The Miseducation of A Nation

With the biggest Presidential election of my short lifetime a mere 3 weeks away, I've begun to realize that this election has become the first step to a knew world of politics in America. Gone are the days of political platforms, leadership, American heroes, and debates. From now on our Presidents will be merely auditioning for the role of Commander-in-Cheif. Look the part, sound the part, and convince as many people as you can, that you know what you're doing by charming them endlessly.

Economic policies will from now on be judged by the New York Times, Bill Mahr, and David Letterman. Not, analysts, economists, and CEO's. Social issues will replace foreign policy as the major concern in electing a President. No longer will we go to war with terrorists and dictators, not when millions of people are defaulting on loans they signed with beaming smiles only 24 months prior. Our defining issues during election season will be hashed out by comediens and stand-up comics imitating the weakest candidates. Judgement will not be passed by electoral colleges but by community college professors and radical pastors instead.

Today marks the day I will no longer argue politics with people who get their news from MTV and hip-hop ringtones. I won't bother them with statistics and history. I'll remain quiet when I overhear someone bashing conservatives for having a belief system that dictates their vote, because honestly, the ignorance in that argument will drive me to suicide. To all the Obama supporters, and crazies making youtube flicks in their bedrooms, Congratulations. This is what you wanted. Politics has dumbed itself down so you can now be a part of it too. But promise me this, you'll excuse my laughter when it all comes crashing down, and I'm waving to you from another country with fists full of Yen, Rubles, and Euros.

Acorn is nuts

With the election banging at the door, and tensions sky-high about economic reform and the deafening sound of campaign tip-toeing, you would think the news would be dull and political figures and groups would be locking themselves in closets as to not stumble right in front of the finish line.

Fortunately, for us fans of crash-n-burn politics that's not the case. The newest scandal that the Obama camp has been linked to is Barack's connection to the community organizer group, ACORN. Most people have no clue what is going on, because, as always, the mainstream media is more fascinated with Tina Fey's impressions of Sarah Palin than real news.

ACORN, as they describe themselves on their website:

"For almost a decade, ACORN, a community organization of 400,000 families in neighborhoods across the country, has been fighting against the predatory lending practices that have robbed our members of their homes, destabilized neighborhoods, and roiled the global economy."

Naturally, everyone on the left, blames the Bush Administration for the economic crisis. And everyone on the right blames the Democrats in Congress lack of oversight and eager pursuance of more minority homeowners as the cause for the mortgage meltdown.

That aside, a group like ACORN, who considers themselves a:

"(ACORN is) a non-profit, non-partisan social justice organization with national headquarters in New York, New Orleans and Washington, D.C."

Yet, after John McCain blasted ACORN for lobbying Congress for more low-income homeowner loans and blaming them for the mortgage crisis, ACORN has posted their "non-partisan" response:

"Unfortunately, the Bush administration and Congressional Republicans like John McCain have blocked the sensible regulations that ACORN and others proposed that would have averted the mortgage meltdown. If John McCain thinks that community organizers caused the foreclosure crisis, he knows even less about the economy than previously thought.
"John McCain and the Republicans are desperately trying to shift the blame for the economic crisis they caused with a philosophy of deregulation and indifference to homeowners. All the grainy footage and creepy music in the world can't cancel out some simple, basic facts, and the facts about the economy are not on John McCain's side."


Well done ACORN. Have fun in court.


Here's the story about them being actively investigated for voter fraud in OHIO.

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/13/cleveland-election-officials-launch-probe-acorn

Wake up Obama fans. The guy is shady. You look ridiculous following him.

Please go look @ the ACORN website and tell me that links to the DAILYKOS is not a partisan connection.

These organizations are bad for our country!

Signing off

CHARLES DRENGBERG

The Sarah Palin Uproar

Lately, all the political media buzz is about VP candidate Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. A much hyped "maverick of reform", Palin is being touted by the GOP as a squeaky-clean, fresh faced, agent of change within the Republican Party.

Unfortunately, she's also a walking target for SNL punchlines and mockery. Part-time political pundits slash "comedians" like Bill Mahr see Palin as a joke. Her kooky Alaskan accent coupled with a few bimbo-ish responses during a Katie Couric interview have catapulted Palin to the forefront of political mockery and ridicule.

