me.</span><br /><br /><h4>Anti-White?</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>One thing I disliked about <i>Roots</i> was the total anti-White sentiment that was expressed by most of the slaves. Yet, who am I kidding—what else would a slave feel but hatred and contempt for the slave owners who denied him/her their freedom, slept with their women, physically and emotionally abused them, and robbed them of money, property and their very names? It's totally understandable. Besides, there were plenty of <i>good</i> white characters in the series, like <i>Old George</i> and his wife.</span><br /><br /><h4>Islam</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I wasn't crazy either about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunta_Kinte" target="_blank">Kunta Kinte</a> being a Muslim. Of course I feel this way because of 9/11 and terrorist reasons, which were not a factor at the time of the making of <i>Roots</i>. So, I'll give it a pass on this one.</span><br /><br /><h4>Afro-Centrism</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>One main objection I have to the series is the insistence on Afro-centrism. I guess you might say I disagree with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Haley" target="_blank">Alex Haley's</a> main premise—that in order to be free, you must know your roots. I think you are free in America as an American. You don't need to be <i>hyphenated</i> to be a full human being. If you celebrate your roots, that's fine—but not to the extent that you separate yourself, so that you are not a part of the whole, as a full member of America.</span></div><br /><a aiotitle="roots" href="javascript:togglecomments('roots')">click to hide most of this post</a><div class="commenthidden" id="roots"></div><br /><br /><h3>Lessons of <i>Roots</i></h3><h4>Family</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>What I think is lost in modern African-American society is the sense of complete family that is present in <i>Roots</i>. Despite the slave traders and owners, the characters in <i>Roots</i> fought hard to keep the whole family together, including the presence of a strong father. Present-day African American families often are missing a father, and/or have parents who are not married.</span> <br /><br /><h4>Respect for Women</h4><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Plus, present in <i>Roots</i> is respect for women. This is absent in many hip-hop records and rap music. Imus was supposedly trying to be cool and "in" with his Black brothers by mentioning "hos" in the comments that got him fired. It seems it's not okay for a White guy to say this, but it is okay for a Black guy.</span><br /><br /><h4>Chicken George</h4>The wonderful character <i>Chicken George</i>, played brilliantly by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Vereen" target="_blank">Ben Vereen</a>, was, like all the central <i>Roots</i> characters, a living human being. He rose from slavery to become a wealthy landowner and form a Tenessee town of former slaves. He used his love of cockfighting to become <i>the</i> expert at it. He earned enough to buy his freedom and escape the misery of servitude, and then rescue his whole family from the evil of racist Whites. He is truly an example of the American Dream, in its richest sense. <br /><br /><h3>Learning from <i>Roots</i> and Imus</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>This is a good time for Blacks and Whites to contemplate what is and is not acceptable in music and public discourse. I think it is important, as Alex Haley knew, to get back to the best parts of our roots, which for both Whites and Blacks means returning to the importance of intact families, a quiet dignity, and respect for strong, responsible men and persevering, dignified women. God bless Chicken George, his family, and their descendents.</span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /> <br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Roots" rel="tag" target="_blank">Roots</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Alex Haley" rel="tag" target="_blank">Alex Haley</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Kunta Kinte" rel="tag" target="_blank">Kunta Kinte</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Old George" rel="tag" target="_blank">Old George</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/slavery" rel="tag" target="_blank">slavery</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/African-American culture" rel="tag" target="_blank">African-American culture</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/African-American history" rel="tag" target="_blank">African-American history</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Reconstruction" rel="tag" target="_blank">Reconstruction</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Civil Rights Movement" rel="tag" target="_blank">Civil Rights Movement</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Imus controversy" rel="tag" target="_blank">Imus controversy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/African-American families" rel="tag" target="_blank">African-American families</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/editorial" rel="tag" target="_blank">editorial</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/opinion" rel="tag" target="_blank">opinion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/news" rel="tag" target="_blank">news</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/current+affairs" rel="tag" target="_blank">current