Today’s blog has nothing to do with politics, policy or political parties. I want to blog about American Idol.
Last night after 97 million votes where cast, Missouri native and Oklahoma resident David Cook won the American Idol competition and was crowned this year’s American Idol. While who won and who lost probably doesn’t mean much compared to the larger issues facing America, it was a great example of the American spirit.
Week after week, our family gathered around the TV to watch incredibly talented young people pursue a passion for singing and strive to win the grand prize as the American Idol. We got to root for our favorite singer, vote for them, join Randy, Paula and Simeon as music critics and watch these young people, pursue their passion, sometimes winning praise and other times enduring criticism.
We watched the early shows that show cased those with great talent, good talent, mediocre, bad and others with no talent. We watched the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. We watched one young man that sings, “Your Are My Brother.” He was absolutely horrible as a singer, but he some how won a place in your heart and ended up singing his song in the finale.
As for others, probably for the first time in their lives they were told that had no talent and should pursue something other then singing. For them the world may have seemed to have come to an end, but sometimes the truth hurts. In the long run they will be much better off in life pursuing something they are more suited for because they really had no singing talent. We saw the bizarre that tried out for the competition just to get their few minutes of fame on TV and for others that really were angry to be told they had no talent.
Then the show moved past the auditions and took those few dozen with real talent and the real competition began. One by one the contestants sang their songs and then had to face the judges and the people. The three judges (Randy, Paula and Simeon) ranged from brutally honest to sympathizing, but all have an ear and feel for great talent. One by one the lesser talents were voted off and in some cases the better talents were voted off.
However, in the end you had the best talent singing their hearts out with many of them facing a bright future in the entertainment field applying their craft because American Idol gave them an opportunity to pursue their dream as singers.
It really is good family entertainment. My wife and I had to laugh when our four year old son said about one girl after her performance, “she needs to go home.” We also laughed watching our 18 month daughter dance or laughing at ourselves for a critiquing a performance when we can’t carry a tune in a bucket if our lives depended on it. I think they call it good old fashion family fun.
In the end stood two incredibly talented young men that should have great and prosperous singing careers ahead of them with millions of fans rooting for them. In the end, David Cook a nice and humble young man with an incredible gift of singing won the competition. While you had be happy for him, you also had to be happy for all those young men and women who with great talent pursued a dream to be an American Idol. Many of them will go on to have incredible careers and some I sure will go back to wherever they came from and continue to sing because that’s what they love to do.
Sometimes we all need to step away from the pressures of life and gather our families and enjoy the moment.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Resurrecting Conservatism and the Republican Party
As a conservative and a party affiliation of Republican, what is it that our party stands for again? Every time I get call from the GOP for a solicitation for money, I keep asking the same question. I have been a conservative Republican since the Reagan days and for the past few years the Republican Party doesn’t come close to resembling the party that I have so proudly supported all these years.
Our party has been rocked by scandal, government expansion, fiscal irresponsibility and outright incompetence. The American people gave the Republicans the Congress and the White House because they agreed with the fundamental principles and commitments that the Republican Party espoused in the Contract with America.
What did the Republicans do with that power? They acted like liberal Democrats. To say the Republican brand is damaged is the understatement of the decade. What happened?
Let me throw out a few words and see if they aren’t true; compromise, corruption, opposition, over-spending and articulation. Let me explain. When Republicans laid out an agenda that reflected a conservative agenda, the American people gave power to the Republicans. What did the Republicans do? They compromised conservative principles and allowed the size and scope of government to expand. Secondly, corruption was found in the ranks. Too many elected Republicans went to jail for being corrupt. It’s kind of hard to say you’re the party of morality and ethics when there is that level of corruption going on.
