The Realist Blog

Trump Is Different But Not Different Enough

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 01:17:00 +0000

Viva La Differance. This is America. The shining city on the hilltop. We are the place where huddled masses find comfort. We are the place where black, white, yellow, red, guy, girl, rich, poor, straight, or not-straight all legally, morally, and (more than any other country) actually created equal. We don't simply acknowlege being different either. We shout it out in football stadiums. We blast it out over concert speakers. We wear it everywhere from Skid Row (see what I did there?) to the boardroom, from construction sites to Congress. We don't do homogenus. And that gentle reader is why the Donald is your President.

He's different. His opponents were not different enough. They were birds of a feather who fell together (sorry couldn't help myself) because they were "Establishment". All of them were either career politicians who had been crooks and liars for years or they were different but not different enough. His final opponent was crushed because of the difference. She was blah, boring, dishonest, unaccomplished, and untrusted; by her own people. He was loud, brash, and made it a point to connect to everyone who was different fromt the typical Democrat Voter. And of course he is now vilified by the ones who missed what they thought was a date with destiny. Hell hath no fury like a Democrat Voter scorned. Just look at the ongoing riots and other violence.

Donald Trump has a max of eight years to parlay that difference into something worthy of the office. He needs to get on twitter and lose the #SnowFlakeTrigger tweets. Instead he needs to tweet out what is going on in real time. How about a tweet that says "Getting ready to Veto a Bill that infringes on 1st Amendment". Or a Facebook post that says "Congress wants to penalize Almond Growers and not admit that Almond Milk is a thing. #DairyLobby #CronyCapitalism". Or an Instagram of him signing an executive order telling the DEA & the DOJ to leave non-violent drug users alone. #MyBodyMyChoice right?

He needs to be more Presidential. His Bearing, discussed in my previous post, sucks. Now is the time to be more different than ever by acting like the no compromise grown up in the room. If he thinks that Obama wiretapped him then he should say it. Then, taking a cue from Ross Perot, he needs posterboard sized documentation intended to prove the allegation. When he says the press is against him he needs to substantiate it by quoting facts that defy the press to prove him wrong.

Trump has a golden opportunity make different cool again. Imagine that, a no nonsense POTUS that stands up for the Constitution, tells Congress to do it right, appoints Judges who will also care for the Constitution, keeps the American people reliably informed, and tells the world that we are a leader of nations and not an empire. Trump could break the lock of cookie cutter crooks and liars that parade in every two to four years for their time at the trough.

Right now though he's #NotGettingItDone.

Filed under #LeadershipFail

Technorati Tags: politics Leadership

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On Bearing and Trump

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 06:52:00 +0000

Bearing.It's one of the Leadership Traits as taught to Marines. Bearing is how you present yourself. When you walk into a room your presence should fill it. Bearing means that you exude the qualities people look for in a leader. In a military leader it is the qualities that help to get your people to follow you into places that sane people steer clear of. In a political leader it means projecting honesty, empathy, wisdom, and the ability to get things done with subtle charm. Bearing can also be acting. Just because you come across as a nice guy without a dishonest bone in your body doesn't mean you are. The world is full of snake charmers who convinced others in hundreds of intangible ways that they were the real deal.

What did Bearing have to do with the recent election? How about now? How is President Trump's Bearing helping or hurting him? During the election he projected exactly the persona needed to bring the apathetic and marginalized out to vote and shockingly derail the Clinton's manifest destiny. Even if you don't like Trump, I don't, if you opposed her then it was a thing of beauty.

But now the President is displaying the same #Snoflake bearing that spoiled, thin skinned, and overly protected college kids are projecting. If you are critical of him then you can stand by to be assaulted by him personally on Twitter. So, if you think that today's liberals are a bunch of whining losers who need to grow the hell up ... you better think that of the President as well.

Now is the time for him to excoriate his opponents and visciously remind the media that they are there to report the news without bias. He should embark on a scorched earth, take-no-prisoners, diatribe to point out everything he will be working to dismantle, destroy, or improve. Let his supporters see it and revel in it. Then he should tell those supporters that it is time to shift gears. It is time to extend the hand of friendship to the utterly defeated foe and give them an opportunity to grow up and get on board with (his words) making America great again.

In short it is time for President Trump to become Presidential. It is time to take his strategic plan and implement it using tactics that will work. Because even if you believe in him (and I don't) he is not going to be effective if he continues to act like the spoiled little college brats that are rioting because they are not getting their way.

Filed under #LeadershipFail

It's Time For A Political Reboot

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 04:57:00 +0000

h I am sooooo very sick of politics. So, this installment of Reboot America themed articles ( the first is here) will talk about the character of the people we elect. It is time, past time, to demand that our elected leaders be men and women of character. It is time to differentiate Statesmen from mere politicians. This will be a long read. So, gather your beverages, take a deep breath, and read on please.

