Casualties of War

In the ongoing liberal War on Prosperity, the most recent causality is Switzerland. The flight from the dollar and the euro have put increasing upward pressure on the Swiss franc, making their exports more expensive for the rest of the world and pushing some Swiss companies to the edge of viability thus expanding the front to one of the few remaining stable countries in the world.

In our own misbegotten economy we see community banks like the Main Street Bank in Kingwood Tx, and coal operators such as Ronnie Bryant in Birmingham Al, simply give up and close their doors rather than try to negotiate the mountain of regulation heaped up before them by the divisions of anti-prosperity troops in the various departments of poverty that have become our federal overseers.

From hospitals, to banks, from oil drillers to light bulb manufacturers, even solar companies now that their federal taxpayer stolen largess has run out, from car dealers to tanning salons, businesses large and small have taken the brunt of the fire and unless one is an Obama supporter like GE and Lockheed-Martin, or a Union leader, or have a national media outlet to offer for propaganda distribution, one is in the enemy camp and subject to a constant barrage of grenades and mortar fire as the administration pushes forward in it's attempt to subjugate our once great nation to its will.

What is the end game for the War on Prosperity, especially now that public opinion now seems to be tiring of the conflict? As re-election of the Commander in Chief begins to be called into question by even some of those loyalists in the main stream media, how will the Administration and the leaders of the Democratic faction hold on to power and finish their campaign to enslave the rest of us and our children?

This writer hopes his visions of the future are simply paranoia born of the endless onslaught against the freedom and prosperity once exemplified in our founding documents and institutions. So chock the following up to the mindless ravings of a patriot feeling disenfranchised by forty years of ever advancing progressivism. But be aware. Watch for the signs. If you see what the writer is about to foretell come to pass, then take cover, for the end of the greatest experiment in self-governance and freedom is near.

The writer hopes not to be giving aid, comfort, and ideas to the enemy, but it must be stated. One cannot help but observe the growing unrest and rioting in places like Greece, Spain and Great Brittan where those progressives ahead of us have already run out of other people's money to borrow or confiscate. The writer notes that their youth have been lulled into massive unemployment and continual expectation that the necessities of life will be provided for them, without effort or participation on their part. Now that the largess must be curtailed, those youth have decided to simply take, rather than wait for things to be given. Looting, burning and rioting seem to be the order of the day.

With re-election in doubt for the Obama crowd, perhaps the end game in the War on Prosperity is aligned with the youth of Brittan. We have already seen the rise of flash mobs in some of our cities. We are witnessing the encroachment of liberty, ostensibly to protect us from the violence. In Philadelphia a nine o'clock curfew is in place. In San Francisco, access to communication has been suspended on the rail system. In Oakland curfews are being discussed. Flash mobs have turned larcenous in Chicago and Wisconsin.

Is it possible that our great community organizer has plans to use the vast conglomeration of fomenters in his various and sundry organizations like the SEIU, moveon.org, the AFLCIO, Code Pink and others to incite enough riots so he can declare martial law. Once declared either change his fortunes in the election by showing “leadership” or maintain power by scrubbing the elections altogether like Rudy Giuliani tried to do in the wake of 911? This writer's hope is that the answer is no. Yet he cannot help the feeling, nagging at the back of his mind, that as re-election hopes dim, and the Commander in Chief becomes ever more desperate to hold sway at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, just such a turn of events may come to pass. 

The writer wonders if all the weapons from Fast and Furious have been accounted for.

Ah the ravings of a lunatic mind.

President & US Senate Support Slavery of our Children!

That may sound like a provocative headline, and it is, but it is also the truth! Our current debt is $14.519 Trillion. That means my 12 year old daughter's share of that is currently $46,564.00. Add in the current unfunded liabilities of $114,751,918,000,000.00 and her share of the national debt plus unfunded liabilities for Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare is $414,583.72 or $1862.00 per month every month for THIRTY years. On top of that the US Senate and President Obama want to add an additional 2.4 Trillion dollars which, under the McConnell plan, have no spending cuts associated with it, and under the Gang (appropriate name for what they are trying to do) of Six plan nobody knows.

