Guest Blogging
November 30, 2004
This week I will be guest blogging for Confessions of a Political Junkie. Erick Erickson is a friend and fellow political consultant (though he is a lawyer too. . .grrr). But seriously . . . he will be in DC for the weekend and asked me and some other excellent bloggers to fill in for him. I’m glad to do it.
I’ll keep my regular postings here as I help Erick as well.
Sphere: Related ContentUpdate On Fired Swiftie. . . .
November 30, 2004
Captain’s Quarters has a further update on Stephen Gardner, the Swift Boat mate of John Kerry who opposed him publicly during the election. As I reported in a previous article, the timing of his dismissal from his company was suspiciously close to his vehement public opposition to his former shipmate, John Kerry.
Captain’s Quarters gives informaiton on how to financially help Mr. Gardner in this difficult financial time for him. And he deserves it. He has a PayPal account, so you can log into yours and send him some money at his email address, sgardner5@carolina.rr.com.
I stated in that previous article,
“I don’t know what his true work record is–that’s an unknown that often derails the validity of such stories. We’ll have to find out more about that to be clear about the timing. But it sure seems more that coincidental.”
In the interest of fairness, Mr. Garnder’s former employer, Millennium Information Services, has sent out an explanation of the reasons for his layoff which I have copied in it entirety from Captain’s post. It turns out that prudence dictates complete understanding of the situation:
Millennium Information Services is a small business that has been wrongly stigmatized by the Chicago Sun-Times article about Steve Gardner. The article is clearly meant to create the impression that Steve Gardner’s layoff was politically motivated. That just simply isn’t true. It is also important to note that the Sun-Times reporter, Mary Laney, never contacted us regarding this article.Here are some key facts that correct missing or inaccurate statements made in the Sun-Times article:
For purely financial reasons, we had to reduce management expenses. A decision was made to consolidate field management from five managers to three. The two affected field managers resided in the areas where our business had the most significant decreases. Mr. Gardner was one of those managers. Two additional corporate managers were laid off on the same day. No one in the company’s management was even aware of Mr. Gardner’s connection to John Kerry.
To help offset the elimination of Mr. Gardner’s supervisory position, Millennium offered Mr. Gardner other non-supervisory work, which he decided not to take. Since that time Millennium has offered Mr. Gardner additional work opportunities, which he has also declined.
The Sun-Times article states that Mr. Gardner was terminated via email. That is also incorrect. Mr. Gardner was informed of the layoff in a personal phone conversation with his supervisor. The
email referenced in the article was simply a formal follow-up, not the primary means of informing Mr. Gardner. The only reason he was not contacted face-to-face was because he was an out-of-state
employee.In the Sun-Times article, Ms. Laney stated that Mr. Gardner had “seen the company advertising his old position.” A simple check of the facts would have shown that to be false. The advertisement placed by Millennium was for a non- supervisory position.
The Sun-Times article does not accurately reflect what occurred with Steve Gardner in regards to his employment with Millennium. It creates an erroneous perception that he was singled out for his
political involvement. That is false. Three other employees also lost their jobs on that day for the same economic reasons.Millennium as a company does not endorse or support any political position or candidate. We leave those personal decisions to individuals.
We sincerely hope this helps to clarify the truth[.]
To be certain, the Chicago Sun Times did not pin down the information needed to confirm or deny the validity of either side of the story (something to which Opinion Times itself is not immune). It would have been nice to see what really happened. And certainly Kerry’s people and the company will not freely admit any wrongdoing.
Let’s see how it plays out. I still suspect some funny business.
Sphere: Related ContentDiplomatic News
November 30, 2004
Neophyte Pundit links us to an interesting website of insider Republican Foreign Service agents who are career State Department employees.
Click on the link above and visit Neophyte Pundit’s post to find out more.
