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Some folks shouldn't be voting
The Cartersville Daily Tribune ^ | January 26, 2008 | Chuck Shiflett

Posted on 01/27/2008 12:44:28 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

If any recent day typifies life in this crazy modern world, it was probably this past Tuesday. World financial markets were in a meltdown and the Federal Reserve held an emergency meeting to cut the interest rate a massive three quarters of a point in an attempt to stave off a precipitous stock market drop.

President Bush was working with congressional leaders on an economic stimulus package to reduce the likelihood of a recession. Meanwhile the U.S. presidential campaign was in full swing with Hillary and Obama having just ripped each other to shreds at a debate, and Fred Thompson announced that he was dropping out of the race on the GOP side.

Overseas Condi Rice was working diplomatic circles in an attempt to put more pressure on Iran and its burgeoning nuclear program. The nation of Israel had just reduced fuel supplies flowing into Palestinian territory in response to rocket attacks against Israel. In turn, Palestinians breached a security wall separating Gaza and Egypt.

It was a normal day in America's newsrooms; then the story broke that Heath Ledger had died. I racked my brain ... who the heck was Heath Ledger? I shouldn't have worried about finding the answer, because for the rest of the afternoon and evening all the important news was swept from the airwaves of CNN, Fox, and MSNBC as we were flooded with wall to wall coverage of yet another celebrity tragedy.

Dave Ramsey and two other prominent financial gurus were scheduled to appear on Larry King for a full 40 minutes to discuss the rapidly worsening financial situation. Sorry, guys ... some Hollywood type was diddling around with drugs and took a dirt nap. CNN will have to reschedule you so that we can bring viewers mind numbing ramblings on the life and times of Heath Ledger.

I hate it for the guy. Ledger was in the prime of his life and his movie career was headed higher. However, what should have been a 30-second news piece turned into a media feeding frenzy with every network trying to create a new angle in order to drag the story out. Is this what we've come to?

Are Republicans really ready to nominate a 72-year-old U.S. senator who has more in common with Democrat John Edwards than Ronald Reagan? Or have we swallowed his marketing mantra of "straight talk"?

Who cares what Barack Hussein Obama believes in? Oprah endorsed him and that's enough for millions of Democrats. Shouldn't we want to understand Hillary Rodham Clinton's socialist dream for America? Nah, the only thing that matters is that she's a woman.

I can't even count how many times a talk show host on our radio station has taken a call from a supporter of Obama or Hillary and then asked the caller to name one policy their candidate espouses. Usually there's dead silence ... and then a rambling answer about how he or she believes their candidate cares about people.

The caller was yet another victim of modern marketing that appeals to how we feel instead of to the facts surrounding an election. The odds are pretty high that the person standing in line behind you at your polling place on Feb. 5th won't have a clue.

Every election we hear the media types pontificate about how pitiful voter turnout is. I've been guilty of it myself. However I've about come to the conclusion we would better off as a nation if we discouraged voting. Do away with motor voter. No more voter registration drives.

It's easy to see why only property owners were allowed to vote in some colonies in the early days of this land. The powers that be understood that those with a vested interest would pay attention and cast their votes accordingly to protect our capitalist way of life.

As evidenced by the new Donkephant economic stimulus plan, here's what we have. Today the majority of Americans are like spoiled children with parents who can't say no. If you'll stop crying then mommy will let you have one more cookie ... OK two more cookies ... all right three cookies, but that's it ... maybe. How else do you explain a stimulus plan that gives tax rebates to people who paid no taxes?

Let's see ... the U.S. dollar is sinking in value against foreign currencies because our government is running massive budget deficits. Additionally our trade deficit continues to skyrocket.

So Bush and the Democrat controlled congress want to take dollars we don't have and will have to borrow from the Chinese... then give the money to Americans so they can spend it buying more stuff made in China, thus increasing the budget and trade deficits. Wouldn't that make the dollar even weaker and our economy worse?

Financial markets don't like uncertainty. The failure of congressional Democrats to make the Bush tax cuts permanent is a contributing cause of our financial jitters. Instead of doling out Oreos, simply making the cuts permanent would increase confidence as businesses make long-range plans. Companies would invest in new projects and create jobs and we all would win without more government borrowing. The problem is that answer is too complicated for most folks ... so just slip us some Chips Ahoy. Heck, a chocolate IV would be nice. Hmmmm.

