40th Anniversary of Apollo 11’s Launch
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Today marks an important anniversary in the annals of American space flight. I was just four years old when I watched this event on live television. I stood next my parent’s black-and-white TV to see the liftoff for myself.
.
Funny how things change. I was one year away from writing my first short story. Ten years away from starting my very first novel, which I later burned after it was completed. My first ‘real’ book wouldn’t be written for another 29 years.
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I can still see that old Magnavox TV in my imagination. The carpet in the room was an olive bur bur of some sort. Mom was on the couch with my three-month old sister in her hands. Dad sat on the floor next to me. I wasn’t wearing glasses just yet, so everything was just a little fuzzy.
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I’m 44 years old. What will I see in another 40 years? With any luck, I’ll live to see our first manned mission to Mars. As much as I like writing political fiction, I find science fiction to be just a little more awe inspiring. It fires my imagination in ways that the political and conspiracy stuff can’t.
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Why? I think it has something to do with the fact that I can’t see the tars in the night sky like everyone else can. I can see corrupt politicians and I can read all kinds of conspiracy theory. I suppose that wanting to see something that I never will has me making a big deal out of it.
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I may never live to see stars in the night sky, but I can still wonder what life might be like for others when they go there. For this reason, I suppose I will always enjoy my writing.
Good Citizenship is Hard
About Me
- Justin Oldham
- Anchorage, Alaska
- I am a reformed bureaucrat who now uses his powers for Good. My ultimate goal is to be a better man than I am. If I did not live in America, I would come here.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Alaska vs. The Democrats
.
The mainstream media has been working overtime this week, carrying water for the Obama administration in several arenas. They’ve been lovin’ it up During the Sotomayor nomination hearings, and they’ve been pushing passionate propaganda intended to sell us on the merits of National health care.
.
What do these things mean for a State like Alaska?
.
Sonya Sotomayor’s appointment is inevitable. I don’t see how she fails to be confirmed. She’ll be appointed to our highest court, with or without Republican opposition. She replaces Justice Suitor. That’s one liberal taking the place of another. Alaska doesn’t face any real ‘sea change’ in the legal climate. The Court currently leans 5-to-4 in favor of conservative judges.
.
Assuming that President Obama serves for two terms, he may not actually be able to alter that balance of judicial perspective. THAT is very important for Alaska, especially in the coming decade. There is, however, one hidden bug-a-boo relating to Sotomayor to be concerned about.
.
The current conservative presence on the bench will eventually play a pivotal role in the opening of ANWR. It seems more likely to me that we’ll see more resource development in the future, even with Sotomayor’s activist presence.
.
that’s relatively good news, when you stop to consider that we’re about to get kicked in the teeth by a new health care policy that will hurt more Alaskans than it helps.
.
The Democrats have cooked up a scam that rivals anything the Italians have done to their own people in the last half century. As currently advertised, the alleged reforms are actually a radical change in policy that will see big government forming a quasi-legal partnership with drug makers, insurers, and medical practitioners.
.
This is no reform. It’s not even real oversight. Its a ‘joint venture’ between two rivals. One can’t quite overcome the other. They’ve joined forces to achieve a mutual benefit. Alaska’s small population is going to be hurt by this unethical alliance when…in spite of all prior claims…health care costs go through the roof.
.
At the national level, small business operators average 15 employees. Alaskan entrepreneurs average 3-5 at the “small business” level. As planned, new taxes will hit individuals and employers in an effort to pay for the national option. Payroll taxes alone will force the costs of goods and services to spike as they are passed on to consumers. We already pay a lot for the privilege of living in this great State. Footing the bill fo the national option will force us to pay more.
.
Alaska won’t be the only State to challenge the nuts and bolts of this national health care plan in Federal court. What’s going to happened when things get that far? Justices like Sonya Sotomayor will rule against Alaskan redress, telling us that the national option is “for our own good.” That sentiment will be used by Democrats time and time again, to defeat legal challenges to the policies they are putting in place now.
.
