Welcome America, to the Joel Gaines Show. I am that man - your humble host Joel Gaines - the common-sense conservative, and this is the place where we remove the bumper sticker rhetoric typical in the mass media today. The number here is 484-461-JOEL.

Speaking of common sense - here is a tidbit I received in email and I wanted to share it with you. The current presidential pension is $191,300 plus office expenses every year after the president leaves office, until the age of 80. If John McCain is elected and serves an 8 year term, he will get nothing as a presidential pension. Now, I don’t know what Barak Obama is going to cost this country if he is elected, but I can say that he will be receiving a pension of $191,300 for 25-26 years - so whatever the amount, you can add about $4,900,000 plus 26 years of office expenses.

We are seeing a number of fine examples of how the party of the people operates, as this race goes forward. A couple of weeks ago I told you about the Democratic Party delegate from Wisconsin or Minnesota who had her credentials removed by the DNC - the national committee mind you - because she mentioned she would not vote for Barak Obama. Then, the party is castigated several Clinton supporters because they were arrogant enough to buck the party’s popular wisdom by pushing for the ability to put Hillary’s name back in the race at the DN Convention. The party apparatus is throwing its weight around to ensure that Barak Obama is the undisputed king of the hill in Denver. Well, guess what? Apparently, there was enough of a call for this that an agreement has been reached between the two campaigns to put Hillary’s name on a roll-call ballot in the convention. I told you in May this was going to the convention. I told you in July that you can never count Hillary Clinton out of the game, not even when she says publicly that she has conceded. Clinton is not out of this by a long shot. We are 8 days away from the national convention and there has been no mention of a VEEP for the ticket. In the mean time, the Democrats are pushing folks around to make sure that Barak Obama is THE candidate. Here is another example:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is actually threatening a sitting Senator of the United States with political retribution, if he does not toe the Democratic Party line. What is most interesting about this is that the Senator she is threatening is not a Democrat. Nancy Pelosi is trying to shut Joe Lieberman up by threatening to have him removed from the Chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Think about this - Nancy Pelosi is considering removing one of the most experienced Senators from a Homeland Security committee - A homeland security committee- if he does not stop saying nice things about John McCain. Now, listeners of this show know that Joe Lieberman is one of the people who encouraged Barak Obama to run for President. But, I am betting that Senator Obama’s penchant for throwing people under the bus; his ability to have a 45 minute conversation with American voters, and say absolutely nothing; the exposure of Michelle Obama’s hatred for this country; I am betting many of these revelations are having the same impact on Senator Lieberman that they are having on the American people.

We spoke last week about the zero bounce effect to the Obama campaign after his European trip - and the fatigue of the American public toward the Democratic Party candidate. This week, we are seeing even more of a slip, as Americans become more familiar with Senator Obama. the Pew research Center has recently released a poll which shows the candidates in a statistical tie - largely because the Senator from Illinois has made no significant headway with Clinton supporters. that all may change after the DNC in Denver - where Hillary Clinton is billed as the headliner. We’ll have to see how this al shakes out, but I don’t think Clinton is going to garner as much support for Senator Obama as the Obama campaign would hope. Something is afoot here between Obama and Clinton. Any way you slice it, though. No matter what the Democrats want to say about this race - this is the epitome of a brokered convention. Regardless of the primary election results, Hillary Clinton is still very much a part of this election process and not as an unmitigated Supporter of Barak Obama.

I told you a couple months ago that the Democratic party ruined this election by not sitting down with the two front runners and hammering out a deal. Instead, their inability to coalesce as a party put Democrats in the position of rejecting either the first Black Presidential Candidate or the first Woman Presidential Candidate. Rather than being in a position to truly usher in a new era for America, they created a deep divide in their own party that they are working furiously to mend leading up to the general election. The problem with this, is there is no sense of camaraderie - no sense that Democrats are working together for a cause. Add to this a loose cannon DNC chairman and probably the most ineffective Speaker of the House in American history and the Democratic party is beginning to look like more of a circus than it typically does.

Think of this - we have an opportunity to make real changes to the immigration laws in this country. Make significant changes that could impact thousands of people and bridge a gap we have as far as our government’s responsibility to respond to people’s requests for citizenship. We could make real decisions about whether or not to expand the 13 guest worker programs holistically and streamline processes for paperwork, credentials, and the like. But what do the congressional democrats spend time on in this regard? Debating an increase of 1000 slots on a specific visa type for runway models.

We have Americans still paying nearly $4 a gallon for gasoline in some states, while some of them are in jeopardy of losing their homes. Food prices are up, businesses are closing or severely cutting back on the services they provide. Americans want a solution NOW, but Nancy Pelosi closes Congress for the summer in the middle of the debate for drilling - drilling mind you, in places where the location and scope of the oil reserves is well known. Democrats are refusing to allow debate on something that a vast majority of Americans want an answer to. The Democrats in Congress are practicing the same obstructionist politics that kept judges from being confirmed for 4 years. the Democrats have managed to make sure that 8 of 10 government appropriations bills - this is the money we use to run our government - they have made certain those bills don’t come up for debate and vote on the floor. Because if they come up, Republicans are going to amend them with language for exploiting oil reserves and the Democrats are not going to allow those debates to happen.

