About Me

Name: Tim Blessing
Biography
Loading...

Create Your Own Blog Find Other Townhall Blogs

Comments

Blog Roll

 

Spotlight on Scott McClellan

Posted by Tim Blessing on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 7:14:08 PM
Is Scott McClellan truth teller or a liar?
 
I think he might have an ax to grind where Bush is concerned.
 
Did he inflate his charges and evidence?  Probably, but compared to what Bush has done in Iraq it is small potatoes.
 
Let's say McClellan was fired for lack of performance, but a good man.
 
Let's say he could have resigned, but Bush would not let him resign.
 
Let's say McClellan needs his evidence to be corroborated by other peoples books and articles.
 
Safe to say, Bush was in a hurry to invade Iraq and would not listen to anyone let alone his press secretary.
 
In any administration, you have a siege mentality where the press and congress is concerned.
 
I say McClellan is a decent man with an ax to grind based on being fired for lack of job performance as perceived by Bush.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Libertarian Republican #205

Posted by Tim Blessing on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 8:34:42 PM
I think the country is on the wrong track on the whole range of issues, but not extremely off track.
 
I think Bush hurts Republicans directly and democrats indirectly.
 
I think Bush is like a typhoid Mary.
 
He infects everyone, but himself.
 
I see energy, environment, and the war on terror as the main three issues.
 
I think Republicans have advantages on these issues:
 
The Iraq War
The War on Terror
Taxes
National Defense
Foreign Policy
Macroeconomics
a split on values with democrats
 
I think democrats have advantages on these issues:
 
Healthcare
Federal Spending (default)
Social Security
Environment
Microeconomics
Energy
Education
a split on values with Republicans
 
It concerns me if the democrats control all 3 branches of government. (Clinton 93-94)
 
I am somewhat confident the economy will pick up provided Bush does not start anymore military actions.
 
The Real Estate Market, Fuel Prices, and Government Regulations are hampering the economy.
 
My family has nervousness about fuel costs.
 
I think tax cuts work on a macroeconomic level, but not the microeconomic level.
 
I would reduce spending at the Federal Level, but politics has a way of defeating that approach
 
I think health insurance is going to be partially nationalized in the near future no matter what conservatives think.
 
I would raise the retirement age to 72, raise the cap on income dramatically, and offer younger workers an option of a nonprofit 401(K).
 
Global Warming needs to be addressed over the next 10 years rather than immediately so as not to affect the economy in harmful way.
 
Medium Impact on my family in terms of higher fuel costs.
 
1) Build new oil refineries would be my top priority.
 
2) Wind/Solar would come next.
 
3) More funds for alternative fuels research.
 
4) Build new nuclear plants in the United States.
 
5) Tap previously unrecoverable oil.
 
6) Leave Alaska alone.
 
Earmarks are popular in Congress so that will not stop.
 
More money for border security.  How about increase the budget by $5 Billion or so.
 
ILLegal aliens need to be expelled as long as its done legally and more importantly rationally.
 
Employers should be shut down if found to hire illegals.
 
A guest worker program has a lot of complexities to it so  I would veto it.  Become a regular citizen for low wage jobs.
 
ILLegal immigration is an issue that cuts both ways for Republicans.  Unfortunately, Republicans do not control Congress so they have an excuse to lie low on the issue.
 
I would embrace social issues on those terms that of the Republican Party of Nixon and Eisenhower rather than in its current incarnation.
 
I do not support mandatory school prayer.
 
I do not support federal funding of faith based initiatives (Tax Breaks yes).
 
I do not look at flag burning as a big issue.
 
I do not agree right now with banning all abortions.
 
I do not agree with human cloning.
 
i do not see anything wrong with homosexual marriage since I have women friends.
 
 
I support the Terror War when its fought to get results.
 
I do not support the ideological approach of George W. Bush and his cronies.
 
 
The War on Terror will be an issue in 2008, but it will not have the drama it did 4 years ago.
 
The Public defers to the Republican Party when it talks about stabilizing Iraq and hands military duties over to a stronger Iraqi Government.
 
Republicans since Eisenhower have the advantage on foreign policy.  In the current climate, Bush has almost squandered that advantage.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Libertarian Republican #204

Posted by Tim Blessing on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 8:00:43 PM
I got a survey from the Republican Party today.
 
I am going to respond here to it.
 
I am a Libertarian Republican.
 
I vote in all elections.
 
I voted in 2004 and 2006.
 
I am in my 40s.
 
I am not in step with the religious right that dominates my region.
 
I watch CNN all day Monday, MSNBC on Tuesdays, and a mix of Fox News, Fox Business, and CNBC the rest of the week.
 
I read the main newspaper in my area.
 
I listen to talk radio late at night.
 
I read National Review, The Nation, The Weekly Standard,  The New Republic, Atlantic Monthly, Fortune, Forbes, Smart Money, TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly, People, and Us Weekly.
 