Alaska’s conflict with the Democratic Party is only just beginning.
.
The mainstream media has been working overtime this week, carrying water for the Obama administration in several arenas. They’ve been lovin’ it up During the Sotomayor nomination hearings, and they’ve been pushing passionate propaganda intended to sell us on the merits of National health care.
.
What do these things mean for a State like Alaska?
.
Sonya Sotomayor’s appointment is inevitable. I don’t see how she fails to be confirmed. She’ll be appointed to our highest court, with or without Republican opposition. She replaces Justice Suitor. That’s one liberal taking the place of another. Alaska doesn’t face any real ‘sea change’ in the legal climate. The Court currently leans 5-to-4 in favor of conservative judges.
.
Assuming that President Obama serves for two terms, he may not actually be able to alter that balance of judicial perspective. THAT is very important for Alaska, especially in the coming decade. There is, however, one hidden bug-a-boo relating to Sotomayor to be concerned about.
.
The current conservative presence on the bench will eventually play a pivotal role in the opening of ANWR. It seems more likely to me that we’ll see more resource development in the future, even with Sotomayor’s activist presence.
.
that’s relatively good news, when you stop to consider that we’re about to get kicked in the teeth by a new health care policy that will hurt more Alaskans than it helps.
.
The Democrats have cooked up a scam that rivals anything the Italians have done to their own people in the last half century. As currently advertised, the alleged reforms are actually a radical change in policy that will see big government forming a quasi-legal partnership with drug makers, insurers, and medical practitioners.
.
This is no reform. It’s not even real oversight. Its a ‘joint venture’ between two rivals. One can’t quite overcome the other. They’ve joined forces to achieve a mutual benefit. Alaska’s small population is going to be hurt by this unethical alliance when…in spite of all prior claims…health care costs go through the roof.
.
At the national level, small business operators average 15 employees. Alaskan entrepreneurs average 3-5 at the “small business” level. As planned, new taxes will hit individuals and employers in an effort to pay for the national option. Payroll taxes alone will force the costs of goods and services to spike as they are passed on to consumers. We already pay a lot for the privilege of living in this great State. Footing the bill fo the national option will force us to pay more.
.
Alaska won’t be the only State to challenge the nuts and bolts of this national health care plan in Federal court. What’s going to happened when things get that far? Justices like Sonya Sotomayor will rule against Alaskan redress, telling us that the national option is “for our own good.” That sentiment will be used by Democrats time and time again, to defeat legal challenges to the policies they are putting in place now.
.
Alaska’s conflict with the Democratic Party is only just beginning.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Alaska’s Post-Palin Future
.
the knives have come out, and Srah Palin is definitely being skewered. As unfortunate as that as, we’ve got to remember that Alaska still has a bright future. Our economy is still doing well, in spite of what’s happening in the lower 48. We’ve got a billion dollar natural gas line coming, and a long list of growing industries that will only add to the ‘heft’ our State-wide economy.
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Those who have read Tales from the Kodiak Starport will know that I’m a booster of Alaskan aerospace potential. I think we’ve got a lot of room for high-tech growth in every sector. We can look forward to growth in every sector of our economy for quite some time in the future.
.
:Sarah Palin’s fall from grace is temporary. At least, I hope its temporary. I don’t like to see anyone crash and burn like this, She and her family are making a big leap. A tremendous transition from one lifestyle to the next. It takes time to get in to all that multi-media “stuff.” Lots and lots of things go on behind the scenes. Mountains of paperwork that can take months to complete.
.
We’ve got too much going for us to let one politician’s fate deter us from the many advancements that are ours to make in the 21st Century. I realize that I give up access to agents and publishers by living in Alaska, My networking opportunities are limited, but that WILL change as our State grows in to its economic potential. I look forward to seeing it ,and writing about it.
.
the knives have come out, and Srah Palin is definitely being skewered. As unfortunate as that as, we’ve got to remember that Alaska still has a bright future. Our economy is still doing well, in spite of what’s happening in the lower 48. We’ve got a billion dollar natural gas line coming, and a long list of growing industries that will only add to the ‘heft’ our State-wide economy.