Congressional democrats have been promising to make life easier on the American citizens for decades - promises broken by their policy stances.

On Tap for today:

Pastor Edward J Scott – Author of the book “Hurricane Katrina: The best thing that ever happened to me” will be with us today. We’ll be discussing his amazing story of being displaced by that storm, losing everything, and by putting his faith in the Good Lord how he was blessed to continue his life’s mission.

Joe Biden has been named as the VP running mate for Barak Obama. This is great news for John McCain and we’ll expose some of why that is today.

If we have time in the 4th Segment, we’ll talk about the faith vote and each candidate’s efforts to capture part of it during the recent Saddleback event, including the actual words of the candidates themselves.

Segment 2

Hurricane Katrina was one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States – and the 6^th strongest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic to ever make landfall. It caused massive destruction all along the Gulf Coast and into Alabama, but the most severe loss of life and damage was in New Orleans. As we approach the 3^rd anniversary of the devastating storm that wiped out much of New Orleans we’re talking today with Pastor Edward J Scott.

I have read your great story, Pastor Scott, and I will tell our listeners how to get a copy of this book TITLE in a few minutes, but let’s walk our listeners through the story a bit.

Prior to Hurricane Katrina, you were a pastor in New Orleans – describe your ministry there. Where you located and what were some of the activities you were involved in outside of regular service?

So here comes this big storm and you decide to get out of New Orleans, where did you go?

One of the things which impacted me about your story is your constant dialog with God. You weren’t asking for anything but guidance and your prayers were answered on a regular basis – and there were t9imes it seems, when you were like “really? You want me to do that?” Like it wasn’t something you’d have thought of otherwise.

Even so, it must have been difficult to be a displaced person in the aftermath of this devastating storm – what was that like?

I did some coverage of this storm for another radio show – hard to believe it was 3 years ago. In many ways it seems like either much longer or not very long ago at all. But it was very emotional – I sorta broke down while the show host was interviewing me. I can remember clearly that I could only think “What are these people thinking about god right now and how can I help make Christ Mass happen for people who are going to be displaced for a very long time. This storm became a curse to so many - How did you come to view this devastating loss as the blessing you describe repeatedly in your book?

When something like this happens, there is the inevitable question – and I am not a deist thinking that God is just up there and everything that happens is just fate, nor am I much on the whole New Orleans is Sodom on Mississippi vein either, but tell us Pastor Scott because people ask this question all the time – why didn’t God stop this devastation and loss of life from happening to begin with?

5) There is a particular chapter in your book – and let me get some information out about this before I forget. I have a couple copies of it right here, so sign up for my newsletter and Joel Gaines Show dot com for a chance to receive a free copy of Pastor EJ Scott’s book “Hurricane Katrina: the Best thing that ever happened to me” – Ok – in one chapter you share an important lesson – something learned from those Katrina victims who chose not to evacuate. What is that lesson?

You are living your own lessons – I mean, this is not just a story about a storm and a Pastor - your message goes beyond Katrina and beyond victims of natural disasters. People who read your book will understand how they can turn tragedy into victory – but could you provide a couple of examples of this?

What have some of your former parishioners – the Church, not the county – what have they told you about how things are in the 9^th ward today?

There were over 1500 deaths in the aftermath of Katrina in New Orleans alone – this compared to the Mississippi Gulf Coast where 238 people died. The other states are in low double and single digit numbers of victims. There are also some 700 people still categorized as missing since the storm. Hardest hit were Plaquemines Parish about 25,000 residents and St Bernard Parish which was of about 67,000 people. Now, in St Bernard Parish only 25,000 or so remain. To my way of thinking – despite the failures at all levels of government to prepare people for this storm - the biggest failure of government – again at all levels – is not getting the necessary infrastructure back up and not getting the right kind of help to people so they could rebuild their lives. The amount of tragedy that has unfolded as a result of the hurricane is amazing, but you have a few thoughts on how others can view enormous tragedy in their lives as a blessing, don’t you?

What do you mean when you talk about having hope in the face of tragedy?

There are twelve things listed in your book that people can do to prepare for a hurricane. Can you share come of these practical tips?

Listeners can get a copy of your book several ways – if you are listening on BTR, you can get a copy of “Hurricane Katrina: the best thing that ever happened to me” by following the link attached to this show. You can also follow the link under Guests at joelgainesshow.com – remember I am giving two free copies away to a couple of lucky people who sign up for my newsletter Capitol Gaines at joelgainesshow.com and Pastor Scott will give you a couple of other ways to get your hands on this great “God is in your life” how-to on turning tragedy into blessing. Pastor Scott where else can they get it?

