The Case for Ted Cruz

Quick. Name the top three senators, most likely to be viewed negatively, by the mainstream media, all Democrats and even a substantial number of Republicans.  I am betting one name consistently pops up on everyone’s list and that is Senator Ted Cruz.  His willingness to say what’s on his mind and even put his thumb in the eye of the Republican establishment makes one either love him or hate him.  There is no middle ground when it comes to how folks feel about Ted Cruz.   A few comments from Republicans about Cruz’s efforts to force a vote on President Obama’s executive action on immigration make my point:

“I don’t see any goal other than irritating a lot of people”- Sen. Orrin Hatch

“I failed to see what conservative ends were achieved”- Sen. Jeff Flake

“Very unfortunate and counterproductive” –Sen. Susan Collins

“His move is a problem not a strategy- Sen. Johnny Isakson

With friends like this, who needs enemies?  Fortunately, Ted Cruz isn’t looking for new friends.  In a 2013 interview with ABC’s Jon Karl, Ted Cruz said, “And, you know, I’m not serving in office because I desperately needed 99 new friends in the U.S. Senate.”  This simple statement exposes a lot about Cruz’s mindset and it’s something I believe most of his Republican colleagues would do well to learn.  Ted Cruz is serving the people who elected him to office! I know that’s a novel idea but the facts speak for themselves.  Public Policy Polling on April 17, 2014 showed Cruz had a better net approval rating in Texas than both Rick Perry and John Cornyn at +12, with 47% of voters approving him.  It seems the more Cruz ticks off the old guard of the Republican Party, the more he endears himself to those who voted him into office.  I would suggest, Republicans would do well to take a break from criticizing him and work with him for a better 2016!

Here is the case for the man, sarcastically referred to by liberal stalwart, Bob Beckel as “my man Teddy Cruz.”  If you look back in history, many of Republican’s greatest victories came when they not only campaigned to change things but, once elected, actually worked to make that change.  Let’s look at a couple of examples:

Reagan Revolution- Ronald Reagan campaigned on a brighter future for America.  After President Carter had spent most of his term bowing to foreign leaders (sound familiar), with a let’s just  “go along to get along” mentality, the American people were ready for someone to take a stand for America! Enter Ronald Reagan, who soundly defeated Jimmy Carter by establishing confidence in the American dream; promising America’s better days were still ahead and making it popular to have pride in America. If Reagan’s defeat of Carter was big, it was nothing compared to four years later when he trounced Walter Mondale, receiving the highest number of electoral votes ever received by a presidential candidate.  Reagan enjoyed success because he did what he promised the American people he would do.

Contract With America- Even with a hugely popular President Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich felt Republicans could win big, if they promised the American people they would take action on specific legislation.  In the 1994 mid-term election, Republicans gained the majority of seats in the 104^th Congress.  The consummate politician, Bill Clinton, understood the voice of the voters, compromised with the Congress and moved to the center, in order to achieve great legislative success. This was done because Republicans did what they promised voters they would do.

Ted Cruz was elected to stand for the American people and specifically the voters of Texas.  His recent efforts show his willingness to suffer ridicule by the Establishment, as long as he is doing what the voters elected him to do.  A recent Bloomberg poll reveals 56% of respondents disapprove of President Obama taking executive action to deal with illegal immigration, with only 39% approving.  Ted Cruz heard the voters and is doing what he promised.  Republicans argue they don’t have the votes to stop Obama, so they cave to his wishes.  I would argue, it doesn’t matter if you have the votes to stop him…. try anyway! If you fail to stop him but can show you tried, the results are on Obama and Democrats.  If Democrats ram their policies through, over your objections, you can campaign on the fact you tried. The American voters are tired of a “go along, get along” group of Republicans and they elected conservatives en mass in November to STOP Obama and the Democrats.  Republicans would be well served to stop attacking Ted Cruz and other conservatives and join forces with them.  Let the American people see you stand for something, get your message out and 2016 will be impressive!

