http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100017393/climategate-the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-of-anthropogenic-global-warming/
Tons of info out there on this stuff.
The idea that the educated scientific community is self-monitoring and in any way judicious within its own ranks is finally shown to bogus.
This is an indictment of all "peer reviews" that continue to be an incestuous mutual-aid-society. RIFE WITH GROUP-THINK!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Pageland Nobel
With so much going on nationally and statewide, I have neglected what is going on right here in our lovely town of Pageland (I will comment on Obama's "Peace Prize" however.). A mayoral race is a foot, as well as three districts on the town council. This past Thursday night I had the privilege of listening to most candidates state their case and respond to several questions concerning the future of Pageland. First let me comment on the turn out. I was happy and disappointed. There was a larger crowd than I expected, as well there seemed to be some sincere interest in the outcome of these political races. I was however very disappointed to not see more Black or Hispanic listeners. Now, I had my back to the entrance so if someone slipped in late I did not see them. But, the point remains. I would have preferred a more representative crowd.
Candidates were allowed to introduce themselves and were then asked a serious of questions. Without a doubt Joe Steen (council candidate) and Brian Hough (mayoral candidate) won the day. Both Hough and Steen spoke clearly about the future of Pageland and what it needs to more forward. Town Councilman Hough spoke with confidence and with more specificity often referring to facts and figures that the other candidates generally did not utilize. Steen laid out a motivated vision for Pageland with a cornerstone of increased industry and jobs to increase the tax base of Pageland.
David Whitaker also convinced me he is a qualified candidate for Mayor. While he does not have the experience that Brian Hough brings he has obviously taken the time to inform himself and seemed more knowledgeable than any other candidate, Hough excluded. If Whitaker doesn't win the Mayor's race this go-round I would very much like to see him try again or pursue a council seat.
In terms of actual "content" the candidates were polite and attentive. Decorum was never tested and the hot-button issues that can be so divisive were handled with care. There is one more event on the 20th of this month held by the Chamber of Commerce. I hope to see more in attendance as well as a more representative crowd. Perhaps those candidates with public speaking jitters will shed those and other front runners will emerge.
The IgNobel Peace Prize
Last week most of the world was stunned when the Nobel Peace Prize was given to our President, Barack Obama. Over the years this prize has become less about peace and more about ultra leftism. Jimmy Carter, the worst US President ever, has received one. Al Gore got one. As well as Yassir Arafat. Not to mention 1976 winner Betty Williams who confessed to school children once that she wishes she could "kill Bush," referring of course to George W. Bush. Oh, and lets throw Kofi Anan in that mix too. The guy who presided over the expansion and corruption of the UN, including sweet-heart deals for his own family. So, Obama is in great company.
Basically Obama received an award for not being Bush. Or, for weakening our country rather than protecting it. Weakness in the eye of an ultra-leftist is the only way to peace. If only everyone were equally weak we would all live in peace. No I believe it is strength guided by individual freedom, capitalism and democracy that brings peace. Our world remains in a general state of peace because of the strength of the US and our allies. Not because of anything Obama has done in the 9 months he has been in office. This award signifies the utter ridiculousness that Obama's presidency has become. It is all HAT and no CATTLE as they say in Texas.
Candidates were allowed to introduce themselves and were then asked a serious of questions. Without a doubt Joe Steen (council candidate) and Brian Hough (mayoral candidate) won the day. Both Hough and Steen spoke clearly about the future of Pageland and what it needs to more forward. Town Councilman Hough spoke with confidence and with more specificity often referring to facts and figures that the other candidates generally did not utilize. Steen laid out a motivated vision for Pageland with a cornerstone of increased industry and jobs to increase the tax base of Pageland.
David Whitaker also convinced me he is a qualified candidate for Mayor. While he does not have the experience that Brian Hough brings he has obviously taken the time to inform himself and seemed more knowledgeable than any other candidate, Hough excluded. If Whitaker doesn't win the Mayor's race this go-round I would very much like to see him try again or pursue a council seat.
In terms of actual "content" the candidates were polite and attentive. Decorum was never tested and the hot-button issues that can be so divisive were handled with care. There is one more event on the 20th of this month held by the Chamber of Commerce. I hope to see more in attendance as well as a more representative crowd. Perhaps those candidates with public speaking jitters will shed those and other front runners will emerge.
