Conspiracy theorists on both sides of this fracas have been working overtime.

Never in my life have I ever seen such a level of goofiness. On one hand, it’s entertaining, and yet, on another, it makes me wonder just what is going on in this world.

Through my Twitter feed,(I am new to the medium) after I foolishly followed anyone that claimed to be a “conservative”, I was reading everything from “Obama: Antichrist?” to “Romney Controlled by the Illuminati” much this stuff was posted by people that seemed to be, well, “normal”.  I know some of it was “retweets” but, unfortunately, when someone “retweets” something, you can’t tell if it’s being done because they believe to be true, think it’s silly and worth derision, or are doing because they can’t believe what they just read.

So far, according to things I had read that were linked in various tweets and retweets, we were supposed to have a summer of extremely high (7.00/gal) gas prices, followed by runaway inflation, which were going to lead to food riots in the inner cities, which would spread to general disorder, lasting well in to the fall. Cities would be overwhelmed by these rioters, that they would have to call on Federal assistance to contain the worst of it.  The near-nationwide drought was to cause massive shortfalls in foodstuffs, which would cause prices to skyrocket, and the rioting to spread to the “wealthier” suburbs, thereby causing the Obama Administration to institute Martial Law as a way of controlling the chaos, and thereby suspending the elections, and effectively making him “Dictator”.

Or, we were supposed to have a “false flag” operation, a mass shooting of some kind at an immigration rally, which would lead to rioting and general disorder. Another variation of the “Martial Law” scenario above.

There were several other scenarios I had seen bandied about on Twitter, most of which were linked back to websites where one had to wonder about the mental stability of the site’s creator.

From the other side, the scenarios were more off the wall. “Massive White Movement to Enact Slavery” was one such article I was directed to.  Another was “Romney and Ryan’s Nazi Past”.  Apparently, a heretofore unknown US Nazi group was going to assassinate Obama, and all of Congress and install Mitt Romney, who was their shadow leader, as “Aryan dictator”…….

It’s been so much craziness. I had to take a break from the politics for a couple of weeks back at the end of August.

Of course, the Eschatologists had to have their say as well.  The stories that were retweeted, and linked were no less lurid, and no less “shocky” for lack of a better word.  One site had a list of things that Obama had done in his tenure so far as president with the words “Prophecy fulfilled’ in huge, bold faced 24pt blood-red type next to each item in the list. (Of course, the list was rather sketchy, and full of spelling and grammar errors) but the upshot was that Obama’s presidency was the last link in the chain to the coming of the AntiChrist….  Other stories that were linked were much the same. (I am not well versed in Biblical Propehcy, only because I find it so full of symbolism that it’s hard for me to decipher,  and every “expert” in the subject has a different spin on the meanings)

But, the rioting, the martial law, the Muslim takeover hasn’t happened. (at least not yet).  Is there a “dark side” to this 2012 campaign? Yes, there is, and it is because of the man who is President.  He has shown himself to be untrustworthy, a liar, and clearly working against the interests of this country.  A personality like him, is only going to fuel the kind of conspiracies I was reading about.

How far off the mark are they?

Who knows.

Here’s to hoping, after Nov. 6th, we won’t have to find out.  I know this is not just another election.  But I wonder if all of the alarmism out there was either a bit premature, or a bit overdone. Or is it, in this electronic age, theories, or stories, or whatever, that would have barely seen the light of day 30 years ago, are more prevalent because they can be passed around with the click of a mouse?

Heck, I was so gripped by some of this stuff, that I even posted an “alarmist” diary here on RS, back in March.  I now wish I had never written it, because it sounds a tad foolish now.  (to me, anyway)

Things are tense going into these last two weeks, mainly because we are waiting for the “October Surprise” from the Obama campaign (My feeling is they really don’t have one….but, I could be wrong) that will attempt to derail the Romney campaign.  It is also tense because the race is so close, and many people cannot figure out for the life of them why such a dismal example of a President has so much support out there.  I have a family member who is voting for Obama, but can’t give a reason why other than “he saved our house”.  I have also taken and trimmed down my list of people I follow on Twitter, (many of whom are diarists here at RS) to include those who are level headed in their thinking, and not prone to tweeting much of the insanity that is out there.  I have also learned to take a closer look at many of the people that call themselves “conservative” on there.  If they are being followed by those I have come to trust, then, I will probably see what they are all about.

I don’t know what to think anymore.  But, what I do know, is I am going to vote for Romney on Nov 6th, and I am encouraging as many people as I can to do the same. It is the only way we can insure that the disaster that has been the last 4 years does not continue for four more.

As I watched Condeleeza Rice last night, that line stuck in my mind.  In fact, I kept thinking about it while I was working last night, and then catching up on Twitter and my other news feeds.

During the perusal of my RSS last night, that line echoed in my head as I came across a photo of a “Code Pink” protester dressed as a female body part, and holding a sign that said “Abortion on demand”.  The juxtaposition of that image, and Ms. Rice’s speech showed just how stark the contrast is between those who believe in this country, and those who don’t.

