It clearly happened again with the Barack Obama brand.

A rookie voting record that shows marginal involvement or commitment to definition.

Close to zero actual non-scripted interviews

Close to zero actual non-scripted debate

Considerable & indisputable associations with advocates that most reasonable people would consider “radical” or at the very least… divisive

Now liberals definitely don’t have the market cornered on blind allegiance. But they definitely seem to excel at it and practice it regularly.

The Sarah Palin phenomenon is the perfect example. Look at how this woman has been attacked, smeared, doubted and generally run through the ringer. Did Joe Biden experience anything close to that when he was announced as the VP running mate? Of course he didn’t.

By the same token, look at the genuine excitement behind her. But “liking” or supporting someone doesn’t require the same amount of effort and due diligence as purposely attacking them does. It’s easy to fall for someone or something. Dislike or hate takes more of an attempt.

It’s basic psychology. Negativity requires a lot of energy.

Let’s be honest. Most of America hasn’t known (or known of!) Sarah Palin long enough to form such passionate opinions for or against her. Yet look at how the lemmings are behaving. On both sides.

By the same token, look at all the blind allegiance to the Barack Obama campaign.

Two years in the U.S. Senate. Seven years in the Illinois Senate. One loss in a primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives. One stirring keynote address at a Democratic National Convention. Two best-selling books.

That’s Barack Obama’s political résumé. Is it enough to qualify him to be president?

That’s debatable. But it’s interesting to consider that 95% of the experience he does have was completely off the radar of the vast majority of his current supporters. Yet they‘ll cast they’ll cast their vote for him and smear Sarah Palin… and do both with the greatest of ease.

Could either action possibly be that well researched or thought out?

Not anymore than last season’s vote for American Idol.

No disrespect to David Cook. He rocked. But we just met him not too long ago as well.

Before we start high-5ing or arguing… let me begin by saying I’m glad you are here. You are part of what will quickly become an entertaining and informative discussion database. Discussion is important. Over the years we’ve all experienced countless examples of everyday people (of all ideologies) passionately expressing viewpoints and opinions based solely on media soundbites.

People hear something enough… they absorb it.

There’s no better recent example than the Obama campaign mantra of “change”. It’s been repeated endlessly to the point where everyday people are basing their voting privilege on this one word slogan. Yet when asked… very few can express in any specific detail exactly what this change might be. Generalities are easy and shouldn’t count towards actual substance.

Change is sometimes good, but I like my change exact and counted out.

Cashiers out there: Try giving a customer a random handful of change and let me know how that works out for ya.

Kudos to those in charge of the Obama branding and marketing strategy. Whether or not it wins him the presidency, it would be ignorant not to acknowledge the Obama campaign’s effectiveness.

On this part of the continent anyway, and within reason… we are free to discuss whatever we want. It’s my experience that there is a significant portion of modern day Americans, Canadians (and yes… Europeans too) who don’t sincerely appreciate that wonderful freedom. And by sincere I mean evangelically feelin’ it. Shallow appreciation is also easy and shouldn’t count either.

The majority of us are extremely fortunate to live the lives we do. We’re so fortunate and comfortable (in relation to say… I dunno… Mexico, Afghanistan, Haiti!!!) not only is it an inarguable fact that a size-able chunk of the population is apathetically unengaged… there’s a significant portion of the passionately engaged mindlessly repeating marketing slogans as well. All ideologies included.

And please spare me the specific sob stories. Most of us acknowledge that there are some extremely unfortunate circumstances out there. Thankfully we live in a country where there is an enormous amount of religious and secular philanthropy. In general, more than anywhere else on the planet… we’re very fortunate as a whole.

It’s also my opinion that we are at a cultural tipping point. The ever-present tug-of-war between left and right has created extremes on both sides that continue to push the limit of what is considered normal and acceptable. We get numb pretty quick.

A lot of time is spent arguing over titles. Let’s not waste each others time doing that here. For the record and sake of further discussion (and since it’s my playground) please refer to the chart below for BabyReagan.net’slay of the ideological landscape. If you don’t agree with the assessment… that’s OK. But it’s my assessment. And until I’m convinced or proven otherwise… that’s where I’m at.

You’ll notice there at the dividing line sits the tolerance and respect for Christianity. Not religion… Christianity.

No doubt there’s plenty of fertile, passionate discussion ground surrounding this alone. And I welcome it. But again, that’s the view from where I stand.

So let’s get to it. There’s plenty of topics to get started with more coming all the time.

Glad you’re here. Here we go.

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Engaging the youth has always been a tricky art-form. Sometimes art is good. Sometimes it’s not so good.

Below are some examples of exactly what NOT to do if the goal was to get the kids interested in Christ.

