When does the will of the people count?

I can't stay silent on this anymore...

In the past week, I've received a lot of email from friends outraged over the passage of Prop 102 / 8 / 2 (depending on which state they live in).

Many of these same people claimed Obama's election was the will of the people, and conservatives just need to accept this and move on.. While I disagree he was the better candidate, he got the most votes, and they're right -- it's time to move on. End of story.

But not so with Prop 8....

No, despite the fact that this is the second time California voters have spoken on the issue, supporters of gay marriage are literally taking to the streets and protesting.

Some are targeting Mormons, threatening to boycott Utah, and there was even an Anthrax threat last week in a church mailroom. I'm not a Mormon, but their church has as much of a right to defend marriage as the GLBT groups have the right to try and change laws in their favor.

What is unnaceptable is the hate and intimidation they're resorting to.

There's now video on YouTube of gay activists tearing a cross out of a Christian woman's hands, throwing it to the ground, and stomping on it.

Is this how we react when the vote goes counter to our view?...

Can you imagine if the tables were turned and it were churches doing the protesting?

Let's assume there's a third vote on gay marriage in California. Statewide, more than 70% of blacks and Hispanics voted for 8. Given how those demographics have voted in other states, it's unlikely they're going to be swayed by the media (which is heavily biased) or activists. If anything, being second guessed on their vote might just polarize them even more than they already are...

More interestingly, if you look at the states who have enacted constitutional amendments, combined they have 290 electoral college votes.

That's enough to win the Presidency.

To be clear, I voted for the marriage amendment. It's not that I hate gays. I don't. I just don't agree the amendment is a referendum on gays as much as it was a referendum on secularism.

I believe in scripture and marriage is a faith based institution first and foremost. Trying to turn it into a secular institution doesn't sit well with me any more than it does for Christmas to be redefined as The December Holidays.

Thus, I'm not likely to be swayed.

What will the GLBT groups do if they are succesful in pushing for a repeal vote, and it fails a third time?

At some point, you'd think that it ends when the votes are tallied.

And it should.

If the GLBT groups truly feel disenfranchised, then they need to focus on fixing the remaining laws which deny civil unions and domestic partnerships the same rights as those in faith-recognized marriage. With the exception of a few ultra-conservative churches, many Christians are ok with civil unions being on the same level as marriage. They just don't want marriage to be diluted or secularized.

Nobody likes defeat, but there are going to be winners and losers when ballots are cast. Its time to recognize that voters have spoken regarding gay marriage, and consistently at that, to the point that it is a mandate.

A Chicken In Every Pot

Last week, Investors Business Daily listed out Barack's campaign promises. I have to admit, it's a long list. 40 in all...

Given my mistrust for journalistic malpractice, I've copied them below, just in case IBD decides to be politically correct and take them down or they go out of business.

Either way, here they are for us to watch for the next four years...

A Checklist Of Obama's Many Promises

By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Monday, November 10, 2008 4:20 PM PT

Few presidential candidates have made more specific promises to American voters than Barack Obama. They came so fast and furious in the latter part of the campaign, you'd be excused for not keeping up. So as a public service, we've put together a handy checklist of some of the biggest Obama promises — culled from his "Blueprint for Change," his campaign speeches and advertisements. Clip it. Save it. And see how he did in four years.

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Taxes


1. Give a tax break to 95% of Americans.
   
2. Restore Clinton-era tax rates on top income earners.
   
3. "If you make under $250,000, you will not see your taxes increase by a single dime. Not your income taxes, not your payroll taxes, not your capital gains taxes. Nothing."
   
4. Dramatically simplify tax filings so that millions of Americans will be able to do their taxes in less than five minutes.
   
