Of Pledges & Politics...

I pledge allegiance....to the notion of brevity.  At least, I will do my very best to maintain that pledge.  Perhaps it would be best to take back that pledge since I know good and well there may be a chance I won't keep to it.

Several other pledges have made it into the news.  Today, there was a bit of controversy as NBC opened up its coverage of the US Open golf tournament's final round with a patriotic bit.  Interspersed with other scenes, was a group of children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.  Well, except for the part where the children would have been saying the words "under God", which the NBC production team chose to edit out.

Later in the broadcast, the on-air host apologized for this "regrettable" oversight.  Perhaps it was inadvertant, a gliche.  Perhaps it is also inadvertant when the President skips over the "endowed by our Creator" language in the Declaration of Independence; or a gliche, maybe just an oversight.  "God" "Someone" knows the President doesn't have anybody to proofread his text when he speaks.  The fact that it happened on several occasions, I'm sure was just another gliche.

Earlier this week, there was a notable dispute between Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform over the Taxpayer Protection Pledge that many lawmakers have signed.  Signers promise to oppose any tax increase as well as “any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.”

The issue is that Coburn is trying to make a deal on a bill that would eliminate $6 billion in Ethanol subsidies.  Norquist believes that eliminating these subsidies would be a de facto "tax increase" and would break the pledge without a corresponding revenue reduction.

Leave aside the fact that ethanol subsidies are a terrible waste of tax dollars, such a pledge would make it impossible to govern well.  I understand the principle involved in seeking to keep taxes low, but it ties the hands of our elected officials.  Whether it be ethanol, wind or solar power, if a subsidy is bad then eliminate it.  By adding preconditions to the ability to make good laws, we inhibit the process. 

Ronald Reagan, on more than one occasion was able to achieve passage of a large tax cut bill, then later passed another bill with smaller tax increases.  Under Norquist's reasoning, Reagan would have been either unable to govern as he did or considered a traitor to conservative principles.

In other pledge-related news, GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has refused to sign a pro-life pledge from the Susan B. Anthony list group.  Romney stated that his opposition to the pledge was due to some language regarding funding of abortion providers and their affiliated organizations, which he felt could be construed to hospital funding.  Naturally the SBA disputes this notion, but Romney's pledge still sits unsigned.  As pro-life/anti-abortion as anyone, I take no issue with Romney's refusal. 

The most important pledge any President or Senator or any other American must use to make decisions that affect this nation, is the Pledge of Allegiance.  Being pro-life isn't about signing a restrictive pledge, but it is about what actions can be taken to advance the sanctitiy of life.  Romney has stated that if elected, he will support any reversal of Roe v. Wade, he will support the Hyde Amendment and will reinstate the Mexico City Policy. 

These all stand in contrast to the current occupant of the White House, who ended the Mexico City Policy allowing American tax dollars to fund foreign abortion services and whose healthcare legislation attempts to work around the Hyde Amendment.

Perhaps the removal of the mention of God or a Creator from our national conversation is more than an oversight or a gliche.  Perhaps far from being inadvertant, Obama's omission of God is a larger part of why he is the most pro-abortion President this nation has ever had.  Looking at Romney's words and actions in this context makes this issue go away for those of us who want to see abortion ended.

If Romney's name is next to Obama's next November, I can tell you who I will vote for right now.  And you won't need to me to sign a pledge on that promise.

If You Can't Take the Heat...

As many of us continue to gloat over Lebron's misfortune, I hope this will be a lesson to Albert Pujols and others who may consider shunning their first love in hopes of riches and championships elsewhere.

Remember, role players move from team to team.  But the true franchise players are the foundation that teams are built around.  Dirk was the foundation, just as Michael Jordan once was in Chicago.  When a player chooses to take the money and run, they are acknowledging that they aren't up to that task and/or money was more important.

Touching Base....

As most of my faithful readers are aware, I have been silent for many weeks.  I made an editorial decision to maintain silence on this site while I am negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement on behalf of my local union.  I felt that since much of my commentary touches on issues that affect businesses and unions, it would be better that I muzzle myself during this process.  If all goes well, we will have a new agreement in place by June 30th.  If negotiations stall or our membership rejects an agreement, this process will, by necessity, go on longer.

Once we are finished, whenever that happens to be, I promise that I will return with a vengeance.  I have many opinions just ready to burst from my fingertips.  In fact, I'm having trouble, even as I type, to keep myself from speaking out.  Unfortunately the only current issues that I would feel comfortable discussing are the Palin emails (why are they so important, but we can't see anything from Obama's past?) and Anthony's Wiener (good to know that Chris Matthews has referred to those of us who find what AW did wrong, as culturally backwards), neither of which deserve more than a simple parenthetical reference so it is far simpler for me to shut down until such time that I feel comfortable to speak freely.

You may be wondering what I have been doing to keep myself occupied during my self-imposed silence.  My oldest child is now a high school graduate and we've had many tear-filled events to attend.  My youngest has began his baseball season with me coaching yet again.  He is off to a stellar 2-0 record thus far.  My middle child has sought to go fishing quite often and caught a beautiful catfish on Wednesday which promptly jumped off the hook and hopped back in the lake before it could be grabbed - a dinner lost.  My sister has finally finished medical school and is now Dr. Boo.  And of course, I've had the pleasure of spending a bit more time with the beautiful Dawn.

In the next few weeks, I may drop in to share some fiction, discuss sports or post a sentimental-side story.  Or I may not.  I just don't really know.  But I hope that when I return, that you will return with me.  For today, I just wanted to touch base so you know where I've been.

God Bless