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A case for parental rights

Posted by Lady Logician on Monday, September 04, 2006 3:20:35 PM
 
This is what government provided/mandated health care will get you.
 
"A 15-year-old Jehovah's Witness with Crohn's disease will be back in court this week seeking to control her own medical treatment and refuse blood transfusions. "
 
Now I have lots of disagreements with the Jehovah's Witness' - all of the doctrinally based.  However, this is one place where I will stand side by side with the girl's parents.
 
"The case began last April when the teen, then 14, went to hospital during a flare-up of her Crohn's, a chronic illness that can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract.
When she and her parents refused a transfusion, a Court of Queen's Bench justice granted Child and Family Services an order allowing doctors to give blood transfusions or blood products "as they deem medically necessary" without the consent of the teen or her parents. " (emphasis mine)
 
Where does the government get off telling a patient what treatment she must accept?  Where does the government get off telling a parent what treatment their child can and can not have?  And what happened to a woman's right to choose what medical treatments she has?  I mean a medical proceedure IS a medical proceedure..right?  Where does the government get off telling a woman what she can do WITH HER BODY?????
 
I looked up Crohn's disease just to make certain that this is not a life or death type treatment that this family is turning down and it does not appear to be that way.  According to the NIH, the main treatments for Crohn's diease is anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressants coupled with nutritional suppliments to make up for what is not being absorbed in the intestines.  The NIH site says that anemia is often a side effect of the disease, so maybe that is what they are treating. 
 
Which makes the case all the more troubling.  It is also what makes it all the more important that we do not sign away our rights as parents in the name of "universal health care".  Universal health care is what led the parents of this child to this point.  They (and their daughter) are not willing to give up their rights as individuals in order to placate some bureaucracy that feels that they "know better".
 
This is just one more reason why this election is so important.  Whether it is on the state or the national level, Democrats want to usurp your rights as individuals because they feel that they "know better".  Whether it is health care (the Dems want universal health care) or higher taxes or school choice, the Democrats feel that they know better than you.  They can spend your money more wisely than you, can educate your children better than you, they know what medical treatments are "in your best interests".  Are YOU willing to give up your rights as an individual?  Are you willing to let Big Brother government run your life for you?  I know I'M not!
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Minnesota "Nice"

Posted by Lady Logician on Saturday, September 02, 2006 11:46:42 PM
 
Garrison Keillor has been called a Minnesota treasure, an iconic comedian whose creation "A Prairie Home Companion" is a throw back to a kinder, gentler time.  To bad the creator is not as kind as his creation.
 
"Hard choices need to be made, and given the situation we're in, I think we must bite the bullet and say no more health care for card-carrying Republicans. It just doesn't make sense to invest in longevity for people who don't believe in the future. Let them try faith-based medicine, let them pray for their arteries to be reamed and their hips to be restored, and leave science to the rest of us.
Cutting out health care to one-third of the population - the folks with Bush-Cheney bumper stickers, who still believe the man is doing a heckuva job - will save enough money to pay off the national debt, not a bad legacy for Republicans. As Scrooge said, let them die and reduce the surplus population. "
 
A prime example of "Minnesota Nice" doncha think?
 
Now in all fairness to Mr. Keillor, he does find one salient point, but he dances around and away from it so fast, you swear he must have gotten whiplash in the process.
 
"A society that pays for MRIs for headaches and can't pay teachers a decent wage has made a dreadful choice. But health care costs are ballooning, eating away at the economy. The boomers are getting to an age where their knees need replacing and their hearts need a quadruple bypass - which they feel entitled to - but our children aren't entitled to a damn thing."
 
Here he is correct - our politicians decry the "health care crisis" but ignore the education crisis.  We do spend more money on health care (as a country) than we do on education, but the money spent is only PART of the equation.  Until such time as we get away from indoctrinating children in acceptance of "alternative lifestyles" and we get back to teaching math and science and english (and not as a second language either!) will we get better educated children.  However, Garrison didn't bother to touch on that.
 
At least Mr. Keillor is honest when he makes this statement:
 
"And we're stealing from them so that old gaffers like me, who want to live forever, can go in for an MRI if we have a headache."
 
