Planet California 2007

Republican Candidates: Mike Huckabee

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:59:00 +0000

Mike Huckabee is a strange duck. At first I paid him no mind. I thought his stage presence and quick wit was interesting, but his record indicated he likes to raise taxes. With that, I ignored him as a possibility of becoming the presidential candidate for my party. We simply cannot raise taxes.

However, the primary campaigns have held many surprises on both sides; one of the most interesting is Huckabee's rise from nobody to somebody. Ed Rollins, an old pol, has signed on to his campaign. That's how much ground Huckabee's gained.

Huckabee successfully took on Mitt Romney, bringing himself up in the polls to even. In addition to good campaigning, his other opponent, Fred Thompson has indeed lived up to his too laid-back image. Also, Giuliani has been fairly invisible the last few weeks due to something we've yet to hear about, I'll bet. He may just be taking cover.

That leaves Senator John McCain and (it's difficult to use their names in the same sentence)Congressman Ron Paul, an aberration, a gnat, a pest, just another distraction. There is great hope for McCain who has become a factor after his endorsements from key primary states newspapers. He's pulling out of a hole he was in over the summer, mostly from his ridiculous stance on immigration. He said he's sorry. His I've-learned-my-lesson ads are especially compelling in light of his heroic performance as a PO. In comparison to the rest of the candidates, excepting Rudy, Senator McCain is probably the most moral of the group.

An acerbic commentator suggested that Huckabee wasn't running as a moderate, or a conservative. "Huckabee is running as a Christian."

I agree. The governor has made religion the issue while he has ignored more germane discussions. I thought Reverend Huckabee was harmless.

I've rethought that. I'm still bothered by the ease at which he, a Baptist preacher, moved on from the cross issue.

Thanks for the read.

Huckabee: Using the Lord's name in vain?

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:31:00 +0000

Thousands of years ago, God handed down to Moses a couple of tablets which displayed His Ten Commandments. One of them exhorts us never to use the Lord God's Name in vain.

This discussion isn't about using the GD phrase when you've hit your finger with a hammer while hanging a picture or utilizing the Lord's name when expressing your discomfort sitting on the front porch in the hot sun on a still, humid afternoon.

That mysterious "moving" cross
Mike Huckabee, an ordained Baptist preacher, knows better, yet he did it anyway.

A powerful, not-so-subliminal message in the form of a cross glows behind GOP candidate Mike Huckabee as he delivers last week's "Christmas message" via political advertisement. The first time I saw the commercial, I wasn't sure how I felt. I didn't want to believe that the cross imagery was intentional. I've decided here's what happened: The cameraman starts with the predictable upper right shot (which the human eye perceives first), then it slowly moves lower-middle and left. To say it was coincidental insults every professional production designer's, director's and cameraman's intelligence.

A prideful, defensive Huckabee then answers his critics flippantly: "...and later we'll be sending secret signals to other Christians...be sure and watch for them...to say that it was intentional is ridiculous...if you play the ad backwards, it says, 'Paul is dead. Paul is dead.'..."

In other words, "Kiss my holy butt."

This is one example of how divisive religious arguments break our unity and democratic purpose. Preachers, imams, rabbis, monks and others would do America a favor by opting out of our democratic politics. Render unto Caesar, and all that.

Thanks for the read.

Hillary's old? According to Limbaugh, she's almost dead.

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:50:00 +0000

The Drudge Report published an unfortunate, unfixed photo of Senator Clinton today with the caption, "The Toll of the Campaign." Her picture didn't look like the Hillary we see on TV. She looks her age.

Then I read that Rush Limbaugh took out after her with this paraphrased question, "Is America ready to stare at a woman as she ages?"

No wonder he's had so many wives.

Bad manners, pal.
Just because you can say something doesn't mean you should. To attack Mrs. Clinton in this way shows a hatred that is proportional to the Left's Hate Bush Syndrome. If these men (Limbaugh and Drudge) want to be like the greatest generation, which they each say they revere so much, why can't they at least have the class and manners their grandparents had?

Did the Brits carry on about Lady Thatcher getting long in the tooth? No. How about Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Chase Smith?

Simply asking the question is unfair and sexist, ageist, silly and appeals only to fourteen year-old male brains. There is little respect for older people as it is; now, we have a pleasure-bent, spoiled boy like Rush Limbaugh, who must represent a large segment of brash men--those who are only interested in a person's ability to age well, not how she will govern.

I guess the next obvious question is: are Americans ready to stare at an aging man in the White House? Start with Washington and work your way up.

Thanks for the read.

Hey, Dr. Laura! How many families did you break up today?

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:17:00 +0000

The tough love, indecent advice that Schlessinger gives some of her callers needs to be looked at very carefully.

Remember, this is the woman whose mother was found practically mummified in an apartment just a few blocks from Schlessinger's broadcast center, where she presumably works every day. I suppose she just couldn't spare the time to check up on the old gal. As a Jew who professes to believe in the Ten Commandments, I suggest she check the one about honoring one's mother and father. However, I am told that she defends her actions, then touts her abyssmal human failure as an example.

In our easy, non-defined media centric culture, someone like Schlessinger succeeds because there are enough mad, self-righteous, narcissitic and naive young people to listen. Her whole schtick consists of telling young men and woman that if it's perfectly fine to cut people in your family out of your life if they're not displaying the "correct" amount of mea culpas for mistakes and past sins, no matter what. It makes me wonder how she can be so easily believed considering her own background.

This woman has a Ph.D degree in Physiology, the study of the function of systems in the body. Does her CV contain advanced psychiatric, psychological, sociological studies or other germane disciplines? Surprisingly, yes. She is a certified MSFC and claims to have twelve years of clinical experience. I'm sure her peers winced when she hung out her shingle spewing her own guilt-driven crap so that she can justify and feel better about her obscene treatment of her own mother. That tells me volumes about her inability to empathize and deal with real issues using thoughtful and effective methods. In addition, her defference to men in general and her preoccupation with her father and the "care and feeding" of husbands says to me she's probably in competition with most woman. It's clear she dislikes the company of other smart women.

Schlessinger's radio presence is hardly new, just modified to demonstrate her gimmick. This is the same woman whom I listened to during 1979 though about 1980 whose schtick THEN was be your own woman, to hell with the kids (of course, then she didn't have any) and look how wonderful she is. I was struggling as a single mother trying to work and go to school for my degree at this time and listened on my way to class every day. My mistake. Her tremendous lack of understanding of the daily realities in other people's lives became apparent too late, but I still listened. I was striving, after all, for normalcy for my family.

Today, of course, we find out she stopped speaking to her own mother, posed for nude photos (as if everyone did) and other outrages that question her ability to provide advice for anyone. What a freaking liar.

So, at age 60, she has the gall to castigate anyone who's made errors in judgement in raising their kids, has no tolerance for what is for many people extended families, issues that can be worked out if shown a forgiving and charitable attitude. She hides behind her conservative facade, her only child paratrooper son (that hoowa thing she does every day is ridiculous), ignoring the impact her past and lack of accountability has on others, then spouts her "common sense."