Thirdly, there was opposition from liberal Democrats and a corrupt and biased news media. While this is not necessarily the fault of Republicans, Republicans allowed the opposition to define Republicans. Where were the fierce supporters of the conservative cause when liberals were attacking them? These weak knee Republicans were either too afraid to say anything or they were busy throwing their own under the bus as liberals targeted certain members. Instead of facing down the opposition, Republicans caved to them.
Fourthly, Republicans who controlled the power of the purse spend money like a bunch of drunken sailors. While Republicans can argue the liberal Democrats were encouraging them to spend more and more money, guess who got holding the bag? You would have thought that Republicans would have learned the lesson from what happened to the first George Bush for compromising with Democrats over raising taxes after saying “ read my lips, no new taxes,” you would have thought Republicans would have got a clue about how liberals operate. Obviously not and once again look who got left looking like liberal spenders.
What the Republicans should have done is look square in the eye of the American people and say, it is the role of government to protect the American people and try to create a playing field that allows the greatest amount of people the opportunity to succeed, but it is not the role of government to provide every need in life. They also should say, sorry we can’t afford it. Had they stuck to their principles and not caved to a minority of whiners, they would still have the respect of the vast majority of American people. While there are always things we as a society want, we do understand being told it’s not our responsibility and we can’t afford it.
Finally, Republicans failed to articulate conservatism. Life is full of teachable moments. Conservatives should be out there whenever they can to articulate what conservatism is and explain why it is superior to liberalism. The vast majority of Americans regardless of their party affiliation live their lives as conservatives. They believe in God, traditional marriage, the American flag, they are patriotic and fiscally and socially responsible. Why Republicans ceased to articulate conservatism is beyond me.
So where do Republicans go from here. First, I suggest that liberal Republicans leave the Republican Party and go join the Democrat Party. Liberals have a home. It’s called the Democrat Party. The GOP should identify liberals in the party and cut off all funding to them.
Secondly, the Republican elected leaders should have gather on the steps of a capital and apologize to the American people for compromising its principles. Thirdly, they should present a new and fresh conservative agenda. Something akin to the Contract with America. Fourthly, recruit new and fresh conservative faces to run for elected offices.
Fifthly, get out and campaign on the agenda, teach conservatism and ask the American people for a second chance to earn their trust. Lastly, Republican need to quit this compromising with liberals and don’t buy into this bi-partisan non-sense. What America wants is an effective government not a bi-partisan government. If your ideas, policies and vision are superior to the other party and long term they bring the best results for the vast majority of Americans, they will support you and your party.
Our party has been rocked by scandal, government expansion, fiscal irresponsibility and outright incompetence. The American people gave the Republicans the Congress and the White House because they agreed with the fundamental principles and commitments that the Republican Party espoused in the Contract with America.
What did the Republicans do with that power? They acted like liberal Democrats. To say the Republican brand is damaged is the understatement of the decade. What happened?
Let me throw out a few words and see if they aren’t true; compromise, corruption, opposition, over-spending and articulation. Let me explain. When Republicans laid out an agenda that reflected a conservative agenda, the American people gave power to the Republicans. What did the Republicans do? They compromised conservative principles and allowed the size and scope of government to expand. Secondly, corruption was found in the ranks. Too many elected Republicans went to jail for being corrupt. It’s kind of hard to say you’re the party of morality and ethics when there is that level of corruption going on.
Thirdly, there was opposition from liberal Democrats and a corrupt and biased news media. While this is not necessarily the fault of Republicans, Republicans allowed the opposition to define Republicans. Where were the fierce supporters of the conservative cause when liberals were attacking them? These weak knee Republicans were either too afraid to say anything or they were busy throwing their own under the bus as liberals targeted certain members. Instead of facing down the opposition, Republicans caved to them.
Fourthly, Republicans who controlled the power of the purse spend money like a bunch of drunken sailors. While Republicans can argue the liberal Democrats were encouraging them to spend more and more money, guess who got holding the bag? You would have thought that Republicans would have learned the lesson from what happened to the first George Bush for compromising with Democrats over raising taxes after saying “ read my lips, no new taxes,” you would have thought Republicans would have got a clue about how liberals operate. Obviously not and once again look who got left looking like liberal spenders.