.
Those who have read Tales from the Kodiak Starport will know that I’m a booster of Alaskan aerospace potential. I think we’ve got a lot of room for high-tech growth in every sector. We can look forward to growth in every sector of our economy for quite some time in the future.
.
:Sarah Palin’s fall from grace is temporary. At least, I hope its temporary. I don’t like to see anyone crash and burn like this, She and her family are making a big leap. A tremendous transition from one lifestyle to the next. It takes time to get in to all that multi-media “stuff.” Lots and lots of things go on behind the scenes. Mountains of paperwork that can take months to complete.
.
We’ve got too much going for us to let one politician’s fate deter us from the many advancements that are ours to make in the 21st Century. I realize that I give up access to agents and publishers by living in Alaska, My networking opportunities are limited, but that WILL change as our State grows in to its economic potential. I look forward to seeing it ,and writing about it.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Responsible Blogging
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Alaskan bloggers have been in a unique position to comment on Sarah Palin. Many of us know or have known Mrs. Palin, and we’re familiar with political career in ways that out-of-State pundits are not. I couldn’t help but notice that one ‘us’ made the national scene today, with an interview on MSNBC’s Countdown.
.
To borrow a Martha Stuart-ism, I thought it was a good thing. It demonstrates to me that blogging can be productive. It should also be a reality check. Because any one of us bloggers can be rung up on the phone or pinged e-mailed by a national news organization, we to be mindful of what we say and how we say it.
.
Some bloggers think of themselves as journalists. Others style themselves as observers. Every blogger has their own reason for being “out there.” As an author, I’ m here so that Ican be found. The internet does me no good if I don’t use it. I think its quite remarkable that any of us can be a news source. The mainstream media now has to contend wit heh fact that thre are sources of information out there that they don’t own.
.I
’ve been asked to comment at greater length on that Alaskan blogger who made the big time. All I really care to say is, good for them. They got the call, and they answered. Their point of view was requested ,and they gave it. Opinions are like noses. They have theris, and I have mine.
.
Alaskan bloggers have been in a unique position to comment on Sarah Palin. Many of us know or have known Mrs. Palin, and we’re familiar with political career in ways that out-of-State pundits are not. I couldn’t help but notice that one ‘us’ made the national scene today, with an interview on MSNBC’s Countdown.
.
To borrow a Martha Stuart-ism, I thought it was a good thing. It demonstrates to me that blogging can be productive. It should also be a reality check. Because any one of us bloggers can be rung up on the phone or pinged e-mailed by a national news organization, we to be mindful of what we say and how we say it.
.
Some bloggers think of themselves as journalists. Others style themselves as observers. Every blogger has their own reason for being “out there.” As an author, I’ m here so that Ican be found. The internet does me no good if I don’t use it. I think its quite remarkable that any of us can be a news source. The mainstream media now has to contend wit heh fact that thre are sources of information out there that they don’t own.
.I
’ve been asked to comment at greater length on that Alaskan blogger who made the big time. All I really care to say is, good for them. They got the call, and they answered. Their point of view was requested ,and they gave it. Opinions are like noses. They have theris, and I have mine.
Palin's Commercial Future
.
The work week has begun, and the mainstream media is still coming to grips with the Palin resignation. As expected, a majority of Alaskans are disappointed that she couldn’t finish what she started. Her assertion that she was quitting to save the State a pile of money has left many of us feeling like we’ve been liked to.
.
New details are now emerging. It seems that Mrs. Palin had a very thin skin when wit came to eh media intrusions in her life. I don’t blame her for being outraged when character attacks were made against her child and daughters. We’d expect any good mother to step up in defense of their offspring. Accounts are now surfacing from people who now feel free to talk that Governor Palin has at times been in a real funk over slings and arrows that have been tossed her way.
.