In the sixties, I was a kid and we all wanted to be one of three things. We wanted to be President, an Astronaut, or a Marine. I got the best of the three deals. Today, I know kids who still idolize Astronauts and people in all kinds of uniform. I don’t know a kid that wants to be President. That’s pretty sad. I can’t prove it, but I think the stench of political corruption has finally permeated down to the point that even grade schoolers know that “politician” isn’t a word that inspires images of trust and selfless service.

The first thing I would propose is a Constitutional Amendment that mandates integrity and honorable character be demanded of our federally elected officials. I don’t mean something vague like “High Crimes and Misdemeanors” either. I mean an amendment along the lines of “Any elected Member of the United States Government, or Member of an Appointed Federal Judiciary suspected of violations of the current code of ethical conduct will be removed of his or her official duties during the duration of an investigation of said allegation. If said allegation is substantiated, the member shall be removed from office and where applicable referred to appropriate judicial proceedings for prosecution.”

The next thing we must lobby for is the complete revision of the rules used in each house of Congress to define and investigate ethics complaints. Like the Constitution itself, if you get to make the rules, you should at least try to live by them. Currently, the process of identification and investigation takes entirely too long. The Office of Congressional Ethics, for the 2nd Qtr of 2012, conducted 32 preliminary reviews. Of those 32, 10 were sent on to the actual House Ethics Committee for further review. The OCE was a great idea by Pelosi in order to drain the swamp as it were. But it is a ‘civilian’ committee with nothing more than the authority to tell the HEC that they should or should not pursue an investigation. So, what happened to those ten cases sent from OCE to HEC?

The House Ethics Committee has swallowed them up. There is no easy to find information of what or who the allegations pertained to or progress of investigations. The best I could easily find were three press releases on the HEC website. I read one of them and noted that Rep Waters was personally cleared of violating house rules. One of her employees was issued a “Letter of Reproof”. More on that later.

Finally, even in cases of egregious misconduct, House Members are rarely hit with more than a “Sanction”. For all it’s ominous sounds, a sanction is nothing more than a public slap on the wrist. From there it is up to the Justice Department to determine if they wish to pursue a criminal action.

For brevities sake I omitted the Senate. I strongly feel that we need an amendment to remove the self-policing action of either house, the judiciary, or the executive branch. The process needs to be brutally swift, decisive, and draconian on those who violate the peoples special trust and confidence.

Remember Rep. Waters employee who received a “letter of reproof”? I’d say that the wrong person was punished. I’d say that as a Leader, Rep Waters is responsible for everything done or not done in her name. I’d say that her employee is accountable to her, and to the law when required, but that she and she alone should bear the official blame.

To be a Leader, one must strive to be unique in that matters of character do not surface. Each of the uniformed services clearly sets a standard for every leader from the most junior (Corporals, Petty Officers) to the most senior (Generals, Admirals). Amazingly the standard is the same. If we can expect such a high level of performance from our 19 year old Corporals, we damn sure should expect it from our elected officials. Leadership Traits for Congress as well as Leadership Principles for Congress explores the military leadership standard and how it can translate to better elected leaders. I submit that if we are people of integrity we will want to hold our elected leaders as close to these standards as humanly possible regardless of party affiliation. I actually dare you to read the two articles, then do a mental matchup and see how your current Presidential favorite stacks up. If he or she doesn’t measure up; do you have the moral courage to not vote for him or her? Remember, voting in the lesser of two evils is still supporting evil.

The final part of this reboot involves the President of the United States personally. He or She really isn’t the long term leader of the nation. That is Congress. He or She cannot really influence the law. That is the Judiciary. But, He or She has their finger on the button. The POTUS is the person who determines when, where, and how your friends and neighbors die all over the globe. The POTUS determines when, where, and how our enemies and the noncombatants they hide behind die all over the globe. The POTUS has the power to unconditionally pardon mass murderers if he so chooses. Someone with that much immediate power must be held to an even higher standard than those under his command.

I propose another Constitutional Amendment. This time it is for a vote of no confidence and removal from office to be initiated by the States themselves. I envision any state drafting a letter of no-confidence. Then the letter is sent to all the other state legislatures via the senior of the two Senators. Why? Because per the Constitution, the Senate is the voice of the States as opposed to the people.

Once this letter is received, each state legislature and Governor will debate it and either approve, ignore, or reject it. If a supermajority of States approve the letter of no confidence then it is delivered to the Congress stating that the President has been declared unfit for continued service. At that point the Amendment would grant the House of Representatives the option of drafting Articles of Impeachment. If the House declined or ignored the States declaration (silence equaling contempt or consent), then the States themselves would convene its’ own version of the Senate court to try the President with the ultimate penalty being removal from office. It would require a three-fourths majority to convict. And, as in the case of impeachment trials now, would not be subject to judicial review.

There’s a point to the alternate impeachment amendment, or simply revising the relevant parts of Article I, II, and III. It’s purpose would be to ensure that a partisan Congress could not ignore egregious violations from the executive by virtue of numbers in office and political party affiliation.