I saw some more photos this morning, all taken at the convention.  Ann Romney, Janna Ryan, Condi Rice, Mia Love, as well as a few others.   These women are proof of the line from Ms. Rice’s speech, and again, I contrasted these photos, showing strong, intelligent, graceful, and even beautiful women with the photo of the protester dressed as a, well, you know……

One group of photos showed accomplishment, achievement, intelligence, generosity, and purpose.

The other photo showed “gimme, gimme, gimme”.

There is no other way, in this country to get anywhere.  You go as far as you allow yourself. You go as far as the effort you put into your life takes you. But, that is something that is falling on deaf ears with many in this country. We have gotten to a point where success, any kind of success, is vilified, demonized, and even, if some had their way, criminalized.

I saw another picture. It was of one of the Occupy Movement protesters, holding a sign that said “What about me?” And then, I looked at my wall, and there was a photo of my dad.  Dad worked hard. Dad demanded that we work hard.  Dad guided us, and filled us with the values of hard work, honesty, integrity, decency, faith in God, and faith in our abilities.  Dad was a manager, a firefighter, and then Fire Chief, he was also a small business owner.  Dad could burn the midnight oil like nobody else, get up the next day, and do it all again.  I remember the times when I was a petulant teenage know-it-all challenging any value he held, and remember being shown, not told, how I was wrong in my self-righteous and self absorbed beliefs.  I was shown  the example Dad showed and lived.  See, he didn’t tell me, or my brothers and sister, he showed us.

So, with that image in my mind, I see this clean cut college student, smart phone in hand, back pack on his back, with the logo of a popular computer manufacturer on it, doing his best to look like he is down and out, holding a sign that said “What about me?”

Gimme, gimme, gimme.

You have to.

I need.

Gimme, gimme, gimme.

Entitlement abounds.  People, especially young people, not only want, but demand that things be given to them at the expense of others.  And when someone dares to speak about how that isn’t going to be, the speech is met with viciousness.  Not disagreement, no. Viciousness. Verbal attacks calling for the destruction, death, or injury of the speaker. If that speaker just happens to be a “person of color”, the attacks are even worse.  It’s not fringe lunatics doing this either.  It’s the mainstream.  Actors, Actresses, “news” anchors, commentators on national networks. This isn’t disagreement, this is hatred.  It is “You either agree with me, or face the consequences”.

This is where we are at.

We live in a society that is more than ever before, lazy, self indulgent, demanding, and amoral.  We are at the precipice.

We are at the cusp of a future that can either lead us back, or take us out.

It’s not just about the President we elect either.  It starts, or ends, with the decision that is made in November.  It is going to take more than a Presidential election, or even gubernatorial, Congress, or Senatorial.  Those are all starting points.  The changes, the real changes have to come from the people.  We have to start pushing back against the tide of corruption, ignorance, immorality, decay, debauchery, and destruction that this society has become. We, as a people, have to pick up the standard of values, and start carrying them.

We have to be like my Dad.  We have to show, not tell.  Dad did things for people without any other consideration, beyond the fact that they were a person who needed something. We don’t have to do big productions, we don’t have to call attention to calling for a moral shift.  We just have to act. When we act in the small ways, eventually, it changes the big things. We start, by teaching these things to our kids.

This is the future of the United States of America. Romney and Ryan can set the course, we must steer the ship. It’s not enough to have jobs and prosperity.  We have to show what this country has always been about, we have to live the values, not just talk about them.  It may seem impossible, but,  we must make it inevitable.

Jesus told us to “be the light of the world” and a “city on the hill”.  That we must do.  Whatever your faith, it is what we must do.  We must bring this country back, not only in the economic, and leadership sense, but as a society of values.

It can’t be any other way.

(Crossposted to  Chairman of the Awkward Squad)

Example: Todd Akin.

Todd Akin was asked, during an interview with KTVI-TV, asked Mr. Akin about “abortion in the case of rape or incest” and he said:

“It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare,” Mr. Akin said of pregnancies from rape. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

“legitimate rape” are the two words that will go down as the words that potentially doomed, but definitely derailed, a campaign.  I have no idea where he got the whole “has a way to shut that down” idiocy from.  I can understand a gaffe, but, this wasn’t a gaffe.  Akin’s remarks smack as uninformed, and uneducated.  Precisely how the left views most pro-life conservatives, and his remark played right into their hands.  This was stupidity on display.  There are no two ways about it.

Now, we are dealing with a totally derailed GOP message.  We have gone from “Jobs, Economy, Energy” to “Abortion and rape”.  This fits in the Left’s “War on Women” meme (I hate that word) that they have been pushing for the last few months.  Even Sandra Fluke is getting mileage out of this, and is coordinating with Barack Obama on a campaign  email that will continue to lump all of us Conservatives, and Republicans into the same box, under the “War on Women” meme (I really hate that word).

Right now, we have lost the message.  The Romney campaign dodged this whole mess by condemning Akin’s remarks. If they hadn’t, or had remained silent for more than 10 minutes on it, the media would be spinning Romney into this.  Not that they haven’t tried, but, had Romney’s campaign remained silent, the media spin would have been more damaging. By condemning the remarks, Romney did put some distance between his campaign and Todd Akin’s stupidity.