Assuming we stopped borrowing right now, and my daughter could get a job right out of high school making $40,000.00 per year, she would already owe her entire take home salary to the government. She did not vote for these debts. She did nothing to create them, yet there she is at twelve years old owing the Slave Owners in Washington nearly a half-million dollars. You owe that much too!

We are all rapidly becoming enduntured servants of the leviathan we call our government. It has long ago ceased to be a governemnt of the people, for the people and by the people. It has become instead a government of the career politician, for the career politician and his friends, and by the lobbyist and government dole recipient. Unfortunately soon there will be no producers left to feed the insatiable appetite of the gluttonous belly of the political beast in Washington DC.

So yes, the President and the US Senate, by refusing to support the cut, cap and balance plan which passed the House of Representatives last night, and offers a real chance to start to get a handle on our spending problem, are de-facto showing themselves to be in favor of enslaving our children and grandchildren now and long into the future.

It is time to stop the practice of making slaves out of ourselves and our children. It is time to stop NOW. We are the governors of this country, not the lazy, cowardly career politicians in DC. Let them know. Let them know that if they do not free your children from the yoke of bondage now, they will be sent home to labor under that very same yoke themselves. It is YOUR country, YOU can make a difference. You have until Saturday, and then it too late.

Stop the Senate from Handing a Blank Check to Obama!

Well, folks, I am sorry to report that the fix is in. The Senate, in back room dealing, appears to be prepared to hand President Obama a blank check to spend our children's as of yet unearned money any way he pleases, to the tune of an additional 2.5 TRILLION dollars.

I listened to John McCain yesterday on the Sean Hannity show, and he all but said as much! Mr. Hannity was asking repeatedly about cut, cap and balance, and McCain said he was going to fight for it, but then consistently argued for the McConnell plan. He barley gave lip service to cut, cap and balance, and got angry when Hannity pressed him about the McConnell plan. McCain said it was a last resort, but then continued over and over again to argue it's merits. Heaven help us!

In making my calls to Senate offices yesterday afternoon, my impression did not change. Republican staffers with whom I spoke, seemed to be hedging when I brought up the McConnell plan and my opposition to it. The Democrats staffers just gave me the “yeah, yeah I'll pass your message on” routine.

McCain told Hannity that his office had been flooded with calls from seniors who were frightened by the Obamascare campaign. The fact that the Administration could not stop social security checks from going out, even if they wanted to, because of the way the Social Security Administration's computers are programed, didn't get in McCain's way. Our only course has to be action!

If these Senators' offices are overwhelmed with calls from concerned citizens like you and me, we might have a slim chance of beginning to free our children from the slavery and tyranny being foisted upon them by our so-called representatives.

Given the fact that ICE is busily shutting down blogs and seizing domain names, I don't know how long we will have the opportunity to speak in opposition to this Administration's ongoing power grab and usurpation of the rights with which we were endowed by our creator!

I urge anyone who is interested in freedom, in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to call as many Senators as possible and voice strong opposition to Senator McConnell's plan to hand over a blank check to the President, so he can spend as many of our children's hard earned dollars as he chooses! Do it today! Do it now! Time is running out for our beloved nation!

Akaka, Daniel K. - (D - HI)

(202) 224-6361

Web Form: akaka.senate.gov/email-senator-akaka.cfm

Alexander, Lamar - (R - TN)

(202) 224-4944

Web Form: alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email

Ayotte, Kelly - (R - NH)

(202) 224-3324

Web Form: ayotte.senate.gov/?p=contact

Barrasso, John - (R - WY)

(202) 224-6441

Web Form: barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs...

Baucus, Max - (D - MT)

(202) 224-2651

Web Form: baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm?subj=issue

Begich, Mark - (D - AK)

(202) 224-3004

Web Form: begich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=EmailSenator

Bennet, Michael F. - (D - CO)

(202) 224-5852

Web Form: bennet.senate.gov/contact/

Bingaman, Jeff - (D - NM)

(202) 224-5521

Web Form: bingaman.senate.gov/contact/

Blumenthal, Richard - (D - CT)

(202) 224-2823

Web Form: blumenthal.senate.gov/contact/

Blunt, Roy - (R - MO)

(202) 224-5721

Web Form: blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Boozman, John - (R - AR)

(202) 224-4843

Web Form: boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me

Boxer, Barbara - (D - CA)

(202) 224-3553

Web Form: boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/

Brown, Scott P. - (R - MA)

(202) 224-4543

Web Form: scottbrown.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/emailscottbrown

Brown, Sherrod - (D - OH)

(202) 224-2315

Web Form: brown.senate.gov/contact/

Burr, Richard - (R - NC)

(202) 224-3154

Web Form: burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Conta...

