From the Left to the Right

BLOG-PING SITES:

Conservative Blogs Central. Once on page 21, go to the bottom (scroll down), it shows and points back to this blog.

Keywords: Conservatism, Conservative blog, Mark A. Cohen, From The Left to the Right, Chuck Schumer, Tea Party, President Obama, John Boehner, Mainstream Media, Paul Ryan, Matt Lauer

Keyword Phrases: "Conservatism”, “Conservative blog”, “Mark A. Cohen”, “From The Left to the Right”, " Chuck Schumer", "Tea Party", "President Obama", "John Boehner", "Mainstream Media", "Paul Ryan", "Matt Lauer"

See Mark's 'Author of the Month' page at Castle Rock's Local Gathering Place

Mark A. Cohen is represented at AKA Literary by Agent Terrie Wolf. This page scrolls through authors whose last names begin with either an A, B, or C. You can either wait for the scroll, or click on his name there.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The MSM, Part I

Apr. 5, 17, 19, and 26, 2011

Did you ever notice how the mainstream media (MSM), that tireless team of left wing news reporting outlets, always tries to corner Republicans, make them look bad, and tries to get them to agree there's some kind of problem within the Republican Party? No? Then perhaps you've heard them try to insinuate that the GOP is crumbling to pieces. It's true, reporters in the mainstream media sure love to harass conservatives. On November 7, 2010, Christiane Amanpour interviewed Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), and continually tried to get him to agree that the Bush tax cuts would someday have to be repealed. On the same show she asked Rep. Mike Pence (R-SD) six times if he was running for office!

The MSM loves weak Republican candidates like Sen. John McCain. Watch, as they will appear to support one in 2012, and they will try to promote him (or her) as the GOP front-runner. This is a strategy we've seen before, one in which they push a good-guy moderate in hopes he'll lose to the Democrat. Obviously, it was successful for them in 2008. The MSM, on the other hand, will attack strong Republican candidates like Sarah Palin. Despite calls for tolerance and civility, liberals will back up the MSM's hateful rhetoric with something like, "she doesn't answer the questions put to her." Realize that they are only watching MSM news! (She didn't answer Bill O'Reilly's questions directly during a single interview, but isn't that fairly common for politicians?)

They'll say that the voters don't trust Mitt Romney because he's a Mormon. They always point out Newt Gingrich's affair while his first wife was ill, and consistently cite what Tina Fey has said on a comedy show, Saturday Night Live, in order to make Sarah Palin seem unintelligent to their audience. If a conservative candidate has a problem or makes a single mistake, the MSM will jump all over them while giving the Democratic Party candidates many passes. Don't think so? Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) implied, in 2011, that the Revolutionary War battle of Lexington and Concord was in New Hampshire, when it actually happened in Massachusetts. The story was everywhere. Yet, in 2008, when then Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) implied that the U.S. had 57 states, the MSM left it alone. Only FOX covered that story.

If you're tired of the senseless attacks on only Republicans, or wonder why the MSM doesn't attack Democrats, don't be afraid. This is a normal reaction. Please consider that conservatives aren't mean people, and remember, there are several rational ways to view each issue. If you find yourself looking in on FOX for only a few minutes - and only with skepticism - you just may need a new dose of open-mindedness. Please reconsider, we want you on our side!

BLOG ROLL:

BLOG-PING SITES:

Conservative Blogs Central. Once on page 21, go to the bottom (scroll down), it shows and points back to this blog.

Keywords: Conservatism, Conservative blog, Mark A. Cohen, From The Left to the Right, Christiane Amanpour, Mike Pence, Rand Paul, John McCain, Bill O'Reilly, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich

Keyword Phrases: "Conservatism”, “Conservative blog”, “Mark A. Cohen”, “From The Left to the Right”, "Christiane Amanpour", "Mike Pence", "Rand Paul", "John McCain", "Bill O'Reilly", "Mitt Romney", "Newt Gingrich"

See Mark's 'Author of the Month' page at Castle Rock's Local Gathering Place

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Time to Do the Big Things

Apr. 12 and 19, 2011

New Jersey's Governor, Chris Christie, spoke at the American Enterprise Institute on Feb. 16, 2011, in Washington, D.C. There's a reason people find this non-candidate irresistible. No BS. He's honest. He's blunt. The cliches are applicable here, as old time sportscaster Howard Cosell might say, "He tells it like it is."

The president recently said that America was all about doing the big things. Gov. Christie agrees, but what are the big things? The governor starts by paraphrasing the president, "the big things are high speed rail." Christie looks up and gets a little nervous laughter. "And internet access for some percentage of the population. One million electric cars on the road by some date." Chris Christie pauses a moment, changes his tone, and says, "That is the candy of American politics. Those are not the big things."

