HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving, a most unique, American holiday.
Here I want to share with you some prayers from the Book Of Common Prayer (1979) celebrating Thanksgiving:
A General Thanksgiving
Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.
We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.
We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us.
We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.
Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for thetruth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.
Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know him and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.


Thanksgivings

Let us give thanks to God our Father for all his gifts so freely bestowed upon us. For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea.
We thank you, Lord.
For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ,
We thank you, Lord.
For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our friends,
We thank you, Lord.
For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve,
We thank you, Lord.
For health and strength to work, and leisure to rest and play,
We thank you, Lord.
For the brave and courageous, who are patient in suffering and faithful in adversity,
We thank you, Lord.
For all valiant seekers after truth, liberty, and justice,
We thank you, Lord.
For the communion of saints, in all times and places,
We thank you, Lord.
Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord;To him be praise and glory, with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

For those in the Armed Forces of our Country
Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And, I wish all of you a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Islamofacsist Terror Strikes India

Above is the Taj Mahal hotel in Bombay, now known as Mumbai, India. Today Islamofacsist terrorists struck the financial capital of India with a vengeance killing at this point 80 people and injuring hundreds.
There is great blogging coverage over at Gateway Pundit with a link to a television crew that was caught in the crossfire of violence gripping Mumbai.
According to Fox News Channel, a little-known Islamofacsist group known as Deccan Mujaheddin
is taking responsibility for the rain of terror.
The terrorists struck at numerous locations in Mumbai including the central train station and it appears that Westerners and especially British and Americans were the targets.
It appears that the terrorists did not get the memo that this is the era of hope and change. That the new American president-in-waiting, Barack Obama, is willing to talk to any one, any where, any time and with no preconditions. Preparation, yes, preconditions, no.
What this event shows is that the War Against Islamofacsist Terror is real and did not change just because the American people voted for President-elect Obama. That the tactics may have changed is something that needs to be considered. We can not think that an event like this can't happen in the United States.
Let us hope that the Indian anti-terror police can restore order, kill or arrest as many terrorists as possible and find out who is really behind this wave of terror.

Can't We Celebrate ONE Holiday Without Politically Correct Garbage?!

What a great photo above. It is two schoolchildren that are dressed and a Pilgrim and an Indian and it is a celebration of the first Thanksgiving. Note that the Pilgrim is Asian and the Indian looks to be Hispanic. Only in America, right?

But, Thanksgiving is the new holiday for the political correct police to come out in force and harass schools and children about how eeeevvviiiiiiiillll the Pilgrims were to the poor Indians. Thanksgiving or not.

In the college town of Claremont, California, two elementary schools Condit and Mountain View, got together and shared in a Thanksgiving feast. And, the students dressed up as Indians and Pilgrims.

But, a busy-body university professor, Michelle Rajeha, took on Condit Elementary for holding such a "demeaning" event.

Miss Rajeha wrote this to her daughters kindergarten teacher at Condit Elementary:

"I'm sure you can appreciate the inappropriateness of asking children to dress up like slaves (and kind slave masters), or Jews (and friendly Nazis), or members of any other racial minority group who has struggled in our nation's history."

What?! What in the name of Almighty God is this educated fool talking about?

Is it really demeaning to dress in period clothing? After all, the event did occur in 1620. Sorry, but the Indians did dress differently then. As did the English settlers that sailed to the New World. One does not hear women complaining of the Pilgrim girls wearing bonnets. Or the Pilgrim men wearing the funny hats.

Now, Miss Rajeha's mother is a Seneca Indian. And it appears that somehow, dressing up in traditional clothing is a racist act.

But, it gets better.

Miss Rajeha goes on to complain:

Raheja, an English professor at UC Riverside who specializes in Native American literature, said she met with teachers and administrators in hopes that the district could hold a public forum to discuss alternatives that celebrate thankfulness without "dehumanizing" her daughter's ancestry.

Now, thankfulness is what the holiday is all about. The act of thanksgiving was a hopeful start for the English settlers and the Native Americans. No one knew at that great feast that a terrible time in the history of what would become the United States of America in the treatment of the Native American.

And, as the article points out, not all Indians think the same as Miss Rajeha.

There is mother Kathleen Lucas and here is what she had to comment on the situation:

Kathleen Lucas, a Condit parent who is of Choctaw heritage, said her son -- now a first-grader -- still wears the vest and feathered headband he made last year to celebrate the holiday."My son was so proud," she said. "In his eyes, he thinks that's what it looks like to be Indian."

Mrs. Lucas takes a clear view of the celebration.

But, it does appear that the Miss Rajeha is part of what can only be described as an elitist group of educators that have begun this campaign against this celebration of Thanksgiving:

Among the costume supporters, there is a vein of suspicion that casts Raheja and others opposed to the costumes as agenda-driven elitists. Of the handful of others who spoke with Raheja against the costumes at the board meeting, one teaches at the University of Redlands, one is an instructor at Riverside Community College, and one is a former Pitzer College professor.

Methinks that the costume supporters are correct. It is an attempt by educated fools to foist their point of view on the school as a whole.

I have some advice for all concerned.

Remember, the first celebration is the historical marker of the origin of Thanksgiving. It is not to be the end all of Thanksgiving. The school is actually taking great liberties in the first place, but makes it easier for very young children to get a feeling of what that event must have been like. It is not meant to be exact. As these children get older, they will learn more about the first Thanksgiving and come to their own conclusions.

After all, today we celebrate Thanksgiving in a different way.

We celebrate it with family and friends and with total strangers. We take time from our busy lives to thank Almighty God for all that He has given to us. Our wives, husbands, children, family and friends. It makes us remember that there are many that are not thankful for anything. And that when we can to take time to share our thanks with those who can not share. Take time to feed the homeless and the hungry.

Children are being turned into adults faster and faster. Parents need to let their children be children and if there is something objectionable, why not just opt your child out of the celebration?

Please, people, can we have one holiday, just one, without political correct garbage? It is all many of us ask.

HT: Donald Douglas @ www.americanpowerblog.blogspot.com

Is It Conservatives Fault The One Is President?

The latest column by Right Wing News' John Hawkins is a serious indictment on conservatives and the lack of willingness of some to stick it out like liberals do.
Here is what I would call the money quote of this piece:

However, the greatest flaw conservatives have is that when we get frustrated with the performance of the Republican Party, we have a tendency to pick up our ball and go home. “Well, if they do that, then I’m not giving any money, I’m not helping any campaigns this year, and I’m not voting.”

In listening to talk radio as I do and did during this past election season, I can not tell you how many callers would tell any given host a similar line. In the Republican primaries, most were looking for the perfect conservative. Since there is and has never been such an animal, I looked at all the candidates and found Mitt Romney to be the best of the lot. But, he did not win the nomination. Again, I want to write this like a broken record. Conservatives did not unite against one candidate and Sen. John "F--- You" McCain emerged as the Republican nominee. And when Sen. "F---" McCain won, the chorus of the “Well, if they do that, then I’m not giving any money, I’m not helping any campaigns this year, and I’m not voting.” got louder and louder. And even when Sen. "F--- You" McCain nominated Gov. Sarah Palin, there were still holdouts.
It is exactly this attitude that means when a moderate does win as did Sen. "F--- You" McCain, when fellow conservatives pick up the marbles and go home, it either hands the election to Sen. Barack Obama or if he had won, Sen. "F--- You" McCain would have not felt that he owed conservatives anything.
The interesting aspect of Ronald Reagan is that he realized he needed a lot of people. And, some were not conservative as he. In fact, some where not really conservatives at all. It took amazing leadership.
And, that is what conservatives are looking for. Someone to unite all factions, social, foreign policy/national security and fiscal conservatives.
But, it may mean that we all have to take a role. That means we have to find and cultivate someone that understands what conservatism means and is not ashamed to speak the truth.
The good thing about being out of power, it recalibrates that focus and we are now on that lookout and realizing that there are a lot of good leaders in our midst. The key is sticking it out and not worrying about setbacks. They happen. We can take a lesson from the other side.
And, Mr Hawkins explains how to do that.

