Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Further Insight

By Mr. Quarter

I also very much enjoy this quote:

"What am I most proud of? That I've never killed anyone - even though I have been sorely tempted many times."

- Gore Vidal

Insight

By Mr. Quarter,

To correct any false impressions that might be drawn from the title of this post, Mr. Quarter is not claiming any particular insight. Rather, this is to provide some insight into Mr. Quarter and the things that make him tick. I stumbled this quote several years ago, absolutely embraced it as a principal to live by. I've passed it on to my son, who is a very good lacrosse player. Recently, during a recruiting visit to Duke University, I saw it prominently displayed on a panel hanging on the wall of the hallway leading to the team locker room.

"It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins knows the triumph of high acheivement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold timid souls that know neither victory or defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Amateurish

By Mr. Quarter.

Mr. Obama apparently believes that making a pitch to locate the 2016 Olympics in Chicago as an appropriate use of the prestige of the Office of the President of the United States. Toward that effort, he is planning to depart to Denmark and “lead” the effort to sway the International Olympic Committee. Last week, Mr. Obama spent an entire night on the Dave Letterman show. How dignified. How Statesmanlike. Last week Mr. Obama made the carousel of Sunday morning talk shows, hawking his health care plan like Tony Mays humping OxyClean™, the stain remover extraordinaire. Is it any wonder that when he stands before the world and gravely warns that Iran must comply with international law, that the Iranian mullahs nearly piss themselves with laughter?

One would imagine that the “Leader of the Free World” might attempt to portray the image of gravitas and dignity, a person of some substance, someone not to be taken lightly. Unfortunately, Mr. Obama’s behavior is a rather sordid demonstration of his woeful lack of gravitas. The Office of the President of the United States is being diminished by his amateurish behavior.

In the matter of the 2016 Olympics, I have two thoughts. First, of the issues that should concern and consume the time of the President, the site of the Olympics would, one imagines, fall somewhere near the selection of this year’s White House holiday greeting card pattern. That he feels compelled to prioritize this issue over, say, economic recovery, soaring deficits, victory in Afghanistan and Iraq, crumbling infrastructure, literacy, and any of 100 other issues gives lie to all the times he stood before the camera’s proclaiming that “we are approaching catastrophe” in order to compel congress to pass the largest pork-laden boondoggles in American history. Who would believe him now? Second, there is probably only one reason for this trip – payback! It is the Chicago way. Obama is paying off some Chicago pol for the $$ support that got him elected. You back me and I’ll personally go to Denmark and get you the Olympics, we’ll make millions! How shameless and brazen. Does he actually think that ordinary Americans can not deduce what is going on?

I grieve for the loss of the majesty of the Office. There was a time, in the not so distant past, when the President was a man to be admired, emulated, and yes, feared. I remember a line from the movie “Nixon” where Nixon was visiting a Texas oil man supporter and the guy was griping about the EPA being on his back. Nixon asked, “Would you rather have the IRS on your back?” The Texan stepped back and replied, “Goddamn Dick, are you threatening me?” Nixon replied, quietly, “Presidents don’t have to threaten.”

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Playing the Race Card

By Mr. Quarter

I am disgusted with the increasing frequency of articles in periodicals and newspapers that assert that opposition to Mr. Obama’s policies and disagreement with his politics is really racism. Is this the new strategy to coming from the White House to counter the opposition to Mr. Obama? I have read and hear the formulation that it is “unfashionable” to be overtly racist today, so those who resent Mr. Obama’s presidency because they are racist actually manifest that view point by their opposition to everything Mr. Obama is doing or trying to accomplish. I read with jaw dropping shock Waldman’s absurd article on this topic in the online edition of The American Prospect yesterday. I also read a similar article on the opinion page of the Philadelphia Inquirer this morning that was equally absurd. The common thread through each was that any disagreement with Mr. Obama’s policies and the way that he is instituting them, or for that matter his politics, was plainly racist. I ask you to consider why is it that liberals and Democrats were free to obstruct, denigrate, and outright insult a white Republican president for eight solid years, and yet honest citizens disagreeing with a newly elected black Democrat president are accused of being closet racists and extremists?