The IgNobel Peace Prize
Last week most of the world was stunned when the Nobel Peace Prize was given to our President, Barack Obama. Over the years this prize has become less about peace and more about ultra leftism. Jimmy Carter, the worst US President ever, has received one. Al Gore got one. As well as Yassir Arafat. Not to mention 1976 winner Betty Williams who confessed to school children once that she wishes she could "kill Bush," referring of course to George W. Bush. Oh, and lets throw Kofi Anan in that mix too. The guy who presided over the expansion and corruption of the UN, including sweet-heart deals for his own family. So, Obama is in great company.
Basically Obama received an award for not being Bush. Or, for weakening our country rather than protecting it. Weakness in the eye of an ultra-leftist is the only way to peace. If only everyone were equally weak we would all live in peace. No I believe it is strength guided by individual freedom, capitalism and democracy that brings peace. Our world remains in a general state of peace because of the strength of the US and our allies. Not because of anything Obama has done in the 9 months he has been in office. This award signifies the utter ridiculousness that Obama's presidency has become. It is all HAT and no CATTLE as they say in Texas.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
On the job training...
Last week the United Nations and a host of world politicos demonstrated what they are good for. Pomp and rhetoric. Libyan leader Moamar Gadhafi in his flowing robes shook his fist at the Westernized world and at the UN itself for disregarding decades of conflict between smaller nations. Our own President suggested that anti-Americanism was almost axiomatic or a given in most parts of the world based on US unilateral behavior. Funny, Mr. President... wasn't it your side of the political spectrum that floated that canard in the first place? How convenient for you now that you plead your case to the UN for a new world order based on cooperation. How is that "cooperation" going at home? And Mr. Gadhafi, the US is very concerned with civil unrest through out the world, but if every response we take to remedy these situations is wrong in foreign eyes what is our motivation to intervene in a damned if you do - damned if you don't situation? Go in alone, we are acting unilaterally without world consensus. Go in multi-laterally and we are forcing Western values on the world by the point of a sword.
Obama's Lesson
Obama has no doubt learned a good lesson in international relations in his short tenure. That lesson is that no matter what you do on the international stage it is never the right thing to do nor is it ever enough. That is because international affairs proceed in a state of nature, or every nation for themselves. There is no altruism in international politics. By the way this "lesson" that Obama is just now learning is Political Science 101 for your incoming college freshman.
Our Lesson Learned
If you voted for Obama for any reason other than the color of his skin, AND you have some capacity to be intellectually honest with yourself you have just learned or are now learning a very valuable lesson. A politician's rhetoric void of verifiable action is absolutely worthless no matter how sweet and enticing his/her message. If you are the voter I just described you were sold a bill of goods. One that included "hope" and "change" and "unity". Where is that? Our allies that were teaming with joy at the prospect of an Obama era have all but discounted Obama as a charlatan that lacks any political power to accomplish his lofty rhetorical agenda and are quickly hedging there bets by aligning with Russia and China. The same opinion makers that called Bush a "cowboy" are now calling Obama hollow and impotent. (I would normally discount Europe's opinions on just about all our domestic affairs but we are sounding the same calls here at home on both the left and the right when it comes to Obama.)
Lesson Applied
Obama did not invent the political bait and switch, but he is the most recent and most egregious salesman. The political bait and switch works on both sides of the aisle. So how do we apply what we have learned? Number one we must insist on our country back. The one promised to us by our fore fathers and founders. The one based on a government system of checks and balances that works to prevent one level, one house, figure, or party from being too powerful and too big. We do that by voting Conservative candidates into office. I will even spot you a libertarian or two (Notice I didn't say "Republican." It is more likely that your vote will be "Republican" but "Conservative" is really what we are looking for.). You also take your country back by taking responsibility for yourself and your immediate community. Remember that when you are taking money from the federal government for roads, healthcare, education, law enforcement, municipal improvements, child care, job training, etc, etc.
So while our Dear Leader is courting the rest of the world towards his ever failing system (a Socialist system that Europe is fast voting from power for more conservative cadidates), remember that real change starts at home. You want a better community? Build it. Require it of others. Lead by example. Don't take the easy road and take the hand outs from the federal system. That course is what has us in this situation now. All of us are guilty of "taking the money". Not one of us goes without guilt. This prescription is easy to hand out and difficult to swallow but, it is the only cure.
