One Citizen Speaking...

The conundrum of Indiana Jones...

Already the pundits and prognosticators are predicting potential audience problems with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

So what?

The reviewers are paid to write witty and snarky reviews by their respective media outlets. Designed to boost the media's audience and little else. And, in the final analysis, it is still one person's opinion of the movie. So what? Who cares?

Pre-release reviews are worthless...

I do not much care for the pre-release reviews and those who write them. It is such an insular little group of self-important, self-righteous people. In fact, the only people they scare and who actually takes them seriously are studio people -- whose idea of courage is berating employees and pushing around those who can't fight back. These are the same fawning, sycophantic studio bureaucrats that kiss major butt when they want or need something from a more powerful person.

The real test... "word of mouth!"

I would much rather listen to the impromptu review from a friend, acquaintance or  colleague than I would some effete "critic" who somehow manages to believe that I believe movies are an "art form" and that I am looking for some intellectual stimulation or personal gratification.

Why I watch movies...

The truth is that I regard movies as a pleasant diversion from the grind of daily activities. Or a pleasant joint activity with someone I care about. Other than that, "art" is what is hung on the walls of a museum. And modern art is often a piece of crap with a catchy title -- and some learned soul telling you what it all means in a jargon best reserved for fantasy-land. If there is any art in a film, it is telling a visual story well enough to be understood without the sound track.

About my apparent taste in films: a professional opinion...

The late Gary Essert, the founder and director of the Los Angeles International Film Festival (FILMEX) and the founder and chief executive officer of the American Cinematheque used to tell me that my "taste was in my butt," but couldn't refute my basic argument: "Butt it's what I like that counts."  (Pun intended)

His partner aka "the other Gary," Gary Abrahams, would almost always defend my position -- "shut up Gary, do you know what he could do to our computer system."  These two guys were both major film "experts" and even they often disagreed on the nuances. 

But the one thing I learned from the Garys was that you can appreciate a film on many levels -- none of which are absolutely right or wrong, appropriate or inappropriate, tasteful or untasteful. And, most importantly,  that the words of a critic, learned as they may be, was just another opinion.

The phenomenon ...

It seems that those who follow the film industry are always demanding a "blockbuster." And when a good movie does not produce "record profits" it is viewed as a failure. What crap. To me, their opinion counts even less than those of the critics.

I am not a fanatic or a teenager that must see the same movie multiple times in a week. I am not susceptible to the 'tween market peer pressure and would not, under any normal circumstances, buy logo'ed or themed clothing or tschatkes unless it was a gift for a child.

I do not dress up as a overweight Captain Kirk or plan to speak Vulcan anytime soon. I'm sorry, I actually have other, more important, things to do.

Therefore, the best the movie can do is get my one or two tickets -- or rental fee. If I really like the movie, I will buy a copy and add it to my collection.

Memo to Lucas and Spielberg...

You did what you did. It will be accepted, liked, loved or hated. It will be talked about. You are all wealthy and insulated from the daily grind -- so accept what is and don't lose any sleep over it.

And for the Frog reviewers...

Get over your bad little selves and stick to reviewing wine and cheese. Perhaps you can save someone from ingesting vinegar or poisoning themselves. Other than that, you are relatively worthless in my world.

Bottom line: I know what I like. So people like you have very little effect on people like me.  The true test is whether or not I will get up, spend $100 and go see a movie in a theatre or simply wait for the $2.5o video rental. Either way, I see the movie and am relatively happy.

According to the London Times Online...

Indiana Jones’s toughest task – facing the Cannes snake-pit

Dalya Alberge, Arts Correspondent

"He has survived rolling balls of rock and defeated armies of Nazis with little more than a bull whip and a wonky smile. Now he faces perhaps his greatest challenge."

"This weekend the latest adventures of Indiana Jones, one of Hollywood’s favourite creations, will be thrown into the temple of art-house cinema at Cannes, to face the judgment of a horde of fiercely cerebral critics."

"Stepping out of his hotel yesterday, Harrison Ford, who reprises the role of the adventurous archaeologist, looked lean and fit. His jaw was still firm despite his 65 years and he still appeared quite capable of clinging to a rotten rope bridge should it tumble into a ravine."

To me, Harrison Ford is some old guy wearing an earring and  going about his daily activities. The fact that he becomes Indiana Jones on the screen is the true test of his ability. And he has not failed me yet.

"Even as he strode into town, however, there were premonitions of danger. A review of the new film on the website Ain’t it Cool, said to have been written by an executive after a preview, compared it to the much-maligned Star Wars prequels and described it as 'the Indiana movie that you were dreading'. The writer added: “It’s definitely not a good ‘Indy’ movie.”

These are the insiders and fans who really dissect the movie, spot the obvious errors, and endlessly debate the nuances of the action, cinematography, the quality of the audio. Fine. It keeps them off the streets and busy within their own little world.

Like most studio executives, producers and actors, I do not know exactly what makes a movie a hit. I know the elements that are supposed to be present, the timing and all of the other technical folderol... but, at least for me, that is all suspended for about 120 minutes while I watch the movie as a diversion.

Good luck Indy...

No matter how it may turn out, I will still like the Indiana Jones movies, some more than others, but I don't think that any review would keep me from seeing for myself how Indy manages to, once again, escape harm -- all while displaying that wry sense of humor that the writers manage to impart in each adventure.

What can YOU do?

In the final analysis, only one opinion actually counts -- yours. Decide for yourself whether or not a movie is worthwhile.

If spending the money on a film bothers you, you should not be spending it! If it still bothers you, wait until the DVD release -- and see it at a friend's house (preferably on a large screen television).

Don't count other people's marbles unless you are in the game.

-- steve

Quote of the Day: "Opinions are like assholes -- everyone has one." -- anon.

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius

Reference Links:

Indiana Jones’s toughest task – facing the Cannes snake-pit - Times Online

NATIONAL DEFENSE: THE DEFINING ISSUE

George Bush in Israel...

Seizing on one passage of President George Bush's speech before the Israeli Knesset referencing the historical Jewish struggle against terrorism and the idea that diplomacy can forestall deadly conflict...

"Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: "Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided." We have an obligation to call this what it is -- the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history."

Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Joseph Biden and others rushed to condemn Bush for playing politics and aiming his remarks against them.

If the shoe fits...

"Democratic House leaders are calling out President Bush for a speech in Israel in which he seemed to suggest that Sen. Barack Obama wants the United States to 'negotiate with terrorists.'"  [Reference]

"The White House insists that Bush was 'referring to a wide range of people, not any single person.' But Obama's campaign says it appeared to be a swipe at him, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that Bush's remarks were 'beneath the dignity of the office of the president and unworthy of our representation' at the celebration of Israel's 60th anniversary." [Reference]

"As Pelosi was speaking, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel issued a statement in which he said: 'The tradition has always been that when a U.S. president is overseas, partisan politics stops at the water's edge. President Bush has now taken that principle and turned it on its head: for this White House, partisan politics now begins at the water’s edge, no matter the seriousness and gravity of the occasion. Does the president have no shame?'” [Reference]

"Hillary, today in Rapid City, South Dakota, defended Obama from President Bush's apparent comparison of him to Neville Chamberlain, Ken Vogel reports."

