The Black Panther to the Rescue

The Bobby Rush Mandate
Illinois congressman to tell MLB what to do

Ouch! What just kicked me in the shin? That was another government bureaucrat having a knee-jerk reaction to a recent event and has decided to act without thinking about the matter first. Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL) told a congregation of church goers Sunday morning that he will introduce legislation forcing Major League Baseball to require frequent drug testing of players by an independent body. Thank the Lord for sending Bobby to save baseball...Can I get an Amen!

Rush is a perfect example of how our best and brightest minds are not found in the halls of the United States Congress. This ex-convict, who served six months in jail for an illegal weapons conviction in 1969 and was a founding member of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, which was notorious for shaking down black owned businesses for money, is now going to use Uncle Sam to take drugs out of baseball.

This is what ignorant politicians do. They have no ideas or solutions of their own, so when a problem is made public, they take action that is not well thought out and is completely reactionary. Rush has been in congress since 1993 and in many ways is the poster-child for term limits. In 2000 a young energetic attorney named Barack Obama ran against him in the Democratic Primary. Obama was crushed by a 2-1 margin. Rush's campaign strategy was to label Obama an "Uncle Tom," it worked. I guarantee you Katie Couric or the New York Times will never bring that historical fact to national light. I digress.

Once again the government is going to stick it's nose where it doesn't belong. Let's get real people. Do we really want an intellectually inept schmuck such as Bobby Rush implementing rules and regulations on private businesses? Do we want any of the clowns in Washington enforcing their will on matters they no nothing about let alone in the private sector?

I will be the first one to admit that MLB dropped the ball badly regarding the abuse of performance enhancement drugs in the sport. However anyone that believes the government is the answer, they need to put down the crack-pipe. Baseball is a business that is living through a very bad public relations scandal. The sport and the fans meaning the free market will solve the problems, not an incompetent such as Bobby Rush.



The 2008 Hindenburg?
Ron Paul Releases Blimp and Raises Millions

Paulies Point has been very hard on Ron Paul over the past few months. Much of it has to do with my own personal disappointment in the Texas Congressman. How one politician can be so great on so many issues and so horrendous on others just blows my mind. Nobody in Washington is better on limited government, fiscal responsibility and taxes than the 10 term congressman. However his terribly naive approach to defense and foreign policy make him very dangerous if he ever occupied the White House.


With that said, Paul and his campaign deserve great credit for the job they have done. This past week the campaign came out with the Ron Paul Blimp, which has garnered strong media coverage and yesterday his campaign raised over 6 million dollars in a 24 hour period. An unprecedented fundraising effort.

As much as I disagree with Paul on defense and foreign policy matters, I am glad he is running for President. The fact of the matter is that he is bringing up very serious issues regarding taxes, spending and entitlements. The GOP remains good on taxes, but have wimped out regarding replacing the current tax system. Republicans have been shameful when it comes to spending. They have behaved like Democrats, giving them a lowered bar so they can take spending to a new level as they obtain control in Washington and march America to their goal of Socialism. These issues Paul has been vocal about and hopefully people will listen and demand their elected officials to behave more like the Texas congressman.

If Paul can leave his mark on the 2008 race for White House, let it be that he brought attention to the faults of the GOP when it comes to spending and the size of government. Unfortunately, I don' t believe that will be the case. He has the same support niche that backed Howard Dean in 2004. Well to do college kids who have a lap top, a few extra bucks, want to belong to a cause and have little direction in life.

Some want to be believe that a Libertarian streak of Wall Street is behind Paul and there are no doubt people like that. However they are the minority of his support and they mostly will hold their nose and vote GOP in November, especially against an Obama or Clinton.

Paul's bulk support comes from anti-war people, many who would despise his limited government domestic agenda and probably write checks to Socialists such as Dennis Kucinich.

It should also be noted that many conservative talk-radio personalities have labeled Paul a freak or a nut job. They are wrong for their assertion. Paul has great flaws when it comes to many important issues in our post 9/11 world. Then again so does every Democrat running for President. These conservatives know as I do that Paul is still great on domestic policy, but they fear to give him credit for those beliefs and rather give him a crazy person stigma. Such a label is not deserved, but admittedly after he makes ludicrous remarks about Iran not being a threat and America foreign policy is to blame for Islamic extremism, it is hard to argue against such a persona.