Who Should Replace Alan Colmes?

Who Should Replace Alam Colmes
	Kirsten Powers
	Bob Beckel
	Susan Estrich
	Other
pollcode.com free polls

The left side of the Fox News Channel's Hannity and Colmes, Alan Colmes, announced that he is leaving the weeknight slugfest to do commentary and continue his radio talk show.

So, who would you like to see up against righty Sean Hannity? I vote for Kirsten Powers. It does not hurt for the left to have someone like her up against Mr. Hannity.

The Change We Have Been Waiting For: Implementing Keynesian Economics With The Clinton Team

Yes, a long post headline, but right to the point as President-elect Obama announced some of his plans to revitalize the failing economy in today's radio/web broadcast.
And it is a doozy.
Firstly, it is a plan that calls for the creation and or saving of 2,500,000 jobs by 2011.
And, how will President-elect Obama do it?
Why with good, old-fashioned government spending on make-work projects that will supposedly repair the national infrastructure.
Of course, throw in for good measure, the ridiculous notion of a commitment to fuel-efficient cars and alternative energy technologies "that can free us from our dependence on foreign oil and keep our economy competitive in the years ahead." according to our president-elect.
So, the question has to arise.
Where is the president-elect going to come up with the money to accomplish any of these ideas, especially repairing our roads and bridges?
The secret is to do this one has three options.
1) Increase taxes. And, candidate Obama certainly drove that point home. But, will he have to lower that middle-class from the stated $250,000 threshold? To increase government involvement in the economy, yes he can!
2) Borrowing. We are already doing that for the $700,000,000,000 bailout/rescue package passed by congress. And President-elect Obama wants another $175,000,000,000 on top of that.
3) Inflation. Now, there is a word that rarely gets mentioned these days, but under this soon to be president, get ready to hear it a lot. It is what happened to the last liberal Democrat president, Jimmah Carter. Along with killer interest rates and high unemployment. Not to add his allowing the Shah of Iran to be deposed and the ushering of the first Islamofacists, the ayatollahs led by Khomeini.
The irony is that the president-elect is appointing a mostly Clinton-era team to implement this back to the future economic plan.
What I do not hear or read from our president-elect is how he will have policies that actually encourage growth in the private sector that will lead to real jobs and people paying taxes and keeping the economy strong.
Because it appears by this, he does not think that the private sector can do all that much. Why else would he seek these FDR era schemes? Does our president-elect not realize that these schemes only kept the Great Depression going until World War II? I guess not.
I do not get how the Clintonites lining up to be part of the incoming Obama administration do not point out to President-elect Obama that they raised taxes and did not even promote the make-work schemes and got their heads on a plate in the 1994 midterm elections.
Also, on the subject of roads and bridges, blogger Robert Stacy McCain points out in growing economic areas such as the South or Western state (except California, of course!) roads and bridges are in great shape and there are improvement projects going on all the time to keep up with changing conditions. And as Mr. McCain points out much of this money will go to the dilapidated highways in the Rust Belt and or places like New York state, California and the like. Note that these areas are almost entirely governed by liberal Democrats, Republicans and so-called Republicans like here in California with Gov. Benedict Arnold Schwarzenegger.
While it sounds great, this is but another rabbit hole that President-elect Obama and company are going to drag the United States down and methinks of the gal that made the following comment after an Obama campaign rally:

"I never though this day would ever happen! I won't have to worry about putting gas in my car, I won't have to worry about paying my mortgage. You know, if I help him, he's going to help me."

Well, for Peggy Joseph, she may not be able to afford that car payment or the mortgage anyway because if President-elect Obama has his way, one if not all three options noted above will come to pass and survival will be what Miss Joseph will be worrying about.
More hope and change. Hope and change, baby!

Some Links And Comments For Your Reading Pleasure

I am somewhat lazy tonight and will just send you to some links that you may enjoy with a little commentary.
The first link is this excellent column in the Wall Street Journal by Daniel Henninger. Take this away from what he is writing. Religion is important to keeping business on the straight and arrow. It is sort of a "take that!" response to Kathleen "Keep your faith to yourself" Parker.
Next link is Hugh Hewitt's latest column on the 2012 election, yes I know why so late! Interesting take on Rush Limbaugh's infamous "Operation Chaos" that almost gave Sen. Hillary Clinton the Democrat presidential nod. It is another argument that large population states should go earlier in the nominating caucus and or primaries. I agree about closing primaries to Republicans only or at most independents.
Again, on the religion meets the real world front, it appears that Pope Benedict wrote about the current economic crisis way back in 1985 when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Read it and you be the judge.
In the Y A W N category, Guns 'N Roses is finally releasing its latest album. It took only 17 years to make. I wonder if Axl Rose is still alive?! Let's be honest. G 'N R were great back in the day. They staved off the grunge rebellion into the 1990s. But now and sooooo long in the making, it just does not make any sense.
Well, that does it in links around the world tonight.

More Hope And Change

This little piece from Reuters does not exactly make me feel all that great for the future for these folks in the Upper South and Lower Midwest.
But, at least it has nothing to do with the great earthquake that is supposed to befall on California any minute now.
Just one more thing to get in the way of the era of Hope and Change!

A Case Against An American Automaker Bailout

In today's New York Times, former Republican presidential candidate and Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, makes a strong case against congress agreeing to bailout the big three American automakers.
Here is an interesting point that I did not think of as part of the reason why there is a problem for a Ford to compete with a Toyota:

That extra burden is estimated to be more than $2,000 per car. Think what that means: Ford, for example, needs to cut $2,000 worth of features and quality out of its Taurus to compete with Toyota’s Avalon. Of course the Avalon feels like a better product — it has $2,000 more put into it. Considering this disadvantage, Detroit has done a remarkable job of designing and engineering its cars. But if this cost penalty persists, any bailout will only delay the inevitable.

It is amazing, but when one thinks about it, it is very accurate that a Toyota Avalon looks like, feels like and is considered a luxury car. Not that there is anything wrong with a Ford Taurus, but when it does not look like, feel like and not considered a luxury car, it is not.
Here is something else for Chrysler, Ford and General Motors to consider:

The need for collaboration will mean accepting sanity in salaries and perks. At American Motors, my dad (George Romney) cut his pay and that of his executive team, he bought stock in the company, and he went out to factories to talk to workers directly. Get rid of the planes, the executive dining rooms — all the symbols that breed resentment among the hundreds of thousands who will also be sacrificing to keep the companies afloat.