Obama's Lesson
Obama has no doubt learned a good lesson in international relations in his short tenure. That lesson is that no matter what you do on the international stage it is never the right thing to do nor is it ever enough. That is because international affairs proceed in a state of nature, or every nation for themselves. There is no altruism in international politics. By the way this "lesson" that Obama is just now learning is Political Science 101 for your incoming college freshman.
Our Lesson Learned
If you voted for Obama for any reason other than the color of his skin, AND you have some capacity to be intellectually honest with yourself you have just learned or are now learning a very valuable lesson. A politician's rhetoric void of verifiable action is absolutely worthless no matter how sweet and enticing his/her message. If you are the voter I just described you were sold a bill of goods. One that included "hope" and "change" and "unity". Where is that? Our allies that were teaming with joy at the prospect of an Obama era have all but discounted Obama as a charlatan that lacks any political power to accomplish his lofty rhetorical agenda and are quickly hedging there bets by aligning with Russia and China. The same opinion makers that called Bush a "cowboy" are now calling Obama hollow and impotent. (I would normally discount Europe's opinions on just about all our domestic affairs but we are sounding the same calls here at home on both the left and the right when it comes to Obama.)
Lesson Applied
Obama did not invent the political bait and switch, but he is the most recent and most egregious salesman. The political bait and switch works on both sides of the aisle. So how do we apply what we have learned? Number one we must insist on our country back. The one promised to us by our fore fathers and founders. The one based on a government system of checks and balances that works to prevent one level, one house, figure, or party from being too powerful and too big. We do that by voting Conservative candidates into office. I will even spot you a libertarian or two (Notice I didn't say "Republican." It is more likely that your vote will be "Republican" but "Conservative" is really what we are looking for.). You also take your country back by taking responsibility for yourself and your immediate community. Remember that when you are taking money from the federal government for roads, healthcare, education, law enforcement, municipal improvements, child care, job training, etc, etc.
So while our Dear Leader is courting the rest of the world towards his ever failing system (a Socialist system that Europe is fast voting from power for more conservative cadidates), remember that real change starts at home. You want a better community? Build it. Require it of others. Lead by example. Don't take the easy road and take the hand outs from the federal system. That course is what has us in this situation now. All of us are guilty of "taking the money". Not one of us goes without guilt. This prescription is easy to hand out and difficult to swallow but, it is the only cure.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
I tell folks all the time when they stop me to say they enjoy my column to "come by the gun shop and see me." Every once in while someone takes me up on that. When they do we inevitably get into spirited discussions of politics, race, religion and every other "third rail" topic you should avoid if you want to make everyone happy. Well, I don't want everyone happy. I want everyone informed. I think Glenn Beck and I have that in common. He is not concerned with your happiness when it comes to politics, he is concerned with your knowledge.
That fact alone puts him at juxtapositions with the rest of the "media" that is based on serving your baser instincts rather than actually informing you. (Baser-instincts = 7 deadly sins by the way...) Rather, Beck just gives it to you right between the eyes. His loudest critics tell on themselves and confirm my supposition when they call him "loud", "dangerous", "paranoid" and "emotional". Rare is the word "wrong" or "incorrect" used. Because Glenn Beck is usually right, or at least headed in that direction.
Before you think I am a Glenn-head who listens to his radio show then rushes home to catch the TV show and has a life time subscription to his web page you might want to know that I never listen to his radio show and catch a TV broadcast about once a month. I base my opinion on Glenn from previous years of listening to him on the radio and the occasional tune-in on my part to his current show on Fox. It will also interest you to know that I generally detest Fox News, I think Sean Hannity is a media whore and Bill O'reilly is in the twilight of his relevance and career. I find most of Fox News patronizing, tabloid and blatantly one-sided. Just like MSNBC is to the left, so is Fox to the right. I am smart enough to know when someone's marketing plan is just to confirm my bias!
Glenn however I count as an anomaly. A welcome anomaly. He, like Rush Limbaugh, bases his ideas on some very simple and heuristic values. I think both of them are great, and I think both of them get it WRONG a good bit. Glenn lets his emotions get the best of him, and Rush lets his arrogance get the best of him.
