Saturday, March 21, 2009

This is NOT a politcal comment - just observable incompetence

I live in Chicagoland, in Illinois, in the USA and the UN supposedly in charge of providing good government. I can now say with sadness, at all levels, we now have the worst governance at every level we have ever had. And in my case in Illinois, all liberal, all democrats, all stupid.

It used to be that the state was OK , or the City, or the County, or the Feds. They would insulate one from stupidity at another level. NOPE. They are all incompetent doofuses, the worst governance in my whole life. Carter was terrible, but at least we had Tip O'Neil. Like that.

Even this guy thinks so after the AIG response from congress:

By week’s end, I was more depressed about the financial crisis than I’ve been since last September. Back then, the issue was the disintegration of the financial system, as the Lehman bankruptcy set off a terrible chain reaction. Now I’m worried that the political response is making the crisis worse. The Obama administration appears to have lost its grip on Congress, while the Treasury Department always seems caught off guard by bad news.

And Congress, with its howls of rage, its chaotic, episodic reaction to the crisis, and its shameless playing to the crowds, is out of control. This week, the body politic ran off the rails.

There are times when anger is cathartic. There are other times when anger makes a bad situation worse. “We need to stop committing economic arson,” Bert Ely, a banking consultant, said to me this week. That is what Congress committed: economic arson.
WHO ELECTED THESE IDIOTS??

Friday, March 20, 2009

A fragment of sanity from the left

John Conyers D Michigan wants to investigate ACORN, you know ACORN, the brown shirt thugs who cheat and steal under the wink of a President they cheated and lied to help elect.

Now, Conyers is saying, wait, maybe we need to ask a question or two. YA THINK?

I hope the left wakes up before we go completely down the toilet. We are in deep trouble in this country.

I wrote this earlier today over at SAB. I hope this is an indication we have a shot at saving our country from ruin.

How will be ever unring this bell - It’s time for a new American Revolution


Count me among the seriously concerned. Congress and the Executive Branch have gone so far off the communist deep end I don’t know if we will ever get back.

They have in less than 3 years for the Pelosi Congress and 55 days for Obamanation virtually gutted anything this country stood for.

How will we ever reverse the insanity.

I am concerned because if this goes too far we will find anarchy and revolution in the streets. I am not one of the Right Wing Militia nuts, but I’m starting to get a twitch.

I’m having a hard time swallowing this. I didn’t want to lose my country.

If someone doesn’t stop this insanity of the kleptocrats we will have nothing left.

I know we are in an economic crisis but this makes less sense every day. I mean, look at who’s in charge Thieves, crooks, nutcases, cheats, crazy people, power hungry dictators.

  • Pelosi
  • Read
  • Rangle
  • Dodd
  • Franks
  • Conrad
  • Geithner
  • Holder
and a host of crackpots in the House of Representatives.

I don’t know if the country can stand to wait until 2010 or 2012. I’m afraid we will go too far. This bell will be unable to be unrung.

We have people voting in benefits for themselves from money that doesn’t exist.

Everyone is on the dole, particularly congress.

I’m ready to Lock and Load. It’s time for a new American revolution. I’m signing up. Even Old Guy can still fight a little.

A Real Flying Car. I want one of these




From Popular Mechanics

Understanding what has happened to your money

I know this is creepy to some, but this is a great picture


There's just something about a fine looking woman with a gun that makes my heart go all aflutter.

OH, and I didn't get this for my birthday from anyone, I was hoping that the Palin calender was on the wish list.

Obama did OK

I, like you probably, watched the tonite show. Jay Leno. The President was on with Jay.

Sat where Brittany Spears once sat.

He was funny, handsome, guylike, glib, unrehearsed, teleprompterless and entertaining.

Good TV.

I wish he was Presidential. More.

He connected with the people. He seems to have understood what was possible by his appearance. He's good at this TV looking good thing. 24 year olds loved him. They screamed for him like a rock star. He is.

I just wish he was Presidential. More.

I wanted to see him say good things to me, to America about the future and consequence of actions he is taking. Make me feel good about some of the things he is doing that upsets me.

He didn't do that. He could have used this to be Presidential. More.

As President of the USA Barack Obama makes a Great Guest on a TV Show. He can read a cue card. He can make a joke. He probably could even host Saturday Night Live.

OH, NO..... There I've done it again.... Stay Tuned.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Balanced look at the Economy, Wilkerson, Pessimism and Fear

For a very well balanced view of the economy and your future you will be encouraged by this by Ray Pritchart.

He says:

We need to hear what God is saying to us because we do indeed live in difficult times. The worldwide global economic crisis has cost trillions of dollars in lost wealth. People who only a year ago had reasonable prospects for the future have seen a lifetime of hard work wiped out. And with the loss comes rising uncertainty.

