No one will shed any tears for Mohammar Quadaffi. By all accounts he was an evil man who took no pity on his people or those who disagreed with him. His complicity in the Pan Am bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland long ago sealed the fate of his worth in the eyes of the West.
Still one has to wonder if the new government will succeed when it forms. The fact that deposed dictators end up hung, decapitated or dragged through the streets such as happened to Saddam Hussein and now Quadaffit should make the West wonder. We should not equate the success of a revolution with the ability of a people to govern themselves.
With a pending trial for Hosnoi Mubarek and his Egyptian cronies we might yet see this again. Justice sometimes is harsh and no one can doubt that these men all abused their power and their people.
Still in view of moving forward it might be better to let these old men die in a prison cell of old age than make martyrs of them and show the brutal side of whatever society hopes to form.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Is the Joke on Herman Cain or Us?
Anyone watching Late Night television last night has seen the new Herman Cain ad. I had planned this post before even seeing that. Now it is imperative. A staffer talking about Herman Cain standing against what looks like a cinderblock wall one might find in a prison tells us about his belief and devotion in the candidate. After telling us that Cain wants to put the United in United States, which seems like a fine idea , as the ad ends we see this staffer take a drag off a cigarette and then exhale. He looks like everyone's Uncle Leroy smoking on the front porch at Thanksgiving. Then we have a picture of Herman Cain come up on the screen in which he stares at us before proceeding to smile.
The scariest thing is that as weird and unconventional as this ad is it is not the strangest thing about the candidate.
In the last couple of debates Cain has advised that he would negotiate with terrorists to gain back hostages but then advised he would not after all. Then Cain speaks at a rally and advises that he would have an electrified fence on the border and have signs in English and Spanish advising that the fence could kill you. When called on this he says he is joking, and then later advises he meant it and would not run from it.
And yet he continues to rise in the polls. This says a few things. First off the active Republican faithful ( those heavily involved here in the early stages ) are the most conservative. They do not trust Mitt Romney. They certainly would take him over Obama but they are doubtful about his belief in their causes and experience some twangs about his Mormonism. What becomes more and more apparent too is that these party members want someone out there. This is the feel good stage of the primary, the eqivalent of a Democrat agitating Obama to the left on issues that if he goes too far left will hurt his chances for the Presidency.
Herman Cain will not be President. He does not want to be President. The fact that he is being taken seriously as a candidate says more about the state of the Republican primary than it does about him or any of his policies.
The scariest thing is that as weird and unconventional as this ad is it is not the strangest thing about the candidate.
In the last couple of debates Cain has advised that he would negotiate with terrorists to gain back hostages but then advised he would not after all. Then Cain speaks at a rally and advises that he would have an electrified fence on the border and have signs in English and Spanish advising that the fence could kill you. When called on this he says he is joking, and then later advises he meant it and would not run from it.
And yet he continues to rise in the polls. This says a few things. First off the active Republican faithful ( those heavily involved here in the early stages ) are the most conservative. They do not trust Mitt Romney. They certainly would take him over Obama but they are doubtful about his belief in their causes and experience some twangs about his Mormonism. What becomes more and more apparent too is that these party members want someone out there. This is the feel good stage of the primary, the eqivalent of a Democrat agitating Obama to the left on issues that if he goes too far left will hurt his chances for the Presidency.
Herman Cain will not be President. He does not want to be President. The fact that he is being taken seriously as a candidate says more about the state of the Republican primary than it does about him or any of his policies.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Obama and Reagan
President Obama in recent days has been speaking about his so called proposed Buffet rule. This is a result of Warren Buffet commenting that he paid less percentage of taxes than his secretary. Obama has been making an effort to sell his plan making a very valid point that with capital gains taxes being low and hedge fund income being taxed as investment income that Buffet is right, that a minimum tax needs to be in place for the richest Americans.
It is always funny, or would be if it were not some mix of sad and disgusting, to see Republicans twist themselves into stating why millionaries should not have any tax increase.