Who really knows what her family was like? It couldn't have been much of a model because she does everything she can to tempt people into terrible actions which affect and break up entire families. It matters not the circumstances (she simply doesn't have the airtime to explore those minor details); she's a mean old woman with no grace. It makes me wonder if she's turned into exactly what she hated about her mother. Many of us do, you know. The good news is as we mature, we find the old dolls weren't so bad after all.

I've boycotted Laura Schlessinger because I've heard her too many times discount the real problems, take as gospel the family complaints she hears from her callers and even one time told a woman who had just lost her child that she was basically responsible for it (she wasn't). To paraphrase, her response to the woman who called to get some comfort instead got told she's an idiot and deserved what she got.

If I want irrelevant, mean and angry post-menopausal craziness and edginess, I'll look in the mirror.

Thanks for the read.

Mark Cuban: just another technocrat blowhard

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 02:34:00 +0000

The billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks, a basketball team, has branched out into movie distribution. The film, "Redacted," is anti military and crudely put together showing one-dimensional characterizations of our soldiers. It depicts drunken soldiers raping a 14-year old girl and killing her family. The soliders about which this picture was made are currently serving life sentences in military prisons.

Saying it doesn't make it so
Cuban actually says that this horrible film doesn't affect our troops and that the film won't be used by our enemies against us. Is he kidding? Is he really that stupid?

One more time I had to find out what makes a person like Cuban, who was given so much by his country hate his country so much that he would become the 21st century equivalent to Jane Fonda and her visit to Hanoi. I doubt that a betrayal this huge can just be shrugged off as he did in his blog, http://www.blogmaverick.com/. As he becomes more human through these types of humiliations, one of which is ageing, his psychic pain and guilt will be unbearable when he looks back over the years. I can say that from experience. Nothing gets unnoticed in this life. Nothing.

The reviews actually are pretty sad for Mark's maiden voyage into the Hollywood whirlpools and eddys. Poor dear. I guess he really did think that his money could buy him anything, including art and patriotism, and most importantly, girls and Hollywood. This traitorous, arrogant little man is about to see the true reaction of people when his movie bombs, which it will.

I have to also wonder why the Maverick fans would support this twit and his team, especially in Dallas. Is basketball really more important that one's principles?

I would ask those fans to do the following: Close your eyes and think of Mark Cuban prancing around the basketball floor, yelling at referees and then place another picture of our soldiers in Iraq next to it.

Thanks for the read.

Once again, Iowa states its mind...and the rest of us lose ours

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:58:00 +0000

Rudy's lost ground in the Iowa primary race. Pundits believe he's behind because of his personal life and his indifference to changes in abortion laws. I guess they also don't like his association with Bernard Kerik, the NYPD ex-commissioner, what with the timely arrest of Kerik. I know nothing politicians do is unplanned, so whoever thought Kerik's problem would distract Iowa's voters was right. Moreover, he's said to be behind in advertising. Someone said it may be too late for him to regain his ground.

The bad news is if Rudy is beaten in Iowa (he's in third behind Romney and Huckabee) as well as in a couple of other states (New Hampshire and South Carolina), he could very easily lose the national nomination. That is the worst case scenario.

Anyone out there know who can beat Hillary Clinton? Well, it ain't Romney and it sure ain't Huckabee, as it's said in Iowan. Giuliani and McCain are the Republican's trump cards. Why can't Iowans swallow their pride, get over their inner anal cranial inversion and realize this?

Pride! Ever see the Music Man? See it and weep. These folks are as hard as nails and stubborn as mules. Nothing gets them moving and that's why they're in Iowa. Whether a man or woman isn't conservative enough for a voter in these times is terribly pigheaded and kind of irresponsible, when one thinks on it. Mitt Romney is just another Republican failure waiting to happen in foreign policy while Huckabee is an ordained Baptist preacher and inexperienced; but, most importantly, both are unelectable and cannot overcome the Clinton machine.

First of all, Romney and especially, Huckabee are both way too nice. Neither of them have shown me a killer instinct I think is a prerequisite required of the president; it comes from experience with the bad boys of this world, like Rudy's with the mob and McCain's with his VietCong captors, his fellow senators and American progressives.

I am again baffled as to why some people like these conservative Iowans can't really accept we're at war and thus need a strong president who can't be buffaloed. In fact, they probably don't know they need someone a lot like themselves. I can assure all Iowans neither Romney nor Huckabee will fulfill their conservative expectations. No one can these days. One more time, the Right's timing stinks. They'd rather be right than alive, evidently.

Thanks for the read.

One year later: Pelosi's congress overreached...and failed!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:39:00 +0000

How time flies when we're having fun. I wrote a piece titled "Michael Moore's Bitch Slap" that appeared here on 11/20/2006 as a response to Moore's post-election euphoria.The other piece, "Pelosi's Coronation," was posted on 1/4/2007. Click on the archives and find them.

How did I know the Dems would overreach? Experience, Baby, experience! Remember that I have a few national elections under my old belt.

Enjoy the crow.

Thanks for the read.

An Imam from Arkansas wants the Islamic States of North America by 2050. Can it be done?

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:29:00 +0000

As tired and weary as we are of hearing about these crazy Islamofascists, we have to stay abreast of their systematic, incremental movement within our own institutions. If we continue to allow the left to define the argument, we will lose our country. I urge you to read the following; then start talking to other people. You are not a racist for wanting to keep our country. Don't let these sieve-brains define you as well!

Posted: November 10, 2007 1:00 a.m.
Eastern By Art Moore © 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

A Washington, D.C., imam states explicitly on the website for his organization that he is part of a movement working toward replacement of the U.S. government with "the Islamic State of North America" by 2050.

With branches in Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Philadelphia, the group As-Sabiqun – or the Vanguard – is under the leadership of Abdul Alim Musa in the nation's capital.

Musa's declaration of his intention to help lead a takeover of America was highlighted by noted Islam observer Robert Spencer on his website Jihad Watch.

Spencer told WND that figures such as Musa should not be ignored, "Not because they have the power to succeed, but because they may commit acts of violence to achieve their purpose."

Musa's website declares: "Those who engage in this great effort require a high level of commitment and determination. We are sending out a call to the believers: Join with us in this great struggle to change the world!"

Musa launched the group in the early 1990s at the Al-Islam mosque in Philadelphia. His group says it is influenced by the writings and life work of Muslim thinkers and leaders such as Muslim Brotherhood founder Hasan al-Banna, Sayyid Qutb and Iranian revolutionary Ayatollah Khomenei.

The writings of Al-Banna and Qutb figured prominently in al-Qaida's formation.

Musa's organization says its leadership "has delivered numerous speeches in the United States and abroad, contributing their analyses and efforts to solve contemporary problems in the Muslim world and in urban America."

Abdul Alim Musa "The paramount goal of the movement is the establishment of Islam as a complete way of life in America," the group declares. "This ultimate goal is predicated on the belief – shared by many Muslims worldwide – that Islam is fully capable of producing a working and just social, political, economic order."
The groups says it does not "advocate participation in the American political process as an ideal method for advancing Islamic issues in the U.S.; instead, it believes in a strong and active outreach to the people of the U.S."