A week ago New York pastor David Wilkerson (author of “The Cross and the Switchblade") issued a message predicting imminent catastrophe for America. He spoke of cities burning because of rioting and looting. This, he said, would be the judgment of God on our nation. I happened to read about his prophecy (if that’s what you want to call it) a day or so after he gave it. But I was struck hard when Peggy Noonan mentioned it in her weekly column in the Wall Street Journal. Under the title There’s No Pill for This Kind of Depression, Noonan begins by noting that the problem is not just the economic crisis. There is, she says, something much deeper.

I asked a friend, a perceptive writer, if he is seeing what I’m seeing. Yes, he said, there is “a pervasive sense of anxiety, as though everyone feels they’re on thin ice.” He wonders if it’s “maybe a sense that we’ve had it too easy in the years since 9/11 and that the bad guys are about to appear on the horizon.” An attorney in a Park Avenue firm said, “Things look like they have changed and may not come back.”


This is worth reading in full. He's making good sense.

CNBC looses Viewers among guppies and sheep

Jim Cramer was on TV this morning. He called Jon Stewart and his viewers naive.

I would go farther. But, among Stewart viewers between 24-35 Cramer is off a bit. Older than than not so much. His boss talks about it. And he talks about it here.

Stewart is back to his normal posse of woolly and fishy followers.

This has been a sad example of intentional ignorance. Not capable of sorting out news chaff from wheat they get upset when they are misled by anyone. Read that Madoff.

I guess there is a danger in believing everything you hear. WAIT. I made that up. Let's see, "Don't believe everything you hear". I'll call it Gene's maxim. Oh, darn it's been taken. So much for those big royalty payments.

Now that I think about it, it's believing everything they hear is what got us into this mess with this administration, and even got us this administration.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

I AGREE WITH TONY BLAIR

Tony Blair Speaks Out About Christianity
By Adrienne Gaines

March 6, 2009—Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned this week that Christianity is at risk of being sidelined in England's secularist society, the Daily Telegraph reported.

In an interview published in the Church of England newspaper, Blair said he agreed with church leaders that Christianity is in danger of being viewed as a "personal eccentricity" rather than a significant influence on the nation.

He also criticized "ludicrous" decisions that have penalized Christians for expressing their faith in public. Among recent examples are Caroline Petrie, a nurse who was suspended for two months after offering to pray for a patient, and Jennie Cain, a school receptionist who still faces firing after seeking prayer support from church friends when her 5-year-old daughter was scolded for talking about hell in the playground.

"My view is that people should be proud of their Christianity and able to express it as they wish," Blair said, while admitting that conflict between religion and contemporary understandings of human rights are "inevitable."

"The real test of a religion is whether in an age of aggressive secularism it has the confidence to go out and make its case by persuasion," Blair added.

Blair, who converted to Roman Catholicism, was not outspoken about his faith while serving as prime minister, fearing he would be labeled a "nutter."

"Sometimes I think we as Christians are more sensitive than we should be, although I say that as someone who when I was in office, although I was perfectly open about my Christianity, nonetheless kept it within certain boundaries that were restricted in terms of what I said publicly," Blair told the Church of England newspaper.

"The position of prime minister puts you in a unique category. But in general terms in British society there is a risk that people see faith as a personal eccentricity."

Blair, however, said that while serving as prime minister he believed equality and diversity trumped religion in the case of Catholic adoption agencies that were denied exemption from laws requiring them to consider placing children with gay couples.

"I happen to take the gay rights position," Blair said. "But at the time of the Catholic adoption society dispute I was also concerned that these people who were doing a fantastic job were not put out of business. You have got to try to work your way through these issues."

In May, Blair launched the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, which has a mission to promote understanding among the major religions and increase awareness of the role of faith in the modern world, according to its Web site.

Blair's comments came days after his wife commented in a documentary titled Christianity: A History that the religion seemed to be on a "terminal decline."

"Everywhere you look today churches are being closed," she said, "Christians are often being marginalized, and faith is something few people like to discuss openly.

THREE THINGS TO PONDER

THREE THINGS TO PONDER

1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments

COWS

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.

THE CONSTITUTION

They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq Why don’t we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we’re not using it anymore.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS

The real reason that we can’t have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this: You cannot post “Thou Shalt Not Steal,” “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery,” and “Thou Shall Not Lie” in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians. It creates a hostile work environment.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Shocking WaPo Column: 'Don't Blame Jim Cramer'

Shocking WaPo Column: 'Don't Blame Jim Cramer'

Created 2009-03-17 18:07

Here's a headline I bet you didn't expect to see at one of America's leading newspapers:

Don't Blame Jim Cramer

To be perfectly honest, I rarely agree with Richard Cohen, but on St. Patrick's Day 2009, the Washington Post columnist wrote truths [1] virtually no mainstream media member has dared utter since the "Mad Money" host first left the Obama reservation:

What Jon Stewart needs is Jon Stewart. He could use a droll comedian to temper his ferocity and correct [2] him when he's wrong, as he was about the financial media, particularly CNBC and its excitable analyst Jim Cramer. They didn't cover up the story of financial shenanigans. They didn't even know it existed.

