If Romney is the Republican nominee, Obamney Care is not an issue

In The Media Freak Show Over Romney’s Money, United Conservatives of Virginia links to article about the Liberal news media bias. What are we suppose to make of a bunch of wealthy reporters complaining about another man’s wealth? They are jealous?

Remember the Stimulus by Fishersville Mike reminds us of the waste perpetrated by the Obama administration.

In Comment on Newt-mare by Steve Vaughan, another Democrat graciously offers to help Republicans pick their nominee. Such a kind soul!

In McDonnell criticizes Gingrich over attacks on Romney’s character, (where the bearing is drifting) a potential running mate speaks up for Mitt Romney, the guy who started the attack ad war in Iowa?

Virginia Virtucon studies the polls in See-Saw Polls Continue and What a Difference Two weeks Can Make, Romney Down to 24% support. Except for the ones we take when people actually vote I usually find articles about polls boring. These two articles are mercifully short.

With Gingrich smears Romney on income – again, The right-wing liberal takes up the cause for Mitt Romney. Why Newt Gingrich launched these stupid attacks, I don’t know. Romney would be much easier to take down as a flip-flopper, but I guess that would cede a big advantage to Rick Santorum. Santorum has been a relatively consistent Conservative.

Thus far, the media has manipulated us quite well. Romney panders. With enough money, he thinks he can buy enough ads to bury both his opponents and his record. Even though his record screams MASSACHUSETTS LIBERAL, Romney still leads the pack. Gingrich sometimes forgets to be a Conservative, but as the Speaker he did a pretty good job. Santorum has a good record, but the media has tagged him as a frothing at the mouth Social Conservative; they just want us to ignore him.

With that in mind, I suggest you check out this video, H/T to At The Point Of A Gun via  Video: “Turn This Ship Around”.

DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE CHILDREN?

THEN HERE IS THE QUESTION.

WHICH CANDIDATE DO YOU BELIEVE HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO TURN THE SHIP AROUND?

Don’t know? Do you suppose you could study the record of these candidates

BEFORE YOU VOTE?

Was the accusation true or a smear? Supposedly, Warren advocates something called Chrislam. Some, apparently regard both the Bible and the Qur’an as true and sacred texts. How anyone would reconcile the two, I have no idea.  Nevertheless, at least a few journalists have covered Chrislam (see here and here).

So why am I mentioning this? When bloggers don’t check the veracity of their sources, we spread rumors and innuendo, sometimes really silly rumors and innuendo.

So what kind of pastor is Warren? I don’t attend his church, but you can visit his church’s website. I am currently enjoying the Christian Apologetics webpage.

The Spider and the Fly
Mary Howitt

Will you walk into my parlour?” said the Spider to the Fly,
‘Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I’ve a many curious things to shew when you are there.”
Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.”

continued here

Have you watched the presidential debates. Did you see the last one?

Did you see the web the spider wove?

Yet here at To Be Right! we have a prediction, The Death of the Main Stream Media.

It’s over, I think.  The main stream media is dead.

(Insert Ding Dong song from Wizard of Oz here.)

By 2003, the scourge of the Internet – these creatures known as “bloggers” – started appearing in large numbers.

By the 2006 election, there were a few news stories about how the Internet was having an impact.  The dinosaurs at ABC, NBC and CBS were mumbling about “social media” though none of them knew what it was.

Between 2006 and 2009 the main stream media – called “MSM” by blogger types – was losing ground, and losing it fast.  The term “Lame Stream Media” became a regular part of the vernacular. I forget who coined the term. Michelle Malkin? Bernie Goldberg? (continued here)

There is much merit in his post, but is Harry right? Are we seeing the end of the death of the main stream media? That depends upon us. We provide the market that revels in watching spiders eating flies.

We get what we vote for. When we go to the polls, when we vote for politicians, and when we spend our time and our money; we vote for goods and services, including news and entertainment. So will John King, that elite media spider, stop asking inappropriate questions? That depends upon us.

In 2006, I wrote a series, What is the proper business of our government? In the third part, we considered the constellation of special interests that works to keep us misinformed.

In a democracy, the primary function the People is to vote. This function requires that the People educate themselves about how their government works, the problems of the day, and the qualifications of the candidates for public office. If the People fail to vote properly, then the likely problem is that they have allowed themselves to become misinformed.

What would cause the People to be misinformed? Here is a list of what I think contributes to a misinformed American People.

• Public School System -The public school system is the primary institution that educates the People. This system is government owned and operated. Because politicians control the funding, the public school system is run for the benefit of the politicians, not the People.
• Commercial News Media – The commercial news media provides the People information on current events. This information is “free” to the People. Advertisers pay the cost. As a result, the focus of such media is gaining audience attention, not education.
• Public Television and Radio – PBS and NPR receive extensive government funding. Thus, much like the public school system, PBS and NPR operates for the benefit of politicians.
• Politicians – The typical politician seeks elected office by making promises to various organized political constituencies. The politician serves as an advocate. He or she gathers contributions and spends whatever it takes to get the People’s vote.