Spencer told WND he does not know of any direct influence Musa has on prominent Muslim leaders or on U.S. policymakers, but he says it's "unclear how much 'mainstream' Muslim leaders harbor similar hopes – because no one dares question them about it."

As WND reported, the founder of the leading Islamic lobby group CAIR, the Council on Islamic-American Relations, reportedly told a group of Muslims in California they are in America not to assimilate but to help assert Islam's rule over the country. CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper also has said, in a newspaper interview, he hopes to see an Islamic government over the U.S. some day, brought about not by violence but through "education."

In London last summer, as WND reported, Muslims gathered in front of the London Central Mosque to applaud fiery preachers prophesying the overthrow of the British government – a future vision that encompasses an Islamic takeover of the White House and the rule of the Quran over America.

Musa says he wants to avoid what he calls an "absolutist" outlook on "the advancement of Muslims."

His group's philosophy is to stress unity between the various streams of Islam "in the attainment of common goals."

Although As-Sabiqun is a Sunni movement, it has publicly voiced support for Shia movements and organizations such as the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah, which waged war on Israel in the summer of 2006.

Musa, the group says, repeatedly has "stressed that the tendency by some Muslims to focus on the differences between Sunni and Shia Islam at this juncture in history is counterproductive to the goals of the Islamic movement as a whole."

The group says it encourages social-political advancement concurrent with a program of spiritual and moral development according to the Quran and Sunnah, compilations of stories from the life of Islam's prophet Muhammad.

The group says it has a six-point plan of action which is implemented at each location where a branch of the movement is established.

Establishing a mosque "as a place to worship Allah in congregation and as a center of spiritual and moral training."

"Calling the general society" to embrace Islam.

Establishing a full-time school "that raises children with a strong Islamic identity so they can, as future Islamic leaders, effectively meet and deal with the challenges of growing up in the West."

Establishing businesses to "make the movement financially stable and independent."

Establishing "geographical integrity by encouraging Muslims of the community to live in close proximity" to the mosque.

Establishing "social welfare institutions to respond to the need for spiritual and material assistance within the community as well as the general society."

In addition to daily classes, each mosque in the movement "also provides youth mentorship, marriage counseling, a prison outreach program, and employment assistance for ex-convicts."

As-Sabiqun says its branch in Los Angeles "was instrumental in creating a free health clinic in cooperation with other Islamic groups. The headquarters branch in D.C. has developed scout programs for young members of the community."

The group says the inspiration for its name comes from Quran, 9:100:

"The vanguard (as-Sabiqun) of Islam – the first of those who forsook their
homes, and of those who gave them aid, and also those who follow them in all
good deeds – well-pleased is Allah with them, as are they with Him: For them
hath He prepared Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever: that
is the supreme Felicity."

Thanks for the read.

Memo to: Hollywood Numbskulls (Redford, Streep, Cruise)--you still don't get it

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:11:00 +0000

No one's seeing antiwar movie stars in their antiwar movies. Gee, I wonder why. Cut and paste the following in your browser:

http://comments.breitbart.com/071109152054vnv6fviw/

This self-serving, off-the-mark article is bad, but the comments renew my faith.

Selfish, cynical, egotistical, ungrateful and too rich radicals
Redford, Streep, Cruise, Gyllenhall, Witherspoon, Peckinpaw, et al! You've failed in your dreadful, shameful attempts to turn most of your countrymen against your country. Now you all get to see how the rest of America actually feels about you. Without the publicists, your yes men, without your hangers-on who tell you how wonderful you are every hour on the hour, without your tiny contingent of "important" artistes who simply talk to each other...about each other.

One of the ways you arrogant, worthless parasites can get some tickets sold is to make a pro-American movie. If you haven't figured out your box office failures are caused by your politics by now, you'll never see it. Till then, shut up. Return to your ivory towers and expensive retreats and leave the rest of us the hell alone. We have real work to do.

What a bunch of prigs.

Thanks for the read.

Oprah: Her Lesson is Hard Learned

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 20:20:00 +0000

Oprah should be applauded for stepping up and taking full responsiblity for the mess at her girls' dream school in South Africa. I believe her response is more than verbal; she also took control of the situation fairly early. The question really is what has Oprah learned?

Her Culture; Their Culture
Everyone seemed thrilled when Oprah opened her $40 million girls boarding school earlier this year. I am among those who adore Oprah, even when she's wrong, and love her good and sincere instincts as a human being. If there is anyone walking the walk, it is Oprah Winfrey. However, Oprah's dedicated insertion into South Africa's educational system has to be fraught with cultural differences that would throw anyone.

The United Nations Child Care Act, (74 of 1983) and the Child Care Amendment Act, (86 of 1991; 13 of 1999) make sexual abuse of children a criminal offense. Re-read that.

Sexual abuse of children didn't start to become illegal
in South Africa until 1983 and then it was reasserted in 1999.

Oprah's South African roots are her badge of honor and in response has placed her money where her mouth is. In this case, her money didn't quite work. Her good intentions may have have been trumped by a profound cultural ignorance. I'd admit to feeling angry if she thought in hubris that she could change a cultural problem with $40 million, a name, 200 girls and one generation.

Or, she may be in denial. Maybe the "natural, primitive man" argument of the left isn't what she thought and has yet to accept that regardless of her standing, she is only at the start of changing what has taken decades to create via Apartheid. Things don't come easy, as poor Oprah is finding out these days.

As Oprah has grown, she's played with different outside identities. First the big girl look, then the jeans look, then the real look, then the Greene look, the perimenopausal look, now the pretty Oprah look. Inside, however, she doesn't seem to want to move on past her racial heritage. Yeah, she flirts with us non-black kids, but her heart belongs to Obama. Guess I feel hurt.

I wish Oprah well. I know that her goodness will prevail, but she's in some deep, deep legal trouble, which will take all her skill and reputation to overcome. Just wait for those thirteen families to dig into Oprah's deep pockets. Unfortunately, there are criminal sanctions, but it's too early to know those.

How could someone with so many good intentions get into so much trouble?

Thanks for the read.

Coulter Should Dump the Tough Guy Act on Jew Statement

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 16:18:00 +0000

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Coulter_Jewish_reply/2007/10/17/41664.html?s=al&promo_code=3B91-1

I didn't want to misstate Ms. Coulter's response to her "perfected Jew" comment, so I have attached it for you to decide.

Back Tracking
Ms. Coulter continues to show her ignorance by now saying the perfected Jew comment she made was in the context of Catholic teachings.

The host asked her twice if she meant that Christians believe that Jews need to be perfected. Both times she replied yes. There was no missing context, no misunderstanding; she simply showed her inability again to say when she is wrong and try to get the facts right and instead lies about where she's coming from.

But as with Congressman Stark who said the military was killing soldiers for the amusement of the president, Ms. Coulter also stands by her statement and makes things worse by playing a Catholic card to defend herself (she is not a Catholic, by the way).