Cantwell, Maria - (D - WA)

(202) 224-3441

Web Form: cantwell.senate.gov/contact/

Cardin, Benjamin L. - (D - MD)

(202) 224-4524

Web Form: cardin.senate.gov/contact/

Carper, Thomas R. - (D - DE)

(202) 224-2441

Web Form: carper.senate.gov/contact/

Casey, Robert P., Jr. - (D - PA)

(202) 224-6324

Web Form: casey.senate.gov/contact/

Chambliss, Saxby - (R - GA)

(202) 224-3521

Web Form: chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email

Coats, Daniel - (R - IN)

(202) 224-5623

Web Form: coats.senate.gov/contact/

Coburn, Tom - (R - OK)

(202) 224-5754

Web Form: coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactsenatorcoburn?p...

Cochran, Thad - (R - MS)

(202) 224-5054

Web Form: cochran.senate.gov/email.html

Collins, Susan M. - (R - ME)

(202) 224-2523

Web Form: collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=Contact...

Conrad, Kent - (D - ND)

(202) 224-2043

Web Form: conrad.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm

Coons, Christopher A. - (D - DE)

(202) 224-5042

Web Form: coons.senate.gov/contact/

Corker, Bob - (R - TN)

(202) 224-3344

Web Form: corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactMe

Cornyn, John - (R - TX)

(202) 224-2934

Web Form: cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm

Crapo, Mike - (R - ID)

(202) 224-6142

Web Form: crapo.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

DeMint, Jim - (R - SC)

(202) 224-6121

Web Form: demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactInformation

Durbin, Richard J. - (D - IL)

(202) 224-2152

Web Form: durbin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Enzi, Michael B. - (R - WY)

(202) 224-3424

Web Form: enzi.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact?p=e-mail-senator...

Feinstein, Dianne - (D - CA)

(202) 224-3841

Web Form: feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactU...

Franken, Al - (D - MN)

(202) 224-5641

Web Form: franken.senate.gov/?p=contact

Gillibrand, Kirsten E. - (D - NY)

(202) 224-4451

Web Form: gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/

Graham, Lindsey - (R - SC)

(202) 224-5972

Web Form: lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Em...

Grassley, Chuck - (R - IA)

(202) 224-3744

Web Form: grassley.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Hagan, Kay R. - (D - NC)

(202) 224-6342

Web Form: hagan.senate.gov/?p=contact

Harkin, Tom - (D - IA)

(202) 224-3254

Web Form: harkin.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Hatch, Orrin G. - (R - UT)

(202) 224-5251

Web Form: hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact?p=Email-Orrin

Heller, Dean - (R - NV)

(202) 224-6244

Web Form: heller.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm

Hoeven, John - (R - ND)

(202) 224-2551

Web Form: hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-the-senator

Hutchison, Kay Bailey - (R - TX)

(202) 224-5922

Web Form: hutchison.senate.gov/?p=email_kay

Inhofe, James M. - (R - OK)

(202) 224-4721

Web Form: inhofe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Con...

Inouye, Daniel K. - (D - HI)

(202) 224-3934

Web Form: inouye.senate.gov/Contact/ContactDKI.cfm

Isakson, Johnny - (R - GA)

(202) 224-3643

Web Form: isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Johanns, Mike - (R - NE)

(202) 224-4224

Web Form: johanns.senate.gov/public/?p=ContactSenatorJohanns

Johnson, Ron - (R - WI)

(202) 224-5323

Web Form: ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Johnson, Tim - (D - SD)

(202) 224-5842

Web Form: johnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contact

Kerry, John F. - (D - MA)

(202) 224-2742

Web Form: kerry.senate.gov/contact/

Kirk, Mark - (R - IL)

(202) 224-2854

Web Form: kirk.senate.gov/?p=contact

Klobuchar, Amy - (D - MN)

