Conservatives underestimate Obama and his support

Although I enjoy reading American Thinker, this writer, J.R. Dunn is underestimating Obama. Conservatives seem to be in an echo chamber listening only to themselves. Obama's supporters still love him and think all these detriments Dunn cites are positives. They don't even see the worsening race relations, or blame them on those who oppose him. The wealthier are getting richer after a few tough years, and the poorer are losing ground--they don't care.

From J.R. Dunn in American Thinker:
"Obama is less lucky than FDR, less competent than Jimmy Carter, and less flexible than Bill Clinton. With Obama, all the failures of liberalism are coming to a head. He has put more liberal policies into effect in a shorter period than any other president, but thanks to his unique combination of ineptness, ignorance, inexperience, and arrogance, every last one of them is doomed. All of them are failing as we watch. His economic policies have repeated the failures of FDR's New Deal, with worse to come. His health care "reform" is in a state of collapse before it has even started. His stewardship of race relations has returned the country to a state of nearly open hostility and panic not seen since 1968. His Hallmark card foreign policy has killed tens of thousands overseas and will almost inevitably lead to the deaths of millions, as did the policies of Jimmy Carter in countries as unrelated as Nicaragua, Iran, Ethiopia, and Cambodia."

Defund Obamacare; don’t try to fix it

I called Steve Stivers, my representative, talked to a real person and after giving her my name told her, "Please tell Mr. Stivers I want him to vote for defunding Obamacare." She asked my address and thanked me for calling. To sweeten the deal for Congress and staff to get their support, Obama will give them a $4,500 subsidy for individuals and $10,000 for family coverage to help pay the cost of their Obamacare exchange. In the rest of the country, you lose assistance after an income of about $46,000 (Source: WSJ, August 8, 2013; Affordable Care Act) A number of companies and unions have been exempt, but HHS still mandates Christians will pay for abortifacients and birth control, and we all know that's just the nose of the camel in the tent.

Meanwhile according to today’s Washington Post, the U.S. continues to supply rebel forces, some of which are al-qaeda, in Syria despite our protests. And if we could ever get the media to do investigative journalism, we might find out what happened to all the arms we lost in Libya (Benghazi).

The CIA shipments are to flow through a network of clandestine bases in Turkey and Jordan that were expanded over the past year as the agency sought to help Middle Eastern allies, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, direct weapons to moderate Syrian rebel forces.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-begins-weapons-delivery-to-syrian-rebels/2013/09/11/9fcf2ed8-1b0c-11e3-a628-7e6dde8f889d_story.html

JAMA’s new cover design

I hate it.  Now I can never tell which issue I’ve read.  I loved their covers and always looked forward to reading the details. Yes, it’s still inside, but it’s lost its purpose.

“The cover art made JAMA a beacon for humanism that shouted out its presence in a sea of technological advancement, and reminded us that medicine is closely intertwined with people and culture. In marketing terms, the revised cover represents rebranding not only of JAMA but perhaps of the medical profession itself. The change comes at a time when medicine sorely needs a touch of humanism, and rather than taking art away we need more of it.” http://www.jeffreymlevinemd.com/jama-redesign-removes-cover-art/

Syria Time Line for White House

Sex diary of RFK Jr.

Robert Kennedy, Jr's sex diary has been published and although I think he's no moral prize and this is the pot calling the kettle black, "During lock up [with Al Sharpton], he apparently had plenty of time to critique his fellow Democrats, saying that Sharpton 'has done more damage to the black cause' than segregationist governors in the south who prevented school integration. '(Sharpton's) transparent venal blackmail and extortion schemes taint all black leadership,' Kennedy wrote."

Sounds like he was trying to keep up with his uncle, JFK, or maybe his grandfather who was also randy.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2415988/RFK-Jrs-secret-sex-diary-RFK-Jr-slammed-creepy-Al-Sharpton-said-Andrew-Cuomo-lacked-humanity-diary-kept-ranking-of-women-cheated-with.html

Fairfax County Library throws out usable books

Throwing out usable books and cutting staff, and hiring more non-librarians to buy more digitized collections is foolish. Information IS NOT FREE, whether it appears on your Kindle, your computer, or your paperback.  There are many people, children and adults, who would have been delighted to have these books.  And if the county isn’t allow to give away its own property, then the Friends of the Library should have sold them for a reduced price to get back some of the tax payer money.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/fairfax-county-library-revamps-system-discards-books-reduces-librarians/2013/09/09/e3dca65a-1724-11e3-be6e-dc6ae8a5b3a8_story.html?hpid=z3

For years, the public and librarians were told computerization/digitization would save money.  That hasn’t happened. It has just replaced library staff with IT staff and constant upgrading of equipment, software and contracts with book bundlers.   Also, digitized books/documents are easily edited with no one knowing--the earlier version is just gone. I recall looking something up a few years back in an e-encyclopedia at the public library only to discover the horrors of the Soviet Union had virtually disappeared.

