September 2008 Archives
This guy goes OFF! He said it well.
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/15/records-show-mccain-more-bipartisan/
A couple interesting stats (yes, I'm doing the 'soundbite' thing):
"Over his Senate career, Mr. McCain has voted with the majority of Senate Republicans about 85 percent of the time, while in his three years in the Senate Mr. Obama has voted with his party 97 percent of the time."
"The bill on which Mr. McCain attracted the most support in the past few years was his plan to combat greenhouse-gas emissions. That bill garnered 16 co-sponsors, 14 of whom were Democrats, including Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., Democrats' vice-presidential nominee. Mr. Obama himself signed onto another of Mr. McCain's global-warming bills."
"Mr. Obama's best successes in attracting co-sponsors came on a bill to boost the union's bargaining power with the Federal Aviation Administration, on which all 38 co-sponsors were Democrats, and a bill to issue a postage stamp honoring Mrs. Parks, which garnered 24 Democrats and 14 Republicans. "
"In a memo to reporters, his [Obama's] campaign points to bills he worked on that gained near-unanimous support from both parties"
Analyze the article and facts for your own opinion.
A couple interesting stats (yes, I'm doing the 'soundbite' thing):
"Over his Senate career, Mr. McCain has voted with the majority of Senate Republicans about 85 percent of the time, while in his three years in the Senate Mr. Obama has voted with his party 97 percent of the time."
"The bill on which Mr. McCain attracted the most support in the past few years was his plan to combat greenhouse-gas emissions. That bill garnered 16 co-sponsors, 14 of whom were Democrats, including Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., Democrats' vice-presidential nominee. Mr. Obama himself signed onto another of Mr. McCain's global-warming bills."
"Mr. Obama's best successes in attracting co-sponsors came on a bill to boost the union's bargaining power with the Federal Aviation Administration, on which all 38 co-sponsors were Democrats, and a bill to issue a postage stamp honoring Mrs. Parks, which garnered 24 Democrats and 14 Republicans. "
"In a memo to reporters, his [Obama's] campaign points to bills he worked on that gained near-unanimous support from both parties"
Analyze the article and facts for your own opinion.
This morning I opened my email at 6:30a to find an email from the Jeff Perwin campaign. Mr. Perwin is running for CA State Senator, Dist 39 (Much of San Diego). I'd seen an email from his campaign previously where he was hosting some get-together at the Balboa Dog Park in response to incumbent Senator Christine Kehoe's support of a bill requiring tracking of intact animals (I'd have to dig up details). I didn't seem to agree with the bill-in-question, made some mental notes, moved on.
This mornings email, however, was regarding his adament support of Prop 8 - the anti-gay-marriage amendement proposition on the California Ballot this November. I won't describe it as I will provide it in it's entirety below. I felt compelled to respond, so I wrote him back in response, and my response is also below for your pleasure.
-----
Mr Perwin,
I'm relatively new to San Diego, this being only my 2nd year here. I'm slowly getting a feel for the political landscape, the districts, the government, the people.
In specific due to the your stance on the issue below, I cannot support your run for office. I am Republican, as was my father before me. I am also Christian and hold my faith dear to me. I am also gay. As a demographic, I am neither well-accepted nor well represented. As such, public elections are very important to me and I research the issues and candidates before casting my vote.
On the issue of gay marriage, the argument that it will "destroy traditional marriage" is nothing but a specious argument. In fact below you offer no argument against it whatsoever. Of my gay friends of who have entered into serious long-term relationships, and even gone on to civil unions or even marriage, they take it as a very serious step in their lives -- I might offer that the gay couples I've seen go that far in their relationships, in my personal experience, take it more seriously than the straight couples I've seen. I'm sure you're well aware of the divorce rate among straight couples, Mr. Perwin; not exactly a testament to the value of traditional marriage. We may do more justice to the value of traditional marriage by putting a 5-day waiting period on marriage certificates than spend all this time arguing about gay marriage.
Not all gay couples make it, just as not as straight couples make it. However, I've never seen a gay marriage or marriage-like-situation have a negative impact on a straight couple's relationship. I have yet to see one straight marriage "destroyed" over this.
The argument is that gay marriage, as you said, would destroy 'traditional family values.' Which values? What do you believe will be destroyed if gays are allowed to have the legal rights & responsibilities of marriage?
Being gay & Christian, I've seen all the arguments against homosexuality. I have always been fine being gay and Christian; those two issues did not have to be at odds with each other. One day, after being assaulted with some questions I sat down & looked at the arguments. The result was that I published a paper on the subject. That's the type of effort I want to see from the candidates claiming to represent me - that they can do the research and offer educated arguments supporting their positions. Statements like "gay marriage will destroy traditional family values" have no logical or reasonable basis. It's an claim meant to stir emotion, nothing more. In my research on the subject I have yet to find a reasonable argument against it. Most of it's based on the overall 'homosexuality is wrong' argument, which is another argument altogether.