So yesterday I saw a fascinating clip of the great Conservative Icon Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan who lowered the top tax rate more than half. Ronald Reagan the great tax cutter who stated that he wanted to remove loopholes because he wanted to make sure that the top executives on Wall Street did not pay a lower percentage than the bus driver and postman.
And yet our Republican friends who revere President Reagan still try to let us believe that any tax rate increase on millionaries will bring the economy to a screeching halt.
Ridiculous when your icon does not agree with you.
It is always funny, or would be if it were not some mix of sad and disgusting, to see Republicans twist themselves into stating why millionaries should not have any tax increase.
So yesterday I saw a fascinating clip of the great Conservative Icon Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan who lowered the top tax rate more than half. Ronald Reagan the great tax cutter who stated that he wanted to remove loopholes because he wanted to make sure that the top executives on Wall Street did not pay a lower percentage than the bus driver and postman.
And yet our Republican friends who revere President Reagan still try to let us believe that any tax rate increase on millionaries will bring the economy to a screeching halt.
Ridiculous when your icon does not agree with you.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Every Generation
I am sure that every generation such as mine who are in our forties look at young people and worry about their future and thus the future of the country. My son is a good kid but I believe that he is indicative of much of what I worry about. People do not like the word entitlement but exuding from young people is a sense of entitlement. "Self absorbed" a young woman on Joe Scarborough said this morning, " does that always have to have a negative conotation. I think the answer is yes.
Texting and all these methods of non personal communication. Micheal Steele asks about if online job application takes a skill away from young people of persistance and follow up in person. I think this has merit. You cannot make an impression beyond your skill set over the computer. My son struggled with applying for jobs and when he was not successful this past summer said he had applied but did not understand the need for follow through.
Email is a great tool, not as personal as a letter but I feel that facebook, texting and the like while something we all do will have long term effects on our abilities to communicate as our young people grow up.
I think there is a thought that as they get older our young people will be more like us and previous generations and surely they will. Still one cannot embrace a talent that one never gains in the first place.
It is a worry.
Texting and all these methods of non personal communication. Micheal Steele asks about if online job application takes a skill away from young people of persistance and follow up in person. I think this has merit. You cannot make an impression beyond your skill set over the computer. My son struggled with applying for jobs and when he was not successful this past summer said he had applied but did not understand the need for follow through.
Email is a great tool, not as personal as a letter but I feel that facebook, texting and the like while something we all do will have long term effects on our abilities to communicate as our young people grow up.
I think there is a thought that as they get older our young people will be more like us and previous generations and surely they will. Still one cannot embrace a talent that one never gains in the first place.
It is a worry.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Thou Shall Not Covet
As a parent we are supposed to teach our children the right things. This is hard to do. I like to think I have the right ideas about things. I know that we are lucky to have what we have and I know that as a whole Americans are lucky in the extreme compared to a great deal of people in the world. Each year the BDN at Christmas features the same biblical verse about the birth of Christ and comments that in all the time since the birth of Jesus a great deal of people live much as they did then. In poverty, fear and ignorance. For us in America this seems like something hard to agree with but it is by all rights true.
We have five people and four animals living in a small three bedroom cape. None of the bedrooms are big, the kitchen is outdated and our second son is in a bedroom designed as a spare room. Someday it will be my man cave. Everybody has their space but no one as too much. Still compared to the houses our fathers and grandfathers grew up in we are fortunate. We told our kids we might have a baby, we have since backtracked on that idea, and they expressed real fear about having to double up. The fact that we have raised them to consider not having their own rooms a hardship perhaps says something about our jobs as parents.
Of course we are a blended family which adds to the importance of no one losing something they once had, i.e a room of their own. When I was a single Dad and living in a townhouse my son and daughter shared a room. They never complained. Of course they were only 11 and 7 when we moved into our house but still they did not consider it a hardship then.
On a whim I looked at a house on sale a couple of weeks ago. Four bedrooms, a large attic level, a big kitchen, dining room and living room. We could spread out. In retrospect though for me the need for that house was superficial. We have all that we need and in truth soon enough our family will be shrinking. The desire for new things, for bigger and better is never ending. As rational as I am right now however I know that I will soon be wanting something new and bigger and better.
