University Blog

2009-04-05T02:06:00.006-05:00

Update (5/30/09):
www.OurCRNC.org

It's Convention time again!
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Blog Lagging, but...
Once again, it is tremendously frustrating, with so many things going on, so many issues that I wish to blog about**, but being preoccupied with other responsibilities, necessities, or distractions and hindrances. The big election (Illinois Consolidated Election Day, for key local races throughout this state), is now only three days away. Though I was planning on getting a certain candidate-support website built and up, a week before the Election (like I did last time, for [now-Alderman] Frank Lesko), interruptions, temptations, as well as very-legitimate duties delayed my progress on that, until late tonight (two pages still need to be completed):

www.CapitalTownship.com

As I don't seem to be making progress, insofar as blogging, and since the big day is so soon, I have decided to give up.

No, I'm not going to close (or even formally suspend) this blog.

I'm going to go ahead and get Christian Hartsock set up (as discussed before), something that I was planning on doing, after publishing certain entries, but since there are other pressing matters, I am going to go ahead and ask him if he would like to [finally!] resume blogging here. Another reason I'm going ahead with this is that I saw that he now has his own Wikipedia encyclopedia article!! (Who am I to delay someone that famous from writing here?! ;-)

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** Christian will hopefully still have the time to guest-blog. Regarding what I mentioned above, about my own blogging; as I've said several times, I have a lengthy backlog, and some of those entries are saved as drafts. But in very-recent times, here is what I wanted to post:

- Fisking the deceptive nonsense from the extremist Southern Poverty Law Center, regarding the immigration reduction movement - which was recently picked up by the New York Times blog.

- Fisking the deception nonsense from the extremist Southern Poverty Law Center, regarding traditionalist young conservatives (who I know personally), and who have been publicly maligned.

- I just found out that the SPLC has even gone so far, as to add to their "Hate Group" labeling/libeling, our friends at the Illinois Family Institute!!

- Thankfully, the SPLC may be embroiled in another scandal, regarding the Missouri fusion center documents. This will hopefully serve as a tipping point, for organizations to finally marginalize this phony "civil rights organization"... And I hope that groups like the ACLU will join with us, in this regard; especially considering the surveillance issues.

- The article from The Hill lifted my hopes, as did the formation of Progressives for Immigration Reform. We have discussed before how it has been those on the political left who have actually been at the forefront of the immigration reduction movement, even before many conservatives joined on. Just as change in foreign policy, and support for the anti-war position will not be possible without conservative and GOP support, I think that the only way we may be able to make major progress, in the immigration field, is to amplify, support, and work with those who disagree with us on other major issues, but who concur on this matter, due to labor, social justice, minority-rights, and environmental issues (many of those reasons and rationales we also share). We need to form a left-right (and libertarian!!) coalition against illegal immigration, and in favor of a reduction in legal immigration as well, like we had a decade ago, with the esteemed Barbara Jordan (D-TX), and U.S. Senators Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Harry Reid (D-NV) [and also President Clinton, though he failed on this, after using it to help get re-elected], along with groups like the Wilderness Society and the AFL-CIO, and a diverse array of other conservative, liberal, conservationist, environmentalists, and civil rights organizations.

In the meantime though, welcome back, Christian Hartsock, from the [once-]Golden State of "Cully-Fone-Ya"!!

2009-03-15T23:45:00.002-05:00

Before it's over
I had a rough Sunday today (following a rough week, w/ influenza - see below), but it was preceded by an unusually-good week. This upcoming week will be good as well.

I do (I know I've said this before, but...) still plan to do those entries, regarding CPAC 2009. I did not end up making it up north, for the YAF Midwest Conference. (Oh well...)

For now however:

TODAY is the Ides of March!!

BEWARE!!!!!!

2009-03-10T19:44:00.004-05:00

Update (3/11/09): Posting this article here will allow me to close another one of my SeaMonkey browser windows, and it'll also share something, regarding an area I need to get a handle on!
The Quest for the Nearly-empty Inbox

Update (3/15/09): I have more-recently kept this blogger's entry open, since this is pertinent to my situation of this week (and perhaps in the future)... Wow! - While I was starting to type this update (Community Access Channel 4 is on, as I frequently have it), Prophet Michael read from the book of Peter, and specifically said a verse that I had just been thinking of, which is near and dear to me (pertinent to my conversion testimony, a topic we'll deal with later on this blog). That is a different verse, but from the same Book & chapter, that is cited in aforesaid blogger's entry.

Influenza
In the last entry, I mentioned recent experiences, recent frustrations, and that I had some drafted-out blog entries that I wanted to publish next. (With the month ending so abruptly [Februarys are like that! ;-], those entries wouldn't be on the same archive page, but oh well.

However, that has had to be delayed... And Christian Hartsock guest-blogging here has also had to be delayed - as has my progress, in finding a good position; I was doing well last week, though!... At the end of that good week (i.e., on this past Saturday) I came down with something; a visit to the Clinic the following day revealed it to be influenza.

Respiratory illnesses finally make way to area | Flu finally arrives in central Illinois

I was vaccinated a couple of months ago, but was told that that didn't matter much, since the flu vaccine is only for the anticipated strain(s) of the virus.