Segment 3

Presidential Candidate Barak Obama made the single most significant move to ensure he will not be elected President in 2008. He chose Senator Joe Biden as his running mate.

Now, Joe Biden is supposed to bring the experience to the Obama campaign that Senator Obama himself lacks, particularly in the foreign policy arena. This is the man, a Senator since 1973, who told America that Barack Obama is not ready to be president – the same thing Joe Liebermann is being threatened for saying. Joe Biden also stated that the Presidency is not a place for On the job training – again referring to the total national policy experience of Senator Obama of 3 ½ years - during which Senator Obama has written not one memorable speech or significant piece of legislation.

Senator Biden is supposed to ground the Obama campaign in experience and foreign policy credentials. But we are talking about a Senator who says things like we need a surge in Afghanistan because the surge in Iraq didn’t work. Who says that just because Anbar province is now only as safe as south central Los Angeles on a given night, that the Iraqis are not making the kind of progress that shows they are ready to stand up for themselves. That the Sunni’s and Shia are engaged in a civil war, and that a strong central government is a bad idea in Iraq - that they should have a loose central government, with strong provincial governments. This is laughable, when you look at the democratic party policies which seek to drive a over-arching strong, central government, involved in every aspect of American lives.

Only Joe Biden can turn Gen Patreus’ statement that things have gotten much better since the surge into a statement that shows how it is now working. Only Joe Biden can tell Ambassador Crocker that the Awakening movement by the Sunnis in Iraq is an insignificant political accomplishment. Only Joe Biden can make a racist comment about needing “a slight Indian accent” to go into any dunkin donuts or gas station quick mart in Delaware.” Joe Biden, who qualifies his ability to campaign in the south and not be seen as a typical Northeastern Liberal with the reply that Delaware was a slave state, so he can campaign just fine in South Carolina – thank you very much.

Joe Biden is a blessing to the 2008 presidential elections – he is capable of telling us that Barack Obama is much more experienced this month than he was last month. He is capable of telling the American people that he would be proud to run either with or against John McCain one month and that McCain is Bush III another.

Joe Biden is going to bring 25 years of risk to the Democratic party. 25 years of policy statements that show exactly how far left he is. He is one of the few Senators – like Senator Obama – to vote against the Iraq resolution. He tells us that Pakistan is a bigger threat to the US than Iran because Pakistan already has nuclear weapons. He says we should not be worried about Iran because they will not be able to produce nearly the amount of nuclear material that Pakistan has. This is his logic. A nuclear Iran – determined to wipe Israel off of the map – is not nearly the threat that Pakistan is. We should work for a stable Pakistan and Ignore Iran. Senator Biden, why can’t we help stabilize Pakistan AND prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons? Is Barack Obama only capable of one foreign policy interaction at a time?

Now, Joe Biden does have several differences with Senator Obama – things that make them unlikely partners, except politics makes for strange bedfellows as they say. Senator Biden is against partial birth abortion. Senator Biden believes life begins at conception. But, then he goes back to the liberal Democratic Party line –

should a parent know if their minor child is going to get an abortion? No.

Should those who harm an unborn fetus during the commission of a crime be penalized for that? No.

Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)

Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)

Human cloning? That’s just fine with Senator Biden

· Civil unions ok; gay marriage is probably inevitable. (Apr 2007) – a position counter to Biden’s supposed deep religious convictions.

· Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002) and we have seen what “prosecuting hate crimes” have done in America. Absolutely nothing. There is no crime under this stupid, stupid legislation that is not prosecutable under another law. Hate Crimes legislation is about thought control. It is about political correctness and nothing more.

· Hire more teachers and pay them for smaller classes. (Dec 2007) – how about we go a step further than this. Why don’t we actually professionalize the teaching vocation? Why don’t we invest in our teachers before they become teachers? Why not have teachers go through an educational experience much like doctors do? Pay teachers a salary that is commensurate with their benefit to American society. We throw billions of dollars at education and rarely does that money get to the teachers or the classrooms.

· For longer school day & school year, & 16-year minimum. (Oct 2007) – My kids are exhausted by the time they get home from school and by the end of the year, not only are the kids done in, but so are the teachers. This is not going to produce more productive learning – it will create less productive environments.

· Sent kids to private school after death of their mother. (Jul 2007)

Voted for NCLB

· The energy challenge take sacrifice and is a moral crusade. (Dec 2007)

· FactCheck: Oil did not jump $18/bbl due to Iran Resolution. (Dec 2007)

· Supports cap-and-trade for greenhouse gases. (Nov 2007) – this basically creates a penalty system for pollution. So, if I exceed the emissions set by some government organization, I get penalized in dollars. However, if I want to exceed these standards, all I have to do is pay for a permit to emit at a higher rate at some price set by the permits market. So, basically, we are setting up a means to bargain with the emissions without a necessity for actually DOING anything about them, as long as we pay off the government. That’s right. The cap and trade system benefits no one except the government who has their fingers in anything that is regulatory or with the word PERMIT in it.

· Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (Jun 2008)

· Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jun 2007)

· Voted YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning. (May 2007)

· Voted YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska’s ANWR. (Nov 2005)

· Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Mar 2005)

· Voted YES on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)

Joe Biden is the perfect candidate to run with Barack Obama. Joe Biden is a study in opposites. He opposes his own positions on a regular basis and he opposes many of the positions of his own running mate. They are opposites on enough issues that questions are going to arise on two fronts:

1) Barack Obama has 3 ½ years of policy experience and Joe Biden has 25 - who will really be running the country, if they are elected?

2) Barack Obama and Joe Biden disagree so markedly on several really important issues - what comes out of that?

Now, Joe Biden is a dynamic speaker. He comes ready-made to pound out statements about his knowledge and deep understanding of certain topics. If you listen to him, you’ll feel this too. But I am here to tell you, he has been fact-checked as much as anyone else in the past 2 years and a lot of his “facts” are figments of his own imagination. And that is exactly what we are dealing with here, America - Imagination. The imagined Presidential candidate – made from whole cloth as the Democratic party messiah is paired up with a VP candidate who could not gain the interest of the American people in 1988. He did not gain the interest of the American people as presidential candidate this year. I do not see Joe Biden energizing the American people as VP to a pretender.

Next up – we’ll bring you some sound bites from Saddleback and we’ll take your calls – when the Joel Gaines Show continues.

Segment 4

The US presidential Candidates are both spending effort to garner a percentage of the “Faith Vote” - They are meeting church-goers in forums in Texas and discussing issues core to the religious voters - among them gay marriage, AIDS, abortion, and the promotion of traditional family values.

I want to compare the two campaigns - two men who both claim a religious affiliation. Now, John McCain does not talk much about his religious beliefs and Barak Obama does. Much of the Democratic candidate’s message is Bible based, but I want to show you an interesting aspect to this difference in the two men. We’ll start with an Obama flip flop related to the Sermon on the mount.

Play Cut 4

Notice here that Obama is crafting a message to a mostly liberation theology crowd here and he is appealing to the sentiments by showing why the Bible is not a good means to shape policy. The Sermon on the mount is being downplayed, regardless of it being probably the most significant and revealing passage in the Bible - one that basically underscores the 10 commandments. It was a discussion where Jesus was actually teaching his disciples about the core teachings of Christianity.

reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermon_on_the_Mount

But notice how Obama discusses his disdain for the military in the same breath he discusses his Disdain for the Bible. For a guy who has spent 20 years of his life in a Church pew, he has a big gap in his Bible knowledge.

Play Cut 5

Now the Sermon on the Mount is a reason for Gay marriage? Or is he saying that as long as we don’t call it marriage, but it is the same in every other aspect, it is ok? Listen. People can do whatever it is they are moved to do, as long as it violates no one else’s rights. Love who you want to love for whatever reasons you have. That is your choice. But you cannot create an equivalent benefit to society where it does not exist. Marriage is not about what the government gives you - this goes back to who grants your rights.

The benefit of matrimony in the world is about a union before God to bear and raise children into a society of laws decreed by God alone as the basis for who we are and what we do. If you don’t believe in God, look at it through the eyes of nature. Homosexuality does not exist in nature. It is something made in the minds of humans alone because we have the ability to “think outside the box”. Why does it not exist anywhere in the animal kingdom? because the benefit to perpetuating the species does not exist.

Now, let’s take a look at John McCain - this is a guy who might even have some confusion about what actual religion he belongs to, but I want you to hear his responses at a recent forum. We’ll compare these to Barak’s responses at the same forum. This is from just a few days ago.

Cut 6 - McCain on abortion

Cut 7 - Obama on abortion

You see the difference here? There are a couple of points to take away here.

It’s about women only - not about the baby!

A guy who has such a background in the Bible - enough to say that “folks haven’t been reading the Bible” can argue that life doesn’t begin at conception.

Notice how Senator Obama puts abortion incidents on the back of George Bush, despite being pro-choice himself, and despite the fact the Roe v Wade is supported exclusively by his party. Then there is either an uninformed Senator from Illinois or a piece of misinformation. Abortions have dropped significantly in 2005 and continue to decline as people discuss morality - which only exists in religion - to a much greater degree than has been done in a long time. In 2005, the number of abortions was 160,000 lower than estimated and the lowest since 1974. Those numbers continue to decline although 2005 is the most recent year we have full numbers for.

I am going to put something else in front of you today, America. In a minute I am going to play a very telling cut from John McCain. You’ve had plenty from Senator Obama to date. But I want you to compare the words of John McCain with the things you have heard from Senator Obama - the race baiting, the bitter middle class who clings to their guns and religion - the absolute disdain for America of Michelle Obama before her husband began his bid for President. I want you to listen to Senator John McCain of Arizona and then let me give you a take away.