She told reporters:

"President Bush’s comparison of any Democrat to Nazi appeasers is both offensive and outrageous on the face of it, especially in light of his failures in foreign policy. This is the kind of statement that has no place in any presidential address and certainly to use an important moment like the 60th anniversary celebration of Israel to make a political point seems terribly misplaced. Unfortunately, this is what we’ve come to expect from President Bush."

“There is a very clear difference between Democrats and Republicans on foreign policy and that difference will be evident once we take back the White House." [Reference]

"Senator John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, called Bush's statement 'disgraceful' and said, 'He ought to apologize to the American people.'"  [Reference]

I don't know about you, but every time I hear Senator Kerry speak, I think of the French with their multiple words for "surrender." By the way, did he ever release his service record? I think not.

The democrats are all talk and no walk...

What I really fear is that a democrat in the mold of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Ineffectual defense policies and an over-emphasis on partisan politics which breeds chaos, crime and corruption.

When I think of a practical demonstration of partisan politics and the unholy alliance between the far-left liberals, the unions and politics, I think no further than the cities of Detroit and Chicago. Corruptions and special interests intertwined to destroy great cities.

Praise for our President...

He may not be an intellectual like Bill Clinton, but he is OUR President, Commander-in Chief and I thank God daily he defeated both John Kerry and Al Gore. We are relatively safe and I am sure that the terrorists and their sponsors know that President Bush will not overlook any attack on the United States (like Bill Clinton), respond by lobbing missiles at a camel in a tent (Bill Clinton) or allow our people to remain hostages for  444 days (Jimmy Carter).

Memo to the Democrats...

Clean house before trying to run ours!

What can YOU do?

I never thought that I would regard George Bush as the preferred presidential candidate until I saw what the democrats proposed.

With respect to John McCain, unless he offers solid assurances in the area of immigration reform, economics, the management of global climate change and the appointment of cabinet level advisors, he still remains suspect. My personal feeling is -- if there are two liberal democrats in the race, you can be sure to elect a liberal democrat.

Do not vote for any candidate or current politician who is willing to subvert the safety, security, sovereignty and economic strength of the United States or limit an individual's right of self-defense for their personal philosophy, power, prestige or profits.

-- steve

Quote of the Day: "I not only use all the brains I have but all that I can borrow." --Thomas Woodrow Wilson

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius

Reference Links:

President Bush Addresses Members of the Knesset | The White House

SCHWARZENEGGER WITHOUT CLOTHES!

Like the proverbial "emperor with no clothes," California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is naked... totally without a clue to solving the State's $17-20 BILLION budgetary deficit.

Paper it over: the old Schwarzenegger prescription ...

In previous years, Schwarzenegger used borrowing from Wall Street and accounting legerdemain to "paper over" budget deficits. And, as a consequence, sorely needed money is being used for "debt service" on a variety of bonds and rapidly aging critical water and highway infrastructure is NOT being repaired, replaced or enhanced.

The Schwarzenweasel's new plan...

Start with the platitudes ...

"Schwarzenegger likened the effects of California’s spending habits to 'sugar highs.' 'Then the sugar is gone, and we come down off our high,' he said. 'We spend it all one year and can’t sustain it the next. We need to budget more evenly.'”

"'As the deficit grew these past few months, I knew that we could not solve this crisis by cuts alone,' the governor said in presenting his proposals. 'We had to get creative.'"

" . . . We are trying to be in the middle with this budget," he said, acknowledging the risk of displeasing both sides of the aisle, but "I always find there's a middle way."

“We now have no way out,” the governor said, “except to face our budget demons.”

and then propose ...

Diversion of "windfall" gas taxes from its intended purpose of repairing the highways

"It would steer an $828-million windfall of gas tax revenue -- the result of soaring prices at the pump -- away from public transportation programs and into patching California's $15.2-billion budget gap.

or threaten...

"The centerpiece of Schwarzenegger's budget is a novel plan to ask voters for permission to borrow $15 billion from Wall Street against future earnings of the state lottery, and to temporarily raise the state portion of sales taxes -- now 6.25% -- by 1 percentage point if voters reject the proposal in November."

All of which ratifies the past outrageous legislative spending levels for the next budgetary cycle. Remember THIS IS OUR NEXT BUDGET that is being considered.

Channeling the late Johnny Carson's Carnac the Magnificent -- The answer is: road kill...

What do you call the thing that is straddling the yellow line of a a busy highway?

"That middle has long eluded California's self-described "post-partisan" governor on budget issues. The state's finances are in no better shape now than they were when Schwarzenegger came to office in 2003, promising to clean house. And there is little hope in Sacramento that much will happen this year to bring long-term balance to the state's books."

For those who do not understand the meaning of "post-partisan" ...

It means being a RINO (Republican In Name Only) and abandoning the fiscally conservative principles you originally ran on. It means nominating liberal democrats to positions of great authority while qualified Republicans are ignored. It means bowing and scraping to the democrats in power in order to fulfill your desire to be a "man of the people."

Same old, same old...

Los Angeles Business Journal (August 9, 2004 -- Howard Fine)...

"Schwarzenegger's budget: déjà vu: solutions to spending problems recall days before the recall"

"It may not be what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promised when he campaigned last year, but the $105 billion state budget signed into law has been described as much like the ones of his predecessor, Gray Davis."

"The budget borrows billions of dollars through a web of bonds, fund transfers and loans. It also has its share of risky assumptions, including revenue streams or savings that either might not materialize or could be challenged in court."

"Above all, the budget puts off making the tough decisions needed to bring state spending into line with revenue.

"Here are some answers to key questions: "How much borrowing is in the budget?"

"Lots. First, there's $11.3 billion from the $15 billion of deficit financing bonds that voters approved in March, which must be paid back from sales tax revenues taken from local governments.

"It also uses $1.2 billion in bond proceeds from recently approved compacts with five Indian tribes for gaming revenues that would repay transportation loans ahead of schedule."

"There's also a $925 million pension obligation bond that diverts money from current pension payouts and postpones those payouts into the future."

"Besides these direct borrowings, the budget relies on implicit borrowing: billions of dollars in "give-backs" from various interest groups that Schwarzenegger negotiated in return for guarantees against future takeaways. For example, cities and counties agreed to yield $2.6 billion over two years in property tax revenues, while the California Teachers Association agreed to give up $2 billion in funding mandated by Proposition 98."

"All told, the state Legislative Analyst's Office estimates there is roughly $17 billion in borrowing in the budget."

Five years and nothing has changed on Schwarzenegger's watch except more spending...

Schwarzenegger: A feel-good narcissistic movie star flying around the world, living the good life -- apparently funded by "special" foundations which refuse to identify their donors...

I like Arnold the movie star, I hate Schwarzenegger the politician. He is every bit as liberal as Teddy Kennedy; except without any of the political savvy or party loyalty.

The fix...

