CLASSIC Steve Deace

August 21, 2008 by 19 Comments

As I start out my post let me give a definition of “CLASSIC”: ‘excellent model of its kind, first or highest class’.

Having just listened to Steve Deace and the portion of his August 20 radio show with the theme of “I quit challenge- somebodies lying” I can say with my whole heart that Steve is CLASSIC.

I have no hope that everyone reading my post will be in agreement with my admiration of Steve Deace, so being more tenderhearted than Steve, I will attempt to take a page out of his book and say that I am not out to make friends with my post but rather than to state my opinion about him.

I can think of no other human person today that inspires me, stabs at my conscience, and elevates my thinking as much as Steve Deace. He is a voice crying in the wilderness yet happens to have a radio audience of 200,00 listeners via WHO radio in Des Moines.

I am a fairly new listener to Steves’ radio program. It was my delight to learn of him and to become a faithful listener last year prior to the Iowa Caucus. I will admit that listening to Deace confirmed my belief that Mike Huckabee was the best candidate running in the Iowa Caucus. We marched to the same Huckabee beat. Also I remember standing in my kitchen, reduced to tears, as Deace signed off his program prior to Christmas and then the caucus. Steve was passionate, eloquent, and forceful about Iowa/voters/candidates/issues… and Mike Huckabee. I will long remember that radio show. I could only hope many were tuned in, listening and taking to heart all that Steve shared that day.

In the August 20th program Deace asked the question “Have I lied?”. He went on to discuss Willard Romney. Not wanting you to take my word on anything, feel free to check out the program via pod cast. But here I wish to answer Steve: NO YOU DID NOT!!!

Willard Romney is not a conservative. Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina rejected him in spite of all the big bucks Willard had to throw away in each state. Steve stated that Romney outspent Huckabee 40-1 in Iowa. After the phone calls, glossy negative ads that came to my mail box, and the negative TV and radio ads that I had to endure, I believe you Steve!

No, Steve, you did not lie and your strong, firm voice to show us how Rush, Coulter, FOX News, National Review, Hannity and others have promoted Romney is also accurate. Romney has been shoved our way from every possible way. And I reject him. Reject him because he is not a conservative, because he is the worst kind of flip flopper. Because I can not trust him.

I doubt that Steve will ever read my words or come to understand my heart, but because I feel the way I do, I must take this public stand to say how much I admire, appreciate and respect him as a Christian who stands up for his beliefs, for his willingness to take on ugly, mean words, to put his job on the line. Not many people have the guts to do such a thing.

If more people were like Steve Deace we would not be in the place we are at now. I believe we are in a scary place and I grow more fearful every day.

I for one will continue to tune IN Steve Deace and tune OUT the high paid, perhaps even bought off, radio, TV personalities, and print media outlets. I am just one “somebody” but what Steve Deace says matters to me. I will tune IN and continue to be a faithful listener.

No, Steve, you did not lie.

Yes, Steve, you really are CLASSIC!

Thank you.

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Life in the Real ER and More

August 21, 2008 by 6 Comments

I was lucky to recently go down with a kidney stone.  If anyone of you have also been blessed with this experience, you know what I mean when the only thing you can say is, “Please God, take me.”  I never thought much about the Universal Health Care plans of some of the candidates until I discovered the silliness that goes on in the ER where I spent three hours of my day.

Let me start by explaining how my world view has been shaped.  I grew up learning that I am responsible for my own actions.  No one else was to blame when I screwed up, therefore, no one else was required to help me fix my screw-up.  Now if the screw-up was bad enough where I did need help, that was where my family would come in and help with the damage control.  They maybe were not cheerful helpers, but they are family and that is what families do.

