Monday, March 19, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
It's a Crying Shame
Seriously, people...we are trying to hire the best person to lead the free world. It's a pretty important job...one which we should undertake with more rigor, and vigor, than any other job we do. What is really more important, in a big picture sense? What else do you do in your day to day life that literally impacts every single person in the whole world? Unfortunately, most voters don't think of it that way - like they are hiring someone for a critically important job. If they did, perhaps they would look beyond popularity contests and opponents' smears and do their homework. Ask yourself:
What are the qualifications for this job?
I have heard many people say they are supporting Rick Santorum because he shares their faith. Fine. Good. That's important. And what else, I ask? The answers are broad and very shallow. They don't know what else. They like his religious values. The fact is, Rick Santorum cannot win against Obama (unless this becomes a Carteresque election, in which case *I* could beat Obama). He doesn't EXCITE anyone...doesn't inspire passion. He is right on many issues, and is a good, decent and honorable man. But he is not compelling in any way. His range of experience is very narrow and his voting record abysmal. That very faith that his supporters embrace is going to be his downfall - rather than leading by example, he is already showing troubling signs of wanting to force the nation to support his world view. His faith seems to trump free speech when he vows to crack down on internet porn, and cloud his judgment on women's issues. He has a very bad habit of falling into liberal media traps...responding just as they hope he will, giving them ever more fuel for their frenzy. He will be destroyed by the media. It will be like the attacks on Sarah Palin, on steroids. They will eat him alive, and he has shown repeatedly that he does not do well under pressure. He will stammer and stutter and look like a petulant little boy, stomping his foot impotently. I shudder at the image.
Mitt also has a bad tendency of opening mouth and inserting foot, but Romney is at least more credible than Santorum, with a broad record of success in many diverse areas. He has the far superior organization, with extensive networks in very important places. He is the best equipped for the job, on paper. However, there is something missing in Governor Romney. I've not seen it quite put into words, and I can't either, exactly, but he is just not normal. A touch robotic, a little nerdy, he seems detached, there is no sense of urgency. One feels that he really doesn't comprehend the gravity of our situation. If he doesn't understand the problem, how can he possibly know the solution? Since he is the undeniable favorite, I keep trying to tell myself that he would be a much better President than he is a candidate, and I think this is actually quite possibly true. If guided by a strong, Constitution loving Congress, there is a reasonable possibility that he could be a very good President. Certainly our country would benefit from the morals and values that he and his family represent (the same is equally true for Santorum). There are some very good things about Mitt. Sure wish it felt like enough. Sadly, he has spent millions, not telling us how capable he is, but rather by attacking his opponents, nearly always dishonestly - words taken out of context, non-existent links between events invented - Romney has been the penultimate negative campaigner this cycle, and it has destroyed any sense of respect I had for the man. If you can't win on your own merits, why the hell are you in the race?
Then there's Newt Gingrich. Newt is a little too human, a bit too imperfect for many of us to accept. His verbal oops are legendary. It seems to me that he thinks out loud too much...is a little too willing to say what's on his mind - to speak the truth, even when it hurts him. When caught off guard, he has a bad habit of evaluating possible answers out loud, and says all sorts of politically incorrect things. He comes across as being somewhat impulsive, which scares the timid among us. But he has a PhD in history, an obsession with governing and politics, and an in-depth understanding of the making of our nation. Like a certain young candidate for U.S House for whom I once worked, Newt Gingrich would approach leading this nation with a firm grasp of the original intent of the founders. It is my contention that this is critically important, even essential. How can we expect our president to uphold the Constitution if he doesn't know where it came from, the context in which it was framed?
Gingrich has the capacity to generate excitement. Remember the standing ovations during the debates? I have personally cheered for his responses on many occasions, and have had tears in my eyes on at least as many more. They say he's unelectable, but in the general election, on the same stage with President Hopenchange, he would pit his considerable substance against Obama's vacuous, empty rhetoric, and the result would be astonishing. He has the ability to light a fire under this nation not seen in many years, to wake up a people who have grown very weary with politics as usual.