I mentioned the Catholic issue, which during twelfth and thirteenth centuries AD, the Roman Catholic church decided unofficially the church needed to blame the Jews for Christ's crucifiction. Antisemitism was a political issue officially, not a religious one and had nothing to do with Christ; it had to do with antisemitic Europeans finding a reason to displace and remove Jews from the areas they lived in. But what Ms. Coulter states is that she was talking to the interviewer in the context of Catholicism and the blame game.

No, she wasn't. She states emphatically the perfection idea is believed by Christians--in addition to being asked twice to clarify her stupid comments, she repeated herself.

Just Say You're Wrong, Dammit!
I feel as if am the only person who is constantly apologizing for things I do wrong. I know that's not true, however, I overdue it many times because it's difficult to distinguish the fine line between being right and being loved.

But when it comes to factual issues, I try to clean my mess up as quickly as possible. Anne can't do that probably because she has so much invested in being right. That's a terrible position to be in if you're in the least bit human.

Just say you're wrong, Anne, and stop the hrumphing for a while, will ya? Go have lunch, get your hair done (please) and back off. That's right. One of your elders is batting you down. You're not helping the Republican party.

Thanks for the read.

Ellen! Get a Grip!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 20:43:00 +0000

The facts, as I understand them, are these (per dog agency's attorney):

Ellen must have read the contract because no one would sign a contract without reading it, unless it's Paris Hilton who has her own personal people to read "things like that";

Somehow the agency found out that Ellen gave the pup to another family and asked that she come down and fill out the papers so the new family could adopt the little cutie pie;

Ellen's people wouldn't fill out the papers; they asked Ellen again. No go.

Ellen's people then sent unfortunate emails which contain pretty threatening language if the agency didn't just forget the contract;

The agency repossessed the dog.

THEN, Ellen goes off on national TV about this situation? That's way too much power for anyone to have. All they had to do was fill in the paperwork. Come on. That's the crazy attitude that causes all kinds of unpleasantness. Just fill in the paperwork.

If those facts are true, I'm really sorry because I like Ellen. If it isn't, I'd like to know the Ellen's side, wouldn't you?

Thanks for the read.

The Dems Overreach Again as Stark Makes Outrageous Comments

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:11:00 +0000

They always do. Now we're seeing what these Bay area Democrats are really all about.

Congressman Stark
Pete Stark, a congressman from somewhere in the SF Bay area, made the ridiculous statement on the House floor that young men and women are getting their heads blown off for the amusement of the president. Of course, those comments had nothing to do with what was before him, the Dem's inability to override the SCHIP veto ("...denying healthcare for children...") , the usual third world rhetoric they use when they talk down to poor folks. Nevermind that these children's parents make between 70 and 80 grand a year. The president was right about this. It is precisely that type of expenditure that Republicans want stopped. If people on that income cannot provide healthcare for their families, I suggest they sell an asset...if it's really that important to them. Or, go to the state.

BTW, insurance for children is very cheap by virtue of their youth and health. These insurance pools of young people is another scam. Think about it. Major Medical insurance with a $500 deductable is what all that's needed for young people. Most people are being nickled and dimed to death by these ridiculous policies.

Once Again, Being a Democrat Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry
When asked to retract his statement, Stark simply continued his diatribe in the news media and made things worse by adding more vitriol.

Naturally, today's craven patriotic Democrats are allowing him (and many, many others) to make outrageous accusations about their colleagues who were also, just like them, duly elected by the people with no demands that he pull his stupid remarks back.

These people are so badly afflicted with Bush Hatred Syndrome, they can't remember how democracy actually works. That's what hatred does to people, I guess.

Do You Really Want America to Look Like San Francisco?
Leftism and socialism can be seen in its practical application in San Francisco. If we want our country run like their city, electing these leftist Democrats is the ticket. Like Gavin Newsome...there are so many of them. What was once a fabulous city has turned into a cesspool.

Speaking of cities, I don't know how anything can get done in D.C. with this cacophony of outrage even when the votes weren't there to begin with. The president frontloaded this bill, by telling the American people what the particulars of the bill were. The president has the right to veto any legislation, as the Congress has the right to try to get the votes to override his veto. Just like the vote on the war, just like the votes for stopping funding for the war--not enough votes for your side, Pete. Guess Stark didn't get the memo on how laws get made.

Congressman Stark, along with all the rest of the Bay area activists are setting up the Democrat Party for a drastic fall. I doubt even Mrs. Clinton can save them...even though she's trying to convince America of her moderate views. I think the media is missing it, the polls are missing it, everyone is missing it. The extremists will kill their party's hopes of winning a national election, especially with the excessive examples we've seen as a result of them having won regional elections.

This hateful rhetoric on both sides will not produce the results either wants. It never does. This has occurred in our recent history when each party nominated the extreme Goldwater and the extreme McGovern in answer to their loudest, angriest members. It didn't work then and it won't work now. Americans hate this.

Thanks for the read.

Anne Coulter is Incorrect

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 21:10:00 +0000

I'm guessing the Far Right's Golden Girl With a Snake for a Tongue, Anne Coulter, is not all that popular among the true Republican Party faithful, i.e., the Republican Party centrists. Why? She keeps doing the same thing over and over again and no one really, truly benefits except...Anne Coulter.

Remember how she howled at George the Junior about the Harriet Meirs nomination...in a time of war...when the president was hanging on to public opinion by a thread? Great benefit. She and the rest of her pals should have let this issue be. Harriet Meirs wasn't a threat. The Far Right was out to prove a point about abortion, one more time...to the detriment of the party and the country at war. That's what's wrong with the Far Right. They have a lousy sense of timing.

Anne Coulter just can't help herself. She slipped when she stated, "...we Republicans(Conservatives/Christians/Perfect People) just want the Jews to be perfected, that's all..."

Perfected: isn't that an odd word? Not exactly on the tip of one's tongue. Who does she think she's talking to?

I'm writing to say that Anne Coulter is dead wrong. In other words, she's not correct that Christians (Conservatives/Perfect People) just want to perfect (the verb) Jews, as if only those darned, preferably Orthodox Jews would convert to Christianity they'd feel sooo much better--like Anne obviously does every time she perfects a Jew! Not to mention the extra jewels you get in your crown in heaven when you convert a Jew.

Actually, Anne needs to get her hip, usually denim-clad personhood to a Bible study.

Red Meat for the Base
I've been a Republican for hundreds of years and I don't recall ONCE needing the type of rhetoric Coulter's too red lips spittle through to get me inspired. Who needs Coulter when you've got the New York Times, Chris Matthews and CNN to get you as mad as a beauty salon patron whose tinted blonde hair keeps coming out yellow not ash, no matter what...once a brownette, always a brownette...or maybe a 40 volume peroxide is needed? It's an art, you know. Take it from one who knows: that is one mad woman.

Looking inward, as I so often do, I've wondered when we Republicans started talking so offensively, so much like Democrats. There was a time we held the high ground. We wouldn't say fudge if we had a mouthful. We were, well, wonderful.

That changed. The Goldwater-Johnson election was embarassing to a bunch of us, but most of us got snookered by the "extreme" tongues of the Right Wing of the Republican Party, and we nominated the most feared man in America, according to Democrats...and lost the election. We GOPers really knew how to pick 'em.