Making A Difference in School Year

All across this country there is wailing and gnashing of teeth, as another summer comes to an end and another school year starts.  I still have one in college but it's been a few years since we had to experience the angst that comes with school age kids.  Here are a few Common Man tips that seemed to work well:

1.  Make school a positive experience! Get your kids excited about making new friends and learning new things. The more positive the parents, the more positive the kids.

2.  Know your kids teachers.  Do more than just go to "meet the teacher" night.  Really do what you can to get to know the teacher.  The more you show interest in the teacher, as an individual, the better results your kids will experience. Remember, the teacher will be shaping your child's thought processes, so best to know how they think.

3.  Get involved!  Volunteer for the PTA and other school activities, donate your time & money.  Know the administrators of your child's school and the school board.  The more you are involved, the more influence you have on issues.

4.  Have your child's back.  Overall, the school will do a great job but in those rare occasions where they mess up, don't let it slide.  Get all the facts and then address the issue with the teacher and/or administrators. (Be careful because Little Johnny doesn't always tell the truth). Your kids must know you will stand up for them.

5.  Show interest!  Take the time to let your kids tell you about their day.  LISTEN to them, let them vent in a positive manner, help with their homework, know what they are being taught.  You are the parent after all.

I was by no means a perfect parent and recognize there are great improvements needed in our education system but these tips helped my kids have great school years.  Most teachers are hard-working and sincerely want to be a positive influence in your kid's lives.  Support them!  When you do encounter a knucklehead teacher....deal with them and get results.

And now your news for the day:

*  Another company looking to leave USA due to high corporate taxes:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonhartley/2014/08/25/burger-kings-tax-inversion-and-canadas-favorable-corporate-tax-rates/

*  Uh oh....dumb criminal alert:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/facebook/ice-bucket-challenge-arrest-456730

*  Interesting facts about education system:

http://dailysignal.com/2014/08/25/4-charts-every-mom-kids-going-back-school-see/

*  Ann Coulter with the facts:

http://dailycaller.com/2014/08/20/no-facts-no-peace/

Optimism of Opportunity

Ok, I admit, the titel is not original with me....I read it today and it served as my inspiration for this edition:)

Every news report you see, hear or read reminds us of all the problems our world is facing. Unemployment is above 8%, price of gas is $4.00/gallon, homes are being foreclosed on in record numbers, our government is engaged in grid-lock, wars and rumors of wars, on and on it goes! It is no wonder more Americans are depressed and upset than ever before. But, what if we just have the wrong perspective? What if we quit focusing on ourselves and our problems long enough to focus on the postive? What if, we...you and I, need to stop with all the pessimism and realize there is a certain Optimism of Opportunity? Following are a few areas I believe we have an opportunity to be optimistic.Let me show you what I mean....

Government: At the risk of being Captain Obvious, let me point out we are in an election cycle. It is very easy to complain because our politicians are doing nothing. Easy to think nothing will change and they aren't listening to the people. Easy to believe that "little ole you" can do anything about the stalemate of our government. Here is an area with much Optimism of Opportunity! In an era where every vote counts, if you ever want a politician to listen, you have that chance now! So quit just setting around complaining and get involved! Call them, email them, get to know what they stand for.... campaign for or against them, contribute your time and/or money and watch what happens! Trust me, we have an opportunity to change how things are doing in our States and in Washington DC but we have to be optimistic and make our voices heard. I'm optimistic we recognize we have no right to complain, if we do nothing!

Families: we have too many single-parent homes, too many selfish parents thinking only of themselves, too many willing to just let kids raise themselves while mom and dad go do their own thing. Look at the statistics and it can be depressing! But, let's look at the opportunity for optimism. What if parents refused to let Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Paris Hilton and others be the example for their kids and the parents were roll models instead of worried about being "friends?" As parents we have the greatest opportunity to instill a strong work-ethic, strong morals and demonstrate integrity than anyone else. Let's quit letting "society" shape our kids and the future of this great country and be REAL parents! Think about what would happen, if we spent more time talking to our kids, listening to their challenges and helping them work through their problems. I'm pretty optimistic we have an opportunity to make a difference and would be shocked at the result.

