Republicans in tomorrow’s off year elections are snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Off year elections are read like tea leaves to determine which way the national political winds are blowing. Real or not the results are a reading of the political temperature of the country.

The GOP is poised to make strong showing in the two marquis elections tomorrow for the Governorships of Virginia and New Jersey. Both are states with Democrat incumbents and both states that Barack Obama carried in 2008. Current polling shows that Virginia should land in the Republican win column and New Jersey is a toss up.

The news of two GOP wins or a GOP win and a close race in The Garden State would be a big step in changing the political fortunes of the Republican Party.

Unfortunately events that are taking place in far upstate New York is going to take any shine off the GOP’s major election gains. New York’s 23^rd Congressional District that borders Canada has become the epicenter of a fight among Republicans that is taking the story of the rejection of Obama leadership and resurgence of the GOP away from above the fold. Electronic media will not be leading with Virginia and New Jersey but talking about Plattsburg, NY.

Essentially what has happened is that President Obama has appointed the District’s Congressman John McHugh to be Secretary of the Army, creating the vacancy. The 23d District is reliably Republican having consecutively elected Republicans for the past 120 years. Congressman McHugh served the 23^rd for the last 16 years. Upon the vacancy under New York law and party rules a group of legally designated Republican officials from the 11 counties within the District selected State Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava as the Republican nominee for the Special Election that will be held tomorrow. BTW the 23^rd District has an approximate 50,000 Republican voter registration advantage.

The other candidates in the Special Election are Doug Hoffman the Conservative Party candidate and Bill Owens the Democrat Party candidate. Early polling showed Ms. Scozzafava with the lead. She was endorsed by the Party establishment both NY State Party Chairman Ed Cox (factoid – Cox is the husband of Tricia Nixon and consequently Richard Nixon’s son in law and it was speculated in 2006 that Cox might be the GOP candidate against Hillary Rodham) and Michael Steele, Republican National Committee Chairman.

I empathize with both Chairmen. It is the duty of party officials at all levels to support the party’s candidates. You don’t have to like them; you don’t have to agree with – It Just Comes with the Territory!

It seems that Ms. Scozzafava has some positions that didn’t sit well with all in particular the Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck and Pat Buchanan types. After raising the decibel level of many of the GOP candidate’s unorthodox opinions, the political ground in upstate New York began to change. Several office holders and several wanna be office holders weighed in. Not to be helpful but to get in on the act and to benefit their own cause. Some pretty high profile persons (both supporting her and abandoning the GOP endorsement and supporting the Conservative candidate) that included Dick Armey, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and of course the pundits.

I certainly do not share all of the GOP candidate’s views but it is not in the party’s best interest to wander off the reservation. Keep in the mind that New York Republicans are not the same as Texas, Wyoming, or South Dakota Republicans. There are differences. Also understand that a Republican presence has all but disappeared in the Northeast. New York is the only state in the Northeast to have Republican representation in the U S House and in NY there are only 3 Republicans out of 29 including the vacant 23^rd. Thus it might not be surprising that the people in the District might tend to the moderate side.

I could go on about party loyalty and all that but the plot thickens. Because of the national attention, Mr. Hoffman the Conservative candidate was blessed with about $3 million dollars in donations from out of the District. The money combined with highlighting of Ms. Scozzafava’s liberal positions has put the lady in the cellar.  If things couldn’t get any stranger on Saturday Dede dropped out and on Sunday endorsed Mr. Owens the Democrat.

Why she backed out I don’t know, with 3 days to go she should have stuck it out. Her endorsement of the Democrat is disgusting. She was the GOP candidate and like Republican officials needing to stay loyal to the party she should have not endorsed.

If you are upset at Republican Party officials selecting her, you should be. But as I often point out you must play by the rules, not change them in the middle of the game. After the election deep six the GOP officials and change the selection rules not grouse about your candidate - once selected it’s too late for that.

Had she been elected she would have caucused with the GOP (House Republican Leader John Boehner rightfully endorsed her). Now no matter who wins, Hoffman or Owens the sails of the GOP ship will have been trimmed. The culprit is Republican Party squabbling.

Virginia and New Jersey results Wednesday could have heralded a bright new day for the GOP, but New York 23 changed that.

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Straight Talk Commentary –Opinions about Immigration are intense. While immigration is not at the top of the list of hot button political issues today, it remains a national issue that must be dealt with. Even within the health care reform debate there lies an immigration component.

The article below on Google founder Sergey Brin from Saturday’s NY Times highlights why immigration is both the nature and the strength of America. Before many of my conservative brethren go medieval on me; for the record I support a pro immigration policy, but believe immigration must be legal and English must be the both the legal and commercial language of our Country.

