Argentina Moves Right – Canada Moves Left – Now It’s Our Move

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Tom Balek Standard Reply

I have often pointed to Argentina as an example of what could happen to the United States. The two countries have similar early histories, emerging from colonial status to independence and becoming the economic engines of the western hemisphere.

At the height of the industrial revolution the economies of the USA and Argentina flourished. Before World War II the two young nations competed for foreign investment, building strong infrastructures and well-educated middle classes. Buenos Aires challenged New York City’s status as the gem of the West.

And then their destinies parted ways.

The United States maintained a firm grip on its constitution, perfecting its free-market, laissez-faire economic environment. It established its bona fides as a leader in world affairs, defending democracy and human rights. Argentina, meanwhile, set off on a series of socio-political experiments based on heavy-handed and, ultimately, fascist government rule. Argentina’s people relinquished their rights to the government, resulting in economic devastation and the “disappearance” of thousands of political activists.

Last November Mauricio Macri replaced socialist Cristina Kirchner as president of Argentina, promising to return his homeland to the free-market western world. He immediately renounced the nation’s alliances with failed dictatorships like Iran and Venezuela, embracing the United States and Europe. He settled Argentina’s large outstanding debt to a group of US hedge-fund investors which had destroyed the country’s ability to attract outside investment. He established working relationships with Argentina’s state governors and other federal officials, including his opponents. He eliminated crony utility subsidies, cut export taxes, and dropped currency support, allowing the Argentine peso to float.

President Macri is a man on a mission, and in a hurry. While he still enjoys public support, Argentines are in a hurry too, and are beginning to express impatience as they endure symptoms of the new austerity and economic adjustments.

In a strange twist, President Obama will meet Macri this week, following his friendly visit to communist Cuba. Obama has shown an affection for the very despots that Macri, and Argentina, are rejecting. “I’d vote for you, and you for me,” Obama beamed at Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez a few years ago. The US president warmly hosted newly-elected Canadian president Justin Trudeau, a socialist who vows to take his country in the opposite direction chosen by Argentina.

US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton promises to continue the leftward drift established by President Obama. Her primary opponent, Bernie Sanders, would make that a leftward lurch. Our media and schools glorify socialism, demanding more central control and vilifying those who would preserve individual rights.

Will the United States move to the left or the right? Will we follow Canada, our recently-prosperous neighbor to the north, down the proven-to-fail socialist path? Or will we take the hint from Argentina, our wised-up southern friend, and return to the tried-and-true free-market, small government model?

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

You move it to the left, yeah
You go for yourself
You move it to the right
Yeah if it takes all night

The Harlem Shuffle – Rolling Stones

Here’s Mick, strutting his stuff. I just finished reading the bio “Jagger” by Marc Spitz, and was surprised to learn that he was a prized pupil at the London School of Economics, having received a full-ride scholarship. He quit to become a rebel blues singer, but was promised his scholarship would wait for him if his new career choice didn’t work out. We are all glad it did!

Angry? No, I Just Want A Change!

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Tom Balek Standard Reply

smelly-diapers1 I’m tired of being called “angry” by the media, the liberals, and the wannabe Republican presidential candidates.

I’m not angry. When a baby has a full diaper, is Mom angry? Is the baby angry? Is everybody around the baby angry? No, they just want a change. They can’t stand the smell anymore. They are uncomfortable with the way things are. It is obvious that things can’t stay the way they are. They all require a change and they demand it. I’m not angry. I just can’t stand the smell any more. I’m motivated for a change.

I’m also tired of being called a racist.

I’m not a racist. Just because I think Americans who were born here, who cut out Washington and Lincoln silhouettes in grade school, who still get teary-eyed when somebody sings a heartfelt rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, should not lose their precious jobs to foreigners who don’t even want to learn our language, let alone become Americans – that does not make me a “racist.”

And I’m tired of being called “stupid”.

