Americans for Reason and Truth

I am Not a Crook

2012-02-12T06:29:00.000-05:00

Those famous words, uttered by President Nixon, "I am not a Crook" were the beginning of the end of his Presidency. When one says something like that, you begin to question it, or at least check it out. Ultimately, Nixon was a crook, did resign his office and those words live on in infamy. When someone has to continually say something over and over again, it means there is an absence of reality in those words, a need to convince those you are trying to convince as well as convincing yourself. At the CPAC meetings over the last few days, Mitt Romney uttered the word conservative more times than there were minutes in his speech. He knows the public doesn't believe him and frankly, neither does he believe himself. If Romney would be Romney, he might even be an acceptable if not regrettable Republican President, but the more he tries to be something he is not, the more dangerous he becomes and the less likely to be annointed, he is. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Words are Cheap, Write that Check.

2012-02-10T07:06:00.000-05:00

While Republicans continue to balk at any attempt to raise revenues from the wealthiest, we hear Bill Gates, Warren Buffet et al suggest that they pay more in taxes. While the intransigence in Congress continues, while Republicans continue to fixate on the destruction of a President in the face of some positive news about the economy, while they distract us with noise from extremist voices, not in sync with the public at large, I say this to the wealthy....Write a Check. For all those who agree that they should pay more, do so. Not only will it put their money where their mouths are, it will expose the indecency of those who won't and make greed a very nasty word indeed. I am confident that the Treasury will take your money. Write that check. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Transportation

2012-02-09T07:33:00.000-05:00

On one of the last episodes of "West Wing", Chief of Staff CJ Craig, tells the newly elected President, played by Jimmy Smits, that her years of service to the government are over. She is considering alternate opportunities and is asked about what issue she believes would do the most good for the country if she were to control massive amounts of money? Her reply..."Highways". Transportation is so pivotal to our nation. After all, we have to get from place to place. We are a mobile nation. We travel in planes, cars, buses, subways, railroads, ferries and bicycles, and yes, sometimes we even use our feet. Automobiles and connected businesses account for a huge part of our economy and whenever states run into revenue crises of their own making, who gets hit? The commuter. Tolls and fares continue to rise, with services reduced and traffic jams startling on highways in need of repair. I do not ever remember since Eisnehower, a candidate talk much about transportation although the President has been touting the need for infrastructure repair. I guess this issue isn't sexy enough. Instead, we will hear decent men demogogued as Anti-Christian, scare women into frenzies about covered health care needs and always go back to the morally devisive and easy attempts at religious polarization. In Today's NY Times, there is a welcome editorial about Transportation which expresses just another example of the differences between Red and Blue. The Bill supported by the Speaker and the House Republicans reduces financial commitmments to mass transit (predominantly used by bluer states and middle class workers) and props up the benefits to oil companies and oil drillers while de-emphasizing the environment. The details will be publicly debated, I hope, but this is just another important reason for us to wake up and see the REAL differences between our political parties. After all, why should we move away from oil and toward mass transit? This might actually help America, but we know our Congress doesn't care about that. And neither do the Republican clown candidates running for President. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Religion

2012-02-07T15:19:00.000-05:00

Religion is about compassion. Religion is about values. Religion is about kindess and forgiveness. Yet, listening to the vitriol being spewed within our political process, counting the millions killed violently in the name of religion, and hearing extremists of every faith preach intolerance, I wonder how to find comfort surrounded by such painful rhetoric. This certainly is not what my view of religion is. Before those whose conscience is disrupted when health insurance gets in the way of faith react with further hate talk, I hope we remember the essence of spirituality and G-d and the rights of all men and women. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Republican Governors

2012-02-06T07:01:00.000-05:00

Republican strategy has always included de-emphasizing or ignoring completely any successes that President Obama has had. Yesterday Newt called him the gretest assaulter of religious liberty in history. This plays into the hands of the conservatives in this country who are the only group to overwhelmingly express personal dislike for President Obama. And so it goes. How, however, do you have your cake and eat it too? Well Republican Governors have figured that out. They are admitting to success and improvement in the economy, a contradiction for sure. They, however, are taking credit for it saying the President had nothing to do with it. It was only through the job killing, union busting and fiscal restraint approaches taken by only the Republican governors in this country. Is this the new strategy? Deny the existence of success and then take credit for what you denied in the first place? Governor Mitch Daniels may have hosted a great Super Bowl, but his words are so ridiculous it is painful. It gets better each day. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