The first thing I noticed in the ER was a woman eating a bag of Fritos talking on her cell phone explaining to someone who cares, “I left work because I have a runny nose and I’m started to get chills.”  I am then wondering (in between spasms of pain) why this lady does not go to her doctor or a walk-in clinic.  This was during office hours and I knew that there were more than enough places to do this.  Also, does she really need to seek medical help for a runny nose and chills?  I then was led back to get my tests and “treatment” which included lots of pain meds.  I am not opposed to pain relief, in fact it is my friend, so I mentioned to my nurse how I never understood why people refused this treatment.  She responded to me that pain medication is not good for everybody because the ER sees the same patients sometimes twice a month for a sore shoulder or leg just to get pain killers.  I then made the comment that I wouldn’t be walking through the doors of a place with such a high price tag just to get my bi-weekly fix.  The nurse then turned to me and said, “Honey, they don’t pay and we can’t refuse them treatment.”  It then dawned on me that the runny-nosed Frito eater had no intentions of paying either.  That’s why she was at the ER and not at a clinic.

After I sobered up from the pain medication, I realized what a Universal Health Care plan actually would mean.  It would mean I would by paying for the people I just witnessed in the ER.  I would not only be paying for people who were unable to make ends meet because of a catastrophic event (which I would not have a problem with), but I would mostly by supporting those who never had any intention of supporting themselves.  I know the argument is that “insurance is so expensive”.  Well, I have worked with people who gave me that argument and then went out every weekend and spent their paychecks on entertainment, booze, and smokes instead of insurance.  Need I say more?

I could then add this health care plan to the other abused government help.  Help that was meant to get people back on their feet, but now has become a salary for doing nothing.  I have witnessed women admitting lying qbout their paychecks to the WIC program.  They then proudly admit how much cereal they have stocked up in their basement that they will have to throw out because it gets stale.  Then there’s the people ahead of me in the grocery store line paying with food stamps and their cart is full of frozen Stouffer’s and Mt. Dew .  These people need to take some lessons on how to get the most for their–I mean my money.  This country needs no more government help.  We need individual accountability.

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John McCain, trial balloons, roller coaster ride and more

August 20, 2008 by 8 Comments

Just when I think I can’t possibly have any more thoughts/feelings about John McCain more just bubble up and have to be let out.

I will never know, John McCain, but I think you are having fun. You have a lot of voters all twisted up in knots as you go about your merry way, taking your time, floating all those “trial balloons”- and if you aren’t trying to confuse us, then your surrogates are.

Enough.

Ridge, Palin, Leiberman, Romney, Pawlenty- oh, my. I could just go on and on… Rudy, Fred???

One day your campaign says you will enlighten us on your birthday- but wait, maybe not that day after all. You must get the biggest bang for your buck, have the most news coverage- out do Mr. Obama. Sure thing.

Perhaps values voters could stomach a pro-choice VP pick- after all, we are all trembling in fear of an Obama presidency. Sure, they will come around and see my way after all. (They really don’t know that I care more about Independent Voters and Unhappy Hillary Supporters.)

No, different day- let’s go with a pro-life candidate. Your experience at the Saddleback Forum has given you a change of heart. You got some applause for your hour of constant media coverage. Even the pundits on CNN thought you did a great job and would be “much better than expected” at the upcoming debates.

No, it is Tuesday- so let’s try getting out the story that you continue to call GOP leaders to see what they think the voters would do with a pro-choice candidate. Let’s get Sean Hannity and Rush in on the action. Wow, there is a refreshing duo: NOT!

Oh, wait, maybe Tom Ridge is just a smoke screen to be a cover for Meg Whitman. (Meg Whitman????? I am supposed to feel safe and sound just because a CEO might be 2nd in line to run the country????!!!!!)

News flash: John, if you finally decide on a VP running mate and it is a pro-choice man or woman or the flip-flopper, rich former Governor who couldn’t even buy votes in Iowa you will wake up to find that the voters have turned their backs on you. Not just a little sideways turn but a complete turn.

The rumbling you hear now is not thunder from another rain storm, it is collective disgust turning into a roar. It is coming from the grass roots and from all the states who have been connected via modern technology and have spent months and months supporting the values and beliefs that they hold dear. These voters have been sharing information, inspiration, and making plans for the future. They are enlightened, engaged, and speaking out with a loud, collective voice.