Even more interesting still, about this aspect of the campaign, is that all negative attention on the presidential election has now been focused on the least important person. In what many call the most dynamic and important election in over a generation, a nobody VP candidate has stolen the spotlight from the rock star liberal who may be the first African-American ever elected President, and the most famous Vietnam War vet in the country.

This mother, of what could probably be best defined as a litter of children and one grandchild on the way, with no foreign policy experience and absolutely no big government credentials, has literally stolen the show and possibly the election for the Republican party. How you say? Not so much as she's winning it for the GOP as, she has become a Kevlar vest for a very exposed and flawed Presidential candidate. While everyone has been critiquing her hair and glasses, McCain has seemingly skated through the early stages of a race he was destined to lose.

Fortunately for the Democrats, Hillary is patiently sitting on the sidelines silently campaigning for 2012.

Signing off,

~Charles Drengberg

Sorry

Sorry for the major lapse between posts. Back in school and trying to get too much done. I'm back though!!!!!

I Think Campaign Contribution Refunds are In Order

Well it's finally official. After a month or so of rumors and TMZ like stories, John Edwards has come clean with news of his affair. Read the story on FoxNews.com for yourself. I'm not going to take easy-street and bash this idiot, but I felt it was my duty to bring it to light for you faithful readers. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,400481,00.html

What's really sad for the Democratic party is that this was their poster-boy for family values and such. So far he and Spitzer have really shined as leaders on the left. I'll do a more in depth analyisis and opinion piece later this weekend.

HAVE A GREAT FRIDAY!!!!

A Vote for No One

When I look at this year's Presidential candidates, I don't see two men campaigning to lead. I see two politicians trying not to lose. I don't see two campaigns inspiring Americans to make a choice of new directions and old political rhetoric, I see two parties trying to differentiate themselves from one another by pointing to each others flaws. I also don't see the position of President of the United States as a position of honor, respect, and immense dignity. I see the role of Commander in Chief as a setup for SNL punchlines.


When I think about the great leaders of this country in the days before politics was regarded as a career, the days when farmers and lawyers sat shoulder to shoulder, i picture those leaders as men who held the idea of America above all else. I think of men who would put the American flag, and what it stood for above their own self-importance. To lead means to make others want to follow. Leaders are supposed to inspire us to emulate, not shame by way of association. Leaders inspire others to do great things by setting examples of accomplishment and moral fortitude. Neither of these men deserve to lead my country.


These two men are the best this country has to offer? These two men, individually or collectively, represent our America? The future of this great country should be in the hands of men whose beliefs are in direct relation with poll results? The House of Representatives is comprised of people who act on behalf of the individual citizens of this country, The President is meant to lead and command for the good of the nation, not for his popularity polls. How can a President lead if he is following? How can we believe in a President who doesn't, he himself, believe in America? How are we supposed to trust a President that spends the bulk of his campaign explaining his actions and apologizing for the people he surrounds himself with?
I will vote this November, because it is my responsibility as an American. But I will be voting for the candidate that poses the least threat to my way of life. The candidate I am less afraid of. It is truly a sad, sad choice I have to make.

This Vote will have to be Earned. I have no Bumper Stickers.

Every four years we are afforded this opportunity by the Founding Fathers who aimed to keep from a regimist sort of government from controlling our nation. In my lifetime I have only been an accountable witness to four actual presidents with my first memories being Reagan and his "tear down this wall" speech in 1987. I was only 5, but even then I had a strong interest in current events and news probably due to only having one tv in our house and a mother who cared more about what her kids watched unlike some of today's parents. This election is by far the most important to me as my 30's are staring me in the face and the realization of a more adult attitude towards politics has forged a solid political structure for my beliefs. I now care about tax rates because I have a "real job". I care about health care now that I realize I'm not indestructable. Illegal immigration and it's effect on our economy and way of life are more evident to me now that I live in Southern California which arguably is the epicenter of the issue. Being 26 gives me little clout among the aging political minds in this country, but my perspective and clarity from a slightly different vantage point should be a message that candidates like Obama and McCain should feind for on the campaign trail like starving bulemics at a taping of Emeril Live. We are the generation of skeptics. We live in the CGI, steroids, and scandal era. We are beyond rational to the point of creating our own blogs to avoid media coverage spawned from 65 year old billionaire agenda drivers who need oxygen tanks to survive life with their heads up their @$$&$. Stop preaching Hope and Change, and stop mocking each other like 5 year olds. When I was 5 I admired great leaders and ignored schoolyard trash-talking, nothing has changed.