It could not have helped that the executives of the three major American car makers went to Washington today to beg for a hand out-on their private jets, of course!
Nobody wants to see any or all three of the American car makers resort to chapter 11 bankruptcy, but if this is not a case for it too occur, there would never be one.
Chapter 11 would give the car maker(s) the ability to reorganize and thus renegotiate the labor contracts that are a contributing factor to the decline of the once mighty American car makers.
One must also remember that the foreign competitors are already building many of the cars that American's drive right here in the United States. Toyota just opened a new plant in Indiana.
And, they are doing so at less cost because they are not negotiating with the United Auto Workers.
And because of that, a bloated, outdated American auto industry is on the ropes. And instead of making the tough choices, the CEOs and the head of the UAW traipse to Washington, hat in hand.
Mr. Romney is correct that one if not all of the American automakers do not need a handout. They need to accept the new reality, and suffer the consequences now for the possibility of a better future. Otherwise, if the federal government agrees to a new round of cash, $25,000,000,000 on top of another $25,000,000,000, it is just delaying the inevitable.

Four Reasons The GOP Lost

It is amazing that the 2008 presidential election came down to the economy in a way. I mean, many in the pundit class were priming for Hillary vs Rudy showdown. And, much to their chagrin, it was Barack vs. Johnny Mac.
So, it should not be surprising that the Republican party and its allies are trying to find blame with how they lost this election.
Well, again, it was two things.
A referendum on President Bush and, as noted, the economy.
But, reading the very same people that promised the Hillary/Rudy showdown, there are other reasons.
I will highlight four reasons to add to the two reasons I noted above.
1) Why, it is those darn social conservative/religious voters.
And this is according to the newest member of the Washington elite club, columnist Kathleen Parker.
Today in her Washington Post column, she takes out the double-barrelled shot gun and blasted those pesky so-called values voters.
Here are some choice cliches that Miss Parker takes aim at the values voters:

Three little letters, great big problem: G-O-D.
I, for one, do not think that God is a problem. The problem is when someone closes their mind to God, which Miss Parker must have done.
I'm bathing in holy water as I type.
A totally insulting line that diminishes a potential point that Miss Parker may be trying to make.
To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn't soon cometh.
I have heard this before, but what I would like to ask people like Miss Parker, et al, is does she really think that if the most energetic group of Republicans are thrown overboard, those youths and young adults would flock to the Republican party? No, they were attracted to President-elect Obama because he had a positive message and was on offense while Sen. John McCain had no cohesive message and was on defense.
And shifting demographics suggest that the Republican Party -- and conservatism with it -- eventually will die out unless religion is returned to the privacy of one's heart where it belongs.
Again, I have heard this bandied about as well and yet if that were to occur, then what else would one have to keep private? Miss Parker seems to forget that the United States constitution guarantees freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. Thus, all those who practice their religion should be able to do so freely. That goes for evangelical Christians, traditionalist Roman Catholics and mainline protestants and Orthodox Jews.

So, according to Mrs. Parker, the Republicans would be better off without it's strongest voting bloc.
But, there is the following from this blogger's dear friend, the former Republican governor of Arkansas, the Rev. Mike Huckabee.
2) Why, let the Rev. Mike continue his pile-on against former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. And, when that is not enough, he pretty much goes after Fred Thompson, Sen. John McCain and fellow evangelical Gov. Sarah Palin.
The main problem with the Rev. Mike is that he is an very bitter and small man. And, an ordained minister. A bad combo.
But, the Rev. Mike is promoting his book, "Do The Right Thing" and he uses the book to do the wrong thing.
And that is the continuing demonizing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And, Mitt Romney. The Rev. Mike uses the book to whine about not getting a phone call of congratulations from Mr. Romney after the Rev. Mike won the Iowa caucus. Of course, before that the Rev. Mike had a rather offensive "Christmas television ad" with a floating cross. And in an interview with the New York Times magazine, the Rev. Mike asks an ignorant question about a Mormon belief that God and Satan were brothers. Nice. And he expects Mr. Romney to grovel at him? I guess so.
And now, the Rev. Mike is resentful of Gov. Palin being chosen by Sen. McCain to be the GOP vice-presidential nominee.
News flash Rev. Mike. If you thought that sucking up to Sen. McCain while knocking off Mr. Romney was your ticket to the VP slot, you got taken. You were never on the McCain radar. Period.
What the Rev. Mike is doing is giving all the ammo that ingrates like Kathleen Parker need to demonize the Republican party. If he really believes in doing the right thing, he needs to get over the hate against Mr. Romney and learn some economics from the former Massachusetts governor.
3) So-called Republican congressmen like this imbecile who has no idea that he was voted out of office. And probably wonders why.
Joe Knollenberg is a recently defeated congressman from Michigan and he is trying to explain why the three American auto makers deserve any help from the American people.
But, according to this guy, it is not the American people, i.e. the taxpayers, but congress that is helping out. Because after all, it is congress' money, not the American people's money.
What is the difference between soon to be ex-congressman Knollenberg and President-elect Obama on "spreading the wealth"? Nothing.
Again, when a moderate Republican is pitted against a Democrat, people vote for the Democrat because they know what they are getting with the Democrat. Screwed.
4) Lastly, it is all the groups of the conservative coalition saying they are important at the expense of the other.
Get a clue.
As I say, I am a conservative. Not a social conservative. Not a fiscal conservative. Not a national security-foreign policy conservative. A conservative period.
Until we get that through our heads, we will not go out and talk to the American people and regain their trust.
These are some highlight reasons, but there are probably many more.
We need to stop shooting each other.
The common enemy, if you will, is the Democrat party. Liberals. President-elect Obama.
If we focus on that, we can learn a lot from the three branches of the conservative movement.
Until then, I guess some people and groups just have to vent. At the expense of serious examination.

Good Riddance Ted Stevens

It appears that it is finally over in the senate race in Alaska between Republican Sen. Ted Stevens and Democrat Anchorage mayor Mark Begich and Mr. Begich has defeated the convicted felon, Sen Stevens.
And, that is a great thing and hopefully the end of the road for the corruption gang of the Republican party.
This is what has taken its toll on the public and its view of the Republican party.
Where do we start?
Clearly, 2006 was a very bad year for the GOP.
Too many bad apples were protected or just ran over the then Speaker of The House, Dennis Hastert. And, the top of the list was degenerate former congressman Mark Foley.
And, then there was the former majority leader, Tom DeLay. Again, when one is indicted and or convicted of a crime, that person at the very least needs to resign. Period.
Now, with the conviction of soon to be former Sen. Stevens, the Republican party can bring people up in leadership that are not tainted by scandal.
And hopefully return the party back to its conservative, reform roots.

Social Conservatives Did NOT Cost Sen. McCain The Election

Despite the left's greatest attempts to try to say otherwise, in the American Spectator online today, G. Tracy Meehan points out that social conservatives did not cost Sen. John McCain the presidency in the past election.
In fact, Mr. Meehan points out that social conservatives are the Republican party's most loyal set of voters. Much more than social and or economic libertarians and even better than national security voters.
Mr. Meehan points out that it is very true that a coalition has to add new members. But, one does not throw out the successful parts of that coalition in vain hopes that somehow the new parts of this coalition will offset those that are chased out.
Here is a difference between conservatives and liberals.
Conservatives do debate each other on critical issues. No doubt that there are many conservatives that support same-sex marriage and those who support traditional marriage. Same with the life issue. Some conservatives are genuinely pro-choice and obviously some are pro-life. Some like big government conservatism, many conservatives do not.
Because we have these debates, people on the other side assume we are going to come apart at the seems. And, for a time we might. But overall, conservatives unite on core issues. And, scapegoating is very easy after an election like the one that we just concluded.
But, we will unite when the time is right and that will be 2010, just in time for the congressional mid-term elections.

