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Saturday, May 23, 2015

Anti-gun black list reveals key element in 2016 election

The issue of gun rights gives voters a crucial glimpse into the thinking and political philosophy of the presidential candidates. Over the past half century the stance a candidate takes on the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution -- which guards, protects, and defends the gun rights of the citizens -- has been an important bellwether revealing the candidate's overall political ideology, not to mention their views concerning the centrality and importance of Constitutional law.
Show me a politician who hates the Second Amendment or who wishes to severely restrict gun rights, and I'll show you a politician who will also disregard and blatantly violate the Constitution on a variety of issues. 
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Friday, May 22, 2015

Hillary Clinton scandal deepens

The first batch of Hillary Clinton's official emails, which she curiously kept on a private email server at home, was released today. The Benghazi massacre is the issue at hand, and already the political pundits have concluded that her role in the scandal was much broader than anyone knew previously.
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A pet peeve

A distinct change has occurred in the language used by TV news anchors and reporters. The change has become so widespread, so pervasive, and so persistent that it is weighing on my nerves. In fact you would be correct in assuming it is a pet peeve of mine.

Obviously someone somewhere has decided in their almighty wisdom that this change would benefit the news media, giving them a "softer tone" and making them approachable. That may be well and good. But if it is done using a phrase that is not and never has been connected with the context of news coverage, then somebody obviously has a loose screw.

Who the heck are teaching these news anchors and reporters these days?

My pet peeve is this. A TV news talking head reports, say, that a government agency within a state has such a backlog of cases that lives are placed in danger. This is often followed by the following statement: "We reached out to the head of the agency for comment, but our calls were not returned."

They "reached out?" The phrase is most often associated with personal, emotional issues, such as a psychiatrist who says he/she "reached out" to the patient to attempt to break through the walls they have erected to distance themselves from others. Another common use of the phrase has to do with love relationships, husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, etc. A person may say something like, "I have tried to reach out to you as best I can, but you turn away all my attempts. You prefer to stay in your shell."

Now tell me, what in the world are news personnel doing using this term that is rich in emotional content and denoting an aspect of our most intimate relationships?

"We reached out to the Department of Social Services for comment." Oh, did you? Did you hope to seat them all in a circle and delve into touchy feely issues, urging the state agency to bear their souls and then sing Kumbaya? Why not use the precise term that accurately describes what you did. You contacted the agency for comment, nothing more. You wanted to ask questions. You wanted information. What you intended to do was in no way "reaching out." You contacted them for information that would make a good news story on your 6 p.m. broadcast.

So get real. I don't care what some school of journalism says about it, or even what some half-brained local news director tells you. Cut the "reaching out" ca ca and be precise. If you CONTACTED someone, then say so, for heaven's sake.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Yes, I'm still alive

Yes, my dear friends, I'm still alive. I deeply appreciate those of you who checked here day by day to see if there were anything new. Thank you for hanging in there with me.

Anyway, I am back, and my latest Examiner article you will find below. Just scroll down.

I am not out of the woods yet, so I could use your continued prayers.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

The hits keep coming on Hillary

Perhaps Hillary Clinton had a premonition. Or perhaps her advisers had not only a premonition but a sobering analysis of the political landscape. She was bound to encounter significant roadblocks to the Democratic nomination for president, more so than in 2008. Thus, from a practical point of view, her only choice was to avoid the press for as long as possible.
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