One symptom of this was that looking at a television was sometimes difficult (because of the light), so using this laptop was not that much of an option, this past weekend. I did register for the Young America's Foundation (YAF) Midwest Conference (like we did, last time - Spring 2007), which is next weekend; and this time, it's only half the distance (in Chicago, rather than Minneapolis); I got one of the current UIS CR & SCS leaders to register as well; I think that this might be Mid-Terms Week for them.

There is so much that I would like to get done before the YAF Midwest Conference [that was already the case, as you know but I was actually starting to make good progress this time!!], but I need for this flu to pass (and for some other painful conditions to pass as well!!).

That follow-up half-day seminar from StoresOnline (mentioned below, though from web research, it looks like it may not be worth pursuing anyway) can be re-scheduled. I think I now need to prioritize and limit what I am involved with... But at the same time, find ways to optimize my abilities and productivity. I have so many talents and skills; I need to get them organized and put into practice, on a major basis.

Help from the Lord is going to be essential; His assistance can cause us to achieve things we ourselves are not capable of.

Thanks for your prayers. I will be back here soon!!

2009-02-28T16:30:00.004-06:00

This entry was conceived, on Crowne Plaza Springfield stationery, while I was at the dinner-portion of a Dinner Presentation by StoresOnline, which I had decided to see about; while I'm still looking for a job, I'm also looking at residual-income or other non-traditional income opportunities.

From the Springfield Crowne Plaza, on Friday (February 27th) evening (though finally being typed on the night of Wed., March 4th, partially because the internet was out that night... Had a I known that, I might've gone to Perkins again [or elsewhere], as their "dinner" was unusually not-good... described by the woman sitting next to me as "bread and water" [no coffee!] ;-) :

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Tonight, instead of being at CPAC 2009 (there are 12 UIS College Republicans in Washington, D.C. right now, for CPAC; I'm not an enrolled student anymore, but could've gone with them), I am at a dinner seminar for StoresOnline. I have been looking for residual or web-based income opportunities... And an old friend recently mentioned the possibility of getting into drop-shipping.

So, this seemed like good timing.

However, the presentation didn't have much, and there is a follow-up, on Wednesday, March 11th, with 6 hours of training; those of us who attended this one get a sharp discount on that follow-up, and it's a one-time-only charge, so I went ahead and paid by check.

I was also kicking myself, because I just realized that I still (unless it's expired, and unrecoverable) have $179.00 worth of credit, from Southwest Airlines, from a UIS CR whose ticket I purchased last year (for CPAC 2008), but who cancelled. I could've used that, towards attending CPAC 2009! (Then again, there would've been a ton of other expenses, and I've already been twice before.)

I wish....

...that I would remember what I was thinking, when I stop blogging in mid-sentence, to edit other parts of the same post!

----------

Since I wasn't able to post this entry (even as a draft) on Friday night, I did it on Saturday night, after I had the opportunity to see (and "live"-blog, from the couch) some CPAC 2009 panel speeches (I knew I could access it online, but realized, from recent Blagojevich Senate experience [thanks, Chris Bennett], that C-SPAN would serve this purpose; considering I've been on there before, that should've jumped to mind anyway!), and maybe Hush Bimbo's CPAC-closing speech as well.

I saved a draft below, and one above, where maybe that can go.

But the thing is, when I was blog-scribbling on the Crowne Plaza note pamphlet, I did another entry, slated for the following day. Now, the month has changed (why is February so short?), so these posts won't even be on the same archive page. Still, this beats having those "post pages"; I'm glad that this blog still uses anchor permalinks.

Aren't you?

2009-01-29T16:45:00.002-06:00

Update: Wow! The first vote - on whether to convict Governor (should I still be calling him that? ;-) [!!!!!] :-) Rod Blagojevich, was unanimous! [Save possibly for a 'PRESENT' (?)].

Now, they will vote on whether to bar him from holding public office ever again, in this fine state. (I didn't know that the IL Senate / General Assembly even had the power to do that!)

I wonder if this vote will be unanimous as well, or near-unanimous (with some people, like Chicago Democrats, afraid to vote "No," out of fear), or whether it might be close - or even fail!

2009-01-29T14:28:00.005-06:00

Pissed Off, More Missings
[More blast-the-backlog, Blago blogging]

The Illinois Senate has reconvened, and I am now even-more pissed off that I didn't plan ahead so as to (and am still too undercaffeinated to) be there (at the Illinois Capitol) - only about 10 minutes away from where I live. I didn't even get to compose/publish those entries below, before going to bed (though they will be soon). Nor did I post anything about the Blago-Oprah thing, nor about his bizarre appearance on that bizarre show, The View, and his other acts that day.

Then again, I don't know why this blog's hit count isn't going back up, as it has before, when I started updating regularly (or even semi-regularly). I am doing something wrong, here.

Anyway... State Senator Dale Righter, who has an excellent grip on current technology [see entry below], is speaking right now.

They are allowing the senators to make a statement, with officially a five-minute limit.

