American Exceptionalism

In 1832, the French political observer published his seminal work, Democracy in America. Alexis de Tocqueville had been amazed at the success of such a young republic while Europe long governed by heavily centralized monarchies was struggling with social issues within the various nations. After an extensive tour throughout the United States, Tocqueville drew these conclusions.

America was an exceptional nation, and her exceptionalism was rooted in the decentralized structure of the American government with local governments having the power to resolve social issues at the local level. The second feature that drew Tocqueville’s attention was the active citizen participation as individuals and in groups, associations, and civil society. According to Tocqueville, while Europeans sat around and waited hopelessly for their governments to come to their rescue, the Americans were actively organizing and resolving their social problems without waiting on government. Whether these groups were faith based organizations, interest groups, or patriotic societies, they rolled up their sleeves and worked to solve the problems.

American exceptionalism mattered then, and it matters now. Our nation has always demonstrated the initiative, the gumption, the ingenuity, and the industrious energy to solve problems. This is America’s strength.

Our nation faces an energy crisis of tremendous magnitude. If we sit around and wait for government to solve this crisis, the crisis will only worsen. Our government has become more and more centralized, highly bureaucratized, and increasingly impersonal and impassive towards resolving our nation’s problems.

The American people can solve the energy crisis. We must demonstrate the will and resolve to use our uniqueness to rise to the occasion. We are a nation of diverse cultures and backgrounds, but that is our strength and not a detriment. We have been blessed with unbelievable resources and skills. It is time we acknowledge these gifts and use them to accomplish what previous generations have done: resolving social, economic, and political problems.

As a people we learned long ago that government is not the solution. Our active citizenry is what makes our nation great.

What are we waiting for?

The Simple Truth

Did you know that 18.6 cents of every gallon of gasoline that you purchase goes to the Congressional highway fund?

Do you know how Congress spends this money? Don’t assume it goes for highways. What your Congress uses the highway fund money collected from the sale of gasoline is for Congressional earmarks. For those unfamiliar with earmarks that is the most recent buzzword for pork barrel legislation projects. If you are not familiar with pork barrel, it is the “walking about” money or “I’ll pat you on your back if you’ll support me in my re-election” money. In simple terms, it is a Congressional slush fund.

Assume the average car owner in the US buys 10 gallons of gasoline a week. Then that person is contributing $1.86 to the Congressional highway fund a week. In one year that contribution would amount to $96.72. Some might say, so what?

Assume there are approximately 200,000,000 vehicles in the US being filled with at least 10 gallons of gasoline every week. The total of this contribution to the Congressional slush fund would be $19,344,000,000 (BILLION) in a year. Now that’s a lot of money! (These numbers are low-balled because the average truck drivers spend $3,000-$4,000 per week on gasoline.)

In the last four weeks, American consumers have demonstrated economics in its simplicity. If you noticed over this weekend, gas prices at the pump took a noticeable decrease. The cause of this decrease was not the result of any Congressional action. Instead, the decrease in price was the result of several factors, but mostly the result of American drivers curtailing their demand for gas. When the demand for a product decreases, it results in an increase in supply. When supply increases, the prices go down.

How did the members of the US Congress react to the decrease in demand for gas? Did they jump for joy and thank the American consumer for heeding their warning that gas consumption was leading to global warming? NO. Not a peep about global warming was heard. Instead, the Democratic members of Congress proposed a 10% increase in federal taxes on gasoline!!! Say it ain’t so!!! Why in the world would the Democrats in Congress want to raise taxes on gasoline and raise the price of gas at the pump????

The simple truth is this: a decrease in consumption of gasoline not only drove down the price at the pump, but it decreased the money in the Congressional slush fund!!! Panic hit the fan in Congress and the Democratic leadership, which controls all legislation in Congress, was beside itself. Democrats in Congress LOVE OIL, and the last thing they want to see is the price of oil decrease. Federal gasoline taxes provide them with their precious Congressional slush fund. With the slush fund, they can use the money to influence / persuade people to vote to keep the Democrats in power. What Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi demonstrated with the proposal of a federal gasoline tax increase was the audacity of infinite colossal greed and arrogance flaunted in the face of Americans struggling with increasing prices and the cost of living.


The number of estimated vehicles comes from Bureau of Transportation

Quixotry Jabberwocky

Listening to Barack Obama's hemming, hawing, pausing, and stammering for words during his Middle East press conferences is painful at best. Can the presumptive Democratic Presidential candidate not speak without a teleprompter? Apparently not!

