Topping the blog lists!

You made Thinking Out Loud one of the top ten conservative blogs on "Top Political Blog" site (on April 28, 2012) with an international audience. On February 18, 2013, we hit in the top 50 of ALL political blogs. (This changes all the time, so keep reading.) Thank you.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Failure to approve tax breaks jeopardizes Amazon’s commitment to Lexington - Columbia Conservative | Examiner.com

Some politicians (and you know who I am talking about here, or you haven't read enough of my op/eds) are too short sighted or small minded to see the way through the fog of our economic woes. When will they learn? When will they be kicked out?

Failure to approve tax breaks jeopardizes Amazon’s commitment to Lexington - Columbia Conservative | Examiner.com

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Lexington Emergency Services working private dam breach near Irmo - Columbia Conservative | Examiner.com

Is the issue that the dam is a private dam? Are County services monies only made available if the flooding will suddenly impact taxpayer homes? Why wait until the last minute to get "emergency" crews out there when the potential flooding could have been avoided by a little proactive repairs. During regular working hours. Without having to pay overtime.

Is the economy that bad that bean counters are doing this sort of thing and getting their butts handed to them when the budget goes way up? That should not be a gamble they are willing to take.

Lexington Emergency Services working private dam breach near Irmo - Columbia Conservative | Examiner.com

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

To Stand Against Hypocrisy

A blogger colleague wrote about this and I just had to share and add my two cents. Read this and then continue.

Lori brought attention to the video of Veena Malik showing grace and intelligence in the face of the narrow minded and "pick and choose" ideology that has become Islam. I was so blown away by the power and conviction of Ms Malik. And I feared for her life as well. My oldest daughter was shocked when I told her about the video because she said that women like that are usually stoned to death in these backward countries. And I agree that her life has become a target of these hypocrites in cleric's robes.

So long ago, these lands held to a higher standard of intellect and understanding. From the Middle East came great leaps in philosophy and math and science. The culture of these lands was revered around the world. Their savvy trade and artistry was renowned.

But today, due to fanatical adherence to a redacted version of their faith, they have become feared and hated. Their core beliefs that terrorism is good (the whole 72 virgins lie told to illiterate and hopeless people) and that women are subservient, that they are not worthy of respect and equality, has been a warping of their founding laws. They have been perverted by greedy and insane for power leaders that have them ignoring not only their origins, but their culture and the truth in their faith.

Now I am not in any way saying that there is not ignorance and hypocrisy in other countries or other faiths, far from it. But the hypocrisy in Islam has so much farther reaching consequences where it leads to shopping malls being blown up and office buildings being leveled and school buses being targeted and two thirds of their own populations being held as less than worthy, needs a proverbial kick in the "arse" as Lori so eloquently put it.

Agree, disagree, it makes no difference. But so long as I have educated you in another way of thinking, so long as I have gotten you out of the habit of taken what others (including myself) say as gospel and start thinking for yourselves, I will have accomplished my objective. As for me, it makes no matter, since I am, as always, just Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

War is War, no matter who tells you otherwise

Cindy Sheehan, where are your indignities now?!

The media seem to be ignoring a fact. A fact that Obama himself decried back in 2007. A fact that the media, Dems, libs and tons of people railed against when W was President. But for some reason, the "great educator" who is more and more becoming sole proprietor for what is best for the country and what is not, has duped the media and millions around the world into ignoring the truth.

Any military action that sends HUNDREDS of bombs into another country is an act of war, declared or not. The President is Constitutionally obligated to have a declaration of war from Congress to do this. Whether for a right reason or wrong. BUt lets just put that aside for a moment and ask, Why Libya? There have been plenty of countries that have been decimating civilian populations, where the citizens have risen up against a corrupt and dictatorial government, and we have done nothing. Where was Obama's outrage for the happenings in Darfur? Where was his outrage for the recent Jasmine revolution oppression in China? Where WAS/IS his outrage at how terrorists treat US soldiers? How Hamas / Iran / name a Mideast terror group bombs Israel while the word looks on and condemns Israel's response?

Let us face it. Obama wants America DOWN to the level of other countries. He told us he would do this during his run for the White House. He showed he wanted this in his very for "apology tour" after gaining office. And he is constantly proving his metal in this regard with every action he has taken as President to lead us down a socialist nanny state country. It is his "hand out, not hand up" educational and associational influences. It is why he can happily tell Brazil we will help them drill oil and be their number one customer, while telling America we cannot drill and we must not be dependent on foreign oil.

It is a shame that NPR has gone so far down the LEFT road that it cannot even see it has strayed. But it is no less than what the mainstream media has done in recent years. They have gone from the eyes and ears and watchdogs of the government for the people to being more concerned with "access" to the White House and Congress (access only the Dems felt obliged to threaten if they said the press said the wrong things).

