Maggie's Notebook: Cuba Iran Korea Review U.S. Human Rights Violations: Obama's Voluntary Shellacking

Maggie's Notebook: Cuba Iran Korea Review U.S. Human Rights Violations: Obama's Voluntary Shellacking

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Action vs Propaganda

Go to wsj.com to see the two articles that prompted me to write a "letter to the editor" of the "Wall Street Journal."  Here is what I wrote:  (This letter was actually published by the WSJ)

November 5, 2010Wall Street Journal

Letters To The Editor

Dear Sir or Madam (With apologies to Senator Boxer)

I was struck by the contrast between Rep John Boehner’s article in Friday’s WSJ (What the Next Speaker Must Do)  and the article just below his (An Undeserved Win for the GOP). In the first, Boehner offers four specific actions for the next speaker to take that would restore some confidence in our Congress.  In the second, and shorter opinion piece, Ms Henvel manages to absolve the Democrats of any blame, call for redistribution of wealth, slander the Republicans as the party of empty slogans, raise taxes, get out of Afghanistan, empower the downtrodden minorities, and for Obama to redouble his efforts that led to the “shellacking” he took. She is truly a gifted writer, being able to pack all that progressive pap into one short piece. Boehner’s article offers solutions--Henvel’s offers the same old tired propaganda from the left.

James P. (JP) Morgan
Sandy, Utah
http;//flyoverfeedback.blogspot.com

The Bubble Nebula

Out there in the night sky, near the constellation Cassiopeia (The big Dubya in the sky) is a fascinating object called the Bubble Nebula. Located only 11300 light years away, it is the result of a massive star (the bright area of the bubble) blowing out gases and intense radiation to form and light the bubble. This star is 100,000 times brighter than our own sun and is 45 times more massive. The bubble is about 10 light years in diameter.

Taken the night of 3 November 2010 with backyard telescope in Sandy, Utah.

JP

A Star is Born

I wrote the following blog a couple days ago, before the election. In his victory speech, Rubio reinforced my belief that he will play a huge role in the Latino voting bloc by asserting that the American Dream is still alive and well and with in reach of everyone. It was a positive message, and will resonate with those striving to achieve success in this great country.


In Monday’s Wall Street Journal, Matthew Kaminski published an article titled “Who’s Afraid of Marco Rubio.” Excellent article about the up and coming new Senator from Florida. The thrust of Kaminski’s opinion was that Rubio has the Democrats frightened since they sense a rising star in the Republican party, thus the ham-handed attempt by Bubba to stop Rubio by encouraging the Democratic candidate to drop out, thus throwing votes to Turncoat Charlie Crist. Kaminski does a great job outlining why Rubio has emerged as such a charismatic politician, astounding the political class with his rapid rise from the barrio. However, Mr Kaminski sidesteps the most compelling argument as to why the Democrats fear Rubio.

Simply put, Rubio represents a Republican candidate who has vast appeal to the Latino population. As the fastest growing bloc of political voters, the Democrats felt they had locks on the Latino vote. Rubio’s compelling story, in addition to his upbeat attitude and communications skills, mark him as someone who will be closely watched by the Latino bloc.

That is why they are afraid of Marco Rubio.

It will be interesting to see how he performs in the Senate and on the national stage. I predict bigger and better things for this exciting politician.

Kaminski Article:  http://tinyurl.com/2a8p4vl    or, just click on the title.





JP

What Comes Next?

The wait is nearly over. Tomorrow, the people of this great Republic will file to the polls, cast their votes, and hopefully restore some balance to our body politic. The pontificators and the pollsters have had their say, now it is our turn to voice the only opinion that really counts.

It is pretty obvious by now that the Republicans will regain the House, effectively firing Nancy Pelosi. That alone is a huge step in returning some sanity to the legislative process. Control of the Senate is a long shot, but even if the Republicans fall short, there is a good chance Harry Reid may take a long overdue retirement.