Paulie

Shabbat Shalom 4 Shvat 5768 (Update)

Instrument for "change" or just a tool?
Obama knee deep in old school politics

There was once a time when Barack Obama may have been a candidate for "change." In 2000 he challenged then four-term representative Bobby Rush for his congressional seat. Todays pride and joy of the mainstream media found himself being called "Uncle Tom" by African American civil rights and political leaders. He would go on to loose badly to Rush in the primary. At the time Obama, a State Senator three years in office, was a voice that undoubtedly offered change compared to Rush. However even back then he was getting his feet wet in the cesspool of Democratic politics of Cook County.

Just a few years later he would find himself in bed with the new guard of the Democratic machine. His political mates would include then congressman and now governor Rod Blagojevich and the most powerful woman in Illinois today and the power behind his senate primary victory in 2004, Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Suddenly the instrument of change had become another tool for the political machine of Cook County.

Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass has a historical and modern perspective of Obama that you won't hear about from the national press. I strongly urge you to read Obama fairy tale has Chicago-size hole. The sad reality is that there is no such thing as a voice of change when you are rooted in the Democratic politics of Cook County.

Update: It appears certain elements of the mainstream press are finally picking up on Obama's past. Check out the latest Brian Ross story from ABC News.


Is Bush falling into the Clinton trap?
Common sense appears lost in recent Mideast trip

When Bill Clinton saw the end of his Presidency in site, he didn't want his legacy to be determined by cigar and stained dress jokes. He began putting pressure on Israel and the Palestinian Authority to jump start peace talks. The rhetoric of land for peace began and would eventually lead to Israel making Yasser Arafat an offer that was too good to be true. To show his gratitude, the father of modern terrorism, who only believed in an Israel with no Jews, did what Jews like your brilliant blogger had predicted. He would leave the peace talks and pursue violent tactics, starting the second Intifada. The end result of those talks was more dead Arabs and Israelis.

Today President Bush is in Israel meeting with Israeli and Palestinian officials once again looking to press forward with peace talks. He like his predecessor can see the end of his Presidency and wants a two-state solution to be the crowning achievement of his eight years in office. Unfortunately the President who has always approached the Israel/Arab conflict with common sense, has apparently replaced clear thinking with tunnel vision that is focused on the ultimate prize, while forgetting the biggest obstacle to peace. Israel still doesn't have a partner.

Once again an American President is working hard to bring peace and stability to a violent region. Once again Israel is being asked to make concessions."Now is the time to make difficult choices. An agreement will require "painful concessions" by both sides, Bush said. "There should be an end to the occupation that began in 1967. The agreement must establish Palestine as a homeland for the Palestinian people, just as Israel is a homeland for the Jewish people."

The President for the first time used the word "occupation." Anytime the term is used to coincide with a statement about 1967, it means Israel must give up East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Golan Heights. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the president was talking just about the West Bank.

What boggles the mind is when the Palestinians are asked to make concessions. That is a nice way for mediators to ask them to stop murdering Jews and recognize they have a right to exist. When a negotiation table has two sides with one party being asked to give up more land then they already have and the other party is asked to stop killing human beings, it doesn't take a genius to figure out what the obstacles to peace are.

Unfortunately I fear that President Bush and Stephen Hadley are viewing the situation with rose colored glasses borrowed from Bill Clinton and Dennis Ross. Today these glasses show false hope that feature a Palestine living peacefully next to Israel, thwarting terrorism and providing prosperity for the Palestinian people. When the spectacles are removed the real picture is revealed. The Israeli people are desperate for peace and will give up land for it. Unfortunately the Jewish State doesn't have a partner with any authority to make peace with. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sits at a negotiating table with no power to make a deal and is powerless to combat terrorists that attack Israel from the Palestinian territories. Abbas has also never demonstrated a real desire to live in peace with Israel.

So once again the cycle of peace negotiations has come full circle. Israel is asked to make concessions, which they have done time and time again. The Palestinians are asked to stop the violence toward the Jewish State and live peacefully next to Israel, which they have never done. Israel is being asked to give up more land, including East Jerusalem. Every time Israel gives up land the Palestinians use it as a base to launch missiles, rockets and suicide bombings against the Jewish people.

George Bush has undoubtedly been the best friend Israel and the Jewish people have ever had. Unfortunately his judgement appears clouded by wanting to establish a legacy that features peace in the middle east. Israeli Prime Minster Ehud Olmert is incompetent when it comes to Israel security and President Abbas still hasn't shown he isn't a terrorist at heart. The overall picture is dangerous for the Jewish State.

For now I can only hope that Israel's friends back in the United States are willing to wake-up President Bush from what may be a pleasant dream for him, but in reality is a nightmare for Jews. Time to set the alarm clock of reality.

Quick Election Notes:

Thursday nights Fox News debate from South Carolina saw the awakening of Fred Thompson. Somebody must of slipped a Viagra in his Scotch and water. The former Senator from Tennessee was lively, funny and great on the issues. To bad for him it's to little too late.