He is brilliant, has spent years learning about the many issues that we face. He thinks outside the box, and is not overly devoted to party. He made enemies on both sides of the aisle when he was Speaker, all of whom have crawled out of the woodwork to attack him now for revenge, but he was the single most effective Speaker of the House we have had in my lifetime - balancing the budget, reforming welfare and getting people back in the workforce. They were excellent years, by nearly any measure. Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich found ways to be bi-partisan in the best possible way, and they had an enormous positive impact on our nation. And guess what? Both of them were screwing around on their wives at the time. Didn't really seem to hurt the outcome a bit.
Why, my fellow Americans, would we not want to give that kind of thinking another shot? We have the opportunity to elect one of the two men who made that happen, and instead, we are listening to his many, many enemies, most of whom are the crusty, corrupt old former politicians and cronies that we profess to despise. Have we lost our minds? We have a guy who's been there, done that, had a decade to review his successes and failures, and to observe the continuing decline of his country. It is near certain that he has spent every day since he left office thinking about how to get the job done, planning his strategies, formulating solutions. Certainly he is able to intelligently discuss virtually any subject that is addressed, and has his own unique brand of solution for each crisis. He not only knows the ropes, he knows the potholes and how to avoid them.
Are we turning away from this exceptionally well qualified man because he's had three wives? Take it from me...some very, very good men have had three wives - I know from personal experience...it's utterly irrelevant. Or is it because of the phony ethics scandal? The one the Democrats started because he was so enormously successful they couldn't stop him any other way? The one where he was later found, after an exhaustive investigation by the IRS, to have done absolutely nothing wrong?
I don't know what kind of President Newt Gingrich would be...no one can ever know these things in advance. But he is boldly different, passionate and inspiring. His record is strong, positive and favors liberty. He has clear solutions on sooo many fronts...just watch a few hundred of his best YouTube videos. Yet, in this time of critical need, America is turning away from him. It's a crying shame.
What are the qualifications for this job?
I have heard many people say they are supporting Rick Santorum because he shares their faith. Fine. Good. That's important. And what else, I ask? The answers are broad and very shallow. They don't know what else. They like his religious values. The fact is, Rick Santorum cannot win against Obama (unless this becomes a Carteresque election, in which case *I* could beat Obama). He doesn't EXCITE anyone...doesn't inspire passion. He is right on many issues, and is a good, decent and honorable man. But he is not compelling in any way. His range of experience is very narrow and his voting record abysmal. That very faith that his supporters embrace is going to be his downfall - rather than leading by example, he is already showing troubling signs of wanting to force the nation to support his world view. His faith seems to trump free speech when he vows to crack down on internet porn, and cloud his judgment on women's issues. He has a very bad habit of falling into liberal media traps...responding just as they hope he will, giving them ever more fuel for their frenzy. He will be destroyed by the media. It will be like the attacks on Sarah Palin, on steroids. They will eat him alive, and he has shown repeatedly that he does not do well under pressure. He will stammer and stutter and look like a petulant little boy, stomping his foot impotently. I shudder at the image.
Mitt also has a bad tendency of opening mouth and inserting foot, but Romney is at least more credible than Santorum, with a broad record of success in many diverse areas. He has the far superior organization, with extensive networks in very important places. He is the best equipped for the job, on paper. However, there is something missing in Governor Romney. I've not seen it quite put into words, and I can't either, exactly, but he is just not normal. A touch robotic, a little nerdy, he seems detached, there is no sense of urgency. One feels that he really doesn't comprehend the gravity of our situation. If he doesn't understand the problem, how can he possibly know the solution? Since he is the undeniable favorite, I keep trying to tell myself that he would be a much better President than he is a candidate, and I think this is actually quite possibly true. If guided by a strong, Constitution loving Congress, there is a reasonable possibility that he could be a very good President. Certainly our country would benefit from the morals and values that he and his family represent (the same is equally true for Santorum). There are some very good things about Mitt. Sure wish it felt like enough. Sadly, he has spent millions, not telling us how capable he is, but rather by attacking his opponents, nearly always dishonestly - words taken out of context, non-existent links between events invented - Romney has been the penultimate negative campaigner this cycle, and it has destroyed any sense of respect I had for the man. If you can't win on your own merits, why the hell are you in the race?