What the Republicans should have done is look square in the eye of the American people and say, it is the role of government to protect the American people and try to create a playing field that allows the greatest amount of people the opportunity to succeed, but it is not the role of government to provide every need in life. They also should say, sorry we can’t afford it. Had they stuck to their principles and not caved to a minority of whiners, they would still have the respect of the vast majority of American people. While there are always things we as a society want, we do understand being told it’s not our responsibility and we can’t afford it.
Finally, Republicans failed to articulate conservatism. Life is full of teachable moments. Conservatives should be out there whenever they can to articulate what conservatism is and explain why it is superior to liberalism. The vast majority of Americans regardless of their party affiliation live their lives as conservatives. They believe in God, traditional marriage, the American flag, they are patriotic and fiscally and socially responsible. Why Republicans ceased to articulate conservatism is beyond me.
So where do Republicans go from here. First, I suggest that liberal Republicans leave the Republican Party and go join the Democrat Party. Liberals have a home. It’s called the Democrat Party. The GOP should identify liberals in the party and cut off all funding to them.
Secondly, the Republican elected leaders should have gather on the steps of a capital and apologize to the American people for compromising its principles. Thirdly, they should present a new and fresh conservative agenda. Something akin to the Contract with America. Fourthly, recruit new and fresh conservative faces to run for elected offices.
Fifthly, get out and campaign on the agenda, teach conservatism and ask the American people for a second chance to earn their trust. Lastly, Republican need to quit this compromising with liberals and don’t buy into this bi-partisan non-sense. What America wants is an effective government not a bi-partisan government. If your ideas, policies and vision are superior to the other party and long term they bring the best results for the vast majority of Americans, they will support you and your party.
Friday, May 16, 2008
What's Wrong With Wright
I recently looked up the definition of Black Liberation Theology, which Rev. Wright espouses. The black liberation theology has its roots in the 1960s civil-rights activism and draws inspiration from both the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.
Its founder the Rev. James Cone says that the core of black liberation theology is an effort in a white-dominated society, in which defines black as evil to make the gospel relevant to the life and struggles of American blacks. Its goal is to help black people learn to love themselves and teach black people how to be both unapologetically black and Christian at the same time.
On the surface such a movement seems harmless until you look deeper into the belief system. Rev Cone defines the movement this way, “Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community ... Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love."
The error in this theology is many fold. The first erroneous premise is that God must belong to the black community. God is not help hostage to any community. He is a community all to himself and he invites all people of every skin color to be a part of his community through Jesus Christ. To say that God must belong to the black community or any other community for that matter as a condition for acceptance is nothing more than idolatry.
Secondly, this form of theology can only work if there is true white oppression. In the absence of white oppression, black liberation theology doesn’t work or make any sense. This may explain the consent mantra of white oppression coming from the likes of Rev. Wright. White oppression is the backbone in which holds up this warped theology. America is now four (4) generations removed from slavery and forced segregation is now four decades removed. No longer is there any laws on the books that discriminate against people because of skin color and forced segregation is now foreign to most Americans.
While there are still pockets of prejudice and bigotry in our country shared by weak minded people of all skin colors, the vast majority of Americans hate racism and the thought of discrimination of anyone based on race is repulsing.
Thirdly, black liberation theology becomes is a self-fulfilling prophesy of isolation which results in continued economic and social poverty. The theology on one hand calls for blacks to be self-reliant and to care for their own, but in doing so they end up insolating themselves from the larger economic and social market. The black population makes up 13.5% of the US population. By limiting its focus to the 13.5% of the population it excludes the other 86.5% of the population. This self imposed limitation results in fewer jobs, less opportunity, less prosperity, fewer resources etc. In turn, the theology blames white oppression for what is in fact self-imposed economic and social isolation.