However, that isn’t going to last very long. The longer Akin is in the race, the more likely it is that it will do damage (how much, remains to be seen) to the Romney campaign. Right now, the focus is off of the real issues, and on to this stupid sideshow.  It’s where the Obama campaign wants the focus, and actually needs the focus to be. They need it off of Medicare, Obamacare, jobs, unemployment, gas prices, energy in general, national security, and any other actual issue that he has a poor record on.  Right now, Romney and Ryan are still out there spreading their message, in an effort to keep the focus where it needs to be.  That can’t last if this Akin business persists. Eventually they are going to have to answer to it as well, even though their condemnation of his remarks have pretty much made it clear.  The Left is trying to tie this into Paul Ryan as well.

The other part of this is the usual “If a Democrat had said this he would have gotten a pass”.  Yes, a Democrat would have.  Get over it.  We need to stop complaining about the “unfairness” in media reporting.  it’s deliberate.  We know that.  Now stop.   We are never, ever, ever, ever, ever going to get a fair shot from the media. Ever.  Stop complaining.  Right now, we have a problem.  We have a candidate who failed us. Something needs to be done. Right now, this idiot, and his remarks are taking up news cycle after news cycle, and drowning out the real message that Romney/Ryan are trying to get out there.

I am not saying that our chances of winning in November are ruined.  What I am saying, is the longer this plays, the more the focus is taken off of the real issues.  We can’t have that.  This country cannot afford it.  We can not have the terms “legitimate rape” be the defining terms of this presidential election, not when so much is at stake. We need to define the terms of this election, we cannot let the Left define them for us.  However, when a remark such as Akin’s is made, we have lost the battle for definition, and are on the defensive….Again.

Todd Akin has to go.

From everything I have read, he doesn’t want to.  A PPP Poll released yesterday shows him up over Claire McCaskill by 1 point.  It was a poll that had a Republican sample that was 9% larger, and thereby seems to have skewed the results, in an effort, it would seem, to convince Akin he still has a chance.  He ruined his chances with a remark that was woefully uninformed and, ignorant.

Todd Akin needs to be convinced that the best thing for him to do is to get out of the race.  However, the public spectacle that would ensue if he doesn’t get out, and the GOP, or someone, sues to have him removed, would also serve to damage our efforts.  Trying to run a 3rd candidate would only guarantee McCaskill gets another term.  It’s not a good situation, and the best thing for him to do, is to elect to get out, and let the damage get repaired.  His selfish intransigence will only serve to make matters worse.

Cross-Posted to: Chairman of the Awkward Squad

Words that my father and mother always used to speak (or shout) when one of us kids’ vocabulary wandered into “off color” territory.

“Think before you speak.”

Words of wisdom, to guard against putting one’s foot in one’s mouth…..

Those words should also apply to political candidates.

Todd Akin should have, this past weekend, at least ordered his thoughts before speaking.  His remarks were out of line, and completely ill-informed.  When one wishes to speak on a subject, one should had least have some knowledge of that subject.

Unfortunately, knowledge escaped Mr. Akin.

Once remarks like his hit the airwaves, no explanation, no matter how reasonable, or, truthful, is going to bring those words back, nor change the interpreted meaning.  Note that I said “interpreted meaning”. In many cases, especially things said during a political campaign, people here what they want, as opposed to what is being said.  Akin’s remarks just fed into the “war on women” narrative, being waged by Left. However, in his case, his remarks needed little interpretation.

What Mr. Akin should have said, in response to that reporter’s question was: “I am pro-life. Next question please”, or, “That’s a decision between a woman and her doctor, abortion in the case of rape, incest should be on a case by case basis”  The first response would have put the the Left in to it’s usual response mode, decrying all Republicans as “anti-woman” and etc.  But, at least the answer would have been un-ambiguous, and pretty much benign, and therefore, of limited value to the pro abortion crowd.  The second response would have gotten a negative reaction from many pro-lifers, but, since it is such a touchy issue, the response would have been muddled at best, and not approaching “outrage” levels.

Unfortunately, Mr. Akin did neither.  He said something, that in his mind probably sounded reasonable and well thought out. After he spoke, it sounded so off key, and out of line, it couldn’t help but garner the reaction that it did.

So, now, amid calls for Mr. Akin to step down, this campaign has become has now become about abortion, and women’s rights. Mr. Akin has just handed the Democrats something to run with, something they will use to overshadow the economic issues that are the most important thing going on right now.

“See, Republicans HATE women.”

I can hear it now. There is nothing like using a moral/social issue to trump the economic ones that Romney has been beating up Barack Obama with over the last week. Especially one that inflames passions on both sides.  The Romney campaign, in an move that absolutely reeked of wisdom, condemned Mr. Akin’s remarks, and moved on, thereby distancing themselves from the problem.  For if Romeny were to embroil his campaign in this Missouri Mis-step(right into it) it would have completely taken the focus off of the major issues, and focused it completely on a sideshow.  The Obama campaign, however, would love the focus to stay right there, because it plays into their hands, and they can get a ton of mileage out of this and the “war on women”.  They can use it to steer the narrative, and keep it, (and voter’s minds) off the economic, energy, and employment issues that are really the central issues.