For proof, I can offer some names. Let's start with Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, who was instrumental in building what is now probably the world's most reviled corporation, AIG. He resigned as chairman and CEO in 2005, but still it is logical to assume that few people knew more about the company than Greenberg. He kept much of his net worth in AIG stock. He's now lost [3] much of that worth.

Or take Richard Fuld. He is the former chairman of Lehman Brothers, which, as we all know, is no more. He lost about $1 billion.

Or take Citigroup's former chairman, Sanford Weill. He lost about $500 million.

Or take all the good people at Bear Stearns, the company Cramer adored almost to the bitter end. They went down with their stock.

If these people kept their money in these companies -- financial and insurance giants they had built and knew from the inside -- how was even Jim Cramer to know these firms were essentially hollow?

Exactly. And, as I wrote [3] Sunday, some of the leading investors in the country didn't get out of stocks before September's collapse. As such, pointing fingers at people like Cramer is absurd.

Yet, Cohen went one better, and really personalized this issue:

I give you one other name: Richard Cohen. He who writes this column had some of his (extremely) hard-earned retirement funds in AIG stock. This was because I was a cautious investor, and what could be safer than an insurance behemoth? Who knew that in faraway London, a division of AIG was fooling around in stuff that virtually cratered the whole company? Not my broker. Not me. Not even Greenberg.

Marvelously stated, and something that has been lost in all the scapegoating. In fact, much like AIG, many of the companies taken down by this crisis were Wall Street stalwarts NOBODY believed would ever disappear from America's financial landscape.

As a stockbroker friend of mine I've known for more than 20 years said to me last week, who would have ever thought owning Apple and Google would have been a safer play than investing in the preferred shares of conservative companies like Fannie Mae, Lehman Brothers, and Merrill Lynch?

Cohen's almost indisputable conclusion:

It would be one thing if Wall Street titans by the score were selling their company stock and the media were failing to report it, but when someone puts his money where his mouth is, you have to pay attention. The big shots believed.

Stewart plays a valuable role. He mocks authority, which is good, and he mocks those, such as the media, who take the word of authority as if, well, it's authoritative. But given the outsize reception to his cheap shot at business media, he ought to turn his wit inward: Mocker, mock thyself.

Bravo, Richard. I'm glad someone on your side of the aisle had the nerve to speak the truth about this matter.

Another Opinion on the Coming Evangelical

From this article:

QUOTE:
"[Michael Spencer] lumps all megachurches together and describes them as being more interested in relevance than doctrine. He says of megachurches that they are ‘compromised and weakened in their ability to pass on the faith.' The author concludes that he expects the ‘landscape of megachurch vacuity to be around for a very long time.' How awful. What could be worse than a bunch of churches across America that are so effective at lifting up the name of Jesus that huge crowds gather? What could be worse than having so many people meeting Jesus and having their lives transformed by Jesus, that they just can't stop telling their friends? I'm determined to celebrate what God is doing wherever it is happening. Whether it is in a gathering of three people or 3,000 or 3 million. I don't have enough brains or time to figure out the motives of the hearts of the leaders in another church. I'll just celebrate what they are doing and let God sort it out later." -Tim Stevens, executive pastor of Granger Community Church (a megachurch) in Granger, Ind., taking issue with blogger Michael Spencer's widely circulated predictions of "The Coming Evangelical Collapse"-which included an unflattering take on "pragmatic, therapeutic, church-growth oriented megachurches" as part of a movement that made "buildings, numbers, and paid staff its drugs for half a century." [leadingsmart.com, 3/16/09]


My Comment:

Pastor Dan said to me once that a Big Church can, is able, to do things a small church can't imagine doing:

  • We had a large bus ministry.
  • Well equipped Sunday School
  • World class dramatic presentations
  • Worship out of this world excellent
  • Staff for teens, young adults, singles and full staff to do what needed to be done

I want every church to be big. Very big.

They can do things small churches never can do.

There are reasons for scale.

St Patrick, We'll claim him


Kevin Sambrook Features - Christian History

Most people don’t know St. Patrick had a vibrant charismatic faith that blazed across Ireland in the fifth century.

Hidden within a small cemetery adjacent to Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, is the final resting place of Ireland's patron saint. At first glance it is quite unremarkable, identifiable only by the large granite rock atop it with the single inscription: "Patrick." Here in quiet simplicity lie the earthly remains of the slave boy who rose from the ruins of captivity to become the apostle to the Irish. He shaped the destiny of a nation that would change the entire European continent.

Like grass growing over a long-unused path, time has concealed the trace of his footsteps, and little is remembered of this remarkable man of God even though the date of his death, March 17, is celebrated worldwide as St. Patrick's Day.

Much of what happens at the celebrations has little to do with Patrick himself. Green beer and parades, no matter how well-intentioned, do not reflect his life and legacy. However, his writings—particularly his Confession and his Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus—provide us with an accurate picture of his life.

Patrick was born into the volatile world of the late fourth century. The Roman Empire was beginning to collapse, and there was great upheaval.

