01.13.10

Sarah wasn’t the one going rogue . . .

Posted in Essays at 8:47 am by LeftBrainFemale

It was, in reality, her predecessors and most of the politicos currently practicing politics who went rogue - and who continue to do so!

Looking at the various definitions of the word rogue, it just fits too many of their ilk - and resembles Sarah but little:

1 : vagrant, tramp
2 : a dishonest or worthless person : scoundrel
3 : a mischievous person : scamp
4 : a horse inclined to shirk or misbehave
5 : an individual exhibiting a chance and usually inferior biological variation

As you can probably guess, I just finished Sarah Palin’s book, “Going Rogue - An American Life”.

In all honesty, I admired Sarah even before she hit the National political scene - I’d read about her work in Alaska long before John McCain chose her as his running mate.  I didn’t really expect reading her book would change my opinion of her, but in fact, it caused me to have even more respect for her and what she has accomplished in Alaska, and more angry and disgusted with the treatment she received at the hands of the media and the so-called “handlers” of the presidential campaign.

It was actually those handlers who tagged her with the moniker of “going rogue” when she candidly answered a reporter’s question without first clearing it with senior staffers in the campaign.

Sarah was able to walk a very fine line in writing about her experiences - she tries very hard to put a positive spin on the motives of even the most corrupt of those she has dealt with in her public and private life.  I enjoyed very much reading about her upbringing and what lead her to enter public service.  It’s never easy to buck the system and the “old boy network”, but Sarah’s integrity wouldn’t allow her to accept the corrupt business as usual.

After being tapped as the VP running mate by the McCain campaign, it was disappointing to Sarah to find that she was now subject to constraints that she had shaken off as Governor of Alaska.  She had developed a good rapport with several media outlets and knew some of her local reporters very well - but the GOP handlers would not allow her to even speak with them.  And they wonder why the press doesn’t trust them, and their reports are so biased?  How do you think those folks felt when, having been accustomed to free access to her, suddenly were shut out - and did not hear from her?

I have to say, it has really caused me to think that perhaps there is a reason why our media is so biased.  Could it be that for years, they have felt shut out by the conservatives to the point that it seemed that we were hiding something?  And if we have nothing to hide, then let’s let the sun shine in!  We’ve created a monster media - a group of reporters and journalists who not only do not trust us, but who feel that they have to spin everything to fit what they believe about us.  Folks like Andrew Breitbart and PJTV are doing their best to lead the charge, but you know, if some of the *politicians* would stop campaigning and do what Sarah did - damn the torpedos, do what’s right for your constituents, talk to the media, open the windows, we might just get somewhere.  Yes, there might be some negative spin from your press at first - they might not trust you, they might think you’re setting ‘em up - but if you’re walking the walk - not just talking the talk, you might really begin to develop a modicum of trust.  We could even end up with a press that is friendly to conservatives!  Certainly not all, but even a few more than we have now would be a start!

I’ll just wind this up by saying that if you don’t know much about Sarah, you really owe it to yourself to read her book!

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11.30.09

Quick link to a Blogger/Tea Partier

Posted in Essays at 10:39 am by LeftBrainFemale

If you haven’t heard of Lloyd Marcus, you just haven’t been to the right tea party, LOL (tongue firmly in cheek here).

Lloyd is a very talented writer/speaker/songster and he posted on his site last week a post that goes hand in hand with one I wrote a couple weeks ago.  His topic?  Obamazilla.  Trust me, it’s worth a read!  Go.  Here.  Now.

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11.24.09

Rally Update

Posted in Essays at 10:23 am by LeftBrainFemale

Well, never say something is set in stone, LOL!