affairs</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/media" rel="tag" target="_blank">media</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hollywood" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/books" rel="tag" target="_blank">books</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/culture" rel="tag" target="_blank">culture</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/society" rel="tag" target="_blank">society</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/religion" rel="tag" target="_blank">religion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/God" rel="tag" target="_blank">God</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fundamentalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">fundamentalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christian" rel="tag" target="_blank">Christian</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Catholic" rel="tag" target="_blank">Catholic</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Muslim" rel="tag" target="_blank">Muslim</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jew" rel="tag" target="_blank">Jew</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Israel" rel="tag" target="_blank">Israel</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Palestine" rel="tag" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/blog" rel="tag" target="_blank">blog</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/truth" rel="tag" target="_blank">truth</a><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br></br>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-75438788925289317492007-04-09T17:37:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.788-07:00An Old IgnorImus<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RhrbKEyRV4I/AAAAAAAAAFY/3lA96s8Pn4I/s1600-h/Imus.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RhrbKEyRV4I/AAAAAAAAAFY/3lA96s8Pn4I/s320/Imus.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051590898179200898" /></a><br /><br/><!-- google_ad_section_start --><span class="dropcaps">I</span>nexcusable.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>Foot In Mouth Disease</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Metromix. <a href="http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/news/celebrity/chi-070409imus-protest,0,3121823.story?coll=mmx-home_bottom_hedsh2o">Jackson, protesters blast Imus comments:</a> "On his Wednesday show, 'Imus in the Morning,' the host referred to members of the Rutgers team as 'nappy-headed hos.'"</span><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'><blockquote>At the same time radio provocateur Don Imus was appearing on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharpton%2C_Al" target="_blank">Rev. Al Sharpton's</a> show to discuss his controversial comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team, protesters gathered outside NBC Tower in Chicago calling for his ouster.<br /><br />Led by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Jackson" target="_blank">Rev. Jesse Jackson</a> and other members of his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow/PUSH_Coalition" target="_blank">Rainbow/PUSH Coalition,</a> about 50 protesters held signs reading "no apologies, no forgiveness" and chanted, "Imus must go" while walking on the sidewalk outside the high-rise building on Columbus Drive.</blockquote></span><br /><h3>Nasty Fellow</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I do listen to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_imus" target="_blank">Imus</a> sometimes. I've never liked the man, though. <span class="pullquote">Imus is always mean-spirited, and, of course, he is mostly liberal, which makes him doubly unlikable to me.</span><br /><br />He is almost as vicious sometimes as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Olberman" target="_blank">Keith Olberman.</a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>Mel, Michael, and Don</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Still, most of the time I stick up for people who make the mistake of putting their foot in their mouth—ala <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Gibson" target="_blank">Mel Gibson.</a> <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/31/gibson.dui/index.html" target="_blank">(Gibson's gaffe.)</a> As you may remember, though, I did not defend <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kramer_%28Seinfeld%29" target="_blank">"Kramer"</a> <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/20/kramers-racist-tirade-caught-on-tape/" target="_blank">(Michael Richards),</a> because of the sniveling, racist way he apologized. And now, I cannot stand up for Don Imus. My reason is that his comment was so over the top that it is unforgivable. Yes, it makes it easier for me to condemn him since I don't like the man anyway. Yet, I believe I'd denounce anyone who would make such an insensitive remark.</span><br /><br /><h3>Even Senility Would not Justify It</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>There is no excuse for the remark, period. The man is getting old and so might not be in charge of his faculties so much anymore—he comes off as a crotchety old curmudgeon anyway. Yet, still, and again, this cannot be an excuse. If he can't control his mouth to this gross extent, he doesn't deserve to be on the air.</span><br /><br /><h3>Me and Jesse</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>So, for the first time in my recent life, I find myself in agreement with Jesse Jackson. Imus must go. I don't want anyone on the air who can say such hurtful things, even on a bad day.</span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /> <br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/racism" rel="tag" target="_blank">racism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Don Imus" rel="tag" target="_blank">Don Imus</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Mel Gibson" rel="tag" target="_blank">Mel Gibson</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Michael Richards" rel="tag" target="_blank">Michael Richards</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Al Sharpton" rel="tag" target="_blank">Al Sharpton</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jesse Jackson" rel="tag" target="_blank">Jesse Jackson</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Imus in the Morning" rel="tag" target="_blank">Imus in the Morning</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. 