PTSD article highlighted in New Mexico

I got an email from Bernard Schaer who has started a political blog called "The Daily Crock." Mr Schaer asked permission (which was granted) to re-run my column - A President with PTSD? He also wanted to add me to his radio show's guest list (which I agreed to).

I noticed in the Times-Standard Blogs& Forums sections that this PTSD column got 50 comments online. Most agreed it would be risky to have someone running the country with PTSD. McCain's temper is legendary, and also heavily documented. Sure sounds like PTSD to me.

TODAY'S THREAD:

Some people think that my column on PTSD was negative because it pointed out the challenges a person faces and even gives the suggestion that they might now be able to work a regular job. Do you think the column puts down those who suffer with PTSD?

Farnsworth's Folly & Futureshock

My latest column with Nolan Chart is about television and it's place in Americana, yesterday and today.

What happened to the issue of health care?

Sen.McCain and Sen.Obama aren't talking health care lately. What's the deal? How did the issue that almost got Sen.Hillary Clinton elected disappear?

Do the presidential candidates think Americans are no longer interested in the issue? If so, their making a big mistake.

Health care affects the majority of American's, and continues to get more expensive and less available to the poor and middle class. This issue can't be ignored. To do so, would be a disservice to the entire country.

                                      TODAY'S THREAD:

Where do you rank health care among the other issues of the day that the candidates should be addressing?

Foxes Guarding hen houses?

What's up?

I just published my 2nd As It Stands column with Nolan Chart, and it's a topic that fits under the first amendment to the United States Constitution.

Curious? I go after those hoary lawmakers with facts and things that hold them to the light of day.

Is the media narrowing our choices for president?

In my first article for the Rational Review, which is actually Nolan Chart, I ask this question. What do you think?

See Forums & Blogs in the T-S

I'll start off by eating crow for not knowing all of the T-S outlets for reader comment. When Nick Anderson called and wanted to know if I was going to respond to some reader's comments regarding my recent column - Presidential libraries, charities, corruption - I wasn't sure who, or where, to respond too!

If you weren't already familiar with the T-S Online Blogs & Forums, then allow me to say they are another great way to comment on stories that you like, or don't like. Today a PR guy for a millionaire, left a comment regarding the above story. He challenged me and claimed that his master was just a globe-trotting guy who would never make covert deals with our past president.

Guess what? I asked for a list proving what I said wasn't true, and offered to give him a list supporting my claims that a lot of professional people thought that it was. Stay tuned. We'll see what happens next. Meanwhile check out the T-S Blogs & Forums everyday for some interesting reading.

Onward and Upward.

As It Stands says goodbye to a veteran

This Sunday's As It Stands will be talking about a local veteran who just suddenly died. His name was Bob Porter and he was a man who loved God, and his fellow veterans. He was a volunteer for the last two veteran stand downs here in Humboldt County. and a volunteer worker for the American Red Cross.

Bob wasn't famous, but he did make a positive impact on the people who knew him. Like many veterans, Bob had his problems, both physical and mental, and lived with pain. He still managed a smile however, and that's how I'll remember him.

If you haven't seen this week's McKinleyville Press make sure to pick one up. Especially if you'd like to know about an economical pet for the times!

There's no thread today. I don't have anything to say!

As It Stands debuts with Nolan Chart

I've been accepted as a guest columnist for Nolan chart, a national Libertarian Online Magazine. My first article with them deals with the fact that the media narrows our choices in a Presidential campaigns. I give the reader a list of EVERYONE who is running for President this year.

I hope this column gives everyone pause for thought. Let me know what you think about it.

Things are tough in today's economy

Wholesale prices are rising at the fastest pace since 1981, according to an article in the Washington Post today.

The reasons are varied, but the cost of materials used by businesses increased by 1.2 percent in July, and the cost has risen 9.8 percent during the last year.

Basically wholesale inflation translates into higher consumer costs. So far the Fed has not reacted to recent inflation reports for fear that higher borrowing costs would further slow the economy.

                                                                          TODAY'S THREAD

       Should the Fed keep watching the inflation figures in the hope that things will turn around soon?

