Framing the Dialogue

Archive for January, 2011

Progressive Process Revealed

 I cannot confirm that this is the official process document that liberals/progressives/Democrats use to push their agenda, but the method seems accurate.  My calls and e-mails to Democrat leaders were not returned (or rather I never sent any, but lame-stream media always use that tactic to insinuate that the party would not respond).  I used the diagram to see if it would work for the most recent push for an extension of unemployment benefits and son-of-a-gun it worked.

“With unemployment being extended another 13 months, is it maybe time to just start calling it welfare?”

Fred Thompson Tweet

Consider The Grasshoppers

“Because half a dozen grasshoppers under a fern make the field ring with their importunate chink, whilst thousands of great cattle, reposed beneath the shade of the British oak, chew the cud and are silent, pray do not imagine that those who make the noise are the only inhabitants of the field; that, of course, they are many in number; or that, after all, they are other than the little, shriveled, meager, hopping, though loud and troublsome, insects of the hour.

Edmund Burke

Update – On Government Exemptions

It seems like only two days ago that I stated that the White House had issued over 220 Obamacare waivers.  That number was a massive understatement and the number of waivers actually top 770 as reported on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website. 

and this from the Washington Times

“How can you get your own free pass from Obamacare? Maybe you can just donate $27 million to President Obama‘s campaign efforts. That’s what Andy Stern did as president of SEIU in 2008. He has been the most frequent guest at Mr. Obama‘s White House.”

Separated At Birth – Geri/Reid

Geri:  Geri is a popular Pixar character thrust on the international scene after his appearance after the blockbuster Toy Story movie.  The elderly Geri plays a game of chess against himself becoming each of the players by moving to the other side of board.  He seems to change personalities depending on which side he sits.  At a point late in the game the “nice” Geri feigns a heart attack to distract the “bad” Geri and literally turns the board on his opponent.  Realizing that he is beaten the bad Geri hands over the prize – his false teeth.  Sadly there is only one Geri and he has been playing alone at the chess board.

On Government Exemptions

In their attempt to cover all scenarios with regulations governments never seem to learn from their mistakes and always creates unintended consequences.   This is quite a dilemma for government as they certainly want to give the perception of fairness and create a set of rules that will achieve their goals and cover all of the bases.  Rather than simplifying things they increase the complexity and you end up with 2000+ page bills.  I would estimate that for each page of law you probably get 250 pages of regulations.  We should keep in mind that by creating this bureaucracy they also provide cover (i.e. covering their butts) for themselves when/if the spit hits the fan. 

Tweet Thompson

Someone at I Hate The Media compiles a list of Fred Thompson’s top ten tweets each week.  The former presidential candidate is rather funny as he addresses hot topics in today’s political world.  I actually had higher hopes for his candidacy, but he didn’t seem to get any traction in the media as they chose Sen. John McCain as the Republican candidate.  While their candidate, BHO, won the presidency their plan backfired as McCain gave conservatives a wonderful spokesperson in Palin and Obama’s lurch toward big government socialism gave birth to the TEA Party.

Broke

Before I get into the meat of Glenn Beck’s latest book (although I think he has since released another) I would like to thank him for the quality of the books that he releases.  Forgetting the message for a moment, Beck’s books are printed in a quality unsurpassed by others. 

Quiet Strength

As someone who lives in Steeler Country I have great memories of Tony Dungy as both a player and a coach.  I think the best way to describe the impact that he had was the fact that he only played a few years here yet I remember his play.  It was always noted about how “football” smart he was and that he would certainly become a coach and though his playing career was rather short he soon became the coach of former teammates who were much older.  In Quiet Strength  Tony Dungy shares his journey as a player, coach, Super Bowl champion , and most important to him, father and man of God. 

Hitchhikers Guide

As I drove through yet another snow storm and crappy roads I passed a guy walking along a bridge.  I see this guy nearly every day.  I tend to get to work early so I sit in my car and read the paper.  This guy usually walks by on his way to what I assume is his work.  I probably wouldn’t pay him much attention, but he wears a powder blue North Carolina University jacket and it is very noticeable.  I had thought that he must take a bus and walk from his bus stop to work on the island.  I work on an island that doesn’t have bus service.

Not So Great Expectations

Many of us have been affected by the economic downturn of the last few years.  I had been unemployed for about half of the year in 2010 and had been paying fairly close attention to jobless numbers and the spin with which officials and media put on the numbers.  Officials use interesting and in my mind deceptive tactics (allegedly) to report the bad news in a more positive light.