We all go through this. How we deal with it determines the values we teach our children and how satisfied we are with our own lives.
We all have too much. We all have more than we need. We all need to be more thankful. We all need to remember what is important. Myself included.
We have five people and four animals living in a small three bedroom cape. None of the bedrooms are big, the kitchen is outdated and our second son is in a bedroom designed as a spare room. Someday it will be my man cave. Everybody has their space but no one as too much. Still compared to the houses our fathers and grandfathers grew up in we are fortunate. We told our kids we might have a baby, we have since backtracked on that idea, and they expressed real fear about having to double up. The fact that we have raised them to consider not having their own rooms a hardship perhaps says something about our jobs as parents.
Of course we are a blended family which adds to the importance of no one losing something they once had, i.e a room of their own. When I was a single Dad and living in a townhouse my son and daughter shared a room. They never complained. Of course they were only 11 and 7 when we moved into our house but still they did not consider it a hardship then.
On a whim I looked at a house on sale a couple of weeks ago. Four bedrooms, a large attic level, a big kitchen, dining room and living room. We could spread out. In retrospect though for me the need for that house was superficial. We have all that we need and in truth soon enough our family will be shrinking. The desire for new things, for bigger and better is never ending. As rational as I am right now however I know that I will soon be wanting something new and bigger and better.
We all go through this. How we deal with it determines the values we teach our children and how satisfied we are with our own lives.
We all have too much. We all have more than we need. We all need to be more thankful. We all need to remember what is important. Myself included.
Is There a Third Party Candidate Out There
Every four years as the candidates solidify for the general election we start to hear murmurs of third party candidates. This year is remarkable in that this does not seem to be the case.
Of course with countless Republicans running in the primary perhaps the field has not shaken out enough for this to become an option. Still it appears that a strong independent candidate could certainly be a factor in the election.
The problem is of course that at this point a third party candidate would be a blessing to the presumed Republican candidate Mitt Romney. A third party candidate from the left could doom Obama and it just seems unlikely that a candidate from the right would hold any traction. This is because Republicans seem to have more discipline in matters Presidential. It is also seems that energy seems to come more to the party out of power.
Still it is fun to think about who could run. Could the Wall Street protests have any long term effect on the coming election. Could a populist from the left succeed. I was putting Joe Scarborough through the Google machine and noted that about a year ago he was taken as a serious candidate for President. It seems that he does not have the desire to do so at this time. It also is clear that he could not get through a Republican primary but as independent candidate I think he could hold the center very well. I think Independents and moderates from both sides would consider him. He could raise money easily. It may be that he is four years away and he might like his job now too much but this is a man one could get behind.
Businessman running for office claiming we need to run the country like a business will never get my vote and it these days of income quality and unemployment I do not know how a businessman can win. I think this could hurt Romney. A picture just surfaced of him and his Bain Capital buddies posing with money coming out of their clothes. Not a good picture for him in these times.
We are ripe for a four candidate election with both independent candidates from the left and the right. Where they come from, where they sit on the political spectrum might well determine who our next President will be.
Of course with countless Republicans running in the primary perhaps the field has not shaken out enough for this to become an option. Still it appears that a strong independent candidate could certainly be a factor in the election.
The problem is of course that at this point a third party candidate would be a blessing to the presumed Republican candidate Mitt Romney. A third party candidate from the left could doom Obama and it just seems unlikely that a candidate from the right would hold any traction. This is because Republicans seem to have more discipline in matters Presidential. It is also seems that energy seems to come more to the party out of power.
Still it is fun to think about who could run. Could the Wall Street protests have any long term effect on the coming election. Could a populist from the left succeed. I was putting Joe Scarborough through the Google machine and noted that about a year ago he was taken as a serious candidate for President. It seems that he does not have the desire to do so at this time. It also is clear that he could not get through a Republican primary but as independent candidate I think he could hold the center very well. I think Independents and moderates from both sides would consider him. He could raise money easily. It may be that he is four years away and he might like his job now too much but this is a man one could get behind.
