Tales from the Oval Office ... and beyond

First it was Joe the Plumber, whose story turned out to be falsified in the hype following his contact with then-candidate Barack Obama.  The conservatives didn't do their homework that time.

But now it's health insurance-cancelled Robin, the former acne patient, now breast cancer survivor, who also has a heart condition (the real cause of the cancellation, including a falsified statement of her weight). The insurance company reacted inappropriately in any case, but that's not the point. The point is that now-President Obama omitted some rather important details in his storytelling, all in the effort to convince the American public of the evils of insurance companies and the divine goodness of his health plan overhaul.

Now, maybe I am just expecting too much from the political leaders of our nation and the President of the UnitedStates - I guess I have raised the bar too high, but it seems to me that the Leader of the Free World should be able to get his facts in order and his story straight. And you know what, even more important than that, he should WANT to.

And to take it a bit further, it would really be nice if both parties would be more careful in their research, their statements and their rhetoric; stick with the facts - do a little due diligence before hitting the airwaves in debates, talk shows or infomercials.

Only one thing is crystal clear to me: I need to lower the bar or we need some real divine goodness in our leadership.

Obama the Actor

Why in the world is the President of the United States doing infomercials?

He is on talk shows, on news shows, and now, in a TV commercial on Health Care Reform.

Yes, health care reform is critical, but we have war and poverty and crime and a growing deficit and pretty serious world-issues that need his attention a lot more than the time it is taking to visit various network sets and to get made up for "lights, camera, action".

It appears that President Obama's opinion of his role as the Leader of the Free World has finally aligned with the growing opinion of the Amercian people: he's best suited as an actor and a salesman.

I wish he would find another role to play since this one obviously doesn't suit him.

ABQNews: Richardson Travels (AGAIN) to Kuala Lumpur (SOMEWHERE FAR FAR AWAY) To Participate(PLAY WITH) in Forbes Conference (VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE)

Why do I feel as if there is a rush of world travel in a short amount of time, almost as if it must get done while it's still being paid for by tax dollars AND before it's too late?

A quick short list for your reading pleasure: the Pope, the Dalai Lama, now to Kuala Lumpur....in a matter of weeks. Really? Wow. It's too bad there isn't anyone to review and approve these travel requests and resulting expense reports. It's only when someone in the public ASKS that we even see them, and we never have the opportunity to disapprove the requests for more taxpayer money to travel the world as a VIP. No wonder there is $1 BILLION dollars in state money that is not exactly explainable...anywhere?

Seems to me like we need someone who wants to actually BE in New Mexico at the helm of our state, not someone who is more concerned about making a 10-minute impression on the world stage...it would certainly cost us a lot less as taxpayers. Those 10 minutes are pretty expensive.

ABQNews: Richardson Travels to Kuala Lumpur To Participate in Forbes Conference

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"The Holy Pinata of Pork Spending...

...stuffed with so much pork it's almost antiSemitic." This is a quote from Jonah Goldberg's luncheon talk earlier today at our New Mexico Turn Around conference in reference to the stimulus funds.

And if you think that is great...you will have to check out the podcast of this event on the Rio Grande Foundation website. Make SURE to listen to Jonah's talk - it was the highlight of the conference (so far)!

You can find more about Jonah Goldberg just Google him...he's syndicated with the LA Times, he just published Liberal Fascism, and he is hysterically informative.

Now to find a BIG stick for that pinata.....

Freedom Fighters Just Want to Have Fu-un!

Join us!

Happy Hour @ Independence Grill

No Host Bar, $1 off regular drink prices

Thursday, September 17th, 5 - 7 PM

6910 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, (505) 837-2874

Suggested Discussion: Ever Vigilant for the Cause of Liberty

Many thanks to our partners in Liberty -

Independence Grill and DW Turner!

Join the 9 club today!

We launched the 9 club today, on 09/09/09. Check it out!

Choices

Life is all about choices. Every choice affects someone, our children, our grandchildren, our partner, ourselves. Every choice has a consequence.

Don't we want to make our choices ourselves?

Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide. ~Napoleon Bonaparte

Interview with Michael Reagan

The 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and that most famous speech is almost here.

I loved this interview between my friend, Armando Regil Valasco, President of IPEA in Mexico, and Michael Reagan, son of former President Ronald Reagan.

In an informal setting, the conversation is relaxed and personal, including stories from Michael's childhood with his freedom-loving Father and other examples of a man who not only talked about freedom, but did everything in his power to live it and create the opportunity for others to live it too.

I hope you enjoy the video...

A Sixth Sense for Legislators

And we think things are tough in Albuquerque... check this link out for important pending legislation in Honolulu!

Something smells fishy here, or maybe it's just BO. Either way, is this really the best use of a legislator's time? Aren't there more crucial concerns that should be considered by our policy makers?

It seems to me that Hawaii's legislators - and all decision makers in general- need to worry less about the 5 senses and focus on a 6th - common sense.

