Executive Speechwriting: Corporate, Weddings, Retirement

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Time to Meet John McCain

John McCain is about to announce he's running for president. While Rudy G is leading the lot, McCain is sure to stir up some noise. He will be a contender in the Republican primaries.

See
McCAIN, John Sidney, III - Biographical Information

McCAIN, John Sidney, III, (1936 - )

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senate Years of Service: 1987-
Party: Republican


McCAIN, John Sidney, III, a Representative and a Senator from Arizona; born in Panama Canal Zone, August 29, 1936; attended schools in Alexandria, Va.; graduated, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. 1958, and the National War College, Washington, D.C. 1973; pilot, United States Navy 1958-1981, prisoner of war in Vietnam 1967-1973; received numerous awards, including the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and Distinguished Flying Cross; elected as a Republican in 1982 to the Ninety-eighth Congress; reelected to the Ninety-ninth Congress in 1984 and served from January 3, 1983, to January 3, 1987; elected to the United States Senate in 1986; reelected in 1992, 1998 and in 2004 for the term ending January 3, 2011; chair, Committee on Indian Affairs (One Hundred Fourth Congress; One Hundred Ninth Congress), Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (One Hundred Fourth through One Hundred Sixth Congresses, One Hundred Seventh Congress [January 20, 2001-June 6, 2001], One Hundred Eighth Congress); unsuccessful candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000.


Bibliography (see John McCain)
McCain, John, with Mark Salter. Faith of My Fathers. New York: Random House, 1999
McCain, John, with Mark Salter. Worth the Fighting for: A Memoir. New York: Random House, 2002
McCain, John, with Mark Salter. Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life. New York: Random House, 2004

photo: John McCain 2008 - www.JohnMcCain.com

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Scandal or no scandal: Mrs. & Mr. Clinton Skip Claiming $5 million

Scandal or no scandal?

Sen. Clinton's family charity not disclosed: paper

I say no scandal. While I know pundits, pollsters and picky people will postulate, I think it is an embarrassing oversight. They should pay a big fine, or whatever happens, but the event is politically innocuous.

As for the talk show dogs who will claim it is a major breach of ethics, and she should be put on trial, then forced to watch Judge Judy for eight hours straight, that's what they do.

Why?

Hiding money in a situation as public as the Clintons are is not just brazen, but stupid. They aren't that stupid. They are not claiming a legal loophole. They admit they dropped the ball.

They did. It dropped. The ball will bounce a few days, and everyone will happily forget about what never really mattered to the public anyway.

Monday, February 26, 2007

Louis Farrakhan Tumbles Out of the Limelight, The ADL Thinks He's a Racist

Anti-Semiticism, general racism, bigotry, hatred, misunderstanding of why the US is present in Iraq, what impeachment is, the different between the Nation of Islam and traditional Islam, the difference between Christianity and traditional Islam: Pick your favorite controversy. Louis Farrakhan, a modern Archie Bunker (same mindset, different issues), might have spoken for true peace, but opted against it.

Louis Farrakhan (see bio) said that the killing of Muslims and Christians must stop. Since he is a Muslim, he is no doubt speaking first to them.

None the less, he managed to upset the Anti Defamation League. Here's their thoughts on the matter, quoted verbatim.

What he said that probably upset them, "These false Jews promote the filth of Hollywood that is seeding the American people and the people of the world and bringing you down in moral strength…It’s the wicked Jews the false Jews that are promoting Lesbianism, homosexuality. It’s wicked Jews, false Jews that make it a crime for you to preach the word of God, then they call you homophobic!"

ADL: Farrakhan 'Reading List' Includes Anti-Semitic and Anti-Israel Tracts

NEW YORK, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Minister Louis Farrakhan, the anti-Semitic and racist leader of the Nation of Islam, concluded his Saviours' Day address by recommending to his audience several notoriously anti-Semitic books, including "The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews."

"Farrakhan may have held his anti-Semitic views in check while on the dais, but if this is what he wants people to read, then the leopard hasn't changed his spots," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "Minister Farrakhan's reading list includes books that purport to expose 'the truth' about Jews and their control of the federal banking system or their role in the African slave trade.

"It's a shame that Farrakhan had an opportunity to change his legacy, and he didn't," added Mr. Foxman.

Toward the conclusion of his Saviours' Day address at Ford Field in Detroit, which was described as his last major speech, Minister Farrakhan told his audience, "I want you to become readers" and "Put these names down." Among the authors and books he recommended:

-- "The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews," which argues that the history of slavery in the New World was dominated by Jewish ship owners and merchants. The book presents a multi-layered attack against the Jewish people, assaulting the integrity of the Jewish religion, the meaning of Jewish history, and the foundations of Jewish scholarship upon which the book's own fraudulent charges are based.

-- "The Secrets of the Federal Reserve" by Eustice Mullins, an anti-Jewish conspiracy theory propagandist, one of the key conspiracy books claiming that the banking system in the U.S. is controlled by a few elite families (most of them Jewish). It is a key text used by anti-Semites on the far right.

-- "By Way of Deception" by Victor Ostrovsky, a discredited book that makes unsubstantiated claims about Israel's Mossad.

-- "Palestine Peace Not Apartheid" by President Jimmy Carter, a biased, simplistic and distorted view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that portrays Israeli policies in dealing with Palestinians in the territories as inherently racist.

Copies of "The Synagogue of Satan," written by nation of Islam member Ashahed Muhammad, which claims that the world is being manipulated and corrupted by Satanic powers led by Jewish elites, were available for purchase at the event.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

SOURCE Anti-Defamation League

The discussion following is bound to stir up trouble. It gives all insulted parties (including Muslims) a chance to retort. The good news is now maybe Louis Farrakhan will shut up. He has enjoyed his freedom of speech, and is welcome to continuing doing so (something unavailable in many of the countries he supports) are not allowed to do. What a wasted life. He could have used his voice for good. Instead, he was just a mouth.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Hillary's Poll Lead Mean She's Losing

How do we know Hillary is in trouble? She's winning.

That's right. According to the AP, she's leading Barach Obama for the Democrats.

Why winning is losing? That's hard to explain, but it seems that Democrats who grab the early lead in polls are not likely to win the election. A Democrat may in fact win, but, if the polls and history follow the trend, it will not be Hillary Clinton.

The AP article cites memeories of early Dem leaders

  • Edmund Muskie in 1972
  • George Wallace in 1976
  • Ted Kennedy in 1980
  • Gary Hart in 1988
  • Mario Cuomo in 1992
  • Joe Lieberman in 2004
Leading the pack for the Republicans is Rudy G. As for Republicans, the AP says, "Republicans have picked the early front-runner in seven of the past 10 elections, according to Gallup polling. In the other three elections, Republican incumbents cruised to re-election."

If the election matters to you, and Hillary's your best girl, get out to her website and donate. Show your support early for your favorite candidate.

And remember fellas (and gals?), she's married.

To find all candidates homepages, see here:

And, if you are so inclined, drop a quarter or two into the box. It'll be used as needed, and, 10% (or more) will go to a local charity.






