Obama: The Worst President Ever?

The title is a little hard hitting, but what of the idea that Mr. Obama is the worst president in our countries history?   I generally give that title to Mr. Carter for his numerous bunglings of the economy, Iranian hostage situation, etc.  Maybe Nixon could be on that list for his crookedness while in office.  Questions to ponder, for sure.

Below is an excerpt from an article written R. Emmett Tyrrell, a columnist for The Washington Times, that explores that very subject.

It is becoming apparent for all to see that a man who made his name as a community organizer does not have the skills to be president of these United States. Maybe he could develop the requisite skills as a governor. Possibly he could develop such skills were he to sit in the Senate for a couple of terms. Yet there are delicate sensitivities, the ability to listen, to stick by your guns, occasionally to remain reticent. These are the fundamentals of a leader, and President Obama has demonstrated that he lacks all of them, most notably reticence. I think it is clear even to official Washington that Mr. Obama is the worst president of modern times. President Jimmy Carter is redeemed.

Indeed, Jimmy Carter is redeemed.  Mr. Tyrrell goes on to make the case that Mr. Obama seems to insert himself into silly controversies based not on being prudent (i.e. Professor Henry Gates, ala “The Beer Summit”), but rather impulsive in nature.

There is a solid reason that we usually seek individuals who have proven themselves in an executive role first.  In a governmental position, this usually means a gubernatorial role (Bush 43, Clinton, Reagan, Carter, Nixon…)  At the least, the person needs to have some kind of experience managing an organization and a large group of people.  Obama does not have that quality and we are getting what we deserve by electing such an individual.  Heck, he barely had any experience in the Senate (hardly a training ground for executives.)

Those on the other side are quick to point out that he has helped pass comprehensive health care legislation, ended the war in Iraq and has attempted to “fix” the errors of the Bush Administration.  Right.  While I was not an enthusiastic fan of President Bush, I think he had a much better grasp on how to govern than Mr. Obama.  This has nothing to do with his politics, but rather the way he attempts to manage people.

Let’s bring this down to a level all of us could understand.  Not all corporations are run equally.  Some are good and some are bad, management wise.  Well run companies and corporations have a chain of command where the executive hires individuals to serve under them (i.e. Vice Presidents) and then there are people under those individuals that do specific jobs and so on and so forth.  This is a top down structure that allows the employees to do their jobs and report to a specific boss.  The CEO or President answers to a board that is entrusted to make sure things don’t go awry.

Then there are the micromanagement firms.  These firms usually include a dynamic individual that feels compelled to insert themselves into all areas of the operation.  This may sound like a great way to gain the trust of the employees, but in reality, it hinders and stifles productivity and creative behaviors.  People start to wonder who is the boss.  It is terribly inefficient.  Eventually this type of corporation will wither due to distrust of the employees and paranoia of the chief executive.  Eventually the corporation crumbles under the ineffective management.  The smart boards will fire the chief executive and try to repair the damage caused before the company ceases to exist.

I have had experience with both types of organizations (I’ve actually seen both types happen within the same company.)  The first is more appropriate for a large organization.  Hire the best people and let them do their job.  Ronald Reagan used to say about the Soviets, “Trust but verify.”  A great mantra to live by in any corporate or governmental environment.

Mr. Obama has a problem with his management skills.  He’s a very good and charismatic speaker, but that quality does not lead to a good leader.

Mr. Tyrrell ended his article with these lines:

Increasingly, it is clear that the Democrats brought down on the country a community organizer as president. Maybe in the future they will consider experience a qualification for the presidency. Possibly, the age of charisma is behind us. Possibly, Mr. Obama even lacks that dubious quality.

Amen.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Obama: Savior from the Rain

President Obama decided to attend a Memorial Day commemoration in Chicago instead of the traditional one in DC.  It was good that he attended something on Memorial Day.

The Chicago area had severe storms during the event and there was a threat of lightning in the area.  OK, I get that and recognize the program, but are there not people to stand up in the rain and tell the assembled crowd to disperse?  It might be just me, but this doesn’t seem very Presidential.  And yes, I would have said this if the last guy would have done it.

Where are the people standing behind him to say, “Um, Mr. President, how about we send someone out to make an announcement regarding the weather.”  I guess not.  How embarrassing.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

The Sham Wow Summit From Redstate

I found this article on Redstate.com.  I just had to repost it.

There are many reasons the Republican Party is often referred to as the Stupid Party. Many Republicans thought that after the President overshadowed the GOP at their Baltimore retreat last month, going to Blair House yesterday would just be another PR disaster.