Gov. Christie informs the crowd, "Let me guarantee you something, if we don’t fix the real big things, there are going to be no electric cars on the road. There is going to be no high speed internet access, or if there is you’re not going to be able to afford to get on it." It's time for all of us to open our eyes, he's right, the real big things are our economic woes.

I know some of you judge a politician by how much he promises the poor, or how much he loves corrupt labor unions. Maybe you hold onto that old, reactionary, tiresome, and antiquated stereotype that all conservatives are racist and homophobic. Or, perhaps you can just read their mind (sure you can, Jack). Or, their accent bothers you. Perhaps you're jealous because you think Christie's the worst of all sins, rich! Some will make fun of him because he has a hard time with his weight, and his L's. Well, I don't know about you, but this is a guy I can support. No, he doesn't say what each constituency wants to hear, he's about tough love. Gov. Christie genuinely likes everyone - equally - and you can feel it when he speaks. This is a realistic politician who cares about all Americans.

By being careful with spending, Chris Christie's trying to save the pensions of workers in New Jersey, he's not trying to take them away. But, the entitlement state can't go on forever. With more baby-boomers retiring each year and fewer and fewer younger people to pay for them, how can the system sustain itself? It might not be fair, but that's the way it is. So, c'mon, liberal friends, admit it, sometimes fat-cat labor unions and previously coddled workers have to sacrifice, too. At times they have to do the big things, too. Maybe they will. But as we've seen, they'll whine and complain all the way!

BLOG ROLL:

BLOG-PING SITES:

Conservative Blogs Central. Once on page 21, go to the bottom (scroll down), it shows and points back to this blog.

Keywords: Conservatism, Conservative blog, Mark A. Cohen, From The Left to the Right, Governor Chris Christie, Time to Do the Big Things, High Speed Rail, President Obama, New Jersey

Keyword Phrases: "Conservatism”, “Conservative blog”, “Mark A. Cohen”, “From The Left to the Right”, "Governor Chris Christie", "Time to Do the Big Things", "High Speed Rail", "President Obama", "New Jersey"

See Mark's 'Author of the Month' page at Castle Rock's Local Gathering Place

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

More Liberal Gaffs

Mar. and Apr., 2011

The mainstream media (MSM), which is defined as a left-leaning conglomerate of older news organizations, tends to imply that America and its capitalist system are failing. Watch, and you'll see it. Time Magazine featured two articles on the subject in their March 14, 2011 edition. The first, written by Fareed Zacharia, Yes, America is in Decline, was featured on the cover, complete with a finger - pointing down, a sign of pessimism. If you turn the magazine upside down, it's easy to see there's another featured cover story, No, America is Still #1, by David Von Drehle. The finger only points upward, showing optimism, when the magazine is turned on its head.

Zacharia hosts a show on CNN called GPS, the Global Public Square, which gleefully highlights the strengths of foreign countries and points out where and how the U.S. has failed. But, Zacharia insists he's not really being negative. His story is that America has placed itself in a position which makes it unable to lead the rest of the world. Other nations are on the rise, that's all it is. Yet, I watch with a skeptical eye, and wonder if there's an agenda behind all the claimed innocence.

The MSM's favorite pastime is suggesting there are wedges splitting the Republican Party apart. The Tea Party is just the latest wedge. Witness MSM reporters calling the Tea Party extreme. One example would be, "Senator, don't you think the Tea Party has caused the Republican Party to splinter?" I can think of a million of these because they're so common. And, this just happens to be a talking point of the Democratic Party. How do we know? Reporters overheard Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) telling Democrats on a conference call in late March, 2011 that he uses the word "extreme," because it's what "the caucus instructed me to do the other week." Schumer said, "The American people are seeing the Tea Party for what it is - extreme." The next time someone says the MSM is slanted right, remember this true story, and tell 'em, "It's just not true."

Try to recall the last time you heard an MSM interviewer say, "Oh, come on!" to a Democrat... Didn't think you could. From CNN's own transcript: The following is from Candy Crowley's interview with Donald Rumsfeld Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011:

CROWLEY: ... the Republican Party ... you've watched it go through a number of iterations. What do you think of this one with the Tea Party influence and the conservatives?

RUMSFELD: Fascinating. I find it...

CROWLEY: Oh, come on.

RUMSFELD: I find it very interesting...

So do I.