Good News From The Left Coast For A Change

It is amazing, but San Francisco radio station KGO has fired Charles Karel Anthony after his rant of wanting Joe the Plumber killed in the heat of the just passed presidential campaign.
Remember Joe the Plumber is the Ohio man that dared to ask President-elect Obama about his tax plan and in an instant invigorated the McCain campaign.
Well, Karel thought that his mike was turned off one weekend evening and while the news was being broadcast, one could hear ol' Karel in the background saying that he wanted Joe the Plumber "f---ing" killed.
Well, first of all, as much as Karel may have not liked the way that the Joe the Plumber phenomenon took off, he should not wish the man any harm. This is the problem with those on the left. They get emotional and have no thought about anything that they say or do.
Second, never ever assume that your mike will be off during a break. Supposedly, the engineer had told Karel that the mike was off. Well, I would take the caution that it may not be off and just act like he is still on the air.
Karel did not and he went off on a rant and he paid the correct price for it.
Now, in the article in the San Francisco Examiner, it is noted that Karel is openly gay. What was amazing his that he was the only openly gay radio talk show host in San Francisco. And of course Karel seems to think that there is some sinister plot against him. He notes that Proposition eight passed and now he is off the air. And, he blames an inexperienced engineer for telling him that the mike was off.
Here is something for Karel to think about while he is out of his radio gig.
One, don't blame other people for your mistake. What you said while you thought you were off the air is what you think. Examine that position rather than blaming an engineer. The engineer did not make you say the offensive remark.
Second, realize that while you do not have to take yourself seriously, take what you say seriously. Remember, there are some real whack jobs out there that may have heard what you said and taken it to heart and really might have gone after Joe the Plumber. Ask a fellow talker on the other side, Michael Savage, what happens when you say things out of line.
As an aside.
Karel used to be on local radio station KFI with his now deceased partner and I used to listen to them and they were amusing. But, since his partner has died, Karel seems to be bitter and angry. Maybe he should deal with that and that might put him in a better place.
For now, KGO did the right thing and gave Karel a little time to realize that what one says does matter. On or off the air.

HT: The Queer Conservative @ www.queer-conservative.blogspot.com

More Anti-Palin Sniping

It appears that some Republican governors feelings are hurt because of the attention that the media is paying to Alaska governor Sarah Palin.
As the Republican governors meet in Miami, some are sniping at Gov. Palin and telling a network that no one watches, CNN, that they were uncomfortable with the news conference that was held this morning.
Here is a clue.
I am all but certain that one who had no guts to go on the record was Minnesota governor Tim Palwenty. I am certain of that because Gov. Palwenty was one of the earliest elected officials to support the failure that was the John McCain candidacy. And I am certain that he is trying to cut her off so that he can make a run at the Republican nomination in 2012.
YAWN!
What is amazing is that almost every bit of the no-names that keep going to the DDBMSOWM crowd get whacked for making up stuff about Gov. Palin.
If any of these governors want to become leaders within the Republican party, step up now and take on Gov. Palin. And, say who you are.
Again, if you are like me, you realize that all of this was done to one Ronald Wilson Reagan. In 1968 when there was a draft-Reagan group trying to stop Richard Nixon from becoming the GOP presidential nominee. In 1976 when then former governor Reagan went up against then Vice-President Ford. In 1980 when he won the GOP nod and beat the peanut farmer, Jimmah.
I think that Gov. Palin makes the establishment scared. And they should be. Because she is doing what smart people do. Articulate issues and use common sense, conservative solutions. Does anyone think that President-elect Obama and company have real answers to the energy situation? Gov. Palin does.
People. Get over yourselves. Gov. Palin is the leader of the Republican party. Time to either offer someone else or get out of the way. And, stop being chickens when you go to your DDBMSOWM friends.

How The GOP Comeback Begins? Recruitment

In this piece in the American Spectator, Quin Hillyer points out that no matter how the senate ends up for Republicans, 2010 is around the corner. And the need for getting strong candidates needs to start yesterday.
One of the reasons that the Republican National Committee Chairman battle needs to be settled is the winner should be the one to look at and get some good people to try to wrest some senate seats from the Democrats. And to keep some Republican seats going the other way.
The same needs to be done at the House level as well.
Mr. Hillyer has some interesting names in the mix, but that aside, the highlight of the article is Alabama senator Jeff Sessions.
Sen. Sessions was originally nominated for a federal court during the Reagan administration but the Democrats voted him down.
Eventually, Sen. Sessions ran for and won the senate seat he holds now. And he won reelection to a third term in the election just passed.
Why is this important? Because Sen. Sessions ran as and has legislated as a conservative.
Granted, that is not hard to do in a state like Alabama, but it is instructive to those running in other parts of the United States that people will vote for you on principle if you articulate it and stand by it.
The reason that the Republicans are in the state they are in is that they claimed to be for smaller, efficient government and have governed like liberal Democrats. As I have noted in the past, when the voters have that choice, they vote for the real deal and that would be the Democrats.
It is not a "branding" problem the Republicans face but one of going back to what the voters will vote for. It has been done before and can be done again.
We could look at someone like a Sen. Sessions rather than someone like our unesteemed governor, Benedict Arnold Schwarzenegger to be the way back.
But our battles for control of the party structure at the national level needs to be resolved now so that the recruiting can begin. Yesterday!

52-48 Wants To Love Conservatives, Republicans Again. . .Not So Fast!

Below are some photos from a group that calls itself 52-48 and reason it is called this is the original margin of victory that President-elect Obama had over Sen. John McCain. It is a strange effort to have spent the last eight years bashing the current president, George W. Bush and now that their guy has won, all is A-OK. See for yourself:

How nice of them now to realize that we are actually one nation. I especially like the gal that has a rather constipated look on her face as she holds up the sign "We are all in this TOGETHER" and the O is in the Obama campaign logo. Nice. Get that last dig in that your guy won.

But I think that the real reason this is being done is the sentiment of this gentleman:

Now, this is what their message is really all about.

A stunning admission by one of the contributors that he was a loon and was crazy for the last eight years that President Bush was in office.

For some reason, too many of these people did not know their civics and that we do not elect a president by popular vote. Thus, in 2000 when then Gov. Bush won the electoral college with 271 votes because he won Florida, the same apes--- people tried to out and out steal the election in Florida. And, when they failed from that point on, as the gentleman notes, they went apes---.

In 2004, not only did President Bush win the electoral college, he won the popular vote as well. That was 51-48.

Where were these people then? I do not remember seeing this on the Internet then. Most were probably believing that somehow President Bush stole the vote in Ohio when he won that state outright by over 118,000 votes.

Oh, but now their guy wins, and with a heavy cloud of voter registration fraud, we should all kiss and make up as if the past eight years never happened.

Excuse me while I finish yakking in the porcelain bowl!

Look, here is the Right View From The Left Coast ground rules for the next four years.