Now I could stoop to his level and say that if he was all that concerned about the kids then he should quit being so selfish and just die, but I won't.  For you see, unlike Mr. Keillor, I don't wish death on those that have the audacity to have an opinion different than my own.  I thank them for their input and I wish them well.  And THAT dear reader is what Minnesota Nice is all about. 
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Oh the delicious irony

Posted by Lady Logician on Friday, September 01, 2006 10:41:47 PM
 
John at Powerline pointed me to this.
 
"A group that raises money for Democratic Congressional candidates uses a canvassing company that pays some workers submimium wage, in apparent violation of Wisconsin state law, to talk about the need to raise the federal minimum wage, Isthmus newspaper has learned. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), based in Washington, D.C., has hired Grassroots Campaigns, a Boston-based for-profit company with operations in 18 U.S. cities, to conduct canvassing on its behalf. The DCCC's "New Direction for American" agenda, which provides the talkiing points canvassers are taught to use to solicit contributions, includes a call to "Raise the minimum wage."
 
Now those that live in Madison (Mad-Town for those of us that lived there) know that the Isthmus is about as right wing as the City Pages here in Minneapolis!  They are true believers in the Progressive cause.  Which is one of the things that makes this story just that much sweeter.  Here we have the "good guys" - the DCCC - taking advantage of poor college students.  You know it really had to be bad for the Isthmus to come up with the headline it did.
 
"Democrats for Worker Exploitation"
 
Well it was....
 
"Alex Scherer-Jones began working for Grassroots Campaigns to fight the Bush administration and elevate the fortunes of the Democratic Party. The 21-year-old MATC student left feeling exploited and sour: "I went in there being very idealistic and it kind of ruined my idealism."
The job involves going door to door asking people to give money to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, using talking points that include a call to raise the minimum wage. For this, Scherer-Jones says he was paid far less than the state minimum wage of $6.50 an hour.
"I worked 37 hours one week and got paid around $130 [after taxes]," recalls Scherer-Jones, who quit after two weeks."
 
You know something....I'm starting to feel a little better about this election.  If the Dems are turning their own base off of them, they just might decide to stay home in November. 

I wonder if Grassroots Campaign offered their canvassers health benefits?
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Compare and Contrast

Posted by Lady Logician on Friday, September 01, 2006 8:26:45 PM
 
Compare this to the Red Star's reaction to the Richard Armitage revelation.
 
"It follows that one of the most sensational charges leveled against the Bush White House -- that it orchestrated the leak of Ms. Plame's identity to ruin her career and thus punish Mr. Wilson -- is untrue. The partisan clamor that followed the raising of that allegation by Mr. Wilson in the summer of 2003 led to the appointment of a special prosecutor, a costly and prolonged investigation, and the indictment of Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, on charges of perjury. All of that might have been avoided had Mr. Armitage's identity been known three years ago...Nevertheless, it now appears that the person most responsible for the end of Ms. Plame's CIA career is Mr. Wilson.  Mr. Wilson chose to go public with an explosive charge, claiming -- falsely, as it turned out -- that he had debunked reports of Iraqi uranium-shopping in Niger and that his report had circulated to senior administration officials. He ought to have expected that both those officials and journalists such as Mr. Novak would ask why a retired ambassador would have been sent on such a mission and that the answer would point to his wife. He diverted responsibility from himself and his false charges by claiming that President Bush's closest aides had engaged in an illegal conspiracy. It's unfortunate that so many people took him seriously." (emphasis mine)
 
Any doubt to the Red Star's bias was officially stripped away with their screed in today's paper (that I wrote about last night).  The only ones guilty of "spin" in this matter is the Star Tribune editorial staff - not the President's defenders (as the Strib's editorial suggested).    It is time for the editorial staff of the Star Tribune to either offer their apologies to the President, the Vice President, Mr. Rove and Mr. Libbey or step down.  I'm not holding my breath waiting for either to happen.
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A REAL Inconvenient Truth

Posted by Lady Logician on Friday, September 01, 2006 8:37:28 AM
 
This article tells us what the drive by media refuses to:
 
"In just over three months, the United Nations mandate under which the US-led multinational force is present in Iraq will end. This means that the 130,000 troops provided by the US, Britain and 32 other countries would have either to go home or see their stay extended under a new arrangement.
 