(202) 224-3244

Web Form: klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm

Kohl, Herb - (D - WI)

(202) 224-5653

Web Form: kohl.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Kyl, Jon - (R - AZ)

(202) 224-4521

Web Form: kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Landrieu, Mary L. - (D - LA)

(202) 224-5824

Web Form: landrieu.senate.gov/about/contact.cfm

Lautenberg, Frank R. - (D - NJ)

(202) 224-3224

Web Form: lautenberg.senate.gov/contact/routing.cfm

Leahy, Patrick J. - (D - VT)

(202) 224-4242

Web Form: leahy.senate.gov/contact/

Lee, Mike - (R - UT)

(202) 224-5444

Web Form: lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Levin, Carl - (D - MI)

(202) 224-6221

Web Form: levin.senate.gov/contact/

Lieberman, Joseph I. - (ID - CT)

(202) 224-4041

Web Form: lieberman.senate.gov/index.cfm/contact/email-me-about-an-...

Lugar, Richard G. - (R - IN)

(202) 224-4814

Web Form: lugar.senate.gov/contact/

Manchin, Joe, III - (D - WV)

303 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510

(202) 224-3954

Web Form: manchin.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm

McCain, John - (R - AZ)

(202) 224-2235

Web Form: mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Con...

McCaskill, Claire - (D - MO)

(202) 224-6154

Web Form: mccaskill.senate.gov/?p=contact

McConnell, Mitch - (R - KY)

(202) 224-2541

Web Form: www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=contact

Menendez, Robert - (D - NJ)

(202) 224-4744

Web Form: menendez.senate.gov/contact/

Merkley, Jeff - (D - OR)

(202) 224-3753

Web Form: merkley.senate.gov/contact/

Mikulski, Barbara A. - (D - MD)

(202) 224-4654

Web Form: mikulski.senate.gov/contact/

Moran, Jerry - (R - KS)

(202) 224-6521

Web Form: moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=e-mail-jerry

Murkowski, Lisa - (R - AK)

(202) 224-6665

Web Form: murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contact

Murray, Patty - (D - WA)

(202) 224-2621

Web Form: murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm

Nelson, Ben - (D - NE)

(202) 224-6551

Web Form: bennelson.senate.gov/contact-me.cfm

Nelson, Bill - (D - FL)

(202) 224-5274

Web Form: billnelson.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Paul, Rand - (R - KY)

(202) 224-4343

Web Form: paul.senate.gov/?p=contact

Portman, Rob - (R - OH)

(202) 224-3353

Web Form: portman.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm

Pryor, Mark L. - (D - AR)

(202) 224-2353

Web Form: pryor.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactMe

Reed, Jack - (D - RI)

(202) 224-4642

Web Form: reed.senate.gov/contact/contact-share.cfm

Reid, Harry - (D - NV)

(202) 224-3542

Web Form: reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Risch, James E. - (R - ID)

(202) 224-2752

Web Form: risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email

Roberts, Pat - (R - KS)

(202) 224-4774

Web Form: www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=EmailPat

Rockefeller, John D., IV - (D - WV)

(202) 224-6472

Web Form: rockefeller.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Rubio, Marco - (R - FL)

(202) 224-3041

Web Form: rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Sanders, Bernard - (I - VT)

(202) 224-5141

Web Form: sanders.senate.gov/contact/

Schumer, Charles E. - (D - NY)

(202) 224-6542

Web Form: schumer.senate.gov/Contact/contact_chuck.cfm

Sessions, Jeff - (R - AL)

(202) 224-4124

Web Form: sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Constitue...

Shaheen, Jeanne - (D - NH)

(202) 224-2841

Web Form: shaheen.senate.gov/contact/

Shelby, Richard C. - (R - AL)

(202) 224-5744

Web Form: shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/emailsenatorshelby

Snowe, Olympia J. - (R - ME)

(202) 224-5344

Web Form: snowe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact?p=email

Stabenow, Debbie - (D - MI)

(202) 224-4822

Web Form: stabenow.senate.gov/?p=contact

Tester, Jon - (D - MT)

(202) 224-2644

Web Form: tester.senate.gov/Contact/index.cfm

Thune, John - (R - SD)

(202) 224-2321

Web Form: thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Toomey, Patrick J. - (R - PA)

(202) 224-4254

Web Form: toomey.senate.gov/?p=contact

Udall, Mark - (D - CO)

(202) 224-5941

Web Form: markudall.senate.gov/?p=contact

Udall, Tom - (D - NM)

(202) 224-6621

Web Form: tomudall.senate.gov/?p=contact

Vitter, David - (R - LA)

(202) 224-4623

Web Form: vitter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Con...

