Who is Stephen Harper?

Anyone one? Mr. Harper is the 49 year old Prime Minister of Canada. Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world in terms of landmass. Canada is the largest trading partner of the United States.

Susan Ward wrote a piece in About.com concerning doing business in Canada:

"Why do business in Canada? Why not? Operating a business in Canada is better for your bottom line than operating your business in the United States, and thanks to NAFTA (the North American Trade Agreement), you'll still have access to the entire North American market.

One reason for this is the lower labour costs in Canada; total labor costs, including wages and salaries, statutory benefits, and other benefits, are lowest in Canada. In the United States, benefit costs are 32 percent of total salary, while in Canada these costs are only 29 percent. And the cost of wages is also lower in Canada than in the USA (Invest in Canada)."

McCain, the Truth & Plagiarism

In the recent Saddleback Forum John McCain trotted out the story of being in the POW camp at Christmas and a guard drew a cross on the ground and the two men stood there looking at it. He said that this was a life changing experience for him. He also told this story in a Christmas ad. The trouble is that this story, while it happened, it happened to someone else - Alexander Solzhenitsyn. What does this say about the man who would be president?

Why Should People Be Afraid of the Left Wing Fringe?

Perhaps, one day, the left wing will become the dominant set of crazies in America. But they aren't. Not by a long shot. On economics, who do you think has the initiative? Here's a hint: Marxism and Communism are broadly considered failures, and even Democrats talk about market-based solutions. On international affairs, let's ask another question: are the French looked up to, or called Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys? Lastly, are we fighting a long term war whose purpose seems to be to satisfy a Right-Wing Geopolitical power fantasy?

Obama Nation: a work of fiction

Obama Nation hit the bookstores as a bestseller . . . or did it. It appears that the deceptions of this book do not end with the bibliography. This book made the bestseller list due to huge bulk orders and strategically placed purchases it is these forces that are behind the book's supposed success.

I'm baaaaack!

It's great to be back in the Watchblog family after a year hiatus. Too much has happened in the last year to comment on it all. As we near the Democratic Convention in Denver everyone is on pins an needles as to who Obama will select as his VP - Biden? Bayh? Kaine? Any one of these would make a good VP - I like Tim Kaine from my home state of Virginia. . .

War Games

Right now, I'm working my way through a game called Starcraft. Some of you might be familiar with it. For those of you not familiar, it's a real time strategy game. You build a base, you field units, and you battle with another player or a computer. It's admittedly not very real. It's science fiction, complete with two alien races and a human race equipped with out there technology. But the simplified nature of the game deals with its share of real world issues.

The latest innocent victim of Bush's Economy: Our Pets

Our nation's pets have become the latest, in a long line of iinnocent victims, to be caught in the middle of this economic mess. A growing number of cats and dogs are being abandoned by their owners because they can't pay their bills. (link)

Iraq Should Pay - Right, Left, Wrong

Iraq reportedly has an oil revenue that could hit $79 bln this year. On the right, on the left, and on the corporate "news," the critique is that Iraq should start paying for its own reconstruction. WRONG - at least as the situation stands.

McCain's Energy Gaffe

Republicans took to ridiculing Senator Obama over a remark he made about making sure our tires are inflated by passing out tire gauges. Really. Are Republicans that stupid? It's a fact that properly inflating your tires will save you about $800 per year -- and America about 50,000 barrels of oil per day.

I've Got A Sense of Humor. I'm No Prude. I'm No Snob.

But good heavens. The Republican who wants to be the next President just volunteered the potential first lady at a recent rally at a biker event for what is reputed to be a topless (and even bottomless) beauty pageant. That sharp crack you here might be (or should be) the sound of millions of Republicans and Republican campaign consultants slapping their foreheads.

Dueling Tax Plans

My local rag did a comparison of Obama's and McCain's tax plans today. It's interesting to note that the middle class will do much better under a President Obama.

The Obama Voter Registration Drive was a Success.

Where were the McCain voter registration organizers?

Grace Under Pressure in Politics: Who's The Real Agent of Change?

I came across this, taking a stroll through the Blogosphere: some heckler asked Obama some rather pointed questions about race relations. Barack Obama then proceed to answer the question rather effectively, blunting his objections. But that wasn't the whole story!

The Pharmaceutical's Next Big Opportunity

For years, they've made big money off of an disorder called ADD. They sell little pills of an amphetamine-like substance called ritalin. There's a new disorder out there. It's symptoms include distraction from positive campaigning, feelings of inadequacy, fits of anger and sarcasm, and an inability to inhibit tasteless jokes and beyond-the-pale tactics. This unfortunate disease is called ODD: Obama Derangement Disorder.

