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...Worth checking Out...
I caught a glimpse of a news conference by the Heritage Foundation's Michael Franc. He is the Government Relations VP for the Foundation. I am well aware of some of the support the Heritage Foundation receives. However, I have been of the view of that any idea that would help provide a roadmap is absolutely crucial to be looked at. I would be analyzing the report annouced by Heritage and providing guidance on it as part of OV's Election Watch Series over the ensuing weeks.
I welcome the Heritage Report because it is how things should be. There was one thing that Michael Franc also noted that I also agree with: incremental change is simply not acceptable. There needs to be the courage to truly work to transform for the greater good.
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Maybe Some Good may Come out of Gustav
As Gustav heads towards the US Gulf Coast, John McCain and Sarah Palin are in Mississipi finding out about storm preparation. Barack Obama has talked about mobilizing his extensive network to help with recovery efforts. Although this is only a picture, it scared the daylight out of me:
Scary...isn't it?
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A Call to Come Home.....
As a self-professed political junkie, I cleared my afternoon to monitor the second day of the Democratic Party Convention. As always with such great parties, it was full of speeches and music. The keynote by Mark Warner underscored the position he has as a rising star and the importance of Virginia. The speech By Dennis Kucinich set the theme for Democrats when he simply said, "Wake Up America". It brought Bob Casey, another of the rising stars who is a Pro Life Catholic From Pennyslvania. The "big tent" was very much in evidence tonight.
As the parade of office holders continued, the ordinary folks It also featured a lot of ordinary folks. Richard Golden was one such guy. He is a guy from Michigan. He will be unemployed in three months because his manufacturing facility is being moved to Mexico. It featured an Iowa Flood victim who was supporting her sister who had celebral palsey. It also featured one of the so-called "New Age" Democrats, The Governor of Montana. He gave a rousing speech blasting the Bush Adminstration on the Energy plan. The Governor of Michigan hosted a brief panel on the future and the possiblities on energy. The ordinary folks seemed to underscore the theme that the Democrats were trying to tell the world
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Faith, Morality, Freedom and Our Society
Pastor Warren began the first hour of the forum with Senator Obama. Unfortunately, I missed the first 10 minutes of the session where the question he asked was on the 3 wise men that have had a profound impact on his life and his profound failures of Character. I did find Senator McCain's response interesting on both count....but more on that later on. On the question of faith, there was no question that he embraced his faith with no reservations in anyway, shape or form. He told the world that he understood his faith to insure that he acted justly and lovingly.
The question from Pastor Warren was when a fetus acquires human rights. Senator Obama told the world that he was pro-choice. His view was based on a fundamental belief that women who decide to have abortions do not come to such decisions lightly. But, he noted that alternatives should be explored to not have 40 million abortions since Roe v. Wade became the law of the land. What Senator Obama talked about was a culture shift that allows women choices. Pastor Warren also brought up Marriage. Senator Obama told the world that he believed that marriage was the union between a man and a woman. He did not support a constitutional amendment due to his belief that it was states' rights issue
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I wish there were more like Rick Warren....
I had reported on the upcoming forum, sponsored by Saddleback Church in Lake Forest California featuring Senator Obama and Senator McCain. It was hosted by Rick Warren, the Senior Pastor for Saddleback Church. It concluded about an hour ago local time in California. As I listened to both men, I found both Senators to be thoughtful and truly prepared. I also found both of them to have truly grown throughout the campaign. I have some profound disagreements with Senator McCain's vision, but I got a sense tonight as to why the country is split down the middle and the polls are as close as they are.
As I listened to both Senators, I found them to both believe in America and the promise that America is. I also was amazed at how Pastor Warren was able to conduct the forum in such a manner. The questions posed to both Senators were not "soft-ball" at all. They were tough questions that have gone to the heart of the stark choices we face as a country. In my view, Pastor Warren is a profound example of what is so right about America and so beautiful about America. I have continued to struggle and wonder civil discourse cannot be the order of the day. Pastor Warren proved that it can
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The Struggle For America's Soul....
I reported and commented on Jim Leach's endorsement of Barack Obama for President. I noted the big deal that it was. I continue to believe it. I ran across this new term, "Obamacans", that signifies the Republicans who have declared their support for Barack Obama. According to a story by Edward Luce in yesterday's Financial Times, there is talk of maybe even Colin Powell coming out for Barack Obama. Among some of the names mentioned that will withhold endorsement for John McCain, there is talk of James Baker being one of them. I am not sure if a Bush Family loyalist like Jim Baker is going to go that far. But, the fact that the old realists within Republican circles understand how much United States has suffered during the Bush years gives me hope that change will be in the air. Senator McCain has also acknowledged and noted his differences with George W. Bush. We will see change. The question is whether it is incremental or wholesale. For the sake of the world, I hope it is wholesale.
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Is it in fact part of the solution?
I have perceived government to be a partner. Yet, over the past 28 years (ever since the election of Ronald Reagan), Government has been systematically dismantled under the guise of efficiency. It has been dismantled because it was perceived to be a part of the problem, not the solution. Part of how it was done was to put people in charge who were ideologically opposed to the very nature of the mission of the institution. I remember appointments like James Watt who was an avowed opponent of the mission of the Department of the Interior--whose sole mission was to protect the natural resources of the United States. Watt was just extreme example. There were many others.
Now that 8 years of the Bush Disaster is coming to an end, his successor will have a profound problem. With deficits as far as the eye can see, the choices are limiited. Joe Klein talked about the fact that the next President has to make government work again. Reagan was praised because he was a former President. But, his record and his achievements were not that impressive. I am sure that many will disagree. If Obama is elected, he will have his hands full in trying to undo the damage of 8 years of msguided excesses which has jeoporidized the U.S. position as the biggest economy in the world. It will begin with Obama appointing visionaries who are tough enough to make the tough choices for the sake of the nation. As for Senator McCain, he has said that economy is not his strong suite. Where is he going to find the money to give away more tax cuts is something that is a bit of a mystery? We'll have to see how it all pans out
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Mike Pouraryan
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