Warner, Mark R. - (D - VA)

(202) 224-2023

Web Form: warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contact

Webb, Jim - (D - VA)

(202) 224-4024

Web Form: webb.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Whitehouse, Sheldon - (D - RI)

(202) 224-2921

Web Form: whitehouse.senate.gov/contact/

Wicker, Roger F. - (R - MS)

(202) 224-6253

Web Form: wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.EMa...

Wyden, Ron - (D - OR)

(202) 224-5244

Web Form: wyden.senate.gov/contact/

Post in Which I Endorse a Candidate, I Can't Help Myself.

OK, I'll just go ahead and admit it now, I'm a Herman Cain fan. I have been trying to keep an open mind, but I've been leaning for so long now, I've fallen over. Actually, nothing would make me so ecstatic as a Cain/Bachmann ticket, but only the delegate counts will tell.

Why Cain? So many reasons. I think the thing I like about him the most is that he knows what he doesn't know. That is an extremely rare quality these days, particularly in politics. Yet it is an essential one for the leader of the free world. Now we have a guy in the White House, who thinks he knows everything. We all see how well that is working out for us. The current President knows more than his generals, his lawyers, the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the American People. Every single day, he is ignoring yet another advisor, commission, or court decision. It would be one thing if his arrogance proved out in the real world, but time after time the misguided policies coming from this Administration are leading us further down the road to tragic ruin.


I was impressed right away when, in the South Carolina sound bite fest, Mr. Cain said he didn't have enough information to make an informed decision about the troops in Afghanistan. He went on to describe a well thought out, reasonable decision making process that has served his enterprises well over these many years. That kind of thought process and honesty is something I can get behind.

My heart was warmed as well, by a man who says what is on his mind. Particularly since that mind is sharp. Donald Trump says what is on his mind too, unfortunately what is on his mind is Donald Trump, and his ideas only work on reality TV and Park Avenue. If we wanted to build a spiffy new embassy somewhere or create a new show; “Congress Unclothed”, Trump would be my guy, but we have a country to save.

Mr. Cain's platform is rock solid. He is strong on the military, noting that the common defense is a primary purpose of the Federal Government. On spending we have a man who had to not just balance budgets, but turn a profit. He know about serious belt tightening, and the fact that he hasn't done it in Washington is a bonus. As we all know, few of the folks there have ever balanced a budget and even fewer have the stomach for doing it now!

Cain talks about securing our borders and strengthening existing immigration law so that it provides a path for LEGAL immigration and puts an end to illegal immigration. He speaks about expanding domestic energy production by loosening regulations on oil and coal companies, and letting free market forces work on alternative energy sources.

On the economy he is an “empowerment” guy not an “entitlement” guy. On health care, Obamacare must be repealed and replaced by market-centered, patient-centered policies that make health care more affordable for everyone. On education, one of the most important issues, he recognizes what a dismal failure our public education system has become. Mr Cain has a plan for unbundling education from the one-size fits all, federal government system to provide local choice and local control for parents over their children's education.

On social issues, Mr. Cain stands right smack in the middle of the Tea Party ideals. This is a sharp guy, who gives a GREAT speech, can think on his feet, and believes in the principals that this country was founded upon.

The other thing that has made a big impression on me though is that the national media ignores him. This morning on “Face the Nation”, Bob Schieffer did not even mention Herman Cain despite the fact that Mr. Cain finished third in the Des Moines Register poll Schieffer was extolling. Set to interview Michelle Bachmann, Schieffer correctly said former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann finished first and second in the poll. But then skipping Cain completely, even though he got 10% of the tally, he incorrectly said Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich finished next after the two front-runners. I was incensed.