I read a mix of sources.
 
I do not go to many internet websites outside of my blog.
 
I talk to neighbors, people at the gym, and in church.
 
These are my political vital statistics.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Libertarian Republican #203

Posted by Tim Blessing on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 7:51:25 PM
George W. Bush and the dual track.
 
Presidential Candidate McCain is pursuing a dual track where Bush is concerned.
 
He wants Bush to corral that 1/3 of the voters who still like Bush, but have issues with McCain.
 
Get the benefits of associating with Bush's fundraising skills, while avoiding the hatred those 2/3s of the voters who do not like Bush.
 
Everything is done on a top secret basis or no press allowed.
 
The McCain Brand was topnotch 8 years ago.  Now, it is somewhat tarnished by not being new.
 
McCain was a war hero.  Now, I believe he is more of a war horse.
 
Bulldog determination rather than celebrity.
 
More like Nixon on his good points rather than JFKs glamour points.
 
In essence, McCain is trying to fashion an image of independence from Bush, while tapping into his fundraising skills.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Libertarian Republican #202

Posted by Tim Blessing on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 7:43:32 PM
Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change.
 
Its hard to say what effect Greenhouse Gases have on the Climate.
 
It seems that there is a lot of contradictory data.
 
I have noticed that the weather has been acting strange over the last four years or so.
 
It could be caused by the El Nino and La Nina affect in the South Pacific.
 
It could be caused by the Sun, passing comets/asteroids, shifts in the oceans currents.
 
I found that Accuweather.com at the University of Pennsylvania has the best analysis of weather related issues.
 
Let's say that greenhouse gases are part of the problem: what percentage?
 
Our we trying to change greenhouse gas emissions in such a way that it is harmful to the economy.
 
The United States uses a lot energy each day.  I think our total energy consumption is somewhere around 25% of the world's total.
 
So, yes, we could be influencing our national weather, but do not forget China who is becoming a big a culprit as we are in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
 
In essence, if we are to develop a green culture then you have to make the transition from a pollution industrial economy to a green industrial economy as painless as possible.
 
Tax incentives and other such devices would go a long way to persuading businessmen to make the transition.
 
A Green Economy where you still make money.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Spotlight on McCain and Nukes

Posted by Tim Blessing on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 7:31:10 PM
Nuclear Weapons Policy.
 
Its simple: they launch, we launch.
 
Barbaric, but its the only sensible policy available, until missile defense is a reality.
 
Do people trust McCain or Obama more with the control of Nuclear Weapons?
 
I prefer McCain based on his lifetime of experience in National Security Issues.
 
Obama might start drinking alcohol when he comes to the realization of the power of those weapons.
 
McCain has seen the brutality of war and knows its utility and limits in terms of it being a political instrument.
 
I may not like McCain's position on Iraq, but I would want him in control of the nuclear weapons policy.
 
Nuclear Nonproliferation is an important issue.  What drives the sale of the technology is money earned from sales.
 
Leaders need cheap power sources and Nuclear Power fits the bill.
 
In essence, if you offer a nonnuclear power system alternative then these countries would avoid nuclear technology.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Spotlight on Hillary and Sexism

Posted by Tim Blessing on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 7:23:05 PM
Hillary and the Sexism Charge.
 
I think if most men were honest they'd say Hillary is stronger than Barry, but the pattern seems to have been set in the primaries and caucuses.
 
What is Sexism?  Its an idea that might have been born in the late 1960s to describe men who were anti-women, except in taking care of the house, children, and the husband.
 
You might say that the more radical feminists saw this campaign as a way to enforce their ideas on the general public.
 
It might have worked, but Hillary talks more like an Eisenhower Republican than a Feminist Democrat.
 
I have noticed that some of her ideas seem to come out of Ike's playbook.  Not all, but some.
 
She seems to be more of the type that wants to make government work rather than some ideological struggle.
 
She was a goldwater girl in 1964, but turned the corner in the mid-60s,
 
Men from whom I have listened to on ocassion seem to think she's someone of an alternative lifestyle.
 
Given what Billy has put her through in terms of their long running soap opera marriage I could believe some of these insinuations.
 
What is a radical feminist after today? Abortion is legal, Equal Opportunity for Work and Education, and sexual harassment is in place.
 
Could they be defining the issue of sexism as a our way or the highway approach.
 
If so, there are a lot of people out in the country who do not subscribe to the more radical feminists utopian dreams whether rumor, innuedoes, fiction, or statistics.
 
In essence, the broad majority of women have about everything they could ask for, but revolutionaries do not have a purpose unless there is a revolution.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Libertarian Republican #201

Posted by Tim Blessing on Monday, May 26, 2008 8:46:17 PM
The Electoral College.
 