Go ahead, check with the GOP leaders- most of them really aren’t leaders. They just think that they are. And why not? They have had the voters marching in a line to the voting places and voting Republican just because that is the nice, good Republican thing to do.

John McCain: the day of voting for a candidate just because they are Republican is over. We aren’t having fun. You have kept us on a roller coaster for weeks now. We know the end is coming because the convention looms very near. We get more unsettled every day. You know, the queasy feeling you get from being on a wild roller coaster ride.

Have your fun watching the media, the voters, heck, the world, panting for your decision. I really have no clue what you will do. Will you play it safe or will you delight in playing your ‘maverick’ role?

Time is ticking away. It’s your call and then it is my call, and then the call of thousands of other voters, too.

There, I am done. And I will cheerfully go on to support local candidates who have great potential to make a difference in Iowa. I will leave the Presidential race to the powerful campaign staffs, all knowing pundits, the swarms of media, the rich donors to the campaigns.

Following this presidential campaign is just too painful. I am not having fun- not your kind anyway.

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McCain’s Rich Response

August 20, 2008 by 2 Comments

When McCain said his definition of rich describes anybody who has an income of over five million dollars a year, he laughed and said of course this comment was going to be distorted. I don’t blame McCain for laughing and avoiding a serious response. It’s a tough question no one would want to answer unless you’d given it a lot of previous thought.
Of course there is the definition of rich which does not have to do with the material (and perhaps as a pastor this is the one Rick Warren was looking for,) but both McCain and Obama chose the pragmatic meaning of the word which has to do with having an abundance of resources and available funds. It is kind of a “gotcha” question because describing another person as rich involves a certain amount of relativity–what is rich to one person is not necessarily rich to another: it all depends where you are in the food chain.
But given that assumption it is logical that the richer you are, the more resources and funds another person must have (i.e. more than you do) in order for you to consider that person rich. And conversely, the poorer you are, the fewer resources and funds a person must have (i.e. still more than you do) in order to appear rich to you. McCain’s five million dollar “punchline” could be just that, a punchline, or it could indicate the degree to which he is rich. It’s likely that a person whose income is one hundred thousand dollars a year would not pick such a high figure as five million to define rich, but would probably estimate rich at something a bit more moderate, such as five hundred thousand.
My personal definition of rich in the material sense, as distinct from the spiritual, has a lot more to do with what is going out of my pocket than what is coming in. In the 1970′s my income was six thousand dollars a year and I lived in one of the most expensive cities in the world and I never felt the least bit financially constrained. Believe me, I lived well with no worries! I certainly did not feel poor or deprived.
I had the same experience living in a rural environment in the eighties, the only difference being that the dollars I’d spent on urban restaurants and entertainment and yes clothes were gobbled up by the necessity of a vehicle, which is of course a great expense to maintain and operate. It wasn’t until the nineties that I got my first credit card and took out my first loan—try establishing credit for the first time at forty years of age in the U.S. economy!–but even then I never spent more than I knew I could cover month by month (although of course I discovered quite soon how easy it is to indulge in “impulse buys” when you have a credit card as opposed to cash in your pocket.)
The point I’m trying to make is not to pat myself on the back because I’m a financial wizard — or a miser!– but that I have never spent more than I know I can afford and I have always made sure to pay my rent/mortgage/ taxes and utilities and telephone, etc. before I spend money on anything else. In other words all my financial obligations are taken care of and then I allow myself the extras.
What is really upsetting to me now is to watch people in my community –and these aren’t just young people, but people of all ages, even up into their fifties– who have their brand new vehicles and their fifth wheels and their four wheelers and their beer and their restaurant meals and yet are behind in their utility bills and rent, etc. One person in particular is getting special veterans’ relief, so in a sense we are all subsidizing his inability to control his acquisitiveness and manage his finances. It seems people like this aren’t learning sound money management growing up. I’m wondering do they teach this skill in school? Because I do believe it is a skill and if people are not learning it by example at home it can still be taught. People just need to practice a bit of good old fashioned self control.
There are many people in our country now who are having trouble making ends meet and not for the reasons described above in the case of my neighbor. In 2008 anyone trying to survive on six thousand dollars a year in the same city where I did thirty years ago would have to be pretty darn tough to make it: I am not sure it is possible but I’ll bet there are people who are trying. I have the utmost respect for them and I hope they achieve material wealth to the degree that means “rich” to them.
But I find it hard to be sympathetic to people who put playtime and self indulgence before financial obligation and then expect me to pick up the tab. I also suspect that these same people would like to be rich and that the reason they want to be rich is that they believe then all their problems will be solved and they will be “happy.” They will have all the stuff they want, plus an infinite opportunity to acquire more.
They haven’t figured out that being rich will always elude them as long as they have more money going of of their pockets than what is coming in. It’s as simple and as basic as that.