Our friend, Glenn Beck, announced a new rally for August 28, 2010, and that effectively killed the M.O.M. for America Rally date of August 14, 2010.  It wasn’t the first time I’ve hitched my wagon to a falling star, LOL, and it probably won’t be the last.  The folks at M.O.M. for America are quickly trying to revamp to have a jamboree and meet and greet for the same weekend, and I wish them well, and hope to meet some of the moms that I’ve gotten to know virtually.  For me, the focus has changed to be that of education as Glenn has called for, and to that end, I’ve joined the I Love the USA group.  Our mission is to share information on our founding documents and history, to educate ourselves that we might know how to go about salvaging this great country!

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10.29.09

Encouragement

Posted in Essays at 10:38 am by LeftBrainFemale

On Monday, I wrote of our need to stick together as we all work toward a common goal:

Simply joining several groups is not really helping any one cause. It’s really just preaching to the choir. If you have that much free time, choose a group that appeals to you, and stick to ‘em like glue! Do everything you can to help them to reach their goals. Don’t waste time trying to denigrate the work being done by others - because when you do, you’re part of the problem - and NONE of us will be successful!

This week, for those who are interested, I’m divulging my *personal* preference. As a concerned-for-my-family-and-my-children’s-future mom, I have joined several different networks. Up to the last month, however, I have not been particularly active in any of these networks.

What changed that was the group M.O.M. for America. M.O.M. sprung out of the As a Mom group of Glen Beck fame, and I was part of that group for a short time as well - but it grew so quickly that it appeared to me to be spiraling out of control. It’s still a great group for networking with other moms, but frankly, I wanted to do more! I wanted to ally myself with a group of women that I felt at home with, and that were really more interested in working toward a common goal - i.e. the Millions of Moms M.O.M. for America Rally. If you are a like minded mom, or husband of one, I highly recommend this organization. We’re truly grassroots, but with a great organizational leadership in place. Our rally date of August 14, 2010 is now set in stone, but we’re still small enough that we’re still in the planning stages. We can use good help in a number of areas, so sign on and join the official group and your state group!

Now, aside from my chosen group, a few suggestions for anyone who is ready to be in activist mode - no matter which network you’re affiliated with. There are many things that come up, some of which sound very plausible, some not so much. If you get word that someone in authority said something outrageous, double and triple check your sources before you share it! Remember that you represent something much bigger than yourself. If you don’t want your organization to be marginalized by the alphabet soup of network news programs, you MUST not subscribe to any information that is circumspect at best. Don’t give them any reason to prove that you’re just another network of right wing nut jobs!

On our group right now, we’re getting ready to share in reading the Healthcare Bill. We’re also protesting and writing our letters to editors of our local newspapers on healthcare.

There is much more going on, but I’ve gotta get busy reading!

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10.26.09

Time to shake out the mothballs!

Posted in Essays at 2:17 pm by LeftBrainFemale

I’ve been debating with myself for weeks now - after months and months of frustrations, I just couldn’t seem to get to the point that I felt ready to commit to writing again. But with the way things are going, I think if ever there was a time when *I* need an outlet, this would be it!

I’ve left this blog up for several years now, and personally a few things have changed. I no longer homeschool my daughters - but I’m still certainly an advocate of homeschooling. Homeschooling gave me the time to work with my daughters and give them the firm foundation of character that has always been more important to me than a straight A report card. For those who are interested, yes, they adapted very well going into 7th & 8th grades, now in 8th & 9th, and while I frequently miss having them at home, and often spend as much time each week teaching as I did when we homeschooled, for us, this was the right decision.

Another change is that I am no longer a part of The Liberty Papers. I really enjoyed being a part of a group blog back when that was first formed, but after the original founder, Eric, had to leave, it seemed their focus shifted - and the entire tenor of the blog changed. Despite checking back periodically over the last 3 years, it seems that they have relegated themselves strictly to a big “L” libertarian viewpoint, and many hot topics that we would once have jumped all over were left unremarked upon and relegated to being completely ignored.

And now to get to the point of this post - and why I feel so compelled to help this blog rise from the ashes . . .