5. Give American businesses a $3,000 tax credit for every job they create in the U.S.
   
6. Eliminate capital gains taxes for small business and startup companies.
   
7. Eliminate income taxes for seniors making under $50,000.
   
8. Expand the child and dependent care tax credit.
   
9. Expand the earned income tax credit.
   
10. Create a universal mortgage credit.
    
11. Create a small business health tax credit.
    
12. Provide a $500 "make work pay" tax credit to small businesses.
    
13. Provide a $1,000 emergency energy rebate to families.
    

    Energy
    

14. Spend $15 billion a year on renewable sources of energy.
    
15. Eliminate oil imports from the Middle East in 10 years.
    
16. Increase fuel economy standards by 4% a year.
    
17. Weatherize 1 million homes annually.
    
18. Ensure that 10% of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012.
    

    Environment
    

19. Create 5 million green jobs.
    
20. Implement a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
    
21. Get 1 million plug-in hybrids on the road by 2015.
    

    Labor
    

22. Sign a fair pay restoration act, which would overturn the Supreme Court's pay discrimination ruling.
    
23. Sign into law an employee free choice act — aka card check — to make it easier for unions to organize.
    
24. Make employers offer seven paid sick days per year.
    
25. Increase the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2009.
    

    National security
    

26. Remove troops from Iraq by the summer of 2010.
    
27. Cut spending on unproven missile defense systems.
    
28. No more homeless veterans.
    
29. Stop spending $10 billion a month in Iraq.
    
30. Finish the fight against Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaida terrorists.
    

    Social Security
    

31. Work in a "bipartisan way to preserve Social Security for future generations."
    
32. Impose a Social Security payroll tax on incomes above $250,000.
    
33. Match 50% of retirement savings up to $1,000 for families earning less than $75,000.
    

    Education
    

34. Demand higher standards and more accountability from our teachers.
    

    Spending
    

35. Go through the budget, line by line, ending programs we don't need and making the ones we do need work better and cost less.
    
36. Slash earmarks.
    

    Health care
    

37. Lower health care costs for the typical family by $2,500 a year.
    
38. Let the uninsured get the same kind of health insurance that members of Congress get.
    
39. Stop insurance companies from discriminating against those who are sick and need care the most.
    
40. Spend $10 billion over five years on health care information technology.
    

Given how successful the Pelosi/Reid Congress was at their now-legendary First 100 Days non-plan, I don't hold out a lot of hope on this. He's already made comments that have lowered the expectations, and is speaking of "shared sacrifice" now that the polls are closed.

For those who worked at American Airlines in 2003, we know all about shared sacrifice and "pull together, win together". The workers and middle management pulled and sacrificed, while the executives didn't but still won when it came time to pay out variable compensation bonuses.

Some people who follow the airlines review the DOT's rankings. Other people follow economic indicators.

Personally, I'd like to thank the President-Elect for giving me something new to do for the next four years. I plan to come back and review this every quarter when airline earnings come out.

Never underestimate the will of the people...

Back in 2000, Missourians voted in Mel Carnahan as their senator, beating former Governor John Ashcroft.

Only one problem.... Mel had died in an aircraft crash several weeks earlier.

That probably sounds like one of the weirdest election outcomes possible, but the same happened three times previously in the House...

This week, we had a close second.

Alaskans appear to have relected Senator Ted Stevens, a true legend after 40 years of service. The irony is that it was ten days after having been convicted on seven counts of corruption...

Senate majority leader Harry Reid and Sen. John McCain have both called for Stevens to resign, and Reid has said that he won't be allowed to return. Stevens claims he's entitled to serve as long as his conviction is on appeal.

So why didn't he step down before the election?

Seems pretty simple to me...

In Delaware, Biden will be replaced with a political appointee by the Governor of Delaware, and a special election will be held. In 2010. Likewise in Illinois, although their Governor has not committed to when the special election will take place.

Alaska law is a little more unique, thanks to Palin's predecessor. Murkowski was elected Governor, leaving his Senate seat vacant. He named his daughter to serve out his unfinished term... While she was subsequently elected to the position, the nepotism was enough to call for a constitutional change which prohibits the Governor from naming a replacement, and instead requires that a special election take place within 90 days.

There's no doubt that Sarah Palin is popular in Alaska, and she's going to be an up and coming star in the Republican party if they decide to return to their conservative roots.

I give it a 95% chance that she runs for Stevens' seat, assuming of course that he is re-elected. The race is within 3000 votes, and 1% point. We should know in about a week or so.