Mr. Akin, please step down.

Seriously. It’s time to go.  We need the focus off of you, and on the economy.  You are not showing “courage and determination” by staying in the race, you are showing that you don’t get what you said, and how much damage it has done.

In a sane world, explaining what you really meant, along with an apology probably would have cleared things up for some people However, this is not a sane world. This is politics.

A presidential election year, no less.

Something like this has consequences, especially when the stakes are this high.

Sorry, Mr. Akin, but, really, it’s time to go.

When you get right down to it, it is an argument that is probably never going to end.

Before I get into it. I am pro gun, and I am pro 2nd Amendment.  If I had the money, I would probably own some firearms. A good friend of mine has a pair of M1 Garands that I covet…(The WWII historian in me….)

Whenever there is a mass shooting, such as the Aurora, CO. theatre, or the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, the folks  on both sides of the debate, step into the spotlight.  I keep hearing both sides, and in listening to their arguments, it is truly an “all or nothing” fight.  Pro gun Advocates will not budge from “shall not be infringed” and the Anti-Gun zealots will not budge from “ban all guns everywhere”.

I often wonder, and I have debated with friends, and family, if there could ever be such a thing as “reasonable restrictions” on gun purchases, etc.  (I shudder to even use the word “restriction” here) When that subject comes up, one must begin to think:  “What constitutes reasonable”?

Is there even such a thing?

Both sides of the argument say “No” in the loudest voices possible.

So, I set out to explore, theorize, think about, whatever, would constitute a “reasonable” restriction.  Here in Illinois, one is required to register with the State Police, and obtain a Firearm owner’s Identification Card (or FOID) before purchasing a firearm.  Most other states do not require such.  In Illinois, one is also subject to a criminal background check before being allowed to purchase a weapon.  I have heard that these restrictions, if you want to call them that, are considered “reasonable” because it doesn’t “infringe” on ownership, it just forces you to wait a few days. (Which, when you think about it is an infringement). The logic behind that line of thinking goes something like this: If we force would-be gun owners to wait a few days, someone who is purchasing a gun to commit a crime, might change their mind, while waiting for their gun.  First of all, most criminals obtain guns illegally in the first place. So, the “reasonable” criteria went out the window on that one.

The more I thought about what constitutes “reasonable” would be considered “restrictive” by the pro-gun crowd, and “not restrictive enough” by the anti-gun crowd.

My friend, the M1 Garand owner is very much in favor of Concealed Carry. Something most gun-hating liberals froth at the mouth over when they hear those words.  I am in favor of CC as well.  I simply think it’s a good idea. So, when thinking about what constitutes “reasonable”, I began to trip over the same thing: What one would consider reasonable, both sides of the argument are not going to agree to, because it either restricts, or isn’t restrictive enough.

There seems to be no compromise on this issue, and even, in my own mind, I struggle to compromise.  A “common sense” approach? Who is going to define what is “common sense” when it comes to gun ownership. I have thought that, perhaps a mandatory training class on the use, and storage of the weapon, perhaps held by one’s local police department.  I mean, “common sense” would tell one, that if one buys a firearm, then one should be trained in its use, storage and cleaning,  A mandatory shooting class, perhaps?  Perhaps one that would teach the new gun owner how to load, sight, and fire. But, then, anyone that I know that has bought a gun, the first thing they do is learn how to use it, and take courses on how to use it in defense of their home and family.  So, making such a thing mandatory might be seen as “too restrictive”, in addition to redundant. And, the anti-gun folks would think something like that would be beyond crazy, because if you teach someone to use a weapon…they might use it. Or, they would want the class to focus on making  its use as difficult as possible. Also, according my friend, most, if not all gun shops offer beginners courses on firearm ownership, safety, firing, cleaning, etc. It would be up to the gun purchaser to sign up for those classes.

The gun argument, if anything, is more emotional, than it is logical, especially from the anti-gun crowd.  Both sides use statistics, numbers, and other arguments to persuade, and trot out emotional charged anecdotes to make their cases.  Unfortunately the anti-gun crowd fails miserably in this realm, because they trot out the same tired old stories.  In my mind, an armed person, who knows what they are doing, can be a deterrent to a criminal, or other individual who wishes to do harm.  Criminals like to live as well, and most of them are not going to take unnecessary chances, none of them want to face down their would be victim, or victims if they are armed.  The anti-gun crowd doesn’t think so.  They think one more armed person is going to add to the problem.  Or, even worse, that the criminal will take, and use the gun against the person trying to defend themselves.

So, as I think about things further, I begin to realize, that in all honesty, there is no solution. And, there probably shouldn’t be. The main problem in this society, is not the guns. It’s the people. It’s the lack of respect for life.  The lack of morality. The lack of respect for right and wrong. And, the need, for whatever reason, to meet any slight, either real, or perceived, with deadly force.  The real problem, lies within us.  I know, from my long experience as a 9-1-1 Operator and fire fighter, there are always going to be violent, hateful, destructive people, who are going to prey on society as a whole, or those they perceive as weaker, or more vulnerable than the rest, and because of that, having the Constitutionally-protected  right, and ability to defend oneself is a necessity.