Return to Reagan conservatism. Consider Mike Villines,  Republican leader of the State Assembly, who correctly observed that “We have a spending problem in this state, not a revenue problem.”

Eliminate the waste, fraud and corruption. De-fund special interest projects which do nothing but win votes. (Sound walls on the freeway over earthquake retrofitting or road resurfacing comes to mind). Bring the unions under control and enforce common-sense work rules. Re-tool the state pension programs. Execute the list of budgetary reforms proposed by Tom McClintock. Deny funding to school systems that build BILLION dollar high schools or choose to not built 7+ high schools in favor of one $230 million high school pushed by a billionaire developer.

For those with short memories... Schwarzenegger threw the state's most educated budget expert, Tom McClintock under the bus by denying him last minute campaign support -- although they were running on a joint ticket. I guess Schwarzenegger did not want a "picky conservative" looking over his shoulder when he made all of those special interest deals or became a bigger campaign fundraiser than Gray Davis.

What can YOU do?

End Schwarzenegger's political career. Do not let him get away with papering over this budget. Demand tough leadership that cuts spending to match revenues. Remember, we are speaking of money that is "budgeted" and has not been spent.

Tell your elected officials that you want a solution without raising taxes or cutting vital services. We do not need arts commissions. We do not need to pander to the unions. We can reduce the size of the government. We can stop the waste, fraud and corruption.

Tell you elected officials that we need to fix today's economic problems before decimating our economy to solve a "global warming" problem that may not be real or make take a 10+ lifetimes  to manifest.

Remember: when Schwarzenegger speaks of securitization of lottery revenues, he is describing "derivatives." You know, those things created on Wall Street which have gotten us into this terrible fiscal crisis as they were "tweaked" for maximum profits. And now the Governator wants to repeat the process with lottery bonds. "Through securitization, we would sell the rights to a portion of the future revenue stream from the Lottery for cash upfront. This would be a very attractive deal for investors even if we did not modernize our Lottery."

Tell your elected officials that we must take care of California's legal citizens before we provide open-ended charity to the hordes of  poor and illiterate people crossing our borders.

Make them do their jobs or turn them out of office in favor of honest people who are willing to serve without plundering the citizen's pockets.

Do not vote for any candidate or current politician who is willing to subvert the safety, security, sovereignty and economic strength of the United States or limit an individual's right of self-defense for their personal philosophy, power, prestige or profits.

-- steve

Quote of the day: "

Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory." -- Albert Schweitzer

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius

Reference Links:

New Schwarzenegger budget for California would divert gas taxes|Los Angeles Times

California PROP. 99 CAMPAIGN LIES IN E-MAIL?

Imagine my surprise at receiving an unsolicited e-mail telling me to vote for Proposition 99 over Proposition 98  and which was apparently based on a "BIG LIE: that Proposition 99 will protect homes."

The e-mail...

----- Original Message ----- From: "No98Yes99 Info" <xxx@no98yes99.com> To: <xxx@xxx.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 4:07 PM Subject: PROP 98 hurts Westlake Village homeowners and taxpayersPROP 98 hurts Westlake Village homeowners and taxpayers There are two eminent domain measures on the June 3rd state ballot:  PROP 99 protects homes, while PROP 98 is a deceptive scheme by a few wealthy apartment and mobile home owners with a hidden agenda. PROP 98 increases costs for homeowners, taxpayers and state and local governments.  It also creates loopholes to allow landlords to get around laws that protect our environment.  And PROP 98 abolishes important renter protections. That's why PROP 98 is OPPOSED BY: . AARP . League of Women Voters of California . California Professional Firefighters . National Wildlife Federation PROP 99, however, provides real eminent domain reform without the hidden agenda.  It prohibits government from taking homes for private development and preserves protections for renters, seniors and the environment. Protect renters and Protect homes.  Vote NO on 98 and YES on 99. Please forward this email to your friends and neighbors and tell them to Vote NO on 98 and YES on 99. Then visit us at www.No98Yes99.com to learn more about how you can help. Paid for by No 98/Yes 99 a committee of city and county associations, taxpayers and environmental groups, League of California Cities and Californians for Neighborhood Protection, a coalition of  conservationists, labor and business. A sponsored committee of the California League of Conservation Voters, 1121 L. Street, Suite 803                           Sacramento, CA 95814

Who really is at 1121 "L" Street - Suite 803

A professional campaign and media relations firm which supported the following propositions...

• No on 90 - Eminent Domain / Regulatory Takings
• No on 82 - New tax for state-funded preschool
• Yes on 1A - Approval of Local Government Finance Measure (November 2004)
• Yes on 55 - Approval of Statewide School Bond (March 2004)
• Yes on 40 - Approval of $2.6 Billion Natural Resource Bond (March 2002)
• Yes on 39 - Approval of 55% Local School Bond Approval (November 2000)
• Yes on 1A - Approval of Indian Gaming Amendment (March 2000)
• No on 30/31 - Defeat of Insurance Referendum (March 2000)
• Yes on 12 - Approval of Safe Parks Initiative (March 2000)
• Yes on 13 - Approval of Clean Water Initiative (March 2000)
• Yes on 1A - Approval of $9 Billion School Bond (November 1998)
• No on 9 - Defeat of Anti- Investor Owned Utility Measure (November 1998)
• No on 214/216 - Defeat of Universal Health Care Initiatives (November 1996)
• Yes on 126/No on 134 - Alcohol Tax Measures (November 1990)
• Yes on 123 - Approval of Statewide School Bond (June 1990)

Hired guns paid by special interests using mass e-mails created with template software...

You gotta love those "fake" sincere messages that are created with fill-in templates and create mass e-mails; especially when the programmer screws up and repeats a text element ("PROP 98 hurts Westlake Village homeowners and taxpayers.")

The BIG lie:

"There are two eminent domain measures on the June 3rd state ballot:  PROP 99 protects homes, while PROP 98 is a deceptive scheme by a few wealthy apartment and mobile home owners with a hidden agenda."

Truth: Prop. 99 protects few homes and endangers all private property in California...

Yes, there are two opposing eminent domain measures on the ballot, but PROP 99 does not protect homes -- in fact it does nothing to alter the way the State of California is currently doing business... it expands the ability of the government to confiscate your private property for a "public purpose" such as creating a redevelopment agency and then turning your private property over to another private individual, a developer for the sole public purpose of generating additional tax revenues and prestige for the government entity.

According to the impartial California Legislative Analyst...

"This constitutional amendment limits state and local government’s use of eminent domain in certain circumstances. Specifically, the measure prohibits government from using eminent domain to take a single-family home (including a condominium) for the purpose of transferring it to another private party (such as a person, business, or association)."

This prohibition, however, would not apply if government was taking the home to:

• Protect public health and safety.
• Prevent serious, repeated criminal activity.
• Respond to an emergency.
• Remedy environmental contamination that posed a threat to public health and safety.
• Use the property for a public work, such as a toll road or airport operated by a private party.

"In addition, the prohibition would not apply if the property owner did not live in the home or had lived there for less than a year."