She’s got my sympathy, even though I don’t agree with what she did. I left Federal service after a long hard think, and a lot of people I used to know expressed their disappointment in me. I appreciate Palin’s desire to fight corruption, seein’ as how corruption factored in to my own reasons for resigning. I would point out just one small details. I wasn’t elected. She was. How do we take her seriously as a media presence if she can’t finish the term she was elected to serve?
.
I have no doubt that she could be the next great conservative media icon. There’s a rumor floating around now that Fox News Channel might be courting her to be a talk show host. Six months on T.V., then on to radio whole ghost writers slam out a few book in her name. She’ll be fabulously wealthy, if she can stick to it.
.
Did she really make this decision to resign all on her own? I have my doubts. I’ve had time to calm down, and think. I know what it is to take a running start before you burn your bridges and jump off a cliff. If you go back and look at my old blog entries, you see that I used to write about my professional fears more frequently. I really did feel like I’d jumped off a cliff when I left Federal service. In some respects, I still feel like I’m falling. I don’t sense any of that fear from her, or the people who speak for her.
.
I now believe that the people who control conservative media have realized that Palin is more valuable as a Limbaugh-style mouth piece. I think they’re right. She can’t win the Presidency 2012, and she’d be “dated” by 2016 if she stayed on her present career path. Putting her on a media pedestal makes her a good fun-raiser and it keeps her ‘current’ until 2016. She could run for the White House in 2016, but I just don’t see that happening. Too much will have changed by then, and she’ll be too plugged in to a lifestyle that wouldn’t be easy to give up.
,
In the long run, Palin Power will be good for the GOP. They haven’t had a charismatic leader since Reagan. Palin will be a Standard Bear-er. She won’t hold elected office again, but she will carry the Republican flag in a way that’ll re-energize the hard-right base. We should expect the purge of Moderates to continue. Give it ten years, and the Republican brand will look radically different than it does today. Sarah Palin will be the Queen if a minority party that is fired up and full of cash. In her case, it really will be better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heavan.
.
The work week has begun, and the mainstream media is still coming to grips with the Palin resignation. As expected, a majority of Alaskans are disappointed that she couldn’t finish what she started. Her assertion that she was quitting to save the State a pile of money has left many of us feeling like we’ve been liked to.
.
New details are now emerging. It seems that Mrs. Palin had a very thin skin when wit came to eh media intrusions in her life. I don’t blame her for being outraged when character attacks were made against her child and daughters. We’d expect any good mother to step up in defense of their offspring. Accounts are now surfacing from people who now feel free to talk that Governor Palin has at times been in a real funk over slings and arrows that have been tossed her way.
.
She’s got my sympathy, even though I don’t agree with what she did. I left Federal service after a long hard think, and a lot of people I used to know expressed their disappointment in me. I appreciate Palin’s desire to fight corruption, seein’ as how corruption factored in to my own reasons for resigning. I would point out just one small details. I wasn’t elected. She was. How do we take her seriously as a media presence if she can’t finish the term she was elected to serve?
.
I have no doubt that she could be the next great conservative media icon. There’s a rumor floating around now that Fox News Channel might be courting her to be a talk show host. Six months on T.V., then on to radio whole ghost writers slam out a few book in her name. She’ll be fabulously wealthy, if she can stick to it.
.
Did she really make this decision to resign all on her own? I have my doubts. I’ve had time to calm down, and think. I know what it is to take a running start before you burn your bridges and jump off a cliff. If you go back and look at my old blog entries, you see that I used to write about my professional fears more frequently. I really did feel like I’d jumped off a cliff when I left Federal service. In some respects, I still feel like I’m falling. I don’t sense any of that fear from her, or the people who speak for her.
.
I now believe that the people who control conservative media have realized that Palin is more valuable as a Limbaugh-style mouth piece. I think they’re right. She can’t win the Presidency 2012, and she’d be “dated” by 2016 if she stayed on her present career path. Putting her on a media pedestal makes her a good fun-raiser and it keeps her ‘current’ until 2016. She could run for the White House in 2016, but I just don’t see that happening. Too much will have changed by then, and she’ll be too plugged in to a lifestyle that wouldn’t be easy to give up.
