Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Glenn Beck's Keynote Address on 8/28
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Mike Pence...the next Ronald Reagan?
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Krista Branch: I am America
Friday, June 25, 2010
Ezra Taft Benson
Former Sec. of Agriculture under Eisenhower. In a speech at BYU in 1966:
“I have talked face to face with the godless communist leaders. It may surprise you to learn that I was host to Mr. Kruschev for a half day when he visited the United States, not that I’m proud of it. I opposed his coming then, and I still feel it was a mistake to welcome this atheistic murderer as a state visitor. But, according to President Eisenhower, Kruschev had expressed a desire to learn something of American Agriculture — and after seeing Russian agriculture I can understand why. As we talked face to face, he indicated that my grandchildren would live under communism. After assuring him that I expected to do all in my power to assure that his and all other grandchildren will live under freedom he arrogantly declaired in substance:
“ ‘You Americans are so gullible. No, you won’t accept communism outright, but we’ll keep feeding you small doses of socialism until you’ll finally wake up and find you already have communism. We won’t have to fight you. We’ll so weaken your economy until you’ll fall like overripe fruit into our hands.’
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
News about the economy that's NOT news.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Crashing the Tea Parties
Monday, March 22, 2010
Welcome to the Divided States of America
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Debra Medina and Sonograms
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
I saw Debra Medina!
(video coming soon)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Glenn Beck's Blackboard
Glenn Beck LIES!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Medina's Press Conference
Friday, February 12, 2010
I'm NOT mad at Glenn Beck
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Mark Davis' Emergency Op-Ed:
06:47 PM CST on Thursday, February 11, 2010
(WEB EXCLUSIVE)
If I had not developed considerable respect for Debra Medina, I would not bother to offer urgent advice on how to save the political future she may have torpedoed Thursday morning.
Talk show host Glenn Beck asked if she was a "9/11 truther" – that is, a member of the deranged community that says the World Trade Center towers were brought down not by terrorists hijackers but rather a U.S. government hungry to spark a nation to war by killing its own people.
Her answer was an unmitigated disaster. What we have to figure out now is what she has revealed. Was it just a profoundly clumsy misstep on the path of a neophyte candidate, or was it a genuine willingness to give benefit of the doubt to one of the most demented beliefs of our day?
"I don't have all of the evidence there," she answered, using breath she should have used to instantly dismiss the insane ravings of people so far gone that they believe the jetliner impacts into the towers are diabolical concoctions meant to hide the truth: government sabotage.
It got worse. "I think some very good questions have been raised in that regard, there are some very good arguments, and I think the American people have not seen all of the evidence there."
In the dampened quiet of the morning snowfall, two sounds rolled across the Texas prairie: the collective gasp of sensible people who thought they were backing a sensible candidate, and the sickening thud of a once-promising campaign dashed against the rocks.
Can it be saved?
Only if she stops the bleeding immediately with a tourniquet fashioned from deep humility and skillful self-correction.
That presumes that she is not in fact tolerant of the 9/11 "truth" psychosis. If she is, then she has little business in polite society, much less high elected office.
But I'm going to give her benefit of the doubt. She has not struck me as a lunatic in any other way, and we have spoken often. That leaves the only other possibility, which is the nightmare combination of an unexpected question about something she was wholly unprepared to address, leading to an unthinking ramble into unintended territory.
Problem is, given time to examine the hole she had dug, she issued a statement that contained precisely none of the contrition her supporters desperately needed to hear.
Her press release should have contained about 30 words: "I am so sorry. I was exhausted and my brain had turned to jelly. Let me make clear today and forever that in no way do I share the inexcusable conspiratorial fantasies of these people."
Instead, after offering perfunctory comfort that she did not harbor their beliefs, she said the question was a "surprise" because it is not relevant to the campaign. Wow. One hopes that someone seeking to run a state is not so easily bamboozled by a subject plucked from the topical periphery.
Then: "The real underlying question here is whether or not people have the right to question the government."
No, that is most certainly not the question. Despite its execrable views, the truther cult has every right to spew its pathological delusions. The question is whether Debra Medina has committed political suicide.
"She is not a 9/11 truther" was the single-sentence reply to the e-mail I immediately sent her campaign. Fair enough, but not good enough. Rationality requires not just a certificate of non-membership in that disturbed subculture. It requires instant and clear condemnation for a set of beliefs that are an unparalleled combination of baseless venom, stunning gullibility and juvenile stubbornness.
If she is of the proper mind on this, why did she not say so immediately? Since newcomers to the punishing world of campaigning often make stupendous mistakes, she needs to own up to this one and make it right. The people who viewed her as a worthy voice for courageous, populist conservatism are waiting.
The backfire:
Medina spokeswoman Nelda Skevington said Perry's campaign was using the interview in robo-calls to Republicans an hour after the show aired.
Hutchison also pounced on Medina's comments.
“I know exactly who was responsible for the horrific attacks on September 11th — Al Qaeda terrorists who declared war on America,” Hutchison said. “To suggest otherwise is an affront to the men and women who are sacrificing their lives to root out the terrorists in Afghanistan and around globe.”
Medina's remarks on Beck's show made statewide news within hours and were picked up by talk radio.
Republican Paul Bettencourt of Houston said Hutchison was in real danger of getting edged out of a runoff by Medina prior to the comments.
“That will probably clip her wings in overtaking Kay,” Bettencourt said. “She was a moon shot before this.”
Medina tried to clarify her remarks later, saying, "I have never been involved with the 9/11 truth movement, and there is no doubt in my mind that Muslim terrorists flew planes into those buildings on 9/11."
Too late.
Beck said later of Medina, "I think I can write her off the list" of serious candidates for governor.
At least, we can hope that will happen in Texas.
Medina's Response:
by Debra Medina on Feb 11, 2010
I was asked a question on the Glenn Beck show today regarding my thoughts on the so-called 9/11 truth movement. I have never been involved with the 9/11 truth movement, and there is no doubt in my mind that Muslim terrorists flew planes into those buildings on 9/11. I have not seen any evidence nor have I ever believed that our government was involved or directed those individuals in any way. No one can deny that the events on 9/11 were a tragedy for all Americans and especially those families who lost loved ones.
The question surprised me because it's not relevant to this race or the issues facing Texans. This campaign has always been about private property rights and state sovereignty. It is focused on the issues facing Texans. It is not a vehicle for the 9-11 truth movement or any other group.
The real underlying question here, though, is whether or not people have the right to question our government. I think the fact that people are even asking questions on this level gets to the incredible distrust career politicians have fostered by so clearly taking their direction from special interests instead of the people, whether it's Rick Perry and his HPV mandate or Kay Hutchison and voting for the bank bailout. It is absolutely the right and duty of a free people to question their government. Texas does not need another politician who tells you what you want to hear, then violates your liberties and steals your property anyway. I fully expect to be questioned and to be held accountable as Governor, and that's the underlying issue here: should people be questioning their government. And the answer is yes, they should be.
Medina in Hot Water
She has a SMALL window of opportunity to clarify her position. If she doesn't, it's OVER...and I'm back to NOT having a candidate :(