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Media Bias – Something to Think About

August 19, 2008 by 6 Comments

Sunday morning on “Meet the Press” on NBC Andrea Mitchell made this statement about John McCain while analyzing the Saddleback Forum: “he may not have been in the cone of silence and may have had some ability to overhear what the questions were to Obama.”

This was shocking to me. I awaited word as to how this accusation could be substantiated after it was made on national T.V. to millions of viewers. The only other information was that this tid-bit of news came from the Obama campaign. Andrea, how could you just throw out this statement and not back it up with some evidence? You just made a statement that went after John McCain’s character… as in he cheated!!! And what does this say about Pastor Rick Warren’s character?

I have contemplated bias in the news media, even wondering if any of the reporters in radio, T.V. and newspaper media ever have to take an ethics class. Perhaps it has been following the 2008 campaign season so closely that I have had such a long-term questioning of the media and how what they say and do impacts even the most average voter like me.

In attempting to find out more about bias in the media I uncovered some new information which also reinforced thoughts I have had from time to time while watching so much cable news, listening to talk shows, reading the paper. Read on if you care to…

There is:

Bias through placement in the news. Where a story is placed influences what a reader or viewer thinks about its importance. So, newspapers and T.V. news decide what is the most significant; the rest is buried in the back or left until later in the news hour. (Maybe I should start in the back of the newspaper and read forward…)

Bias by photos, captions and camera angles: Some photos flatter a person or can make that person appear in a not-so-kind of light. So, a newspaper can (and does!) choose photos to influence opinions about a candidate. Also their caption below photos are also sources of bias. (Surprise, surprise!)

Bias through names and titles: the first thing I thought about here is the media continually calling Mike Huckabee a “former Baptist pastor” when he had been a “former Arkansas Governor” longer than he had served as a pastor. (I already had this one figured out!)

Bias through crowd counts and statistics: I think this can work either way.

When candidates appeared in Iowa and crowd counts were published for different events, I often wondered what kind of math the reporters had learned in school. Some sure were rounded up or rounded down, depending upon which candidate they were covering. (Just my statistics here!)

There are other forms of media bias, but these are the ones that jumped out to me. I knew all along that the bias factor is out there. Andrea Mitchell has just helped me along in my thought process.

And finally, I happened upon a graph that I will share. Take it or leave it, but I think it speaks volumes about media bias, even as far as coverage on the two Presidential candidates.

http://www.middleofright.com/Default.aspx

http://abcnews.go.com/

Obama Pages 136,000

McCain Pages 22,800

Percentage Share86% Obama – 14% McCain

http://www.foxnews.com/

Obama Pages 74,500

McCain Pages 36,200

Percentage Share 67% Obama – 33% McCain

http://msnbc.msn.com/

Obama Pages 113,000

McCain Pages 47,500

Percentage Share 70% Obama – 30% McCain

http://www.cnn.com/

Obama Pages 25,600

McCain Pages 9,880

Percentage Share 72% Obama – 28% McCain

Perhaps you will think I am biased. You may be right, but I am not paid to report the news and my influence is rather limited. I just wanted to give you something else to think about on this beautiful Iowa day.