The United States is a nation of immigrants – a melting pot.  First generations of Americans came to our shores for opportunity and the promise of a better way of life. Opportunity – Opportunity – Opportunity!

America’s greatness lies in equality of opportunity and the ability to succeed (yes that means financially), For America to grow a provide succeeding generations with a better way of life several things are needed, access to a quality free education, opportunity, and a free market system that allows for reward.

The Sergey Brin / Google story is a perfect example. Brin’s story reminds me of a PBS documentary I saw a few years ago titled “From Shtetl to Swing.”  PBS notes that this documentary is “The story of the melding of Jewish and African-American musical influences that led to the development of American popular entertainment.”

There was a piece in the show that says it all to me. A Jewish songwriter – lyricist Yip Harburg wrote the words to the Judy Garland classic from “The Wizard of Oz”, “Over the Rainbow.”

Harburg’s lyrics the PBS show said was the story of Jewish immigrants who saw America as the Land of Opportunity, a place where dreams can come true.

Sidebar – “Over the Rainbow” won the Academy Award for Best Music Original Song. The song was also named number one “Song of the Century” by the Recording Industry Association of America, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Billionaire Aids Charity That Aided Him

By: Stephanie Strom

The New York Times

October 24, 2009

Were it not for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, there might be no Google.

Thirty years ago today, Sergey Brin, a 6-year-old Soviet boy facing an uncertain future, arrived in the United States with the help of the society.

Now Mr. Brin, the billionaire co-founder of Google, is giving $1 million to the society, widely known as HIAS, which helped his family escape anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union and establish itself here.

“I would have never had the kinds of opportunities I’ve had here in the Soviet Union, or even in Russia today,” Mr. Brin said in an interview. “I would like to see anyone be able to achieve their dreams, and that’s what this organization does.”

The gift is small, given Mr. Brin’s estimated $16 billion in personal wealth, but he said it signaled a growing commitment by him and his wife, Anne Wojcicki, to engage more substantially in philanthropy.

“We’ve given away over $30 million so far, which isn’t so tiny but obviously small in terms of our, um, theoretical wealth,” Mr. Brin said. “Our philanthropy is something I want to take my time with and develop and systematize.”

He has already learned enough about philanthropy to add immediately: “Our foundation is not soliciting proposals. Please make sure to include that.”

Mr. Brin noted that Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft , was widely criticized for not giving away enough money but is now known as one of the world’s leading philanthropists. “While everyone was criticizing him, he was generating a whole lot more money for his foundation, and ultimately, when he got serious about philanthropy, he did it really well,” Mr. Brin said. “I’d like to learn from that example.”

The bulk of the money the Brins have given away has gone to the Michael J. Fox Foundation and other research organizations devoted to Parkinson’s disease. But this year, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Brin family’s immigration to the United States, they have given gifts to several Jewish organizations that aided along the way. HIAS, which helped the family navigate the cumbersome process of leaving the Soviet Union for the United States, paid for tickets, gave them money and helped them apply for visas, received the largest amount.

The family lived in Paris for several months while waiting for visas and then moved to Maryland, and the relationship with HIAS ended. “Although they gave us tremendous help, we didn’t stay connected with HIAS,” said Eugenia Brin, Mr. Brin’s mother. “Then a few years ago, I guess because of Google, we got a call from HIAS asking if we could help them digitize their archives.”

Eventually, Mrs. Brin joined the HIAS board and started a social networking site, mystory.hias.org, initially to encourage Russian Jewish immigrants to post their stories and eventually to attract the stories of other immigrants.

Gideon Aronoff, chief executive of HIAS, said the gift would be put to a variety of uses, like increasing the organization’s use of technology and supporting advocacy on immigration policy.

“One of the most important things that Sergey Brin’s gift signifies, not just for HIAS but more importantly for the nation,” Mr. Aronoff said, “is the possibilities inherent in being a refugee. The debate over immigration has frequently become so bitter that an important element has been lost: refugees are as varied in their skills sets and contributions as the rest of us.”

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Economics is not like a basketball game  where when the game ends you know the score.

This coming week the economic growth rate for the third quarter will be announced. Many economists are suggesting that it will meet or exceed 3% and combined with leading economic indicators that the recession has ended.

Despite improved numbers just about everyone, including economists, politicians and especially the White House is bemoaning employment (or unemployment) numbers. Christina Romer, the President’s Chief Economic advisor was in uber spin this week to lower expectations about the joblessness rate.