Then there's Newt Gingrich. Newt is a little too human, a bit too imperfect for many of us to accept. His verbal oops are legendary. It seems to me that he thinks out loud too much...is a little too willing to say what's on his mind - to speak the truth, even when it hurts him. When caught off guard, he has a bad habit of evaluating possible answers out loud, and says all sorts of politically incorrect things. He comes across as being somewhat impulsive, which scares the timid among us. But he has a PhD in history, an obsession with governing and politics, and an in-depth understanding of the making of our nation. Like a certain young candidate for U.S House for whom I once worked, Newt Gingrich would approach leading this nation with a firm grasp of the original intent of the founders. It is my contention that this is critically important, even essential. How can we expect our president to uphold the Constitution if he doesn't know where it came from, the context in which it was framed?
Gingrich has the capacity to generate excitement. Remember the standing ovations during the debates? I have personally cheered for his responses on many occasions, and have had tears in my eyes on at least as many more. They say he's unelectable, but in the general election, on the same stage with President Hopenchange, he would pit his considerable substance against Obama's vacuous, empty rhetoric, and the result would be astonishing. He has the ability to light a fire under this nation not seen in many years, to wake up a people who have grown very weary with politics as usual.
He is brilliant, has spent years learning about the many issues that we face. He thinks outside the box, and is not overly devoted to party. He made enemies on both sides of the aisle when he was Speaker, all of whom have crawled out of the woodwork to attack him now for revenge, but he was the single most effective Speaker of the House we have had in my lifetime - balancing the budget, reforming welfare and getting people back in the workforce. They were excellent years, by nearly any measure. Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich found ways to be bi-partisan in the best possible way, and they had an enormous positive impact on our nation. And guess what? Both of them were screwing around on their wives at the time. Didn't really seem to hurt the outcome a bit.
Why, my fellow Americans, would we not want to give that kind of thinking another shot? We have the opportunity to elect one of the two men who made that happen, and instead, we are listening to his many, many enemies, most of whom are the crusty, corrupt old former politicians and cronies that we profess to despise. Have we lost our minds? We have a guy who's been there, done that, had a decade to review his successes and failures, and to observe the continuing decline of his country. It is near certain that he has spent every day since he left office thinking about how to get the job done, planning his strategies, formulating solutions. Certainly he is able to intelligently discuss virtually any subject that is addressed, and has his own unique brand of solution for each crisis. He not only knows the ropes, he knows the potholes and how to avoid them.
Are we turning away from this exceptionally well qualified man because he's had three wives? Take it from me...some very, very good men have had three wives - I know from personal experience...it's utterly irrelevant. Or is it because of the phony ethics scandal? The one the Democrats started because he was so enormously successful they couldn't stop him any other way? The one where he was later found, after an exhaustive investigation by the IRS, to have done absolutely nothing wrong?
I don't know what kind of President Newt Gingrich would be...no one can ever know these things in advance. But he is boldly different, passionate and inspiring. His record is strong, positive and favors liberty. He has clear solutions on sooo many fronts...just watch a few hundred of his best YouTube videos. Yet, in this time of critical need, America is turning away from him. It's a crying shame.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Higher Education Indoctrination
In recent years, we have been bombarded with admonitions that success in America is nearly impossible without a college education. The Federal Government has taken many steps to facilitate that education with student loan programs, tuition grants, monetary support of institutions, etc.
Now, however, we are learning that graduates from a four-year college are without jobs, (or working at multiple menial jobs which do not require a degree) while saddled, on the average, with a $20,000 student loan debt. All the while, North Dakota reports that scores of high-paying jobs, requiring training in mechanical skills - not a college degree - are going begging.
Some now say a college education, excluding a post graduate degree in the sciences, is a waste of time and money. I wish that were the end of the story.
The truth is, many graduates from a four year liberal arts college not only have no skills, they have acquired a mindset destructive to the American way of life.
In my local newspaper (the Las Cruces, New Mexico Sun-News, March 11, 2012), there appeared the following Letter To the Editor:
"New Mexico State University's College of Education is aggressively teaching future secondary teachers a liberal agenda. I am a graduate student working toward a secondary teaching license through the Department of Curriculum and Education at NMSU, where it is mandatory to take a course called Exploration of Education. The course description states this class is an overview of secondary schooling, but instead, it is a platform to promote the Democratic Party and to nullify the white American male, American culture and Christianity.