I’m not stupid. No, I don’t believe for a second that our cars and washing machines and toasters are destroying the earth that God created and has kept spinning for the last 5 billion years or so. NASA says it’s not true. 31,000 scientists say global warming is a hoax, and the data “proving” man’s inhumanity to Earth has been manipulated and contrived for nothing more than personal profit. Carbon emissions and greenhouse gases have been around forever – forest fires, volcanoes and sun spots cause way more crap in the atmosphere than man could ever aspire to. So stop calling me a “science denier” and “stupid”.

One more thing – I’m tired of waiting for the people who are supposed to be on my side to stop calling me names that were once only found in the liberals’ playbook. I never thought I would hear Republicans calling me – a long-time advocate and supporter of conservative principles – angry and racist and stupid.

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

I was a lonely soul
I had nobody till I met you
But you keep a-me waiting
All of the time
What can I do?

Tired of Waiting For You – the Kinks

Here’s a cool old clip of brothers Ray and Dave Davies and the Kinks. They impressed the hell out of me when I was in junior high and still top the list of all-time great garage bands. The Davies brothers are famous for their epic sibling battles – fortunately, they haven’t killed each other yet, and still put out some great music.

The Insider GOP CrapBurgers Have Finally Hit the Fan

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Tom Balek Standard 3

How long have we been trying to wake up the Republican party? Even before emergence of the Tea Party, the mainstream “real” Americans who go to work, pay their taxes, mow their own lawns and worry about their kids’ futures were trying to express that we are fed up with the political correctness, the deceit, the secularization, the corruption, and the failed domestic and foreign policies of our government officials. We’re sick of not being heard. We’re tired of being lied to. We’re sick and tired of the condescension.

Year after year we worked for candidates, contributed to campaigns and causes, studied and wrote and taught conservative principles. It only got worse. “They just don’t get it,” we complained to each other. We sent officials to Washington who we thought were conservatives, only to see them melt into the cushy lap of the DC Cartel, rendered incapable of standing up to the leftist leadership, who ran roughshod over our values and our wallets.

They offered us loser McCain. They put up loser Romney. They gave us Speaker Boehner, and Justice Roberts and Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan. They refused to stop funding for Planned Parenthood and to keep nukes away from Iran. They funded opposition to conservative candidates. They stood by and silently watched the president abandon our allies, and condoned his military “shrinkage”. They would not defend our constitution or our borders. They signed off on one porky CrapBurger budget after another, ballooning our debt.

Now, finally, the CrapBurgers have hit the fan. We actually have two presidential candidates, Cruz and Trump, who are not in the pockets of the Cartel. And the Insider Republicans are FREAKING OUT.

It’s a pathetic sight. Today the Insider Republicans trotted out Romney, the guy who couldn’t even match up against the worst president in our nation’s history, to try to bully the outsider candidates who now threaten their DC cocktail party invitations.

Listen to Romney and the Insider Republicans bashing the challengers: “You’re a RAAAACIST! You’re a nasty rich guy taking advantage of little old ladies! You hate women and the handicapped! You are an intolerant Christian! You hate the poor and the immigrants! You hate gay people! Racist! Racist! Racist!”

Sound familiar?

When Hillary Clinton was asked, “What is the difference between a socialist and a Democrat?” she had no answer. I’d like to ask the Insider Republicans, “What is the difference between you and the Democrats?.” wimpy.-King-Features1

They still don’t get it. They know their very existence is threatened, but they don’t know why, and it looks like they are incapable of understanding or change.

It’s time to start over. And it’s way past time for the Insider Republicans to stop asking me for money every five minutes. I will NOT pay you Tuesday for another CrapBurger today!

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

CrapBurgers and Sleazy Lies
You fooled us once and you fooled us twice
The Inside Republicans have met their demise
No more CrapBurgers and Sleazy Lies!

to the tune of CheeseBurger in Paradise
(apologies to Jimmy Buffet)

Just Sayin’ . . .

