Specter's departure raises a great question

For many conservatives who still consider themselves Republicans, Specter's departure brought a collective "Good riddance, Arlen!" Strategy-based conservatives lamented his exit, though, worried about filibuster-proof majorities and declining prospects of re-gaining majority status anytime soon.

To his credit, Senator Specter was very honest about the primary motivation for his seismic decision: political survival. His own political survival. For many it didn't seem that bizarre that he assumed the principles-be-damned posture, choosing instead the save-Arlen's-career stance. It's a sign of the times.

The whole episode begs the underlying question about our party system, because --as we all know -- Arlen Specter's not the only (now former) Republican to be selective about the planks he likes in the party platform. Here is my epiphany-produced, food-for-thought question of the day: Should the party bend to the membership, or should the membership bend to the party's platform?

The Arlen Specters of the world like the former model -- an ever-changing "big tent" sort of approach, where the party's survival reigns over the party's purity. Winning wrong is always better than losing, even if it's losing right. Oddly enough, they treat the Constitution the same way they treat a party platform. They choose and herald the parts they like and ignore the parts they don't.

There are plenty of principle-compromised Republicans around who think that the right wing has destroyed the effectiveness of their party. When declaring failure, it's probably best to consider all possibilities, and the one the moderates haven't considered is that they themselves ruined the party. Is it possible that the Republicans find themselves in their current predicament because they failed in several areas, like curbing federal spending, ending pork-barrel spending, solving the immigration problem, and reforming the nation's entitlement programs? All of which would have happened, by the way, if the "right wing" of the party had had their way.

Barack Obama won, not because he is a socialist, but because he eloquently promised change. Seems most Americans despise what's been happening with our federal government, and while in their core they believe in limited government, the most prominent emotion has been a desire for newness, freshness. Perhaps elections aren't about ideology anymore, but instead who most eloquently articulates and promises a departure from a despised status quo.

Arlen Specter was one of the Republican Party's worst ideological polluters. Glad he's gone for many reasons. He'll feel more at home in the highly-populated trashy trailer park of failed liberalism than the more sparsely-occupied majestic chambers of conservative correctness.

Conservative principles are not wrong, outdated, obsolete, or ineffective. They are still the answer, and more needed now than ever. What's missing is the collective backbone to artfully articulate the promise that power lies in individual freedom, not a despicable dependence on a ginormous federal bureacracy.

The Republican party may or may not survive. The good news is that the conservative principles haven't changed. Whoever can most effectively sell them will rule the day.

Swine Flu Map

Here ya go

Swine Flu... reality v. frenzy

I've become rather skeptical, perhaps even conspiratorial, over the last few months.

Up front, I don't believe the government somehow created and planted the Swine Flu, but I have no doubt that the government would use its existence to advance an agenda. I sense a high probability that we're being played to some degree.

Hillary Clinton. Rahm Emanual. President Barack Obama himself. All have expressed the Hegelian ethic that one should never let a good crisis go to waste. In fact, it's been repeated so often it seems it's just public policy now. The advancement of socialism is hiding in plain sight.

So, my warning is to watch for changes to health care. After all, a global pandemic requires a global solution. Watch for changes in our civil liberties, because, after all, our safety is Big Brother's top priority. Some are even saying the Swine Flu could create instability in the financial markets, clearly necessitating further government intervention into that sector. Changes are afoot, we all know, and watch for the latest "crisis" to serve as a stepping stone for the advancement of those changes.

Comparisons have been made to the 1918 flu outbreak that killed 20 million people. Pardon me for saying so, but I think 91 years worth of medical advancement provides better practices, better vaccines, and better understanding of how disease spreads.

Bottom line is that we're going to be ok.

Don't let some utopian vision-driven bureaucracy tell you otherwise.

Monday: Expert Network

Ash Covey from Computer Medical Center will join us to talk about the latest threats to your PC, plus he'll take calls to help you with your computer problems.

In the second half of Monday's NLS, we'll chat with attorney Brent Gordon. He'll talk about the legality and Constitutionality of the recent car industry and banking sector bailouts. Join us for the expert network!

"Unsolved" rescheduled, pinch hitting with Hitt

So, my interview with Darwin Vest's brother and sister isn't going to happen today due to scheduling conflicts.

