Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Assigning Blame

 
There's really nothing like Progressive talk radio to get the old juices flowing. So I am listening to some obscure left wing talkee named Ed Schultz on my local Progressive talk radio station. I hear some leftee going on about how he wants to throw a brick through the TV every time he watches Fox News. I have a similar response when listening to Left Wing radio, but what I have a desperate urge to do is ask them questions. Also, unlike the leftee's I see nothing to be gained by destroying my own property. But then, I bought it myself, rather that relying on other people’s money to procure it for me.

So Ed is listening to a "99er," which is a person who has been unemployed for 99 weeks. She is going on anecdotally   about being out of work for an extensive period, and how she is about to get kicked out on the street with her three children. She raves on about not being able to get so much as an interview after her phone service technician job got outsourced to India. Ed finds the woman compelling and promises to get her on his show. Someone please get me some tissue. I am sobbing all over my keyboard...  Please.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Taking Responsibility





Harry Truman: 
THE BUCK STOPS HERE

Barack Obama:

Let me be clear,
Where the buck stops is a very interesting and unavoidable question, and I would do a disservice to the very idea of where the buck stops were I to just respond with a thoughtless sound-bite in response to a question of such import. Indeed were one to just blurt out some clever slogan for political gain to deflect from the momentous import of such inquiry, the injustice done to the deeper truths of the actions taken, and to the intent of so many who have given so much to this country in their years of service; American heroes all, would be in contradiction to the very ideals we all hold so dear as the bedrock of our American principles.

Monday, November 12, 2012

I Blackmailed General Petraeus

 
 
Well now that I have your full attention...  I didn't actually blackmail either Petraeus or his mistress, Paula Broadwell or anyone who may have been covering for him, but you'll just never know for sure...

You see that is the point. The military, and US governmental agencies issuing security clearances take adultery very seriously because it provides a very great danger to blackmail, and the most common way that foreign spies compromise holders of security clearances with access to Secret and Top-secret information. This truly is the oldest trick in the book. Once a person with access to secret information is compromised through elicit affairs or other acts they would wish to keep secret they are vulnerable to blackmail to pass on secrets, ignore or destroy pertinent intelligence, or to act in other ways detrimental to the security of the people they are entrusted to protect. For this simple reason adultery, and other compromising activities are actually criminal offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and also in civilian statutes regarding US Security personnel. The issue is not so much when such are discovered but the time that they are compromised before discovery.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Plausible Deniability

 
 
It was very cute, when Sargent Shultz would happen upon the latest schemes of Hogan's merry band of willing prisoner's of war and saboteurs extraordinaire. Of course that was television, and Colonel Hogan and his crew were the good guys. When it is the real world and our own national security at risk such cynical "Insulation-by-Obliviousness" of the current administration is not nearly as endearing: not really acceptable at all, except evidently, by the administration: and their sycophantic press. So as the various scandals are unfolding in increasing numbers and rapidity Jay Carney, Barack Obama, Leon Panetta, Hillary Clinton, and Eric Holder evidently find the constant refrain of "we didn't know: we weren't told" to be an entirely acceptable answer to challenges and questions of the people.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

A Fundamental Question


So I left the "compound" for a little while this afternoon in the pickup: went down to the big city. On the way I thought I'd treat myself to a Little "Progressive Talk radio." As soon as I returned I jogged up the stairs to the computer to do a little ranting before my head exploded. So okay, I am going to keep this as concise as possible. I have a question, and it is sincere. I have asked it many times over the past few years and received no answer at all. Please if you are a liberal, progressive or any other kind of collectivist explain to me this one core question that divides us:

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Simple Math

 

So the mantra goes: “Why does a CEO make 700 times what his average worker makes?” The ostensible killer punch line then goes: “Does he work 700 times as hard? This reasoning, far from a profound expose on the unfairness of the capitalist system really just shows abysmal lack of understanding of the relationship of value to compensation. Now when Worker Joe hears this is he is generally quite indignant. He believes that value is weighed as human worth.  In business, and economics it is not. He rightly believes that connecting “part A” to “Widget B” on an assembly line is as important to a company as “The Suits” doing zillion dollar deals at corporate luncheons. They are equally important, but they do not both bring equal value to the company.

The Right Kind of Oppression


So Obama it seems has made it his mission to leave a legacy of “freedom” throughout the Middle East. So he is advocating, nudging, or shoving all of the dictators from their perches, supporting anyone purporting a “freedom” ideology, banner, or bumper-sticker. So throughout the Middle East dictators are being toppled like dominoes as we provide money, and clandestine troops and assistance and randomly lob missiles hither and thither.  And it all seems to be going splendidly as “freedom-luvin” groups throughout Middle Eastern countries are suddenly inspired to get theirs.

Health Care Compliance Police - Part Duh


That's "Part Two" for those of you who missed the hysterical Charlie Sheen Rambo - Part Two spoof.

So I have an update to the merry-go round post.  It is another fascinating angle to the whole Health-care issue.  I was watching O'Reilly and Beck doing a segment on this very topic and Beck raised a very good point.  If we have to fund your Health-care we should be able to have a say in how you live your life so as to not squander our money.  So I think we, or our government agents should be able to control what you eat, whether you smoke, and enforce that you get a proper amount of exercise, etc.  Further, I think we should be able to control any dangerous activities that you might participate in that could put you at risk, and therefore raise the costs to all. Skiing and snowboarding would definitely be out.  Likewise rock-climbing and skydiving. Oh, and those skyrocketing STD costs? Well we'll need to track and control your sexual liaisons to keep health-care costs in check.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Being Civilized - or not....