Because Iraq has regained full sovereignty and has a government of its own, the United Nations alone can no longer take the decision whether or not foreign troops should remain on Iraqi soil. The final word on the subject must come from the government of Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki with the consent of the Iraqi National Assembly (Parliament) . "(emphasis mine)
 
The final word on the subject must come frm the government of Iraq - not the US Government, not the EU, not Jack Murtha, not Coleen Rowley or Patty Wetterling!  Iraq is our friend and our ally.  It is not in the US best interests to abandon them if they request that we stay.  Something that the Dems ignore in their rhetoric.  Just one more thing to remember in November!
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Delusional

Posted by Lady Logician on Thursday, August 31, 2006 11:00:45 PM
 
That is what the editorial staff - the admittedly LIBERAL editorial staff of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (aka Red Star) is.  Why, you may ask, do I say that?  THIS editorial (in tomorrow's paper) shows the depths of the liberal delusions at the Red Star.
 
"Armitage's error doesn't excuse others
He made a mistake, but Cheney, Rove, Libby have no excuse"
 
Richard Armitage made the initial "leak" and yet it's a mistake.  Karl Rove, when asked "did you hear this?" made the mistake of saying yeah I heard something like that and he is STILL the one who needs to be flayed alive! 
 
Just when you think that they can not possibly get any worse......
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Acceptable discrimination

Posted by Lady Logician on Thursday, August 31, 2006 9:21:17 PM
 
This story confirms what many people have long suspected. That it is perfectly ok (according to liberals) to discriminate against Christians.

" The Minneapolis Police Department has temporarily suspended the use of a well-known psychologist who has been screening potential officers for more than a year after community members questioned his affiliation with a group that opposes civil rights for gays.

The issue of Michael A. Campion's affiliation with a conservative Illinois group that says it opposes the "gay lifestyle" was brought to interim Chief Tim Dolan's attention on Wednesday during a meeting with the Police Community Relations Council.

Although he said there's no indication of any bias in Campion's work, Dolan decided the next day to stop using him until an independent review could take place." (emphasis added)

There you have it dear reader. There was no indication of bias, but that didn't stop the city machinery from chewing him up and spitting him out.

Front Page Magazine dug up what the Red Star refused to print - that this was done at the behest of gay rights and pro abortion activists.

"If you’re a Christian working for the City of Minneapolis, watch your step – your job may already be in jeopardy. In what may be one of the most blatant acts of anti-Christian bigotry and discrimination by an American government agency, the Minneapolis Police Department has suspended a Police Psychologist, Dr. Michael Campion of Campion, Barrow & Associates, at the behest of leftist activists."

The Red Star never said WHO told them about Campion's affiliation with IFI. Just that that accusations of bias (because of his faith) were made!

Christians working for the City of Minneapolis should be very afraid, should this be allowed to stand. Just because Mr. Campion was a consultant, doesn't mean you couldn't be next. Your First Amendment rights, along with those of Mr. Campion, are apparently not as guaranteed as others.
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Signs

Posted by Lady Logician on Thursday, August 31, 2006 9:19:18 PM
 
Is this a sign of things to come? I certainly hope so.

"A federal judge has ordered a Justice Department probe into how CBS News obtained a story two years ago disclosing an FBI investigation into a pro-Israel lobbying group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee."

The leaks to the press, in a time of war need to be stopped and stopped soon. I pray that this is a start.
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The last of the "moderates"

Posted by Lady Logician on Thursday, August 31, 2006 9:22:53 AM
 
Much has been said about this Lori Sturdevant column in Sunday's Star Tribune.  However, none of the posts picked up on this:
 
"For Minnesotans, both books serve up some juicy passages. None tops Eilperin's account of Seventh District Rep. Collin Peterson's exchange with the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee in late 2004 or early 2005.
It seems that the eight-termer's penchant for voting with Republicans called into question his Democratic caucus' willingness to make him the ranking minority member of the House Agriculture Committee.