Luckily the general message shines through. What is so anomalous about Glenn Beck is that he is as close to a true Conservative as I can find in the media. I also truly believe that HE believes every word he says. I can't say that about Hannity or O'Reilly. Glenn knows that Governments always grow no matter who is in charge and that its growth is accelerated when the Left is in charge, he knows that each individual state is sovereign and that our Federal government has grown past its useful size and is a tyrant over each state, he knows that less taxes are better than more and that more tax stifles growth of the private sector and rockets growth of government. He knows our founders created a base set of laws called the Constitution and that we have strayed far beyond their intentions and timeless wisdom. He knows these things because he is a Conservative. The fact that he is able to synthesis our current state of politics and express it back to us on TV and radio in a way that makes sense to us explains his success. Not because he is a fear monger. Not because his paranoia is entertaining. But, because he makes sense to us.
I invite you to tune in to Glenn on Fox News on occasion. Not just because I like him or that his program is good, it is and I do. But, because it scares the devil out of the left. The true Kool-aid drinkers on the left can't understand Glenn's appeal and they will label you "paranoid" and "bitter" and "clinging" to guns and God. Anytime we can scare the left because of their own paranoia about us, we should. Not just because it is fun, but because it sends them on a fool's errand of trying to pry us from our good senses. This give them less time to grow government, socialize medicine, indoctrinate children, and weaken our strategic defenses world wide.
I tell folks all the time when they stop me to say they enjoy my column to "come by the gun shop and see me." Every once in while someone takes me up on that. When they do we inevitably get into spirited discussions of politics, race, religion and every other "third rail" topic you should avoid if you want to make everyone happy. Well, I don't want everyone happy. I want everyone informed. I think Glenn Beck and I have that in common. He is not concerned with your happiness when it comes to politics, he is concerned with your knowledge.
That fact alone puts him at juxtapositions with the rest of the "media" that is based on serving your baser instincts rather than actually informing you. (Baser-instincts = 7 deadly sins by the way...) Rather, Beck just gives it to you right between the eyes. His loudest critics tell on themselves and confirm my supposition when they call him "loud", "dangerous", "paranoid" and "emotional". Rare is the word "wrong" or "incorrect" used. Because Glenn Beck is usually right, or at least headed in that direction.
Before you think I am a Glenn-head who listens to his radio show then rushes home to catch the TV show and has a life time subscription to his web page you might want to know that I never listen to his radio show and catch a TV broadcast about once a month. I base my opinion on Glenn from previous years of listening to him on the radio and the occasional tune-in on my part to his current show on Fox. It will also interest you to know that I generally detest Fox News, I think Sean Hannity is a media whore and Bill O'reilly is in the twilight of his relevance and career. I find most of Fox News patronizing, tabloid and blatantly one-sided. Just like MSNBC is to the left, so is Fox to the right. I am smart enough to know when someone's marketing plan is just to confirm my bias!
Glenn however I count as an anomaly. A welcome anomaly. He, like Rush Limbaugh, bases his ideas on some very simple and heuristic values. I think both of them are great, and I think both of them get it WRONG a good bit. Glenn lets his emotions get the best of him, and Rush lets his arrogance get the best of him.
Luckily the general message shines through. What is so anomalous about Glenn Beck is that he is as close to a true Conservative as I can find in the media. I also truly believe that HE believes every word he says. I can't say that about Hannity or O'Reilly. Glenn knows that Governments always grow no matter who is in charge and that its growth is accelerated when the Left is in charge, he knows that each individual state is sovereign and that our Federal government has grown past its useful size and is a tyrant over each state, he knows that less taxes are better than more and that more tax stifles growth of the private sector and rockets growth of government. He knows our founders created a base set of laws called the Constitution and that we have strayed far beyond their intentions and timeless wisdom. He knows these things because he is a Conservative. The fact that he is able to synthesis our current state of politics and express it back to us on TV and radio in a way that makes sense to us explains his success. Not because he is a fear monger. Not because his paranoia is entertaining. But, because he makes sense to us.