Anti-death-penalty apologists will often tout Norway’s abolishment of the death penalty in comparison to the United States’ “barbaric” death penalty adherence. Apparently to these, killing a person for murdering another is uncivilized.  Well today’s ruling out of Norway could not be a more fitting demonstration of what a “civilized” country is, or is not.


Re-inventing Robin Hood


I try to keep things simple here in Bens-blog land. I try to keep to the core of the conservative-progressive divide as much as possible and not chase after every news story du jour. To that end I'd like to address the ostensible heart of progressiveism; the idea of saving the world by helping the "little guy."

Now I think helping the little guy is a great thing. It is at the core of the social requirements of most religions and world views. Virtually every society holds up those that forego their own safety, welfare, or economic well being to help or protect the downtrodden as heroes; as well they should. If you are a charitable person, either with your vast wealth or even with a pittance that is all that you can realistically afford, you are a hero. If you have no money to give, but instead give of your time you likewise are a hero. There can be no argument that in this respect you are a person whose morals and soul are intact. You are truly a person worthy of admiration.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Arrogance

 
 
Not Even God Himself Can Sink The Titanic!   I can't help but wonder how many times later in his life the man that coined that phrase thought about that boast and cringed.  We have learned many things from that supposedly impossible disaster and ships have become much harder to sink.  The only thing that doesn't seem to be much improved in the time since is that one unknown quantity - Man.  Somehow we still manage to pile shipwrecks up on the rocks, or into the nearest bridge or just manage to inexplicably send them to the bottom with a resounding "Oops."  And somehow we still manage to be astonished when the inevitable happens.

The Perfect Straw Man



Don't y'all miss the good old days - before the government and the country was overtaken by a bunch of niggers, kikes, dykes, Mics, Spics, Wops, faggots, zipperheads, 'Ricans, Mexicans, women, liberals, progressives, and commies? (Did I miss anyone?). Well, at least if we can't keep em out of the country and out of the government, we can at least take some comfort that they will all eventually spend eternity burning in hell...

Well, now that I have your full attention...

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Embracing Diversity - or not...


"Diversity makes us all richer..."

Every time I hear that I cringe.  Every time I hear that statement I want to ask one question: Why?  I want to ask that person if they have a basis for that statement or if they are just a mindless parrot squawking a line that they think makes them seem more cosmopolitan and enlightened. Really, is diversity for the sake of diversity a good thing?  Is every culture worthy of our respect?

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Tolerance


So I am at this dinner party at a relatives house. She had a very Liberal / Progressive friend over as well as family. This friend of hers and I had had several passionate discussions of various political issues at past gatherings. He was as passionate and assured of the correctness of his world view as was I.  It was evident in everything about him that he was very bugged not only by my world view, but evidently by my ignorance, and general lack of intelligence. It had been clear for some time that he was just itching to set me straight on all of my misguided views.  So I'm trying to avoid those hot potato subjects that might lead to a heated debate. "Better to keep this a peaceful family gathering," I'm thinking. So this lawyer is going on about all of his stuff that he owns including his new Beemer, and basically just being a pompous ass. So I, trying to avoid ideological landmines think "OK let's just fawn over his beemer if that's what will make him happy." "Can't go wrong there," thinks I.

Inevitability


I still recall hearing the news of Steve Irwin’s death. You remember Steve Erwin - He was the Australian wildlife guy famous for putting his head between the jaws of crocodiles, petting highly venomous snakes or whatever other thing he could do to taunt death, and deadly animals for ratings. So when I came upon the news story of Irwin’s death I was struck by an incredible lack of surprise. I tried to Google the antonym of surprise but could not find a word that could adequately convey my utter lack of astonishment that Steve Irwin was killed by an annoyed stingray sticking a huge venomous barb through his heart, which is stingray for “I’d really like for you to leave me alone now!”

Friday, November 2, 2012

Taking Sides


Theistic Evolution is a great alternative for those too cowardly to take a side. There' is only one problem with it. It is a self-refuting term. It is an oxymoron. This Pseudo-religious blather has gained some popularity of late for those who fancy themselves more "open-minded" and "Enlightened" but in reality are simply ignorant of the core religious teaching of the Christian scripture that wish to have one foot in each camp for their peace of mind. Those that profess this view show an amazing misunderstanding of the most basic of biblical principals and do not misunderstand or disagree with only various interpretations of part of the origin of man story of the bible but rather, refute the entirety of the whole story of the relationship of God and man. This is not another apologetic of the superiority of either the Evolutionary or Creationist world view but rather a clarification of the incompatibility of the two.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Voting Dead



Protecting Your Right to Vote While Dead


In wake of the justice department’s civil rights division blocking Texas’s new law requiring voters to present photo identification at the polls, Texas has now passed another law requiring proof that voters at the polls are actually alive. Stating that voting is a sacred right of living citizens, Texas once again has attempted to do its duty of protecting the integrity of that right.
The new law would require poll workers to examine those arriving at the polls who appeared to be dead to assess signs of life. Such persons would be asked to breath onto a mirror to determine if they were actually breathing.