Ron Paul deserves kudos for his explanation of the current economic issues facing this country. The congressman who permits hate to be published in his name (I didn't inhale) explained perfectly the problems the Federal Reserve causes with rate reduction and it's effect on the dollar and inflation.

Go Rudy Go! America's Mayor Rudy Giuliani has unveiled the largest tax-cut in our nations history. As mayor of New York you cannot argue with his success stimulating the economy of Americas largest city with tax-cuts and spending cuts. Combine that with his understanding of the looming threat of Islamic-extremism is why your brilliant blogger is in the Rudy camp.

Kerry endorses Obama, sticking it to his former campaign sidekick and Bill's wife. A new tradition is emerging in the Democratic Party. Former Presidential candidates dissing their VP choice when they run for President. Al Gore did it to Joe Lieberman in 2004, supporting Howard Dean and this time around John Kerry is flipping John Edwards the bird and is backing Barack Obama. Can you feel the love?

Roseanne rips Obama! Who really cares what actress/comedian Roseanne (no last name anymore) has to say with the exception of hardcore Progressives and self-hating Jews. However when a Hollywood far left elitist takes on Oprah and Obama, the medicinal benefits from the humor are a must for all to read.

She writes:
Barack Obama is an empty suit selling "hope" in lieu of Truth. Oprah Winfrey helped to elect Arnold Swartzenegger. I have no doubt that she voted her purse by doing this, as she is a large land owner in California, and that ilk fears Dems because they do not want to pay their "fair share" of Cali tax.Oprah has given us Swartzenegger and Dr. Phil. If that was not offensive enough to decent thinking people, now she brings us Obama. He has no ideas, no plan and nothing to add other than the cynical pacification of the masses with bedtime stories about hope, while calling Unions "special interest groups" that need to be done away with. Obama votes with Bush constantly funding this terrible endless war. Oprah, you play the race card and the gender card too. You are a closeted republican and chose Barak Obama because you do not like other women who actually stand for something to working American Women besides glamour, angels, hollywood and dieting! When Americans find out that Obama backs right wing corporate racist anti worker bullshit, they will not vote for him, and the victory will go to the most racist right wing republican ever.... Mccain, who is a fascist!

So much entertainment from the mind of a moron.

Paulie

Why Government Sucks

Touch of Crap

Some people have the Midas Touch referring to everything one does or attempts to do turns out to work out or be positive. Government has the opposite effect. Everything the government controls, runs, regulates or is involved with turns out to be mediocre and often bad. Education, Social Security, War on Drugs/Poverty or whatever great American endeavor always fails, will fail or is run with accepted levels of incompetence.

Over the past 15 years I have often identified myself as being a Libertarian more than a Republican. More than ever when it comes to issues regarding Domestic policy I have never felt stronger about how government involvement is a recipe for disaster. True conservatism in the tradition of Reagan is rooted in Libertarian ideology, but unfortunately true conservatism has become a thing of the past.

ABC NEWS 20/20 correspondent, John Stossel, has become the poster-child for exposing government incompetence. Check out his latest column. If you haven't read his latest book, Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity, drop whatever your reading and pick up a copy now.

Obama the centrist?

The political life story of Barack Obama is amazing. In 2000, he ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for Illinois' 1st Congressional district against incumbent Representative Bobby Rush. Rush had suggested during the campaign that Obama "wasn't black enough" for the position. Rush received 61% of the vote, while Obama received 30%. Obama was considered and to an extent still is a thorn in the side of the Cook County Democratic machine. In 2004 when he ran in the Democratic primary for senate, he was not considered to have much of a chance. Illinois Comptroller, Dan Hynes, with the support of the machine was supposed to cruise through the primary. However, multi-millionaire Blair Hull gathered enough of Hynes assumed support and Obama was able to slip through to victory. Everyone knows the rest. He gave that great speech at the Democratic convention in 2004 and Illinois GOP didn't know their ass from a hole in the wall in 2004 and ran Alan Keyes. A 70-27% victory ensued for Obama.

Today Obama is talking like a centrist with brilliant answers to most issues. Check out this story from the Harrisburg Daily Register. Obama's opinions couldn't be drafted more perfect to appeal to the majority of Americans. From recently asking for Dems not to exclude God, to his moderate view on the Estate tax and his public statements denouncing the impeachment of President Bush. Do not exclude this guy from the 2008 campaign trail.