"Under current law and practice, government seldom uses eminent domain to take single-family homes. Even when it does so, the acquisition often is for a purpose that is permitted under the measure (such as construction of a road or school). Accordingly, this measure would not change significantly current government land acquisition practices."

"In a very limited number of cases, however, this measure might result in government:

• Savings—because government could not acquire a home that the owner did not wish to sell.
• Costs—because government might pay more to buy a home than would have been the case if it could have taken the home using eminent domain.

"The net fiscal effect of such actions would not be significant."

The devil is in the details...

In this case, the matter of "public use" is confused with the more liberal "public purpose."

By reading this next section prepared by the impartial legislative analyst, you can see that developers, environmentalists and trade unions prosper under this proposition.

"Government’s Authority to Take Property by Eminent Domain"

"Government may use eminent domain to take property for a public use if it pays just compensation and relocation costs."

What Is a Public Use?

"Common examples of public use include providing new schools, roads, government buildings, parks, and public utility facilities."

Cited here is the very purpose behind Proposition 99 -- to allow these egregious activities...

"The term public use also includes broad public objectives, such as economic development, eliminating urban blight and public nuisances, and public ownership of utility services."

The following activities have been considered a public use:

• Promoting downtown redevelopment by transferring property to other owners to construct new stores, hotels, and other businesses.

• Reducing urban blight and crime by transferring substandard apartments
in a high-crime area to a nonprofit housing organization to renovate and manage.

• Securing public control of utility services by acquiring private water and other utility systems and placing them under government ownership.

In their world, just compensation does not adequately compensate you for the potential value of your property -- no matter how long you have held it or how much you have paid in upkeep and taxes...

What Are Just Compensation and Relocation Costs?

Just compensation includes (1) the fair market value of the property taken and (2) any reduction in value of the remaining property when only part of a parcel is taken. In addition to the payment of just compensation, California law requires governments to pay property owners for certain other expenses and losses associated with the transfer of property ownership.

Proving my point...

The three examples cited are exactly the behavior that Proposition 99 encourages -- taking one private individual's property to give to another private individual to make a substantial profit... if the government also gets their share through taxes and other revenue streams.

Corrupt politicians making a deal with developers...

Thus corrupt government officials (and we have plenty of those in California government at both the local and state level) can cut sweetheart deals with developers -- all approved by the citizens who have been lulled into voting for Proposition 99.

Developer's "cheap cost" Proposition 99 ...

Fair market value -- and what they don't add -- "at the time it is taken" and "exclusive of any property value appreciation that the property neighbors will ultimately receive by being located next to a "prestigious" development."

As for just compensation, consider the following scenario. You have purchased a parcel of land to develop on your own or as part of your retirement fund. A government entity grabs it for the depressed current market price. The developer builds out luxury condominiums and prestige shops for a substantial profit. The government entity gets its enhanced taxes. And you got the depressed value of your property at the time. And, it didn't matter how long you held the property and continued to pay taxes and maintenance or upkeep.

YOU ARE SCREWED BY PROPOSITION 99 COURTESY OF THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS SYCOPHANTS: THE TRADE UNIONS AND OTHER SUCK-UP ASSOCIATIONS.

Renter and Rent Control...

The sad truth is that there is nothing in Proposition 99 which mentions renters and rent control.

Again, consider the far-left socialist agenda that is being put forth by these people. They are telling you how to use your property and how much you can make from your property rental -- and just what gives them this power.

It is laws created from propositions such as Proposition 99 which allow the government to enact "inclusionary" laws which demand that private individuals forfeit something of value to the government or one of it's public/private agencies before being able to use the private property that you have paid for and continued to be taxed upon.

An unbiased look at both propositions...

I have taken the time and trouble to prepare a three-part series on comparing proposition 98 and proposition 99. Read for yourself, how the government wants to confiscate your land for a mere pittance and then allow their friends (those developers, unions and associations who contribute heavily to political campaigns) to benefit from your loss.

California Props 98 & 99: SAVING YOUR PROPERTY FROM CORRUPT DEVELOPERS AND THEIR POLITICIANS - PART I - The background

California Props 98 & 99: SAVING YOUR HOUSE FROM CORRUPT DEVELOPERS AND THEIR POLITICIANS - PART II - The California Initiatives

California Props 98 & 99: SAVING YOUR PROPERTY FROM CORRUPT DEVELOPERS AND THEIR POLITICIANS - PART III - Partisan Politics Playing to the Crowd

What can YOU do?

Protect yourself from the current toxic political scene where government is being run by the politicians for the benefit of the special interests: the big money boys, the trade unions, the environmental associations and others who are pursuing a far-left socialistic agenda -- at your expense.

Read my three-part blog series and start learning about the bone-headed Supreme Court "KELO" decision. Learn the difference between a Constitutional "public use" which is permissible and desired to the current corruption of "public purpose" which allows the government to take your private property for the use of another private individual.

Throw the rascals out. It is time to stop electing politicians with a far-left socialist agenda who pander to the special interests and demand that you foot the bill for their social engineering projects. I would much rather spend my hard-earned money on my family and friends than be forced to give it in support of illegal aliens who are forcing us out of our own formerly golden state by placing an undue pressure on our healthcare, educational, judicial, retirement and cultural infrastructure.

Vote as if your life depended on it -- as it surely does in these days of corrupt politicians and special interest giveaways.

Do not vote for any candidate or current politician who is willing to subvert the safety, security, sovereignty and economic strength of the United States or limit an individual's right of self-defense for their personal philosophy, power, prestige or profits.

-- steve

Quote of the Day: "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." --Mark Twain

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius

BLACK PASTOR FLIPS OUT: OBAMA, WINFREY, WRIGHT ARE GAY?

Probably the most stunning video of the 2008 political silly season appears to accuse and condemns Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Jeremiah Wright of being closeted homosexuals and condemns them in the name of religion.

Presented in disbelief is the video of "The Honorable" James David Manning (www.atlah.org)...

Someone should have told this alleged "Pastor" that October Surprises are not supposed to be scheduled in May.

I can hardly wait for the response from Hillary Clinton disavowing any knowledge of this "Trinity of Hell" video.

This probably is the most startling of all campaign videos of this political season.

My only questions:

Can any of it be true?

Why is this "Reverend" not being sued for slander, defamation, libel?

While First Amendment rights must be preserved, why hasn't Youtube.com taken this video down?

The thought that Wright could be the Vice President of the United States and Oprah Winfrey the Secretary of State is beyond the pale.

So who is this weirdo?

According to his web site...

"The Hon. James David Manning, PhD -  James David Manning is the energetic and visionary pastor of the ATLAH World Missionary Church located in ATLAH, New York. He has founded three schools and developed a national church ministry.  He holds a PhD in philosophy, the author of The Oblation Hour book, a former Marketing Executive with  Proctor and Gamble and the Ford Motor Company."

And there is very little doubt that he holds some strange views...

