Sunday, September 14, 2008

Party Observations

The candidates this election season seem to be more polar opposite on issues than I remember in past elections. I've been noticing a few gross generality differences between the two main parties, or even more generally, liberals and conservatives.

On the Meyers Briggs test: Democrats tend to make decisions based on feelings and Republicans tend to make decisions based on thinking.

On the glass half full/empty of water: Democrats tend to be pessimistic on America and Republicans tend to be optimistic.

On deferred gratification: Democrats tend to focus on short term fixes and Republicans tend to focus on long term fixes.

On media: Democrats seem to dominate TV news while Republicans dominate radio talk shows. But the blogosphere is the great equalizer.

On evil: Democrats tend to believe people do evil things if they didn't get enough hugs growing up and Republicans tend to understand that every person is capable of evil because of our sin nature and the presence of demonic spiritual influences.

As the saying goes; "If you're in your twenties and you're not a Democrat, you don't have a heart. If you're in your forties and you're not a Republican, you don't have a brain."

Fortunately, these party differences make for good checks and balances to protect us from extremism and corruption.

Ian

Thursday, September 11, 2008

9/11 Censorship

Earlier this year, I flew to Jordan to stunt coordinate a stoning-to-death scene for director Cyrus Nowrasteh in a movie called The Stoning of Soraya M./ It's a daring true story of corruption in the name of religion; one of those horrible stories that needs to be told but too many people are afraid to stand up and tell the truth. Cyrus is one of my heros.

Cyrus wrote a movie called The Path to 9/11 that attempts to explain how the 9/11 attack was allowed to happen; another true story that needs to be told. But this TV miniseries is being censored by Bill Clinton, according to a new documentary called Blocking "The Path to 9/11" The Anatomy of a Smear, and Disney has chosen to take a loss of $40M rather than face the Clinton machine. Read more about it at Fox News.

Ian

9/11 Seven Years Later

Today is historic for me because I swear in as an American Citizen. It's also seven years since the deadliest attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. We can be grateful to all the Americans who have proactively kept America safe in the last seven years. And we can be grateful to President Bush for leading us.

Ann Coulter at Townhall.com compares liberal attitudes toward terrrorism to liberal attitudes toward reinforcing levees in New Orleans and bridges in Minnesota. We absolutely cannot be passive about terrorism or aging infrastructure because innocent lives will be lost if we forget our history and the realities of evil in many hearts. And yes, there is a cost to preventative measures.

During the DNC, terrorism was hardly if ever mentioned. We cannot be lulled into thinking that we are actually safe. Here is a list from Fox News of known terror plots thwarted by the U.S. government since Sept. 11, 2001.

• December 2001, Richard Reid: British citizen attempted to ignite shoe bomb on flight from Paris to Miami.

• May 2002, Jose Padilla: American citizen accused of seeking radioactive-laced "dirty bomb" to use in an attack against Amrica. Padilla was convicted of conspiracy in August, 2007.

• September 2002, Lackawanna Six: American citizens of Yemeni origin convicted of supporting Al Qaeda after attending jihadist camp in Pakistan. Five of six were from Lackawanna, N.Y.

• Click to view photos of suspected terrorists and attack sites.

• May 2003, Iyman Faris: American citizen charged with plotting to use blowtorches to collapse the Brooklyn Bridge.

• June 2003, Virginia Jihad Network: Eleven men from Alexandria, Va., trained for jihad against American soldiers, convicted of violating the Neutrality Act, conspiracy.


• August 2004, Dhiren Barot: Indian-born leader of terror cell plotted bombings on financial centers (see additional images).

• August 2004, James Elshafay and Shahawar Matin Siraj: Sought to plant bomb at New York's Penn Station during the Republican National Convention.

• August 2004, Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain: Plotted to assassinate a Pakistani diplomat on American soil.

• June 2005, Father and son Umer Hayat and Hamid Hayat: Son convicted of attending terrorist training camp in Pakistan; father convicted of customs violation.

• August 2005, Kevin James, Levar Haley Washington, Gregory Vernon Patterson and Hammad Riaz Samana: Los Angeles homegrown terrorists who plotted to attack National Guard, LAX, two synagogues and Israeli consulate.

• December 2005, Michael Reynolds: Plotted to blow up natural gas refinery in Wyoming, the Transcontinental Pipeline, and a refinery in New Jersey. Reynolds was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

• February 2006, Mohammad Zaki Amawi, Marwan Othman El-Hindi and Zand Wassim Mazloum: Accused of providing material support to terrorists, making bombs for use in Iraq.

• April 2006, Syed Haris Ahmed and Ehsanul Islam Sadequee: Cased and videotaped the Capitol and World Bank for a terrorist organization.

• June 2006, Narseal Batiste, Patrick Abraham, Stanley Grant Phanor, Naudimar Herrera, Burson Augustin, Lyglenson Lemorin, and Rotschild Augstine: Accused of plotting to blow up the Sears Tower.

• July 2006, Assem Hammoud: Accused of plotting to bomb New York City train tunnels.