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FOR THOSE READERS WHO MISSED MY SUNDAY COLUMN REGARDING CORRUPTION IN PRESIDENTIAL

FOUNDATIONS AND CHARITIES RECENTLY, HERE'S THE LINK.

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Monday Meanderings

I've signed up to be a guest columnist for The Rational Review, a Libertarian blog. The blogger and editor of the Online Magazine is Thomas L. Knapp of Missouri, who is the Vice-Presidential candidate for the BOSTON TEA PARTY.

Interestingly enough I took an Online test to see what type of political animal I am, and it said I was a Libertarian. But, just to confirm that I took another Online test and it said I was a Centrist. So I guess it's how someone forms the questions that decides what you are. An imperfect science at best.

Pakistanis are celebrating today as President Pervez Musharraf resigned. Many Pakistanis are happy to see the strongman go because they believe he was responsible for Minister Benazir Bhutto's death. In his resignation speech Musharraf blammed his political foes of conducting a vendetta against him.

TODAY'S THREAD:

The question now is whose going to step up and lead the country? To take it one step further, is the new leader going to help the US go after Osama Bin Laden who has been living in the Pakistan border region by Afghanistan?       

McCain Obama debate is revealing

The debate between Obama and McCain last night surprised some people, like me, that Mccain actually came across better than Obama. It was obvious that McCain knew how to push the right buttons(in this case Jingoism and patriotism). He proved that most Americans are into the short and sweet rhetoric.

Obama's mistake was in being too thoughtful about his replies. The white-dominated wealthy Republican audience heard the buzz words that make them happy and cheered when they were thrown out like tasty tidbits. After viewing the so-called debate (it really turned out to be a forum for McCain's blatherings with his handpicked audience), I came to the conclusion that Obama is in trouble.

I also came to a very troubling conclusion regarding McCain. He is probably going to be the next president and we can expect four more years of the Bush legacy, new enemies to attack, and no end to the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. The economy will continue to stagger and the rich will get richer.

The badly needed change in leadership isn't going to happen unless people recognize that McCain means four more years of the hell that we've been going through under the current Republican regime. If your a CEO or other wealthy-type, why would you vote for someone that is going to clean up your act and make the corporations pay taxes too?

Hell no...unless a miracle happens, Obama's race will keep the majority of white males from voting for him. That and his proposed changes to make things fair in this country, will assure that the power elite will refrain from voting for him.

                                                                               TODAY'S THREAD:

                                               Do you think Obama even has a chance in this election?  

Odd News & My Muse

Good day blog buddies! When I heard that a 3-foot penguin was being knighted in Scotland the other day my muse went wild and the result was a new column for The McKinleyville Press. In a nutshell, my pug Millie felt she was more deserving of some royal title than a penguin.

After all, she pointed out to me, she's descended from a long line of Royal Chinese lapdogs. I could not argue with that. She wanted the Chinese do do some sort of ceremony honoring her, but it turned out they were too busy with the Olympics. Instead I contacted one of America's "royal families" and the results were pretty funny.

I let you know when Jack publishes it.

                                                                 TODAY'S THREAD:

"Does Millie deserve to get some sort of royal recognition? If so then what would you suggest?

So it's finally friday...

After battling with computer gremlins this morning for two hours I'm glad to say I've overcame the creatures and am back online. The problem actually turned out to be a loose connection.

I want to remind everyone that HSU will be celebrating the new opening of the V.E.T.S program on Aug.28.

Here's a link for more information about the program.

I don't know about you but my week has flown by on the wings of my usual muse...writing. Working on columns, my blog, and new book, is making the days fly by. That doesn't even count my other daily activities that range from chief dishwasher to being the manager of four Fantasy Baseball teams.

This sure has been a wild week internationally with the Olympics and the invasion of Georgia. If you believe in God then pray for those poor civilians who are getting caught in the crossfire of this terrible invasion. Russia is once again the Bear That Roars and old imperialistic aims have been revived. Watch as the other republics - like the Ukraine - get invaded too.

                                                                             TODAY'S THREAD:

"What can the US and the world do to stop Russia's aggression against it's struggling democratic neighbors? 