It was anything but.

The GOP won the day so convincingly that even the traditional media had to praise the party for talking issues.

Contrast that with Barack Obama who scowled, berated, lied, and harassed the attendees — not to mention filibustered them.

In the most ironic moment of the day, Barack Obama lectured Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor on having the Democrats’ 2,700+ page health care bill on his desk at the meeting. Obama called it a “prop.” At the same time, Democrats were in the newspapers admitting that, in effect, Barack Obama was using the GOP as a prop in a vain effort to show bipartisanship on health care.

There is bipartisanship on health care. There is bipartisan opposition to it. The Democrats must realize today that they would get nothing out of the meeting. They will now try to force health care deform through Congress on a majority vote in each house.

Only a couple of years ago, Barack Obama praised the filibuster claiming it was what the founding fathers wanted to prevent the tyranny of the majority. Now he is intent on ignoring the filibuster and ramming through health care deform.

If nothing else, today shows the American public that the Republicans have a better agenda, better ideas, and are willing to stand up and oppose a reckless scheme that will increase health care costs.

Well said.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Ed Koch: Not Every Muslim Is A Terrorist ‘But There Are Hundreds Of Millions Who Are’

I don’t always agree with Ed Koch, but I liked his views espoused on Neil Cavuto’s show on Fox News.  He was commenting on that the President has refused to call the foiled Christmas day airplane attack as an act of terrorism.  No surprise that he is being totally PC and seems to have an aversion to creating any waves with radical muslims.

Ed tells it like it is:

Exactly.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Gibbs: We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Transparency!

I just love to watch Robert Gibbs.  What an inept example of the Obama White House.  I just have to assume they keep him around to elevate everyone else by comparison.  Just a guess on my part.

I wish I could use that excuse with people in my office.  “Excuse me Mr. VP, I answered that question yesterday, please don’t ask me to answer it again.  Please go back and read your notes from the meeting.”  Yeah, I’m sure that would work out great.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Detroit: The Armpit of America

I have traveled to Detroit numerous times on my way to western Ontario.  The best view of Detroit, in my opinion, is from Windsor, Ontario looking across the water.  As you will see in the video from Steven Crowder, Detroit is really the “Armpit of America” brought to you by the UAW and liberal politicians. 

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

For Christmas, I Want Balanced Coverage of Corrupt Democrats

Below is an article from STLToday.com written by one of my favorite radio hosts, Jamie Allman.  It makes a lot of sense, although I doubt Republicans will get the suggestions.  One can only hope.

By Jamie Allman

JALLMAN@STLEMMIS.COM

As common-sense conservatives get ready to plow head first into the coming year with visions of bad poll numbers for President Barack Obama dancing in their heads, it would be wise to remember the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

No, not because he will be useful as a campaign target again. Because going after him was the worst mistake conservatives made in the run up to the last election.

Chasing monsters only will kill conservative chances again.

Make no mistake: Rev. Wright spoke terribly about America and had all the trappings of a land mine for candidate Obama. The guilt-by-association thing seemed like a tactical winner.

But to move on and win in the future, conservatives must ask themselves: How’s that Rev. Wright thing working out?

The fact is that there is only one man who wants to take control of your health care, who plans a business- and job-killing carbon tax, who has an eye on grabbing more of your tax dollars and who is pushing for a green economy that in all likelihood won’t include you.

There’s only one man who is sending housewives, retirees and average Joes into the St. Louis streets in fury.

There’s only one man who is considered to have it out for the republic as we know it.

And that man is not Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

I remember the cry among some of my pundit colleagues: “President Obama must distance himself from Rev. Wright!”

Why would he do that?

Rev. Wright provided the perfect screen, the perfect distraction for candidate Obama to blast past the goal line. If I didn’t know any better, I’d imagine Rev. Wright was a creation of a Democratic Karl Rove.

As long as conservative media leaders were barking about Rev. Wright, they weren’t paying attention to, oh, say, candidate Obama’s website, which contained in plain view the blueprint for everything President Obama is attempting to do now. As long as candidate Obama was giving “major” speeches about race and his toxic pastor, he was able to shield his plan to pursue a lot of what many Americans are really upset about now.

It’s quite a genius strategy: When you want the dog to stop growling and barking, you throw him some red meat. Boy did many of us dig in!

Big mistake.