Let me get this straight," Peterson is quoted as telling the caucus leaders who had summoned him for a grilling (not of the barbecue kind). "You're telling me I should vote against my conscience and vote against my constituents so I can become a marginal member, and you can spend two million bucks to save my ass? You guys have to understand, you're not in the majority ... . If you didn't have guys like me you're going to be in the minority for a long time." (emphasis mine)
 
That speaks volumes about the Democratic leadership.  That explains why the DCCC is pushing forward candidates like Coleen Rowley and Patty Wetterling - candidates that do what the DCCC handlers tell them...that toe the party leadership line - no questions asked!
 
"It details how Republican leaders have denied a meaningful lawmaking role to minority Democrats and their own moderate members. "
 
Gee Lori - I must have slept through the portion of Poli-Sci that said that the majority was supposed to guarantee the minority a "meaningful" lawmaking role.  I know I certainly did not see anything like that in the years that the Democrats controlled the House and the Senate.
 
And then there is this little gem:
 
"Both books argue for change in the way congressional districts are drawn. Gerrymandering -- the practice of drawing political maps for partisan advantage -- is out of control, and should be reined in, the authors argue. One possibility: Take the task out of state legislators' hands, and give it to independent commissions. "
 
Typical leftist - take the power away from the people and their elected representatives and hand it over to the Judiciary.  Wait you say - she didn't say judges.....well yes she did:
 
"In Minnesota, legislative gridlock and/or lawsuits have given the state something akin to that, by default. Panels of judges have drawn this state's political lines for the past 40 years. That may be why Minnesota is still sending moderates to Congress while much of the rest of the nation is not."
 
Handing redistricting over to judges - just like they handed over drawing up legislation to judges (in Roe v Wade) and took away property owners rights (Kelo v New London).  Just like they keep trying to hand over deciding election results (Gore v Bush) to judges.  Judges are being handed more and more power at the behest of the elitist left - because they know better than the proletariat (that's you and me dear readers).  It's time to resist the elitist push to hand our lives over to the judiciary. 
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In Touch

Posted by Lady Logician on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 7:25:56 PM
 
That's the Democratic Party....in touch with the people of America.  At least that is what they try to tell you.  So when the American people ask for common sense tactics to try to secure out transit system...
 
"Most Americans expect a terrorist attack on the United States in the next few months and support the screening of people who look "Middle Eastern" at airports and train stations, a poll showed on Tuesday."
 
What do you suppose the left's reaction is?  We must stop this!
 
Remember, the people who bombed the US Barracks in Beruit were not young black males, the people who killed 11 Israeli Olympians in Munich were not young hispanic males, the bombers of the USS Cole were not 80 year old grandmothers and the hijackers that flew planes into the World Trade Center were not 5 year old girls.  They were Muslim men between the ages of 18 and 30.  Let's get a little common sense back in this country.  Yes if we start to profile, the odds are that the bad guys will recruit bombers that don't fit the profile, but for NOW the profile fits - let's use it!
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I hate to say I told you so, but....

Posted by Lady Logician on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 6:07:33 PM
 
I wrote about this before, so I know you were not surprised at all to learn that the person who supposedly "outed" Valerie Plame was not associated with the White House after all!
 
"AND so we learn it was former US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage - Australia's best friend in the US - not the Bush White House who was the first to out Valerie Plame as a CIA employee.
With this knowledge is demolished yet another left-liberal fantasy about George W. Bush"
 
The author hist the fantasy and conspiracy theories right between the eyes.
 
"Mr Rove and Mr Libby's guilt was never in doubt. Mr Rove spoke with a Texas accent, Scooter had a silly name. What more proof was needed?
From Le Monde to the Guardian, from Balmain to Carlton, no right-thinking progressive ever doubted the conspiracy theory that the Bush White House had decided to punish Mr Wilson for becoming a critic of the war by outing his wife. "
 
The conspiracies didn't make sense then and they don't make sense now and with good reason.
 