A new arms race

Make no mistake, we're locked into a deadly arms race with China and it's happening in Cyber Space. There were 79,000 attempts to break into American computers in 2005, including the Army's 101st Airborn and 82nd Airborn Division, and the 4th Infantry Division. This year those attempts have increased.

Beiijing is trying to achieve "electronic dominance" over it's global rivals by 2050, particularly the US, England, Russia, and South Korea. What's really alarming is that the Chinese military manuals say the US is the country they are most likely to go to war against!

Our "chimp-in-charge," President Bush, has said that he was going to talk with the Chinese about this while he was at the Olympic Games. So far, I haven't heard a word about it.

                                                                              TODAY'S THREAD:

How dangerous do you think these cyber attacks are and what do you think we (as a country) should do about them?

More Mudslinging with new book

It looks like Jerome R. Corsi,PH.D. is back to his dirty tricks with a new book called "Obama Nation," in which he frankly said he wrote to attack Obama (and damn the facts) and make sure he doesn't get elected. Critics are already pointing out factual errors, but Corsi who was the co-author of "Unfit for Command" another attack book on a presidential hopeful John Kerry, really doesn't care. Mere facts don't bother this man. See Swift Boat For Veterans for further proof of his low-road attack philosophy.

THREAD: How do you feel about this kind of low-down journalism?

A link for readers

For those readers who didn't see my last column on animal activists.

Political mudslinging reaches new low

Hillary Rodham Clinton may not have gone with all of Mark Penn's suggestions during the primaries, but she did use one of them. Penn, a longtime pollster and strategist for Clinton's bid for the Democratic nomination for President, wanted Clinton to make an issue of Obama's "diverse, multicultural" upbringing.

He suggested, in a memo titled "Lack of American Roots" that Obama's, "roots to basic American values and culture are at best limited."

Fast forward to today and look at the Campaign that McCain's handlers are running. They have taken a cue from Penn's notebook, and are attacking Obama on nothing more than "he's different." McCain's campaign is taking the low road where Clinton left off, and he's trying to portray Obama as some sort of star - like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears - who is only an air-headed entertainer/speaker.

Forget about real issues like the economy and the two wars we're embroiled in, the McCain campaign would rather run a mudslinging contest and to rely on Jingoism to carry him to the White House.

 

TODAY's THREAD:

Is McCain's strategy going to be his key to the Oval Office?  

Presidential pardons are a bad idea

 

For our commander-in-thief, bumbling along in the final days of his occupancy in the White House, there is one last perk that he'll get this December.

Every lame duck president has taken advantage of this blanket pardon  idea since Washington pardoned the men who started the so-called whiskey rebellion in 1794.

Some past examples are; Nixon pardoned Jimmy Hoffa, President Ford pardoned Nixon, Jimmy Carter pardoned Vietnam war draft dodgers in 1977, President H.W. Bush pardoned Casper Weinberger, and President Clinton pardoned his buddy Marc Rich after getting hefty donations from his wife Denise.

My point? Abuse of power. There's been times, as in President Carter's case, that the pardon really was warranted. But there also has been numerous cases of really bad people getting a pardon like Marc Rich (who by the way fled the country and was pardoned while living overseas.)

Here's more information about presidential handouts.

TODAY'S THREAD:

Should the practice of presidential pardons be stopped? 

Monkeying around...

These guys are wondering when the next As It Stands column is coming out in the Mack Press?

The answer? August 19th

The subject is: economical pets...hmmmmm

Recycle Or Else!

Another week is underway blogger buddies and today's topic is about forced recycling.

Apparently San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom thinks that "enforced" recycling is the answer to the city's trash problems.

He floated the idea of having mandatory recycling, like some other cities do, and went one step further, creating the first composting law in the country.

Customers will get colored bins and God help them if the coffee grounds are found drizzling through the wrong colored bin! Gavin is proposing a $1,000 fine for violators. I suppose they will also have to create "trash police" to enforce such a draconian law!

TODAY'S THREAD:

Should people be forced to compost - even if it means enforcing the law with big fines?
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