The other thing I also realize, that the anti-gun crowd is not interested in protecting rights, or anything like that.  They just want to disarm us, because, in their convoluted logic, that makes for a safer society.  However, real logic would dictate that our society would be anything but.

The conclusion I have come to is that there really isn’t a reasonable solution to this argument, or, maybe  the way things are, is perfectly reasonable.  Some people in our society can’t live with that.

Cross posted to: Chairman of the Awkward Squad.

It was about Freedom of Speech.

In it’s simplest form, that’s what it was about. It was about showing support for the one right we have that probably matters the most.  The right to express an opinion without fear of prosecution, persecution, censure, or any other kind of binding restriction.

Why were the people there?  They can’t all be intolerant-Christian-anti-gay-bigots, can they? Because, as we all (are supposed to) know, Chick-Fil-A is run by a bunch of intolerant, hateful people…….. you know the drill.  Anyone who comes out in disagreement with anything the Left says, is a hateful, intolerant bigot.

Well, the Left, those people who are full of love, and charity and kindness, and most of all “tolerance” would like you to believe that.  The twitterverse was alive with tweets from those tolerant people, wishing death, disease and diarrhea on those “Christian bigots’ who were enjoying their chicken sandwiches, and waffle fries. I find the use of “Christian” and “bigot” in the same phrase by people whose very lives are defined by bigotry of the worst kind, quite ironic.

Anyway.  The issue at hand was not gay marriage, or gay rights, or what have you.  In fact, let me go on record as saying, I really don’t care who you sleep with. It really doesn’t matter to me.  However, the militant, gay activist left seems to want to make it my business, and make it matter to me.

The real issue at hand was freedom of speech, and the reason for the huge turnout at these restaurants, was not a repudiation of gays and their desire to be married, it was about people being fed up with a bunch of bullies trying to silence someone who voices their opinion, an opinion that they are entitled to.  There were people from all walks of life at the restaurants, eating chicken to show support for the freedoms we still hold dear.

Sorry, Lefties. Your attempt to silence a person, and demonize their business failed miserably, because by and large, Americans, despite the disparity of our beliefs still like to be able to speak our mind without being punished by those who think they know better than the rest of us.

The statement that was made yesterday showed that Americans simply are not going to tolerate this kind of infringement on our freedoms.  The statement was not made by conservatives, or Christians, or bigots, or racists… it was made by Americans.  People sick and tired of groups of people, as well as a government that think they can dictate what we should be thinking.

Crossposted to  Chairman of the Awkward Squad

A subject sure to inflame passions just as much as politics or religion these days. In some ways, however, it is intertwined with both, because, for some, the Environment is a religion…

The left wants to rid us of fossil fuels, nuclear power, and any other form of energy that they don’t deem as being “green”.  The right wants oil independence, developing energy sources within this country, because that will create jobs, grow the economy, and reduce costs of everything.  It will bring prosperity to more people, and more prosperity is a good thing.

So, the left cries “No! We must think of the environment” Oil is bad, it spills, in contaminates, it fouls the air we breathe.  Spent nuclear fuel can poison a large area for generations. Coal poisons the air we breathe…. and it goes on, and on.

The right cries “Yes!” We must think of future generations, and our own independence, we must provide a stable, secure nation for our children to grow up in”. Oil is good, we have invented many things that use oil, and the derivatives we gain from refining it, it is efficient, and readily available.  Coal is abundant, it is also efficient at producing electricity, and we need cheap electricity.  Spent nuclear fuel can be safely stored for generations, where, if properly done is poses little or no risk……

And the argument goes on.

Both sides, in their own minds, are right about this.  Both sides deem their desires rational, by the standards they set for themselves.

Let’s take another look at things…. from a “common sense” standpoint.  From the view of a regular American guy, with a family, who is smart enough to understand a few things.

The Left wants solar, wind, and bio fuels.  The Right wants oil, coal, natural gas, and nuclear power.  The left wants fuel efficient hybrid cars, perhaps, mandated by the government.  The Right also wants fuel efficient cars, and they also want to leave the choice of what we drive up to us.

Reduce, Recylce, Reuse… make “Gaia” happy.  Please Mother Earth.

In the Bible, God gave man dominion over the earth, and all of its creatures, plants, and birds of the air. (See Genesis 1) But he also commanded man to be a “good steward” of the earth, and to take care of it.

So, in all of this rancor surrounding the “environment” I decided I would ask some questions, and try and find the answers, and see what kind of energy makes sense for the planet.

On a recent road trip to go photograph trains with my kids, we were driving west on I-88 on our way to a town called Rochelle, IL. Along the way, I happened to notice a wind turbine farm had sprouted up, since I was last out that way (about 4 years ago). I had never seen a wind turbine outside of photos, so I was impressed with the size. The wind farm itself, had a surreal look about it. It was odd to see so many huge three-bladed propellers (or would they be “impellers” since the wind drives them, and not the other way around?) so high above the ground.  The wind farm stretched as far as the eye could see. My kids (10 and 11) began to ask questiosn about how they work, how much electrcity they produce, and etc.  Which got me to thinking.  How much do they produce, and how efficient is it?  In addition to that, I couldn’t help but notice that the wind farm took an awful lot of farm land out of commission.  I could see the old barns and silos, on what had obviously been a farm, prior to becoming what it is now.  That got me wondering about land use, and the effect large numbers of these wind farms could have on farm productivity…. So, I when I got home I cracked open the laptop, and began looking.