Dumpster diving for books at Chantilly technical operations center in a Washington, DC’s affluent suburbs. (Median family  income in Fairfax Co. is about $120,000) Photo by Linda Smyth.

Mission Accomplished

Michelle Obama has hung out the "mission accomplished" sign for us. Her husband has completely destroyed U.S. credibility and succeeded in totally transforming our image from tough guy to indecisive, flip flopping wimp who will go after an enemy with words and itsy bitsy strikes leaving everything in tact. She doesn't want to lose any more far left supporters, so she's let him know his job is done.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2416530/First-lady-Michelle-Obama-opposes-military-action-Syria-president-reveals.html

What the state creates, it can destroy--marriage

I have no idea who Marie Dean is, but on several occasion this commenter at blogs has made a lot of sense.  Most likely a Catholic, this is Dean’s take on the so-called gay or same sex marriage. From comments on other topics, I would guess Dean teaches history.

“The state regulation of marriage began in the Protestant Reformation, a legal movement in the 18th century gaining momentum in the 19th century, with laws in England, Scotland, Switzerland, France and then Germany demanding State recognized marriages rather than Canon Law ones as previously regulated under the Catholic Church. What these laws did was give power to the State to determine the definition of marriage, rather than the Church, allowing for the State, therefore, to change the definition of marriage at will. Civil ceremonies were more common in the French Republic and under Napoleon, as religious or sacramental marriages were not recognized by the State, for example. In England today, a religious marriage is not recognized by law without a civil marriage.

What this did was undermine any moral position of marriage, as once marriage was divorced, pun intended, from religion, anything civil definition could be manipulated.

It is only in the 20th and 21st centuries that we see the logical consequences of separating marriage from a religious sacramental act and merely becoming one more cog in the societal wheel. That such gross aberrations did not happen before the mid-20th century merely points to the fact that there was an overlay of Christianity in the culture. Once that disappeared, the State did what it always wanted to do, define marriage outside that Christian moral framework.

The California law would be in keeping with the logical progress of the undermining of the sacredness of marriage begun back in 1753. Even if the state required a religious setting, as in England at that date, it was the State deciding, creating the law, not God. What the State can create, the State can destroy.”

9/6/2013 First Things article on Marvin v. Marvin

http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2013/09/the-case-that-destroyed-marriage

The long good-bye

We worshipped at the lovely Hilltop Lutheran today; enjoyed Pastor Paul's final sermon there and also his playing the organ.  He is retiring at the end of the month and is preaching at different locations.  It is one of the 3 campuses of our church, Upper Arlington Lutheran, but it had probably been 5 years since we'd visited. A warm and friendly congregation, 12 South Terrace, Columbus, OH 43204.

Paul and June came to UALC in 1973 after 4 years in Minneapolis right out of seminary, and we joined in 1974, so we’ve had a long time together.  He left for awhile (8 years?) to pastor a church in Illinois, but came back as associate, and then became the senior pastor about 11 years ago.

Paul came to the hospital in 1988 when our daughter was in a serious automobile accident and was with us when she had her cancer surgery in 1996.  He officiated at our son’s wedding in 1999. He’s preached more funeral sermons than I want to recall. So, 40 years is a long time.

We also worshipped earlier at our Lytham Road campus, where we had flowers on the alter for our 53rd wedding anniversary.  Now we have them on the deck so we can see them through the dining room window.

Liberal media line up to kiss butt when Obama follows Bush

“Obama made clear in his Rose Garden announcement that he wasn’t seeking Congress’s approval out of constitutional necessity. “I believe I have the authority to carry out this military action without specific congressional authorization,” he said, arguing that the “country will be stronger” if Congress grants authorization. That happens to be precisely the argument the Bush administration made in the run-up to the Iraq War in 2002. The president also acknowledged during a press conference in Sweden on Wednesday that the United States “may not be directly, imminently threated” by the conflict in Syria.