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Tom Balek Standard Reply

Hillary Clinton, after winning the SC Democrat primary proclaimed: “Despite what you hear, we don’t need to make America great again. America has never stopped being great. But we do need to make America whole again. Instead of building walls, we need to be tearing down barriers.”

If Hillary thinks we need to make America whole again, why does she continue to divide Americans into “victim groups” by skin color, by achievement and income level, by religion, and by sex or sexual orientation and pitting us against each other? Hillary promises to continue Obama’s direction when she is president. Are people going to grow more divided and suspicious of each other every year during her presidency, too? Just sayin’ . . .

The Reverend Al Sharpton (along with Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O’Donnell) has announced that if Donald Trump is elected president, he will leave the country.

Um, can we make sure the good Reverend has paid his $4.5 million in back taxes before we let him out? And by the way, would somebody please find out what church the Rev is preaching at every Sunday? Just sayin’ . . .

Washington insider and GOP consultant Juleanna Glover said, “If Cruz doesn’t beat Trump in Texas, there’s going to be full-scale panic.”

Seems to me if the Washington insiders are scared to death of Trump moving into their neighborhood, that might be exactly why people are voting for him. Just sayin’ . . .

Environmental activist / actor Leonardo DiCaprio told Vanity Fair he was terrified when global warming caused the weather in Calgary to rapidly change on his recent visit. “There would be eight feet of snow and then all of a sudden a warm gust of wind would come,” DeCaprio cried.

Anybody who has spent a winter on the east slopes of the Rockies will tell you it happens all the time, Leo. It’s called Chinook winds, and it’s been going on since long before those evil white men first set foot in Montana or Alberta. Just sayin’ . . .

On Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace badgered Ted Cruz, repeating the juvenile and baseless insults thrown at him by his opponents in the recent presidential debate. When an exasperated Cruz charged that Wallace was using Trump’s opposition bullet points, Wallace flew into a rage. Wallace did not ask Cruz a single policy-related question during the interview.

Isn’t this the same Chris Wallace whose eyes well with tears each week as he lists the political figures who won’t answer his requests for an interview? Just sayin’ . . .

Bernie Sanders says a college education should be provided to all students free of charge.

You get what you pay for, Bernie. You get what you pay for. Just sayin’ . . .

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

Tell me what I say,
Tell me what I say right now
Tell me what I say
Tell me what I say!

What I Say – Ray Charles

Wanted: Tough Guys in Congress

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Tom Balek Standard 1

mick-mulvaney 2 My congressman, Mick Mulvaney, keeps in regular contact with his South Carolina constituents, mostly via social media. He is accessible, articulate, and sharp – a conservative / libertarian / pragmatist who seems to really enjoy doing the people’s work.

As a by-product of his accessibility, Mulvaney wears his heart on his sleeve, and doesn’t do a good job of hiding his frustration with the “system”. That frustration was one of the reasons he was a founding member of the rebel Freedom Caucus.

Because we have such remarkable access to him, we pepper him with our own frustrations, hoping that since he actually hears our concerns, usually agrees with us, and seems to give a damn, he might actually be able to do something.

Today Mulvaney spent an hour or so on Facebook in an open question-and-answer session, something he does frequently. Frustrated questions, frustrated answers:

Bob: “Can someone please tell me how we are going to survive, as a nation, with a $19 trillion federal deficit? It seems no one is concerned. We have entrusted our country to Congress and NO Congressperson is taking a stand against spending.”

Mulvaney: “The House Freedom Caucus is pushing exactly that. But as the debt isn’t a sexy issue right now, we get almost no media coverage.”

Micheal: “The Pentagon has been required by law to be audited since the 90’s but has failed to do so. How can we give them more money when we have no idea how they are already spending the money they’ve received?”

Mulvaney: “I’ve been fighting against the OCO [Overseas Contingency Operations] slush fund since I got to Congress. I just wish more people cared about how badly we waste money in the Pentagon.”

Me: “Mick, have you followed the land grabs out west? I’m originally from Montana you know, and my friends back there are pretty worried. Between the EPA, the BLM, and taking land for “national monuments” it seems like the federal government is hell bent on owning or micromanaging every acre west of Nebraska. What’s going on?”