A Loaf of Bread

2012-02-05T10:12:00.000-05:00

Mitt Romney takes every opportunity, without fact, to criticize President Obama. He says Obama hates America, cares more about himself than he does you, has made the economy worse, is weakening America, yaddy yaddy yah. He promises to repeal laws and honor the Constitution (but he ought to read it first to see which branch is the legislative branch). Anyhow, I suppose this is understandable during an election. I suppose the equally uninformed who will also be voting against Obama at all costs loves these groundless statements. Mitt, the least you could do, is understand average America for real, not to say you do with your Cayman bank accounts, to cite your small 375,000 dollars of speaking fees, your request for a splash of coffee and certainly man, know the price of a loaf of bread. You are an elitist, have no connection to either your currently stated conservative values nor the average American you promise to support. I wish it were November already. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Unrelenting Extremism

2012-02-03T08:52:00.000-05:00

Planned Parenthood is not an abortion clinic. It is an agency that helps hundreds of thousands of women avoid breast cancer. It is an agency that provides needed health services to many women who have neither the financial resources or knowledge about important health issues themselves. It is an educational organization that informs women about adoption, pregnancy, parenting and other critically important issues related to health. Only a small portion of its efforts have anything to do with the legal choice that some women make regarding the end to their pregnancies. The explanation given by the Susan B. Komen organization yesterday for their severing of a long term commitment to PP is ludicrous at its best and a big fat political lie at its worst. It is now run by a woman whose political beliefs are certainly not friendly to any organization such as PP that does the type of work it does. The attempt to cajole those in anger by claiming grant procedure changes while not applying the same standard to other organizations it supports is downright evil. We can have debates about life, and choice, but to allow extremist behavior and beliefs that hurt the health of women, is inexcusable. It is gratifying to see the likes of Mayor Bloomberg and the social media forums come to the support of PP. Hopefully the decision will be reversed, but even if it is not, it is important to realize that the worst side of our politics has been further exposed. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

What is the Case for Mitt?

2012-02-01T11:19:00.000-05:00

With the bruising Republican battle continuing for a while longer, the rhetoric, the spending and the Obama bashing will be of interest to my Republican friends. At some point, however, a case will have to made for an alternative. Frankly, one has not been made other than to say anyone else but the Presdient. Look at the facts...there is steady but slow growth, there is job creation, there is a low tax and interest rate environment, there is a better control over the terrorist threat, there is a thriving auto business and there is a significant recovery in the net worth tied to the market. Where there remain problems and challenges, the direction is positive and if the only thing that the Republican candidate has to say is that Obama made things worse, even the least informed amongst us won't buy that. If Romney is the candidate, will he be the moderate he once was or the conservative he now pretends to be? Frankly, I think he would make a good Teasury Secretary and perhaps in keeping with President Obama's thoughts about the Lincoln Presidency, he ought to be considered. Other than making a lot of money for himself and his clients and saving the Olympics, there is nothing else impressive about him...except his origninal health care ideas. Oh well. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Chris Christie the Coward

2012-01-30T09:45:00.001-05:00

It boggles my mind that the Republican establishment actually believes that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is viable and sought after Presidential material. Even the Governor himself knows he is not. It speaks to the weakness of the field but I would like to blog about the cowardice of the Governor. He has proclaimed his own opposition to gay marriage and although I disagree with his position, he certainly is not that far outside mainstream opinion. What I call cowardice, is his unwillingness to deal with the actual reality of having to veto or sign such a bill if it reaches his desk. Instead, he hides behind the bogus referendum argument...let the people decide. Unfortunately, as history has shown, people have prejudice and hate in their hearts which manifests itself in how they vote. If you vote hate, then you deny freedom and liberty to all. We cannot allow people to vote on civil rights. Imagine if we in 1953 asked citizens of the south to vote on school integration or public use of facilities by all citizens? Racist attitudes would have prevailed, delaying what was right then and right now for all groups seeking fair treatment. It is an act of cowardice and hopefully the NJ legislature can find a way to avoid such a situation from happening. Don't hide behind your own beliefs Governor. Let the legislative process and fairness and American values rule the day. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Dismantling Mitt Romney

2012-01-29T08:36:00.000-05:00

I get it. I really do. Throw red meat to the extremists, bash the President who they already hate, accept the work being done for you by the establishment and win the nomination. Mitt Romney, a man with less conviction than any other major political candidate that I can remember, will say absolutely anything to get elected. Such desperation makes me wonder a lot of things, but that is for future posts. Here is a man however, that will criticize the President on everything and anything without any reference to the truth. He blasts the President on immigration policy ignoring the facts, blasts him on job creation, ignoring the facts, blasts him as weak on defense, ignoring the facts, blasts him on making the economy worse, ignoring the facts, blasts him on growth in government, ignoring the facts, blasts him on the health insurance mandate, yeah thats a laugh and to expose this hypocrite even more, admits on talk radio that things are getting better. He will win the nomination and then, unless a stirring amount of misfortune hits our nation, Obama will proceed to kick the crap out of him in the national election. And, this is good. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