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Pelosi Watch During Her Vacation

August 19, 2008 by 8 Comments

I did some sleuthing today and found out that Nancy Pelosi has been a busy woman during her time away from D.C. and her escape from working with Republicans on important energy policies.

Here is a brief update.

Nancy has cut a video for Obama’s presidential campaign. It is 36 seconds and has been posted on YouTube. Pelosi urges women in Michigan to support Obama. She says “Please join me in standing with Barack Obama and saying that enough is enough of the Bush-McCain failed policies which have hurt Michigan’s working families.”

Last Sunday Pelosi also assisted with a California fundraiser for Obama. Busy, Busy Nancy.

What I want to know, Mrs. Powerful Pelosi- what have you done for Michigan’s working families? What have you done for Americans? You are good at Bush Bashing and running away from Republicans who are trying very hard to do something productive for us.

I can only hope that Michigan women are intelligent and will take notice of your lack of leadership. When it comes time for re-election to your position of power I hope people will remember the lack of leadership you are exhibited.

I will be focusing on the Republicans who stayed in D.C. to bring attention to the issues you left behind when you packed your bags. They are earning their pay and the respect of informed voters.

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John McCain, do you want our vote?

August 18, 2008 by 19 Comments

 Today I read with interest a Letter to the Editor in The Des Moines Register. Entitled Defining McCain’s voters not easy to do, and written by Ruth from Scranton it reads:

“Candidate Barack Obama has sewn up the black vote, the Hispanic vote, the immigrant vote, the ACLU vote, the NARAL vote, the Catholic vote, the Teamsters Union vote, the Chinese vote, the teachers’ union vote, the Association of Tribal Lawyers’ vote, the gay-lobby vote, the German vote and the French vote.

Who is left to vote for candidate John McCain?”

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080818/OPINION04/808180306/1038

I have been pondering all of these groups voting for Obama. I do not fit in to any of these categories. Thus, I am none of the above. Nor will I ever vote for Obama. I am not surprised that the groups listed are voting Obama. Nope, not surprised at all.

Who is left to vote for McCain? Let’s see- Americans. Those who are not caught up in promises and flowery speeches, those who want less government, lower taxes not more taxes, an energy policy sooner not later, immigration laws enforced, pro-life Americans, old Americans, young Americans, rich Americans, poor Americans, informed Americans.

After the Saddleback Forum, all Americans can see the distinct choice that we have when we decide which candidate will receive our vote. There were stark differences between McCain and Obama. Watching the forum was the most enlightening two hours I have spent while following the progress of this campaign season.

My question is: who will McCain select for his running mate? When that is announced, I will know for sure if I vote for McCain.

While I liked his answers to the forum questions, I must know that the second in line to the Presidency also meets my personal requirements.

There are voters left to vote McCain. We are watching and waiting for the final cue from McCain. Will he pick a V.P. candidate who mirrors his values and beliefs? Does he want our vote enough to win our support, even our hearts?

We’re waiting John McCain. Do you want us or not?

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Where Did HE Come From?

August 17, 2008 by 8 Comments


I was really surprised watching John McCain at The Saddleback Civil Forum. He seemed to be having such a good night it was difficult for me to reconcile this man with the John McCain I have come to know from his campaign, not to mention from his years as a senator.
More times than I can count I have seen John McCain irritable, grumpy, angry, humorless, tired, fumbling and faltering, and — forgive me– just plain bullheaded, a “my way or the highway” type of guy, the kind of person for whom there is a far less complimentary term than “maverick.”
But last night Senator McCain was congenial, respectful, funny, energetic, focused and on the mark, as well as gracious and respectful, and it all kind of makes me wonder…
Perhaps it is true that John McCain is not an easy person to know, that he keeps his own counsel and his emotions close to his heart, and that in the environment of a church he felt at ease and Pastor Rick Warren brought out the best in him. Given this interpretation, we have now been blessed with a glimpse of the real John McCain.
However, let’s not forget that John McCain was indeed very aware of exactly who his audience was at Saddleback and he knew he could not get away with any churlishness. The Christian spirit was much in evidence last night. Let us hope this spirit will remain with Mr. McCain in the future.