With our forces stretched thin, our worldwide reputation in shambles, our economy teetering once again (thanks to all the great work this Administration has taken to date), can we truly afford to be battling and funding yet another war. And make no mistake, it is a war. And we will be paying -- now and later.

After 9/11 we had every right to attack at the heart of those who attacked us. After that, it was a dicey decision to start a battle on another front, even though we had intel that suggested a serious threat to our own country. (You can debate whether it was poor intel, false intel, made up intel or whatever. The fact that it existed and was good enough for our allies to agree is enough to warrant SOME action.) But this latest action borders on the irresponsible and unconstitutional. It may well be an impeachable offense. There was no imminent threat to our country. There was no action that put our troops or citizens in direct threat. Yet President Obama took it upon himself to commit American forces and resources to a WAR with another country without Congress' okay.

I do not dispute something needed to be done. But Obama's 'moral imperative' to aid those in need rings so hollow when he did / is doing nothing to aide those decimated in Darfur.

Agree or disagree, it doesn't bother me. Just take in the info, look at all the facts and think for yourself rather than let some politician or media outlet tell you how to think. Make your own decision, don't let it be made for you. That just makes you a zombie or really gullible. Either way, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.
Have a great day.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

What Hypocrisy

The following is an email sent out by the Nancy Pelosi camp.

Charles --

Do you know what House Republicans have done to create jobs since claiming the Majority three months ago? Nothing.

However, they’ve found time for votes to restrict access to reproductive health care, take teachers out of our classrooms, nurses out of our hospitals, and even to defund NPR. All told, Republican cuts would destroy 700,000 jobs.

I’ve had enough of the Republicans’ extremist anti-jobs agenda and I think you have too.
On March 31st, we’ll hit the first FEC quarterly filing deadline since the outrageous GOP power play in Wisconsin and Republicans took the reins in the House. The eyes of the nation will be on our fundraising numbers to judge our grassroots determination to fight back against the radical Republican agenda. We must have a strong showing.

Contribute $5 or more to the DCCC’s Million Dollar Matching Gift Campaign right now. This deadline is so important that if you contribute today, my fellow House Democrats and I will match every dollar you give with two of our own up to our $1 Million goal.

An extreme Republican majority has launched an all out assault on middle class America. It began in Wisconsin, but has spread to Congress and state houses across the country.

Secretive groups like Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS are already up on the air running vicious attack ads against House Democrats who are standing up against the Republican assault and fighting for middle class working families.

I’ve set a goal of $1 million before the March FEC deadline to show the world that we have the grassroots strength to fight radical Republican budget cuts and to stand up for middle class American families.

Contribute $5 or more to the DCCC’s Million Dollar Matching Gift Campaign right now. This deadline is so important that if you contribute today, my fellow House Democrats and I will match every dollar you give with two of our own -- tripling the impact of your gift.

The DCCC counts on individual donors like you for 75% of their funding. Together, we can turn back this Republican attack on the middle class and move America forward. Please contribute today.
Thank you.

Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader

P.S. The first FEC quarterly deadline of the year is just 10 days from now. We must exceed our $1 Million grassroots goal to show the world that Democrats are strong, united and determined to fight back against the radical Republican agenda. Contribute Now.


I find it incredibly nauseating to read this, most especially from her. She is such an obnoxious individual who should never have been given any major position of power, as it went completely to her head. Now that she is out of power, the rhetoric (which is par for the course by any politician these days -- sadly) comes as a hypocritical reversal of her position when she was in charge. Remember the day the Congress began session with the Dems in control and she as Speaker? She cut the Republicans off at the knee caps and made their representation of their constituents absolutely nil. She both literally and figuratively disconnected half of this country and their rights at a representative government.

But Now she has "had enough" and she wants you to give her money to fight the Republicans. Of which she and other Democrats pledge to give two to your one in contributions. But where does she and her fellow Dems get the money they will pledge? From you, the people who give to her campaign and the other Dems. Seems really lame and dishonest and misleading and completely eye rolling.

Seems she has enough of the GOP actually doing their job and getting the jobs situation back on track (as opposed to the Dem controlled Congress who did nothing but spend, spend, spend their way deeper into the hole and making businesses nervous with all the changes ans spending and taxing and anti-business agenda). The GOP and most Conservatives understand how business works, how jobs are created, and they are actively working to get things right again so Americans can get back to work.