"The Indigenous people are to be:

Presidents and owners of Banking Institutions.
(Deuteronomy 28:12)

Presidents and Chairmans of Multi-national Corporations.
(Deuteronomy 28:13)

Presidents and Publishers of media outlets.
(Deuteronomy 28:1-14)

Further, the mission preaches, each family should own their
own home. (Deuteronomy 28:1-11)

The Almighty God said that when this vision is complete the
entire world will have to witness the presence and power
of Jesus, because every one hath said; that nothing good
can come out of Harlem.

VERILY, "ATLAH: THAT'S WHAT GOD SAID."

James David Manning has been called to serve as CAPTAIN."

DAMN CONNECTIVITY PROBLEM IS PLAGUING ME

As with all things involving computers, I sometimes slip into "user mode" and wonder just what is it that "I" have done wrong to kill my system's connectivity with the Internet.

It seems to be one of our human failings to narcissistically consider that it is "our" fault when something goes wrong with the technology.

As I sit here -- offline and unconnected -- I will share my troubleshooting steps in the hopes that they may be of some service to others facing a similar situation.

Troubleshooting basics...

A word of warning: if you hear a crackle, smell smoke, or see little sparks -- shut down the system immediately -- just pull the plug! You can recover from a computer problem a lot easier than a house fire.

First, and foremost, I save all of the work that I have open on the desktop and shut-down any programs that I may have been using. The next step is to perform the Microsoft "three-finger" salute (control-alternate-delete) to re-boot my system.

I prefer a cold-reboot (power off) to a warm-reboot (restart) as I want to re-set all of my computer's hardware as well as my operating system. I do not want to leave anything to chance, so I normally go all the way to "power off." You should wait a few minutes before turning the computer back on. 

Sometimes, the computer does not shut down immediately and informs you that it is "saving your settings." This has always been a mysterious message to me because I always think it is saving the errors too.

Second, I turn the computer back on using the normal power-on sequence.  That didn't do it!

[missing step -- added after receiving additional 20-2o hindsight inspiration -- turn off all other computers on the network before starting to troubleshoot your connectivity] It seems that troubleshooting one computer at a time is preferable that beating your head against the wall for being dumb.

Third, I reset my wireless router by powering it off for a few minutes. That didn't do it!

Fourth, I reset my DSL cable box by powering it off for a few minutes and turning it back on. In my case, I am looking for three green lights showing that the modem is powered on and is "syncing" (communicating) with the telephone network. Activity is represented by a flashing yellow light on the DSL cable box. All appears to be well with the DSL cable, so I, once again, reset my wireless modem as per the third step.

Fifth, I, once again, re-boot my computer -- bingo, all is well in my household once again.

Should I still be unable to connect to the Internet, I can try bypassing the wireless router and plugging my computer directly into the DSL cable box.

Hint: always allow for accessibility to both your DSL cable box, your telephone wall jack (or other cable connections) and your wireless router. It makes resetting and troubleshooting much easier if you do not have to trip all over yourself in a darkened room where you can barely see what you are doing.

Even I call the PROs...

If I am still unable to connect at this point in time, it's time to speak with my ISP (Internet Service Provider). The help desk can tell you if their system is down or if they can see any connectivity issues with your circuit.

Hint, write down the customer support number for your carrier and place it somewhere convenient.  Trying to access the carrier's number over a dead Internet connection doesn't work very well.

By this time, the help desk is either arranging a visit from the telephone company or assisting you in changing some of the settings on your computer. You are often in good hands as most ISPs have competent help as they know that this is the "customer experience" that keeps you paying the bill or switching providers.

Hint:  If your carrier uses a mass support center in India, the Philippines, Canada or some other exotic locale, ask for a local support number.

Knowing when to call for assistance...

Most connectivity problems are usually short in duration and maybe somewhat difficult to troubleshoot. If you feel that you are unable to take the first five steps listed above, call for help immediately. Do nothing until someone provides direction. Believe me, computer problems can get worse fairly quickly.

Thanking your unseen (and often unsung) team...

And, of course, make sure that you thank your support representative and, if you are so inclined, mention that to their supervisor. If you should receive a follow-up survey, give them high marks. It can't hurt to have unknown friends in high places.

It's Microsoft's fault...

Being rather nosy, I decided to continue troubleshooting my system. I forgot it was Tuesday! On the second Tuesday of each month, Microsoft sends out their "automatic" patches which, depending on your computer system, may be automatically downloaded and applied -- sometimes followed by a re-boot.

For some inexplicable reason, one of the computers on my home network was automatically upgraded to Windows XP/Service Pack 3 and re-booted. Due to a coincidence of timing or some other seemingly random event, the network address of this computer failed to be automatically allocated within my home networking system -- and poof -- I was denied connectivity because my computer was trying to reach and unreachable address.

My bad...

As the kids day "my bad." I failed to turn off the other computers on my network before starting my troubleshooting efforts.  See the section in green above.

What can YOU do?

As with all things dealing with technology, things are bound to go wrong at some point in time. Stay calm. Even if you lose important information, it still will not help if you have a heart attack -- and lose documents! But it sure will put the value of those documents in their proper perspective.

If you do not know how to solve the problem, call for assistance before further complicating the issue.

If you are technically savvy, write down all of the support telephone numbers you may need, the critical settings for your system -- and have a valid backup.

If you are not technically savvy, write down all of the support telephone numbers you may need -- and have a valid backup.

And, if all else fails -- consider returning to writing version 1.0  -- using a pencil and paper.

-- steve

Quote of the day: "Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge." -- Paul Gauguin

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius

Is the political leadership of LA vested in portraying Jamiel Shaw as something other than the innocent victim he appears to be -- for the purpose of derailing the public's demand that Special Order 40 be overturned and upsetting the illegal alien lobby?

Background: 

Special Order 40:   According to Judicial Watch...

"Special Order 40 is a police mandate that originated in 1979 by former Los Angeles Police Chief Gates and the L.A. City Council to prevent police from inquiring about the immigration status of arrestees.  The downside to Special Order 40 is quite substantial because it is a powerful incentive for more illegal immigrants to flaunt U.S. law.  Illegal immigrants recognize Los Angeles – and many other cities that have adopted similar laws – as a safe haven where they can’t be touched because of their immigration status.  Special Order 40 is also at odds with the law.  No police officer can be ordered to ignore and flout the law, including federal immigration laws."

Jamiel Shaw:  The Los Angeles Times on Jamiel Shaw...

"Stanford University called about Jamiel Shaw a week or so ago, intrigued by the slight but speedy running back for Los Angeles High School, the Southern League's most valuable player last year. Rutgers University called a few days later."

"The Shaw family already had reason to be proud. Jamiel's mother, Army Sgt. Anita Shaw, was on her second tour of duty in Iraq."

"On Sunday night, it was Jamiel's father on the phone and then his son's girlfriend, Chrystale Miles. Jamiel Sr. called to tell him to hurry home from the mall. The 17-year-old boy was three doors away when someone shot him to death while he was still talking on his cellphone to Chrystale, friends say."

"Jamiel Sr. heard the shots almost as soon as he hung up. He ran out of the house, raced around the corner and found his son lying on the sidewalk, bleeding."