This country is at an absolute crossroads. Never in my life, nor indeed in the life of my parents or grandparents, have we ever been in such a precarious situation with regard to our Life, Liberty & Pursuit of Happiness.

This morning, while helping my high schooler study her history, I found this quote in her McDougal Littell World History book - in the Chapter on “Classical Greece” under the heading “Tyrants Seize Power”.

“Unlike today, tyrants generally were not considered harsh and cruel. Rather, they were looked upon as leaders who would work for the interests of the ordinary people. Once in power, for example, tyrants often set up building programs to provide jobs and housing for their supporters.”

How’s that for rewriting history? And at the same time, who can not see that by that very explanation, the abomination in the white house is a tyrant!

To slightly paraphrase Shakespeare, “Friends, and countrymen, lend me your ears!” At this point, there are so many different groups that are assembling to work toward defending our nation and our constitution (which is, arguably at this point almost unrecognizable) that I feel a few words need to be spoken to ALL.

It is important for us all to remember, that whether we are part of Freedom Works, Resist Net, The 912 Project, M.O.M. for America, As A Mom, Team Sarah, Smart Girl Politics, etc. that we are all, in the big picture, working toward the same goal. If you have the time to keep up with them, by all means, join one or more active groups, but few of us really have that kind of time.

Simply joining several groups is not really helping any one cause. It’s really just preaching to the choir. If you have that much free time, choose a group that appeals to you, and stick to ‘em like glue! Do everything you can to help them to reach their goals. Don’t waste time trying to denigrate the work being done by others - because when you do, you’re part of the problem - and NONE of us will be successful!

It is absolutely imperative that we all support each other - not try to tear each other down. If one group chooses to march on Washington a particular month and another does not - that’s okay! Our country is filled with MILLIONS of people. If you’re a conservative Christian reading this, you need to realize that there are some atheists and agnostics out there who are just as dismayed as you are by what is being done by the current administration. Recognize that you need to reach out to some who may not share all your values and beliefs. If you can remember to let your light shine without trying to convert every soul you meet, you might find yourself more successful at rallying support.

If you’re a little more left of center and reading this, recognize that if you’re opposed to the socialization of this country, of necessity you may find yourself surrounded by some fairly staunch conservatives. You might just have to swallow some of those retorts that spring to your lips if you happen to be atheist or agnostic! If you want to work for the greater good, then really strive to NOT take offense.

If you’re a member of any group, and you can’t figure out what to do, or how you can be of help, look to your leadership. Pass out fliers or pamphlets whenever you’re in town. Wear your tea party shirts. Contact your radio stations. Speak up when the opportunity arises - but do it in a respectful manner. Write or call your congressmen and women.

Remember, above all, that a house divided against itself cannot stand. If we sow the seeds of divisiveness among other groups that are working alongside us with a common goal, then we are no better than astroturf - because the weeds will grow up and choke out all the good grass.

A final word. As we studied her history this morning, one of my daughter’s vocabulary words was phalanx. It’s no longer much used, of course, but I want to leave you with this image in your mind. A phalanx was a fighting formation of foot soldiers who stood shoulder to shoulder, each holding a spear in one hand, and a shield in the other. Together they formed a formidable foe. Let us all stick together, and form a phalanx that we can not be torn apart.

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03.22.09

Orlando Tea Party

Posted in Life, Liberty, Property, Miscellany at 6:20 pm by LeftBrainFemale

All I can say is WOW! I haven’t written much lately - frankly, I’ve been too disheartened to do so. I actually thought, for about 5 minutes, that maybe our new president wouldn’t be too bad - thought perhaps I’d misjudged him and he was really just young and inexperienced. Like I said, that lasted about 5 minutes. Then he opened his mouth and spoke those fatal (to my hopes) words “I won”.

And with that utterance, all hope died, and he cemented, forever in my mind, the picture of the arrogant, immature, scheming and conniving son of a gun that we’re stuck with for the next four years.

