Media manipulation at its best!

With decreasing frequency, I still very occasionally watch one of the 'news' programs like Fox. And it's been with particular angst that, on some broadcasts, the talking heads have made remarks concerning the leadership board for the Republican Party.

Most recently, a lady whose name I've thankfully forgotten, was remarking on how well Ron Paul was expected to do versus the likes of fellow candidates Newt Gringrich and Mitt Romney. She blathered on an on about how even thought that Ron might sweep in and win that caucus and become a front runner would make the Democratic Party 'jump for joy'.

Please! I'm wondering how this same 'news journalist' will spin her poison when Ron is still doing well come February? In a similar fashion, MSNBC is almost 'creaming in their jeans' over the idea that someone like Ron Paul could ascend to become the choice of the GOP. A man destined to go against President Obama in November. In their eyes what a slaughter that would be! (Oh yeah, as if having four more years for a modern-day Pariah to lead us futher down the road to oblivion would be a good thing)...

Well sorry, I beg to differ! I propose that Ron Paul is exactly what we need right now. (He is a doctor after all, and this country is definitely not feeling very well). In addition, he is both a Centralist and a Libertarian; a position to which both more moderate Democrats and Republicans are increasingly beginning to flock.

Ron Paul and his anti-war stand!

 "If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints."

Revelation 13:10

I guess it must be something akin to our second nature that, as a species, we love to participate in war. Throughout the centuries, waging war has been just about the only concrete way to impose one system of beliefs by one country onto another country. In modern times, it’s been a ‘give them a taste of diplomacy, but be sure to carry a sword hidden behind your back’ kind of diplomacy. That same strategy seems to have held true for America for some time now, only we’ve dropped the facade of just talking and have substituted the harsh reality of sanctions. Iran is a perfect example of how not to handle, or should I say, mishandle a state. Ron Paul, during the Iowa debate of December the 15^th had it exactly right. As a nation, we are in love with the concept of taking care of the world, even when the world doesn’t want or need it. We are addicted to spending trillions of dollars (money we no longer have) on prosecuting an endless series of wars that have only succeeded in alienating even our allies. And, as we head into 2012, the world will surely take notice. We're just not what we used to be. To our enemies, we may well look dented and old; squirting oil and smoke out of our seams as we try to maintain an image of robust health. Once again, I agree with Ron. What part of broke does everyone not get?

During the debate, Michelle Bachmann stated, that "we have an IAEA report that just recently came out that said, literally, Iran is within just months of being able to obtain that weapon." This statement is categorically false! While Iran may have the ability to produce a nuke or two at some point in the future, the fact is the IAEA doesn’t know anything for sure. Why Michelle would utter such falsehoods not once but twice was hurtful and petty and a good reason why she is not presidential material.

The point is that on just about every occasion I can recall, Ron Paul has been absolutely correct and I admire the manner in which her calls them as he sees them. He has the kind of strong moral fiber that this country is currently lacking in the White House. His desire to pull back in our military is correct as it his desire to work with other countries without trying to change them. As a case in point, yes Iran is certainly to be watched. Yes, they may develop a nuke. But, if they were to try and use one or if they were to block the Strait of Hormuz, this country has numerous options in which we could handle the situation. Finally, if Iran were to get too far out of line, then perhaps as Ron suggests, we could convene Congress for a formal declaration of war. Do it right and do it by the numbers! But, whatever happens, we need to stop with the pointless sanctions that only kill babies and start acting and looking like the super power we claim to be.

I’m not sure if Ron Paul has a chance to win the GOP’s nod or not. I keep getting the feeling that this is like the 1992 presidential race when we could have elected Ross Perot to lead this nation. Now, while I’m not sure how good a president he would have been, I can practically guarantee we would not be in the fiscal mess we find ourselves today. The same is true today. Ron Paul may be old and infirm, but beneath that frail exterior beats the heart of an individual who could lead America back to greatness if just given the chance. Can you say the same about the other candidates? I’m not sure.

I take no credit for this!

Random thoughts about hot issues in May!

Ron Paul launches 2012 presidential run!

Ron Paul is set to try and become president for the third time. Let’s hope that will be a charm for him. This seventy five year old congressman from the great state of Texas is widely known for his desire to severely limit the reach of the federal government. The man known as "Dr. No" for his enthusiasm for bashing runaway spending and government overreach certainly has my vote. The time is way past to make an accounting of government corruption and overspending. While I do not fully endorse either party, I do endorse this man.

It’s grilling time and that’s just fine with me!

Down here in southwest Missouri the weather is heating up. Woo Woo! It’s mid May and summer is now just a month away. That means outdoor activities will be on the upswing as the weather warms (and maybe gets a bit drier). My personal focus, this time of year, usually centers on the charcoal grill and some of the great food that will come off it.

One of my absolute favs is barbecued chicken legs. There nothing quite like the smell and taste of freshly grilled chicken in the summertime. (Give me a piece of good chicken, a baked potato and a garden salad and I’m ready for anything)! When I’m not doing the leg thing, I’m into shish kabobs using fresh fruit, veggies and chicken of course!

Only a decade or so ago, chicken was considered a very economical meat to eat.  I can remember buying who fryers for just twenty nine cents a pound. (Today, the cost is closer to $1.50 or more! That being the case, I now look for ways to ‘stretch the meat’ and save a little on cost. I accomplish that in two ways; I wait for bulk chicken to go on sale and I limit my intake of chicken by adding more veggies. (Something that’s also a lot healthier for me in the long run).

Global warming or global cooling. Which is it Al?

Someone go out and dig up Al Gore please. I need to ask him to go and get his charts so he can explain the recent wacky weather events here in the US. Al baby, tell me again that things really are going to hell in a hand basket. (It’s not like I didn’t already know, I just want to hear him say it again).

What’s been happening in my mind is not so much the weather trends as it seems to be the weather extremes. First, we have a national drought that lasts for much of 2010, and then we get way too much water early in 2011. Yet, I’ll wager the average rainfall, by the end of the year, will be close to normal! (Can’t someone call Mother Nature and tell her to ‘spread it out a bit more’)?