Is There Progress Through Loss? by Peggy Noonan

The above referenced editorial is by Peggy Noonan. If I had to choose I would say she is my favorite political writer. She is very smart. By that I don't mean educated, though I'm sure she's that too, I mean smart. Good old fashioned horse sense. I think perhaps that's the biggest compliment I can give to someone in her position.
She is able to find the heart of a matter and comment on it with exactly the right phrasing. However, it isn't in the same way an ad campaign or flashy political commersial would. She isn't looking for sound bites or, as the scriptures say, "To be heard of men". She's interested in the truth be it dirty, ugly or wonderful.
"Here's a thing about American politics. Nobody sees himself as the base. They see themselves as individuals. And they're not dumb. They get it all. They know when you're trying to manipulate. They'll even tell you, with a lovely detachment, if you're doing a good job. (An unreported story this year is the lack of imagination, seriousness and respect in the work of political consultants on both sides. They have got to catch up with American brightness.) "
Perfect! For so long we have heard tell of the Ugly American, of how we should be more like Europe and how we just can't grasp nuance. Ah, but we can. Americans are more educated now than ever. Americans have been blessed with the prosperity needed to give us time...time to do whatever we desire. Me, I write a blog on a whim, research anything I please from the Aztecs to the scriptures. My base of interest is so eclectic as to be almost unreasonable. But I'm not the exception, I'm the rule. If I learn something new and share it with someone they perk up and take note, glad to learn something new. Conversation is back, writing is back, thought is in vouge.
And there it is, that's what pains Liberals most, the thought that is in vouge isn't their philosophy, isn't their gray shaded reality or their effete nonsense. What just kills them is that they have lost, not in the voting booth, but in the hearts and minds of the people. So long have they tried to convince us that their point of view was right. It is the very definition of liberal to allow, allow, allow and we just don't see it that way in this day and age.
She makes mention of why conservatives are mad at Bush. In short he changed the rules without asking us. We elected a conservative but still didn't get one in office. My first memory of anything political was Ronald Reagan running against Jimmy Carter. I was 11 years old at the time and was very aware of the hostages in Iran. I was very aware of Regan's ability to fill the room with his personality and Carter's total lack of heft. My parents were Democrats (remember that doesn't mean liberal) and they wanted Carter to win. Of course he didn't and I remember the results and how massive they were. It wasn't until years later that I realized just who Reagan was, the greatest president this country has ever seen. I was explaining to my mom that the landscape in this country had shifted. The people that once held her ideals no longer did and the people she thought were for big business, were now for small business and the little guy. It didn't take much effort to provide proof of this to her as this was now during the contract with America period of Newt's greatness. My mom converted...she registered Republican. She did that because that's where she found the most conservatives, the most people who thought as she thought and felt as she felt.
These people didn't want to allow everything, but they also didn't want to stifle us. Being a conservative is largely about individualism, heck, being an American has always been about the rugged individuals. Jim Bridger was 17 years old when he began his mythical career as a mountain man. His biographer, Grenville Dodge described him thus:
"a very companionable man. In person he was over six feet tall, spare, straight as an arrow, agile, rawboned and of powerful frame, eyes gray, hair brown and abundant even in old age, expression mild and manners agreeable. He was hospitable and generous, and was always trusted and respected."
In so writing he actually described all Americans. We are all like Bridger and if we aren't, we wish we were. We aspire to that ideal. We dream of being written of one day with such flattering words. Words about our character, our generosity and our respect. We would rather be rememberd that way than for mighty deeds. It seems men, and women like that usually end up doing great deeds too.
If President Bush wants to be remembered that way then he needs to start looking outward to the many bright Americans wagging their heads at him and see what it is they are asking him to do. We aren't happy, we feel it in our bones, something is wrong. It's time for Common Sense to rattle the cages of government once more.

Patti Davis: Limbaugh, Fox and That Ad - Newsweek Politics - MSNBC.com

Many times I have read stories on various news outlets and realized how biased they were. I know, screaming about media bias is all the rage, but this story was so obvious, so hey, look, I'm lying, that I started this blog.

The story says, "Possibly worse than making fun of someone's disability is saying that it's imaginary. That is not to mock someone's body, but to challenge a person's guts, integrity, sanity." Then the story quotes Limbaugh as saying, "He is exaggerating the effects of the disease..."

So, which is it? Is he saying it is imaginary or admitting he has it? We've all seen Michael J Fox for years and he has worked very hard to control his Parkinson's disease. Perhaps he's done such a good job that when we see him like he is in the ad we are shocked. I was shocked I know. Then the content of the ad filled the screen and I was incensed.

Stem cell research has yet to produce any miracle cures. That's not to say that it won't, but at this point in the game it's nothing more than snake oil. The salesman comes to town, tells everyone how wonderful it is, they turn over their money and suck down the contents of the bottle, only to find it was not the cure all they had hoped. Now they are out their money and still have their ailment. Only, with the sort of stem cell research Fox is advocating it isn't just money we're out, we're sucking down the sanctity of life.

In his own book Lucky Man: A Memoir Fox says he didn't take his medication before testifying to the Senate. He also said the same thing in an interview with Diane Saywer.

So, Limbaugh is such a bad guy for accusing him yet Fox isn't a bad guy for exploiting his disease?

I just would like some intelectual honesty from these critics of the conservatives. They burst forth like a fountain with emotion but not an ounce of anything else!

I don't trust the news anymore, I simply don't. They worked hard for that distrust, they earned it.

Welcome to the Monkeybars

I swore I would never have a blog. So, now I have a blog. I guess that's the reason the bible says not to sware. I can't add one cubit to my blog or take one away. So, why break my oath to myself? I used to write letters to the editor of the local newspaper. I get just about everyone of them published when I do but they have to be short and they just can't say all that needs to be said. They have to be pithy when some issues really require more care. I'd love to have my own colum but I don't have a degree in journalism and I haven't worked my up from cub reporter...I don't think they would hire me, and I really can't spell anyway.

I decided to start a blog which will allow me to say what I want on issues. There is one major thing the reader should be aware of; when I use the term "conservative" I don't mean Republican and when I use the term "liberal' I don't mean Democrat. Keep this in mind as you read and we'll be just fine.