As for me, I am off to buy new deodorant - just in case.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Now, before I plow into this blog entry, let me clearly state that I am a casual gal. I love jeans. I like to wear sandals. You can find me in a peasant blouse much more often than a business suit...

HOWEVER...

I am not the President of the United States.

I was bemused and befuddled by the coverage regarding Ted Kennedy's passing, as the news media repeatedly referenced the close relationship between Senator Kennedy and President Obama, mentioning their friendship, their professional respect for one another, the pivotal role the Senator played in this past election when he endorsed Obama for President. On and on about respect...leading us to the President's OFFICIAL statement about the death of his respected friend....

And there he was, our nation's leader, the President of the United States, supposedly paying tribute to a dear friend, political mentor and respected colleague....in shirt sleeves and without a tie. And to be honest, also without emotion or conviction in his voice as he read his official statement.

Respect? I think not. Respect doesn't require a tie, but it certainly deserves one.

(and Michelle may be very proud of her legs, but it seems to me that when uniformed officers stand at attention upon your arrival, you should at least take the time to slide those legs into a pair of slacks and not exit Air Force One in shorts. It shows respect for those men and women who are guarding you and honoring you with their posture, their stance, their uniform, their salute, the reality of every day of their lives. Shorts? Really?)

It's all about respect, and it runs both ways. Title doesn't earn respect, it simply demands it. They both need to remember that.

2nd Annual Think Tank MBA Round-up

2nd Annual Think Tank MBA Round-up

International support for DC School Choice

In a surprise demonstration, representatives from the four corners of the world distributed pamphlets to passers-by in the China Town area of Washington DC.

With the principles of human rights and individual liberty as their foundation, five volunteers from Turkey, Mexico, Afghanistan, Argentina, and Maine and New Mexico, USA met in the early morning with Virginia Walden Ford, Executive Director of DC Parents for School Choice, a grassroots organization working to prevent the end of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program.

Speaking with community members, as well as visitors from other states, the team of five international volunteers offered critical information about the threatened program to a surprising number of uninformed parents and concerned citizens who claimed they were not only not aware of the program, but also not aware that it was in jeopardy.

With very few exceptions, all persons who were engaged in a conversation supported a parent's right to choose where their child will be educated, along with every child's right to a safe and quality education.

The DC Opportunity Scholarship Program allowed parents to submit applications for scholarships to private schools participating in the program. On average, 4 applications are received annually for every open spot in the program, and to date over 1600 children have benefited from the program.

Currently 216 students are waiting to begin school this week, each having received a scholarship to a private school, only to recently receive a letter stating that the program will not be continued.

President Obama has indicated that he would like the program to continue only long enough to allow those currently accepted and enrolled the opportunity to graduate from high school, but to not allow any new students beginning with the 2009/10 academic year.

We find it interesting that the President feels it important to choose where his daughter's will be educated - which happens to be OUTside of the DC school system's boundaries, and INside a private school in Maryland - but does not believe that opportunity should be afforded to other parents in the DC area.

The international group of volunteers is part of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation's Think Tank MBA training. This group of 27 freedom fighters from throughout the world has taken on 5 campaigns of education and activism while participating in the intensive two week training program.

The Atlas TTMBAers have one message: Liberty and Opportunity, through a Free Market Economy and Limited Government, and Prosperity and Peace throughout the world.

Education is critical. Children deserve the right to learn in a safe environment. Parents have the right to choose where their children go to school.

PUT KIDS FIRST, President Obama. And LET PARENTS CHOOSE.

After all, you put your children first and you chose. Why should you be the only parent in DC with that option?

Freedom Fighters

...speaking of cheering. Let's hear it for the freedom fighters!

I have just spent a week with young men and women from all over the world, freedom fighters between the ages of 21 and 42, each with a personal commitment to fighting for liberty in their respective country.

I am in awe. I am jazzed. I am blessed to have this opportunity.

We live in the Land of the Free, and we are fighting for liberties that are critical to the survival of democracy in our country, and as important as our fight is, the battles going on every day in countries throughout the world - led by these young, dedicated and selfless freedom fighters -seem almost more compelling. But reality is, any honorable fight for freedom and liberty is a noble and worthy cause.

We are here at the Atlas Think Tank MBA Training, and we have gathered from all corners of the world: Poland, United States, Ghana, El Salvador, Georgia, Spain, Argentina, Belgium, Slovakia, Canada, Turkey, Tanzania, Kyrgyztan, Brazil, Mexico, Nepal, Belarus, Mongolia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Cyrgistan and Ecuador.

I love freedom. And I love freedom fighters. They are my friends, my colleagues, my comrades.

May we all endure to the end and continue to fight the good fight.

Cheers (or Beer - the new White Out!)

I am offended. I am wondering why our Commander in Chief appears impatient when his opinions are not immediately embraced by others, but feels that all it will take is a clicking of beer mugs to smooth over the comments he made about racial profiling.