Saturday, February 24, 2007

Hillary Clinton and George Bush Agree About Iraq Forces

Hillary's in a pickle. Just like George W Bush, she faces criticism for voting for forces in Iraq. Like GW, she won't admit she was wrong.

John Kerry, in a failed, vain attempt to win the White House from GW, declared he was wrong about Iraq, though it made him look like he did not apply due diligence when it came to understanding the issue. Maybe that's what Hillary's trying to squirm out of.

Admitting that when given the opportunity to make a discussion that will impact the world, she made the wrong decision bodes poorly for saying she can lead the western world as president. Barack Obama already seized on this issue when he bashed her this week. He never had the chance to vote the boys into Iraq, and considers himself, therefore, morally superior. Hillary has no such advantage.

GW does not need to apologize or admit he was wrong. First of all, he thinks he's right. Secondly, he is not trying to win the Democrat primary election, where antiwar and antiBush sentiment is a veterinarian shot away from rabid. While Bush's stubbornness might not win him friends, and could cost the Republicans the Oval Office, he is reconfiguring his style. Hillary has done no such thing.

Many experts, as well as Water Cooler Carl, are saying she should admit it and get past it as quickly as media-possible. It could be that, like Shrub, she's certain that she was right.

Maybe she and George W. Bush agree.

Expect announcements next week as her press advisors give her the what-for.

Fumbles, foibles of Dems on the trail
Cincinnati Post - Feb 23, 2007
Senator Hillary Clinton is creating more trouble for herself than she needs to. For some reason, she refuses to say publicly that she made a mistake in voting for the unfettered use of force by the president.

Fight for White House Round 1: Clinton vs. Obama KTRE
Stalking Hillary: Her Tough Side Yahoo! News
FOX News - Bloomberg - Independent - International Herald Tribune

all 864 news articles »

Friday, February 23, 2007

Obama says he wants end to divisive politics (as he gets his jabs into Hillary)

Obama says he wants end to divisive politics

I guess he needs to be the one to quit first. A good politician announces his tit-for-tat turnaround. As expected, he has done just that. He should get a few poll points on this.

The trouble is that he particpates the mud-slinging.

Listening to his Austin rally, watching him without notes, it is clear that, as a speaker he is the best of the lot. This does not imply he ideas are best, that he can lead, or that he should president. Maybe. Maybe not.

Farrakhan to Make His Last Major Address: Big Message Coming

Louis Farrakhan, best known for racism in the midst of leading the Nation of Islam, will be making one final major speech. He's ill and 73 years old. He knows it is time to pass the torch. The question is what will his big announcement be?

Over the years, Farrakhan has caused unrest in his own organization. He pushed the Nation of Islam to be connected with mainstream Islam. Unfortunately, this lead the Nation of Islam to be, by default, affiliated with bin Laden, the Taliban and the Shariah laws (highly legalistic rules governing the life of some Muslims, and said to be a major cause for the persecution of nonMuslims).

The Shariah connection is where it will inevitably connect with the next president of the United States. It condemns freedom of speech when it comes to Mohammad, allows for forced marriage and forced sex with captives of war, and permits slavery. In short, Shariah permits things counter to American legal values. Recent news: (The Blogger-Martyr of Egypt) discusses, for example, a human rights atrocity when blogger Abdel Kareem Suleiman (a.k.a. "Kareem Amer" online) was sentenced to four years in prison for criticizing his school, the school president and the more oppressive aspects of Islam.

Will our next president understand this dilemma? When a 22 year-old blogger faces prison for things said freely in the United States, the president needs to know when to intervene. Farrakhan's views were not considered as radical before 9-11, but now, it is difficult to know. We need to secure our own human rights, and continue to allow him to speak. That's inalienable.

Farrakhan, of course, might say he has converted to Christianity, denounce Islam, show a cartoon of Islam's first leader, or embrace Judaism. The struggle will remain whatever Farrakhan says.

The next president, be it Hillary, Barack Obama, or the ghost of FDR, needs to be attuned to what this means: what impact will all forms of Islam have in the war against terrorism, American safety, human rights and global security. The president needs to know the faction fascists who claim Islam, and the peaceful Muslims who know terrorism is not the ticket to Allah.

As for Louis Farrakhan, I hope he is feeling better and gets well soon. I am thankful that we live in a country which realizes the freedom of speech of all citizens.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Harry & Hillary Sitting in a Tree (not K-I-S-S-I-N-G): Second Lt. Harry, Prince of Wales, Heads to Iraq

Why is Prince Henry (ahem, Troop Commander Wales and a second lieutenant) news among a blogger following Hillary Clinton's campaign? Because ol' Harry might be there when he next president grabs the joystick and plays war in Iraq. That then, is huge.

Tony Blair says he's pulling his boys out of Iraq, and maybe this makes those involved in the decision to send Harry easier. Send him there, make some noise, bring him, and he can say he toughed it out all the while knowing he might coming home soon.

This hardly means Harry will be out of danger. It makes strange politics too. There is a real war going on, and Harry could get hurt the same way soldiers from the toughest neighborhoods in Liverpool or the Bronx get hurt. Add to that his celebrity status, and the bad guys might gun for him just to earn the honors among the thugs disrupting democracy in Iraq.

He has trained to lead 11 soldiers and four Scimitar tanks. Going to Iraq was his request. Valor? Pomp? Who knows, but the danger is true, and the chance to do something important is true.

If the Islamic fascists trying to ruin Iraq are trying to hasten the exodus of troops so that they can begin to oppress free-thinking Iraqis again, will attacking Harry help them? I don't think so. Attack, hurt Harry, or kill Harry and the world will pull off the political gauntlet and send every piece of equipment and flesh at them making "Shock and awe" look like kid gloves.

Back to Hillary. So what? The so what question is, "So what does Hillary Clinton care whether Harry goes to Iraq or not?"

The answer: Hilary cares because if Harry does not come home safe, pulling out of Iraq will not be easy, and any promises about pulling out will be harder to keep.

Part two of the answer: If Harry is recorded doing anything of true valor (as opposed to a handy photo op passing out chocolate to a cute Iraqi child), this might justify the war in some people's eyes, and limit the antiwar sentiment.

What should Hillary, and any antiwar candidate prefer results? They want Harry to go, come home safely, pose for a photo op or two in dusty fatigues, and tell the world why we shouldn't be in Iraq. They want Harry to be a cookie-cutter version of Princess Diana: cute, with political safe but moderately antiwar views. They don't want him to turn into Cindy Sheehan or a modern John Lennon. They want someone intelligent, credible, wearing those fatigues to say, "I was there and the war was wrong," with a voice people will listen to.

All Cindy Sheehan can do is rally her people. No one else listens to her. She makes news but is without influence. People otherwise not inclined to hear an antiwar speaker might listen to Harry. He might have influence.

The worst that can happen, then, is the opposite. If Harry goes to Iraq, hears average Iraqis (who may have no idea he is a Prince) tell him how bad things use to be, and then tell him how glad they are soldiers stopped the killings, and how they long for democracy, then Hillary has a problem. Worse yet will be if that average Iraqi shows Harry photos of loved ones killed by Saddam Hussein, or show scars of torture under his regime. Still worse will be if they quiver in fear on camera when talking about expecting how bad things will be when the insurgents take over leadership. How could Harry leave Iraq when they need a hero?