"The front cover of one of the required textbooks depicts President George W. Bush next to a picture of a monkey with a similar facial expression while President Barack Obama is pictured giving a speech in front of the American flag.
"Through the class, I have been taught the white male is the opposition, and everyone who is not a white male needs to band together in order to succeed against them. One textbook further defines the opposition as white, male, Christian, heterosexuals. In some of the readings, the American citizenship of white American males is negated by calling them White Europeans rather than European Americans. All other male groups are called Americans, such as African Americans rather than Black Africans.
The United states of America is never exalted; rather, I have been taught our American culture is deplorable because we are a capitalistic nation who loves football and owns guns.
It was conveyed that in order to embrace freedom of religion, I must first put down Christianity. This is what future secondary teachers are being taught at NMSU, under the guise of critical pedagogy, and all secondary education teachers must pass this class in order to be eligible to be a secondary teacher. I contend that if these ideologies are not adopted, then failure is imminent. -Brenda Bullard, Las Cruces
As a one-time news reporter, I understand this is thus far unverified. But surely Miss Bullard would not lie, since her assertions are easily proved or disproved with a trip to the NMSU bookstore to peruse the referenced textbooks.
Bear in mind, meanwhile, that this instruction is being offered at a high cost to each student, made higher by the interest they will surely pay on a student loan, and a high cost to taxpayers. Collectively, we are financing the destruction of our America by creating a generation of anti-American thinkers.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Can we cut Rick a little slack???
In a moment of discussing a variety of weighty matters, someone popped Rick Santorum a question about women serving in military combat units. He responded with a lame answer - something involving emotion - and has caught a bit of heat. Dumb move for a political candidate. But let's think about this for a moment.
As a small boy, one of first social rules laid down for me was 'Don't hit girls'. Okay... most of the girls my age were a little smaller than me, and that seemed a reasonable restriction. After all these many decades, I have never hit a girl.
Small boys like to use coarse language and discuss gross subjects. The more disgusting, the better. Next rule: 'Don't use coarse language or discuss gross subjects in front of girls'. Small boys think farts are very funny... but, guess what, I grew up thinking girls never do anything so disgusting as to fart!
I was taught that if you walk along the sidewalk with a girl, you walk on the outside, shielding her from the traffic. If you come to a door, you open it and hold it open for her. If you are on a crowded bus where all seats are occupied, and a woman boards, you stand and offer her your seat. (I did that in Mexico once and a lot of people stared at me like I was crazy. But, this is America.) I was never given a reason for special treatment for girls, none was needed, it was just the way it was supposed to be.
I had four sisters, so I certainly knew that girls could be tough, smart and fully capable, but they are still girls.
The rule was 'Be a gentleman - treat her like a lady'.
Now someone wants to give her a rifle and send her off to the bloody battle, denied the amenities of a civilized existence, forced to crawl through the mud while being shot at, keeping her rifle clean in case she has to shoot someone. Having to use a slit trench for a bathroom. Eat crappy G.I. food with no way to brush her teeth afterward. Being barked at by a non-com for the slightest transgression. Not the way it is supposed to be.
When I entered the Army, well over a half century ago, there were guys who were rejected, considered unsuited for military service. Today, there will be women also deemed unsuited for the role. But gender is not a factor in either case.
So, out-of-the-blue some dummy asks you if you think women should fill the boots of a combat soldier. You can't say they aren't smart enough, because you know damn well they are. You cannot say they are not physically fit for the tough stuff, because you know many of them are. You can't say they lack the mental toughness, because you know that, also, is untrue. And, certainly, you can't say 'because it just ain't supposed to be'! That is, if you hope to win your election. You can gibber like an idiot and say something about emotion... but that, too, could derail your political ambitions.
You could say it depends on the woman and those persons setting standards for combat soldiers, but that may require some thought, time for which politicians are not often allowed - and that may also be wrong.
And even if your brain knows its okay for women to be combat soldiers... your heart still insists that's just not the way it is supposed to be.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Is Obama non-partisan???
It wasn't that long ago when President Obama was taped at a West Coast fundraiser, accusing we peasants of "clinging to our guns and God".