Sidebar – The President is walking a fine line while talking out of both sides of his mouth, spinning that his Stimulus package is working (that is supposed to SAVE or create so many jobs) and telling us there is increased unemployment ahead.

Our experts should not pin their belief in real eco recovery to jobs. I concede that employed workers spending money enhances growth but in todays economy is not required.

The economic model has changed. The credit meltdown last October was a game changer. Foremost as business and industry retrenched to deal with the worst recession since the Great Depression they reworked their business plans. This is particularly true in the Retail sector. Retailers closed stores, shunning employees and went into overdrive adapting a warehouse direct to consumer sales plan. On all fronts employers adopted technology and use of Internet to increase growth. Until the economy has real sustained growth these retail jobs will be a long time coming back. With the new Internet model many are lost forever.

Just a note – Many manufacturing jobs have been lost to our domestic economy. Not just automobile jobs but even light manufacturing as well. Our economy is global and outsourcing will continue. Many jobs can be done overseas with quality equal to American at far lower that U S costs. This presents challenges economically but exacerbates the shift from the information age to our digital knowledge economy. Thus putting a premium on creating the right kinds of jobs for increased investments in education and primary research.

In today’s economy, workers value their jobs. Employees are not expecting raises automatically and they are working harder (increased productivity). Employees are telling their boss, there is no need to hire someone, we will work harder. Employees are taking care of their jobs understanding their employer must remain economically viable.

Losses in retirement funds caused by the drop in the stock market have caused many workers to postpone their retirements. Thus depriving younger workers of needed job openings. Over time this delay in retirement does create some pent up demand for jobs but they may be five years or more further in the future. These workers will retire either as they age or their portfolios recover and grow.

For the meantime Politicians should not use job numbers as a sign of economic recovery. Our economy has transformed and shed jobs permanently.

Hopefully we have a jobless recovery. It is possible.

To comment on this post go to South Dakota Straight Talk.

Last month I posted on Colonel Andrea Thompson’s blog, Andrea’s Adventures, Andrea is a South Dakotan serving in Afghanistan. My niece Deb Peterson has also been blogging from across the pond and her adventures are quite interesting even if not as fast paced and important as Colonel Thompsons.

Deb’s husband is a graphic designer, programmer, and executive type with Google. I am not sure exactly what Josh does but let’s just says he’s high tech and good at it! Last May Josh was transferred to Zurich, Switzerland where Google has it office for European operations.

The Petersons have at this point have no other family other than Stella the Pug, their mutt. They love Stell because they spent nearly 3 grand to take her with them. I expect there’s another 3K involved to get Stella back to the States if they decide to return.

This is their European adventure as in four and one half months they seem to travel nearly every weekend. They have been (and this is not an all inclusive list) to Paris, Stockholm, Hamburg and other points. Several weeks ago Deb did two countries in one day (lunch in Lichtenstein and drinks in Austria).

To chronicle their adventures they are blogging at Peterthals (a combination of Peterson / Rosenthal).  It is an engaging and wonderfully presented blog. (Why wouldn’t it be? – he works on websites at Google).

Recently one of Deb’s post was picked up by another Expat’s (expatriate) blog, Onebigyodel.com, who lauded it for cleverness. It is a very good blog (certainly I am prejudiced) and I look forward to every update.

What really touches me about this blog as well as Col. Thompson’s is how geographically dispersed and occupationally diversified our children’s generation has become from our own; Both economically and culturally. Among other reasons it is because of great advances in technology resulting in improvements in transportation and communications (including the Internet, blogs and even video chats and live video conferencing). Deb live chats very often (approaching daily) over (surprise) Google Chat with her Mom and Dad.

The world has changed and continues to change (very very fast). Our challenge is to adapt with it.

Check out their blog. www.peterthals.com

Alverdezane

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Straight Talk Commentary – In my previous post Actions Speak Louder Than Words, I responded almost immediately (uncharacteristically) to the announcement of the President’s receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Just as follow up: Perhaps no one has commented on it better than Israeli Statesman Yoram Ettinger whose opinion piece follows. There was another very point on comment about the President’s receiving the Prize by Charles Krauthammer worth noting. Even Tom Friedman at “The New York Times” weighed in on Sunday it is the American soldier and sailor who deserves the award as the real peacekeeper.

It was interesting to hear today that the Nobel Committee answered their critics by saying that the President had done a lot to lessen tension in the World.

What really caught my eye according to the Associated Press report was the reaction by Committee member, Inger-Marie Ytterhorn. The AP reported:

For nine-year Nobel committee veteran Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, Obama's demeanor spoke volumes when he first acknowledged the award during a news conference Friday on the lawn of the White House Rose Garden.