• August 2006, Liquid Explosives Plot: Thwarted plot to explode ten airliners over the United States.

• March 2007, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: Mastermind of Sept. 11 and author of numerous plots confessed in court in March 2007 to planning to destroy skyscrapers in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Mohammedalso plotted to assassinate Pope John Paul II and former President Bill Clinton.

• May 2007, Fort Dix Plot: Six men accused of plotting to attack Fort Dix Army base in New Jersey. The plan included attacking and killing soldiers using assault rifles and grenades.

• June 2007, JFK Plot: Four men are accused of plotting to blow up fuel arteries that run through residential neighborhoods at JFK Airport in New York.

• September 2007, German authorities disrupt a terrorist cell that was planning attacks on military installations and facilities used by Americans in Germany. The Germans arrested three suspected members of the Islamic Jihad Union, a group that has links to Al Qaeda and supports Al Qaeda's global jihadist agenda.

Let's remember those who have given their lives and reputations for our safety by staying vigilant and electing John McCain.

Ian

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Flip-Flopping

There seem to be no lack of negative statements on all sides about a politician flip-flopping on an issue. I flip-flop if I make a statement without knowing all the facts and then learn more about the issue. Is flip-flopping always negative? It's sometime hard to find the truth or trust the source. But I would think that a public person would do more research, especially before voting in the Senate, for example. What I do dislike is when a politician skirts an issue or flip-flops seemingly in reaction to a poll. Why not state your conviction and stick with it?

So, here's an opportunity for you, my readers, to discuss your favorite flip-flops. Here's one to get us started:

Sarah Palin initially approved the Bridge To Nowhere, then defeated it, and now I hear that she kept the money. How much of this is fact and how much spin? Would there not have been a public outcry, especially from Democrats, if she had kept $400 Million of Federal taxpayer money for Alaska? Wouldn't somebody want to know where that money was going to be spent instead? I mean, if Sarah is being held accountable for accepting $50 per day to sleep in her own home when she's away from the governor's mansion, surely somebody would care about this apparent inconsistency of not really giving $400M back to the taxpayers, especially while bragging about reform? Unless it's a myth!

Talk amongst yourselves, then post a comment...

Ian

Smear Busting?

Not Imposing

I was talking to a friend recently about abortion and she said that she would never have an abortion herself, but she doesn't believe in imposing that belief on others. Not having a good answer at the ready and not wanting to appear instantly judgmental, I rambled on about other issues of imposing on others such as seat belt laws and motorcycle helmet laws.

But I do have an answer for the not-legislating-morality crowd. Government legislates all sorts of morality for the common good. Such morality is found in the Bible, which many reject, but more universally than that everybody has a born understanding of right and wrong through our consciences. Of course government should legislate against moral issues such as murder and abuse. Nobody questions that!

So, for those who wouldn't abort their own unborn baby but also wouldn't force others to save their unborn "fetal tissue," that unwanted baby has the potential of contributing to society, even if severely handicapped or unwanted, and needs to be protected at all stages of life. We humans do not get to choose who lives and who doesn't; we must do our best to save life when it is within our ability. Abortion is murder, and exceedingly violent, and government should impose legislation to protect all human life.

Ian

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Joe Biden's Hot Air

I cannot listen to Joe Biden anymore. He's a fiction writer. Did any of you watch his speech tonight at the DNC? Check out this rebuttal:

Lie #1

But John McCain doesn't seem to get it. Barack Obama gets it, though. Like many of us in this room, like many of us in this hall, Barack Obama has worked his way up. He is the great American story, you know?

Barack Obama is the Harvard educated son of a Harvard educated man. His grandparents sent him to a prep school in Hawaii that costs $17,000/year, and the student body consisted of actors and celebrities. That is not the typical American story. Most kids either go to public school or private school, not a prep school with celebrities.

Lie #2 (Also told by Michelle)

And, ladies and gentlemen, Barack Obama could have done anything after he graduated from college. With all his talent and promise, he could have written his own ticket to Wall Street. But what did he choose to do?

How could Barack Obama go to Wall Street. He didn't study Finance and he's not an investment banker. What are his qualifications for Wall Street. Is this just another one of his inventions? And, he's already proven he knows nothing about economics with policies like raising taxes during a slowing economy.

Lie #3

And when he came to Washington, when he came to Washington, John and I watched with amazement how he hit the ground running, leading the fight to pass the most sweeping ethics reform in a generation.

John McCain has already said he was angry that Obama just gave up on the ethics bill. Just gave up.


Lie #4

And then he moved Congress and the president to give our wonderful wounded warriors the care and dignity they deserve.

Obama voted against funding the troops. Exactly what kind of care is he talking about?

Lie #5

And when John McCain proposes $200 million in new taxes for corporate America, $1 billion alone for the largest companies in the nation -- but no, none, no relief for 100 million American families, that's not change. That's more of the same.

John McCain is proposing lots of relief for 100 million American families, its Obama that doing away with the Bush cuts. Its Obama that wants to raise the capital gains rates and the dividend taxes.

