Strange, isn't it?

"...ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." - President John F. Kennedy

Isn't it strange that a liberal said that? Doesn't that sound like the opposite of a modern liberal?

U.S. voters don't blame Obama for economy

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090331/pl_nm/us_obama_poll_economy

So he runs on being the answer for everything, and then (relatively speaking) gets a free pass on.......nearly everything.

This is NOT a rhetorical question: When will he be held accountable in the polls for the economy?

http://rosciolifortrustee.blogspot.com/

http://rosciolifortrustee.blogspot.com/

John has been involved in Pleasant Prairie "politics" for the past 2+ years. He is running for Village Board Trustee #3. The election is April 7th, now 8 days away.

John is so dedicated and talented that I want to be just like him some day.

This upcoming election, as a matter of fact ALL ELECTIONS are very important.

So please get out and vote on April 7th.

Defending ACORN

The best two arguments that I've heard in defense of ACORN are 1) "...it is ACORN itself that is being defrauded by the[eir] workers.” and 2) The evidence shows that there is very little voter fraud.

Both of these are VERY TRUE. However, they are also VERY IRRELEVANT.

1) With this logic, it’s not the fault of the Peanut Butter factories’ policies or their processes or their procedures for the recent salmonella poisonings….instead (using the above logic) it’s the fault of their workers. Let’s peek at the relevant facts: To varying degrees, all companies/non-profits are responsible for their actions. So, ACORN is responsible not only for their workers, but also for their policies, processes, and procedures that lead to registration fraud.

2) Registration fraud is not the same as voter fraud. So, using the lack of voter fraud as proof that registration fraud shouldn't be cleaned up is irrelevant.

Take those two things away and,,,,,What's the defense of ACORN again?

The Most Difficult Thing We Do

(previously published at dailykenoshan.com)

I’m not Dr. Phil. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, nor do I know what’s best for everyone. But I do know that communicating with others seems to be one of the most difficult things I do. I know this because I flub it up on a regular routine basis.

I admit it’s my fault more than 50% of the time. I get caught up in what I want to say, so I miss what is being said to me. I’m human. I’m guilty of just listening to just the words, but missing the body language and emotions/feelings. Or I hear what I want to hear and I miss the history and context. All of these things negatively impact communication.

So I work hard to see things that I used to miss. But I’m no mind reader. Sometimes it takes a billboard to get my attention. Oops. However, even as inept as I am at communicating, I’ve found that some things seem to work often, so I spice my day with them liberally. And others are usually communication killers, so I avoid them like I avoid Proctology exams.

Rule #1, as said by Patrick Swayze in “Road House” when teaching his bouncers on how to be effective: “Be nice.” Actually it was his rule #3: “One, never underestimate your opponent. Expect the unexpected. Two, take it outside. Never start anything inside the bar unless it's absolutely necessary. And three, BE NICE.” You can learn allot from guy-films.

My ma once told me that if I don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all. Eh,,,she was sorta right. I’ve learned to not be afraid to say the not-so-nice thing, but I’ll agonize about HOW to say it “nice”ly; about how to say it in a way that it’ll be received well. Then, IF I can’t find a way to say it “nicely”, then I probably won’t say it. I mean, if it’s just gonna be cast aside; what’s the point?

Sincere compliments and sincere appreciation can often capture many folks’ attention. And that attention can enhance communication. It’s often very easy to appreciate the opposition. They are often passionate, tenacious, and creative. Why not take a second and sincerely appreciate those qualities? It just might help get your point across. And, isn’t that the point?

Before I get accused of plagiarism, I’ve learned allot about communication from a book called How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie. I’ve read the thing so many times, that I’ve lost count (probably about 8 or 9 times though, because I’m sure I’d remember a round number like 10). It’s a great book, especially for recovering Neanderthals like me. I highly recommend it.

Wrapping up things that work well: Smile. Literally, figuratively, and actually smile. Find a way to express that smile in words and you will do well. Have your smile received as sincere, and you’ll do even better.

Here are some key communication killers to always avoid: Straight up confrontation. Nothing puts people on the defensive more than being outright offensive. If you aim to win, or abuse, or hurt others, then please strap on your PF Flyers and jog a mile or two (or ten) until you get it out of your system. I often come back and rethink page-long rants that I knew were pure genius. But, upon my return I detect too many offensive tidbits, so I end up deleting the whole diatribe because it will not result in convincing anyone of anything. When true communication is the goal, then offensiveness really has no place.

Another communication killer is always being right and not being open to other possibilities. No one is always right. I know I’m very guilty of this one. I have a couple college degrees and a big vocabulary and I pummel (big word for smack) people with my righteous superiority way too often. Superior piety will often turn off communication quicker than an F-bomb. But being open to other viewpoints is not permission to be a know-it-all. Like I said, I struggle with this one. I find myself often being a nice open minded jerk. Oops.

I’m in no way an expert, in fact quite the opposite; instead I chose to write this, because I care. Yes, the hard@$$, retired Navy, Conservative leaning Moderate cares about people. Heck, I’ll say it, I even LOVE allotta people. Maybe it’s my own fumbles lately, maybe it’s that it hurts to see so many people talking right past each other most everyday; but whatever it is, I care enough that I just had to say something about it.

That’s another tip. Don’t keep it bottled up. Let it out in constructive ways. I’m certain that if we can all try to apply even one of these tips once a day or once a week (heck for some of you even once in a lifetime), then perhaps we’ll be understood many times more. And with more understanding, maybe,,,just maybe anything is possible.

But,,,I could be wrong. I often am.- Rich Preston

Where is the Constitutional foundation for .....?

What Constitutional foundation is there for "I am my brother's keeper...."? as Candidate Obama proclaimed in his DNC speech.

I just don't see it in the Constitution.

I'm not saying that it's un-constitutional. I'm just saying that I don't see the Federal government's role spelled out in the Constitution to be: "Sure I'll take care of all of you." as was implied by that statement by the now President.

Here we go........................hold on for the ride :)

First Post

Having beed called a "repug" and other names on liberal sites and knowing that I have RINO views on abortion, gay rights, Affirmative Action and civil liberties, I thought that must make me a Moderate.

If so, perhaps there are others out there and we can band together and find a home.

Home sounds nice :)