A beer? Really, is that all it takes? Maybe the Republicans need to invite him over for a beer fest and we can sew up this health reform issue quickly.

Racial profiling is serious business and something I have no tolerance for, but profiling doesn't stop at race. People are "profiled" based on religion, hair color, skin color, hygiene, income, heritage, neighborhood, clothing and more.

Differences make us look twice, whether it's because of race or piercings or a bad hair day. So we often do take that second look, but we need to withhold judgment.

The toughest looking biker may be a hardworking, devoted husband and father who just happens to have tattoos and ride a Harley.

The young guy with tattoos just might be a savvy conservative candidate for public office.

The African-American in dark clothing just might be returning from the opera.

The Latino with a shaved head and tattoos from head to toe might be a cop.

The moody lady behind the cash register might have experienced a recent tragedy.

The girl with the hat who is sitting off to the side in the shade and away from everyone just might be a redhead.

We need to be sensitive and remember that all of us have a history and a reality that is often hidden from the world. We have bad days. We say things out of context. We make errors and feel bad later. We separate ourselves for reasons unknown to others.

The President of the United States is no different, EXCEPT that he is the President of the United States, the Commander in Chief, possibly the most influential world leader today. What he says matters and we do listen, even when we don't agree.

And we know he is human and makes mistakes, but words are what elected him; they were his platform, he ran his campaign based on his practiced ability to use words, to communicate effectively, to speak in a way that would captivate Main Street USA.

Our President continues to emphasize the importance of words every time he 'edits' something the Vice President has said, often changing a single word or maybe two in the original quote. This one word, or two, changes the intent, the timing, and the message that was originally delivered. President Obama knows the importance of words.

During the campaign we repeatedly heard his credentials, his resume of journalistic experience; we witnessed over and over his carefully crafted speeches where each word had a purpose and a place. Everything we know about President Obama began with, was sustained by and continues through words.

The President's words matter; his words in speeches, his words when speaking to the media, his words without a teleprompter, his words in anger and frustration, and his words in accusation and judgment. And his words, like all words, are like feathers, they are difficult to gather after they are tossed into the air.

The next time the President makes a statement that he regrets, or would like to edit his own words in the same way he edits the Vice President, it seems to me that it should take more than a beer to make that happen. It should take a sincere apology, an admittance of error, a serious retraction or restatement. Obama is not perfect, but he is the President and we need to remember that, but more importantly, so does he.

I am still offended. I am insulted that he believes that the American people should cling to his every word, unless he chooses to edit them and then all it should take is a beer to straighten things out. Does he really think that a beer is all it takes to win over the American people? I really hope not.

So the man who has been urging us to listen, now wishes that we hadn't listened quite so intently, and the same man wants to use beer as white out.

I guess we can expect closure on the health care issue in early October - right around Oktoberfest, and so I propose the following, adapted from a traditional beer toast:

For every wound, a balm.
For every sorrow, cheer.
For every storm, a calm.
For every outburst, a beer.

Cheers.

Lights of Liberty

"Let your light shine"...most of us are familiar with this biblical phrase, but do we live it? Some do.

This past week the Rio Grande Foundation held the first annual "Lights of Liberty" luncheon in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The guest speaker was David Boaz, Executive Vice President of the CATO Institute. Let me simply say that David's light is shining.

The sell-out crowd of 170 liberty-minded attendees listened intently through David's 30 minute "Liberty in Crisis" presentation.

The speech was inspiring, thought provoking and real. David doesn't mince words or dance around critical topics. Although politically correct in the appropriate use of the term, his casual lack of concern for unnecessary political correctness - that which goes against the grain of today's liberal-fueled quasi-conventional wisdom - makes him the perfect example of it - of political correctness. He speaks the truth, he says what needs to be said and he says it well.

One of my favorite pieces so far (I am still reading) by David Boaz appeared in the Wall Street Journal in May 2009 and is titled "Our Collectivist Candidates". His message is timely and timeless; he ends with a statement loosely related to my area of expertise - philanthropy. I will share the final two paragraphs in this blog, but please click on the link to read his entire article.

"But hypocrisy is not the biggest issue. The real issue is that Messrs. Obama and McCain are telling us Americans that our normal lives are not good enough, that pursuing our own happiness is "self-indulgence," that building a business is "chasing after our money culture," that working to provide a better life for our families is a "narrow concern."

They're wrong. Every human life counts. Your life counts. You have a right to live it as you choose, to follow your bliss. You have a right to seek satisfaction in accomplishment. And if you chase after the almighty dollar, you just might find that you are led, as if by an invisible hand, to do things that improve the lives of others."

And he is right; in my experience as a fundraiser, people who have achieved success want (maybe even need) to share with others, and in an interesting example of "what goes around comes around", they are often rewarded for their philanthropic generosity with continued and increased success. It's one of those eternal principles, and yet some would deny that right to personal success and accomplishment. Shame on them; maybe they should be hiding under a bushel.

Keep on shining, David. And may the light of liberty shine on too.