Trouble began in A.D. 376 when the Huns forced huge numbers of Goths across the Danube River into Roman territory. In A.D. 406 and 407, the Vandals spilled across the Rhine, plundering Gaul and Spain, and in A.D. 409, they forced the last Roman legions to leave Britain. In the following year, Rome itself was sacked.

Convulsions continued until A.D. 476, when the Western Empire disappeared and Europe was plunged into the Dark Ages.

Beyond the dying empire lay Ireland. The inhabitants were, to the Roman mind, as dangerous and unpredictable as the terrain. But it was this land of menacing beauty that God chose to ignite and to spread the flame of renewal across the ravaged lands of Europe, using Patrick as His vessel.

Born of Roman nobility, Patrick lived on an estate at Bannavem Taburniae—possibly in the Severn Estuary near Bristol. With the gradual departure of the Roman legions, the unprotected coastal regions were targeted by the Irish, who plundered and kidnapped at will, and around A.D. 400 Patrick was taken. He wrote in his Confessions: "When I was aged about 16, I knew not the One True God. I was captured and brought to Ireland with many thousands of people."

His comment suggests that there was an invasion. It was a brutal experience. People were caught, beaten, chained and brought back as slaves.

Patrick's last memory of his homeland may have been of burning, smoke and the anguished cries of those wrenched from home and loved ones. His privileged upbringing left him unprepared for a hard life as a slave.

Celtic Ireland was thoroughly pagan at that time, controlled by superstition and omens. Its gods and goddesses were the material of horror stories. This tribal society was ruled by warriors in a place of forests and bogs, far removed from the cultured life Patrick had known.

Differences in language added to his loneliness and isolation. A slave's existence was so austere that life expectancy was little more than 30 years. A fitted iron collar made runaways easy to identify, and those recaptured faced certain death.

Many became bitter and full of self-pity. But Patrick responded differently. He acknowledged that God had allowed his trial for a higher good, and tiny shafts of light began to pierce the darkness.

He wrote: "We had turned from God, not keeping His laws nor heeding His servants who declared to us His salvation. It was the Lord's doing that He might reveal to me my unbelief that I should turn from my sins and be converted."

Patrick was sold to Miliuc, a chieftain of the region of Mount Slemish, County Antrim, where for six years he tended sheep and pigs. On the unforgiving mountain slopes and foothills God began working in the young slave.

He recalled: "Praying throughout each day, the love and fear of God increased within me and my faith was strengthened. And being moved in Spirit upon the mountains and in the woods, I prayed up to one hundred times in the day and as much at night. Arising to pray a great while before day, whether in snow or frost or rain, I experienced no ill effects or laziness as the Spirit was strong within me then."

Slemish became the anvil upon which this man of God was fashioned. Hidden in the Irish hills, strengthened in suffering, praying almost half a million prayers by the end of his captivity, Patrick was molded by God.

In captivity, Patrick developed inner strength and intimacy with God. After six years, he heard a voice in his sleep, "Your ship is ready." He journeyed 200 miles to Wexford and found a ship sailing to Gaul. As a fugitive he was in mortal danger but testified, "I was afraid of nothing." At first he was refused passage aboard the ship, but after praying he was suddenly summoned and invited to board.

Three days later the ship and passengers reached Amorica (Brittany). An invasion by the Vandals on New Year's night A.D. 407 had left the area desolate. With no food, the group journeyed inland for 28 days in danger of starvation.

The ship's captain challenged Patrick: "Answer me this, Christian, you tell us your God is great and all powerful, why will you not pray for us? We perish from hunger and may see no living soul again."

This was a public test of his faith. Would the God he claimed to serve show Himself and answer prayer?

Well done is better than well said. Patrick responded, "Boldly I told them, 'Turn to the Lord my God with your whole heart, for with Him nothing is impossible, that today He may supply you with more than enough food for your journey for He has ample store everywhere.' And so with God's aid it came to pass; at once a herd of swine appeared before us right in front of our eyes. Killing many, they camped two nights regaining their strength. Even their dogs which had become weak and lifeless were satisfied."

Pursuing God's Plan

When Patrick returned to Britain, his family pleaded with him not to leave them again. But he received a night vision of a man who seemed to be calling him back to Ireland.

"His name was Victoricus as if he were coming from Ireland with innumerable letters," Patrick wrote. "He passed one to me, and I read the beginning of the letter, which said: 'The voice of the Irish.' As I read those words, I perceived that I heard their words at the same time—they were of those beside the Wood of Voclut, beside the Western Sea.

"Their cry was with one voice, 'Holy Boy, we ask you to come and walk among us again.' Thank God after many years He granted their request."

This was Patrick's Macedonian call. Two similar experiences followed, leaving Him with a difficult choice: to obey God and return to the land of his captivity, never to see his family again, or to remain in Britain and forsake the call of God.

Remembering that disobedience in his youth had cost him his freedom, Patrick decided to leave. He traveled to the continent and trained for holy orders. Several sites have been suggested as the place he studied—Gaul, Italy, Lerins (now St. Honorat, just off Cannes and Monaco) and Auxierre, 100 miles east of Orleans, from which he departed for his Irish mission.