Cut 8 - McCain and Moral Failures

John McCain is not going to pass a political purity test. John McCain is not going to pass a moral purity test. He poses himself as a man who has lived a life that places skeletons in his closet - like most of the rest of us in this world. I have been critical of a lot of John McCain’s policy stances over the past 7 years and I will continue to hit hard when I need to. But there is a big difference in these two candidates as MEN. One trys to show you why he is perfect - not only as a policy maker, but as a person. The other shows you that someone with the same flaws and the same kinds of challenges in life, this candidate shows you that we are all in this together. He is not “taking over” so we don’t have to do anything but let the government handle it. John McCain is continuing his quarter century investment in something bigger than he is - not some weak tea talk about being a citizen of the world, but a strong America - the freest nation on the planet. And it is in this spirit, that I say to you - God Bless you and God Bless America.

Since the Spring/Summer of 2001, I have been sharing my thoughts with the world as a “blogger”. Except for a couple of breaks here and there and an occassional long weekend or vacation, I have posted virtually everday - sometimes 4 times a day. I have enjoyed almost every minute of it.

Now, I have a talk show - The Joel Gaines Show. And this show is taking on a life of its own. Scheduling guests, working with a great producer and an awesome technology staff, trying different equipment, different formats, show clocks, and of course the inevitable branding - all of these things are starting to get done. I am changing to another new media format. No more “blogging” - not even “audio blogging”. I am a show host now.

So, this is bittersweet for me, but it is time to say goodbye to daily posts and scanning some 300+ news items per day. Hosting a talk show allows me to present my ideas more dynamically and I really enjoy that. I guess I never did get over my stint on terrestrial radio back in 2005-2006.

I will still update this space - at least until I decide to repurpose it. But it will be transcripts of interviews and random posts that I might roll into a show each week. I really don’t HAVE to post anymore and that freedom - so long as my voice is heard each week “on the air” - is not hurting my feelings.

If you are interested, go to JoelGainesShow.com and subscribe to the feed. We produce a live show each week. You can follow us through our learning process as we explore live broadcasting. We have done it all - no mic for 20 minutes, can’t get the bumps right, guests can’t be heard on the air, can’t find the script, you name it. But, all in all, we are having a great time and are excited by the potential of our show. I have not so much transcended blogging, as transformed my “brand” as a blogger to broadcasting.

I am - after all - Joel Gaines, the common-sense conservative.

So, it is in this spirit that I say to you - God Bless you and God Bless America.

Barak Obama made it abundantly clear that not only is he a proud citizen of the United States, but he is also a citizen of the world.

Well, the good senator should be aware that the United States does not recognize dual citizenship and the American people deserve better than someone who will measure the interests of other countries equally with the interests of the United States.

Senator Obama was channeling JFK in his “I am a citizen of the world” and “this is the moment” speech before the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin - a place German Chancellor Angela Merkel has already said should not be used as a backdrop for partisan political events.

The question I have for Barak Obama is simple: When you were saying that the world can expect better of America, were you speaking as a proud citizen of the United States, who also happens to be a sitting Senator - or were you speaking as a citizen of the world?

It is ironic that Senator Obama would choose Berlin as the place to tell Germans that the world can expect better from America. Berlin - the place where Americans died bringing 5000 tons of food and fuel to starving Germans when the soviets blockaded that city in 1948-1949. Berlin, the place where strong American foreign policy and a strong American economy brought down the wall that divided Germany for decades.

To my mind, rather than showing the world (first, ironically) that America is a “trusted partner” to the world, Barak Obama has shown that his foreign policy will be based upon fad diplomacy - that he will turn upside-down the notion that American geopolitical consistency exists. Our consistency overseas with regards to negotiating with terrorists, dealing with rogue nations, handling foreign aid proposals, geopolitical values, etc is of more importance to the rest of the world’s leaders than being loved by everyone over everything. Barak Obama has only proven to the world that with him as president, America cannot be trusted to act in a certain way to events in the world. That consistency is the biggest deterrent to extreme activity by those nations who threaten society.

I have said before, America needs to be a leader in the world. Not because we are perfect, but because America has a government like no other in the world; based upon individual freedom. Many of our allies do not, and we owe them nothing simply because we are imperfect in their eyes - or our own. We are, in so many ways, better as a society here in America than in any other country on earth.

Barak Obama does not realize this and has shown the world and Americans that he is the epitome of American political amateur hour.

I travel. It’s a lot less than it used to be (70%), but I still get around a bit. We also take a vacation or two per year to unwind and do a lot of nothing much.

I remember when roll-aboard luggage became the norm. While I understand that almost everything comes with wheels on it now, my philosophy  has always been if you HAVE to wheel it on the plane, it should have been checked.  I also make sure to try to be the least needy passenger on the flight - especially when traveling with the children. Flight attendants have plenty to do to ensure that 50-70 passengers each one attends to is safe and comfortable without being treated like a personal servant.