Churches: I may get in trouble on this one but here goes:) How many times to we spend a few hours in church each week hearing about how bad our world is and then leave and do nothing to change it? It's easy to carry our big family bibles (oops I forgot, we all have the a Bible app now so no need for that) and think about how much of a Christian we are and can't believe all the "heathens" in our world:) Can I get an "amen" somebody? I think we can all agree we have a reason to be optimistic about our opportunity here! How about we do more than argue our "religious" beliefs and actually put them into practice? Visit some family who is down on their luck and buy them dinner. Find some teenager from a broken home and show them you care! Don't be so quick to point out how someone doesn't line up to your concept of what a "christian" is and show them the life of a REAL Christian." How about show the love of the God you supposedly worship, instead of acting like you are "God's gift the world?" Remember..."such were some of you...." You see, we have many reasons to be optimistic about our opportunity to show the love of Christ to someone who is hurting!"

I could go on but you have probably quit reading by now anyway and you get the point:) Maybe you don't agree and that's ok. I get upset about many of the same things we all do but just reading that simple phrase today made me think just a little about being more OPTIMISTIC! I say, it can't hurt!

As I See It

Spend time watching the news on a regular basis and one really has to wonder, what kind of world do we live in?  The question we should all be asking ourselves, is how did our world get in this shape?  This blog may be a little long, but stick with it as I would like to hear your thoughts.

This may be too plain spoken for some in the political correct crowd, deal with it.....here is how I see it.

Our institutions have failed us miserably; by that I mean our (1) Government, (2) Education system, (3) Religion and (4) Family unit.

Government- this country was founded on the American Dream and that dream was built on equal opportunity for all.  There were no guarantees of success, no promises you would drive a nice vehicle or live in a nice home (for that matter, no promise you would survive), no promise you get a college education or have a great job.  NO, simply that everyone would have opportunity! What you do with that opportunity is your choice and each of us have to live with the results, of the choices me make.  It's called experience.

Our government has failed by promising the "right" to an education, the "right" to home ownership, the "right" to have contraception. Look what that has got us.  Our divorce rate is increasing, the housing market continues to decline and people of no concept of personal accountability. Yet, politicians keep promising freebies, because we have a generation that is more interested in a hand-out than a hand up! We don't need more government, we need the government to get out of the way and return this country to its original foundations.

Education System- America used to have an educational system where our kids actually learned something that would help them live a fulfilled life. Then along came the Teacher's Union and our education system went down the toilet!  How else can you explain the fact that teachers in New York are getting paid over $100,000/year to stay home because they are predators, but the school system can't fire them.  I have an idea....you have sex with a child in school and we give you the death penalty! Harsh, I don't think so, because these creeps have messed up the kids for life with their perversion.

Then there is the testing problem which has resulted in teachers merely teaching so kids past some standardized test and we move them through the system, to become unproductive members of society. How about we actually TEACH them reading, writing, math and science, so they have the skills to get a good-paying job? How about we test them on these types of lessons and if they fail, God-forbid, they don't go to the next grade?  How about we tell the teacher's unions to either be part of the solution or take a hike, because we refuse to be held hostage by some liberal elites who want nothing more, than to line their pockets with our tax dollars!

Religion- I'm sure this one will get me in trouble with some of you:) Yes, our religious establishments have failed us.  Too many churches have become nothing more than entertainment venues handing out hype over substance.  This country was founded on freedom of religion, so all you heathen liberals, get over it! Churches need to be teaching biblical truths and save the motivational garbage for some other time.  How about we start with the TEN COMMANDMENTS?  I know some view them as suggestions but sorry, GOD said they were COMMANDMENTS.  Might I even suggest we start with"Thou shalt not bear false witness......" It is a sad time when you can't believe a man or woman's word.  There was a time in this country a person's word was their bond. Not so, now-a-days:( It's time we  quit quoting the contents of the Bible and started living them!  We need preachers that aren't afraid of hurting someone's feelings and tells the folks what  THE GOOD BOOK requires of them. BTW....wouldn't hurt if we spent more time praying for this country, our leaders, our children and our families and we could start with "Lord, deliver us from evil."

