The Prophet Glen Beck, et al

Anybody watch Glen Beck on Fox or listen to him on radio? Well I just read about his first appearance of Fox's Bill O'Rielley show. He said I'm afraid the constitution is hanging by a thread. That doesn't sound like any big deal. Until you understand that he's a Mormon. One of the beliefs of that church is the White Horse Theory. See, Joseph Smith, founder of the sect back in the 1800s is supposed to have said that when the Constitution is in grave danger and hanging by a thread, the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) will be called upon to save the Constitution. They will ride in on a white horse. So now Fox News has a preacher working for them. Beck is, it turns out, preaching the Mormon gospel at the same time he's slamming the Democrats and Obama in particular. It seems Fox is not above turning a profit from a prophet. Like the pun? Well it's said, anyway. Here's the thing, is Fox in competition with ABC, NBC and CBS, or are they in competition with Comedy Central? I mean, they have a lineup that's over the top and certainly not to be believed, with the possible exception of O'Rielly. You start with insinuations during the day from commentators that end up on the evening news as fact. And everybody is making a fortune. What a deal.

Apearing On A TV Station Near You.

Has anyone noticed that with only one exception, every single potential Republican candidate for president who does not now hold elected office, is now a paid commentator on Fox News? Yep, if a Republican wins the 2012 election for president, he or she will likely also be an employee of Fox News. It's also important to know that there is not one single Democratic hopeful employed by any news network. What does that tell you about Fox News' claim of "fair and impartial"? Oh, by the way, Mitt Romney is the only Republican not on Fox's payroll. What does that tell you about all the other news networks? Which ones are more likely to be "fair and impartial"? Don't get me wrong, I think unemployed politicians should be allowed to work. But should they be working for a TV network, as a political commentator? Especially if they plan to run for high office? This is a new precedent for any news agency so far as I'm aware. I have seen in the past where people working for a news agency have resigned as soon as they decide to run for office, but never have I heard of people being hired because they might run for office. So I guess if you are a Republican who would never consider voting for anyone who is not a Republican, Fox News is the place where your only choices are showcased. But if you're a thinking Republican, or anyone else who might want to see who else might run, or who else might be of interest to you, you'll just have to look elsewhere. It's not that Fox News is Biased. Most news networks are biased to some degree. It's that Fox News is rabidly biased.

The Answer Is Always With The Money.

My good friend Fred and I have come up with a solution to the problems associated with political campaigns. No, we're not recommending anyone be anointed king, nor are we suggesting anyone be elected to any positions for life. Not even the Supreme Court. I realize the court is already peopled by lifers, but I don't think it's all that great an idea. And while term limits are excellent ideas because if you can't get it done in about six years, you probably aren't up to the task anyway, they aren't a part of our plan. Another idea we aren't blessing is an aptitude test, although that would be a good idea as well. No, our plan is for the government to pass a law that requires all TV and radio networks and stations to review all political commercials before airing to make sure they are not lies. If the ad tells a lie, it cannot be aired. The part that makes this a viable plan is that if the network or station finds that the ad is a lie, it gets to keep the money paid in full, in advance for the ad. We all know that it's the money that drives the campaigns. There's no reason the money can't drive the cleanup campaign. I can see Political Action Committee's (PACs) going out of business entirely. After all, I haven't seen any PAC attack ad that isn't a lie, have you? The real perk to this law would be the fact that we would actually begin to find out what the politicians actually want to do and if they're competent and capable of doing it.

Boy, Have I Got A Candidate Or Two For You.

This campaign season is turning out to be the greatest show on earth. It includes more kooks then any campaign in history, I'm sure. I mean it can't have been any more strange any other time in history. Take for example Delaware's Christine O'donnell who doesn't seem to have a clue where or if she's been educated, to Arizona's Jan Brewer who keeps seeing headless bodies in the desert that aren't there, to Nevada where both candidates are equally despised and perhaps rightfully so. There are other states that deserve Kook awards like New York, Colorado, California, Illinois, and South Carolina. And these are only the high profile cases. But the worst is California, I think. It's where incumbent Barbara Boxer is up against Meg Whitman. Ms Whitman has spent over $100 million of her own money and is still struggling. Especially after, as an anti-illegal alien candidate, she fired her maid of many years for not having a green card. Turns out she, or at least her husband new very well the maid was illegal. Now, I know that elections bring out the sleaze in politics, or at least brings it to the surface, but this year seems to have brought out the worst of the worst. The creme de la creme, so to speak, of unworthiness. What I don't understand is how so many people can be so gullible. Would you vote for someone who said to a reporter, come near my daughter and I'll take you out and obviously meant it. Or one who claims to have taken part in an undercover drug ring investigation in another state that never heard of him? If you would, then this is, most certainly, your year.

