The Debates That Will Never Happen

Dateline: From Richard’s World

Well, another Republican debate in the books. And I watched every minute. Even watched some of the talking heads afterwards. And they were still talking this morning and all afternoon today. What about? Sound bites. Who scored the best laugh line? The best knock on the other candidate. And on and on …. blah, blah, blah, … yada, yada, yada. Hardly a word about substance.

Not that there was much substance. How can there be when the game is rigged? I don’t where they went to school or what their definition of a debate is, but that was no debate. That was sound bites. And right now, I don’t think we need sound bites as we try to get educated about the person who will face off in the POTUS election next year.

In Richard’s World, this is how debates would be conducted. They are based on business meetings where you bring in the big dogs, the muckety-mucks, and they all sit around a big round table and hash it out. There is a facilitator to keep things civil and moving along. Other than that, it is adults hashing it out – no physical punches allowed.

So, The Debates That Will Never Happen is where all of the candidates are sitting around a big round table. The cameras are positioned so they can get everyone – logistical matter for TV people – not my expertise. Time limit on total debate length to be determined by majority vote between the candidates.

The first one is a free-for-all. No questions from anyone but the candidates and statements by the same. They get five minutes each for opening statements. Then let the fun begin. Then 5 minutes for closing statements.

Who goes first? I don’t know., Draw short straw or do Scissor, Paper, Rock. The public would love that and they understand it – it’s simple. Everyone knows the rules.

The winner goes first. Remember, no rules, just civil debate between “friends” trying to solve a problem. Eventually, others will join in. They start having real debate. If someone gets out of line or someone is hogging the floor, the facilitator jumps in and restores order.

At the end of this first Debate That Will Never Happen, another one is planned for each and every month afterwards until the final candidate is chosen at the convention.

At the following Debates That Will Never Happen, there is a big bowl in the center of the table. In the bowl are questions submitted by registered voters. Granted, someone, maybe someone from the RNC, will need to cull through the questions beforehand and make sure the ones submitted from the dumb masses are thrown away. You know, we don’t want to waste time with questions like the talking heads ask, like, “Do you like Lady Gaga?”  Seriously, I heard this question asked of one of the Republican candidates weeks ago. Seriously. You get my drift. We want good questions from real voters.

Eventually, due to the format and business-like approach, several or one candidate will emerge that shows real leadership quality. Someone will stand out. And we’ll know a lot more about the candidates than we ever would using the current talking head format.

Next, we take this same format to the Presidental debates next fall.

I know, I know. You’re sitting there saying to yourself, great idea but this will never happen. You’re probably right. That’s why it is The Debates That Will Never Happen. But remember, you entered Richard’s World where we dream … and dream BIG!

Until next time – Richard

Supercommittee; Super Stupid

From Richard’s World

So now our lazy, so-called “statesmen” have selected their picks for the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also being called the Supercommittee and Super Congress. I call it Super Stupidology.

It’s just plain laziness, cowardly, and dereliction of elected duty, IMHO. And I’m afraid we’re headed down another slippery slop that will take more power away from the people and give it to a select few political insiders. I’m afraid.

The stated goal of the panel — composed of equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans from the House and the Senate — is to reduce federal budget deficits by a total of at least $1.5 trillion over 10 years. It was given a deadline of Nov. 23, 2011. Any recommendations it makes are to be voted on immediately by both chambers of Congress, with no filibusters or amendments allowed.

Read that again, please. Any recommendations it makes are to be voted on immediately by both chambers of Congress, with no filibusters or amendments allowed.

So why have the other legislators any more? Why not put the Supercommittee recommendations up on the Internet and let registered voters vote on them electronically – yea or nay. Why pay these hundreds of individuals to be there and all of their expenses and pensions and so on any longer. Shoot, we now have a Congress of 12 people.  Seems unconstitutional to me … but hey, what do I know … I live in Richard’s World.