To illustrate the absurdity of this theology, let’s examine the counter reality of two highly successful black people.
Michael Jordan arguably may be the best basketball player of our generation and Opra Winfrey the most successful TV Talk Show host of this generation. Not withstanding his tremendous ability on the basketball court and Opra’s talent and ability, Jordan and Winfrey are masters at marketing their name. Anything they endorse and put their name behind sells because of their brand. Their market is particular demographics of all races. The result is they are both tremendously successful.
Should Jordan or Winfrey follow black liberation theology, they would only focus their brand to blacks only. They would in turn go from marketing their brand to 100% of their targeted demographics of all races down to 13.5% resulting in a loss of 86.5% market share. The result will be less influence, less money and less opportunity.
What’s wrong with the Rev. Wright is his theology is flawed, his perceived world view of whites and their so-called oppression of blacks are distorted and he is blinded by his own bigotry, prejudice and a black form of racism. While Wright is a skilled communicator, very learned and studied man, the message he so passionately espouses only continues to hold the black community down instead of lifting it up. It should be that in all our hearts we want our neighbor, whatever the skin color to prosper and experience the great opportunities this country has to offer.
Its founder the Rev. James Cone says that the core of black liberation theology is an effort in a white-dominated society, in which defines black as evil to make the gospel relevant to the life and struggles of American blacks. Its goal is to help black people learn to love themselves and teach black people how to be both unapologetically black and Christian at the same time.
On the surface such a movement seems harmless until you look deeper into the belief system. Rev Cone defines the movement this way, “Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community ... Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love."
The error in this theology is many fold. The first erroneous premise is that God must belong to the black community. God is not help hostage to any community. He is a community all to himself and he invites all people of every skin color to be a part of his community through Jesus Christ. To say that God must belong to the black community or any other community for that matter as a condition for acceptance is nothing more than idolatry.
Secondly, this form of theology can only work if there is true white oppression. In the absence of white oppression, black liberation theology doesn’t work or make any sense. This may explain the consent mantra of white oppression coming from the likes of Rev. Wright. White oppression is the backbone in which holds up this warped theology. America is now four (4) generations removed from slavery and forced segregation is now four decades removed. No longer is there any laws on the books that discriminate against people because of skin color and forced segregation is now foreign to most Americans.
While there are still pockets of prejudice and bigotry in our country shared by weak minded people of all skin colors, the vast majority of Americans hate racism and the thought of discrimination of anyone based on race is repulsing.
Thirdly, black liberation theology becomes is a self-fulfilling prophesy of isolation which results in continued economic and social poverty. The theology on one hand calls for blacks to be self-reliant and to care for their own, but in doing so they end up insolating themselves from the larger economic and social market. The black population makes up 13.5% of the US population. By limiting its focus to the 13.5% of the population it excludes the other 86.5% of the population. This self imposed limitation results in fewer jobs, less opportunity, less prosperity, fewer resources etc. In turn, the theology blames white oppression for what is in fact self-imposed economic and social isolation.
To illustrate the absurdity of this theology, let’s examine the counter reality of two highly successful black people.
Michael Jordan arguably may be the best basketball player of our generation and Opra Winfrey the most successful TV Talk Show host of this generation. Not withstanding his tremendous ability on the basketball court and Opra’s talent and ability, Jordan and Winfrey are masters at marketing their name. Anything they endorse and put their name behind sells because of their brand. Their market is particular demographics of all races. The result is they are both tremendously successful.
Should Jordan or Winfrey follow black liberation theology, they would only focus their brand to blacks only. They would in turn go from marketing their brand to 100% of their targeted demographics of all races down to 13.5% resulting in a loss of 86.5% market share. The result will be less influence, less money and less opportunity.