If Harry comes back and decries the presence of nonIraqi troops, he'll become a public voice in the issue. If he returns and salutes the forces protecting democracy in Iraq, saying we are, by our global citizenship, mandated to be in Iraq, he may become an international leader.

Which will it be? Harry has even finished packing his bags yet.



Britain's Prince Harry Will Deploy to Iraq
Voice of America - 44 minutes ago
By VOA News. British military authorities say Prince Harry, the third in line to Britain's throne, will be deployed to Iraq with his military unit.

Prince Harry Heading for Iraq Toronto Daily News
Prince Harry Gets The Battle Call TheShowBuzz

Gulf News - CNN International - Monsters and Critics.com - Bloomberg
all 753 news articles »

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Here's Mud in Yer Eye: Obama's Campaign Touts Ethical Superiority Over Clinton

Here's mud in yer eye. What looks like at first an extension of the presumed Hollywood spat (Who loves you babe?) is really just the beginning of an 12-round bout. It might even be set up so that there would be talk about the two mud-slugging candidates, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Otherwise, it is all Anna Nicole Smith and Britney Spears in the news. Do you really want to think about a dead drugged-up has-been reality star and a drunk and bald has-been pop star? Tragedies both, circuses both. With politics we get civil discussion.

Take, for example, what Forbes quoted Obama communications director Robert Gibbs saying,
"It is ironic that the Clintons had no problem with David Geffen when he was raising them $18 million and sleeping at their invitation in the Lincoln bedroom."

Obama is quoted in Yahoo about Hillary Clinton
"Senator, I think you're an able colleague, and an important leader of our Party. But let's recall that your "experience" hasn't helped you when you needed it most: In dealing with the most important domestic issue of our time, and the most important foreign policy issue of our time. When in President's Clinton's White House, you headed the administration's botched effort to bring all Americans national health insurance--that set back that project for 15 years. And, when faced with the fateful decision as to whether to give President Bush the authority to go to war against Iraq, you voted to do so. Senators can make those kinds of mistakes every so often, but I don't think the American people can afford to risk putting you and your "experience" in the Oval Office."

Looks like an ethics charge that I would have expected from Rush Limbaugh.

What might result in these two media heavyweights will be the same after the Rocky Balboa v Apollo Creed bout. One will win the primary, but will be to exhausted and too bloodied up to be good for much afterwards.

I say they are just sparring.

Clinton, Obama Trade Barbs Over Donor
Forbes - 22 minutes ago
By NEDRA PICKLER 02.21.07, 6:08 PM ET.
The rival presidential campaigns of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama traded accusations of nasty politics Wednesday over Hollywood donor David Geffen, who once backed Bill Clinton but now supports his ...

A Taste of the Slugfest Yahoo! News

Obama, Clinton begin trading jabs over each other's donors Raw Story

FOX News - Washington Post - ABC News - New York Times

all 187 news articles »

Hollywood Barry Replacing Hollywood Hillary? Not Unless They Want to Follow the Sun Instead of the Wave.

Where's Broadway Joe? No one is asking, not since the Super Bowl. From the looks of the news, fewer people are asking about Hollywood Hillary Clinton too, and are instead, looking at Barack Obama as their political mascot.

I don't think it is true. I think it is nothing but blog fodder, and will be only relevant to tabloids, not serious politicos.

November 2008 is when? November 2008. Check your calendar. That's when mine says it is happening. It is scheduled then, not now. Obama will get his points, especially as Democrats recognize him as the face of the future. Today (and by today, I mean February 21 only), Hillary's still the Queen of the Democrats. Obama's only a prince. In Hollywood, just like anywhere, rank matters.

Now, the water washes on the shore of Hillary. The sun is rising, and will eventually make it around again, but for now, it is about the wave of interest in Hillary Clinton. Other news talks about her fundraising capacity. (Hillary Plans to Shatter Campaign Fundraising Records NewsByUs). Money is given by those who have money, and the money goes to the popular.

Present popularity reigns with the Queen.

All bad metaphors aside, the issue is news and bias. I'm biased. You're biased. All God's children are biased. The media, including websites and blogs, need fodder. Fodder is fed by controversy. If Hollywood dumps Hillary, that's controversy.

Hollywood - and that usually means a few famous people, not the entire community of employees in the film industry who vote, from captioners to set builders to extras. In fact, not all of Hollywood is in Hollywood. They are working in Chicago, New York, Brisbane, London. Some are even, oh no! Conservative. Many are as liberal as can be, others are more conservative than George W Bush himself. Who knows which, but there's the thing -- who knows?

There's conservatives we all know, like Mel Gibson and Patricia Heaton, of course, but there are hundreds, thousands of unknowns who are 'Hollywood', and never make the tabloids. How do they vote? ProObama? ProHillary? ProMickey Mouse?

In other words, Broadway Joe isn't on Broadway. He's in Buffalo. (Broadway Joe's) or 46th in NYC (Broadway Joe Steakhouse - New York City Theater District). Broadway Joe Namath (good Hungarian family) is apparently in Alabama, finishing his college degree. Good for him.

Hillary Clinton No Longer Relevant, Hollywood Libs Like Obama
Post Chronicle - 1 hour ago
Hillary Clinton, is fuming at the three, who she thought were her friends. Page Six is reporting that an angry call was made to Geffen by someone in ...

Hillary Clinton Abandoned By Hollywood - Dems ToTheCenter.com
H'WOOD HORROR FOR HILLARY New York Post
Obama hat in hand in la-la land PopMatters
Washington Post - San Jose Mercury News

all 302 news articles »

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Know Your Cuts of Meat (Presidential Candidates)

No, not David Letterman's famous game of guessing which cut of meat is in the picture. That's, unfortunately, easier than knowing your candidates.

Spins by the media, their PR guys, the other guy's PR guys, and the rest of the chatterboxers all cloud and muddy up the truth. This is politics, not rocket science -- being exact seems less important.

I recently posted Rudy G's bio and Mitt Romney's press announcement. I'll be publishing more, with links to originals, as I can.

Some of the candidates are less important than others. We all know this. Which are which at this time is hard to say. Some haven't announced yet, but you know will (Hillary, for example). Others have announced and will drop out of the race early. Some will talk about running, but are all smoke.

Too often, we get lazy, and skip the research process. Or, we depend on analysis from people we agree with. That's not terrible, but it is short-sighted. That means the power is abdicated. Knowledge is power, but second-hand knowledge is no power at all.

Do your homework. It will make you a smarter voter, even if you vote differently than me. It'll make you a better conversationalist, and a trustworthy opinion maker.

BIOGRAPHY OF MAYOR RUDOLPH W. GIULIANI

A BIOGRAPHY OF MAYOR RUDOLPH W. GIULIANI


In 1944, Rudolph W. Giuliani was born to a working class family in Brooklyn, New York. As the grandson of Italian immigrants, Mayor Giuliani learned a strong work ethic and a deep respect for America's ideal of equal opportunity. He attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School (Class of '61) in Brooklyn, Manhattan College (Class of '65) in the Bronx and New York University Law School in Manhattan, graduating magna cum laude in 1968.