"'She's over there trying to protect us from guns and bombs, and then she has to hear that her son is dead over here,' he said of Anita on Monday. 'I've got my own personal Iraq now.'"

"Los Angeles police officials described the killing as random and senseless, cutting down a youth who had been doing everything right in his life -- from hitting the books to never missing church to inspiring the Los Angeles High Romans to last year's Southern League title."

The killer...

"Pedro Espinoza, the 19-year-old suspect in Shaw's death, was released from jail without authorities questioning his citizenship on March 1, the day before he allegedly shot Shaw to death, according to reports by MyFOXLA.com."

"Police say Shaw was walking home from a mall on March 2 when Hispanic gang members pulled up in a car and asked him, 'Where are you from?' — code for what gang did he belong to, police said. Espinoza then allegedly shot Shaw, who was not a gang member."

The political problem...

Apparently the democrats in power want to do everything possible to stem open conflict along racial lines thus putting Los Angeles citizens at further risk -- and diluting their political clout with their core constituencies.

Stories in the news media have mentioned that a representative of the District Attorney's Office was removed from the case after allegedly implying to Jamiel's father that he should back off supporting the public's attempt to overturn Special Order 40. Others have alleged similar comments by other high-ranking City officials and council members that appear to request the Jamiel's father back off the Special Order 40 advocacy.

And now, allegations of potential gang contact?

As you read the following, ask yourself why the city or illegal alien lobby has a vested interest in making it appear that Jamiel Shaw was killed for his alleged "gang affiliations" rather than as a random Hispanic on Black hate crime?

And why would someone come forward with an article that appears to taint the situation?

The gang expert weighs in...

We have a self-described "court certified" gang expert allegedly implying that Jamiel Shaw "may" have had some associations with gang members and that the shooter may have "legitimately" thought he was confronting a gang member based on the colors he may have been wearing.

While the so-called expert has not explicitly claimed that Jamiel Shaw was associated with any gang or particular gang members, he did add confusion and uncertainty into the mix.

What Alonso told KFI radio...

Coincidently, the gang expert's name is Alex Alonso and he told Jason Stein, an assistant producer of the Ken and John show aired on local station KFI, in an "off-air conversation:"

• he didn't want to come on the show to discuss the article
• the article speaks for itself (repeatedly)
• he was not an expert
• read the article, nowhere in there do I call him a gang member
• it's not opinion, it fact

From materials on the Streetgangs.com website, it looks like they (or Alonso) may have a vested interest in entering the fray. Perhaps to secure City research grants or possibly to secure additional self-serving publicity. Or perhaps as a favor to a politician or their surrogates?

From the StreetGangs.com website...

Legal Services: for legal services related to expert witness testimony in gang-related cases we may be able to assist. Alex Alonso has consulted, testified or submitted declarations in over 100 gang-related cases regarding Hispanic and Black gangs on issues of gang enhancements (186.22), deportation, graffiti, hand signs, graffiti, territories, migration, and rivalries. Defense attorneys and prosecutors have called on his services and he has testified in criminal and civil cases. If you are interested in retaining him on a case email for his curriculum vitae

"He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the department of Geography at the University of Southern California and was previously an instructor at Santa Monica College where he has taught Human Geography, Physical Geography, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He is currently writing his dissertation on Gang Injunctions in Southern California and he also publishes a column for Streetgangs.com Magazine and he has written several freelance articles on gangs."

Looks like an expert to me.

Was Jamiel a gang member, gang associate or simply a resident in gang territory?

CALIFORNIA ATTEMPTING TO TAX ORGASMS & EJACULATIONS TO HELP PAY FOR CONSEQUENCES OF ILLEGAL ALIENS?

Fact:  California has a fiscal budgetary crisis, a $12 -$20 BILLION deficit brought on by the profligate spending of the California Legislature (and ratified by Governor Schwarzenegger) on special projects, many of which are used to support the infrastructure (healthcare, education and judicial) processing of illegal aliens.

  While democrat legislators have often been sexually compromised, they remain a raunchy group. However, nothing speaks louder than their far-left philosophy of taxing anything that seems like sin. Alcohol, tobacco ... and now "adult entertainment."

California Assemblyman Charles Calderon has introduced Assembly Bill AB 2914 which would impose a 25 percent tax on the "sale of, or the storage, use, or other consumption of, tangible personal property that is adult material.

What is covered... or should we say "uncovered?"

"Qualified tangible personal property" means any item, including, but not limited to, a book, magazine, periodical, film, videotape, digital image, or digitally or computer-manipulated image, that falls within the recordkeeping requirements of Section 2257 of Title 18 of the United States Code.

Presenting Charles Calderon... Supporter of Illegal Aliens...

"Governor Schwarzenegger has just signed into law AB 976 by Assemblymember Charles Calderon that will prohibit cities and counties in California from enacting any local ordinances that compels a landlord to inquire, compile, report, or disclose any information about the citizenship or immigration status of a tenant or prospective tenant."

"The bill also makes it illegal for any landlord under California state law to "Make any inquiry regarding or based on the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant, prospective tenant, occupant, or prospective occupant of residential rental property." California is the first in the nation to enact such a law." More. 

Charles Calderon Capitol Office: State Capitol P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249-0058 Tel: (916) 319-2058 Fax: (916) 319-2158

"In 1982, Calderon was first elected to the California State Assembly, where he served with distinction at the first Latino lawyer to the State Assembly. In 1990, he was elected to the State Senate where he became the first Latino Majority Leader. His years in the legislature are characterized by a commitment to community and the lessons he learned in public schools and as a prosecutor for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office."

Adult Entertainment may lead to negative consequences ...

SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) A substantial percentage of adult entertainment and adult entertainment merchandise is produced in California. (b) The in-state production of adult entertainment and adult entertainment merchandise has numerous negative secondary effects on the people of this state. Specifically, the production of adult entertainment and adult entertainment merchandise: (1) Increases crime at or near production locations. (2) Adversely impacts the mental health of, and leads to increased alcohol and substance abuse by, those involved in the production of adult entertainment and adult entertainment merchandise. (3) Increases the performers' chances of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. (4) Encourages unsafe sex by consumers. (5) Often encourages sexually aggressive behavior towards women. (6) Increases the medical costs of the participants in the production of adult entertainment and adult entertainment merchandise. (c) The Internet provides the children of this state with easy access to sexual content, which may negatively influence their developing attitudes toward sexuality and relationships. (d) Adult entertainment venues adversely impact the character of local neighborhoods by, among other things, reducing local property values, curtailing development, and engendering many types of criminal activities. (e) Adult entertainment venues endanger the health, safety, and welfare of citizens in their vicinity. (f) These findings are consistent with, and supported by, the findings of numerous municipalities. For example, when the City of Los Angeles conducted a comprehensive study of adult entertainment venues, it concluded that such establishments are associated with higher rates of prostitution, robbery, assault, and theft in surrounding communities. (g) These negative secondary effects, in turn, drain public resources dedicated to public social service programs, and place a significant strain on the courts of this state. (h) The taxes imposed by this measure are not intended as a prohibition of legally protected forms of expression. (i) The taxes imposed by this measure are intended to represent a balancing of competing interests. Specifically, these taxes are designed to balance the need to combat the negative secondary effects of the adult entertainment industry against the legally protected rights of adult entertainment producers and consumers. (j) The taxes imposed by this measure are not intended to allow or license any business, establishment, or activity that would otherwise be unlawful under the laws of this state or of the United States. (k) The taxes imposed by this measure are not intended to affect, or in any way limit, the ability of local governments to address the negative secondary effects of adult entertainment venues.

but illegal immigration is the root cause of the problem that is causing this additional taxation.