,
In the long run, Palin Power will be good for the GOP. They haven’t had a charismatic leader since Reagan. Palin will be a Standard Bear-er. She won’t hold elected office again, but she will carry the Republican flag in a way that’ll re-energize the hard-right base. We should expect the purge of Moderates to continue. Give it ten years, and the Republican brand will look radically different than it does today. Sarah Palin will be the Queen if a minority party that is fired up and full of cash. In her case, it really will be better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heavan.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Independence Day 2009
.
Today marks our Independence Day, here in the United States. Americans from all walks of life are urged to take a look back on our 233 years of history. We are asked to remember those who have died in service to the nation. It’s also a time of reflection, to think about what it means to live in a free society. I would come to this country, if I didn’t already live here.
.
Events in the last 24 hours have caused me to think about my commitments. As children, we are told to finish what we start. It’s one of the many costs of our freedom. I look back on what Sarah Palin did, and I’m reminded of my own reasons for leaving Federal service. I had a choice to make, and I did make it. It cost me very dearly, in professional terms. I lost a lot of good friends, too. I was told to my face—by a lot of people—just how badly I’d screwed up.
.
It’s been eleven years since I left all that behind. I think I’m a better person for it, too. I’d be bitter and much more cynical, if I had stayed. That’s not who I wanted to be, so I went. I survived professional suicide, and I have no doubt that Sarah Palin will survive her political implosion. She’ll make a lot of money as a speaker and fund-raiser. Even so, I have some small sense of the price she’s going to pay for her change of course. There will be some dark days ahead, but hey will pass.
.
We have to make the hard choices. It’s the only way we’ll keep our freedom. Good citizenship is more than Patriotism. It’s not enough that we’re willing to die (physically) for certain things. We’ve gotta be willing to make painful changes in our personal and professional lives. We’re not actually using our freedoms, unless we strive to be who and what we really are. To be that person, we may have to commit career carnage. It creeps me out, just so say it. We may need to take the pain in order to honestly embrace the professions we rally want.
.
I wouldn’t really be independent, or free, if I hadn’t done it. Years passed, after my resignation, before I fully appreciated the value of that freedom-to-act. I took a lot of crap from a lot of people who enjoyed twisting the knife. Most have since repented, because they’re genuinely pleased to see me succeed. An infamous few of the folks I’ve known over the last eleven years still hope for my failure. I pity them for their lack of intellectual freedom, too.
.
I’m grateful for what I have, and I’m looking forward to doing more with it. I recognize that others pay a dear price so that I can keep on writing book. I have the same odds of getting published as anyone else. I just have to keep at it. That freedom also allows me to puttering with this blog. It’s easy for me to forget that I still say whatever I want in this online format, or in my books. It’s a freedom that I desire to cherish more.
.
These are things I’ve learned, on this Independence Day.
.
Today marks our Independence Day, here in the United States. Americans from all walks of life are urged to take a look back on our 233 years of history. We are asked to remember those who have died in service to the nation. It’s also a time of reflection, to think about what it means to live in a free society. I would come to this country, if I didn’t already live here.
.
Events in the last 24 hours have caused me to think about my commitments. As children, we are told to finish what we start. It’s one of the many costs of our freedom. I look back on what Sarah Palin did, and I’m reminded of my own reasons for leaving Federal service. I had a choice to make, and I did make it. It cost me very dearly, in professional terms. I lost a lot of good friends, too. I was told to my face—by a lot of people—just how badly I’d screwed up.
.
It’s been eleven years since I left all that behind. I think I’m a better person for it, too. I’d be bitter and much more cynical, if I had stayed. That’s not who I wanted to be, so I went. I survived professional suicide, and I have no doubt that Sarah Palin will survive her political implosion. She’ll make a lot of money as a speaker and fund-raiser. Even so, I have some small sense of the price she’s going to pay for her change of course. There will be some dark days ahead, but hey will pass.
.
