Back from a break! and Let's Punish Small Business???

Yes, I took a break from the blog. I can't remember all of my reasons, but it's time to revive myself and get back to work.

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Wisconsin has found a brilliant way to stimulate the economy. Why don't we punish small business by raising their fees? That way they can struggle their way right out of existence. Then all those shopping for the best deal will have fewer competitors to wade through. Clear the field!

/end sarcasm

Where is Doyle? And a stem cell rant ...

Dan Josephson of the UW's Daily Cardinal seems to think we can make better use of Doyle's talents in our state rather than on a national level. One wonders whether he is afraid of the possibility of a Republican governor in two years or afraid of Doyle failing on the national scene. I find it interesting that Josephson is more than willing to throw Barbara Lawton "under the bus" in his article, contending that her weaknesses are part of the reason we just cannot do without Doyle.

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The UW is already crowing about one of their own being appointed to the Obama transition team. This appointment is very telling of Obama's pro-death views. Charo is hand-picked because of her approach to bioethics, contending that embryonic stem cell research is necessary and successful.

Stem cell research does not require embryonic murder. In fact, a woman made headlines today by receiving a new windpipe crafted from her own stem cells. Adult stem cell research has been far more rewarding. It is disturbing that so many seem hell-bent on murdering the unborn even in the face of superior research.

Sean Hannity swiped my next post!

I sat down to work on a post comparing the Obama Administration Questionnaire to Obama's own questionable relationships.

Noticing that it was time for Sean Hannity's program to play (live, free streaming at WABCRadio.com), I turned it on and found him talking about just what I was about to blog. Unfair!

Perhaps I should be flattered that Sean Hannity is thinking along the same lines as I am?

Would Mr. Obama like to answer the following questions?

3. Please provide the names of all corporations, firms, partnerships, trusts, or other business enterprises and all non-profit organizations and other such institutions with which you are now, or during the past ten years have been, affiliated with as an advisor, attorney of consultant.

7. If you or your spouse have ever lived or worked abroad, please describe the circumstances.

8. Briefly describe the most controversial matters you have been involved with during the course of your career.

12. Speeches: Please identify all speeches you have given. If available please provide the text or recordings of each speech or identify any recordings of speeches of which you are aware.

27. Please describe the mortgage terms for any properties listed under Question 21, including the rate, date, holder, service entity, and any special circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the mortgage(s).

46. Have any members of your family or close social or business associates been arrested for, charged with and/or convicted of a crime, other than a minor traffic violation? If so, please identify and describe each such arrrest, charge or conviction. Please provide the same information for anyone under your professional supervision, or anyone [sic] of your superiors.

61. Have you had any association with any person, group or business venture that could be used - even unfairly - to impugn or attack your character and qualifications for government service?

62. Do you know anyone or any organization, either in the private sector or government service, that might take steps, overtly or covertly, fairly or unfairly, to criticize your nomination, including any news organization? If so, please identify and explain the potential basis for criticism.

63. Please provide any other information, including information about other members of your family, that could suggest a conflict of interest or be a possible source of embarrassment [sic] to you, your family, or the President-Elect.

Governor Doyle has been contacted by Obama's people ...

This could be good for our state. Perhaps bad for our country.

According to Scott Bauer for the AP, the Obama camp has contacted Doyle about a potential position.

"Doyle's spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner said the contact was recent, but he didn't have any details about it. Stephanie Cutter, spokeswoman for Obama's transition team, said the team is not confirming or denying any contacts that have been made."

"I don't expect I'm going to have any such call," Doyle said on election night. "I know this, I'm not trying to get a position, I'm not angling for it, I don't want it."

Of course, it was widely recognized that his speech for the DNC and early campaigning for Obama was apt to win him some brownie points with a potential future administration.

We're assuming that Doyle will be able to trudge through his entire past and dig up all the little details that Obama is demanding. All of the questions that the American people would have liked to know about Obama during the campaign made good fodder for the construction of this questionnaire (Full document PDF link).

There are lists circulating that speculate about the folks being considered for key positions. Doyle doesn't appear on any of those lists.

Wisconsin natives will be happy to see him go, as he has led us into a $5billion deficit (estimated by 2011). He won the governorship by questioning Gov. McCallum's economic policies. McCallum left us with a $3.2billion deficit. If that was enough to demand a changing of the guard, then it's high time to see Doyle move elsewhere.

An appointment of Doyle to Obama's administration would leave us with "Governor" Barb Lawton. At least until 2010.

Paul Ryan declines ...

Paul Ryan has officially stated that he will not vie for the position of House Minority Leader. He states that the time demands would reduce the time he could spend with his young family.

"The Wall Street Journal apparently didn’t get the word that U.S. Rep Paul Ryan, R-Wis., of Janesville, was not interested in being the new House minority leader." (Link to Article)

Excellent! Not only is he a man of purpose and ability, but he knows where his responsibilities lie. His family comes before his career. I applaud him for his decision.

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel published a political blog quoting Ryan as saying "It's time for new people to step up ... It's time for the reformers to kick out the dead wood...We need a fire hose to clean out the party."

I'd like to hear more about what he has to say on this subject. I would like to see the reformers kick out the centrists, for starters.

Here is a FoxNews interview Ryan held with Brit Hume on the subject: Article Link

Paul Ryan ...

