It is time to resurrect this video again. The panelist, Rev. Wesley Leonard, Angela McGlowan, Lynn Swann and Michael Williams are excellent, but personally, I identify the most with Rev. Leonard in going conservative Republican.
Well it looks like I may have a say with my April 24th presidential primary vote. The Republican National Committee amended Rule 15b for the 2012 presidential nominating process. It is apportionment of delegates for the Republican presidential candidates before April 1st; afterwards, the winner of the state primary and caucus votes takes all the state’s delegates.
The Democrats do apportionment throughout the primary/caucus season. When it is close like it was in 2008 with then Democratic presidential candidates Obama and Clinton, votes were necessary to the end of the primary/caucus season. It was winner take all in 2008 for the Republicans. Sen John McCain had the 1144 delegates needed for the presidential nomination before the April PA Primary. If the delegates had been proportional, my vote would have counted for something and it would have gone to Mike Huckabee.
The apportionment did not work in 2004 when I was still a Democrat. Sen. John Kerry had enough delegates before the PA Primary, which was held in May back then. I was not that upset, because I was pretty much on board for Sen. Kerry. Sometimes I feel all the caucuses should be held on 1 day and the primaries on 1 day in the next week or at least within a month of the caucuses so that every voter has a say in choosing the presidential party nominee. It is even worse for the states who have primaries and caucuses after April, especially Utah which is at the end of June. Really, how often has this state’s individual’s primary vote meant anything! Gohere to see the 2012 primary/caucus schedule.
For those who celebrated, I hope you had a blessed Christmas. After going to church, I spent most of Christmas day with my 85 years old mother who is in the hospital. Praise the Lord, she was moved from ICU to a regular room on Christmas Eve. For those who consented to my request to pray for her in Jesus’ name, I deeply thank you. My mother who loves all kinds of foods, has been on a liquid diet since last Wednesday. She entered the hospital a week ago. Before last Wednesday, she was only allowed to suck on a few Ice cubes and suck on a lemon flavored swab. So even though she did not get to eat a real Christmas day dinner, Mother was thankful and even became full from her Christmas day dinner of chicken broth, hot tea, ginger ale and jello.
Mother was told in the hospital to have rehabilitation for her mobility in a nursing home. She would not hear of such. She requested the hospital’s physical therapy. Today she called me in the morning to tell me of her excitement about being able to walk up 4 stairs and walk down the hall with a walker during a physical therapy session. It is not uncommon for those in their elder years to lose their ability to walk (even with a walker) after being bed ridden for several days. The use of steps only applies to being able to use steps to get into the house, because our home is a ranch style type.
When I visited my mother later in the afternoon. She was in good spirits and was encouraged by a visit from our Pastor who also prayed with her. She is in prep for a procedure which she is scheduled to undergo tomorrow. After that she most likely will be able to go back to eating real food again.
My mother is loved in our church where she is called Mother by many in our church family. She grew up going to church, but did not have a personal relationship with Lord. My mother asked Jesus Christ through prayer to be her Savior when I was in high school. Jesus Christ became Savior and Lord to the rest of us in the family within a few years. She continues to grow stronger in the Lord everyday. Please continue to pray for her.
UPDATE 12-30-11: My mother came home last night thanking the Lord all the way home in the car.
Today, November, 22nd is the 48th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. I remember when he was a the Democratic presidential nominee against Richard Nixon, the Republican nominee. I was only 9 years old during that election season and thus did not understand anything political. All I knew was that Pres. Eisenhower was for Nixon, the VP taking his place and wondered why my parents were for someone else name John Kennedy. Pres. I was more aware of Pres. Eisenhower and Vice Pres. Nixon with no awareness of John Kennedy. One of my parents told me that they were for Kennedy, because he was a Democrat. I was told that we (my parents) are always for the Democrat.
On this day 48 years ago, I was 12 years old. It was a Friday in 1963. My junior high school (long before the change to middle schools) dismissed the students an hour early at 2:00 p. m. on Fridays. I walked in the house around 2:25 p. m. eastern standard time to my grandmother shouting, “They shot the President!” My immediate response was, “What President?” A few minutes later, Walter Cronkite announced that Pres. Kennedy had died in Dallas, Texas via central standard time. I still remember the sunk feeling that compassed me. I wondered what was going to happen now.