Upon graduation, Rudy Giuliani clerked for Judge Lloyd MacMahon, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. In 1970, Giuliani joined the office of the U.S. Attorney. At age 29, he was named Chief of the Narcotics Unit and rose to serve as executive US Attorney. In 1975, Giuliani was recruited to Washington, D.C., where he was named Associate Deputy Attorney General and chief of staff to the Deputy Attorney General. From 1977 to 1981, Giuliani returned to New York to practice law at Patterson, Belknap, Webb and Tyler.

In 1981, Giuliani was named Associate Attorney General, the third highest position in the Department of Justice. As Associate Attorney General, Giuliani supervised all of the US Attorney Offices' Federal law enforcement agencies, the Bureau of Corrections, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the US Marshals.

In 1983, Giuliani was appointed US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he spearheaded the effort to jail drug dealers, fight organized crime, break the web of corruption in government, and prosecute white-collar criminals. Few US Attorneys in history can match his record of 4,152 convictions with only 25 reversals.

In 1989, Giuliani entered the race for mayor of New York City as a candidate of the Republican and Liberal parties, losing by the closest margin in City history. However in 1993, his campaign focusing on quality of life, crime, business and education made him the 107th Mayor of the City of New York. In 1997 he was re-elected by a wide margin, carrying four out of New York City's five boroughs.

As Mayor, Rudy Giuliani has returned accountability to City government and improved the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Under his leadership, overall crime is down 57%, murder has been reduced 65%, and New York City - once infamous around the world for its dangerous streets - has been recognized by the F.B.I. as the safest large city in America for the past five years.

New York City's law enforcement strategies have become models for other cities around the world, particularly the CompStat program, which won the 1996 Innovations in Government Award from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. CompStat allows police to statistically monitor criminal activity on specific street corners as well as citywide, holding precinct commanders accountable for criminal activity in their neighborhoods. Because this data is updated constantly, it enables the police to become a proactive force in fighting crime, stopping crime trends before they become crime waves that negatively effect the quality of life for neighborhood residents.

When Mayor Giuliani took office, one out of every seven New Yorkers was on welfare. Mayor Giuliani has returned the work ethic to the center of City life by implementing the largest and most successful welfare-to-work initiative in the country, cutting welfare rolls in half while moving over 640,000 individuals from dependency on the government to the dignity of self-sufficiency. In addition, Giuliani has enacted a record of over $2.5 billion in tax reductions - including the commercial rent tax, personal income tax, the hotel occupancy tax, and the sales tax on clothing for purchases up to $110 dollars. In addition, hundreds of millions of dollars have been returned to the private sector as a result of the Mayor's aggressive campaign to root out organized crime's influence over the Fulton Fish Market, the private garbage hauling industry, and wholesale food markets throughout the City. These reforms, combined with the fiscal discipline which enabled the Mayor to turn an inherited $2.3 billion dollar budget deficit into a multi-billion dollar surplus, have led the City to an era of broad-based growth with a record 450,000 new private sector jobs created in the past seven years. As news of the City's resurgence has spread around the nation and the world, tourism has grown to record levels.

Mayor Giuliani is committed to nurturing and empowering New York City's children. By creating the Administration for Children's Services, New York City now has an accountable, proactive and effective protector for our City's most vulnerable children that is recognized as a national model. Moreover, New York City is working everyday to find loving families for children requiring adoption. The City has completed a record number of adoptions since 1996 - more than 20,000 - marking a dramatic 65% increase over the previous six-year period. Mayor Giuliani has also been a leader in getting health insurance to children through the innovative HealthStat initiative, which uses computer technology to coordinate a citywide effort to enroll children in existing health insurance programs. To date, 96,000 eligible children and families have been given access to health insurance through the HealthStat initiative. These improvements have increased hope and opportunity for all New York City's children and laid the foundation for our City to be even stronger in the 21st century.

To turn around the nation's largest urban public education system, Giuliani has worked tirelessly to restore accountability and raise standards throughout the City's schools. Student-teacher ratios are at an all-time low, while the annual operating budget for New York City's public schools has increased from $8 billion to $12 billion. Bureaucratic roadblocks to meaningful reform such as social promotion and principal tenure have ended, while programs such as bilingual education and special education have been reformed for the first time in a quarter century. Under the Mayor's leadership, New York City has introduced innovative new instructional programs that improve reading skills, give all students access to computers, and restore arts education as a fundamental part of the school curriculum. In the past year, these successful education initiatives have been accompanied by the establishment of 300-book libraries in every classroom and weekend classes for science and English instruction. In October 2000, the Mayor launched the New York City Charter School Improvement Fund, the first fund ever offered by a city government to help charter schools with equipment and facilities costs. The fund is the most recent example of the Mayor's commitment to both providing quality educational alternatives to all City families, regardless of their income, and to spurring the New York City public schools to improve through competition.

Under Rudy Giuliani's leadership, New York City has become the best-known example of the resurgence of urban America. From his success at cleaning up Times Square and other public spaces around the City to closing the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island, Mayor Giuliani has worked tirelessly to pass New York to the next generation better and more beautiful than it was before he entered office.

New York has established itself as the City others look toward when they want to study the most innovative strategies for reducing crime, reforming welfare, encouraging economic growth, and improving the overall quality of life. In the past decade, New York City's population has reached a record 8 million residents, confirming that New York is again a City on the rise, full of optimism and confidence that its best days are still ahead of it.

Governor Mitt Romney's Presidential Announcement

Governor Mitt Romney's Presidential Announcement
Tuesday, Feb 13, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kevin Madden (857) 288-6390

Dearborn, MI - In his announcement, Governor Mitt Romney made the case that he has the experience and the ability to transform the U.S. Government so that it is innovative and effective. Governor Romney addressed the need to build a New American Dream by calling on the strength of a free American people.

Below Are Governor Romney's Remarks As Prepared For Delivery:

"I am happy to be in Michigan this morning. I'm happy to have my brother Scott and Sister Lynn here. And I'm proud to have all my children and grandchildren here too.

"Michigan is where Ann and I were born. It is where we met and fell in love. I still love Ann. And I still love Michigan!

"During my parents' campaigns, I visited all 83 Michigan counties, doing my best to convince Michiganders that Romneys and Republicans could lead the state back to prosperity.

"You know my father as a business leader, a governor, and as an advocate of volunteerism. But he came from humble roots. He labored with lath and plaster. He never graduated from college. But like many other Americans, he made his dreams come true.

"And he made a difference. My father worked here to improve Detroit Schools. He worked to write a new state constitution. And he worked as your governor for six years to get Michigan on the move. His character and integrity left an impression that has lasted through the decades.

"It was Mom who did the lion's share of raising Lynn, Jane, Scott and me. Dad said, that as a successful Mom, she had accomplished more than he. Later she worked in charities, in foster care, in music and the arts, and in volunteerism. She even ran for U.S. Senate.