(from here)

The Commercial News Media is only one institution within the constellation that seeks to dominate and control the information we receive. The Commercial News Media is not even the principal institution; it is only the most flamboyant. Because it indoctrinates us when we are young, instilling within us many of the assumptions we use in our daily lives, the Public School System provides the principal danger.

So long as we allow our children to be indoctrinated by a system run by politicians, politicians will use that system to help their special interests instill their values, their beliefs and their ideas within our nation’s children. So long as we allow children to be indoctrinated by a system run by politicians, as adults they will remain susceptible to the misinformation provided by the Commercial News Media.

Here is a list (in no particular order) of the blogs I enjoyed the most in the past year. To each I wish a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

• THE FAMILY FOUNDATION BLOG: Provides news relevant to Virginia’s families.
• Freedom, by the way: Writes well-researched, interesting posts that garners equally interesting comment.
• The right-wing liberal: An astute political analyst.
• pumabydesign001′s blog: Fiercely Conservative.
• American Freedom: Interesting new blog. Refuses to sit by and watch our God-given American rights stripped away.
• blogsense-by-barb: What can I add to her avatar?
• My Blog: A lovely lady saddened by a prodigal government.
• Be Sure You’re RIGHT, Then Go Ahead: Proud patriot on the attack.
• Right Hook: The name fits.
• Blog de KingShamus: Reflective. Makes you think, but doesn’t take himself too seriously.
• PWC Education Reform Blog: A very involved mother.
• Deo Vindice: Christian/Soldier/Scholar.
• NooneOfAnyImport’s Blog: Homeschooling military wife and mom with a great blog.
• bluebird of bitterness: Bob collects great humor. When I am feeling low, I visit .
• Boudica BPI Weblog: Nuts about Queen Boudica. Fascinating bit of history, BTW.
• Shaun Kenney: Thoughtful and thought provoking.
• Rogue Operator: Has appropriately changed its name to Rogue Government.
• ON MY WATCH – the writings of SamHenry: Strives for reasoned and orderly debate.
• Always On Watch: Is a lady who posts her “homework” on her blog.
• Virginia Right!: Great new News Blog that focuses on Virginia politics.
• The Twilight’s Last Gleaming: Blog home to a nostalgic patriot who loves glorious graphics.
• The Mad Jewess: A little nutty, sometimes funny, but always intriguing.
• Diary of a Mad Conservative: A Constitutionalist, an Originalist, and a Conservative fed up with the opposing view.
• That Mr. G Guy’s Blog: A redneck.    See below.
• PHOEBE’S DETENTION ROOM: The redneck’s lady.
• sitting on the edge of the sandbox, biting my tongue: A blog where the reader never knows what to expect.
• I Hold the Line: Thoughtful Christian blog written by an excellent scholar.
• Salt and Light Blog: Inspiring Christian/political blog.
• To Be Right!: A neighbor like the rest of us, seeking to sound the alarm.
• Common Sense: Not so Conservative, but these guys do voice their opinions. One had the gumption to run for public office.
• SkepticalObservor: A hardworking lawyer who actively works for Conservative government.
• Thinking in Christ: Puts the focus where it belongs.

A greeting from the email chain.

This came from a friend at Christmas and thought I would pass it along.

You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, ‘One nation, under God..’

You might be a redneck if: You’ve enjoyed seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck if: You still say ‘ Christmas’ instead of ‘Winter Festival.’

You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem

You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces veterans with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if: You’ve never burned an American flag, nor intend to.

You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe and you aren’t afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and raised your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if: You’d give your last dollar to help a friend.

You might be a redneck if: You believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior; and in His death, burial, and resurrection.

This email is because I believe that you, like me, have just enough Red Neck in you to have the same beliefs as those talked about above.

God Bless the USA and God Bless you and your loved ones!

Merry Christmas,

From a friend

ENVY AND JEALOUSY

Envy is one is one of the seven deadly sins. Whereas Wikipedia says jealousy should not be confused with envy, the Catholic Encyclopedia considers them synonymous. Here is what the Catholic Encyclopedia has to say about jealousy.

Jealousy is here taken to be synonymous with envy. It is defined to be a sorrow which one entertains at another’s well-being because of a view that one’s own excellence is in consequence lessened. Its distinctive malice comes from the opposition it implies to the supreme virtue of charity. The law of love constrains us to rejoice rather than to be distressed at the good fortune of our neighbour. (continued here)

 What distinction does Wikipedia make?