Once you get past that difficult hurdle of listening to his blather, the next obstacle is trying to dissect his Chestertonian quixotry jabberwocky and warbling which leaves you wondering if Obama even has a clue as to what is spewing forth from his mouth. He certainly does not understand foreign policy. Clearly anti-US military, anti-capitalist, and anti-establishmentarian, Obama's responses to questions are equivalent to a person speaking in tongues---confused on issues, lacking in facts, uncertain in tone, and at times sounding defiant of anyone challenging his positions.

Condemning the Bush surge in Iraq as a failure, Obama's next sentence called for a US surge in Afghanistan. Even NBC's Andrea Mitchell deemed the US surge in Iraq a success and having worked for quite some time. Sen. Obama, if the surge didn't work in Iraq, what makes you think it will work in the more treacherous Afghanistan theater of war? The British suffered a humiliating defeat there in the 1800s, and Russia suffered a brutal defeat there in the 1980s. Refusing to acknowledge the US military success in Iraq reflects Obama's arrogance and inability to admit mistakes.

The question for Americans is "Who do you want making Commander-in-Chief decisions---a neophyte or a seasoned veteran?"

Obama Flunks Econ 101

When a presidential candidate states he is going to correct the economy, we are in serious TROUBLE. The economy is how we use our scarce resources to satisfy our needs and wants. In every economy since the Fall of Man, there are two problems: unemployment and inflation.

If Obama was referring to an economic crisis or sluggish economy, then the issues lie within those two problems. We've heard his views on the inflationary rising gas prices at the pump, "I'm just disappointed it happened so fast." Wait a minute, did Obama just endorse high gas prices?

If that remark startles you, wait till you hear what he wants to do with labor laws and the labor department. He wants more BIG GOVERNMENT. Hey, the BIG GOVERNMENT we already have CANNOT FUNCTION properly. The last thing we need is more government. Read for yourself why Fortune magazine economic writers are starting to scratch their heads. Obama Flunks

Energy Independence Day: July 4, 2008

The Democratic Controlled DO-NOTHING Congress has taken a vacation while the rest of us worry and struggle to keep paying the rising prices of gas at the pump that the incompetent Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said under her leadership WOULD NOT RISE. Well, Nancy, you lied to us. Are you a big friend of Chavez and the Iranians who refuse to ship oil and continue to price gouge us? Are you, Nancy, afraid to drill because we might find oil and burst your power bubble?

Watch this video and help declareENERGY INDEPENDENCE!

"Why Is It We Hesitate?"

"There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in the shallows and in miseries...
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures." William Shakespeare

In the months leading up to July 4, 1776, Abigail Adams chose these words from William Shakespeare to inspire her husband, John Adams while he was in attendance at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. To John Adams, the only guarantee of liberty was independence. Choosing independence is a great step to be taken.

Our nation stands at a crucial moment in our history. We are heading towards an escalating economic crisis being imposed on us by three groups: OPEC, environmentalists, and a Democratic {Socialist} controlled Congress. We must choose to strike a cord for Energy Independence.

Gas prices at the pump will harm our entire economy by slowing, if not halting, numerous facets of our economy: tourism, transportation of goods and services, movement of people, and the list could go on ad nauseum. Rising fuel prices and the mandated biofuel program with subsidies for corn to be used in ethanol is already generating a rise in food prices. Rising prices is going to lead to UNEMPLOYMENT AND INFLATION which is STAGFLATION like we experienced under the hapless Jimmy, the Peanut Farmer, Carter.

The three groups or culprits can be dealt with in one swift fashion: VOTE THE DEMOCRATS OUT OF CONGRESS. Why? They are in bed with the environmentalists and have thus become subservient to the Environmentalist Interest Group. The Democrats in Congress have forgotten whom they serve: THE PEOPLE--NOT SPECIAL INTERESTS GROUPS. By voting the DO-NOTHING DEMOCRATS out, the Environmentalists will realize they have lost the support of the average American who is trying to make ends meet, trying to live the American Dream, trying to live in liberty.

OPEC will be dealt a huge reality check if the United States would FINALLY have the intestinal fortitude to DRILL for oil while also developing alternative energy sources including nuclear. Failure to take this stand will only continue our dependency and our enslavement to the Middle East for the only source of energy we have to run our industries and factories that provide jobs for Americans.

In the words of Thomas Paine, "Why is it we hesitate?...The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth..."

Barack and the Two-Step

Within 24 hours of his speech to AIPAC and the promise that Jerusalem will always remain the "undivided capital of Israel", Barack did a quick two-step when Hamas and Palestinians criticized his position.

From the Republican Jewish Coalition:
"Backtracks on "Undivided" Jerusalem-What Flip-Flop Is Next?

Washington, D.C. (June 6, 2008) -- Republican Jewish Coalition Executive Director Matthew Brooks criticized Barack Obama's backtrack on his position that Jerusalem remain the "undivided" capital of Israel and questioned what other positions Barack Obama would reverse regarding Israel.

On Wednesday, Barack Obama committed that "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided" in his speech before the AIPAC policy conference. On Thursday, Barack Obama backtracked on this position and reversed it. Following criticism from Palestinian and Hamas officials, Barack Obama on Thursday announced in an interview with CNN's Candy Crowley that "obviously, it's going to be up to the parties to negotiate a range of these issues. And Jerusalem will be a part of these negotiations."

"Barack Obama's attempt to use buzzwords to impress pro-Israel leaders has already backfired. Barack Obama's reversal on Jerusalem, 24 hours after his AIPAC speech, demonstrates why the Jewish community has doubts and fears about an Obama presidency," stated Matt Brooks. "Barack Obama's retreat demonstrates that Senator Obama lacks the resolve and leadership necessary to protect America and Israel from the serious threats we face. Worst of all, the impression that Barack Obama changed this position because of pressure by Hamas officials sends all the wrong messages that a President Obama will back off pro-Israel positions when Hamas protests. Yet again, Barack Obama demonstrates why the Jewish community does not trust Barack Obama to keep America and Israel safe and secure."

Want To Make A Real Change?

Start by voting out the Democrats who control Congress. Why? Anyone remember when Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as Speaker of the House? Remember her statement, "Under a Democratic controlled Congress, gas prices WILL NOT GO UP!" Guess what, Nancy, the prices didn't just go up, they went BALLISTIC, THROUGH THE CEILING".

Looks like Nancy lied to us.

Congress refuses to let oil companies drill for oil. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if demand is greater than supply, prices go up. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if Congress will not let oil companies drill for oil, we are going to be in short supply. Thus, HIGHER PRICES.

Why is Congress led by DEMOCRATS PELOSI and REID being so stubborn? Because they are in bed with the ENVIRONMENTALISTS who as AL GORE wrote in his book in 1993, Earth in the Balance, "believe Americans should pay $5.00 a gallon." Hence, to be green you have to pay a higher price. If you want to be green, don't complain about gas prices.

If, however, you believe there is a responsible way to be green and care about the environment, go to American Solutions and sign the petition: Drill Here. Drill Now. Lower Gas Prices.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Obama's Foreign Policy

So Which Is It, Senator Obama?

For a man who campaigned in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 19, that he is not about the politics of tearing people down, Senator Barack Obama must have had an epiphany in one week’s time.

Only on Friday, April 12 in Marin County, CA at a select soiree with liberals from the San Francisco elite, Obama in what he thought was an exclusive not tell-all group, maligned the simple folk of Pennsylvania about their bitterness which caused them to cling to guns and religion.

So who is the real Barack Obama? Is he the one who attended elite Hawaiian prep schools and then was educated in the elite Ivy League schools?

Elitism is not simply about money. Elitism is not simply about family connections. Elitism is about looking down on people with the attitude that you are better because you are arrogant and condescending. Elitism is characterized in those with a professorial attitude that I am above you people down there.

Well, Senator Obama, Maureen Dowd got it right in her article, In Darkest Pennsylvania. “What turns off voters is the detached egghead quality they tend to equate with wimpiness, wordiness, and a lack of action.”

So which is it Obama: are people in Pennsylvania in the dark? Or have you stopped playing the politics of tearing people down?

Your true character is on the line.

It May Come As A Surprise

It may come as a major surprise to Senator Obama that unlike extremist Jihadists who turn to radical interpretations about Islam because they are angry about their own lives, many--if not most-- Pennsylvanians turn to religion because of FAITH.

In case Faith was not discussed in Rev. Wright's ranting sermons, Faith is a personal relationship and trust that G-d is present in our lives all the time. Do some of us turn to G-d when we're down or frustrated? Yes. Do some of us turn to G-d to praise Him when things are going well? Yes.