Philly public schools closed until after the nationally televised funeral. Along with my parents, I sat glued to the TV. I remember watching the suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald being escorted and then viewing him being shot. My mother could not get over it. She kept saying, “We just saw a man actually get shot on live TV! Wow!”
I remember the adults in my life loved Kennedy, despite the fact that he voted against the 1957 Civil Rights Act. I think most are unaware of that fact. He was a Democrat for capitalism against the Russian communism. I do not think the kind of Democrat he was would sit well with the Democrats of today.
There were some great responses in this latest Republican debate in Florida, but it is still comes down to the front-runners being Mitt Romney and Gov. Rick Perry at this point in the race to become the GOP’s presidential nominee. Michele Bachmann was in true great form, but I do not think she is getting back her former supporters that went over to Gov. Perry. Herman Cain was fantastic. If/when we have the next Republican administration, Mr. Cain should be in it dealing with the economy/fiscal matters, or Georgia folks needs to elect him to represent them in the House or the Senate.
I grew to love Newt Gingrich and his debate performance is great again, but it will surprise me if he makes it to #3 in the early caucuses and primaries. Ron Paul is not in my consideration. I can in no way go along with his views on Islam and Muslims in relation to terrorism and his views on legalization of drugs. Therefore, I hardly listen to his responses in the debate. The same goes for Gary Johnson who also has that libertarian laissez-faire thing for drugs. Jon Huntsman is way too likable by the Democrats, so forget him! Rick Santorum did okay, especially when he hammered Gov. Perry on providing in-state tuition rates for illegal immigrants. But it will surprise me, if he gets anywhere in the early caucuses and primaries.
I do not have a personal stake in anyone among the Republican presidential hopefuls at this point, but I could go with either front-runner Perry or Romney (despite RomneyCare). I think either one would be more successful as President in comparison to Pres. Obama. As I said in previous posts, Herman Cain needs to succeed at getting elected to a lower office before going after the highest office in the land. Paul, Huntsman and Johnson are the ones that give me great reservations, but thankfully, they do not have much of a chance anyway.
I watched the Republican presidential candidate debate last night on MSNBC. I agree with some of the political pundits on TV, bloggers and columnists who said that Gov. Rick Perry was not that strong. For me this is the first time Mitt Romney stood ahead of the pack in the debates. I also agree with what I am reading about Michele Bachmann peeking. She did not come off as stellar as she has in the previous debates. I agree with what I am hearing and reading today, that the Republican presidential candidates race pretty much comes down to Gov. Perry and former Gov. Romney.
Of course, Newt Gingrich was great. His debate performances are always excellent, but like I said before, nobody seems to be listening. I love my former Senator, Rick Santorum, but generally, the Republicans and GOP sided Independents are not taking him seriously.
Herman Cain is good, but I can’t consider him. He needs to run for a national office from Georgia and win. I remember at the previous CNN Republican debate, some one asked him if he would hire someone for a top position without any experience. I feel the top position of President of this country requires previous electoral experience and Herman Cain has zero.
Jon Huntsmen came off a bit improved than the last debate, but I am not liking him all that much. And I am trying to see what the attraction is with libertarian/Republican Ron Paul, but not feeling it. The reason could be that I am just not into the total libertarian approach to life. Some aspects of libertarianism go against my Christ centered outlook.
Well, MSNBC saw some of its best ratings ever. And to think that was due to Republicans! In hearing the analysis from various MSNBC anchors, news analysts and contributors, the majority went with John Huntsmen who is the most moderate/liberal out of the Republican presidential candidates. That figures! During my Democrat years, I would sometimes give my vote to the moderate/liberal Republican. Former Republican Senator, Arlen Specter was the one Republican who continually got my then Democratic vote. Of course, after crossing over and moving on in conservatism, I saw the Sen. Specter in a completely different (negative) light.
Even though I am not into Herman Cain being President, I am a fan. I leave you with him successfully taking on the leftist MSNBC round-table right after the debate.