I Agree With Mitt

2012-01-27T07:51:00.002-05:00

Finally, I agree with something I have heard from a Republican candidate for President. If someone approached me for a 100 billion dollar idea to put a Lunar Colony on the Moon and make it the 51st state, I'd fire him too. Newt...you're fired. Go Mitt. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Period One

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

As the middle of the school year approaches, as a teacher, I usually get the mid year blues. The self examination questions re-appear. Am I doing all I can?" "Am I making a difference?" "Are they learning?" "What am I doing wrong?", "Why aren't they listening?" etc. I teach important subjects. Economics and Government. One could argue that in our current times these subjects are amongst the most important for the future preparation of our youth. With an economic crisis and an upcoming Presidential election you would think that students would jump through hoops to learn. These are my annual thoughts at this time of year. They quickly dissipate, I re-energize and move ahead. Yesterday during my first period AP class, given at 7:40 AM my students were asked to be ready to discuss an assignment from the previous evening. They were to watch fully, the State of the Union address and answer some questions that related to the experience. Most had never seen one or knew the genesis or history of its existence. The bell rang and I immediately launched into the discussion. Lo and behold, they had watched, they had understood, they were willing to share their views, they gave high level analysis and reaction as good or better than the cable punditry that envelops the airwaves. They presented reactions that I myself had not thought of. They were wonderful. More than that, I think they enjoyed it. It's experiences like these that make it all worthwhile. Thanks kids. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

He Can and He Did

2012-01-25T07:43:00.001-05:00

Last night the Republican response was given by Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana. To me it seemed as if there was a Republican tin ear, not bothering to listen to what the President said at all. Within moments, Daniels said that whereas Mr. Obama did not cause the recession, he cannot claim that it is anything other than worse now. Well Governor, he can, and he did. To suggest that things are worse today than during the times of irresponsible lending, one of the deepest recessions and reckless spending on a war we never should have fought, is ridiculous partisanship at its worst. I would also like to remind my followers that Mr. Daniels was the Budget director under President Bush. A recent study has found that if you add the costs incurred solely on the policies of Bush, they increased the debt by 5 trillion vs. the 2 trillion dollar costs of Obama's policies. All while the Governor was at the helm of Executive branch finance. Looks like the pomp and circumstance of the evening was just that, pomp and circumstance. No substantive improvements will come from these Republicans. To the streets Mr. President, to the streets. Where are you Americans for reason and truth

It's Nice To Be Rich.

2012-01-24T08:05:00.000-05:00

Most of us, not all, envy the rich. Fantasies about owning yachts or beach homes in exclusive neighborhoods or never having to feel materially deprived are in our minds. In fact I am pretty confident that most of us don't begrudge the wealthy their wealth or mock the lives they live. Republicans have successfully built a narrative around the wealthy that just isn't right. They have half the country believing that the wealthy pay enough, that if we ask them to pay more it will stall economic growth, and cuts in government must come from programs that help everyone else. It boggles my mind how such an explanation has stuck to so many Americans that have bought the notion of a socialist President and actually will vote against their own interests without even realizing it. The issue is, that Mitt Romney as an example, has a tax rate of 35% but only paid 14%. If he contributed up to half of what he was supposed to pay, that would have been an additional million or so dollars, leaving him still wealthy and economically advantaged. It isn't that people are rich, it is that they are insulated from the real lives or real programs that help those who simply do not have the financial ability to make it to the 1%. A simple adjustment in the contributions from the wealthiest amongst us would solve most of the budgetary problems we face. I hope the President lays out this reality in his State of the Union Address tonight. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Nice Talk Mr. Speaker.

