Conservative Musings

Tony Snow

A classy newscaster and press secretary, who I loved hearing speak, has passed away.  He will be sorely missed.

-Colonel Steve

More Important Than Faith?

I found this particular discussion rather amusing:

You wouldn’t think religion would matter much in this presidential election. There would seem to be so many more pressing issues: oppressive gasoline and food prices; a president widely regarded as a failure; a foreign policy that has us adrift in the world and mired in an unpopular war. Why would faith be an issue?

Religion not mattering much?  More pressing issues like gasoline and food prices?  Not when you compare temporary things with where one will spend eternity.

The columnists' answer is that it's in our genes.  They have that right in a way, but for a different reason.  We were all designed by our creator to seek Him.  Seeking Him we surely do.  So it's no surprise to me that religion tops those other temporal things that many would think were more important.

-Colonel Steve

Did Rep. Delahunt mean what he said?

On June 26th, David Addington, VP Cheney's Chief of Staff was testifying before a House subcommittee regarding interrogation practices.  When David Addington refused to discuss specific techniques because Al Queda could well be watching the proceedings, Rep. Bill Delahunt replied, "Well, I'm sure they are watching and I'm glad they will finally get to see you Mr. Addington."  All this with a smug smile on his face. 

Why do Democrats not get it?!!!  This was an outrageous statement and he should not be allowed to get away with it.  He later said he meant no ill will.  Yeah, riiiggghhtt!  What do you think?  Watch the video.  Also read Pat Dollard's blog.

-Lady Colonel

Afraid of Letting the People Decide

The upcoming California ballot initiative is being challenged in court.  The challenge is based on technical issues of how it was drafted.

The Alliance Defense Fund, one of the groups backing the ballot measure, said the groups are "desperate to evade democracy."

"The opponents of marriage are willing to use any means necessary to impose their will,"said ADF attorney Glen Lavy.

I agree with Glen.  California is moving away from a democracy, towards a monarchy.  In their case, the members of the monarchy happen to sit on judicial benches.

-Colonel Steve

The Next Pro-Life Battleground?

Modern medicine has brought us many miracles.  One of those miracles is the infant mortality rate.  In America alone, that rate dropped 73% from 1960 thru 2000.

Now we see the chances of living from a premature birth improve dramatically, all due to similar advances.  But from that advance comes the questions of whether we should continue to advance that.  Questions are arising around the use of finances and resources to keep premature babies alive.

Many of us in the pro-life movement saw this coming.  When the worth of any life, pre-born or otherwise, is considered to be less worth, it will spread to life at other ages.  Euthanasia and lack of support for preemies are natural out growths of the same thinking.  Just where will it stop?

-Colonel Steve

Left's Lack of Understanding Oil

It's always amazed me how the left in the United States fails to understand capitalism.  Particularly when it comes to the oil industry.

They constantly denigrate the industry for what they see as evil profits.  They make too much.  So much that we have to tax them more than others.

If they are making so much at the oil business, maybe they could explain to me why Exxon is getting out of the retail side of oil. If there is so much to be had at selling oil, why not control the whole "pipeline" of drilling, refining, AND selling it?

The rest of us that at least understand a little of economics understand what is going on.  Many of the retail outlets are getting their wallets pinched from every angle.  High prices of the product being delivered to them to sell.  Credit card fees going up and up due to the higher price of the item they are selling.  Limits on the markup they can put on the price at the pump due to competition.

If we really want to see our prices drop at the pump, consider pushing our representatives and senators to start allowing more drilling and refining here in our great country.  Check out things like the banner on the upper right of the blog, requesting signatures on the petition drive to open up drilling in the U.S.

Let the 3rd largest oil producer in the world (us, the United States) produce more.  More supply equals lower prices.

-Colonel Steve

Where Gas Prices Really Do Hurt

With all the talk of high gas prices in places like California, one would think that these would be the places hardest hit by the run up in fuel costs.  However, it's the rural areas that are being hit the worst.  That for several reasons:

• Little to no public transit.
• Distances to get to work are further.
• More use of trucks and bigger vehicles, with worse gas mileage.

Typically, Americans as a whole are spending 4 percent of their incomes on fuel (up from 1998 at 1.9 percent).  Compare that to some rural areas.

The survey showed that of the 13 counties where people spent 13 percent or more of their family income on gasoline, 5 were located in Mississippi, 4 were in Alabama, 3 were in Kentucky and 1 was in West Virginia. While people here in Holmes County (Mississippi) spent an average of 15.6 percent of their income on gasoline, people in Nassau County, N.Y., spent barely more than 2 percent, according to the survey.

Compare that also to the high cost Northeast, where most areas show being the least affected by the oil prices due to shorter distances to work.

I consider myself lucky, only having to travel 25 miles round trip to work.  That travel is in a vehicle that gets 25+ miles to the gallon.  This will be something to watch, since some of the areas affected the most are right here in Kentucky.

-Colonel Steve

Obama running from yet another activist!

Well, well!  Another activist, Rev. Michael Pfleger, has been preaching at Trinity and rejoicing in Obama's run for the office of President.  Most of the country has heard this man spout things that are not aimed at drawing the country together but tearing them apart.  Obama's website apparently had an endorsement from Rev. Michael Pfleger but it has recently been removed.  I would say Obama doesn't really want us to know what his friends are really like.  You know the ole "Birds of a feather..."  However, Michelle Malkin still has a copy of it.  Now Obama says he is deeply disappointed by the sermon.  And of course, you could see this coming...Pfleger says he is sorry and what he said isn't consistent with Obama's life.  Riggghhhtt!

I have no doubt we are getting a good view of who Obama is. 

-Lady Colonel

More Anti-Homeschooling News

Subway's not the only folks having problems with homeschoolers.  Now comes word that the Tennessee Department of Education is not recognizing diplomas from Church Related Schools (CRS). This includes home school diplomas.  Ironically, the Tennessee university system AND the Lottery scholarships continue to accept CRS diplomas.

All this after the news that Germany has been going after homeschoolers a little more seriously.

Sure hope all this means we're not following Europe's lead.

(HT: 21st Century Paladin)

-Colonel Steve

Causes of High Oil Prices?

In a recent interview, liberal hedge fund investor George Soros mentioned his theories as to why oil prices are so high now.  His thoughts are that the biggest factor is caused by price speculators along the same lines as the dot com bubble.

Contrast this with what other liberals are attempting to do.  In a 324-84 vote, the House passed HR 6074 Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act of 2008, dubbed the "Let's Sue OPEC" bill.  Sadly, 103 republicans joined the unanimous democrats in voting for this garbage bill.  Two of those were Kentucky representatives Hal Rodgers and Ed Whitefield.

Wow.  Too bad liberals aren't listening to their financier, George Soros.

-Colonel Steve