In A.D. 431 Bishop Germanus, Patrick's superior at Auxierre, planned to send a bishop to Ireland. Patrick hoped he would be chosen—but he was rejected for two reasons: First, he was considered too rustic (his captivity at 16 had affected his education and social skills), and second, he had confessed to a friend a serious sin he committed at 15 (possibly that of killing someone).

The news of his rejection was devastating. More than 20 years had passed since Patrick had left Ireland, and nothing had dimmed his passion to return as God's messenger.

It seemed a mortal blow. Had he not had the divine visitations? Had he not left his family for this? He wrote, "On that day I was struck so that I might have fallen, now and for eternity."

But Patrick submitted, and a man named Palladius was sent instead. Not long afterward, Palladius died, and Germanus reluctantly sent Patrick to replace him. His arrival in Ireland opened the door to one of the finest chapters in Christian history.

In A.D. 432 Patrick landed at Strangford Lough, near Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, and began to target influential people. His first convert was a chieftain named Dichu who gave Patrick a barn as his first church in Saul. Today a beautiful stone church stands on the site, and those who visit tell of the deep peace and presence of God that abides there.

Patrick faced perils daily. "Every day I anticipate the prospect of being killed, cheated, or enslavement, but I am not afraid of any of these things because of His promises," he wrote.

Tempted to return to Britain, he continued to persevere: "Even if it were my wish to depart and return to Britain, for how much I have desired to see my country and my parents ... the Spirit binds me and testifies ... that I would be wrong to leave, for I fear losing the fruits of my labour, or rather Christ's, who beckoned me come and remain with them to the end of my days."

Love for his flock, obedience to the call and a sense of eternal reward were guiding principles for Patrick, who was convinced that greater riches than the treasures of earth awaited him. He remained faithful until death parted him from his harvest field on March 17, A.D. 461.

Biographers from the seventh to the 12th century embellished Patrick's story with fantastic tales of supernatural encounters. Much of what they wrote is exaggerated, but we should not altogether reject the idea that manifestations of divine power attended Patrick's ministry. Ireland was dominated by the Druids, who influenced the population through occultic power, superstition and fear, and it is unlikely that the Irish would have forsaken the old ways in favor of their new faith unless the power of it could be proved.

By the time of his death, Patrick had laid the foundation of Christianity in pagan Ireland with the conversion and baptism of many thousands of men and women, in a land of only a half-million people. In the following centuries, Irish missionaries swarmed like bees over the European continent, spreading the gospel and establishing monasteries as centers of worship and learning during the "golden age" of Celtic Christianity. From the seed of Patrick's life sprang forests of Christianity in the barren soils of Europe.

Kevin Sambrook and his wife, Rosemary, are pastors of Covenant Love Church in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and directors of Rhema Restoration Ministries (rrm-usa .org). Kevin recently released Chosen, an intercessory prayer CD based on the life of St. Patrick.

Hula Hoop Sales Dry Up

I have always been dismissive of Hybrid Automobiles as Hula Hoops.

That once people figure out that they make no sense sales would dry up.

They did.

Just in time for the Obama Administration to force nationalized automakers to build cars no one wants to buy.

Sounds like my old home country, east Germany and those nice Trabi's. Ain't socialism grand?

This made me smile

Wise Words from my Brother

This morning my brother sent me a note about a teacher in a church with little spiritual discernment. Blind leading the blind.

In his note he said this: This is the spirit that if the Holy Spirit showed up and he wasn't from the (fill in the blank) church he would be ushered out.

I say fill in the blank because that's the way it is in most evangelical churches today. If the Holy Spirit showed up, he'd be asked to leave. In fact he is.

Once Barry Kolb told me a story of a Pastors conference at Willow Creek where Bill Hybels asked the question, "What would you do if the Holy Spirit showed up at your Church next Sunday?"

Someone from the back of the room said, "I'd ask Him to sit in the back and keep quiet".

The fact is that's what happens. If the Holy Spirit wasn't Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Lutheran or Evangelical Frozen Covenant enough He'd be asked to leave. Happens every Sunday.

I asked in a former post, If Jesus once again walked among men as a Man what denomination would he be, or more to the point, in the western American church model, would he even be considered a Christian?

I wonder.

WORD - word

On Sunday Night I am bringing the word at Faith Center in Rockford. It's a great church and I have been part of that assembly for well over a decade. They speak my spiritual language. It's both an honor and a profound responsibility to do right.

I want to do well. I want to be accurate. I want to encourage. I am bringing a word that could be considered discouraging if you want things to be as they always were. They aren't. They won't be.

God is reorganizing all things. He's justifying. He's tearing down to build up. It's what he does and what he must do.

If you are in the Rockford area and if you want to hear and see this I invite you to come. Church begins at 6PM and is usually over by 8. Too short.

I noted an interesting post by Ron McKenzie that really spoke to the issue of what we should and must do in this time. I commend it to you. It sounds like communism, it's not, it's book of Acts stuff.

