On the eve of the Florida Primary, being a lifetime Floridian I felt compelled to issue a blog mentioning who I think should lead our country for the next 4 years, even though I cannot vote in the primary because I'm an Independent. (The state of Florida doesn't allow me to exercise my constitutional right ! Read all about it at this link. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-01-25/news/os-ed-letters-hydrilla-lake-apopka-012512-20120124_1_hydrilla-school-closings-lake-toho See the second title; "Closed primary encourages the same old gridlock". Yes, my friends CMHO has been pulished again ! )
As you have probably gathered from my title, it's Mitt Romney that I support for the Florida Primary. I am endorsing Romney for the Republican nomination and for the Presidency if he is the Republican nominee. If the Republican is another person or if there is no other Independent alternative, I will have to do some thinking. Why Romney? I think his experience in the business world and his success running the Olympics as well as administrative experience as governor of Massachusettes make him very well suited to the position. In addition, he is clean. I really cannot imagine any scandal befalling Romney. Finally, I see him as being very open to "negotiating" with the Democrats when it is necessary. No more of this moronic "no compromise" attitude from the mouth breathing right wing of the Republican party. We need action, not 2 more years of goofy, childish bickering.
Gingrich? I could never vote for Newt Gingrich for the presidency, EVER ! I think he is a crook, an adulterer, a liar, a lobbyist (lowest of lows) and he says whatever he thinks the audience wants to hear. He is more than your typical politician... he's a slimy, no good Washington insider with whom all who worked with have nothing but bad things to say about him. They say he was a terrible manager, a terrible leader, he was a disgrace to the Republican party. He lies about Reagan being a "buddy" of his, he lies about his record as a Congressman, he lies about his relationship with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for whom he was paid $1.5 Million to "help" them get influence in Washington. He speaks of getting our country back on track when he is, quite literally, one of the people who was directly responsible for the Real Estate collapse of the last 4 years. I find it ironic that the Tea Party is still the one group of people that actually considers him because he is EXACTLY what is wrong with our government today. He is slime. He is seepage. He's a toad, a troll, a disgrace to the election event. OK. Maybe not that bad, but Lord he isn't good.........
So, vote for Mitt Romney he has the presence, the intelligence, the determination, the experience and the ability to get our country united again... and boy does he want the job.
Mitt Romney, you're hired !
In My Humle Opinion,
Chuck Marshall
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Hope and Tim Tebow
Before I type a word on Tim Tebow I have to allow the reader to understand something; I worship the water he walks on ! You see, I am a Florida Alumni, Gator fanatic and anyone that makes the Gators look better makes me happy. With that in mind, imagine squaring the feeling and then squaring it again.... that's how I feel about Tim Tebow.
The first time I had the pleasure of seeing him was when my wife and I attended a game in Gainesville, it was the 2006 UF VS LSU game, the year UF eventually trounced Ohio State in the national championship game (a victory worthy of its own blog). The game was proceeding somewhat quietly and then Urban Meyer sends out our new quarterback (back up to Chris Leek that year) and this kid just electrified the stadium. I mean, his body language and enthusiasm were palpable. Before you knew it the team was waking up and the fans were in a rabid state... you could literally see how nervous we were making the "Bayou Tigers", they were fumbling and bumbling all over the field and Tim Tebow was railroading right over them...... it was sooooooo great ! We went on to trounce LSU by 20 points. So from that moment forward...... my wife and I have been smitten.
The stories of Tebow's generosity and authentic Christian behavior have been very well covered in the press. Most of the stories about Tim himself by the media have been almost overwhelmingly positive about what he does to help people. One of my favorites is http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7455943/believing-tim-tebow
All the Christian stuff and good deeds were a nice bonus since we are religious., though not evangelical. Fast forward to 2012. You all know how this story ends up. Tebow captures the heart of Denver and the fans insist he be played and all the "experts" expect him to flop immediately but something happens. He is successful ! OK, he doesn't win all his games but he wins most of them which is more than you can say for most other QB's in the NFL if my math is right. Oh, they still say his mechanics are wrong and he can't throw a forward pass, etc.... BUT he's getting results and the NFL establishment does not like that. It makes them look like fools and arrogant stuffed shirt, ex-jocks can't stand looking like fools.
