One issue that the media has continued to fall in line with the democrats is illegal immigration. The democrats know they can bully people into silence by crying 'racism' every time they can't win an argument based on logic and merit. The democrats have painted the illegal immigration issue as one of racism and those against illegal immigration as 'anti-immigration'. There is a big difference between wanting the rule of law upheld and being 'anti-immigration'.
Many argue that illegal immigrants simply want a better life and therefore we shouldn't blame them for that. Where does it stop? The poor kid who breaks into a rich kid's home and steals some electronics may just want a better life, too, but there are laws in our society. Millions of people around the world live in refugee camps and most likely want a better life for themselves, too, but they have an ocean to cross in order to reach our borders. Is it fair that they don't have the same benefit as those who can just run across our border? And what about those that are actually following our laws and trying to come into the country legally? How do we explain to them that law-breakers are going to be rewarded? If you've ever watched a cheater or a rule-breaker advance unfairly while you're behind following the rules, you know the frustration. Those trying to enter the country legally must feel that same frustration.
It's very frustrating that Republicans are afraid to speak out logically about this issue, that they have been bullied into silence. Nobody should be afraid to stand up for the rule of law, but unfortunately, with our press wholly owned by the democratic party, there is now a silent majority that has been bullied into submission.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Danged if He Does, Danged if He Doesn't
I haven't had a chance yet to read George W. Bush's new memoir, but I have seen interviews with him. I think he was a little too understanding and gracious of the criticism he received during his time in office, and I think this is part of the frustration conservatives have with him. At his core he is a statesman and a gentleman, and in turn he neglected to forcefully defend his actions, which he had every right to do.
It was unreasonable to allow a picture of him in Air Force One looking down at the Katrina damage to be depicted as detached and out of touch. He made a reasonable decision to put the citizens first and allow the first responders to do their jobs, uninterrupted. Had Air Force One landed so that President Bush could tour the damage, it would have been a severe strain to the infrastructure. His decision was a wise one and reasonable people understand that. And truly, had he decided to land and wreak havoc on the response, he would have been criticized for that, as well. Danged if he does and danged if he doesn't.
It was also disingenuous of the media to allow the myth that the federal government is responsible for first responding to perpetuate. The media is obsessed with polling the American public to see how many people think Iraq had something to do with 9/11, but I haven't seen any polls seeing how many Americans believe the federal government is to blame for the slow response to Katrina. Bush begged then governor Blanco to evacuate New Orleans; she ignored him until 20 hours prior. Bush asked permission to send the military in to help with the response, she initially declined. The failures in the Katrina response lie solely at the feet of Nagin and Blanco, but the media was only too happy to to allow the democratic myths to perpetuate, and I would venture that a majority of Americans blame Bush for the response.
When criticism is non-stop and unreasonable, it begins to sound hollow and fall on deaf ears. Intellectually honest citizens can put aside their politics and review the facts and policy and lay criticism where it belongs. Intellectual dishonesty leads to a 'danged if he does, danged if he doesn't' mentality.
It was unreasonable to allow a picture of him in Air Force One looking down at the Katrina damage to be depicted as detached and out of touch. He made a reasonable decision to put the citizens first and allow the first responders to do their jobs, uninterrupted. Had Air Force One landed so that President Bush could tour the damage, it would have been a severe strain to the infrastructure. His decision was a wise one and reasonable people understand that. And truly, had he decided to land and wreak havoc on the response, he would have been criticized for that, as well. Danged if he does and danged if he doesn't.
It was also disingenuous of the media to allow the myth that the federal government is responsible for first responding to perpetuate. The media is obsessed with polling the American public to see how many people think Iraq had something to do with 9/11, but I haven't seen any polls seeing how many Americans believe the federal government is to blame for the slow response to Katrina. Bush begged then governor Blanco to evacuate New Orleans; she ignored him until 20 hours prior. Bush asked permission to send the military in to help with the response, she initially declined. The failures in the Katrina response lie solely at the feet of Nagin and Blanco, but the media was only too happy to to allow the democratic myths to perpetuate, and I would venture that a majority of Americans blame Bush for the response.