What’s wrong with the Rev. Wright is his theology is flawed, his perceived world view of whites and their so-called oppression of blacks are distorted and he is blinded by his own bigotry, prejudice and a black form of racism. While Wright is a skilled communicator, very learned and studied man, the message he so passionately espouses only continues to hold the black community down instead of lifting it up. It should be that in all our hearts we want our neighbor, whatever the skin color to prosper and experience the great opportunities this country has to offer.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
California Okays Gay Marriage
The Supreme Court of California is the second state to usurp the will of the people by striking down a ban on gay marriage. This is the second state to do so, opening the way for a full constitutional challenge to the traditional definition of marriage between a man and a women.
The ultimate goal of the gay rights crowd is be in the position to sue any institution, especially churches that do not accept homosexuality as a legitimate and moral lifestyle. Granting marriage rights to homosexuals by a state will be followed up by laws that will not allow churches or any other public and private institutions to reject or discriminate against homosexuality.
This decision by the far left California liberal Supreme Court is just another step in destroying the traditional family and paving the way for religious persecution to begin. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he supports the decision and will not support an amendment to the California Constitution to stop this insanity.
Schwarzengger is the poster child for what happens when Republicans allow liberals into their house. Now that Republicans have all but abandoned conservative principals and compromised with liberals, the very institutions that have held every great society together and made America great for over 200 years is now under attack from people who have chosen an immoral, unnatural and destructive lifestyle.
It was not enough for homosexual to keep their sexual preference to themselves, now they are demanding legitimacy. It is time for the American people to stand and turn back the attacks from a small minority of people who want to destroy the traditional family and the institutions that have been the bedrock of a civilized society. Any politician from any party that supports gay marriage and gay rights must be targeted for defeat at the ballot box. Now is the time to fight, clean house and turn back this attack on the family.
The ultimate goal of the gay rights crowd is be in the position to sue any institution, especially churches that do not accept homosexuality as a legitimate and moral lifestyle. Granting marriage rights to homosexuals by a state will be followed up by laws that will not allow churches or any other public and private institutions to reject or discriminate against homosexuality.
This decision by the far left California liberal Supreme Court is just another step in destroying the traditional family and paving the way for religious persecution to begin. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he supports the decision and will not support an amendment to the California Constitution to stop this insanity.
Schwarzengger is the poster child for what happens when Republicans allow liberals into their house. Now that Republicans have all but abandoned conservative principals and compromised with liberals, the very institutions that have held every great society together and made America great for over 200 years is now under attack from people who have chosen an immoral, unnatural and destructive lifestyle.
It was not enough for homosexual to keep their sexual preference to themselves, now they are demanding legitimacy. It is time for the American people to stand and turn back the attacks from a small minority of people who want to destroy the traditional family and the institutions that have been the bedrock of a civilized society. Any politician from any party that supports gay marriage and gay rights must be targeted for defeat at the ballot box. Now is the time to fight, clean house and turn back this attack on the family.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Grass Roots Conservatism
I am really happy to see Governor Huckabee create Huck-PAC. After years of neglect and compromise, the Republican Party needs a good old fashion house cleaning. Instead of electing liberal Democrats into office, the goal should be for conservatives to offer a fresh vision by challenging those Republicans that have abandoned the conservative movement.
The starting point is to mobilize and start locating qualified and committed economic, social and national security conservatives to challenge the moderate and liberal Republicans who are to blame for losing the Congress in the last election. I believe Governor Huckabee is the person most capable of leading the next generation of true conservatives.
I am really happy to see Governor Huckabee create Huck-PAC. After years of neglect and compromise, the Republican Party needs a good old fashion house cleaning. Instead of electing liberal Democrats into office, the goal should be for conservatives to offer a fresh vision by challenging those Republicans that have abandoned the conservative movement.
The starting point is to mobilize and start locating qualified and committed economic, social and national security conservatives to challenge the moderate and liberal Republicans who are to blame for losing the Congress in the last election. I believe Governor Huckabee is the person most capable of leading the next generation of true conservatives.
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