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Since this is a bigger no-spin zone than <br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_O%27Reilly_%28commentator%29" target="_blank">O'Reilly,</a> I've got to get a hold of myself and stand my ground. If the world situation affects me this way, I suppose it affects a few others similarly. <span class="pullquote">I don't envy George W. Bush, nor members of Congress, nor, for that fact, the American voter.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>Nukes and Hostages</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Iran, feeling that it has not gotten the respect it deserves, and feeling threatened by sanctions, reached out and grabbed someone—a number of British <i>hostages</i> who we're not supposed to call hostages.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RhGEGbtHGYI/AAAAAAAAAFI/eN4efprw5S4/s1600-h/0,,2007141742,00-1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/RhGEGbtHGYI/AAAAAAAAAFI/eN4efprw5S4/s320/0,,2007141742,00-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048961903310084482" /></a>Iran's move, after the kidnapping, was to parade the hostages with their <a href="http://www.alaskareport.com/z45656.htm" target="_blank">"confessions."</a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'><blockquote>Iran Monday showed no sign of bowing to diplomatic pressure to release 15 British sailors and Marines detained for over a week, saying all the captives have confessed to illegally entering Iranian waters.<br /><br />Iran's state-run IRIB network reported Monday that all 15 confessed on video, but "due to certain changes in the last two days in the sensational British policies, the detailed interviews will not be aired."</blockquote></span><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Blair's move was to half-apologize and use <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070402.IRAN02/TPStory/TPInternational/America/" target="_blank">quiet diplomacy.</a></span><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'><blockquote>"We are anxious that this matter be resolved as quickly as possible, and that it be resolved by diplomatic means, and we are bending every single effort to that. . . . We are in direct bilateral communication with the Iranians," British Defence Minister Des Browne told reporters yesterday.</blockquote></span><br />Bush's move was to call the kidnapees <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070402.IRAN02/TPStory/TPInternational/America/" target="_blank">hostages,</a> and move in the aircraft carriers.<br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'><blockquote>"The British hostages issue is a serious issue because the Iranians took these people out of Iraqi waters, and it's inexcusable behaviour," Mr. Bush said in response to a reporter's question during a press conference at the Camp David retreat.</blockquote></span><br /><h3>Who is Winning?</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Iran gets to have higher oil prices, which will help their economy. Britain and the United States, so far, though, get a boost in public opinion worldwide, as compared with Iran.<br /><br />Several commentators are saying, though, that Bush went too far in calling the prisoners hostages. They fear that this will provoke Iran into keeping the prisoners longer.<br /><br />The bedrock truth is that this whole incident will not delay sanctions against Iran, and the world seems even more united in seeing that Iran not obtain nuclear weapons.</span><br /><br /><h3>Another 444-day Hostage Crisis?</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Can the situation escalate into a repeat of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis" target="_blank">1979</a> Iran hostage crisis, which lasted from November 4, 1979, through January 20, 1981?<br /><br />I don't think so. Though Bush is a weakened president, a lame duck with low approval ratings, he has no shortage of backbone, as was the case with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_carter" target="_blank">Jimmy Carter.</a><br /><br />Iran took the hostages in the Carter era because they thought they could get away with it. They took the hostages this time as a daring act of pique. They are hoping to change the status quo. <br /><br />There is not a chance in a million, though, that they can keep these hostages for 444 days. As long as Bush and Blair are in charge, this won't happen.</span><br /><br /><h3>Iran's Boldness</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Why did Iran think they could get away with even this stunt, as it is? Well here, I have to concede that they know Bush and Blair can't do anything in the short run—yes, due to their lack of approval, and the public's war fatigue, but also due to the takeover of the United States Congress by leftist pacifists, who always bring more violence to the world than they prevent. <br /><br />Still, neither Bush nor Blair will let this situation stand for long.</span><br /><br /><h3>Check and Mate</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Is it a chess game? Yes, but eventually, sooner rather than later, the West will checkmate Iran on this one. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Ahmadinejad" target="_blank">Ahmadinejad</a> will have made his point, though, that he can stir up trouble and roil our markets anytime he chooses.