Mulvaney: “We push reforms every year, but they don’t rise to the level of getting much media attention.”

$19 trillion is not “sexy enough”? Nobody cares about wasted taxpayer funds? Not enough media attention to stop the federal government from acquiring 80% of the land west of Colorado, and torturing (or murdering) the few citizens who own the other 20%?

What happened to the idea that the people set the objectives for their representives? When did we start relying on the media to decide which issues are “sexy enough” to get attention? If Congress is waiting for the media to set their work priorities and schedules, we have a big problem.

Congressman Mulvaney and the Freedom Caucus are the ‘good guys’. We don’t need them to be ‘nice guys.’ What we need are some ‘tough guys’ who will take charge and get the important work of the people done.

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

For you baby I would, swim the sea
Nothin’ I’d do for you that’s too tough for me
I’d put out a burnin’ building with a shovel and dirt
And not even worry about getting hurt
Ain’t that tough enough?

Tough Enough – the Fabulous Thunderbirds

Senate GOP – Don’t Give Up Like You Always Do!

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Tom Balek Standard 2

scalia Here we go again.

Now we have lost Supreme Court Justice Scalia, the last and best guardian of the Constitution. And you know — you just know — that the weak-kneed, self-serving GOP establishment Washington, DC cartel is going to cave in and give President Obama his replacement.

Afraid of appearing to be “mean”, lest the people who don’t vote for them anyway will dislike them even more, these DC weenies are still in the lineup despite batting .000 in the National Negotiation League.

I am one of the small handful of people who still listens to Michael Medved’s radio show; there are few choices in the wee hours of the morning. Medved is the designated talk radio spokesman for the squishy Republicans. His assignment is to defend and make excuses for the GOP liars in Congress who promised they would stand up to the Obama regime at election time, and now refuse to do so at every opportunity.

Today he opens his show with the topic, “Is Compromise A Dirty Word?” He regularly excoriates conservative listeners who call his show to support Donald Trump’s hard-line populist positions against out-of-control immigration, bad trade deals, and the Obama/Kerry nuclear giveaway to Iran.

Medved is even more hysterical about Ted Cruz, insisting that Cruz has “no chance of being elected” because he refuses to be bullied into submission by the intractable left and their assault on virtually all of our traditional American values.

He even goes after Dr. Ben Carson, the quiet but tough-as-nails conservative who brought down the house at an event I attended last week at Winthrop University. A coed asked him if he was concerned about the environment. “Of course I am,” Carson responded with his usual warm, slow smile. “I wouldn’t allow a company to dump chemicals in a river and harm everybody downstream. But the stuff you have been fed about “climate change” — what a bunch of CRAP!”

An exasperated caller to Medved’s show was about at the end of his rope when the establishment apologist insisted that the Republican party is dead because they refuse to compromise with the Democrats to provide more freebies to the victim groups who are lining up behind Bernie Sanders-Claus. “Why are we the only ones who have to ‘compromise’?” the caller complained. “The Democrats never compromise. They hold their ground or they advance.”

Medved’s answer was stunning. “That’s not true! Obama wanted to raise all taxes, and end Bush’s tax cuts. But a few of Bush’s tax cuts were left in place!” Right, Michael. The Democrats didn’t get everything they wanted, just most of it – and to you and your DC Republican friends, that is a compromise on their part.

They still don’t get it. I don’t know why, but it appears that they will never get it. Churchill, in the darkest days of World War II, rallied his weary countrymen to victory with the famous words: “Never give in — never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.”

What will it take to convince our “always give in” Republican officials that this time it’s important? Obama’s Supreme Court appointee will doubtless be the exact opposite of Justice Scalia, bringing irreparable harm to the country for decades to come.