I was hoping that they would delay the end of the trial, and actually call some of the witnesses (the Illinois ones), whom Governor (for the moment! ;-) Rod Blagojevich requested.

http://www.wuis.org/waystolisten.html

The senator who's speaking now (forgot the name, and I'm listening online, via WUIS; for some reason, the AP video feed (via the SJ-R home page), which is supposedly "live" - is broadcasting something different from what is on the radio), mentioned that Governor Blagojevich is "an unusually good liar." That is the characterization that U.S. Senator Bob Kerry (D-NE) made about President Bill Clinton... And that's not all that Bill Clinton and Rod Blagojevich have in common (aside from the fact that they've both been impeached), another topic that I wish I was able to blog about. (!!)

There are 59 members of the Illinois Senate. At least 40 votes are needed to convict, while only 20 votes are needed, for an acquittal.

Note: With [new] Senator Duffy's statement, being broadcast right now, I just realized that the WUIS audio feed is a bit behind the live feed from the AP Google link.

I am glad that freshman Senator Dan Duffy (R) is pointing out that the General Assembly voted in favor of raising the Governor's salary three times.

I like the Senator's idea about internet accountability, for the Illinois government. (That's something I would love to have implemented, at the local levels, in Illinois and elsewhere - that may be something I'll soon be involved with, on a more first-hand level.)

Ah.... Senator Chris Lauzen. He is a solid and independent conservative voice [one of the original "fab five" Illinois senators, and is still there... He lost the primary for U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert's seat, in the 14th Congressional District of Illinois, to Jim Oberweis, who went on to lose the election, to the politically inexperienced Bill Foster.

However, Senator Chris Lauzen has certain shortcomings as well... But it is a relief that he is serving in the Illinois Senate (three of the other "fab five" no longer are).

I am going to lie down, let my weary eyes get some rest, and listen to the 'show.'

(I guess that's one thing that I couldn't have done, if I was at the Capitol. :-)

Note: Chris Bennett just kindly called, asking where the party was gonna be at tonight! :-) :-) :-) I mentioned that I was listening to the audio feed, but not as much the online video feed. However, he mentioned that it's being shown on C-SPAN... I had checked the major networks, which had shown Governor Blagojevich's statement this morning (see entry below), but they were showing Senator (oops... President) Barack Obama, with the new (unfortunately!!) Treasury Secretary [Timothy Geithner], after having been focused on another national news item [perhaps the Ford Motor Company situation], while WICS (ABC NewsChannel 20), our local television station, was showing the soap opera. I had checked the Illinois Channel [on television; had already been to their site, for which the streaming didn't seem to work too well, though that could've been due to something on my end] - the Illinois Channel is a great, CSPAN-like, resource, but it isn't broadcasting anything this afternoon, at the moment.

I hadn't even thought to check C-SPAN itself... For some reason, I haven't been tuning in much there, since around Election 2002.

Aside from the television, you can also watch live via C-SPAN's website, or via The Associated Press / Google, or at a number of other places online.

2009-01-29T11:41:00.006-06:00

Live Coverage: Rod Blagojevich Senate Trial (and the Governor's "closing statement") - from right here in Springfield, Illinois

[More blast-the-backlog, Blago blogging]

State Senator Dale Righter: Live video

WUIS [from our campus] (and NPR)

Illinois Channel

State Journal-Register

Note: You don't necessarily need to watch online, if you have a television - It's being covered by the major national networks, as well as on WICS (ABC NewsChannel 20), here in the state capital.

Everyone is using the newfangled technology, and social media, to cover this trial. This is a historic day.

It looks like the Governor may not resign (which is great, in a way ;-)... I hope that the trial does not end today; the process has been too fast.

Why not let him call those witnesses? (At least the Illinois ones.) We need to know who those "public officials, X, Y, & Z, etc..." are. Rahm Emmanuel, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Valerie Jarret, and the others should be subpoenaed to testify... Perhaps President Barack Obama should be called back as well (he can stop by, when he [potentially] comes back to Springfield next month).

Then again, it was hard enough getting answers (or good questions) from, and posed to, Roland Burris [see entries below!].

2009-01-22T20:19:00.010-06:00

Kirsten Gillibrand: Pleasantly surprised
I know I've been dealing with the issue of the U.S. Senate vacancy (Barack Obama, now President, which I've also been dealing with this month) in this state, and the Rod Blagojevich situation (which will be resuming soon; at least I have a little time to catch up, on this blog - though maybe not, as life interferes!... ;-).

However, as someone who entered this world in the Empire State, I wanted to post something on what I just heard, regarding the U.S. Senate vacancy (Hillary Clinton, who I wish I had a chance to blog about!...), in that state. Some people were surprised yesterday, when Caroline Kennedy withdrew her name from consideration; people are currently speculating as to what the real reason behind that decision might be.

I was wondering, as were others, though on the other side of this issue, whether Caroline Kennedy might be anti-abortion. I am not sure whether JFK and Bobby Kennedy were pro-life; Teddy Kennedy is unfortunately not (keep him in your prayers, despite who he is, and what he's done), but Eunice Kennedy Shriver is a pro-life advocate (affiliated with the Susan B. Anthony List, Democrats for Life, and Feminists for Life); her husband was (quite unfortunately!) the last pro-life Democrat nominee for elected federal executive office (Vice-President of the United States).

