Governor MoonBeam, Again?

It appears that Jerry Brown is going to announce his candidacy for California Governor tomorrow. It doesn't surprise me one bit that the announcement will be online. But, unfortunately, I think he has a really good chance of winning.

Now I don't really remember Jerry Brown being governor in the late 70's and early 80's but I do remember the crazy stories. Him sleeping on the floor of the governor's mansion, chilling with Linda Ronstadt, being an over all hippy, etc. But this isn't the same Jerry Brown.

This Jerry Brown seems to realize that being a party Democrat won't get him anything but screwed (because they did, many times) so he seems to have picked up his own sensibility. I saw it when he was mayor of Oakland and revamped the schools a bit with boot camps and such. He seems to have become much more fiscally aware and, dare I say, responsible? I can say that he has earned some of our respect.

Now all of this makes him quite dangerous. Can all he has done in the last 10-15 years combat the backlash of his previous governorship? I will probably never vote for him but I have to ask, is he a better option than another Wilson, Arnold and the like? At least this one wouldn't be labelled a Republican. But I don't think I can do it.

But do you think that Jerry Brown could really be our next governor?

(HT: Ken Malloy)

Healthcare Summit Sink Hole?

From everything I hear about yesterday's Health Care Summit it was boring. I mean really boring. I have only read a couple of pieces but I saw a lot of Twitter statuses fly by. Suffice it to say, not much was actually done and those who were there should receive an award for not going postal (I am talking about all you press, not the government types;).

But was there really anything done? Well, in the way of getting something passed or passable. No, not really. But I think in the net gain the Republicans/people against Obama's bill did well. From the Tweets and the some of the articles it seems that the Republicans were able to really show some of the holes in the health care bill. Now I am not saying that America no longer wants any health care relief (though I think the Fed's should just butt out completely) but I do think they don't want what has been put forth already. I also think the American people realize that the people in the Summit may not be the people to design anything in this realm at all.

I am curious to see what happens next but on the whole I think we are going to sink more time and effort into discussing the Health care issues than actually doing anything about it. So just stop now and hand control over to the people. And I mean all the control. Like portable insurance and an honest to goodness free market.

Cuffs for Doodles

Writing on your desk is wrong! It is very wrong! But should a kid be arrested for it? Well, a 12 year old in New York was arrested for it. Along with some other children who were accused of putting stickers on the wall. I understand that there is a need to punish for graffiti but isn't this taking it a bit far? This is all in the name of zero tolerance.

Now I am not a stranger to seeing zero tolerance in effect. Being raised with in the Clovis Unified system here in Central California I got to see it from the front row. I remember being in high school and watching a kid get hit and then get suspended for pushing the aggressor to the ground. I remember a girl being threatened with expulsion for giving a friend Tylenol and it being "drugs" (even thought the school could take you to get an abortion). I even remember a kindergartener being suspended because his hair was to long.

So what do you think of zero tolerance. I guess abstractly the line has to be drawn somewhere but cuffing and arresting a 12 year for writing "I love my friends Abby and Faith. Lex was here 2/1/10 :)" seems to be going a little far.

Political Tidbits: Twittering and Cougars

Just a couple of interesting things on the political horizon. Not a lot to analyze but interesting all the same.

Apparently there are rumblings that John Cougar Mellencamp may end up running for Senator Bayh's seat. I don't know if this will happen of it the Democratic party in Indiana is just trying to get publicity.

Then, at an appearance yesterday Sarah Palin put her foot in it.

When asked what she felt the greatest threat to America is currently, audience members in the crowd piped up with cries of “Obama!” According to CBS, Palin was quick to respond with, “See, they said that, I didn’t. Just you watch now, too, because somebody will be here with their little Twittering thing, and it’s going to be on the Internet any minute now.”

Those at Mashable took this as a swing at Twitter but I don't really think it was. I think it was a swing at those people who tweet things that aren't necessarily true just to cause a problem. Sarah Palin seems to be very comfortable partaking in different social medias so I don't think she is writing Twitter off.

So what do you all think?

More of a Reason to Use Facebook

So I have heard many people grouse about Facebook. That it is a time sucker and is bad for people to people relationships. Well, get on Facebook and spend lots of time there. Why you ask? To speak out for Western civilization against radical Islam;).

A top Egyptian cleric has issued a fatwa against Facebook. Apparently it is to be blamed for an increased divorce rate. What do you think?