I realize that no candidate will ever agree with me on 100% of the issues, hence there is no perfect candidate. Especially because of that, it's important to me that candidates demonstrate to the voters what exactly they stand for, or stand against - and why! When it comes to the general elections, being Republican I do tend to vote with the party--but more importantly I like to examine the candidates and vote for the best PERSON.
As constructive feedback for your campaign, please show a positive acknowledgment that many of us are well educated and very successful in life. Don't strictly campaign to the lowest common demoninators of the voting public. Show us how you think, show us how you analyze issues so we can have some confidence that you are the candidate best suited to represent those people in the region you want to represent.
I hold all candidates to the same measuring stick, whether it's a local office or President of the United States. I hope that if you decide to run for office in the future, you base your arguments on facts, talk about action and options. I certainly did not read your email as an "effort of hate". However, I did not get any feeling that you understood the issue. I hope you'll focus on talking about what makes you a good candidate, not simply talking negatively about your opponent.
Best regards & good luck.
Steven Kirk
Jeff Perwin wrote:
>
> Hello Fellow Republicans,
>
> Most of you are probably aware of the efforts to pass Prop 8 to protect traditional
> marriage. I just also wanted to give you some background on the whys of the effort.
>
> What most people don't know is that Prop 8 is the treatment of a symptom of a serious
> problem in the State. Christine Kehoe our elected State Senator is a major reason we
> have this Proposition. She is the Chairwoman of the LGBT caucus of the State and it
> was her personal friend on the Supreme Court that made the deciding vote to give
> rights for gay marriage.
>
> Senator Kehoe joins California Supreme Court Justice Joyce Kennard,
> who was one of the justices in the majority opinion granting marriage rights
> to LGBT couples, in Sacramento on May 15th.
>
> We should be proud that San Diego is leading in the cause of the destruction of family
> values in the State of California! Her Senate District spans from La Jolla to Spring
> Valley.
>
> Christine has also helped passed laws requiring the rewriting of all textbooks from
> kindergarten and up mandating the teaching of the homosexual lifestyle in all
> elementary and high schools (AB777). Unless, we stop this law soon, schools will
> be forced to teach this lifestyle as normal to children starting as young as age 3.
>
> Even if Prop 8 passes and Christine remains in office, she will continue the fight to
> undermine traditional family values. We must remove the cause of the problem not
> just treat the symptom. If people don't understand the reasons why we have Prop 8
> and it's causes and only work to pass Prop 8 only, the problem just continue and
> get even worse.
>
> We must also remember that Prop 8 is not an effort of hate against the LGBT
> community. It is only an effort to protect the traditional definition of marriage.
>
> Please, take a few minutes to donate to the campaign to help in this fight. Even
> $20 can make a huge difference. www.jeffperwin.com/donate
>
> Thanks...
>
> Jeff Perwin
> California State Senate Candidate, District 39
> To volunteer, please contact Rich at 619-850-6247
> www.jeffperwin.com
>
> 76th Assembly District Precinct Operations
> Republican Party of San Diego County
>
This mornings email, however, was regarding his adament support of Prop 8 - the anti-gay-marriage amendement proposition on the California Ballot this November. I won't describe it as I will provide it in it's entirety below. I felt compelled to respond, so I wrote him back in response, and my response is also below for your pleasure.
-----
Mr Perwin,
I'm relatively new to San Diego, this being only my 2nd year here. I'm slowly getting a feel for the political landscape, the districts, the government, the people.
In specific due to the your stance on the issue below, I cannot support your run for office. I am Republican, as was my father before me. I am also Christian and hold my faith dear to me. I am also gay. As a demographic, I am neither well-accepted nor well represented. As such, public elections are very important to me and I research the issues and candidates before casting my vote.
On the issue of gay marriage, the argument that it will "destroy traditional marriage" is nothing but a specious argument. In fact below you offer no argument against it whatsoever. Of my gay friends of who have entered into serious long-term relationships, and even gone on to civil unions or even marriage, they take it as a very serious step in their lives -- I might offer that the gay couples I've seen go that far in their relationships, in my personal experience, take it more seriously than the straight couples I've seen. I'm sure you're well aware of the divorce rate among straight couples, Mr. Perwin; not exactly a testament to the value of traditional marriage. We may do more justice to the value of traditional marriage by putting a 5-day waiting period on marriage certificates than spend all this time arguing about gay marriage.
Not all gay couples make it, just as not as straight couples make it. However, I've never seen a gay marriage or marriage-like-situation have a negative impact on a straight couple's relationship. I have yet to see one straight marriage "destroyed" over this.