You know that liberals will howl “unfair!” if the Senate doesn’t confirm Obama’s first pick. If the shoe were on the other foot, do you think the Democrats would give the Republicans a free pass? Frankly, I will be surprised if Obama doesn’t make a recess appointment while the Senate is out of town.

Let’s just hope that maybe, for once, our Republican senators will grow a pair and hold the line until after the election. And let’s vow to primary out any defectors this time.

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

Don’t give up
’cause you have friends
Don’t give up
You’re not beaten yet
Don’t give up
I know you can make it good

Don’t Give Up – Peter Gabriel

Tough Political Decision? Let History Be Your Guide

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Tom Balek Standard Reply

Decisions, decisions. Man is a thinking animal, and every waking moment involves decisions. Most are ordinary choices of personal comfort. Some decisions are a matter of life or death, or even something so paramount that one will risk his own life to achieve the desired result.

Some of us are better at making decisions than others. But one thing is clear – at the root of every decision is one primary element: self-interest. And that’s a good thing. The desire to improve our lives and the lives of the ones we love is universal, timeless and unbreakable. God knew what he was doing when he designed the human soul.

God also put us all on the same planet, so we not only have to serve our own self-interests, we also must co-exist. And that’s where it gets interesting. We all want what is best for ourselves and our families, but we can’t agree on the best way to make that happen. What might be best for you could be terrible for me, or vice-versa.

Those who see life from the “left” side believe individuals should sacrifice personal freedoms to gain physical and economic security as a group. Socialism calls for more control by the state, assuming that most people are not so good at making decisions for themselves. If decisions are made by fewer humans who are presumably smarter than the rest of us, there will be less likelihood of catastrophic failure. Individuals will have their basic needs met, but will not have the chance to make decisions that might lead to far greater success and happiness for themselves and others.

Those on the “right” side holds the opposite as truth. They would rather make their own decisions, because nobody is more interested in his own well-being than oneself. One may totally fail, but he would rather have the opportunity to achieve a higher level of happiness and fulfillment than settle for bland shared security.

There is, of course, middle ground, and that’s where the war between left and right takes place. Fortunately, in this political battleground of decisions and the philosophical fog of war, there is a bright, neon sign showing the correct path. It’s called history.

History proves that quality of life is always best where individuals have more freedom to make decisions in their own self-interest. And hell on Earth is where all decisions are made by the state. If more state control is so great, how did that work out for the people of the Soviet Union? Or Cambodia? Or Nazi Germany?

Why does our entire educational system deny this historical fact? How does a generation of our youth clamor to follow socialist demagogues who promise security but don’t explain the consequences of relinquishing individual rights and freedoms? Could it be that the few who would be the designated decision-makers are acting in their own self-interest?

History also shows that there were, and still are, individuals who understand the value of individual freedom so well that they would make the ultimate decision to put their lives on the line to preserve it.

My message is this: when faced with a decision between group security and individual freedom, let history be your guide.

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

You can choose a ready guide
In some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide
You still have made a choice

Free Will – Rush

Watch this fantastic Rush rocker featuring drummer Neal Peart and his HUGE set of DW drums. Free Will!

Cruz Plays Hardball on National Security

Posted on January 16, 2016 by Tom Balek Standard 1

Our invitation to the Ted Cruz National Security Forum directed us to the “Morningstar Fellowship Church” in Fort Mill, SC.

Last week we attended Donald Trump’s blowout show (it was a show, not a forum) at the Winthrop University Coliseum, a 6,000-seat basketball arena. We arrived two hours early and found Rock Hill gridlocked for miles around. Probably as many people were turned away as were admitted – it was overbooked bedlam. The Trump show was entertaining as hell, if somewhat light on policy details. The highlight was the removal of a planted Hezbollah/CAIR supporter who played the part of racism victim on CNN that evening.

So today’s Ted Cruz event is at a church? We went early just in case, but assumed it was, well you know . . . a church, for a few hundred people.