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In Search of Grassroots: One voter’s experience

August 17, 2008 by 3 Comments

Until this political season “grassroots” is a term that I had heard of but never given much thought as to what it really meant. Today I have gone about understanding grassroots and have learned something: I AM GRASSROOTS.

Given, I had never heard of Senator Albert Jeremiah Beveridge of Indiana. He is thought to have said of the Progressive Party in 1912, “This party has come from the grass roots. It has grown from the soil of people’s hard necessities.” In 2008 I understand, as a child of a farmer, the “soil” and as a consumer and part of the workforce, I sure do get the “hard necessities” part.

I’ll save you some time here because when you search out information on grassroots you will find a lot of lawn companies, books on the subject and many political organizations promoting all sorts of opportunities to be grassroots.

If you host house meetings, raise money from many small donors for political advertising or campaigns, write letters to the editor about candidates, hold get out the vote activities YOU are part of a powerful movement in politics. Because of modern technology you can join other bloggers and “communities” that share information and comments about candidates and issues. See, my list is growing! Feel free to add to it.

Today I had a grassroots experience. I spent 4 hours with another Republican, walking around Ames, knocking on doors, trying to find voters who wanted to sign up to vote absentee. It truly was quite an experience for a precious Saturday “off” from work. I was very much out of my comfort zone but I trudged on. Many people were receptive to signing up to vote absentee, some were polite and refused, some had huge, angry, barking dogs. If let out, I was sure I would be doggie lunch meat. One woman slammed her door so hard that I was surprised items hanging on her wall did not come tumbling down. I got to smell fresh bread baking, have a tour of a beautiful flower garden, and thankfully meet some voters who were interested and friendly. I got to enjoy American flags hung out to show patriotism. There were perks along the way!

Because I am grassroots I plan to have my political activities speak volumes to the powers that be. If someone my age has made the connection as to what it takes to make a difference (and there are a lot more like me out and about), we can be sure that party leadership, candidates, and the media will take notice. I am committed enough to be more than a show up, vote, and go home voter. I want my voice heard. No longer will the GOP speak for me or the media put me in a convenient box as to what kind of voter they think I am.

Here’s to all “grassroots”- speak often, speak with your time, talents and passion for the causes you believe in. Life outside your comfort zone has a lot of positives. America needs you to stand up for moral values, issues such as energy policies and tax relief, and a host of other concerns.

Because of hard necessities it is imperative to become a powerful voice in the political process. Together we are what America needs in 2008 and beyond.

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A New Cold War?

August 16, 2008 by 3 Comments

That rattle that we have been hearing lately is coming from a resurgent Russia. In recent days they have invaded a sovereign nation and have threatened another nation with a nuclear attack. The most recent threats come on the heels of Russia’s incursion into the nation of Georgia. This invasion was unprovoked. Now the Russian bear is threatening the nation of Poland with a nuclear attack because they signed an agreement with the US to install a missile defense system.

Propelled by fears of a renewed aggression from Russia, Polish officials inked a deal with the United States to place a missile defense shield in Poland. After learning of the deal Russia retaliated with a verbal tirade. The Russians were even so bold as to claim that Poland was placing itself at risk of a nuclear attack by allowing the shield to be placed in Poland. Russian president Medvedev made the statement that “The placement of new anti-missile forces in Europe has the Russian federation as its aim.

It seems to me that the Russians are overreacting to this plan. After all it is not an offensive weapons system, it is DEFENSIVE in nature. That means that the only way for Russia to be affected is if it attacked Poland. Poland’s acceptance of this missile shield is completely understandable. If I were in Poland I would be worried due to Russia’s recent incursion into Russia and complete lack of regard for the cease fire that they agreed to.

Essentially Russia’s fear of this DEFENSIVE system indicates that they also had plans to attack Poland in the near future. However the agreement that Poland now has with the United States effectively changed the Russian’s plans.

The situation in Europe will definitely bear watching as this could be the beginning of a new Cold War.

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