Sen. Barack Obama will be the president. He will be my president. I will respect him as such. I will respect the office that he upholds. While we are at war, he is the commander-in-chief and deserves a stronger effort of respect on my part. But, do not mistake that for timidity. I will not be quiet when I believe that President-elect Obama is wrong. I will try to marshal the people to redress the government when there are actions made by either the president or congress when I believe that they are detrimental to the American people. But I will do so with more respect and honor than many of these 52ers did to the current president. Because I believe in the American way and that way is to address our concerns in a legal manner. Not like a mob.

So, I will do this with you, 52ers. I will trust your sentiment-but verify that you keep your word when we disagree. To paraphrase, that is what another president that drew the ire of the left, Ronald Reagan said. Trust, but verify.

Who Should Be The Republican National Committe Chair?

That is the poll question in the side bar.
I limited it to four names yet five choices. There is the infamous "Other".
If you chose other, come back and say who that should be.
FTR, I like the dual Gingrich/Steele choice.

This Is Not The Solution To The GOP Problems

Our esteemed governor here in the not-so Golden State, Benedict Arnold Schwarzenegger, has a wonderful, new proposal to "remake" the Republican party.
Just give up on fiscal responsibility!
In an interview with CNN over the weekend, the alleged Republican governor said that the Republican party is too ideologically bound by being against government spending.
According to the Los Angeles Times, this is what Gov. Benedict Arnold told CNN:

"I think the important thing for the Republican Party is now to also look at other issues that are very important for this country and not to get stuck in ideology," "Let's go and talk about health care reform. Let's go and . . . fund programs if they're necessary programs and not get stuck just on the fiscal responsibility."

So, the reason for being a Republican just really does not matter? That is what Gov. Benedict Arnold is saying. And his moronic plan to raise the state sales tax for three years is just a start.
The reason there is a GOP is to keep a check on this kind of abuse of the taxpayer. I am not an economist, but I know that you don't raise regressive taxes in a recession in which people are not inclined to buy products that might add to the state coffers.
Let's see, throw out the social issues, check.
Throw out "fiscal responsibility", check.
Then, what is different from the Democrat party?
Oh, silly me, I forgot that we need to lessen business regulation and be tough on crime.
But, again, I ask, what is all that different from a garden variety Democrat?
NOTHING!
The problem with Gov. Benedict Arnold is that he ran for governor on a lark. And, to be fair, he did try to reform some aspects of governance in the beginning. But even that effort was half-assed. By putting four competing measures on the ballot in 2003, and calling a special statewide election, he muddied the waters and those opposed to his reforms cleaned his clock. And then, the transformation began.
And now, we see what his brand of Republicanism hath brought to California.
As I noted in an earlier post, over one million potential McCain voters that voted for President Bush in 2004 stayed home or voted for President-elect Obama.
People just are not enthusiastic about supporting a party that has no rudder. Gov. Benedict Arnold is saying, lets just spend money, start new programs because the "people" want them. He does not tell us where the money comes from.
We Republicans are having a serious debate about our future. What Gov. Benedict Arnold is suggesting is a non-starter. If one talks fiscal responsibility, one must look at what that means. It appears that Gov. Benedict Arnold did not do that for look at the ridiculousness of his comment.
I will note this about Gov. Benedict Arnold.
Gov. Benedict Arnold has shared many times that when he was in Austria, he watched then-President Nixon on television touting the free-enterprise system. Too bad that Mr. Nixon did a lot to end it! When Arnold came to the states, it was Richard Nixon's approach to government that attracted him to the GOP. Never does Gov. Benedict Arnold tout Ronald Reagan, who did transform the GOP and made it a majority party.
That says it all. And, we only have two more years of this nonsense.
Hmm, maybe the rumors that President-elect Obama wants him as a globaloney warming czar could be true and we could be delivered from the errors of our ways and Gov. Benedict Arnold can take his road show to Washington.
Now, that is change I can believe in!

Life DOES Go On

Now that the election season is over, it is time to think about a lot things that are really important in the life of your humble blogger.
For instance, now I can concentrate on sports.
I have the seeming indignity of being a Cleveland Browns fan. Both I and II. And, once again, they are giving me a lot of heartburn and heartache as it appears that they will probably not make the NFL playoffs again.
UGH!
Oh, it does not get any better when it comes to college football.
It is very tough to be a UCLA Bruins fan this season. With new coach Rick Neuheisel, a former UCLA quarterback, there was the feeling of, dare I write this, hope and change. Well, throw that hope out the window. And the change is that the beloved Bruins are losing games by blowouts this season. And once again, all that a Bruins fan can hope for is that when it comes to the showdown with hated, I mean hated, crosstown rivals USC, is a good ol' fashioned UCLA butt-kicking. As an aside, I should note that the president of USC attends my church and knows that your humble blogger is a Bruins fan.
MORE UGH!
And of course there is the National Hockey League and yes, the self-flagellation continues as I continue to follow the Los Angeles Kings as they try to stay out of not only their division cellar but the Western conference cellar as well. Another aside, does anyone who follows hockey remember when the divisions and conferences were named after famed NHL builders, like Conn Smythe? I like that better than the generic geographical divisions.
MORE AND MORE UGH!!
But, it is being able to think about something else other than politics that is so good!
And, there is Thanksgiving coming up. A wonderful time that Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast and I will have family together and take a little trip to the desert.
Most important is Christmas, my personal favorite time of the year. Last year it was sullied by politics of the Iowa and New Hampshire variety and the "Christmas" television ads. YUCK! It could have been enough to spoil Christmas.
And it is a time to get stuff done around the house that one has put off for a long time.
So, really, life does go on, win or lose.
What is important is what we chose to make of our own individual lives and how we share that with those around us.
We do not need to have politics always get in the way. And it should not. And, if one has family that does not agree with your politics, there is a lot more to talk about and that is more worthwhile. Dennis Prager says it best that it is not worth ruining family relationships over what one's politics are. AGREED!
So, no matter who you were for in this past election and no matter your party, take time to remember that we have so much in our lives and it is what we make of it that counts.
And, there are only four months to the baseball season!