(HT: About.com World News)

Proving the Greatness of Socialized Medicine

So socialized medicine is supposed to be great right? I mean don't we all want what Canada has? Everyone can have great treatment and it will just be taken out of your check... Well, it isn't good enough for Canadian Premier Williams. He needs heart surgery and is going to travel over the border to avail himself of America's great health system. I have heard about this for years. That the wealthy in Canada (and frankly even the not so wealthy) will come to the US to have medical procedures done either due to our better quality or the expediency. So maybe all those who desire what Canada has should actual see what Canadians with a choice do.

I thought a commenter over at Instapundit had an interesting question. If Obamacare passes how will the Canadian healthcare system survive?

Condolences

Rep George Radanovich's wife, Ethie Weaver Radaovich, has passed away. My sympathy and prayers go out to Representative Radanovich, his son and all those who knew and loved her.

But now I have a question... Ethie and her battle with cancer was the prime reason that Rep Radanovich was not seeking another term in the House of Representatives. Is this effect what he is doing next? Can he/will he jump back into the race? Will he run for something a bit more local? Not to be callus but, is her passing so early in the campaign season a game changer?

What Does Brown Mean to Us All?

I, like many people, was watching the Senate race in Massachusetts with bated breath. It wasn't just a long held Democratic seat but a 47 year Kennedy held seat. The uber-Democratic seat. So it is very excited for me as a Republican to see the seat fall to Scott Brown. So what does this mean for the Democrats and their future in the next set of elections?

I hope this means that the American people are seeing the Democratic party and President Obama for what they are. Charles Krauthammer said it quite well:

Brown ran on a very specific, very clear agenda. Stop health care. Don't Mirandize terrorists. Don't raise taxes; cut them. And no more secret backroom deals with special interests.

These deals -- the Louisiana purchase, the Cornhusker kickback -- had engendered a national disgust with the corruption and arrogance of one-party rule. The final straw was the union payoff -- in which labor bosses smugly walked out of the White House with a five-year exemption from a ("Cadillac") health insurance tax Democrats were imposing on the 92 percent of private-sector workers who are not unionized.

So what does this mean for November? I hope that it starts with Barbara Boxer loosing her seat! Here is to another American Revolution!

Harry Reid: The Hypocrisy of the Democratic Party

People (especially me) say things in the wrong way all the time! You sincerely apologize and move on. But sometimes your stupid statements reveal what you actually think. And how others deal with the situation reveals a lot about them too. So where am I going with this?

I think everyone has heard about Harry Reid's stupid statement about Obama from the campaign of calling him light skinned and with "no Negro dialect". Reid has apologized to President Obama just this last week because it is coming out in a book a couple of guys have written on the campaign and he was trying to get ahead of the curve. (Though it might had been avoided if he hadn't been the source on the issue in the book.)

Now President Obama has forgiven him and that is great but... There has been some chatter that Reid should resign from his leadership position. But why you ask? When Trent Lott (the former Republican Majority Leader back in the day) made a statement at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party back in 2002 about how it would have been better if Thurmond had been elected president back in 1948, then we wouldn't have had the problems we were having. As a result many people on both side of the aisle called for him to step to down from his leadership position. This includes both Feinstein and Obama. They said how it wasn't appropriate to represent the party. But now all is forgiven with Reid in their eyes. Feinstein has even gone so far as to say

"I saw no Democrats jumping out there and condemning Senator Lott."

Please! Now I think that the Republicans should stop calling for Reid to step down. If the Democrats allow Reid to stay in power I think it will speak loads to the voting public. Reid's popularity is already in the toilet. So if this is what the Democrats want let it be.

I do have to say that I am amazed how hypocritical the Democratic party is being. Is this really no big deal? I am sure I will be blogging more about this in the future!

No Pepsi Commercials?

It appears there will not be any Pepsi commercials on the upcoming Super Bowl after a 23 year run. Now other Frito-Lay will still have some but not Pepsi the soda. This is compared to the $15 million they spent in Super Bowl commercials last year. It appears that Pepsi realizes their money is better spent on Internet advertising.

I find this very interesting. How many other advertisers are going to be moving in this direction? What effect will it have on the Super Bowl? Very interesting....

Unknowningly Calling Them To Return Home

This poster was put out to 7,000 churches by the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) so that more Hispanics will participate in the census. I find it hilarious that the only problem that Washington Post seems to pick up on is the use of Christ for a secular purpose. It isn't until you land at the Corner (or actually were I started) that anyone points out the real crux of the matter.

Mary and Joseph were returning to the ancestral home ie leaving where they immigrated from. So really this poster is saying that all immigrants should return home. I find it hilarious that the Reverend who is heading up the boycott (because of the using Christ and God for vain, non-worshiping purposes) doesn't seem to remember the actual Christmas story and what Mary and Joseph are actually doing.

But at least they printed most of them in Spanish;).