The important thing to remember is that change alone will not guarantee desired outcomes--look what our current President, elected with a mandate to “change”, has wrought. Hopefully, we are sending a new crop of legislators to Congress to accomplish two main goals. 1. Undo some of the extreme changes enacted by Pelosi and Reid and signed by Obama. 2. Govern intelligently and with the consent and support of the great American people.

This will only happen if we, the people hold our representatives and senators accountable for their actions. To paraphrase another conservative blogger found in these pages, “Be forever vigilant and remain true to our core beliefs.”

JP

North, To Alaska

Guest blog time. My dear friend from USAF pilot training years ago, and bush pilot extraordinaire up in the great State of Alaska, has provided some local color to the shenanigans taking place up that way. Here is some insight from Wasilla Willie:

"What a sick mess our politics has become.  In stead of debating the issues up here this last week, the strategy pundits, and I use the term loosely, are forcing the voters to focus on minutia like what is " unauthorized assistance" at the polling place!  What a waste of time for the state courts to deal with - rulings about whether a list of names of write-in candidates is violating state law.

Has anyone noticed that all the other candidates are provided on the printed ballot?  To argue that a list of the write-in candidates is "illegal" and "excessive assistance" at the ballot box is ludicrous!  Anyway, someone had a court rule that names could not be provided at the polls for write-in candidates.  The other side got another court to "stay" that ruling.  Then the other side raised it to the State Supreme Court.  On Thursday or Friday the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that a list of write-in candidates could be provided if voters asked for it at the polls.  True, a voter should be smart enough to know who they want to write-in and how to spell their candidate's name, but to debate the legality of a list of write-ins at the polls is trivial, ridiculous, and a waste of time.  So, on Tuesday, we will have Lisa and other, if any, write-in candidates on a list that voters can see at the polls if they ask.  But the plot thickens.

This decision irritated Dan Fagan, a local conservative radio talk show host.  He immediately encouraged his listeners to hurry up and register as write-in candidates before the Friday deadline in an obvious attempt to make it more difficult for all those voters who were going to vote possibly for Lisa but didn't know how to spell her name. As a result of Fagan's encouragement, we now will have 200 write-in candidates for review if requested.  Give me a break !  The latest in this caper is that Fagan was fired after this advocacy by the station manager for "exceeding station policies".  I guess Fagan is a Miller supporter which I am also, although Lisa did help with some prodding to get Medicare to finally authorize a local hospital here to include lap band surgery (less expensive and less intrusive than bypass surgery) for those on Medicare.

So this has been a large part of the local media focus this last week before the mid-term elections.  And I'm sure the local news will debate whether or not Fagan should have been fired.  Fagan is no Juan Williams and should not be another diversion but probably will be.  On Saturday night news I heard that there is yet another court challenge to the latest status of the "too much help" issue.  Will we ever focus on the issues?  I guess not.

Will Lisa pull this one off?.... I don't think so, but it might be close.  Lisa was "caught" in a "good old boy" deal on the Kenai a few years ago when she was purchasing a property way below market price.  When the details of this deal became public, she backed out of the deal with little political repercussion.  She grew up under her dad's political machine and methodology and apparently is willing to participate in some of the shenanigans that got her dad, Ted Stevens, and others in trouble. The Kenai caper has been mentioned in Miller ads.  Lisa just is too close to the "business as usual" crowd for me and I hope Joe Miller gets a majority to avoid the expense and time wasted for a run off.  Tuesday will be a long night, particularly if Alaska voters will determine the outcome of the required tenth additional senatorial seat."

Wasilla Willie

"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want."  ---Tori Filler

More Rats Leave the Ship?

Time magazine predicts that Pelosi may retire rather than work under a Republican House majority. Classic end game. I knew it well when I was a kid. “I’m taking my marbles and not gonna play with you anymore.” Of course, if she does, I will be infuriated and sorely disappointed--I was looking forward to that San Francisco female canine having to eat some crow after the way she ran roughshod over her own inmates and the American public. But she, like many of her cohorts, will take the easy way out and retire to the good life on their government pensions and health care for life. She is, and was, and will be, an evil woman. Good riddance.

JP

http://flyoverfeedback.blogspot.com