Cali GOP Has Little To Be Happy About

For those of us in California, election night 2008 was not at all pleasant. To be blunt, we had our clocks cleaned and I am the first to say that we more than deserved it.
So, what do we do from here?
First, I can only relate why there were problems from my little corner of California, the Western San Gabriel valley.
Today's Pasadena Star-News had an analysis of the presidential election and two controversial ballot initiatives. The first was Proposition Four that dealt with parental notification of a minor getting an abortion. The second was Proposition Eight that restored the traditional definition of marriage as one man and one woman.
Of the 11 cities that make up the Western San Gabriel Valley, start with the presidential election. President-elect Barack Obama got 59% of the vote compared to Republican Sen. John McCain's 39%. To be blunt, that is a very embarrassing number for Sen. McCain. But, by the same token, there were 10% more people voting this time around and many for the first time and no doubt for President-elect Obama.
On Proposition Four, the measure would have failed (as it did statewide, 48%-52%) by a 49%-51% margin. And it is the current ceiling as to where the West San Gabriel Valley and the state of California on the whole are on the matter of parental notification.
And where Proposition Eight is concerned, it passed slightly more than the statewide vote (which was 52%-48%) by a 53%-47% margin.
Now, I can write and moan that there was so much against us and the economy and an unpopular president. But, that is just making excuses. There is a glaring number that can not be denied.
That number is 1,916,745.
That is the number of less voters as reported by USA Today that voted in California in 2004 versus 2008.
And worse, is this number.
1,838,066.
That is the number difference between President George W. Bush's vote total in 2004 and Sen. John McCain's in 2008.
Fewer voters, more voting for the other candidate and a lot of ticket splitting on not just propositions, but congressional races as well.
So, what can the state and local Republican party do to change it for the mid-term election in 2010?
First, the state party must make it imperative that when candidates are recruited, that they are serious candidates. If some one runs just to get their name on the ballot and has no interest in running a serious campaign, they should not be considered.
Second, make the message about the issues that matter to everyday Californians from a conservative perspective.
By that the state and county Republican party's must talk about the state budget and the mess that it is in. But offer concrete solutions. Talk about cutting duplicate programs, giving leeway to local governments to opt out and let the state have that money to apply to other areas of the budget. Cutting, not raising taxes in the middle of what is clearly a recession.
Education. The need for high standards, bars to reach, education choice whether it is in public schools and or private schools. Strengthening community colleges and trade schools. Not making it easier for anyone to go to a state college or university but challenging.
Those are two issues and there are so many more.
One other thing that I learned this past election.
Give a reason for a voter to vote for you rather than against the other candidate. That is what President-elect Obama did and that is a huge reason why he is the president-elect of the United States.
And, the California Republican party has to compete everywhere in this state. We can not write off whole parts of the state as we can not win election when we give up before we start. That means we have to find serious candidates to run in assembly and state senate districts in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Same for Los Angeles and Los Angeles County. Also, we have to be more aggressive than the Democrats in registering voters. An example is a local farmer's market in Monrovia. When Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast and I have gone over the years, the Democrats are loaded with their propaganda and at least two young to middle-age volunteers. If the Republicans do have a table and or propaganda, it is all but barren and manned by a well-meaning volunteer. But, that volunteer is usually older than Methuselah. Sorry, but that is the case and while it is caving to image, it is important when trying to attract new voters.
There is a lot to do, but giving up is not one of them.
Republicans need new, forward looking leadership in California. It is there and we need to be willing to bring those new leaders to the fold. If not, we will end up like the Massachusetts Republican party. Yes, there is a Massachusetts GOP, but not much of one. California deserves better and if you are a Cali GOPer, please forward this to anyone else you know. We need to get working and right away because 2010 will be around the corner before you know it.

Hey Johnny Mac, Man-Up And Defend Sarah Palin-And Admit Your Campaign Sucked!

*****WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! THIS POST IS BEING WRITTEN BY AN ANGRY BLOGGER AND I AM REDUCED TO SWEARING BECAUSE OF THE ANGER. APOLOGIES TO ANY ONE OFFENDED. *****

Right now, I am beyond angry with the reports of now, thankfully, former "staffers" to the McCain campaign are airing dirty laundry about the running mate, the Alaska governor, Sarah Palin.
But, who is amazingly silent about all of this?
Why it is the wily ol' Maverick himself, Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee.
After all, he made the decision to choose Gov. Palin. Who can he blame? Himself? Nah! Blame the choice!
Listen up Johnny Mac.
I was NOT for your candidacy in the first place. I backed Mitt Romney. When it was clear that Mr. Romney would have no chance and was gracious in throwing his support behind you, that was a sign that the rest of us should do the same. And, I did. But here is the thing. I and most against your candidacy did so grudgingly. But, when you chose Gov. Sarah Palin, I and a whole lot of people were thrilled and surprised. I thought that you realized that win or lose you were looking to the next generation. But, no, it appears that you had your head up your rear end because when it came to the fact that she was being abused within 24 hours of the announcement, you did not show the infamous "F--- You" anger that earned the "F--- You" moniker at this site. Oh, I am sorry, maybe that is because Gov. Palin is an unabashed conservative. You save the "F--- You" for supposedly your own Republicans, like Texas Sen. John Cornyn. And now, that you lost, you are not shutting up all these people who are reduced to saying how "uncommon" it was for Gov. Palin to open her hotel room door in a bathrobe and towel on her wet hair.
Some leadership.
Which leads to the whole problem of your candidacy, Johnny Mac.
You did not give any one a reason to vote for you. Just against the other guy.
No wonder President-elect Obama won.
And, he would have really blown you out of the water if you did not have Gov. Palin on the ticket.
BTW, Johnny Mac, did you really think that the crowds that came out when you campaigned with Gov. Palin were there to see you? Oh, yes, z z z z by the time you came up to the mike.
Because of the choice of Gov. Palin, I decided that I would do the volunteering thing. I spent a few nights phone banking. Not because I thought you were Mr. Wonderful, Johnny Mac. Because I really thought that Gov. Palin was an inspired choice. And the thanks that she got was a slap in the face by people that could not run around a track.
Hey, Steve Shit Schmidt. Yeah, I am reduced to profanity. Anyway, Steve Shit, why do you not man-up and tell us your concerns on the record? Or Nicolle Wallace? What you two are Chicken Shits! You, not the thousands that showed up, volunteered our hearts out, and not Gov. Palin, are the reason Johnny Mac lost. And, Johnny Mac, because you showed no leadership, you have to blame yourself.
Come on, Johnny Mac. Man-up and tell these people to shut their holes and if they care about "Country First" pledge to rebuild the Republican party instead of tearing it down. You claim to be a Republican. Act like one!
And, while you are at it, take some responsibility for your loss. Even the Great Man, Ronald Reagan, had to do that a couple of times.
If you want to be a statesman within the Republican party, call out these creeps and admit that you could have done a better job in the campaign. You owe to those that supported you in the campaign.