In the future, we need to never forget that Americans, as a rule, like their meat thoroughly cooked. If you have an issue with someone, the issue better be about that someone and not someone else nearby. Nefarious associations, while telling, never are enough to convict in the minds of most Americans — who seem to have a built-in aversion to guilt by association.

Guilt-by-association tactics almost always backfire because the target of the association almost always becomes a victim in the eyes of Americans, even conservative Americans. It’s always an indication that the other side simply doesn’t seem to have enough to convict the real culprit.

Common-sense conservatives have a perfect opportunity now because they have the ears of even some conservative Democrats who are rethinking their votes. These Democrats were blinded, too, by artificial distractions. And if you told most folks a year ago that normal average everyday not-so-politically active people would be hitting the streets to protest legislation of all things, you would have been written off as crazy.

Given all that, conservatives would be crazy not to focus on what’s in front of them. They should not be tempted ever again to create amateur horror films about a meaningless crony.

Those who spent months and months huffing and puffing about Rev. Wright and his terrible sermons need only to ask one critical question: How much is Rev. Wright affecting your life now?

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/editorialcommentary/story/D0BBD288B151F5FB8625768D00833D71?OpenDocument

I would agree. Good points.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

A Conservatarian Manifesto

The Coherent Ramblings
of a Disillusioned Former Republican

“If everyone is thinking alike, then someone isn’t thinking.
General George S. Patton, Jr.

As I reflect on my short life, I often have the chance to ponder on where my belief system began.  It has been an interesting journey from an uninformed teenager to a semi-apathetic college student, to today. I am now an informed adult quickly hurtling toward middle-age, although I refuse to act it.

The Early Journey

Most of my ideas, thoughts, and belief system (political, religious and otherwise), started with my parents. I am a Christian and an Eagle Scout. I feel that these experiences have molded and shaped my work ethic and way of thinking. One of my greatest heroes is my dad, who has had a profound influence on my life.  We often talk of political issues and agree most of the time.  Even though I am a little more radical in my way of thinking, we do agree most of the time.

Going through life I feel I have made the right choices, most of the time, in regards to life and education. I went through my undergraduate work in five years gaining two bachelor’s degrees. I later attended graduate school achieving a master’s degree. It was at this time that I discovered that the “real” education begins outside of the classroom!

I give this basic information only as a background on my life experiences and as a basis for my belief system.

The Political Journey

In 1988 I voted in my first Presidential election, or any election for that matter. My vote went to George H.W. Bush. I don’t remember the reason I voted for him, but it seemed like a better choice than his competitor, Michael Dukakis.  Not much thinking on my part.

Throughout the next four years I concentrated on my collegiate work and having a good time (friends, parties, etc.). I was by no means a lush – I just liked enjoying myself and the college life. I did not follow many domestic or world affairs during these years.

In 1992 I was a little older and hopefully a little wiser. I was working on a second degree at my university and becoming more informed on domestic and world affairs.

It was that summer I started to listen to (and watch) Rush Limbaugh. He said all kinds of things that I agreed with, and I felt like I had found a kindred spirit in the media. He had many of the same thoughts and desires that I had.  At that time he was the lone voice of conservative political issues.  Finally, someone was speaking my language on the national stage! I was by no means some kind of mind-numbed robot that agreed with every word Rush spoke, but he merely expounded on my thoughts and values already in place.

Throughout the 90’s, my life changed drastically. I got married, started my first job, and continued to move up the proverbial corporate ladder. In 1996 I voted for Bob Dole. He was the Republican and was, in my mind, a better choice than another four years of Bill Clinton. I soon realized that he was given this opportunity, not necessarily to win the Presidency, but as political payback for years of service to the GOP.  I knew, (and suspected that many others did too), that he would never have beaten the popular Bill Clinton…so begins my education in the political realm.

The new Millennium ushered the end of the Clinton era and the beginning of the George W. Bush era. I actually loved the idea of the younger Bush carrying the conservative banner. I saw him as a much more conservative candidate than his father and hoped for big things.

“I started to listen to Rush Limbaugh.  He said all
kinds of things that I agreed with, and I felt like
I had found a kindred spirit in the media.”

I truly believe that George W. Bush started off very well after all the election snafus in Florida. He seemed to be settling into office and dealing with a downturn in the economy after the “dot-com bubble” burst. Then 9-11 hit. I couldn’t have imagined Al Gore dealing with this situation with as much poise and honor.