BLOG ROLL:

BLOG-PING SITES:

Conservative Blogs Central. Once on page 21, go to the bottom (scroll down), it shows and points back to this blog.

Keywords: Conservatism, Conservative blog, Mark A. Cohen, From The Left to the Right, Fareed Zacharia, David Von Drehle, CNN, GPS, liberal bias, mainstream media, Crowley interviews Rumsfeld

Keyword Phrases: " Conservatism”, “Conservative blog”, “Mark A. Cohen”, “From The Left to the Right”, "Fareed Zacharia", "David Von Drehle", "CNN", "GPS", "liberal bias", "mainstream media", "Crowley interviews Rumsfeld"

See Mark's 'Author of the Month' page at Castle Rock's Local Gathering Place

Mark A. Cohen is represented at AKA Literary by Agent Terrie Wolf. This page scrolls through authors whose last names begin with either an A, B, or C. You can either wait, or click on his name there.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Confusion in Libya

Mar. 27 and 29, and Apr. 4, 2011

National Journal reporter Megan Scully and Reuter's Missy Ryan were two of Libby Casey's guests on Washington Journal on Mar. 25, 2011. All three are experienced journalists. Scully and Ryan discussed the current situation in Libya, especially America's role and fielded questions from callers.

Scully's and Ryan's deep understanding of the administration's positions and criticism of the same came through, loud and clear. Ms. Ryan described the Obama Administration's strategy: "We would ... prefer to ... shrink into the shadows and continue to play this logistics and support role as we're going to have to do but not have it be an American face." (By the way, why did she say "we" and not "they?" Does Ms. Ryan serve the Obama administration? It would seem so!) She also described the Obama Doctrine as a "more authentic, international, military effort involving sanctioned backing from multi-lateral organizations like the U.N. ... in contrast to what happened in Iraq." In truth, there is no Obama Doctrine, and no clear foreign policy, either. This president merely distorts the Bush Doctrine, which supports pre-emptive strikes around the world.

Recall the stance of President Bush's critics, who to this day paint him a unilateral leader, even though he built a large coalition (of 30 nations) and obtained a vote of confidence from the U.S. Congress and the U.N. - before invading Iraq. It is not clear to me why some say the war in Libya is considered more authentic than the war in Iraq by Obama administration supporters. According to many, a war is a war is a war. Remember? In 2003, that was the flavor of the rhetoric we heard.

It seems the president's better-late-than-never, flip-flop decision to support a twisted version of the Bush Doctrine, can be spurred into action by the words of any dictator. Muammar Gaddafi vowed there would be "no mercy" on the rebels and spoke about cleansing the city of Benghazi. I agree, that's pretty awful stuff, but in a time of great financial debt, and when many have complained for years that Iraq and Afghanistan were two more wars than we could ever bear, we rush off to a third war based on a mere threat? Saddam Hussein was gassing his own people, for God's sake! By the way, long gone are the chants of "war monger" and calls for war crime trials for presidents and vice presidents... Where are the complaints we heard when President Bush was in office - that the current president never served in the military, and that we are in this for the oil? Now that the Democrats occupy the White House, we hear a completely different story. Interesting, isn't it?

BLOG ROLL:

BLOG-PING SITES:

Conservative Blogs Central. Once on page 21, go to the bottom (scroll down), it shows and points back to this blog.

Keywords: Conservatism, Conservative blog, Mark A. Cohen, From The Left to the Right, for the oil, Missy Ryan, Megan Scully, Muammar Gaddafi, Bush Doctrine, Obama Doctrine, Obama Administration

Keyword Phrases: " Conservatism”, “Conservative blog”, “Mark A. Cohen”, “From The Left to the Right”, "for the oil", "Missy Ryan", "Megan Scully", "Muammar Gaddafi", "Bush Doctrine", "Obama Doctrine", "Obama Administration"

See Mark's 'Author of the Month' page at Castle Rock's Local Gathering Place

Mark A. Cohen is represented at AKA Literary by Agent Terrie Wolf. This page scrolls through authors whose last names begin with either an A, B, or C. You can either wait, or click on his name there.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Drill, Baby, Drill - But Only in Brazil

Mar. 22 and 27, 2011

The Obama Administration decided last week to support offshore oil drilling for Brazil! These are the same people who imposed a moratorium on rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and stopped the U.S. last May from boring holes in deep water. They continue to oppose exploration of our own Arctic regions and prevent us from opening up a well 50 miles off the coast of Virginia, and yet they agreed to loan Brazil $2 billion to explore off their own coast.

