The Tribune Online, 161

Political Punditry...Picking Winners and Losers

I'm no prognosticator nor do I play the lottery which is not based on any kind of science...just dumb luck, if you win.

However, if I were to choose a candidate, of which I have, Ron Paul will come out on top. I'm basing this not on a scientific but a mild empirical evaluation. The odds have been against Paul by not only the pundits, but the media at large, primarily radio and television.

Nevertheless, the punditry is not factoring in the major variable of modern communication, the young folks' territory, brought in by the high tech wizards, of whom we lost one major "constant" in Steve Jobs.

Ron Paul seems to have a truly cross-sectional appeal in not only young folks, but minorities, and even many T-Parties. My study shows that he's consistent in message and increasing fund raising from wider sectors of average voters, including a major number of veterans.

Most of the GOPers with the bulk of exposure from the "old world" media have sufficiently shown that they are dimwits, dipshots, and otherwise batty as bedbugs when it comes to domestic and foreign policies. 

Paul would easily defeat Obama in the general election, for Obama's base is jumping ship for safe harbor with Paul's fairer across-the-board leadership, that will bring an end to both of DC's  lobbyist-influenced parties.

I for one suggest an executive order banning lobbyists in DC should be his first act as the 45th. 

America's decline will not be due to some "foreign terrorists" as most politicians want us to believe, but from the slow drip of corruption by those very politicians that are steadily reducing individual liberty with "lobbyists" pulling the parties' strings.  

"60 minutes" ran its weekly feature on a less than ethical Congress, bordering on illegality in getting "first dibs" on how to personally improve one's financial status after becoming a member, on both sides of the aisle...which would otherwise be called "insider trading" in the corporate world. It appears the corporate funding of these wayward parties has been successful due to their "bagmen" aka lobbyists, which are primarily represented by current and former DC politicians.

Obama promised when taking office that this sort of influence would be discouraged, evidently not. As a matter of fact, he should set an example for the Congress when talking about personal wealth, in denying his government salary along with other wealthy politicians...no such character strength shown thus far.

Ron Paul has been the only one to assail this sort of corruption, and understandably scares the hell out of DC and the media, but not the American electorate. It appears the GOPers are trying to climb aboard his bandwagon, by saying they will delete some cabinets, audit the FED, expose lobbyists and donors funding the corrupt parties...but will not commit to a ban on lobbyists inside DC.

The difference is that they are all "johnny come latelys" whereas Paul has been consistent in his convictions for a quarter of century, which may have very well avoided this economic calamity of which they hope to solve with the use of this fancy new DC term of "sequestration".

A Matinee Idol's Lifelong Struggle for Human Justice

I just finished looking at the documentary about the life of Frederick Douglass, and asked myself what drives such men?  I concluded that they are driven by destiny under those travails to sacrifice their lives and fortune for something far greater...and in most cases, amazingly beyond their comprehension of earthly goals sought.

Not too long ago, I viewed the HBO special about the life of Harry Belafonte, a prominent singer and actor, living the "good life" in a world of materialism; however, gave it up and became a devoted supporter of MLK,Jr. and the civil rights' movement. He lost family and business associates in the process and expanded his cause to reach around the world in seeking human justice. He's now in his eighties and still going strong.

This is also the season for celebrating the life of another man, who lived approximately 2,000 years ago, from a well-to-do, upper middle class family, secure income, probably could have had his pick of women as a wife, maybe with a couple of kids to boot. What did he do? Took a path leading to his death by that very same community he was attempting to bring peace and justice...like MLK.Jr, two millennia later.

Consequently, in the vein of these humble souls of tremendous magnitude, who chose to serve humanity's needs, we say "Merry Christmas" in the tradition celebrating  the birth of a baby in a little town in the mid-east.

In that seasonal tradition, a salute to Harry Belafonte by a singer who was able to follow in his steps, noting why this is the most wonderful time of the year.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pI-gtDY5jA

I have never witnessed such "trigger-happy" Chirstians as these right wingers in America. Just saw where Liberty University in Virginia, supposedly the largest Christian university in America, teaching the tenets of Jesus Christ, just issued permission for students to carry concealed weapons on campus. I 'm assuming small firearms that can be hidden, nothing as obvious as a machete or a shotgun.

I would think a better solution would simply be to mount  nine millimeters next to pictures of "Jesus" but that makes too much sense.

Therefore, what these Jesus-oriented gun slingers will do is blast any dangerous suspect to smithereens. Of course, they don't dare exercise that other form of killing, abortion, nor do they coddle to "homos"...so, take your chances, partner. 

Now, let us pray...

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