Sphere: Related ContentIt Ain’t Good To Be A Dissenting Swiftie
November 29, 2004
It turns out that one of John Kerry’s shipmates who refused to join Kerry’s “Band of Brothers” has suffered some consequences. His name is Steve Gardner from South Carolina. He received a call asking him to join the other 12 shipmates of Kerry, but he refused in the strongest of terms because he feld Kerry was a “coward” in Vietnam. Then this is what happened:
Chicago Sun Times: Gardner said he received a call from Douglas Brinkley, the author of Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War. Brinkley told Gardner he was calling only to “fact check” the book — which was already in print. “I told him that the guy in the book is not the same guy I served with. I told him Kerry was a coward. He would patrol the middle of the river. The canals were dangerous. He wouldn’t go there unless he had another boat pushing him.”
Days later, Brinkley called again, warning Gardner to expect some calls. It seems Brinkley had used the “fact checking” conversation to write an inflammatory article about Gardner for Time.com. The article, implying that Gardner was politically motivated, appeared under the headline “The 10th Brother.”
Twenty-four hours later, Gardner got an e-mail from his company, Millennium Information Services, informing him that his services would no longer be necessary. He was laid off in an e-mail — by the same man who only days before had congratulated him for his exemplary work in a territory which covered North and South Carolina. The e-mail stated that his position was being eliminated. Since then, he’s seen the company advertising for his old position. Gardner doesn’t have the money to sue to get the job back.
I guess Mr. Garnder had some more wounds to take for the war. I don’t know what his true work record is–that’s an unknown that often derails the validity of such stories. We’ll have to find out more about that to be clear about the timing. But it sure seems more that coincidental.
One thing that is certain, though: heroism is not a one time event. It is the result of consistent behavior which has its origins in the heart of a man.
So does treachery.
———————
Captain’s Quarters adds more to this and tells Bill O’Reilly what for! Bravo!
Social Security Will Require Borrowing
November 28, 2004
The high stakes game of Social Security Reform has begun with the first blow to the bow of the President’s legislative ship. Congress and analysts are saying it could cost billions or trillions of dollars in extra federal borrowing in the next 10-20 years to replace the revenue shortfall personal savings accounts would cause. Read below:
The New York Times: “Borrowing by the government could be necessary to establish the personal accounts [President Bush is proposing to reform Social Security] because of the way [it] pays for benefits. Under the current system, the payroll tax levied on workers goes to benefits for people who are already retired.
This is called a ponzi scheme–for those of you who don’t know–and if you devised one you would go to jail. . . . But I digress . . .
Personal accounts would be paid for out of the same pool of money; they would allow workers to divert a portion of their payroll taxes into accounts invested in mutual funds or other investments.The money going into the accounts would therefore no longer be available to pay benefits to current retirees. The shortfall would have to be made up somehow to preserve benefits for people who are already retired during the transition from one system to the other, and by nearly all estimates there is no way to make it up without relying at least in part on government borrowing.”
In this article, we have been given in a nutshell the argument against the President’s plan which will be made over the next few months as this proposal is put together and presented to Congress. And it is all we will be talking about in the blogsphere (other than the international terrorist threat) for 2005.
The fact is, whether the federal government borrows to pay for the shortfall or not, we have already mortgaged this system but have made no payments on it yet as we continue this ponzi scheme.
We didn’t know it at the time, but from 1934 when Social Security was proposed until 1935 when it was signed into law (amendments added in 1939), FDR and Democrat Congressional leaders devised a marketing scheme similar to your typical furniture store ad today: “. . . No payments and no money down until the year 2004!” Well, the payments are due now.
But there is a bright side to this which I pray the blogsphere and conservative media will bring to the forefront (I’ll bet Larry Kudlow is already thinking it–Greenspan is); when money flows into the markets and not into the government ponsi scheme, increased investment will provide an economic windfall strengthening the dollar and helping steer the Titanic of credit spending away from its inevitable disaster into a savings culture the likes of which we have not seen in at least a generation. I am no economist (though I hope to be one someday), but I think the case can be made that Bush’s plan will have precisely this effect on our economy.