Writers in the mainstream media are cherry picking to illustrate their point, but then plainly ignore similar behavior from the Democrat left. They point to Congressman Joe Wilson’s regrettable outburst on the floor of the house as “clear evidence.” They make the explicit formulation: Black President + (White Southern Congressman + “You Lie”) = RACISM. Even Jimmy Carter (shall his name be cursed in infamy) weighed in yesterday. He said explicitly that Joe Wilson’s outburst was “because President Obama is a black man.” How short is their memory? I recall half of the joint session of congress (Democratic Congressmen and Senators) booing President George W. Bush during his State of the Union address. Where was civility and decorum then? Was this any less boorish behavior than that of Congressman Joe Wilson? Was it racism? I think not.

They mainstream media asserts that those who question the legitimacy of Mr. Obama’s election by demanding to see his birth certificate are also racists and extremists, unable to accept that a black man could be elected. Now, I don’t count myself among the “Birthers” (although fellow blogger Conservative Ken is firmly among them). But I have a clear recollection of eight years, form 2000 to 2008, where Democrats of all stripes loudly questioned the legitimacy of Mr. Bush’s election in 2000. I have a clear recollection of the chant “selected, not elected” by Jesse Jackson. And how many times was Mr. Bush called a liar – “Bush lied and people died.” Newly elected Senator Al Franken actually made a living on that mercifully short lived radio network “Air America” and in his best seller book by never missing an opportunity to describe Mr. Bush as stupid. I never once heard any media commentator suggest that it was uncivil or prejudiced.

The mainstream media suggests that racism must be the underlying driver in the howling opposition to Mr. Obama’s addresses to school children this last week. Surely, they complained, those who objected had no other motivation in their opposition except that Mr. Obama is black, After all, Mr. Obama had no message other than to motivate the children to excel and prosper. But George W. Bush also gave a beginning of school address to a school in South Carolina in 2003. The response to that? Accusations of using school children as props, and a congressional investigation for misappropriation of funds! Didn’t seem to have a problem with that.

Fact. President Obama is a black man. Fact. His politics are left of center and his public record suggests he favors socialistic approaches to many issues. To disagree with his policies or politics is not racist, it is simply disagreement. It is our right. Mr. Obama, if you are indeed the leader of your party, you should understand that playing the race card is a sure recipe for igniting true outrage in this country and the defeat of the Democrat left at the ballot box. It is time to understand that you were elected precisely because many in America wanted to demonstrate that racism is the mentality of a very, very small minority of the electorate. To continue down this path of playing the race card at the first hint of opposition is a clear sign of your fear. In continuing to use this ploy, the Obama administration and the party Mr. Obama leads will surely foul the bed and guarantee that it will be decades before another black man is elected to the presidency.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

The Deuce And Independents

On my best days I'm a realist. On all the other days I'm a pessimist. Some 63 million people voted for Barack Obama for president last year...I would say 63 million Americans, but who knows how many illegal aliens voted in the election? Regardless, tens of millions of Americans who were born into a free-market, God-fearing, self sufficient and generally optimistic country voted for a a man who's mentors include Saul Olinsky ( communist ), the Reverend Jeremiah Wright ( Black nationalist ) and Bill Ayers ( domestic terrorist ). How does this happen? In a word..."Independents."


The first presidential election that I was personally aware of was in 1968, when Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey and George Wallace ran. Nixon won.


#1 Main stream Republican ( R ) defeats liberal Democrat ( D ) and segregationist.


Nixon wins re-election in 1972, defeating far-left liberal Democrat George McGovern.


#2 Main stream Republican defeats far-left liberal Democrat.


Nixon ultimately resigns his office in the wake of the Watergate scandal. His vice president, Gerald Ford became president.


Main stream Republican Ford lost to Democrat Jimmy Carter in the 1976 election.


#3 Main stream Democrat defeats main stream Republican.


Carter's presidency was an unmitigated disaster. Double digit inflation and unemployment, the Arab oil embargo and the Iran hostage crisis doomed Carter. Carter was defeated in 1980 by Ronaldus Magnus, the conservative Republican Ronald Reagan.