We have to make the hard choices. It’s the only way we’ll keep our freedom. Good citizenship is more than Patriotism. It’s not enough that we’re willing to die (physically) for certain things. We’ve gotta be willing to make painful changes in our personal and professional lives. We’re not actually using our freedoms, unless we strive to be who and what we really are. To be that person, we may have to commit career carnage. It creeps me out, just so say it. We may need to take the pain in order to honestly embrace the professions we rally want.
.
I wouldn’t really be independent, or free, if I hadn’t done it. Years passed, after my resignation, before I fully appreciated the value of that freedom-to-act. I took a lot of crap from a lot of people who enjoyed twisting the knife. Most have since repented, because they’re genuinely pleased to see me succeed. An infamous few of the folks I’ve known over the last eleven years still hope for my failure. I pity them for their lack of intellectual freedom, too.
.
I’m grateful for what I have, and I’m looking forward to doing more with it. I recognize that others pay a dear price so that I can keep on writing book. I have the same odds of getting published as anyone else. I just have to keep at it. That freedom also allows me to puttering with this blog. It’s easy for me to forget that I still say whatever I want in this online format, or in my books. It’s a freedom that I desire to cherish more.
.
These are things I’ve learned, on this Independence Day.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Palin's Political Suicide
.
It’s being reported that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will step down at the end of this month, so that she can pursue other interests. The announcement, made just a few hours ago, comes at a time when most of us are pre-occupied with holiday activities. Local, state, and national media outlets were caught off guard. I didn’t miss it because I always look for news on Fridays. Lots of ‘interesting’ things happen on Fridays.
.
The sun was out and the sky was blue. Palin’s remarks were brief, lasting less than six minutes. Her tone of voice conveyed just a hint of trepidation. Her body language conveyed stubborn reservation. It was a gambler’s pose, if ever I saw one. She had the look of somebody who was about to do something really great, or really stupid. I could see in her eyes that she was hoping for the best.
.
The timing of her actions, combined with the content of her emotional speech, suggests to me that she was impatient. She stated quite clearly that she was fed up with the waste of time and money that she was experiencing in her role as Governor. It was her opinion that she could be more productive outside the Governor’s office.
.
The glint in her eye and the scorn in her voice left no doubt in my mind that she was speaking from the heart. The camera caught every second of her petulance. I was dazzled by such a brazen and forthright display of naked ambition. It really was quite impressive. If her timing had been better, it would have been “magnificent.” If her reasoning had been better, it would’ve been brilliant to the point of inspiration.
.
She reverted to sports metaphor, in an effort to explain herself. She made the analogy of a basketball point guard. Head up, eyes peeled for an opening. Ready to shoot pr pass, depending on what’s good for the team. She wrapped up by asserting that she was acting on sentiment advice from her family. That’s pretty standard stuff for most politicians. In any other situation, it would’ve been boiler plate. Critics will have no trouble at all framing these words as disingenuous.
.
Spin doctors won’t have to work very hard to make the timing of her press conference appear sneaky, under-handed, dishonest. They’ll say she can’t stand the heat, so she’s bailing out of he governorship to cash in on her fame. It won’t be hard to portray her as taking the path of least resistance. How do you stand for President if you can’t finish one term as a State Governor? That one question is going to be used on her like a knife.
.
Has she committed political suicide? It’s worth noting that Barack Obama came to national prominence very quickly. It’s not out of line to suggest that Sarah Palin could ride a similar wave to the White House. Then again, we could be over-thinking this. She could be aiming for a long career as a motivational speaker, or a GOP fund-raiser.
.
the current state of the Republican party is chaos and disarray. Palin’s throw of the dice could be heralded by many conservatives as just the kind of bold action that needs to be taken in these troubled times. You don’t always have to be “right” to win. Many leaders have come to power solely on the strength of their oratory and charisma.
.
I’m not pleased wit this turn of events. I wasn’t pleased by the fact that Obama failed to finish his term in the Senate, and I don’t care for the way Palin is jumping ship now. In both cases, it smacks of opportunism. Parents often tell their kids to finish what they start. This comes off as another instance of ‘do as I say, not as I do.’
