Americans Elect 2012 Review and Comments

I'm always spouting off about being or getting involved. Even if you don't agree with me you should be engaged in your world and the movers and shakers. A new, to me anyway, method is Americans Elect 2012. I looked it up and signed up just to see what it was all about.

Essentially the site is going to do the things needed to get a non-partizan candidate for President and Vice-President on the ballot in all fifty states. It will do this by havign registered voteres sign up, answer questions about thier views, and vote in an online convention. The winner of the vote will be placed on the ballot in all fifty states. The site believes it will break the gridlock of partisan politics.

Overall I think the site has merit. I think that if their sales pitch actually works it could, over time, become a focus of a growing debate. So, I will see it through just to find out if I am right or not.

After answering 136 questions (there are more but my clicker was asking for overtime cash) I stumbled across one that floored me. Remember that everyone on the site is supposed to be a registered voter. That means they care and actually participate in the process. Your answer, weighted based on priorites you establish, is factored into all the other answers so you get a national and state average.

The Question was: Which of the statements below is closest to your personal view?

The results were:

Option and % Of Answers	Answers
A 13%	It is very important to stick to principles
B 18%	It is more important for politicians in Congress to stick to the principles and values on which they campaigned
C 67%	It is more important for politicians in Congress to work with members of the other party and make consensus policy
D 2%	Unsure

That tells me that I am wasting my breath talking about character. It appears to me that 67% of the registered voters who have been to the site would knowingly elect crooks and liars as long as they reach across the aisle and come to a consensus.

It's no wonder that an Ethics Challenged for Speaker who moonlighted as a Serial Adulterer is gaining in the polls.

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Character Counts in Politics

The Presidency is not merely a political figurehead. The person holding the office is supposed to be a leader. And, if you cannot trust the fundamental character of a leader you need a new leader.As a child, it used to be common for kids to say "I want to be President when I grow up". The President was someone we were supposed to admire for all the right reasons and chief among them was the persons character. A list of Leadership Traits and Principles used to train Marines quantify the importance of character in a leader.

To put a point on it, the name of the game is character. The word itself has positive and negative aspects. If you say, "That George, he's such a character" the impression is often good. But, tell someone that they are not real, they are "just playing a character"; and depending on context it could be a bad thing. Then there is character in the form of the gestalt of personality traits and quirks that often defines if one is perceived as a good and moral person.

Mitt Romney, as a person, appears to be a man of character. I've seen nothing to indicate that he is anything but a loving father and husband. He is devout in his faith. As a person of high morals I'd say that he is a man of good character. Politically I cannot endorse him since he reminds me of the typical chamelion politician. But that is a professional observation.

Newt, on the other hand, is the opposite of Romney. Newt is a great politician. But, his character stinks. He is a serial adulterer, his ethics are atrocious, and a he's moral hypocrite to boot. I used to be a fan back in the day until his (now) obvious character flaws came to light.

Ron Paul appears to have the character of Romney in his personal life. Politically, his character is one of consistency over about thirty years. So, I can vote for him instead of simply against President Obama.

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Ron Paul is Right. Politifact Got It Wrong.

I wrote about the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012. In my opinion, the Senate made a huge mistake. Politifact has decided that Ron Pauls comments regarding this legislation are mostly false.

Go ahead and read it for yourself. By page 428 you will notice that the Secretary of Defense merely need submit a waiver which states you are a national security risk. That paragraph ensures that the provision stating that this entire process doesn't apply to US Citizens is null and void.

Politifact got it wrong.

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Banking and Politics: Why Obama Might Win Again

On TV there is an advertisement that is poking fun at the Bank of America debit card fees by telling a customer to "just accept it". A whole horde of people tell him how banking is essentially corrupt and he should just roll over. Just accept it. Then his date brings it into focus by telling him how he will die if they miss the movie. Just accept it.

Politics is the same way. We have the big name Republicans in the form of Mitt Romney and Tricky Ricky and they are telling the voters to "just accept it".

Congress is trying to extend the drug war overseas on Americans citizens. Just accept it.

Obama is killing American citizens who haven't been convicted of any crime.

Just accept it.

And as we move closer to actual primaries we see the establishment coming out and telling us to look hard at Romney or Perry. We have Christie and Palin making news for not running. We have religious leaders at the latest straw poll denigrating another mans religion as a cult. While some occupy wall street, more Americans occupy prisons in the failed war on drugs. It's ok though. This is how it's always been.

Guys like Ron Paul and Herman Cain almost have no chance. After all, the game is rigged by the establishment.And, Obama will likely win again. He will continue to lead the nation into ruin. Why is it always the same? How come every four years the same meme is played out no matter which party is in charge? You guessed it.

Because most people Just accept it.


Technorati Tags: just accept it ron paul herman cain gop republicans politics
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9-11 And the Politics Of Terror

What did we learn? According to Ron Paul, 9/11 was in part caused by US actions in and around the mideast in years or decades past. Ok, I can see that. Everything has a cause and the domino effect is in full force.