Now, I am pleasantly surprised to have just heard, on Chris Matthews' MSNBC show (I wish he really would run for Congress; I have been a fan of Chris, since the Clinton administration - other true-blue conservatives should be, as well, despite his Democrat Party involvement), that New York Governor David Patterson's choice for this seat might be new U.S. Congresswoman Kirsten Gillebrand (D-NY); the video clip they showed was of her with a baby. Especially with what day it is today (see entry above), I was wondering if the Congresswoman was pro-life, or at least moderate, on that and other issues.

So, I went over to Wikipedia (after wanting to defend that online encyclopedia, against conservative [and esp. neocon] attacks, I am starting to have problems with the way certain immature Wikipedia contributors are acting), and was delighted to see that not only does U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillebrand serve in a Congressional District (U.S. House District NY-20) that has longtime Republican tendencies, she is a member of the great Blue Dog Coalition. (Keep in mind though, that some of those "Blue Dog" Democrats are not really conservative, nor moderate... but at least they are willing to show independence, against the Democrat Party establishment, and the liberal agenda... i.e., they are truly "progressives" - unlike those who label themselves as such ;-) As addressed in that Wikipedia article section, the "Issues" section of Congresswoman Kirsten Gillebrand's official U.S. House page is not afraid to emphasize her strong support for the 2nd Amendment*, and her solid opposition to illegal immigration (I am very glad to see that she was a co-sponsor of the SAVE Act, which I regret I didn't have a chance to lobby for, this past summer).

* - - - - - - - though it also mentions her support of certain gun regulation initiatives, such as the NICS [not to be confused with NCIS, or CSI!] Improvement Act of 2007 [H.R. 2640], which she points out was supported by the NRA (though that organization is known for compromising; the more-principled GOA expectedly strongly opposed it, as did JPFO and the National Association for Gun Rights, along with U.S. Senator Jim DeMint [R-SC], rock star Ted Nugent, and some of our nation's veterans [though not all], and the great Tom Coburn (R-OK), who may've been responsible for stopping it [Hat tip: The Liberty Sphere])

The corresponding section of Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign website, dealing with the issues of immigration and Second Amendment rights [Hat tip: Benjamin Sarlin] take even stronger stances on those subjects.

Speaking of gun control issues, New York congresswomen, and this Hillary Senate vacancy, there was also earlier speculation that U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) would be appointed to this spot. On the one hand, she was a Republican shortly before she ran for Congress, and she is also from a previously-Republican U.S. House seat - one that was held by the great commentator Dan Frisa (though he managed to win it in a very-Republican year). However, being a Republican in New York (some parts of that state) is different from being a Republican elsewhere (though unfortunately, not as much in Illinois... I really, really, REALLY!!!! wish there was some way we could change that - it's been a losing battle, for many years now, and things may not get better, even with the Blago scandal - though as I pointed out before, things can, and have, shifted very-quickly in this state... At least they have once not that long ago). On the other hand, I don't know what issues Congresswoman McCarthy has taken a "Republican" stand on... and her signature issue - the one that prompted her to run in the first place - is support for gun control. [Note: Here in Illinois, that might be considered a "Republican" position - quite unfortunately!]

Now, regarding the abortion issue. That Wikipedia article makes clear that she supported [federal funding for!] [embryonic!!!] stem cell research. Her short voting record in Congress creates no clear legislative stance on this issue. Already, some liberals are expressing strong concern over this appointment, including on the abortion issue.

However:
Please take a look at the Google search results page, for Gillebrand abortion, before it changes dramatically, as this issue is presumably being discussed by more than just my blog. I just realized that I spelled her name wrong, so here is the Google results page (for Gillibrand abortion). [Yes, I know, we should be using GoodSearch, instead of Google, but I don't know if GoodSearch, or Blingo, another beneficial search engine, permit linking to search query results.]

As you can see, from the immediate results (before they get altered, due to her potential promotion), it was the "pro-choice"/pro-abortion organizations that were enthusiastic about Kirsten's candidacy for Congress.

New York Lawyer Puts Heat on U.S. House Incumbent, October 17, 2006
"A solidly pro-choice Democrat, Gillibrand has been endorsed by abortion rights advocacy groups Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and NARAL Pro-Choice America."
Gillibrand Win Marks a Pro-Choice Pick-Up in Congress, Nov. 8, 2006
Pro-choice victories, November 8, 2006
NARAL Pro-Choice New York PAC: 2008 Voter Guide,
Kirsten Gillibrand (Dem.)

New York 20th District From Hudson

First elected in 2006

PRO-CHOICE
Congresswoman Gillibrand is a true champion of women’s rights and reproductive health. After winning an extraordinary grassroots victory in 2006, during her first term in Congress she has demonstrated a passionate commitment to our cause and the kind of impressive leadership our movement needs in Washington. Let’s help send Kirsten Gillibrand back to DC where we need her.