"Mr Wilson, furiously writing opinion pieces for The New York Times and boasting about his wife, did everything he could to draw attention to himself, not normally the way the spouses of covert agents maintain their covert status. "
 
Don't expect the truth or logic to stop the conspiracy theorists.  As long as George W. Bush is President, those suffering from BDS will spin theories about the evil emminating from the Bush White House.  And we know that we will definately not be seeing apologies or retractions from any of the media outlets that played judge, jury and executioner to Karl Rove!
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Coleen Rowley on WCCO

Posted by Lady Logician on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 9:42:51 AM
 
I haven't gotten an chance to post on this as I have been busy with my own fair related business. Coleen Rowley and Congressman John Kline engaged in a couple of debates at the Great Minnesota Get Together (aka the State Fair) on Friday. The first was an interview that melded into the debate on WCCO's Jack Rice show. Below are some notes and comments from that interview/debate.

When introduced as a "whistleblower" by Mr. Rice, Ms. Rowley said that she prefered being called a "stickler for the truth" (ed holy cow - talk about hubris!) She said that the word "policy" (in describing this country's Iraq policy) is "too good of a term" - stating that what we are doing now is not a working policy. She said that she agreed with Congressman Murtha's plan to "re-deploy" our troops out of Iraq. She said that the current "lack of a plan" in Iraq is not working and she also accused the President of "not leveling" with the American people when it comes to Iraq and our lack of progress over there.

She was asked if she found herself having to figure out who her opponent was. She said that she was the "true Conservative" in the race and that she is seeing more and more "reformed Republicans - like those that Nick Coleman wrote about in his screed last week. My question to her is this - would a true Conservative quote Common Cause (see below)?

She was the asked if they (the Republicans) are the party of "small government", what are you? She didn't answer the question directly - she just went on to attack the special interests that seeem to "control" the Republican party (Mr. Rice interjected here that the Democrats have their own special interest groups "). Coleen answered that yeah that is true but because the Republicans are in power, it is "their problem" (HUH?????) When asked how SHE would fix the problem, she said that she pledged to propose much stronger ethic reform. She admitted that she needed a lot more Dems to sign on to it with her in order to get it passed. She said that we needed "good, common sense reform" such as proposed by Common Cause.

Jumping to National Defense (and the actual debate portion of the program) Ms. Rowley and Congressman Kline was asked about the sectarian violence in Iraq. Ms. Rowley started off slamming the troops by saying "I look at the insurgency as it continues to grow and what I see is them (the troops) doing everything they can but is it enough? How can you stay the course and say it is a good course?" OK - in Ms. Rowley's defense she will say she was slamming the Administration, but in all honestly given the context of the question and her answer, the troops were the ones to get the broadside - in typical Democratic fashion. Congressman Kline's response was much better. He said "The troops are doing a terrific job and morale is high. They are doing a great job. When you say 'stay the course' you imply that there are no tactical changes being made and that is incorrect! The sectarian violence is a problem - this hatred has been building for centuries. The answer to that problem lies in the hands of the new Iraqi government. The key is the Iraqi Army and they have made great progress. The Iraqi Police is not developing as fast, but the Iraqi Army putting a greater presence in these troubled areas will make things better.

Question - "Coleen Rowley, what is the Democratic Party specifically proposing we do? Answer - "I am in the majority now of the people in the country who say that there is no progress in Iraq - that is a no brainer (ed - she has used that phrase a lot in this campaign) One vote did not get us security. Regarding redeployment - I can't go into details that would tke an hour. We need responsible redeployment..." At this point Congressman Kline interjected with "We have seen Marines redeploy to Baghdad and they are making progress. If you sare saying we pull out of the country...you thin it is the wild west now???" Ms. Rowley continued "No one knows how effective this Administration has been in negotiating with the insurgents (ed - more on that little nugget in a separate post). Redeployment is part of the plan." Congressman Kline countered with a question of his own - "You mean redeploy to a neighboring country like Okinawa Japan?" Ms. Rowley answered "I am hoping to get Mr. Murtha here to explain the plan to Mr. Kline so that he can understand it...." Congressman Kline said "that is fine, but I am not running against Congressman Murtha."