A GOP Post-Mortem

In wake of the election of Sen. Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States, there is no time like the present to evaluate what went wrong for the Republicans and where the Grand Ol' Party goes from here.
First, no question, we nominated the next in line and in this election, it may have been the best that could have been done.
Sen. John McCain was at the end the last man standing. There were quite a lot of Republicans that were running for president. There was from the Republican left former New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani. And from the right side of the GOP, there was former senator Fred Thompson. In the center was the former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney and the former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee.
In the end, Sen. McCain divided and conquered to win the Republican nod and could not do much more.
I think that the best thing that he did was chose Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. She is not going anywhere because now she is no longer under the shadow of her political godfather, Sen. McCain.
But, it was a perfect storm and everything was against them this election cycle. And yet, this is in no way a blowout by President-elect Obama. And maybe the Democrats will not get the gains in congress that they anticipated.
But, it is time for the Republican party to get serious and clean house in Washington, D. C. and throughout the states.
First, we need a new Republican National Committee chairman. I right here and now want that chair to be former speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich. He has been there and done that and has been out of elected politics. He would do a great job presenting the message and recruiting good candidates at all levels.
Second, time to get rid of the fossils in congressional leadership. House minority leader, John Bohener, gone. Roy Blunt, gone. Move up Eric Cantor to minority leader. bring in new blood in some young Turks such as Adam Putnam from Florida. Kevin McCarthy from here in California.
And in the senate, keep Sen Mitch McConnell in charge. But get some aggressive whips under him. He will need a united senate to keep the majority Democrats from going over the edge.
Third, get with the modern age in campaigning. We have to give it to the Obama campaign that they were not afraid to use anything at their disposal.
Fourth, is that the great Republican governors out there, led by Gov. Palin and Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal and Mark Sanford in South Carolina need to unite as they represent the three-stools of the Republican-conservative movement. All three are the future of the party and it is time that they take advantage of the carnage that was this election to show how to win and govern at the national level.
Fifth, we need to be much more aggressive about registering new voters and getting them to the polls. We can not keep complaining and whining that oh the unions have an unfair advantage. Or, rightfully, blame a group like ACORN. If we do not get aggressive in this regard, we will keep shrinking and not have much of a base left.
Sixth. The Republican party has a lot of people of color that can win elections. I mean black and Hispanic and Asians. But, if we do not get serious and have these people running in areas that they can win elections, like J. C. Watts did in Oklahoma in the 1990s, then we will be the party of Whitey and again we will shrink.
Most important, do not, I repeat, do not think that we need to go to the Bush family well anytime soon. It is too bad because Jeb Bush would have made a great president. But, I do not think we will see that happen anytime soon.
We have been here before. It was called the Clinton years. And, it was under the leadership of those like Newt Gingrich that led to the Republican ascendancy in 1994. And, they can do it again.
The Republican party has to be aggressive with out being offensive. And that is not always easy to do in modern politics.
But, these are some suggestions to get back to at the very least even in 2010. And we can do it.
The McCain era is gone and what he did right was introduce America to a new leader in Gov. Palin. As noted, she is not going away and will be leading the way back from the wilderness on her own.
But, we will not win another election and we should not if we try the George W. Bush big-government conservatism.
That is the overarching message of the 2008 election season.

CONGRATULATIONS PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA

Let us ALL say it together now:

Congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama.

I will have a later post as to the prospects for the Republicans in the next four years. but I want to take this opportunity to thank our new president-elect and say that he had two things going for him. A bad economy and a really unpopular president that he successfully ran against.

In politics, timing is everything. And for many Americans, the time was right to elect the first black for the highest office in the land.

No question, a lot of the Obama win has to do with the tremendous support he garnered within the black community.

I was at an event this past weekend and the overwhelming majority of the people were black. Many were showing their support for President-elect Obama. I was thinking the whole time that I could not vote for then Sen. Messiah Barack. Not because he was black but because I found little if anything that I agreed with him about. But, I was also thinking how exciting for many of the people that I was with that they, many who probably were old enough to not be able to drink from the same water fountain as whites or sit at the same lunch counter, would be able to vote for a black man for president.

And, I do understand their excitement.

But, they will have to be prepared for the disappointment that President-elect Obama will have to bring to them, as to many of us, at some point in his presidency.
It is the way that it is in politics.

But, do not take away the victory. For Sen. Barack Hussein Obama is now the president-elect of the United States. And yes, he is my president even though I did not vote for him. That is the way that it is in a democratic system such as ours.

So, it is as heartfelt that I can to congratulate our president elect.

And, the 2012 campaign begins in the morning!

California Voting

This is anecdotal evidence about the voting pattern here in deep blue California.
I work in Toluca Lake, near a couple of major studios. Lefty land if there ever was one.
Across the street from my office is a polling place.
When I arrived to the office around 8:15am, there was a longish line, but it was moving pretty quickly. Younger people mostly, but they are probably industry people. I would think that most of these voters will be Obamacultists. But, of course there are going to be a good sprinkling of McCain supporters, not enough to matter here.
As I write this post, it is lunch time and it is just steady at the polling place across the street.
One other thing is that there is an interesting strategy taking place in regard to the state propositions.
The pro prop-8 people are planting themselves at freeway on and off ramps as well as major intersections and waving signs in support of the measure. In my home town of Pasadena, there were a few anti prop-8 people countering the pro prop-8 crowd at one corner.
Interesting tactic.
So, a taste of California voting.
I will vote after work this evening. And once.
Every needs to vote and do not, do not pay attention to any polls or calls of states.
Remember this.
In 1982, every exit poll but one said Tom Bradley would win the California governor's race easlily. Only ABC news said that George Deukmejian would win and they were right.
Let us do it again!

Get Out And Vote. . .And You Know For Who!

This is it. All of our back and forth is coming down to this.
It is time to vote.
And, I have in the best way that I could laid out the case for why you should vote for the Republican team of Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin.
So, get out and vote!

Keep It Classy Joe The Plumber Haters

I can not wait for the unhinged left to defend this getting over the airwaves, but it does show how the left really thinks about people like Joe the Plumber.
Now, you do have to click on the video and listen really close. About a minute in you hear Karel, aka Charles Karel Bouley, of wanting the mother f----- Joe the Plumber killed.
Nice.
Now, imagine if, oh say Michael Savage was caught on the air saying that, oh he wanted Ellen DeGeneres killed, what do you think the reaction would be?
In the case of Mr. Savage, every respectable conservative talker would denounce and distance themselves from such a sick thought.
But where is the outrage over Karel?
Well, two things are in play here.
One, Karel is gay and second, he is on San Francisco radio station KGO, long a 50,000 watt left-wing bastion.
A side note is that this is the same radio station that had as a host the now convicted child molester, Bernie Ward, as a prominent host.
Bottom line is that this Karel fellow should not be allowed on the airwaves until at the very least after the election.
And, one wonders why so many Americans are turned off by politics.

HT: Hot Air @ www.hotair.com

*****Do not forget. If you are for John McCain for President, please go to Why Are You For John McCain? *****
*****Do not forget. If you are for Barack Obama for president, please go to Why Are You For Barack Obama?*****

California Endorsements

For those of you who are here in the not-so Golden State of California, here is the official Right View From The Left Coast endorsement for the election on November 4, 2008.

President/Vice-President: John McCain/Sarah Palin

Congress (29th district): Charles Hahn

State Senator (21st district): Teddy Choi

State Assembly (44th district): Brian Fuller


State Propositions

Information is taken directly from the Los Angeles county sample ballot as approved by the California secretary of state.



1A)
SAFE, RELIABLE HIGH–SPEED PASSENGER TRAIN BOND ACT. To provide Californians a safe, convenient, affordable, and reliable alternative to driving and high gas prices; to provide good–paying jobs and improve California’s economy while reducing air pollution, global warming greenhouse gases, and our dependence on foreign oil, shall $9.95 billion in bonds be issued to establish a clean, efficient high–speed train service linking Southern California, the Sacramento/San Joaquin Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area, with at least 90 percent of bond funds spent for specific projects, with private and public matching funds required, including, but not limited to, federal funds, funds from revenue bonds, and local funds, and all bond funds subject to independent audits? Fiscal Impact: State costs of $19.4 billion, assuming 30 years to pay both principal and interest costs of the bonds. Payments would average about $647 million per year. When constructed, unknown operation and maintenance costs, probably over $1 billion annually; at least partially, and potentially fully, offset by passenger fares.



VOTE: NO. The state can not afford any bond measures at this time when there is already a structural deficit that our "leaders" in Sacramento have chosen to hand off until another time.




2) STANDARDS FOR CONFINING FARM ANIMALS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Requires that certain farm animals be allowed, for the majority of every day, to fully extend their limbs or wings, lie down, stand up and turn around. Limited exceptions apply. Fiscal Impact: Potential unknown decrease in state and local tax revenues from farm businesses, possibly in the range of several million dollars annually. Potential minor local and state enforcement and prosecution costs, partly offset by increased fine revenue.