Businessman running for office claiming we need to run the country like a business will never get my vote and it these days of income quality and unemployment I do not know how a businessman can win. I think this could hurt Romney. A picture just surfaced of him and his Bain Capital buddies posing with money coming out of their clothes. Not a good picture for him in these times.
We are ripe for a four candidate election with both independent candidates from the left and the right. Where they come from, where they sit on the political spectrum might well determine who our next President will be.
Question 2 is about GAMBLING
This fall we have seen countless ads about Referendum Question 2. If one was to listen to the ads and read the fliers that are being received three or four times a week they would be convinced that this was a jobs bill that was being funded.
It is not. No matter how many times people who look like everyday Mainers tell us in ads that this will bring jobs that is not what this is about.
This is about gambling. This is about bringing a casino to Biddeford. Let me ask you something. Without denigrating Biddeford is there anyplace in Maine that is less suited economically and demographically to having a casino in Biddeford. The routines that Maine comedian Bob Marley does about Biddeford are broad and generalizing but they are about Biddeford for a reason.
It is quite something to see these ads. All one has to do in these instances is follow the money. It is never about jobs. No private company wants to do business to bring in jobs. If they feel they can make money at it and jobs are a result so be it but if it was just about jobs we would have a million non profits. There is nothing wrong with making money, there is nothing wrong with wanting to make a profit.
What is wrong, at least to me, is the bait and switch being done with these ads. One could see all the media on this issue and not know what business is being promoted.
We have a casino approved in Oxford, constant agitation in Princeton for a casino there and now we have Question 3 that relates to Hollywood Slots in Bangor. They want us to now allow them to have table games. With the gambling companies it is always something more. One of the methods on the ads for Question 3 to get us in favor is their claim that Oxford will have table games so it is only fair for Bangor too.
Think about it. All the economic trouble in Maine and the two major referendums this year are about allowing the Gambling industry to dig further into our psyche and business climate.
We need to build something. We need factories and call centers and industry. We do not need to go for the easy low wage money that makes out of state gambling interests rich.
Another note. Construction jobs? How many of those will be union jobs? And how many of those will be employing Mainers. Will the bids be given to Maine companies.
On all levels this is a bad idea.
It is not. No matter how many times people who look like everyday Mainers tell us in ads that this will bring jobs that is not what this is about.
This is about gambling. This is about bringing a casino to Biddeford. Let me ask you something. Without denigrating Biddeford is there anyplace in Maine that is less suited economically and demographically to having a casino in Biddeford. The routines that Maine comedian Bob Marley does about Biddeford are broad and generalizing but they are about Biddeford for a reason.
It is quite something to see these ads. All one has to do in these instances is follow the money. It is never about jobs. No private company wants to do business to bring in jobs. If they feel they can make money at it and jobs are a result so be it but if it was just about jobs we would have a million non profits. There is nothing wrong with making money, there is nothing wrong with wanting to make a profit.
What is wrong, at least to me, is the bait and switch being done with these ads. One could see all the media on this issue and not know what business is being promoted.
We have a casino approved in Oxford, constant agitation in Princeton for a casino there and now we have Question 3 that relates to Hollywood Slots in Bangor. They want us to now allow them to have table games. With the gambling companies it is always something more. One of the methods on the ads for Question 3 to get us in favor is their claim that Oxford will have table games so it is only fair for Bangor too.
Think about it. All the economic trouble in Maine and the two major referendums this year are about allowing the Gambling industry to dig further into our psyche and business climate.
We need to build something. We need factories and call centers and industry. We do not need to go for the easy low wage money that makes out of state gambling interests rich.
Another note. Construction jobs? How many of those will be union jobs? And how many of those will be employing Mainers. Will the bids be given to Maine companies.