Question - just recently 2500 Individual Ready Reserve troops were recalled - a shakey number because it changes. Do we need more troops (in the form of a draft) in order to relieve those that are there now. Congressman Kline "there is no doubt that our military has fewer members. In the 1990's the Army was cut from 16 divisions to 10 (ed - under President Clinton) however, I do not think that a draft is necessary." Ms. Rowley "I think a draft is something we should look at!"

That was the end of the debate time. After that it went into an interview of Congressman Kline (and I got a phone call). I would like to add a couple of thoughts here. First is that Coleen is much more comfortable addressing the issues now (as compared to February when I first heard her speak) however neither the interview nor the debate got off of National Security which is by far the subject she feels most comfortable speaking about. Second was anger - every single one of Ms. Rowley's answers came from anger. She genuinely seemed to be pi$$ed. Congressman Kline, on the other hand, was cordial to both Mr. Rice and Ms. Rowley during the whole debate - no shouting, no harsh words....none of that.

Which leads to one last observation. Mr. Rice asked both candidates what they liked about being on the campaign trail was it "fun". Congressman Kline talked about the parades and how fun it was to get out and meet the people and shake hands and talk to everyone. He admitted that come October, it tends to drag, but it (campaigning) was still fun because he did get to meet so many people. Ms. Rowley's answer was telling. When asked if she found any part of campaigning fun she simply said "No". She went on to add that when she signed on to the FBI she took a vow to protect the country and the Constitution (so did Congressman Kline when he took his Marine oath) and she sees this as an extension of that vow, but there was nothing "fun" about this.

Therein lies the core difference between the two.
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Politician on a stick

Posted by Lady Logician on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 9:00:52 AM
 
That is what Fox 9 News is calling their daily interviews with all of the politicians that are running for state wide office this year.  Today's interviewee was Michele Bachmann who is running for Mark Kennedy's seat in the 6th Congressional District.  Everything you could ever want to know about this race (one of the top 5 highest profile contests in the country) can be found at BachmannvWetterling (another Andy Aplikowski publication).  The interview was unremarkable except for one thing.  Three times during the interview, Alix Kendall (one of the two morning anchors) mentioned "gay marriage" three times including in a question that was designed to attempt to designate Michele as a divisive candidate.  The question was " Given some of the issues you have campaigned on (tax cuts, gay marriage) do you find your support to be cohesive?"  Of course, was Michele's answer. 
 
This kind of question has been normal during the campaign.  The local drive by media is not fond of Michele's advocacy for allowing Minnesotans to vote on a state wide Defense of Marriage Act.
 
If you want to keep an eye on this targeted seat, stop by BVW often.  If you want to help Michele, contact the campaign at her website.  I know that they would love the help.
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Diabetes cure promised in a Hatch Administration

Posted by Lady Logician on Monday, August 28, 2006 9:22:56 AM
 
You read me right!  Mike Hatch was just on with Alix Kendall of Fox 9 Morning news.  Most of the interview focused on health care.  AG Hatch came out in support of Universal Health Care stating that "we have universal care in that if you are sick you can go to a hospital and they HAVE to treat you whether you can pay or not".  More on that later.
 
What really got to me was the AG's hyping of stem cell research.  The AG claimed that there would be a "cure for diabetes in 5 years" if we would only fund stem cell research.  Now let's first start with the fact that it is only EMBRYONIC stem cell research that doesn't get federal funding.  Then let's start with the fact that the other types of stem cell research (adult and umbilical cord) are federally funded and are showing more promise.  Let's also talk about the fact that the Ag not only promised a cure for diabetes, but also heart disease and spinal cord damage!  All we need is to do is federally fund embryonic stem cell research!
 
What the AG refuses to take into account (aside from the facts listed above) is that the most recent advances in embryonic stem cell research - the one JUST ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK came from privately funded research!
 