In case you didn't know

A few days ago two Fox News employees, Reporter Steve Centanni and Cameraman Olaf Wiig, were kidnapped in Gaza. Media coverage has been limited and to an extent disheartening, since when journalists are kidnapped it usually dominates the news. One wonders if the press doesn't want to paint a negative picture of the Islamic militants who have abducted two innocent journalists doing a job. It figures it would be a Fox News crew instead of CNN or the BBC since they are part of the Hamas/Hezbollah propaganda machine.

Paulie

Congratulations President-Elect Obama

From Uncle Tom to the White House
Obama wins handily, Chicago not in flames

It seems like only yesterday President-elect Barack Obama was the subject of vile ridicule from none other than the Black community. When Obama had the audacity to challenge Congressman Bobby Rush for his seat in the Democrat Primary back in 2000, he was painted by the black political establishment in Chicago as an Uncle Tom. Less than a decade later he is their hero and savior.

Don't get me wrong I am not trying to take anything away from our 44Th President. I am simply pointing out the political and social irony that has taken place. Truth be told being crucified by some of the most corrupt political leaders in Illinois is a badge of honor in my book.

No rational-thinking person can deny history was made last night. America has her first African American President and that is something we all should be proud of. I may not have voted for Mr. Obama and have serious and admittedly fearful concerns about his ideas, but he is my President and he has my support.

Americans should rejoice in what has taken place. Free elections took place in our great country yesterday. The people have chosen a different political Party to occupy the White House and on January 20, 2009, the exchange of power will peacefully change over.

Vote Fraud Concerns

My biggest concern going into the race yesterday was voter fraud. As I indicated yesterday in these pages, I believed the fraudulent work of Acorn had already given Obama victories in key battleground states and Sen. McCain should contest these results if he had lost by a very slim margin. The fact is Obama didn't need Acorn to win Ohio, Florida and Virginia. He won these states by a margin greater than their influence and that may be a hard-pill to swallow for many friends of mine, but that is a good thing.

The fact that vote fraud didn't sway this election is a positive. Al Gore cries foul to this day and to an extent so does John Kerry. As you can see from recent comments in this Blog, 2000 continues to obscure the rational thinking of people and continues to divide America.

Recently I pointed out the importance of combating and eliminating fraudulent registration and voting activities. Even though I believe such deception did not determine the outcome of the presidential race, I can't say as of this moment how the actions of Acorn affected local elections. I do know they are a clear and present danger to the integrity of the voting process and unless Americans set partisanship aside and properly investigate this front group for Socialism, they will continue to orchestrate fraudulent political activities. That means everyone loses.

Please do not turn a blind eye to this threat to our Constitution. Keep learning about what is happening and urge your legislators to work together to defeat fraudulent voting. Don't turn America into Cook County. Turn to the Voter Integrity Project on Ballotpedia to get the non-partisan facts.

Barack Obama won yesterday and did so in a clear and convincing matter. Acorn cannot take that away from him and more importantly America.


Mark Kirk Wins
North Shore Jews have moment of clarity

When Dan Seals (D) woke-up this afternoon he came to the realization that not only is he not congressman-elect Seals, but he continues to be unemployed. After his second attempt to unseat Congressman Mark Kirk (R) in Illinois tenth congressional district ended in failure, it is a safe bet that the people of Chicago's North Shore have seen the last of him. If I'm wrong, then the Democrats have found their Jim Oberweiss.

This race was very important to your brilliant blogger. Kirk is my congressman and is the best friend the state of Israel has. While it is true that the five-term representative is not nearly as fiscally conservative as I am, he is good on taxes, represents the independent streak of his district and I'll say it again, the best friend supporters of Israel have in Washington.

American Jews, especially those, who identify themselves as reform, tend to no longer view the security of Israel and fellow Jews around the globe as a high priority. While many in the Jewish community deny this reality, when the voting figures come up showing that McCain received less than thirty percent of the Jewish vote, my concerns will be more than validated.

Due to this reality, I feared that Jews residing in Kirk's district would turn their back on him. Many of these people have become more partisan over the past few years and would rationalize their defection with claims that Seals offered them everything Kirk did without supporting the Iraq war. Seals also gave support for Israel wonderful lip service.

I am happy and proud to say that the Jews on the North Shore of Chicago paused for a moment, pulled their head out of their ass, and while they overwhelmingly supported Barack Obama, they put partisan politics aside and also voted for Kirk. In fact he won by a larger margin than he did two-years ago.

Barack Obama heads to the White House with words of support for Israel, but foreign policy advisers that would celebrate the Jewish states demise, American Jews and friends of Israel need Kirk more than ever.