On all levels this is a bad idea.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Republican Debate
Watching the Republican debate it appears that Mitt Romney is going to be the candidate. He reminds me of the kids movie about Charlie Brown in a track and field event in which he wins because he keeps finishing second. Romney is not many people's first choice but he is most groups second. It is key for him to get this nomination wrapped up as soon as possible so that he can move to the center before America's focus centers in next year.
Romney is vulnerable. His health care plan in Massachussets is a success but he cannot claim it, in fact must distance himself from it to gain Republican support. His claim to having been a businessman is true but one wonders in these economic times if he is a shell waiting to be cracked open. Much of his businessman time was with Bain Capital, a company that bought up companies; then fixed them, scrapped them, or sold them for parts. Employees were usually part of whatever package was chosen and were not the first consideration. This is business, it is not a sure pleaser to many folks.
Romney is still a strong candidate. He works hard not to offend anyone.
Cain has no staying power, Perry seems to be on short legs, Chris Christie is out of the race.
Yet the Republicans have a good chance. Watching Morning Joe as I write this and the discussion of the President's jobs bill failing, those who would like to be sympathetic to the President are so tired and discourgaged by his passivity.
With a well known google problem and a background that might be tough to keep from becoming a caricature of himself Rick Santorum is a candidate that one wonders could catch fire. If the other conservative darlings of the moment fade Santorum has th chops to be considered seriously. His two terms in the Senate in a blue state show this. Importantly along with his conservative credentials he also has been speaking in a populist vent. It is unlikely that he can pull it together but it is not unforeseen. If anyone had any longshot money to lay he would be a good choice.
Romney is vulnerable. His health care plan in Massachussets is a success but he cannot claim it, in fact must distance himself from it to gain Republican support. His claim to having been a businessman is true but one wonders in these economic times if he is a shell waiting to be cracked open. Much of his businessman time was with Bain Capital, a company that bought up companies; then fixed them, scrapped them, or sold them for parts. Employees were usually part of whatever package was chosen and were not the first consideration. This is business, it is not a sure pleaser to many folks.
Romney is still a strong candidate. He works hard not to offend anyone.
Cain has no staying power, Perry seems to be on short legs, Chris Christie is out of the race.
Yet the Republicans have a good chance. Watching Morning Joe as I write this and the discussion of the President's jobs bill failing, those who would like to be sympathetic to the President are so tired and discourgaged by his passivity.
With a well known google problem and a background that might be tough to keep from becoming a caricature of himself Rick Santorum is a candidate that one wonders could catch fire. If the other conservative darlings of the moment fade Santorum has th chops to be considered seriously. His two terms in the Senate in a blue state show this. Importantly along with his conservative credentials he also has been speaking in a populist vent. It is unlikely that he can pull it together but it is not unforeseen. If anyone had any longshot money to lay he would be a good choice.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Why Don't We Know
My sister's husband has developed an interest in genealogy. He is finally retired and is a collector and a very intelligent fellow and this has become a quick passion of his. Today's programs such as Ancestry.com certainly provide much information to allow for folks to easily gain access to their complete family trees.
What is different is that 100 years ago with no access to things like the internet, public records as plentiful as they are now and yet, folks then had a much better idea of their family history. This is no longer the case. A great deal of people if they can only go back to their grandparents they are in the majority. Why is this so. Are we such a fast paced society that we do not bother to keep track?
The traditional record is the family bible. I have to say that the idea of knowing my full family tree and presenting that to my children so that they have a picture of their complete history has an appeal. It is something I will pursue.
My brother-in-law has taken his family back to 1530. That is pretty exceptional. A great gift for his son.
What is different is that 100 years ago with no access to things like the internet, public records as plentiful as they are now and yet, folks then had a much better idea of their family history. This is no longer the case. A great deal of people if they can only go back to their grandparents they are in the majority. Why is this so. Are we such a fast paced society that we do not bother to keep track?
The traditional record is the family bible. I have to say that the idea of knowing my full family tree and presenting that to my children so that they have a picture of their complete history has an appeal. It is something I will pursue.
