Influences of All in the Family

I still watch reruns of TV’s All in the Family. The program captured the culture of the 70s. The Archie Bunker character was a hardworking family man, but was also a man with bigoted views. He was rather outspoken on his belief that the white people were the superior race. Just recently, I saw an episode where he thought he was going to get promoted and decided that when the promotion came through, he would put “black Elmo” in his dock foreman position.  He said, and “that is as far as them people go.” His son in-law Michael, who he always called Meat-head threw Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshal in his face.

I realized now how All in the Family helped to mold my political views as a young woman in my 20s and presented the paradox that I successfully ignored for so many years. Archie’s education level did not even make it to high school graduation level which was not all that uncommon from his  generation. Archie was a Republican and even though you did not hear conservative being used much back then, I say he was conservative. Archie was for personal responsibility and loved his country. He believed in God, but did not go to church and was ignorant of God’s Word. He could really mangled bible scripture. He also did a good job of mangling the English language. There was no other Republican or conservative character  to balance the lowly educated Archie with his white supremest views.

On the other hand his daughter, Gloria and especially her graduate school husband Michael who was an atheist championed equal rights. Michael was always shaming Archie’s pro segregation views and his very unsuccessful attempts to keep the neighborhood white. Michael always came down on anything having to do with the Lord. He ridiculed the bible.

I loved the liberal Michael, while shutting my ears to his atheist ridicule of Christians. I despised Republican racist Archie while respecting his love of family and believing in God. Now, I did not like how he ordered his wife Edith around, but it was clear he loved her. Some of my favorite episodes are of the few times she stood up to him. That TV show aided in strengthening the stereotypes and my belief of Democrats and liberals as educated and pro equality for everyone and the opposite for Republicans and conservatives.

In another note, I do not like that some on Facebook promote Archie Bunker. Some link a clip of him coming down on Democrats, which in itself is not wrong. I have no quarrel with the statement in the clip. But knowing all the bigoted comments that are far too many to be numbered that came from the Archie Bunker character, just perpetuates the uneducated and racist stereotype of the Republicans and conservatives.

Views on Some of the In and Out Republican Presidential Hopefuls.

I am glad Donald Trump decided pulled himself out of the presidential run. When he first came on the scene toying with a presidential candidacy, he caught my positive attention with his comments about what China was wrongly doing to this country and the notion that we are a laughing-stock around the world. When he became like the ‘head Birther,’ he lost it with me. I, like Michelle Malkin and Ann Coulter believe that Pres. Obama was born outside this country.

Really, to me,  Donald Trump’s mannerisms when going off on the birth certificate and the college records started to resemble those of the late Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini. As I stated in a previous post in relation to Herman Cain, I am a little uneasy for now with the idea of someone being President without ever holding elective office. I was also uncomfortable with the notion that there were people on the conservative side that were ready to vote for Trump mostly because he took the lead on the Birther issue.

I was a Huckabee supporter around this time during the early days of the last presidential race. I was not quick to jump on his possible candidacy this time around, because of the possible new Republican challengers. Well anyway, he decided not to run for President. But I continue to love Mike Huckabee. In a little semi-related tidbit. When my Democrat voting mother viewed his very first show on Fox News, she marveled at the way he talked to Bill Maher about God and Jesus Christ. Up until that show, she only viewed the former Gov. as a failed ‘also ran’ Republican presidential candidate. She did not know that he was also a Baptist minister.  Mother now has a touching soft spot in her heart for Mike Huckabee. Who knows, if he had decided to get into the 2012 presidential race, he just might have gotten her vote.

I have grown to like Newt Gingrich, but not enough for now to consider voting for him in the 2012 presidential race. I liked his book, Real Change, which changed my view of him to one of a man of some great ideas. I am not happy with how he tried to explain away his past personal behavior and do not like his present attack on Rep. Paul Ryan.

Mitt Romney’s version of Obamacare established in Massachusetts when he was the Governor is a rather strong negative for me, but I will not completely discount him. I do not care for the libertarian, Ron Paul. I will not totally discount my former Senator, Rick Santorum, but I do not see him going too far in the Republican Primaries. It is not etched in stone, but for now I am liking Tim Pawlenty. He is not perfect, but I like what I am hearing  from him so far. As I listen and learn more about the possible Republican presidential candidates, my conservative choice for President may change.