Republicans either stayed home that year or held their noses and voted for Barry Goldwater, who was a tremendously devisive individual. I think Barry thought he was the Cold War's Thomas Paine. He did like to go over a bit, rhetorically speaking. We abused Republicans ate it up.

As I recall, my terminally Republican mother actually didn't vote, a transgression my more-terminally Republican father took personally. (He thought like RR: speak no evil of fellow Republicans.) We got trounced.

The masterful Democrats, remarkable in the art of distortion, had taken it all in and in one 60-second spot TV advertisement called, The Daisy Girl (top right video), the gullible American people--in the middle of the Cold War, for God's sake--witnessed the dramatic black and white close-up that changed the political landscape forever: a precious, little blonde girl counts and pulls petals off a daisy..and most people know the rest. So much for the fortunes of Goldwater, and unfortunately, the Republican Party.

Then came the Silent Majority thought up by another headline grabber who in name of Christ, snookered the party again. One preacher after another came out for family values. We done got religion! Whether we wanted it or not.

Out came the anti gay message, anti everything message. Politics got mixed up with religion. The Silent Majority got their wish with Richard Nixon, which is a big joke, because Nixon, THEIR candidate was an embarassment (the man who would "end" the war in Vietnam, while Kissinger and the Viet Cong drank French champagne for four years during their so called peace talks. It was obscene, reminiscent of today's Dems who want to abandon and surrender Iraq.).

Thanks much to the political agenda of Hollywood from whom Americans have been served thousands of movies depicting the utter depravity of all Republicans, who in most scripts were always in power, we've been painted by the broadest of liberal brushes--village idiot to corporate killer to Satan. (Nothing offensive about that.) It wasn't until George Bush the Elder fought back for the first time in years with the Willie Horton ad that the Dems began understanding mowing over us wouldn't be so darned easy. I remember how they demonized the Republicans for doing the things they'd been pulling for decades. It was, I have to admit, sweet irony, especially when Bush the Elder won the election.

Such retorts and other insults over the years brought out Anne Coulter. She's an angry activist who seems to be unwilling to admit when she is wrong or that what she says might genuinely offend. In other words, Ms. Coulter comes off to many as graceless, unable to sustain a good argument because of her constant preoccupation with being heard and right. It's too bad she's allowed herself to become a charachature because she once had a cogent message before she got full of herself.

Her glib, lawyer tongue and Coulter's desperate need to be right, someone who seems to want vengence for the treatment of her boss, Clarence Thomas, no matter what, is offensive to many Republicans, with whom she may not be familiar. They're the ones who consistently give money to the Republican Election Committees and the Party, and give the president the benefit of the doubt when he's in a fight for the Republic's very life with the Dems. She should have supported the president in this horrible time of war. That's when old Anne lost me for good.

Debate and Facts
Many Republicans don't like confrontational identity debates. Anyone with a ripple of experience with Republicans remembers we don't like "scenes." I don't know; maybe it's just an emotional handicap many of us suffer,likely a result from too much time spent at the country club. By definition, a middle of the road Republican would rather go through vacinnations for rabies than raise his voice. It is sad. We cowered so long (Hoover,and the guilt, you know), like the beaten wife who's afraid her husband (FDR was in office for 16 years!) will kill the kids, and finally the Mrs. blew and her rage burst out like lava. (Then he kills the kids.)

Coulter Has Certainly Crossed My Line
I still hold out hope for more civil politics, although now political debates seem more like channel-rotating skirmishes of political pundits doing--let's face it--informal job interviews. They have a pretty good chance of making it with the next administration, after all--at least 50-50. In reality, not a lot ever gets accomplished except it semms people just get madder and our Republic continues sifting away in misinformation, as if no one cares about the Republic.

Only a Converted Jew is a Perfected Jew?
If Coulter insists on proselytizing a bunch of Jews, I suggest she bring a great big Angel with her--check with Gabriel's secretary; he might be free that week. God didn't call the Jews His Chosen People just to get ratings from the guys in Hollywood or even the Diaspored.

Get thee to a Bible study, Miss Coulter. Then get a researcher. And an editor couldn't hoit.*

Thanks for the read

*And if you find one, let me know. Cuz God knows I'm not poifict.

Memorial for My Nephew

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:15:00 +0000

Our family suffered a terrible loss on Friday evening. My brother's only son, John Robert Layman, Jr., was electrocuted on the roof of a house he was restoring. We don't really know much except that the city of Kansas City hasn't released him to the family.

John was only twelve years younger than I. He was always a good-looking kid who had his grandfather's and father's athleticism. He was a close-to-turning-pro soccer player who gave a shot at the Los Angeles team back in the day. John could make his body do anything he wanted it to. He was pretty darned good.

Besides my brother, John leaves his mother, Marilyn (my dear, sweet sister-in-law), and his two beloved sisters, Ann and Marian.

There will be a memorial service at 10:00 am, Saturday, at Newcomers in Kansas City.

LaRaza and Aztlan: Your Friends Who Want "Their" Country Back

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 15:49:00 +0000

Nevermind that the United States of America paid them a rather large sum for the land they didn't seem to want at the time. Now a couple of the Latino "advocacy" ("idiocy") groups want it back...and you and me out. What's changed? Numbers and solidarity, mostly. Next thing we know, Putin will want Alaska back!

LaRaza Subterranean Invasion
Although these illogical folks insist the translation of their name actually means The Community, The Peoples, and my favorite--The Cosmic; actually, LaRaza does means The Race.

LaRaza says Latinos are not a race. I didn't see anything about their Indian DNA. I'm European and Native American (my great grandmother, Isabelle Bennett, was half Miami Indian). Does that make me a LaRaza member prospect? Now since the Indian blood came into my European family in the early 1880s, I probably have as much right to form a group as these folks. After all, weren't my people invaded too?

Meanwhile, LaRaza has put Kansas City on notice that because the city has a park board member who is also a member of The Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, the group will pull out of their contract to hold their annual convention there. They claim it is offensive. They are outrageously demanding that the city fire the board member. They also claim the NAACP is thinking of not convening in KC for the same reason, although the source was unable to get NAACP to return his calls. I pray NAACP doesn't react at all.

If both conventions pull out, there is a likely loss of $15.2 million in revenue to the city. The KC Convention Bureau doesn't seem to know how they're going to respond. They speak as if they're in "negotiations" with this hate group, which is the biggest crime of all. The only leverage the city seems to have is a $70,000 cancellation penalty for LaRaza. What with all their federal funds, LaRaza should be able to quickly give away such a piddly amount.

BTW, it is estimated that the Latino population in Kansas City will replace the African-American population as the largest minority, according to the University of Missouri. Guess that's why all the politicians are panicking. Again, another American city's politicians just can't seem to do what's right by their current constituents. What a betrayal. And it's become these political season's Outrage Du Jour.

Aztlan
Aztlan (Aztlain) make no bones about their intention to "reconquer" the U.S. They are dangerous radicals who need to be exposed much more than they have been by our dilatory mainstream media. They are a racist, violent, obnoxious organization who have no regard for Anglos, Blacks, Asians, whomever. The idea that my tax dollars go to the salaries of the irresponsible, radical professors who are the spokesmen for these hate groups drives me crazy. I only hope there are no federal funds going to the organization itself. But you know there is! Isn't there always?