My brother-in-law has taken his family back to 1530. That is pretty exceptional. A great gift for his son.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Wall Street Occupation
For the last week or so we have seen building protests on Wall Street with the occupy Wall Street movement. These protests are designed to protest the growing income equality in this country, rising and long term unemployment and of course the fact that those on Wall Street after a bailout are back to their old tricks.
The right wing spin machine classifies these as hippies, Dartmouth liberals and such. Inevitably there may be a grain of truth to this but what we do know is that there is much reason for protest. Many wonder if America could ever have protests such as what took place in Cairo and London.
It seems unlikely. However one thing that cannot be forgotten is that eventually if income equality does not modify there will be a time where protests get ugly. Many people think that if Teddy Roosevelt had not put in the measures to modify monopolies then there might well have been more anarchy than there was in the United States at the start of the twentieth century.
One thing is for sure. Our country is split. People are hurting. A market for protest is there. People might have to put down their ipads to get involved somehow.
The right wing spin machine classifies these as hippies, Dartmouth liberals and such. Inevitably there may be a grain of truth to this but what we do know is that there is much reason for protest. Many wonder if America could ever have protests such as what took place in Cairo and London.
It seems unlikely. However one thing that cannot be forgotten is that eventually if income equality does not modify there will be a time where protests get ugly. Many people think that if Teddy Roosevelt had not put in the measures to modify monopolies then there might well have been more anarchy than there was in the United States at the start of the twentieth century.
One thing is for sure. Our country is split. People are hurting. A market for protest is there. People might have to put down their ipads to get involved somehow.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Political News Updates
This morning Joe Scarborough points out that most of the guns that are used in the tri state area come from gun shows in the state of Virginia.
Rick Perry evidently had a racially offensive name for his family camp for years after he purchased it, the name was changed five years ago, several years after he became governor.
Herman Cain wins the Florida straw poll and states that blacks have been brainwashed by the Democratic party to stay on the plantation. This in itself is an imflammatory statement.
Chris Christie or at least his followers are making noises about his joining the fray in the Republican primary. He, I think, with the dissatisfaction can do well in the primary and could defeat Obama.
Wall Street protests are heating up. Some wonder if this might be an American version of Cairo. It seems to me that Americans cannot get heated up about anything much less protest in the streets but with unemployment where it is and the inequality in our society it becomes more a question of why aren't people protesting in the street.
Paul LePage here in Maine wants to go after unemployment fraud, while of course we all know about the corporate welfare he favors on a day to day basis. This is not to say there is not fraud, of course there is. The issue is the use of time and effort. It is much the same as the folks emptying bottled water purchased on welfare funds to get the returnables for cash for beer and such. Yes this is a waste. The bigger picture thought might well be what do we do for folks with substance abuse problems, why does our economy not have jobs so folks do not need welfare. Instead we choose to demonize those on the margins for political gain.
Rick Perry mentions he might consider sending troops to Mexico.
Rick Perry evidently had a racially offensive name for his family camp for years after he purchased it, the name was changed five years ago, several years after he became governor.
Herman Cain wins the Florida straw poll and states that blacks have been brainwashed by the Democratic party to stay on the plantation. This in itself is an imflammatory statement.
Chris Christie or at least his followers are making noises about his joining the fray in the Republican primary. He, I think, with the dissatisfaction can do well in the primary and could defeat Obama.
Wall Street protests are heating up. Some wonder if this might be an American version of Cairo. It seems to me that Americans cannot get heated up about anything much less protest in the streets but with unemployment where it is and the inequality in our society it becomes more a question of why aren't people protesting in the street.
Paul LePage here in Maine wants to go after unemployment fraud, while of course we all know about the corporate welfare he favors on a day to day basis. This is not to say there is not fraud, of course there is. The issue is the use of time and effort. It is much the same as the folks emptying bottled water purchased on welfare funds to get the returnables for cash for beer and such. Yes this is a waste. The bigger picture thought might well be what do we do for folks with substance abuse problems, why does our economy not have jobs so folks do not need welfare. Instead we choose to demonize those on the margins for political gain.
Rick Perry mentions he might consider sending troops to Mexico.
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