How We Are Deceived: Disinformation and Colombia

It is frustrating that even when the media attempts to provide analysis, they do not. Instead, they misdirect. Such is the case with a July 27, 2008 article by Simon Romero in the NY Times "Cocaine Sustains War in Rural Colombia."

Bye Bye Barry

The final results are in on this historic November day. Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars he raised, Barack Obama has lost the 2008 presidential election. American voters have boldly spoken truth to arrogance.

What's A Republican To Do?

President Bush signed legislation requiring government contractors to use the E-Verify system which checks potential employee's legal status before hiring. But, that favorite organization of Republicans, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has called this activity "experimental, unreliable, and extremely burdensome.”

Fuel Price & Taxes

It has come to my attention .....
Our states, mine in particular,
are not collecting revenues off gas taxes like they have in the past.

All locked up

In February, the Pew Center on the States released a study showing that the US had the world’s highest rate of incarceration. A series of articles in the July/August edition of Boston Review examines how we got to this point, as well as the effects of the “incarceration nation” on society at large. It is well past time for politicians to examine the consequences of locking up nonviolent offenders at an astronomical pace.

The Otiosity of Fear

A few weeks ago John McCain remarked that he felt the biggest threat to our economy was another terrorist attack. I was not surprised that someone representing one of the major parties in the United States would use fear to sway the hearts and minds of the voters, it is a powerful device to use. But it left me wondering, coming upon seven years after the 9/11 terrorists attacks, have we let the terrorists win?

Working Poor Unready to Revolt

Once upon a time when governments no longer served most of their citizens it was the most economically disadvantaged that could be counted on to rebel against tyranny and injustice. Times have changed, for the worse, despite the spread of democracy.

Democrats Screw the Poor Again

Once again, the Democrats controlling congress have put the screws to the poor in the United States. By passing into law the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 they have taken away one of the few avenues for poor and lower income families to acquire homes, requiring them to ‘give’ money to rich landlords instead of earning equity on a house that they would be buying themselves.

Black or White

It's NOT just 'Black or White', is it??
How many Americans believe we are deciding between a black man and a white man?
It shouldn't matter.
What matters is whether or not someone plays the 'race card' when they aren't really qualified to do so.

Republicans Upset, No One's Listening

Republicans threw a fit on the floor of Congress today, and then called a news conference to grandstand their fit. [Link is to video of conference.] Almost no one listened. And for good reason. Rep. Mike Spence (R-In) gave the cookies away when he said we Republicans could have given the American public greater access to oil, but, didn't. He went on to rail against Democrats for having recessed without an energy bill.

Rove: In Contempt

This Morning, the House Judiciary Committee voted to issue a contempt of Congress citation upon Karl Rove for his refusal to appear to testify before Congress. The Committee's resolution now goes before the whole House for a vote. Does Congress have what it takes to be Congressional and defend their authority to represent the people against the executive branch of government?

Too Old and Brain-dead

In the over half a century that I have been politically engaged I have never seen such an unqualified presidential candidate as John McCain. There are tens of millions of Americans in their seventies and beyond that have been smart enough to become technology literate, but not McCain, who is unable to even use the Internet. The man has a medical history that makes Dick Cheney look like the picture of great health.

McCain: Ignorant or Playing to the Ignorant?

Sen. John McCain on Friday demonstrated that he is making progress on crystallizing his hopefully damaging critique of his opponent, Barack Obama. Like Hillary Clinton, McCain appears to be finding his voice, all negative, all the time. Apparently, McCain's advisers are telling him that if he can't tear down Obama's growing popularity, he will lose. And McCain's campaign speeches are now reflecting this effort.

Our Apology

WatchBlog experienced a hardware failure on its server on June 30, 2008. Our apology for being off the web until now.Thanks to the efforts of WatchBlog's owner/publisher, Watchblog is now on a new server. We are as pleased as we hope you are, that WatchBlog is back on line.

For candidates, Bill of Rights optional

The oath required of the president on his inauguration is a simple one:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Your Articles Could Appear Here.

Would you like to write articles for this Column? Good writing skills, a word processor to check spelling and grammar, and a blog of your own (or another web site where your writing can be reviewed), will get you considered for a role as a WatchBlog writer. Send email to editor [at] watchblog.com if you are interested in volunteering political perspectives, philosophy, and news, from a 3rd Party or Independent vantage point.

Civility at Saddleback

I watched a good portion the Saddleback Civil Forum last night. It was a decent showing for both candidates but McCain probably did the best in what was viewed by many conservatives as a possible ambush by a pro-Obama evangelical pastor at a forum conceived by a variety of ideologically questionable characters. Instead, McCain really fumbled only once and came across as a decisive, determined, focused, relaxed, and informed man of integrity.