I would leave you with one last thought. It is often said we get the government we deserve. It is said that the government is a reflection of the people and the times. If this is true; what does it say about us?

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Technorati Tags: character ethics integrity politics

Integrity

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 02:33:00 +0000

Integrity matters, more than any other single leadership or character trait that I can imagine. Lack of integrity leads to misery, ruin, and sometimes people die. Lack of integrity is a hallmark of our elected officials. Lack of integrity is also a hallmark of our military leaders that have been placed into the media spotlight for sexual misconduct of all types. My question to everyone is why we tolerate this state of affairs? How is it that we accept such poor examples for ourselves and our kids?

Having integrity means that you can trust someone to have your back. And lack of integrity means that while you're moving forward you have to constantly be scanning around you to make sure the person guarding your back is still there. Look at your elected officials. Do you actually expect them to tell the truth, mean what they say, and execute the promises that they made before you elected them? If you do, great, you are not falling for the tyranny of low expectations. If you don't, then you need to evaluate the standard to which you hold your leaders to. If there is not a Disqus comment box at the end of this post, click the title one will appear.

For more information: Integrity Politics

A General's Court Martial

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 02:02:00 +0000

There's a news story floating around that a U.S. Army Brigadier General is actually being court-martialed for sexual misconduct. Isn't it amazing that he attained that exalted rank and no one knew beforehand that he was a sleaze? This officer has also had several charges removed or reduced. If nothing else that will placate the crowd that says "it was only sex" or "look at everything good he did". In the first place, it wasn't only sex. It was abuse of authority and abrogation of integrity. Both of those can be especially harmful, even deadly, to his subordinates both in the field or in garrison. And, in the second place, we put our military on a higher pedestal than anyone else. They are one of the few institutions we actually expect great things from instead of tolerating human failings. Look at what goes on in Congress that we tolerate.

I admit I don't know the facts of the case. But, what I do know is that had this been an enlisted soldier, they would still be measuring the rope they were going to hang him with. This guy is a sleaze. He has totally lost any respect that was due to him for his accomplishments in the army. I sincerely hope that his sentencing is more than a slap on the wrist. We expect leaders to set an example. Hopefully the example will be that if you don't measure up to standards that you will pay a real price. If there is not a Disqus comment box at the end of this post, click the title one will appear.

For more information: Army Court Martial Leadership Military Justice UCMJ

Bold Statements

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 20:25:00 +0000

L'audace, l'audace, toujours l'audace is French for "Audacity, audacity, always audacity." It is normally attributed to Napoleon and General George Patton. It describes a way of thinking and acting in life. Audacity is the act of "the willingness to take bold risks." Boldness is closely related and defined as "...not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring:..." And like anything else, it can be either good or bad.

As we look at our government we see a demonstration of audacity on a daily basis by those politicians identified as Progressive, Liberal, Democrat, or RINO. We see weakness and timidity in the leadership of the opposition. If we don't flip the traits of each side it will continue the slide from American Exceptionalism to American Impotence. Or, worse but still a valid concern, American Tyranny.

Our President has lied, cheated, and subverted the plain language of the Constitution. He has killed American Citizens without benefit of trial. He has failed to actually execute the laws of the land. And, he has openly stated that if the Congress doesn't follow his lead and do as he says... he'll do it himself. The very definition of audacious and bold in the worst possible sense. And the beginning of a potential American Tyrant.

In the Congress on faction has bent over backwards to subordinate themselves to his power. The other has talked tough but in the end submitted rather than fight. Those up-and-coming politicians that advocate boldness in pursuit of liberty and freedom are demonized by all the above. The Republican Party, long billed as Conservative and committed to Liberty and Constitutional values, is in the midst of a civil war. The establishment Republicans are more closely aligned with the Democrats than they are with conservative elements. By their own actions they show that the priority is to remain in power even if it means rolling over and showing their belly.

What can you do? Here are Four Simple Steps that the electorate can take. In future posts we will go into more detail.

Call or write your elected representatives on every issue of importance. Make it known that you are a voter. Make it known that this isn't a private conversation and you will be spreading the results of it around. Most elected reps have a facebook and twitter page. If you contact them that way there might be a more immediate response if the rest of the world picks it up and helps you to beat the drum.
Crucify, publicly via social media, every politician of any party that is provably unethical or criminal. You and I have the right to openly expect elected officials to be Statesmen vice Politicians. By allowing corruption to go unseen, unaccounted, or ignored we are the enablers of the Tyranny of Low Expectations. Instead demand great things and settle for nothing less.
This one goes hand-in-hand with the above. As elections approach, get involved. Do the due diligence on every candidate and publish via social media the results. If one of the candidates is suspected of beating his wife it would be smart to publish it. After all, we are demanding greatness instead of rewarding substandard character right? Right?
Identify key legislation that is either good or bad and go after it. Use the vast resources of the internet to provide factual support or opposition. Be openly prepared to defend your conclusions with rational thought. You should welcome the conflict because it will attract those that normally sit on the fence and take no action.