Another group of people don't like all his success either. Atheists and the anti-religious. When Tebow fails the atheists are delighted and Atheists such as Bill Maher say disgusting things about Tebow because atheists like Bill Maher are frightened by the remote possibility that evangelicals are correct and they will burn in the lake of fire forever. When Tebow gets creamed on the field it gives their hearts hope that the whole God thing is indeed all wrong, and they can go back to their lives of chance and circumstance with no concern for a future of eternal thirst and hunger.
Finally, the most mystifying group; other Christians. Some Christians, and I'm ashamed to admit they are often Presbyterians (I've been Presbyterian for 12 years) look down their noses at evangelicals as if they are a dreaded fungus. These people see Tebow as being too loud about his faith and he even has the audacity to thank "Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior" every time the media interviews him. Gasp ! This group, quite frankly is the most disappointing to me., but it has also opened my eyes to something. To these people I ask; How can you condemn a Southern Baptist (the church I was raised in) for spreading the word of God when that is what is drummed into their heads from day 1? Tim Tebow is simply doing exactly what he was raised to do ! In his mind, he's simply being a good Christian., he knows no other way to behave and be faithful. And besides, I think the American public can tolerate kneeling in prayer (Tebowing) and one sentence mentioning Jesus Christ as a gesture of faith and thanks. Sorry it embarasses you, but I don't see the Baptist church shrinking like the Presbyterian church.
So, I guess you could say I'm having a little battle within myself. The Baptist in me is mocking the Presbyterian in me for its lame commitment to God and Jesus and that I've committed so much time to a denomination that might not really be the answer for me. A lukewarm denomination that is so self satisfied it finds it hard to embrace such a positive role model as Tim Tebow. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Tim Tebow is probably the best example of what a Christian should be today in our world and the fact that he says it out loud has allowed many, many more people to be curious of our religion. There could be millions of people who are better not from Tebow's actual philanthropy but from the fact that he offers hope in a world that has so little.
In My Humble Opinion.
Chuck Marshall
The first time I had the pleasure of seeing him was when my wife and I attended a game in Gainesville, it was the 2006 UF VS LSU game, the year UF eventually trounced Ohio State in the national championship game (a victory worthy of its own blog). The game was proceeding somewhat quietly and then Urban Meyer sends out our new quarterback (back up to Chris Leek that year) and this kid just electrified the stadium. I mean, his body language and enthusiasm were palpable. Before you knew it the team was waking up and the fans were in a rabid state... you could literally see how nervous we were making the "Bayou Tigers", they were fumbling and bumbling all over the field and Tim Tebow was railroading right over them...... it was sooooooo great ! We went on to trounce LSU by 20 points. So from that moment forward...... my wife and I have been smitten.
The stories of Tebow's generosity and authentic Christian behavior have been very well covered in the press. Most of the stories about Tim himself by the media have been almost overwhelmingly positive about what he does to help people. One of my favorites is http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7455943/believing-tim-tebow
All the Christian stuff and good deeds were a nice bonus since we are religious., though not evangelical. Fast forward to 2012. You all know how this story ends up. Tebow captures the heart of Denver and the fans insist he be played and all the "experts" expect him to flop immediately but something happens. He is successful ! OK, he doesn't win all his games but he wins most of them which is more than you can say for most other QB's in the NFL if my math is right. Oh, they still say his mechanics are wrong and he can't throw a forward pass, etc.... BUT he's getting results and the NFL establishment does not like that. It makes them look like fools and arrogant stuffed shirt, ex-jocks can't stand looking like fools.
Another group of people don't like all his success either. Atheists and the anti-religious. When Tebow fails the atheists are delighted and Atheists such as Bill Maher say disgusting things about Tebow because atheists like Bill Maher are frightened by the remote possibility that evangelicals are correct and they will burn in the lake of fire forever. When Tebow gets creamed on the field it gives their hearts hope that the whole God thing is indeed all wrong, and they can go back to their lives of chance and circumstance with no concern for a future of eternal thirst and hunger.
Finally, the most mystifying group; other Christians. Some Christians, and I'm ashamed to admit they are often Presbyterians (I've been Presbyterian for 12 years) look down their noses at evangelicals as if they are a dreaded fungus. These people see Tebow as being too loud about his faith and he even has the audacity to thank "Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior" every time the media interviews him. Gasp ! This group, quite frankly is the most disappointing to me., but it has also opened my eyes to something. To these people I ask; How can you condemn a Southern Baptist (the church I was raised in) for spreading the word of God when that is what is drummed into their heads from day 1? Tim Tebow is simply doing exactly what he was raised to do ! In his mind, he's simply being a good Christian., he knows no other way to behave and be faithful. And besides, I think the American public can tolerate kneeling in prayer (Tebowing) and one sentence mentioning Jesus Christ as a gesture of faith and thanks. Sorry it embarasses you, but I don't see the Baptist church shrinking like the Presbyterian church.