Sen. Palin will certainly be an interesting twist on this election, and the thought of having both Palin and McCain in the minority would be sweet justice.

Week in Review...

I've really tried hard not to write this week.

We've had a hurricane, a convention, and Anbar Province was turned over to Iraqi control.

So much to write about, so little time...

In airline news, Jetblue got the honors for flying the newest McCain-Palin campaign plane. It's actually for Palin's use -- McCain is using a 737-400, and this was probably the smallest they could find without upstaging the #1 on the ticket...

And upstaging has been the theme of the week for the McCain camp. Much of the commentary this past week seemed to be comparing Obama's and Palin's relative experience. To be fair, Palin took that particular issue head on in her acceptance speech, and it's definitely having an impact.

Interesting, in that I can't remember anytime where the VP candidate played such a role, aside from Dan Quale in 1988. The criticism of Quale wasn't positive, either, but to those who make the correlary, allow me to remind you which ticket won that year...

As with Bush I, the big criticism over McCain's VP pick is the likelyhood that they'd have to step into the big chair if he dies in office. And yes, it's a serious concern, so the media and the libs are making it a front-burner issue.

Every time someone compares Palin's resume to Obama's, they're underscoring the point that Obama is the least qualified candidate to be nominated in modern history, and even Palin, whose experience is admittedly thin, is more qualified as a chief executive than Obama is.

In a similar vein, Rasmussen released a poll Friday which put Palin's popularity above that of both Obama and McCain.

Interesting effect, eh?

There are still six solid weeks of campaigning to go, so don't expect me to be out here every day debunking criticism, or being a cheerleader. For now, I'll just enjoy the irony of Jetblue (solidly backed by Democrats in the NY delegation) flying around the Republican VP candidate.

Now there's a VP pick I didn't expect....

Now that McCain has made his pick for VP, we're almost off and running...

The DNC's rock show is over, and the more sedate RNC convention begins next week.

I've taken a little heat from my more liberal friends today over the Gov. Sarah Palin pick as McCain's running mate.

A few believe she's the one on the left, and they couldn't be more wrong. She's not just a pretty face -- she's another maverick like McCain, already famous for unseating the incumbent Republican governor in the primaries and winning the gubernatorial seat, but more importantly, for selling the private jet he bought (with state funds...) on eBay.

A few things I knew off the bat:

1. She probably hasn't cheated on her husband.
2. She won't be found on YouTube saying McCain is unfit to be Commander-in-Chief
3. As a mom of five, she's probably got more relevent experience at diplomacy.
   

I found the choice to be a breath of fresh air, honestly.



Now... will Sarah be able to unwedge a few of the moderate voters back away from the Democrats? I think so. For too long, the perception of the Republican party is a bunch of old white guys in oak paneled rooms smoking cigars.

Palin shatters that image, even in the real and more sedate cover on the right, which is real (if you didn't figure it out, the one on the left is a very good fake).

As a conservative, I like the fact that she hunts, fishes, and is pro-life. I think she'll also connect with the Reagan Democrats. Focus on the Family, who previously was against McCain, has switched gears and will now be supporting McCain-Palin.

Whether or not she will unwedge some of the disenfranchised Hillary voters is yet to be seen. But on a sample size of a few, she has already attracted a few swing voters in the past 12 hours.

If you want to learn more about her, here's the Alaska Magazine article.

One thing is for certain - the next seven weeks will be fun to watch.

Primary Colors...

I'm still a little broken up by Hillbilly's little emotional outbreak in New Hampshire...

Tomorrow is the Michigan Primary, the only one Clinton is guaranteed to win, and the funny part is that she doesn't want people to vote for her because of the punishment being handed down by the DNC for Michigan's moving their primary date...

On the Republican side, it appears that John McCain is breaking all of the models, and still leading Romney. This will be interesting, since Romney was the darling early on, and everyone (including me) thought McCain was just too old to be electable.

In last week's South Carolina debates, I have to admit that McCain came off pretty well, but the big surprise was Fred Thompson. He just looked....... presidential.

Then there was Ron Paul. A few good one liners, but I'd rather vote for Hillary than see him ever get an office outside of his home district in Texas...