Well, now... the Administration certainly was not "clinging to their guns" when Fast & Furious was going down. Millions of taxpayer dollars were spent to purchase high-quality weapons to give free to Mexican drug cartels. We know, of course, that grateful druggies made use of those guns in killing at least one Border Patrol agent, hundreds - maybe thousands - of Mexican citizens, and perhaps a few of the Americans murdered while south of the border on some sort of humanitarian mission.
But, the Administration is most certainly clinging to its guns in the case of Syrian civilians begging for arms to protect themselves from their own government. Obama says 'no' to smuggling arms into Syria.
Is that Fair and balanced, or what?
Now we see that the Administration is not "clinging to God" as they walk all over the religious beliefs of American citizens. Does your conscience oppose the use of contraceptives? Doesn't matter, you may be forced to pay for contraceptives to be given free to persons with different beliefs.
So... in the aforementioned spirit of being fair, should we not expect from this president a show of strong support for God's followers in some coming issue?
Monday, February 6, 2012
What do we old "Tea Party" Conservatives want?
Recently, in my city, a shopper came upon a young mother, breast feeding her infant child, while inside a store. Outraged, the shopper stormed to the front of the store and angrily complained to the manager.
What have we become? Is that most basic, most natural, most gentle act in all of human endeavor now outrageous? That infant's tiny stomach must become empty much more frequently than yours or mine. What is it to do when it feels hunger pangs? What is that mother to do? Ignore her child's discomfort in favor of the warped sensibilities of some uncaring shopper?
When I tell young people that I never removed the keys from my car, indeed never locked my car, until I was nearly 40 years of age; or that our family's home during my entire youth, never had a lock on a door, they stare in disbelief.
With a little thought, I could fill pages with facts from my youth... facts that seem implausible in today's America.
We old Conservatives are not religious nuts. We do not want to see women return to a wash tub and scrub board to do laundry. We do not want our kids to walk to school in bare feet and home made shirts, as we did. We do not want them, or us, to give up our TV, cell phone, or any of the other technical marvels enjoyed today. We long only for a return to the attitudes, the integrity, the honesty of years past.
You don't have to go back many decades to see differences. Remember, President Kennedy said "Ask not what your country can do for you...". Compare that with today's government that wants to do everything for people, and a population that expects it from them.
We seniors have lived through happy times when people had pride, self-respect, discipline, honesty... when people understood, cared and could be trusted. We wish, oh God how we wish we could help America's youth experience those times again!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
A Brave Newt World
Buckle up, America...it's going to be an interesting year!
The political class and the talking heads continue to prove just how far out of touch they are with the people. To them, 2012 is business as usual - in reality, it is anything but.
Americans are fed up. For decades, we have watched as administration after administration move us ever closer to socialism, confiscating our wealth to support countries, people and values we find abhorrent. In 2010 we thought we sent a powerful message to Washington, D.C. - it was not received. We are starved for someone who GETS IT...someone who is in touch with reality, who understands that our nation is facing an enormous crisis and doesn't shrug off a national debt in excess of fifteen trillion dollars as no big deal. We are in no mood for mushy moderates who embrace political correctness and sugar-coat the issues - we are in the mood for a revolution.
Enter Newt Gingrich.
We are told he's not reliable, he's a loose cannon, he's not a true conservative. He is hated nearly as much by the establishment right as he is the left. His personal life story is the stuff from which soap operas are made. Unelectable! Unworthy! Inappropriate!
In the past, we would have meekly turned away without giving him a chance. Not this time. This time we sized up the rest of the field and found it (with the exception of Ron Paul) to be more of the same. Sure, they make some good points and say the right things...but they just don't share our anger, our indignation at the course our country is following. Cookie cutter candidates, lined up neatly on the debate stage, each trying to convince us they are the perfect cookie and ever so much better than the others...but they're all the same. They all parse their words ever so carefully - mustn't say anything that might offend anyone! They smile their perfect white smiles as they try to appear to be the best informed, the strongest, the ONE. And we don't care. Any of them would be an improvement over what we have now, we tell our friends, but none of them is inspiring or exciting. None of them give us any HOPE for real CHANGE.
Except that one man stands out. One guy up there seems to understand. But, no, we can't support Gingrich! He is a Washington insider! He is the physical embodiment of everything we despise...isn't he?
