Month: February 2012

Maryland And Virginia: Two Different Worlds Politically, From Different “Planets”!

Ronald 1 Comment

There seems to be no comparison of two geographically neighboring states quite on the level of Maryland and Virginia, two diametrically opposite governments, seemingly from different “planets”.

Maryland, one of the most prosperous states, has a Democratic dominated state government and Congressional delegation, and has a Governor, Martin O’Malley, who comes across as a national leader of the future. Maryland has become the eighth state to legalize gay marriage. It has dealt with the issue of the Great Recession and its aftermath in a socially responsible way, and is seen as a model of progressive viewpoint and outlook.

Virginia, on the other hand, while it has the Northern Virginia suburbs, which are more progressive, has an extremely conservative and Republican state government under the leadership of Bob McDonnell and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who makes McDonnell look moderate, not an easy task!

Virginia was moving toward requiring vaginal exams of any woman who wanted to get an abortion. The ultrasound law would have allowed the state to invade women’s bodies in the name of fanatical religious zealots who wanted to stop all abortions, even though it is allowed by Supreme Court decisions. But McDonnell, seen as on the short list for Vice Presidential nomination, came to the conclusion yesterday that such a law would harm his chances of moving ahead politically, as the Virginia Governorship limit is one term. So he suddenly backed off from a pledge to sign such an invasive, insulting bill as this one.

The likelihood of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, an extreme right winger, succeeding McDonnell in November 2013, as Virginia Governor, is a horrifying thought to many, particularly women and gays, as Cuccinelli is a hardliner on the social issues that are dominating the GOP race for President right now!

So a world of difference exists between Maryland and Virginia, an amazing manifestation considering their being in the same “neighborhood”!

The Likely End Of The Republican Presidential Debates: A Relief For America!

Ronald Leave a comment

With last night’s 20th Republican Presidential debate, it now seems likely that we have seen the last of the debates until the three Presidential debates and one Vice Presidential debate in the fall.

The end of the debates could not be soon enough, as what they revealed made us wish for them to end mercifully for those of us who felt a commitment to sit through them, while rolling our eyes and covering our mouths in disbelief.

They revealed the incompetence, recklessness, stupidity, and lack of compassion of this motley group of Republicans, past and present, and the horror of imagining any of them becoming our President next January 20.

Sure, some were worse than others, and on that scale, Mitt Romney looks to be the “best” of the survivors, but that is a pitiful test of competence.

To have had such fools as Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Herman Cain, and Rick Santorum even imagining themselves as “qualified” to be President demonstrates the extent of hallucination and arrogance of these four candidates.

Looking back, it could be argued that the two best candidates had no chance at all–Jon Huntsman and Tim Pawlenty–because the GOP crowds at these events proved that they were total airheads and Neanderthals, who one had to believe was just those crowds, and not potential Republican voters nationwide. If this is indeed the norm of Republican registered voters, which with lots of prayer can be hoped is not the case, then this country is doomed to go into the Dark Ages, rather than into the Enlightenment of the future world. But then, the historical Enlightenment was a challenge to, and skeptic of, the power and influence of organized religion over government, and the thought that we are receding into the pervasive influence of religion over government which led to the struggle for separation of church and state is a terrifying sense of deja vu!

The Republican Party has abdicated its right to the Presidency and to control of Congress, until and when they start displaying responsibility, intelligence, and sanity, making them worthy of national power again.

Wanting to believe in the intelligence and humanity of the American people at large, one can only hope reason and compassion win, and that Barack Obama achieves the victory he so richly deserves for dealing competently with the biggest set of problems faced by any President since Franklin D. Roosevelt!

The Arizona Republican Presidential Debate: Rick Santorum Received “Free Pass” On Controversial Social Views

Ronald Leave a comment

Tonight’s GOP Presidential debate in Arizona proved once again how vapid the Republican field of candidates is, but if anything, Newt Gingrich probably did the best; Mitt Romney held his own, which should help him in the upcoming primaries over the the next twelve days; Ron Paul showed courage in speaking up against the use of force overseas, and a rush to judgment about what to do in Iran; and Rick Santorum failed to impress, but received a “free pass” on controversial social views, by not being challenged on his growing use of religious dogma and invocation of Satan. Also, his great ability to laugh and smile helped him look undisturbed, and is his greatest asset by far.

In that sense, the debate was disappointing, and it is still going to have to wait for the judgment of Republican voters in 14 states.

The sense was that the audience in Mesa, Arizona favored Mitt Romney, so while all of the GOP choices are lacking, it could be a sign that Romney will recover from what looked like a possible disaster in the next two weeks.

Only time will tell, and it keeps a sane voter on tenterhooks as to who the Republican Party will offer as the alternative to Barack Obama.