.
What would’ve happened if Sarah Palin had cracked a few books while finishing her term as Governor? 2012 looks iffy. I think she might’ve been hard to beat in 2016. Who would the Democrats have run against her that could matched up? Charismatic orator are few and far between. We’d already know about it, if there was another Obama or Palin on the horizon. This looks to me like Sarah Palin is her own worst enemy. She doesn’t want to wait, and it’ll cost her.
.
It’s being reported that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will step down at the end of this month, so that she can pursue other interests. The announcement, made just a few hours ago, comes at a time when most of us are pre-occupied with holiday activities. Local, state, and national media outlets were caught off guard. I didn’t miss it because I always look for news on Fridays. Lots of ‘interesting’ things happen on Fridays.
.
The sun was out and the sky was blue. Palin’s remarks were brief, lasting less than six minutes. Her tone of voice conveyed just a hint of trepidation. Her body language conveyed stubborn reservation. It was a gambler’s pose, if ever I saw one. She had the look of somebody who was about to do something really great, or really stupid. I could see in her eyes that she was hoping for the best.
.
The timing of her actions, combined with the content of her emotional speech, suggests to me that she was impatient. She stated quite clearly that she was fed up with the waste of time and money that she was experiencing in her role as Governor. It was her opinion that she could be more productive outside the Governor’s office.
.
The glint in her eye and the scorn in her voice left no doubt in my mind that she was speaking from the heart. The camera caught every second of her petulance. I was dazzled by such a brazen and forthright display of naked ambition. It really was quite impressive. If her timing had been better, it would have been “magnificent.” If her reasoning had been better, it would’ve been brilliant to the point of inspiration.
.
She reverted to sports metaphor, in an effort to explain herself. She made the analogy of a basketball point guard. Head up, eyes peeled for an opening. Ready to shoot pr pass, depending on what’s good for the team. She wrapped up by asserting that she was acting on sentiment advice from her family. That’s pretty standard stuff for most politicians. In any other situation, it would’ve been boiler plate. Critics will have no trouble at all framing these words as disingenuous.
.
Spin doctors won’t have to work very hard to make the timing of her press conference appear sneaky, under-handed, dishonest. They’ll say she can’t stand the heat, so she’s bailing out of he governorship to cash in on her fame. It won’t be hard to portray her as taking the path of least resistance. How do you stand for President if you can’t finish one term as a State Governor? That one question is going to be used on her like a knife.
.
Has she committed political suicide? It’s worth noting that Barack Obama came to national prominence very quickly. It’s not out of line to suggest that Sarah Palin could ride a similar wave to the White House. Then again, we could be over-thinking this. She could be aiming for a long career as a motivational speaker, or a GOP fund-raiser.
.
the current state of the Republican party is chaos and disarray. Palin’s throw of the dice could be heralded by many conservatives as just the kind of bold action that needs to be taken in these troubled times. You don’t always have to be “right” to win. Many leaders have come to power solely on the strength of their oratory and charisma.
.
I’m not pleased wit this turn of events. I wasn’t pleased by the fact that Obama failed to finish his term in the Senate, and I don’t care for the way Palin is jumping ship now. In both cases, it smacks of opportunism. Parents often tell their kids to finish what they start. This comes off as another instance of ‘do as I say, not as I do.’
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What would’ve happened if Sarah Palin had cracked a few books while finishing her term as Governor? 2012 looks iffy. I think she might’ve been hard to beat in 2016. Who would the Democrats have run against her that could matched up? Charismatic orator are few and far between. We’d already know about it, if there was another Obama or Palin on the horizon. This looks to me like Sarah Palin is her own worst enemy. She doesn’t want to wait, and it’ll cost her.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
GOP Lost Battle On Cap And Trade
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Is the Obama administration’s proposed policy of Cap And Trade good for us? It’s being sold as a way to ‘repair’ the U.S. energy sector. It’s being sold to us as a reform. It’s my opinion that this ‘reform’ is dangerous, for two reason. It’s not really a reform at all. It’s not even a genuine tax, as we know such things.