I am hoping we will hear more about Paul Ryan in the future. I first thought he was only part of the Wisconsin scuttlebutt. However, he has been mentioned by the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, FoxNews.com and

He holds a degree in Economics and Political Science. He has operated his own consulting firm and worked as an economic analyst. He has worked in various political positions under Bob Kasten, Sam Brownback, Jack Kemp and others.

See his House website and Campaign 2008 site for more information on where he stands.

Republicans are right to demand experience in their candidates. That does not, however, necessarily equate to calendar age. In a candidate like Paul Ryan we can see both experience and youthfulness.

For the record, I have a very great amount of respect for seasoned Americans and in no way question their ability to govern based on age alone. Neither do I believe we ought to discount what a candidate has to say based on their youth.

Party history lesson ...

A good number of folks are calling for the Republican Party to return to its roots. I happen to be one of those people. However, many are just rattling off what they have heard others say and they are personally uneducated on the history of the Party. Nonsensical, I know, but that is what we deal with in this day of sound bites over substance.

The Republican Party had its start in a one-room schoolhouse in Ripon, Wisconsin. Folks who found slavery to be despicable and were disgusted with politics-as-usual wanted a party that reflected forward-thinking, modernization and equal rights.

The Republican Party championed freedom for slaves, the rights of women and blacks to vote, higher education, and individual rights and responsibilities.

The Party has a long and rich history. Simple overviews can be found in such places as Wikipedia, the Open Directory Project and the Party's own web site.

The past platforms are fascinating and I'll take a close look at them in future posts.

The "Christian Right". Is it faltering?

The AP released a story entitled "Christian Right Regroups After Obama Victory". I haven't seen any regrouping. Those who voted for McCain are largely still licking their wounds and whining. Those who, startlingly, voted for Obama are feeling the heady rush of success.

Though I found much with which I disagree, the article makes one good point.

"One pressing question in the wake of President-elect Barack Obama's historic victory is whether the Christian right can grow its own ranks or take positions with broader appeal. Some Republicans believe a tight embrace of social conservative values turns off independents and moderates, but many Christian right leaders resist compromise and contend that, if anything, the GOP has strayed too far from its principles."

Christian Conservatives do need to make a choice. Will they abandon the Republican Party for a party that in no way reflects Biblical values or will they fight to return the Republican Party to it's roots? The remaining two options - pursuing a third party or not participating in politics at all - are really not solutions to the problems at hand.

Our children will be our defense?

On July 2nd, Barack Obama made a statement that has confused quite a number of folks.

"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

I wonder if this is another case of him taking his cues from Rahm Emanuel? As you may have read in my earlier post (More on the flip-flop ...), Emanuel wants our children to be trained in civil defense.

"They'll be asked to report for three months of basic civil defense training in their state or community ..."

This is a tangled web. These folks have grand plans and we just have to sit and wait for the whammy.

More on the the flip-flop ...

Obama didn't come up with this compulsory compliance idea on his own.

Examiner.com posted an article quoting the Chief of Staff - Designate's book, The Plan - Big Ideas for America.

It's time for a real Patriot Act that brings out the patriot in all of us. We propose universal civilian service for every young American. Under this plan, All Americans between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five will be asked to serve their country by going through three months of basic training, civil defense preparation and community service. ...

Here's how it would work. Young people will know that between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, the nation will enlist them for three months of civilian service. They'll be asked to report for three months of basic civil defense training in their state or community, where they will learn what to do in the event of biochemical, nuclear or conventional attack; how to assist others in an evacuation; how to respond when a levee breaks or we're hit by a natural disaster. These young people will be available to address their communities' most pressing needs.

I knew Rahm Emanuel would be a man to be watched, and closely. I doubt most citizens really care about this. How unfortunate.

Obama camp flip-flops ...

In the face of controversy, the Obama Administration has already flip-flopped, 73 days before he even takes office.

Change.gov has been set up as a window to watch the transition from Bush to Obama. We can expect many grand plans to be launched on this site. Don't expect them to remain there. At least not in their original form.

Under the America Serves tab, the following disturbing statement was made:

Obama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by developing a plan to require 50 hours of community service in middle school and high school and 100 hours of community service in college every year.

Oh, really? He will require our children to volunteer? Volunteerism is an excellent way for people of all ages to spend their time. It benefits our communities and enriches our lives. Forcing our children to serve other masters outside of our influence and without our approval is another matter.

The future administration thought better of their gaffe and the site now reads ...

Obama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by setting a goal that all middle school and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year and by developing a plan so that all college students who conduct 100 hours of community service receive a universal and fully refundable tax credit ensuring that the first $4,000 of their college education is completely free.

That's better, Mr. Obama. Please continue to keep your hands off of our children.

Roll up your sleeves ...

It's time for the conservatives in the United States to roll up their sleeves and force the Republican Party to return to it's conservative platform. We have four years to reclaim the Presidency, and in the meanwhile our Senate, Congress and individual state offices.

Centrist politics do not work. The people want to see a real difference between the parties. I have confidence in the traditional values of US citizens and their desire to see those values on a national front.

I don't believe our country will slide full-force forward into socialism, but ground will be lost in the next four years of an Obama presidency. We need to fight it every step of the way!