So to all the folks who don't have a clue ... set your Tivo to record plenty of stuff this week to keep you entertained and then stay home on election day so you can catch up on the latest episodes of "American Awful" or 'Dancing With The Has Beens." To those who truly understand the issues we're facing ... I'll see you at the polls.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chuck Shiflett is a past chairman of the Bartow County Board of Education, former Communications Director of the Georgia Republican Party, and is co-owner of NewsTalk AM 1270 WYXC. Contact him at: Column@ChuckShiflett.com


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; Israel; Politics/Elections; US: Georgia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 110th; 2008; barackhusseinobama; barackobama; bush; captainmcqueeg; china; congress; democraticparty; democratparty; democrats; dinosaurmedia; donatetofr; drivebymedia; dumbingdown; economicstimulus; election; election2008; electionpresident; elections; endorsements; fred; fredthompson; georgebush; gop; gotv; heathledger; hillary; hillaryclinton; idiocracy; issues; johnedwards; johnmccain; juanmccainez; media; motorvoter; msm; obama; oprah; oprahwinfrey; presidentbush; primaries; reagan; republicans; rinos; ronaldreagan; sensationalism; supertuesday; talkradio; taxes; television; thompson; voters; voting
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To: Anti-Hillary
Except, it is going to be Obama in a walk, on the Dem side...
61 posted on 01/27/2008 10:13:25 AM PST by JasonC
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To: counterpunch

LOL... I love your optimism. If McCain picks Michael Steele as running mate, in 2012 we could have the first REAL black president, and he would be a great one.


62 posted on 01/27/2008 10:13:43 AM PST by DLfromthedesert (Michael Steele for VP)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

He makes several good points.

The problem is, many are making the very same points, right here even, on FR.

Nobody’s listening!

Further, not many are offering alternatives to our elected representatives, except the DUmmies.

Why should they listen?

But, point made and taken.

Just so I can say I did offer an alternative, I will offer one.

If Bush & Co. really feel the need to give away the public’s money, they should give it to business. MANUFACTURING businesses in particular.

Manufacturing is where our economy begins, and the reason we are in dire straights now. Give them an incremented tax reduction for increased US based production, and legal US job creation...with stips. Such as, the jobs must be full time, classified as a permanent position, and equal to or greater than the median income for that type.

You wanna’ give away MY money? Fine! Make sure I have a return on it, ok? Do something that will put more more into the economy in the short term AND the long term. Invest in OUR Country, NOT in a foreign one.

Give U.S. a break, would ya’?


63 posted on 01/27/2008 11:00:13 AM PST by papasmurf (No "Leftovers" for me.)
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To: Dahoser

True, I mean they should be able to prove they’ve accessed the issues and to be fair, there are some that have limited access, and these people are voting by the gajillions.


64 posted on 01/27/2008 11:04:46 AM PST by tpanther
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To: tpanther

I wish we could do that. It just enrages me that people don’t even try to find out a thing about these candidates and then have the nerve to say, “I never heard that about candidate X. Where did you get that?”


65 posted on 01/27/2008 11:12:58 AM PST by Dahoser (America's great untapped alternative energy source: The Founding Fathers spinning in their graves.)
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To: Dahoser

It’s absolutely maddening. I see the elderly daily, hospice nurse, and they all are so intent on voting, always asking about absentee ballots etc. Very tuned into their “duty” as they call it. If they knew which party was systematically destroying the greatest generation’s work and culture, I think we’d have a whole segement on our side, not just a few in the minority.

But the dark side will bus them across state lines to vote twice, register their dead spouses and pets and coddle them give them doughnuts talk sweet to them, but they don’t have the very first CLUE!


66 posted on 01/27/2008 11:20:29 AM PST by tpanther
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

A friend of my son’s suggested that we tell people they can either vote in the American Idol contest or for president, but not both. He thinks that would keep a lot of dimwits out of the voting booth.


67 posted on 01/27/2008 11:21:37 AM PST by Pining_4_TX
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To: counterpunch

You’re probably right.

Frankly, I haven’t thought much about what comes next since Fred dropped out.
I’ve been in a bit of a funk over it, and have been busy with other things.

I certainly don’t want a McCain/Huckabee ticket!

Thank you for your reply.


68 posted on 01/27/2008 12:04:28 PM PST by dixiechick2000 (There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)
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To: iopscusa

That certainly would make for a very interesting campaign season!


69 posted on 01/27/2008 12:05:30 PM PST by dixiechick2000 (There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)
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