So, I guess you could say I'm having a little battle within myself. The Baptist in me is mocking the Presbyterian in me for its lame commitment to God and Jesus and that I've committed so much time to a denomination that might not really be the answer for me. A lukewarm denomination that is so self satisfied it finds it hard to embrace such a positive role model as Tim Tebow. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Tim Tebow is probably the best example of what a Christian should be today in our world and the fact that he says it out loud has allowed many, many more people to be curious of our religion. There could be millions of people who are better not from Tebow's actual philanthropy but from the fact that he offers hope in a world that has so little.
In My Humble Opinion.
Chuck Marshall
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Republicans Determined to Reelect President Obama
I have watched with fascination as the Republican party works ceaselessly to make sure Obama is reelected. Each of the "nominees" during the debates has gone way out of his way to magnify how much they cannot stand Obama to the cheers of the audiences, but if anyone is paying attention they will know that they seem to be doomed to lose to the President. Why? Each month there is another nominee seen as the front runner. Most recently it was Gingrich, before that it was Herman Caine, before that Rick Perry, and before that Michelle Bachmann. All of these are seen as the "anti" Romney nominees. What's wrong with Romney? He had the audacity to pass some sort of health care program that the people of his state, Massachusettes, actually wanted. In other words, he obeyed the wishes of the people. As he has been crucified by the far right for this high treason, most Americans agree that SOME sort of health care reform is necessary and even more Americans believe it is the right of each state to set their own path. But, since Obama focused the first two years of his presidency on health care, the far right Republicans refuse to accept anyone who has even muttered such a thought to themselves.
For some reason the Republicans think if they pick the correct "right wing" nominee the rest of the country will see the error of their ways and will fall in love with Bachmann/Perry/Caine/Gingrich and so all will vote for Bachmann/Perry/Caine/Gingrich and the country will finally be on the "right" path and we will all sing "hosana" in thanks to them for their wisdom.
What will really happen? If the Republicans continue to park their brains in neutral, they will select someone far to the right and they will proceed to have their bottoms kicked all over the country from Florida to New York to Ohio to California and we will all watch as their hated "socialist" (a word they use waaaaaay to loosely) enemies rally in that same park in Chicago to cheer on President Obama to his second term.
The only way the Republicans will win the Presidency is if they choose Romney or some other moderate such as Huntsman. It really doesn't take that much intelligence to figure this out. So.... go ahead and nominate Bachmann/Perry/Caine/Gingrich my Republican friends and I hope you enjoy the election process while you and your ideals are humiliated in front of the entire country.
For some reason the Republicans think if they pick the correct "right wing" nominee the rest of the country will see the error of their ways and will fall in love with Bachmann/Perry/Caine/Gingrich and so all will vote for Bachmann/Perry/Caine/Gingrich and the country will finally be on the "right" path and we will all sing "hosana" in thanks to them for their wisdom.
What will really happen? If the Republicans continue to park their brains in neutral, they will select someone far to the right and they will proceed to have their bottoms kicked all over the country from Florida to New York to Ohio to California and we will all watch as their hated "socialist" (a word they use waaaaaay to loosely) enemies rally in that same park in Chicago to cheer on President Obama to his second term.
The only way the Republicans will win the Presidency is if they choose Romney or some other moderate such as Huntsman. It really doesn't take that much intelligence to figure this out. So.... go ahead and nominate Bachmann/Perry/Caine/Gingrich my Republican friends and I hope you enjoy the election process while you and your ideals are humiliated in front of the entire country.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Letter Published in Orlando Sentinel- November 3, 2011
Kept meaning to post this, finally managed to do it ! Thanks to all of you who continue to read. I will be posting some ramblings regarding the most recent developments within the Republican party titled;
"Republicans Determined to get Obama Reelected".... stay tuned.
Anyway, this published Orlando Sentinel, November 3 2011
"Lobbyists make mockery of representative government"
"Republicans Determined to get Obama Reelected".... stay tuned.
Anyway, this published Orlando Sentinel, November 3 2011
"Lobbyists make mockery of representative government"
Thanks to the letter writer John D. Towns for his comments Saturday ("Lobbyists would still loom, if incumbents were gone"). The public really needs to understand this fact: Their right to be heard is being undermined by the lobbyists' power and money.
