A Lot to Say

There are always outspoken celebrities and media stars who like to voice their political opinions. Not that I really think that they should be advocates for any political party, but that's not the point. Let's look at who's saying what.

Most recently, Jersey Shore star "Snooki" (the one that Obama claims to know nothing about) says, "I don't go tanning anymore because Obama put a 10 percent tax on tanning. [Sen. John] McCain would never put a 10 percent tax on tanning. Because he's pale and would probably want to be tan." [According to Politico.] Wise, wise words, Snookie. But don't worry, I think President Obama probably watches Jersey Shore in his spare time. He seems to show the public that he has A LOT of spare time.

Angelina Jolie isn't a big fan of President Obama either. In an article release several months ago on an online celebrity tabloid, a source said that Jolie thinks actions speak louder than words.

Wise, WISE words. So, does this mean that President Obama's failure to own up to his promises during his campaign reflects on him as a person? Yes. Yes it does.

But, of course, there are Obama-lovers, too. In a recent YouTube interview, Katy Perry talks about her life before becoming a pop-star sensation. To the ever-brilliant (sarcasm intended) Lisa Nova, she says awkwardly that she didn't get to buy things because she was...poor. To that, Lisa Nova awkwardly laughed. (Horrible interview.) But, when talking about her inability to pay for health care due to her financial circumstances prior to her rise to fame, Katy Perry of course had to interject her little "yay!" for health care, adding "Thank you, Obama."

Yes, thank you, Mr. President, for raising our taxes and not improving our economy with your stimulus plan.

Oh, the Places You'll Go

I don't watch too much television, let alone The View.

So, how does the ever-busy President of the United States have time to make his way onto this "fluffy daytime TV show" as Rosie O'Donnell, herself, calls it. It's not a news channel. It's obvious that the show targets mainly a female audience. They talk about the latest celebrity news and other media-related things, I suppose.

But, just as our favorite Sarah Palin says, "President w/no time to visit porous US/Mexican border to offer help to those risking life to secure us,but lotso' time to chat on The View?" This comment was posted on her Twitter. I know that if President Bush had gone to an interview on such a show, he'd be under massive fire by all kinds of media outlets for wasting time. President Obama seems to be really good at wasting time, don't you think? From golfing, to randomly traveling to Manhattan for romantic excursions - paid for by yours truly -, he must have some sort of checklist where he has certain things he wants to do while he's president.


Is this some type of event to reach out to the people? Or is it to win back popular support? Because I don't think either of those things worked. Great, instead of working on the problems of the country, he's telling worldwide viewers of The View that he doesn't know who Snooky is. To be honest, I don't really know who that is either, save for the fact that she's on a reality show called Jersey Shore, but I don't think the country needed to know that.


On top of that, when asked about being invited to Chelsea Clinton's multi-million dollar wedding, he simply said that he wasn't invited because it was a private event between Chelsea and her beau. Aw. How sweet. Oh, but then he ruins the moment saying it's already difficult with one president present at the wedding - it'd be too complicated with two. You know you're just disappointed that they didn't invite you to their shindig, Mr. President. It's okay! You'll probably just hold a huge party yourself with your wife. Why? Because you can. With the taxpayers' money.

Let's all go back to doing our jobs now, shall we?

I Remember...

I remember when the media was going crazy about how vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin had a $150,000 dress. HOW COULD SHE DARE TO SPEND ALL THAT MONEY?

Where is all the mass media, *ahem* CNN, MSNBC, to cover Michelle Obama's splurges? Are you bored? Well, go to Spain with your daughter, and while you're at it, take her to the set of a Harry Potter movie set! The First Lady and the entire White House family, no matter what party, should be role models for the rest of the country. So, why are they acting like celebrities? President Obama tells the country and the whole world that we all need to be fiscally responsible and live with what we have. So...why are they spending $600+ on shoes and going to Spain, and spending $4,000 a night at Hawaiian vacation homes? Little trips to Manhattan? No PROBLEM. The taxpayers will pay for it.

Speaking of taxes. John Kerry. Where are all your taxes, sir? One moment, he says he promises he'll pay back all the money. The next moment, he's claiming that he's always payed his taxes. Which one is it? This is why he couldn't become president - he was always a flipflopper.

Where Are You Now?

The NAACP stands for equal right and equal treatment of "colored" people. They bring together African-American leaders and people for their common cause. Though I also believe in equality and eradicating racism (especially violence resulting from racism), I don't think the NAACP practices what they preach. To attain peace and ameliorate situations in which racism against blacks is an issue, one must set examples and demonstrate this peaceful nature. Yet when I listen and watch one of their large conferences on national television, several people simply continue to antagonize white people and "play the race card." Yes, there are people who continue to treat blacks in a derogatory manner, but by adhering to the stereotypes of racist white people, the cycle will always continue.

Recently, a man was killed while his friend was setting up the car GPS. By whom? Two unknown African-Americans. They attempted to rob him, but he admitted he only had $17. So, they shot him. As some people on online forums have stated why do people take human lives so lightly? Killing someone seems to be no big deal for a growing number of people. Scary.