It’s wouldn’t be surprising if the Big Guy himself has these gems bookmarked.

Enjoy.

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Where to begin…

I will start off by celebrating the fact that I got to put fuel in my small roadster today! After practicing restraint and driving on fumes for a week, I was rewarded with no lines or hassles, however I was also reminded by a bag over the high octane pump that my suburban nightmare is far from over and my car will sputter. Days before, as I drove by the long lines of SUV’s, over-sized Tonka-Trucks with ‘W’ stickers, and weekend warriors pulling their speed boats to our dry lakes, I contemplated why greater Atlanta has been plagued now for a week with low fuel supplies. As I stopped by my local convenience store for my morning ritual of  “Sugar-Free Red Bull” I was fortunate enough to hear (between ‘Dancing with the Stars’ critiques), my fellow citizens trade theories and rumors on this dreadful plight.

My favorites, in no particular order:

1. The change over from summer gas to winter gas. (Sort of like… no whites after labor day?)

2. Our gas here has to be treated because of the smog crisis. (But the rest of the country is exempt? Hello, I lived in L.A.!)

3. Jesus is coming back. (Fine with me as long as he brings a fair health care plan along. Stone tablet form accepted. )

4. Ike and Gustav are to blame. (Damned foreigners! Immigration laws PLEASE!)

5. Just another way for the man to get rich. (I hear ya! Now could you please move your speed boat so I can back out?)

I start with this little diatribe because my column will have 1 common thread running throughout. My dream is for everyone to have… let’s all say it…. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!!! Accept your role in the ever growing fuel problem.

I am not a Democrat… I am not a Republican… I will not align myself with either. I will sometimes back one and sometimes the other and as in this election, a 3rd option. I have a spine, I have the set of values that I believe to be right and I understand that you will feel differently. Good, then let’s discuss each issue with respect and no party affiliation, deal? I know that I make bad choices sometimes and I try to remedy these when I see them as such. If I am in a political party, fixing a mistake is called “Flip-flopping or Waffling”, by the other side….. I prefer waffling, simply because I am hungry at this time. However, since I am independent, we can call it LEARNING an GROWING.

 My take on the whole 2 party system is that it makes it easy for a person to feel politically active and yet not have to watch each issue as it flows down the Potomac. For both “sides” I challenge you to search yourself and ask what is the real difference between a Fat Elephant and a Jack-ass. My take is this, not much. Religious toleration from the left could improve, don’t hate a Christian for wanting to hold strong to their beliefs. Right wingers, please stop using God as a role model, you fail… miserably.

SUGGESTION #1: How about the gay community and the Christian community, instead of throwing stones and fresh-baked muffins, sit down and come to an agreement on domestic partnership (civil union). I am neither a homosexual nor Christian, so I will be happy to mediate. If Christians hold sacred to “marriage” as a union ordained by God, fine. Keep it. But if a gay couple holds sacred a union ordained by love, then that is a beautiful thing, call it another name. It’s just a name … you know, like … Jehovah, God, Jesus, Yahweh, Allah or Kevin! Why would you want to have it ordained by a God that doesn’t approve of your lifestyle. (See: Leviticus 18:22 ; Leviticus 20:13 ; Romans 1: 26-27 ; ICorinthians 6:9 ; ITimothy 1: 8-11 ) 

Can’t you both show each other respect and have what you want? Unless, what you really want is to attack the “other side”. See my point? Tolerance is a two way street. Tolerance is NOT necessarily acceptance, stop standing at party lines. Let’s take those stones and build a cottage where we can sit down, have some muffins and solve a problem. AS PEOPLE!!! This is a state by state issue, if you are that bent out of shape… move, yes I am talking to both sides. If Georgia ever passes a law about young squirrel corruption I will move. Promise.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME THE WHOLE GAY CHRISTIAN RESPONSE, I KNOW THAT YOU EXIST, BUT REALLY… STUDY THE BOOK AND THEN TELL ME HOW YOU CAN BE BOTH … ONCE AGAIN I AM NEITHER. I KNOW THAT YOU CAN PROVE THAT YOU ARE GAY BUT CHRISTIAN IS A SELF PROCLAMATION … FROM BOTH SIDES. If you can reconcile being both in your head that is cool but your stance on this issue is then quite obvious. Stones and muffins!!! I am trying to be respectful to all. I will accept civil suggestions to make further strides in this area. Now I have to go get stoned and eat some blueberry muffins with my gay Muslim and Jewish friends.

PS. That was a joke … I don’t smoke pot, but I am voting Libertarian this year… and I loves me some muffins!

THIS WEEKS PET PEEVE:

Any “conservative” that agrees with the bailouts. Why should I slowly pay for these financial blunders?