"I always imagined that I would come back to Michigan someday. That's why I took the bar exam here. I hadn't imagined it would happen this way, but I sure have come back to Michigan today.

"I chose this site for a number of reasons. It's filled with cars and memories. Dad and I loved cars. Most kids read the sports box scores. Dad and I read Automotive News. We came here together, him teaching me about cars that were built before my time.

"The Rambler automobile he championed was the first American car designed and marketed for economy and mileage. He dubbed it a compact car, a car that would slay the gas-guzzling dinosaurs. It transformed the industry.

"This place is not just about automobiles; it is about innovation, innovation that transformed an industry, and in doing so, gave Americans a way of life our grandparents could never have imagined.

"The DC 3 above us was the first true commercial airliner. It transformed aviation from a luxury to a standard mode of transportation.

"Next to us is a Ford hybrid. It is the first giant step away from our reliance on the gasoline engine. It is already changing the world of transportation.

"Just outside is Thomas Edison's laboratory. There, electricity that Benjamin Franklin discovered was transformed from a novelty into a necessity.

"Innovation and transformation have been at the heart of America's success. If there ever was a time when innovation and transformation were needed in government, it is now.

"We have lost faith in government, not in just one party, not in just one house, but in government.

"We are weary of the bickering and bombast, fatigued by the posturing and self-promotion. For even as America faces a new generation of challenges, the halls of government are clogged with petty politics and stuffed with peddlers of influence.

"It is time for innovation and transformation in Washington. It is what our country needs. It is what our people deserve.

"I do not believe Washington can be transformed from within by a lifelong politician. There have been too many deals, too many favors, too many entanglements ... and too little real world experience managing, guiding, leading.

"I do not believe Washington can be transformed by someone who has never tried doing such a thing before, in any setting, by someone who has never even managed a corner store, let alone the largest enterprise in the world.

"Throughout my life, I have pursued innovation and transformation. It has taught me the vital lessons that come only from experience, from failures and successes, from the private, public and voluntary sectors, from small and large enterprise, from leading a state, from being in the arena, not just talking about it. Talk is easy, talk is cheap. It is doing that is hard. And it is only in doing that hope and dreams come to life.

"This Christmas, Ann and I gathered my five sons and five daughters-in-law to ask them whether I should run for President.

"We talked about the special time this is in the history of America - the challenges and the opportunities. We talked about the qualities that are needed in our leaders. They were unanimous. They know our hearts. They know our values. They know my experience innovating and transforming, in business, in the Olympics, and in Massachusetts. And they know we love this country.

"And so, with them behind us, with the fine people of Michigan before us, and with my sweetheart beside me, I declare my intention to run for President of the United States.

"It has been said that a person is defined by what he loves and by what he believes and by what he dreams.

"I love America and I believe in the people of America.

"I believe in God and I believe that every person in this great country, and every person on this grand planet, is a child of God. We are all sisters and brothers.

"I believe the family is the foundation of America – and that we must fight to protect and strengthen it.

"I believe in the sanctity of human life.

"I believe that people and their elected representatives should make our laws, not unelected judges.

"I believe we are overtaxed and government is overfed. Washington is spending too much money.

"I believe that homeland security begins with securing our borders.

"I believe the best days of this country are ahead of us, because ... "I believe in America!

"At this critical time, we must 1) transform our role in the world, 2) strengthen our nation, and 3) build a brighter future for the American family.

"Today, as we stare at the face of radical violent Jihad and at the prospect of nuclear epidemic, our military might should not be subject to the whims of ever-changing political agendas. The best ally of peace is a strong America!

"Our role in the world must be defined not only in terms of our might, but also by our willingness to lead, to serve, and to share. We must campaign for freedom and democracy in our own hemisphere, now threatened by a second aspiring strongman. We must extend our hand to Africa's poor and diseased and brutalized. We must lead the world's civilized nations in a partnership that will support moderate Muslim nations and peoples, to help them embrace principles of modernity and defeat violent Jihad. We must link arms with all responsible nations to block Iran from realizing its nuclear ambition. America must never engage and negotiate with Jihadists who want to destroy us, destroy our friends, and destroy our way of life!

"Across the nation, there is debate about our future course in Iraq. Our desire to bring our troops home, safely and soon, is met with our recognition that if Iraq descends into all-out civil war, millions could die; that Iraq's Sunni region could become a base for Al Qaeda; that its Shia region could be seized by Iran; that Kurd tension could destabilize Turkey; and even that the broader Middle East could be drawn into conflict. The possible implications for America and for American interests from such developments could be devastating. It could mean a future with far more military involvement and far more loss of American life. For these reasons, I believe that so long as there is a reasonable prospect of success, our wisest course is to seek stability in Iraq, with additional troops endeavoring to secure the civilian population.

"And no matter how Iraq is resolved, we must honor and care for the veterans who risked their lives, and for the families whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice. Our nation has a sacred pact with those who defend freedom. It is a pact we must never break!

"America must regain our standing in the world. Our influence must once again match our generosity. Over the entire 20th century, no nation gave more, shed more precious lives, and took less for itself than America. Our sacrifice for freedom and for human dignity continues unabated. But this is not the way it is seen by others. America's goodness and leadership in the world, must be as bright and bold as our military might!

"America can also overcome our challenges and seize our abundant opportunities here at home, but only if we follow the right course.

"There are some who believe that America's strength comes from government - that challenges call for bigger government, for more regulation of our lives and livelihood, and for more protection and isolation from competition that comes from open markets.

"That is the path that has been taken by much of Europe. It is called the welfare state. It has led to high unemployment and anemic job growth. It is not the path to prosperity and leadership.

"I believe the American people are the source of our strength. They always have been. They always will be. The American people: hard working, educated, innovative, ready to sacrifice for family and country, patriotic, seeking opportunity above dependence, God-fearing, free American people. When we need to call on the strength of America, we should strengthen the American people, not the American government!

"We strengthen the American people by giving them more freedom, by letting them keep more of what they earn, by making sure our schools are providing the skills our children will need for tomorrow, and by keeping America at the leading edge of innovation and technology.

"Our government has become a weight on the American people, sapping their strength and slowing their climb. We must transform our government - to become a government that is smaller and less bureaucratic, one with fewer regulations and more freedom for our people. The innovation we need today is to make government more responsive to the needs of everyday American citizens. It's time to put government in its place, and to put the American people first!

"At America's core are millions of individual families: families of children and parents, aunts and uncles and cousins, grandparents, foster parents. There is no work more important for our nation's future than the work done in the home.

"But the work done in the home isn't getting easier. Values and morals that have long shaped the development of our children are under constant attack. In too many cases, schools are failing. For some, healthcare is inadequate. Family expenses and government taxes take a larger and larger bite. America cannot continue to lead the family of nations if we fail the families at home.

"How is the American family made stronger? With marriage before children. With a mother and a father in the life of every child. With healthcare that is affordable and portable. With schools that succeed. With taxes that are lower. And with leaders who strive to demonstrate enduring values and morality.

"This was the agenda I pursued as Governor of Massachusetts. This is the agenda I will pursue if elected President.