It's up to you. You can match the boldness of those working to steal your liberty or you can sit back and keep on playing angry birds.

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For more information: Audacity Boldness Congress Leadership Politics

Great Expectations v. The Tyranny of Low Expectations

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 04:11:00 +0000

Win. Or. Die. I learned those words on the first day of physical training at Parris Island, SC, over 30 years ago. We had to do a physical assessment so the Drill Instructors would have an idea just how out-of-shape the newest Marine Corps Recruits were. According to them, the Drill Instructors, there'd never been a sorrier bunch of weaklings allowed to step foot on the infamous yellow footprints. On that day, among a million other things, we were going to run one mile. Most of us had never run any further than it took to escape parents or a cop. Most of us knew that we could not run a mile. We found out that we damn sure could. We found out that the Drill Instructors not only expected us to do it, they were not going to accept anything less than success or death in the attempt. That "Win or Die" attitude in regards to accomplishing any mission (personal or professional) lasted through my entire time in uniform and is still going strong.

We started to learn that day one of the key reasons Marines were "different". From that point on every leader (eventually including me) expected nothing less than success no matter how hard the mission. The exception, as the saying went, was to die trying. It didn't matter what the mission was. It could be shining boots and brass brightly enough to read in the reflection, cleaning a weapon so that it would not support germs let alone rust, or clearing a hostile building.

We learned that Germany and Japan had something in common; Both tied for 2nd Place in WWII.

I call this attitude "Great Expectations". How is that relevant today? On this past Tuesday I was on a road trip and listening to Andrew Wilkow of "The Wilkow Majority" on SiriusXM radio. He was talking about the pending cuts to the military. He stated that the focus would be on more "Special Operations". He referenced a famous named SEAL who said that "Ordinary" units in the Middle East were already doing some things traditionally left to the "Elite" units. Wilkow opined that if the drawdown included raising standards so the force was smaller but ever more badass, he was fine with that. None of that is a direct quote but it is the gist of what I heard.

I like Wilkows' show because he tells his listeners that "We're Right, They're Wrong. That's the end of the story. The arguments on this radio program cannot be broken". That is a pretty bold and ballsy statement for a civilian. So, give him a listen. He also has a show on the Blaze Network if you get it on your provider.

This blog post isn't about to argue with his conclusion or recommendation. It's to spell out why it would work and why he's right. He's right because I am sure that the Marines are not the only DOD element with Great Expectations. I am willing to bet a six pack of good beer that every armed service has it as well. I also know he's right from personal experience.

The problem with our Government isn't Great Expectations however. The problem is the "Tyranny of Low Expectations". Low Expectations are what cause us to allow a dope smoking, draft dodging womanizer to be President; Twice. Low Expectations are continually reelecting known ethics violators. Low Expectations are us not demanding impeachment and removal of the current President.

Low Expectations mean that we expect, tolerate, and accept failure as part of daily life as well. We are told that it isn't "reasonable" to expect a teenager to follow a curfew, and get outstanding grades in school, or even to graduate. Low expectations awards participation ribbons instead of a clear cut championship trophy. Low expectations by parents and school boards undermine teachers who want to teach in an environment of great expectations. I am convinced that the Tyranny of Low Expectations is the overall reason for the "plight of the poor, minority, or challenged people".

Most of my previous posts exhort people to get involved and make a difference. So now is the time to get into the fight. Win or Die. Demand that your government live up to Great Expectations. When they don't, do the right thing and vote them out. If you allow the tyranny of low expectations to keep its' grip, you'll get more of the same over and over again.

Demand Great Expectations. Your kids and grandkids will thank you.

Americans Elect 2012 Review and Comments

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:42:00 +0000

I'm always spouting off about being or getting involved. Even if you don't agree with me you should be engaged in your world and the movers and shakers. A new, to me anyway, method is Americans Elect 2012. I looked it up and signed up just to see what it was all about.

Essentially the site is going to do the things needed to get a non-partizan candidate for President and Vice-President on the ballot in all fifty states. It will do this by havign registered voteres sign up, answer questions about thier views, and vote in an online convention. The winner of the vote will be placed on the ballot in all fifty states. The site believes it will break the gridlock of partisan politics.

Overall I think the site has merit. I think that if their sales pitch actually works it could, over time, become a focus of a growing debate. So, I will see it through just to find out if I am right or not.

After answering 136 questions (there are more but my clicker was asking for overtime cash) I stumbled across one that floored me. Remember that everyone on the site is supposed to be a registered voter. That means they care and actually participate in the process. Your answer, weighted based on priorites you establish, is factored into all the other answers so you get a national and state average.

The Question was: Which of the statements below is closest to your personal view?