Regarding the comment on Universal Health Care....while the AG is totally correct in that if you are ill and you show up at a hospital, the hospital must treat you regardless of your ability to pay.  He is absolutely correct that we all pay for that anyway - we pay for it in the high rates we pay for our health care!  My mother, for many years, worked at a very affluent hospital in suburban Chicago.  Even the hospital she worked at had to "give" away their services to people who refused to pay.  She saw, first hand, how these costs are passed on to insurance companies and the self insured.  Getting rid of the abuse of this will help bring down medical costs for all of us.  One way to bring this down is to crack down on illegal immigration!  Many Southern California hospitals have CLOSED because they got swampped with people who jump the border just to go to treated for illness and then they go back to Mexico!  Hospitals can not afford to be "forced" to give services away.  Closing these hospitals affected more than just the employees.  When the hopitals closed, the businesses around the hopitals lost business and closed.  Utilities laid off employees because of these business closures.  The state loses tax dollars.  The employees of the hospital (and the surrounding businesses that closed or laid off folks) were spending less since they had less income....like a stone tossed into a still pool - the economic ripples move outward!
 
I honestly don't know which I dispise more.  The absolute pandering that the Dems do to those that are sick, their total distortion of the facts that they choose to cite or their ignoring of the facts that don't suit their predetermined talking points.  Either way, I find their stand on the issue of stem cell research reeks of desperation - desperation to regain power.
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English versus Texan

Posted by Lady Logician on Saturday, August 26, 2006 3:43:48 PM
 
Kathleen Parker is another wonderfully logical lady.  Her recent column was directed at the purveyors of the meme that President Bush is "stupid".
 
"Bush-bashing for sport has never lacked fans in the blogosphere, but questioning the president's intelligence lately has gone mainstream.
Joe Scarborough, former Republican congressman and host of MSNBC's "Scarborough Country,'' recently tossed his beanie into the ring, running a 10-minute segment titled: "Is Bush an 'Idiot'?''
Scarborough wasn't calling Bush an idiot, mind you. He was just quoting that renowned American intellectual, Linda Ronstadt. Recently, Ronstadt had commented on the president's performance while attending an international summit of heads of state.
No wait, my mistake, she made those comments to reporters and audiences while touring in Canada. But never mind. When Ronstadt talks, people listen. Citing other leading American intellectuals -- The Dixie Chicks, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Joan Baez..."
 
This phenomonon is what prompted Laura Ingraham (yet another great logical lady) to pen the book "Shut up and Sing".
 
Lawrence Kudlow takes on the President's "communications shortcomings" in this column on the untold story about our robust economy:
 
"Some conservatives are alleging that the president suffers from an inability to communicate with the American people, and there may be some overrated truth to this."
 
I had the extreme good fortune to see President Bush speak several times during the 2004 campaign.  I found him to be very good at communicating the important issues to the audience.  John Hinderaker also has the same experience.
 
"The conventional wisdom is that Bush is not a very good speaker. But up close, he is a great communicator, in a way that, in my opinion, Ronald Reagan was not. He was by turns instructive, persuasive, and funny. His persona is very much that of the big brother. Above all, he was impassioned. I have never seen a politician speak so evidently from the heart, about big issues--freedom, most of all."
 
Those that do not understand the President blame the President for not making himself "clear" but I think that too many have gotten too used to hearing political double-speak...to the point that when they hear a straight forward speaker, the temptation is to insert meanings that are not there.  A great case in point is the meme that the President said that Saddam was tied to the 9/11 attacks.  He never did say that...he did say that Saddam was tied to TERRORISM.  Now at the time that was said, most people were still dealing with the shock of 9/11.  However that does not erase the reality of the situation.  Saddam did have ties to terrorists who had attacked Americans - most notoriously Abu Nidal the mastermind of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing.  Saddam also played host to Abu Abbas, who took part in the hijacking of the Achille Lauro.
 
I think that Ms. Parker nails the problem in this paragraph.
 
"My theory dovetails with something one of his most acerbic critics, columnist Molly Ivins, once wrote: "George W. Bush sounds like English is his second language.'' That's because it's true. "Washington English'' is a second language for Bush; "Texas English'' is his first."
 
I have several friends from Texas.  They definately do not speak "northern" and most northerners just don't know how to handle them.  Oh sure, they chuckle at some of the quaint phrases that Texans use, but many just don't get Texans and never will.  Which is a pity....my Texan friends are some of the smartest most wonderful people I know.  Loyal to a fault, ready to do battle for a friend if needed.  We need more Texans in the world.  Heaven knows if we had more people like that, this world would be a MUCH better place.
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