When criticism is non-stop and unreasonable, it begins to sound hollow and fall on deaf ears. Intellectually honest citizens can put aside their politics and review the facts and policy and lay criticism where it belongs. Intellectual dishonesty leads to a 'danged if he does, danged if he doesn't' mentality.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Bristol the Pistol
Big scandal! Huge! Allegations of voter fraud and fixing the vote. This is serious stuff. After all, what's at stake is...a mirror ball trophy.
Really, it's been unbelievable to read and hear so much hoopla about Bristol Palin's advancement to the final round on Dancing with the Stars. You would think it was a bigger scandal, say, on par with a First Lady having her law license revoked. Oh, wait, that wasn't a big scandal.
There have been allegations of conspiracy theories of the Tea Party having a voting campaign to keep Bristol in. THIS is a "conspiracy theory"? Let's see, fans of a celebrity on Dancing with the Stars are organizing themselves to phone in their vote and keep their favorite performer in? What makes this a scandal compared to fans of the other celebrities having their own campaigns to keep their favorite in? Could it be that many had hoped Bristol would embarrass herself and be one of the very first celebrities to be booted off the show? Are they disappointed that Bristol is doing well, is improving, and has lasted this long? Are they frustrated that she has not allowed all of the criticism to affect her?
When her detractors quit foaming at the mouth, maybe a little reason will set in. Perhaps Kurt Warner's fans rolled their votes over to Bristol. After all, both Bristol and Kurt are traditional, conservative, God-loving people, so a transfer of votes from Kurt to Bristol would make sense. Bristol is the underdog, and underdogs tend to evoke emotion. Mark Ballas is charming and a great dancer to watch. Maks, on the other hand, most likely cost Brandy some votes with his snarky attitude; he is tough to like. And Bristol is improving week after week. The judges complaints are about the emotion in her face, not her footwork or lines or posture. She actually has been dancing pretty well, much to the dismay of her detractors. Her waltz was so beautiful it brought tears to Sarah Palin's eyes. And the bottom line is, Dancing with the Stars is a voter-based show, and Bristol has every right to be there in the finals. She represents exactly what the show is about, more so than Jennifer Grey.
Bristol was right, no matter what she does she will be criticized. Maybe the Palin-haters should surprise once, just once, and not be so predictable.
Really, it's been unbelievable to read and hear so much hoopla about Bristol Palin's advancement to the final round on Dancing with the Stars. You would think it was a bigger scandal, say, on par with a First Lady having her law license revoked. Oh, wait, that wasn't a big scandal.
There have been allegations of conspiracy theories of the Tea Party having a voting campaign to keep Bristol in. THIS is a "conspiracy theory"? Let's see, fans of a celebrity on Dancing with the Stars are organizing themselves to phone in their vote and keep their favorite performer in? What makes this a scandal compared to fans of the other celebrities having their own campaigns to keep their favorite in? Could it be that many had hoped Bristol would embarrass herself and be one of the very first celebrities to be booted off the show? Are they disappointed that Bristol is doing well, is improving, and has lasted this long? Are they frustrated that she has not allowed all of the criticism to affect her?
When her detractors quit foaming at the mouth, maybe a little reason will set in. Perhaps Kurt Warner's fans rolled their votes over to Bristol. After all, both Bristol and Kurt are traditional, conservative, God-loving people, so a transfer of votes from Kurt to Bristol would make sense. Bristol is the underdog, and underdogs tend to evoke emotion. Mark Ballas is charming and a great dancer to watch. Maks, on the other hand, most likely cost Brandy some votes with his snarky attitude; he is tough to like. And Bristol is improving week after week. The judges complaints are about the emotion in her face, not her footwork or lines or posture. She actually has been dancing pretty well, much to the dismay of her detractors. Her waltz was so beautiful it brought tears to Sarah Palin's eyes. And the bottom line is, Dancing with the Stars is a voter-based show, and Bristol has every right to be there in the finals. She represents exactly what the show is about, more so than Jennifer Grey.
Bristol was right, no matter what she does she will be criticized. Maybe the Palin-haters should surprise once, just once, and not be so predictable.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)