2012-01-23T07:09:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow evening during the State of the Union Address, all the usual pomp and circumstance, tradition and scheduled applause will be in their usual glory. The Speaker of the House will talk about the esteemed honor and privilege it is for him to introduce the President of the United States. On Fox news yesterday, however, Speaker Boehner was not so charitable with his words. He called the Presidents'communication to the nation in the upcoming speech, based on what he has heard in advance, "pathetic". Now people can respectfully disagree on policy, they can openly debate the pros and cons of various economic theories, legal doctrines and the value of passed or projected legislation, but going on TV to call the President's words pathetic, just seem to me not only disrespectful but out of bounds. The narrative that the Republicans continue to use is how bad the economy has been under Obama, all the while with a recovery in front of their noses. This debate will rage on until election day and then we the people will decide. I just don't understand this kind of hostile, vindictive and out of bounds language, particularly coming from the Speaker of the House. Seeing the performance of John Boehner since he got the job, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. It is just plain pathetic. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Great News

2012-01-22T07:34:00.001-05:00

The Republican fight for the nomination was dealt a stunningly good bit of fortune for Democrats last night, when Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina Primary. The longer it goes, the more exposed this incredibly failed and disappointing field continues to get, and by the time the bruising is over, even the one left standing with all the accolades that will coalesce around him, will be more vulnerable and much less of a challenge to President Obama. I wish it were November already. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Party of the Rich.

2012-01-20T09:27:00.000-05:00

This whole Republican battle over wealth is hilarious. It is difficult to argue that Republican party ideology is clearly different than Democratic ideology, at least on paper. Smaller Government vs. Government involvement. Low taxes and trickle down, vs. shared sacrifice and on and on. Here we have one of the richest people ever to run for President, a man who represents the capitalist engine at its most aggressive, a man whose wealth is the envy of bankers, Wall streeters and the common envy of the common man. Wealth is the American dream and Republicans have successfully managed to protect it and convince half of us that one percent of American can help the rest of us. It is therefore hilarious that the remaining candidates are sniping at Mitt's wealth. No matter what happens, this hypocrisy will sway the national electorate Obama's way....unless there is another economic collapse. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Cayman Islands

2012-01-19T08:49:00.000-05:00

I have been to the Cayman Islands. It is a lovely place. The waters are crystal clear, the afternoon rains are beautifully refreshing and Seven Mile Beach is one of the nicest on Earth. We vacationed there about 20 years ago. For those in America who have benefited financially from the capitalist engine, much of the wealth is subject to tax. Due to the bipartisan effort over the years to protect wealth and provide tax loopholes in our tax code, parking money offshore to avoid tax is a commonplace thing to do. I do not argue against taking legal advantages of loopholes as long as they exist. The only reason to send money to Cayman banks is because of the preferential treatment and protection of these assets. Kudos to those who have such good fortune. BUT...the Romney campaign, knowing that such financial elitism may not sit well in a national campaign, is actually trying to say that this money was not sent there to avoid taxation. Give me a freakin break. What else will the charlatan in chief tell us? Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Hostage Taking

2012-01-18T15:34:00.000-05:00

During the ridiculous Congressional antics over the payroll tax cut extension, the Republicans packaged this with a requirement that the President rule on the Keystone Pipeline Project within 60 days. No President can ever let himself be held hostage by legislation crafted soley for political talking points. The pipeline has nothing to do with the tax cut extension and forcing a President to rule on an environmentally questionable project prematurely as part of another unrelated activity, is shameful. So, good for the President who may still allow it to go forward, but not attached to a tax bill or without appropriate environmental analysis. Typically, the candidates jumped all over the President as a man not serious about job creation. So Mr. Romney, you ass, were the Republicans not serious about job creation when they failed to approve requests for infrastructure jobs to repair bridges, tunnels, runways and roads? You cannot have your cake and eat it too. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Huntsmann Hypocrisy

2012-01-16T13:20:00.001-05:00

When Jon Huntsmann began his campaign, he seemed the most genuine and most reasonable amongst those declared candidates from the Repbublican party. His experience and intellect certainly seemed up to the job, and if President Obama had to lose, at least the character and conviction of the man that would replace him, if Huntsmann, seemed somewhat tolerable. Or so I thought. At a debate last week, Romney criticized Huntsmann for serving the nation as Ambassador to China under the Obama administration. Huntsmann's reply, the best line so far, was that, and I paraphrase, [it was attitudes like that which has caused the bitter, relentless and poisonous atmosphere in Washington which has so embittered our nation.] What a great statement. How true, how patriotic, to put country first in an unapologetic manner. He really called Mitt out for what he is, a disingenous vote grabber without an ounce of principle and a perpetrator of the very attitudes that make Washington DC so ineffectual. I guess I was wrong about Huntsmann. I suppose that really isn't so important after all now that he is endorsing Mitt Romney. Another politician shows his true colors. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Unproductive President.