Time after time I have watched as Herman Cain finishes at the top, or near the top of straw polls, and likely GOP voter polls, and the media insists he hasn't got a chance. I had the chance to meet a well known Washington conservative pundit recently, and I asked him about Mr. Cain. He can't even get nominated was the response I got. Then he won the first Presidential Debate in South Carolina. On June 16^th Rasmussen had Cain 3^rd with 10% of likely GOP primary voters, and gathering steam. Yet the main stream media largely ignores him, calls him a second tier candidate, and looks around for someone else to run.

Why do I like that, you ask. Well maybe you didn't ask, but I'm going to tell you anyway. The media is scared of Herman Cain. The Democrats are REALLY scared of Mr. Cain. Unlike Sarah Palin, or Michelle Bachmann, who they crucify on a regular basis, they have to ignore Herman Cain. He takes away their ability to claim racism every time someone criticizes our current President. If Mr. Cain is Barrack Obama's opposition in November of 2012, the race baiting tactic is all but neutralized, and the President is left to run on his record, which as we all know, and even THEY know, is abysmal.

The Tea Party loves Herman Cain. His stance on all the relevant issues is spot on. He is an inspiring speaker. He is a proven administrator. He is funny and personable and he looks good on TV. Herman Cain is the media and the Democrats worst nightmare, so they are pretending he doesn't exist for as long as they can!

Democrats - Read at Your Own Risk

I have developed a theory about the difference between Republicans and Democrats. I'm talking about the rank and file now, not necessarily the leadership, but what I have to say applies to them as well. Republicans think logically. Republicans try to use logic in their arguments. Ask a republican a question, and if they don't know the answer, they will go look it up, from more than one source. We rely on history. We generally have long memories. We are good with numbers and science, subjects that can be viewed objectively and quantitatively. In short, Republicans are left brain thinkers. Tell a Republican about a problem you have and he or she will generally try to find some solution to it. It may not be a solution you like, but it will generally be based on experience. Where Republicans often fall short is in our ability to express compassion. We have it, we often just don't express it well.

Democrats are more random and intuitive. They rely on their emotions for decisions and are more subjective. They cannot easily be swayed by rational thought, and are easy targets for emotional appeal and demagoguery. In short, they are right brain thinkers. This theory explains how democrats can believe their politicians when they say one thing this week, and four weeks from now say the exact opposite. The rank and file believe both contradictory statements, because the statements themselves appeal to the emotions rather than the intellect. Republicans miss the boat because we try to express ourselves logically and factually, appealing to the logical intellect, and we forget all about the emotional appeal. This works with the Republican base, but ignores the left completely, and to a lesser extent ignores the middle.

In 1993, in response to Hillary Clinton's health care reform bill, the Health Insurance Association of America released a series of ads featuring “Harry and Louise”. Harry and Louise were a couple who were worried about their health insurance, and what would happen to it under “Hillary Care”. The ads were highly effective and derailed the largest takeover of the US economy until Barrack Obama. Those ads were effective because they not only told the truth, but they did so in such a way as to appeal to the emotions as well as the intellect.

We got blindsided by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Act was passed through congress almost before it was printed. No one, not even the democrats themselves knew what it said. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi said, in front of the National Association of Counties “You have to pass the bill so we can find out what is in it”. Even she didn't know what it said. I understand, I've tried to read the thing myself, and found much of it unintelligible. The parts that are understandable, however do contain many alarming provisions. If you try to explain some of the scarier portions to a democrat, they won't believe you. Even if you show them the text, they won't believe you. If you prosiest, they will get frustrated and call you names and accuse you of wanting people to die from lack on medical attention. It is a little like trying to teach a pig to dance. It's frustrating for you and merely annoys the pig!

For example, the law has a provision which allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to set up prevention services organizations to tell you how to live you life, what to eat, how much sleep to get, with whom you can sleep, etc.. I know, you don't believe me. Well here is the text:

‘‘(D) implement wellness and health promotion activities.

‘‘(b) WELLNESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS.—For purposes of subsection (a)(1)(D), wellness and health promotion activities may include personalized wellness and prevention services, which are
coordinated, maintained or delivered by a health care provider, a wellness and prevention plan manager, or a health, wellness or prevention services organization that conducts health risk assessments or offers ongoing face-to-face, telephonic or web-based intervention efforts for each of the program’s participants, and which may include the following wellness and prevention efforts:

‘‘(1) Smoking cessation.