Take a look at at some things you might not have thought about because you have been led to believe that a flight attendant’s job is filled with glamorous jet-setting around the world.

Galley Gossip: Flight Attendant Pet Peeve #3: You want me to do what?

by Heather Poole   Jul 15th 2008 @ 2:00PM

You’ve packed the bag. Actually what you did was stuff it full, and then most likely you had to sit on it while you zipped…the thing…up…there! You did it, you actually got that thing closed! You feel good, you really do, because you are not going to pay that ridiculous checked bag fee for the life of you. No freakin way!

 

Then you dragged that bag to the car and somehow managed to get..the bag…inside…the trunk…there! You did it, and now you’re off to the airport where you’ll have to get…the bag..out of…the trunk. Now you’re dragging that thing over to the airport shuttle bus.

 

Finally you’re in the terminal where you pass all those losers standing in line to check their bags. It’s your turn to go through security, so up…goes…the bag…there! It’s on the conveyor belt and slowly moving to the other side. As you wipe the sweat from your brow, you meet the bag on the other end and yank…it off…the belt. Now you’re off and running to the gate where boarding is already in process. Down the jet-bridge and onto the airplane you go, where miracle upon miracles, there’s an available overhead bin right above your seat. Now, where’s that lazy flight attendant?

 

“Excuse me, miss,” you say, trying to get the attention of the one and only flight attendant in the cabin who is already busy trying to re-seat a family of four together. “Can you help me get my bag into the overhead bin?”

 

You want me to do what?

Read the rest>>>

Viewers in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Virginia are going to see the Obama Campaign’s latest attempt to show that the Illinois Senator is capable of keeping America secure and safe from attack.

For what his ad does say - that Americans should be worried about terrorists gaining access to weapons of mass destruction -  he’s right and he echoes what President Bush has been saying for a very long time. However, Senator Obama’s ad really doesn’t say much at all and I wonder how he expects to win in these states - especially as Georgia is a big focus for him - with a message that does little to describe policy.

Here is the ad script:

We are a beacon of light around the world. At least that’s what we can be - again. That’s what we should be - again.
The single most important national security threat that we face is nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists.
What I did was reach out to Senator Dick Lugar, a Republican, to help lock down loose nuclear weapons.
We have to lead the entire world to reduce that threat.
We can restore America’s leadership in the world.
I’m Barack Obama, and I approve this message.

Yet, as with most of Senator Obama’s ads, there is a bit of maskirovka going on here. Barak Obama is not being completely honest. Senator Obama did not reach out to Senator Dick Lugar to help lock down loose nuclear weapons. That legislation had already been on the books since 1991 - the Nunn-Lugar Act. In 2003, Congress adopted the Nunn-Lugar Expansion Act.

The latest Nunn-Lugar Scorecard shows that the program has deactivated or destroyed: 6,760 nuclear warheads; 587 ICBMs; 483 ICBM silos; 32 ICBM mobile missile launchers; 150 bombers; 789 nuclear air-to-surface missiles; 436 submarine missile launchers; 549 submarine launched missiles; 28 nuclear submarines; and 194 nuclear test tunnels.

Beyond the scorecard’s nuclear elimination, the Nunn-Lugar program secures and destroys chemical weapons, and works to reemploy scientists and facilities related to biological weapons in peaceful research initiatives. The International Science and Technology Centers, of which the United States is the leading sponsor, have engaged 58,000 former weapons scientists in peaceful work. The International Proliferation Prevention Program has funded 750 projects involving 14,000 former weapons scientists and created some 580 new peaceful high-tech jobs. Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan are nuclear weapons free as a result of cooperative efforts under the Nunn-Lugar program. They otherwise would be the world’s the third, forth and eighth largest nuclear weapons powers, respectively.

The legislation that Barak Obama worked with Senator Lugar on expanded an already on the books nuclear proliferation act to include the elimination of conventional weapons - small arms and ammunition. Barak Obama had nothing, nothing at all, to do with helping to eliminate nuclear weapons. That had been done before he was even a state legislator.

According to the Senator for Illinois, now the Iraq war is a “dangerous distraction” from the “real” war, which is in Afghanistan. I am really curious why there is such a focus on the geography of where the combat operations are taking place, instead of focusing on what the combat operations are accomplishing. In Afghanistan, there is a resurgence of Taliban activity as they attempt to re-take the country and instill their oppressive way of life on the population. However, only an idiot would see Iraq as being any different.

Looking at some of Senator Obama’s recent remarks as he further refines his policy on Iraq - which is no being reported he will do before he goes to Iraq (myrrh?) - I can clearly see that leftist policy will cloud any sense of reason on Iraq.

“As should have been apparent to President Bush and Sen. [John] McCain — the central front in the war on terror is not Iraq, and it never was,”

As should have been apparent to Barak Obama, the war on terror is not about “did someone attack the United States”. That is an extremely isolationist view of foreign policy, to say the least. It is about stopping terrorism.