</span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /> <br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Iran" rel="tag" target="_blank">Iran</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/British hostages" rel="tag" target="_blank">British hostages</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ahmadinejad" rel="tag" target="_blank">Ahmadinejad</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/1979 Iranian hostage crisis" rel="tag" target="_blank">1979 Iranian hostage crisis</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jimmy Carter" rel="tag" target="_blank">Jimmy Carter</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tony Blair" rel="tag" target="_blank">Tony Blair</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bill O'Reilly" rel="tag" target="_blank">Bill O'Reilly</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Iranian nuclear crisis" rel="tag" target="_blank">Iranian nuclear crisis</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Iranian sanctions" rel="tag" target="_blank">Iranian sanctions</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/editorial" rel="tag" target="_blank">editorial</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/opinion" rel="tag" target="_blank">opinion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/news" rel="tag" target="_blank">news</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/current+affairs" rel="tag" target="_blank">current affairs</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/media" rel="tag" target="_blank">media</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television" rel="tag" target="_blank">television</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hollywood" rel="tag" target="_blank">Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/books" rel="tag" target="_blank">books</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/culture" rel="tag" target="_blank">culture</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/society" rel="tag" target="_blank">society</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/religion" rel="tag" target="_blank">religion</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/God" rel="tag" target="_blank">God</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fundamentalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">fundamentalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christian" rel="tag" target="_blank">Christian</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Catholic" rel="tag" target="_blank">Catholic</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Muslim" rel="tag" target="_blank">Muslim</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jew" rel="tag" target="_blank">Jew</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Israel" rel="tag" target="_blank">Israel</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Palestine" rel="tag" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/blog" rel="tag" target="_blank">blog</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/truth" rel="tag" target="_blank">truth</a><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br></br>Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854198954252415753noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990896270381510802.post-65443483957143712542007-03-26T18:52:00.000-07:002010-07-30T11:51:19.832-07:00A Different Look At Our Second Biggest Problem<!-- google_ad_section_start --> <br /><span class="dropcaps">I</span>llegal<br />mmigration<br /><br /><br /><br /><h2>What the Liberal Press Won't Tell You</h2><br /><h3>Another Former Liberal Turning to "Right"eous Heroism</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'><a href="http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-immigrationmarch,0,831321.story?coll=ktla-home-1">Where Los Angeles Lives | Pro and Anti-Immigration Rallies Clash in Downtown:</a> Ana Beatriz Cholo, The Associated Press, March 26, 2007</span><br /><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'><blockquote>Dueling immigration rallies Sunday marked the<br />one-year anniversary of a massive pro-immigrant demonstration that jammed downtown streets with a half-million protesters and framed new debate in Washington.</blockquote></span><span style='line-height:1.6em'><blockquote>Standing among the anti-illegal immigration protesters was 76-year-old Esther Lofton. Lofton said she was representing "my community, the black community" of Watts - an area that has seen a surge of Hispanic immigrants in the past decade. She said she is against illegal immigration regardless of race.<br /><br />"I'm not out here just fighting Hispanics," she said. "I'm out here fighting illegal immigration. This is my first march, but I hope to get something started."</blockquote></span><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Ted Hayes was the leader of this rally in Los Angeles, but he was not interviewed by any newspaper, nor any television station. Being Black, he's not the right face for the liberal media to display, considering that he is deeply anti-illegal immigration. He is a hero to me, much like other liberal heroes like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Bruce" target="_blank">Tammly Bruce,</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zel_Miller" target="_blank">Zel Miller,</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Lieberman" target="_blank">Joe Lieberman,</a> who take unpopular stands on issues they strongly believe. I am especially proud of Ted Hayes, since he is finally <span class="pullquote">getting Blacks aroused against illegal immigration, which hurts Blacks more than any other group, taking skilled and unskilled jobs away from their community.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />During the rally, one thuggish demonstrator dirtied the American flag, threw it to the ground, spit and stomped on it. Ted Hayes went to the flag, picked it up, and smothered it in kisses.