We found ourselves standing in line outside a huge brick building, in a complex of huge brick buildings, and next to that was a REALLY huge brick building – like a 25-story tall hotel! Only it had bricks falling off of it and it was obviously not occupied. I asked the lady behind us about the big empty building. She said, “Well, it’s a long story. It was started back in the 80’s, but it never got completed.” Then she mumbled something about PTL.

PTL! I had completely forgotten about the Praise the Lord Network. Last time I saw that name it was in my mother-in-law’s check register when she was sending weekly $100 checks to Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker from her kids’ trust fund. Apparently she was not the only one. This morning, when I heard mention of PTL, it evoked the image of Tammy Faye blubbering to a camera, mascara flooding down her face. Allegations of rape and financial shenanigans brought the Bakkers’ multi-million dollar mega-church tumbling down in the late 1980s, and Jim did hard time in the Big House.

Anyway, MorningStar is not just a church. It is a very large and busy evangelical organization that also takes an aggressive political stance. MorningStar is headquartered in the resurrected remains of the Jim and Tammy Faye Empire, replete with a world-class facility for TV church services, a Las Vegas style “Main Street” of indoor shops, and an array of chic apartments and retirement homes. The venue, featuring a large stage with impressive sound and lighting, easily handled the Cruz gathering of 2,000. Unlike the Trump event, where Secret Service agents severely scrutinized attendees and took three hours to admit the crowd, the Cruz event had no security whatsoever.

My fascination with the MorningStar complex was almost a distraction from the task at hand: Ted Cruz’s “debate” with former CNN and ABC News commentator Jeanne Meserve, who played the part of liberal media egghead, teeing up softballs for Cruz to hit over the fence.

And he hit ’em like Babe Ruth.

Bang! “You want to know the stakes of the 2016 election? If Hillary is elected, Iran WILL have nukes. If I am elected, the Ayatollah will never have nuclear weapons.”

Pow! “Under this president, the golf courses of America have never been safer.”

Boom! “I will put a wall on the southern border. And I’ve got someone in mind to build it!”

Smash! “Out of 7 billion people on Planet Earth, Obama chose the only one (Wendy Sherman) who had already failed at nuclear negotiations (with North Korea) to make a nuclear deal with Iran.”

Ka-boom! “On day one I will rip the Iran nuclear agreement to shreds, and restart sanctions. I will tell Iran ‘shut down your nuclear program now, or we will shut it down for you.'”

Cruz blasted Obama and Clinton for operating in a “state of denial”, unwilling to even name the enemy. Ms. Meserve, bravely playing devil’s advocate, challenged Cruz about his plan to deal with “disparate, small pockets of violence, such as what happened in San Bernardino, Paris, and Burkina Faso, where at least 28 victims died at the hands of al Qaeda fighters yesterday.”

“What is that? What were those acts?” Cruz demanded. “Terrorism,” Meserve replied. “What kind of terror?” No answer. “Terror by whom?” Still no answer. Like the president, the former mainstream news reporter could not, would not say the words “radical Islamic terrorism.” Whether that was in the script or not, it was sure effective, as Cruz pounded home his contention that a government that can not name its enemy surely can’t defeat it.

Cruz was relaxed, confident, and (dare I say it) presidential. He left no doubt that, from the conservative viewpoint at least, he is well-versed in the details of our national security challenges, and is earnest about addressing them. Mrs. Clinton should have grave concerns about facing either Trump or Cruz in front of the American voters. Trump would gleefully reveal her status as a world-class-liar, and Cruz would expose her utter failure in international affairs, especially our national security.

The event was sponsored by Americans for Peace, Prosperity, and Security (APPS), headed by Congressman Mike Rogers.

I want security, yeah
Without it I had a great loss, oh now
Security, yeah
And I want it at any cost, oh now

Security – Otis Redding

Another stellar song by the late, great Otis Redding. He just wants what we all want. Security!

Republican Voters Would Crawl Over Broken Glass to Defeat Hillary

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Tom Balek Standard 3

trump1 Here we are at the end of 2015, and it’s still all Trump, all the time.