The thing is, despite these shortcomings, a United States Senator Karen Gillibrand (D-NY) will likely be MUCH better than U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) - then again, that would be true for just about any individual!! ;-)

Speaking along those lines... After the Bill Richardson withdrawal, I mentioned that Hillary might be the next to go; I was remembering how so many of her husband's nominees and appointments ran into trouble, only during the first and second years of his presidency (not to mention all the scandals, resignations, Independent Counsels, charges, convictions [or acquittals] that his Cabinet-level appointees encountered thereafter!!). The new Secretary of State, who was just confirmed [on the same Chris Matthews segment, mentioned above, I liked how he pointedly questioned the Democrat viewpoint-provider, over Hillary's conflict of interest, regarding her hubby... The Democrat guy was forced to respond by saying that her critics should then have voted against her, rather than just speaking out - on that point, I agree; kudos to U.S. Senators Jim DeMint (R-SC) and David Vitter (R-LA) for voting the right way!!] has SO MUCH BAGGAGE, and if she shares, with her husband and our current Governor, the arrogant proclivity to commit crimes and indiscretions, even after knowing their past activities have placed them on the radar, then it might not be long before she is booted from her office as well.

That's one good thing about Senator Barack Obama becoming President - all the vacancies it has created. His own position became vacant (though it was just controversially filled, which I dealt with below), and may switch parties in two years (though considering how much our State Party fumbles, don't be surprised if they piss it away - like by nominating the R.I.N.O. Mark Kirk), and the 5th Congressional District of my state has fallen vacant [new White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, who was an establishment Democrat, not necessarily liberal]; it was briefly Republican-held, but only due to the combination of it being Election 1994 (see Dan Frisa mention, above), and the incumbent being Dan Rostenkowski ("Rosty the Postman!" ;-)].* Who knows, maybe the Blagojevich scandal - and the fact that it's a special election, though also on the same date that Municipal elections will be held - will result in a Republican winning that seat! It would be great if Latina Minuteman (or Minutewoman?) Rosanna Pulido were to win that seat! And what if Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) goes down, in the Blagojevich corruption scandal? Then again, I've heard that the Congressman is "much better than his father," and who knows who would replace him, in Chicago? I still don't know why Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. has long had a section on his website, listing conservative (and even some pro-Confederate heritage) websites... But I'm glad that he does!!

* Note: I had forgotten that, in Michael Patrick Flanagan's (R-IL) bid to keep his seat [in Democrat territory!], the congressional candidate who made it Democrat again was none other than... Rod Blagojevich!! (U.S. House District IL-5) Maybe memories of that - and of Rostenkowski - will allow Republicans to pick up this seat, after all! (Though, that is likely just wishful thinking...)

[ Also, I just realized that redistricting has occurred since that time as well; I don't know whether that hurts or helps us; previously, the 5th Congressional District of Illinois included the City of Chicago. Does it have more suburbs now... or a conservative part of the city (if such a thing exists? ;-) ]

And in New York, the fact that Senator Hillary Clinton has been "promoted" - to a position she was ineligible for (until the "Saxbe fix") and to which she may lose before long, has created an opportunity to a hopefully-moderate replacement.

And here's the thing: As discussed above, Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) represents a longtime Republican district; had it not been for the fact that it was 2006, she may not have won. Now, Republicans have a chance of making another net gain, in the U.S. House of Representatives. (I am still thrilled due to the Joseph Cao victory last month over "cold cash" Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA), in the Big Easy - Vietnamese-Americans generally lean Republican, but Congressman Cao is the first to serve in the United States Congress; after the Bobby Jindal victories, maybe this is a sign of things to come.)

Maybe Sandy Treadwell can win this seat... He did poorly last time, but if there's a special election [though is that how it works in New York?], we may pick up yet another seat in Congress!

[Note: Although, if Rudy Giuliani gets the Republican nomination, for that seat... (See Benjamin Sarlin in The Daily Beast... Does NY, like IL, allow people to run in Congressional Districts in which they don't live?), it might be a weird situation. Giuliani is a lot more liberal than most people now realize, and if Kirsten Gillibrand does in fact turn out to be pro-life, or at least against partial-birth abortion, and maintains a strong pro-gun record, unlike Rudy, then that would ruin everything.

Mark Kirk from this state, and Rudy Giuliani from New York, have very extreme records on abortion - refusing even to support the Partial Birth Abortion Ban legislation. Even the Democrat leaders, in both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, voted in favor of those bills, and voted to override President Clinton's vetoes... The bill was signed into law when they were passed again, during the George W. Bush administration (though that could now become undone, if that FOCA atrocity gets signed into law by the new President).

We need to be smarter about who we nominate. How many failures have to arise before we realize that the "median voter theory" is bogus?

Over to you, Al D'Amato.]

2009-01-20T11:07:00.002-06:00

Live-blogging the Inaugural Address (the second time I've done so, for an Obama speech)

Thank you, for thanking President Bush - that's something I've got to do (in connection with my change-of-heart, regarding my attitude towards W.). I wasn't able to live blog his speech, at the last Inauguration (from the snow), but I wish I'd done a commentary on it; I disagreed with it [re: President Bush's embrace of liberal internationalism, in foreign policy - a topic that I was harraunging on continually, these past years, and which I've even-recently been criticizing the Bush administration for], and was glad, at the time, to see the conservative backlash, over the Wilsonian neoconservative vision, that it generated.