The President is thought to be elected by the Public, but in practice he or she is elected by the members of the electoral college and reviewed by Congress.
 
There is no law that says the electors have to vote for their prefered candidate.
 
In 1976, there was an elector from Oregon or Washington State who voted for Reagan.  Reagan ran in 1980 and 1984.
 
The Electoral College was created by the Founding Fathers as a way to give Americans a voice in choosing the President, but not direct election of him or her.
 
From what I read on the subject, this aspect of the Constitution was the least debated section of the Constitution.
 
If you intend to remove it from the Constitution that would take an amendment with 2/3s of both houses of Congress concurring and 38 state legislatures agreeing.
 
If you drop the winner take all aspect of this mechanism then you get convulsions like the democrats are going through now in picking Hillary and Barry.
 
The most dangerous effect of not having a winner take all approach from each state would have been 1968 when George Wallace pulled a substantial amount of vote into his column.
 
A check and balance mechanism that did not work in 1800, 1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000.
 
If you had direct election of the President you would have to decide is a plurality or majority of the popular vote necessary.
 
In the current system, the southeast usually votes as a block (150 votes), California has power, as does several other states.
 
The Western States use to vote Republican at all times, but with immigration they are starting to shift.
 
During the cold war, you had a Republican lock on the White House.
 
Now, more and more states are coming into play, which is good for voters and is hard on candidates.
 
A disruptive process that works about 90% of the time.
 
Should we change it?  I think big states in play get too much attention but again they are in play in election after election.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (1) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Libertarian Republican #200

Posted by Tim Blessing on Monday, May 26, 2008 8:31:33 PM
Special Forces.
 
They are the best of the best in the service.
 
Where do you recruit such people?
 
Advanced Students in High School or Advanced Students in College.
 
Its hardwork, but the training for future life endeavors is worth it.
 
I do not know how you get into the programs, but they must look for something special in an individual.
 
Army Rangers, Green Berets, Marine Force Recon, Navy Seals, Navy Seabees, and Air Force Special Ops Wing (I think).
 
All four services have their versions of special forces.
 
John F. Kennedy had this concept instituted back in 1961.  He was a romantic of a sort on war.
 
These people were the ones who went into Afghanistan in a big way back in 2001.
 
These men are not trained with women.  From what I have seen women are not allowed into these units.
 
I do not know what these men do when they retire or leave the service.
 
I do know they spend their time behind enemy lines in a lot of cases.  They will be going into Saudi Arabia and China in the near future.
 
Not to prepare for an invasion, but to maintain chaos.  That is in such a way to prevent fanatics from gaining power and reason wins out.
 
The wild west in the 19th Century. 
 
Talk to your local recruiter if your interested in this part of the military profession.
 
If you want to read books on this military art then the Military Book Club is the source.  Yes, its on the internet if you want to do research.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Libertarian Republican #199

Posted by Tim Blessing on Monday, May 26, 2008 8:18:23 PM
We each have ambitions.
 
We have a purpose in life.
 
We have skills gained from prior experience and education.
 
If we have not worked in 6 years or so like I have and you want to get back into the workforce then education is needed.
 
I have researched schools like Stanford, University of Miami, Virginia Tech, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and other such institutions.
 
Some people suggest doing it over the internet, in the classroom, or through a company training program.
 
There is the question of timing it with work, family, and your spouse.
 
Most Graduate Programs take two years and require a lot of money.
 
I like those Executive MBA Programs that take two years and meet on the weekends.
 
Money can come from a variety of sources: your company, military funded, financial aid, or private scholarship.
 
You need to take the Graduate Management Aptitude Test, Graduate Record Exam, or one of the other tests.
 
Suppose you already have a Master's Degree that did not require an entrance exam, but the Professors did an assessment of prior life to see if you had potential.
 
Suppose you were good at school, but lousy at SAT or other such tests.
 
Ironic, your record as you get older might be more important than a standardized test.
 
People in Human Resources deal with all kinds of people who have a variety of Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
 
If you have been out of school for a long period of time your mind may have an easier time adjusting to school than taking standardized tests.
 
I wonder what purpose the GRE, GMAT, and other such tests serve.  What do they measure?
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Libertarian Republican #198

Posted by Tim Blessing on Monday, May 26, 2008 7:56:38 PM
Barack and the issue of change.
 
A one word campaign slogan.
 
A speech that is long on flowery rhetoric, but short on specifics.
 
A Senate Record that appears to be limited in achievements.
 
A background that has a lot of shadowiness to it.
 
A man dealing in hope to a large group of voters who are dopes.
 
Why can they not see that while Barry is inspirational there is no substance to him?
 
He looks good on television, sounds authentic, and peddles snake oil.
 
In essence, he is a snake oil salesman who has a catchy word: change.
 
Where's the beef Barry?
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Libertarian Republican #197

Posted by Tim Blessing on Monday, May 26, 2008 7:51:31 PM
Rising Gasoline Prices.
 