Family Unit - the family unit has failed.  No longer are kids taught right or wrong, but sadly they are taught "situational ethics." No such thing!  You either have ethics or you don't and it doesn't matter the situation.  It is "do as I say, not as I do." What kind of example is that? A bad one! Too many fathers/mothers have abandoned their spouse/kids simply because they wanted to live out some fantasy and didn't want to accept any responsibility.  Say what you want, but a marriage is between a man and a woman and it works best that way. Kids need both parents to direct them through the muck and mire of this society.

We need parents to quit letting athletes and the Kardashians be role models! Reality TV should not be your kid's baby sitter, as the creeps on those shows have no morals and most parents wouldn't want their kids associating with these low-lives anyway! In short, we need parents who are more interested in being parents than friends! My kids know we always lived by The Golden Rule...."he who has the gold, makes the rules." Since mom & dad had the gold, the kids didn't get to make the decisions or tell us what they were going to do. Novel concept, but they actually asked permission.  I believe if we returned to the days of "Mayberry" we would see our world improve.

By no means do I claim to be an expert on world problems but I do believe if we followed some fundamentals, we could turn this country around.  Maybe I'm too politically incorrect for some but the politically correct way doesn't appear to be working and I just think the TRUTH always works best.

I welcome your thoughts or feedback.

Don't Just Complain....Get Involved!

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a political junkie so forgive me if this is too much for you.  For as long as I can remember, I have heard people complain about the state of our country and our government.  While we all agree, we live in the greatest country in the world, we know, we can do better.

America has more freedoms than any other place in the universe.  We have freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion along with many others.  You never hear someone talking about living the "Saudi or Iranian" dream.  America, since it's birth, has been the country that encouraged innovation and free enterprise, we have spread capitalism to countries across the planet and in doing so, lifted the quality of life for untold millions of people.  When dictators get out of line or tragedy occurs, who is expected to deliver aid.....AMERICA.  When WWII was raging, who stepped in and brought it to an end....AMERICA.  When natural disasters occur, who is the first to step up with all kinds of support.....AMERICA.  I could go on but you get the point.

It is precisely, because this country delivers greatness across the planet, that we cannot set back and just assume we will always be a great nation!  I'm tired of hearing folks complain about our government, the political process, our leaders and policies but yet, do nothing to improve it.  We may dislike and disapprove of the "Occupy Wall Street" crowd's methods or message, but we must give them credit for doing something, (however misguided), to make an impact.

This year is an election year and everyone can have an impact on determining the path and future of this country.  We have had unemployment over 8% for years, gas prices are out of sight, 401Ks are taking a beating, more people on food stamps and other government programs than ever before and a national debt over 15 TRILLION dollars!  So what are we going to do about it?  Oh, I know many of you will vote....great! THAT IS YOUR DUTY but are you an educated voter? Do you just listen to commercials and make a decision based on the best sound bite or do you really know where each candidate stands?

Here are just a few tips for those that are willing to do more than complain:

1) Know the issues
2) Know the candidate's stand on those issues
3) Don't just listen to main stream media, do your own investigation
4) Get involved in the process....contribute financially, make phone calls, talk to friends and family.
5) Talk to your current political leaders.... call them, send email or letter and let them know you care

There are many other things one can do to get involved and make a difference but one thing we must not do is NOTHING!  Our country's future and the future of our kids and grandkids is too serious an issue to just stand idle, while others take action.  So the next time you start to complain, ask yourself, are you just talking or are you willing to take action, to make a difference!  What a difference we could all make if we quit making excuses and started making a difference!