The argument is that gay marriage, as you said, would destroy 'traditional family values.' Which values? What do you believe will be destroyed if gays are allowed to have the legal rights & responsibilities of marriage?
Being gay & Christian, I've seen all the arguments against homosexuality. I have always been fine being gay and Christian; those two issues did not have to be at odds with each other. One day, after being assaulted with some questions I sat down & looked at the arguments. The result was that I published a paper on the subject. That's the type of effort I want to see from the candidates claiming to represent me - that they can do the research and offer educated arguments supporting their positions. Statements like "gay marriage will destroy traditional family values" have no logical or reasonable basis. It's an claim meant to stir emotion, nothing more. In my research on the subject I have yet to find a reasonable argument against it. Most of it's based on the overall 'homosexuality is wrong' argument, which is another argument altogether.
I realize that no candidate will ever agree with me on 100% of the issues, hence there is no perfect candidate. Especially because of that, it's important to me that candidates demonstrate to the voters what exactly they stand for, or stand against - and why! When it comes to the general elections, being Republican I do tend to vote with the party--but more importantly I like to examine the candidates and vote for the best PERSON.
As constructive feedback for your campaign, please show a positive acknowledgment that many of us are well educated and very successful in life. Don't strictly campaign to the lowest common demoninators of the voting public. Show us how you think, show us how you analyze issues so we can have some confidence that you are the candidate best suited to represent those people in the region you want to represent.
I hold all candidates to the same measuring stick, whether it's a local office or President of the United States. I hope that if you decide to run for office in the future, you base your arguments on facts, talk about action and options. I certainly did not read your email as an "effort of hate". However, I did not get any feeling that you understood the issue. I hope you'll focus on talking about what makes you a good candidate, not simply talking negatively about your opponent.
Best regards & good luck.
Steven Kirk
Jeff Perwin wrote:
>
> Hello Fellow Republicans,
>
> Most of you are probably aware of the efforts to pass Prop 8 to protect traditional
> marriage. I just also wanted to give you some background on the whys of the effort.
>
> What most people don't know is that Prop 8 is the treatment of a symptom of a serious
> problem in the State. Christine Kehoe our elected State Senator is a major reason we
> have this Proposition. She is the Chairwoman of the LGBT caucus of the State and it
> was her personal friend on the Supreme Court that made the deciding vote to give
> rights for gay marriage.
>
> Senator Kehoe joins California Supreme Court Justice Joyce Kennard,
> who was one of the justices in the majority opinion granting marriage rights
> to LGBT couples, in Sacramento on May 15th.
>
> We should be proud that San Diego is leading in the cause of the destruction of family
> values in the State of California! Her Senate District spans from La Jolla to Spring
> Valley.
>
> Christine has also helped passed laws requiring the rewriting of all textbooks from
> kindergarten and up mandating the teaching of the homosexual lifestyle in all
> elementary and high schools (AB777). Unless, we stop this law soon, schools will
> be forced to teach this lifestyle as normal to children starting as young as age 3.
>
> Even if Prop 8 passes and Christine remains in office, she will continue the fight to
> undermine traditional family values. We must remove the cause of the problem not
> just treat the symptom. If people don't understand the reasons why we have Prop 8
> and it's causes and only work to pass Prop 8 only, the problem just continue and
> get even worse.
>
> We must also remember that Prop 8 is not an effort of hate against the LGBT
> community. It is only an effort to protect the traditional definition of marriage.
>
> Please, take a few minutes to donate to the campaign to help in this fight. Even
> $20 can make a huge difference. www.jeffperwin.com/donate
>
> Thanks...
>
> Jeff Perwin
> California State Senate Candidate, District 39
> To volunteer, please contact Rich at 619-850-6247
> www.jeffperwin.com
>
> 76th Assembly District Precinct Operations
> Republican Party of San Diego County
>
I have a rather lengthy discussion of Obama's Blueprint for Change sitting in draft form.
Do I publish it, and say my peace? Does it matter?
Honestly I find that "blueprint" to be nothing more than political refuse. It says the same things that Presidential candidates have said for years. There's no "change" in there, honestly. He'll slam Bush's tax cuts costing the gov't $2.3 trillion by 2009 -- but in his own revenue cuts, I'm adding up at least $500 billion in 2009 alone! That's called beint two-faced. I haven't found anything amazing about anything in there yet.
I think I'll read more of his plan (not tonight, it's drained me)...and in trying to be honest & subjective about this, I'm going to research McCain's plan deeper and do a similar analysis. Don't know if I'll post any part of either--but I'll make the promise that if I publish one, I'll publish both.