There are no short term fixes to gasoline prices.
 
China may cease to be an oil importer in the near future if it collapses.
 
That would free up a lot of oil for the rest of the world.
 
Long term, we will see the invisible hand of the market bring supply and demand back into line.
 
People will quit buying gas guzzlers and return to fuel efficient cars.
 
The Environmental Movement's stranglehold on energy will be broken or their control of the issue will become limited.
 
Alternative Energy Sources will be developed along with new power systems for cars, houses, buildings, and other areas requiring electricity.
 
This is probably a 5 to 10 year process.  It will be painful like the 1970s, but we will be better off 5 years from now.
 
As long as you have a gas credit card and limit long trips we will be ok.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Libertarian Republican #196

Posted by Tim Blessing on Monday, May 26, 2008 7:44:36 PM
The Military and Politics.
 
Is your vote important if you are in the military?
 
It is your constitutional right, but the military has a purpose that imposes different rights and limitations on its members.
 
Dwight David Eisenhower did not vote, until 1948.
 
So there is precedence for this principle.
 
I served in the military for 6 years in the reserves and I saw people who had strong views on both sides of the political divide.
 
Politics is discussed, but the military culture is about absolutes: good vs. evil, right and wrong, truth and lies, and other such concepts.
 
In Florida, in the 2000 election there was a Bush majority of 500 votes.  This episode tore at the fabric of American Culture.
 
Does the military want to be responsible for causing an incident in the future on an issue similar this?
 
I voted in my time in the military, but some members did not vote.
 
Where's the middle road?  If your living within the 50 states, become a citizen of that state and vote there.  If your abroad then it becomes much harder.  It may be prudent to wait, until you come back to the states to continue voting.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Libertarian Republican #195

Posted by Tim Blessing on Monday, May 26, 2008 7:34:12 PM
An Open Letter to Killed in Action Families.
 
I supported the Afghanistan War because it was self-defense.
 
I like a lot of people did not understand the reason for the Iraq War II.
 
It was purely about oil.  Bush chose a military solution for an economic problem.
 
Bush is a secretive man when it comes to information.  I have read that he says, when in doubt classify.
 
So Congress did not have all of the relevant information at the appropriate times.
 
We have an oil supplier of equal size to Saudi Arabia, but they prefer to keep a low profile at the moment.
 
Saudi Arabia is going off in revolution at this moment.  It has been for some time, but its percolating.
 
Iraq was supposed to be the replacement, but that might take some time to subdue the rebels.
 
In the meantime, I have a neighbor who is a relative to one of those soldiers killed in action in Iraq.
 
I have seen the anger, frustration, and the emotional conflict this person has gone through over the last 3 to 4 years.
 
In such a situation, you learn to think things through in a much more constructive way about the use and nonuse of the military.
 
I will not say we should not use the military, but I would say it should be used only when we have no other choice.
 
Bush chose it as his first option and that has caused everyone no end of agony.
 
Turning the Presidency over to a amateur is dangerous and that's what we got in Bush.
 
The Irish say revenge is a dish best served cold.
 
If the KIA families of the Iraq War want some justice then they should hire some brilliant lawyers and file a class action suit against Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and the neocons of Defense Department for some civil charge.
 
Criminal Malfeasance, Personal Injury, Pain and Suffering, Criminal Negligence, and whatever other charge that can be cooked up.
 
Bush and his cabal should be held accountable in Court.
 
Rumsfeld is worth $50 Million, Bush is worth $15 Million, Cheney is worth $50 Million, and I do not know what the Neocons are worth.
 
Leave each with an income of $50000 a year so they have to live like the rest of us.
 
Clinton was sued by Paula Jones, while he was President so it can be done.
 
Nixon fought the release of his tapes throughout his post presidential career.
 
Yes, civil suits can be brought against Presidents.  There's no shield for them to hide behind.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Libertarian Republican #194

Posted by Tim Blessing on Monday, May 26, 2008 7:14:20 PM
The Dept of Veteran Affairs.
 
I think going to the Department of Veterans Affairs website will answer most military peoples questions about benefits.
 
Obama and a Senator James Webb are pushing a bill that is great for veterans, but is it a freebie.
 
McCain talks about a sliding scale and will continue to get hammered on this just based on soundbite politics.
 
McCain needs a campaign slogan:  Better Benefits for reenlisters or something to that effect.
 
Veterans would naturally gravitate to McCain because he's one of them.
 
Barry is trying to blunt McCain's advantage on this issue.
 
If McCain can't crush Barry on this issue then its going to be a long campaign for the Republicans.
 
Veterans have numerous benefits right now, but I think they do not know how to access them.
 
The Internet provides a good resource for starting the process.  Use Google.
 
 
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive
« Previous12…101112131415161718…3839Next »