If you missed it here is a good recap.

Your Articles Could Appear Here.

Would you like to write articles for this Column? Good reading and writing skills, a word processor to check spelling and grammar, and a blog of your own, (or another web site where your writing can be reviewed), will get you considered for a role as a WatchBlog writer. Send email to editor [at] watchblog.com if you are interested in volunteering political perspectives, philosophy, and news, from a Republican or Conservative vantage point.

Farewell Friends

I am a career Foreign Service Officer serving in Iraq since September of last year. I love to blog and I have enjoyed interaction with both left and right. But I have to give it up as my professional life is coming to overlap too much with my blogging life. As an American citizen, I have a right to free speech, which includes blogging. In my professional capacity, however, I need to be careful about such activities. I initially started blogging as a way to understand the medium, but I came to like it too much. As I think all of you would agree, blogging is a sort of addiction. I have tried to give up before. This time I will succeed.

War for Oil

Don’t you wish the Iraq war REALLY was for oil as the conspiracy nuts told us? If it was, we would have that $79 billion dollar surplus Iraq now enjoys. The country earns around $90 billion a year in oil revenues and Iraqi officials face the unusual dilemma of not being able to spend money as fast as it comes it.

Obama Falls to Earth

Obama supporters are spinning his recent drop in the polls as a response to a few negative comments and ads. Whoddathoughtit? Two or three ads can puncture the Obama hot-air balloon and send the high-flying superstar hurtling back to earth with us ordinary folks.

Foreigners Loving America ... or Not

We were never as popular as some people remember and we are not as unpopular now as some people think, but the American reputation has clearly suffered under George W. Bush. Is our reputation so dependent on one man? Can Obama be the rock star savior of America?

The Right to be Uninvolved

I do my duty to my country, but I know that as citizens, we own the government, not the other way around. It is the job of my government to establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare. Otherwise, it should leave me alone. Now I hear that “Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, and uninformed.” THAT is none of Barack’s darn business.

The Top Ten Reasons Barack Obama Should Not Be President

..Are in fact all provided by quotes from the candidate himself.

1) - The system isn't working...when communities are terrorized by ICE immigration raids, when nursing mothers are torn from their babies, when children come home from school to find their parents missing, WHEN PEOPLE ARE DETAINED WITHOUT ACCESS TO LEGAL COUNSEL...
" - Speech to National Council of La Raza

Our Apology

WatchBlog experienced a hardware failure on its server on June 30, 2008. Our apology for being off the web until now.Thanks to the efforts of WatchBlog's publisher/owner, Watchblog is now on a new server. We are as pleased as we hope you are, that WatchBlog is back on line.

The Content of their Characters

If your behavior changes because of someone’s race, you are behaving in a racist way. We should not differentially criticize OR defer to Obama or McCain because of race. The test is simple. You should feel neither guilty opposing Obama or McCain nor virtuous supporting either. Obama is a just politician who wants your vote. McCain too. Your choice is a choice between professional politicians. Forget the race card.

Generous Americans; New Paradigms

Americans have a proud tradition of doing through charity and volunteerism what taxes and bureaucrats do most other places. Ben Franklin extolled and practiced volunteerism. Alexis de Tocqueville marveled at it in the 1830s. John D. Rockefeller invented the philanthropically foundation when he got too rich to make good giving decisions personally. This year we reached a new record of $306 billion given to charities.

The Coming Fascist State

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their consciences." ---C.S. Lewis

Exploring for American Energy

Exploring for American offshore energy is a good idea. Although my goal is to reduce all carbon-based fuels, I know oil is and will remain an important part of our energy portfolio. Since we WILL have oil in our energy portfolio, I want more to come from American sources. American energy will strengthen our hand against despots and dictators who control most foreign sources and allow us to move faster to alternatives. McCain Understands this; Obama does not.

Obama's Long Tail

To understand Obama’s success, it is more appropriate to look at product marketing models like I-Tunes rather than to earlier political campaigns. His phenomenal success on Internet enabled him to ignore public financing spending limits (no candidate since Richard Nixon has done that), grab the nomination out from under Hillary Clinton and probably win the presidency of the United States. How'd he do that?

Obama: Not a Flip Flop; Just a Lie

Politicians change their positions all the time, but when somebody repeatedly makes promises about something he claims it is central to his ideology and then breaks his promise for the money, that is more than a change and more than a flip flop. Obama is the first candidate since Watergate to reject spending limits. His only real bipartisan act so far is to behave like Richard Nixon.