Do I publish it, and say my peace? Does it matter?
Honestly I find that "blueprint" to be nothing more than political refuse. It says the same things that Presidential candidates have said for years. There's no "change" in there, honestly. He'll slam Bush's tax cuts costing the gov't $2.3 trillion by 2009 -- but in his own revenue cuts, I'm adding up at least $500 billion in 2009 alone! That's called beint two-faced. I haven't found anything amazing about anything in there yet.
I think I'll read more of his plan (not tonight, it's drained me)...and in trying to be honest & subjective about this, I'm going to research McCain's plan deeper and do a similar analysis. Don't know if I'll post any part of either--but I'll make the promise that if I publish one, I'll publish both.
Results of viewship of the recent xNC speeches:
McCain - 38.9 million
Obama - 38 million
Palin - 37.2 million
Biden - 20 million
McCain - 38.9 million
Obama - 38 million
Palin - 37.2 million
Biden - 20 million
End of debate. It's not real surprising, to those who knows me. If it fractures friendships, then I'm sorry and apparently we weren't true friends to begin with.
A minor story today - the RNC rescues thousands of flags which were thrown away in Denver. By whom, who knows-- but apparently 12,000 flags. DNC says "we didn't throw them away!" but the pictures tell a different story. The Dems would never ever admit a mistake, tho--it would only tout, again, this issues on 'experience' (or lack there-of).
A couple articles on it:
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/06/the-recycled-flags-of-the-dncc/?print=1
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_10398830?source=rss
Honestly, it's probably just a finger pointing game, but clearly the gloves are coming off and the dirty politics are beginning. It's going to be an interesting two months.
A minor story today - the RNC rescues thousands of flags which were thrown away in Denver. By whom, who knows-- but apparently 12,000 flags. DNC says "we didn't throw them away!" but the pictures tell a different story. The Dems would never ever admit a mistake, tho--it would only tout, again, this issues on 'experience' (or lack there-of).
A couple articles on it:
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/06/the-recycled-flags-of-the-dncc/?print=1
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_10398830?source=rss
Honestly, it's probably just a finger pointing game, but clearly the gloves are coming off and the dirty politics are beginning. It's going to be an interesting two months.
I avoid politics. My beliefs are my beliefs - and some part of them, at least, tends to go against any given group of people I'm around.
A phrase occurred to me the other day, in thinking about the two main American political parties: "Political Racism."
I want to explore this a bit.
Racism, as defined on Wikipedia, is "the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. People with racist beliefs might hate certain groups of people according to their racial groups."
Replace "race" with "political party."
...the belief that party affiliation is the primary determinant of American traits and capacities and that party differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular party. People with racist beliefs might hate certain groups of people according to their political affiliations.
"Hate" may be a strong word to use - but some people get very passionate about party affiliation - and specifically I know I get a lot of hostile feelings and words from Democrats because I'm Republican. There is a LOT of "hate" towards Republicans--merely for being Republicans, without any evaluation of them as people.
If party affiliation represented a single point of view (as the Obama campaign would have us believe)...why does it matter if we have Obama or Hillary?
I leave you to your thoughts, and I hope also to your own research. How you vote is your concern, please don't try to tell me I'm going to hell for being Republican, or be snotty about being an Obama supporter. Respect my beliefs just as you demand I respect yours.
A phrase occurred to me the other day, in thinking about the two main American political parties: "Political Racism."
I want to explore this a bit.
Racism, as defined on Wikipedia, is "the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. People with racist beliefs might hate certain groups of people according to their racial groups."
Replace "race" with "political party."
...the belief that party affiliation is the primary determinant of American traits and capacities and that party differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular party. People with racist beliefs might hate certain groups of people according to their political affiliations.
"Hate" may be a strong word to use - but some people get very passionate about party affiliation - and specifically I know I get a lot of hostile feelings and words from Democrats because I'm Republican. There is a LOT of "hate" towards Republicans--merely for being Republicans, without any evaluation of them as people.
If party affiliation represented a single point of view (as the Obama campaign would have us believe)...why does it matter if we have Obama or Hillary?
I leave you to your thoughts, and I hope also to your own research. How you vote is your concern, please don't try to tell me I'm going to hell for being Republican, or be snotty about being an Obama supporter. Respect my beliefs just as you demand I respect yours.
13.4 miles. My place, up to Miramar Blvd via Kearny Villa, then back the same route, but down to Balboa, over to the Studio Diner, and home.
Fairly easy ride. The hills on Kearny Villsa thru MCAS Miramar weren't as bad as I thought they would be. This might have to become a regular local ride.
Fairly easy ride. The hills on Kearny Villsa thru MCAS Miramar weren't as bad as I thought they would be. This might have to become a regular local ride.