As the 2004 election came around, I was still in the Bush camp and enthusiastically voted for him a second time. As the election ended and reality set in, Mr. Bush started to play the center, and some times left, in his positions. I watched him cave into the left on issues like prescription drugs and illegal immigration. It seemed like he had lost his way and just wanted to secure some type of legacy beyond the Iraq War and 9-11.  I learned what compassionate conservatism really meant: the abandonment of conservative values.

“The Republicans have failed the country by being lukewarm
on important issues, like spending restraint and domestic
security.  The Democrats have failed us due to their
proclivity to push the country to the left, and develop
a more collective (socialistic) society.”

When the election season of 2007-2008 came around, I was totally disillusioned with the whole political process.  I certainly didn’t identify myself with the Republicans and had nothing in common with the Democrats. To put it quite frankly, I was a man without a party. I started to look elsewhere for a candidate that would make a difference. Sadly, the only candidates I really liked didn’t make it out of the primaries.

In the beginning of 2008, shortly after the birth of my second child, I started a little blog site called Rob’s Rant.  This seemed an appropriate title for my writings and I was not concerned if anyone actually read them. They were meant for my own therapy. I started this forum out of my frustration with the caliber of politicians and the Bush administration. I felt that my voice was not being heard. I had a couple of readers that consisted of some friends from high school and college. Of course, they mostly agreed with my positions on issues. I posted when I was interested.

We witnessed the highly contentious election of 2008 between John McCain and Barack Obama. Being from Illinois I knew that Mr. Obama was not the right person for the job. The more I read about John McCain the less I really liked his outlook for America. I didn’t see much difference between the two presidential candidates.  I reluctantly voted for the lesser of two evils, John McCain.  It was the first time in my life I voted for an individual I had no confidence in to turn the country around. I liked the prospect of an Obama presidency even less.

To be honest, Senator McCain only received my vote because I didn’t want Barack Obama in the oval office.  I also liked that he chose Sarah Palin as his running mate.  I cared very little about her political inexperience and problems with the media. Mr. Obama had less experience running anything, and he now calls the White House home. Fortunately for her, she is distancing herself from the GOP and really attempting to chart her own course.  We’ll see where that leads.

“I am tired of the two party system
with their inherent dishonesty
and disingenuousness.”

Before the 2008 election, I was starting to lean Libertarian in my views, but I didn’t really identify with their whole belief structure. I still consider myself a Conservative but with marked Libertarian tendencies. I don’t believe I am alone in my views and think there are many people who fall into this group.

The Realization

After the election of Barack Obama to the highest office in the land, I decided to see what was happening with the local GOP group.  I was looking for some glimmer of hope for the Republicans. I had been invited by an acquaintance to get involved with the local group so I decided to give them a shot.  I attended my first, and only, meeting in December 2008. I soon realized that although they called themselves the “NEW” Republican Party, the same old people were involved in the same old way doing the same old things. It was the longest two hours of my life and I couldn’t wait to leave.  I know I only gave them one meeting but I just couldn’t torture myself like that again.

The Republicans have failed the country by being lukewarm on important issues such as spending restraint and domestic security issues. The Democrats have failed us for their proclivity to push the country to the left and develop a more collective (socialistic) society. I am tired of the two party system with their inherent dishonesty and disingenuousness.  Do I believe that all Republicans and Democrats are evil? Of course not. I do believe there must be a better way to run the country.

“I consider myself an Glenn Beck conservative.
He is a lot like me.  He rants and raves passionately
about issues that interest him.  Sometimes he swerves
off the rails into perceived lunacy.  I’ll admit it, I like that.”

Since the beginning of 2009, we have witnessed seemingly average citizens, like myself, take time out of their lives to attend loosely organized, as well as extremely coordinated events, protesting hot button issues like taxes and health care. We, as citizens, have been misaligned as radicals and out of touch with society. I believe it is just the opposite.  Having attended a couple of these events, I felt very comfortable in the presence of these groups. I think this is the start of a real awakening of common sense conservatives in America.

As of today, I consider myself a Glenn Beck conservative.  He is the current whipping boy of the left-leaning (and some right-leaning) commentators and main stream media types.  I really don’t care. He is a lot like me.  He rants and raves passionately about issues that interest him, is usually correct on the facts, but like a typical human does make mistakes from time to time and sometimes swerves off the rails into perceived lunacy. I’ll admit it, I like that. If that makes me an unhinged loon, then so be it.

The Future

I have no idea how I will vote in the 2012 election.  I will not whore myself out any longer for a party that seemingly has no interest in preserving conservative values. We need a TRUE conservative to right the ship and reduce the massive amounts of people on the public dole. Other tasks should include a plan to distribute the tax burden more evenly among all of the income levels. Stop punishing the ‘”rich” for their success! Also, stop spending like a drunken sailor on shore leave (sorry, Navy guys, I liked the analogy.)