The results were:

Option and % Of Answers	Answers
A 13%	It is very important to stick to principles
B 18%	It is more important for politicians in Congress to stick to the principles and values on which they campaigned
C 67%	It is more important for politicians in Congress to work with members of the other party and make consensus policy
D 2%	Unsure

That tells me that I am wasting my breath talking about character. It appears to me that 67% of the registered voters who have been to the site would knowingly elect crooks and liars as long as they reach across the aisle and come to a consensus.

It's no wonder that an Ethics Challenged for Speaker who moonlighted as a Serial Adulterer is gaining in the polls.

What's It Going To Take?

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 04:02:00 +0000

Are you ready for the end of the election yet? I mean, it's pretty obvious that the world is going down the pot in an ugly swirling motion. This is the year that the best the Republicans care to offer is a Serial Adulterer and Ethics Deficient Congressman, or the perfect coif of the Obamacare Architect. Yeah things are shaping up good for the shining city on the hill.

We've managed to add language to the NDAA which trashes the Bill of Rights. Our Supreme Court has decided against religion. The super pacs are in charge of the political debate. And, the average American hasn't figured out that it is time to get angry.

The OWS crowd can't seem to get unified in anything but anger at the rich and demands that they be accommodated. The Tea Party is in danger of being marginalized even though they had a great start.

And, the average American still hasn't figured out that it is time to get angry.

What's it going to take?

Character Counts in Politics

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:19:00 +0000

The Presidency is not merely a political figurehead. The person holding the office is supposed to be a leader. And, if you cannot trust the fundamental character of a leader you need a new leader.As a child, it used to be common for kids to say "I want to be President when I grow up". The President was someone we were supposed to admire for all the right reasons and chief among them was the persons character. A list of Leadership Traits and Principles used to train Marines quantify the importance of character in a leader.

To put a point on it, the name of the game is character. The word itself has positive and negative aspects. If you say, "That George, he's such a character" the impression is often good. But, tell someone that they are not real, they are "just playing a character"; and depending on context it could be a bad thing. Then there is character in the form of the gestalt of personality traits and quirks that often defines if one is perceived as a good and moral person.

Mitt Romney, as a person, appears to be a man of character. I've seen nothing to indicate that he is anything but a loving father and husband. He is devout in his faith. As a person of high morals I'd say that he is a man of good character. Politically I cannot endorse him since he reminds me of the typical chamelion politician. But that is a professional observation.

Newt, on the other hand, is the opposite of Romney. Newt is a great politician. But, his character stinks. He is a serial adulterer, his ethics are atrocious, and a he's moral hypocrite to boot. I used to be a fan back in the day until his (now) obvious character flaws came to light.

Ron Paul appears to have the character of Romney in his personal life. Politically, his character is one of consistency over about thirty years. So, I can vote for him instead of simply against President Obama.

Ron Paul is Right. Politifact Got It Wrong.

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:07:00 +0000

I wrote about the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012. In my opinion, the Senate made a huge mistake. Politifact has decided that Ron Pauls comments regarding this legislation are mostly false.

Go ahead and read it for yourself. By page 428 you will notice that the Secretary of Defense merely need submit a waiver which states you are a national security risk. That paragraph ensures that the provision stating that this entire process doesn't apply to US Citizens is null and void.

Politifact got it wrong.

RIP for the Bill of Rights

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:17:00 +0000

It's official, we the people are screwed without getting kissed. Our Senate voted 93 to 7 to pass a bill that allows you and I to be scooped up on a whim. Don't believe me. Read it for yourself on page 426 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012

If you are still here, you are probably shaking your head in disbelief. This is so blatantly anti-Constitutional that the entire Senate should be taken out and beaten.

Not Tonight Dear, I’m Occupied

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:25:00 +0000

Occupy Wall Street is taking the world by storm. Now well past the month mark, lots of the folks continuing to protest are dirty and smelly. They would feel right at home in the filth and grime I remember from deployments. So what has it garnered them? Is it working or is it just providing a sound byte? I don’t know, but I am glad they are out there instead of sitting at home whining about life and the system in general.
I’ve read that if you are on the left or unionized, then OWS is making a mark. In fact some are saying that it is a movement that is made with the union label. Oh wow, organized labor getting political. Who didn’t see that coming? And, the movement is everywhere. There is even an “Occupy Lubbock” movement. So far the people in Lubbock are limited to a couple of tents and one or two guys holding signs at University and 19th Street. But, I have to give them credit for stepping up and getting involved. The guy I talked to said that for the most part he’s been treated ok by the locals. Not counting a beer can or two tossed at him. But, this is Texas and that is something you risk when you look like a bum and stand on a street corner wearing a sign.
Like I said early on, I don’t agree with a lot of the occupiers demands. I am not angry at the rich for being rich. I am angry at the corrupt politicians who are not statesmen. I don’t think Corporations are evil. I think that the tax code which forces Corporations to export jobs is evil. But I am so glad to see people doing something they believe in. I have no idea how it will turn out. But this is a great expression of the First Amendment.
Now…. What do you do? How do you make a difference?
If you are legally able to vote then you should be involved in how your government runs. Maybe you don’t care about what goes on in Washington DC. How about what goes on in your back yard? Here is an example. Schools need advocates for tough teaching. If we keep cutting education and lowering standards we will eventually graduate a class where the Valedictorian can’t read a note card unless it’s written in texting lingo.
The lesson of OWS (no matter your philosophical leanings) is that Activism beats Slacktivism any day.