Why I'm Voting Democrat

Why I Am Voting Democrat...
I'm voting Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would. I'm voting Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 15% isn't. I'm voting Democrat because freedom of speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.
I'm voting Democrat because when we pull out of Iraq I trust that the bad guys will stop what they're doing because they now think we're good people.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe that people who can't tell us if it will rain on Friday CAN tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if I don't start driving a Prius.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe discussing Christ in our schools is offensive but atheism, Islam, Buddhism, Occultism & any other religion is OK because these religions are peaceful & Christians are warlike.
I'm voting Democrat because I'm not concerned about the slaughter of millions of babies so long as we keep all death row inmates alive.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. They need to break even and give the rest away to the government for redistribution as THEY see fit.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe three or four pointy headed elitist liberals need to rewrite the Constitution every few days to suit some fringe kooks who would NEVER get their agendas past the voters.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe that when the terrorists don't have to hide from us over there, when they come over here I don't want to have any guns in the house to fight them off with.

(i was forwarded this in an email....)

Hope and Pocket Change

Thursday morning June 19th, Obama posted a YouTube video denouncing the public campaign finance system that has been in place since the 70's.

Basically, the public campaign finance system limits each candidate to a budget of $85 million during the presidential campaign from convention time through election day. The money is drawn from a pool of $3 donations taxpayers donate when filing their income taxes.

::As explained by CommonCause.org::

"

What is the Presidential Public Financing System?

In short, the presidential public financing system allows presidential candidates the option to receive public funds for their campaign if they can fulfill certain qualifications and abide by spending limits.

What is its purpose?

The primary purpose of the fund is to reduce the role of large amounts of private money raised in the presidential campaign and the obligations that are, or can appear to be, associated with those contributions.

The system was created in the 1970's in response to the Watergate scandals that surrounded the Nixon re-election campaign when his campaign committee was found to have illegally received hundreds of thousands of dollars from some of the country's largest corporations. Congress responded by passing sweeping campaign finance reform, which included the presidential public financing system designed to minimize a candidate's dependence on donations from wealthy special interests.

But the presidential public financing system isn't just designed to stop corruption, or the appearance of corruption. It is also designed to increase competition for candidates who may not have a broad network of large contributors or a large amount of personal wealth, as well as free up time to allow candidates to get their message out to voters instead of constantly raising money."

Basically Obama claims he wants to raise the money in small donations online instead of spending a measly $85 million already donated. Why would he want to do this? Well, because here are the numbers thus far raised by presidential candidates,

HMMMM I wonder if Obama always felt this way about public financing???????

(WALL STREET JOURNAL:

In January 2007, Sen. Obama criticized Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for opting out of public financing for the primary season. In February, responding to a questionnaire, he pledged to remain in the public-financing system as long as his Republican opponent agreed to a "fund-raising truce" for the general election.)

WOW WHAT A SHOCKER!!!!

Obama go back on his word?

NOOOOOOOO.......

Yeah, Obama plans on outspending McCain.

So, much for Hope and Change, and new Washington.

For those of you looking to Obama for change in Washington this November, do your homework.

Communism looks good on paper too.

*****UPDATE (08/07/08): the youtube vids above no longer work..... hmmmmmm.... democrats working hard on their internet skills!!!!************



Charles Drengberg

Harry Reid-tard the Tax-Master!!!

