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My recap of the RNC Convention: Chris Christie: Talked about himself quite a bit as his primary objective at the convention was to promote himself.   What he didn’t say was that unemployment in the Garden State is 9.2% nearly a full percentage point above the national rate. And, according to the W.P Carey School of Business, his 1.02% job growth in 2012 is far behind the national average of 1.40%.   Jeb Bush: In an uneven speech on Wednesday, the Other Bush told us he loved school choice and milk choice (and in the process sounding like Bubba from Forrest Gump), but what about a woman’s reproductive rights?   Is choice OK there?   Are there bad teachers?   Yes.   Are there bad administrators? Yes. Are there good charter schools?   Yes.   But you also have to accept that the majority of teachers and administrators are good or better, and that not all charter schools are successes.   What is most troubling is the core belief that ins...

I am not a Republican because: ·          I believe millionaires should pay a higher tax rate than middle class citizens ·          I believe punishing people because you do not like them is un-American ·          I believe civil liberties are precious and we all benefit from the ACLU ·          I believe education is a national priority ·          I believe the free market cannot regulate itself ·          I believe civil rights come from nature and someone who denies them in the name of ‘their God’ is a bigot ·          I believe in a strong defense but do not support spending more than the next 17 nations combined ·          I believe the wall ...

  A great deal has been said about the RNC’s platform when its contents were leaked last week especially in light of Todd Akin’s comments about rape and the influence of the Tea Party and social conservatives on the Republican Party.   Conversely, the DNC’s platform has not received as much press but will likely focus on social issues such as same-sex marriage and immigration reform.   In the past, these platforms received very little attention but this year is different due to the reemergence of the ‘culture wars’ and the Democrats push to focus on social issues, especially around a woman’s reproductive rights.   Republican strategist Mike Murphy downplayed the significance of party platforms during Meet The Press on August 26 th .   True, party platforms are usually an amalgamation of ideas to satisfy the “The Big Tent” of the party, they also provide insight into the party leaders’ vision.   But that vision provides necessary insight into the beli...

Todd Akin is not the only sound bite machine in the GOP House.  Here are few other classics.  Worth noting are the quotes from Intelligence and Science committee members.  Scary scary stuff when you realize Akin is the rule, not the exception. ·          Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the Higher Education & Workforce Training…she attended college in 1968.   Needless to say that college education costs have far outpaced inflation since 1968. “I went through school. I worked my way through. It took me seven years; I never borrowed a dime of money. ... I have very little tolerance for people who tell me that they graduate with $200,000 of debt or even $80,000 of debt.” ·          Joe Barton, energy and commerce committee apologizing to BP executives for being criticized by the White House.   Joe Barton represents Texas City, where in March 23, 2005 a blast at the BP refin...

The Huffington Post recapped an interview Mitt Romney had with the magazine Cathedral Age that included some very memorable quotes.   Romney, private equity exec turned governor turned presidential candidate turned historian took a shot at secularists as those who "seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God" aren't acting in line with the Founders' intent.   The all-knowing Romney clearly knew what Madison, Jefferson, et al were thinking.   Romney goes on to further   say that "some" Americans have taken the separation of church and state too far, "well beyond its original meaning."   Finally, Romney said the Founders didn't intend for "the elimination of religion from the public square. We are a nation 'Under God, 'and in God, we do indeed trust."   Now I have heard this line hundreds of times about how religion is under assault in the public square.   Well know it’s my turn for a retort. Why take R...

Weekend Wrap-Up ·          Rudy “Noun-Verb-9/11” Giuliani said the following about Joe Biden: "I don't think he's nuts. I'm just saying I wonder if he's got the kind of balance - probably what I should have said is the balance to be president of the United States. " “This guy is like one gaffe after another, and he's a joke on late-night television."   Well here is what ‘America’s Mayor’ had to say about that great vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in 2008: In choosing Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, John McCain has chosen for the future. The other guy looked back. John looked forward. Gov. Palin represents a new generation. She’s already one of the most successful governors in America and the most popular. And she’s already had more executive experience than the entire Democratic ticket combined. She’s been a mayor. I love that. I’m sorry — I’m sorry that Barack Obama feels that her hometown isn’t co...

In order to thrive a society must evolve, its attitudes, beliefs, and morals must evolve as well.   As the society evolves faster, traditional dogma and paradigms become subjects of great debate, often heated.   Over the 236 years since our nation’s independence and the 223 years since the Constitution   went into effect this nation has witnessed great debates on human and civil rights, often with the role of religion at the center.   This often results in the polarization of the population with those that oppose change squaring off with those that see change as natural and necessary; conservatives versus progressives.   I have written extensively about America’s history with respect to the war between free thinking and enlightenment on one side and religion on the other.   I also have heard the arguments that it was Democrats in the South that supported slavery, created the KKK, and opposed civil rights; a hollow argument considering those same sout...