Small government = TRUE conservative.

Don’t tell me about my retirement, I am self employed. I have no kids, so no college funds. If you breed, great, but I don’t, I chose a different lifestyle. Maybe the small car and no kids were a couple of my better choices.

That is all…

CARRY ON.

Not too long ago, the Bush Administration facilitated the nationalization of two enormous banks… Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

There are at the very least two enormous points of discussion here:

1. Fannie Mae’s Daniel Mudd and Freddie Mac’s Richard Syron stepped down but are helping with the transition of their companies into federal conservatorship under the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The agency has not said how much they will earn in their new roles.

Mudd earned $11.6 million last year, and Syronmade $18.3 million. In both cases, a large portion of their pay packages included stock that was valued much higher at the end of 2007 than it was as of Sept 8th, when it was trading at less than $1 a share.

By conservative estimates, Mudd, 49, and Syron, 64, will leave with an additional $7.3 million and $6.3 million, respectively, as part of a severance package, according to an analysis by Paul Hodgson at the Corporate Library.

“Had they left at the end of December, they both would have walked away with more than $20 million, but the drop in the stock price has had a dramatic impact,” said Hodgson, a senior research associate. “It’s still a substantial payoff for an executive who has managed a company so badly that the federal government has had to step in and save it.”

Simply put… these two were rewarded for failure. The dollars that they both received in their severance packages came from somewhere. Contracts are contracts. Understood. But don’t you think the money they did receive could’ve been applied to the situation at hand.

Because, as usual… guess whose paying the final bill?

Where is the public outcry? Hell… where are the lynchings! (semi-kidding)

2. Banks under federal control. Now we are being handed even more federal bail-outs. Do most folks realize that technically… the federal government doesn’t have any money in which to bail-out anyone out of anything?!?!?

They either print more currency (ummm… inflation anyone?) or they utilize tax money. (ummm… gee… wonder where they got that?)

When other countries federalize banks, we call it Communism/Socialism or worse.

Why is this OK?

Pitchforks and a road-trip to DC anyone?

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Every once in awhile there is an actual letter to the editor.

But 90% of the time that wonderful little newspaper has provided space for anyone with something to say and give them a voice to be heard. God Bless them for doing so. Some colorful characters have chimed in over the years and provided entertaining, informative and sometimes downright annoying commentary.

There have been some classic back-n-forths that lasted over several issuses.

In that same spirit comes the Cheatham County section of BabyReagan.net – Cheatham County is a wonderful place to call home. But make no mistake.. it’s not perfect and there are discussions that need to be had. BabyReagan.net will make a sincere and fair attempt to provide a forum where B.S be damned.

Please submit topic suggestions to cheathamcounty@babyreagan.net

Topics will roll out every Friday morning and the discussion will begin below.

To get things started… a multiple choice question. The topic: Elementary and Middle School Fundraising – You know… cookie dough, magazine subscriptions and “book club” catalogs that contain a significant number of non-book choices such as sticker books, posters and toys.

With elementary and now middle-school parental experience under my belt, I’ve always had a problem with the kids being used as sales leads. Aside from just feeling “wrong”, it got old real quick. There’s no shortage of opportunities for one to take an order form to work and hawk over-priced Carmel popcorn in deco containers. It’s for the kids of course.

It’s no secret that the schools are strapped for cash. That’s a WHOLE OTHER topic. And of of the things I hope to do with this site is try and find out why that is. Gather together the people that actually know the facts and figures of the dollars flowing in and out of the school system. Highlight what is working and identify the waste and mis-management. There are multiple revenue streams coming in. It’s hard to phathom there’s absolutely no room for improvement.

About that multiple choice question…

What makes more sense?

1. Have the children sell cookie dough for Otis Spunkmeyer and be rewarded a minimal percentage of the total sale for their noble little efforts. Just an example, but you get the spirit. When the kids are selling items for a third-party… they (the school) will only ever receive a small piece of the overall profit. We all know this.

2. There’s carnival day, field day, open house, family bashes… why not an annual “Give” day. On that day, families would simply give what they could to the schools. It could be hyped and presented as a fun annual challenge. Try to top the previous year. No selling anything. Just giving. And the schools keep all the money. It’s a good bet that the local generosity would be overwhelming.

3. Perhaps you-the-reader might have an even better suggestion. Let’s hear it.

Keeping the schools strong, in order and running like well-oiled machines is essential. Let’s discuss how to do it better. Opinions run very deep when talking about the schools. Understood. These are our kids we are talikng about. Passion will be tolerated. Idiocy will not.

Let’s adhere to the Aretha Franklin Principle OK?

Please.

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