Yesterday, in another massive waste of the American people's tax-money and the Senate's time, a Democrat-led bill was rejected as predicted that would cut $17 billion in oil company tax-breaks and impose a windfall tax on the major oil companies' continuing record breaking profits. Nevada Senator Harry Reid, who I have now decided is either completely retarded, or just gets his jollies from pushing go-nowhere legislation, and backing bills that make no sense, was the bill's sponsor. (Harry Reid was the Senator who backed all the Iraq withdrawal timetable legislation last year that everyone knew had less legs than Heather Mills to stand on)
I usually get my political news from the same media outlets as all of you, but I've now decided that I'll just do all my own research before blogging anything about legislation. The NY Times reported on yesterday's vote as if the Republicans are just protecting oil companies interests, and the Democrats are trying to help ease the American peoples' struggle with a national average of $4 a gallon at the pump. Unbiased news is somewhere between unicorns and Kobe Bryant being faithful to his wife, non-existent and borderline comical.
In reality any college sophomore that passed Econ 101, or Macroeconomics as it's better referred to, could explain to you why putting a windfall tax on the oil companies would only make gasoline more expensive and not cheaper. Oil companies explore, find, transport, refine, and provide a commodity that every single American needs on a daily basis. If our Government raises the taxes those companies have to pay, they will have to in turn raise the price of their product to maintain a successful business. Not to mention that the money the government takes will surely be spent on everything but what they intend on spending it on which is alternative fuel research.
My biggest problem with all of this back-n-forth bill proposals and grandstanding testimonies is that the only people losing are us. Not the oil companies, not political leaders, you and me. Oil companies are in the business of making money. If you don't want to buy their product, get a bike, ride the bus, or walk. Until gas reaches a price that's so significant that it forces change nothing will happen.

Pulpit Pandering

Growing up in middle-of-nowhere Ohio, I had some great opportunities to experience several very different church environments, in great part due to my one of my best friends having two uncles as Catholic priests that frequently visited other churches in the community. Raised in what I guess is called a Bretheren Church, I was used to a more relaxed type of worship. The pastor often spoke of everyday issues families faced, the children were told the typical Bible stories, and everyone was very loving and positive making Sundays a refreshing start to the week upon us. On the weekends I would stay the night @ my friend Sean's house, usually to play video games and eat junk food into the early morning, part of the deal was that I had to go to Church with them in the morning. So I'd throw on some Dockers and a collared shirt and drag myself into Sunday Mass, which to me was very foreign. There was kneeling, chants, rehearsed responses, and lots of new people to watch. I didnt mind it much though because it usually only last an hour or so unlike our church which sometimes went 2-3 hours.

On special weekends, Sean's uncle, Father Larry, would take us to other churches sometimes. One in particular was a Baptist Church in what everyone in our town called "the ghetto". Of course being of the fairer persuasion alot of the black kids I knew from school looked at me like I was lost, but quickly realized we were all there for the same reason. They had a wild gospel band and everyone seemed far more energized and animated than other churches I had been to. This was actually a blast to be around. That was one of my very few experiences of a "black church."

Now, there's YouTube, Rev. Wright, and Father Flager. These images and sound clips have been ringing through the talk radio stations for the past 2 months, and I'm starting to wonder, how many other churches sound like Trinity Church in Chicago. How can we be told not to judge Obama on what the preachers in his church of 20 years are screaming into a pulpit? Who are these nutjobs in the congregation applauding? Is this what church is about now? Political rhetoric and conspiracy theories? Why aren't people out protesting in front of that church? I'm pretty sure if Bush's pastor was recorded saying things like this everyone would be in an uproar!

I'm clearly not voting for Obama anyway, and I personally think his campaign has been a complete mess, but I do want some attention brought to the fact that this guy is the best the Democrats have to offer. A man who sat in a church like that for 20 years married to a woman who speaks as if America has been so hard on her throughout her life.

I'm no fan of John McCain, but I would vote for anyone marched out there before I vote for someone like Obama. He can thank his worthless church for that. (along with pretty much every political view he claims to be committed to.)

When did it become acceptable to bash America with complete disdain? And who decided that church was the appropriate place to do so? Opposition to government should be constructive criticism, not blind hatred. If these people hate America so much, they can go to Mexico. I'd be willing to grant amnesty to people that love this country just to get rid of those who hate it.

Great Quote

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

---Abraham Lincoln

VillaLaRza and His Great Budget Proposal for 2008

For the first time ever, i think VillaLaIllegals is making a sound fiscal decision. Cutting some 767 jobs within the LA County. People will complain that he is taking jobs away from "honest hard-working people", but to be fair to the "mayor" I'm guessing that the people found to be expendible are obviously not that vauable to the county. This is called "trimming the fat". There are far too many worthless positions in local government today, and this is a great way to create funds for more important positions like additional gang units and hopefully positions within the police departments to focus on the illegal immigrant situations within the system already.