Lose Your Old Ideas and Join the Party, Get Legal.
And don't blame me and mine because you're not legal.

Immigrants, illegal and legal, confound their own misery by not acculturating. Most Americans don't beat their chests about their racial heritage. It doesn't matter! Isn't that what being an American is about: moving away from the old and on to the new?

Why, oh, why must these groups continue to act and react in the same old third world way, not understanding it is precisely this carrying-over of their tiresome, third world political reactions (victimhood, oppression-based reality, mob/mass/folks against the man) and customs that keep them from feeling good about where they think they should be in the American scheme of things. I wonder if the leaders of said groups are simply disappointed, bitter newcomers whose naive expectations of America's largess were great and the results were low. I think many third world immigrants have the idea there's a huge pot of gold awaiting them as soon as they come across the border. Like it's magic.

Too little is said about how hard most (all cultures, races, beliefs) Americans work, how much education we've had and what it takes to become successful in the New World. Too little is mentioned about the general good nature of most Americans who have engaged in a quiet acceptance of the flow of illegals for decades. None of us want to send people away, split up their families, none of us. But some of us have to do the right thing by the rest of the country, which is insist that the state and federal governments live up to their end of the contract they have made with the us, the people who elected them. Thus, we must expect our officials to enforce the laws they themselves made, or change the law. For that reason, I am a strong supporter of enforcement of current laws and building fences.

We brought this on ourselves. We had a chance in the mid-eighties finally get this under control, but then people were called racists if they talked too aggressively about illegals. Too politically incorrect. The only person in America who had the guts to talk about it was Pete Wilson with his Prop 187. Does anyone remember that the proposition passed? Then it was knocked down by one of the liberal judges who run our lives out here in the Ninth Judicial District by the very liberal judges appointed by the people who are screaming loudest today about immigration. Where were they then? And where were the Republicans when it came to realizing we had to force businesses to not hire illegals. Period. Neither side had the political will to jump on that third rail.

Now we have sanctuary cities. I believe that any American city which responds to the illegal immigration problem by providing sanctuary should be cut off from federal funds as they are clearly out of contractural compliance. Again, all our elected officials--local and federal--have to do is simply enforce the laws on the books, ignore the special interest groups which try to make us feel guilty and do the job they are bound to by law, the Constitution and the oaths they publicly and willingly swore to. It really, really isn't that hard.

Thanks for the read.

Mayor Giuliani's Stand on Ahmadinejad

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:07:00 +0000

Mayor Rudy Giuliani released the following statement to be read at the National Rally To End The Threat being held today at noon:

I have always been proud to stand with the Conference of Presidents and speak out against terrorists and their supporters. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is an enemy of America, Israel, and the entire free world. We should never remain silent when evil makes an appearance.

We will not allow a nuclear Iran. Period. We will work with our allies and use every tool at our disposal to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power. That is not a threat. It’s a promise. Iran is the leading state-sponsor of terrorism, the host of Bin Laden’s son and other top al-Qaeda leaders, and the supplier of weapons being used to kill American soldiers in Iraq. His promises to destroy America and Israel should not, can not, and will not be ignored.

It is a sad reflection on the United Nations that the General Assembly and Human Rights Council have ignored these actions and instead focused attention on demonizing the State of Israel.

You are standing here today to tell the world that Ahmadinejad’s threats and actions have not gone unnoticed by all. I am proud to stand with you.

Manhattan Goose Step

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 16:36:00 +0000

All Americans should be outraged that the killer from Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is allowed to set foot on American soil. I wish we didn't have to let him in--not now, not ever. He's a terrorist. He doesn't belong at The United Nations.

Why does he want to go the 9/11 Memorial? I believe he'd like to place his own wreath (a waist bomb?) for the nineteen murderers who made him and the rest of these loathsome people proud.

Spineless College Administrators
When interviewed, John Coastworth, Dean of Columbia University, who invited this moron to speak, stated he certainly wouldn't have invited him if we were at war. He added, nor would he have invited Hitler if we were at war.

If we were at war? So, knowing Hitler the way everyone in the world did in the 30s, that he was anti-Semitic to the point of pathology, Columbia would have invited him because he had not yet invaded Czechoslovakia, Austria, Poland? How about when he marched down the Champs De Elysee? Then?

Perhaps we can't all be soldiers, but isn't there anything that these folks will stand for besides "free speech?"

A Generation of Observers and Talkers
We've successfully taught our children that there is no black or white, there is no judgment that man can make about another, if only we (Americans) would be nicer to these countries who are so mad at us; then, here's my favorite: You right-wingers are all alike. You're exaggerating. Besides, it's just about oil. Go green and that'll stop. Nothing's going to happen. And if it does, it your damned fault, you and your hateful ways.

God, it's exhausting to listen to the Progressive Left's inflexible, irresponsible, juvenile rhetoric.

Is this a result of a generation who did not have to think about defending themselves because a draft wasn't even in their consciousness? Why won't they deal with reality? What psychological hook is causing this almost suicidal preoccupation with political correctness? Moreover, Columbia's adults in charge, if there are any, should set the example of intolerance towards any terrorists who supply the weaponry to kill our own people--no, their own people.

Why is is so hard for academia to do what everyone knows is right? Are they constitutionally incapable of ignoring the obvious and are so invested in their scholarly inquiry they're unable to go along, even when it's best? We didn't have these issues thirty years ago! But then, thirty years ago, we had embassy full of American hostages in Tehran thanks to the feckless Jimmy Carter. Ahmadinejad himself has been identified by many of the hostages as a major participant in their capture.

I wonder when the country will stand up solidly against these outrages. Soon? After we're hit again? When? After Iran steps up the support of Pakistan's El Qaeda, knocks out Musharref, takes control of the nuclear labs in Islamabad? Would the university president consider us to be at war then?

Thanks for the read.

The Children's Table Throws Another Temper Tantrum

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:02:00 +0000

The little darlings at Move On are terribly unhappy that someone would officially comment on their outrageous, childish and dangerous behavior and just said so on today's post.

The U.S. Senate just told you to sit down and be quiet.
They passed a Resolution condemning MoveOn.org to intimidate all of us who care about ending this war. We say,"We will not be quiet, we will fight back, and we will keep speaking out until Congress forms an exit plan for this awful war."

The Young, The Entitled, The Weak
There they go again, as RR used to say when he wanted to completely diminish his critics. Usually, however, his opponents were sophisticated and worldly enough to understand the value of debate, a touche or two from each side and the importance of respecting each other's political reality. As it is with these all-or-nothing folks, we've been forced to react to them or allow them to run roughshod over individual groups (the Jews, the Christians, the Republicans) and public servants (General Patraeus)

I'm not too thrilled with the Senate Resolution. I think it was unnecessary and set MOO up for another counter attack. You have to wonder what the back story is there. Why are so many Republicans retiring, for instance? Whatever it is, something more than the "Betray Us" ad is behind this, otherwise yesterday's Senate Resolution seems like overkill to me.