I Hate It When I'm Right.

Ya know, I don't mean to find fault with America. It's a great place to live. For the time being. But down the road a couple of decades from now, it could very likely be a third world country. Now that doesn't mean that everybody will be adversely affected. I mean the wealthy will still be living the good life with their tax cuts and all, but the rest of you (I say rest of you because by then I'll be long gone), the rest of you will all be living hand to mouth and there won't be much in the hand. Take for instance green technology. I know, I know. Some of you don't believe in the whole climate change thing. And that's OK. But the rest of the world is gearing up to meet the demand for carbon neutral and renewable energy products for home and industry. Now, far be it from me to find fault with our political leaders. They've led us into and through some tough times. But the one thing they don't seem to be willing to do, is to buy into the idea that green means jobs. All you hear whenever the subject comes up in Congress is that it will kill jobs. Meanwhile, China has just surpassed the entire world in green technology investment. Can you imagine that? China! Maker of cheap, contaminated, poorly made products that other people thought of, is actually investing in technological research to the tune of $75 billion per year, four or five times what America is spending. Meanwhile back here on the ranch, all we hear is Bah Humbug. Well, the laugh is on us, as in U.S. Because many of our companies and brightest researchers are flocking to China, because that's where the work is. And also, that's where the money is. Interestingly enough, some of that money used to be ours. I have a suggestion for you. Invest in Chinese language classes. Or green technology. But time just might be short.

Have I got A Deal For You.

I read an article last week that didn't register at the time, but it's beginning to turn my thinking. We keep complaining that China is manipulating it's currency to their advantage and to our disadvantage. We don't like it and we're increasingly demanding they stop. Then Japan did the same thing. It devalued it's money to combat China. Then I heard there are other countries that are "managing" their currency. Soooo. If this is the wave of the future, how come we haven't heard of it before now? Why is it that we always seem to be the last in the family to know? That's what my wife asks me whenever I forget to tell her something. But it's a good question. What's wrong with giving China a little of it's own medicine? While we're at it, we should start sending them products that are contaminated with our unwanted poisons? We've got a bunch of coal ash we can let them have real cheap. And garbage. Wow. Have we got a pile for them. I don't mean to be hard on China. If Iran and North Korea want some of our stuff, we'll be happy to work out a deal. Even Russia could have a little, if they promise to back our demands on Iran. In fact, we've got some bedbugs in America, we'd be willing to share, if the price is right. How about a deal on killer bees and illegal aliens? Hey, I'm just trying to help.

Get Out The Map, I Think We're Lost.

Where the heck are we in this country? I've been wondering this a lot of late. We're still fighting two wars that nobody seems to know much about. They're not too much of a problem because only volunteers are involved. We worry about our health, but not enough to accept a national health care. We're unhappy about jobs going overseas, but not too much as long as we have our jobs. We want our kids to get the best education but don't seem to mind that our country is falling behind most other developed countries in math and science, and many kids are reading three or four years below grade level. We're mad as wet hens over taxes, and don't understand why our roads are in such bad condition. We want our fresh veggies and fruit, but don't want to pick it ourselves, but don't want illegals doing it. Republicans want tax relief for the wealthy and Democrats don't seem to know what they want. If I didn't know different, I'd think we've all fallen off the turnip truck. How come we have candidates in this country who won't speak to reporters but want donations for their campaign from everybody except from their own district or state? How is it that our government is run by the highest bidder? How can the Supreme Court state that it's OK to buy candidates and even judges? Does anyone actually think we're headed in the right direction? Does anyone think the Democrats are doing a good job of leading? Does anyone actually think the Republicans have a better idea?