"I looked at his face when he was on TV and confirmed that he would receive the prize and would come to Norway, and he didn't look particularly happy,"

Obama’s Nobel Prize: A blatant attempt to Europeanize US policy

By: Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger,

Ynet

October 12, 2009

Tell me who are the committee members of the Nobel Prize for Peace, and I'll tell you why it was awarded to President Obama.

According to Alfred Nobel's will – and in contrast with other Nobel Prize committees – the members of the Nobel Prize for Peace committee are not experts, but politicians, members of the Norwegian Parliament.

The chairman of the committee, Thorbjorn Jagland, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Norway, is the Vice President and the Chairman of the Middle East Committee of the "Socialist International," known for its opposition to US and Israeli policies.  He is, also, the Chairman of the "Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights," which advocates a Dovish-Leftist world view, in cooperation with former President Jimmy Carter, who is close to President Obama and a role-model for the new Nobel Laureate.

Along with other members of the Committee, Jagland, represents a Parliament, which has called to recognize Hamas, to dialogue with Iran, to tolerate rogue regimes, to enhance ties with Moslem regimes, to condemn (what he terms) Islamophobia and to criticize systematically the policies of Washington (until Obama's victory) and Jerusalem.

Awarding Obama the Nobel Peace Prize – in spite of the fact that the deadline for nominations was February 1, 10 days into Obama's Administration – constitutes a transparent attempt by European politicians to bolster Obama's determination in the global arena and improve Obama's standing in the domestic arena. While Obama's stock have risen internationally, it has deteriorated internally, in light of his lack of success in the areas of unemployment, taxes, budget deficit, health insurance reform, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Russia and Al-Qaida.

Jagland and his colleagues are determined to provide Obama with a tailwind. They consider him the most UN-driven American President since Woodrow Wilson, who established the League of Nations in 1920. They are encouraging him to sustain his efforts to endear the UN to the American people and legislators and to highlight the UN as the key formulator of international relations. They identify with – and are eager to advance – Obama's world view, as they assess it: that the superpower role of the US is over; that moral equivalence – and not moral superiority – dominates relations between the US and non Western democracies; that the West must reconcile itself to the rise of the Moslem World; that the US must desist from unilateral political and military initiatives; that the US should advance multilateral initiatives which reflect values and attitudes shared by the majority of the UN membership; that there is no military option against Iran; that the battle against Islamic terrorism must be conducted diplomatically, economically and legally and not militarily; that there should not be a surge in Afghanistan; that retreat from Iraq should be accelerated; that the Palestinian issue is the core cause of Middle East turbulence and anti-Western Islamic terrorism, etc.

Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama does not reflect respect, by the Nobel Price Committee, for the American President. It does not intend to express appreciation of the American legacy and American human and mega-billion dollar monetary sacrifice, which spared Europe defeat during World War I and World War II, produced victory over Communism and minimized Islamic terrorism in Europe. The Nobel Peace Prize Committee strives to improve Obama's image among Americans and to leverage his presidency, in order to Europeanize US policy, thus accomplishing the "wet dream" of US critics, rivals and enemies. Reservations expressed by most of the US public, legislators and media suggests that the Norwegian politicians may relive the Biblical episode of Balaam in reverse: They came to bless, but ended up cursing.    

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This morning it was announced that President Obama will receive the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Shocking! For What? The President  has made a couple of speeches, one in Cairo and you might count the one at the United Nations a couple of weeks ago. What has the President done to promote peace. Not said, Done!.

What he is in the process of doing with his notion of cooperation without any concessions or preconditions is ceding the United States' role as superpower to committees of others whose primary interest is not the security of our nation and its people.  

I learned from Mr. Gire, my tenth grade World History teacher that we should study and learn from history, as history repeats itself. The diplomatic path we are following is the Neville Chamberlain “Peace in Our Time” road to peace.

For those who perhaps don't understand the reference,  following is a brief synopsis from Eurodocs.

The following is the wording of a printed statement that Neville Chamberlain waved as he stepped off the plane on 30 September, 1938 after the Munich Conference had ended the day before:

"We, the German Führer and Chancellor, and the British Prime Minister, have had a further meeting today and are agreed in recognizing that the question of Anglo-German relations is of the first importance for our two countries and for Europe.
We regard the agreement signed last night and the Anglo-German Naval Agreement as symbolic of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war with one another again. We are resolved that the method of consultation shall be the method adopted to deal with any other questions that may concern our two countries, and we are determined to continue our efforts to remove possible sources of difference, and thus to contribute to assure the peace of Europe."

Chamberlain read the above statement in front of 10 Downing St. and said:

"My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour.   I believe it is peace for our time...
Go home and get a nice quiet sleep."

