A digital commonplace for a Regular Guy called Charlie Pharis

Author: Charlie Pharis (page 20 of 165)

I Wonder…

One of those infamous “dump lists.” Nothing to see here, move along…

  • Warren Buffett says, “Buy American.” I wonder if he thinks it would help if we remembered to vote American, too!
  • I wonder why trying to insure that every vote is a legally cast vote is somehow bad, racist, or whatever other Democrat talking point adjective you choose to insert.
  • I wonder how come the mainstream press “exposed” more about “Joe the Plumber” in two days than they have about The Messiah in two years.
  • I wonder which is more greedy: Wanting to keep the vast majority of what I earn to spend/invest according to my family’s priorities and needs, or wanting to “spread the wealth” to some, in order to fund/promote someone else’s agenda and priorities.
  • I wonder how a tightening in the major polls is somehow an indication that the voters are souring on the underdog candidate.
  • I wonder how many of my friends are voting for the The Messiah based on race. Either racial pride or racial guilt. The pride part I can understand. The guilt part, not so much.
  • I wonder if Mickey Mouse and the Dallas Cowboys really registered to vote.
  • I wonder how the United States Supreme Court can actually condone illegal activities in the voter registration process.
  • I wonder, along with the underdog, why, if The Messiah wanted to run against “W”, he didn’t throw his hat in the ring four years ago, when “W” actually could and did stand for re-election.
  • I wonder if we’ll ever, ever see the ascendancy of statesmanship in our political process again.
  • I wonder when the idea of America became such anathema. To Americans, even.
  • I wonder why the purveyors of the tired, sad phrase “failed policies of the past” have such conveniently selective and/or short memories. If there was any such thing as a “failed policy of the past,” surely it is socialist liberalism! Oh, wait…the Soviet Union was a great success. Nazi Germany? Now there’s a role model for you! Oh, and hey! How about that ultra-successful “War on Poverty” from our own 1960s-1970s! How are all those working for you? So let’s try it again!
  • I wonder if the misguided, misinformed callers on the radio really understand that Hitler was, in fact, a liberal ideal, National Socialist, and all that.
  • Oh, and I wonder about that nagging “whistling s” sound that seems to be so prevalent when our candidates speak.

What’s the Deal? And Where’s the Appeal?

I used to love politics. I used to savor the give-and-take of a good, hard-fought campaign. “Back in the day,” it seemed that most campaigns were pretty passionate presentations of differing visions and ideas for solving serious problems.

Lately, though, I’ve become a little more cynical. It seems that all the candidates – and yes, I mean all the candidates! – are only interested in yapping and yakking about how terrible their opponents are, while avoiding any real, positive, tangible vision for the future.

With that in mind, and as a naive “bitter clinger” to what I believe is the greatest political experiment in the history of the world, I’m wondering a couple of things today…

  • What is the appeal for Americans of an encroaching socialism?
  • When did Big Government become The Answer to all our problems?
  • Seriously, now…what is the appeal of Senator Obama, other than “he’s not George Bush”?
  • When did age 47 become “young and fresh”? (Perspective is everything on that one! :))
  • Why can’t won’t people from differing political perspectives treat those with whom they disagree with some decency and respect?
  • Why won’t candidates answer “Yes or No” questions with, well…”Yes” or “No”?
  • Why do you think “your candidate” is The Answer?

I’m just wondering about these and other things this afternoon.

If you can play nice and offer some constructive opinions, you can comment, and maybe, just maybe, we can learn something about ourselves, our nation, and our future. You don’t have to agree with me – or with any of the other two people who read my blog – but you do have to be civil. Passionate? Sure! Informative? Hopefully!

Jump in! I can’t wait to hear from you!

Rush Was Right…

One day last week, Rush Limbaugh opined something like…

You mean to tell me that there are over 300 million people in our country, and these are the best two we can find to run for President?

The more I hear, the more I agree…

Lincoln Quotes That Should Be Required Reading…

…for the two Bozos running for President of the United States…

From Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861…

We are not enemies but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bond of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearth stone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they wll be, by the better angels of our nature.

From a message to Congress, December 1, 1862…

The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.

And this one, from a letter to General Joseph Hooker, January 26, 1863…

The Government will support you to the utmost of its ability, which is neither more nor less than it has done and will do for all commanders. I much fear that the spirit which you have aided to infuse into the army of criticizing their commander and withholding confidence from him, will now turn upon you. I shall assist you as far as I can to put it down. Neither you nor Napoleon, if he were alive again, could get any good out of an army while such a spirit pervades in it. And now beware of rashness, but with energy and sleepless vigilance go forward, and give us victories.