For me, it was the night he was asked to list examples of things he would change were he elected. He listed several, including Agenda 21. I was bored at the time, only barely paying attention, and had to back it up and listen again - did he really say Agenda 21? Yes, he said it, and he swore to fight it. I was pleasantly surprised...no other candidate had ever given a sign they even knew what it was. That was the moment I first seriously considered Newt Gingrich.
Shortly thereafter, he began to rise in the polls, as others had their moments with Newt. The breadth of his knowledge is astonishing - his passion and willingness to speak truth to power so refreshing. Millions of us began leaning toward Gingrich, but we quickly learned that it wasn't prudent to admit it - the mere mention of his name in conversation brought ridicule as the attacks on him mounted and opposition to him solidified.
After Iowa, and Santorum's unlikely rise, it seemed Newt was destined for the ash heap. His own inept attacks on Romney nearly completed his political death. But the debates continued, and he continued to strike exactly the right tone for an angry electorate, time after time after time. The South Carolina debates had viewers nearly jumping up and down with excitement - yes, excitement! - at his direct responses, his refusal to run in terror from charges of racism and his willingness to push back against the media. They threw everything they could dig up at him, including a bitter ex-wife, and the electorate simply didn't care.
Newt went on to win South Carolina - convincingly. He won almost every demographic, losing only those who could rightly be called "the establishment." He won all but a couple of counties across the state, uniting the Christian conservatives, fiscal conservatives and military in a style that prompted at least one pundit to note that he was recreating the Reagan coalition. He generated record turnout in spite of severe thunderstorms across much of the state. Now the new Florida polls are showing a roughly 30 point swing in less than a week - Romney's 20+ point lead is now approaching a double digit deficit in the Sunshine State.
It's still very early in the process, but something important is happening here. Americans know that Newt Gingrich is dangerous and uncontrollable, but we sense that he is one of us, that he understands the issues which keep us awake at night, and, perhaps most importantly, that he shares our anger and indignation. The people are searching for a leader, and will gladly embrace a man who is shunned by their oppressors - the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Barring self-destruction, Newt Gingrich will soon find himself in command of an army of millions of motivated citizens who have longed for leadership for decades. The possibilities are endless.
The political class and the talking heads continue to prove just how far out of touch they are with the people. To them, 2012 is business as usual - in reality, it is anything but.
Americans are fed up. For decades, we have watched as administration after administration move us ever closer to socialism, confiscating our wealth to support countries, people and values we find abhorrent. In 2010 we thought we sent a powerful message to Washington, D.C. - it was not received. We are starved for someone who GETS IT...someone who is in touch with reality, who understands that our nation is facing an enormous crisis and doesn't shrug off a national debt in excess of fifteen trillion dollars as no big deal. We are in no mood for mushy moderates who embrace political correctness and sugar-coat the issues - we are in the mood for a revolution.
Enter Newt Gingrich.
We are told he's not reliable, he's a loose cannon, he's not a true conservative. He is hated nearly as much by the establishment right as he is the left. His personal life story is the stuff from which soap operas are made. Unelectable! Unworthy! Inappropriate!
In the past, we would have meekly turned away without giving him a chance. Not this time. This time we sized up the rest of the field and found it (with the exception of Ron Paul) to be more of the same. Sure, they make some good points and say the right things...but they just don't share our anger, our indignation at the course our country is following. Cookie cutter candidates, lined up neatly on the debate stage, each trying to convince us they are the perfect cookie and ever so much better than the others...but they're all the same. They all parse their words ever so carefully - mustn't say anything that might offend anyone! They smile their perfect white smiles as they try to appear to be the best informed, the strongest, the ONE. And we don't care. Any of them would be an improvement over what we have now, we tell our friends, but none of them is inspiring or exciting. None of them give us any HOPE for real CHANGE.
Except that one man stands out. One guy up there seems to understand. But, no, we can't support Gingrich! He is a Washington insider! He is the physical embodiment of everything we despise...isn't he?
For me, it was the night he was asked to list examples of things he would change were he elected. He listed several, including Agenda 21. I was bored at the time, only barely paying attention, and had to back it up and listen again - did he really say Agenda 21? Yes, he said it, and he swore to fight it. I was pleasantly surprised...no other candidate had ever given a sign they even knew what it was. That was the moment I first seriously considered Newt Gingrich.