Trump’s juggernaut campaign remains a total mystery to the Washington Insiders, especially the Republicans. Michael Medved, one of many pretend conservatives on talk radio, pees his pants every time he hears Trump’s name. Wonder where Trump’s campaign funds come from? He takes Medved’s lunch money every day – and Bill Bennett’s, and George Will’s, and Karl Rove’s and a whole bunch of other wimps.

Here’s the latest CNN national poll results and my unfiltered opinion of each.

Pataki (withdrew)- 0%: Ptooey.

Santorum – 0%: Nice guy, desperately means well, but Rick, it ain’t ever gonna happen.

Graham (withdrew) – 1%: His (my) own conservative state can’t stand him – it took Democrat votes via our open primary system to keep him in DC. He wants strong military and open borders. Huh?

Huckabee – 2%: Bright. Maybe devious. For some reason I wouldn’t want to buy a used car from this guy.

Kasich – 2%: Why can’t we all just be friends and play nice together?

Fiorina – 2%: She is so smart and so strong-willed. Oh wait, that scares the hell out of most people.

Paul – 4%: He really understands the Constitution. Sadly, nobody cares.

Bush – 3%: Sigh.

Christie – 5%: He says his greatest attribute is his desire to make deals with the liberals. Next.

Carson – 10%: Brilliant, and conservative. But people who visited his house said every square inch of wall space is covered with pictures of Ben and awards presented to Ben. He may have a bigger ego than Obama.

Rubio – 10%: Gang of Eight. Next.

Cruz – 18%: If I am ever caught in a dark alley with a menacing gang of debaters from Harvard, I want Ted on my side. He will shred any opponent, including Hillary. He’s smart, tenacious, ambitious, conservative. A few weeks ago he chaired a Senate committee meeting, and not a single Republican senator attended, leaving Cruz to face a roomful of Democrats alone. His fellow Senators absolutely HATE him. That’s good enough for me.

Trump – 39%: At first I was really put off by his personal insecurity (“I’m really smart! Really I am!) And I was convinced he had no depth of thought on any issue. I still sometimes think he might be a few fries short of a happy meal. But I’m starting to get it.

I listened to a complete hour-long Trump speech tonight, for the first time. And I found that he actually does address important issues, albeit in his own odd way. He talks off the cuff, and his stories wobble and wander all over the place. His over-use of adjectives and hyperbole is almost criminal. He spends too much time talking about himself and his lead in the polls, which he defends, saying, “But I am leading the polls! Jeb Bush sure doesn’t want to talk about the polls.” I guess maybe saying “we’re number one” is not a bad marketing pitch.

If you get down to the nitty-gritty, you find that his message is usually right, and sometimes even illuminating. Tonight Trump talked about a friend who had always bought Caterpillar tractors but just bought a new Komatsu instead. “It’s the devaluation of their currency, Caterpillar can’t compete, ” Trump explained. That led to talk about international trade, and the exodus of American manufacturing companies overseas, and the billions of dollars of offshore profits held by American companies due to our outdated and unfair corporate tax structure. “It’s called ‘corporate inversion'”, Trump said. “I doubt the other candidates have heard that term.”

I have mixed feelings about his admission to “paying off politicians” for business favors. I don’t get the feeling he could be bought, though. And I know damn well the vast majority of our elected officials are, shall we say, influenced by big contributors.

Most of his positions and proclamations are just populist common sense, but they shine brightly in a world that has gone PC. I think his strong stand against unfettered immigration and refugees is the biggest bullet in his pro-second amendment clip.

“He can’t beat Hillary,” they whimper. It seems to me he is probably the only Republican candidate who will smack Hillary between the eyes with her blatant lies, her stinks-to-high-heaven “charitable” foundation, and her coverups for her violently lecherous husband. Yep, he can beat Hillary. And the recent revelations that he has strong followings among minority groups doesn’t hurt.