That last one is most appropriate for this election, and the constant, but misplaced campaign against an incumbent who is not on the ballot. It’s most appropriate for candidates – both of them – who appear to masters of the blame game, but who are short on positive, inspiring vision.

We’ll end up with the “leaders” (and I use that term very loosely, because both of the major candidates appear nothing more than political hacks!) that we deserve. And God help the one who gets elected by inciting distrust and disunity among our nation, for what goes around will surely come around.

Just some thoughts post-debate tonight. Of course, your mileage may vary…

You’ve Gotta Hand It to These “Peace Protesters…”

Obama Democrats Protest Republican Convention

Just saw this story about how these lovely, tolerant, liberal, peace protesters greeted the start of the Republican National Convention in Minnesota.

This quote from the article could have come straight from the platform of “the other guys”…

At a rally preceding the march, speaker after speaker called for ending the war in Iraq and more spending on domestic needs.

So much for the “tolerance” of the enlightened left. (Oh, I guess this bunch will vote for The Messiah come November.)

September 1! Labor Day! Christmas Music Begins!

You long-time readers of this space – all two of you! – will recognize that today is a red-and-green-letter day at the ol’ Just Charlie hacienda. It’s the day that Christmas music officially makes its debut for the year!

Go ahead…call me crazy if you want. Tell me it’s too early. Tell me I’ll be tired of it before Halloween. Tell me it’s too hot for Christmas music. Tell me all that if you must. I can barely wait for Labor Day each year because I just love the music of Christmas!

I let Pandora’s Jazz Holidays channel do the picking today, and as usual, it did not disappoint!

First up was The Eddie Higgins Trio doing “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Following that was Oscar Peterson’s “White Christmas,” Joe Pass’s great rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and right at this very moment…the great Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas classic “Christmas Time is Here!”

Grill your burgers and dogs. Spend one last day at the beach or the pool. Wear your white shoes and seersucker one last time. As for me, I’m listening to Christmas music!

Is It November Yet?

Crap! It’s only August, and I’m already waaaaaayyyy past tired of the political garbage!

Since the Dims are having their coronation/love fest this week, let’s make some observations about them, shall we? Here we go…

  • Somebody really needs to give these guys a current newspaper. And a copy of the Constitution. See, they think the President is able to run again. No, they think he is running again.
  • I thought it was funny when they showed a picture with the caption and announcement “The Women of the United States Senate.” And The Messiah was standing in the middle of them! (Not sure who that says the most about…himHim or them!)
  • I also thought it was funny that they left out the rest of “The Women of the United States Senate.”
  • Loved the sign from Emily’s List: “When women vote, Democrats win!” Nuff said…
  • They had a bunch of protesters who planned to levitate the Denver Mint Building! What?!?!?!
  • Oh, and The Messiah mentioned last night that heHe was with some family in St. Louis. Except heHe was really in Kansas City. Oops! Oh, well, heHe was in some city in one of the 57 states, and that’s all that counts!
  • Is heHe really smarter than a 5th grader? Seems hisHis daughter had to remind himHim where heHe really was.
  • Sorry…from this point on, I need to remember to capitalize the personal pronouns when referring to The Messiah. I’ll fix that in a minute…
  • Oh, and there was ol’ Kennedy…I know Teddy’s got cancer and all that. I’m truly sorry. Maybe it’ll keep him from behind the wheel these days.
  • It would be really funny – and totally expected – if Missus Clinton were to throw down the gauntlet tonight. How long has it been since there’s actually been a floor fight at one of the major political conventions/productions/lovefests?
  • Well, I’m off to see which jacket they chose for Her Highness to wear along with the black pants…eewwww!

Tennyson, on American Politics…

Did you watch the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency Saturday night? Rick Warren hosted Senators McCain and Obama in a conversation format that was pretty interesting and insightful.

I’ve got to tell you that I’m not really enamored of either of these guys, and there was at least one moment in each of their conversations where I thought of these lines from Tennyson’s Maud

Ah God, for a man with heart, head, hand,
Like some of the simple great ones gone
For ever and ever by,
One still strong man in a blatant land,
Whatever they call him, what care I,
Aristocrat, democrat, autocrat–one
Who can rule and dare not lie.