After reading various web pages, and blogs, as well as forums and such.  I came away from the whole thing, thinking that there isn’t much in the way of rational thinking when it comes to the energy debate, especially from the Left.

As a “regular guy” who, like millions of others, works, and raises a family, I want, and need energy prices to be affordable. What are we supposed to do? Operate like Pakistan where they practice “Load shedding”? “Load Shedding” is a practice where power is turned off to large portions of various cities, to insure enough electricity for is available for “vital” functions. This is usually done for 8-12 hours a day, and its “rolling” so the same place isn’t affected every day.  If this nation goes down the path of relying solely on “renewable” energy, and continues the shuttering of coal fired power plants, that is where we will be.  Of course, I am sure the Washington, and Hollywood “elites” wouldn’t have to suffer through such a thing, should that come to pass.

The simple truth is: What we have now, works.  You want your renewable energy?  Fine.  From a common sense standpoint, it would assist in making our current resources last longer. But, don’t try and force it on the rest of us as a “solution” for something that isn’t broken.    If an individual feels the need to go “all solar” for their home, then, more power to them, so long as they foot the bill.  (Currently, a solar panel large enough to generate enough power to run everything in an average home runs about 16,000.00 for a 285 square foot panel)

So far, all I have seen from the left, and from the President, are hugely expensive, fantasy-type solutions, that are simply going to cost the average citizen more money. It’s not a “solution” at least, not from a common sense, practical, and economical standpoint.

Cross posted to WordPress.

The economy is still a mess

The country is on the brink of God only knows what,

And yet, Mr. Obama still garners 50% of the vote in just about any poll you hear about.  He is confident beyond anything I have seen in any other President.  His supporters (I live in Chicago, a bastion of Obama support) are posting suggestions for hotels to stay in for the Inauguration in January on internet forums, and Facebook.

He is confident he will be back. He even tells the Russian President he will have “more flexibility” after the election.

His supporters are very confident. I was talking to one just the other day.  “Obama is a shoo-in for President” She says. The attitude I get is one of confidence, but also, of certainty.  Many of the supporters who live in my neighborhood are acting as if he has already been reelected, they act as if the election is a mere formality.

The thing that bothers me more, is the few Republicans that I know around here, seem to have already accepted defeat.

Now, I am not a conspiracy theorist, a RonPaulian, I don’t read DebkaFile, or subscribe to PrisonPlanet. But, I am a student of history, and I have made a lifelong study of WWII, military, and political history.  I don’t like what I am seeing.  I don’t like what I am hearing.  There is a large number of people in country who are angry, and have had it with this Administration, his cronies, the media and the Liberal Left in general.

There is also a large number of people in this country who don’t care, don’t pay attention, and to whom the direction this country is going matters little.

It is my opinion, (so take it for what it’s worth) my gut feeling, that as we approach November, this country will have it’s “Reichstag Moment”.  The president just signed that Executive Order that, from my understanding, gives him the power to impose martial law. Now, I will claim ignorance to most of it’s content, so I may be misunderstanding this on some level as well. But, from what I am seeing, hearing and reading, it would seem that such a thing could happen, and if it did, probably about early to mid-October I would think.

What would it be?  I don’t know, use your imagination.  Something that would allow Mr. Obama to impose martial law, suspend the election, and make himself de facto dictator.

Why do I say this?

The Left has NEVER been this close to absolute power.  To think they will surrender it in an election, and acquiesce to the wishes of the American people is in my mind, a bit of a stretch.

Many of the fringe groups on left are becoming aggressive, and harsh in their rhetoric. More so than I have ever seen in my life.

When one is in the areas where Obama support is strong, one gets the feeling some of the these people know what is coming, and that they have nothing to worry about.

On the flipside to that, most Americans are sitting on their hands, not paying attention to the details, and relying too much on network news to get their information.  The Black Panthers put a 1 million dollar bounty on the head of George Zimmerman, and no one says anything.  Not the media, the President, the Governor of Florida, or the Attorney General.  No one speaks out.  I hear about the “outrage” of the American people.  Where I am at, there is no “outrage”. I see either fervent Democrat support, or Republican pusillanimity. Bill Maher, and his like-minded media types spew hatred, nastiness, obscenity across the airwaves, and yet no one says a word.  No action is taken, and the protests from people on the right, regardless of how loud, are ignored, and by that ignorance, silenced.

I hear about how the Left is more organized, how they move in lockstep, and support one another for “The Cause”.  I hear about how strong conservatives are, but how conservative activists are not organized, not in lockstep, and do not support one anothe for “The Cause”.  I see overly aggressive, bullying leftists occupying State Houses, parks, and whole city blocks. I see a handful of conservative protesters.  When do we organize? When do we fight?