“When we complain about some group receiving
several million dollars, we are told,
‘That’s just a drop in the bucket to the government.’
Well, in my estimation, that is part of the problem.”

Why are these concepts so hard for the average politician to swallow? I think many, not all, of our politicians have lost touch with their constituents and forgotten they are spending the people’s money. When we complain about some group receiving several million dollars, we are told,

“That’s just a drop in the bucket to the government.” Well, in my estimation, that is part of the problem. When you start adding up all those “drops,” you start to fill up the bucket and then overflow this proverbial bucket. True reform starts with that one drop. Real change comes when we fill up the bucket. Revolutionary change comes when we throw out the collected drops and start over.

Do I think it is too late for the Republican Party to rebound and become a truly conservative party? Unfortunately, I do.  I believe that too many wishy-washy Republicans have infiltrated the GOP ranks for true reform to happen. I hope I am wrong. Until then, I will vote my conscience and not a party.

I will continue to rant and complain about issues I am interested in and hope to strike a chord with someone. I’m not always factually correct and tend to fly off the handle on some issues, but I do have an opinion that I can express for all to hear. Until I’m carted away by a goon squad or silenced by the fairness doctrine or some form of localism, I’ll continue to express my heartfelt thoughts.

Download a pdf copy of this article here.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

 

Obama Has Difficultly Addressing Ft. Hood Shooting

It’s always good to see that our President comes right out and talks about a horrific tragedy.  It took 1:41 to actually get to the point of commenting on the Fort Hood shooting.

One of our great commentators here in St. Louis, Jamie Allman, opined that it was good for him (President Obama) that he was not reading books to school children.  It might have really hit the fan then!

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

 

Isn’t All Crime a Hate Crime?

Today, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.  This bill was buried in the Defense Appropriations bill. 

A logical American, or any breathing human being for that matter, would wonder why this was not pushed forward on its own merits.  Why was this buried in a $680 billion defense appropriations bill?   I’ll tell you why, it would have never passed otherwise.

From the USA Today:  

The new law basically expands existing hate-crime protections to outlaw attacks based on sexual orientation or gender, in addition to race, color, religion or national origin. 

In a later ceremony devoted to the new law, Obama told supporters, “No one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hand of the person they love.” He cited statistics that in these past 10 years, there have been more than 12,000 hate crimes based on sexual orientation.

“We will never know how many incidents were never reported at all,” Obama said.

Opponents called the hate-crimes bill unnecessary, noting that Shepard’s and Byrd’s attackers were convicted in state criminal courts. Some critics objected to the inclusion of hate-crimes legislation in a defense budget bill.

“The president has used his position as commander-in-chief to advance a radical social agenda, when he should have used it to advance legislation that would unequivocally support our troops,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., chairman of the House Republican Conference. 

Pence also argued that the law could be used to curb free speech rights, such as with religions that consider homosexuality a sin.    

According to an AP story, “The hate crimes measure came as part of legislation (defense appropriation bill) that Obama also touted for other reasons: a crackdown on careless military spending.”   How about just cutting down on that spending the normal way and not including unnecessary legislation unrelated to a bill meant to fund the military efforts?  I realize this is the way things are done in Washington, but isn’t that part of the problem?

The last time I checked hate was hate no matter what the person looks like or his sexual orientation.  A crime is a crime and tagging it with some arbitrary title is not only unnecessary but subject to interpretation by the legal system.  In other words, “I’m going to read your mind and determine if you are a racist homophobic loser.”  Ridiculous.

Scenarios: What if a Muslim kills a Christian because he is not Muslim?  What if a black man kills a white man just for being white?  What if a homosexual kills a heterosexual for not being gay?  Far fetched and idiotic maybe, but have we thought of these scenarios or just the obvious ones?  If a hate crime can be attached to the cases expressed in the various news stories why not my examples? 

No good can come from this and is a travesty to the justice system. 

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Anita Dunn Punks the Press

I believe Anita Dunn, White House Communications Director, is an incredibly smart woman.  Either that or she has very smart people around her.

It was no secret that the Obama campaign utilized technology better than any other Presidential candidate (or any candidate for that matter) ever has in modern history.  The video below describes their strategy of how they really shaped the way the media reported things about Obama during the 2008 campaign. 