</span><br /><br /><h3>Ted Hayes Says: Biggest Threat to Blacks Since Slavery</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,193429,00.html" target="_blank">Some months ago,</a> Ted had this exchange with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Hannity" target="_blank">Sean Hannity</a> on Fox News:</span><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'><blockquote>HANNITY: You're under fire for saying the biggest threat to blacks in America since slavery is illegal immigration. A lot of people don't like the fact that you made that analogy. How do you...<br /><br />HAYES: Absolutely. Because it's true.<br /><br />HANNITY: I've known you a long time. You never — you never shy away from a fight or a controversy. What did you mean by that for maybe somebody who didn't understand what you meant?<br /><br />HAYES: If this illegal immigration process continues, it is going to completely destroy us. We are losing our homes, our lands, our houses, our employment.</blockquote></span><span style='line-height:1.6em'><br /><h3>Mr. Hayes</h3><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/Rgh5IOtHbgI/AAAAAAAAAE0/x-cPfHQVH_4/s1600-h/300px-TED_HAYES.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/Rgh5IOtHbgI/AAAAAAAAAE0/x-cPfHQVH_4/s320/300px-TED_HAYES.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046416564761882114" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a aiotitle="illegal2" href="javascript:togglecomments('illegal2')">click to show/hide the rest of this section</a><div class="commenthidden" id="illegal2"><br /><blockquote><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Hayes" target="_blank">Theodore "Ted" Hayes, Jr.</a> is an American advocate for the homeless and has recently become an activist for the Republican Party.<br /><br />Hayes' liberal activism began in January 1985, when Justiceville, a community of homeless people in Los Angeles, was founded. It survived for five months, until authorities moved to shut down the shantytown. When they did, Hayes entered 35-day fast in protest.<br /><br />In 1993 he founded Dome Village, a Los Angeles homeless facility consisting of geodesic domes designed by architect Craig Chamberlain and funded by ARCO. During the same year, he ran for mayor of Los Angeles during the primary election, receiving 0.63% of the vote. In the mid-1990s, he organized a youth- and homeless cricket team that toured Ireland and England and inspired an opera. He is also the current president of the Los Angeles Social Cricket Alliance.<br /><br />At the 2000 Democratic National Convention, Hayes, who was leading a contingent of homelessness activists, was shot with a rubber bullet by police.<br /><br />In 2001 he ran unsuccessfully for the Los Angeles City Council seat of the 9th district, receiving 5.3% of the vote. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, he was criticized by Muslim leaders for his role in persuading the Los Angeles City Council to pass a resolution demanding that Muslims take a stronger stance against global terrorism. Recently, he has become a vocal critic of illegal immigration, joining the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minuteman_Project" target="_blank">Minutemen Project</a> at protests and staging his own. There was an altercation at an anti-illegal immigration rally at Leimert Park organized by Hayes.</blockquote></span></div><br /><a aiotitle="illegal2" href="javascript:togglecomments('illegal2')">click to hide most of this section</a><div class="commenthidden" id="illegal2"></div><br /><br /><h3>Another Aspect of Illegal Immigration</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-trailerpark26mar26,0,3370103.story?coll=la-home-local"> The Southland's hidden Third World slums - Los Angeles Times:</a> "In the Coachella Valley, hundreds of trailer parks house desperately poor Latino workers amid burning trash, mud, contaminated water," by David Kelly, Times Staff Writer, March 26, 2007.</span><br /><br /><a aiotitle="illegal" href="javascript:togglecomments('illegal')">click to show/hide the rest of this section</a><div class="commenthidden" id="illegal"><span style='line-height:1.6em'><blockquote>THERMAL, CALIF.<br /><br />Like most of their neighbors in the sprawling, ramshackle Oasis Mobile Home Park, the Aguilars have no heat, no hot water. On cold nights, the family of eight stays warm by bundling up in layers of sweaters and sleeps packed together in two tiny rooms.<br /><br />Bathing is a luxury that requires using valuable propane to boil gallons of water. So the farmworker clan spends a lot of time dirty.<br /><br />Jose Aguilar, a wiry 9-year-old, has found a way around the bath problem. He just waits until dinner. "My mom makes frijoles,' he said, 'then I take a bath in that water."</blockquote></span><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>The purpose of this article, of course, appearing in the Left-Angeles Times, is to make you feel sorry for illegal immigrants. I have a different response to it. I believe this is what you can expect when you have an unregulated invasion of our country. Like Ted Hayes, I have nothing against Hispanics. I do have something against filling our nation with unskilled, uneducated, poverty-stricken people who will naturally turn to crime or at least undercut our wages. I continue to repeat, too, that I resent people coming to our nation who do not want to become Americans, will not learn our language, and who bankrupt our hospitals, fill our prisons, and lower the standards in our schools.