I can only speak for myself, Senator. I don't turn to G-d out of anger, bitterness. I turn to G-d out of love, trust, and faith.

Senator, I don't need your condescension and arrogance to judge or assess my faith.

Obama's Negative Attack on Pennsylvania

Pennsylvanians must be the judge on this comment by Barack Obama:

The Huffington Post originally quoted Obama as saying: “You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are going to regenerate and they have not.

“And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

Is Obama an elitist? Wonder what his true feelings are about other states? Will the main stream media discuss this slam against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its citizens?

And, yes, Senator Obama, Pennsylvanians will judge this comment on April 22, 2008, and if you should get the Dem nomination, we will judge you again in November.

McCain and the VP

Either the media, the Dems,or both are focusing on who will be McCain's VP. Not sure of this strategy as the focus keeps McCain in the news with free TV time. Whatever the reason, the media is now running the story put out by Dan Senor (married to CNN's Campbell Brown)that Condi Rice is politicking for the VP spot.

Personally, Condi is an intelligent woman who would bring a much needed change for the Reps...a Black candidate and a woman. The problem, however, is she is too closely identified with the Bush Administration which for obvious reasons nets great negativity.

Not exactly sure who the other 19 possible candidates are, but there are others who bring different and less strident credentials to the McCain ticket. Youth, no close ties to Bush, appeals to a range of voters including Reagan Democrats and Independents would be some likeable features as well as someone who understands the difficult economic issues brought about by the predatory mortgage actions imposed on the financial system under the the Democratic controlled Congress as well as the minimum wage increase that has generated increased economic hardship on struggling small busineses. Also, the VP candidate must be thoroughly versed in the War on Terror which is this generations' version of the Cold War.

Pulling the troops out of Iraq will not bring an end to terrorism. To believe that is to place a bag over your head and fail to understand what is transpiring across the globe.

McCain's selection must be meticulous, thorough, and reasonable. There is no reason to make a selection until after the Democratic party's convention. Do you think for one minute the Dems would tip their hand? Not a prayer. Besides, this is politics: who gets what, when, where, how, and why.

Senator Obama, So What is Your Iraqi Time Table?

Apparently another military, foreign policy adviser for Obama is stating something differently from the Senator on the exit strategy from Iraq. Adviser Kahl states the US would have to keep at least 80,000-89,000 troops in Iraq until 2010.

Obama Adviser

State of the Economy

Hillary and Obama have both come out with possible solutions to the lagging economy. Both candidates advocate the following to jump start the economy:

1. Raise income taxes.

2. Eliminate and / or change the North Amercian Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico (It should be pointed out that the No. 1 and No. 2 sources for the United States' oil supply are Canada and Mexico, respectively.)

3. Not sign the free trade agreement with Columbia, one of our strongest trading partners in Latin America.

4. Tax US companies that have any plants, facilities, outside the US (which would be a staggering number of companies, thus virtually raising taxes on all businesses).

5. Impose a tariff on foreign made products coming into the US (which would be virtually all products on the shelves in stores).

6. Possibly impose a price freeze.

7. Raise the capital gains tax on investors (which stimulates new businesses and creates jobs from 15% to possibly 35%)


Think back in history to 1929-1930: the economy was slumping faster than what we are presently experiencing. The President of the United States

1. imposed an income tax on the wealthy

2. signed into law the Smoot-Hawley Tariff

3. cut off free trade

4. imposed a price and wage freeze

That President was Herbert Hoover. What followed was the Great Depression.

Both Senators Clinton and Obama voted for the minimum wage increase that went into law in 2007. Anyone who has had Economics 101 should recall that increases in minimum wage is inflationary, leads to a shortage of jobs, and results in people being layed off or their hours of work reduced.

On the Tonight Show Thursday night, Senator Clinton told the story of a young boy who told her that his mother earned minimum wage, but her hours had been reduced. Senator Clinton said she was shocked to learn this. Maybe she didn't take economics in college, but if she is as economic savvy as she claims, or if she has any economic advisors at all, she should have known before she voted that raising prices/wages is cost-push inflation and that businesses either pass that cost on to the consumer or they will attempt to recoup that expense by reducing the number of employees.

It's not rocket science folks.