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Cap And Trade is a fascist power grab, designed to pay off private sector interests for increased governmental authority. This is government getting in bed with the private sector, so that it can more directly and heavily tax the consumer. Energy producers are going to get a piece of the action, too. It pales in comparison to what Uncle Same gets, but they’ll stull be getting their pay-off for selling out their customers.
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Am I wrong? Think about this for a moment. Energy producers are going to let the Federal government tax YOU on a product they made. The corporations will then extract an book keeping fee from YOU, for the administration of that tax. They win, and you lose…because…the funds generated by this tax will not be used to control or regulate the energy industry. Those dollars will be used for just about anything else but that.
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Conservatives will be hard pressed to carry much water at the national level, once the Obama adminstration has achieves its two most desired goals. The double cons of National Health Care along with Cap And Trade will ensure that the political culture changes in such a way as to eliminate the very notion of fiscal conservancy. We are very much on track to see the future I predicted in The Fisk Conspiracy, on the time table I suggested.
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Democrats will have another member added to their ranks some time next week, bring their majority in the Senate up to 60. GOP losses in the senate during the 2010 mid-terms are expected to be in the ball park of 5-7. This number may increase, if Republicans keep falling prey to sex scandals.
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Conservative are having a hard time speaking out against Cap And Trade just now because their most well known advocates keep using old school arguments and defamatory language. Who listens to any argument when they can’t get pas the hate speech? My impression of many nationally syndicated talking heads is that they are out of touch. It’s very telling that most conservative voters can make their own cases better than some of these guys and gals.
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So, what do we do? This thing is going tobe with us, whether we like it or not. Any conservative lucky enough to make it in to Congress should do everything in their power to rade the brakes, advocating for moderation and minimization whenever possible. Will thath appened? No, but why should we hope for anything less?
.
Is the Obama administration’s proposed policy of Cap And Trade good for us? It’s being sold as a way to ‘repair’ the U.S. energy sector. It’s being sold to us as a reform. It’s my opinion that this ‘reform’ is dangerous, for two reason. It’s not really a reform at all. It’s not even a genuine tax, as we know such things.
.
Cap And Trade is a fascist power grab, designed to pay off private sector interests for increased governmental authority. This is government getting in bed with the private sector, so that it can more directly and heavily tax the consumer. Energy producers are going to get a piece of the action, too. It pales in comparison to what Uncle Same gets, but they’ll stull be getting their pay-off for selling out their customers.
.
Am I wrong? Think about this for a moment. Energy producers are going to let the Federal government tax YOU on a product they made. The corporations will then extract an book keeping fee from YOU, for the administration of that tax. They win, and you lose…because…the funds generated by this tax will not be used to control or regulate the energy industry. Those dollars will be used for just about anything else but that.
.
Conservatives will be hard pressed to carry much water at the national level, once the Obama adminstration has achieves its two most desired goals. The double cons of National Health Care along with Cap And Trade will ensure that the political culture changes in such a way as to eliminate the very notion of fiscal conservancy. We are very much on track to see the future I predicted in The Fisk Conspiracy, on the time table I suggested.
.
Democrats will have another member added to their ranks some time next week, bring their majority in the Senate up to 60. GOP losses in the senate during the 2010 mid-terms are expected to be in the ball park of 5-7. This number may increase, if Republicans keep falling prey to sex scandals.
.
Conservative are having a hard time speaking out against Cap And Trade just now because their most well known advocates keep using old school arguments and defamatory language. Who listens to any argument when they can’t get pas the hate speech? My impression of many nationally syndicated talking heads is that they are out of touch. It’s very telling that most conservative voters can make their own cases better than some of these guys and gals.
.
So, what do we do? This thing is going tobe with us, whether we like it or not. Any conservative lucky enough to make it in to Congress should do everything in their power to rade the brakes, advocating for moderation and minimization whenever possible. Will thath appened? No, but why should we hope for anything less?
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