Shortly thereafter, he began to rise in the polls, as others had their moments with Newt. The breadth of his knowledge is astonishing - his passion and willingness to speak truth to power so refreshing. Millions of us began leaning toward Gingrich, but we quickly learned that it wasn't prudent to admit it - the mere mention of his name in conversation brought ridicule as the attacks on him mounted and opposition to him solidified.
After Iowa, and Santorum's unlikely rise, it seemed Newt was destined for the ash heap. His own inept attacks on Romney nearly completed his political death. But the debates continued, and he continued to strike exactly the right tone for an angry electorate, time after time after time. The South Carolina debates had viewers nearly jumping up and down with excitement - yes, excitement! - at his direct responses, his refusal to run in terror from charges of racism and his willingness to push back against the media. They threw everything they could dig up at him, including a bitter ex-wife, and the electorate simply didn't care.
Newt went on to win South Carolina - convincingly. He won almost every demographic, losing only those who could rightly be called "the establishment." He won all but a couple of counties across the state, uniting the Christian conservatives, fiscal conservatives and military in a style that prompted at least one pundit to note that he was recreating the Reagan coalition. He generated record turnout in spite of severe thunderstorms across much of the state. Now the new Florida polls are showing a roughly 30 point swing in less than a week - Romney's 20+ point lead is now approaching a double digit deficit in the Sunshine State.
It's still very early in the process, but something important is happening here. Americans know that Newt Gingrich is dangerous and uncontrollable, but we sense that he is one of us, that he understands the issues which keep us awake at night, and, perhaps most importantly, that he shares our anger and indignation. The people are searching for a leader, and will gladly embrace a man who is shunned by their oppressors - the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Barring self-destruction, Newt Gingrich will soon find himself in command of an army of millions of motivated citizens who have longed for leadership for decades. The possibilities are endless.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Medicare Fraud? You tell me.
In 2006 I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and received a prescription for an oxygen concentrator. Like a good patient I contacted Pacific Pulmonary, one of several companies providing medical devices.
They delivered a Respironics EverFlo-Q Oxygen Concentrator and a supply of Salter Labs Nasal Cannulas. For use of this equipment, Pacific Pulmonary has billed Humana, my insurer, about $121 per month, and they have billed me a co-pay of $24 a month. It has been a total of about 60 months, but Pacific Pulmonary claims there were 15 months during which they did not bill.
I am not very good at remembering due dates or payment details, so I leave that to my wife of forty years. She is generally quite frugal, extremely good at meeting all obligation dates and amounts and is good at arithmetic. Perhaps Pacific Pulmonary has billed us only 45 months... I'll take their word for it pending further checking.
In any event, 45 months at about $145 a month, totals over $6,700. During this period, they have sent perhaps an additional 50 nasal cannulas.
Humana has advised that they will no longer pay for Pacific Pulmonary services, and has advised we contact a different provider. This prompted me to add up what we have paid Pacific and what they have provided.
I Googled "Respironic oxygen concentrator" and was instantly provided with the URL of several providers. I clicked on one, http://www.portablenebs.com and learned that the Respironics unit I am using is available for purchase for $599; nasal cannulas are about $12.50 for 10.
To summarize, Pacific Pulmonary has "rented" me a piece of gear worth $600 and tossed in about $75 worth of accessories, for the amazing low price of just $6,700!
Gee, what a business!
Is it legal? Probably. I signed whatever paperwork was presented me.
Is it fraud? In my opinion, decidedly yes! How about you?
In 2006 I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and received a prescription for an oxygen concentrator. Like a good patient I contacted Pacific Pulmonary, one of several companies providing medical devices.
They delivered a Respironics EverFlo-Q Oxygen Concentrator and a supply of Salter Labs Nasal Cannulas. For use of this equipment, Pacific Pulmonary has billed Humana, my insurer, about $121 per month, and they have billed me a co-pay of $24 a month. It has been a total of about 60 months, but Pacific Pulmonary claims there were 15 months during which they did not bill.
I am not very good at remembering due dates or payment details, so I leave that to my wife of forty years. She is generally quite frugal, extremely good at meeting all obligation dates and amounts and is good at arithmetic. Perhaps Pacific Pulmonary has billed us only 45 months... I'll take their word for it pending further checking.
In any event, 45 months at about $145 a month, totals over $6,700. During this period, they have sent perhaps an additional 50 nasal cannulas.
Humana has advised that they will no longer pay for Pacific Pulmonary services, and has advised we contact a different provider. This prompted me to add up what we have paid Pacific and what they have provided.
I Googled "Respironic oxygen concentrator" and was instantly provided with the URL of several providers. I clicked on one, http://www.portablenebs.com and learned that the Respironics unit I am using is available for purchase for $599; nasal cannulas are about $12.50 for 10.
To summarize, Pacific Pulmonary has "rented" me a piece of gear worth $600 and tossed in about $75 worth of accessories, for the amazing low price of just $6,700!
Gee, what a business!
Is it legal? Probably. I signed whatever paperwork was presented me.
Is it fraud? In my opinion, decidedly yes! How about you?
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The Legacy of New Mexico Democrats
My adopted state of New Mexico is a shining example of how the Democrat Party shapes any governmental unit they dominate.
Democrats have held the majority in almost every city, county, state or federal office. In November, 2010, we elected a Republican governor; broke the Democrats hold on our congressional delegation by electing a Republican to one of our three districts, and we gained some seats in our state legislature. But Democrats still hold majorities.
What is the result: Here is how the American Society of Civil Engineers graded New Mexico's infrastructure:
1. Aviation: D
2. Bridges: C
3. Dams: D
4. Drinking Water: D-
5. Energy: D+
6. Hazardous Waste: D
7. Inland Waterways: D-
8. Levees: D-
9. Public Parks and recreation: C-
10. Rail: C-
11. Roads: D-
12: Schools: D
13. Solid Waste: C+
14. Transit: D
15. Wastewater: D-
Meantime, New Mexico's Department of Higher Education reports that, for the fist time in history, New Mexico's older residents are better educated than its younger ones. A higher percentage of those 45 to 65 years old have an associate's degree or higher compared to those who are 25 to 44. In other words, our system of higher education is no longer working.
New Mexico has a variety of climates, from toasty warm deserts to cool mountains. It has an abundance of natural resources, including oil, natural gas and uranium. It has fishing, big and small game hunting; lakes, ski areas and other tourist attractions. And, New Mexico has spectacular scenery and breathtaking sunsets nearly every day.
New Mexico now has a commercial spaceport. (It costs a lot less to launch from 4,000 feet than at sea level, as in Florida.)
There is every reason why New Mexico should be a thriving, prosperous state. Sadly, its management - its government - has prevented that from becoming a reality.
My adopted state of New Mexico is a shining example of how the Democrat Party shapes any governmental unit they dominate.
Democrats have held the majority in almost every city, county, state or federal office. In November, 2010, we elected a Republican governor; broke the Democrats hold on our congressional delegation by electing a Republican to one of our three districts, and we gained some seats in our state legislature. But Democrats still hold majorities.
What is the result: Here is how the American Society of Civil Engineers graded New Mexico's infrastructure:
1. Aviation: D
2. Bridges: C
3. Dams: D
4. Drinking Water: D-
5. Energy: D+
6. Hazardous Waste: D
7. Inland Waterways: D-
8. Levees: D-
9. Public Parks and recreation: C-
10. Rail: C-
11. Roads: D-
12: Schools: D
13. Solid Waste: C+
14. Transit: D
15. Wastewater: D-
Meantime, New Mexico's Department of Higher Education reports that, for the fist time in history, New Mexico's older residents are better educated than its younger ones. A higher percentage of those 45 to 65 years old have an associate's degree or higher compared to those who are 25 to 44. In other words, our system of higher education is no longer working.
New Mexico has a variety of climates, from toasty warm deserts to cool mountains. It has an abundance of natural resources, including oil, natural gas and uranium. It has fishing, big and small game hunting; lakes, ski areas and other tourist attractions. And, New Mexico has spectacular scenery and breathtaking sunsets nearly every day.
New Mexico now has a commercial spaceport. (It costs a lot less to launch from 4,000 feet than at sea level, as in Florida.)
There is every reason why New Mexico should be a thriving, prosperous state. Sadly, its management - its government - has prevented that from becoming a reality.
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