Just ask yourself, "How many of the statements above could apply to the effects of illegal immigration on California's crumbling healthcare, education, judicial, retirement and cultural/social infrastructure?"

California's deficit is more that a spending crisis, it is a question of the legislature upholding the State's laws and avoiding the creation of sanctuary cities.

What can YOU do?

Call Assemblymember Calderon and explain that California has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.

And while you are at it, ask the Assemblyman (respectfully, of course) about his support for illegal aliens who are breaking California's infrastructure and are becoming a threat to our State's health and welfare.

Demand accountability from your elected officials.

Demand legislation which requires any child born in the United States to assume the nationality of their parent -- as is the custom throughout the majority of the world.

Vote for comprehensive immigration reform which makes for long-term visitors, not citizens with rights and privileges not available to the average Californian.

Do not continue to elect far-left legislators who vote as if they were Mexican socialists supporting the wants and needs of Mexico over the necessities of Californians.

Do not vote for any candidate or current politician who is willing to subvert the safety, security, sovereignty and economic strength of the United States or limit an individual's right of self-defense for their personal philosophy, power, prestige or profits.

-- steve

Quote of the day: "

There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness."          - -Friedrich Nietzsche

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius

Reference Links:

California AB 2914|California Assembly

Problems with actor/politicians...

Everywhere I turned... some media pundit was explaining how Alec Baldwin, after being interviewed on Sixty Minutes, was suddenly "political" material.

While he is an accomplished actor, he still remains, at least in my mind, the cold, heartless bastard that called his little girl "a rude thoughtless little pig" as to prove the point that everything was all about him. An Al Gore clone...distasteful as that image is for me.

"Acting is a funny business: you make a living being other people, and you move from saintly heroes to serial killers, which may sometimes lead to a certain uncertainty about who it really is occupying your skin." -- Morley Safer Introduction to Alec Baldwin Interview

But do I want an actor impacting my real life problems?

Morley Safer has highlighted the key question: who is really occupying the mind of the actor who may simply be pretending to be a politician.

Special interest ploy:  the people pulling the strings...

The four things needed for a successful political campaign are: money, a live malleable candidate, name recognition and a believable story. Therefore, the backroom crowd that stands to personally and professionally profit from political decisions are always looking for a promotable "candidate," especially one that can stay "on message" and be controlled in some manner. One explanation for the success of minority politicians who are seemingly being supported by the "backroom guys." Another "people pleasing diversion" while they continue to pick the people's pockets?

Actors fit the bill...

They have massive name recognition. And, in many cases, people often confuse the actor's personal behavior and abilities with the characters they play. The have the ability to deliver lines written by others, no matter their content, in a believably sincere manner -- even if they do not personally believe what they are saying. And, in many cases, they have made enough money to provide seed capital to fund a nascent campaign.

Most actors are dumb narcissists who act like spoiled children...

Anyone who has spent any time around actors will find that they are sometimes terribly insecure and that mostly everything is all about them, their feelings and their career.  If the traffic is bad, it's because they need to get somewhere important. If the picture bombed, it's because their agent picked the wrong script to recommend, the director sucked, the producer did not spend enough money on promotion -- never once believing that the story line and their miscast performance was not believable or credible to their audience. In the final analysis, it is all about "THEM!"

Constant attention is the problem...

Look around you, people fawn over celebrities, entire business models, such as celebrity magazines, exist solely to capitalize on the public's seeming unquenchable thirst for details surrounding the public and private lives of those whom the public apparently has elevated to the position of American royalty.

And, after a period of time, celebrities begin to believe that the laws do not apply to them. And, in a sense, it is often true as a police officer will let a celebrity slide after committing an act which would get an ordinary citizen thrown in the pokey. Money and privilege isolate them from the vagaries of everyday living. Even if they started as a struggling actor with no resources, it is either quickly forgotten or "amassing more" continues to be a prime motivator.

As more and more people accommodate them, they really begin to believe their own press. The thought that people actually want to hear what they have to say is unfiltered through the reality that they are being interviewed as a product to help sell media advertising or product.

Their appearances at charitable events for good causes does not prove they are good people, only that they are being used to attract a crowd of people willing to donate big money to "hob nob" with the wealthy or the famous.

In fact, one major charity selects their "person of the year" by first considering the potential "drawing power" of the person to be honored,  the ability of their studio or company to "underwrite" the evening's expenses, and the necessity of all of those people who contributed to the person's success, and by extension the studio's success, to contribute even more money as well as goods and services to be auctioned. It helps if the person has a record of personal concern for the charity, but this is not always a major requirement.

No consequences for their past egregious actions...

With celebrities, much of their past behavior is often forgiven by the public. Their drug offenses become "old news" and not worthy of comment. They are not held accountable for their actions. How anyone can romanticize a drunken brawl over skanky women remains beyond me. We mere mortals are formed by the sum total of our environment and our experiences -- a somewhat overlooked process when one considers a performer as a politician.

The key to understanding actors...

There is an old Hollywood riddle that perfectly sums up an actor's total existence.

Question:  When is a star not a star?

Answer  When there is a bigger star in the room!

which leads to their outrageous behavior...

From a meaningless piece of attention-grabbing stage business to the full-blown trashing of a hotel room, it is all about image and garnering attention which furthers the public's perception of an actor's persona.

Of course, this does not apply to the actions taken while the actor was almost incapacitated by alcohol or drugs, both which bode poorly for potential politicians.

A bigger truth...

Some have gone so far as to claim that politics is simply "show business for ugly people" and it is hard to prove them wrong. Where else can ordinary people be treated like celebrities? How is it possible for mediocre politicians to amass personal fortunes while only being employed to "do the people's business?"

And sometimes actors fail horribly...

One need only to look at the candidacy of Republican Fred Thompson who had both political credentials as well as a believable actor's persona. All to fall by the wayside due to his apparent lack of enthusiasm or energy (I would like to think as a  result of illness rather than laziness). Scripted, he was brilliant, believable and ballot-worthy. In  person, he was dull, listless and often seemed reluctant to mix it up with the common folks. A fizzle.

Ronald Reagan was the exception...

Before anyone points out, once again, that Ronald Reagan was an actor prior to becoming a politician, let me respond with: this is the exception that breaks the rule. Reagan was a committed conservative who actually listened to what others were saying, did his own political research and was unafraid to espouse views that were different from the liberal-left mainstream in Hollywood. For Reagan it was a political philosophy not self-worship and narcissism  that drove him and his political campaign.