Even if it doesn’t, I’ll be glad to see bloggers hone up their economic skills this next year!
————
Articles of Interest
The illusion of ‘wealth effects’
CURRENCY AND CREDIT MANIPULATION: Credit Expansion
The History of Social Security
Social Security Propoganda so specious it’s almost funny.
Is the Declaration Constitutional
November 27, 2004
WorldNetDaily has an interesting article about hyper-deconstructionist, reinventionist history. (Thank you Conservative Zone for pointing us to it.)
OK, I know the adjectives are a bit overboard, but so is the charge leveled by the ACLU:
In a season typified by lawsuits against manger scenes, crosses and even the words “Merry Christmas,” a California case is taking the “separation of church and state” one step further – dealing with whether it’s unconstitutional to read the Declaration of Independence in public school.
Attorneys for the Alliance Defense Fund filed suit Monday against the Cupertino Union School District for prohibiting a teacher from providing supplemental handouts to students about American history because the historical documents contain some references to God and religion.
“Throwing aside all common sense, the district has chosen to censor men such as George Washington and documents like the Declaration of Independence,” said ADF Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb. “The district’s actions conflict with American beliefs and are completely unconstitutional.”
When we abandon the anchor of the principles which founded this country, we can go adrift in the swells and crash against the breakers (with due respect in my analogy to Captain’s Quarters).
In this season of hope and rememberance of what the Lord of Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ has done for this world, we would do well to eschew all such cancerous actions by the ACLU. Our freedom of speech in this country does not preclude us from calling the destruction of religion in our society and our documents what it is, a vile act of self-interest.
Sphere: Related ContentThanksgiving Thoughts from Fellow Bloggers
November 25, 2004
Wes Roth gives his thoughts.
And here is Right Voices
Captain’s Quarters has a very personal tribute.
Neophyte Pundit (Great site by the way).
Backcountry Conservative and INDC Journal are busy as usual. (We love these blogs at Opinion Times).
Our new friend Spreading Understanding has some good thoughts. We’re very thankful at Opinion Times for linkage!
Instapundit has some Thanksgiving thoughts from Iraq.
American Mind is about ready for a nap!
Cox & Forkum are funny as usual.
And finally, My great blogging friend, Erick Erickson at Confessions of a Political Junkie is with the in-laws. Appropriate punishment for a politcal consultant/lawyer! Kidding……wishing you a great time.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Sphere: Related ContentLincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation
November 24, 2004
May we remember Thanksgiving Day solemnly, remembering the blessings which have been given to us and the joys of friends and family. May we remember and be thankful for the sacrifices made by men and women through our history to secure our freedom. May we have even greater thankfulness for those sacrificing their Thanksgiving Day in Iraq and Afghanastan and throughout the world where our military forces protect our freedom and those of other countries struggling to secure their own freedom.
Most of all, may God’s light shine on our country. May He see us and take pity on us our lowly state. And may we in humility seek Him who sacrificed all that we may have life.
In this spirit, I present the following wishing all my readers a wonderful holiday and thanking you for visiting Opinion Times.
——————
Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation. October 3, 1863:
Sphere: Related Content“The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
A. Lincoln”
The First Thanksgiving Proclamation
November 24, 2004
Another reminder to us during this solemn occasion of Thanksgiving Day
The First Thanksgiving Proclamation. July 20, 1676:
Sphere: Related Content“‘The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgements he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage to ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be the Lord’s mercy that we are not consumed, It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with Thanksgiving, as well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions:
The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but we doubt not those who are sensible of God’s Afflictions, have been as diligent to espy him returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a People offering Praise and thereby glorifying Him; the Council doth commend it to the Respective Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and seriously to keep the same Beseeching that being perswaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this whole people offer up our bodies and soulds as a living and acceptable Service unto God by Jesus Christ.’”
Blue State Blues as Coastal Parents Battle Invasion of Dollywood Values
November 24, 2004
This is a wonderfully hilarious take on the Red State, Blue State “war.”
Sphere: Related Content