So, we'll talk about a story that I caught on the news about expanding Hitt Road. We all know it's a major dividing line between Idaho Falls and Ammon. So, who pays for upgrades? There's the rub.

I live near Hitt Road. It's crazy at rush hour. It needs to be a nice Sunnyside-like four-lane thoroughfare.

We'll have a flash poll to gauge listeners' thoughts and we'll take your calls on Thursday's program.

Revenge Vetoes

Things have suddenly gone from an irritating tiff to a spicy standoff in Boise. Governor Butch Otter on Monday vetoed two bills and held a sharp knife up to the necks of eight others, threatening to kill them too if he didn't get a bill boosting Idaho's road revenue.

Upon seeing reluctance by lawmakers to simply give in to the threat, he efficiently pounded the big red VETO stamp onto the eight bills two days before his previously stated deadline, leaving lawmakers -- not to mention the rest of us -- a little stunned.

In short, the good governor is P.O.'ed.

I like Governor Otter. I always have. He always just seemed to be "one of us." I still support him overall, because I believe he's ideologically correct and wants what's best for Idaho.

On this, though, he's wrong. From my numerous interviews with legislators through the session, I believe our roads will be ok. We have money coming from federal sources, plus the traditional tax money coming in from residents and tourists that buy their fuel in Idaho. It's not a crisis that warrants such high-stakes veto threats and ultimata.

Most I've talked with think Governor Otter has been reactive, angry, and a little juvenile the last couple of days. And these people are Otter fans.

I chalk this up to recession frustration syndrome, and my support of the Governor isn't really diminished. But perhaps it would have been better for him to have let this one go.

The Lesson of Susan Boyle

I had seen the headline a time or two yesterday about a contestant on Simon Cowell's British version of "America's Got Talent", predictably called "Britain's Got Talent". Since it was a pop-culture story about reality television, my mind automatically pushed it away, ignored it. Feeling a bit more energetic (or perhaps inspired) this morning, I saw the headline again, and clicked.

The next seven minutes for me were transformative. I think all of us have been taught at one time or another the cliched lesson of never judging a book by it's cover. I've never learned that lesson more effectively than I did today.

Susan Boyle stepped onto the stage. By most people's standards, she's homely. Her hair would probably not be considered stylish. A bit frumpy, Susan is 47, not employed, and is not romantically involved. In fact, she admitted, she's never been kissed. She lives alone with her cat.

Her dialogue with the three British judges seemed awkward, and she was visibly nervous. As she admitted her desire to be like Elaine Paige, the "First Lady of British Musical Theatre", the audience collectively rolled their eyes. They groaned. Nobody in the live or television audience expected what came next.

The music started. Moments later she began to sing "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables". Normally standing ovations -- when given -- are saved for the end of a performance. The stunned audience stood seconds after she started, and remained standing through her entire performance. If you haven't seen it, watch it now. It may be the most enlightening seven minutes you've had in a long time.

We never know what people have to offer. We've established superficial standards to determine others' worth. If you were moved by the performance, caught off guard like most, then you also learned that we're not always -- in fact rarely -- in touch with our true selves, nor each other.

Everyone has something to give, even those from whom we'd expect the least.

Most of us probably try for some kind of Susan Boyle in reverse -- to flaunt our strengths and hide our weaknesses. In her case, (what most would consider) her weaknesses were so evident we didn't take time to consider the gifts she had to give.

For me the lesson wasn't about Susan Boyle. It was about the rest of us. It was about what we're missing in our relationships and dealings with others because we judge too quickly, not considering the real value they hold. Are we missing some exciting unexpolored avenue in our spouses? What about our children, or co-workers, or the beaten-down fellow walking down the street? Like Susan Boyle's singing voice, everyone has a previously-hidden gift.

Today, at least, I'm committed to watching others a little more closely, judging them a little less, and waiting through the awkward dialogue to see what treasures lie hidden...

Tea Party Planned

Today -- among many other topics -- we'll be chatting about the upcoming tea party in Idaho Falls. Andi Elliott has organized the party, and we'll be getting the specifics from her... Plus we'll be doing ADD Friday Trivia and a FlashPoll as well.

Check this pic out!

Jenn Hymas listens to our sister station 105.5 The Hawk. She sent in this pic she took... it was at the corner of Lomax and Holmes.... the poor guy slid and rode right up the guy-wires. Wow!

Utterly Tasteless...