So what can we now do? Well, when I heard about the Tea Party movement and found that there was going to be one in our area, I knew I had to go - and drag the family along with me!

It was a beautiful sunny day on the shores of Lake Eola in Orlando, and we all enjoyed it. We were running late, arrived about 20 minutes before the official start of the event, and due to the crowds, we couldn’t get within 200 yards of the amphitheater. But we could hear most of the emcee’d words by our own Bud Hedinger. Bud is a long-time Florida notable who currently hosts his own radio show in the afternoons on 540 WFLA after Rush’s show completes at 3 p.m. Bud read a list of grievances sent in by listeners, and that list was later signed by thousands of attendees.

The crowd was very polite, and composed of all ages - infants to aged. I saw a dog with a sign saying “I work for my food”, and an elderly woman with a sign on her walker. Everyone seemed friendly and happy to be a part of the assembly, and I did not note any garbage being strewn around.
Initial reports that I read or heard placed the number of attendees at around 3000, but I’ve since heard over 6000; that seems more accurate to me. The Disney Bandshell Amphitheater where the event was staged will seat 936 people - since it’s kind of a “bowl” design with a berm of high ground surrounding it, and that hillock was completely covered over with attendees, we couldn’t even see the seats when we arrived, but I’m certain they were all filled. The only way I could get any pictures of the stage were for my taller-than-I husband to hold his camera up in the air and shoot!

Toward the end of the event, we rented one of the electric gondola’s to take a little ride on Lake Eola, and it gave us a different perspective on the crowd.

One thing that rankled all day was the lack of ANY media coverage prior to the event. I shouldn’t be surprised, I know. We were competing, as far as events go, with the Winter Park Art Festival and - believe it or not - a Lemonade Stand. Now I certainly have nothing disparaging to say about either event - we have been, many times to the Winter Park Art Festival, and the young girl who’s mother died of cancer was surely running her lemonade stand for a worthy cause. But wouldn’t you think that some small mention might have been made prior to the event? What’s really disgusting to me, is that after the event, my family and I decided to have a late lunch/early dinner at a small cafe (The Metro Espresso Pizza Cafe). Due to the fact that there had been absolutely NO media coverage prior to the event, these small businesses near the event had no warning that they might get some extra business, and therefore, they were completely unprepared. We actually had a very nice dinner, and our server was very sweet and apologetic that it took so long for our orders to come up, but we assured her that we were fine and all was well. She told us that they usually have quite a bit of advance notice on events at Lake Eola, but this one - no notice whatsoever. So, note to event organizers - you can’t count on the media to advertise for you, but it would be great if you contacted local restaurants or businesses if your event time would coincide in some nice extra business for them!

At any rate, we were happy to share the day with so many like-minded people, and I highly recommend supporting these events should they be organized in your area. Enjoy a few more photos of the day below:

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10.18.08

Yes, I too, am Joe!

Posted in Miscellany, Silly Stuff, Strictly Opinion at 6:42 pm by LeftBrainFemale

This is a wonderful meme, and I give props to Joe and to Iowahawk for these words! Spread the word! What the media and the democrats have done to this man is unconscionable.

I. AM. JOE.

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09.30.08

We don’t want no stinking bailout . . .

Posted in Miscellany at 6:18 am by LeftBrainFemale

It seems that the country has spoken - and their congressmen heard them! The proposed bailout has failed, and the next few weeks could be verrrry interesting.

Some of us have seen this as a very political ploy from the very beginning - all the doom and gloom - not that there isn’t plenty of that to go around, but the timing of the reporting of a looming financial disaster seems to be particularly telling.

It seems that one party, in particular, that has control of the house - and seemingly had enough votes to carry the bailout on their own - decided instead to become chummy and try to “reach across the aisle” to their “opposition”. When that failed, it gives them just the excuse they wanted to be able to lay blame.

There is just one problem - the facts don’t jibe with their version of reality.

For an absolutely fantastic video on what caused all this . . .

Burning Down the House

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