We may be there again.

Did the First Lady Disrespect the Last First Lady?

I don't know. This blogger things Mrs Obama dissed Laura Bush.

I guess whenever I hear people say of me, "EVEN GENE WOULD......." I don't see that as respect. I see that as patronizing disrespect. EVEN......

So, I think in view of this, Mrs Obama....DID IT.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Battlefield Britian

I have watched all these in the series. They are thrilling. If you have never seen them you can go to Google Video (not you tube) and watch every one of the series.

I learned a great deal about British history and have great respect for the people of those days.

It's great stuff, but you have to love history. I do.

A Poll of Interest RE Jon Stewart

So, you might be asking yourself. Why so much attention on Jon Stewart? Why have I spent so many electrons on his sorry behind. Because among certain people, people I care about, they believe he is a smart well informed man.

Here's what I know for sure. He's funny. He's glib. He's quick. He's entertaining.

I give you all that. What he isn't is well informed. He is biased way way way to the left, he's like so many I read in the comments from democratic underground. I don't know that he's actually stupid unless you find gullibility and victim hood to be stupid traits. I do know that he is way in the tank for all things that are not things I am in the tank for. If Jon Stewart says it, I probably don't agree. Same with the Colbert show.

I no longer waste my life watching these. I don't care if you do. Just be aware the viewpoints you are getting are badly informed propaganda of an agenda you don't really agree with. Just so you know that I am not some lone voice singing a lonely song, this is the results of a Poll on Newsbusters. The question they asked and the results are below.

3% believe he is well informed. 3. So among conservatives (which he is not) there is not much respect for the man or his opinions. On the other hand, he doesn't respect us either. Turnabout is fair play I guess.

Is Jon Stewart of 'The Daily Show' Just Another Leftist Liberal?

Yes. He definitely is a single minded liberal
48% (835 votes)
Yes. He promotes the liberal agenda without thought
49% (852 votes)
No. He is thoughtful and well informed in his opinions
3% (61 votes)
Total votes: 1748

Truth Check for Obama

Some guy has carefully documented out and out lies Barack Obama, 44th President of the USA, First African American, Historic guy has told TO DATE.

I'm not talking about mistakes or misunderstandings. I'm talking Out and Out LIES!

Now, at this point head in the sand liberals have already clicked off. They won't go see the list. They don't like to face the truth about this guy.

For the rest of you not afraid of truth, here's the list of 158 lies to date and counting.

Not a good omen.

When Stewart became Stupid, and Buffett and Soros

I think Jon Stewart lost money in the market and is looking for someone to blame. Can't blame themselves for ignorance or gullibility. That would be wrong. So it's scapegoat time. Kill the messenger. Or as my friend Bob says, killing the messenger's taxi driver.


The reality is the market is unknowable. So when you are wrong and it costs you money, you just bleed. Two of the "Smartest men in the Room" George Soros and Warren Buffett lost big big money in the market. Why didn't they see this coming. Why didn't they blow the whistle. How come Cramer and Santilli were supposed to be soothsayers and tell people what the market was doing before it did it when the guys who made big money couldn't.

Jon Stewart is a dummy. This is someone else's opinion:


In the end, the ignorance displayed by Stewart and those supporting him has been nothing less than staggering.

To begin with, if viewers and commentators are to take Stewart seriously and not hide behind this being a comedy program and him being a comedian -- a defense often employed by the left to shelter "The Daily Show" from any criticism -- his positions concerning the economy, the financial crisis, and the coverage of both by CNBC are -- forgive the pun -- laughable.

...............

As people who have been investing most of their adult lives know, this is an occupational hazard.

Even one of the most respected stock pickers in the world -- Warren Buffet -- never saw this financial collapse coming as his Berkshire Hathaway lost more than 50 percent of its value from December 2007 to December 2008.

Taking this a step further, one of the champion's of the left, MoveOn.org financier George Soros, got killed in last year's stock collapse. His hedge fund even purchased a sizable stake in Lehman Brothers just a few weeks before it declared bankruptcy.

As such, two of the world's most successful investors -- both Obama supporters, by the way!!! -- lost huge amounts of money in this financial crisis.

If these two market gurus didn't correctly position themselves and their funds to at least not suffer financially or even benefit from the crisis by either being short stocks or long bearish vehicles such as puts, why should folks reporting events be held to a higher standard?

Jon Stewart is a victim. He has a victim mentality. I don't feel a bit sorry for him. Like I don't feel sorry for those suckered in by Bernie Madoff.

I saw Santilli back from vacation this morning looking rested and Feisty once more.

Go Get em Rick. Time to kick some butt. The losers are out there waiting to hand you money. Let's start with Loser number ONE. Jon Stewart.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

This happened today and I'm not happy about it

When I get older, losing my hair,
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a Valentine
Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?

If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

How Muslim America will Be - Oh the Joy of Multi-Culturalism

Just so you know, this is a struggle of life and death. Death to a culture of peace, life to a culture you don't want here.