<br /><br />Many Hispanics, and now, as we've seen with Ted Hayes and other Blacks, feel the same way. Any Hispanic who comes to America wanting to be an American, willing to work hard, get educated, learn our language, and eschew gangs, to me, is welcome. We do not promote this kind of immigration, however, by being "kind" to all comers. Reality has to set in. Despite our riches, we cannot feed the whole world. If we try, then we will become Third World ourselves, and this cannot be good for anyone. Go to the Oasis Mobile Home Park to see liberal heaven.</span><br /></div><br /><a aiotitle="illegal" href="javascript:togglecomments('illegal')">click to hide most of this section</a><div class="commenthidden" id="illegal"></div><br /><br /><h3>The Solutions?</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>What is the solution for us? A sensible immigration policy.<br /><br />What is the solution for poor Mexicans? Believe it or not, it remains in helping and persuading Mexico to treat its citizens better, develop capitalism, decrease corruption, and take care of their own poor. Yes, we need a wall; better border enforcement; and penalties for businesses that hire illegals. Plus, we must stop feeling guilty. We cannot import all the world's poor. The best thing we can do for them is spread democracy, and support the rise of capitalism—as we see happening in China. The Chinese poor no longer need our charity, do they? Neither will Mexico if they change direction.<br /><br />In conclusion, I salute you Ted Hayes; and I point to the Oasis Mobile Home Park as the vision we want to avoid in America.</span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /> <br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/illegal immigration" rel="tag" target="_blank">illegal immigration</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ted Hayes" rel="tag" target="_blank">Ted Hayes</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Minuteman Project" rel="tag" target="_blank">Minuteman Project</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. 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A short list would include of course <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Lieberman" target="_blank">Joe Lieberman,</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zell_Miller" target="_blank">Zell Miller,</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Bruce" target="_blank">Tammy Bruce,</a> and even <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Richardson" target="_blank">Bill Richardson</a> (for his integrity and honesty), and well, let's see—I'm thinking.</span><br /><br /><h3>A Liberal with Integrity Defends the Iraq War</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>There is one liberal, however, whom I admire as much as anyone, even as much as such heroes as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Elder" target="_blank">Larry Elder,</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Tancredo" target="_blank">Tom Tancredo,</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limbaugh%2C_Rush" target="_blank">Rush Limbaugh,</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Coulter" target="_blank">Ann Coulter</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Ingraham" target="_blank">Laura Ingraham.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/Rf8jWIqQOHI/AAAAAAAAAEs/TV6K3Tv4Tg0/s1600-h/180px-Christopher_hitchens.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P3O6EY4r074/Rf8jWIqQOHI/AAAAAAAAAEs/TV6K3Tv4Tg0/s320/180px-Christopher_hitchens.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043788970867046514" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hitchens" target="_blank">Christopher Hitchens.</a> <br /><br />The man is the epitome of what I call the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_liberalism" target="_blank">Classical Liberal.</a> <span class="pullquote">He is liberal in many of his viewpoints, but counterbalances this with being strong on defense, a lover of America, and a man who tells the truth,</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>without <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demagogy" target="_blank">demagoguery.</a></span><br /><br />A rare bird these days. He ought to be cherished.<br /><br />The great one speaks about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Iraq_war" target="_blank">Iraq War:</a> <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2162157/?GT1=9231">So, Mr. Hitchens, weren't you wrong about Iraq? - By Christopher Hitchens - Slate Magazine:</a> Fighting words: Hard questions, four years later. By Christopher Hitchens, Posted Monday, March 19, 2007, at 1:53 PM ET</span><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'><blockquote>Four years after the first coalition soldiers crossed the Iraqi border, one can attract pitying looks (at best) if one does not take the view that the whole engagement could have been and should have been avoided. Those who were opposed to the operation from the beginning now claim vindication, and many of those who supported it say that if they had known then what they know now, they would have spoken or voted differently.<br /><br />What exactly does it mean to take the latter position? At what point, in other words, ought the putative supporter to have stepped off the train? The question isn't as easy to answer as some people would have you believe. Suppose we run through the actual timeline:</blockquote></span><span style='line-height:1.6em'>It's a great defense of the Iraq War, and you can go to the above link to read the article. He writes it better than I, so I'll just direct you to it.</span><br /><br /><h3>Opportunistic Blathering</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>I, like you, have been hearing the demagogic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kerry" target="_blank">John Kerry</a> present the other side, and just about every Democrat trying to turn soldiers' lives into political capital.