I thought making legislation was about discussions, debates, compromise, amendments, and open dialogue in public. I read today where legislation has been introduced to FORCE this new Supercommittee to conduct their business in open public. So you know what that means, don’t you? Right now, as it is, they don’t have to conduct their business in open public. This is scary folks. Be very, very scared.

I know, I know … granted, Article I, § 5 of the Constitution provides that “Each House may determine the Rules of its proceedings.” They just changed their rules a tiny bit.  How convenient.

And the rules made by the Houses at one point may be changed later, and the Act acknowledges this: “The provisions of this title are enacted by Congress … with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change such rules (so far as relating to such House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of such House.”

But for some strange reason I’m just getting bad vibes from this Supercommittee idea. How about you?

Picking a Presidential Candidate

The Dragon in Wolf Clothing

Her Highness, Senator Clinton, began shedding her centrist ways at the recent Democratic Winter Meetings.  In example, her comment regarding the profits made by Exxon last quarter “I want to take those profits and put them into an alternative energy fund that will begin to fund alternative smart energy alternatives that will actually begin to move us toward the direction of independence.”

First, whoever is responsible for writing this comment for her should find a substitute for the word alternative!  More importantly, every person who thinks they understand the profit motive and the word socialism needs to rethink the definitions in “Hillaryspeak.”  Like it or not the profits made by Exxon are due to the American public and their non quenchable thirst for gasoline and petroleum products.  Who bought the products that allow Exxon to be so profitable?  A better question may be do we really care if they are profitable as long as the flow of gasoline continues?  I think the latter comment may be closer to the truth.  Senator Clinton is utilizing the age old practice of Demagoguery to increase her polling numbers and possibly because she feels the hot breath of Obama breathing on her neck.  She will have to unleash her true persona if she is to beat back the onslaught of “Mr. Clean”.  Pardon my paraphrase of Senator Biden’s verbal misdemeanor.

So now we have the wolf’s clothing being removed to make room for the fire breathing dragon lady known as Senator Clinton.  I cannot wait to see what outlandish comments she may let escape her oral cavity during the next few months.  I suspect the true socialist’s agenda may raise its ugly little head regarding not only the stealing of private enterprise funds (Exxon) but also the heavy yoke of additional taxes required to fund the plethora of social programs desired by the Democratic Party.  Does socialized medicine come to mind?  It should because the likes of Senator Clinton, Senator Kennedy and the current most powerful woman in America, Nancy Pelosi, would all like to force so-called medical care for everyone down our throats. 

Look at the current budget approved by the Bush administration!  2.9 Trillion dollars for a budget with which to run our country.  Our friends in Congress do not believe this is enough and would like to increase the budget to accommodate additional social programs (vote buying).  So now we know that with a population of 300,000,000 (not including illegal aliens) and a budget of 3 Trillion every man woman and child in the United States owes $10,000 apiece in order to fund the budget.  For argument sake let us say that there are only 200 million working people in our country paying taxes.  The bill now becomes $15,000 per working person.  How much tax did you pay last year?  More importantly, how much tax will you pay next year and in the future?  How in the name of common sense will our children and grandchildren live in such a suppressed society?  Regardless of your political, religious or societal affiliations you have to ask yourself the questions above and then put the pressure on our elected royalty in this country to actually do something. 

I suspect a lot of working individuals believe that the rich are not paying enough and that the good old boys currently in charge in Congress will see to it that this changes.  Poppycock! Do the research and you will see that roughly 5% of the American public pays 57% of the taxes in this country.  All we need is to tax those making more and the free enterprise system will fall about like a house of cards.  Where is the incentive to work and make more when the dragon lady is planning on appropriating any excess profits for redistribution to her favorite governmental charity?  I certainly cannot speak for anyone but myself but I would never want to see any branch of government be able to “steal” profits for redistributions from private enterprise.