Dems do not know how business works. The President and Pelosi do not know how to make payroll, to make a profit, to grow a business. They only know how to keep everyone on entitlements and the public dole. They only know how to destroy the American Dream. They only know how to GROW government. Unions are killers of business today, and the GOP knows it. The Dems and all their liberal allies are so deep in bed with the unions, they wouldn't know "workers' rights" if it came up and bit them in their collective patooties! Unions had their place. And if they were not so greedy, corrupt and anti-business, they might still have a place at the table. But they aren't concerned beyond growing their own leadership's bank accounts and power.

Pelosi and those like her just make me sick. And it is I (and others like me) who have "Had Enough"!! We spoke in 2010 midterms. And if these nitwits (who pander to special interest, corrupt unions and entitlement addicted addle brains) don't get on the stick and start earning their (way too high) salaries, which we the people pay, then 2012 will be a HUGE slap in their faces as we send them scrambling to find a new place to live and a new job to do.

Personally, this may be just me, and you don't have to agree or disagree. Just so long as you look at what I have to say and think about it real hard. Don't just let others do the thinking part for you, and I will have considered my time well spent.

But heck, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Budget cuts: One Man’s Opinion - Columbia Conservative | Examiner.com

Republicans and Democrats in SC have to work together and get serious about the budget. We need REAL answers and proposals. Haley has made sense, now the legislators need to get work done. Stop all the 'nanny-state' nonsense and stop pandering. The SC GOP can let the $1 million cut for the 2012 Primary go if they are smarter about spending. Use the resources at hand. Blogs, citizen journalists, hoofing it. Do interviews with AQLL the SC Examiner journalists for one thing in order to cut out all the expensive ads. And if they stop bickering and conduct civilized campaigns, I'll bet they can cut their own ad budgets by not having to respond and counter all the negative campaigning BS.

Budget cuts: One Man’s Opinion - Columbia Conservative | Examiner.com

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Disappearing Cowboy Poets??

“The mean-spirited bill, H.R. 1, eliminates National Public Broadcasting,” said Reid in a floor speech. “It eliminates the National Endowment of the Humanities, National Endowment of the Arts. These programs create jobs. The National Endowment of the Humanities is the reason we have in northern Nevada every January a cowboy poetry festival. Had that program not been around, the tens of thousands of people who come there every year would not exist.”

Harry Reid actually said that. A Senator, the leading member of the United States Senate actually said that. A man many people in his state (the majority of voters who re-elected him) actually said that.

How freaking insane is this??!?

First of all, Cowboy Poetry? Really? I, as a writer, am a firm believer in expressive forms of literature being an important aspect for a society. I do not believe in censorship and I do believe our kids should be exposed to art in most forms. (I do not believe the particular form of denigrating and demeaning Rap is art in any way, shape or form. But some people do, which is why I said "most here.) But Cowboy Poetry specifically as an art form of note?

But to then assert that without the National Endowment for the Arts and their sponsorship of a festival in Nevada would actually cause people to cease to exist is absurd to the Nth degree.

I would certainly think that Sen. Harry Reid may have shown his true capacity as an effective member of the government with this statement. In other words, I think the poor lad has started losing his mind and should no longer be allowed to serve the people of the state of nevada in any official capacity.

I really think this should be a litmus test for all politicians as they begin to age beyond the upepr end of the average age of the state residents they serve. When they start making ridiculous and absurd statements like this one, the people of the state should be allowed a recall and a new election.

But of course, if we had term limits to place a limitation on the corruptibility of our politicians, we wouldn't need such litmus tests. Since we can hardly expect those in office to limit their own terms, this is one way we can see if the air in DC as addled their brains with age and ego.

I am sure Sen. Reid could have found a better way to express his argument for funding in this severely down economy. But since he did not, and his staff actually allowed him to say this statement in public and on the record, I think not only Reid but his entire staff need to be replaced.

You can agree or disagree with my assertions here. It makes no real difference to me. But if I got you thinking about the decrepit age of some of our politicians in a job where they need to be sharp and in touch with their constituents, then I did my job. Either way, this is just me . . . Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day. (And, as Tamara Hillman wrote in 2005's "Cowboy Poetry,"

"Whether you’re young or gettin’ old
there’s ‘cowboy poetry’ to be told
. . .
as poets tell of the cowboys' plight,
hopin’ they got the stories right."

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

New Physical training and testing revealed at Ft. Jackson - Columbia Ft. Jackson Headlines | Examiner.com

After 30 years, the Army is realizing they need to "train as they fight!" Great job to Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, Frank Palkoska and their entire team of researchers for coming up with a smart way to train our young men and women. Now if we can only transfer some of this common sense thinking to Capital Hill. Maybe in another 30 or 50 or 100 years . . .

New Physical training and testing revealed at Ft. Jackson - Columbia Ft. Jackson Headlines | Examiner.com