Welcome

Welcome to Dave N's Blog.

I would like this blog to represent the thoughts and comments of others interested in politics. On all subjects from voting, primaries, caucuses and ideas on how to better Washington.

I am a registered Republican who is going to vote for the first time since registering to vote, as a Democrat in the November election and will be voting for Senator Barack Obama.

I am all for "CHANGE" in Washington and believe he is the one that can bring us all together towards this goal. Please go to his web site and read everything there, to understand how he plans to implement these "CHANGES". Here is the web site URL :
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/energy/

So please leave your thoughts and comments in the comments section of the blog posts.

Old Blue Designs

Click on the below link (OldBlueWebDesigns.com) for Red Skelton's "Pledge of Allegiance, 1969". It's amazing!!!!

Relaxing with Relatives

Relaxing with Relatives
My wife Barb & myself taken 08/14/ 2007

LinkMaster

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Roundtable Thoughts - State of the Union?

We know Dick Lamm as the former Governor of Colorado. In that context his thoughts are particularly poignant. Last week there was an immigration overpopulation conference in Washington, DC, filled to capacity by many of America's finest minds and leaders. A brilliant college professor by the name of Victor Hansen Davis talked about his latest book, "Mexifornia" explaining how immigration - both legal and illegal was destroying the entire state of California. He said it would march across the country until it destroyed all vestiges of The American Dream.
Moments later, former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm stood up and gave a stunning speech on how to destroy America
The audience sat spellbound as he described eight methods for the destruction of the United States . He said, "If you believe that America is too smug, too self-satisfied, too rich, then let's destroy America . It is not that hard to do. No nation in history has survived the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee observed that all great civilizations rise and fall and that an autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit suicide.'"
"Here is how they do it," Lamm said:
" First, to destroy America , turn America into a bilingual or multi-lingual and bicultural country. History shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of two or more competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an individual to be bilingual; however, it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. The historical scholar, Seymour Lipset, put it this way: 'The histories of bilingual and bicultural societies that do not assimilate are histories o f turmoil, tension, and tragedy. Canada , Belgium , Malaysia , and Lebanon all face crises of national existence in which minorities press for autonomy, if not independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria suppressed an ethnic rebellion. France faces difficulties with Basques, Bretons, Corsicans and Muslims."
Lamm went on:
" Second, to destroy America , invent 'multiculturalism' and encourage immigrants to maintain their culture. Make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal; that there are no cultural differences. Make it an article of faith that the Black and Hispanic dropout rates are due solely to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other explanation is out of bounds.
" Third, we could make the United States an 'Hispanic Quebec' without much effort. The key is to celebrate diversity rather than unity. As Benjamin Schwarz said in the Atlantic Monthly recently: 'The apparent success of our own multi-ethnic and multicultural experiment might have been achieved not by tolerance but by hegemony. Without the dominance that once dictated ethnocentrism and what it meant to be an American, we are left with only tolerance and pluralism to hold us together .' Lamm said, "I would encourage all immigrants to keep their own language and culture. I would replace the melting pot metaphor with the salad bowl metaphor. It is important to ensure that we have various cultural subgroups living in America enforcing their differences rather than as Americans, emphasizing their similarities."
"Fourth, I would make our fastest growing demographic group the least educated. I would add a second underclass, unassimilated, undereducated, and antagonistic to our population. I would have this second underclass have a 50% dropout rate from high school."
" My fifth point for destroying America would be to get big foundations and business to give these efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic identity, and I would establish the cult of 'Victim.' I would get all minorities to think that their lack of success was the fault of the majority. I would start a grievance industry blaming all minority failure on the majority platoon."
" My sixth plan for America's downfall would include dual citizenship, and promote divided loyalties. I would celebrate diversity over unity. I would stress differences rather than similarities. Diverse people worldwide are mostly engaged in hating each other - that is, when they are not killing each other. A diverse, peaceful , or stable society is against most historical precepts. People undervalue the unity it takes to keep a nation together. Look at the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that they belonged to the same race; they possessed a common language and literature; and they worshipped the same gods. All Greece took part in the Olympic games. A common enemy, Persia , threatened their liberty. Yet all these bonds were not strong enough to overcome two factors: local patriotism and geographical conditions that nurtured political divisions. Greece fell. "E. Pluribus Unum" -- From many, one. In that historical reality, if we put the emphasis on the 'pluribus' instead of the 'Unum,’ we will " Balkanize " America as surely as Kosovo. '
" Next to last, I would place all subjects off limits. Make it taboo to talk about anything against the cult of 'diversity.' I would find a word similar to 'heretic' in the 16th century - that stopped discussion and paralyzed thinking. Words like 'racist' or 'xenophobe' halt discussion and debate. Having made America a bilingual /bicultural country, having established multi-cultism, having the large foundations fund the doctrine of 'Victim,' I would next make it impossible to enforce our immigration laws. I would develop a mantra: That because immigration has been good for America , it must always be good. I would make every individual immigrant symmetric and ignore the cumulative impact of millions of them."
In the last minute of his speech, Governor Lamm wiped his brow. Profound silence followed. Finally he said, "Lastly, I would censor Victor Hanson Davis's book 'Mexifornia.' His book is dangerous. It exposes the plan to destroy America . If you feel America deserves to be destroyed, don't read that book."
There was no applause. A chilling fear quietly rose like an ominous cloud above every attendee at the conference. Every American in that room knew that everything Lamm enumerated was proceeding methodically, quietly, darkly, yet pervasively across the United States today. Discussion is being suppressed. Over 100 languages are ripping the foundation of our educational system and national cohesiveness. Even barbaric cultures that practice female genital mutilation are growing as we celebrate 'diversity.' American jobs are vanishing into the Third World as corporations create a Third World in America Take note of California and other states. To date, ten million illegal aliens and growing fast. It is reminiscent of George Orwell's book "1984." In that story, three slogans are engird in the Ministry of Truth building: "War is peace," "Freedom is slavery," and "Ignorance is strength."
Governor Lamm walked back to his seat. It dawned on everyone at the conference that our nation and the future of this great democracy is deeply in trouble and worsening fast. If we don't get this immigration monster stopped within three years, it will rage like a California wildfire and destroy everything in its path, especially The American Dream.

YOUNG VOTERS MUST ACT


YOUNG VOTERS MUST ACT -- AUTHOR: CARY WESTON

I HAVE BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION BY CARY WESTON TO REPRODUCE IN WHOLE THE FOLLOWING EDITORIAL APPEARING IN THE SATURDAY, SUNDAY, JANUARY 19 & 20, 2008 BANGOR DAILY NEWS. DAVID NEVERS

With strong showings of young voters capturing the headlines in early primaries and caucuses, we are seeing a generation, whose attention is difficult to hold, show considerable interest in the political process and in choosing the leaders of our future.Headlines abound on the topic of "young voters" and the Generation Y movement to get involved in this year’s elections. But will the energy carry forward to the Maine caucuses, or is it simply a reaction to the rallying cry of pop star politicians? Can it be that a generation raised on instant messaging, iPods and YouTube can be sincere in wanting to effect change the old-fashioned way?In Maine, we are about to find out.Over the past few years, I have been fortunate to work with and experience the growth of two organizations that are fostering the collective voice of Gen X, Gen Y — all those up-and-comers. What we are seeing right here in Maine is what other states are getting headlines for — young professionals getting together and working for the future of their cities, towns, regions and state. Young leaders are steadily building a platform of substance and making sure their voices, ideas and experiences are represented when it matters most.Right here, FusionBangor has been a growing force in engaging and empowering young professionals to not only get out and be seen, but to be a unifying voice of change for the economic, social and recreational future of the Bangor region. Statewide, REALIZE!Maine has quietly been working with groups like Fusion all over Maine to build a growing, organized network of regional organizations, all carrying a collective mission: to enable today’s young professional to explore his or her passion and breed the future stewards of our state.How do FusionBangor and REALIZE!Maine relate to the role of young voters? While strictly nonpartisan, both groups are planning aggressive communications campaigns to get their members involved in local caucuses, primaries and elections in 2008 and beyond. But in order to be heard, we must first be seen. And it must be done the old-fashioned way — by showing up and raising your hand.As a member of the under-40 set (at least for now), I have been part of a lot of talk about the importance of political action to improve our collective future. I’ve sat on panels with community leaders discussing both pessimism and opportunity for our state and its economic future. I’ve heard a lot of good ideas and viewpoints. But talk is not enough.It is time to move beyond the conversation. And therein lies the challenge. It’s a challenge I am issuing to myself, my friends and colleagues, family members and community leaders. It is the challenge of engagement.Established leaders and voters can play a significant role in encouraging young voter participation. Engage a young voter. Bring a younger colleague to a caucus. Inspire a dialogue about politics with another generation. Share your perspective, and most importantly, ask theirs. Mentor a young person getting involved in the political process, and you open up a world of opportunity for them to shape the future.For the young voters themselves, the challenge is to stop talking and do something. The first step? Attend a caucus. If you have never participated in a caucus (and that includes me), don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you from taking part. Find a friend, mark your calendar and make your way to the regional caucus and soak in for yourself the experience of using your voice to forward your ideals.Caucus dates, times and locations for both Republican and Democratic events can be found at the REALIZE!Maine Web site: www.realizemaine.org. Make it a point to forward this information to at least one young voter in your life. [Note: submitted article read "Republican and Democrat events" - not Democratic events. Edit of "Democrat" to "Democratic" took place at Bangor Daily News]Not enrolled but want to participate? In most cases you can enroll the same day as the caucus. Both parties are excited to welcome young voters to the process, and will eagerly accommodate newcomers. You can also make it a point to become educated so that when Election Day rolls around, you are prepared to make a statement in any race — local, state or national.These big headlines about young voters are only the beginning. They cast light on what has quietly been a growing movement of enthusiasm, engagement and empowerment. The young voter, just like the young professional and the young leader, is the future of every region. With Maine’s older population growing rapidly, the need for youth in action is critical in our state. And now, by answering this challenge, Maine is in a unique position to move from talking about action to demonstrating it.Can there be a more rewarding experience than personally engaging in the democratic process? One thing is for sure — participating is certainly more rewarding than watching it all happen on YouTube. Don’t let this opportunity pass Maine by — virtually or otherwise.----------Cary Weston is a Bangor native, graduate of the University of Maine and partner at Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications. He is also founding chair of FusionBangor, member of REALIZE!Maine, and serves as chairman of the Bangor Republican City Committee.

Thought for the Day:

"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." - Benjamin Franklin

A Thought to Have Throughout the Year

"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority." - Lord Acton