But, back to the shooting - over a mere $17, an innocent man, a father of 3, had to give up his life? Why does the NAACP not step out into the public to reprimand such criminal actions. They constantly emphasize black "brotherhood", but only when blacks are the victims. What about all the times when blacks are the antagonists? Where is the unity, then?

Double standards strike again.

Above the Influence

When I watch television, there are often ads to advocate being "Above the Influence" in order to steer teenagers, especially, in a non-drug/non-alcohol direction.

I know that some teens these days will do anything to get a quick high after a stressful day. I also know that the internet is probably the place where we all spend most of our free time. Now people are combining the internet and high? "I-dosing"?

Is that real. Supposedly, on Youtube, people (particularly teenagers) are shown violently shaking and getting "high" off high-frequency music available by download on the internet. I know that our bodies can respond uniquely to sounds and smells and whatnot, but for people to get high off these sounds is just bizarre. I can't even believe if it's real or not; is it all psychological - they simply will themselves to become high? Is that even possible...

Anyways, the internet has become a fantastic source for sharing information, research, learning, communicating, etc. But it's also a place where a lot of dangerous things happen. For example, there is a "viral" video going around about a young girl who is simply bawling her eyes out on camera, while her hillbilly father rants and screams, cussing at all the people who have left hateful comments on her Myspace. He sounds like a completely uneducated fool as he says that the "cyber police" is going to hunt down these cruel viewers, etc. etc. Ridiculous. You can find the entire story online, but apparently, this young preteen girl had an online account where she displayed provocative, and quite inappropriate, information about herself - claiming she was quite the sexual tigress. Well, of course people are going to leave rude comments and ridicule her for being so inappropriate at such a young age - she probably had no idea what she was really talking about.

To the raging parents, if you don't want people to leave hateful comments of your child and make them feel emotionally abused on the internet, maybe you should teach them that they shouldn't be participating in such age-inappropriate things in the first place. Just a thought.

Speak English.

Iota of a Cracka! I believe the term is "Iota of a Cracker." Ha. Ha.

Just kidding. What on earth is that, anyways? Here in America, we speak proper English.

To be honest, I'm not really surprised that such violent racist anger is arising - even though this whole new Black Panther movement is a bit unsettling. Everyone has a right to defend their rights and fight the racism that sadly exists today. But, I think it's another thing to go and say that you need to kill "cracka babies." Really? Because you feel like the whole world (well, world meaning everyone who isn't a black Democrat) is against you, you really need to bring in little innocent children into it? Interesting. Very interesting.

So tell me this - why is it more acceptable for African-Americans to so publicly threaten white people and antagonize anyone who doesn't support them, especially people who ARE NOT BLACK, but oh no. If a white person said ANYTHING negative about a black person, it'd be all over the news for the next several weeks. Do you disagree? I laughed as I saw someone post on Yahoo! Answers, "they should build giant ovens to bake the crackers." Why is it not as offensive to the public for a black person to say "cracker" which is a derogatory name for a white person, as it is for a white person to say the "n-word"? Double standards.

Another disturbing issue is how the Black Panther movement folks are saying they're "ready for the right-wingers". What does that even mean? So all the Republican people who might be supportive of blacks are also going to be antagonized because they're Republican? Once again, I ask - why is it more acceptable for black people to discriminate others for political opinions, but any mention of anti-African-Americanism brings all kind of heat to the table.

Oh, and another thing. I don't think it's wise for the Black Panther movement leader to go around calling news anchorwomen "political prostitutes" on national television. Ahem. Khalil Muhammad. Aren't you supposed to be an icon of good will for the African-Americans? Representing them as the Black Panther movement leader? 

We learn a lot about leadership in school, and I'm pretty sure we're not taught to be that kind of a leader. A leader must respect all sides of the issue, regardless of his/her opinion.

Pictures

Here are some pictures I took in the past month:

Lady. Stop talking on the phone while you're driving. Thanks.
At least use a bluetooth headset or something. Funny how people still do things that could endanger their lives...and is against the law, here in California.

I know it's hard to see, but I was surprised to see a substantial group of Tea Party-ers in Monterey, CA last weekend! Sorry for the bad shot; I didn't realize they were political protesters.

Also, I apologize for the bad quality - these pictures are usually taken from my iPhone!

It's always fun to talk about politics, but to see it in action is a whole another story.

Like a Fat Kid Loves McDonald's

Sometimes, I hear funny sayings like..."I love you like a fat kid loves ice cream". What does that even mean? "I love you like a fat kid loves McDonald's".

Does that mean McDonald's is making all these kids fat? ON PURPOSE? What evil plot is this? Just kidding. No, but really, it's absurd that The Center for Science in the Public Interest blames the little toys in Happy Meals for the increasing number of child obesity.