Oftentimes envy and jealousy are confused and used interchangeably, which is inappropriate. While jealousy involves people, the target of envy is people’s possessions. For example, if your neighbor buys a brand new SUV you are going to lust over their new car and wish that you could buy a brand new SUV as well. The possessions involved in envy include not only material items, but other possessions in the form of psychological states, such as, utility, happiness, or superiority. (from here)

Wikipedia is essentially correct. Although Dictionary.com speaks of envy and jealousy as synonyms, it also notes that the terms are very close in meaning and provides a similar explanation of the differences in meaning. 

So what does the Bible say?  Using yet a third related term, “covet”, the 9th Commandment describes envy as a sin.

Exodus 20:17 King James Version (KJV)

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

James described the extent of the problem.

James 4:1-2 Amplified Bible (AMP)

1 WHAT LEADS to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?

2 You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. [I John 3:15.]

From On High

Except for the expression ”class envy”, most political blogs make little use of the term “envy”. Jerry Fuhrman, the resident blogger at From On High, uses the term a bit more than most.

• Obama Switches Slogans links to an article by Mark Steyn.  Fuhrman summaries the article as “Resentment and Envy.” 
• Does Obama Even Consider Himself To Be My President Too? links to an article by Peter Wehner at commentary, Obama the Divider.
• Eat The Rich posts an article that Fuhrman wrote for the Roanoke Times, Rising tide.
• In Such Hatred, Fuhrman considers the implications the hate mail he got when he wrote Rising tide.
• Quote of the Day quotes Maureen Dowd, Dowd Unhinged – Again. Dowd is upset that  Republican women are insufficiently demure? And yes. It is about envy.
• Just Goes To Show considers Keith Olbermann’s envy of FOX.
• A Nightmare Scenario takes a look at the institutionalized envy in California.
• Socialism On Display uses an article in the Wall Street Journal to illustrate the problem with Socialism.

So what’s is the latest on the Left’s class envy campaign. That’s Do Nothing Congress? Here is an excerpt.

And the House of Representatives passes a jobs bill that also extends the payroll tax cut and Obama threatens to veto it.

Oh, I see. It doesn’t include a tax increase on those evil wealthy Americans. The ones who have caused all our country’s problems.

How convenient they are to his blame game.

Personal Observation

The House of Representatives is in the midst of a battle over the payroll tax cut extension. Here is how the unbiased, highly objective New York Times is reporting the issue.

A core group of conservative House members, many of them newcomers who provided the Republican majority, have balked all year at short-term spending agreements, proposed legislation to raise the debt ceilingand bills to increase disaster funding. It remained far from clear Monday night how, or whether, the tax cuts would be extended for 160 million workers and millions of unemployed Americans would continue to get jobless benefits next year.

“We are witnessing the concluding convulsion of confrontation and obstruction in the most unproductive, Tea Party-dominated partisan session of the Congress — the most partisan of which I have participated,” said Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat in House who has served for three decades, during a news briefing Monday.

The impasse began over the weekend when House Republicans said they would reject the Senate measure, which passed 89 to 10. It would, for two months, extend the payroll tax cut, continue unemployment benefits and prevent a cut in fees paid to doctors who accept Medicare, allowing lawmakers and the White House time to work out their differences on how to pay for a year-long extension.

Many rank and file Republicans have questioned the underlying concept of continuing the tax break — because the payroll tax reduction would reduce revenue to the Social Security trust fund, which would be replaced by payments from the Treasury. But House Republican leaders said on Monday that their objection was not to the tax cut itself, but to the temporary nature of the fix.

“We don’t need to be governing in two-month increments,” Representative Eric Cantor, the Virginia Republican and majority leader, said on CNN. “People can’t live their lives like that.” (from here)

The payroll tax cut extension is a sign of national moral decay. The payroll tax cut exposes a lie. Yet very few seemed to have noticed.  

The payroll tax is intended to fund Social Security, which is supposedly a retirement program that the retirees collecting the money funded. Because Congress immediately spent the money that was suppose to go into the Social Security “Trust” Fund, we actually fund payments to retirees Social Security using a hand-to-mouth method. 

• The children and grand-children of the retirees hand over a portion of their paychecks to the government.
• When the payroll tax revenues exceeded payments to retirees, the politicians took a cut to finance other programs. Now, thanks to the Baby Boom, that well has run dry.
• Politician then bribe retirees for their votes with Social Security checks. 

Now, in the name of a tax cut for workers, Congress has no choices except using general revenues to fund Social Security.

More and more dependent on class envy, Obama insists that only the “rich” pay taxes. Yet there are not enough rich people to pay the taxes our spendthrift government requires. Thus, what the payroll tax cut extension is about is yet one more way to pit us against each other.

Instead of paying taxes targeted to the objects of class warfare, we should all be paying the same tax rates.