#4 Main stream Democrat ( being generous ) is defeated by conservative Republican.


Reagan ruled supreme for eight years, winning re-election in 1984 by the biggest landslide in U.S. history, defeating liberal Democrat Walter Mondale.


#5 Conservative Republican defeats liberal Democrat.


In 1988 it was main stream Republican George Bush I against liberal Democrat Michael Dukakis. Bush wins.


#6 Main stream Republican defeats liberal Democrat.


1992. Main stream Republican Bush loses re-election to main stream Democrat Bill Clinton.


#7 Main stream Republican loses to main stream Democrat.


1996. Clinton wins re-election, defeating old fashioned Republican Bob Dole.


#8 Now liberal Democrat defeats main stream Republican.


2000. Main stream Republican George Bush II wins over main stream Democrat Al Gore. The election comes down to one state, Florida, where tens of thousands of confused geezers and high school drop-outs claim to have voted for the wrong candidate due to alien "butter fly" ballot. Dem's force a couple of dozen recounts but run out of time over a month later when the U.S. Supreme Court says, "enough recounts all ready."


#9 Main stream Republican defeats main stream Democrat.


2004. Bush wins re-election due largely to continued support for war on terror and insufferable arrogance of far-left liberal Democrat John Kerry.


#10 Main stream Republican defeats far-left liberal Democrat.


And then last year. Far far-left liberal Democrat Obama defeats liberal Republican John McCain.


#11 Commie beats confused Republican socialist.


Since I've been politically aware, America has vacillated between Ronald Reagan at one extreme and Barack Obama at the other extreme? In twenty years? Are you kidding me?


The so called "independent" voter is the cause of this.

If you consider yourself an "independent" voter, may I humbly suggest you get off your damn fence and pick a side. Quit voting for the candidate you judge to be the "best man", or the best looking, or the most educated, or the best teleprompter reader, and finally figure out what in the hell you actually believe in! No sane adult human being could possibly vote for Carter in '76 and then Reagan in '80, or Reagan in '84 and then vote for Clinton in '92, or Bush II in 2004 and then Obama in '08. Only a schizophrenic could vote like that.


If you stop being suckered by smooth talking professional politicians whose greatest skill is never saying anything they can't deny they said the very next day, we're going to keep swerving from right to left and back again. If you continue to let shysters from both parties off the hook by letting them say "their remarks were taken out of context", or that "truth is relative", or that "circumstances have changed", then America will continue to elect disgusting politicians instead of leaders.


You either believe that small government maximizes individual freedom and that that's a good thing ( R ), or you believe "it takes a village" ( D ). Individualism or Communitarianism.


You either believe that low taxes for everyone stimulates our economy and everyone prospers ( R ), or you believe the rich are getting off easy at the expense of the working class ( D ). Free market capitalism or socialism.


You either believe that there are crazed fanatics out there that want to slaughter Americans and they need to be dealt with harshly ( R ), or you believe we just need to engage other people and apologize for our previous actions ( D ). Robust national defense or "we're sorry" diplomacy.


You either believe that the word Christmas perfectly describes that big holiday at the end of the year ( R ), or you believe that the word Christmas is divisive, racist and violates the separation of church and state ( D ). Freedom of religion or secular buying spree.


You either believe that political correctness is cowardice as well as stupid ( R ), or you believe that it makes everyone all warm and fuzzy, equal and protected ( D ).


You either believe that human action causes global warming or climate change or whatever the hell it's being called this month ( D ), or that the whole thing is about 95% B.S. ( R ).

You either believe that the current $1.38 trillion budget deficit is mildly disturbing but not a huge deal ( D ), or that it is a disaster of biblical proportion ( R ).


Come on people! Get out of the middle of the road. The rest of us are tired of slowing down to go around you.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

The Elite and The Rest of Us

By Mr. Quarter.