The fight is coming.  They are bringing it to us whether we want it or not.  We can’t cower from it. We can’t wish it away.  The aggressor sets the rules.  The Left is the aggressor.  We need to meet them on their terms.  It has come this far.  I have seen it play out in history in the past.  I have seen the warning signs from the history books for years. It’s inevitable. It’s coming.

November is not going to be pretty.  It’s going to be a street fight Literal? Figurative?  I can’t tell right now, but, it is going to be ugly, uglier than anything we have seen prior.   Call me negative, call me cynical, call me a right-wing-RonPaulian-DebkaFile reading-conspiracy theorist- nut job, if it makes you feel better.  I am none of those.

I believe:

In the American people
We live in the greatest country ever.
I have deep love for my nation, and it’s institutions.
I believe our values are a force for good
I believe in one, true, holy God and our Savior
I believe we can overcome the evil that confronts this nation.

I also believe, that at some point, it is going to take more than ballots to defeat this evil.  A call to arms? No. It is a call to wake up and pay attention, to be vigilant and aware, and to stand up, and be counted.

The Left doesn’t get it.

Last Tuesday, and election of historical proportions had taken place in this country, serving notice on the Obama Administration that we, as a people, are sick and tired of a government run amuck.

But, they aren’t listening. Playing down the results with condescending statements, such as “voter anger” or insulting the American people by saying we aren’t “thinking clearly” does very little to increase the Administration’s credibility among the American people.

Let me put it this way: First of all, the American people are not as dumb as most liberals and Lefties want to believe, or, actually believe. The American people are smart, savvy, protective of their freedoms, and they know a bad deal when they see one. Across the country, American people took a hard look at the way the country was going, and decided they were going to do something about it.

They did.

They went to the polls and voted, they voted their pocketbook, their wallet, their dreams of their futures as well as their children’s. The read papers, listened to politicians, researched issues, and decided “enough is enough”.

American people, by and large, are not “sheeple”, your average American is a hard working, thinking individual with a strong sense of right and wrong. Americans, in general, don’t want anyone taking away the things they have worked for and earned, be it money, property, possessions, or rights. Yes, rights, or in this case Rights, as in the Bill of Rights. There are people that have been in my life for a long time, that were pretty ambivalent about the political process, issues, and what goes on in Washington. For many years they didn’t pay much attention, because they had jobs, families to raise, and work to do. So long as they were living their lives without interference or oversight, they were fine. They were confident that all would be taken care of. “This is America” they reasoned “Things will work out.” And rightly so. I have often thought that way myself. In America, we have a way of working things out, correcting mistakes, and “righting the ship” as it were. So long as there was a job, a paycheck, and the freedom to do as we wished with our lives, worship the way we wanted, and, raise our families as we saw fit, we were all okay. Washington was a sometimes pain in the rear, but, we trusted, in a distant sort of way, the people we sent there to run things. So long as things were stable at home, at work, and in the community, we paid attention to what was going on locally, and left the national issues to those we elected to take care of them.

Then came 9/11, the first real event in my life that woke people up, those ambivalent ones, who were enraged that someone dared to disrupt their way of life. The attack called to mind the sacrifices over the last 200 years of Americans in the past to retain, and defend the freedoms of this country. People who didn’t even know what Islam was at the time, became knowledgeable over night. Post 9/11, life began to settle down again, but, people were keeping an eye out over their shoulder. They saw the threat as external, something that the people in Washington needed to take care of, to keep the enemies off of our shores. Life continued, it was more or less prosperous for many of us, and while we hit and economic bump in 2002-2003, it corrected itself like we knew it would.

Then came the Recession of 2007. At first, it didn’t seem so bad, but, as months went by, Americans began to see just what may be in store for them. They turned to the people in Washington, appealed to them to fix the problem. It didn’t get fixed, it got worse. A presidential election was coming in 2008, and we knew what we had to do, if the party in power didn’t fix things. Jobs were being lost in huge numbers, economists were using words like “Recession” “Depression”, and “Economic collapse”. Banks were failing, and business was bleeding jobs. We were in two wars, one less popular than the other. Chaos seemed right around the corner.

Then, like a light in a tunnel, a Presidential candidate appeared on the scene. He was smooth, suave, exuded confidence and promised to change things, fix the economy, bring American out of the dumps and restore jobs, and confidence. Americans took to his message. After eight years of Bush, and a failing economy at the end of his term, Americans said “no more majority, Republicans, it’s time of fix this.” In the age-old American tradition of “if you can’t fix it, we’ll find someone who can.” Barack Obama and the Democrats swept the Republicans out, and the Democrats, with their message of “Hope and Change” in. America looked to Barack Obama with Kennedy like awe, and Reagan-like confidence. He talked well, and said all the right things. He appealed to that part of many Americans, that just wants to be left alone to live their lives in peace, be allowed to prosper, and be free to make their own choices. (there were, however, many people who knew exactly what Barack Obama was, and what his intentions were,  but that’s another diary entry)