 BTW.....if you want to discuss politics, I'm always ready:)

Willpower! Do you have what it takes?

As we put Christmas 2011 behind us and look forward to the beginning of 2012, many of us are thinking about what we want to accomplish, what we want to do differently and steps we will take to make a difference.  Many will engage in making New Years Resolutions and will start the year with a bang, convinced this is the year they will make a difference.  Unfortunately, many of these resolutions will fail from lack of one thing.....WILLPOWER!  Too many times, we just don't have the willpower to make a change.

I submit, many of the problems our country is experiencing is due to lack of willpower.  Businesses, politicians and citizens simply don't have willpower, to make the tough choices required to achieve better results. Politician's concerns for getting votes, makes it too difficult for them to make the tough choice of refusing to keep spending money. Business leaders are too focused on short-term stock prices to make the tough choices needed for long-term viability. Citizens are too worried about buying the next gadget, to make the tough choices to save their money, instead of spending.  The need to have the latest edition of a product; please some constituency, meet some shareholder's demand, cause many problems that could be avoided, if we simply had willpower.

How many gym memberships won't be used by the end of January?  How many credit cards will be cut up, only to have new ones replace them?  How many will start online education and then quit after one semester? How many will start the year regularly attending church only to quit once a winter storm arrives?  How many marriages will fail because involved parties give up? There are many other areas, but you get the point.  Our lives don't change, simply because we lack the commitment to follow through and the desire to make needed changes; quite simply we lack WILLPOWER.  Too many people's physical, financial, spiritual and relational well being will not be as good as it could, because they don't have the willpower to follow through and make a real difference.

What could we accomplish if we exercised our willpower?  What kind of improvement would we see in the lives of our friends, families, communities and our country if we stuck to it?  Think about areas in your life that you need to change, make those changes and then have the WILLPOWER to make it happen.  I bet your 2012 will be much better than your 2011!

Now, I'm going to have that piece of pie I've been trying to resist:)

Happy New Year!

What does it really mean to be a Christian?

Ok.....so we hear so many people these days profess to be a Christian. Now, I'm not saying I have all the answers or I'm always successful but I have been thinking a lot about that word and what it means.

I honestly believe the word has become so common, we no longer really take the time to think about what we are saying, when we say, "I'm a Christian."  I won't take the time to go into a biblical discussion about exactly what the word means, but I hope I can at least make us think about it.

In its roots, the word Christian means "Christ-like." Now, I can only speak for myself, but that seems to me to be a very powerful meaning and unfortunately, I fall short more than I would want to admit!  My limited understanding of Christ, is that He wasn't interested in fitting into anyone's specific mold.  Religious leaders of his day were unapproachable, untouchable and were more interested in hype than substance.  If I read my Bible correctly, Jesus hung out the uneducated, ate with sinners and impacted those He met everyday.  In fact, the religious leaders of his day are the very ones who wanted to kill him! Now, I wonder why that was.......I'm guessing because he revealed their fraud and in doing so, provided an example for us to follow today.

I could go on, but my point is not to give a Biblical lecture, but rather make us think about how me may be identified in our daily responsibilities and how we might really become a Christian.  I'm confident we all recognize a real Christian when we see one.  To me, I am identified as a Christian, not but what I profess but how that profession is translated into action.  A Christian isn't someone that just shows up to church a couple of times a week, but rather, someone that actually lives what they learn at church!  It isn't saying one thing and doing another.  It isn't taking advantage of the goodness of others. It isn't using scripture to achieve my own agenda. It isn't just my words, but in fact, how I live those words out every day!  Some may have a different opinion as to what a Christian is but I think we all know when we see a real one!

Please understand, none of us are perfect, least of all, yours truly, but it is my hope that we all try to continually live better. We are in the perfect season of the year to reflect on being a Christian and I, for one, hope those I come in contact with, at least recognize my desire to be a real Christian!  Maybe, just maybe, if we really thought about what the word means before we use it, we might actually show the world what a real Christian looks like.

Have a Merry Christmas!