Presidential Communication: Essential But Not Always Present

Ronald Leave a comment

As this race for President wears on, it is more obvious than ever that the ability of a President to communicate with the general public is a major factor in promoting success, and that some Presidents, but not a majority, have been exceptional in displaying Presidential communication skills.

Presidents who have shown the communications skills that are urgent to possess include:

Theodore Roosevelt
Woodrow Wilson
Franklin D. Roosevelt
John F. Kennedy
Ronald Reagan
Bill Clinton
Barack Obama

The other Presidents, in one degree or another, lacked these skills and no matter how successful they may have been in accomplishing their goals, they tend to rank lower in the public mind.

Rick Santorum On Display Tonight At GOP Arizona Presidential Debate: What The Nation Will Likely Witness!

Ronald Leave a comment

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum will be focused on at tonight’s Republican Presidential debate in Arizona, as it is his opportunity to implode, if he conducts himself in a reckless manner.

One can expect that Rick, who has been acting as if his id is separating from his ego and superego, will likely come across as nuts, whacky, extremist, weird, a religious zealot, and more!

The problem is that there is a substantial percentage of the American people who share his passions for theocracy and moral absolutism, and will look at Rick as a “nice, pleasant, handsome” guy who they can relate to, without realizing that to put Rick Santorum in the White House, or anywhere near it, would be a total disaster for the country and the world, as Rick has no limits to his self righteousness and absolute belief in himself. Even his wife promotes that with her public “worship” of her husband, a manifestation never seen in public life before now.

We would be bringing back the time of the Puritans of the colonial period, and a view of the world that if one is not Christian, one is the enemy. This man is extremely dangerous, and the idea that anyone could take him seriously, when what is needed is for him to have a psychiatric exam as to his level of sanity, is totally unnerving!

There is plenty to dislike about Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Ron Paul, but any and all of them are safer for America than a President Rick Santorum! Whatever the GOP has to do, and the establishment types in the party know this, Rick Santorum cannot be allowed to be the Republican nominee for President!

And if by some craziness, Santorum is the nominee, every decent, sane individual must be convinced that he or she cannot sit home, as the dangers to the nation are too great to sit on the sidelines! Barack Obama must gain the support of all who have any sense of the long term future and protection of America!

A Great Moment: Groundbreaking For National Museum Of African American History And Culture On National Mall In Washington, DC!

Ronald 2 Comments

Today, the birthday of President George Washington, marks an important day in American History, and not just because of the celebration of the birth of our first President.

We also saw today the groundbreaking on the National Mall in Washington DC of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, due to be opened to the public in 2015. President and Mrs. Obama and Laura Bush took part in the ceremonies, along with other dignitaries.

The museum construction, enacted by Congress in 2003, will create the 19th museum under the aegis of the Smithsonian Institution, and is long overdue.

About 19,000 artifacts so far have been gathered for this museum, which will cover African American history and culture from slavery thorough the Civil War and Reconstruction, the age of segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, and modern times, including African American contributions to our culture, music, sports and every other area of American life.

This is a wonderful day, and everyone should look forward to this national contribution to our history, and recognition of the importance of African Americans to our history.

President Vs. President In Presidential Elections: 14 Times and 20 Presidents

Ronald Leave a comment

On George Washington’s actual birthday, 280 years ago (1732), it is appropriate to ask how many times has there been a Presidential election in which two Presidents opposed each other?

The answer is 14 times, and a total of 20 Presidents have competed against a fellow Oval Office occupant, present or future!

Here are the details:

Presidential Elections of 1796 and 1800–John Adams vs Thomas Jefferson, with Adams first winning, and then Jefferson.

Presidential Elections Of 1824 and 1828–John Quincy Adams vs Andrew Jackson, with Adams first winning (even though behind Jackson in popular votes), and then Jackson.

Presidential Elections of 1836 and 1840–Martin Van Buren vs William Henry Harrison, with Van Buren first winning, and then Harrison.

Presidential Elections of 1888 and 1892–Benjamin Harrison vs Grover Cleveland, with Harrison first winning (even though behind Cleveland in popular votes), and then Cleveland.

Presidential Election Of 1912–the only time three Presidents, past, present and future, ran against each other, with Woodrow Wilson defeating President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt (running on a third party line, the Progressive Party).

Presidential Election of 1932–Herbert Hoover vs Franklin D. Roosevelt, with FDR winning.

Presidential Election of 1960–John F. Kennedy vs Richard Nixon, with JFK winning, but Nixon later winning the Presidency in 1968.

Presidential Election of 1976–Jimmy Carter vs Gerald Ford, with Carter defeating President Ford.

Presidential Election of 1980–President Jimmy Carter vs Ronald Reagan, with Reagan defeating President Carter.