"When I was a boy, the American dream meant a house in the suburbs. The American dream today must mean more than a house. The new American dream should include a strong family, enduring values, excellence in education, dependable and affordable healthcare, secure employment and secure retirement, and a safe and prosperous homeland. It's time to build a new American dream for all of America's families.

"How will this new American dream be built? Our hopes and dreams will inspire us, for we are an optimistic people. But hope alone is just crossing fingers, when what we need is industrious hands. It is time for hope and action. It is time to do, as well as to dream!

"As we look around us in this museum, we see the evidence of American innovation - airplanes, automobiles, appliances. But these are not America's greatest innovation. America's greatest innovation is freedom. Without freedom, we have nothing. With freedom, nothing can hold us back.

"Freedom has made the American dream possible. Freedom will make the new American dream possible. And with the work, sacrifice, and greatness of spirit of the American people, freedom has made America - and will keep America - the greatest nation on earth. God bless America."

Is Hillary Clinton the Next Ted Kennedy?

Whether Hillary is presidential material interests me even though the odds of her becoming president seem slim. Her missteps have equalled or surpassed her good ones. The sum of who she is will not be what America wants or needs in 2008.

She comes along at a time when the Democrats need a scandal-free leader with experience who is seen non polarizing.

Unfortunately for the Democrats, Hillary will draw lots of interest, and lose. If she makes it out of the primaries -- and I think she will -- she'll lose in November. The thing thrusting her into the spotlight will be the thing taking her down.

I expect her primary victory to be a record breaking landslide, especially after the second-rate candidates (Edwards, etc.) drop out in her favor. They will try to join the Hillary bandwagon, to become part of as massive Elect Hillary effort.

With so much antiBush marketing campaigned by Democrats the last couple years, they have created a strong chance to beat whatever the Republicans throw at the election.

Obama might be scandal-free (seems he is as clean as a whistle), but will not be connected enough internationally to move an agenda. I think he is more than the flavor of the month, but is too fresh to establish a strong enough base.

In Illinois (where I live), he's huge, but mostly because we have no one else. He won the election because no one ran against him, not because his issues were the ones we wanted. Alan Keyes came in, much like Hillary did in NY, and ran. Unlike Hillary, Keyes lost big, had no party support, and is long gone. Obama used Keyes as kindling wood to start the Obama fire.

Obama has soft-pedalled the hard issues, and has yet to make it easy for anyone to answer, "What makes Obama unique as issues go?" Instead, there are replies like, "Wow, what a speaker!" Lots of fluff, not enough stuff. He'll come around with substance, but not until the next election.

I think he will be president eventually, presuming he stays on course. Hillary's course will be as Ted Kennedy's course has been: lots of influence, lots of power, but never a president.

So why then a Hillary Clinton for President blog? It looks at her campaign, but is not necessarily in support of it. There's no ignoring her machine, and its impact on the election. She has money, she's smart, she's known, and she has support. That forces every candidate, pick your party, to make decisions accordingly. I'm trying to semi-objectively look at all of that, with her campaign as a sort of pivot as opposed to my personal position.

Hillary Blogs: Bitter or Better?

Currently listed blogs that Google seems to think are doing well are mostly bitter against her or bitterly for her.

One site delights in its bitterness, which only makes me wonder if they are closet supporters, or jealous. Another is so proud of her, you'd think she had a different last name. All, as I see it, enjoy a little too much voyeurism to be seriously considered as influencing anyone but the choir.

  1. Hillary Clinton For President blogs - http://www.votehillary.org/CMS/blog
    current: Wash Post & Selective Outrage
  2. Hillary Clinton Files - The Vast Right Wing Conspiracy's Dossier on Hillary Clinton.
    current: Hill Pays Off SC Black Church Leader
  3. No Hillary Clinton - Reminding America of the corruption that never ends.
    current: It’s because she has Cankles!
  4. Just Say No To Hillary Clinton - Blogging the truth about Hillary Clinton, her Left Wing Socialist ideology, and her efforts to hide it.
    Hillary begins courting African Americans
  5. Against Hillary Clinton For President - The truth about Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
    current: Hillary Clinton’s brother due back in court

What is a Moderate? Political term is not so clearly defined.

I took a peak at a blog that claims to be written by a self-defined moderate: The Beak Speaks: Hillary, Rudy and the blogosphere and you and wondered what makes a voter a moderate. A moderate might be considered centrist, but, then, what is that? It sounds like a comfortable position. I think of myself as a moderate, or, rather, I did, but, honestly, came to this designation as a result of finding myself holding positions that might contradict each other in a more extreme version.

To be in the center, does this mean:
  • Ambivalence toward some issues, and thus, neither left nor right?
  • Right on some issues, left on others?
  • Noncommittal, like often is with abortion- and death penalty-related questions, "Abortion/the DP is killing and I personally feel it is morally wrong, but sometimes OK when the father is a bad guy/the criminal is a nasty fellow."
  • A merger of both sides, like we might see in welfare-related questions?
  • Resigned compromise, realizing some issues can be won from a strong right or left position, while others must be given up as nonessential in order to win?
  • Merely not a member of a political party, being that magic swing vote?
  • Valueless, not really giving a rip one way or another, but preferring to appear as less careless?

I'll guess there is clarity here among students among political science, where terms are defined. I studied other things in college, so I am stuck trying to sort it out on my own.

Am I a moderate? I'll need to get back to you on that.

Gender stereotypes play into Hillary's hands as voter defy feminism

The polls, as you'll read below, suggest Americans could deal with a female president. Following gender stereotyping, the reasons are not what a feminist would prefer.

Many voters believe a woman would handle domestic issues, like health care and education, better than a man. But they still think men are better suited to be commander-in-chief of the U.S. military.

True or not true, the beliefs we hold about woman, statistically, are not about egalitarian skill sets. Men are still better with masculine things, women are better at homemaking, it implies the average American's thoughts as.

Poll results show good news for Senator Clinton
Capital News 9, NY - 20 hours ago
The latest Siena College/Times Union Research poll is good news for Senator Hillary Clinton's bid for the White House. According to the poll, two-thirds of ...

MONICA BOOSTS SEN. CLINTON: POLL New York Post

Poll: Most Say US Ready For Female President Local6.com
Is America Ready to Elect its First Female President? WTEN
Albany Times Union

all 76 news articles »

Monday, February 19, 2007

Abstinence: How to strike fear into the hearts (and pants) of voters everywhere

Abstinence is a dirty, dirty word in politics, isn't it? We all know that it works. We all know there are no pregnancies, STDs, AIDs and the rest of those nasty symptoms of teenage sexuality with abstinence. Planned Parenthood knows it. Your local Crisis Pregnancy Center knows it. Gloria Feldt knows it.

And, by golly! John McCain knows it.

What is abstinence? Strictly defined: the practice of abstaining from something. 99.9% of the time it means no sex. What kind of sex? Pretty much the whole kit and caboodle -- anything beyond (and, depending, also including) kissing. Mostly, it means intercourse.

No nooky-nooky until you are married is the short version of it all.

Abstinence has gained unnecessary political attributes. Why? One side thinks the other side is afraid of sex among teens, and the other side thinks it encourages sex among teens. It includes, of course, ages beyond teens, as college students are not famous for celibacy these days, and the ramifications of random sex includes AIDS and abortions, neither of which help the health of society.