Soon after the Inauguration, American began to have it’s doubts. First, came the “Stimulus” designed, it was said, to create millions of jobs. It faltered, it sputtered, and, it ultimately didn’t deliver. Then came Health Care Reform, a law that made many Americans wake up and say “what the…?” Packaged to appear innocuous, the 2,000 page monstrosity set off debate after debate. Americans began to question why the government needed to take over 1/6^th of the economy, and as far as many Americans were concerned a segment that was working just fine. The more Americans looked at the promised “hope and change” proffered by Washington, the less confident and more concerned they became. Jobs kept going away, unemployment kept rising, and all that Washington was willing to offer was more failed stimulus, more regulation, and higher taxes. Americans began to realize that the Unions, the one-time protector of the American worker was now, working in Washington seeking to shackle the same workers that they purportedly protected. Americans saw, for the first time in their lives, their freedoms being threatened, not by an outside enemy, but by their own government. They were being told, that they had no idea what was best for them, that the government would take care of it. And, in the classic American way, the American people rebelled. They started standing up to their Senators, and Congressmen, Governors, and State Reps, and began to demand accountability, explanation, and that their interests be front and center. They began to research, to read, to become more informed about what Washington was up to. They realized, many of the previously ambivalent ones, that Washington needed watching. “Town Hall” meetings reverberated with angry Americans demanding that their elected officials listen to them, and be accountable to them. Many of them decided to not listen to their constituents, figuring they knew better than the people they governed. They voted how their party wanted them to, not their constituents. Americans grew angrier.

Then, came the “Tea Party”. Groups of Americans, from all walks of life, and every economic stripe began to take an even harder look at the people in Washington, and decided that these people need to be removed.

So, the Bloodless Rebellion was born. “Tea Partiers” organized, raised money, and funded candidates who campaigned on the ideals set forth by our Founding Fathers. Less Government, more power to the people and the states, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and it went on. Dismissed by the Washington elite, ridiculed by the mainstream media, these people forged on, and movement gained steam. A lot of steam. In a very short time. The 2010 midterms were coming, and the American people knew, that if thee face of Congress as well as their state and local governments were not changed, they could count on more government, less freedom, and more restrictions. The Constitution was publicly disregarded by many politicians, some of them even calling the document “irrelevant” or saying that it had “outlived it’s usefulness”.(Phil Hare in downstate Illinois learned that lesson)

In the first months of 2010, primaries were held all over the country, and to the surprise of many in Washington, old, established politicians were being knocked out of the running in the primary. Yes, the primaries. The “ruling class” was being challenged by upstart, grassroots, “Tea Party” conservative candidates, and the Tea Party backed candidates were winning. Conservatives were winning, and Washington didn’t know what to do. As spring and summer wore on, poll after poll proclaimed disaster for the Democrats. But, the didn’t listen, they didn’t get it. They had no idea why the Americans were so angry. Barack Obama even said that we weren’t “thinking clearly”. They were being rejected, their ideas, repudiated.

On November 2^nd, the message was delivered. The largest swing in the House since 1948, over a dozen states elected Republican governors, ninety-nine State Houses changed to Republican majorities, Long time politicians were ousted, while others were forced to spend millions to retain their seats, when in the past, they hardly had to spend anything. A message was sent to Washington, as well as state capitals throughout the nation: “Stay out of our lives, quit wasting our money, and start listening to us, We are the reason you people have the jobs you have, DO NOT take us for granted anymore.”

In the course of the campaign, the American people got to see the true ugliness of the Left, the socialist Unions, and the various minority activist groups. It was all on display for us to see, as desperate people launched desperate bids to remain in power, stopping short…just short, of violence.

By and large, the American voter is an independent, who votes for those they they perceive as being the ones to protect their life and liberty, who is going to create jobs, and interfere less in their lives. The independent voter saw Barack Obama as the man who was going to do that, until he revealed what his true intentions were, and what he meant by “fundamentally transforming America”. The Congressional leadership also revealed who they were. The American voter said “no more”. Now, as our newly elected representatives get ready to take over their new jobs in January, we must, and I mean we MUST keep the pressure on and hold their feet to the fire. They need to realize, all of them, incumbent and newly elected, that they work for us, the people, we put them there. It is our money, our country, and they are the ones that are supposed to maintain it.

But, in the aftermath, the Left doesn’t get it. Angry people aligned with the left are throwing tantrums like petulant teen-agers, that their idealistic, and immature vision of a Socialist utopia has taken a hit. Media types cry, activists shout, and through it all, they continue to denigrate, insult, and belittle the American people, and fail to recognize, or even read, the message that was sent. Even some Republicans don’t get it. Left wing acquaintances of mine are depressed and angry, angry in a “how dare they do this to me” sense.

We are at an historic crossroads. Which road will we take? The fight is on, and the battle has been joined. In 2012, we do it all again, and we also get to replace the man at the top. It is time for all of us regular Americans, those of us who love our liberty, our rights, and our nation, to pressure Washington, and our State governments to listen to us, and only us. We need to remind them that we have the power, and that we are loaning it to them, to do the right thing with.

And, that “right thing” is to protect our security, maintain our freedoms, and keep the government out of our lives.

God help the newly elected who decides to go with “the established ruling class” in Washington.

Cross posted