‘‘(2) Weight management.

‘‘(3) Stress management.

‘‘(4) Physical fitness.

‘‘(5) Nutrition.

‘‘(6) Heart disease prevention.

‘‘(7) Healthy lifestyle support.

‘‘(8) Diabetes prevention.

I know, you still don't believe me. Well depending on the interpretation of the word intervention, that is EXACTLY what it means. I know, you still don't believe me. Suppose, though, you saw an ad on television.

(opening scene, outside of a house. We see the back of a strong man and a woman with shoulder length hair. Both are wearing blue jackets, like FBI jackets, but with HHS lettering. They ring the doorbell. After a few seconds, a slightly overweight man answers, smoking a cigarette.)

Man: Can I help you?

HHS Woman: “Mr. Johnson, we are here to conduct a healthy lifestyle assessment”.

Man: “A what?”

HHS Woman: “We are going to evaluate your health and tell you what you need to change to keep your health insurance and avoid paying a fine.”

Man: “What?”

HHS Woman; “Yes Mr. Johnson. As part of your health insurance program, you must allow us to asses your habits, and see where they are unhealthy. We will help you to change them to meet the healthy lifestyle requirements laid out by the government. May we come in?”

Man: “What?”

HHS Woman: “Oh, yes Mr. Johnson, it's all part of making America healthy. I see you smoke. That will have to stop, and you are at least fifty pounds overweight. You will need to start exercising right away, and we will tell you what you can eat from now on.”

(fade to black)

(White letters on black background – The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act)

Voice Over: “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Is this REALLY what you want from your health insurance provider, or your government?

Call your congressman today, tell them you will make you own choices about how to live.

(Fade to black)

I know, you STILL don't believe me... but you are thinking about it, aren't you?

Missing the Boat.....Again

The New York 26 District congressional seat was lost by a lack of vision on the part of the Republican Party. Why we continue to let the Democrats eat our lunch with demagoguery full of lies is beyond me. Surely I'm not the smartest guy in the room, but even an Ordinary Joe like me can figure this one out.

Now, I don't mean to insult anyone here, but the country as a whole, has the attention span of a gnat. Everyone knows this. I myself, will flip channels the instant a commercial comes on. I just don't have the patience. So when we see an image of granny being pushed off a cliff in her wheel chair by a Paul Ryan look-alike, of course it is going to sway voters. What do we do? We talk and talk and talk. We say “It's not true”. We say “The Ryan plan does nothing to change Medicare for those 55 and over, and it mumble mumble mumble.......or in Charlie Brownese “hanwha whawawnhanahn wah wan”.

How about this instead. Put your imagination caps on here:

Television Commercial

Opening Scene:

(It is a beautiful spring day, we hear soft upbeat spring-like music in the background. Look-a-likes of Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid, all wearing coke bottle thick glasses are pushing a wagon with Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, and two children through a meadow. Blindly pushing the wagon forward, it comes to the edge of a cliff and tumbles over. Barack, Nancy and Harry throw their hands up and mouths open in surprise)

Voice over: With no plan to repair Medicare, the Administration and the Democrats in Congress are blindly pushing us all off a cliff.

Background noise: Family screaming as they fall!

Cut to: (We see Paul Ryan, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Michele Bachmann, and several other prominent Republicans holding a large blanket emblazoned with the words Ryan Plan. One by one they catch the falling family members and safely place them all on the ground)

Voice over: Paul Ryan and the Republicans have shown real leadership with a budget proposal that saves Medicare for all of our seniors, and insures health insurance will be there for everyone when we reach our golden years. Don't let those who have no ideas of their own use lies and distortions to scare you. We have an answer that will preserve what was promised, and protect all of us in the future.

Fade to black

“Elect Jane Corwin and preserve our future.” appears on the black background.

Instead Ms. Corwin tried to run from the Ryan plan and it cost her the election.

Unfortunately the demagoguery from the left side of the aisle works. I would not be so offended if it was at least based loosely on the truth. What is missing on the right side of the aisle is not an understanding of what is needed or what works in terms of policy, but an understanding of how to get the message out. We really do need more catchy phrases, and more ways to boil the message down to a thirty second television commercial.

If you folks need ideas, just ask me, I've got a million of them.