That all seems like a moot point now. I really need to get that article written - it will be my first-ever appreciation piece towards President Bush, albeit too late.

-----------------------------

Back to the speech...

Those who are anti-war will soon be disappointed, towards the Obama administration - but that is something that myself and others predicted, before he even got the Democrat nomination. (The same thing was true, with regard to if John Kerry had been elected last time - those those at RedState of course disagree - and the same thing was true, "if" the Democrats had taken control of Congress, in the 2006 elections; when they did, what I predicted came true.)
cc: College Democrats

The Inaugural Address is over. There was a lot of flowerly rhetoric, some of it powerful... But I expected more substance. (Then again, that type of speech is what Obama has long been known for - but I was thinking that, at this point of his political progress, he would be talking in more concrete terms.) However, it could be that he didn't want to get into specifics, for this key [and historical!!] speech, which is understandable. The last one (which I was privileged to see first-hand, though I disagreed with it's theme), did have specifics and objectives addressed, but it was President Bush's second one... His first Inaugural Address may have been more like this one we just had, since he was also assuming a national executive office for the first time, following an unpopular (or at least, highly-controversial - Clinton's "high" exit approval rating would plummet fast, with the final days scandals) President. So, if the conservative/neoconservative Blogosphere, et. al., complain about the lack of substance in Inaugural Address, I am thinking that perhaps it was justified, considering the circumstances.

Hopefully, President Obama will not be delivering another Inaugural Address.

2009-01-20T11:04:00.004-06:00

It's Roberts (once again ;-)

So, it is going to be Chief Justice John Roberts. [who may, like Sandra Day, end up being a great mistake - or not...]

ABC News just reported that the official White House website has changed, since it's past noon.

He was just sworn in (middle name and all, though without the "II"). He had trouble saying the oath, which is understandable, considering the circumstances.

How will his speech turn out?

2009-01-20T11:02:00.002-06:00

President Pelosi??
It's 11:02 AM CST... and now past noon Eastern time, when the new President is supposed to be sworn in.

Does this mean that [U.S. House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi is now the President of the United States?

[see pertinent section, from both of the two entries, right below]

2009-01-20T10:53:00.004-06:00

Live-Blogging the Presidential Inauguration
I am relieved that Pastor Rick Warren closed his prayer with the name of JESUS!! I was afraid that he was going to close, with one of those general statements.

U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) should be thanked, for pushing for clemency for U.S. Border Patrol agents Complean and Ramos. She has had some good positions on immigration (especially illegal immigration) in the past, despite her recent problematic actions, on this crucial issue.

I can't believe I was expecting Chief Justice William Rehnquist to swear in President-elect Obama. I really, really, really can't believe that - This once again shows that I must be getting old.

I was wondering why John Paul Stevens was delivering the oath... Then I realized, that it's not the Oath of Office for the President, but rather, for the Vice-President-elect (oops... He just became Vice-President, as it's 11 AM here - unless the other legal theory holds true - see entry below).

I wonder if Chief Justice (of the United States!) John Roberts will be the one, to swear-in President-elect (or now President?) Barack H. Obama II.

Maybe they will let Stevens do it, due to his age. (Sandra Day O'Connor was chosen, to swear in President Ronald Reagan, to his second term - but that was due to another characteristic. Her appointment ended up perhaps being the Gipper's greatest mistake, though.)

2009-01-20T10:33:00.006-06:00

Inaugural Delays, and interim "Presidents" of the United States
Please see here, to see what's going on...

They just said on ABC News that the swearing-in ceremony may be delayed, and there is debate among historians, as to what would happen in that case (i.e. - when the President's term truly begins... Whether it's when he takes the Oath of Office, or whether, in accordance with the 20th Amendment, at noon EST). This relates to the issue of David Rice Atchison, which I alluded to below. (Today however, the Speaker of the House is third-in-line, though it made more sense the way they had it back then, since the U.S. Senate President (Pro Tempore) seems to be a higher position... I don't know whether it would be worse, however, for Robert Byrd or Nancy Pelosi to be President - even if it is just for a few minutes/hours... or seconds!)

Though I've known the story for years and years, annotating my entry below is the first I recall being at the Wikipedia encyclopedia article on U.S. Senate Pro Tempore/Possible President Atchison. It refreshed my memory of the fact that President (?) Atchison slept through most of his "term" in office. [What would you do, if you were President for 24 hours?]

This connects with my current situation, as I did end up pulling the all-nighter (though did spend much of the morning/night on the couch - unfortunately not getting anything productive done, however). I did the same thing, the night before the last Presidential Inauguration (and the following night, and then got a few hours the next night, before getting a tour of the Capitol) - but that was different, as I was there, in Washington, D.C.

They just mentioned on ABC that Bill Clinton stayed up all night as well, revising his speech... And that Al Gore stayed up as well, doing his speech, but then fell asleep, when he read it!

I will be live-blogging above, rather than below.

Bow your heads now, to join Pastor Rick Warren, for the invocation.

2009-01-19T23:22:00.003-06:00

ENTRY IN PROGRESS... will be published soon Please see here...