But, with respect to Mr. Paul, the terrorists made war on women and kids instead of being men and slugging it out eye-to-eye. So, I feel no remorse for their dead. Maybe I am wrong and maybe I am less human. So what. As far as I am concerned our nation must not treat with terrorists. We must instead hunt them down and kill them all. I don't care if it is with special ops guys or infantry division on-line. If you cannot negotiate (diplomacy) or fight like men, then you deserve no more or less than to be hunted like a rabid animal and put down.

Ten years and one day later I am hoping that the radical elements of the world will realize that this is only a prelude. There will come a day when America will no longer take the high road and conduct ourselves will such restraint. I hope that for the sake of everyone's children, people learn to respect each other. Live and let live is a pretty good philosophy as long as we are shaking hands with a mailed fist.

So, to paraphrase a recently famous Marine: "Be courteous and kind, and have a plan to kill everyone you meet."

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Starving Dogs: Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman, and Michelle Bachman

The debate sucked. The moderators obviously were not interested in hearing all the candidates speak. If you were not Rick Perry or Mitt Romney then you might as well have been a starving dog at the back of the diner hoping for scraps.

I want a debate where every candidate gets an equal amount of time to either shine or make a fool of themselves. I want the journalists (lol) neutral and simply asking the questions. They can commentate afterwards on the various spin shows. I want the questions taken from real voters via facebook or twitter and not the recent soundbites.

Most of all I want the debates held often enough that even the most apathetic voter has no excuse for not knowing what's going on.  

Technorati Tags: Ron Paul Rick Santorum Herman Cain John Huntsman Michelle Bachman 
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Leadership over Politics - Please

We are clearly in the opening rounds, the preseason if you will, of the 2012 Presidential race. Whoo hoo, so far I like the NFL preseason better. Right now we need to be looking at the candidates and deciding if anyone is a true leader as opposed to a politician. Let the rant begin.

Who in the field will step up and tell the Congress to stop the petty nonsense and deliver some results not tied to a lobbyests wet dream. Anyone? Bueller... Bueller...

So far I have a small bit of faith that Ron Paul could be such a leader. But, I have very little faith that the middle of the country will vote him in. Most just don't care as long as thier pet tax break or program is unimpeded. The other candidates so far appear to be merely politicians to me. But, I am slowly learning more on each in order to be fair.

If you are reading this I have a challenge for you. Figure out your top three issues and sell them to three people in your neighborhood or workplace that you don't talk politics with. If you can sell them on your passion to the point that they call, write, or email the alleged statesmen who has an influence.... then you are among the very few Americans who actually cares what is going on in government today.

Your issue can be local, state, or federal. It can be liberal or conservative. As long as it is real enough to raise your body off the sofa and do something it'll be great.

Get involved. Demand that those who represent you be leaders and statesmen instead of political mouthpieces. Your grandkids might thank you for it.

Here are some interesting links that made me write this rant in the first place.

• Greta says to email the President and the Attorney General.
• These guys justify the media ignoring Ron Paul. Heh. I can smell their fear. What they want is business as usual politics to continue. 
• And finally, Forbes nails it here with four simple bullet points on American Politics.

Technorati Tags: leadership politics 2012 candidates
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I Am a Ron Paul Supporter

Isupport Ron Paul's candidacy for President of the United States. There, I said it. You can now tattoo the word NUTJOB on my forehead and move on with your lives. That's what most people reading will do anyway. 

I hope that some of Ron Paul's handlers and influential supporters read the link.It shows the true enemy. Don't sweat Obama. He is just another politician. Don't worry about Newt. He is way too obviously just another politician as well.

FTFGIMAD  

Technorati Tags: election 2012 Ron Paul

Questions for Ron Paul

On the Wall Street Journals Question of the Day section there is a discussion going that wonders if Ron Paul can be the GOP Nominated Candidate.

One person, jay addams, has boldly proclaimed that

He will take away from the front-runner in the next election as an Independent or third party candidate.-- Source

My response on the message board is intended to wake up those who can be of some help. The facts are that we get the government we deserve. We need to build a bridge to get from where we are to where we want to be.

So, my questions to all those who support Ron Paul are limited. As you look at them, remember that the answer must fit within today's reality while honoring the philosophy of Ron Paul and the ideals of a literally read Constitution.

1. What do we do about the national debt?
2. How do we get rid of Social Security without screwing over the people who have a lifetime of wages paid into it?
3. How do we raise the money needed to pay for the government we get? Let alone the one we want?

Those three questions are more than enough for one mere presidential contender. I hope they choose to address them.
FTFGIMAD

Technorati Tags: election 2012 election 2012 Ron Paul

Why Vote For Ron Paul?

Back in 2008 I wrote an "open letter" that explained why you should seriously consider voting for Ron Paul. Here it is again. I appreciate everyone willing to read and get involved even if you don't agree with me.

I am watching Robin Williams in the movie "Man Of the Year". Interesting movie, but just imagine ... FTFGIMAD

Technorati Tags: election 2012 election 2012 Ron Paul

Ron Paul Announces For President 2012

Folks might be right when they say that RP has no chance of winning. That means a lot of people will not vote for him for fear of "wasting" a ballot on a lost cause. I'd rather die on my feet fighting for a lost, but worthy, cause than to live on my knees just to say I was on the winning team.
FTFGIMAD