Lie #6

Even today, as oil companies post the biggest profits in history, nearly $500 billion in the last five years, John wants to give them another $4 billion in tax breaks. That's not change. That's the same.

John McCain wants to get the economy moving by reducing corporate taxes, not just the oil companies. Obama wants to have a windfall tax on oil companies that will just get passed on to consumers, and you'll end up paying even more at the pump.

Lie #7

And during the same time, John voted again and again against renewable energy, solar, wind, biofuels. That's not change. That's more of the same.

John McCain has continually said that he believes in alternative energy and reducing dependence of foreign oil, he isjust way more practical about the situation and realized our economy will just stall if we don't drill now; alternative energy developments later.

Lie #8

Millions of Americans have seen their jobs go offshore, yet John continues to support tax breaks for corporations that send them there. That's not change. That's more of the same.

Tax breaks aren't going to send companies offshore, unions will. They simply go where there is cheaper labor. Americans need to retrain themselves. Factory jobs will not be here forever unless you are willing to make the same labor wage that someone in a third world country makes. You need to retrain yourself to learn computers, multimedia, and technology. And, McCain has plans for training programs for out of work Americans.

Lie #9

He voted 19 times against the minimum wage for people who are struggling just to make it to the next day. That's not change. That's more of the same.

Raising the minmum wage won't do a bit of good, it will just raise prices. If you are a grocery store and have to pay your employees more, you are just going to charge more for food. So, your higher wages, will buy you the same or less.

Lie #10

And when he says he'll continue to spend $10 billion a month, when the Iraqis have a surplus of nearly $80 billion, that's not change. That's more of the same.

McCain is not going to keep troops there if its not necessary. Only he has the judgement to make this decision about troop levels. If troop levels made the difference between losing the war in Iraq and winning why should we let Obama make that decision when he knows nothing about the military, and Biden even wanted to divide Iraq in three separate countries.

Lie #11

The choice in the election is clear. These times require more than a good soldier. They require a wise leader. A leader who can change -- the change that everybody knows we need.

McCain is more than a soldier, he has been a leader in congress, and passed several pieces of major legislation. Obama contributed in a minor way to legislation, but nothing major.

Lie #12

Barack Obama's going to deliver that change, because, I want to tell you, Barack Obama will reform our tax code. He will cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people who draw a paycheck. That's the change we need.

How is he going to cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people when he is going to raise the capital gains tax, and let the Bush tax cuts expire. Everyone will pay more under Obama's plan.

Lie #13

Barack Obama will transform the economy by making alternative energy a national priority and in the process creating 5 million new jobs and finally, finally freeing us from the grip of foreign oil. That's the change we need.

How will this transform the economy. He is just going to create subsidies for companies to develop alternative energy. This will take 10-20 years to develop. Its not like poof ok now that Obama is president we no longer need oil. McCain is the one who actually is putting incentives out there to develop better fuel batteries for automobiles to run on alternative fuels.

Lie #14

Barack Obama knows that any country that out-teaches us today will out-compete us tomorrow. That's why he'll invest in the next generation of teachers and why he'll make college more affordable. That's the change we need.

Its proven that throwing money to school is not the answer. All they do is waste the money on huge Olympic-sized pools, or whatever. That is definetly not the answer and he knows it. He just wants the teacher's votes.

Lie #15

Barack Obama will bring down health care costs by $2,500 for the average family and, at long last, deliver affordable, accessible health care for every American.

How is he going to reduce health care costs, his health care plan is going to raise the cost of health care because the system will be burdened by illegals who would be coming over with health problems to take advantage of the best health care system in the world. And, the average American will be going to the doctor uneccessarily and getting uneccessary tests done, because the hospitals want to bill now that Uncle Sam is picking up the tab. Specialized medicine will no longer be available, and the wait lines at doctor visits will be incredibly long.

Lie #16

Should we trust John McCain's judgment when he rejected talking with Iran and then asked, "What is there to talk about?" Or Barack Obama, who said, "We must talk and make clear to Iran that it must change"?

The US is already doing sanctions on Iran, and Obama thinks he can just talk to Iran and make things better.

Lie #17

Should we trust John McCain's judgment when he says we can't have no timelines to draw down our troops from Iraq, that we must stay indefinitely? Or should we listen to Barack Obama, who says shift the responsibility to the Iraqis and set a time to bring our combat troops home?

Now, after six long years, the administration and the Iraqi government are on the verge of setting a date to bring our troops home. John McCain was wrong, and Barack Obama was right.

Obama was WRONG, WRONG on Iraq. He wanted to have the troops home last March, and that would have been disaster for Iraq. Iraq would be part of Iran by now.

Our debt to our parents and our grandparents is too great. Our obligation to our children is too sacred. These are extraordinary times; this is an extraordinary election.

He's right its an extraordinary election to have someone this incompetent, yet so deceitful and popular. We will have to work really hard to defeat Obama in the 2008 election and in future elections. He should never be President of the United States.