Am I in the Trump camp? Not yet. But I’m like the caller on Little Mikey Medved’s show the other day. Medved challenged him, “If it came down to Trump or Hillary, would you vote for Trump?” The caller responded, “No question. I’d crawl over broken glass to beat Hillary.”

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

So take me from the wreckage
Save me from the blast
Lift me up and take me back
Don’t let me keep on walking…
Walking on broken glass

Walking On Broken Glass – Annie Lennox

One of the all-time greats, Annie Lennox has got it going on!

Words Mean Things. But Things Change.

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Tom Balek Standard 2

Talk I don’t know who was the first to say, “Words mean things.” Rush Limbaugh invoked this truism frequently during his early broadcasting years when analyzing politicians and their rhetoric. People should be held accountable for what they say, according to Limbaugh, and not parse words to escape judgment – like the Bill Clinton gem: “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.”

It’s not all that simple. Words may mean things, but things change. And two words we use with great frequency these days seem to have changed a lot.

From Webster’s Dictionary and WordNet

Conservative (con`serv´a`tive) – noun

“One who desires to maintain existing institutions and customs.”
“One who, or that which, preserves from ruin, injury, innovation, or radical change; a preserver; a conserver.”
“One who holds moderate opinions in politics – opposed to revolutionary or radical.”
“One who avoids excess; synonym: cautious.”

Liberal (lib´er`al) – noun

“One who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties.”
“One who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets.”
“One who is tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition.”
“One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters; an opponent of the established systems; a reformer.”
“One who is free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious.”

Wow. My eyes glaze over seeing all the contradictions above, based on what we know of conservatives and liberals today.

Some of the traditional definitions still hold up. Real conservatives on the modern political battleground are desperately trying to “preserve [the nation] from ruin” and “cautiously avoid excess [spending and regulation].” Liberals definitely are “free to excess, regardless of law or moral restraint”, and if you watch TV, witness a foul-mouthed group of protesters, or (God forbid) take your kids to a parade which includes the LGBT crowd, you would define them as “licentious.”

Many of the other definitions no longer hold up. Were liberals really once the champions of “civil liberties” and the “economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets?” What the hell happened there? I’m sure a conservative group that applied for 501(c)3 status from the IRS, or a bakery that doesn’t want to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple, or a landowner who tries to defend his property rights from the EPA would not agree with that definition. And parents who would like to hear their kids sing “Silent Night” at a real school Christmas program would probably not define liberals as “favoring greater freedom in political or religious matters”.

I love the definition that says liberals are “not bound by authoritarianism.” Has there ever been a more authoritarian administration than Obama’s? And any mention of “tolerance” in the same sentence as “liberal” is pure oxymoron.

My common-sense wife likes this definition of conserve: “To use or manage wisely; preserve; save.” She asks, “Why do we throw so much perfectly good stuff away? Why do charity programs for kids Christmas toys require only brand-new items? Wouldn’t every needy kid rather have ten slightly-used toys than one new one?” My grandson’s favorite toy at our house is a big metal Tonka truck, so huge he can ride it down the driveway. They cost about $100 new, but his was a buck at a garage sale, and he thinks it’s great.

Words mean things, but things change. Democrats are almost universally liberal – at least until election time. Democrat Senator John Tester from Montana followed the party line in lockstep on every issue, until he voted against the omnibus spending bill last week, saying, “We just can’t keep spending like this.” In contrast, Montana’s Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke voted for the spending bill, showing no concern over the approaching $20 trillion national debt.

I guess the lesson here is that you can’t trust a politician based on his or her words (especially Hillary!) Better to hold our political leaders accountable based on their actions.

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

I can’t seem to talk about
The things that bother me
Seems to be what everybody has
Against me! (ooh! ooh! ooh! yeah!)

Talk, Talk – the Music Machine

I LOVE sixties music, and here’s a short clip by a fantastic one-hit-wonder sixties band, the Music Machine, to make my case. It’s all there – the hair, the tambourine, the teen-age angst, the “fuzz bass”. Well written rocker – take two minutes and enjoy!