I remember as a kid, I liked those cool little toys in Happy Meals. It didn't call to me and say, "ASHTYN. COME GET ME. AND EAT THESE LITTLE CHICKEN MCNUGGETS, TOO." I just wanted the toys. It just happened to come with my lunch. I'm pretty sure that even without those little toys, kids would be eating just as many hamburgers, french fries, and chicken nuggets as they do now. The toys? Now that I'm seventeen - they're just advertisement for movies and t.v. shows and games. Yes, after watching "How to Train Your Dragon," it's cool to have all the matching dragon toys from McDonald's, but it's the parents' faults if they take their child to McDonald's and buy them the meal, that happens to come with the toy.

Nobody is forcing people to eat junk/fast food. People are free to make a choice. No matter how much psychology you analyze or habits of mankind you study, it really just comes down to the person who is making the choice to eat a giant hamburger.

So, let's all stop blaming the cool toys. We all know that those McDonald's chicken McNuggets are pretty dang good.

Hallelujah?

Rev. Garrett. 50 states. One truck. Bibles all around.

I can't believe that someone really wants to go to all fifty states to "spiritually revive" the country.

Technically speaking, it's true that America was founded on several Christian principals. Many of the founding fathers were Christian at one point. It was, after all, the colonial times - Christianity, church, it was all a big deal in the community.

Sure, I don't like it when people in the United States say things like we shouldn't say the Pledge of Allegiance in school because it says "under God". Next thing you know, they're going to burn all the dollars and make new ones because it says, "In God We Trust". Fail.

But, as I've said before, I don't really like the idea of evangelicals. I believe that people will come to a religion when they are ready and willing. It's nice to invite someone to church or talk to them a little about the religion if they are interested, but to insist that you are going to "spiritually revive" the country is a big job. Though a majority of the world is Christian, the United States is a melting pot of many cultures and diverse ethnic backgrounds - each with its own religion or philosophy.

It's not like the country is "spiritually dead" simply because not everyone is a Christian.

It's a great idea, but I'm not sure how successful this endeavor will be for the reverend.

Maybe they could all help the poor...fight cancer...fundraise for AIDS...etc.?

Checks & Balances

When we're taught American history in school, one of the first things we learn about the government is the system of checks and balances. That's what supposedly makes us a democracy - constant regulation of the amount of power that each branch of the government has, thus the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Supreme Court exist. The President is also a part of this system, as head of the executive branch. Every formality and process is essential to keeping the peace and making sure nobody gets some kind of unfair advantage over the other.

We all know that there will always be a "butting of heads" between the Republican and Democratic party. But, when the two parties agree - something is sincerely wrong. It's all over the news...Obama's decision to bypass the Senate and appoint officials to handle the new health care system. Articles say that presidents of both political parties are able to use this kind of bypass, but GOP and Democratic leaders alike are concerned.

The House of Representatives and the Senate are there by vote of the people. In turn, these represented officials vote and make decisions with the people's general well-being in mind. If President Obama would like to spurn the legislative branch and simply romp around making his own decisions...is he spurning the people, too?

Obama says that he doesn't want political parties to be so critical, because what's most important right now are people's needs. Thus, we badly need someone to head the Medicare system and just get things back on track so change can be implemented immediately. But how do you know what's good for the people when you've just ignored the very representatives who the PEOPLE selected to represent THEM where they cannot be represented otherwise?

So we have checks and balances...minus the "checks" part...minus the "balances" part...
So now what do we have?

Jumping on the Bandwagon

Everywhere I look, all the news I read is talking about Obama's failure to take a firm stance on immigration - another unfulfilled promise of the Obama administration.

I've already talked about immigration several times, but this issue is just never going to go away. Obama can't seem to make up his mind. Whether it's because he doesn't want to upset some groups who have remained his loyal supporters or not, I don't know. But one thing is clear: Obama has got to get his act together. The Republican governor of Arizona says that the only reason why Arizona took such severe action in regards to its illegal immigrants is he was left with no other choice. If the President of the United States (Obama) would "do his job" and secure our borders, maybe such extreme measures would have had to be taken. Who knows?

Right now, at this time, President Obama needs to make a decision. He can't have it both ways - be nice to the illegal immigrants who snuck in here illegally AND secure the borders. He says he doesn't want to be too harsh on the illegal immigrants and instead wants to find a compromise where these immigrants understand that they have done wrong, but let them stay. I'm sorry, what does that solve? So you're going to give them a little slap on the wrist and say, "Okay, don't do it again!" Well, no DUH they won't do it again - they're already HERE IN THE COUNTRY.

Am I right, or am I right? The borders need to be secured. These illegal immigrants...it's obvious that we can't simply gather them all and evict them. But they do need to be dealt with harshly. Obama claims that doing that is illogical and would "tear at the fabric of the nation", but in reality, it's these people who break the law and are allowed to stay here that are tearing this nation apart. They don't deserve to be here; what makes them better than everyone else who follows the rules?

You can't just cut in line. We learned that in 1st grade, people.