As liberal commentators such as E. J. Dionne and Nicholas Kristof – along with a host of previously “anti-war” Democrats – have lined up in support of Obama’s plan to attack Syria, there has been relatively little discussion about the president’s blatant disavowal of the opinion he expressed as a candidate in 2007, when he told the Boston Globe that “the President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.””

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/357764/obama-constitutional-hero-andrew-stiles

But wait.  Bush did get authorization, and Obama says he will strike without it, so I guess it really isn’t the same, is it?

Senators voting Yes and the defense contractor connection

* Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) - $60,000
* Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) - $24,150
* Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) - $80,550
* Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) - $41,872
* Christopher Coons (D-Del.) - $19,500
* Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) - $127,350
* Tim Kaine (D-Va.) - $101,025
* Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) - $70,850
* Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) - $26,900
* John McCain (R-Ariz.) - $176,300

Looks like McCain got the largest amount, and he’s been one of the biggest disappointments for Republicans.  Having run against Obama in 2008, he knows personally how he lies and distorts.

“Senators voting Wednesday to authorize a Syria strike received, on average, 83 percent more campaign financing from defense contractors than lawmakers voting against war.

Overall, political action committees and employees from defense and intelligence firms such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, United Technologies, Honeywell International, and others ponied up $1,006,887 to the 17 members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who voted yes or no on the authorization Wednesday, according to an analysis by Maplight, the Berkeley-based nonprofit that performed the inquiry at WIRED’s request.”

President Obama and Syria

I rarely drink soda (aka pop)

It was very hot recently, and I had a 7-up mixed with orange juice.  Someone in the U.S. is drinking my share, which is in the gallons per capita.

Obama’s red line

The Cowboy Code

Bubba Thompson has written a book called "The Cowboy Code," about the ways a man should behave in his dating life. Alabama native Bubba Thompson lives by a code of honesty, respect, determination and faith with his family, his farms and his animals. Now, this modern day cowboy brings his code of conduct to relationships. In THE COWBOY CODE (Self-Published; on sale since September 3, 2013; Hardcover: $9.99), he shares straightforward tips, personal anecdotes, easy to follow advice and even some revealing moments from behind the scenes on CMT's Sweet Home Alabama. A must-have plan for finding and holding on to lasting love. http://www.cowboycodeusa.com/

Friday Family Photo—our anniversary

I've just put on a pair of heels for the first time in months. First it was a broken toe, then it was summer. Now it's our anniversary (almost) night out. 53rd.

Obama’s floundering economy

Notice the difference between the recession Bush inherited, and the one Obama inherited. It took Bush only a couple of years even with 9/11, although it never got back to the tech boom years of the late 90s. Obama is still floundering, and it may take until 2023 to get back to the Bush levels. Obama continues to punish small businesses and intimidate those who would expand and grow. He decided to tackle health care instead of the economy, and we are sure paying for that.

Is anyone with them on this trip?

Nancy, John and Bashar

Obama, Kerry, Pelosi and H. Clinton all tried to undercut President Bush when he was president by getting cozy with Assad. Bush made no secret about not liking him. He had the Iran/Assad connection figured out and had imposed sanctions. It's nice that they've figured it out, but why make us pay for their mistakes, which included defying and lying about a sitting president. Obama took office on 22 January 2009. Less than a month later, on 21 February 2009, U.S. Senator John Kerry was meeting with the Syrian President in Damascus. Senator Kerry would become Obama’s key envoy in dealing with Assad. You’ve probably all seen the sweet photo of the Assads and Kerrys dining together. Obama had sent a hush-hush delegation in 2008 to meet with Assad even before he was president.

Photos are from her trip when Nancy Pelosi defied the State Department and visited Assad, declaring that “the road to peace is through Damascus.”  John Kerry, acting in concert with the Obama administration, served as Assad’s errand boy in trying to bring Israel to the table for the purpose of returning the Golan Heights to the butcher of Damascus.  The Bush administration had been largely successful in isolating Syria (as Obama sought to do in 2012) until Pelosi and Kerry willfully undermined it.

"President Al-Assad and I had a very positive discussion on the formidable challenges facing this region and we found agreement on a number of ways in which both of us and other countries can contribute significantly to changing the dynamics that exist today," said Sen. John Kerry in March 2010. Then came the Arab Spring, and Obama began supporting the Islamists in various middle eastern countries.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303395904575157713877756160.html

Have you called your representative in Congress?