Tweeting in the Face of Tragedy

Imagine the unthinkable happened, your child was found at the bottom of the pool. Would it be unthinkable for you to tweet for prayer a half hour after calling the paramedics? That happened to 1 mother and she got slammed by many people for tweeting. Her tweet simply said "Please pray like never before, my 2 yr old fell in the pool."

I for 1 would totally have done the same thing for a few reasons. First off I believe in the power of prayer. She had 5000 followers and in theory that could mean a lot of prayer. I also have my Twitter tied in with my Facebook account. So the best most efficient to alert my real life friends who would serve as my support in this situation (including my pastor) would be for me to Tweet.

I think this struck a cord with me because I have blogged through a miscarriage. I have also tweeted through numerous surgical procedures that I have had this year. It has made me feel more connected to my friends for instant needs of prayer and who knows whom my life will touch.

I feel bad for this mom not only losing her child but also have to endure the judgment of many who don't know her. I also don't know her but can assure that she and her family are in my prayers. So what do you think? Did she take tweeting to far? Or is this the perfect way to let the world support you?

Stealing Money or Stealing Life?

Bernie Madoff received his sentence of 150 years. Dr. Helen has a piece wondering why he has received a larger sentence than most murderers. Logically I understand that since there were more instances of crime, there were more years up for penalty. But it does raise some questions. The surface question maybe what is more valuable: money or life? But my question is...What is worse killing 1 or 2 people versus stealing from 100's? Madoff effected more people's lives but they still have them. But by effecting so many people's lives has he made a bigger impact against society? Isn't that what the judicial system is for, to protect society? I really don't have the answer. How about you?

Quite a Day for the Stars

Today both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson have died. I have to say it is very shocking and my prayers go out to their families. But, does that mean all that will be on tv for the next couple weeks is Charlies Angels and the Jackson Family mini-series?

Real Life

One of the arguements that I hear often is that homeschooling doesn't prepare your kids for "real life" because they are isolated. I always disagree. I think that being around real people, volunteering and apprenticing lead to a good picture of real life. We now have proof that the education system doesn't care about real life.

There is a person who has been given advanced medical training in the military. But now that she wants her degree, the school won't recognize the training or the experience. So maybe it is the ivory tower that shields your kids from "real life"?

Independence Day with a Bang?

I understand that the 4th of July is to celebrate all our rights but I have never heard about bringing your gun to church to celebrate. Apparently this is what 1 pastor inviting his parishioners to do for the June 27th service. Now you aren't allowed to bring them loaded (and there will private security to check) but there will be lots of festivities including a gun raffle. I find this really interesting, not disturbing but a little odd. I am curious if this give my pastor any ideas. I mean we do have a gun club at our church (well, they go somewhere else to shoot;). What do you think? Pastor?

(HT: Jim Boren)

Twitter Sued?

Someone claimed to be someone else on Twitter (shocker). Now Twitter is being sued. The manager of the St. Louis Cardinals had someone start and Twitter as him. So why is he suing Twitter? Does he really have any standing for a court case? I would understand if he was suing the person who was claiming to be him but Twitter? Is he just being a big baby?

The Economy?

I am one of those people that cringe when others complain about the economy going in the toilet. Sure things have tightened up but that just means you need to make good choices about your money. But my line I use is, "the economy can't be that bad if they are selling iPhones at Walmart". Well I may need to get a new line. How bad is the economy if they can pay $2500 a ticket to go to a Yankees game in New York?

KKK vs Hebrews?

Apparently back in the 1920's people didn't take blood rivalry's quite so seriously? I am not sure what to think about this old newspaper clipping over at Jeffrey Goldberg's site but it is entertaining.

Musings at the Gym

So I was walking on the treadmill and they have different tvs going. A news story came on about the economy really hurting people who have kids who are in private schools. Apparently many people are taking out 2nd mortgages in order keep their kids (elementary aged kids were the ones shown here) in private school. You have to be kidding?!?!?

Tell me why homeschooling isn't a better option than this? Is it really better to have to have both parents out of the home working (possibly 2 jobs)? Wouldn't your kids be better served to have a parent around every once in a while? I have known a few families where mom has worked just for the private school tuition and that was before the economy issues. They are sure that this is the better education and experience for their kids. This is the thing that angers me about anti-homeschooling parents. It is the mentality that the personal financial sacrifice is the nobler one. I wonder if it is that they don't actually value the personal position of parent. The impact you have on your child's life simply by being present. And that doesn't even account for the clear academic benifits to having the small group learning environment (which has been proven repeatedly) and the over all desirability of homeschoolers to colleges.

Ugh! This is what happens when I go to the gym at 6am;).