Was I wrong about Bush?
This entry will mention my regrets (which I hope to do an article about soon), about having been too hard on President George W. Bush, not realizing the integrity and honor that he has restored to the Presidency, after it was destroyed, during the previous 8 years. My re-thinking alas, comes too late.

2009-01-19T23:18:00.003-06:00

ENTRY IN PROGRESS... will be published soon *

Pardon Me
This entry will discuss the pardon issue, as there is still time for our current President - George Walker Bush - to issue clemencies... I will mention some people (or at least one person) who I believe is deserving of a clemency [now that the two Border Patrol agents - see below - have been granted it, I'm having trouble thinking of more than one - Wait, there is another one who comes to mind, and another one who does, but doesn't...].

And I will discuss how President Bush's retraction of a recent pardon is one additional factor that is leading me to think that I've been too hard on our President, over these years.

2009-01-19T23:08:00.004-06:00

ENTRY IN PROGRESS... will be published soon *

Clemency in time: Border Patrol agents Complean and Ramos
This entry will be about how, in the final period of his presidency, George W. Bush has finally agreed to grant clemency to U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. When I went to Google Blogsearch's main page, that was the top topic cluster, with this entry featured, and the caption photo was from here.
. (Google Blogsearch's main page still has that... Thanks to all those who worked hard, through the web and other modern media methods, to coordinate the pressure that resulted in this clemency.)

2009-01-19T23:05:00.003-06:00

ENTRY IN PROGRESS... will be published soon *

Presidential Inauguration ~~2005~~ 2009
Sadly, I never got to blog about my leading a group to the last presidential Inauguration... Nor properly share those photos (or photos/videos/media) from other national, regional, statewide, local, and campus events that I helped coordinate attendance for, or participated in). This post will deal with that, or at least help me deal with that... ;-)

2009-01-19T22:51:00.004-06:00

ENTRY IN PROGRESS... will be published soon *

Lincoln wasn't that great
This entry will be about how:
I have addressed the issue of Lincoln before, and even got over 70 hits to this past blog entry one day, after I posted a comment at 'Lt. Smash,' linking to a comment at 'Shape of Days', on how, despite living in the heart of the 'Land of Lincoln,' I now know the truth about him.

That entry by ~~Lt.~~ Citizen Smash was one of many in response to an article, ironically enough, by Senator Obama, in Time magazine, reiterating a point he made, about Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, when he spoke at the Grand Opening of that Library and Museum we have downtown. It stuck in some of our minds, at that event - I was glad that he raised that issue.

It's too bad, therefore, to see how the Senator, now President-elect, is wrapping himself in the legacy of a President who wasn't so great... It's troubling how so many people, all over the world, are deluded by this myths of 'King Lincoln.'

2009-01-19T22:47:00.005-06:00

ENTRY IN PROGRESS... will be published soon *

Pastor Rick Warren, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and homosexual rage
This will discuss today's altercation during Pastor Rick Warren's appearance at Ebeneezer Baptist Church, and will also discuss the recent-but-forgotten work of this church, and the King family members (except for his wife, who held a different position) against homosexuality, and especially against gay marriage.

2009-01-19T22:42:00.005-06:00

ENTRY IN PROGRESS... will be published soon *

Martin Luther King, Jr.
I've addressed this holiday [at least] one time before on this blog, but this entry will be more balanced - kind of like Josh Claybourn's regular posts (I am still upset that that weblog, along with Hoosier Review, and others that we would participate in, in the comments section, etc... have gone the way of the dodo bird!) on MLK - but will also provide additional perspectives on him - which are rarely heard in today's time period.

2009-01-19T22:38:00.004-06:00

ENTRY IN PROGRESS... will be published soon *

Martin vs. Malcolm
The differences between the political perspectives of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X will be discussed here - from a conservative and pro-liberty perspective.

2009-01-19T16:11:00.007-06:00

Apologies Demanded, Distractions Remanded (Hat tip: Christopher Arndt & Barack Obama)
Blast the 'Blast the Backlog Blago/Burris blogging' Barack blogging...

I want to first off apologize for the OCD-like mentality that I've been displaying, insofar as planning of blog entries... I guess I should perhaps apply 'free-market principles' to this blog as well. It is just so tormenting though, having an organized series of blog posts in mind, but not having free time/stamina.

Another thing that is particularly painful today is the fact that there are is a ton of bloggage & commentary that I want to get done (not to mention other related tasks, such as e-mails, Flickr posting, and media sharing), before the 2009 Presidential Inauguration. (Can you believe that, after having led a group there for the last one, I hardly posted anything about it... Not to mention never shared a photo compilation*, nor got the major newspaper article about us posted online**, nor got the ABC (then NBC) NewsChannel 20 WICS television segment on us converted to digital format? And it's been almost four years now...

* A fledgling Flickr photostream was set up, but contains only like 1% of all there is to share!

** Here is the Google News link... Why have I never put that article on the web? [The Hartford Courant write-up was also published on the websites of other related newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune and Newsday.]