VOTE: NO RECOMMENDATION. Yes, I know it is a wussy way out, but I think that this can be something done possibly when the economy is in better shape. Also, as one who is for animal welfare, I know that the conditions are not what we mostly city people are used to, but it is the way that it is done. I leave to one's conscience.



3) CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL BOND ACT. GRANT PROGRAM. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Authorizes $980,000,000 in general obligation bonds for construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing and equipping of eligible children’s hospitals. Fiscal Impact: State cost of about $2 billion over 30 years to pay off both the principal ($980 million) and interest ($933 million) costs of the bonds. Payments of about $64 million per year.



VOTE: NO. Again, the state of California is essentially broke and if there is going to be a potentially worsening economy, there is no willingness of people to pony up the money to invest in these bonds.




4) WAITING PERIOD AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BEFORE TERMINATION OF MINOR’S PREGNANCY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Changes California Constitution, prohibiting abortion for unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent, legal guardian, or, in limited cases, substitute adult relative. Provides an exception for medical emergency or parental waiver. Fiscal Impact: Potential unknown net state costs of several million dollars annually for health and social services programs, court administration, and state health agency administration combined.



VOTE: YES. This is a rational way that parents of minors are involved in the process of a teenage girl who may get pregnant. There is a clear provision that protects teen girls in the event of a medical emergency or parental waiver.




5) NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENSES. SENTENCING, PAROLE AND REHABILITATION. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Allocates $460,000,000 annually to improve and expand treatment programs. Limits court authority to incarcerate offenders who commit certain drug crimes, break drug treatment rules or violate parole. Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs potentially exceeding $1 billion annually primarily for expansion of offender treatment programs. State savings potentially exceeding $1 billion annually on corrections operations. Net one–time state prison capital outlay savings potentially exceeding $2.5 billion.


VOTE NO. This another step towards legalizing illicit drugs and it is backed by George Soros.


6) POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING. CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND LAWS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Requires minimum of $965,000,000 of state funding each year for police and local law enforcement. Makes approximately 30 revisions to California criminal law. Fiscal Impact: Increased net state costs exceeding $500 million annually due to increasing spending on criminal justice programs to at least $965 million and for corrections operating costs. Potential one–time state prison capital outlay costs exceeding $500 million.


VOTE: NO. This is a tough one because I always back law and order type of initiatives. But, again, the state of California is broke.


7) RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Requires government–owned utilities to generate 20% of their electricity from renewable energy by 2010, a standard currently applicable to private electrical corporations. Raises requirement for all utilities to 40% by 2020 and 50% by 2025. Fiscal Impact: Increased state administrative costs up to $3.4 million annually, paid by fees. Unknown impact on state and local government costs and revenues due to the measure’s uncertain impact on retail electricity rates.

VOTE: NO. A really flawed scheme put forth by global warming fanatics. But, it actually will eliminate jobs and makes an unrealistic attempt to have 40% of all utilities to have renewable energy. Both the Democrat and Republican parties oppose this global warming nonsense.

8) ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAME–SEX COUPLES TO MARRY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Changes California Constitution to eliminate the right of same–sex couples to marry. Provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Fiscal Impact: Over next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments. In the long run, likely little fiscal impact on state and local governments.

VOTE: YES. Intentionally poorly written title by the Democrat secretary of state. What it does is overturn the California state supreme court ruling forcing the state to recognize same-sex marriage. It will not take away any of the domestic partnership provisions and or benefits that have already been in place.


9) CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. VICTIMS’ RIGHTS. PAROLE. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. Requires notification to victim and opportunity for input during phases of criminal justice process, including bail, pleas, sentencing and parole. Establishes victim safety as consideration for bail or parole. Fiscal Impact: Potential loss of state savings on prison operations and increased county jail costs amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Potential net savings in the low tens of millions of dollars annually on parole procedures.

VOTE: YES. Because the state of California has a high preponderance of left-wing activist judges (some appointed by Republicans), this is very much needed to protect victims and to make sure that criminals are not set free on bail when they should be in jail awaiting trial.

10) ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. BONDS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Authorizes $5 billion in bonds paid from state’s General Fund, to help consumers and others purchase certain vehicles, and to fund research in renewable energy and alternative fuel
vehicles. Fiscal Impact: State cost of about $10 billion over 30 years to repay bonds. Increased state and local revenues, potentially totaling several tens of millions of dollars through 2019. Potential state administrative costs up to about $10 million annually.

VOTE: NO. Once again, another bond measure when the state is broke. Not good during economic bad times.

11) REDISTRICTING. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. Changes authority for establishing state office boundaries from elected representatives to commission. Establishes multilevel process to select commissioners from registered voter pool.
Commission comprised of Democrats, Republicans, and representatives of neither party. Fiscal Impact: Potential increase in state redistricting costs once every ten years due to two entities performing redistricting. Any increase in costs probably would not be significant.

VOTE: YES. It is about time that the people take the 10-year redistricting out of the hands of the legislature and to a commission that will be able to draw up fair, competitive districts so that the primary is not the real election.

12) VETERANS BOND ACT OF 2o08. This act provides for a bond issue of nine hundred million dollars ($900,000,000) to provide farm and home aid for California veterans. Fiscal Impact: Costs of about $1.8 billion to pay off both the principal ($900 million) and interest ($856 million) on the bonds; costs paid by participating veterans. Average payment for principal and interest of about $59 million per year for 30 years.

VOTE: NO. Again, as with proposition 6, I hate to ever vote against our veterans. But, again, the state is broke and there may be no incentive to invest in another bond measure when the economy is going south.

Just a little background about the initiative process here in California.

A lot of people think that it is crazy. But, it is the direct result of the Republican progressives that gave power to the people in the early part of the 20th century. It is how all amendments to the California constitution are done. And it is not all that easy. Because to get an initiative on the ballot, one must get 10% percent of the total statewide vote in the previous election to sign a petition to even get it on the ballot. And, just getting on the ballot does not guarantee it will be passed.

The initiative process led to the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978 that saved many homeowners from bankruptcy due to the rapid increase in property taxes.

So, if you are here in California on Tuesday, and you are registered, get out and vote.

*****Do not forget. If you are for John McCain for President, please go to Why Are You For John McCain? *****

*****Do not forget. If you are for Barack Obama for president, please go to Why Are You For Barack Obama?*****

An Open Thread: Why Are You FOR John McCain?

Here it is part II!
It is your chance to give your reasons for supporting the Republican nominee for president, Sen. John "F--- You" McCain.
As in the other open thread "Why Are You FOR Barack Obama", a couple of guidelines.
First, do not use this to bash Sen. Messiah Barack Obama. Or President Bush. I really want to know why you are for the senior senator from Arizona.
Second. Be clean! You can show your support for your candidate without going into the gutter.
As I wrote in the other open thread, I really do want to know why you are for Sen. "F--- You" McCain.
And, it is not some exercise. It is to get a real understanding of those who support who ever they do and why they show that support.
So, here is your chance. Have fun!

*****Do not forget. If you are for Barack Obama for president, please go to Why Are You For Barack Obama?*****