Thanks

Ooops, He Did It Again!

This year's presidential election is arguably one of the most important elections in the past several decades, and with the Republican candidate chosen long ago the Democrats have seized their race as an amazing opportunity to embarass themselves and expose every weakness they have while McCain sits at home laughing at the headlines. Now, I'm not a big fan of John McCain, but i absolutely despise both of the Democratic nominees this year, in large part because i hate feeling like I'm being lied to constantly.
In the past few days a secret recording of Obama in a meeting with San Fran's key political financial backers, was heard saying this of Pennsylvania's working-class voters;

“It’s not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment. . . .”

In short, he considers anyone not supporting him in Pennsylvania, bitter, gun-toting bible thumping racists. Good idea buddy. Insult them, that'll work.

Watching Obama and Clinton stick their foots in their proverbial mouths every week has now over-taken watching Red Sox baseball games on my favorite things to do list. I'm amazed at how often a professional speaker (which is all they're really good for) can manage to self-destruct so consistently. I suppose lying can get confusing when you tell different lies everyday.

Here's my advice to Mr. Obama. If you're going to lie, stick with it. Write them down on a notepad. Invest in some post-its and stick them to the podium. Hire Mayor Villarigosa from LA to remember them. He's a pro at lying. Just stop making yourself look like a fool.

And a little note for HIllary, don't be so quick to point out Obama's faults. There might be snipers around. Or not.

Signing off,
Charles Drengberg

Foreclose on Oversight

Last week's congressional hearings about the Housing market's current blunderous crash n' burn turned into a pity party for all of those financially over-extended, poor contract signing, homeowners who can no longer afford their sub-prime mortgages and the companies that housed them. Bear Sterns being the headline "victim" of the crash. Now people are crying for more government oversight of the market to prevent things like this from happening again. Which is like hiring Kenneth Lay to run your business in my opinion. When was the last time you saw the government show any kind of fiscal responsibility in any market? It's working out really well for LA county's public school system. Billions of dollars a year and the test scores get worse and worse.
I'm thinking, let's keep the government out of this. People that make poor decisions, like buying a $750,000 home with no money down on a 10 year adjustable, shouldn't be bailed out because they can no longer afford the payments. They should have to pack it up and move into a crummy apartment and spend the next few years thinking about the choices they make. Trust me, they'll become much wiser in future financial endeavors.

04/06/08-04/12/08

Pulpit Politics

“A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses”- Proverbs 27:19 Bible

As much as Obama goes to church and relies on his faith in Christianity to lead him on a better path through life, you would think he would have read/heard this passage of the Bible.

I'm sure the name Jeremiah Wright has been pounded into your heads enough the past month, if you pay any attention at all to the news. For those of you who don't here's a clip of Rev. Wright (Obama's "former" spiritual leader and pastor of 20 years).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M-kD0QdRJk

Yeah, this guy preaches in Chicago at Oprah and Obama's church.

Look, I honestly don't care what this loony toon believes, says, or does, but I do care about the fact that people are sitting there cheering him on. I mean, do people in this country really hate America that much? If so, why are they living here? I'd be more than happy to help them pack and even drive them to the Mexico border. (I wouldn't wish living in Canada on even my worst enemies. Learning French would be a pain in the ass!)

The thing I have the biggest problem with is that Obama claims he never heard these sermons, never saw this side of Rev. Wright, and doesn't condone this kind of hate speech. UMMMMM, sorry Obama, I'm not buying it. I once paid $15 for a Jack n Coke in Hollywood, but I'm not that much of a sucker. Does anyone honestly believe you can know someone intimately for 20 years and not know they hate America?

For those of you thinking about voting for this guy come Novemeber, please keep an open mind to the idea that he's either a liar, or a complete idiot. Do you want either of those in the White House?

I'm a Christian, and I won't lie when i say I would prefer a Christian in the White House. Maybe because I just like the idea that they may hold themselves to a higher moral standard (although looking around politics today I think the "moral standard" is valued somewhere between Bear Sterns stock and an autographed copy of a Kevin Federline album). But, more importantly than a candidate's religious backround, I want a candidate that can stand on his own moral principles and not be teetered over by at every turn by lying and cheating. Give me a candidate I can trust and I'll give you my vote. I do not trust Obama.