Documented Media Bias

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:10:00 +0000

Back in the dark ages of the 1980's I took journalism in high school. We were constantly being told that our writing had to be free of our opinions and contain nothing but the facts. Our facts had to have proof backing them up just in case someone challenged them. Opinions were for the editorial page.

Today, most news outlets would fail that class handily. Today's "Journalists" disdain the idea that a mere "reporter" should simply report the news. Instead, the news must be shaped. And, no one is better at it than the mainstream (or "vintage") media outlets. If you don't believe me look at the republican field of candidates and tell me who the two front runners are and why. Look at who is being dismissed as unelectable.

The media needs to learn that they are not responsible for making the message. Instead it up to them to document the message. What I think about it is completely up to me.

Check this out for examples of how the media is spinning one candidate under another:

Hope and Change didn't work any better than Mission Accomplished. Time for a new message.

But will the media allow you to hear it?

Technorati Tags: media bias mainstream media msm vintage media anti-Ron paul bias

Banking and Politics: Why Obama Might Win Again

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 23:34:00 +0000

On TV there is an advertisement that is poking fun at the Bank of America debit card fees by telling a customer to "just accept it". A whole horde of people tell him how banking is essentially corrupt and he should just roll over. Just accept it. Then his date brings it into focus by telling him how he will die if they miss the movie. Just accept it.

Politics is the same way. We have the big name Republicans in the form of Mitt Romney and Tricky Ricky and they are telling the voters to "just accept it".

Congress is trying to extend the drug war overseas on Americans citizens. Just accept it.

Obama is killing American citizens who haven't been convicted of any crime.

Just accept it.

And as we move closer to actual primaries we see the establishment coming out and telling us to look hard at Romney or Perry. We have Christie and Palin making news for not running. We have religious leaders at the latest straw poll denigrating another mans religion as a cult. While some occupy wall street, more Americans occupy prisons in the failed war on drugs. It's ok though. This is how it's always been.

Guys like Ron Paul and Herman Cain almost have no chance. After all, the game is rigged by the establishment.And, Obama will likely win again. He will continue to lead the nation into ruin. Why is it always the same? How come every four years the same meme is played out no matter which party is in charge? You guessed it.

Because most people Just accept it.

Technorati Tags: just accept it ron paul herman cain gop republicans politics

Twitter drama over the #fairtax

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 02:25:00 +0000

Twitter is a huge success. Like Facebook, it is something I am coming to late in the game. So far I am not addicted to it as others are.

I've laughed at others for "facebook drama" and "twitter drama". And now, wonder of wonders, I have a mild Twitter drama thing going on. Everyone knows that I am pro-fairtax. Well there is a Fairtax denier on twitter named @filmcriticone that has gone to considerable effort to debunk what he thinks are issues with the Fairtax.

Personally I could care less as long as there is a discussion. But our boy also likes to send out what he or she thinks are witty attacks. Check out the posts. Normally, such childishness is best ignored. But, since this person wants to be a bully, it might be best to slap him around a bit just so he knows that he isn't blocked and actually has an audience of one.

If you are interested in the other side, look him up on youtube. I think his other professional screen name is itchyfoot or something like that. He purports to've submitted stuff to the Ways and Means Committee as "testimony". If so, I'm not sure that he has the good sense to realize how embarrassed he should be.

His major points seem to be culled from "Fairtax Documents" as opposed to the actual line-by-line legislation. Here's a clue. Make every objection based on chapter and verse of the actual legislation as opposed to a private lobby group and you might gain a speck of credibility. Until then, you are shooting badly and at the wrong target.

9-11 And the Politics Of Terror

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 05:01:00 +0000

What did we learn? According to Ron Paul, 9/11 was in part caused by US actions in and around the mideast in years or decades past. Ok, I can see that. Everything has a cause and the domino effect is in full force.

But, with respect to Mr. Paul, the terrorists made war on women and kids instead of being men and slugging it out eye-to-eye. So, I feel no remorse for their dead. Maybe I am wrong and maybe I am less human. So what. As far as I am concerned our nation must not treat with terrorists. We must instead hunt them down and kill them all. I don't care if it is with special ops guys or infantry division on-line. If you cannot negotiate (diplomacy) or fight like men, then you deserve no more or less than to be hunted like a rabid animal and put down.