From WorldNetDaily:

President Obama’s presidential campaign focused on “making” the news media cover certain issues while rarely communicating anything to the press unless it was “controlled,” White House Communications Director Anita Dunn disclosed to the Dominican government at a videotaped conference .

“Very rarely did we communicate through the press anything that we didn’t absolutely control,” said Dunn.

“One of the reasons we did so many of the David Plouffe videos was not just for our supporters, but also because it was a way for us to get our message out without having to actually talk to reporters,” said Dunn, referring to Plouffe, who was Obama’s chief campaign manager.

“We just put that out there and made them write what Plouffe had said as opposed to Plouffe doing an interview with a reporter. So it was very much we controlled it as opposed to the press controlled it,” Dunn said.

Continued Dunn: “Whether it was a David Plouffe video or an Obama speech, a huge part of our press strategy was focused on making the media cover what Obama was actually saying as opposed to why the campaign was saying it, what the tactic was. … Making the press cover what we were saying.”

 

What a brilliant strategy.  If the present day press can be led along on a string so easily, why is the other side not doing this?  Is it really that easy?

Really, this is not a new strategy.  In sales you always want to be driving the car moving your prospect from point A to point B.  You may veer off the path during the trip but you really want to be the one in charge.  The same goes here: the democrats are much much better at framing the argument and sticking to their guns no matter what comes along.  If you think back during the 2008 campaign it was the McCain camp that was generally reactive to situations and the Obama campaign was proactive.  This video lays that out perfectly.

Now I’m not an operative for the GOP, and don’t want to be one, but if the conservative side is going to combat this they are going to have to wake up and embrace technology.  The bloggers have already done this, but the majority of the American public do not read blogs.  The Republicans are much more likely to have varied opinions about the direction of the country (within the party) and a strategy like Ms. Dunn’s would probably not work the same way, but you have to start somewhere. 

Attn: Michael Steele – take notes from Anita Dunn and the Obama campaign.  This is the only way you will have to take back any seats next year. 

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

The Cow and the Ice Cream…How Obama Won The Election

I was sent the following story my mother, a retired fifth grade teacher.  I have no idea if this is a genuine story, but that really doesn’t matter.  It’s a good illustration none-the-less.

–From a teacher in the Nashville area–

“We are worried about ‘the cow’ when it is all about the ‘Ice Cream.’

 The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching third grade this year…

The presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest.

 I decided we would have an election for a class president.  We would choose our nominees. They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.   To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members.

We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have.  We got many nominations and from those, Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.  The class had done a great job in their selections.  Both candidates were good kids.

I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support.  I had never seen Olivia’s mother.   

The day arrived when they were to make their speeches.   Jamie went first.  He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place. He ended by promising to do his very best.  Everyone applauded and he sat down.

Now is was Olivia’s turn to speak.  Her speech was concise.  She said, “If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream.”  She sat down.

The class went wild. “Yes! Yes!  We want ice cream.”  She surely would say more. She did not have to.

A discussion followed. How did she plan to pay for the ice cream?  She wasn’t sure.

Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it.   She didn’t know.

The class really didn’t care.  All they were thinking about was ice cream.

 Jamie was forgotten. Olivia won by a landslide.

 Every time Barack Obama opened his mouth he offered ice cream and  52 percent of the people reacted like nine year olds.   They want ice cream.

 The other 48 percent know they’re going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess.”

 

Would you like sprinkles on your ice cream.

Of course, it’s just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Do Words Matter Mr. Obama?

 One of our great local radio hosts, Jamie Allman, from 97.1 FM Talk, put up a well done video that I just had to share.

It’s good to see we haven’t had the massive loony protests calling President Obama war monger or worse.  For the most part it has been pretty peaceful and pointed.  We don’t have to like Mr. Obama and his direction he is taking the country, but a little civil discourse is healthy for the country. 

Like Dalton says, I want you to be nice until it’s time to not be nice.  I think we’re heading towards the not nice phase. 

You can catch Allman in the Morning online here.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

The Indoctrination of our Children

Maybe it’s just me, but the groups of children singing praises to Obama are just a tad creepy.  I wonder what would have happened if the reverse was going on – singing praises to Bush. 

Where are the parents here?  If this was going on at my childs school I would be up there asking, “Why?”

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Axelrod Blitzed on Health Care Competition

Wolf Blitzer swerved into the truth about breaking down barriers to the insurance companies to complete across state lines.  Interesting stuff.

As Axelrod said, this is not endemic to the kind of reforms that we’re proposing…. 

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant