An Important Vote This Tuesday

This Tuesday, two more states, Oregon and Alaska, as well as the District of Columbia, will vote on the issue to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. Two years ago, Coloradans and Washingtonians took that first, bold step to change our views of recreational usage.

In Wednesday's New York Times, it was revealed that the success of that program in Colorado has exceeded expectations. And Washington is not that behind in its successes, either.

As you know, I have been a proponent for years to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. I have told you that I used marijuana after one of my chemotherapy treatments, and I can assure you that although I pressed for its legalization based on information I read and second/third-hand feedback, after partaking a few tokes, I was convinced it was the right thing to do for truly sick people.

New York finally came on board earlier this year, with certain caveats, to allow special classes of truly sick people to have access to marijuana's medicinal benefits. I am sure New York will liberalize its policies once the program proves successful.

I hope the voters in Alaska, Oregon and DC overwhelmingly vote to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes.  The tax return will be phenomenal to those bases, not to mention the better use of the law enforcement and the criminal justice systems. 

It is the Libertarian thing to do.

The Poll That Matters - First Tuesday in November

Next Tuesday, the first Tuesday in November, all the drama, all the speculation on who will control the Senate for the next two years will be settled. All the polling done by this entity, or that one, will finally be put to rest.

Maybe.

The powers that be in the media are now reporting that run-offs will be forthcoming in all the toss-up states. Here is a news bulletin for the left-wing propagandists, who are trying to spin the election their way with wishful thinking: The poll that matters is the one on Election Day.

I wrote the following commentary on April 21 and I still believe in the integrity of polls. But I have no faith in those, left or right, who want to spin the numbers to tell their biased story.

Election Day is the poll that matters. Thank God it will finally shut all the “not so Intellegencia” up. In the end, all that matters is that the PEOPLE have spoken. Case Closed.

Enjoy “The Poll on Polls”.

 

The Poll on Polls

April 21, 2014

Here is a surprise. Well, not really. Reason/Rupe did a poll and found that 62% of all Americans favor a flat tax, most of whom feel that 15% would be a fair assessment. In addition, 67% feel that private enterprise, not government, should be the way to go to resolve income inequality.

The Reason/Rupe poll is attached for your review.

Here is the thing about polls. As much as anyone, if the results of the poll discussed counters my agenda or the result is contrary to my wish, I don't want to put creedence in the outcome. For example, if the XYZ POLL showed President Obama at a 57% approval rate on the economy, I would not want to believe the result.

 But here is the thing about polls: While a small sampling of people are used to question about a subject, say 1,000 voters, mathematically the results are fairly accurate, within a plus or minus margin of error of 3%. Since the 1930s, when George Gallup took the first one, the calculations have become better and the outcomes more accurate.

In addition, many news organizations have joined assets and work together to make certain the poll is more fair, as well. For example, ABC News, a liberal organization and the Wall Street Journal, a more conservative newspaper, is a common poll whose results are well-respected by just about anyone who looks at the poll or reports the results. Another well-respected poll is the one done by Quinnipiac University.  

So you understand how this particular poll is conducted, I have provided the logic and procedures for the methodology used. It actually is quite fascinating.

This poll began in 2011 when the forces of Reason Foundation and the Arthur N Rupe Foundation came together to explore what Americans really think about government and other major issues.

The bottom line is that polling has become a necessity in today's society for all of us to get a pulse on what others think about important issues, if only to validate our own opinions.

I know that the only poll that matters is the one taken on Primary Day or  Election Day. But not all polls are about candidates, right? Issues of the day probably in the long run, matter more. It is the issues which influence our feelings about a candidate, how he or she measures up to our own values. 

And while this is a rhetorical question, how did the poll discussed in the first paragraph measure up to your own opinions? I have discussed the flat tax before, so you know I believe this would be the fairest way to go.

If you are lucky enough to someday take part in a poll, remember that the rest of us are counting on you. No pun intended. 

More Democrat Hypocrisy

I was listening to two women debate on Sunday, a Republican and a Democrat. The Democrat said that there is still a "war on women", trying to blame Republicans for that war, in support for the women candidates running for office.

But it was the Democrat candidate for governor in South Carolina, a man, who called Governor Nikki Haley, a Republican WOMAN a whore.

Read and listen for yourself from Red State.

And then, the liberal media decided to tear apart Bristol Palin and the entire Palin family for their dysfunctional behavior, as if none of our families have ever displayed weird behavior. The female anchor on CNN thought it was hilarious, as shown in the video, that she was called what I feel is the most vile word you could call a woman. Shame on her!!

I don't recall anyone on Fox, or any Republican calling a Democrat woman any vile, disgusting names, do you?

And the other issue which galls me is why abortion is a matter of Women's Health.  I thought it was a choice, like a man choosing to get a vasectomy is a choice. I understand that there are reasons why a woman may CHOOSE to have an abortion, and that is her right, without interference from anyone else. But not at taxpayer expense.

Oh, and birth control pills being a women's health issue?  Why must we pay for them via Obamacare, but Viagra is not covered by Medicare, because it is a recreational drug? Aren't birth control pills also recreational, so that the person taking them can enjoy sex without fear of getting pregnant? As an older man, I would think Viagra is a drug for my psychological well-being, and therefore, should be equally covered as a Men's Health issue.

So, when you go to the polls next Tuesday, remember that all is not what the left-wing, liberal, discriminated media wants you to believe. Think for yourself and realize that you are being duped by the protectors of Barry, Nancy, and the others to believe that liberal big government knows best for you.

And then remember why we exist as a nation in the first place: King George was the 18th century epitome of Big Government.  And look what happened because of THAT!

Obama's Silence on Religious Persecution - His Failure of Moral Leadership

I wonder what our media would say if the injustices being perpetrated against Christians in Pakistan, instead were directed toward Muslims here in the United States.  And, I wonder what the Muslim in the White House would say?

He and the media are eerily silent on the religious persecution ongoing in Pakistan and elsewhere toward Christians and Jews. I have to congratulate the Washington Post for its article which appeared in Saturday's online edition called "In Expansive Pakistan, Christians Struggle to find Land for Cemeteries".

But that is not the end of if it. Christians are treated, as the article suggests, as second and third class citizens to get food, housing and other basic necessities, that Christians, Jews, Atheists AND Muslims in this country can freely take for granted.

Why is that?

Oh, yeah. Freedom OF Religion is protected by the Sacred Document called the Constitution of the United States. This is found in the First Amendment. Interesting that the Founders thought that Speech, Religion, Press and Assembly were co-equal rights to be protected first and foremost.

Yet, the Muslim in the White House thinks that in this case, he finds it more important to take a "hands off" position when religious minorities are being persecuted in Muslim countries. Hmmmmm. Did his pen run out of ink? Did his phone service get cancelled?

What a frigging hypocrite Barack Hussein Barry Soetoro Obama is! Is this man that shallow, that prejudiced against Christians and other religious minorities in Muslim countries? All throughout the world, he has a lot to say about the sanctity of Islam. But about persecution of Christians and Jews in Muslim countries? Not a word. 

You know what, Barry? Unless you have some equal opportunity criticism to dish out to your Muslim brothers with their "Nazi-like" repression against other human beings, you really are no better than Adolf Hitler. The only difference between Hitler and you is that you don't speak German. 

And in case you have forgotten this, in your quest to appease other Muslim dictators, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS A JUDEO-CHRISTIAN COUNTRY. This is NOT a Muslim country, but unlike Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, where Jews and Christians are not welcome, Muslims ARE welcome here, free to practice their faith, without prejudice or persecution.

Why? Because that pesky document, the one I and many others like me consider the Sacred Document, guarantee them that right under what again? Oh yeah, the FIRST Amendment.

You and your @$$ kissers claim you are a Constitutional Law Professor. Where? In Libya? Indonesia?  Malaysia? Pakistan? You certainly don't know anything about MY Constitution, you know, the one you swore to uphold, but instead try to shred at every turn.