FYI: By teens, in this case, it means under the age of consent. That's 17 or 18 in most states.

So, politics and sex. Watch the blogs today. That McCain showed up is political. Expect people to support him thinking he supports their values. Others will rant on with the tired, old young people's chant, "Stay out of my bedroom!" By bedroom, I think they mean "the backseat of my dad's SUV," but their point is as it is.

Abstinence will be played by the religious politicos as well. Those with religiophobia (hateful fear of religion, like homophobia, only against people of faith) will charge on that abstinence is a religious issue. While is actually a sociological issue that some religious sorts happen to agree with, those in the Darwin ate the fish camp will decry McCain as a right-winger.

John McCain, like Rudy Giuliani, is prochoice and doing the repeal Roe v Wade dance, so it might slow a few people down on both sides.

Why's McCain doing this now? He's doing this now for the same reason Bill Clinton voted in some key homosexual rights laws as soon as he took office the first time. He gains the support of those whose supports he wants, and gets the heat off by the time those who he'd like forget his support ASAP.

McCain might have made a political move, but he has gotten people talking.

This week, we'll all talk about abstinence, and McCain will have plucked some bucks and voters happily his way. Meanwhile, this time next month, there will be something new. A scandal, an issue, maybe a development in Iraq? Who knows. One way or another, no one will be bringing this up except abstinence campaign people at their monthly meeting.

It is pretty good logic to tell a kid to wait until she gets married not to have sex. Parents who look the other way might be the ones forking out the money to Planned Parenthood when it comes time to kill a fetus, and dealing with a girl whose hormones are messed up all the way through prom. Or, they might be the ones badgering the boy's father to swack him around for getting their daughter drunk and doing the nasty on her. It might be the daughter was completely sober, but that's another story.

Either way, it takes two to tango, and a village to deal with the consequences. Yes, some kids will have sex no matter what. Other kids just need to hear that waiting can be a good thing for religious reasons, medical reasons, parental reasons, big picture reasons, and so on.

McCain to stump at abstinence event in SC
Contra Costa Times - Feb 16, 2007
AP.
COLUMBIA, SC - Most presidential hopefuls are trying to get people to say "yes," but Sen. John McCain plans to urge a crowd in Spartanburg this weekend to say "no.
On the 2008 Campaign trail Boston Herald
McCain to campaign at abstinence rally in South Carolina Wilmington Morning Star
ABC News - KVOA.com - International Herald Tribune - Ely Times
all 114 news articles »

Sex & Abstinence - Teens

Does Bill Thrill More Than Hill?

Bill's raising money for Hillary. No surprise there. You would if you were the husband and former holder of the office she covets.

Why is this news? Bill's kept a polite political distance from Hillary until recently. Maybe he was concerned the light shining on him (both a bright light of happiness and the scorning light of distrust, depending on your favorite issues) would cast a shadow on her. It could happen.

He's stuck, though. What if he agrees more with John Edwards or Barack Obama? He seems more of an Obama guy to me, but what can he do?

Hillary, for now, leads the pack of all candidates, Republican or Democrat. She's his wife. While her lightening rod status for support may be equaled by a lightening rod of "anyone but Hillary" types, he will not be able to enjoy her campaign from an armchair, as I am able to do.

What does a young ex-president do? Go fly-fishing? Watch Simpson's reruns on FOX? Read the latest John Grisham novel? Bill's been active, and, in general, less partisan and divisive than he was as president. I admire that. Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon were known as a better ex-presidents than president. Carter never really shone while in office, and Nixon was a star before Watergate. Each, however, made (and Carter is still making) an impact of the global society.

With Hillary running, Bill's personal global initiatives, like the work he did with George Bush Senior, must take a backseat to what will be an enormously expensive and Democrat-focused campaign. Bill is not merely raising awareness of Hillary, but working to ensure the Democrats do not lose their White House chances, with or without Hillary.

It is too bad that, as Bill was just starting to get going with humantarian efforts, he is forced by family ties to stump. For the good of the Democrat Party, for GHillary campaign, and likely his marriage, he must press on and politick just a little more. Retirement and humanitarianism must wait. A company man is always a company man.

Bill Clinton speaks to NY minority association
Newsday - 3 hours ago
BY MELISSA MANSFIELD.
ALBANY - The 2008 presidential race is already heating up and former President Bill Clinton brought the fire here last night when he addressed the annual meeting of the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican and ...

Bill 'stands in' for Hil at fete New York Daily News
Bill Clinton Raising Funds for Hillary ABC News
Examiner.com - New York Press - Albany Times Union - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

all 87 news articles »

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Spin Sisters: How the Women of the Media Sell Unhappiness --- and Liberalism -- to the Women of America: Books: Myrna Blyth

You want to tick off the right? Show them this book, and switch all the times it says 'CBS' with FOX'.

Of course, given the objective reality, neither side of politics should feel proud after reading this. If the right is feeling smug about the skewing in the media by the left, they ought to remove the log blinding their own eyes.

A book like this brings controversy. The left is afraid to admit the truth, and the right wants to pretend the left is the only one doing it. Hypocrisy is not owned only by one side. Media manipulation occurs more often than you can say, "Uh oh, was the mike on?"

review:
Spin Sisters: How the Women of the Media Sell Unhappiness --- and Liberalism -- to the Women of America: Books: Myrna Blyth

Blowing the whistle on a job she herself did for over ten years at Ladies Home Journal as editor-in-chief, Blyth reveals the almost institutionalized selling of a liberal/do-gooders message to women through chararacterizing women themselves as victims. Playing on women's compassion and ability to be hooked into "uplifting" stories with a moral or happy ending, American media has convinced the most well-educated, rich and healthy audience in history that they are miserable. She dissects why:

--liberal celebrities' messages aren't scrutinized and in fact presented with a halo of approval
--middle class American women have been sold stress as the new scourge of modern life
--media paints a negative picture of women's lives today, at exactly the moment when women have more money, privlege and choices than ever before
--the club of liberal women who run magazines and television shows have an outsize and lock-step affect on what we "know" about the major issues of the day
--the incestuous relationship between celebrities and media has corrupted journalism
--magazines rarely tell stories about the majority of women whose conservative views don't mesh with their own

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REVIEW
Nothing Spinster Found in Expose of Sinister Editing
In a clearly biased book, Myrna Blyth's "Spin Sisters" cannot be read as 'spinsters'. Blyth is as erudite and savvy as the women she is verbally savaging. This gives her authority, wisdom, and inside knowledge.

In 2001, Bernard Goldberg's "Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News" was published and was lambasted by his media colleagues. Now, with a similar tone and message, Blyth will be find speaking counter culturally will anger her former peers. Blyth, unaffected, has boldly let in the light into what is to most of us a shuttered world.

Her precise point, that those women buying women's magazines have different, more conservative values than those editing and publishing them, is logical and long known. Where Blyth steps in is to provide anecdotes and examples, having been part of the value divide. She's portrayed as a whistle-blower, but the real story is that she's not a cubical warrior. She ran the show, picked the editors, stories and angles. Her culpability is deeper than the average unknown whistle-blower.