Across America, ordinary people rise in objection to the actions our President and Congress are taking and direction of our country is heading. Yet how do our media portray this outpouring of the common man's voice? How do the media characterize this constitutional right of self-expression? With scorn, ridicule, dismissive and belittling comments, outright contempt. Today, an opinion by Bob Herbert published in the NY Times (a bastion of liberal thought and confident that it, rather than its readers, is capable of divining what the people need to know) exemplifies the contempt that the media elite and politically elite hold towards the common ordinary taxpayer. In his commentary, he bemoans the "birthers", "deathers" and "wackos" that have "poisoned" the political debate, lamenting that "The wackiness is increasing, not diminishing, and it has a great potential for destruction. There is a real need for people who know better to speak out in a concerted effort to curb the appeal of the apostles of the absurd." Does he really think that he knows better? How dare he and all those of his ilk.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. This is the precise wording of first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Nowhere in the language of this amendment is there a limitation that specifies that only those who "know better", those with high incomes, those in the media, or those in elected office may speak out for or against an issue or cause, or may petition to seek redress of grievances. All who have an opinion may express it. All who disagree with the Government may petition it for redress of that grievance. There is no freedom more precious in the United States.

I have heard political hacks from Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reed to the President's Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, publicly denigrate and express their contempt for ordinary citizens that dare to speak out and disagree with the Obama policies. The media belittles the common person, except when it can use the common person for its own benefit by selling its reporting on the latest tragedy or trial . These elites sincerely believe that what they do, they do for the good of all of us that, in their view, simply don't have the intellect to discern what is in our own best interest. Well I have had enough.

This country is made up of 300 million common, ordinary people. Most don't have college degrees, most can't find Singapore on a map, and most couldn't tell you who is the Vice President of the United States. What most of them do know about is getting up every morning, going out and making a living. They know about paying their bills, stretching their paycheck to put food on the table, clothing on their backs and a roof over the heads of themselves and their families. They know about raising their children, caring for their parents, and burying their dead. They face every day's challenges with a cunning and perseverance borne of necessity - they know how to get by. The know about turning wrenches, operating machines, driving, digging, shoveling, raking, picking, dealing with customers, and a million other jobs. They know about getting up the next day and doing it all over again - until they are too old or too incapacitated to continue.

Many of those 300 million are ignorant of an entire universe of things that simply aren't too important to how they live their lives every single day. But, there aren't many that are stupid. They all know what is in their own best interest. They all know when their pocket is being picked. They all know when they are paying more for less in return. They all know right away when something is bad for them.

My advice to the Senators, Congressmen, and President is that you had better wake up and listen closely - and soon. That annoying ringing in your ears is the bell of liberty. That noise is the roar of the voices of all those ignorant voters that can't tell you who is the Speaker of the House, but can send you all packing in a New York minute.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Teddy was a Red and a Traitor

By Mr. Quarter

Stumbled upon a article by a researcher that found documentation that Teddy Kennedy was in cahoots with the KGB while Andropov was in the Kremlin. Teddy was trying to get the Soviets to help him torpedo Ronald Reagan, and was willing to help them against the USA in order to do so. The proof was unearthed in the Soviet archives which Boris Yeltsin opened for a period (they are now closed). To read the the incriminating document (both in the original Russian and a translation that follows, click here. Funny, you haven't seen this one in the main stream media - have you?

The Difference Between Progressives and Mr. Quarter

I use the term "Progressive" as a synonym for the political mentality also known as "liberal." There is a big difference between Mr. Quarter and that side of the fence. I found this quote which I think really expresses the "progressive" mentality:

"Progressives believe that the top priority of politics should be more equitable government distribution of opportunities and goods."

On the other hand, as a "Conservative", I believe in the centrality of individual freedom, protection and preservation of religion and morality, limiting government’s scope, preservation of the free-market as the basis for economic activity, and ensuring that the principles embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are the only ones that guide our government.

Thoughts on the Trajectory of America under Obama

by Mr. Quarter.

Here are a few quotes - all by the same famous historical figure. They seem to describe in general outline and effect of the policies of the Obama administration.

"Destroy the family, you destroy the country."

"Medicine is the keystone in the arch of socialism."

"The surest way to destroy a nation is to debauch its currency."

"The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation."

"Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted."

"It would be the greatest mistake, certainly, to think that concessions mean peace. Nothing of the kind. Concessions are nothing but a new form of war."

"Only an armed people can be the real bulwark of popular liberty."

The speaker to which these quotes are attributed? Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.