And the media? NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN and their affiliates, subsidiaries and cable stations? They are your waterboys, your lackeys, your spindoctors,  covering up your failures and your illegal actions with as much fervor as they reported and exposed Richard Nixon's. Hypocrites, for sure; no longer journalists, at least not like Cronkite, Chancellor or Reasoner. Or, Edward R Murrow.

But it is ok, right, that the Christians in Pakistan are persecuted? At least in the mind of the Muslim in the White House.

A Jets Fan's Plea

Some of you know I am a passionate sports fan, almost as passionate as I am with politics and history.  I love my hapless Mets; it is not the players fault they can't win, it is the cheap, inept ownership that is the cause for the team's misfortune.  

While I think Terry Collins is an apologist for the team's nightly performance, he can work only with what the GM and by extension, what the ownership will spend money on to obtain. The Wilpons have had ownership of the team in some degree since 1981 and we have two World Series wins and a couple of other lesser titles to show for it.

So much for caring for the fans.

But nothing can compare with the inept ownership that my Jets have endured since Sonny Werblin sold the team. Sonny was the guy who brought Joe Namath to the team and that action led to the greatest upset in American football history when the underdog Jets, eighteen point underdogs by the way, beat the  immortal Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts, coached by the great Don Shula in a 16-7 upset on January 12, 1969 in the Orange Bowl.

Since then, nothing. We have suffered through years of darkness with a just a few days of sun peaking through the horizon. We thought six seasons ago we were finally going to get there again, but the team thought if you were ahead after 2 1/2 quarters in the AFC Championship game, the game was won. Oops.

Since the early 70s, we have not had a coach as good as Weeb Ewbank. Kotite? Walton? Edwards? Hell, no. Not even Parcells was as good as Ewbank.  Maybe because he had quarterbacks at the end of their careers. But that isn't an excuse. That is a cop-out.

But nothing is as bad as what is coaching the Jets now. When Woody Johnson fired GM Mike Tannenbaum, kept Rex Ryan as Head Coach and brought in an inept John Idzik, it was a disaster in the making.

And now? The Jets are the Titanic, the Mt St Helens of the NFL. A real disaster. Rex has no idea what he is doing out there, week after week. He is looking over his shoulder, waiting for Woody to finally administer the prescription from his pharmacy to put Rex out of his misery.  He would be doing Rex and the rest of us a favor, quite frankly.

Rex is in the final year of his contract and I am sure he is anxious to move on. And so are we.

It is time, once again, to rebuild this sad excuse of a once great franchise. Like the Mets, the Jets ownership can't be fired. But perhaps if the fans stopped going to the games and buying the licensed jerseys and other products, by hitting Woody in the wallet, he would get the message that it is the fans that matter. Without us, he has nothing.

As much as I bleed Orange and Blue, I also bleed Green and White. I am a loyal fan to the team. I ache with each loss, and celebrate each win.

Sadly, this season is done for the most part. I will still watch with anticipation that perhaps this week will be the week it gets turned around. But then, I slap my head and realize as a football fan, we are playing the great Tom Brady, four days after we played the great Peyton Manning. Talk about a 1 - 2 punch to deflate the season even more.

I can't wait for the bye week. Maybe by then, we will be saying "bye" to Rex and Idzik and Vick and Geno. Give the ball to Matt Simms. He can't do any worse than what we have watched since 2010.

And maybe, just maybe, we will watch the sun rise on this great franchise again. It certainly can't hurt. 

Columbus Day - The Whys and Wherefores

Schools, banks, post offices, and the federal, state and local governments are all closed Monday. Why? It is Columbus Day!

Why should this matter? Well, for starters, we all know that Columbus didn't discover America; instead, he discovered Hispanola, today's Haiti and Dominican Republic. Actually, the continents of North and South America were discovered by many others before Columbus, though they did not know it, nor get credit for it.

What makes Columbus' journey so remarkable were several issues. He truly believed the Earth was round and convinced Ferdinand and Isabella to fund his journey. They were willing to risk a fortune on him, right after they drove the Moors from the Iberian Peninsula. He and his brave crew embarked on the journey in the middle of the hurricane season but did not know it. And finally, as his crew was ready to mutiny, good fortune or divine providence intervened and showed there was land ahead.

Yet, this year, the PC police are out of their minds about Columbus Day. They want to change the name to Indigenous People Day. Hey, all you dumb heads! There ARE NO indigenous people who can trace their heritage exclusively to the Western Hemisphere. Everyone here now has ancestors who came from someplace else.

That's right. Native Americans are not native to here. Their ancestors crossed the Bering Land Bridge. South Americans? Japanese and Koreans sailed across the Pacific and landed in Peru, Ecuador and Chile. This is pretty common knowledge if you deign to watch The History Channel.

But I digress.

Understand that eventually, someone would have landed here and would have gotten the good press Columbus got. Leif Erickson landed in Martha's Vineyard but did not get the attention Columbus did. 

Why is that?

And, by the way, how did we get our name? It was another Italian, Amerigo Vespucci, who landed on the mainland of North America. Hence, the name. Good press again.

So let's stop this nonsense and leave well enough alone. In 1492, Columbus and his crew were brave enough to sail the ocean blue.  And lived to do it several more times. If he didn't, where do you think you would be? Certainly not here, the best country in the world, where you can spew your stupidity with abandon.

Stop and think about it before you decide to show off your dumb brain to smarter people than you. Sometimes it is just better to be quiet and let others THINK you are stupid, than open your mouth and remove all doubt.

In the meantime - Happy Columbus Day!

It Was a Very Good Year

Was it really that long ago? It seemed like only yesterday we were walking in the courtyard to Pomp and Circumstance. The Senior High Chorus sang You'll Never Walk Alone, Principal George Allen gave his farewell address to us and finally, FINALLY, we went back to the Auditorium to take off the gowns, return the caps and pull off the tassels to say good-bye.

Fast forward to this past Friday night. Deb, Susan, Ray, Vicki, Walt, Phyllis, Jack, Ruth, Brian, Joyce, Joe, Alice, Janet, Teray, Toni, Pete, Carole and so many others joined me for our 45th Reunion since we graduated from "Good Old" Floral Park Memorial. Maybe it is good that so many more of us wear glasses now, but honestly, it seemed like we didn't age a bit.

For some, it was the first time we were back. For me, this was only my second. Still others have come back for all of them. But it didn't matter. It was great to see such a great turnout.

Some traveled from Florida, or North Carolina, or Ohio, or Jersey, or from upstate. Others came from parts of the Island we have never left. And some came from our old hometown. But we all made the effort to be there because we knew it could be the last. And those who couldn't were there in spirit, sending regrets and truly meaning it.

Since that wonderful day those many years ago, we lost so many. Kenny was the first that November.  Since then, we lost Artie, and Kathy, and Mary Lou, and Dennis, and Vinny, and Eddie. I know there are more who are, hopefully, in a better place. But they are always in our hearts.

Some of us went off to college and others went into the military. Some never finished and others have their doctorates. No matter. For this one night, we were 17 or 18 again, happy we could share a bit of ourselves with each other and happy to see that after 45 years we still looked pretty good, all things considered.

I came late to the "committee" to help arrange such a great time. Others did so much more, especially Sue and Sue and Deb and Debi and Alice and Ginger. If I missed anyone, my sincerest apologies.

To my regular followers on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and all the blogsites I appear in, including Front Lines, The Minority Report, iCaucus,  The Bold Pursuit and my own site, Frankmchalesviews.blogspot.com,  this one time, I beg your indulgence. This was a special night I wanted to share. And I wanted to let all my classmates know how much it meant to me to see them.

So... to sum this all up... I actually can't wait until 2018 to do this again. But I know this. Between now and then we will all somehow get together in smaller groups, this time not losing the connections we made on Friday.

And, by the way. If you went to OLV in Floral Park and graduated in 1965, we get to celebrate that 50th NEXT YEAR!!! So reach out and let Sue D, Teray, Joyce T, Jack B, Toni T or me know your thoughts and help us get THAT reunion done. It certainly will be fun!

1969 - it WAS a very good year! No... it was THE BEST!!!