This pastor has a TV show in England. He has a couple of Muslims on. They debate. After the show on his way home, he is dragged out of his car by a few members of the "Religion of Peace".

They beat him up.

Now, Mainstream Media....will we hear of this atrocity? I'm not going to hold my breath long.

Every Award Jon Stewart has Ever Won is Meaningless

I say that because as I look over the list below and consider the source(s) my conclusion can only be that he gets raves from fools. Who watches the Emmy's anymore. More important, who cares, AT ALL. And, Teen Choice award? That scares me a little. Filling those empty minds with mush. And Writer's guild?

Let's see, how many Emmys did Hannity, Limbaugh or O'Rielly get. They have shows. Lots of people like them. Limbaugh has a far far larger audience than Stewart. O'Rilley creams Stewart in audience, Colbert's show is just a parody of O'Rielly and Sean Hannity is everywhere and dominant on radio and TV. Yet, NO NATIONAL EMMY. Gee wonder why? Isn't it just a tiny bit disingenuous that a liberal commentator get's liberal awards liberally? And successful conservative commentators and entertainers like O'Rilley, Hannity and Limbaugh get NONE?

Isn't anyone a tad bit suspicious of the motivation and political bias of these awarding agencies?

So excuse me if I think these are just so much hot air from hot air. Here's a list below. A shame and a sham. Oh, and by the way, the highest rated show Stewart EVER did had fewer viewers than Bill O'Reilly has EVERY NIGHT. Stewart is a tool. That's not a complement.




American Comedy Awards, USA
YearResultAwardCategory/Recipient(s)
2001 Nominated American Comedy Award Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special (Leading or Supporting) Network, Cable or Syndication
for: Indecision 2000: Election Night - Choose and Lose (2000) (TV)


Emmy Awards
YearResultAwardCategory/Recipient(s)
2008 Won Emmy Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
David Javerbaum (executive producer)
Rory Albanese (co-executive producer)
Kahane Corn (co-executive producer)
Josh Lieb (co-executive producer)
Jim Margolis (supervising producer)
Jennifer Flanz (supervising producer)

Nominated Emmy Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
for: The 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008) (TV)

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
for: "The Colbert Report" (2005)
Shared with:
Stephen Colbert (executive producer)
Allison Silverman (executive producer)
Meredith Bennett (co-executive producer)
Richard Dahm (co-executive producer)
Tom Purcell (supervising producer)

Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
Steve Bodow (head writer)
Rory Albanese (written by)
Rachel Axler (written by)
Kevin Bleyer (written by)
Rich Blomquist (written by)
Tim Carvell (written by)
J.R. Havlan (written by)
Scott Jacobson (written by)
David Javerbaum (written by)
Rob Kutner (written by)
Josh Lieb (written by)
Sam Means (written by)
John Oliver (written by)
Jason Ross (written by)


2007 Won Emmy Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
Ben Karlin (executive producer)
David Javerbaum (executive producer)
Kahane Corn (co-executive producer)
Josh Lieb (co-executive producer)
Rory Albanese (supervising producer)
Jim Margolis (supervising producer)

Nominated Emmy Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
for: "The Colbert Report" (2005)
Shared with:
Stephen Colbert (executive producer)
Ben Karlin (executive producer)
Meredith Bennett (executive producer)
Allison Silverman (co-executive producer)
Richard Dahm (co-executive producer)

Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
Steve Bodow (head writer)
Rachel Axler (writer)
Kevin Bleyer (writer)
Rich Blomquist (writer)
Tim Carvell (writer)
J.R. Havlan (writer)
Scott Jacobson (writer)
David Javerbaum (writer)
Ben Karlin (writer)
Rob Kutner (writer)
Josh Lieb (writer)
Sam Means (writer)
Jason Reich (writer)
Jason Ross (writer)


2006 Won Emmy Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
Ben Karlin (executive producer)
Stewart Bailey (co-executive producer)
Kahane Corn (co-executive producer)
David Javerbaum (supervising producer)

Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
David Javerbaum (head writer)
Rachel Axler (writer)
Kevin Bleyer (writer)
Rich Blomquist (writer)
Steve Bodow (writer)
Tim Carvell (writer)
Stephen Colbert (writer)
Eric Drysdale (writer)
J.R. Havlan (writer)
Scott Jacobson (writer)
Ben Karlin (writer)
Rob Kutner (writer)
Sam Means (writer)
Chris Regan (writer)
Jason Reich (writer)
Jason Ross (writer)

Nominated Emmy Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
for: "The Colbert Report" (2005)
Shared with:
Stephen Colbert (executive producer)
Ben Karlin (executive producer)
Allison Silverman (supervising producer)
Rich Dahm (supervising producer)


2005 Won Emmy Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
Ben Karlin (executive producer)
Stewart Bailey (co-executive producer)
Kahane Corn (supervising producer)
David Javerbaum (supervising producer)

Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
David Javerbaum (head writer)
Rich Blomquist (writer)
Steve Bodow (writer)
Tim Carvell (writer)
Stephen Colbert (writer)
Eric Drysdale (writer)
J.R. Havlan (writer)
Scott Jacobson (writer)
Ben Karlin (writer)
Rob Kutner (writer)
Chris Regan (writer)
Jason Reich (writer)
Jason Ross (writer)