It is as much of a political book as it is a media analysis text, but it reads more like an expose. That Blyth has a conservative tack in her book isn't subtle. The trouble is not her tone, but in her facts. She cites circumstances how alarmism littered the editorial choices, while feminism is peddled to women oppressed in their own ignorance of what feminism is and isn't.

Dividing the hyped up prose from the truth won't be hard for readers. A walk through the checkout counter magazine stand, comparing women's publications as you do, will show that the publishers aren't pushing messages found in family magazines like "Focus on the Family" and "Marriage Partnership."

I fully recommend "Spin Sisters: How the Women of the Media Sell Unhappiness and Liberalism to the Women of America" by Myrna Blyth. Think for yourself. Don't let my review, the publicity behind the book or against the book determine your thinking.

Anthony Trendl

Friday, February 16, 2007

Here Comes the Race Race (Hillary and Obama are Neck & Neck?)

No surprise that the race is finally being flung wide in the open. Given that today's voter is not a person with values, but a democraphic, which, in the case, are politely known as people of color.

Barack Obama grew up in Hawaii. He was not as subjected to the cookie-cutter view of the African-American experience that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton would believe he should have lived through.

Hillary Clinton grw up in Park Ridge, IL, an affluen twhite suburb.

Both, in their professional lives, have enjoyed the fruits of Ivy League educations, wealth, and being surrounded by people like themselves.

Obama happens to be black, but, given his early professional experience in Chicago "assisting local churches to organize job training programs for residents of poor neighborhoods." (according to Wikipedia). Additionally, his credibility will be increased as having actually work while yet an unknown. While no one is saying that Barack Obama is living the life of an evangelical Christian, such were te churches he served, and this may boost him among Chicago's black evangelicals.

Hillary has a better campaign machine, meaning she has an infrastructure built on years of building this presidential race. She has people running numbers, analyzing data, and advancing her marketing efforts. Where she strongly and obviously lacks in skin color and religious conviction she maintains a powerful focus on modern statistics.

I say Obama wins this race race by a nose.

Obama, Clinton Battle for African-American Endorsements
ABC News
By JAKE TAPPER and MAX CULHANE.
Feb. 16, 2007 - As Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, heads to South Carolina this weekend for the first time as a presidential candidate, he steps right into a Dixie briar patch of racial politics.

Up to 50 percent of South Carolina's Democratic primary voters are African-American, so the Palmetto State is a state the Obama campaign is targeting. But can Obama count on black voters to vote for a black candidate? Will his race affect the decision-making process of white voters? Such questions are uncomfortable but Obama's credible candidacy forces them into the open.

While a recent ABC News poll indicates that 84 percent of Americans say a candidate being black would not affect their vote, the dirty little secret is what some pollsters and consultants call "the 15 percent lie" — the supposed percentage of whites who tell pollsters they would be willing to vote for a black candidate but in the privacy of the voting booth never actually would. more

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Presidential Candidates for 2008

The three previous posts include Republicans and Democrats who are at different levels of candidacy.

Strangely absent as having announced officially her intentions, leading us to presume she's insecure about her leadership abilities, is Hillary Clinton. Apparently playing the game of being fashionably late to the party, she will come in with much fan fair and trumpets, the newspapers will clamor to say it first, and she will announce.

If he does not run, her supporters will feel shammed, like a teenage boy who leans in for a kiss at the end of prom night and is rejected with a tease. If she does run, she will show her hand as being able (or wishing she were able) to push around the media.

Also, and I say that firmly, also, are third party candidates listed in their own post. It is a tough place, since not one has a chance to win. This is an election in which the Democrats will be only split in just a few directions. The Green Party (etc.) will draw from the Democrats, as they always do, and no card carrying Democrat, and certainly no anti-Republican will risk the election on a third party vote.

Whatever the pros and cons are of a two-party system, this will not be their year of influence.

I'm not against third parties. I support them. I hope they run, and hope they do influence the election. I wish that one would rise up as an alternative.

Third Party Presidential Candidates

Third Party Presidential Candidates

Constitution Party
Actively pursuing or interested in candidacy for the Constitution Party (United States)
James Gilchrist of California

Green Party
Actively pursuing or interested in candidacy for the Green Party
Kat Swift of Texas (Campaign site)

Libertarian Party
Official candidates who have filed with the FEC for the Libertarian Party
Steve Kubby of California (Campaign Site)
George Phillies of Massachusetts (Campaign Site)
Christine Smith of Colorado (Campaign Site)

Announced candidates
Doug Stanhope of Arizona (Campaign Site)

Actively pursuing or interested in candidacy
Gene Chapman of Texas (Campaign Site)
Dave Hollist of California (Campaign Site)
Robert Milnes of New Jersey (Campaign Site)

Other parties and independent candidates
Actively pursuing or interested in candidacy
Steve Adams of Kentucky (Campaign Site)
Gene Amondson of Washington for the Prohibition Party (Campaign Site)
Bob W. Hargis of Oklahoma (Campaign Site)
Daniel Imperato of Florida (Campaign Site)
David A. Koch of Utah and Ken Goldstein of California (Campaign Site)
Charles T. Maxham of New Jersey (Campaign Site)

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2008
date discovered: 2/15/2008

Republican Party Presidential Candidates (Wikipedia)

Republican Party Presidential Candidates

Candidates who have filed with the FEC for the Republican Party
Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas (Campaign Site)
John H. Cox of Illinois (Campaign Site)
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani of New York (Exploratory Committee)
Representative Duncan Hunter of California (Campaign Site)
Former Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts (Campaign Site)
Michael Charles Smith of Oregon (Campaign Site)

Candidates who have formed exploratory committees, but not yet filed with the FEC
Former Governor Jim Gilmore of Virginia
Former Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas (Exploratory Committee)
Senator John McCain of Arizona (Exploratory Committee)
Representative Ron Paul of Texas (Exploratory Committee)
Representative Tom Tancredo of Colorado (Exploratory Committee)
Former Governor Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin (Exploratory Committee)

Candidates who have expressed serious interest
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia (Winning the Future)
Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska (Sandhills PAC)
Radio talk show host Michael Savage of California (Savage Nation)

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2008 date discovered: 2/15/2008

Democratic Party Presidential Candidates (Wikipedia)

Democratic Party Presidential Candidates

Official candidates who have filed with the FEC for the Democratic Party:

Senator Joe Biden of Delaware (Campaign Site)
Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut (Campaign Site)
Former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina (Campaign Site)
Former Senator Mike Gravel of Alaska (Campaign Site)
Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio (Campaign Site)
Senator Barack Obama of Illinois (Campaign Site)
Former Governor Tom Vilsack of Iowa (Campaign Site)

Candidates who have formed exploratory committees
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York (Exploratory Committee)
Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico (Exploratory Committee)

Candidates who have expressed serious interest
Retired General Wesley Clark of Arkansas (WesPAC)
Reverend Al Sharpton of New York

Individuals frequently mentioned as candidates
Former Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2008
date discovered: 2/15/2008