I have been somewhat-active [though not as much as I'd like to be], in the "Web 2.0" realm, to take advantage of the fact that the whole country was focused here, in Springfield, Illinois (also kind of did so, the last time they were, which wasn't that long ago), first for the Governor Rod Blagojevich, and then with regard to the Roland Burris fiasco. (I just saw him being interviewed on Fox News, by the way... It was crazy seeing him say that he "didn't know about the pay-to-play" stuff, regarding Governor Blagojevich; if only more people knew what some of us here in this state do). But there was some more work I wanted to do on that... Roland Burris has [unfortunately, though not from everyone's perspective] been seated in the U.S. Senate, and there is not media that I said I'd share on him [audio and newspaper], which I haven't done, but fortunately, with regard to our Governor, those hearings are on hold, so that the Democrats (and some Republicans as well) leading in this state can go see their guy get sworn in.

I really wish that there could be a delay, before that happens (though that would require Nancy Pelosi becoming President - a situation that has happened before, for 24 hours - though some disagree) - just so I would have more time to get this stuff done! ;-)

As that is not the case, and as I've still not found a way to make time stand still, it's time to turn to my two friends from the past - Mr. R. Bull, and Mr. Al Knight R. (And now, Miss Jen Teal as well! ;-)

I think I will, instead of saving draft blog entries this time, actually publish a little blurb, with the title and topic. Then maybe it'll be more likely that those topical thoughts and polemics will see the light of day.

(Maybe that's what they mean by "the audacity of hope"! ;-)

2009-01-12T21:41:00.004-06:00

D*MMIT!!
As my other family members were watching that global-dance-competition show on NBC, and while I was wasting precious time getting [even-worse] computer eye strain (and now I feel a headache coming on... and a little nausea), I totally forgot (until it was like 30 minutes before 9 PM CST - the opposite situation I found myself in yesterday... see below), that the second part of the premier of this season's 24 on Fox was this evening.

I could've spent this afternoon/evening catching up on yesterday evening's two-hour season premier, and/or the 2-hour pre-premier (24: Redemption) [though I've been having trouble watching streaming programs on this laptop - and while there were several variables to consider, in what the cause of that might be, the fact that CBS Innertube streaming worked beautifully at the Motel 6 in Jefferson City, when I worked for the RNC's Victory 2008 (a lodging expense that I still hope to have reimbursed, by another party [no pun intended]), and the fact that my brother (who actually does have a MacBook ;-), also experienced the same problem, from the wi-fi in this house, shows me that it's not a computer problem]

... and then live-blogging the second-part of the premier this evening.

Or, I could've spent this afternoon/evening chipping away at the zillions of things that that I am behind on, and need to get done.

Instead, that time is now past.

And lost time is never found again. :-(

2009-01-11T19:36:00.004-06:00

Back from the "break"...
24 season premier live-blogging

It is 8:38 PM (or was it AM, Jack-Bauer time... Interesting, if it is PM, then they're starting this show out not only in real-time, but in real real-time... at least for those one time zone to the right of us here).

I just remembered that last time I live-blogged the 24 premier (I mean the last time, not the entry that I decided to just-publish, below... rather that doing this all in one post - I wonder how the other 24-live bloggers are doing it), I was also late to the game... But fortunately (unless it was unfortunately - I don't quite recall what caused the delay), the premier was also late.

Is Tony Alameda now a bad guy? (Is he still alive?) I really need to get caught up... Fortunately, Wikipedia is great for that, and for many other things.

7:50 PM CST (real time, not 24 time - though we're only about 2 minutes behind Jack Bauer & them...

Why was she wrong to dress him down?

I am suspecting (without knowing if this has already been revealed, in the part I missed) that that guy's "it's okay" attitude is a ploy. This is the first time that the 24 world/universe has had a female president - and with a woman in charge, many men have trouble serving under them. (Just ask the Hon. Rachel Paulouse - Well at least in this season, there is not a racial factor, like in Rachel's case... Maybe they'll have a minority female President in the next one, or perhaps and Indian-American. I just saw this related post (on Bobby Jindal).

-------------

Ah... Now maybe I will get a chance to real... Never mind.

2009-01-11T19:29:00.004-06:00

7:24 PM - Crap... I thought the Superbowl was tonight, and was think I should post something, regarding that.

I found out that the Golden Globes is on (which my father and brother are watching)... But from going over to Steve Eggerson's blog (After doing a web search, I was glad to discover that he has also linked to my "Roland Burris file" - see below), I realized that this evening is (very IS***) the start of a new season of 24!!

This is something that I should be [blast-the-backlog]-blogging about, especially considering that I have done it for a 24 premier before - but this time, don't feel that funny about it, as I just saw that Steve is doing so, and others must be as well. (I am still, as far as I know, part of "Blogs 4 Bauer" - but I might need to update my blogroll listing.)

***Because I'm now about one-fourth of the premier's time late (i.e. - "12 hours" into the premier) - not to mention that I never got around to watching that 2-hour pre-premier (or whatever it was) in its entirety - this is going to be a bit rocky. (At least the commercials - unless there are none, for this! - will give me a time to catch up. If not, the "Previously on 24," at the top of the hour, and the intermission between these two "hours" (if there is one!) will give me at least a moment to catch my breath.

I wish I had a chance to do a recap, of prior seasons, as I did, when I last live-blogged a premier.

Ahh... I see that they are having commercials, after all. Considering my late start though, I don't think I even have a chance to go to the bathroom...