The Dems' Disconnect on Oil Prices

Hillary attacks Big Oil and claims Big Oil is using highway robbery in price gauging at the pump. Obama's latest ad in Pennsylvania laments over the price of gasoline while claiming he doesn't take money from the oil company. (His last statement is true, but then no candidate takes money from oil companies. ALL CORPORATIONS ARE PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM CONTRIBUTING TO CAMPAIGNS!!!) Obama does, however, receive money from oil executives and has received money to the tune of $214,000.

But the most important point is this: Democrats in the Congress block drilling for new oil supplies yet call for oil independence. Where is this oil supply suppose to come from? An oil cloud in the sky?

Second point: In his book, Earth in the Balance written in 1993, the sacred, annointed messiah of Global Warming--Albert Gore-- stated Americans SHOULD BE PAYING $5.00 a gallon for gasoline. Incidentally, Barack Obama said in Pennsylvania today that Albert Gore would play a significant role in his administration. Doing what, Obama---raising our gas prices?

So Dems, are you being truthful with the American people about your position on oil or have we run into an oil spill?

Hillary's Experience v. Obama's Ineptitude

The Obama camp is attempting to derail Hillary's bid for the White House by questioning her experience.

The truth is she does have White House experience. Whether we like it or not, she in some sense was a co-President with her husband. She was the policy wonk behind many of his proposals and initiatives. Hillary selected most of his cabinet members, and she chose most of his executive staff.

Most of Bill Clinton's ideas were run past Hillary before anyone else. She did not hesitate to voice her disagreement with his staff members.

Obama, on the other hand, given the opportunity to chair a subcommitte with tremendous influence over the war in Afghanistan has demonstrated remarkable ineptitude: THE SUBCOMMITTEE HAS NEVER MET. According to Lou Dobbs of CNN, Barack Obama has had 13 months to make a public issue over the war in Afghanistan as chairman of this Senate subcommittee, and he has failed miserably.

Texas Heating Up

Well, the gloves are off in Texas where the Demo stakes are sky high and rich like Texas oil.

Hillary is miffed because you can't attack the junior Senator from Illinois about his background, his name because he is sensitive about that, his position on terrorism.

Meanwhile, Michelle is itching for a cat fight. In remarks to a group of women in Ohio, Michelle tells the women to discourage their children from entering into the corporate law world (Hillary was a corporate attorney) and the Hedge Fund World (Chelsea is in the Hedge Fund business) because it costs too much to go to college and pay off college debts. Okay, Michelle, did you tell the women that you were a corporate lawyer who left that to take a position as in-house counsel for a hospital at the $200,000+ salary and when you're husband was elected to the US Senate your salary went up over night to $300,000? And you weren't proud of your country????

Is Michelle Obama attacking Hillary? Is Michelle Obama attacking the Feminist movement? She apparently wants women to stay in the home and subjugated to a minimum lifestyle.

While in Texas, the junior Senator from Illinois is stating that his foreign policy will STOP LOOKING AT THE WORLD IN POST 911 WAY.

Will Hillary respond to Michelle and the junior senator from Illinois? I'd bet my house on it!

Why is Obama Ashamed of His Name?

Juan Cole has written an outstanding article at Salon.com questioning the Junior Senator from Illinois' lack of pride in his name. Read it because it makes some very critical points of interest.

Why is Obama Ashamed of His Name?

Obama on Afghanistan

Senator Obama Criticizes Bush White House on Afghanistan Policy:

HOWEVER, The Junior Senator From Illinois Has Held Zero Hearings As Chairman Of The Subcommittee On European Affairs. "Doubts about Barack Obama's presidential credentials have crystallized during the past two weeks over his stewardship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on European Affairs, which has convened no policy hearings since he took over as its chairman last January." (Joe Conason, "Obama's European Problem," www.salon.com, 12/29/07)

Obama Could Have Held Hearings On The Role Of NATO In Afghanistan. "[A]mbassador John Ritch, who served for two decades as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's senior staffer on European affairs and East-West relations ... [P]oints out that as subcommittee chair, Obama could have examined a wide variety of urgent matters, from the role of NATO in Afghanistan and Iraq to European energy policy and European responses to climate change..." (Joe Conason, "Obama's European Problem," www.salon.com, 12/29/07)

CNN's Lou Dobbs: "The reality is this man for 13 months has had a responsibility to hold oversight hearings on Afghanistan and the conduct of that war and has not done so." (CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight," 2/27/08)

Obama's Campaign Defended His Lack Of Oversight By Noting His Trip To Iraq, But Obama Skipped The Opportunity To Visit Afghanistan