My firm belief remains constant that Barack Obama and Hillary will eventually become running mates.  Our electorate is uninformed regarding factual information surrounding candidates and so brainwashed into the celebrity mentality that Obama is almost guaranteed a position should the Democrats win in 2008.  Barack Hussein Obama is indeed quick on his feet and gives a great impression during a grin and grab session.  His charisma and charm have generation X and Y all but swooning like giddy schoolgirls, but it remains to be seen if Gen X and Y will get out and vote.  Meanwhile the Republican Party remains on course to run another aging European American male.  The number of individuals remaining in America who will vote for the traditional candidate is shrinking every month and heaven knows who will be less polarizing to the Republican faithful. 

The countdown has begun and we only have 11 months until the first Presidential caucus.  How much money and how much ink are wasted determining the next candidate remains to be seen but I personally cannot wait to witness the verbal assault from Hillary once she receives the oral colonoscopy from the media.  Then we will see the wolf shed her fur and assume the true persona of a fire breathing scale covered dragon lady.

Remember picking a Presidential candidate is not brain surgery.

Terry

Ivory and Ebony in 2008

Ok, I must admit that I feel much safer now that Barack Obama has decided to take the first legal steps toward running for the Presidency of The United States.  NOT!!!  Are there any human beings with a body temperature of 98.6 who actually believe that Mr. Obama will run against Hillary?  Give me a small break!  Were I a betting man I would bet that the Democratic ticket for 2008 will be Clinton for President and Obama for President of Vice.

Barack Obama is indeed a fine looking young man and evidently has a lot of charm. I hardly think he has the same charisma of JFK although the media has already decided he is the second coming of John Kennedy.  He has a myriad of experience having been elected to the U.S. Senate exactly one time after serving for 2 terms in a state office in Illinois. (notice my tongue is sticking through my cheek.)  I hope his main qualification among those of voting age is not the fact that he is the only black member of the U.S. Senate.  One must admit however that a Presidential ticket that includes a white woman and the wife of an ex-President and a running mate who is young, smart, good looking and oh, by the way, is also African American would present an almost unbeatable ticket. The first woman President might serve for 2 terms and then the first Black Vice President could become the first Black President for 2 terms.  The Democrats would have the White House locked up for 16 years.  It is almost too perfect.  The only thing that could make it better would be for Mr. Obama to choose a Muslim for his VP running mate sometime after 2012.

One major problem would be Teddy Kennedy trying to pronounce Obama’s first name.  Usually, depending on how awake the Senator from Massachusetts may be, the name is slurred something like Osama Obama or Barack Osama.  That Teddy Kennedy, he is certainly a source of pride for The Bay State!

Clinton and Obama might make for an interesting ticket because it would be considered un-American and politically incorrect to vote against either of them.  I suspect Hillary would quickly find a way to avoid public scrutiny due to her disdain for answering questions that are not rehearsed or previously submitted to her staff for her approval.  Mr. Obama might have to take up the slack resulting from Hillary’s refusal or inability to give answers to any meaningful questions.  This would make for some very interesting behind the scenes jockeying as Hillary Rodham loves the spotlight but refuses to answer any serious questions and I suspect Obama will grab any microphone that is not glued down in order to get a few sound bites on the evening news.

Hang on boys and girls … the election of 2008 will indeed be a great awakening for those of you who still believe elections are won on integrity and principle.  Sound bites, good looks and little in the area of substance will certainly play well with the great unwashed voting public in 2008.  I cannot imagine who the Republican Party will run against Obama and Clinton. Perhaps Newt Gingrich, John McCain or whoever else decides to run on the Republican ticket should grow a beard and begin wearing black suits and a stovepipe hat and hope they are confused with a reincarnation of Abraham Lincoln.  The Republican Presidential candidate will also have to choose a good looking black woman to run as VP.  Condi Rice certainly has the intelligence but gets absolutely no respect from the press.  Perhaps Paula Abdul should be chosen and share her inside secrets from the American Idol Kool-Aid drinkers.  As a matter of fact, perhaps the Republicans should run an American Idol type of presidential race, the candidate could sing, dance and promise everything to everybody and then the public could vote on who they wanted to be the Republican candidate.  Wait a minute … the Democratic Party has already begun using that idea.  Oh well, I suppose we will have to become accustomed to ivory and ebony in the White House.

Terry