Ten years and one day later I am hoping that the radical elements of the world will realize that this is only a prelude. There will come a day when America will no longer take the high road and conduct ourselves will such restraint. I hope that for the sake of everyone's children, people learn to respect each other. Live and let live is a pretty good philosophy as long as we are shaking hands with a mailed fist.

So, to paraphrase a recently famous Marine: "Be courteous and kind, and have a plan to kill everyone you meet."

Starving Dogs: Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman, and Michelle Bachman

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:45:00 +0000

The debate sucked. The moderators obviously were not interested in hearing all the candidates speak. If you were not Rick Perry or Mitt Romney then you might as well have been a starving dog at the back of the diner hoping for scraps.

I want a debate where every candidate gets an equal amount of time to either shine or make a fool of themselves. I want the journalists (lol) neutral and simply asking the questions. They can commentate afterwards on the various spin shows. I want the questions taken from real voters via facebook or twitter and not the recent soundbites.

Most of all I want the debates held often enough that even the most apathetic voter has no excuse for not knowing what's going on.

Technorati Tags: Ron Paul Rick Santorum Herman Cain John Huntsman Michelle Bachman

Rock em Sock em Radio Hosts

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 01:25:00 +0000

The world has fallen victim to bizzaro-itis. Two of my favorite radio talk show hosts, Mark Levin and Mike Church, have gone to war over Ron Paul. And, I don't get it.

I used to listen to both on a daily basis. I have read every one of Marks books and learned a lot. I followed Mikes' historical docudramas (is that a word?) regarding our founding with unabashed enthusiasm. And now, they are at war. Just google both names in the same search and then read all about it.

This is profound. These are not slippery politicians here. Both men are Patriotic Americans. Both men are truly gifted entertainers who provide an educational service if you read between the lines. I respect Mark the most for his practical experience in government. I respect Mike the most for his outstanding use of comedy, music, drama, and satire to educate those willing to listen.

I don't agree 100% with either one of them. But I agree with enough of each that I cannot fathom why, at a fundamental level, they are not simpatico. Hopefully in a day or two this will be revealed as a very detailed hoax. Might as well hope for honest politicians while I'm at it eh?

Alright guys, it's time to face off directly instead of by proxy and duke it out. Get it out of your systems and get back to the business of educating the occasional listener who wanders in from outside the fold. Each one of those listeners will be key to defeating the coalition of the stupid that is killing my country.

Leadership over Politics - Please

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:27:00 +0000

We are clearly in the opening rounds, the preseason if you will, of the 2012 Presidential race. Whoo hoo, so far I like the NFL preseason better. Right now we need to be looking at the candidates and deciding if anyone is a true leader as opposed to a politician. Let the rant begin.

Who in the field will step up and tell the Congress to stop the petty nonsense and deliver some results not tied to a lobbyests wet dream. Anyone? Bueller... Bueller...

So far I have a small bit of faith that Ron Paul could be such a leader. But, I have very little faith that the middle of the country will vote him in. Most just don't care as long as thier pet tax break or program is unimpeded. The other candidates so far appear to be merely politicians to me. But, I am slowly learning more on each in order to be fair.

If you are reading this I have a challenge for you. Figure out your top three issues and sell them to three people in your neighborhood or workplace that you don't talk politics with. If you can sell them on your passion to the point that they call, write, or email the alleged statesmen who has an influence.... then you are among the very few Americans who actually cares what is going on in government today.

Your issue can be local, state, or federal. It can be liberal or conservative. As long as it is real enough to raise your body off the sofa and do something it'll be great.

Get involved. Demand that those who represent you be leaders and statesmen instead of political mouthpieces. Your grandkids might thank you for it.

Here are some interesting links that made me write this rant in the first place.

Greta says to email the President and the Attorney General.
These guys justify the media ignoring Ron Paul. Heh. I can smell their fear. What they want is business as usual politics to continue.
And finally, Forbes nails it here with four simple bullet points on American Politics.

Technorati Tags: leadership politics 2012 candidates

Preseason Politics

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:15:00 +0000

Today Mr. Pawlenty dropped out of the race. And we all know that Mr. Perry stepped in with a move obviously timed to disrupt the kids in Iowa. As preseason gaming goes, the NFL is ahead on points.

Right now, my goal isn't so much to pick the next Republican nominee. My goal is to get to know them. A two party system is Darwinian by its brutal simplicity. Each candidate needs to show how he or she is the perfect Republican. And, since there is no perfect anybody.... that's tough.

Preseason allows me to view the candidate and see how they perform under pressure. I could care less about their stand on today's talking points when compared to how they will react immediately following a terrorist attack. So, I want to see more questions and harder debate. I'm also looking for character traits of a great leader, a statesman, to emerge.

The President has a huge advantage. No matter how bad you think he is doing the job...... He is doing the job. It's going to take a lot of deep looks to convince me or anyone else to take an unknown over the known, even if the known isn't well liked.