</span><br /><br /><h3>Too Busy Protesting to See Reality</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>What is ironic, with all the anti-war protests lately, and the shameless vote-seeking, is that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War_troop_surge_of_2007" target="_blank">surge</a> is reportedly actually going quite well. Despite all the complaining by anti-war groups and the left, people on the ground, including Iraqi's and American soldiers, are saying that they are starting to feel safer.</span><br /><br /><h3>Terrorists Love the Left</h3><br /><span style='line-height:1.6em'>Of course, this is only a temporary phenomenon, as the terrorists know that the left continues its drumbeat to remove the troops, thereby ensuring that we will be withdrawing in the sometime not so distant future. <br /><br />The sad thing is that much of the public is buying the left's propaganda. Too bad. If we do withdraw prematurely, then we might be snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.</span><br /><br /><i>Rock</i><!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page:" target="_blank">*Wikipedia</a> is always my source unless indicated.) <br /><br /><br />Click here to get a button link to this blog: <br /><br /><form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="POST"><input value="FAVOURITE" name="widget.title" type="hidden"/><textarea style="display:none;" name="widget.content"><br /><br /><a href="http://truthrock.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/668/cooltext38806293hm4.gif" alt="Truth—The No Spin Politically Incorrect Zone"></a><br /><br /> <br /><br /></textarea><input value="http://buzz.blogger.com" name="infoUrl" type="hidden"/><input value="name=" logourl http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_logo32.gif type="hidden"/><input value="LINK TO THIS SITE" name="go" type="submit"/></form><br />Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! <!-- google_ad_section_end --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P1VMQJ0K58QK9R" rel= “tag” target=“_blank”><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Support this site!</a><br /><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) --> Subscribe to my feed <br />                                           <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YLOx" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" target="_blank" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon32x32.png" alt="" style="border:0"/></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><p style="color:#d58ecc"><a href='#Join Rock's Political Blog'>Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring.</a> Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.</p><br />Technorati Tags for this post: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christopher Hitchens" rel="tag" target="_blank">Christopher Hitchens</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Larry Elder" rel="tag" target="_blank">Larry Elder</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Rush Limbaugh" rel="tag" target="_blank">Rush Limbaugh</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Laura Ingraham" rel="tag" target="_blank">Laura Ingraham</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bill Richardson" rel="tag" target="_blank">Bill Richardson</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/John Kerry" rel="tag" target="_blank">John Kerry</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Iraq War" rel="tag" target="_blank">Iraq War</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/demagoguery" rel="tag" target="_blank">demagoguery</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/classical liberalism" rel="tag" target="_blank">classical liberalism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/troop surge" rel="tag" target="_blank">troop surge</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Zel Miller" rel="tag" target="_blank">Zel Miller</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tammy Bruce" rel="tag" target="_blank">Tammy Bruce</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tom Tancredo" rel="tag" target="_blank">Tom Tancredo</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ann Coulter" rel="tag" target="_blank">Ann Coulter</a><br /><br />Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag" target="_blank">politics</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/political" rel="tag" target="_blank">political</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politically+incorrect" rel="tag" target="_blank">politically incorrect</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/no+spin" rel="tag" target="_blank">no spin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/conservative" rel="tag" target="_blank">conservative</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republican" rel="tag" target="_blank">Republican</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/right+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">right wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/liberal" rel="tag" target="_blank">liberal</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag" target="_blank">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/left+wing" rel="tag" target="_blank">left wing</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/leftist" rel="tag" target="_blank">leftist</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/democracy" rel="tag" target="_blank">democracy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/election" rel="tag" target="_blank">election</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/peace" rel="tag" target="_blank">peace</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/war" rel="tag" target="_blank">war</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag" target="_blank">George W. 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