the (re)public house | Brewed according to the Rheinheitsgebot Purity Law of 1516.



29 August 2008

GB: Keeping my distance from the Democrats.


A friend of mine sent me this email yesterday, where he included commentary from Glenn Beck. I think I've seen 45 seconds of Beck in my life, but I think this is pretty worthwhile.
___________________

I'm really reticent about forwarding on political stuff, and my capacity for political debate is about 5 minutes. Nonetheless, this one fell under the 5 minute reading rule, and while I'm not a follower/huge fan of Glenn Beck, he cuts through the rhetoric pretty well.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/27/beck.conventions/index.html

Commentary: Keeping my distance from the Democrats
NEW YORK (CNN) -- ........ Here are my impressions of some of the noteworthy quotes from the convention so far, which I observed from a safe distance.

Nancy Pelosi: "I am very proud of the Democrats in Congress."

Never mind that no Congress in the past 20 years has passed fewer public laws than this one, according to the Wall Street Journal. How could they?

They are spending one quarter of their work week debating and passing symbolic measures such as creating National Watermelon Month. The Journal says no Congress in the past two decades has proposed more symbolic resolutions than this one -- 1,900, for those of you keeping score at home.

Pelosi went on to mention 10 specific accomplishments, which worked out to 0.9 accomplishments per percentage point of congressional approval rating. Ten accomplishments, 9% approval.

Nancy Pelosi: "On the most important policy decision of our time, the war in Iraq, Barack Obama is right and John McCain is wrong -- very, very wrong."

By her definition, do you know who else was very, very wrong? The Democratic vice presidential nominee, Sen. Joe Biden. And the last vice president they nominated, John Edwards. And the guy he ran with, John Kerry. And your headline speaker Tuesday night, Hillary Clinton, among many, many others.
Don't Miss

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Michelle Obama: "That's why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities."

Michelle Obama's chosen career path led her to make $275,000 per year at a private hospital. Is that really a "public service" job?

It seems to me that a Republican wouldn't be able to get away with such a generous assessment of their résumé. They would surely be harassed for making a six-figure salary inside the evil health care industry, while millions suffer without insurance.

But hey, there's nothing wrong with making money, at least to me. And remember, she didn't say she was volunteering. She said she was "working to empower young people to volunteer," which is totally different.

Michelle Obama: Barack Obama will achieve his goals "the same way he always has -- by bringing us together and reminding us how much we share and how alike we really are."

How will he do it? He'll talk everyone into it. Yes, that has worked with his nomination, but can he "remind" me into wanting the government to pay for universal everything?

I don't think so. I must not be hoping hard enough for change.

Michelle Obama: If her husband wins, her children can tell their kids someday that they "decided to stop doubting and to start dreaming."

Sometimes doubting is good. For example, it's good to doubt that other countries' failing policies, such as universal health care, will suddenly work here.

Hillary Clinton: "John McCain doesn't think that 47 million people without health insurance is a crisis."

She must have missed the update that this number dropped by over a million. While it's still too high, I doubt she would have missed the news if it had risen.

She also missed, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, that 37 percent of the uninsured live in households making more than $50,000 a year, most of which can afford health insurance.

Twenty percent aren't even citizens of this country. One in three are eligible for government insurance, but aren't enrolled. So, while our health care is far from perfect, it's much better than Hillary wants you to believe.

Hillary Clinton: "I will always remember the boy who told me his mom worked for the minimum wage and that her employer had cut her hours."

So, how will raising the minimum wage get that mom more hours? If the business owner found her employment too expensive at the lower wage, won't they be cutting her hours even more now?

By the way, since the minimum wage increase, teenage unemployment is at a 15-year high. I'm sure there's no relation whatsoever.

Joe Biden: "Even today, as oil companies post the biggest profits in history ... John wants to give them another $4 billion in tax breaks."

Here is the justification behind this talking point:

1.) John McCain wants to cut corporate income taxes for all companies.

2.) Oil companies are companies.

That's it.

Democrats believe that you think oil companies are mean, so they single them out, hoping you think McCain has cut a special deal just for them. He hasn't.

I guess it's really hard to drum up anger against your opponent when you say, "John McCain wants to cut taxes for companies that make delicious ice cream sundaes, feed the puppies of toddlers and fix veterans' wheelchairs," but that's just as truthful as what Biden said.

Tonight, it's Barack Obama, at a football stadium, in front of what Reuters says looks like a Greek temple. Next week, we'll get to watch the Republicans' attempt at choreographed pageantry.

Am I the only one who can't wait for November fifth?


25 August 2008

Yesterday.


I set a personal record for regurgitation in both duration and cumulative count. It was a very bad day.


21 August 2008

Summer Television: In Plain Sight.




Okay, so we basically all understand that summer is not ripe with quality television. It has traditionally become a mecca for overplayed reruns and reality garbage. However, there have been over the past few years some decent shows to debut during summertime. Many, if not most, of these never reappear on their airing network; however, occasionally you'll find some gold that you really hope won't get the traditional boot. This summer, such show for me was USA Network's In Plain Sight. I missed the first couple of episodes but soon became a pretty big fan. The characters are great, but this should be expected...I mean, USA Network does carry the tag line "Characters Welcome." Good plots with great chemistry and character development make this a very likable show which will easily draw you in. My only disappointment is that it won't return, as scheduled, until summer 2009. That's a long time. If you missed this first season, catch the reruns or watch online at ips.usanetwork.com.


18 August 2008

Colorado 2008.



(click the above picture to see more.)

Katie and I recently spent a blissful one and a half weeks in Colorado. We started out spending Thursday through Saturday with my uncle, aunt, and two cousins in Denver (with a side trip to Boulder), Sunday in Vail with my other cousin and his family, and then Sunday night through the next Sunday morning in Breckenridge with Katie's family. It was a glorious trip of great family, fun, and weather. I absolutely love spending time with my Colorado family - those who know me well know the love and respect I have for my aunt and uncle. We had a great hike, refreshing walks, good food, and wonderful times of conversation. Katie and I were so blessed to have time with them and my cousins, who are the greatest. Once we arrived at the house in Breck, it felt as if we already had a satisfactory vacation...but it was just beginning.

The next week was filled with hiking, rafting, reading, quiet strolls through town and around the neighborhood, and amazing golf. The following pictures speak for itself in regards to the latter:











Best of all though, as always, was time with Katie, Liz, Chad, Robert, & Dawna. This time we stayed in The Highlands, which is right outside of the downtown area, around Breckenridge Golf Club. This was a beautiful locale that lent itself to great walks and satisfying and peaceful quiet. The house we stayed in was absolutely amazing and beautiful, and it played a great host for opportunities for us to have good time together...even if just watching the world's worst movie ever in the media room. (Let's just say that there should have only been two Pirates of the Carrabean.) Like the scenary, the weather provided great refreshment. I believe the day it was 107 degrees in Dallas was the same day as one of the nights we cooked smores over the firepit. Simply amazing. The last night, Robert took us to dinner, where he ordered a bottle of champagne and extended the first toast to our daughter. It was very a special time of kindness and love and was a great wrap up to a magnificant trip. The week progressed much to quickly, and I think we all decided a longer trip would be necessitated next time. I could say that it's good to be home, but...well, I think we all know the truth here.


03 August 2008

In Memoriam.




Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
1918-2008



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