Another Dose of Zo

Here is another dose of the right-wing conservative Zo aka AlfonZo Rachael. He reflects on the first Republican presidential candidates’ debate. Of all the participating candidates, he  specifically zooms in on Herman Cain with some criticism. Zo goes on to express his feelings on libertarianism, which I share.

I Use to Like Michael Moore

I  use to  like Michael Moore. I remember enjoying his book, Stupid White Men, which was about white men having privilege and high access in this life. I even helped his book sales by reading it to and from work on the bus back in 2003. It should be no surprise that most reactions to the book came from black men, especially when they found out the author was white. I would always hear, “I am going to get that book.” Most did not know anything about Michael Moore, but a few knew of his far leftist positions on the issues. I liked him for coming out for the little guy, while ignoring his far left bent.

Michael Moore, an oxymoron who worked his way into the millionaire ranks through capitalism, acts as if he is a struggling underpaid overworked line level employee. He is all for socialist/communist solutions to worker issues. Mr. Moore really thinks it is all right to just take other people’s money for any financial solution.  It’s a national resource! Here is a snippet of his speech at the Madison, Wisconsin teacher/public union protest.

Go here if you want to hear the entire speech.

This country is broke and the states have terrific shortfalls in their budgets. Michael Moore is coming across like a people’s republic comrade. Who does not want the best education for children? But the money isn’t there and we have to do the best with what we have, not spending with what we do not have. We have to deal with  money that is not there for employee benefits. We must redirect the course from the paths taken in the past that got us to the horrific economical state we are in now. After, Wisconsin and Ohio, my state of Pennsylvania is up next. Gov. Corbett just unveiled PA’s budget and as you can imagine, there are deep cuts. There are already Michael Moore thinking people in PA  going into attack mode.

Despicable Response to a Purple Heart Veteran

A military veteran speaks to a college audience and gets mocked and jeered. Well, I saw this unbelievable reaction to folks in the military and veterans, in 2007/2008, when people mocked  Sen. John McCain’s military service when he was a running for President of this country. That was  abominable. Those courageous people  in the armed forces use to be supported, respected and loved by most people regardless of political outlook. Now those in the armed forces are almost hated by those on those gathering on the extreme leftist side.

This latest abominable behavior towards someone who has fought for our protection happened to Anthony Maschek, a former army staff sergeant who received the Purple Heart. He suffers from being shot 11 times in a firefight in Iraq. As a student there,  he spoke at  Columbia University to promote a possible return of ROTC ( Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) on the campus. Students against the return came to protest, which in itself is not wrong, because we have that right to do so. But the name calling and jeering directed at this veteran of valor in wheel chair with loss of limb is so loathsome! State your objections in a respectful and professional way. Why get personal with nasty attacks?

Just think, these ivy league students who jeered and insulted this wounded veteran for his service to our country are future leaders. Hopefully, when some of them mature and experience the ups and downs of life, they will come to regret their behavior towards Anthony Maschek. Listen to a little of what happened here. Read about it here.

Comparing Pres. Obama to What President!

Henry Payne Cartoon

People on the Right and Left are finding Time’s Magazines comparisons of Pres. Obama to the late former Pres. Ronald Reagan insulting for obviously different reasons. The Right views Pres. Obama in the liberal leftist, socialist, communist and incompetent vein. For many he has topped former Pres. Jimmy Carter as the worst President ever; thus, the comparison to Ronald Reagan is preposterous.

The Left views the Ronald Reagan presidency as one of the worst, if not the worst.  Mean,  hypocritical, double-dealing and for some, racist comes to mind when looking back on the his presidency. One of my parents who sometimes voted for moderate Republicans did not consider him to be their president like in the same way some folks today consider Pres. Obama not to be their president.

All of this stems from the reports of the Pres. reading a book on Ronald Reagan. I have heard comments on local liberal radio questioning the validity of Pres. Obama doing that. I can understand why the Pres. Obama looks to how former Presidents governed, handled the opposition and crises whether they be Democrat or Republican. After all, Pres. Obama shares with the late Ronald Reagan the unique and  exclusivity of being President of the United States. Finally, as for the editorial cartoon, personally, I think it is spot-on.