Saddam Hussein was harboring terrorists, paying terrorists’ family $25,000 for blowing up Jews, courting people would would benefit a great deal from gaining WMD technology or WMD agents. And these are just the things which are not in debate by anyone but the nutters. Iraq was involved in terrorism at home, in the region, and planning or cooperating with such activities in Europe and other places according to any seriously accepted analysis on the topic. My bet is that the Iraqi people see Iraq as being the central front in the war on terror, as the Islamo-fascists bomb their markets and kidnap their loved ones in order to instill their oppressive way of life on the population. Again, only an idiot would see it any differently.

Pointing to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s recent call for a timetable, Obama said “now is the time for a responsible redeployment of our combat troops that pushes Iraq’s leaders toward a political solution, rebuilds our military, and refocuses on Afghanistan and our broader security interests.”

Obama said he planned to remove combat brigades from Iraq by the summer of 2010. He also said he would send at least two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan.

Pointing to PM Maliki’s recent call for a timetable - which they have since backed off from a great deal - Obama should be saying, “I fully agree with President Bush’s plan to have troops beginning to demobilize and come home toward the end of 2009 or beginning of 2010, if the situation on the ground warrants it.” As Jimmie Bise mentioned last week on The Joel Gaines Show, Barak Obama is finally accepting the Bush plan for an ideal situation regarding how many troops are deployed in Iraq - as the president stated more than 6 months ago.

“By any measure, our single-minded and open-ended focus on Iraq is not a sound strategy for keeping America safe.”

Obama blasted the Bush administration for missed opportunities in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“Imagine, for a moment, what we could have done in those days, and months, and years after 9/11,” he said.

Senator Obama seems to have forgotten that we have not been attacked since 9/11, even though dozens of attacks have been foiled while either still in their planning stages or just prior to the attempts to carry them out. We should not forget, however, we partially have Senator Obama to thank for that - as he changed his tune on FISA and immunity for the telecom companies who help us, so we can obtain the kind of intelligence we need to continue to thwart attacks on America.

(Hardly - but Steve Sellengut’s plan warrants some serious consideration - Editor)

Most economic research suggests that tax code replacement surgery is essential for long-term economic progress. The goal of my plan is to make sure that you are not grumbling ten years from now about the same things that trouble you today. This is a fifteen-point plan to end the cycles of economic frustration and global disrespect during this administration.

In all instances, regulatory services will be needed to assure implementation consistent with the intent of the new code. Any person or entity that takes advantage of loopholes in the new rules, or manipulates normal operations to match new definitions will be fined. Their legal and tax advisors, if involved, will be responsible for 60% of the fine.

• One. Establish a catastrophic relief fund for victims of all forms of natural disaster throughout the USA.
• Two. Eliminate all Estate and Gift Taxes.
• Three. Appoint federal supervisors to the Board of Directors of public corporations paying annual salaries in excess of $3 million. Board members, corporate attorneys, and financial officers would be required to allocate any performance incentive compensation on a dollar-for-dollar basis to all employees, including part timers but excluding minimum wage recipients.
• Four. Examine the economic impact of Government Regulation and oversight in many industries, particularly small business practitioners in personal services fields. Provide an arbitration and review system to identify and control abuses of regulatory power and a separate department within each agency to deal with small businesses.
• Five. Reduce all import tariffs to zero for countries that reciprocate and who insure the quality of their exports.
• Six. Eliminate the Corporate Income Tax and create auditing entities to assure that the savings translate into new jobs, higher salaries for non minimum wage employees, lower product prices, and higher shareholder dividends.
• Seven. Abolish all taxation on any form of investment income, including rents, royalties, interest, dividends, and capital gains. Increase the federal sales tax by 2% once numbers 8 and 9 have been implemented.
• Eight. Abolish all taxation on any form of retirement income.
• Nine. Simplify the Internal Revenue Code by adopting a Fair Tax of 10% for all persons with annual employment income above $40,000. Eliminate all forms of tax deferral and stock option programs that are not available proportionately to every company employee. State and local income taxes would be capped at a flat 4% for family incomes above $80,000. Individual tax avoidance schemes would also be banned— 10 years retroactively.
• Ten. Mandate a ten-year term limitation on all members of congress, retroactively, and impose a mandatory retirement age on Supreme Court Justices. Reduce taxpayer compensated congressional staff by 50%.
• Eleven. Reduce government staff in all departments and at all levels by at least 10% per year for the next three to five years. Reduce by 50% the number of Government jobs filled by presidential appointment.
• Twelve. Reform Tort Law at every level, and protect both businesses and individuals from frivolous lawsuits. Adopt a rule of personal responsibility for one’s own stupidity and clumsiness. Submit all product liability, medical malpractice claims, and personal liability lawsuits to qualified arbitration panels instead of juries. Ban class action suits of all kinds and cap jury awards and lawyer compensation at 50% lower average levels.
• Thirteen. Institute a 3% Federal sales tax on all goods and services purchased by end consumers, but not a VAT. Subsidize a universal basic health care insurance system and public education expenses from sales tax proceeds plus a 5% tax on personal annual income, of any kind, in excess of $5 million dollars. Cap State and Local Sales Taxes at 3%. Eliminate all nuisance taxes in utility bills, hotel room charges, gas prices, etc.
• Fourteen. Mandate that no less than 50% of all self-directed benefit plan Working Capital be invested in government securities, and not qualified for withdrawal until retirement. Bring all alternative investments (options commodities, futures, hedge funds, etc.) under the purview of the SEC, and subject to the same suitability standards as an RIA’s recommendations.
• Fifteen. Take Social Security out of the public sector and replace it with a mandatory, deferred, fixed benefit, single-life-annuity program managed by existing annuity providers. Employee contributions would be reduced nearly 50% and employer contributions eliminated over a five-year implementation period— immediately for the self-employed. Participants would have no investment discretion or access to funds until retirement.