I invite you to tune in to Glenn on Fox News on occasion. Not just because I like him or that his program is good, it is and I do. But, because it scares the devil out of the left. The true Kool-aid drinkers on the left can't understand Glenn's appeal and they will label you "paranoid" and "bitter" and "clinging" to guns and God. Anytime we can scare the left because of their own paranoia about us, we should. Not just because it is fun, but because it sends them on a fool's errand of trying to pry us from our good senses. This give them less time to grow government, socialize medicine, indoctrinate children, and weaken our strategic defenses world wide.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Struggle to Stay Relivant
The Struggle to Stay Relevant
No US President exemplifies failure like Jimmy Carter. Most Presidents can point to something in their tenure as the most powerful man in the world and say "hey, I accomplished something." Carter can not. His presidency was marred from beginning to end with miscues and missteps. From giving away the Panama Canal (China now controls it.) to mishandling the Iran Hostage situation to the creation of the Department of Education, his single term presidency was a black spot on this country's history. (If you don't like my list, feel free to add double digit inflation, gas rationing, etc, etc.)
In his ever public struggle to stay relevant and to seem worthy of the office he wasted, Carter once again puts his foot in his mouth. Now he is suggesting that the majority of those who publicly oppose Obama do so with racial pretenses. I particularly take offense to that and so should you. Not because you have been accused of being a racist. No, that is standard fare if you are a Conservative, but because your first amendment right to free speech has just been attacked by a former President. Your ability to speak truth-to-power is now under attack by a man who put his hand on a Bible and swore an oath to protect that right.
I knew that when Obama was elected those that dared stand up to him and his political machine would be labeled racists. I knew Obama wouldn't come right out and say it, but his surrogates would. Apparently, Jimmy Carter is now an Obama surrogate. While we have been listening to the cry-baby hypocrites blast Joe Wilson for daring to speak truth-to-power and suggesting he has violated some kind of congressional "sanctity", the left trots out President Carter to call me a racist, and you a racist if you dare stand up for yourself. Apparently "sanctity" only extends to Washington politics and not to the United States Constitution!
The good news of course is this is an act of desperation. This my friends is the beginning of the end for Obama and his policies, assuming of course you and I continue to reject the lies and accusations and hold politicians to account. This is what the Obama presidency has become. A presidency that never got started. A president that misunderstood his mandate. A mandate that simply said, " don't be Bush." That is it, that is all. It did not say, restructure everything we know and understand about this country into a Socialist oligarchy. It didn't say out spend what Bush spent in 8 years as president in only 8 months. It didn't say try to force a center-right leaning country to the far Socialist left. These things were not his mandate. Now Obama in his own struggle to stay relevant has enlisted Jimmy Carter, the nations worst president, to carry water for him.
No US President exemplifies failure like Jimmy Carter. Most Presidents can point to something in their tenure as the most powerful man in the world and say "hey, I accomplished something." Carter can not. His presidency was marred from beginning to end with miscues and missteps. From giving away the Panama Canal (China now controls it.) to mishandling the Iran Hostage situation to the creation of the Department of Education, his single term presidency was a black spot on this country's history. (If you don't like my list, feel free to add double digit inflation, gas rationing, etc, etc.)
In his ever public struggle to stay relevant and to seem worthy of the office he wasted, Carter once again puts his foot in his mouth. Now he is suggesting that the majority of those who publicly oppose Obama do so with racial pretenses. I particularly take offense to that and so should you. Not because you have been accused of being a racist. No, that is standard fare if you are a Conservative, but because your first amendment right to free speech has just been attacked by a former President. Your ability to speak truth-to-power is now under attack by a man who put his hand on a Bible and swore an oath to protect that right.
I knew that when Obama was elected those that dared stand up to him and his political machine would be labeled racists. I knew Obama wouldn't come right out and say it, but his surrogates would. Apparently, Jimmy Carter is now an Obama surrogate. While we have been listening to the cry-baby hypocrites blast Joe Wilson for daring to speak truth-to-power and suggesting he has violated some kind of congressional "sanctity", the left trots out President Carter to call me a racist, and you a racist if you dare stand up for yourself. Apparently "sanctity" only extends to Washington politics and not to the United States Constitution!
The good news of course is this is an act of desperation. This my friends is the beginning of the end for Obama and his policies, assuming of course you and I continue to reject the lies and accusations and hold politicians to account. This is what the Obama presidency has become. A presidency that never got started. A president that misunderstood his mandate. A mandate that simply said, " don't be Bush." That is it, that is all. It did not say, restructure everything we know and understand about this country into a Socialist oligarchy. It didn't say out spend what Bush spent in 8 years as president in only 8 months. It didn't say try to force a center-right leaning country to the far Socialist left. These things were not his mandate. Now Obama in his own struggle to stay relevant has enlisted Jimmy Carter, the nations worst president, to carry water for him.
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