A Note on The MOO Language

The kids at MOO are obviously prickly about their youthful image. They should be.

Nevermind them. I want to know what the Jihadists think. Oh, look. I just found a script written by the Jihadist I took to lunch the other day. Lemme see if there's anything...yep. Oh, look. Here it is:

Working Title:
How To Fight a Real War When You Don't Have Your Own Personal Country

Fade in.

Int - Islamofascist Mosque (Iran) - Night

Fifty men gather at the annual convention of "made" Islamofascists. They're on their feet in blinding white robes and form a crescent at the foot of the podium; they scream in the air in Arabic as if there is an object to scream at; they pump their fists.

The keynote speaker, an Islamofascist leader (looks to have just turned 50), stands at the dais. Beads of sweat fly off his unusually dark beard as he continues his firey oratory.

Islamofascist Leader
Stupid Amerika. They listen to children!

The crowd breaks into hysterical laughter.
Five minutes later...

Islamofascist Leader
These are grown men who live with their parents!
God is Great!

Crowd
Death to Amerika!
Death to Amerika!

Islamofascist Leader
The Amerikans send her good ones to fight us and to be killed in our backyard--yet leave their parasites at home to write about freedom and the news! Did Allah not say this would happen?

(Beat)
God IS great.

Crowd
Allah Akbahr!
Allah Akbahr!

Fade out.

Depressing, isn't it?

Thanks for the read.

MoveOn/Daily Kos Dot Orgs: Sorry? For What?

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:54:00 +0000

I had to know why some Americans could be so out of love with their country that they'd join ideological forces with persons who are killing their fellow citizens. Looking on Wikipedia, here's what I found out.

One's A Old Fashioned Peacenik
MoveOn.Org was started by a newly rich Berkeley couple in response to the impeachment of Bill Clinton. Impressed with the savvy of mid 30s Eli Pariser, another blogger/peace activist from Simon's Rock College in Maine, they made him the big cheese in charge of character assassinations.

I've heard MOO has probably been the biggest influence in centralizing the Progressive Leftist movement in that it has seemed to bring the Dems perceptively to the center ideologically--and theoretically. (I dont' believe that, by the way.) More center-leaning candidates are having their chops busted but still hold fast to these crazies. The George Soros-funded website has Hillary and the rest of the Dem candidates on their knees (not unlike Lewinsky, when you think about it). It remains to be seen if the demands of Progressive realpolitik survives the demands of the U.S. Constitution and the American people. But, first, they have to get elected, which they will not.

The Other's Too Young To Know Anything
Daily Kos (short for Cossack--am I the only one in the room bothered by that?) is put together by Markos Moulitsas Zuniga. This moribund-looking fellow reminds me of the little Corporal, Adolf Hitler in his younger years, but instead of Brown Shirts he's got fellow nerds and big Leftist money behind him. Kos is 32ish and has only one year's worth of consulting experience with Howard Dean's presidential campaign. Now there's an endorsement.

He ran away from life and started his blog a couple or three years ago after his failure in the high tech industry (which he says he took personally). Zuniga's disppointment in how Dean's campaign turned out, and his complete and total business failure closely afterward must have been too much for the little guy; the pressure drove him to become a rebel. Those four or five rough nights in the dark expanses of Silicon Valley's software's hell holes had to be brutal.

Maybe if Zuniga had given life a few more years, he wouldn't be so bitter.

He lives in Berkeley (No kidding!) and is married. There's really little to know about him because he's so young, except he is quoted in Wikipedia as saying, "I'm an a--hole and it's okay with me...." He was born in Chicago, his parents Greek and Salvadoran. He went to Salvador when he was a little kid and when it was dangerous, got out when the US came to Salvador's aid against the Leftists (some things never change). Never one to show much gratitude, he then returned to the US for good. Guess that's where the a--hole thing comes from.

He states that because he spent time as a child in a war zone he naturally knows what we should do about war. Meanwhile it's important to remember, as you consider this man's rich portfolio, that Mr. Zuniga enlisted in the military during the Gulf War when he was 16. He then dropped out of the whole thing to help with Howard Dean's campaign. Che Guevara, he ain't.

So this 32-year old prophet claims to have been a G.H.W. Bush Republican who has switched because of his hatred for George W., the war crimes, WMDs, ad nauseum. Moreover, Kos The Magnificent has declared he is not a journalist, but an activist.

Or was that the other guy over at MOO? It's not important really. No one will remember them after next year's election.

Thanks for the read.

Sally Field: I Hate Her. I Really, Really Do

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:20:00 +0000

Sally Field is in a hopeless spot: some women hate her because she refuses to grow old like them; other women hate her because she gets to have face lifts, look terrific, and they don't.

Me? I Just Hate Her
Maybe I just hate the idea of her. Perhaps because I am experiencing my own age/style "issues" someone as surefooted as Gidget just makes me cranky. Yes, she looked great. Yes, she's taking care of herself. Yeah, yeah, yeah. First it's Helen Mirrin looking fabulous at the Oscars, now Field. Has neither of them any shame?

Would this Emmy audience have been so charitable to Helen Hayes? I doubt it. Oh, they'd have shown respect for an old woman who's so over, but that's about it.

It's not about just acting anymore. It's about not looking older and having to literally rebuild the body until it's respectable enough to show on in public and on television. It's about denying who everyone will eventually become. Most everyone. That affects the stories and characters these Peter Pans and Panettes try to display. Why not? Most of TV's writing is fantasy anyway.

Maybe there is enough Botulinum and wrinkle fillers in the world to keep regular old folks young enough not to upset the young adults who seem to be in charge of most everything, and maybe a large percentage of Boomers will get free face lifts when Gavin Newsom becomes Emperor; but is that what we really want? Do we really want the Katherine Helmond-Style (what movie?) grandma carrying the roasted turkey ala Norman Rockwell's famous canvas? Think about it. It takes the old folks so much time to pull their oldness together into something that resembles young, they've decided to have Albertsons deliver a sucky turkey and yucky cranberry sauce. All that natural beauty takes time!

It Takes Guts To Look Old
Maybe kids want Grandma and Grandpa to look their ages--and take seriously their roles. If asked, these same confused kids might wonder why grandparents who look so young act so old. I am quite certain of this: all the time we spend in getting young again can be spent on helping our young people grow.

But Then Again...
I may just be insanely jealous of Sally's renaissance. As I said, I hate her... (meow, meow, hisss!).

Thanks for the read.

Standards, Practices and Oaths

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:05:00 +0000

The New York Times gave a 64% discount to the MoveOn crowd for that General "Betrayus" full-page ad. Instead of $184 grand, it only cost them $65 grand. Such a deal, especially for a 501c.

Society of Professional Journalists

When I researched for, then wrote a manuscript in which the antagonist is faced with the issue of responsibilities and ethics in journalism, I discovered societies, fraternities and clubs who guide and support our Fourth Estate. Many Americans might be surprised to read some of these groups' bylaws and codes. I've pulled a couple of appropriate sections in SPJ's Code of Ethics, more of which can be found at http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp .

Preamble

Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues (bolded by Planet). Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.

Journalists should:

Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news. Be Accountable--Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.