While many in the pro-Israel community disagree with me, most Democrats in the House and Senate will remain silent if President Obama treats Israel in the manner I fear he will. Kirk with allies such a Peter Roskam(R) also from Illinois and Senators Lieberman (D-I), Coleman (R-MN) and Mike Pence of Indiana, who will be named Senator after Dick Lugar becomes Secretary of State, will keep Obama accountable to his campaign promises regarding Israel.

Today and tomorrow

While I do believe America has transferred back to 1976 and we will suffer the same economic fate as we did under the incompetent Jimmy Carter, the saving grace and long term benefit was 1980 and Ronald Reagan.

You heard it here first. President Newt Gingrich!

Go ahead and laugh liberals, but the parallels are uncanny. Reagan and Gingrich were both paralyzing figures, but a desperate nation under economic turmoil the current economy has at best just begun to touch, will bring unprecedented change.

I'm talking real change. Not a campaign slogan that played on peoples fears.


Paulie

19 Years and Still Kicking

October 23rd, 1987

Happy Anniversary Paulie! Well not exactly a happy anniversary, but a significant one at least. It was 19 years ago today that your brilliant blogger entered the University of Chicago Hospitals to undergo surgery to have his right arm amputated. For those who are unfamiliar with the story, the cliff notes version is 2 years earlier a tumor was discovered near my elbow, it was removed, I underwent radiation therapy and it appeared to have been gone...for two years that is. The tumor came back (recurrence) and surgery was scheduled. I had always known since the original diagnosis that if the cancer came back the arm would be amputated.

If that wasn't bad enough, my best friend's mother had passed away that day after her decades long battle with breast cancer. If there was ever a shitty day, this was that day.

Alright, enough of the bad because it's all good. 19 years later I'm alive, kicking, writing, working, fat and most important I'm married and the father of the two most beautiful and brilliant boys in the world. I have been a peer counselor to other cancer survivors and amputee's. I have written about cancer survival and have spoken at Universities on the subject. Nobody with one arm can drink a pop, eat a burger, talk on a cell phone and change the radio at the same time, while driving a car as well I can. The real challenge is changing a baby's diaper loaded with poopie, while he's trying to get up and watch his older brother beat up the cat. I guess it still is a Happy Anniversary!

President Obama?

So why would Illinois Senator Barack Obama be a good President? Pose that question to the average citizen and you'll get a long pause. Eventually that person will say something to the affect, I like what he has done as a Senator or I agree with him on the issues. The reality is that he has done nothing as a Senator, in fact the Chicago Tribune called him "disappointing" after his first year in office. As far as the issues go, he speaks in generalities and has come up with no solutions. I guess that just makes him a typical Democrat.

Soccer moms are partial to him because Oprah keeps pimping him out. Woman also find him attractive, which unfortunately plays a big role in the political decision making process for many females. Hey, that ain't me being a chauvinist it's called reality. Hey don't get mad at me you picked Bill Clinton over Paul Tsongas and would of chosen Gary Hart over Walter Mondale if he didn't get caught on the boat with the blond. Anyway, back to Obama.

So here we are approaching mid-term elections, which means the 08 Presidential campaign begins after Christmas. Obama has a new book out because he is such a great authority on life. He is making the media rounds promoting it and of course he finds himself on Meet the Press talking to Tim Russert and adding fuel to the fire of him possibly running for President.

Don't get me wrong I actually like Obama. I may not agree with most of his politics, but I do believe he is a respectable human being and a force for good. As for now, unlike his senate counterpart in Illinois, he is not a Democratic hack placing the Party first instead of the good of the country. I do believe these calls for him to run for President are ridiculously pre-mature. The man barely has a record to run on, he has accomplished nothing as a legislator and is surrounded by great hype because of his 2004 convention speech, Oprah appearances and good looks. How quickly everyone forgets that in 2000 he was crushed in the Democratic Primary, challenging former Black Panther Bobby Rush for Illinois 1st congressional district. He lost by a 2-1 margin and was made out to be an Uncle Tom during that campaign. The fact he challenged the Cook County Democratic Machine and a sitting corrupt African American congressman does go to his credit as person.

Like or dislike Obama 2008 is not the time for him to run. At the age of 45 he has a lifetime to run for President, but more importantly for Obama, 2008 will be a grudge match for the Party Nomination and his name will be dragged through the mud by Clinton, Edwards, Kerry and Gore. He should continue riding his high popularity, accomplish something in the Senate and consider 2012 or 2016. He will be 51 or 55 years of age respectively. Take some good advice from a guy who probably won't vote for you anyway.

Speaking of Politics

I will be posting my political endorsements the Friday before the election on November 3rd. If there is a particular race of interest to you, let me know and I will make sure it's included.

Paulie