The writing is on the wall (street, that is), and it is telling us that we need to reaffirm the United States as the dominant force in the global economy, and that we have to do more to protect our citizens’ retirement and investment programs.

The plan outlined here is investor and economy friendly. Where jobs are lost, new entities will be needed, based of the premise that regulated capitalism can work well. As shoppers and homeowners, as retirees and employees, as business owners and investors, this is the reform plan we need.

Is this for real? It could be. Investors represent the biggest voting block in the country. We could elect the next president, change the tax code, fix Social Security, and strengthen the economy. If only we weren’t the most apathetic group of people on the planet. As Investors, we want less government, lower taxes, and purposeful regulation. We want laws that aid economic freedoms, and lawmakers and judges who facilitate it.

Survey Question: Would you vote for the person with the guts to propose this plan?

Steve Selengut
http://www.sancoservices.com
http://www.kiawahgolfinvestmentseminars.com/
Author of: “The Brainwashing of the American Investor: The Book that Wall Street
Does Not Want YOU to Read”, and “A Millionaire’s Secret Investment Strategy”

I am wondering if the Jackson gaff about Obama was just a ploy to elevate Obama in the minds of voters. Think about it  the vast majority of Republicans hold Jackson in contempt and recognize him to be the Pariah he is. If he thinks poorly of Barak Obama, the good Senator can’t be all that bad, right?

Was the Jackson gaff simply part of the plan to pull Barak Obama to the center?

At first Senator Obama stated he would have the troops out in 16 months, if elected. Now, he is going to “refine” his position based upon the facts on the ground.

The fact that his 16 month plan was designed out of ignorance of the facts on the ground and designed to garner support for the nomination from the virulent anti-war leftists controlling the democratic party apparatus, has been lost on only those who will blind themselves to the truth of Senator Obama’s empty rhetoric and complete lack of experience in foreign policy.

In truth, Senator Obama has no idea what he might do and is now in the process of planning his second ever trip to Iraq so that his policy can again be refined. However, any plan Senator Obama might come up with between now and February-March of next year is not going to matter. There is another player in this situation that Senator Obama has not once mentioned when he talks about his policy - the Iraqi government.

Barak Obama’s timetable has no thought whatsoever to the benefit of anyone aside from the standpoint of shaping American public opinion. Even a “refined” policy on Iraq will be devoid of any logical requirement that the Iraqi’s can handle their own security, except from the disingenuous standpoint of knowing that the security situation is much improved. Senator Obama could hardly acknowledge that 18 provinces have been handed over to Iraqi administration and security; or that the MNF is now able to visit shopkeepers in areas today that no one visited a year ago, no matter how heavily armed.

Further, Senator Obama could not possibly allow his supporters to embrace another inconvenient fact. The Iraqi government has matured a great deal - although they have a long way to go. The Iraqi government has more recently set expectations for their own self-sufficiency and their relationship with the United States. Here is a great example:

The United States and Iraq are in talks about a military alliance. Now, that generally means a desire for “permanent” military bases of some sort in Iraq. This would be much like the military bases we have in several other countries - Turkey, Germany, Japan, Korea, etc. As a part of the bargain, the Iraqi government is calling for a timetable for withdrawal of US forces. This demand presupposes a great deal, which I am positive the Iraqi government is aware of. The Iraqi government must be capable of dealing with their internal security problems almost entirely. The other aspect of this negotiation with the Iraqi government is that it is also a “post-war” security deal.

Today - right now - the Iraqi and US governments are beginning talks about a post-war alliance. This points specifically to a “light at the end of the tunnel” aspect to the war in Iraq. Senator Obama’s “plan”, whatever it is, for troop US withdrawal is irrelevant. It is happening without him.

…take themselves too seriously.

Because these Korean players seem to be having a kind of fun you never see at an American game.