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Two weeks ago posting on President Obama’s talk to America’s school children, I said, “The President is the leader of our Country and deserves our respect.” “When we disrespect the President, I said, “we disrespect ourselves.”

Then last Friday when reading a rather routine story in “The Washington Post” on national political fundraising I was shocked to see the following quote from none other than our Vice President who was speaking of possible GOP victories in the 2010 U S House election.

        "If they take them back, this is the end of the road for what Barack and I are trying to do,"

Vice President publicly called him by his given name not the President.  

Extended Endbar (prompted in thinking about what the VPOTUS said) – Calling the President by his given name reminds me of the scene in the Aaron Sorkin written and Rob Reiner directed film (both super libs), “The American President.”  The film is very engaging and great stagecraft for political junkies, despite their politics. The scene between the President’s Chief of Staff played by Martin Sheen (who plays a great Robert E Lee in Ted Turner’s Gettysburg – can we get anymore liberal?(Turner not General Lee)) and a President Andrew Shepherd played by Michael Douglas.

The COS: Good night Mr. President

The President: When we're out of the office, and alone, you can call me Andy.

The COS: I beg your pardon, sir?

The President:  You were the best man at my wedding, for crying out loud. Call me Andy.

The COS: Whatever you say, Mr. President.

In another exchange prior to the one cited above the Chief of Staff also got off this exchange about addressing the President:

The COS: Nice shot, Mr. President.

The President: Nice shot, Mr. President? You won't even call me by my name when we're playing pool?

The COS: I will not do it playing pool, I will not do it in a school. I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, Sam I Am.

Aaron Sorkin has reportedly dated Kristen Chenowith (a real talent and not too shabby) and New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. Dating Dowd is a little hard to understand but it must be that writer’s thing or something. Sorkin is best known for his work on television’s “The West Wing.”

Among Sorkin’s other credits are “Sports Night”, for both stage and screen the outstanding “A Few Good Men”, and most recently for his screenwriting “Charlie Wilson’s War.”

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Straight Talk Commentary – Those running OUR federal government (the President and the majority party) just can’t get enough of the government deepening itself in the ownership and operation of many facets of our economy and our lives.

President Obama last weekend suggested to the nation’s newspaper editors that he would be “HAPPY (emphasis added) to look” at proposals for a federal bailout of their industry. The very simple fact is that newspapers are a dead business model. The government has no business trying to save the dead tree day late news media than it does going into the buggy whip industry.

Despite all the moolah we might throw at the papers they can’t be saved!

Gathering and reporting local news is still vital and can be economically rewarding but a meaningful timing and delivery model needs to be figured out. Locally KELOland.com is light years (and I would guess financially) ahead of our Daily Planet who has a few good days but is always slow and flatfooted. Nothing personal it’s their Gutenberg  model.

Sidebar – Not to say I don’t appreciate the “Argus Leader”, they have been doing a nice job online occasionally  with their live streamed afternoon interviews with our local and federal officials and occasionally with sports interviews.

There are several other interesting arguments made in the following article from “The Week” magazine worth considering.

        The necessity of a free press to our Democracy

The fact that news organizations should be independent of those they cover

The nonsense that somehow all media will end up in conservative ownership

The nonsense that without newspapers there will be no one to check facts and provide a check and balance to the government 

The First American Benjamin Franklin must be turning over in his grave.

In Franklin’s City of Brotherly Love, The Free Library ofPhiladelphia announced yesterday that it is closing permanently due to lack of funding from the state government of Pennsylvania.

Ben Franklin who understood the power of words, the power of learning, and the power of a well educated citizenry, invented (as distinguished from founded) the first lending Library in 1731.

It is reasoned that the demise of The Free Library was victim to the economy but also to the digitization of job and government resources. Library usage is near all time highs but because of revenue pressures on government library funding has not kept up.

Knowledge and Education are the great equalizer in America. Free public education and public libraries are keystones to the assuring that America continues to be the land of opportunity. I often note that the free enterprise system of risk and reward is an essential element to our Freedom. Access to knowledge is essential to assure that hard work is rewarded and America is the land of opportunity. Franklin understood this.

Endbar – Library use is exploding in the Sioux Empire as well. Recent circulation data show that usage in the past year has increased 8.2%. Subjectively the number is even higher given the construction at the Main Branch in downtown Sioux Falls. Circulation at the main branch is down slightly (6.4%) because library patrons believe it is closed. IT’S OPEN! Also of note the Siouxland Libraries website, www.siouxlandlibraries.com usage increased over 30% this past year as more patrons are accessing the library online.

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