Journalists should:

Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.— Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

Now if only other news organizations would reread and then adhere to their own stated ethics by confronting their colleagues at the New York Times.Why is its publisher insinuating himself and his paper into the extreme politics of MoveOn.org? And when will you journalists grow some guts and save our country from these nutjobs?

Thanks for the read.

The New Journalists

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:01:00 +0000

I watched a program on which the managing editor of Politico.Com attempted to explain why Democrats won't speak up about Moveon.Org's obnoxious Betrayus ad in the NY Times.

The Real News
The Dems don't HAVE the votes to stop the war. Therefore, not every Dem approves of the leftist turn their party has taken, lest they'd have the votes to bring cloture and stop the funding to the war! But instead of relating this important facet of today's political reality, i.e., the Democrats simply don't have enough votes to get their way, the media instead turns its attention to the smallest of the small, the most extreme of the extreme: the far Left.

Now, if you were to watch any news program, you would believe that at least sixty percent of the Democrat Party stands behind the kinds of shenanigans the crazy Left has pulled. But how can that be? To suggest that the current Leftists (yes, Leftists) in the Democrat Party have brought it to the center is ludicrous. Have all moderate Dems died? Have they stepped off Planet Earth?

The Dem Left is a rather questionable group of people--very, very small, with a lot of money who has a history of temporarily rearranging the Democrat Party every few years or so. Way too many of today's political observers are too young to actually appreciate what happened in 1968 when the Dems were dominated by the McGovern Left. The Chicago Seven (or was it eight, I can't remember)and the rest of them were viewed as an annoyance by the American people. Meanwhile, most voters, including Democrats--the ones the media thinks fell off the earth--gladly cast their ballots for the Republicans. The Democrat Party was dessimated by these far left loons. They will be again.

Where'd You Get Your Journalism Degree? Sears?
I'm waiting for the time when these journalists have to stand up and defend the institutions which avail them the very freedom to write and say whatever. It is the obligation of the journalist to help maintain a structure of freedom. Not just freedom from the state, but also freedom from the tyranny of minorities who mean America harm.

As it is now, news organizations allow small interest groups the mainstream attention they don't deserve. By doing so, they are ignoring standards that have been in place--for good reason--in the Fourth Estate forever. Our current news readers and kid journalists don't have a clue. They don't know, I suppose, and don't know they don't know.

They'd rather be cool than right. (Isn't it cool to be against the war, if you're in the media?)

Thanks for the read.

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:56:00 +0000

Hey, Mom. Get Some Clothes On!
I'm tired of seeing too many 18 to 45 year-old mothers prancing around like they're on a Riviera runway, their huge bosoms preferably hanging out of a too small shirt or halter top, then finishing the whore look by wearing those ugly, ugly low cut pants (the ones with the 5-inch zipper) . They look like hookers on Take Your Kids to Work Day.

By the way, as a fashion note: those pants make EVERYONE look fat. The skin tight tee shirt that stops above the belly button, exposing that rather wide swatch of bare skin...and don't me started on those nasty, unsanitary thongs so many women seem to love. I wonder if they realize their bare behinds show through their clothes.

Thanks for the Mammaries
I'm noticing more large breasted women, especially in bedroom community shopping centers, grocery stores and suburban malls. Women didn't use to look like Jayne Mansfield, did they? I'll bet 90% of the C and D cup crowd have had addabreastomies. Wow. There must be an awful lot of pressure on women to take such a big jump, financially and physically. Maybe their sexy appearances give them what they think they need to feel better about themselves. No wonder plastic surgeons are so darned rich. Gee. I hope these same mothers invested the same amount in their kids' college funds.

Exhibitionist mothers are either stupid and are unaware of the sexual impact their dress has on their kids; or they're just deeply disturbed and somehow excited by showing it all regardless of the audience. Either way, I think they'll pay for their lack of discretion when their kids are older.

Moreover, I continue to be aghast at what little girls are allowed to wear these days. But then, when one looks at the tarted up moms, what can you expect?

As these very same boys and girls grow into pubescent hormone factories, I have to wonder how they will work out their conflicted feelings about how other boys are looking at their mothers in a sexual way. What kind of girl will this guy be attracted to, and who will be attracted to him?

Tell Your Kids These People Aren't Like You and Your Family
I think parents have a great opportunity to use these Hollywood stars who lead their indecent fashion parade as an perfect example of how not to dress. When my kids were little I was in constant competition with negative outside influences. Thus, to defend our family against the moronic influences of MTV, Madonna (how I detest her--now, of course, she thinks she's Mother Teresa) and those other idiotic rock stars, I played my broken record admonition, "...they're not like us...they're weird people with strange lives and very little education...they actually add very little to the world..."

Meanwhile, I'm not asking young mothers to dress and look like Mennonites. Just put on some clothes! Please.

Thanks for the read.

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Margot Hall) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 20:18:00 +0000

Picking a Nominee
Fred Thompson deserved a look see.

His website,(phttp://www.imwithfred.com/index.aspx), is stylish, impressive and covers quite a bit of territory. Fred himself writes a daily entry to distinguish his stands from the media's perspective.*

I wondered if he'd last. Yet. He's so appealing what with Rhose Reaganesque pull quotes, his Watergate years, the guy who kept his integrity during Clinton's impeachment, the Judge on that TV show.

A Pair of Good Slip Ons--Rudy Giuliani
My admiration for Rudy Giuliani goes way back. He's proven himself time and again by literally cleaning up the streets of New York, devastating New York crime syndicates, governing a city of millions of souls and leading the rebound from the mess Mayor Koch left . Before his term was finished he took the opportunity to again perform on the fly with great judgment and bravery. He's a made guy. There's no breaking-in period Rudy. He'll hit the floor running faster than you can say Fred who?

Accessories
This morning just when I thought I would try take a second look at Fred, Fox's Carl Cameron blinded the campaign's management and me by revealing an major fight inside the campaign. On one side stands the seasoned campaign aides with presidential experience; on the other a media- described trophy wife who plants her feet, new baby as Fred's trade-in wife on hip--like some Colossus of Rhodes, the big-time campaign--and Fred-- in hand. Some say she's adept at campaigning; others state she's a distraction. I don't want my candidate distracted by a wannabe pol wife.

I'll stop at calling Fred's wife excess baggage. We'll see if the candidate will take control of his campaign. If he can, he'll probably make a good president, ironically.

The Planet's Fairness Doctrine
For the skinny on Rudy, whose family also is in a mess, log on to:
http://www.joinrudy2008.com/12commitments.php

Most people nowadays simply view the candidate's background as noise. Love affairs and similar problems have no traction with the voters anymore, only with the tabloids and media. Voters have learned to simply ignore and turn off the negative character hits.

With that in mind, it's nice to see that brains trump sleeping together over at the Rudy Campaign. I have a hunch she won't be calling an aide in the middle of night to bark a couple of orders some candidates' wives did back in the day.

Thanks for the read.

*Hooray for the internet and freedom of speech. New voters are tuned in more and more via the internet. The campaigns should stress their website addresses more in ads. For the most benefit, the candidates should speak directly to the audience.