Schwarzenegger is the reality...

What you saw:  An extremely wealthy, well-connected and apparently self-made mega-star who ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility and moderate social goals -- who loudly claimed that he would not pander to the special interests and that he was rich enough to avoid being bought by anyone. A man who was portrayed to have a Reagan-conservative political bent.

What you got: A RINO (Republican In Name Only) who turned out to be as liberal as Teddy Kennedy and fiscally conservative as Lyndon Johnson. A Governor who claimed that he "transcended" political party lines in favor of listening to the people, but in reality pandered to the liberal democrats and special interests whenever possible. Schwarzenegger is responsible for:

• overlooking solid Republican choices for appointments to powerful positions and throwing his fiscally conservative running mate for Lieutenant Governor under the bus at the last minute by denying him the additional support that was needed to secure the election;
• presiding over a deficit that ranges anywhere between $12 and $20 BILLION dollars due to the profligate and unchecked spending of the liberal democrat legislature;
• proposing programs that threaten to bankrupt the State of California;
• and benefiting from hidden legal foundation slush funds which continue to support the mega-star's lifestyle by picking up his jet travel and accommodations. All while keeping their lobbyist-donors a well-kept secret.

A political charlatan who is desperately trying to paper over the current deficit by selling California properties and the California Lottery in order to preserve his image for his next self-aggrandizing run for office -- possibly as a Senator.

It is bad enough that we need to consider politicians like Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain ... adding actors to the mix is just plain crazy.

What can YOU do?

It should not take the acid splash of reality to make one realize that the "apparently"  principled politician that you help elect is doing nothing but creating heartburn as their well-meaning public policies and platitudes are regurgitated from the sour insides of an individual who is still struggling to understand why they aren't universally loved by their constituents.   

Remember to regard the crossover between reality and perception with a common-sense approach that realistically regards that the wonderfulness described in a campaign is illusory and not likely to become fact should a particular party or politician be elected. 

Actors, as well as politicians, are often accomplished liars: able to sincerely portray and image and a position which they cannot support for any length or time before falling into the habit of "winging it" on personal feelings and political polls. 

Do not vote for any candidate or current politician who is willing to subvert the safety, security, sovereignty and economic strength of the United States or limit an individual's right of self-defense for their personal philosophy, power, prestige or profits.

-- steve

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius

Obama is a loser: Does a trusted democrat (my opinion) speak for the real working-class democrats?

No faith in modern democrats...

Although I have very little faith and trust in modern democrats, from healthcare to energy policy to national defense, there is one democrat that apparently speaks the truth and has my trust and respect: Connecticut Independent Joseph Lieberman.

Clinton fatigue...

I suffer from Clinton fatigue and the continual re-counting of all of Hillary's alleged highpoints of her co-presidency while ignoring the overwhelming presence of chaos and corruption in the Clinton Administration. The same old Clinton advisers, who mostly overlooked all of the Clinton transgressions,  are trying desperately to regain political power and, should they succeed, I fear for the stability of our already politicized Institutions as well as for the nation's ability to defend itself in an increasingly hostile world -- especially when many democrats seem to side with our detractors rather than defend our nation. Harry Reid comes to mind. The thought of Hillary Clinton appointing two or more Supreme Court Justices is intolerable.

Obama cannot be trusted...

Call me a racist (or the epithet of your choice), but I believe the problem with Barack Obama is that he is an African-American. Not that he is Black, but a hyphenated American whose loyalties to his race may color his political views and potential actions. Barack appears to be farther to the left than Hillary Clinton, has a 20-year plus association with a hardcore minister who exploits the issue of race whenever possible, associates with a known domestic terrorist couple who revel in their previous acts of domestic terrorism and has a suspicious relationship with a corrupt "political" fixer. Obama appears to be openly deriding our nation rather than simply criticizing the current Administration. Again, I find that I might not be able to abide by Obama's appointments or his Supreme Court picks. And there is Michelle Obama who is beginning to look more and more like an outspoken  Hillary-style first lady. Both privileged, far-left elitists with apparently a permanent chip on their shoulders. I definitely do not want another co-presidency!

Imagine this...

From RealClearPolitics.com...

"Penalize Lieberman"

"Even strong support from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may not save the Homeland Security Committee chairmanship for Sen. Joseph Lieberman if he goes through with plans to address the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn."

"Reid opposes trying to kick Lieberman out of the Senate Democratic caucus (which would cost him his chairmanship) because he has endorsed Republican John McCain for president."

"But other Democratic senators complain Lieberman would go a step too far if he addresses the Republican convention."

"Elected as an independent in 2006, Lieberman now designates himself an 'Independent Democrat.'"

"A footnote: Lieberman recently approached one prominent supporter of Hillary Clinton with a suggestion that he consider supporting McCain if Barack Obama is nominated."

My take...

I truly believe, as I have said in the past, that Lieberman represents the "old-style" democrats whose actions and love of country transcended political considerations. These were the democrats who did not hate America or "blame America first." These were the democrats who instituted failed social programs, but not specifically for the political power it provided. Even the worst of the old-time democrats was more patriotic and trustworthy than this current crop of know-nothing ideologues.

So, perhaps there is something to be learned when the democrats contemplate turning their back on a fellow democrat; loudly proclaiming their support of the First Amendment while trying to silence Lieberman.

McCain is no Bush III...

It is ludicrous to think that the current democrat charge that John McCain represents a third Bush term is even valid. McCain is probably, at the very best, a weak moderate Republican and at the very worst, a weak liberal democrat. No matter how many times McCain invokes the name of Ronald Reagan, McCain is nowhere near Reagan in style, politics or ability.

However, like Lieberman, I do not, for one minute, doubt McCain's sincerity or love of his country. I have no doubt that McCain is capable of selecting a Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense that will not wilt before the onslaught of a hostile world. And I do not believe that McCain will, like the elitist far left, debate events endlessly while American interests and soldiers are at risk.

Bottom line: McCain may talk with dictators, but the conversation might not be as respectful or apologetic as either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. I believe that he will take action rather than engage in a series of endless feints, punts and chokes.

What can YOU do?

Watch Hillary as she uses her Clintonian wiles to attempt to steal the nomination .

Watch Barack as he tries to spin his far left liberal candidacy into something attractive to the middle class worker/citizen who did not go to Harvard, Princeton or other Ivy League schools. Watch Michelle Obama morph into a potential Hillary-style co-presidency.

And check out the democrat attempts to paint McCain as the anti-Christ Bush surrogate.

Consider the endless liberal concentration on feelings as they ignore facts. And support the rights and efforts of "collective" over the rights and efforts over the "individual."

Try to find one democrat "social engineering" initiative that has worked out or wasn't wildly over budget.

Do not vote for any candidate or current politician who is willing to subvert the safety, security, sovereignty and economic strength of the United States or limit an individual's right of self-defense for their personal philosophy, power, prestige or profits.

-- steve

Quote of the day: "

Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows."  - David T. Wolf

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius

Reference Links:

Lieberman|RealClearPolitics