2012-01-15T11:42:00.001-05:00

On this morning's Meet the Press, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina called President Obama an unproductive President. Here are some examples, a partial list, of this lack of productivity:
-saved domestic auto industry
-killing of Bin Laden
-coordination of the elimination of Khadaffi with no loss of American life
-ending American War in Iraq
-22 consecutive months of private sector job growth with Republican opposition
-historic heath care legislation, yet to be tested, Romney style.
-Consecutive quarters of GDP and declared end of recession
-unemployment since its peak of 10.2 declining to 8.5
-consecutive months of rising consumer confidence
-the putting of entitlements on the table for negotiation
-restoration of world view of America being a beacon of freedom
-support of Israel through our objection of premature Palestinian state
-largest increase of border security in a decade
-legitimate deporations in three years higher than in previous 8.
-ended Don't Ask Don't Tell military policy
-Ledbetter equal pay act
-bipartisan agreement in an improved and effective FEMA for all recent weather disasters

What would a productive President do? Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

What's the Difference?

2012-01-12T12:40:00.001-05:00

What's the difference if the likely candidate for President on the Republican ticket has lied about his long term commitment to being pro-life to get a few South Carolinian votes? What's the difference that he claims to have been near to being fired and worried just like the common man. What's the difference that Mitt Romney became rich off of other peoples' despair? What's the difference that he doesn't understand the Consititution and the intent of the Founders? What's the difference that all of a sudden Romney is a War Hawk criticizing the destroyer of Al Qeda as weak on securing the nation? No difference. If the economy doesn't recover fast enough, people will vote for even a bigger idiot than Mitt. So tells the story of American impatience, ignorance and gullability. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

A Big Win? Really?

2012-01-11T07:38:00.000-05:00

Mitt Romney was the Governor of Massachusetts. Check your map. New Hampshire is the next state over. People in NH drive to work in Massachusetts with much frequency. Mitt Romney has a vacation home in New Hampshire. Mitt Romney is one of the most well known names in the state. Mitt Romney has been running for President longer than any of the candidates accept the unelectable Ron Paul. Last night, 60 perecent of the voters who went to the polls, voted against him. Now I am pretty sure that he is the next Republican nominee for President, but let's not get carried away. Mitt has still not passed the smell test. Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth?

Professor Harold Hill

2012-01-10T08:20:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite musicals is Meredith Wilson's "Music Man". Watching Robert Preston play Professor Harold Hill, certainly no professor at all, is a joy. Hill goes around the country trying to sell band uniforms and equipment to a willing and naive public that believes a marching band will make their kids stay out of pool halls and become the best musicians the world has ever seen. We know that Hill is a liar, a cheat, a salesman for sure, duping his unwitting customers into buying his shtick. Does the Hill character remind you of anyone? It should. Mitt Romney. Here is a man not selling band equipment but selling shtick nevertheless. He has crafted a narrative that makes Harlold Hill's lies seem like little fibs. Romney is trying to convince us he is one of us. He claims feeling the fear of getting a pink slip. Romney was born to privilege and has never known want so none of us should buy into that Mr. Main Street crap. Romney has not been a job creator at all. His record as governor was poor and his job at Bain was to consolidate and streamline companies costing jobs not creating them. I have no quarrel with his actions, only with his lying about it. Romney is saying he isn't a politician but an outsider. Well, last time I looked, being Governor of a state is a political job. Running for Senate and losing is an example of desiring politics. Running for President certainly isn't playing squash, so as they say in the South, "that dog won't hunt". Mitt Romney wants to be President and he is doing and saying anything to get the job. His own competition within his own party doesn't believe him and neither should we. The one hope I have is that unlike the Professor, Romney doesn't get the girl. Let us pray. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Iran

2012-01-09T08:40:00.000-05:00

Americans hate Iran. It is obvious as to why. During the Carter Presidency when hostages were taken, with gasoline shortages and economic malaise, our nation felt low. We have not had an embassy in Iran since that time and we think its leaders are a bunch of Anti American nut cases looking to destroy Israel and the West. Today, we have a different crisis with Iran. As a sovereign nation, it is pursuing a nuclear program that is making the US and the world a little nervous. We hear their leaders sabre rattling and even today as they sentence a dual citizen Iranian/American to death for spying, Iran stays in our heads. It certainly will become a political talking point for the Republcans...I can hear it now...Obama weakness, American apologists, carry the big stick, military unpreparedness and blah blah blah. Rick Perry's declaration to send troops back to Iraq was met with much disagreement and Americans are not interested in another war. So what to do? Let the sanctions work. Soon, Iran will not be able to sell its oil on the free market. Iran is not a military power that can threaten America and Israel will act when it sees the need to do so militarily and Iran knows this. So, let's calm down, keep the noise to a minimum and see if the global strategy to stop Iran works. We can always destroy all 74 million of them if we really want to. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?