Nominated Emmy Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)


2004 Won Emmy Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
Ben Karlin (executive producer)
Stewart Bailey (co-executive producer)
Kahane Corn (supervising producer)
David Javerbaum (supervising producer)
For show #8037.
Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
David Javerbaum (head writer)
Rich Blomquist (writer)
Steve Bodow (writer)
Tim Carvell (writer)
Stephen Colbert (writer)
Eric Drysdale (writer)
J.R. Havlan (writer)
Scott Jacobson (writer)
Ben Karlin (writer)
Rob Kutner (writer)
Chris Regan (writer)
Jason Reich (writer)
Jason Ross (writer)


2003 Won Emmy Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
Madeleine Smithberg (executive producer)
Ben Karlin (co-executive producer)
Stewart Bailey (co-executive producer)
Kahane Corn (supervising producer)

Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
David Javerbaum (head writer)
Rich Blomquist (writer)
Steve Bodow (writer)
Eric Drysdale (writer)
J.R. Havlan (writer)
Scott Jacobson (writer)
Tom Johnson (writer)
Ben Karlin (writer)
Rob Kutner (writer)
Chris Regan (writer)
Jason Reich (writer)
Jason Ross (writer)

Nominated Emmy Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)


2002 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
Madeleine Smithberg (executive producer)
Stewart Bailey (supervising producer)
Kahane Corn (supervising producer)
Ben Karlin (supervising producer)

Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
Ben Karlin (head writer)
Aaron Bergeron (writer)
Jonathan Bines (writer)
Eric Drysdale (writer)
J.R. Havlan (writer)
David Javerbaum (writer)
Tom Johnson (writer)
Paul Mecurio (writer)
Chris Regan (writer)
Jason Reich (writer)


2001 Won Emmy Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
Eric Drysdale (writer)
Jim Earl (writer)
Daniel J. Goor (writer)
Charlie Grandy (writer)
J.R. Havlan (writer)
Tom Johnson (writer)
Kent Jones (writer)
Paul Mecurio (writer)
Chris Regan (writer)
Allison Silverman (writer)

Nominated Emmy Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
Madeleine Smithberg (executive producer)
Kahane Corn (supervising producer)


PGA Awards
YearResultAwardCategory/Recipient(s)
2009 Won Television Producer of the Year Award in Live Entertainment/Competition
for: "The Colbert Report" (2005)
Shared with:
Stephen Colbert
Allison Silverman
Richard Dahm
Meredith Bennett
Tom Purcell


2008 Won Television Producer of the Year Award in Live Entertainment/Competition
for: "The Colbert Report" (2005)
Shared with:
Stephen Colbert
Allison Silverman
Richard Dahm
Meredith Bennett


People's Choice Awards, USA
YearResultAwardCategory/Recipient(s)
2005 Nominated People's Choice Award Favorite Funny Male Star

Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host


Teen Choice Awards
YearResultAwardCategory/Recipient(s)
2002 Nominated Teen Choice Award TV - Choice Personality


Television Critics Association Awards
YearResultAwardCategory/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated TCA Award Individual Achievement in Comedy
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)


2006 Nominated TCA Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Comedy
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)


2005 Won TCA Award Individual Achievement in Comedy
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)


2004 Nominated TCA Award Individual Achievement in Comedy
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)


2003 Won TCA Award Individual Achievement in Comedy
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)


Writers Guild of America, USA
YearResultAwardCategory/Recipient(s)
2009 Nominated WGA Award (TV) Comedy/Variety - (Including Talk) Series
for: "The Daily Show" (1996)
Shared with:
Steve Bodow (head writer)
Rory Albanese
Rachel Axler
Kevin Bleyer
Rich Blomquist
Tim Carvell
Wyatt Cenac
J.R. Havlan
David Javerbaum
Rob Kutner
Josh Lieb
Sam Means
John Oliver
Jason Ross

A Sharp Tool Wrongly Implemented

I like the cut of this guy's jib, even if he doesn't know where the caps button is on his keyboard and he speaks in the Royal WE. He's still nailing it by calling Jon Stewart for what he is:
jon stewart is a tool. he's your standard east coast-bred, son of a college professor, limousine liberal with an ego the size of all outdoors who thinks he's smarter than everyone. his modus operandi has been to mock the right at all opportunities and attack anyone with whom he disagrees. he's a hypocrite who castigates others for shoddy journalism while engaging in the same methods himself. we don't buy the excuse that his show is a satire because he has repeatedly stepped out of that role to directly take aim at his opposition. sure, his monlogues are winking and sarcastic, but his interviews are full of the shortcuts, red herrings, and shouting matches he decries in others. we wish he would just shut up and stick to his show to we can go back to ignoring him.

we're done now. please forget that we ever got this riled up over something so minor, but also do us a favor and think for yourself. jon stewart might not think you're capable, but we do.