Power and money are what inclines our government toward action. That is why we have a web of laws and tax loopholes that make no sense. That is why each election is another round of the same thing.
As long as money is the grease that lubes the engine of elections, we will have this circle. A representative government no longer exists either in the United States or in Florida and the recent restrictions on voter registration here in Florida underscores that "of the people, by the people and for the people" is a reality only for the naive and gullible.
Charles E. Marshall Clermont
In My Humble Opinion,
Chuck Marshall
Monday, October 31, 2011
Ideas Worth Sitting In For: Common Sanity
Last blog, I suggested the protest "sit in" on Wall Street lacked logical boundaries. What do they want? As an Independent, I have ideas from the center that work towards resolving the failures of government attacking both the left and the right.
In this blog, I have some suggestions of what I would demand of our government. Demanding anything from Wall Street ignores the fact that corporations are focused on their bottom line only. Just in case anyone misunderstood me in my last blog, this is neither a good thing 'nor a bad thing..... it just IS.
If I was a Wall Street Sit-In protester, here is what I would demand of the government.
1) End all money involved in elections. A play-off system shall be established whereby each state supplies candidates brought up from local officials through local play offs. The candidates shall present their points of view through debate, speeches, and media interviews. There shall be no advertising, no placards, and no phone solicitation.
2) All primary elections shall be "open" elections. Anything else limits some citizens (those that are not members of either major political party) from their constitutional right to a representative government.
3) Corporations are hereby forbidden from hiding profits overseas through bogus headquarter claims.
4) All corporate taxes shall be reduced to a level reflecting the current world-market tax- rate, but all loopholes shall also be plugged.
5) The federal government will balance its budget. Whenever there is an emergency such as a war that calls for more money, then all citizens (except active military) will be taxed at a flat rate to pay for said war or occasion.
6) All subsidies for any specific industry are eliminated. If an industry can no longer sustain itself profitably then it needs to be allowed to fail.
7) All manufactured products sold will show at what rate the labor was paid that produced the product.
8) Income tax will be set at a pre determined flat rate for all citizens because all citizens benefit from federal programs. A national consumption tax and a luxury tax will be added to state sales taxes to make up for any short-fall that the flat tax does not cover.
9) There will be a full assessment of all jobs, projects, roles that all departments of all governments that govern in the United States. Any role or job that is being duplicated will be consolidated to realize efficiencies and save money.
10) All American military presence shall be re-assessed as to its relative need for the protection of American liberties and freedoms. If it is found to be unnecessary to protect these liberties of American citizens then it will be eliminated within a reasonable timeline.
In this blog, I have some suggestions of what I would demand of our government. Demanding anything from Wall Street ignores the fact that corporations are focused on their bottom line only. Just in case anyone misunderstood me in my last blog, this is neither a good thing 'nor a bad thing..... it just IS.
If I was a Wall Street Sit-In protester, here is what I would demand of the government.
1) End all money involved in elections. A play-off system shall be established whereby each state supplies candidates brought up from local officials through local play offs. The candidates shall present their points of view through debate, speeches, and media interviews. There shall be no advertising, no placards, and no phone solicitation.
2) All primary elections shall be "open" elections. Anything else limits some citizens (those that are not members of either major political party) from their constitutional right to a representative government.
3) Corporations are hereby forbidden from hiding profits overseas through bogus headquarter claims.
4) All corporate taxes shall be reduced to a level reflecting the current world-market tax- rate, but all loopholes shall also be plugged.
5) The federal government will balance its budget. Whenever there is an emergency such as a war that calls for more money, then all citizens (except active military) will be taxed at a flat rate to pay for said war or occasion.
6) All subsidies for any specific industry are eliminated. If an industry can no longer sustain itself profitably then it needs to be allowed to fail.
7) All manufactured products sold will show at what rate the labor was paid that produced the product.
8) Income tax will be set at a pre determined flat rate for all citizens because all citizens benefit from federal programs. A national consumption tax and a luxury tax will be added to state sales taxes to make up for any short-fall that the flat tax does not cover.
9) There will be a full assessment of all jobs, projects, roles that all departments of all governments that govern in the United States. Any role or job that is being duplicated will be consolidated to realize efficiencies and save money.
10) All American military presence shall be re-assessed as to its relative need for the protection of American liberties and freedoms. If it is found to be unnecessary to protect these liberties of American citizens then it will be eliminated within a reasonable timeline.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)