Presidential Election Of 1992–President George H. W. Bush vs Bill Clinton, with Clinton defeating President Bush.

Of these 20 Presidents, only Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton–a total of five–never lost to their Presidential competitor, although it could be pointed out that FDR lost the Vice Presidency in 1920, a race that Warren G. Harding won for the White House, and that Ronald Reagan lost the Republican nomination for President to Gerald Ford in 1976!

So another trivia contest for those who are interested!

Business Background And The Presidency: Herbert Hoover And George W. Bush

Ronald Leave a comment

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney touts his business background and experience as a plus in his race for the Republican Presidential nomination. Many people take him at his word, but is that a good thing?

Historically, the answer is a resounding NO!

Who are the Presidents with a business background?

Two precisely, Herbert Hoover (1929-1933) and George W. Bush (2001-2009).

Isn’t that enough information all by itself?

Both presided over the WORST economic collapses in American history, Hoover with the Great Depression, and Bush with the Great Recession.

Hoover was, by far, the smarter and more talented and creative of the two, but still the business background was of no help at all in the Presidency.

The point is that business is NOT the same as government, and never will be. Business is NOT the right background to run a government, as the needs of people are vastly different than the need for profits.

So, business background and the Presidency do not mix well, and it will not insure that Romney would have a successful Presidency and revive the economy!

Stock Market Dow Jones Industrial Average Doubles Under Obama!

Ronald 1 Comment

Today, briefly, the stock market Dow Jones Industrial Average went over 13,000 points, doubling the level it was at in March 2009, shortly after Barack Obama became President.

With 87 percent of people earning over $75,000 a year investing in the stock market in either IRAs or 401K Retirement Plans, that cannot make these people other than happy.

This is an amazing recovery, and makes it much more difficult for Republicans to use the economy against President Obama.

It also is a fact that Obama can now claim the FIFTH best stock market record of any President, only behind in order, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Bill Clinton, and Dwight D. Eisenhower!

As a result, we are having Republican candidates debating social issues instead of the economy, and in so doing, alienating independents who do not want social intrusion by government into their lives. One can be assured that when Rick Santorum, for instance, says Satan has his designs on the United States, that eyes are rolling all over America, as Rick shows more than ever with every utterance that he is a dangerous man, who only religious extremists on the Christian Right can cheer, but it is causing havoc for Mitt Romney as he must try to match Santorum to have a chance to survive for the nomination, although in so doing, Romney marginalizes himself for the Presidential election this November!

The Reverend Franklin Graham: A Hypocrite Of Massive Proportions!

Ronald 1 Comment

The Reverend Franklin Graham, the son and inheritor of the mantle of the Reverend Billy Graham, now 93 years old, has never been the equal of his father, and today on Morning Joe on MSNBC, he proved just how hypocritical a person he is!

Graham claimed he did now know if Barack Obama is a Christian, but would take him at his word, although he was troubled that Obama’s father, grandfather and great grandfather from Kenya were Muslims, and could understand that many would have doubts about his Christianity. He said he thought Obama might secretly be a Muslim, because Obama was working to give the Islamic faith a “free pass” by promoting the idea of contacts with the Islamic world, and was failing to protect Christians in Islamic nations from attack. Actually, Obama HAS issued a statement calling upon Islamic countries to protect the rights of minority religious groups, including Christians, but Graham conveniently lied about that fact. Graham has also earlier questioned whether Obama was born in the United States, making him a “birther”, at least in the past.

Franklin Graham measures whether one is a “good Christian” based on what they say, EXCEPT for Barack Obama!

Franklin Graham decides that one is religious, based on church attendance, when that proves absolutely nothing about a person.

What proves whether anyone is “religious” is his or her treatment of other human beings on a daily basis, on how he or she judges others, on whether one keeps an open mind, and does not condemn people who have other religious beliefs.

Graham also expressed doubts about Mitt Romney being a Christian, as he pointed out that many Christians thought that the Mormon Church was not a Christian church.

But he had no doubts that Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich were Christians, taking them at their word, although he pointed out that both were Catholics, and that Protestants had differences with Catholic beliefs.

Basically, for a evangelical Christian like Franklin Graham, there is a quandary as he is faced with a person he thinks may be Muslim, a Mormon, and two Catholics. This, plus the fact that the US Supreme Court has six Catholics and three Jews is troubling to those who have problems with both Catholics and Jews. He accepts Santorum and Gingrich as “better” than a ‘ secret Muslim” and a Mormon, but is obviously troubled that his way of looking at religion is not found in any of the possible Presidential candidates!

What it comes down to is that Franklin Graham is a hypocrite big time, and an embarrassment to his father, the Reverend Billy Graham. He is not the worthy successor of his father by any standard one can create!