Technorati Tags: politics election 2012 obama gop iowa

Great Americans: Marine and Soldier Receive Medal of Honor

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 23:29:00 +0000

This is the stuff of legends. This is why America has the foremost Army and finest Corps of Marines in the world. While politicians point fingers and claim credit these two heroes have walked the walk without talking the talk.

Army Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry and Marine Sergeant (then Corporal) Dakota Meyer are the latest recipients of the nations highest award for valor under fire. Each man rose far above and beyond the already high standards members of the armed forces are held to. Our politicians should hang their heads and give thanks that we tolerate them when such fine examples to live by are right here.

This is only the second and third Medals of Honor awarded to living recipients since the Vietnam war. Once again, in a time of political upheaval and social confusion, our fighting men have shown us the way and given a stellar example to aspire to.

Technorati Tags: medal of honor Marine Marines Army Soldier hero heroes bravery heroic

Ron Paul Rules GOP Debate

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:24:00 +0000

As anyone can see, Ron Paul put a thumpin on the other GOP candidates according to the folks at Fox, Iowa GOP Debate - Topix. This is the equivalent of the first NFL preseason game. We knew going in that it would be soundbyte city and Obama bashing. The first is boring and the second is a given. But, the race to 2012 is underway.

Does this mean that Paul will be nominated? Nope. It means that so far the political machine hasn't mocked him, marginalized him, or made the voter feel like an overly idealistic neophyte. But it is coming. If you are a Ron Paul Fan, and yes; I am, then stand the hell by. It won't be long before the media disinformation of 2008 is replayed.

Let's not read too much into the debates just yet. The answers were canned and predictable to include Michelles submissive wife answer. And if you didn't figure on Perry's entry timing... well it's early in the season.

Technorati Tags: ron paul gop debate rick perry 2012 michelle bachman

Invasion of the Supercommittee?

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:26:00 +0000

I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop. And here it is.

One of the Dems wants to make another supracongressional "supercommittee". This one is for job creation.

The danger is that this committee isn't authorized per the constitution.

It is, or will be, another branch of government.One that isn't accountable to any non-government citizen.
This branch will once and for all dispense with the notion that all citizens and every state is represented in the Congress.
This branch will be a single focus for lobby minded organizations.
It, and it's proposed siblings, will become the elite of government. They will be removed from the people and leave the weaker congress to answer for its' decisions.

First the debt, now maybe jobs; What's Next?

Technorati Tags: debt supercongress supercommittee jobs

How to Budget Congress

noreply@blogger.com (Phil’s Pix Lnyx) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 03:21:00 +0000

It isn't the deficit, it's the debt. I keep hearing that. But in reality it's the first step in killing the debt. A deficit budget guarantees a higher debt. We must balance the budget and include debt reduction as part of the spending plan. Here is the short and sweet method of balancing your budget. It works for families, it works for business, and it will work for any government or government agency.

Forecast Revenue: Figure out how often you are going to stop and count your money. For most of us it is weekly or monthly. For a business it might be quarterly. For the Treasury it is annually. Using that as a base, take your best guess on how much cash you will have. Then subtract about five percent as a fudge factor.

Prioritize Line Items: List everything you are going to spend money on during the period you just forecast. Each item is "Need to spend", "Good to Spend", or "Nice to Spend". Simply put, "Need" means that bad things will happen if you don't fully fund that item and commit the cash. "Good" means that bad things could happen but it's just short of certain. "Nice" means you can postpone it without anything truly bad happening.

Revise Your Revenue: On the prescribed day, count the actual cash on hand.

Revise Line Items: For each item listed as "Need", skip to writing the checks. Total the cash remaining. Let's pretend you now have forty dollars. Will the forty dollars pay off the "Good" items? If it will, write the checks. Is there any left over? Let's say you have ten dollars remaining. Ten is 10% of the original $100. So, pay ten percent of each remaining line item. This way, nothing is totally left out. But, at the same time the truly important (in relation to the other items) stuff is fully funded.

Write Checks: I think we all know how to do that.

I'm not going to try to write the official procedure and the flowchart of tasks needed to accomplish this at the federal level. I also get that our elected neighbors will scream that every item they sponsor is a "need". That exact lack of integrity is what gets us to deficit spending in the first place. You and I must elect someone who can be honest and say that while it would be nice to provide Americorps, the world won't end if we don't. It's a hard call and will take enormous amounts of character and moral courage.

By now you may have noticed that I switched gears in a clumsy ham handed way. Politics is supposed to be the art of getting it done. It takes Statesmen and all we are seeing is the basic professional pol. From the Vice President and others that denigrate the Tea Party by calling them terrorists, to would-be Presidents that use words like "Tar baby" and "Boy" in just the right way to invite screams of racism no matter the intent; We face a deficit of Statesmen. Until we fix that, the debt will never be paid.

Technorati Tags: debt deficit leadership politics statesmen statesman racism terrorist tar baby boy