The president told the Brazilians in Rio de Janiero, “We want to help you with the technology and support to develop these oil reserves safely. And when you’re ready to start selling, we want to be one of your best customers." Whose side is he on? His actions will create jobs in Brazil while stifling them in America. This policy hurts our poor and middle class. What's the strategy behind this move?

President Obama, when questioned about skyrocketing gas prices in 2008, said, "I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment." His statement is consistent with what militant environmentalists say and with an Obama administration policy which kept its boot "on the neck" of BP during the oil spill. The theory is this: If gas prices are high for a long time, we will learn to hate gasoline - and - another, cheaper fuel source will appear out of thin air and it will save us from our self-made energy crisis. So this administration likes to dream, but it doesn't really care about the little guy - you and me, nor how much we pay at the pump - as long as we believe we're saving the environment in the near term and bankrupting the evil oil companies at the same time. This is counter-productive in several ways.

Don't worry, though, realistic solutions do exist. The price of gasoline for the average American has to drop - and fast! The U.S. must obtain more of it for all its citizens. The urgency right now is for oil, not for windmills. That means we'll need to drill like crazy - not forever, but why not take the first step? We need to provide as much energy for as many of our people as possible, so let's use inexpensive coal, solar, and wind, and at the same time research how we can better design nuclear plants, and research every new energy source. Yet, we can't be impatient for the new. It won't happen overnight, but in the mean time we should avoid paying other countries for our energy. America needs to be the one doing this work, and now. Rising gasoline prices tell us that time is running out, and by the way, we need the jobs!

BLOG ROLL:

BLOG-PING SITES:

Conservative Blogs Central. Once on page 21, go to the bottom (scroll down), it shows and points back to this blog.

Keywords: Conservatism, Conservative blog, Mark A. Cohen, From The Left to the Right, Brazil, Oil, Drill Baby Drill, The neck of BP, President Obama, oil spill, energy strategy, exploratory drilling

Keyword Phrases: " Conservatism”, “Conservative blog”, “Mark A. Cohen”, “From The Left to the Right”, "Brazil", "Oil", "Drill Baby Drill", "The neck of BP", "President Obama", "oil spill", "energy strategy", "exploratory drilling"

See Mark's 'Author of the Month' page at Castle Rock's Local Gathering Place

Mark A. Cohen is represented at AKA Literary by Agent Terrie Wolf. This page scrolls through authors whose last names begin with either an A, B, or C. You can either wait, or click on his name there.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Libya, a Two-Faced War

Mar. 22, 2011

While his supporters were screaming for the head of President Bush during the 2008 presidential campaign, Senator Barack Obama said that we had no right to enter a war (referring to Iraq) in which there was no imminent threat to the U.S. At least President Bush asked Congress for permission AND he forged a coalition and an agreement from U.N. member nations. President Obama forgot the Congressional part. Yet, no one is asking for President Obama to be tried for war crimes. At least not yet. The media condemned George W. Bush for removing Saddam Hussein from power for committing atrocities against his own people and for having a well articulated policy but no exit strategy in Iraq. But President Obama may remove Muammar Gaddafi from power for the same reason with no clear policy or exit strategy - without the slightest hint of a question from the media. Just ask the left wing Huffington Post. These are their two-faced arguments, especially when the left advocated as recently as last month that two wars (Iraq and Afghanistan) were way more than enough.

Sen. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is one of only a handful of consistent liberals. He's wondered whether Obama's actions are an impeachable offense. I disagree, and believe it is not impeachable - because I believe any president, even one I generally disagree with, should have the authority to move our military into action in the short term if he deems it necessary. Nor do I believe Obama should ever be tried for 'war crimes,' that's ridiculous, as former Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) has said on Hannity, on FOX on Mar. 21, 2011. (Yes, liberals can get their message out on FOX, too!) Code Pink Leader Medea Benjamin has spoken out against the president's actions in Libya. Will the mainstream media be as fair in their coverage of Libya as Kucinich, Benjamin, and Sestak are in maintaining their steady ideals?

President Obama wants to fight this war in support of Allied armies. For once, the U.S. will not lead the fight. The president wants us to be well liked in Europe, so his theory makes France, Britain, and Italy the leaders. But, one has to ask why he would be conducting United States foreign policy to suit other countries? This slumps the American image into that of a second-rate country. We may not appreciate it, but we have to put up with a head of state who thinks it's better to pay attention to NCAA brackets than the condition of his country's economy. Perhaps it's a good thing in disguise. Let's hope that by November of 2012 the American people will tire of a weak and indecisive Commander in Chief and elect someone with real leadership skills.

BLOG ROLL:

BLOG-PING SITES: